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MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC.

102 Versailles Boulevard
Versailles Centre
Lafayette, Louisiana 70501

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS


Lafayette, Louisiana
April 2522, 20072009

We will hold our annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday, May 30, 2007,27, 2009, at 1:00 p.m., local time, at our corporate offices, 102 Versailles Blvd., Lafayette, Louisiana 70501, where we will vote upon:
1.The election of directors.
1.           Election of Directors.

2.MidSouth's 2007 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
2.           Proposal to approve a Non-binding Advisory Resolution on the Compensation of our Named Executive Officers.

3.3.           Such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments.

The items of business listed above are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this notice.  If you are listed on our books as the holder of record of our common stock on March 31,, 2007, 2009, you are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

You will find our proxy statement, Form 10-K and other important information on our website: http://bnymellon.mobular.net/bnymellon/msl.

Your vote is important.  Whether or not you expect to attend the annual meeting, it is important regardless ofthat your shares be represented and voted at the number of shares you own. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO COME TO THE MEETING, meeting.

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY ANDPROMPTLY RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE.  YOUR PROXY MAY BE REVOKED BY NOTICE TO OUR SECRETARY AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED.FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING BY MAIL, OR SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING BY PHONE OR ON THE INTERNET.  THANK YOU.

 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  
  
 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 Karen L. Hail
 
SEVP/Chief Operating Officer 
Secretary to the Board


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This Page Intentionally Left Blank

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MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC.

102 Versailles Boulevard
Versailles Centre
Lafayette,lafayette, Louisiana 70501

PROXY STATEMENT

This Proxy Statement is being sent to our stockholders to solicit on behalf of our Board of Directors proxies tofor use at our annual shareholders meeting to be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2007,27, 2009, at the time and place shown in the accompanying notice and at any adjournments thereof.  This Statement is first being mailed to shareholders on or about April 2522,, 2007. 2009.

Only holders of our common stock ("stock") on our books at the close of business on March 31, 2007,2009, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.  On that date we had outstanding 6,393,580 shares.6,788,884 shares of stock, each of which is entitled to one vote.

The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of our Stockstock is needed to make up a quorum; if a quorum is present, directors are elected by plurality vote and our stock plan must be approved by a majority of the votes cast.plurality.  With respect to any other proposal, however, if the Board has recommended it by a majority of our Continuing Directors, as defined in our Articles of Incorporation, then, generally, the vote of a majority of the votes cast is required to approve it, and if it is not so recommended, then the vote of 80% of the Total Voting Power, as defined in the Articles, is required to approve it.  The Continuing Directors will appoint the Judge(s) of Election, and all questions as to voter qualification, proxy validity and accepting or rejecting votes will be decided by the Judge(s).

Abstentions or broker non-votes will not have any effect on the election of directors.  On any other proposal, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as votes not cast and will have no effect on any proposal that needs a majority of votes cast to approve it and will have the effect of a vote against any proposal that needs the vote of a percentage of the Total Voting Power.

All proxies received in the enclosed form will be voted as you specify and, unless you specify to the contrary, will be voted for the election of the persons named herein and for the resolution to approve our Plan .compensation resolution.  We do not know of anything else to be presented at the Meeting other than the election of directors and our Plan,approval of the non-binding advisory resolution, but if anything else does come up, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote the shares covered by the proxy according to their best judgment.as determined by the Board of Directors.

A proxy may be revoked by you at any time before its exercise by filing with our Secretary a written revocation or a duly executed proxy with a later date. If you vote in person in a manner inconsistent with a proxy previously filed by you, , you will be deemed to have revoked the proxy as to the matters you voted on in person.

The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by us.  In addition to the mail, proxies may be solicited by personal interview, telephone, telegraph, facsimile, internet and e-mail.  Banks, brokerage houses and other nominees or fiduciaries may be asked to forward these materials to their principals and to get authority to execute proxies, and we will, upon request, reimburse them for their expenses in so acting.

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ELECTION OF DIRECTORSANNUAL MEETING BUSINESS

Item 1.Election of Directors
Our Articles provide for three classes of directors, with one class to be elected at each annual meeting for a three-year term.  At the Meeting, Class III Directors will be elected to serve until the 2010 annual meeting. Additionally, two new nominees who have served on the Bank's Board will be on the ballot. One will be elected for the Class I Directors to serve until the 2009 annual meeting and the second will be elected for the Class III Directors to serve until the 20082012 annual meeting.

Unless you withhold authority, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote the shares covered by the proxies received by them for the election of the four Class III director nominees one Class I director nominee and one Class III director nominee all named below.  If for some reason we do not anticipate one or more nominees cannotcan not be a candidate at the Meeting, the shares will be voted in favor of such other persons as the Board chooses.  Directors will be elected by plurality vote.

Other than the Board, only shareholders who have complied with the procedures of Article IV (H) of our Articles may nominate a person for election.  To do so, you must have given us written notice by December 17, 2006,January 15, 2009, of the following:

(1) as to each person whom you propose to nominate:

(a) his or her name, age, business address, residence address, principal occupation or employment,

(b) the number of shares of our stock of which the person is the beneficial owner and

(c) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of directors by Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) as to you:

(a) your name and address

(b) the number of shares of our Stock of which you are the beneficial owner and

(c) a description of any agreements, arrangements or relationships between you and each person you want to nominate.

Two inspectors, not affiliated with us, appointed by our Secretary, will determine whether the notice provisions were met; if they determine that you have not complied with Article IV(H), your nomination will be disregarded.

The following table gives information as of March 31, 2007,2009, about each director nominee and each other director.  Unless otherwise indicated, each person has had the principal occupation shown for at least the past five years. The Board recommends a vote FOR each of the six nominees named therein.YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES.

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Director Nominees for terms to expire in 20102012 (Class III Directors)
        Name 
Age
 
 
Principal Occupation
 
Year First
Became Director
        
C. R. Cloutier  62 
Our President and C.E.O., and President and C.E.O. of our subsidiary, MidSouth Bank, N.A.
 
 1984
J. B. Hargroder, M.D.
 
  78 Physician, retired; Vice Chairman of our Board 1984
Timothy J. Lemoine
 
  58 Construction Consultant  2007
William M. Simmons  75 Investor 1984

Name Age Principal Occupation 
Year First
Became Director
       
Will Charbonnet, Sr. 59 Our Chairman of the Board; Managing Director of Crossroads Catholic Bookstore (non-profit corporation); Controller of Philadelphia Fresh Foods, Inc. 1984
Clayton Paul Hilliard 81 President of Badger Oil Corporation, Badger Oil & Gas Ltd., Convexx Oil and Gas, Inc., and Warlord Oil Corporation; Manager, Uniqard, LLC 1984
Stephen C. May 58 
Publisher -The Independent Weekly,
 2002
Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr. 57 CEO, Deli Management, Inc.; Chairman of the Board of MidSouth Bank-Texas, our wholly-owned subsidiary 2004

Director Nominee for term to expire in 2009 (Class I Directors)

Name Age Principal Occupation 
Year First
Became Director
       
Timothy J. Lemoine 56 Consultant and Investor 2007

Director Nominee for term to expire in 2008 (Class III Directors)

Name Age Principal Occupation 
Year First
Became Director
       
R. Glenn Pumpelly 48 President/C.E.O. Pumpelly Oil Company, LLC 2007

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Directors whose terms expire in 20082010 (Class II Directors)
 
        Name
 
 
Age
 
    Principal Occupation
 
Year First
Became Director
       
Will Charbonnet, Sr.  61 
Our Chairman of the Board; Treasurer and Managing Director of Crossroads Catholic Bookstore (non-profit corporation); Controller of Philadelphia Fresh Foods, L.L.C.
 
 
       1984
Clayton Paul Hilliard  83 
President of Badger Oil Corporation, Convexx Oil and Gas, Inc., and Warlord Oil Corporation; Manager, Uniqard, L.L.C.
 
 
       1984
Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr.  59 C.E.O., Deli Management, Inc. 
       2004

Directors whose terms expire in 2011 (Class III Directors)
Name 
        Age
 
    Principal Occupation
 
Year First
Became Director
        
James R. Davis, Jr.  56 
President, Davis/Wade Financial Services, L.L.C.; Chairman of our Audit Committee and our Lead Director
 
 1991
Karen L. Hail  55 
Our Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and of our subsidiary, MidSouth Bank, N.A.
 
 1988
Milton B. Kidd, III, O.D.
 
  60 Optometrist, Kidd & Associates, L.L.C. 1996
R. Glenn Pumpelly  50 President/C.E.O. Pumpelly Oil Company, L.L.C. 2007
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Item 2.Proposal to Approve a Non-binding Advisory Resolution on the Compensationof our Named Executive Officers
 As a result of our participation in the Capital Purchase Program of the U.S. Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program we are subject to the provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which was recently amended by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to provide additional executive compensation requirements.

Name Age Principal Occupation 
Year First
Became Director
       
James R. Davis, Jr. 54 President, Davis/Wade Financial Services, L.L.C.; Chairman of our Audit Committee and our Lead Director 1991
Karen L. Hail 53 Our Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer 1988
Milton B. Kidd, III, O.D. 58 Optometrist, Kidd Vision Centers, Kidd and Associates, LLC 1996
    Per the additional requirements defined by the ARRA, we submit to our shareholders a non-binding resolution to approve the compensation of named executive officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the executive compensation tables and any related disclosure.  Shareholders are encouraged to carefully review the executive compensation sections of this Proxy Statement outlining the Company’s executive compensation program.  Accordingly, the Board of Directors hereby submits for shareholder consideration, the resolution set forth below, commonly known as a “say-on-pay proposal,”

  "Resolved, that the shareholders hereby approve the compensation of our named executive officers as reflected in the proxy statement for the meeting and as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which disclosure includes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and all related materials."
             The Board of Directors believes that the Company's compensation policies and procedures are centered on a pay-for-performance culture and are strongly aligned with the long-term interests of shareholders, and, accordingly, recommends a vote in favor of this resolution.

If this resolution is not approved by our shareholders, such a vote shall  not be construed as overruling a decision by the Board of Directors or Personnel Committee, nor create or imply any additional fiduciary duty by the Board of Directors or Personnel Committee, nor shall such a vote be construed to restrict or limit the ability of our shareholders to make proposals for inclusion in proxy materials related to executive compensation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors and Personnel Committee will consider the non-binding vote of our shareholders on this resolution when reviewing compensation policies and practices in the future.

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RESOLUTION ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.


Directors whose terms to expire in 2009 (Class I Directors)Item 3.Such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be brought before the shareholders at the meeting.  If other matters are presented for a vote at the meeting, the proxy holders will vote shares represented by properly executed proxies as directed by the Board of Directors.  At the meeting, management will report on our business and shareholders will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Name Age Principal Occupation 
Year First
Became Director
       
C. R. Cloutier 60 Our President and C.E.O., and President and C.E.O. of our subsidiary, MidSouth Bank, N.A. 1984
J. B. Hargroder, M.D. 76 Physician, retired; Vice Chairman of our Board 1984
William M. Simmons 73 Investor 1984
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___________________

Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance

Shareholder, Board and Committee Meetings.During 2006,2008 the Board of Directors had thirteentwelve meetings, and each director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings held of the Board and committees of which he or she was a member.  While we encourage all Board members to come to annual shareholder meetings, there is no formal policy as to their attendance.  It is a rare occasion, however, when all members are not there.

Board Independence.  Each year, our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews the relationships that each director has with us and with other parties.  Only those directors who do not have any relationships that keep them from being independent within the meaning of applicable American Stock Exchange (“AMEX”)NYSE Amex rules and who the Committee finds have no relationships that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out their responsibilities are considered to be “independent directors.” The Committee reviews a number of factors to evaluate independence, including the directors’ relationships with us and our competitors, suppliers and customers; their relationships with management and other directors; the relationships their current and former employers have with us; and the relationships between us and other companies of which they are directors or executive officers. After evaluating these factors, the Board determined that Messrs. Charbonnet, Davis, Hargroder, Hilliard, Kidd, Lemoine, May, Pumpelly, Simmons and Tortorice are independent within the meaning of applicable AMEXNYSE Amex rules.

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Shareholder Communications.  Shareholders may communicate directly with the Board or the individual chairmen of committees by writing directly to them at P. O. Box 3745, Lafayette, LA  70502. We will forward, and not screen, any mail we receive that is directed to an individual, unless we believe the communication may pose a security risk.

Code of Ethics.  The Board has adopted a Code of Ethics for our directors, officers and employees to promote honest and ethical conduct, full and accurate reporting, and compliance with laws as well as other matters.  A copy of the Code of Ethics is posted on the Corporate Relations page of our website at www.midsouthbank.com.www.midsouthbank.com.

The Board has an Audit Committee, an Executive Committee, a Personnel Committee, and a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

The Audit Committee members are Messrs. Davis, Charbonnet, Hilliard, and Kidd and May and held eleventen meetings in 2006.2008.  It is responsible for carrying out the Audit Committee Charter.  The Executive Committee  members are Messrs. Charbonnet, Cloutier, Hargroder, Pumpelly, and Tortorice and met twelveten times in 2006.2008.  Its duties include shareholder relations, Bank examination and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reporting.  The Personnel Committee members are Messrs. Charbonnet, Davis, Hargroder, and Tortorice and met sixfour times in 2006.2008.  It is responsible for evaluating the performance and setting/approving the compensation of our executive officers and administering our 2007 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.  The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee members are Messrs. Charbonnet, Hargroder, Hilliard and Simmons and met twiceonce in 2006.2008. It helps the Board to make determinations of director independence, assess overall and individual Board performance and recommend director candidates, including recommendations submitted by shareholders.


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It is the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee’s policy that candidates for director have the highest personal and professional integrity, have demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment, and have skills and expertise appropriate for serving the long-term interest of our shareholders.  The Committee’s process for identifying and evaluating nominees is as follows:  (1) in the case of incumbent directors whose terms of office are set to expire, the Committee reviews their overall service during their terms, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation, quality of performance, and any related party transactions with us during the applicable time period; and (2) in the case of new director candidates, appropriate inquiries into their backgrounds and qualifications are made after considering the function and needs of the Board.  The Committee meets to discuss and consider such candidates’ qualifications, including whether the nominee is independent within the meaning of AMEXNYSE Amex rules, and then selects a candidate for recommendation to the Board. In seeking potential nominees, the Committee uses its and management’s network of contacts to compile a list of potential candidates, but may also engage, if it deems appropriate, a professional search firm, although to date it has not done so.

The Committee will consider director candidates recommended by shareholders who follow the procedures set out in Article IV (H) of our Articles described elsewhere.  It does not intend to alter the manner in which it evaluates candidates, including the criteria set forth above, based on whether the candidate was recommended by a shareholder or otherwise.

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Eligible shareholders who want to present a proposal qualified for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 20082010 annual meeting must forward such proposal to our Secretary at the address listed on the first page of this Proxy Statement in time to arrive before December 27, 2007.22, 2009.

The Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and applicable SEC regulations require our directors, executive officers and ten percent shareholders to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our equity securities, and to furnish us with copies of all the reports they file.  To our knowledge, based on a review of reports given us, all required reports were filed timely.
___________________

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

Security Ownership of Management

The following table shows as of March 31, 2007,2009, the beneficial ownership of our Stock by each director and nominee, by each executive officer named in the Summary of Executive Compensation Table below, and by all directors and executive officers as a group.  Unless otherwise indicated, the Stock is held with sole voting and investment power.

Name 
Amount and Nature of Beneficial
Ownership(1)
 
Percent
of Class
 
Will G. Charbonnet, Sr.  153,120
(1,2)
 2.39%
C. R. Cloutier  396,693
(1,3)
 6.16%
James R. Davis, Jr.  71,348
(4)
 1.12%
Karen L. Hail  108,836
(5)
 1.70%
J. B. Hargroder, M.D.  444,503
(1,6)
 6.95%
Clayton Paul Hilliard  236,188
(7)
 3.69%
Milton B. Kidd, III, O.D.  230,227  3.60%
Timothy J. Lemoine  22,179
(8)
 .35%
Stephen C. May  133,070  2.08%
R. Glenn Pumpelly  15,030  .24%
William M. Simmons  203,928
(9)
 3.19%
Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr.  81,898  1.28%
J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.  5,448
(10)
 .08%
Jennifer S. Fontenot  26,781  .42%
Donald R. Landry  98,400
(11)
 1.54%
A. Dwight Utz  16,531
(12)
 .26%
All directors and executive officers as a group (19 persons)  2,291,284  35.37%
Name 
Amount and  Nature
of Beneficial
 Ownership(1)
  
Percent
of Class
 
Will Charbonnet, Sr.  162,559(1,2)  2.39%
C. R. Cloutier  405,499(1,3)  5.95%
James R. Davis, Jr.  76,325(4)  1.12%
Karen L. Hail  108,588(5)  1.60%
J. B. Hargroder, M.D.  450,131(1,6)  6.63%
Clayton Paul Hilliard  251,539(7)  3.71%
Milton B. Kidd, III, O.D.  242,378   3.57%
Timothy J. Lemoine  27,995(8)  .41%
R. Glenn Pumpelly  17,279   .23%
William M. Simmons  217,463(9)  3.20%
Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr.  98,313   1.45%
J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.  14,325(10)  .21%
Donald R. Landry  93,572(11)  1.38%
Teri S. Stelly  25,223(12)  .37%
A. Dwight Utz  5,250(13)  .07%
All directors and executive officers
as a group (15 persons)
  2,208,317   32.35%

_______________
(1)
Stock held by our Directors' Deferred Compensation Trust (the “Trust”) is  beneficially owned by its Plan Administrator, our Executive Committee, the members of which could be deemed to share beneficial ownership of all Stock held in the Trust (325,026(360,426 shares or 5.08%5.31% as of March 31, 2007)2009).  For each director, the table includes the number of shares held for his or her account only, while the group figure includes all shares held in the Trust.  Stock held by our Employee Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”) is not included in the table, except that shares allocated to an individual's account are included as beneficially owned by that individual.  Shares which may be acquired by exercise of currently exercisable options (“Current Options”) are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding Stock owned by persons beneficially owning such shares and by all directors and executive officers as a group but are not otherwise deemed to be outstanding.

(2)
Includes 45,54947,826 shares as to which he shares voting and investment power.

(3)
Includes 194,260226,527 shares as to which he shares voting and investment power.  Mr. Cloutier's address is P. O. Box 3745, Lafayette, Louisiana 70502.

-9-


(4)
Includes 8,5708,998 shares as to which he shares voting and investment power.

(5)
Includes 1,1851,244 shares as to which she shares voting and investment power.

(6)
Includes 394,588395,800 shares as to which he shares voting and investment power.  Dr. Hargroder's address is P. O. Box 1049, Jennings, Louisiana 70546.

(7)
Includes 130,765120,303 shares as to which he shares voting and investment power.

(8)
Includes 19,47320,700 shares as to which he shares voting and investment power.

(9)
Includes 5,8037,825 shares as to which he shares voting and investment power.

(10)
Includes 5,4485,719 shares as to which he shares voting and investment power.

(11)
Includes 47,84638,082 shares as to which he shares voting and investment power.

(12)
Includes 3,10021,658 shares as to which she shares voting and investment power.

(13)Includes 1,555 shares as to which he shares voting and investment power.
_______________________

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The following table shows the number of shares in the Trust and ESOP, and the number of shares subject to Current Options, (options that the named person may exercise in 60 days) that have been included in the above Ownership Table.ownership table.

