Forbes Names Hancock Whitney One of America's Best Banks — Pensacola Market President Says It Reflects Who They Are

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Hancock Whitney Bank has been named one of America's best banks by Forbes — and Northwest Florida Market President Bruce Vredenberg says the recognition reflects something deeper than financial performance. It reflects the way the bank thinks about its relationship with the communities it serves.

Vredenberg says Hancock Whitney has historically performed well during challenging economic times because of a disciplined and conservative approach to managing risk. He notes the core responsibility of any bank is handling other people's money — taking deposits and putting them to work as investments in the community — and says Forbes recognizing that work is validation that the bank is doing right by its customers.

But Vredenberg says the honor also affirms the bank's community philosophy. He describes the relationship between a bank and its market the way a farmer thinks about land — the people in the community are the source of everything and it is the bank's responsibility to return that investment in multiples. That means staying active in local organizations, supporting economic development, and pursuing responsible growth rather than simply chasing expansion.

Hancock Whitney has been in the Pensacola market since 2006 — entering as a de novo operation meaning it opened from scratch rather than acquiring an existing bank. It has grown entirely through organic growth since. The bank itself is more than 130 years old and operates primarily across the Gulf South region. It was formed through the combination of two historic Gulf Coast financial institutions — Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank — which came together in 2010.