UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
                                    FORM 10-Q

                   QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                      For the quarter ended March 31, 1996
                         Commission File Number 0-12154

                           THE PEOPLES HOLDING COMPANY
           (Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter)

                             MISSISSIPPI 64-0676974
        (State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

            209 Troy Street, P. O. Box 709, Tupelo, Mississippi 38801
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

         Registrant's telephone number including area code 601-680-1001

 Indicate by check whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
 be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
 the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
                             for the past 90 days.
                                 YES__X__NO_____

  Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of
                common stock, as to the latest practicable date.

            Common stock, $5 Par Value, 2,604,760 shares outstanding
                              as of April 25, 1996













                                     1

THE PEOPLES HOLDING COMPANY INDEX PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION PAGE Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995...............3 Consolidated Statements of Income - Three Months Ended March 31, 1996 and 1995......................4 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Three Months Ended March 31, 1996 and 1995.........5 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..............6 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.....................7 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings...................................10 Item 6.(b) Reports on Form 8-K..............................10 Signatures..................................................11 2

THE PEOPLES HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS MARCH 31 DECEMBER 31 1996 1995 ------------ ----------- (Unaudited) (Note 1) Assets Cash and due from banks ................ $ 49,583,182 $ 46,918,819 Federal Fund Sold ...................... 9,000,000 17,000,000 ---------- ---------- 58,583,182 63,918,819 Interest bearing balances with banks 386,927 8,814,411 Securities held-to-maturity (market value-$51,488,530 and $50,109,526 at March 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively) ................. 51,151,250 49,362,527 Securities available-for-sale (amortized cost-$202,205,536 and $166,530,900 at March 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 respectively) ....................... 202,857,542 168,381,798 Loans .................................. 531,308,775 530,019,951 Unearned Income ..................... (10,075,123) (11,231,586) Allowance for loan losses ........... (8,611,114) (8,815,130) ----------- ------------ Net Loans ........................ 512,622,538 509,973,235 Premises and equipment ................. 20,619,479 20,323,492 Other assets ........................... 21,888,240 20,925,126 ----------- ------------ Total Assets .................. $ 868,109,158 $ 841,699,408 =========== ============ Liabilities Deposits: Noninterest-bearing ................. $ 121,851,255 $ 116,894,919 Certificates of deposit exceeding $100,000 ........................ 71,237,610 62,620,549 Interest bearing .................... 571,806,892 560,029,831 ------------ ------------ Total Deposits ............ 764,895,757 739,545,299 Treasury tax and loan note account ..... 2,710,066 2,400,495 Borrowings ................. ........... 4,086,674 4,313,109 Other liabilities ...................... 10,593,082 10,480,085 ------------ ------------ Total Liabilities ......... $ 782,285,579 $ 756,738,988 Shareholders' Equity Common Stock, $5 par value-7,500,000 shares authorized, 2,604,760 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively ... 13,023,800 13,023,800 Additional paid-in capital .............. 39,875,796 39,875,796 Unrealized gains on securities, net of tax ............................ 408,705 1,169,262 Retained earnings ....................... 32,515,278 30,891,562 ------------ ------------ Total Shareholders' Equity .... 85,823,579 84,960,420 ------------ ------------ Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity ........ $ 868,109,158 $ 841,699,408 ============ ============ See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 3

THE PEOPLES HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 1996 1995 ---- ---- (Unaudited) Interest Income Loans .................... .......... $ 12,265,259 $ 11,542,108 Securities: Taxable ........................ 2,979,267 2,334,021 Tax-exempt ..................... 717,022 674,900 Other ............................... 298,778 161,474 ------- ------- Total interest income ..... 16,260,326 14,712,503 Interest Expense Time deposits exceeding $100,000 .... 865,095 705,372 Other deposits ...................... 6,054,048 4,797,117 Borrowings .......................... 26,721 103,655 ------ ------- Total interest expense .... 6,945,864 5,606,144 --------- --------- Net interest income ....... 9,314,462 9,106,359 Provision for loan losses ................. 630,225 600,000 ------- ------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses . 8,684,237 8,506,359 Noninterest income: Service charges on deposit accounts.. 1,600,496 1,482,839 Fees and commission ................. 419,300 335,444 Trust department .................... 135,000 130,500 Security gains(losses) .............. 108,450 (374,423) Other income ........................ 471,228 457,231 ------- ------- Total noninterest income .. 2,734,474 2,031,591 Noninterest expense: Salaries and employee benefits ...... 4,638,228 4,269,779 Net occupancy ....................... 548,005 526,897 Equipment ........................... 344,101 337,720 Other ............................... 2,574,932 2,757,346 --------- --------- Total noninterest expense.. $ 8,105,266 $ 7,891,742 --------- --------- Income before income taxes ................ 3,313,445 2,646,208 Income taxes .............................. 1,005,977 758,101 --------- ------- Net income ................ $ 2,307,468 $ 1,888,107 ========= ========= Earnings per share ........................ $ .89 $ .72 ===== ===== Weighted average shares outstanding ....... 2,604,760 2,604,760 ========= ========= See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 4