Name Trust ESOP 
Current
Options
 
Will G. Charbonnet, Sr.  46,415  --  -- 
C. R. Cloutier  56,518  45,897  46,675 
James R. Davis, Jr.  36,707  --  -- 
Karen L. Hail  36,248  49,916  11,344 
J. B. Hargroder, M.D.  49,915  --  -- 
Clayton Paul Hilliard  21,110  --  -- 
Milton B. Kidd, III, O.D.  16,650  --  -- 
Timothy J. Lemoine  2,706  --  -- 
Stephen C. May  --  --  -- 
R. Glenn Pumpelly  --  --  -- 
William M. Simmons  47,845  --  -- 
Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr.  --  --  -- 
J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.  --  --  18,750 
Donald R. Landry  --  23,603  3,781 
A. Dwight Utz  --  1,951  12,203 
Name Trust  ESOP  
Current
Options
 
Will Charbonnet, Sr.  50,521   --   -- 
C. R. Cloutier  61,519   31,664   24,816 
James R. Davis, Jr.  39,954   --   -- 
Karen L. Hail  39,455   54,862   -- 
J. B. Hargroder, M.D.  54,331   --   -- 
Clayton Paul Hilliard  22,977   --   -- 
Milton B. Kidd, III, O.D.  18,123   --   -- 
Timothy J. Lemoine  7,262   --   -- 
R. Glenn Pumpelly  --   --   -- 
William M. Simmons  52,078   --   -- 
Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr.  2,328   --   -- 
J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.  --   731   7,875 
Donald R. Landry  --   26,397   -- 
Teri S. Stelly  --   21,658   2,888 
A. Dwight Utz  --   2,792   903 

_______________________

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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

The following lists as of March 31, 2007,2009, the only persons other than the persons listed in the table above known to us to beneficially own more than five percent of our Stock.

Name and Address
Of Beneficial Owner
 Shares Beneficially Owned 
Percent
of Class
     
MidSouth Bancorp, Inc., Employee Stock
Ownership Plan, ESOP Trustees and
ESOP Administrative Committee
P. O. Box 3745, Lafayette, LA 70502
 
511,710(1)
 8.00%
     
MidSouth Bancorp, Inc., (2)
Directors Deferred Compensation Plan,
Executive Committee
P. O. Box 3745, Lafayette, LA 70502
 325,026 5.08%
Name and Address
Of Beneficial Owner
Shares Beneficially
Owned
Percent
of Class
   
MidSouth Bancorp, Inc., Employee Stock
Ownership Plan, ESOP Trustees and
ESOP Administrative Committee
P. O. Box 3745, Lafayette, LA 70502
558,337(1)
8.22%
   
MidSouth Bancorp, Inc., (2)
Directors Deferred Compensation Plan,
Executive Committee
P. O. Box 3745, Lafayette, LA 70502
 
360,4265.31%
___________________
(1)The Administrative Committee directs the Trustees how to vote the approximately 14,37330,828 unallocated shares in the ESOP as of  March 31, 2007.2009.  Voting rights of the shares allocated to ESOP participants' accounts are passed through to them.  The Trustees have investment power with respect to the ESOP's assets, but must exercise it in accordance with an investment policy established by the Administrative Committee. The Trustees are Donald R. Landry, an executive officer, and Katherine Gardner and Brenda Jordan, two Bank employees.  The  Administrative Committee consists of employeesemployee Polly Leonard and Felicia Savoie and Teri S. Stelly.Stelly, an executive officer.

(2)See Note (1) to the Table of Security Ownership of Management.
_________________________

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Certain Transactions

Directors, nominees, and executive officers and their associates have been customers of, and have borrowed from our bank subsidiariesMidSouth Bank in the ordinary course of business, and such transactions are expected to continue in the future.  In the opinion of management, our loan policy is less favorable to those persons than to other customers.

C. R. Cloutier and his wife, Brenda Cloutier, have pledged 15,000 shares of our Stock to Whitney Bank securing a loan in the amount of $284,000 with a balance of $241,275 for their daughter's daycare business.  Additionally, Mr. and Mrs. Cloutier have pledged 6,979 shares of our Stock to First National Banker's Bank to secure a personal loan in the amount  of $140,000.$140,000 with a  balance of $93,000.

James R. Davis has pledged 26,08227,355 shares of our  Stock to Chase BankCapital One Investments  to secure a $225,000$250,000 line of credit.credit with a balance of  $200,000.

C. P. Hilliard has pledged 24,20043,572 shares of our Stock to MidSouth Bank as partial security  on a $825,000$1,000,000 line of credit with a balance outstanding of  $265,000.

Stephen C. May,$0.00.  Additionally, Mr. Hilliard has pledged 119,97115,200 shares of our Stock to Rayne State Bankin his UBS account which serves as security on a $2,500,000 linecollateral for his UBS Line of credit with aCredit.  The balance outstanding of $346,176.is $200,000.
_________________________
_________________________
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC.
2007 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN


GeneralDISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The Board believes that our growth depends significantly upon the efforts of its directors, officersfollowing Compensation Discussion and other key employees (collectively, "Participants")Analysis may contain statements regarding future individual and that such individuals are best motivated to put forth maximum effort on our behalf if they own an equity interest in us. In accordance with this philosophy, in March, 2007, the Board unanimously adopted our 2007 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) and has directed that the Plan be submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Meeting.

Officers and other key employees will be eligible to receive awards (“Incentives”) under the Plan when designated by the Personnel Committee, which administers the Plan. Incentives may be granted in any oneCompany performance targets or a combination of the following forms: (a) incentive and non-qualified stock options, (b) stock appreciation rights, (c) restricted stock, (d) performance shares, (e) restricted stock units, (f) performance units, (g) stock awards, and (h) cash awards.

In addition, the Plan will grant options to non-employee directors of MidSouth. See “Stock Options to Non-Employee Directors.”

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General Purposes of the Proposal

The Board has determined to maintain a compensation system that includes, to a significant extent, grants of equity-based incentive awards. The Board believes that providing directors and key personnel with a proprietary interest in our growth and performance is crucial to stimulating individual performance while enhancing shareholder value. The Board further believes that the Plan will assist us in attracting, retaining and motivating directors and key personnel in a manner that is tied to the interests of shareholders.

Shares Issuable through the Plan. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for Incentives under the Plan may not exceed 500,000 shares. Proportionate adjustments will be made to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Plangoals. We have disclosed these targets or goals in the eventlimited context of any recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, combinationour compensation programs and, therefore, you should not take these statements to be  management’s expectations or estimates of sharesresults or other change in the Common Stock. The Committee may also amend the terms of any Incentiveguidance. We specifically caution investors not to the extent appropriateapply such statements to provide participants with the same relative rights before and after the occurrence of such an event. Shares of Common Stock subject to Incentives that are cancelled, terminated or forfeited, or shares of Common Stock that are issued as Incentives and forfeited or reacquired by MidSouth, will again be available for issuance under the Plan.

On March 31, 2007, we had options to acquire 154,425 shares granted and outstanding under our existing plan. In accordance with the plan document, the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan will terminate this year. On March 31, 2007, the closing sales price for a share of Common Stock, as reported on the American Stock Exchange, was $27.02.

Administration of the Plan. The Committee administers the Plan and has plenary authority to award Incentives under the Plan, to interpret the Plan, to establish any rules or regulations relating to the Plan that it determines to be appropriate, to delegate its authority as appropriate, and to make any other determination that it believes necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan.

Amendments to the Plan. The Board may amend or discontinue the Plan at any time. However, we anticipate that any amendment that would materially increase the benefits under the Plan, materially increase the number of securities that may be issued under the Plan or materially modify the eligibility requirements, will be submitted to the holders of Common Stock for their approval. Except in limited circumstances, no amendment or discontinuance may change or impair any previously granted Incentive without the consent of the recipient thereof.

Types of Incentives. The Committee will be authorized under the Plan to grant stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, performance units, stock awards and cash awards, each of which is described below.

Stock Options. The Committee may grant non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock. The Committee will determine the number and exercise price of the options to employees, and the time or times that the options become exercisable, provided that the option exercise price may not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The term of an option will also be determined by the Committee, provided that the term of an incentive stock option may not exceed 10 years. The Committee may approve the purchase by MidSouth of an unexercised stock option from the optionee by mutual agreement for the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares covered by such option.

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The option exercise price may be paid in cash, in shares of Common Stock, in a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, through a broker-assisted exercise arrangement or in such other manner as may be authorized by the Committee. If an optionee exercises an option while employed by us and pays the exercise price with previously owned shares of Common Stock, the Committee may grant to the optionee an additional option to purchase the same number of shares as were surrendered at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

Incentive stock options will be subject to certain additional requirements necessary in order to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Shares of Common Stock may be granted by the Committee to an eligible employee and made subject to restrictions regarding their sale, pledge or other transfer by the employee for a specified period (the “Restricted Period”). All shares of restricted stock and/or restricted stock units will be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may designate in an agreement with the employee, including, among other things, that the shares are required to be forfeited or resold to us in the event of termination of employment. Restricted stock units will be similar to restricted stock except that no shares are actually awarded to the participant on the date of grant. Subject to the restrictions provided in the participant's agreement and the Plan, a participant receiving restricted stock will have all of the rights of a shareholder as to such shares. A participant will have no voting rights with respect to any restricted stock units granted.

Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right, or “SAR,” is a right to receive, without payment to us, a number of shares of Common Stock, cash or any combination thereof, the amount of which is determined by the Committee. A SAR may be granted in conjunction with a stock option or alone without reference to any stock option. A SAR granted in conjunction with a stock option may be granted concurrently with the grant of such option or at such later time as determined by the Committee and as to all or any portion of the shares subject to the option.

The Plan confers on the Committee discretion to determine the number of shares to which a SAR will relate as well as the duration and exercisability terms of a SAR. In the case of a SAR granted with respect to a stock option, the number of shares of Common Stock to which the SAR pertains will be reduced in the same proportion that the holder exercises the related option. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a SAR will be exercisable for the same time period as any stock option to which it relates.

Upon exercise of a SAR, the holder is entitled to receive an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the appreciation in the shares of Common Stock as to which the SAR is exercised. For this purpose, the “appreciation” in the shares consists of the amount by which the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the exercise date exceeds (a) in the case of a SAR related to a stock option, the purchase price of the shares under the option or (b) in the case of a SAR granted alone without reference to a related stock option, an amount determined by the Committee at the time of grant. The Committee may pay the amount of this appreciation to the holder of the SAR by the delivery of Common Stock, cash, or any combination of Common Stock and cash.

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Performance Shares and Performance Units. Performance shares and performance units consist of the grant by MidSouth to an eligible participant of a contingent right to receive shares of Common Stock or cash with or without any payment by the participant. Each performance share and/or performance unit will be subject to the achievement of performance objectives by MidSouth, a business unit, a department or a subsidiary by the end of or within a specified period. The number of shares granted and the performance criteria will be determined by the Committee. The award of performance shares and/or performance units will not create any rights in a participant as a shareholder of MidSouth until the issuance of shares of Common Stock with respect to an award. Performance shares may be awarded in conjunction with the grant of dividend equivalent payment rights that entitle a participant to receive an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on an equal number of shares of Common Stock during the period beginning on the date of grant of an award and ending on the date on which the award is paid or forfeited.

Stock Awards. Shares of Common Stock may be awarded by MidSouth to an eligible participant as a stock award. The number of shares awarded pursuant to any stock award will be determined by the Committee.

Cash Awards. A cash award may be made by MidSouth to an eligible participant as additional compensation for services provided to MidSouth. Payment may depend on the achievement of specified performance objectives by MidSouth or the individual or may relate to the tax obligation imposed on a participant as the result of the grant, vesting or exercise of another Incentive. The amount of any monetary payment constituting a cash award will be determined by the Committee.

Termination of Employment. If a participant ceases to be our employee, for any reason, including death, any Incentive may be exercised, will vest or will expire at such time or times as may be determined by the Committee in the Incentive agreement with the participant.

Loans to Participants. The Committee may authorize a loan to a participant to cover the participant's tax liability that arises in connection with an Incentive. The terms of the loan will be determined by the Committee.

Change of Control. If (a) we are not the survivor in a merger, consolidation or other reorganization, (b) we sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of our assets, (c) we are to be dissolved or liquidated, (d) any person or entity, other than an employee benefit plan of ours or a related trust, acquires or gains control of more than 30% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock or (e) in connection with a contested election of directors, the persons who were directors of MidSouth before the election no longer are a majority of the Board (collectively, “corporate changes”), all outstanding Incentives will automatically become exercisable and vested, all performance criteria will be waived, and the Committee will have authority to take several actions regarding outstanding Incentives. Within certain time periods, it may (i) require that all outstanding options and SARs remain exercisable only for a limited time, after which they will terminate, (ii) require the surrender of some or all outstanding options and SAR's in exchange for a cash or Common Stock payment for each option or SAR equal in value to the per share change of control value, calculated as described on the Plan, over the exercise price, (iii) make any equitable adjustment to outstanding Incentives as it deems necessary to reflect the corporate change or (iv) provide that an option or SAR shall become an option or SAR relating to the number and class of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) to which the participant would have been entitled in connection with the corporate change if he or she had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by such options or SARs.

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The Board believes that providing the Committee with the choices outlined above will permit the Committee to review all relevant tax, accounting and other issues relating to the treatment of outstanding Incentives at the time of the corporate change, and thereby enable the Committee to choose the treatment that will best serve the participants and us. Although the automatic vesting of Incentives and the actions permitted to be taken by the Committee in the event of a change of control could discourage a takeover of us, these provisions have not been included for the purposes of making us a less attractive takeover target.

Transferability of Incentives. Options, SARs and performance shares are not transferable except (a) by will, (b) by the laws of descent and distribution, (c) pursuant to a domestic relations order or (d) to family members, to a trust for the benefit of family members or to charitable institutions, if permitted by the Committee after considering tax and securities law consequences and if so provided in the Incentive agreement.


Stock Options to Non-Employee Directors

Directors who are not also full-time employees of MidSouth (“Non-Employee Directors”) will be eligible to receive nonqualified options in an amount to be determined by the Committee. Such options when granted will be exercisable in annual 20% increments beginning one year from the date of grant. Non-Employee Directors are not eligible to receive any other Incentive under the Plan. Generally, the terms of the Plan described above will apply to such options, except that the Committee has no power to accelerate any options, or transfer of options other than in specified situations, except as may be permitted only by the full Board and all unexercisable options at the time a Non-Employee Director terminates Board service for any reason will expire, and all exercisable options at the time must be exercised within 6 months of termination for death, disability or retirement after age 65, and within 90 days for any other reason.


Federal Income Tax Consequences

Under existing federal income tax provisions, a participant who receives stock options, SARs or performance shares or who receives shares of restricted stock that are subject to restrictions which create a “substantial risk of forfeiture” (within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code) will not normally realize any income, nor will we normally receive any deduction for federal income tax purposes, in the year such Incentive is granted.

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When a non-qualified stock option granted pursuant to the Plan is exercised, the recipient will realize ordinary income measured by the difference between the aggregate purchase price of the shares of Common Stock as to which the option is exercised and the aggregate fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the exercise date, and we will be entitled to a deduction in the year the option is exercised equal to the amount the recipient is required to treat as ordinary income.

An employee, consultant or advisor generally will not recognize any income upon the exercise of any incentive stock option, but the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise over the option price will be an item of adjustment, which may subject the holder of the option to the alternative minimum tax imposed by Section 55 of the Code. The alternative minimum tax is imposed to the extent it exceeds federal regular individual income tax, and it is intended to ensure that individual taxpayers who have economic income do not avoid income tax by taking advantage of exclusions, deductions and credits for regular tax purposes. An optionee will recognize capital gain or loss in the amount of the difference between the exercise price and the sale price on the sale or exchange of stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option, provided the optionee does not dispose of such stock within two years from the date of grant and one year from the date of exercise of the incentive stock option (the “required holding periods”). An optionee disposing of such shares before the expiration of the required holding period will recognize ordinary income generally equal to the difference between the option price and the fair market value of the stock on the date of exercise. The remaining gain, if any, will be capital gain. We will not be entitled to a federal income tax deduction in connection with the exercise of an incentive stock option, except where the optionee disposes of the Common Stock received upon exercise before the expiration of the required holding period.

If the exercise price of an option is paid by the surrender of previously owned shares, the basis of the previously owned shares carries over to the shares received in replacement therefore. If the option is a non-qualified option, the income recognized on exercise is added to the basis. If the option is an incentive stock option, the optionee will recognize gain if the shares surrendered were acquired through the exercise of an incentive stock option and have not been held for the applicable holding period. This gain will be added to the basis of the shares received in replacement of the previously owned shares.

When a SAR is exercised, the participant will recognize ordinary income in the year the SAR is exercised equal to the value of the appreciation that he is entitled to receive pursuant to the formula previously described, and we will be entitled to a deduction in the same year and in the same amount.

An employee who receives restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares or performance units will normally recognize taxable income on the date the shares and/or units become transferable or no longer subject to substantial risk of forfeiture or on the date of their earlier disposition. The amount of such taxable income will be equal to the amount by which the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the date such restrictions lapse (or any earlier date on which the shares are disposed of) exceeds their purchase price, if any. An employee may elect, however, to include in income in the year of purchase or grant the excess of the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock (without regard to any restrictions) on the date of purchase or grant over its purchase price. Subject to the limitations imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code, MidSouth will be entitled to a deduction for compensation paid in the same year and in the same amount as income is realized by employee. Dividends currently paid to the participant will be taxable compensation income to the participant and deductible by MidSouth.

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A participant who receives a stock award under the Plan consisting of shares of Common Stock will realize ordinary income in the year of the award in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock covered by the award on the date it is made, and MidSouth will be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount the participant is required to treat as ordinary income. A participant who receives a cash award will realize ordinary income in the year the award is paid equal to the amount thereof, and the amount of the cash award will be deductible by MidSouth.

If, upon a change in control of us, the exercisability or vesting of an Incentive granted under the Plan is accelerated, any excess on the date of the change in control of the fair market value of the shares or cash issued under Incentives over the purchase price of such shares, if any, may be characterized as Parachute Payments (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code) if the sum of such amounts and any other such contingent payments received by the employee exceeds an amount equal to three times the “Base Amount” for such employee. The Base Amount generally is the average of the annual compensation of such employee for the five years preceding such change in ownership or control. An Excess Parachute Payment, with respect to any employee, is the excess of the Parachute Payments to such person, in the aggregate, over and above such person's Base Amount. If the amounts received by an employee upon a change in control are characterized as Parachute Payments, such employee will be subject to a 20% excise tax on the Excess Parachute Payment, and we will be denied any deduction with respect to such Excess Parachute Payment.

The Plan permits a participant to elect to have a sufficient number of shares withheld to satisfy the participant's withholding tax obligation with respect to the grant or vesting of an Incentive.

The summary of federal income tax consequences does not purport to be complete. Reference should be made to the applicable provisions of the Code. There also may be state and local income tax consequences applicable to transactions involving Incentives.

Vote Required

The Board of Directors has unanimously approved the Plan. Approval of the Plan requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present at the meeting. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote for approval of the Plan.
_________________________

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIScontexts.

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis is intended to assist you in understanding our Company’s compensation programs.  It is intended to explain the philosophy underlying our compensation strategy and the fundamental elements of compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table (“Named Executive Officers”) for 2006.2008.  Specifically, this Compensation Discussion and Analysis addresses the following:

·Objectives of our compensation programs;
·What our compensation programs are designed to reward;
·  Process for determining executive officer compensation;
·Elements of compensation provided to our executive officers;
­-
The purpose of each element of compensation
­-
Why we elect to pay each element of compensation
­-
How each element of compensation was determined by the Committee
­-How each element and our decisions regarding its payment relate to our goals
·Process for determining executive officer compensation; and
·Other important compensation policies affecting our executive officers.

During 2008, the Bank completed a restructuring process to meet the demands and changes of the business brought on by the Bank's rapid growth and increase in size.  The process impacted the implementation of changes in Named Executive Officer compensation, such as changes in base salary levels, as well as the allocation of various compensation elements to these employees.

Additionally, 2008 was a difficult year with turmoil throughout the economy and the financial services sector.  The exceptionally difficult market conditions led to the Treasury’s creation of the Capital Purchase Program (CPP) under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).  The program provided the opportunity for MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. to benefit from additional capital through sales of our preferred stock and common stock purchase warrants to the Treasury.  We took part in the CPP, and on January 9, 2009 received $20,000,000 in funding.  In February 2009, Congress passed the American Recover and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which placed additional rules upon executive compensation programs previously defined under CPP participation guidelines.  We highlight the impact of all these events on the various elements of our executive compensation elements as we discuss our compensation programs throughout this document.

The Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors (“Committee”) administers our executive compensation programs.  During 2006,2008, the Committee consisted of Will Charbonnet, Sr. (Chairman), James R. Davis, Jr., J. B. Hargroder, M.D., and Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr.  The members of the Committee all qualify as independent, outside members of the Board of Directors in accordance with the requirements of the AmericanNew York Stock Exchange (AMEX)(NYSE Amex), current SEC regulations and section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.


The Committee is responsible for recommending compensation for the Chief Executive Officer to the Board of Directors. The Committee consults with the Chief Executive Officer in determining the compensation for the other executive officers subject to approval by the Board of Directors.
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Objectives of Our Compensation Programs

The Committee has the responsibility for continually monitoring the compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers (NEOs) as well as other executive officers.employees.  The Committee believes that compensation of our executive officers should encourage creation of stockholder value and achievement of strategic corporate objectives.  Specifically, the Committee is committed to ensuring that the total compensation package for our executive officers will serve to:

·Attract, retain, and motivate outstanding executive officers whom add value to your Companyus based on individual and team contributions;
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·Provide a competitive salary structure in all markets where we operate; and

·Align the executive officers’ interests with the long-term interests of our shareholders to incent them to enhance shareholder value.

What Our Compensation Programs Are Designed to Reward

Our executive officers' compensation is designed to reward short term performance as well as long termlong-term performance.  Our policy is to provide a large portion of compensation in cash, including an annual base salary and an opportunity to receive an annual incentive that is based on basic earnings per share (EPS).  We provide this to keep the executive officers focused on current earnings and stability.stability and to strongly align the executives with the interests of our shareholders.  We also view the annual incentive as a long termlong-term performance vehicle because we examine performance measures including credit quality, credit risk management, deposit growth, regulatory compliance, return on equity, and growth in our assets and income when assessing incentive grants to the executive officers.  Credit quality, non accruals, and charge offs are impacted by long termlong-term performance such that performance in the current year affects these measures in future years.

Additionally, we have historically provided additional compensation benefits through our 1997 Stock Incentive Plan and our Employee Stock OptionOwnership Plan (ESOP), which keeps the executive officers focused on our long termlong-term goals.

Over the last sevenseveral years, our performance has been well above average as compared to similarly situated financial institutions, and the compensation programs are designed to reward and promote the continuation of this performance.  We aim to provide a substantial portion of executive officers compensationofficers’ pay in the form of performance based compensation through the annual incentive opportunity; therefore,opportunity.  The impact of our focus on incentive compensation programs is clear in the increasereduction of overall pay levels in 2008 compared to 2007.  Although we outperformed peers, our 2008 fiscal-year end EPS was lower than 2007 fiscal-year end levels.

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Process for Determining Executive Officer Compensation

•   Role of the Committee and the Executive Officers. The Committee annually reviews and recommends the levels, performance goals, and strategic objectives, relating to compensation of the Chief Executive Officer to our Board.  Final approval on the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation is made by the full Board.  The Committee also consults with the Chief Executive Officer on the compensation levels of the other executive officers.  Based on these discussions, the Committee along with the Chief Executive Officer recommends the compensation levels for the other Named Executive Officers to the Board.

Additionally, the Committee periodically reviews our incentive plans and other equity based plans.  The Committee reviews, adopts, and submits to the Board any proposed arrangement or plan and any amendment to an existing arrangement or plan that provides or will provide benefits to the executive officers collectively or to an individual executive officer.  The Committee has sole authority to retain and terminate a compensation overconsultant or other advisor as the past few years is based on this exceptional performance.Committee deems appropriate.

•   Role of the Compensation Consultant.  During 2008, the Compensation Committee continued its engagement from 2007 with Amalfi Consulting LLC to assist with, and provide guidance on, executive and broad-based employee compensation programs.  In making decisions regarding  executive officer compensation for 2008, the Compensation Committee considered an overall compensation review completed for our top executive employees, including all of the five NEOs,  by Amalfi Consulting in late 2007.  We provide further details on the peer group created for this review under the “Benchmarking” section of this discussion.

The Committee also engaged Amalfi Consulting to assist with the design of an annual incentive plan structure to strengthen the alignment of the performance of plan participants with our goals and objectives.  In addition to the annual incentive planning process, Amalfi Consulting LLC assisted us with the creation of an administrative plan document for its Phantom Stock incentive compensation program.  Amalfi Consulting LLC reported directly to the Committee on all projects conducted and performed no other services for us in 2008.

•   Benchmarking.  To ensure the competitiveness of our total compensation package, the Committee uses salary survey information from several different nationally recognized surveys that focus on our industry and region.  Specifically, we used salary survey information compiled by K G & Associates, including surveys from Watson Wyatt and Mercer.  This information was used to evaluate what comparable institutions are paying.   In 2008, K G & Associates conducted no other business with us.  Along with the data compiled by K G & Associates, the Committee considered data from an additional compensation survey conducted by Scheshunoff Management Services.

In using survey data, we benchmark both base salary and annual incentive.  Long-term incentives are not benchmarked because we feel that long-term incentives are not part of the basic compensation of the executive officers.  Long-term incentives are viewed as an additional opportunity for the executive officer based on the value of our stock price.

In prior years our total compensation levels have been within the 50th to 75th percentile of survey market data from comparable organizations in the financial services industry.  In light of the financial difficulties

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and performance during 2008, and the impact of this performance on our incentive program payouts, we expect our total compensation levels are now below these market survey levels.

At the end of 2007 the Committee, in coordination with Amalfi Consulting LLC, conducted an overall review of the executive compensation program.  As part of this review, a peer group of 20 banks comparable to us in terms of geographic location, asset size, growth and performance was selected.  The criteria used to determine the peer group was based upon data as of fiscal year-end 2006.  At the time of the peer group creation, we compared favorably to the peer group on 3-yr asset growth, return on average assets, and return on average equity.  We present a summary of the 2006 comparison in the table below:

  Total Assets  Asset Growth  ROAA  ROAE 
 Summary of Peer Group (Yr-end 2006)  2006Y  3 Yr   2006Y   2006Y 
Average  1,069,305   84.4%  0.96%  10.4%
50th Percentile  990,350   54.4%  0.90%  9.6%
MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.  805,022   86.0%  1.08%  14.7%

In order to provide a more current perspective we present the year-end results, as available, for our peer group as of year-end 2008 in the following table.  During 2008, we continued to compare favorably to peers on measures used to create the peer group in 2006.

Benchmarking Peer Group (as of year-end 2008)(1)
       Total Assets  Asset Growth  ROAA  ROAE 
        2008Y  3 Yr   2008Y   2008Y 
  Company NameTickerCityState $(000) (%)  (%)  (%) 
 1 First M&F CorporationFMFCKosciuskoMS  1,596,865   26.0   0.03   0.37 
 2 Great Florida BankGFLBACoral GablesFL  1,843,867   83.3   -1.12   -11.34 
 3 ViewPoint Financial Group (MHC)VPFGPlanoTX  2,213,447   55.0   0.30   2.95 
 4 Southern Community Financial CorporationSCMFWinston-SalemNC  1,803,778   40.1   0.34   4.02 
 5 BancTrust Financial Group, Inc.BTFGMobileAL  2,088,177   59.9   0.06   0.50 
 6 Encore Bancshares, Inc.EBTXHoustonTX  1,587,844   20.6   -0.54   -4.96 
 7 TIB Financial Corp.TIBBNaplesFL  1,610,114   49.6   -1.36   -20.41 
 8 MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.MCBIHoustonTX  1,580,238   40.1   0.12   1.50 
 9 CenterState Banks of Florida, Inc.CSFLWinter HavenFL  1,333,143   53.0   0.28   2.21 
 10 Florida Community Banks, Inc.FLRBImmokaleeFL  --   --   --   -- 
 11 Peoples Financial CorporationPFBXBiloxiMS  896,408   6.0   0.56   4.77 
 12 Pulaski Financial Corp.PULBSaint LouisMO  1,304,150   65.1   0.23   3.34 
 13 Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc.PBTCSelmaAL  --   --   --   -- 
 14 Nexity Financial CorporationNXTYBirminghamAL  1,061,580   35.3   -1.27   -20.14 
 15 Bank of Florida CorporationBOFLNaplesFL  1,549,013   171.9   -0.93   -6.70 
 16 First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas, Inc.FFBHHarrisonAR  795,172   -6.7   0.31   3.38 
 17 Federal Trust CorporationFDTRSanfordFL  --   --   --   -- 
 18 United Security Bancshares, Inc.USBIThomasvilleAL  668,002   7.5   0.80   6.83 
 19 Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc.AUBNAuburnAL  745,970   22.7   0.92   12.06 
 20 Sun American BancorpSAMBBoca RatonFL  590,927   113.2   -8.69   -58.26 
   Average     1,368,747   49.6   -0.59   -4.70 
   50th Percentile     1,549,013   40.1   0.12   1.50 
   MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.MSLLafayetteLA  936,815   34.1   0.60   7.79 
(1)  Data for Florida Community Banks, Inc. and Federal Trust Corporation was unavailable at the time of the filing of this document.  People’s Banctrust Company Inc, (PBTC) was acquired by BancTrust Financial Group, Inc. on October 15, 2007.

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Although we did not modify the nature of our compensation programs for our NEOs during 2008, we did use the information from the review, in conjunction with the survey market data, to make decisions related to base salary levels in 2008.  The review will also be used on a going forward basis with respect to any updates or modifications to executive compensation programs in 2009.

Elements of Compensation

We have determined thatbelieve it is our and our shareholders’in the best interest of our shareholders and us to provide competitive compensation to attract and retain the most qualified executive officers with demonstrated leadership abilities that will secure our future.  We do this by providing compensation that is tied to our short and long termlong-term performance goals to motivate our executive officers to attain these goals.

The performance goals that we examine may include credit quality, credit risk management, deposit growth, regulatory compliance, return on equity, and growth in our assets and income.

We dohave not feel that we made any material changes in individual compensation in 2006. We believe our basic plans were adequate. Some of the executive officers received minor adjustments2008 compared to base salary and the annual incentive opportunity because we felt it was necessary based on each executive officer’s performance along with comparable levels of compensation in the marketplace.

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2007.  The elements of compensation used during 20062008 to compensate the executive officers include:
·Base Salary;
·Annual Incentives;
·Retirement Benefits;
·Health and Insurance Plans;
·  ·Long TermLong-term Equity Awards; and
·Perquisites.

Below is a discussion of each element of compensation listed above, including the purpose of each element of compensation, why we elect to pay each element of compensation, how each element of compensation was determined by the Committee, and how each element and our decisions regarding the payment of each element relate to our goals.

•   Base Salary. Although we favor the use of incentive compensation, we believe it is necessary and prudent to pay a portion of total compensation in the form of a competitive fixed base salary.  We believe the payment of a fixed base salary to our executive officers helps maintain productivity by minimizing anxiety thatproviding a financial or industry slump could impair their personalguaranteed and family planning.dependable base amount of income.

It is our goal to setWhen setting base salary to reflectlevels, the role and responsibility ofCommittee takes into account the executive officer over time and to comfortably meet the executive’s needs. Base salary, although not directly connected to performance, is essential to competetotal direct cash compensation amount targeted for talent and our failure to pay a competitive base salary could harm our ability to recruit and retain management. Base salary was initially determined by analyzing base salaries of comparable executives in the marketplace and considering the abilities, qualifications, accomplishments, prior work experience, and cost of living of the executive officer.each executive.  Essentially, base salary wasis established by determining the amount of money, in combination with the anticipated amount of annual incentive, that was necessary to attract and retain top caliber executive officers.  Therefore adjustments to base pay levels are made with careful consideration to the total compensation provided to our executive officers.

BaseIt is also our goal to set specific base salary adjustments are generally considered annually in December on a discretionary basislevels which appropriately reflect the role and take into accountresponsibility of the executive officer’s individual performance overofficer.  Therefore, the Committee also considers the abilities, qualifications, accomplishments, prior year, changes inwork experience, and cost of living of the executive officer’s responsibilities, our performance, and market levels of compensation.

In December of 2005 and 2006,officer when determining the Committee recommendedfinal recommendation to the Board 2006 andBoard.

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Due to our restructuring activities in 2007 which extended into 2008, decisions for 2008 base salary forchanges were not made until April of 2008 and were retroactively applied to January 1, 2008.  We provide the Chief Executive Officerdecisions made regarding base salaries changes from 2007 and in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer 2006 and 2007 base salary for the other executive officers except for Mr. Corrigan’s 2006 base salary. Mr. Corrigan was hired during 2006 and his base salary for 2006 was set by the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Committee upon his hire date.

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Base salary for 2006 and 20072008 for each of the Named Executive Officers is as follows:NEOs in the following table:

  
2006
Base Salary
 
2007
Base Salary
 
      
C.R. Cloutier $196,000 $200,000 
      
Karen L. Hail  149,595  157,000 
      
J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.  165,000  175,000 
      
Donald R. Landry  139,552  147,000 
      
A. Dwight Utz  98,348  112,000 
Named Executive Officer 2007 Base Salary  2008 Base Salary  % Increase 
C.R. Cloutier $200,000  $200,000   0.0%
J. Eustis Corrigan Jr. $175,000  $190,000   8.6%
Karen L. Hail $157,000  $157,000   0.0%
Donald R. Landry $147,000  $154,000   4.8%
A. Dwight Utz $112,000  $121,000   8.0%
Totals for all Five Named Executive Officers as a Group $791,000  $822,000   3.9%

The overall average increase in base pay across all five NEOs during 2008 was 3.9%.  This level is within market norms and also within expectations discussed in our 2007 proxy filing.  On an individual basis, base salary adjustments reflect a consideration of an increase in job responsibilities due to our restructuring, and increases due to considerations of market pay levels for the position.  Due to the current economic environment, no base salary increases have been planned for 2009.

•  Annual Incentives. Annual incentives are provided to the executive officers through the our  Company's Incentive Compensation Plan (CICP).  The Named Executive Officers do not participate in any other annual incentive plans.

Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan. Plan (CICP)
Annual incentives are primarily designed to reward increased shareholder value as well as to focus the executive officers on our goals for a particular year and to reward executive officers upon achievement of those goals.  We believe annual incentives are an important element of executive officers’ compensation because they provide the incentive and motivation to lead us in achieving success. The annual incentive under the CICP is tied to basic earnings per share (EPS) and makes up a very significant part of the executive officer’s compensation.  If the executive officer is able to significantly improve our performance then the executive officer will have a significant increase in annual incentive for the year.  If the performance is below target expectations then the executive officer will have a reduction in targeted incentive compensation.

We use a system of annual incentives to reward the executive officers quarterly based on EPS. Before the beginning of each year, the Committee awards each executive officer a specified number of phantom shares of our stock.shares.  Annual incentive is determinedincentives are calculated on a quarterly equal toschedule and are based upon the number of phantom shares timesawarded to the officer at the start of the year, multiplied by our EPS for the quarter.  Sixty percent of the amount determined at each quarter is paid each quarter andat that time, with the remaining balance is paid at the end of the year, provided we were profitable for the entire year.  If we are not profitable for the year (i.e., the fourth quarter results in a large loss) then the balance will not be paid.

The number of phantom shares granted each year is generally considereddetermined in December based upon the number of shares awarded in the past year, and the impact of the award on a discretionary basis andtotal compensation

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levels for the executive officer in the coming year.  The determination of award levels takes into account the executive officer’s individual performance compared to the prior year, his or her importance to us, and our overall financial performance.  The granting of phantom shares as the annual incentive in lieu of awarding cash bonuses is preferred by the Committee.

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In December of 2005 and 2006,2007, the Committee granted phantom shares for 20062008 which resulted in the payouts presented in the table below.  In December of 2008, the grants for 2009 were determined and 2007awarded to each of the Named Executive Officers except for Mr. Corrigan’s 2006 phantom share grant. Mr. Corrigan was hired during 2006 and was granted phantom shares for 2006 upon his hire date. Phantom shares were grantedNEOs.  Due to the Named Executive Officers for 2006current economic environment and 2007 as follows:our financial performance  in 2008, there were no increases in the number of shares from 2008 levels.
 
 
2006(1)
Phantom
Share Grant
 
2007
Phantom
Share Grant
 
     
Phantom Stock GrantsPhantom Stock Grants 
Named Executive Officer 2008  2009 
# of
Shares
  
Estimate of
Value at Start
of Year
  
Earned at
Year-End
  
# of
Shares
  
Dollar Value Estimate(1)
 
C.R. Cloutier  124,118  125,000  131,250  $173,750  $108,938   131,250  $108,938 
     
J. Eustis Corrigan Jr. 39,375  $52,125  $32,681   39,375  $32,681 
Karen L. Hail  62,500  62,500  65,625  $86,875  $54,469   65,625  $54,469 
     
J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.  37,500  37,500 
     
Donald R. Landry  43,870  45,000  47,250  $62,550  $39,218   47,250  $39,218 
     
A. Dwight Utz  24,579  24,579  28,926  $38,293  $24,009   28,926  $24,009 

___________________(1)  Estimates of dollar values for 2009 are based on basic undiluted EPS value of $0.83. The number of shares for 2008 and 2009 represents the amount of shares allocated at the beginning of the plan year.  There were no changes in the number of shares awarded to each NEO from 2008 to 2009.

(1)
The phantom share grant for 2006 has been adjusted for the 5:4 stock split on October 24, 2006. Before the stock split the grant of phantom shares consisted of 99,924 to Mr. Cloutier, 50,000 to Ms. Hail, 30,000 to Mr. Corrigan, 35,096 to Mr. Landry, and 19,663 to Mr. Utz.
___________________

•   Retirement Benefits. We do not have a defined benefit pension plan. However, executive officers are eligible to participate in our 401(k) retirement plan, which is a Company-wide, tax-qualified retirement plan. The intent of this plan is to provide all employees with a tax-advantaged savings opportunity for retirement. We sponsor this plan to help employees in all levels of the Company save and accumulate assets for use during their retirement. As required, eligible pay under this plan is capped at Internal Revenue Code (IRC) annual limits. We make annual matching contributions to the 401(k) retirement plan on behalf of the executive officers.

We have entered into Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Agreements with Mr. Cloutier, Ms. Hail, and Mr. Landry. The agreements provide that upon the executive officer reaching normal retirement age the executive officer will receive payment of amounts as defined in the agreement and discussed under the section “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” on page 34.

Health and Insurance Plans. The executive officers are eligible to participate in Company-sponsored benefit plans on the same terms and conditions as those generally provided to salaried employees. Basic health benefits, dental benefits, and similar programs are provided to make certain that access to healthcare and income protection is available to our employees and the employee’s family members. The cost of Company-sponsored benefit plans are negotiated with the providers of such benefits and the executive officers contribute to the cost of the benefits.

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The Company maintains a split dollar insurance arrangement with Mr. Cloutier, Ms. Hail and Mr. Landry. The arrangement provides benefits to the executive officer’s designated beneficiary in the event of the executive officer’s death.

Additionally, we provide Mr. Cloutier, Ms. Hail and Mr. Landry with a Term Life Insurance Policy in the amount of four times annual base salary payable to a beneficiary of their choice.

Long TermLong-term Equity Awards. Salary and annual incentives tend to reward shorter term goals; however, it is important to focus on long termlong-term performance, which is why we have historically granted stock options.  A stock option only rewards the executive if our stock price increases over a period of time.  Due to the volatility of the financial industry and the stock market during 2008, our financial performance, and the uncertainty regarding possible Treasury limitations on equity awards to executives, the Committee did not award stock options to any of the NEOs in 2008.  All long-term equity award programs will be reviewed during 2009.

