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Hancock Whitney to Acquire OFB Bancshares, Expand in Florida

Story Highlights
  • Hancock Whitney agreed on May 15, 2026, to buy OFB Bancshares in an all-cash deal, using One Florida Bank’s six offices and $2.1 billion in assets to secure a significant foothold in the high-growth Orlando and Florida Panhandle markets while broadening its Gulf South banking franchise.
  • The acquisition, expected to close in the third quarter of 2026 pending regulatory and shareholder approvals, is projected to be immediately accretive to GAAP EPS excluding one-time costs and aligns with Hancock Whitney’s return hurdles, combining its scale with One Florida’s community banking strengths for stakeholders’ benefit.
  • Looking for the best stocks to buy? Follow the recommendations of top-performing analysts.
Hancock Whitney to Acquire OFB Bancshares, Expand in Florida

Meet Samuel – Your Personal Investing Prophet

Hancock Whitney ( (HWC) ) has provided an update.

On May 15, 2026, Hancock Whitney announced a definitive all-cash agreement to acquire OFB Bancshares, parent of One Florida Bank, in a deal that will extend the Gulfport-based lender’s franchise into the fast-growing Orlando market and the Florida Panhandle. One Florida Bank’s six financial centers and $2.1 billion in assets as of March 31, 2026, will give Hancock Whitney a meaningful physical presence in central Florida, complementing its existing Gulf South footprint and deepening exposure to attractive regional demographics.

Executives from both banks framed the transaction as a strategic move to pair Hancock Whitney’s scale, capital strength, and broader product set with One Florida’s local market expertise and community relationships. Subject to customary regulatory and shareholder approvals, the deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026 and to be immediately accretive to Hancock Whitney’s GAAP earnings per share excluding one-time costs, meeting the company’s internal return thresholds and signaling potential value creation for clients, employees, and shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (HWC) stock is a Buy with a $79.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hancock Whitney stock, see the HWC Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on HWC Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, HWC is a Outperform.

The score is driven primarily by solid underlying financial health and cash generation, alongside constructive earnings-call guidance around NIM expansion, capital returns, and controlled expenses. Technicals add support with an upward trend and positive momentum. Valuation is the main restraint due to a higher P/E, with corporate events providing only a modest incremental positive.

To see Spark’s full report on HWC stock, click here.

More about Hancock Whitney

Hancock Whitney Corporation, parent of Hancock Whitney Bank, is a regional financial institution operating offices and financial centers across Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, with additional loan and deposit production offices in Nashville and Atlanta. The bank provides comprehensive products spanning traditional and online banking, commercial and small business banking, private banking, trust and investment services, healthcare banking, and mortgage services, targeting both retail and business clients in the Gulf South and select high-growth metropolitan markets.

One Florida Bank, owned by OFB Bancshares, Inc., is a community-oriented bank focused on relationship-driven banking and local decision making in central and north Florida. Serving clients through six banking offices in Orlando, Winter Park, Longwood, Oviedo, Apopka, and Chipley, it offers a full suite of financial products including commercial, residential mortgage, and installment loans alongside checking, treasury management, savings, and term deposit accounts, emphasizing personalized service supported by modern technology platforms.

Average Trading Volume: 855,962

Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy

Current Market Cap: $5.34B

Learn more about HWC stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.

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