Banking

BancorpSouth breaks ground

by Patrick Flanagan

BancorpSouth is expanding its local footprint with the construction of an 8,000-square-foot office building on Settlers Trace Boulevard, which will serve as a headquarters for the Mississippi-based company's Acadiana offices.

BancorpSouth is expanding its local footprint with the construction of an 8,000-square-foot office building on Settlers Trace Boulevard, which will serve as a headquarters for the Mississippi-based company's Acadiana offices, and will also mean the hiring of additional employees upon its completion early next year.

With the ground cleared and construction expected to get under way before summer's end, Ken Judice, BancorpSouth's top Acadiana executive, says the Settlers Trace office should open its doors for business within the first quarter of 2014.

"It will be ready sometime after Jan. 1, and hopefully before Mardi Gras if all goes according to plan," Judice tells ABiz.

The two existing Lafayette offices - including a full-service branch on Rue Jean Lafitte and a loan production office on Silverstone Road in River Ranch - will merge into one with the opening of the Settlers Trace office.

The new location will also create up to six additional jobs - both executive and entry-level positions. Those new hires, Judice tells ABiz, will be added to the existing 18 employees working at the Lafayette, Broussard and New Iberia branches.

"Our performance here in South Louisiana has been very positive, and Lafayette is one of the top performing markets within the franchise," says Judice. "Everything we're hearing from corporate about the South Louisiana market here has been extremely positive and confident, especially in regards to Lafayette."