Indianola native and resident, David Mason, has spent the last five months back home working for Planters Bank as a loan officer.
Fresh out of Mississippi State University with a finance degree, he had taken a job in the insurance industry in Madison. Making friends and getting the job done, he still wanted to do more to help customers.
“I worked at a State Farm for about a year and I was approached about a year ago with this opportunity to come back home. I did and I’ve enjoyed it ever since,” Mason said.
He’s the son of retired IA headmaster Charlie Mason and likewise retired Lockard Elementary counselor Suzanne Mason.
“I grew up in Indianola and I’m a huge Mississippi State fan. Love the Bulldogs,” the loan officer said. “I’m a very competitive guy and I enjoyed the sales of insurance but I wasn’t getting to do much of the personal side. That piqued my interest in coming back. I love the people in and around Indianola. I jumped at the opportunity to have a job where I was more a part of the community and getting to do things with members of the community.”
He also noted the change of pace from insurance to banking.
“It’s a different kind of busy. I’m selling the services of the bank, whereas in insurance I was making calls all day trying to drum up business,” he said.
Working at a smaller Delta-area bank, Mason enjoys the eclectic way his days and weeks come together.
“We do everything from small automobile loans to financing homes for new homeowners and we do a ton of business with farmers. That’s probably my favorite part of it – dealing with the agriculture stuff. Even though I grew up here, both of my parents were in education and I didn’t have a huge knowledge of how farms work. Now I’m learning how farms operate and there are great folks in the agriculture business and it’s a pleasure working with them.”
The 2018 IA grad has fond memories of his high school years.
“Four of my best friends to this day that I still hang out with today are from IA. It was a real blessing to be educated and get a foundation at IA,” he said.
He picked up a love for golf while in high school as his dad was the golf coach. He also played basketball for the Colonels.
“Allen Hill was my basketball coach. I learned a lot from him, and my dad coached golf, and that was a fun experience having him at all my tournaments,” he said. “We ended up having six to seven guys a year on the roster. We had a big ol’ time playing on that golf team.”
His leisure time is split between heading to Carrollton to spend time at the family cabin or heading to Madison to hang out with friends.
“I do enjoy being out in the woods and I enjoy crappie fishing. I like being out in the water,” he said. “Going fishing is better than being anywhere else. We’re blessed in the Delta to have so many crappie lakes.”
Mason also enjoys music and getting to concerts as much as he can. In Madison, he spent time at the Brandon Amphitheatre and heads to Memphis for concerts as well.
“I’m a simple guy. I like a little bit of blues and I grew up listening to my dad playing guitar all the time so I like guitar rock,” he said. “I’m a big ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s guitar rock guy. Anything from the Grateful Dead to Pearl Jam and grunge-era stuff. My dad’s and my personal favorite is James Taylor. I like having some drums and guitar in my music.”
Mason is happy to be back home with “great folks in Indianola and I love serving this community.”
