HWC News & Events

Hancock Whitney, parent company of Hancock Whitney Bank, and OFB Bancshares, parent company of One Florida Bank, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Hancock Whitney will acquire OFB Bancshares, in an all-cash transaction. One Florida Bank operates five financial centers in the greater Orlando, Florida, area and one in the Florida Panhandle. As of March 31, 2026, OFB Bancshares, on a consolidated basis, reported total assets of $2.1B, total loans of $1.7B, and total deposits of $1.9B. This acquisition will enhance Hancock Whitney Bank's existing financial center footprint by establishing meaningful market presence in the Orlando area. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026 and is expected to be immediately accretive to GAAP EPS excluding one-time costs and meets or exceeds Hancock Whitney's minimum thresholds for Internal Rate of Return and Return on Invested Capital.

"The first quarter of 2026 was a solid start to the year," said John M. Hairston, President & CEO. "Our diluted earnings per share, adjusted for the supplemental disclosure item, was $1.52, up from $1.49 in prior quarter. Profitability remains strong, with adjusted ROA of 1.43%, an efficiency ratio of 55.43%, and solid fee income and well-controlled expenses. With a focus on sustainable long-term organic balance sheet growth, we continue to invest in revenue-generating activities, including hiring 27 net new bankers in the first quarter. NIM grew 7 basis points to 3.55%, largely due to the completion of our bond portfolio restructuring and lower costs of funds, which more than offset the impact of lower loan yields in this rate environment. We started 2026 by proactively returning capital to shareholders through repurchasing 1.4 million shares of our common stock and the 11% increase in our common stock dividend to $0.50 per share. With a solid capital stack, we believe we are well-positioned for continued organic growth and proactive capital management in the remainder of 2026."