SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
              Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the 
                       Securities Exchange Act of 1934 

Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:
[ ]    Preliminary Proxy Statement             [ ]  Confidential, for Use of
[X]    Definitive Proxy Statement                     Commission Only
[ ]    Definitive Additional Materials                (as permitted by Rule
[ ]    Soliciting Material Pursuant to                14a-6(e)(2))
         par 240.14a-11(c) or par. 240.14a-12

                                           
                            MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.                         
            ________________________________________________
            (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


               Board of Directors of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.
________________________________________________________________________
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]     $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 
           14a-6(i)(2) or item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
[ ]     $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to 
           Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
[ ]     Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 
           14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

1)      Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

        _______________________________________________________________
                                                                           

2)      Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
                                                                           
        _______________________________________________________________

3)      Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed 
        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which 
        the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
                                                                          
        _______________________________________________________________

4)      Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
                                                                              
        _______________________________________________________________

5)      Total Fee Paid:
                                                                          
        _______________________________________________________________

[ ]     Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[ ]     Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange 
        Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting 
        fee was paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by 
        registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date 
        of its filing.

1)      Amount Previously Paid:

        __________________________
                                                   
2)      Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

        __________________________
                                                  
3)      Filing Party:

        __________________________
                                                 
4)      Date Filed:
                                                

        __________________________







                                MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC.

                               102 Versailles Boulevard
                                  Versailles Centre
                              Lafayette, Louisiana 70501

                       NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS



          Lafayette, Louisiana
          April 13, 1998

          The  annual  meeting  of  shareholders  of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.
          ("MidSouth") will be held on Wednesday, May  13,  1998,   at 2:00
          p.m.,  local  time,  at  MidSouth's  main  office, 102 Versailles
          Boulevard, Lafayette, Louisiana, to elect directors  and consider
          such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any
          adjournments thereof.

          Only  holders of record of common stock at the close of  business
          on March  31,  1998, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the
          meeting.

          Your vote is important  regardless  of  the  number of shares you
          own.  WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE MARK,
          DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT  PROMPTLY  IN  THE
          ACCOMPANYING  ENVELOPE.  YOUR PROXY MAY BE REVOKED BY APPROPRIATE
          NOTICE TO MIDSOUTH'S  SECRETARY  AT  ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE VOTING
          THEREOF.


                                             BY ORDER OF THE BOARD 
                                             OF DIRECTORS


                                             Karen L. Hail
                                               Secretary
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC.

                               102 Versailles Boulevard
                                  Versailles Centre
                              Lafayette, Louisiana 70501

                                   PROXY STATEMENT


          This  Proxy Statement is furnished holders  of  common  stock  of
          MidSouth  Bancorp,  Inc.  ("MidSouth")  in  connection  with  the
          solicitation on behalf of its Board of Directors (the "Board") of
          proxies  for  use  at MidSouth's annual shareholders meeting (the
          "Meeting") to be held on Wednesday, May 13, 1998, at the time and
          place shown in the accompanying  notice  and  at any adjournments
          thereof.    This  Proxy  Statement  is  first  being  mailed   to
          shareholders about April 13, 1998.

          Only holders  of record of MidSouth common stock ("Common Stock")
          at the close of  business  on  March  31,  1998,  are entitled to
          notice of and to vote at the Meeting.  On that date, MidSouth had
          outstanding  1,592,939  shares of Common Stock, plus  any  shares
          issued on conversion of its  Preferred Stock or acquired pursuant
          to MidSouth's Dividend Reinvestment  and Stock Purchase Plan from
          March 20 through March 31, 1998, each of which is entitled to one
          vote.

          The  presence,  in  person  or by proxy, of  a  majority  of  the
          outstanding shares of Common  Stock entitled to vote is necessary
          to constitute a quorum.  If a quorum  is  present,  directors are
          elected  by  plurality  vote; with respect to any other  proposal
          properly before the Meeting,  if  the Board has recommended it by
          the affirmative vote of the majority of the Continuing Directors,
          as defined in MidSouth's Articles of  Incorporation ("Articles"),
          then, generally, the affirmative vote of  a majority of the votes
          cast is required to approve it, but if it is  not so recommended,
          then  the affirmative vote of 80% of the Total Voting  Power,  as
          defined  in  the Articles, is required to approve it.  MidSouth's
          By-laws provide  that  the  Continuing Directors will appoint the
          Judge(s)  of   Election  and  that   all   questions  as  to  the
          qualification of voters, validity of proxies  and  the acceptance
          or rejection of votes will be decided by the Judge(s).

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

          All  proxies received in the  form  enclosed  will  be  voted  as
          specified  and,  in  the absence of instructions to the contrary,
          will be voted for the  election  of  the  persons  named  herein.
          MidSouth  does  not  know  of  any matters to be presented at the
          Meeting other than those described  herein; however, if any other
          matters  properly  come before the Meeting  or  any  adjournments
          thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed
          proxy to vote the shares  represented  by them in accordance with
          their best judgment.


                                      -1-




          The enclosed proxy may be revoked by the  shareholder at any time
          prior  to  its  exercise  by filing with MidSouth's  Secretary  a
          written revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date.
          A shareholder who votes in person in a manner inconsistent with a
          proxy previously filed on his  or  her  behalf  will be deemed to
          have revoked the proxy as to the matters voted upon in person.

          The cost of soliciting proxies in the enclosed form will be borne
          by MidSouth.  In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be
          solicited by personal interview, telephone, telegraph,  facsimile
          and  e-mail.   Banks,  brokerage  houses  and  other  nominees or
          fiduciaries  may be requested to forward the soliciting  material
          to their principals and to obtain authorization for the execution
          of proxies, and  MidSouth  will, upon request, reimburse them for
          their expenses in so acting.


                                ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

          The 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 II Directors will be elected to serve until
          the  third  succeeding  annual meeting and until their successors
          have been duly elected and qualified.

          Unless authority is withheld,  the  persons named in the enclosed
          proxy will vote the shares represented by the proxies received by
          them for the election of the two Class II director nominees named
          below.   In the unanticipated event that  one  or  more  nominees
          cannot be a candidate at the Meeting, the shares represented will
          be voted in  favor of such other nominees as may be designated by
          the Board.  Directors will be elected by plurality vote.

          Other than the  Board, only shareholders entitled to vote for the
          election of directors  who  have  complied with the procedures of
          Article IV(H) of MidSouth's Articles  may  nominate  a person for
          election.   To  do  so,  the  shareholder must have given written
          notice to MidSouth by January 15, 1998, of the following:  (1) as
          to each person whom he or she proposes  to  nominate,  (a) his or
          her  name,  age, business address, residential address, principal
          occupation or  employment,  and the class and number of shares of
          MidSouth's stock of which he  or  she is the beneficial owner and
          (b) any other information relating  to  such 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 (the "Exchange Act"); and  (2)  as  to  the
          shareholder  giving  the  notice, (a) his or her name and address
          and the class and number of  shares of stock of MidSouth of which
          he or she is the beneficial owner  and  (b)  a description of any
          agreements, arrangements or relationships between the shareholder
          and each person he or she proposes to nominate.   Two inspectors,
          not affiliated with MidSouth, appointed by MidSouth's  Secretary,
          will  determine  whether the notice provisions were met; if  they
          determine that the  shareholder  has  not  complied  with Article
          IV(H), the defective nomination will be disregarded.

          The  following table sets forth certain information as  of  March
          31, 1998,  with  respect  to  each   director  nominee  and  each
          director  whose  term  as  a  director  will  continue  after the
          Meeting.   Unless  otherwise  indicated,  each  person  has  been
          engaged  in  the  principal  occupation  shown  for the past five
          years.  The Board recommends a vote FOR each of the  two nominees
          named below.

