MidSouth buys pair of B.R. branches from Hancock-Whitney

MidSouth Bancorp is doubling its Baton Rouge presence with the purchase of two bank branches shuttered by the merger of Hancock and Whitney banks. A purchase price was not disclosed for either branch, and both purchases are subject to regulatory approval. The branches sold are the former Hancock branch at 2927 South Sherwood Forest Blvd. and the former Whitney branch at 6031 Jones Creek Road. MidSouth says it plans to open the Sherwood location in September and the Jones Creek location in October. “These former Hancock and Whitney locations are a perfect distance from our two existing banking centers, allowing us to expand both our commercial and consumer reach in the Baton Rouge market,” says MidSouth Bank Regional President Paul Judice. “The investment in these two locations will support our future growth in Baton Rouge and into surrounding parishes, while providing more convenience for our existing customers.” MidSouth currently has two Baton Rouge locations: one on Siegen Lane and the other in Towne Center on Corporate Boulevard. It also has a branch under construction in Carencro, which—in addition to the acquired branches in Baton Rouge—will bring the Lafayette-based bank’s total number of locations in Louisiana and Texas to 43.