The First, A National Banking Association is serving as the title sponsor to the Economic Outlook 2018 Forum hosted by the University of Southern Mississippi. The forum will convene experts from banking, finance, and academia to explore a number of issues and research related to the economic outlook for 2018. "The Economic Outlook Forum continues to grow every year, and we expect another large turnout," said Hoppy Cole, President and CEO of The First. "It gives us an opportunity to visit with people from the Gulf South region, to find out what is going on and how our company can be of service."