Bankers Say Acadiana An Industry Hub

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Two banking executives touted Acadiana as a center of Southern banking activity during a presentation this past week on the outlook for the local industry.

While the nation has struggled through an economic downtown, three Lafayette banks have been on growth spurts with Iberia Bank growing by 164 percent since December 2007, Home Bank by 134 percent and MidSouth Bank by 63 percent, according to figures provided by Jerry Vascocu, Iberia Bank's president for the Lafayette market.

The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/PXjYrh ) Vascocu and MidSouth Bank President and CEO Rusty Cloutier spoke at a meeting of the Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation.

The most wide-ranging expansion has been done by Iberia Bank.

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Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com