Exhibit 32
Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the filing of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 (the “Report”) by Southside Bancshares, Inc. (“Registrant”), each of the undersigned hereby certifies that to his knowledge:
| 1. | The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and |
| 2. | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Registrant. |
| Date: November 8, 2011 | By: | /s/ B. G. HARTLEY |
| | | B. G. Hartley |
| | | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
| Date: November 8, 2011 | By: | /s/ LEE R. GIBSON |
| | | Lee R. Gibson, CPA |
| | | Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