It is our belief that executive officers need to have a significant interest tied to long term performance and increasing shareholder value. We believe the best way to accomplish this is through stock ownership of the Company. We encourage executive officers to own stock and provide the following programs to encourage stock ownership.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan:  To encourage ownership by all employees and therefore tie their interest to the interests of the shareholders, we established an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”) in 1986.  The ESOP covers all employees who meet minimum age and service requirements. We makeAmounts of annual contributions to the ESOP in amounts asare determined on a discretionary basis by the Board of Directors...  We made contributions to the NEO ESOP accounts during 2008.

1997 StockOmnibus Incentive Plan:  In addition2007, we received shareholder approval for an Omnibus Incentive Plan.  No equity awards were made under this plan in 2008.  This plan provides us with flexibility in the design and implementation of long-term equity award programs.  Under this plan the Committee may award a variety of forms of equity such as restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, and performance shares.  For details on the plan please refer to the ESOP, we have periodically granted stock options to executive officers and other senior employees. Our policy has been to grant stock options to executive officers to ensure that they have options currently outstanding. To the extent that the executive officer has unvested options outstanding, we feel that the executive officer is tied to our long term performance and will only grant additional awards to the extent that all awards are vested. We have historically granted to executive officers stock options that vest 20% per year over a 5 year period.Bank’s 2007 Proxy Statement filed on May 30, 2007.

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Stock option grants always have an exercise price equal to our stock price at the time they are awarded. We never engaged in the back-dating of stock options nor have we retroactively modified our stock option awards.

We grant stock options upon hire of an executive officer, upon exceptional achievement, or to ensure that an executive officer has outstanding unvested options.
We did not provide any additional long termlong-term compensation under the Omnibus Incentive Plan in 2006 except to Mr. Corrigan; however, all of the Named Executive Officers had stock options outstanding during 2006 that vest based on the executive officers’ continued employment. Mr. Corrigan was hired in 2006 and was granted stock options pursuant to negotiations during his hiring process.2008.

WeAlthough no equity awards were provided in 2008 due to market and financial conditions, we believe that stock options areequity, in the various forms defined under our Omnibus Incentive Plan, is the preferable method of incentingmeans to incent and rewarding long termreward long-term performance because stock options provide incentive to increase shareholder value and servewhile also serving as a good retention vehicle for the Named Executive Officers.

our current NEOs and an attraction for new talent.
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•   PerquisitesPerquisites. The CompanyWe provided the following perquisites in 20062008 to certain executive officers:
­-
Company car;
-
­  
Moving expenses;
­-
Country club membership;
­-
Health club membership; and
­-
Dinner club membership.

The total cost for all of these perquisites for all of our NEOs was $26,546.

The Named Executive Officers are all eligible to receive additionalapproximately $24,300.  No individual NEO received a total value of perquisites ifin excess of $6,850 during 2008.  We provide further details on perquisites in a supplementary table following the Committee so determines.Summary Compensation Table in this document.

We view certain perquisites as beneficial to us as well as compensation to the executive officers.  For example, the club memberships are regularly used in the general course of our business such as for business meetings or entertaining.  The Company cars are used primarily for business purposes.

Process•   Retirement Benefits.  Executive officers are eligible to participate in our 401(k) retirement plan, which is a company-wide, tax-qualified retirement plan.  The intent of this plan is to provide all employees with a tax-advantaged savings opportunity for Determiningretirement.  We sponsor this plan to help employees in all levels save and accumulate assets for use during their retirement.  As required, eligible pay under this plan is capped at Internal Revenue Code (IRC) annual limits.  We make annual matching contributions to the 401(k) retirement plan on behalf of the executive officers.

We have entered into Executive OfficerIndexed Salary Continuation Agreements with Mr. Cloutier, Ms. Hail, and Mr. Landry.  The agreements provide that upon the executive officer reaching normal retirement age the executive officer will receive payment of amounts as defined in the agreement and presented in the narrative of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation section of this document.

•   Health and Insurance PlansRole. The executive officers are eligible to participate in  benefit plans sponsored by us on the same terms and conditions as those generally provided to salaried employees. Basic health benefits, dental benefits, and similar programs are provided to make certain that access to healthcare and income protection is available to our employees and the employee’s family

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members.  The cost of our benefit plans are negotiated with the providers of such benefits and the executive officers contribute to the cost of the Committee. The Committee along with the Board of Director’s oversight and approval will annually review and approve goals and objectives relating to compensation of the Chief Executive Officer. Based on this evaluation, the Committee recommends the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation level to the Board of Directors. The Committee also consults with the Chief Executive Officer on the compensation levels of the other executive officers. Based on these discussions, the Committee will recommend, along with the Chief Executive Officer, the other executive officers compensation levels to the Board of Directors.benefits.

Additionally, the Committee periodically reviews our incentive plansWe maintain split dollar insurance arrangements with Mr. Cloutier, Ms. Hail and other equity based plans. The Committee reviews, adopts, and submits to the Board of Directors any proposedMr. Landry.  Each arrangement or plan and any amendment to an existing arrangement or plan that provides or will provide benefits to the executive officers collectivelyofficer’s designated beneficiary in the event of the executive officer’s death.

We provide Mr. Cloutier, Ms. Hail and Mr. Landry with a supplemental Term Life Insurance Policy payable to a beneficiary of their choice and a supplemental long-term disability policy. We provide additional details on the benefits provided under these policies in the Potential Payments Upon Termination or to an individual executive officer. The Committee has sole authority to retain and terminate a compensation consultant or other advisor as the Committee sees appropriate.Change in Control section.

•   Total CompensationBenchmarking. To ensure the competitiveness of our total compensation package, the Committee uses salary survey information from several different nationally recognized surveys that focus on our industry and region. Specifically, the Company used salary survey information compiled by K G & Associates. This information was used to evaluate what comparable institutions are paying. In 2006, we paid K G & Associates $5,495 to obtain and compile this data for us.

Based on our prior year earnings,We incorporate a significant portion of the total cashNEOs compensation paid toin the Named Executive Officers, which includes base salary andform of annual incentives. As noted earlier, the annual incentive plan is benchmarked attied to earnings per share and provides a strong link between executive compensation and shareholder interests.  The figure below shows how the 75th to 85th percentiledrop in earnings per share impacted total compensation earned by our NEOs in 2008.
With the exception of market levels of compensation.our CFO, Mr. Corrigan Jr. who was hired in 2006 and whose compensation for that year reflects a partial year period and additional equity grant expense, 2008 total compensation was lower than in 2006 and 2007.

In using survey data,the figure below, we benchmark both basepresent the 2006 and 2007 pay mix for each of our NEOs.  Base salary and annual incentive. Long termcash incentives are not benchmarked because we feel that long term incentives are not partmake up the majority of compensation for our NEOs.  Because of the basiclink between incentive pay and performance (earnings per share), total compensation of the executive officers. Long term incentives are viewed as an additional opportunity for the executive officer based on the value of our stock price.not only declined

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Compensation Consultant. The Committee does not have a contractual arrangement with aoverall, but the portion of total compensation consultant to advise in settingcomprised of incentive pay decreased by 8-11% over the amount or determining the form of compensation to the executive officers. In the future, the Committee may engage the consultation of a compensation consultant, if needed.past two years.

Other Important Compensation Policies Affecting Executive Officers

•   Impact of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
On October 14, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a program under the EESA in which the Treasury would make preferred stock investments in participating financial institutions.  The program known as the Capital Purchase Program (CPP) under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) provides a means for institutions to receive capital through sales of preferred stock and common stock purchase warrants to the Treasury.  We took part in the CPP and on January 9, 2009 received $20,000,000 in funds.  As a result, we became subject to certain executive compensation requirements under Treasury regulations which we discuss in further detail below.
On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) into law.  ARRA amends Section 111 of EESA and adds additional executive compensation requirements for CPP participants.  ARRA also includes provisions

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directing the Secretary of the Treasury and the SEC to impose additional limits on compensation of executives of companies that participate in the CPP as long as the Treasury owns preferred stock and/or stock purchase warrants of such companies under the CPP.  As of the date of the proxy statement, Treasury had not imposed any additional limits.

The following requirements currently apply to all CPP participants, although further clarification is pending from the Treasury on certain aspects of these rules.  Senior Executive Officers (SEOs) are defined as the top 5 most highly-paid executives of a public company whose compensation is required to be disclosed pursuant to SEC regulations.  The SEOs of MidSouth would be the same individuals comprising the NEOs presented in this proxy.  The requirements related to executive compensation are as follows:
o  
Limits on Incentive Compensation – The scope of limits on incentive compensation vary based upon the level of funds received under the CPP.  Since MidSouth received less than $25 million in funds, the following limits apply only to the single most highly-compensated employee of the Bank.  During 2008 this employee would have been Mr. C.R. Cloutier, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
§  CCP participants are prohibited from paying or accruing any bonus, retention award or incentive compensation for the covered employee. This prohibition does not apply to any bonus payments required to be paid pursuant to a written employment agreement prior to February 11, 2009.
§  This prohibition does not apply to the granting of long-term restricted stock provided that the equity does not fully vest during CPP participation and is not awarded on an annual basis at a value exceeding 1/3 of the covered employee’s total annual compensation.
o  
Prohibition on Compensation that Provides an Incentive to Take Unnecessary and Excessive Risks – This rule prohibits us from providing incentive compensation arrangements that encourage our SEOs to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the financial institution.  Treasury regulations also require the Personnel Committee to review SEO incentive compensation arrangements with our senior risk officers to ensure that SEOs are not encouraged to take such risks.  The regulations require the Committee to meet at least semi-annually with our senior risk officers to discuss and review the relationship between our risk management policies and practices and the SEO incentive compensation arrangements.  The Personnel Committee has performed this review, and its conclusions are included in its report within this Proxy Statement.
o  
Claw-back Provisions on Incentive Compensation – Incentive compensation plans must provide for the recovery of any bonus, retention award or incentive compensation paid to SEOs and the next 20 most highly-compensated employees (up to a total of 25 employees) that were based upon financial statements or other criteria that are later to be found to be materially inaccurate.  In addition, compensation plans that would encourage manipulation of reported earnings to enhance the compensation of any employee are prohibited.
o  
Limit on Tax Deduction – This provision of the EESA regulations limits our tax deduction for compensation paid to any SEO to $500,000 annually. The provision of

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EESA amended the Internal Revenue Code by adding 162(m)(5). Section 162(m)(5) imposes a $500,000 deduction limit. In addition, prior to the amendment, certain performance based compensation paid under shareholder approved plans did not count toward such deduction limit.  EESA and Section 162(m)(5) eliminate that exclusion for the Company.
o  
Prohibitions on Golden Parachute Payments – CPP participants are prohibited from making any golden parachute payments to SEOs and the next 5 most highly-compensated employees (up to a total of 10 employees).  Golden parachute payments are defined as any payment for departure from a company for any reason, except for payments for services performed or benefits accrued.  We present the estimated impact of this prohibition in our section on Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.
o  
Limitations on Luxury Expenditures – Our Board must have a policy regarding excessive or luxury expenditures, including entertainment or events, office and facility renovations, aviation or other transportation services, and other activities or events that are not reasonable expenditures for staff development or reasonable performance incentives.  Although a formal policy is not currently in place, we currently do not provide such expenditures and have not historically done so.  For more details on the extent of perquisites and other expenditures provided to our SEOs please see the supplementary tables on perquisites which follow our Summary Compensation Table in this proxy.
o  
Certification of Compliance – The CEO and CFO of a CPP participant must provide certification in writing of compliance with the guidelines to the SEC.
o  
Binding SEO Agreements – Prior to selling the Company’s preferred stock to the Treasury, each of our SEOs executed an agreement which reduces his compensation and other benefits to the extent necessary to comply with these EESA requirements. These agreements will remain effective for so long as Treasury owns any of our CPP securities.
o  
Non-Binding Advisory Proposal on the Compensation of our Named Executive Officers – In accordance with the ARRA and based on recent guidance issued be the SEC, the Board of Directors authorized a non-binding advisory shareholder vote on our executive compensation plans, programs, and arrangements.  We include this proposal in our proxy filing.

With respect to actions yet to be taken, we are currently awaiting issuance of further guidance from the Treasury, but we intend to fully comply with such guidance once it becomes available.

•   Financial Restatement.  Currently, the Committee does not have an official policy governing retroactive modifications to any cash or equity based incentive compensation paid to the executive officers where the payment of such compensation was predicated upon the achievement of specified financial results that were subsequently the subject of a restatement.  However, we adhere to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 which requires that if a company is forced to restate its financials the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer must give back certain incentives based or equity based compensation received.

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We have never retroactively modified incentives or equity based compensation for our employees.
The Incentive Compensation Plan pays out quarterly based on our EPS for each quarter; however, only 60% of the value is paid out.  The remaining 40% is held back until after year endyear-end earnings have been determined.  If there is a decline in earnings for the year, amounts held back may not be paid to the executive officers as the annual incentive is based on our EPS.

Under the Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program participants in the CPP are required to implement claw-back provisions on all incentive programs.  The guidelines state all compensation plans must provide for the recovery of any bonus, retention award or incentive compensation paid to Senior Executive Officers and the next 20 most highly-compensated employees (up to 25 employees) that were based on financial statements or other criteria that are later found to be materially inaccurate.  MidSouth Bank plans to comply with this requirement.

•   Stock Ownership Requirements.  The Committee does not maintain a policy relating to stock ownership guidelines or requirements for our executive officers.  The Committee does not believe it is necessary to impose such a policy on the executive officers.  Currently, the Named Executive Officers,NEOs, as a group, hold a substantial portion of the Company’sour stock.  If circumstances change, the Committee will review whether such a policy is appropriate for itsour executive officers.

•   Trading in the Company’s Stock Derivatives.  The Committee does not have a policy prohibiting executive officers from purchasing or selling options on our stock, engaging in short sales with respect to our stock,  or trading in puts, calls, straddles, equity swaps or other derivative securities that are directly linked to our  stock.  We are not aware that any of the executive officers have entered into these types of arrangements.

•   Tax Deductibility of the Named Executive Officers’ Incentive and Equity Compensation.  Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation over $1.0 million paid to a corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers.

In connection with the compensation of our executive officers, the Committee is aware of section 162(m) as it relates to deductibility of qualifying compensation paid to executive officers. The Committee  believes  that compensation to be paidearned in 20072008 will not exceed the deductibility limitations on non-excluded compensation to certain executive officers.

TARP participants are subject to provisions of section 162(m)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code which limits the deduction of compensation to $500,000 per year for Senior Executive Officers.  Compensation covered by this limitation includes incentive compensation and deferred compensation.  We do not believe that compensation provided in 2008 surpasses the $500,000 level for any of our Senior Executive Officers.

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•   Employment Agreements.  In late 2007, we and Mr. C.R. Cloutier agreed upon a termination of his employment agreement.  The termination of the agreement was effective on March 19, 2008 and was completed in compliance with the provisions of the agreement.  This termination was conducted for the sole purpose of removing both us and Mr. Cloutier from any obligations per the terms of the agreement.  There was no change in Mr. Cloutier’s employment status with us as a result of the agreement termination.

On January 15, 2009, Mr. Corrigan terminated employment with us by voluntary resignation.  He received no benefit or payout in connection with this termination event.

We have entered intocurrently maintain an employment agreementsagreement with our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer, and Chief Financial Officer.Ms. Karen L. Hail. We will enter into a new employment agreement with an executive officer or a potential candidate only when it is essential to attract or retain an exceptional employee.  Any employment agreement with an executive officer must be approved by the Board of Directors and should have as short a term as possible and provide as few terms and conditions as are necessary to accomplish its purpose.

All of theThe employment agreements haveagreement with Ms. Hail has trigger events that provide for the payment of severance to the executive officerher upon certain termination events.  We have included these trigger events in the employment agreementsagreement to provide a safe harbor so that the executive officerMs. Hail can provide services to  us without being concerned about his/her employment.

We do not maintain a separate severance plan for our executive officers. Severance benefits for our executive officers are limited to those as set forth in the respective executive officer’s employment agreement with us.

Set forth below are the general terms and conditions of each of theMs. Hail’s employment agreements. Each executiveagreement.  Ms. Hail has the right to voluntarily terminate his/her employment at any time.
  Note that while under participation in the CPP, certain payouts under the agreement may be prohibited.  We present the impact of these prohibitions in the section titled ___________________Potential Payments Upon Post-Termination in this proxy.


General

C.R. Cloutier - Chief Executive Officer
Karen L. Hail - Chief Operations Officer


EachThe employment agreement is a one year written agreement and is automatically extended for one year every year thereafter, unless written notice of termination is given by any party to the agreement not later than 60 days before the end of the year.  Under Mr. Cloutier's and Ms. Hail's agreement, each of themHail will receive a minimum annual base salary, term life insurance in the amount of four times annual base salary payable to a beneficiary of his or her choice, disability insurance of not less than two-thirds of annual base salary, an automobile furnished by the Companyus (including insurance, gasoline, and other routine maintenance), membership at a health club, and membership at a dinner club.

In the event that we terminate Mr. Cloutier’s or Ms. Hail's employment or do not extend the agreement, eachshe will be entitled to severance pay equal to annual base salary at the time of termination.  We will not be obligated to pay any severance pay in the event that he or she terminates voluntarily or is removed by a regulatory body.

Upon a change in control of the Company, Mr. Cloutier orus, Ms. Hail each has the right to resign employment for Good Reason and receive as severance pay a sum equal to annual base salary immediately prior to the change in control, payable in twelve equal installments.  Good Reason is deemed to occur upon one of the following events:

-27--25-


 (1)a reduction in theher salary or benefits of the executive officer in effect before the effective date of the change in control within two years after the effective date of the change in control;
 (2)a requirement that executive officershe move hisher residence out of Lafayette, Louisiana;
 (3)a requirement that executive officershe engage in excessive business travel (i.e., travel of more than 75 miles from Lafayette, Louisiana for more than an average of 7 business days per month) as part of hisher job duties; or
 (4)the executive officer’sher office is moved outside of the Lafayette MSA.

None of the executive officersMs. Hail is not entitled to receive a Gross-Up payment in the event that he or she is subject to section 280G excise tax pursuant to a change in control of the Company.


J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr. - Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Corrigan’s employment agreement provides that he will receive a minimum annual base salary and is eligible to receive all standard benefits provided by us to other employees in positions comparable to his position. We are required to reimburse him for his COBRA premiums being paid in connection with his separation of employment from his previous employer until the date that he becomes eligible to participate in our group health insurance programs. In addition, Mr. Corrigan received a grant of 30,000 phantom shares (37,500 phantom shares adjusted for the 5:4 stock split on October 24, 2006) under the Incentive Compensation Plan and 15,000 stock options (18,750 stock options adjusted for the 5:4 stock split on October 24, 2006) under our Stock Incentive Plan. We are required to provide him with either a health club membership or a country club membership. The agreement also provides for the reimbursement of moving expenses incurred by Mr. Corrigan in moving from Texas to Lafayette. Mr. Corrigan was paid a signing bonus of $10,000 that will be earned over three years.

Upon the occurrence of a change in control of the Company during the first five years of Mr. Corrigan’s employment, Mr. Corrigan shall receive a sum equal to two times his annual base salary plus his prior year annual incentive payable in equal installments over twenty-four months in the event that his employment is involuntarily terminated by the Company.

•   Tax and Accounting Implications.  We considersconsider the tax and accounting implication regarding the delivery of different forms of compensation.  We believe that the most efficient form of compensation for the executive officers is cash and, therefore, place a greater emphasis on cash compensation over other forms (i.e., equity).

-28-•   §409A Compliance.  All compensation plans and other relevant documents were reviewed and modified as needed to comply with Internal Revenue Code - Section §409A requirements as of year-end 2008.



COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Personnel Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management.  Based upon such review, the related discussions and such other matters deemed relevant and appropriate to the Personnel Committee, the Personnel Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement to be delivered to shareholders.

 Submitted by the Personnel Committee:
  
 Will Charbonnet Sr., Chairman
 James R. Davis, Jr.
 J. B. Hargroder, M.D.
 Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr.
 