                                      -2-





       Director nominees for terms expiring in 2001 (Class II Directors)


                                                                         Year First
                   Name        Age   Principal Occupation              Became Director
                   ____        ___   ____________________              _______________
                                                                    

           Will G.              50   President, Acadiana Fast Foods          1985
           Charbonnet, Sr.           Inc. (owner/ operator of fast
                                     food stores); Chairman of the
                                     Board, MidSouth and MidSouth
                                     National Bank (the "Bank"), the
                                     wholly-owned subsidiary of
                                     MidSouth


           Clayton Paul         72   President, Badger Oil                   1992<FN1>
           Hilliard                  Corporation








         Directors whose terms expire in 1999 (Class III Directors)



                                                                         Year First
                   Name        Age   Principal Occupation              Became Director
                   ____        ___   ____________________              _______________

                                                                    
          James R. Davis, Jr.   45   President, Advanced Pay                 1991
                                     Cellular, Inc. (1997-Present);
                                     Owner, Davis/Wade Financial
                                     Services, LLC (1995-Present);
                                     Owner, Safe-America Security
                                     System (1994-1995)


          Karen L. Hail         44   Chief Financial Officer and             1988
                                     Secretary, MidSouth


          Milton B. Kidd, III,  49   Optometrist, Kidd Vision                1996<FN2>
          O.D.                       Centers








         Directors whose terms expire in 2000 (Class I Directors)


                                                                          Year First
                   Name        Age   Principal Occupation               Became Director
                   ____        ___   ____________________               _______________

                                                                    
           C. R. Cloutier       51   President and C.E.O., MidSouth          1984
                                     and the Bank


           J. B. Hargroder,     67   Physician, retired                      1984
           M.D.


           William M. Simmons   64   Private Investments                     1984
                   
           _____________________





           <FN1> Mr. Hilliard also served on the Boards of
                 MidSouth and the Bank from 1985 to 1987.

           <FN2> Dr. Kidd has served on the Board of the Bank
                 since April 1, 1994.

                              _________________________


          During  1997,  the  Board  held  14  meetings.  Each   incumbent  
          director attended  at  least  75%  of  the aggregate  number   of 
          meetings held  during  1997 of the Board and committees of  which 
          he or she was a member.

          The Board has an Executive Committee, an Audit  and  Loan  Review
          Committee   and  a  Personnel  Committee.   The  members  of  the
          Executive  Committee   are   Messrs.  Charbonnet,   Cloutier  and
          Hargroder.     The   Committee's  duties   include   nominations,
          shareholder  relations,   Bank  examination  and  Securities  and
          Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")   reporting.   The  Committee  will
          consider nominees who are proposed  by shareholders in accordance
          with  the procedures, described above,  in  MidSouth's  Articles.
          
                                      -3-



          
          The Committee did not meet in 1997 as matters usually taken up by
          it were brought to the full Board.

          The members  of  the  Audit and Loan Review Committee are Messrs.
          Davis,   Kidd,   and Hilliard.   The  Committee,  which  held  12
          meetings in 1997,  is  responsible  for  maintaining a program of
          internal accounting controls and monitoring  all  loans and lines
          of credit for consistency with the Bank's loan policies.

          The  members  of the Personnel Committee are Messrs.  Charbonnet,
          Davis, Hargroder,  Hilliard,  Kidd,  and Simmons.  The Committee,
          which  met  5 times in 1997, is responsible  for  evaluating  the
          performance and  setting the compensation of MidSouth's executive
          officers and administering MidSouth's Stock Incentive Plan.

          Directors of MidSouth are also directors of the Bank.   Directors
          are entitled to fees  of  $200  per  month  for  service  on both
          boards,  except  for  the Chairman of the Board, who receives  an
          additional $400 per month.   Each director also receives $250 for
          each regular meeting, and $125  for  each special meeting, of the
          Board of the Bank and $100 for the first  hour,  and $50 per hour
          for  each additional hour, of each committee meeting.   Directors
          receive fees only for meetings they attend.

          Each of  the  current  directors  who are not employees have been
          granted  options  to purchase up to 7,312.5  shares  of  MidSouth
          Common Stock at its fair market value on the date of grant.

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


                           SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
                            AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

          Security Ownership of Management

          The following table sets forth certain  information  as  of March
          31,  1998,  concerning  the  beneficial  ownership  of MidSouth's
          equity  securities,  consisting  of  Common  Stock  and Series  A
          Convertible  Preferred  Stock,  by  each director and nominee  of
          MidSouth,  by  its Chief Executive Officer  and  Chief  Financial
          Officer (who are  also  directors),  and  by  all  directors  and
          executive  officers  as a group.  Unless otherwise indicated, the
          securities are held with  sole  voting and investment power.  The
          table reflects shares of Common Stock beneficially owned, and the
          footnotes  provide  information  on   beneficial   ownership   of
          Preferred Stock.