THE PEOPLES HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 1996 1995 ---- ---- (Unaudited) Operating Activities Net Income ............................ $ 2,307,468 $ 1,888,107 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Provision for loan losses ............. 630,225 600,000 Provision for depreciation and amortization ..................... 473,449 455,067 Net amortization (accretion) securities premiums/discounts .... (139,959) 2,240,233 Losses (gains) on sales/calls of securities ....................... (79,192) 387,712 Increase in other liabilities ......... 112,997 295,886 Deferred income tax (credits) ......... 39,041 (697,734) Losses (gains) on sales of premises and equipment ................... (4,660) 6,420 Increase in other assets .............. (369,324) (894,079) -------- -------- Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities .................. 2,970,045 4,281,612 Investment Activities Net decrease (increase) in balances with other banks ................. 8,427,484 (2,975,538) Proceeds from maturities/calls of securities held-to-maturity ...... 634,077 170,791 Proceeds from maturities/calls of securities available-for-sale .... 20,479,617 14,264,636 Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale .... 5,079,192 15,482,942 Purchases of securities held-to-maturity ................. (2,348,422) (1,935,056) Purchases of securities available-for-sale ............... (61,088,836) (17,674,336) Net increase in loans ................. (3,618,058) (11,124,542) Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment ....................... 22,896 107,945 Purchases of premises and equipment ... (643,474) (757,743) -------- -------- Net Cash Used in Investment Activities .................. (33,055,524) (4,440,901) Financing Activities Net increase (decrease) in noninterest-bearing deposits ..... 4,956,336 (4,106,913) Net increase in certificates of deposit exceeding $100,000 ............... 8,617,061 3,476,538 Net increase in other interest-bearing deposits ......................... 11,777,061 17,050,697 Net increase (decrease) in treasury tax and loan note account ........ 309,571 (1,103,347) Decrease in borrowings ................ (226,435) (312,774) Cash dividends paid ................... (683,752) (625,142) -------- -------- Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities .................. 24,749,842 14,379,059 ---------- ---------- (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents ........ (5,335,637) 14,219,770 ---------- ---------- Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period ................... 63,918,819 45,273,177 ---------- ---------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period .. $ 58,583,182 $ 59,492,947 ========== ========== Non-cash transactions: Transfer of loans to other real estate $ 338,530 $ 70,200 ======= ====== See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 5

THE PEOPLES HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1 Basis of Presentation The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 1995, has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normally recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The statements should be read in conjunction with the summary of accounting policies and notes to financial statements included in the Registrant's annual report for the year ended December 31, 1995. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Note 2 Changes in Accounting Methods Beginning in 1995, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 114, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan," which was amended by FASB Statement No. 118, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan-Income Recognition and Disclosures." Under these new standards, the 1995 allowance for loan losses related to loans that are identified for evaluation in accordance with Statement No. 114 is based on discounted cash flows using the loan's initial effective interest rate or fair value of the collateral for certain collateral-dependent loans. The adoption of these new standards did not have a significant effect on the allowance for loan losses or the method of income recognition for impaired loans. Note 3 Income Taxes [CAPTION] The components of income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 1996, are presented below: [S] [C] Current $ 966,936 Deferred 39,041 -------- $1,005,977 ======== [CAPTION] The reconciliation of income tax attributable to continuing operations computed at the United States federal statutory tax rates to income tax expense is: [S] [C] Tax at United States statutory rate $ 1,126,567 Add (deduct) effect of: Tax-exempt interest income ...... (242,028) State of Mississippi, net of federal tax benefit 62,479 Amortization of intangible assets 18,276 Dividends received deduction .... (6,021) Other items-net ................. 46,704 ---------- $ 1,005,977 ========== 6