-26-

RISK COMMITTEE REPORT

The Risk Committee hereby certifies that is has reviewed the Senior Executive Officer (SEO) and Highly Compensated Employee (HCE) compensation arrangements and has made reasonable efforts to ensure that such arrangements do not encourage an SEO or HCE to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.  The nature of the senior executive compensation arrangements reviewed, including compensation connected with stock performance and the employee stock ownership program contributions appear reasonably tied to the positive long-term performance and value of the company.  None of the compensation aggregates reviewed are close to the deduction limit, for federal income tax purposes, for compensation for covered SEOs.
 Submitted by the Risk Committee:
James R. Davis, Jr., Lead Director
Will Charbonnet Sr., Chairman of the Board
Teri Stelly, Controller (Interim Chief Financial Officer)
George Shafer, Compliance
Arleen Bodin, Security
Glenda Montet, Risk Manager
Karen Penny, Loan Review
Jay Angelle, Legal Counsel
Larry Miller, Auditor

-27-

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The Summary Compensation Table below displays the total compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the Named Executive OfficersNEOs for 2006.2006, 2007 and 2008.  All amounts shown below are in dollars.
 

Name and
Principal
Position
 Year 
Salary (1)
 
Bonus(2)
 
Stock(3)
Award(s)
 
Option(4)
Award(s)
 
Non-Equity(5)
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
 
Change in
Pension Value
and Nonquali-
fied Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
 
All(6)
Other
Compen-sation
 Total 
    ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) 
                    
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) 
C.R. Cloutier 2006 $237,700 $0 $0 $10,069 $163,339 $0 $24,373 $435,481 
President & Chief                   
Executive Officer                   
                    
Karen L. Hail 2006 $179,995 $0 $0 $4,833 $82,250 $0 $27,152 $294,230 
Senior Executive VP &                   
Chief Operations Officer                   
                    
J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.(7)
 2006 $85,038 $10,000 $0 $13,108 $24,750 $0 $18,781 $151,677 
Executive VP & Chief                   
Financial Officer                   
                    
Donald R. Landry 2006 $147,777 $0 $0 $4,028 $57,733 $0 $23,844 $233,382 
Executive VP &                   
Chief Lending Officer                   
                    
A. Dwight Utz 2006 $93,348 $0 $0 $5,373 $32,346 $0 $8,641 $139,708 
Senior VP & Retail                   
Executive Manager                   
___________________

-29-


(1)
Includes Director fees of $41,700, $30,400, and $8,225 for Mr. Cloutier, Ms. Hail, and Mr. Landry, respectively. These amounts are presented on page 40 under the section entitled “Compensation of Directors.”
Name and Principal
Position
 Year Salary  
Bonus(1)
  
Stock
Awards
  
Option Awards(2)
  
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Compensation (3)
  Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings  
All Other Comp.(5)
  Total 
(a)
 
(b)
 
(c)
  
(d)
  
(e)
  
(f)
  
(g)
  
(h)
  
(i)
  
(j)
 
C.R. Cloutier, President & Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 2008 $200,000  $100  $0  $0  $108,938  $0  $90,970  $400,008 
 2007 $199,833  $0  $0  $4,127  $173,750  $0  $85,133  $462,843 
 2006 $196,000  $0  $0  $10,069  $163,339  $0  $80,216  $449,624 
J. Eustis Corrigan Jr.,
EVP & Chief Financial
Officer
 
 2008 $190,000  $3,434  $0  $24,650  $32,681  $0  $18,902  $269,667 
 2007 $174,584  $3,333  $0  $24,650  $52,125  $0  $12,097  $266,789 
 2006 $85,038(4) $3,333  $0  $13,108  $24,750  $0  $14,140  $140,369 
Karen L. Hail, Senior
Executive VP & Chief
Operations Officer
 
 2008 $157,000  $100  $0  $0  $54,469  $0  $75,533  $287,102 
 2007 $156,709  $0  $0  $1,981  $86,875  $0  $67,995  $313,560 
 2006 $149,595  $0  $0  $4,833  $82,250  $0  $61,900  $298,578 
Donald R. Landry,
Executive VP & Chief Lending Officer
 
 2008 $154,000  $100  $0  $0  $39,218  $0  $34,443  $227,761 
 2007 $146,708  $0  $0  $1,651  $62,550  $0  $35,513  $246,422 
 2006 $139,552  $0  $0  $4,028  $57,733  $0  $36,414  $237,727 
A. Dwight Utz,
Senior VP & Chief Retail Officer
 
 2008 $121,000  $100  $0  $1,942  $24,009  $0  $11,129  $158,180 
 2007 $112,000  $0  $0  $1,942  $38,293  $0  $10,428  $162,663 
 2006 $98,348  $0  $0  $5,373  $44,346  $0  $10,172  $158,239 

(2)
(1)
Mr. Corrigan received a $10,000 signing bonus upon his hire in 2006.  He will earn this bonus ratably over  a 3 year period beginning on his hire date.  In lieu of an end-of-year holiday party, all employees of the bank, including the NEOs received a one-time $100 bonus payment.

(3)
The Company has not granted any equity awards other than stock options.

(4)
(2)
Reflects compensation expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for 2006, 2007 and 2008 computed in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) Share Based Payment (“FAS 123R”), disregarding the estimate of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions, with respect to awards granted in 2006 and in prior years.


-28-

Assumptions used in the calculation of this amount are included in footnote 11 to our audited financial statements for 2006 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), footnote 1 to our audited financial statements for 2004 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), footnote 1 to our audited financial statements for 2004 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and footnote 12 to the audited financial statements for 2003 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed with the SEC.

(5)(3) 
Amounts paid out pursuant to our Incentive Compensation Plan for awards granted in December 2005 for 2006 consistsconsist of phantom shares granted of 124,118 to Mr. Cloutier, 62,500 to Ms. Hail, 43,870 to Mr. Landry, and 24,579 to Mr. Utz.  Grants of phantom shares for 2006 have been adjusted for the 5:4 stock split on October 24, 2006.  The phantom shares paid out based on the basic undiluted earnings per share of $1.316 on year-ending 12/31/2006. In 2006, Mr. Utz earned $12,000 per the 2006 earnings per share.

terms of a Supplemental Incentive Compensation plan based upon deposit and loan goals. This was the last year of Mr. Utz’s participation in the Supplemental Incentive Compensation plan. Pursuant to Mr. Corrigan’s employment agreement, he was granted 37,500 phantom shares upon his hire date, which has been adjusted for the 5:4 stock split on October 24, 2006. Mr. Corrigan’s phantom shares paid out based on a value of $0.66, the combined 3rd quarter and 4th quarter earnings per share for the 2006 calendar year.

Amounts paid out pursuant to our Incentive Compensation Plan for awards granted in December 2006 for 2007 consist of phantom shares granted of 129,644 to Mr. Cloutier, 38,899 to Mr. Corrigan Jr., 64,382 to Ms. Hail, 46,679 to Mr. Landry, and 28,577 to Mr. Utz.  Phantom share
amounts have been adjusted from numbers awarded on December 31, 2006 to account for the 5% stock dividend on September 19, 2007. The phantom shares paid out $1.34, the basic undiluted earnings per share for the year-ending 12/31/2007.

Amounts paid out pursuant to our Incentive Compensation Plan for awards granted in December 2007 for 2008 consist of phantom shares granted of 131,250 to Mr. Cloutier, 39,375 to Mr. Corrigan Jr., 65,625 to Ms. Hail, 47,250 to Mr. Landry, and 28,926 to Mr. Utz.  The phantom shares paid out based on a valueearnings per share of $0.66,$0.83, the combined 3rd quarter and 4th quarterbasic undiluted earnings per share for the 2006 calendar year.year-ending 12/31/2007.

(6)
Consists of $10,024, $10,024, $8,842, and $6,511 contributed to the ESOP for the accounts of each of Mr. Cloutier, Ms. Hail, Mr. Landry, and Mr. Utz. Other compensation amounts included in this column are matching contributions to the Company’s 401(k) Plan, increase in the value of certain executive officer’s Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Agreement account balance, the value of coverage under the split-dollar life insurance arrangements, insurance premiums for term life insurance, insurance premiums for COBRA insurance, insurance premiums for long term disability insurance, personal use of a Company car, club dues paid on behalf of the executive officers to health, dinner, and country clubs, and reimbursement of moving expenses for Mr. Corrigan.

(7)
(4)
Mr. Corrigan was hired effective June 12, 2006 with a base salary of $165,000.  Base salary above reflects amounts from beginning of his employment through December 31, 2006.

___________________

-29-

(5)We provide details on the amounts reported for “All Other Compensation” in the supplementary tables below.

 
C.L. Cloutier – All Other Compensation
 2008 
Auto Expense(a)
 $113 
Board of Director Fees(b)
 $52,025 
Cell Phone/ PDA $1,770 
Club Membership $3,184 
Company Contribution to Indexed Salary Continuation Plan Pre-Retirement Account(c)
 $10,956 
Employer 401K Contribution $1,648 
ESOP Contributions $10,178 
Imputed Income from Split-Dollar Life Insurance $667 
Supplemental Life Insurance $3,161 
Supplemental Long-Term Disability Insurance $6,768 
Uniform Allowance $500 
Total $90,970 
(a)We provide an automobile to Mr. Cloutier.  Amounts reported in the table reflect the personal-use levels of this perquisite.
(b)Reflects annual cash fees for board service. We provide further details on the breakdown of fees provided for board responsibilities in the Director Compensation disclosure section of the proxy.
(c)Reflects the annual accrued benefit liability for the pre-retirement accounts under the Indexed Salary Continuation Plan.


 
J. Eustis Corrigan Jr. - All Other Compensation
 2008 
Cell Phone/ PDA $1,120 
Club Membership $3,830 
Employer 401K Contribution $646 
ESOP Contributions $10,178 
Housing/ Relocation(a)
 $2,628 
Uniform Allowance $500 
Total $18,902 
(a)  The relocation expenses provided to Mr. Corrigan were paid in 2006; however under the terms of his employment agreement, the amount paid is earned on an annual basis over a three-year period.  Therefore, amounts reported in this table and in the Supplementary Compensation Table are prorated over the three years in which they are earned.
-30-


 
Karen L. Hail – All Other Compensation
 2008 
Auto Expense(a)
 $1,159 
Board of Director Fees(b)
 $43,400 
Cell Phone/ PDA $571 
Club Membership $1,205 
Company Contribution to Indexed Salary Continuation Plan Pre-Retirement Account(c)
 $10,374 
Employer 401K Contribution $980 
ESOP Contributions $10,178 
Imputed Income from Split-Dollar Life Insurance $640 
Supplemental Life Insurance $1,787 
Supplemental Long-Term Disability Insurance $4,739 
Uniform Allowance $500 
Total $75,533 
(a)We provide an automobile to Ms. Hail.  Amounts reported in the table reflect the personal-use levels of this perquisite.
(b)Reflects annual cash fees for board service. We provide further details on the breakdown of fees provided for board responsibilities in the Director Compensation disclosure section of the proxy.
(c)Reflects the annual accrued benefit liability for the pre-retirement accounts under the Indexed Salary Continuation Plan.

 
Donald R. Landry - All Other Compensation
 2008 
Auto Expense(a)
 $686 
Board of Director Fees(b)
 $4,875 
Cell Phone/ PDA $1,064 
Club Membership $4,593 
Company Contribution to Indexed Salary Continuation Plan Pre-Retirement Account(c)
 $8,956 
Employer 401K Contribution $672 
ESOP Contributions $9,414 
Imputed Income from Split-Dollar Life Insurance $486 
Supplemental Life Insurance $772 
Supplemental Long-Term Disability Insurance $2,425 
Uniform Allowance $500 
Total $34,443 
(a)We provide an automobile to Mr. Landry.  Amounts reported in the table reflect the personal-use levels of this perquisite.
(b)Reflects annual cash fees for board service. We provide further details on the breakdown of fees provided for board responsibilities in the Director Compensation disclosure section of the proxy.
(c)Reflects the annual accrued benefit liability for the pre-retirement accounts under the Indexed Salary Continuation Plan.

 
A. Dwight Utz - All Other Compensation
 2008 
Auto Expense(a)
 $196 
Cell Phone/ PDA $1,087 
Club Membership $1,218 
Employer 401K Contribution $1,133 
ESOP Contributions $6,995 
Uniform Allowance $500 
Total $11,129 
(a)We provide an automobile to Mr. Utz.  Amounts reported in the table reflect the personal-use levels of this perquisite.

-31-

GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS

The Grants of Plan Based Awards Table discloses the total number of equity and non-equity incentive based plan awards actually granted in 2006.2008.  There were no grants of equity incentive plan awards during 2008.  The Grants of Plan Based Awards Table should be read in conjunction with the Summary Compensation Table.  The values in the Summary Compensation Table reflectsreported for 2008 reflect the portion of eachexpense for stock option awardawards made in previous years recognized for financial statement reporting purposes during 2006. The value of the stock option granted during 2006 is shown at the grant date fair value of the award determined pursuant to FAS 123R. The non-equity incentive awards are shown at target values.2008.
 
      
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-
Equity Incentive Plan Awards (2)
 
NameGrant Date 
Non-equity
incentive Plan
Awards: Number
of Units
or Other Rights (1)
  Threshold  Target  Maximum 
(a)(b)    (c)  (d)  (e) 
C.R. Cloutier12/31/2008  131,250  $0  $108,938   -- 
J. Eustis Corrigan Jr.12/31/2008  39,375  $0  $32,681   -- 
Karen L. Hail12/31/2008  65,625  $0  $54,469   -- 
Donald R. Landry12/31/2008  47,250  $0  $39,218   -- 
A. Dwight Utz12/31/2008  28,926  $0  $24,009   -- 
  
Grant
Date
 
Non-Equity(1)
Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Units or Other Rights
 Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards 
Name     Threshold 
Target(2)
 Maximum Threshold Target Maximum         
    (#) ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) (#) (#) ($/sh) ($) 
                          
(a) (b) - (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (l) 
C.R. Cloutier 12/13/2006  125,000  - $164,500  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 
                                      
Karen L. Hail 12/13/2006  62,500  - $82,250  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 
                                      
J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr. 6/21/2006  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  18,750 $23.60 $141,750 
  12/13/2006  37,500  - $49,350  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 
                                      
Donald R. Landry 12/13/2006  45,000  - $59,220  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 
                                      
A. Dwight Utz 12/13/2006  24,579  - $32,346  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 
___________________
___________________

(1)
Amounts granted pursuant to the Company’sour Incentive Compensation Plan as described in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis.  Grants determined and awarded in December 20062008 for the 20072009 calendar year.

(2)
Threshold is zero based upon basic earnings per share value of $0.  Target is based on the December 31, 20062008 basic earnings per share of $1.316$0.83 times the number of non-equity incentive plan awards granted for 2007.
2009. Maximum values cannot be provided since payouts are based directly upon earnings per share with no cap applied.

___________________

-32-
-31-


OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR END

The Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End Table reflects each Named Executive Officer’sNEOs unexercised option award holdings at December 31, 20062008 on an individual award basis.  There were no stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2008.



  
Option Awards(1)
 Stock Awards 
Name Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options Option Exercise Price Option Expiration Date Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units, or Other Rights That Have Not Vested Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units, or Other Rights That Have Not Vested 
  (#) (#) (#) ($/sh)   (#) ($) (#) ($) 
                    
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) 
C.R. Cloutier  22,230  -  - $3.53  2/28/2007  -  -  -  - 
   23,042  -  - $8.16  2/28/2008  -  -  -  - 
   18,907  4,727  - $6.88  5/31/2012  -  -  -  - 
Karen L. Hail  10,635  -  - $8.16  2/28/2008  -  -  -  - 
   9,075  2,269  - $6.88  5/31/2012  -  -  -  - 
J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.  -  18,750  - $23.60  6/21/2016  -  -  -  - 
Donald R. Landry  1,891  1,890  - $6.88  5/31/2012  -  -  -  - 
A. Dwight Utz  9,452  -  - $5.87  7/1/2011  -  -  -  - 
   1,135  756  - $9.05  2/10/2013  -  -  -  - 
   344  515  - $20.66  2/27/2014  -  -  -  - 

Options Awards
Name 
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable
(#)
  
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable
(#)
  
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
Number of
Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Unearned Options
(#)
  
Options
Exercise
Price
  
Option
Expiration
Date
  
Date
Equity
Fully Vests
(a) (b)  (c)  (d)  (e)  (f)   
C.R. Cloutier  24,814   0   0  $6.55  5/31/2012  05/31/2007
J. Eustis Corrigan Jr.  7,875   11,813   0  $22.48  6/21/2016  06/21/2011
A. Dwight Utz  722   180   0  $13.77  11/30/2014  11/30/2009
___________________

(1)
All options listed above vest at a rate of 20% per year over a five year period from the date of grant.

___________________

-33-
-32-



OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

The Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table reflects stock options actually exercised by each of the Named Executive OfficersNEOs during 2006.

  Option Awards Stock Awards 
Name Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise Value Realized on Exercise Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting Value Realized on Vesting 
  (#) ($) (#) ($) 
          
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) 
          
C.R. Cloutier  5,000 $115,950
(1)
 -  - 
              
Karen L. Hail  25,525 $646,804
(1)
 -  - 
              
J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.  -  -  -  - 
              
Donald R. Landry  -  -  -  - 
              
A. Dwight Utz  -  -  -  - 
2008.

___________________
  Option Awards Stock Awards
Name 
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise
(#)
  
Value
Realized
upon Exercise
  
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting
(#)
  
Value
Realized
on Vesting
  
(a) (b)  (c)  (d)  (e)  
C.R. Cloutier  24,193  $359,024(1)  0  $0  
Karen L. Hail  11,911  $186,050(2)  0  $0  
A. Dwight Utz  11,910  $180,946(3)  0  $0  


(1)
Reflects the difference between $27.60,$22.61, the closing price of theour stock on 2/15/06,21/2008, and $4.41,$7.77, the exercise price of the options.

(2)
Reflects the difference between $29.75,$22.17, the closing price of theour stock on 5/9/06,1/15/2008, and $4.41,$6.55, the exercise price of the options.

(3)Reflects the sum of the following two amounts; difference between $21.25, the closing price of our stock on 5/12/2008 and $5.59, the exercise price for 9,925 options; plus the difference between $21.25, the closing price of the stock on 5/12/2008 and $8.62, the exercise price for 1,985 options.

___________________

-33--34-


PENSION BENEFITS

We doThe Company does not provide pension benefits to the Named Executive Officers.


NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION

Our deferred compensation plans consist of Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Agreements with certain executive officers and the Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan as discussed in detail below.

Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Agreement

The Company hasNEOs. We have entered into an Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Agreement with Mr. Cloutier, Ms. Hail and Mr. Landry .Landry. The agreements provide benefits to the executive officers upon reaching normal retirement age.age and are categorized as a nonqualified deferred compensation benefit. We discuss the details of this arrangement and present the amounts in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation section below.

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION

We provide Mr. Cloutier, Ms. Hail, and Mr. Landry with an Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Agreement which establishes a Pre-Retirement Account.  Upon the executive officer reaching normal retirement age, he or she will receive payment of athe Pre-Retirement Account made in annual installments over 10 years.  The Pre-Retirement Account has been established as a liability reserve account on our books for the benefit of the executive officer.  The account is increased or decreased each year by an amount equal to the Index (annual earnings/loss for the year determined by the aggregate annual after-tax income as if potential life insurance contracts were purchased on the effective date of the agreement) less the cost of funds expense for that year (sum of the amount of premiums set forth in the potential life insurance contracts purchased on the effective date of the agreement, plus the amount of any after-tax benefits paid to the executive officer plus the amount of all previous years after-tax costs of funds expense and multiplying the sum by the average after-tax cost of funds of the Company’sour third quarter call report for the year as filed with the Federal Reserve).

If the executive officer voluntarily terminates or we terminate the executive officer (not for cause) prior to normal retirement age, the executive officer will be entitled to receive 20% timesmultiplied by the number of full years he or she has served from the date of the agreement (to a maximum of 100%) times the balance in the Pre-Retirement Account (as described above).  The benefit is payable over 10 years in equal installments, beginning on the date the executive officer reaches normal retirement age.