                                      -4-






                                         Amount and       Percent
                                         Nature of        of Class
              Name and Address           Beneficial
                                         Ownership<FN1>
              ________________           _____________    _________

                                                    
              Will G. Charbonnet, Sr.    59,256<FN2>       3.72%
                                       


              C. R. Cloutier             99,770<FN3>       6.25%
                                      


              James R. Davis, Jr.        34,416<FN4>       2.16%
                                    


              Karen L. Hail              30,321<FN5>       1.90%
                                       


              J. B. Hargroder, M.D.     155,401<FN6>       9.73%
                                     


              Clayton Paul Hilliard      67,337<FN7>       4.22%
                                        


              Milton B. Kidd, III, O.D.  71,910<FN8>       4.54%
                                     


              William M. Simmons         54,716<FN9>       3.43%
                                        


              All directors and         620,563           38.43%
              executive officers as a
              group (13 persons)

          _________________




          <FN1>Common Stock   held   by   MidSouth's   Directors'  Deferred
          Compensation  Trust (the "Trust") is beneficially  owned  by  its
          Plan Administrator,  MidSouth's  Executive Committee, the members
          of  which  could  be deemed to share  beneficial  ownership  with
          respect to all Common  Stock held in the Trust (111,081 shares or
          6.97%  as  of March 31, 1998).   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 at
          March 31, 1998.  Common Stock held  by  MidSouth's Employee Stock
          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  on  conversion  of  Preferred   Stock  or  exercise  of
          currently exercisable options are deemed outstanding for purposes
          of computing the percentage of outstanding  Common 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.

          <FN2>Includes 13,355 shares  as  to  which  he shares voting  and
          investment power, 14,481 shares held for his account in the Trust
          and 1,462 shares which he may acquire within  60 days pursuant to
          currently exercisable stock options ("Current Options").

          <FN3>Includes 17,251 shares  held  by the ESOP for  his  account,
          47,957 shares as to which he shares  voting and investment power,
          17,229 shares held for his account in the Trust, and 3,375 shares
          under Current Options.  Mr. Cloutier's address is P. O. Box 3745,
          Lafayette, Louisiana 70502.

          <FN4>Includes  21,501 shares as to which  he  shares  voting  and
          investment power, 11,453  shares  held  for  his  account  in the
          Trust, and 1,462 shares under Current Options.

                                      -5-




          <FN5>Includes 12,770 shares held for her account in the ESOP, 418
          shares as to which she shares voting and investment power, 11,305
          shares held for  her  account in the Trust and 2,250 shares under
          Current Options.

          <FN6>Includes 132,614 shares as to  which  he  shares  voting and
          investment  power,  15,567  shares  held  for his account in  the
          Trust, 3,510 shares he has the right to acquire  on conversion of
          1,756  shares of Preferred Stock owned by him, and  1,462  shares
          under Current  Options.   Dr.  Hargroder's  address  is P. O. Box
          1049, Jennings, Louisiana 70546.

          <FN7>Includes 57,574  shares as  to  which  he shares voting  and
          investment power, 6,590 shares held for his account in the Trust,
          and 1,462 shares under Current Options.

          <FN8>Includes 26,771 shares  as  to  which he shares  voting  and
          investment power,  4,068 shares held for his account in the Trust
          and 1,462 shares under Current Options.

          <FN9>Includes 1,499 shares  as  to  which he  shares  voting  and
          investment power 14,929 shares held for his account in the Trust,
          and 1,462 shares under Current Options.

                             __________________

          Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

          The following table sets forth certain  information  as  of March
          31,  1998,  concerning  the  only  person  other than the persons
          listed in the table above known to MidSouth  to be the beneficial
          owner of more than five percent of its Common Stock.




           Name and Address              Shares Beneficially      Percent
          of Beneficial Owner                  Owned              of Class
          ___________________            ___________________      ________

                                                             
          MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.,             165,100<FN1>          10.36 %
            Employee Stock
            Ownership Plan, ESOP
            Trustees and ESOP 
            Administrative Committee
            P. O. Box 3745,
            Lafayette, LA   70502

          _________________________



          <FN1>The Administrative Committee directs the Trustees how to vote
          the  approximately  14,681  unallocated shares of Common Stock  in
          the ESOP as of March  31,   1998.   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  of
          MidSouth, Earline  Vincent a  Bank officer and Kim Cormier, a Bank
          employee.  The  Administrative  Committee  consists  of  David  L.
          Majkowski and  Teri S. Stelly  executive officers of MidSouth, and
          Dailene Melancon a Bank officer.

