Exhibit 32

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2012 (the “Report”) by Southside Bancshares, Inc. (the “Registrant”), the undersigned hereby certify that, to our knowledge:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Registrant.

Date:	March 6, 2013	By:	/s/ SAM DAWSON
			Sam Dawson
			President and Chief Executive Officer
Date:	March 6, 2013	By:	/s/ LEE R. GIBSON
			Lee R. Gibson, CPA
			Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer