BancorpSouth Division President Sam Cooper is stepping down.

Cooper, who has served as division president since 1998, is retiring after 33 years in banking.

To honor Cooper, BancorpSouth is holding an open house Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fort Deposit branch office. BancorpSouth customers and community members are encouraged to stop in and wish Cooper well.

Cooper entered the banking business in 1978 as the head teller at the Bank of Fort Deposit, which later became part of BancorpSouth. Cooper has worked his entire banking career at the Fort Deposit location. For the last 13 years, Cooper has served as president of the Fort Deposit, Greenville, Burkeville and Hayneville branches.

Prior to entering the banking business, Cooper was an educator. He worked as an assistant football coach, track coach, P.E. instructor and English teacher in Niceville, Fla., and in the Montgomery area for eight years before being hired by Fort Deposit Bank’s Pat Golson, Jr.

Cooper, a native of Hayneville and a graduate of Hayneville High School, is an active member of the Lowndes County community. He is involved with the Lowndes County Board of Education, the Fort Deposit Industrial Board, Leadership Lowndes County and the Chamber of Commerce.