If the executive officer dies before having received the full balance of the Pre-Retirement Account, the unpaid balance will be paid in a lump sum to the executive officer’s designated beneficiary.

In the event of a change of control of the Companyus, and the executive officer’s employment is terminated,terminated; thereafter, the executive officer receives the benefits as promised under the agreement upon attaining normal retirement age as if he/she had been continuously employed by us through normal retirement age.  Please refer to the Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control section of this document for details of payouts under various termination scenarios.  The nonqualified deferred compensation amounts deposited in the Pre-Retirement Accounts is included the table which follows.
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In addition to the deferred compensation provided under the Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Agreement, we provide a Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan to all Company directors, including NEOs serving on our Board. Mr. Cloutier and Ms. Hail are the only NEOs with a balance in this deferred compensation plan.  We provide details on this plan within the Compensation of Directors section of this proxy.

The Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table reflects the activity during the 2008 calendar year for each of the NEOs eligible for our deferred compensation benefits.

N      Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Name 
Plan(1)(2)
 Executive Contributions in Last Fiscal Year  Registrant Contributions in Last Fiscal Year  
Aggregate Earnings in
Last Fiscal
Year
  
Aggregate Withdrawals/
Distributions
  
Aggregate
Balance at
Last Fiscal
Year
 
(a)   (b)  (c)  (d)  (e)  (f) 
C.R. Cloutier DDCP $0  $0  $-609,762  $0  $784,367 
C.R. Cloutier EISCP $0  $10,956  $0  $0  $71,458 
Karen L. Hail DDCP $0  $0  $-391,082  $0  $503,051 
Karen L. Hail EISCP $0  $10,374  $0  $0  $59,346 
Donald R. Landry EISCP $0  $8,956  $0  $0  $50,351 
(1) DDCP is the Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan. Deferred Compensation Plan is invested in our common stock.  On January 2, 2008 our stock price was $23.58 per share.  On December 31, 2008 our stock price declined to $12.75 per share resulting in a loss of earnings and a decline in the aggregate balance in these deferred accounts during 2008.  Mr. Cloutier’s account declined in value by $609,762 over this period and Ms. Hail’s account declined in value by $391,082.  Dividends paid on the common stock are credited to each account and are used to purchase additional shares of common stock.

(2) EISCP is the Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Plan.  The amounts presented reflect contributions or subtractions from the balances held in the pre-retirement accounts associated with the plan.  There are no credited earnings applied to the balances held in these preretirement accounts.  We also present the amounts contributed to these plans in the supplemental table on All Other Compensation provided in the footnotes to the Summary Compensation Table.
___________________

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POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE OF CONTROL

This section discusses the incremental compensation that would be payable by the Company to each NEO in the event of his or her termination of employment under various scenarios (“termination events”) including voluntary resignation, involuntary termination, termination without cause or for Good Reason in connection with a change in control, termination in the event of disability, termination in the event of death, and termination in the event of retirement. In accordance with applicable SEC rules, the following discussion assumes:

(i) that the termination event in question occurred on December 31, 2008; and
(ii) with respect to calculations based on our stock price, we used $12.75, which was the reported closing price of one share of our common stock on December 31, 2008, the last business day of 2008.

Pursuant to applicable SEC rules, the analysis contained in this section does not consider or include payments made to a NEO with respect to contracts, agreements, plans or arrangements to the extent they do not discriminate in scope, terms or operation, in favor of executive officers and that are available generally to all salaried employees, such as our 401(k) Plan.  The actual amounts that would be paid upon a NEOs termination of employment can only be determined at the time of such executive officer’s termination.  Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any compensation or benefits provided upon the termination events, any actual amounts paid or distributed may be higher or lower than reported below.  Factors that could affect these amounts include the timing during the year of any such event and our stock price.

All outstanding stock options granted pursuant to our Stock Incentive Plan automatically become fully exercisable upon a change in control of us, as defined in the plan document. Upon termination for cause, all executives forfeit any balances in pre-retirement accounts and any cash severance payments.  We present details for the other termination scenarios below.

C.R. Cloutier
Upon voluntary resignation, Mr. Cloutier receives the balance in his pre-retirement account paid out in equal annual installments over a ten-year period beginning at the age of 65.  The value presented in the table is the present value of this benefit.

In the event of involuntary termination without cause, Mr. Cloutier receives the balance in his pre-retirement account paid out in equal annual installments over a ten-year period beginning at the age of 65.  The value presented in the table is the present value of this benefit.

In the event of termination without cause or for good reason in connection with a change-in-control, Mr. Cloutier will receive the benefit specified under the terms of his Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Plan as if he had been continuously employed until his normal retirement age of 65.  The value presented in the table is the present value of this benefit.

Upon death, Mr. Cloutier’s beneficiaries will receive the benefit as defined under his supplemental life insurance policy and 80% of the death benefit of the whole life policy associated with the Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Plan.  In addition, his beneficiaries will receive a lump-sum

-37-

payment of the unpaid accrued benefit balance in his pre-retirement account associated with the Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Plan.

Upon long-term disability, Mr. Cloutier will receive the benefit presented in the table as specified under his supplemental long-term disability policy.  Mr. Cloutier also receives the balance in his pre-retirement account paid out in equal annual installments over a ten-year period beginning at the age of 65.  The value presented in the table is the present value of this benefit.

Karen L. Hail
Upon voluntary resignation, Ms. Hail receives the balance in her pre-retirement account paid out in equal annual installments over a ten-year period beginning at the age of 65.  The value presented in the table is the present value of this benefit.

Ms. Hail will receive a lump sum equal to one times base salary in the event of involuntary termination without cause.  In addition to the cash severance, Ms. Hail receives the balance in her pre-retirement account paid out in equal annual installments over a ten-year period beginning at the age of 65.

In the event of a termination without cause or for good reason in connection with a change-in-control, Ms. Hail will receive one times base salary payable in equal installments over 12 months.  She will also receive the benefit specified under the terms of her Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Plan as if she had been continuously employed until her normal retirement age of 65.  The value presented in the table is the present value of this benefit.

Upon death, Ms. Hail’s beneficiaries will receive the benefit as defined under her supplemental life insurance policy and 80% of the death benefit of the whole life policy associated with the Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Plan.  In addition, her beneficiaries will receive a lump-sum payment of the unpaid accrued benefit balance in her pre-retirement account associated with the Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Plan.

Upon long-term disability, Ms. Hail will receive the benefit presented in the table as specified under her supplemental long-term disability policy.  Ms. Hail also receives the balance in her pre-retirement account paid out in equal annual installments over a ten-year period beginning at the age of 65.  The value presented in the table is the present value of this benefit.

J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.
On January 15, 2009, Mr. Corrigan terminated employment with us via a voluntary resignation.  Mr. Corrigan received no benefit or payout in connection with this termination event, consistent with the presentation in the table on potential payments upon post-termination which follows this narrative.  Although the termination event was known and had occurred prior to the filing of this document, SEC guidelines require the disclosure of all potential payments upon post-termination under all scenarios upon which a benefit may be received for employees serving as our principal financial officer.  Therefore we provide the description of all termination scenarios for Mr. Corrigan in the narrative, and present the amounts in the table summarizing the potential payment values for all of our NEOs.

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In the event of a termination without cause or for good reason, in connection with a change-in-control, Mr. Corrigan will receive two times the total of base salary payable and incentives earned in the prior year under the Company’s annual incentive plan.  The payments will be made in equal installments over 24 months.

In addition, per the terms of the Stock Incentive Plan, all unvested options will immediately vest and become exercisable in connection with a change-in-control.  Mr. Corrigan is not eligible for any other forms of compensation.

Donald R. Landry
We are not contractually obligated to provide Mr. Landry with a cash severance payment upon termination.  Upon voluntary resignation or involuntary termination without cause, Mr. Landry receives the balance in his pre-retirement account paid out in equal annual installments over a ten-year period beginning at the age of 65.  The value presented in the table is the present value of this benefit.

In the event of termination without cause or for good reason in connection with a change-in-control, Mr. Landry will receive the benefit specified under the terms of his Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Plan as if he had been continuously employed until his normal retirement age of 65.  The value presented in the table is the present value of this benefit.

Upon death, Mr. Landry’s beneficiaries will receive the benefit as defined under his supplemental life insurance policy and 80% of the death benefit of the whole life policy associated with the Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Plan.  In addition, his beneficiaries will receive a lump-sum
payment of the unpaid accrued benefit balance in his pre-retirement account associated with the Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Plan.

Upon long-term disability, Mr. Landry will receive the benefit presented in the table as specified under his supplemental long-term disability policy.  Mr. Landry also receives the balance in his pre-retirement account paid out in equal annual installments over a ten-year period beginning at the age of 65.  The value presented in the table is the present value of this benefit.

A. Dwight Utz
We are not contractually obligated to provide Mr. Utz with a severance payment upon termination; however, he will receive benefits under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan in the event of a change in control (no termination requirement applies).  Per the terms of the Stock Incentive Plan, all unvested options will immediately vest and become exercisable in connection with a change-in-control.  There is no termination requirement placed upon the acceleration of the vesting.  As of December 31, 2008, all unvested options held by Mr. Utz had strike prices that exceeded the market price of a share of our stock and therefore all unvested options had no intrinsic value at that time.

The table below indicates the amount of compensation payable to each NEO, including cash severance, insurance benefits, indexed salary continuation benefits, and stock option awards, as applicable upon different termination events.  The amounts shown assume a termination date of December 31, 2008 and present total amounts for each scenario.  In addition to providing the total benefit for each NEO as of December 31, 2008, we also provide an estimate of the impact of current TARP guidelines on post-termination benefits. We base the estimates on our interpretation of the TARP rules pursuant to the ARRA. According to the language of the ARRA, payments associated with a termination of service are prohibited with the exception of benefits already earned or accrued.

-39-
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control
Compensation and/or Benefits Payable Upon Termination Early Retirement/ Voluntary Resignation  Involuntary Termination for Cause  Involuntary Termination without Cause  Termination in Connection with a Change in Control (without Cause or for Good Reason)  Termination in the Event of Disability  
Termination
in the Event
of Death
 
C.R. Cloutier                  
Supplemental Life Insurance Death Benefit $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $400,000 
Supplemental Long-Term Disability Benefit(1)
 $0  $0  $0  $0  $154,747  $0 
Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Benefit(1)
 $55,407  $0  $55,407  $82,540  $55,407  $78,197 
Split-Dollar Life Insurance $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $483,151 
Intrinsic Value of Unvested Stock Options(2)
 $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0 
Total $55,407  $0  $55,407  $82,540  $210,154  $961,348 
Total Allowable Per ARRA Restrictions $55,407   --  $55,407  $55,407  $210,154  $961,348 
J. Eustis Corrigan Jr.                        
Cash Severance Payment $0  $0  $0  $453,418  $0  $0 
Intrinsic Value of Unvested Stock Options(2)
 $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0 
Total $0  $0  $0  $453,418  $0  $0 
Total Allowable Per ARRA Restrictions  --   --   --  $0   --   -- 
Karen L. Hail                        
Cash Severance Payment $0  $0  $157,000  $157,000  $0  $0 
Supplemental Life Insurance Death Benefit $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $500,000 
Supplemental Long-Term Disability Benefit(1)
 $0  $0  $0  $0  $673,746  $0 
Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Benefit(1)
 $30,860  $0  $30,860  $90,181  $30,860  $64,875 
Split-Dollar Life Insurance $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $653,377 
Intrinsic Value of Unvested Stock Options(2)
 $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0 
Total $30,860  $0  $187,860  $247,181  $704,606  $1,218,252 
Total Allowable Per ARRA Restrictions $30,860   --  $30,860  $90,181  $704,606  $1,218,252 
Donald R. Landry                        
Supplemental Life Insurance Death Benefit $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $588,000 
Supplemental Long-Term Disability Benefit(1)
 $0  $0  $0  $0  $736,683  $0 
Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Benefit(1)
 $23,017  $0  $23,017  $90,327  $23,017  $55,100 
Split-Dollar Life Insurance $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $623,298 
Intrinsic Value of Unvested Stock Options(2)
 $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0 
Total $23,017  $0  $23,017  $90,327  $759,700  $1,266,398 
Total Allowable Per ARRA Restrictions $23,017   --  $23,017  $23,017  $759,700  $1,266,398 
A. Dwight Utz                        
Intrinsic Value of Unvested Stock Options(2)
 $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0 
Total $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0 
Total Allowable Per ARRA Restrictions  --   --   --   --   --   -- 
(1)  Present value of benefit calculated based on a discount of 120% of the appropriate semiannually compounded AFR rate as of December 2008 for each NEO: 1.63% for Mr. Cloutier, 3.40% for Ms. Hail and Mr. Landry.
(2)  As of 12/31/2008 all unvested options had an exercise price exceeding the 12/31/2008 closing price of $12.75, therefore there is no intrinsic value reported for the acceleration of unvested stock options.
-34--40-

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

A majority of our Directors are also Directors of the Bank.  Directors are entitled to fees of $750 per month for Board service and $250 per month for Bank Board service. The Chairman receives an additional $900 per month, the Vice Chairman an additional $450 per month, and the Audit Committee Chairman an additional $800 per month.  Each Director also receives $500 for each regular meeting and $500 for each special meeting of the Board, $200 for the first hour, and $100 per hour for each additional hour of each committee meeting of the Board.  Each Director also receives $500 for each regular meeting, $500 for each special meeting of the Board of MidSouth Bank, N.A., $200 for the first hour, and $100 per hour for each additional hour of each committee meeting.  Directors receive meeting fees only for meetings they attend.

Summary of
Board Fee Schedule
 
Monthly Board Service Fee (Retainer) 
Holding Company Board $750 
Bank Board $250 
Additional Monthly Fees (Retainer) per Responsibility 
Board Chair $900 
Board Vice-Chair $450 
Audit Committee Chair $800 
Holding Company Board Meeting Fees 
Regular Board Meetings $500 
Special Board Meetings $500 
Committee Meetings    
First Hour $200 
Amounts Per Additional Hour $100 
Bank Board Meeting Fees    
Regular Board Meetings $500 
Special Board Meetings $500 
Committee Meetings    
First Hour $200 
Amounts Per Additional Hour $100 

Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan

We have a Deferred Compensation Plan for members of the Board, of Directors, administered by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.Board.  To participate in the Plan, the Director executes a Deferral Authorization form in which the Director agrees to defer all or a specified percentage of his/her fees payable for the services as a member of the Board of Directors or a participating subsidiary.  As of the last day of each calendar month, fees deferred are credited to the account and are used to purchase our common stock.  Dividends paid on the common stock are credited to each account and are used to purchase additional shares of common stock. Amounts in each Director’s account are distributed in a single lump sum either (i) 60 days after the later of the Director ceasing to be a member of the Board, of Directors, or the Director attaining age 65 or (ii) in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors not earlier than one year after (i) reasonable conditions as established by the Board are satisfied, the Director ceases to be a member of the Board, of Directors, and the Director requests payment.

The Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table reflects
-41-

2008 Board of Director Structure and Activity
In the activity during the 2006 calendar year for eachfollowing table, we provide a summary of the Named Executive Officers forstructure of our Board  along with the Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Agreementsnumber of meetings held by the holding company board, bank board, and the Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan.various standing committees.  The table includes both our outside and employee directors.

Name Executive Contributions in Last Fiscal Year 
Registrant(1) 
Contributions in Last Fiscal Year
 
Aggregate(2)
Earnings in Last Fiscal Year
 
Aggregate Withdrawls/
Distributions
 
Aggregate(3)
Balance at Last Fiscal Year End
 
  ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) 
            
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) 
            
C.R. Cloutier  - $7,076 $11,672  - $106,140 
                 
Karen L. Hail  - $6,652 $7,486  - $74,946 
                 
J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.  -  -  -  -  - 
                 
Donald R. Landry  - $5,708  -  - $32,554 
                 
A. Dwight Utz  -  -  -  -  - 
___________________

-35-

 
Committees of the Board (2)
Director
Employee
of the
Company
Holding
Company
Board
Bank
Board
AuditCompExecNomCorp Gov
Will Charbonnet Sr.NoChairChairMemberChairChairMemberMember
James R. Davis Jr.NoLeadMemberChairMember   
J.B. Hargroder, M.D.NoVice-ChairVice-Chair MemberMemberChairChair
Clayton Paul HilliardNoMemberMemberMember  MemberMember
Milton B. Kidd III, O.D.NoMemberMemberMember    
Timothy J. LemoineNoMemberMember     
Stephen C. May (1)
NoMemberMember     
R. Glenn PumpellyNoMemberMember  Member  
William M. SimmonsNoMemberMember   MemberMember
Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr.NoMemberMember MemberMember  
C.R. CloutierYesMemberMember  Member  
Karen L. HailYesMemberMember     
Total Members as of 12/31/2008111144544
Number of Meetings Held During 200812101041011


(1)
The benefits provided are pursuant toResigned from the Board on February 1, 2008.
(2)  “Audit” – Audit Committee; “Comp” – Compensation Committee; “Exec” – Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Agreements.Committee; “Nom” – Nominating Committee; “Corp Gov” – Corporate Governance

(2)
The benefits provided are pursuant to the Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan.

(3)
The aggregate balance at last fiscal year end includes the balance pursuant to both the Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Agreements and the Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Mr. Cloutier and Ms. Hail. Amounts pursuant to the Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan include $56,518 for Mr. Cloutier and $36,248 for Ms. Hail. All other amounts relate to the Executive Indexed Salary Continuation Agreements.
___________________


POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE OF CONTROL

This section discusses the incremental compensation that would be payable by the Company to each Named Executive Officer in the event of his or her termination of employment under various scenarios (“termination events”) including voluntary resignation, involuntary termination, termination without cause or for Good Reason in connection with a change in control, termination in the event of disability, termination in the event of death, and termination in the event of retirement. In accordance with applicable SEC rules, the following discussion assumes:
(i)     that the termination event in question occurred on December 31, 2006; and
(ii)     with respect to calculations based on our stock price, we used $31.16, which was the reported closing price of one share of the Company’s common stock on December 29, 2006, the last business day of 2006.

Pursuant to applicable SEC rules, the analysis contained in this section does not consider or include payments made to a Named Executive Officer with respect to contracts, agreements, plans or arrangements to the extent they do not discriminate in scope, terms or operation, in favor of executive officers of the Company and that are available generally to all salaried employees, such as the Company’s 401(k) Plan. The actual amounts that would be paid upon a Named Executive Officer’s termination of employment can only be determined at the time of such executive officer’s termination . Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any compensation or benefits provided upon the termination events, any actual amounts paid or distributed may be higher or lower than reported below. Factors that could affect these amounts include the timing during the year of any such event and our stock price.

All outstanding stock options granted pursuant to the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan automatically become fully exercisable upon a change in control of the Company, as defined in the plan document.

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C.R. Cloutier

The table below indicates the amount of compensation payable by us to Mr. Cloutier, including cash severance and stock option awards, upon different termination events as provided in his employment agreement.

Element
 
Voluntary
Resignation
 
Involuntary
Termination
 
Termination in
Connection with a
Change in Control
(Without Cause or
For Good Reason)
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Disability
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Death
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Retirement
 
Cash Severance Payment(1)
 $0 $196,000 $196,000 $0 $0 $0 
                    
Stock Option Awards(2)
  0  0  114,772  0  0  0 
                    
Total
 
$
0
 
$
196,000
 
$
310,772
 
$
0
 
$
0
 
$
0
 

(1) The Executive will receive a lump sum equal to one times base salary in the event of involuntary termination. The Executive will receive one times base salary payable in equal installments over 12 months in the event of termination for good reason in connection with a change in control.
(2) All option grants vest in connection with a change in control pursuant to the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan. Amounts include the value of unvested awards at December 31, 2006 that would vest based on the termination event.
___________________
Karen L. Hail

The table below indicates the amount of compensation payable by us to Ms. Hail, including cash severance and stock option awards, upon different termination events as provided in her employment agreement.

