Hancock Whitney Bank
SBA Preferred Lender in Gulfport, MS: SBA 7(a) up to $5M, 9.25% median rate, roughly 45 days to fund, 45% of recent loans to startups. Best for Gulf South and Texas owners.
Rates & Cost
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Repayment Terms
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Eligibility & Access
Who qualifies and what you have to put on the line.
Speed & Service
How fast you get funded and how the lender treats you.
Company Verification
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Best for: Startups, franchisees and business buyers in Texas, Florida or the Gulf South needing an SBA 7(a) loan of $25,000 to $3.1 million.
Not for: Borrowers outside MS, AL, FL, LA and TX, or anyone wanting posted rates or unsecured credit.
Lender List verdict: Hancock Whitney Bank approved 127 SBA 7(a) loans worth $82.6 million in the year to June 2026 at a 9.25% median rate, 45% of them for businesses not yet open. It suits Gulf South and Texas startups and franchise buyers with collateral.
Hancock Whitney Bank at a glance
| Hancock Whitney Bank | |
|---|---|
| Lender type | Regional bank (FDIC cert 12441); SBA Preferred Lender |
| Founded / HQ | 1899 / Gulfport, Mississippi |
| Products | SBA 7(a) to $5M; SBA Express to $500K; SBA 504 |
| Cost | 9.25% median starting rate (last 12 months) |
| Term | 84 to 300 months; 120 most common |
| Status | Active |
What is Hancock Whitney Bank?
Hancock Whitney Bank is a Gulfport, Mississippi bank chartered in 1899, with $36.3 billion in assets and 194 offices in five Gulf South states. Hancock Bank and New Orleans-based Whitney Bank combined in 2011.
How Hancock Whitney's SBA loans work
Nearly all (124 of 127) Hancock Whitney SBA loans in the year to June 2026 were variable-rate, and all were secured: $465,000 median, $650,762 average. Forty were franchise loans.
Hancock Whitney's SBA programs
Hancock Whitney processed 110 of its 127 recent SBA loans in-house as a Preferred Lender and also offers SBA 504.
- Preferred Lender 7(a): 110 loans, $50,000 to $3,092,700
- SBA Express: 15 loans, $25,000 to $500,000, mostly revolving lines
- FY2025: 111 approvals ($80.0 million)
Hancock Whitney SBA rates and fees
Hancock Whitney's median SBA starting rate was 9.25% in the year to June 2026 (range 8.4% to 10.5%, average 9.34%); Prime is 7.00%. The SBA guaranty fee is 3% of the guaranteed share on loans of $150,001 to $700,000.
Worked example: a $350,000, 10-year 7(a) at 9.25% costs $4,481.15 a month, or $187,737.43 in interest. The $7,875 guaranty fee lifts the APR to about 9.79%. The 9.25% rate sits under the SBA's 11.5% cap here; above $350,000 the cap is Prime plus 3% (10.0%).
Hancock Whitney SBA loan requirements
Hancock Whitney publishes no credit or revenue minimum.
| Requirement | Hancock Whitney minimum |
|---|---|
| Business size | Must meet SBA size standards |
| Personal credit score | Lender does not publish |
| Equity injection | 10%+ for startups and business purchases |
| Collateral / guarantee | Collateral on all; guarantee from 20%+ owners |
| Time to close | Roughly 45 days to fund after you apply |
Frequently asked questions about Hancock Whitney Bank
Is Hancock Whitney Bank Legit? Yes. Hancock Whitney Bank is an FDIC-insured Mississippi bank, certificate 12441, dating to 1899, with $36.3 billion in assets. It has made 570 SBA 7(a) loans since FY2020 with just 2 charge-offs, and it processed 110 of 127 recent SBA loans as a Preferred Lender.
Where Is Hancock Whitney Near Me? Hancock Whitney has 194 offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, headquartered in Gulfport, plus loan offices in Nashville and greater Atlanta. Texas led its recent SBA lending with 51 of 127 loans, ahead of Florida (28) and Louisiana (24).
How Long Does Hancock Whitney Take to Close an SBA Loan? Roughly 45 days to fund after you apply, the bank says, if documents arrive promptly. Its SBA Express loans use a simplified application. As a Preferred Lender it skips the separate 5 to 10 business-day SBA review; standard 7(a) loans elsewhere often take 60 to 90 days.
Does Hancock Whitney Lend to Startups? Yes. In the year to June 2026, 57 of its 127 SBA loans funded businesses not yet open and 7 more went to firms two years old or younger. Bring a business plan, 10%+ equity, collateral and a personal guarantee.