THE PEOPLES HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Financial Condition - ------------------- Total assets of The Peoples Holding Company grew from $841,699,408 on December 31, 1995, to $868,109,158 on March 31, 1996, or 3.14% for the three month period. Total securities increased from $217,744,325 on December 31, 1995, to $254,008,792 on March 31, 1996, in accordance with management's strategic plan. Loans, less unearned income, increased $2,445,287 or .47%. Total deposits for the first three months of 1996 grew from $739,545,299 on December 31, 1995 to $764,895,757 on March 31, 1996, or an increase of 3.43%, with the majority of growth in time deposits. The equity capital to total assets ratio was 9.89% and 10.09% for March 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively. Results of Operations-Quarter Ended March 31, 1996 compared to 1995 - ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Company's net income for the first quarter of 1996 was $2,307,468 compared to $1,888,107 from the first quarter of 1995. The increase in net income for 1996 compared to 1995 is primarily due to security losses incurred in first quarter of 1995 based on management's decision to reinvest funds in securities which will yield a higher rate of return for the future. The annualized returns on average assets for the first quarter of 1996 and 1995 were 1.09% and .96%, respectively. Net interest income, the difference between interest earned on assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, is the largest component of the Company's net income. The primary items of concern in managing net interest revenue are the mix and maturity balance between interest-sensitive assets and related liabilities. The net interest revenue was $9,314,462 and $9,106,359 for the three months ending March 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Earning assets averaged $773.9 million for first quarter of 1996 compared to $727.9 million for the same period in 1995. The net interest margin was 5.04% and 5.24% for the three months ending March 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The decrease in net interest margin is due to the increase in the volume and rate of costing liabilities in the first quarter of 1996. The provision for loan losses charged to operating expense is an amount which, in the judgement of management, is necessary to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level that is adequate to meet the present and potential risks of losses on the Company's current portfolio of loans. The appropriate level of the allowance is based on a quarterly analysis of the loan portfolio including consideration of such factors as the risk rating of individual credits, size and diversity of the portfolio, economic conditions, prior loss experience, and the results of periodic credit reviews by internal loan review, regulators, and the Company's independent accounting firm. The provision for loan losses totalled $630,225 and $600,000 for quarter ending March 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of net loans outstanding was 1.65% and 1.67% as of March 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Net charge-offs to average loans was .16% and .05% for the three months ending March 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Noninterest income, excluding security gains and losses was $2,626,024 for the quarter ending March 31, 1996, compared to $2,406,014 for same period in 1995, or a increase of 9.14%. Service charges were up $117,657, fees and commissions were up $83,856, and other operating income was up $13,997. These increases were due in part to an increase in total deposits of the Company. 7

Noninterest expenses were $8,105,266 for the quarter ending March 31, 1996, compared to $7,891,742 for the same period 1995, or an increase of 2.71%. The components of noninterest expenses reflect normal increases for personnel related expenses and general inflation in the cost of services and supplies purchased by the Company. Income tax expense was $1,005,977 for the three months ending March 31, 1996, compared to $758,101 for the same period in 1994. The increase is due to increased profits for the first quarter of 1996 compared to 1995 and also due to a net operating loss carryforward in the first quarter of 1995, which reduced state income taxes. The Company continues to invest in assets whose earnings are given favorable tax treatment. Liquidity Risk Liquidity management is the ability to meet the cash flow requirements of customers who may be either depositors wishing to withdraw funds or borrowers needing assurance that sufficient funds will be available to meet their credit needs. Core deposits are a major source of funds used to meet cash flow needs. Maintaining the ability to acquire these funds as needed in a variety of money markets is the key to assuring liquidity. The Company has worked toward lowering its dependence on other public funds. This has added more stability to the Company's core deposit base reducing the dependence on highly liquid assets. Approximately 90% of the Company's deposits are composed of accounts with balances less than $100,000. When evaluating the movement of these funds even during large interest rate changes, it is apparent that the Company continues to attract deposits that can be used to meet cash flow needs. Other sources available for meeting the Company's liquidity needs include the available-for-sale securities portfolio. The portfolio is composed of securities with a readily available market that can be used to convert to cash if the need arises. In addition the Company maintains a federal funds position that provides day-to-day funds to meet liquidity needs. 8

Capital Resources The Company is required to comply with the risk-based capital requirements of the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC and the OCC. These requirements apply a variety of weighing factors which vary according to the level of risk associated with the particular assets. The Company met the guidelines for a well capitalized bank for March 31, 1996, and December 31, 1995. The table below shows the capital ratios of the Company at the dates indicated: [CAPTION] March 31 December 31 Well- 1996 1995 Capitalized --------- ----------- ----------- [S] [C] [C] [C] Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital 15.41% 14.87% 6% or above Total Risk-Based Capital 16.67% 16.14% 10% or above Leverage Ratio 9.47% 9.67% 5% or above Retained earnings through operations have been the primary source of capital over the past three months. The ratio of shareholders' equity to total assets was 9.89% as of March 31, 1996, compared to 10.09% at December 31, 1995. Total shareholders' equity of the Company was $85,823,579 and $84,960,420 for March 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively. This represented an increase of $863,159 or 1.02%. Management recognizes the importance of maintaining a strong capital base. As the above ratios indicate, the Company exceeds the requirements for a well capitalized bank. Book value per share was $32.95 and $32.62 at March 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively. Cash dividends were raised to $.2625 per quarter, up from $.24 per share during the first quarter of 1995. The Company's capital policy is to evaluate future needs based on growth, earnings trends and anticipated acquisitions. 9

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings There were no material proceedings pending at March 31 1996, against the registrant or its subsidiary. Item 6(b) Reports on Form 8-K There were no reports filed on Form 8-K during the first quarter of 1996. 10

SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. THE PEOPLES HOLDING COMPANY --------------------------- Registrant DATE: May 9, 1996 /s/ John W. Smith --------------------------- John W. Smith President & Chief Executive Officer 11

  

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