                             _________________

                                      -6-



                   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

          Summary of Executive Compensation

          The  following table shows all compensation awarded to, earned by
          or paid  to  MidSouth's  Chief Executive Officer, C. R. Cloutier,
          and Chief Financial Officer,  Karen  L.  Hail,  for  all services
          rendered   by   them  in  all  capacities  to  MidSouth  and  its
          subsidiaries for  1997.   No  other executive officer of MidSouth
          had  total annual salary and bonus  exceeding  $100,000  for  the
          year.

                                                               



                                                               Long-Term Compensation
                                                      __________________________________________

                                                      
                                                      
                                                      Other                                         All Other
        Name and                                      Annual  Restricted  Securities                  Compen-
        Principal                 Salary    Bonus     Compen-   Stock     Underlying     LTIP         sation
        Position           Year   <FN1>     <FN2>     sation   Award(s)    Option(s)    Payouts       <FN3>
      ______________       ____  ________   _______   _______ __________  __________    _______     _________


                                                                             
      C. R. Cloutier       1997  $134,850   $20,023      0        0          16,875         0        $13,470
      Chief Executive      1996  $124,075   $17,586      0        0             0           0          7,311
       Officer             1995  $119,450   $19,445      0        0             0           0          5,865



      Karen L. Hail        1997  $ 96,075   $12,738      0        0          11,250         0        $ 9,307
      Chief Financial      1996  $ 88,600   $11,104      0        0             0           0          7,143
       Officer             1995  $ 85,100   $12,235      0        0             0           0          5,520






          <FN1>Includes director fees of $14,100 and $13,950  for  1997; 
          $13,075 and $12,850 for 1996; and $11,950 and $11,600 for 1995 
          for Mr. Cloutier and Ms. Hail, respectively.

          <FN2>Awarded pursuant to the Incentive Compensation Plan of the 
          Bank.

          <FN3>Consists of an estimated $12,643 and $8,648 contributed by  
          MidSouth  to  the  ESOP  for  the  accounts   of  each  of  Mr. 
          Cloutier and Ms. Hail,  respectively, and $827 and $659 paid by 
          MidSouth  in insurance premiums for term life insurance for the 
          benefit of Mr. Cloutier  and  Ms.  Hail, respectively.

                             __________________


          Option Exercises and Holdings

          The  following  table  sets  forth information with respect to 
          Mr. C. R. Cloutier, and Ms. Hail, concerning their exercise of 
          options during 1997 and unexercised options held as of December 
          31, 1997. 

                                      -7-






                         AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN 1997
                      AND OPTION VALUES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997



                              Shares                  Underlying Unexercised      In-the-Money Options
                           Acquired on     Value           Options at                     at
           Name              Exercise     Realized      December 31, 1997        December 31, 1997 <FN1>
      ________________     ___________   __________  _________________________ __________________________

                                                     Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable  Unexercisable

                                                                            
      C. R. Cloutier            0           0            0          16,875         0          $189,844

      Karen L. Hail             0           0            0          11,250         0          $126,563  
      
      __________________________



      <FN1>  Reflects the difference between the closing sale price of a share
             of MidSouth Common Stock on December 31, 1997, and the exercise
             price of the options.

                                ___________________


          1997 Stock Option Grants

          The following table sets forth information concerning the grant of 
          stock options to Mr. Cloutier and Ms. Hail during 1997.


                               1997 Stock Option Grants
                               ________________________






                                    
                            No. of      % of Total
                            Shares      Options to    Exercise
                          Underlying    Employees      Price        Expiration
         Name               Options      in 1997       <FN1>            Date
         ____             __________    __________    ________      __________

                                                        
      C. R. Cloutier        16,875        34.48%       $10.00       Feb. 27, 2007          
      
      Karen L. Hail         11,250        22.99%       $10.00       Feb. 27, 2007   

      ____________________




          <FN1>The exercise price represents the fair market value  of  the 
          MidSouth Common Stock on the date of grant.  The options are not 
          exercisable  for one year from the date of grant and become 
          exercisable thereafter in 20% increments  each  year,  unless  
          exerciseability  is  accelerated by the Personnel Committee or 
          upon a change in control of MidSouth.


