ORLANDO, Fla., April 16, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Hancock Bank, one of the country's top-performing financial institutions, announced today its entry into the Central Florida region with the opening of its Corporate Trust Office in Orlando. Geri Kail, a 30-year veteran of corporate and institutional trust services, will head the new operation located at the downtown Citrus Center.
Kail and her staff will offer a broad array of services, including bond agencies, trusteeships, corporate trusteeships and escrow services. Additionally, services will be available in Florida for personal trust, investment management and retirement plan administration. Hancock Bank of Florida already operates retail banking and commercial services in Pensacola and Tallahassee. Hancock Bank's service area also covers Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
"Hancock Bank may be new to Orlando, but our corporate trust professionals across the Gulf South average 15 years experience in corporate trust and agency services," said Kail, a Senior Vice President of Hancock Bank. Kail will oversee the new Orlando operation which will offer corporate trust services to state and local governments, educational and health care institutions.
Kail is a Certified Corporate Trust Specialist and previously worked for SunTrust, where she was senior vice president managing the Corporate Trust business line. She also worked in corporate and personal trust lines of service for Century First Bank in St. Petersburg and Palmetto Bank and Trust Company.
"Selecting the right bond trustee is critical to organizations considering a debt offering," Kail said. "Given the long-term nature of corporate trust appointments, it's important to have experienced personnel handling the administration of these accounts. Just as significant is the level of service provided, and our reputation for a high level of responsiveness will be key in building our business here."
Founded in 1899, Hancock Bank recently ranked third among America's top-performing financial services institutions and has rated among the country's strongest, safest banks for 73 consecutive quarters. Hancock Holding Company (Nasdaq:HBHC) -- parent company of Hancock Bank (Mississippi), Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Hancock Bank of Alabama, and Hancock Bank of Florida -- has assets of approximately $6.1 billion and operates 162 banking and financial services offices and 132 ATMs in the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, south central Louisiana, and South Mississippi.
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, and Baton Rouge.
To find out more, go to www.hancockbank.com.
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