After a banner year, a New Orleans bank sets its sights beyond Louisiana.
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust, buoyed by record earnings, plans to push deeper into the Gulf South and extend its national lending reach, signaling an ambitious next phase for the state’s largest locally owned bank.
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, Louisiana’s largest locally owned bank, is using a year of record financial performance as a springboard for geographic expansion, outlining plans to enter new regional markets and broaden its national lending presence in 2026.
The New Orleans-based institution, which reported $3.6 billion in total assets at year’s end, said it intends to open operations in Panama City, Fla., and Hattiesburg, Miss., as part of a strategy to deepen its footprint across the Gulf South. At the same time, the bank plans to expand its national lending platform by adding commercial loan officers in New York and California, strengthening its reach well beyond its home region.
The expansion plans accompanied what the bank described as one of the strongest financial performances in its history. Net income rose to $40.2 million in 2025, a sharp increase from the prior year, while equity climbed 16.7% to $311 million. Revenue grew to $362 million, reflecting gains across multiple business lines.
Executives attributed the results to rising customer demand, growth in specialty and national lending — including purchase order finance — and continued investment in internally developed technology designed to improve efficiency and scale operations. Growth in the bank’s core Gulf Coast markets also contributed to the performance, the company said.
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“Our record earnings reflect the hard work and dedication of our entire team,” Guy Williams, the bank’s chief executive, said in a statement. “Looking ahead, our expansion sets the foundation for even greater achievements as we continue to innovate and deliver superior value for our customers.”
Founded in 1990, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust employs more than 950 people nationwide and offers a range of services, including personal and business banking, mortgage lending, trust and wealth management, and international banking. In recent years, the bank has positioned itself as both a regional community lender and a national player in specialty finance — a dual strategy that has helped fuel its growth.
The planned expansion into Florida and Mississippi is intended to support local economic development while giving the bank access to a broader customer base, according to the company. Additional investments in technology are planned across all divisions to support the next stage of growth, as Gulf Coast Bank seeks to translate its strong 2025 performance into a larger regional and national presence.
“Looking ahead, our expansion sets the foundation for even greater achievements as we continue to innovate and deliver superior value for our customers.”
– Guy Williams
CEO
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company
