United Security Bancshares, Inc.
                                 First Bancshares, Inc.   


Contact Person:     Jack Wainwright,                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                    President & Chief
                    Executive Officer
                    (334) 636-5424


       UNITED SECURITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND FIRST BANCSHARES, INC. 
                   ANNOUNCE PROPOSED "MERGER OF EQUALS" 


     Thomasville, Alabama (July 16, 1996).  United Security Bancshares, Inc. and
First Bancshares, Inc. of Grove Hill, Alabama today reported that their Boards
of Directors announced the signing of a letter of intent, pursuant to which the
two institutions would enter into a "merger of equals."  The resulting
institution would be United Security Bancshares, Inc. ("USB"), with all 
directors of First Bancshares joining the Board of Directors of USB.  The 
subsidiary banks, United Security Bank and First Bank and Trust, would also 
merge into one bank, whose Board will be comprised of twelve directors, six 
from each institution.

     Prior to the merger, the directors of USB and First Bancshares will jointly
decide upon a new name for the combined organization and other significant 
policy matters.

     Jack Wainwright, President and Chief Executive Officer of USB, and Fred
Huggins, President of First Bancshares, jointly announced the execution of this
letter of intent.

     "We are extremely fortunate to have reached this agreement," Wainwright
stated.  "We believe the two institutions will benefit greatly from this 
proposed merger.  The merger will give our existing customers a stronger 
community oriented bank and enable us to service an expanded customer base.  
For this reason, we believe that First Bancshares is the best possible 
partner for us," Wainwright concluded.

     "As we join with USB, our two organizations will complement and support
each other and give the combined company the ability to provide the highest 
level of service and convenience to our customers," stated Huggins.  "We will 
also be able to offer an expanded product line to our customers. In addition,
this merger will allow us to maintain a strong banking institution that 
continues to be based in this community."

     If the merger is approved, the shareholders of First Bancshares will
receive 5.8321 shares of common stock of USB for each share of common stock of
First Bancshares.  There are currently outstanding  2,137,960 shares of USB
common stock and 239,843 shares of First Bancshares.

     In connection with the letter of intent, USB and First Bancshares have
executed option agreements in favor of each other that are exercisable upon the
occurrence of certain events, including but not limited to the subsequent
agreement by a party to merge or consolidate with a third party or the purchase
by a third party of fifteen percent or more of the outstanding shares of USB or
First Bancshares.  In such an event, each option provides for the purchase of up
to eight percent of the outstanding shares of USB or First Bancshares by the
other party, at a price of $13.13 per share for shares of USB common stock or
$67.00 per share for shares of First Bancshares common stock. These options will
terminate if the parties fail to agree upon and execute a definitive agreement
and will expire if the merger is consummated.

     United Security Bank is a state bank with over $238 million in assets and
nine banking locations located in the cities of Thomasville, Coffeeville, 
Fulton, Grove Hill and Jackson in Clarke County, Gilbertown and Butler in 
Choctaw County and Brent in Bibb County.  First Bank and Trust is also a 
state bank with over $186 million in assets and six banking locations located
in the cities of Grove Hill, Jackson, and Thomasville in Clarke County and 
Centreville and Woodstock in Bibb County.  At closing, the combined 
institution will have assets in excess of $424 million and $45 million in 
capital.

     The merger of USB and First Bancshares is subject to a satisfactory due
diligence review by each institution and the execution of a definitive 
agreement, and to regulatory and shareholder approval.