SIKESTON BANK LOOKS AT ST. LOUIS

SIKESTON -- First National Bank of the Mid-South, headquartered at Sikeston, wants to expand into the St. Louis area.

The bank has applied for a branch expansion.

"We're pleased to be able offer the St. Louis marketplace the same type of personal service that our current customers have enjoyed for more than 40 years," said Phil Lyon, executive vice president of First National."

There has been no projection of a time table for the new operation,

First National, which includes an operation in Cape Girardeau, is one of the largest independent banks in the state, said Lyon.