Ponchatoula's banking establishments are today located on West Pine Street with Regions, Hancock-Whitney, and First Guaranty banks offering a variety of banking services.
Many years ago, a new bank was established in Ponchatoula to compete with the Merchants and Farmers Bank, which had begun operations in 1903. The new bank was the First State Bank of Hammond with a branch in Ponchatoula, but it was usually called the Ponchatoula State Bank.
The bank began operations in the fall of 1911, with a capital of $15,000. It was located in the newly constructed Pierson Building, which housed the bank and the Pierson and Butler General Store. The two-story brick building was located where the Collinswood School Museum currently operates.