Compare SBA 7(a) lenders, including SouthState Bank and City National Bank of Florida.
Last verified 2026-10-27. Pricing and terms are provider-stated or third-party-reported and vary by offer; confirm with the lender before applying.
Best for: Startups, franchisees and business buyers in Texas, Florida or the Gulf South needing an SBA 7(a) loan of $25,000 to $3.1 million.
Not for: Borrowers outside MS, AL, FL, LA and TX, or anyone wanting posted rates or unsecured credit.
Lender List verdict: Hancock Whitney Bank approved 127 SBA 7(a) loans worth $82.6 million in the year to June 2026 at a 9.25% median rate, 45% of them for businesses not yet open. It suits Gulf South and Texas startups and franchise buyers with collateral.
Hancock Whitney Bank at a glance
| Hancock Whitney Bank | |
|---|---|
| Lender type | Regional bank (FDIC cert 12441); SBA Preferred Lender |
| Founded / HQ | 1899 / Gulfport, Mississippi |
| Products | SBA 7(a) to $5M; SBA Express to $500K; SBA 504 |
| Cost | 9.25% median starting rate (last 12 months) |
| Term | 84 to 300 months; 120 most common |
| Status | Active |
What is Hancock Whitney Bank?
Hancock Whitney Bank is a Gulfport, Mississippi bank chartered in 1899, with $36.3 billion in assets and 194 offices in five Gulf South states. Hancock Bank and New Orleans-based Whitney Bank combined in 2011.
How Hancock Whitney's SBA loans work
Nearly all (124 of 127) Hancock Whitney SBA loans in the year to June 2026 were variable-rate, and all were secured: $465,000 median, $650,762 average. Forty were franchise loans.
Hancock Whitney's SBA programs
Hancock Whitney processed 110 of its 127 recent SBA loans in-house as a Preferred Lender and also offers SBA 504.
- Preferred Lender 7(a): 110 loans, $50,000 to $3,092,700
- SBA Express: 15 loans, $25,000 to $500,000, mostly revolving lines
- FY2025: 111 approvals ($80.0 million)
Hancock Whitney SBA rates and fees
Hancock Whitney's median SBA starting rate was 9.25% in the year to June 2026 (range 8.4% to 10.5%, average 9.34%); Prime is 7.00%. The SBA guaranty fee is 3% of the guaranteed share on loans of $150,001 to $700,000.
Worked example: a $350,000, 10-year 7(a) at 9.25% costs $4,481.15 a month, or $187,737.43 in interest. The $7,875 guaranty fee lifts the APR to about 9.79%. The 9.25% rate sits under the SBA's 11.5% cap here; above $350,000 the cap is Prime plus 3% (10.0%).
Hancock Whitney SBA loan requirements
Hancock Whitney publishes no credit or revenue minimum.
| Requirement | Hancock Whitney minimum |
|---|---|
| Business size | Must meet SBA size standards |
| Personal credit score | Lender does not publish |
| Equity injection | 10%+ for startups and business purchases |
| Collateral / guarantee | Collateral on all; guarantee from 20%+ owners |
| Time to close | Roughly 45 days to fund after you apply |
Frequently asked questions about Hancock Whitney Bank
Is Hancock Whitney Bank Legit? Yes. Hancock Whitney Bank is an FDIC-insured Mississippi bank, certificate 12441, dating to 1899, with $36.3 billion in assets. It has made 570 SBA 7(a) loans since FY2020 with just 2 charge-offs, and it processed 110 of 127 recent SBA loans as a Preferred Lender.
Where Is Hancock Whitney Near Me? Hancock Whitney has 194 offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, headquartered in Gulfport, plus loan offices in Nashville and greater Atlanta. Texas led its recent SBA lending with 51 of 127 loans, ahead of Florida (28) and Louisiana (24).
How Long Does Hancock Whitney Take to Close an SBA Loan? Roughly 45 days to fund after you apply, the bank says, if documents arrive promptly. Its SBA Express loans use a simplified application. As a Preferred Lender it skips the separate 5 to 10 business-day SBA review; standard 7(a) loans elsewhere often take 60 to 90 days.
Does Hancock Whitney Lend to Startups? Yes. In the year to June 2026, 57 of its 127 SBA loans funded businesses not yet open and 7 more went to firms two years old or younger. Bring a business plan, 10%+ equity, collateral and a personal guarantee.
Compare SBA 7(a) lenders, including SouthState Bank and City National Bank of Florida.
Last verified 2026-10-27. Pricing and terms are provider-stated or third-party-reported and vary by offer; confirm with the lender before applying.
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