GULFPORT, Miss., Sept. 2, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Despite Hurricane Gustav's rampage yesterday across Gulf South communities still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina, all Hancock Bank locations in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are open for business today. Approximately 25 percent of Hancock's Louisiana offices are open, with additional sites reopening as lingering storm conditions subside and Hancock officials assess circumstances affecting customer and employee safety.
Senior executives of Hancock Holding Company (Nasdaq:HBHC) -- parent company of Hancock Bank -- credit associates' commitment to Hancock's core values and a comprehensive business continuity plan as the reasons Hancock can maintain financial services critical to sustain the region's ongoing recovery and help residents and businesses affected by Gustav.
"Once again, Hancock associates have demonstrated the strength and stability, honor and integrity, commitment to service, teamwork, and personal responsibility central to Hancock's core business principles. Our associates' dedication to executing a best-practices readiness and response plan is why we are able to open our branches today and help our Louisiana colleagues quickly recover from Hurricane Gustav," said Hancock Holding Company Chief Executive Officer Carl J. Chaney.
Hancock Holding Company Chief Executive Officer John M. Hairston said Hancock's customer service call center is functioning, and the company has not experienced any internal issues with ATM operation, debit cards, ACH transactions, internet banking, statement rendering, wire operations, or treasury services.
"We have opened for business as usual at all of our Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida offices, excluding Hancock's branch at Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi. That site will open when the federal government reopens the Stennis Center on Wednesday. That level of continuous operations is a direct testament to our associates' commitment to service," he added.
Hancock began assessing damage to all the company's branches even as Gustav still roared along a southwestern track through cities such as Baton Rouge and Alexandria. Reports indicate no significant damage to Mississippi locations and minimal damage to Louisiana facilities. Commercial power and telecommunications outages appear to be widespread throughout greater Baton Rouge and Central Louisiana. However, staff are working to reopen branches as workers clear fallen trees and power lines and generators activate.
The company's Louisiana teams have been able to spot-check branches for damage and reopen for business when possible. However, as in any post-storm environment, many roads are still impassable, and safety is a primary concern. While offices such as Hancock's metropolitan New Orleans financial centers are not damaged, associates must wait until city and parish officials allow re-entry to those areas.
Founded in 1899, Hancock Bank -- one of America's strongest, safest financial services institutions -- operates 164 banking and financial services offices and 134 ATMs across an I-10 corridor market spanning Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana. With assets of approximately $6.2 billion, Hancock Holding Company is the parent company of Hancock Bank Mississippi, Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Hancock Bank of Alabama, and Hancock Bank of Florida. Bank subsidiaries include Hancock Investment Services, Inc.; Hancock Insurance Agency and its divisions of Ross King Walker and J. Everett Eaves; and Harrison Finance Company. Hancock also has corporate trust offices in Jackson, Gulfport, New Orleans, Orlando, and Baton Rouge.
Additional corporate information, a list of Hancock's Lighthouse branches, and online banking and bill pay are available at www.hancockbank.com.
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