Element
 
Voluntary
Resignation
 
Involuntary
Termination
 
Termination in
Connection with a
Change in Control
(Without Cause or
For Good Reason)
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Disability
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Death
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Retirement
 
Cash Severance Payment(1)
 $0 $149,595 $149,595 $0 $0 $0 
                    
Stock Option Awards(2)
  0  0  55,091  0  0  0 
                    
Total
 
$
0
 
$
149,595
 
$
204,686
 
$
0
 
$
0
 
$
0
 

(1) The Executive will receive a lump sum equal to one times base salary in the event of involuntary termination. The Executive will receive one times base salary payable in equal installments over 12 months in the event of termination for good reason in connection with a change in control.
(2) All option grants vest in connection with a change in control pursuant to the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan. Amounts include the value of unvested awards at December 31, 2006 that would vest based on the termination event.
___________________

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J. Eustis Corrigan, Jr.

The table below indicates the amount of compensation payable by us to Mr. Corrigan, including cash severance and stock option awards, upon different termination events as provided in his employment agreement.


Element
 
Voluntary
Resignation
 
Involuntary
Termination
 
Termination in
Connection with a
Change in Control
(Without Cause or
For Good Reason)
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Disability
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Death
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Retirement
 
Cash Severance Payment(1)
 $0 $0 $330,000 $0 $0 $0 
                    
Stock Option Awards(2)
  0  0  141,750  0  0  0 
                    
Total
 
$
0
 
$
0
 
$
471,750
 
$
0
 
$
0
 
$
0
 

(1) The Executive will receive two times base salary payable in equal installments over 24 months in the event of involuntary termination in connection with a change in control. The Executive is also entitled to the annual incentive paid in the prior year; however, Mr. Corrigan was not employed with the Company in 2005 and did not receive an annual incentive in the prior year.

(2) All option grants vest in connection with a change in control pursuant to the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan. Amounts include the value of unvested awards at December 31, 2006 that would vest based on the termination event.
___________________

Donald R. Landry

We are not contractually obligated to provide Mr. Landry with a severance payment upon termination; however, he will receive benefits under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan in the event of a change in control.

The table below indicates the amount of compensation payable by us to Mr. Landry, including cash severance and stock option awards, upon different termination events.

Element
 
Voluntary
Resignation
 
Involuntary
Termination
 
Termination in
Connection with a
Change in Control
(Without Cause or
For Good Reason)
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Disability
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Death
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Retirement
 
Cash Severance Payment  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a 
                    
Stock Option Awards(1)
 $0 $0 $45,889 $0 $0 $0 
                    
Total
 
$
0
 
$
0
 
$
45,889
 
$
0
 
$
0
 
$
0
 

(1) All option grants vest in connection with a change in control pursuant to the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan. Amounts include the value of unvested awards at December 31, 2006 that would vest based on the termination event.
___________________

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A. Dwight Utz

We are not contractually obligated to provide Mr. Utz with a severance payment upon termination; however, he will receive benefits under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan in the event of a change in control.

The table below indicates the amount of compensation payable by us to Mr. Utz, including cash severance and stock option awards, upon different termination events.

Element
 
Voluntary
Resignation
 
Involuntary
Termination
 
Termination in
Connection with a
Change in Control
(Without Cause or
For Good Reason)
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Disability
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Death
 
Termination
in the
Event of
Retirement
 
Cash Severance Payment  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a 
                    
Stock Option Awards(1)
 $0 $0 $22,123 $0 $0 $0 
                    
Total
 
$
0
 
$
0
 
$
22,123
 
$
0
 
$
0
 
$
0
 

(1) All option grants vest in connection with a change in control pursuant to the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan. Amounts include the value of unvested awards at December 31, 2006 that would vest based on the termination event.
__________________


COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

A majority of our Directors are also Directors of MidSouth Bank. Directors are entitled to fees of $250 per month for Board service and $250 per month for MidSouth Bank Board service. The Chairman receives an additional $900 per month, the Vice Chairman an additional $400 per month, and the Audit Committee Chairman an additional $800 per month. Each Director of the Board also receives $250 for each regular meeting and $150 for each special meeting of the Board of the Company, $200 for the first hour, and $100 per hour for each additional hour of each committee meeting of the Board. Each Director also receives $400 for each regular meeting, $150 for each special meeting of the Board of MidSouth Bank, $200 for the first hour, and $100 per hour for each additional hour of each committee meeting. Directors receive meeting fees only for meetings they attend.

In 1997, Directors who were not employees were given options to buy up to 20,736 shares of stock at $3.53 per share, the fair market value on the date of grant, all of which have been exercised. Stephen C. May, a more recent addition to the Board, was granted options in 2002 to purchase up to 12,290 shares of common stock at $6.88 per share, the fair market value on the date of grant, exerciseable in annual 20% increments beginning in 2003.

-39-


The Director Compensation Table belowprovided on the following page displays the total compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to Directors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.2008. Directors who are also NEOs are not included in the table below. Compensation paid to NEOs for their service as Directors is presented in the supplementary tables on “All Other Compensation” which follow the Summary Compensation Table presented earlier in this proxy. All amounts shown belowin the following table are in dollars.
 
Director
Name
 
Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
 
Stock
Award(s)
 
Option(2)
Award(s)
 
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
 
Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earning
 
All(2)
Other
Compen-sation
 Total 
  ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) 
               ��
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) 
                
Will Charbonnet, Sr. $45,550  -  -  -  -  - $45,550 
C. R. Cloutier  41,700
(3)
 -  -  -  -  -  41,700 
James R. Davis, Jr.  31,480  -  -  -  -  -  31,480 
Karen L. Hail  30,400  -  -  -  -  -  30,400 
J. B. Hargroder, M.D.  47,935
(3)
 -  -  -  -  -  47,935 
Clayton Paul Hilliard  24,100  -  -  -  -  -  24,100 
Milton B. Kidd, III, O.D.  23,140  -  -  -  -  -  23,140 
Donald R. Landry  8,225  -  -  -  -  -  8,225 
Timothy J. Lemoine  22,500  -  -  -  -  -  22,500 
Stephen C. May  20,070  -  5,225  -  -  -  25,295 
R. Glenn Pumpelly  17,445  -  -  -  -  -  17,445 
William M. Simmons  35,500
(3)
 -  -  -  -  -  35,500 
Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr.  20,995
(3)
 -  -  -  -  -  20,995 
-42-

Directors Compensation
Name 
Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
  
Stock
Awards
  
Option
Awards
  
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Compensation
  
Change in Pension Value
and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
  
All Other Compensation (2)
  Total 
(a) (b)  (c)  (d)  (e)  (f)  (g)  (h) 
Will Charbonnet, Sr. $57,600  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $57,600 
James R. Davis, Jr. $43,870  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $43,870 
J.B. Hargroder, M.D. (3)
 $55,695  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $55,695 
Clayton Paul Hilliard $31,700  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $31,700 
Milton B. Kidd, III, O.D. $31,500  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $31,500 
Timothy J. Lemoine $37,200(5) $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $37,200 
Stephen C. May (4)
 $5,700  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $5,700 
R. Glenn Pumpelly $37,900  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $37,900 
William M. Simmons (3)
 $47,690  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $47,690 
Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr. (3)
 $29,225  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $29,225 
(1)
Reflects compensation expense recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for 2006 computedIn 1997, non-employee directors were given options to buy up to 20,736 shares of stock at $3.53 per share, the fair market value on the date of grant, all of which have been exercised.  No stock or option awards were provided in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) Share Based Payment (“FAS 123R”), disregarding the estimate of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions, with respect to awards granted in 2002.2008.

Assumption used in the calculation of this amount are included in footnote 1 to our audited financial statements for 2004 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.

(2)
Certain Directorsdirectors receive perquisites;perquisites such as travel reimbursement; however, the aggregate amount of such compensation is less than $10,000.$10,000 and therefore is not reported.

(3)
Includes Directordirector fees paid by MidSouth-Texas.
___________________
(4)Resigned from the Board on February 1, 2008.
(5)Includes $37,200 in fees deferred into the Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan used to purchase 2,807 shares of our common stock.
(6)Includes $22,410 in fees deferred into the Director’s Deferred Compensation Plan used to purchase 1,691 shares of  our common stock.
___________________

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-40-


Shareholder Return Performance Graph

The following graph, which was prepared by SNL Securities LC (“SNL”), compares the cumulative total return on our Stock over a period beginning December 31, 2001 with (i) the cumulative total return on the stocks included in the Russell 3000 and (ii) the cumulative total return on the stocks included in the SNL $250M-$500M and the SNL $500M-$1B Bank Index. All of these cumulative returns are computed assuming the quarterly reinvestment of dividends paid during the applicable period.

MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.
 
 Period Ending
Index
12/31/01
12/31/02
12/31/03
12/31/04
12/30/05
12/31/06
MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.100.00151.73307.64332.74369.98538.90
Russell 3000100.0078.46102.83115.11122.16141.35
SNL $250M-$500M Bank Index100.00128.95186.31211.46224.51234.58
SNL $500M-$1B Bank Index100.00127.67184.09208.62217.57247.44

Our Stock is traded on the AMEX under the “MSL” ticker symbol. The stock price information shown above is not necessarily indicative of future price performance. Information used was obtained by SNL from sources believed to be reliable. We are not responsible for any errors or omissions in such information.

-41-


AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Our Audit Committee is composed of fivefour non-employee directors.  The Board has made a determination that its members satisfy AMEX’sNYSE Amex’s requirements as to independence, financial literacy and experience. The Board has also determined that it is not clear whether any member of the Committee is a “Financial Expert” within the meaning of SEC Rules, but the Board does not feel a Financial Expert necessary in view of the overall financial sophistication of Committee members. The responsibilities of the Committee are set forth in our Audit Committee Charter.

The Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management including a discussion of the quality of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures contained in the financial statements.  The Committee also discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by SAS 61 (Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU Section 380).  The Committee also received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by Independent Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independent Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), has discussed with the independent auditors the independent auditors’ independence and has considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors’ independence.

The Committee discussed with our internal and independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits.  The Committee met with the internal and independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of our internal controls, and the overall quality of our financial reporting.

Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20062008 for filing with the SEC.

By the members of the Audit Committee:
James R. Davis, Jr.
Will Charbonnet, Sr.
Clayton Paul Hilliard
Milton B. Kidd, III, O.D.
Stephen C. May

-42-


 By the members of the Audit Committee:
James R. Davis, Jr.
Will Charbonnet, Sr.
Clayton Paul Hilliard
Milton B. Kidd, III, O.D.
-44-

RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Principal Accountant Fees and Services
 

The Audit Committee selects an Independent Registered Public Accountant for each fiscal year. On August 18, 2005,of the Audit Committee approvedBoard of Directors has appointed the dismissal of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accountant and the appointmentfirm of Porter Keadle Moore, LLP ("PKM")independent certified public accountants, to serve as our new independent registered public accountant. During 2006 PKM was employed principallyprincipal auditors and to perform the annual audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting (including management's assessment). for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.

Representatives from PKMof Porter Keadle Moore, LLP will be in attendancepresent at the meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate shareholder questions.

Fees paid to PKM for each ofand Services

During the past twoperiod covering the fiscal years are listed inended December 31, 2008 and 2007, Porter Keadle Moore, LLP performed the following table:

Description 2006 2005 
Audit Fees $257,092  85,827 
        
Audit-Related Fees $-  - 
        
Tax Fees $-  - 
        
All Other Fees $-  119,749 
professional services:

 
 
Description
 
2008 
 
2007
 
 Audit Fees$240,192254,778 
      
 Audit-Related Fees$-- 
      
 Tax Fees$-- 
      
 All Other Fees$-- 
Audit Fees. This category includesFees include aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by PKMPorter Keadle Moore, LLP for the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 20062008 and 2005,2007, including the audit of management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting for the year ending December 31, 2006;reporting; review of the annual report on Form 10-K10-K; and review of quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements included in periodic reports filed with the SEC, including out of pocket expenses.
 
All Other Fees. This category includes fees billed for consultation and assistance related to controls documentation in contemplation of compliance with provisions of Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley during 2005, including out of pocket expenses. These services were pre-approved by the Company’s Audit Committee.
Pre-Approval Policy

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent auditors.  These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services.  Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget.  The independent auditors and management are required to periodically report to the Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent auditors in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for services performed to date.  The Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. (For 2005, pre-approved non-audit services included only those services described above for “All Other Fees."


-45-
-43-


ANY SHAREHOLDER MAY BY WRITTEN REQUEST OBTAIN WITHOUT CHARGE A COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006,2008, WITHOUT EXHIBITS.  REQUESTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO SALLY D. GARY, INVESTOR RELATIONS, P. O. BOX 3745, LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA 70502.
By Order of the Board of Directors


Karen L. Hail
Secretary
Lafayette, Louisiana
April 25, 2007

-44-


ATTACHMENT I
MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC.
2007 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
Article 2. Administration.46
2.1 Composition.46
2.2 Authority.46
Article 3. Eligible Participants.46
Article 4. Types of Incentives.47
Article 5. Shares Subject to the Plan.47
5.1 Number of Shares.47
5.2 Type of Common Stock.47
5.3 Annual Award Limits.47
Article 6. Stock Options.48
6.1 Price.48
6.3 Number.48
6.4 Duration and Time for Exercise.48
6.5 Repurchase.48
6.6 Manner of Exercise.48
6.7 Incentive Stock Options.48
Article 7. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.49
7.1 Grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.49
7.2 The Restricted Period.49
7.3 Escrow.49
7.4 Dividends on Restricted Stock and RSUs.50
7.5 Forfeiture.50
7.6 Expiration of Restricted Period.50
7.7 Rights as a Shareholder.50
Article 8. Stock Appreciation Rights.50
8.1 Number.50
8.2 Duration and Time for Exercise.51
8.3 Exercise.51
8.4 Payment.51
Article 9. Performance Shares and Performance Units.51
9.1 Performance Objectives.51
9.2 Not a Shareholder.52
9.3 Dividend Equivalent Payments.52
Article 10. Stock Options for Outside Directors52
10.1 Eligibility.52
10.2 Exercisability of Stock Options.52
10.3 Exercise Price.53
10.4 Exercise after Termination of Board Service.53
10.5 Certain Provisions Applicable.53
Article 11. General.53
11.1 Duration.53
11.2 Transferability of Incentives.53
11.3 Effect of Termination of Employment or Death.54
11.4 Additional Condition.54
11.5 Adjustment.54
11.6 Incentive Agreements.55
11.7 Withholding55
11.8 No Continued Employment.55
11.9 Deferral Permitted.55
11.10 Amendment of the Plan.55
11.11 Performance Objectives Defined.55
Article 12. Change of Control.56
Article 13. Definition of Fair Market Value.57

-45-


Article 1. Purpose.
The purpose of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to increase shareholder value of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. (“MidSouth”) and to advance the interests of it and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) by furnishing a variety of economic incentives (the “Incentives”) designed to attract, retain and motivate key employees, officers and directors and to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such persons and shareholders. Incentives may consist of opportunities to purchase or receive shares of MidSouth common stock (the “Common Stock”), monetary payments, or both, on terms determined under the Plan. As used in the Plan, the term "subsidiary" means any corporation of which MidSouth owns (directly or indirectly) within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock.
Article 2. Administration.
2.1 Composition. The Plan shall be administered by the Personnel Committee (the “Committee”) of MidSouth's Board of Directors (“Board”). The Committee shall consist of not fewer than two members of the Board, each of whom shall qualify as a “non-employee director” under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”) and an “outside director” under Section 162(m) of the Code. Each member of the Committee shall also be independent within the meaning of the rules of the American Stock Exchange (“AMEX”).
2.2  Authority. The Committee shall have plenary authority to award Incentives within Plan limits, to interpret the Plan, to establish any rules or regulations relating to the Plan that it determines to be appropriate, to enter into agreements with participants as to the terms of the Incentives ("Incentive Agreements”) and to make any other determination that it believes necessary or advisable for the Plan's proper administration. Its decisions in matters relating to the Plan shall be final and conclusive on the Company and participants. The Committee may delegate its authority hereunder to the extent provided elsewhere herein. The Committee shall not have authority to award Incentives under the Plan to directors of MidSouth who are not also full-time employees of the Company (“Outside Directors”), but Outside Directors may receive awards under the Plan as specifically provided in Article 10 hereof.
Article 3. Eligible Participants.
Key employees and directors of the Company (including officers and directors who are full-time employees and Outside Directors) shall become eligible to receive Incentives under the Plan when designated by the Committee. Employees and directors may be designated individually or by groups or categories, as the Committee deems appropriate. With respect to participants not subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act and not covered employees under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may delegate its authority to designate participants, to determine the size and type of Incentives to be received by those participants and to determine or modify performance objectives for those participants.
-46-


Article 4. Types of Incentives.
Incentives may be granted under the Plan in any of the following forms, either individually or in combination: (a) incentive stock options (“ISO”) and non-qualified stock options (“NQO”); (b) stock appreciation rights (“SARs”); (c) restricted stock; (d) performance shares; (e) restricted stock units (“RSU”); and (f) performance units.
Article 5. Shares Subject to the Plan.
5.1 Number of Shares.Subject to adjustment as provided in Article 11.5, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for Incentives under the Plan shall not exceed 500,000 shares of Common Stock. If a stock option, SAR or performance share granted hereunder expires or is terminated or canceled prior to exercise or payment, any shares of Common Stock that were issuable thereunder may be issued again under the Plan. If shares of Common Stock are issued as Incentives under the Plan and thereafter are forfeited or reacquired by the Company pursuant to rights reserved upon issuance thereof, such forfeited and reacquired shares may be issued again under the Plan. If an Incentive is to be paid in cash by its terms, the Committee need not make a deduction from the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan with respect thereto. If and to the extent that an Incentive may be paid in cash or shares of Common Stock, the total number of shares available for issuance hereunder shall be decreased by the number of shares payable under such Incentive, provided that upon any payment of all or part of such Incentive in cash, the total number of shares available for issuance hereunder shall be increased by the appropriate number of shares represented by the cash payment, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. Additional rules for determining the number of shares granted under the Plan may be made by the Committee, as it deems necessary or appropriate.
5.2 Type of Common Stock.Common Stock issued under the Plan may be authorized and unissued shares or issued shares held as treasury shares.
5.3 Annual Award Limits. Unless and until the Committee determines that an Award to an eligible Employee shall not be designed to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the following limits (each an “Annual Award Limit” and, collectively, “Annual Award Limits”) shall apply to grants of Awards under this Plan:
 a)Options: The maximum aggregate number of Shares subject to Options granted in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be two hundred fifty thousand (250,000).
 b)SARs: The maximum aggregate number of Shares subject to Stock Appreciation Rights granted in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be two hundred fifty thousand (250,000).
c)Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units: The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) Shares.
d)Performance Units or Performance Shares: The maximum aggregate number of Performance Units or Performance Shares that a Participant may be awarded in any one Plan Year shall be two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) Shares. As noted in Article 9.3, up to two and one-half Shares (or the cash value of two and one-half Shares) may be issued with respect to a Performance Unit or Performance Share, depending on the level of performance.
e)Cash-Based Awards: The maximum aggregate amount awarded with respect to Cash-Based Awards to any one Participant in any one Plan Year may not exceed one million ($1,000,000) dollars determined as of the date of vesting.
f)
Other Stock-Based Awards. The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Other Stock-Based Awards pursuant to Article 10.2 in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) Shares.

