Louisiana

Four banks based in the state have agreed to sell since December, when Hancock Holding of Gulfport, Miss., said it would buy Whitney, a New Orleans stalwart.

First National Bankers Bankshares Inc. in Baton Rouge, La., said late Friday that it consolidated its four banks along the Gulf Coast.

MidSouth Bancorp Inc. in Lafayette, La., plans to enter the Dallas market after agreeing to buy five area branches from a bank being sold through bankruptcy court.

The Justice Department said Friday that it will not challenge Hancock Holding's deal to acquire Whitney Holding of New Orleans as long as the companies sell eight branches.

Home Bancorp Inc. in Lafayette, La., has agreed to buy GS Financial Corp. of Matairie, La.

Data on failed banks sold in the first 10 weeks of the year hints at a broader shift toward buyers going it alone.

Iberiabank Corp. is on track to buy two Louisiana banks, ending the Layfayette company's seven-year lull of deal making in the state.

Iberiabank Corp. in Lafayette, La., is consolidating various outsourced debit card processing functions with products from Fiserv Inc.

Iberiabank Corp. in Lafayette, La., said Wednesday it has recruited Robert Kottler to become director of retail and small business.

Iberiabank Corp.'s agreement to buy the much smaller Omni Bancshares in Metairie, La., would the Lafayette, La., bank's first deal in Louisiana in seven years and its first unassisted bank purchase since 2007.

Iberiabank Corp. of Lafayette, La., said Tuesday that it has agreed to buy Omni Bancshares in Metairie, La., for $40 million in stock.

Iberiabank Corp. in Lafayette, La., has reported that fourth-quarter earnings fell 89% from a year earlier, to $13 million, largely due to the costs of consolidating two units and the purchase of a failed bank.

Members of Louisiana Corporate Credit Union would not be required to obtain new capital after their corporate institution is merged into Corporate America Credit Union, under preliminary plans announced by the two corporates.

Several banks rushed to repay investments under the Troubled Asset Relief Program in December, but hundreds head into the new year desperate for an exit strategy, even if it means selling.

Analysts predict there will be more deals like Hancock's takeover of Whitney as banks seek buyers to help cut ties with Treasury rather than test the highly dilutive capital markets.

Hancock, of Gulfport, Miss., is buying the larger New Orleans-based Whitney. Hancock would gain an entree into Texas and Louisiana and a bigger presence in Florida and Mississippi.

Home Federal Bancorp Inc. of Shreveport, La., has launched a syndicated community offering to complete a second-step conversion.

After a brief return to profitability in late 2009, Whitney Holding Corp. in New Orleans has reported another losing quarter.

Louisiana Bancorp Inc. in Metairie said Tuesday that it will initiate its 10th stock repurchase program. The $327.7 million-asset company also said it completed its ninth repurchase program, acquiring 210,406 shares, or 5% of its outstanding common stock.

About 32%, or 47, of the 146 banks that acquired a failed bank from Jan. 1, 2009, through Aug. 19 of this year have recorded a net bargain-purchase gain from the failed bank's assets.