Jim Bates Joins New Equipment Finance Company at Hancock and Whitney Operational expertise to enhance options for commercial clients across Gulf South
GULFPORT, Miss. (October 6, 2015)— A newly formed equipment finance company at Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank—Whitney Equipment Finance LLC—continues to expand with the recent arrival of seasoned equipment finance professional Jim Bates as Senior Vice President and Operations Manager.
With deep equipment finance experience across multiple disciplines, Bates most recently was senior regional credit portfolio manager at SunTrust Equipment Finance and Leasing in Baltimore, Maryland. He was responsible for portfolio account reviews, loan and lease lines, post-funding modifications, and underwriting portfolio purchases.
Previously, he served as director of funding, administration, and operations at AIG Commercial Equipment Finance in Dallas, where he managed all activities of the operations department related to booking new transactions and account modifications. Bates’ career also includes increasingly more senior positions in equipment financing with Transamerica Equipment Financial Services Corporation, Nations Credit Commercial Corporation, and the CIT Group/Equipment Financing.
Hancock and Whitney’s equipment finance company serves middle-market and corporate clients by financing and leasing revenue-producing capital equipment. Clients include private companies, government entities, and businesses that buy and sell equipment. Equipment finance can range from work boats, business aviation, and trucking to railcars, cranes, and medical and construction equipment. Through equipment financing, Hancock and Whitney can offer clients alternatives for capital preservation, capital expenditure planning, new-market growth, and possible tax and accounting considerations.
“The growth of the Gulf South demands experienced professionals who can help clients navigate the financing needed for highly technical and revenue-producing capital equipment,” said Chris Bucher, who leads the equipment finance company for Hancock and Whitney. “With Jim’s extensive experience and knowledge of equipment financing, he will immediately be able to bring more value to our clients with complex financing needs.”
About Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank
Since the late 1800s, the Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank names have embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Part of Hancock Holding Company’s Gulf South financial services family, Hancock Bank locations in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and Whitney Bank locations in Louisiana and Texas offer a comprehensive array of financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; energy banking; private banking; trust and investment services; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. More information and online banking are available at www.hancockbank.com and www.whitneybank.com.
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