-47-


Article 6. Stock Options.
A stock option is a right to purchase sharesBy order of Common Stock from MidSouth. Stock options granted under this Plan may be ISOs or NQOs. Any option that is designated as a NQO shall not be treated as an ISO. Each stock option granted by the Committee under this Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
6.1 Price. The exercise price per share shall be determined by the Committee, subject to adjustment under Article 11.5; provided that in no event shall the option price be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
6.3 Number.The number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option shall be determined by the Committee, subject to adjustment under Article 11.5.
6.4 Duration and Time for Exercise.The term and exercisability of each stock option shall be determined by the Committee, which may also accelerate the exercisability of any stock option.
6.5 Repurchase.Upon approval of the Committee, MidSouth may repurchase a previously granted stock option from a participant before it has been exercised by payment to the participant of the amount per share by which the Fair Market Value (as defined in Article 13) of the Common Stock subject to the option on the date of purchase exceeds the exercise price.
6.6 Manner of Exercise.A stock option may be exercised, in whole or in part, by giving written notice to MidSouth specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased and accompanied by the full purchase price for such shares in United States dollars. The price may be paid (a) by cash, uncertified or certified check or bank draft, (b) by delivery of shares of Common Stock held by the optionee for at least six months in payment of all or any part of the option price, which shares shall be valued for this purpose at the Fair Market Value on the date such option is exercised, (c) by delivering a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker approved by MidSouth (with a copy to MidSouth) to promptly deliver to MidSouth the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the exercise price or (d) in such other manner as may be authorized from time to time by the Committee. In the case of delivery of an uncertified check upon exer-cise of a stock option, no shares shall be issued until the check has been paid in full. Prior to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of a stock option, a participant shall have no rights as a shareholder.
6.7  Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the following addi-tional provisions shall apply to the grant of stock options that are intended to qualify as ISOs (as is defined in Section 422 of the Code):
-48-


a)Any ISO agreement authorized under the Plan shall contain such other provisions as the Committee shall deem advisable, but shall in all events be consistent with and contain or be deemed to contain all provisions required in order to qualify the options as ISOs.
b)All ISOs must be granted within ten years from the date on which this Plan is adopted by the Board.
c)Unless sooner exercised, all ISOs shall expire no later than ten years after the date of grant.
d)The option price for ISOs shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the option on the date of grant.
e)No ISO shall be granted to any participant who, at the time such option is granted, would own (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the employer corporation or of its parent or subsidiary corporation.
f)The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined with respect to each ISO as of the time such ISO is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which ISO are exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar year (under the Plan or any other plan of the Company) shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent this $100,000 limitation is exceeded, the options that relate to the excess shall be treated as NQOs.
Article 7. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.
7.1 Grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.The Committee may award shares of restricted stock and/or RSUs to such key employees as it determines to be eligible pursuant to Article 3. An award may be subject to the attainment of specified performance goals or targets, restrictions on transfer, forfeitability provisions and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may determine, subject to the Plan. To the extent restricted stock and/or a RSU is intended to qualify as performance based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, it must meet the additional requirements imposed thereby.
7.2 The Restricted Period.At the time an award of restricted stock and/or RSU is made, the Committee shall establish a period of time during which the transfer of the shares shall be restricted (the “Restricted Period”). Each award of restricted stock and RSU may have a different Restricted Period. A Restricted Period of at least three years is required, except that if vesting of the shares is subject to the attainment of specified performance goals, a Restricted Period of one year or more is permitted. The expiration of the Restricted Period shall also occur as provided under Article 11.11.
7.3 Escrow.The participant receiving restricted stock and/or RSUs shall enter into an Incentive Agreement with MidSouth setting forth the conditions of the grant. Certificates representing shares of restricted stock and/or RSUs shall be registered in the name of the participant and deposited with MidSouth, together with a stock power endorsed in blank by the participant. Each such certificate shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“The transferability of this certificate and the shares represented by it is subject to the terms (including conditions of forfeiture) of the MidSouth Bancorp 2007 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan and an agreement entered into between the registered owner and MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. thereunder. Copies of the Plan and agreement are on file and available for inspection at the principal office of the Company.”
-49-


7.4 Dividends on Restricted Stock and RSUs.Any and all cash and stock dividends paid with respect to shares of restricted stock and RSUs shall be subject to any restrictions on transfer, forfeitability provisions or reinvestment requirements as the Committee may, in its discretion, prescribe in the Incentive Agreement. 
7.5 Forfeiture.If any shares of restricted stock and/or RSUs are forfeited under the Incentive Agreement (including any additional shares that may result from the reinvestment of cash and stock dividends, if so provided in the Incentive Agreement), such forfeited shares shall be surrendered and the certificates canceled. The participants shall have the same rights and privileges, and be subject to the same forfeiture provisions, with respect to any additional shares received pursuant to Article 11.5 due to a recapitalization, merger or other change in capitalization. 
7.6 Expiration of Restricted Period.Upon the expiration or termination of the Restricted Period and the satisfaction of any other conditions prescribed by the Committee or at such earlier time as provided for in Article 7.2 and in the Incentive Agreement, the restrictions applicable to the restricted stock and/or RSU shall lapse and a stock certificate for the number of shares of restricted stock and/or RSU with respect to which the restrictions have lapsed shall be delivered, free of all such restrictions and legends other than those required by law, to the participant or the participant's estate, as the case may be. 
7.7 Rights as a Shareholder.Subject to the Plan and to any restrictions on the receipt of dividends that may be imposed in the Incentive Agreement, each participant receiving restricted stock and/or RSUs shall have all the rights of a shareholder with respect to such stock during any period in which such stock is subject to forfeiture and restrictions on transfer, including without limitation, the right to vote such stock. 
Article 8. Stock Appreciation Rights.
A SAR is a right to receive, without payment to MidSouth, a number of shares of Common Stock, cash or any combination thereof, the amount of which is determined pursuant to the formula set forth in Article 8.4. A SAR may be granted (a) with respect to any stock option granted under the Plan, either concurrently with the grant of such option or at such later time as determined by the Committee (as to all or any portion of the shares of Common Stock subject to the option), or (b) alone, without reference to any related option. Each SAR granted by the Committee under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
8.1 Number. The SAR shall relate to such number of shares of Common Stock as shall be determined by the Committee, subject to Article 5.1 and subject to adjustment as provided in Article 11.5. In the case of a SAR granted with respect to a stock option, the number of shares of Common Stock to which the SAR pertains shall be reduced in the same proportion that the holder of the option exercises the related stock option.
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8.2 Duration and Time for Exercise. The term and exercisability of each SAR shall be determined by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the Incentive Agreement, each SAR issued in connection with a stock option shall become exercisable at the same time or times, to the same extent and upon the same conditions as the related stock option. The Committee may in its discretion accelerate the exercisability of any SAR at any time.
8.3 Exercise. A SAR may be exercised, in whole or in part, by giving written notice to MidSouth, specifying the number of SARs that the holder wishes to exercise. MidSouth shall, within 30 days of receipt of notice of exercise, deliver to the exercising holder certificates for the shares of Common Stock or cash or both, as determined by the Committee, to which the holder is entitled pursuant to Article 8.4.
8.4 Payment. Subject to the right of the Committee to deliver cash in lieu of shares of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock that shall be issuable upon the exercise of an SAR shall be determined by dividing:
a)
the number of shares as to which the SAR is exercised multiplied by the amount by which the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the SAR on the Exercise Date exceeds (1) in the case of a SAR related to a stock option, the purchase price of the shares under the option or (2) in the case of a SAR granted alone, without reference to a related stock option, an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant, which shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, subject to adjustment under Article 11.5); by
b)the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Exercise Date.
In lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of a SAR, the Committee may elect to pay the holder of the SAR cash equal to the Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date of any or all of the shares that otherwise would be issuable. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon the exercise of a SAR; instead, the holder of a SAR shall be entitled to receive a cash adjustment equal to the same fraction of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Exercise Date or to purchase the portion necessary to make a whole share at its Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date.
Article 9. Performance Shares and Performance Units.
A performance share or performance unit consists of an award that may be paid in shares of Common Stock or in cash, as described below. The award of performance shares and performance units shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate.
9.1 Performance Objectives. Each performance share and performance unit will be subject to performance objectives for MidSouth or one of its subsidiaries, divisions or departments to be achieved by the end of a specified period. The Committee shall set performance goals and objectives in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value and/or number of performance units that will be paid out to the participant. Such performance objectives are provided in Article 11.11. The number of performance shares and/or performance units awarded shall be determined by the Committee and may be subject to such terms and conditions as it shall determine. If the performance objectives as defined in Article 11.11 are achieved, each participant will be paid (a) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of performance shares initially granted to him or her; (b) a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of such number of shares of Common Stock on the date the performance objectives are met or such other date as may be provided by the Committee or (c) a combination of shares of Common Stock and cash, as may be provided by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise provided in the Incentive Agreement, the Committee may in its discretion declare the performance objectives achieved or waived. To the extent a performance share is intended to qualify as performance based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, it must meet the additional requirements imposed thereby.
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9.2 Not a Shareholder. The award of performance shares and performance units to a participant shall not create any rights in such partic-ipant as a shareholder of MidSouth, until the payment of shares of Common Stock with respect to an award, at which time such stock shall be considered issued and outstanding.
9.3 Dividend Equivalent Payments.A performance share and performance unit award may be granted in conjunction with dividend equivalent payment rights or other such rights. Dividend equivalent payments may be made to the participant at the time of the payment of the dividend or issuance of the other right or at the end of the specified performance period or may be deemed to be invested in additional performance shares at the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of payment of the dividend or issuance of the right. 
Article 10. Stock Options for Outside Directors
10.1 Eligibility.Each Outside Director who is serving on the date of adoption of this Plan by the shareholders or who becomes an Outside Director subsequently shall on the later of such date of adoption or the second anniversary of the date he becomes an Outside Director, be eligible to receive NQOs in an amount to be determined by the Committee.
10.2 Exercisability of Stock Options.The stock options granted to Outside Directors under this Article 10 shall become exercisable as follows:
a)20% of the total number of shares covered by the stock options beginning one year after the date of grant;
b)40% of the total number of shares covered by the stock options beginning two years after the date of grant, less any shares previously issued;
c)60% of the total number of shares covered by the stock options beginning three years after the date of grant, less any shares previously issued;

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d)80% of the total number of shares covered by the stock options beginning four years after the date of grant, less any shares previously issued;
e)100% of the total number of shares covered by the stock options beginning five years after the date of grant, less any shares previously issued;
provided, however, that such stock options shall become immediately exercisable under Article 12 hereof and in the event of death, disability causing his removal from the Board, or retirement from the Board on or after reaching age 65. No stock option granted to an Outside Director under the terms of this Article 10 may be exercised more than ten years after the date of grant.
10.3 Exercise Price.The per share exercise price of stock options granted to Outside Directors shall be equal to 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
10.4 Exercise after Termination of Board Service.If an Outside Director ceases to serve on the Board because of death, retirement on or after reaching age 65, or disability causing his removal from the Board, all stock options previously granted that are not then exercisable will expire and the options that are exercisable must be exercised within six months from the date of termination of Board service, but in no event later than ten years after the date of grant. If an Outside Director ceases to serve on the Board for any other reason, all options not then exercisable will expire and all options that are exercisable must be exercised within 90 days from the date of termination of Board service, but in no event later than ten years after the date of grant. 
10.5 Certain Provisions Applicable.Articles 6.4 and 6.5 of this Plan shall apply to options granted under this Article 10. 
Article 11. General.
11.1 Duration.Subject to Article 11.10, the Plan shall remain in effect until all Incentives granted under the Plan have either been satisfied by the issuance of shares of Common Stock or the payment of cash or been terminated under the terms of the Plan and all restrictions imposed on shares of Common Stock in connection with their issuance under the Plan have lapsed. 
11.2 Transferability of Incentives.Options, SARs and performance shares granted under the Plan may not be transferred except: 
a)by will;
b)by the laws of descent and distribution; or
c)
in the case of stock options only, if (i) with respect to options under Article 10, permitted by the Board or (ii) with respect to all options other than ISOs, permitted by the Committee and so provided in the Incentive Agreement, (iii) pursuant to a domestic relations order, as defined in the Code, (iv) to Immediate Family Members, (v) to a partnership or limited liability company in which Immediate Family Members, or entities in which Immediate Family Members are the sole owners, members or beneficiaries, as appropriate, are the only partners or members or (vi) to a trust for the sole benefit of Immediate Family Members. “Immediate Family Members” means the spouse and natural or adopted children or grandchildren of the participant and his or her spouses. To the extent that an ISO is permitted to be transferred during the lifetime of the participant, it shall be treated thereafter as a NQO.

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Stock options or SARs may be exercised during the lifetime of a participant only by the participant, by the participant's guardian or legal representative or, in the case of stock options, by a permitted transferee as provided in (c) above. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of an Incentive, or levy of attachment or similar process upon the Incentive not specifically permitted herein, shall be null and void and without effect.
11.3 Effect of Termination of Employment or Death.If an employee participant ceases to be an employee of the Company for any reason, including death, disability, early retirement or normal retirement, any Incentives may be exercised, shall vest or shall expire at such times as may be determined by the Committee in the Incentive Agreement.
11.4 Additional Condition.Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding: (a) MidSouth may, if it determines it necessary or desirable for any reason, at the time of award of any Incentive or the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any Incentive, require the recipient, as a condition to the receipt thereof or to the receipt of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant thereto, to deliver to MidSouth a written representation of present intention to acquire the Incentive or the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant thereto for his own account for investment and not for distribution; and (b) if at any time MidSouth further determines, in its sole discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification (or any updating of any such document) of any Incentive or the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant thereto is necessary on any securities exchange or under any federal or state securities or blue sky law, or that the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with the award of any Incentive, the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto, or the removal of any restrictions imposed on such shares, such Incentive shall not be awarded or such shares of Common Stock shall not be issued or such restrictions shall not be removed, as the case may be, in whole or in part, unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to MidSouth. 
11.5 Adjustment.In the event of any merger, consolidation or reorganization of MidSouth with any other corporation or corporations, there shall be substituted for each of the shares of Common Stock then subject to the Plan, including shares subject to restrictions, options, or achievement of performance share objectives, the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities to which the holders of the shares of Common Stock will be entitled pursuant to the transaction. In the event of any recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares or other change in the Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock then subject to the Plan, including shares subject to outstanding Incentives, shall be adjusted in proportion to the change in outstanding shares of Common Stock. In the event of any such adjustments, the purchase price of any option, the performance objectives of any Incentive, and the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to any Incentive shall be adjusted as and to the extent appropriate, in the reasonable discretion of the Committee, to provide participants with the same relative rights before and after such adjustment.
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11.6 Incentive Agreements.The terms of each Incentive other than those granted under Article 10 shall be stated in an agreement approved by the Committee. 
11.7 Withholding. At any time that a participant is required to pay to the Company an amount that is the minimum required to be withheld under the applicable income tax laws in connection with the issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Plan or upon the lapse of restrictions on shares of restricted stock, the participant may, subject to the Committee's right of disapproval, satisfy this obligation in whole or in part by electing (the “Election”) to have the Company withhold from the distribution shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The value of the shares withheld shall be based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld shall be determined (the “Tax Date”). 
Each Election must be made prior to the Tax Date. The Committee may disapprove of any Election or may suspend or terminate the right to make Elections. If a participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to shares of restricted stock, an Election is not permitted to be made.
A participant may also satisfy his or her total tax liability related to an Incentive by delivering shares of Common Stock that have been owned by the participant for at least six months. The value of the shares delivered shall be based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Tax Date.
11.8 No Continued Employment.No participant shall have any right, because of his or her participation, to continue in the employ of the Company for any period of time or to any right to continue his or her present or any other rate of compensation. 
11.9 Deferral Permitted.Payment of cash or distribution of any shares of Common Stock to which a participant is entitled under any Incentive shall be made as provided in the Incentive Agreement. Payment may be deferred at the option of the participant if provided in the Incentive Agreement. 
11.10 Amendment of the Plan. The Board may amend or discontinue the Plan at any time; provided, however, that no such amendment or discontinuance shall change or impair, without the consent of the recipient, an Incentive previously granted; and provided further, that an amendment to materially increase the number of shares of Common Stock issuable through the Plan, materially modify the eligibility requirements or materially increase the benefits under the Plan must be approved by the shareholders of MidSouth.
11.11 Performance Objectives Defined. The Plan requires the performance goals to be based on one or more objective business criteria, which may include the following: revenue, earnings (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), operating income, net income, profit margins, earnings per share, return on assets, return on equity, return on average equity, return on tangible equity, net interest margin, economic value-added, stock price, volume of business, market share, book value, expense management, cash flow, customer satisfaction, credit quality, credit performance, employee retention, compliance standards, and any other industry based criteria utilized in measuring the performance of a financial services company.
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Article 12. Change of Control.
a)A Change of Control shall mean:
1)the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of more than 25% of the outstanding voting power with respect to the election of directors (“Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), no Change of Control will be over as a result of acquisition of Voting Securities: (a) directly from or by the Company, (b) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company, or (c) by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses a), b) and c) of subsection (iii) of this Section; or
2)individuals who, as of the date this Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors (the “Approval Date”), constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Approval Date whose election, or nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board, unless such individual's initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Incumbent Board; or
 3)consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination,Karen L. Hail
 i.all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the outstanding Common Stock and the Voting Securities of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination have direct or indirect beneficial ownership, respectively, of more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock, and more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (which, for purposes of this clause) and clauses b) and c), shall include a corporation that as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the assets of the Company either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), andSEVP/Chief Operating Officer

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ii.exceptSecretary to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, no person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan or related trust of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or 25% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation, and
iii.at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or
iv.approval by the shareholders of the Company of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Upon a Change of Control, or immediately prior to the closing of a transaction that will result in a Change of Control if consummated, all outstanding options and SARs granted pursuant to the Plan shall automatically become fully exercisable, all restrictions or limitations on any Incentives shall lapse and all performance criteria and other conditions relating to the payment of Incentives shall be deemed to be achieved at the target level and waived by the Company, without the necessity of action by any person.
The Committee may take such other action with respect to an Incentive as shall be provided in an agreement with the holder thereof.
Article 13. Definition of Fair Market Value.
“Fair Market Value” of Common Stock shall be determined for purposes of this Plan, as follows: (a) if it is listed on an established stock exchange or any automated quotation system that provides sale quotations, the closing sale price for a share on such exchange or quotation system on the applicable date, or if no sale shall have been made on that day, on the next preceding day on which there was a sale; (b) if it is not listed on any exchange or quotation system, but bid and asked prices are quoted and published, the mean between the quoted bid and asked prices on the applicable date, and if bid and asked prices are not available on such day, on the next preceding day on which such prices were available; and (c) if it is not regularly quoted, the fair market value of a share on the applicable date as established by the Committee in good faith.
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SAMPLE BALLOT FOR MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC. ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 5-30-07 AT 1:00 P.M. CDT FOR HOLDERS AS OF MARCH 31, 2007- CUSIP NO. 598039105

1.Election of Class II Directors
Nominees:Will Charbonnet, Sr.
Clayton Paul Hilliard
Stephen C. May
Joseph V. Tortorice, Jr.

Election of Class I Directors
Nominee:Timothy J. Lemoine

Election of Class III Directors
Nominee:R. Glenn Pumpelly


___FOR all nominees listed except as marked to the contrary

___WITHHOLD authority for all nominees

___If you wish to withhold authority to vote for certain of the nominees listed, strike through the nominee(s) names.

2.Approval of MidSouth's 2007 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
___FOR

___AGAINST

___ABSTAIN

3.In their discretion, to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof.

This proxy will be voted as specified. If no specific directions are given, this proxy will be voted FOR the nominees named and FOR approval of the MidSouth's 2007 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.

Please sign exactly as name appears on the certificate or certificates representing shares to be voted by the proxy. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized persons. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized persons.

Dated:2007 
    
 Signature of Shareholder
 Signature (if jointly owned)

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD TO THE COMPANY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.Lafayette, Louisiana
April 22, 2009

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PROXY
MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC.
May 30, 2007
Annual Meeting of Shareholders

THIS PROXY IS SOLOCITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints Sammy Baudoin, Barbara Hightower, Raymond F. Mikolajczyk or any of them, proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to represent the undersigned and to vote all of the shares of Common Stock of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held on May 30, 2007 and at any and all adjournments thereof.