                               ___________________________

          Employment and Severance Contracts with Named Executive Officers

          Mr. Cloutier and Ms. Hail each have a written employment  agreement
          with the Bank for a term of one year, beginning February 15th of
          each  year.  The  agreements  are  automatically  extended  for  
          one  year every year thereafter beginning on the termination date,
          unless written  notice  of termination  is  given  by  any party to
          the agreement not later than 60 days  before  the  termination
          date.   Pursuant  to  the  contract,  Mr.
          
          
                                      -8-


          
          
          Cloutier and Ms. Hail  receive  term  life insurance equal to four 
          times their  annual  salary  payable  to a beneficiary  of  their  
          choice  and disability insurance of not less than two-thirds of 
          their annual salary.  Mr. Cloutier's and Ms. Hail's contracts have 
          a severance provision which entitles them to one year's salary if 
          the agreement is terminated by the Bank, unless they are removed 
          by a regulatory body.

          Certain Transactions

          Directors,  nominees  and  executive  officers  of  MidSouth  and  
          their associates have been customers  of,  and have borrowed from, 
          the Bank in the ordinary course of business, and such  transactions  
          are expected to continue  in the future.  In the opinion of 
          MidSouth's management,  such transactions  have  been  on  
          substantially  the  same  terms, including interest  rates  and  
          collateral,  as  those prevailing at the  time  of comparable 
          transactions with other persons and did not involve more than 
          the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable 
          features.


                            RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT
                                  PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

          MidSouth's consolidated financial statements  for  1997  were 
          audited by Deloitte  &  Touche,  LLP,  and  the  Board  has  
          appointed it to  audit MidSouth's financial statements for 1998.  
          Representatives of Deloitte & Touche, LLP are not expected to be 
          present at the meeting.


                                SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

          Eligible  shareholders  who desire to present a proposal  qualified  
          for inclusion in the proxy materials  relating  to  the  1999 annual 
          meeting must forward such proposal to the Secretary of MidSouth  at  
          the address listed  on  the first page of this Proxy Statement in 
          time to arrive  at MidSouth before December 14, 1998.


          ANY SHAREHOLDER  MAY  BY WRITTEN REQUEST OBTAIN WITHOUT CHARGE A 
          COPY OF MIDSOUTH'S ANNUAL REPORT  ON FORM 10-KSB FOR THE YEAR ENDED 
          DECEMBER 31, 1997, WITHOUT EXHIBITS.  REQUESTS  SHOULD BE ADDRESSED 
          TO SALLY D. GARY, INVESTOR RELATIONS, MIDSOUTH BANCORP,  INC.,  
          P. O. BOX 3745, LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA 70502.

                                         By Order of the Board of Directors


                                            Karen L. Hail
                                              Secretary
          Lafayette, Louisiana
          April 13, 1998

                                         
                                      -9-

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   PROXY

                            MIDSOUTH BANCORP, INC.

                                May 13, 1998
                       Annual Meeting of Shareholders

         THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

The undersigned hereby appoints Raymond F. Mikolajczyk and Barbara Hightower, 
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 13, 1998 and at any and all adjournments thereof.





This proxy will be voted as specified.  If no specific       Please mark  [ X ]
directions are given, this proxy will be voted FOR the       your votes 
nominees named.                                              as indicated 
                                                             in this
                                                             example


1. Election of Class II Directors

FOR all nominees         WITHHOLD           Nominees:  Will G. Charbonnet, Sr.
Listed except        authority for all                 Clayton Paul Hillard
As marked                nominees
To the contrary                 

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

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

                                            
                                            
                                            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.


                                            Date:  __________________, 1998


                                            ________________________________
                                                 Signature of Shareholder


                                            ________________________________
                                               Signature (if jointly owned)

                                            PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND 
                                            RETURN THIS PROXY CARD TO 
                                            THE COMPANY PROMPTLY USING 
                                            THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.