Hancock Whitney Bank Review
Written by
Daria Uhlig
Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Hancock Whitney combines a strong regional presence with versatile financial products.
The bank offers a wide variety of account types, including multiple checking and savings options, along with ways to avoid fees, all while providing versatile financial products and exceptional community-focused service.
Hancock Whitney, recognized as one of GOBankingRates’ best banks in Louisiana and Mississippi, serves the Gulf states. With offerings that include basic checking, high-yield savings, personal loans, mortgages, and credit cards, it provides versatile financial solutions tailored to its regional communities.
Hancock Whitney Bank Checking Accounts
Hancock Whitney has three checking accounts: Freestyle Checking, Priority Checking and Assure, for anyone new to banking or having trouble being approved for a standard account. Freestyle is the best choice for most because the fee is easy to waive, and there’s no minimum balance requirement.
- Freestyle Checking: NSF transactions are free for small overdrafts; otherwise, fees apply.
- The account has a low opening deposit and waives the monthly fee with qualifying activity.
- Priority Checking earns interest, but the rate is minimal.
- To waive the monthly service charge, maintain a high balance or combined account minimums.
- Assure Checking has no overdraft fees but includes a small monthly maintenance fee.
- All checking accounts offer early access to direct-deposited paychecks.
Best For
Mobile App
Banking in Louisiana
Banking in Mississippi
Low Monthly Fees
Loan Options
Flexible Options for Everyday Banking
Hancock Whitney offers versatile checking accounts with options to fit different financial needs. With features like fee waivers for qualifying activity and early access to direct deposits, these accounts provide convenient and flexible banking solutions for everyday use.
Fees
$10
APY
Min Opening
$25
Pros
- Early pay available
- Most service charges are waivable
Cons
- Balances earn no or low interest
- Priority Checking’s fee is high and difficult to waive
- High overdraft fees
Quick Take
Of the three checking accounts Hancock Whitney offers, Freestyle Checking provides the most value. Just take care to avoid overdrafts.
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Hancock Whitney Bank Savings Accounts
Hancock Whitney offers two savings account options: Freestyle Savings and Savings Builder. Freestyle Savings provides competitive rates on balances up to a set threshold and requires a $25 opening deposit, with a low balance requirement to avoid fees. Savings Builder is a basic option with a slightly higher fee waiver threshold but minimal interest. Both accounts include features like automated transfers to help grow your savings.
- Freestyle Savings offers competitive rates for balances up to a certain threshold.
- A low opening deposit and balance can help avoid monthly fees.
- Withdrawals are limited to three per month, with fees for additional transactions.
- Automated transfers from checking make saving easier.
- Savings Builder provides a basic option with minimal interest and a low balance requirement to waive fees.
Best For
Mobile App
Banking in Louisiana
Banking in Mississippi
Low Monthly Fees
Loan Options
Tailored Solutions for Your Financial Goals
Hancock Whitney offers flexible savings accounts designed to meet a variety of financial goals. With options for competitive rates, fee waivers for maintaining balances, and tools like automated transfers, these accounts make saving simple and effective.
Fees
$5
APY
Min Opening
$25
Pros
- Highly competitive APY
- Low minimums to open account and waive fees
Cons
- Free withdrawals limited to three per month
Quick Take
Freestyle Savings offers competitive rates and low requirements, making it an accessible and rewarding option for savers.
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Hancock Whitney Bank Money Market Accounts
Hancock Whitney’s money market accounts offer flexibility and secure savings options with features like fee waivers for maintaining minimum balances and limited free withdrawals. For higher balances, the Priority Money Market account provides better-earning potential but requires an in-person setup and a linked checking account.
- The money market account requires a minimum opening deposit.
- Maintaining a minimum balance waives the monthly service fee.
- Interest is earned only on balances meeting the minimum requirement, though the rate is low.
- Includes a limited number of free withdrawals, with fees for additional transactions.
- The Priority Money Market account offers higher rates for larger balances but has stricter requirements.
- Priority accounts must be opened in person and linked to a checking account.
Best For
Mobile App
Banking in Louisiana
Banking in Mississippi
Low Monthly Fees
Loan Options
Smart Savings for Every Stage
Hancock Whitney’s Money Market account provides a secure way to grow your savings, offering interest on balances above the required minimum. Its straightforward structure makes it a reliable option for savers looking for steady returns.
Fees
$10
APY
Min Opening
$2,500
Pros
- Six free withdrawals per month compared to just three for Hancock Whitney savings accounts
Cons
- A high minimum is required to earn interest
- Low APY
Quick Take
This account offers more free withdrawals than Freestyle Savings, but the savings account remains the better overall option.
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Hancock Whitney Bank Mobile Banking
Hancock Whitney boasts a highly rated mobile app, earning 4.8 stars on the App Store and 4.7 stars on Google Play.
The app includes essential features like:
- Account management
- Mobile deposits
- Bill pay
- Account alerts and notifications
- Zelle money transfers
- Early Pay
It also offers advanced options, such as a mobile wallet for secure, contactless payments–a feature not always found in regional banking apps.
Banking Experience
Hancock Whitney delivers a positive banking experience, with a few considerations to keep in mind.
- Accessibility: With over 200 full-service financial centers and 300 ATMs across the southern Gulf states, Hancock Whitney provides regional convenience. The robust mobile app ensures you can manage your accounts anytime, anywhere.
- Avoidable Fees: While all accounts come with fees, most can be waived by meeting account requirements–except for the Assure Checking account.
- Customer Service: Customer support is available via phone and email, with a convenient call-back option to avoid hold times. Representatives are accessible Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Additional Services: In addition to consumer banking, Hancock Whitney offers wealth management, business banking, and commercial lending services, making it a versatile choice for various financial needs.
Despite its strong offerings, the bank’s overdraft fees are higher than average, which is worth considering. Overall, Hancock Whitney provides a robust banking experience with modern conveniences and regional accessibility.
Comparable Bank Options
WIth any number of regional banks to choose from, it’s a good idea to comparison-shop before making a decision.
SELECTED BANK
MOST COMPARABLE
MOST COMPARABLE
Fees
Fees
Fees
$10
$0
No monthly service fee
APY
APY
APY
Min Opening
Min Opening
Min Opening
$25
$0
$0
SELECTED BANK
MOST COMPARABLE
MOST COMPARABLE
Fees
Fees
Fees
$5
$0
$0
APY
APY
APY
Min Opening
Min Opening
Min Opening
$25
$0
$0
SELECTED BANK
MOST COMPARABLE
MOST COMPARABLE
Fees
Fees
Fees
$10
$0
No monthly service fee
APY
APY
APY
Min Opening
Min Opening
Min Opening
$2,500
$0
$0
Hancock Whitney Bank vs. Gulf Coast Bank & Trust
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust, based in Louisiana and recently expanded into Florida, offers a wider variety of checking and savings accounts compared to Hancock Whitney. Most of its accounts have no minimum balance requirements or monthly fees, making it an appealing option for cost-conscious customers.
Hancock Whitney Bank vs. SouthState
SouthState, a regional bank with over 240 branches in the Southeast, recently announced plans to acquire Texas-based Independent Bank Group. Its account options and features closely resemble Hancock Whitney’s, so the decision between the two banks may come down to which has more convenient locations for your needs.
Hancock Whitney Bank vs. Centennial Bank
Centennial Bank, operated by Home Bancshares, serves Arkansas, Florida, southern Alabama, Texas, and New York. While it offers a diverse range of checking and savings accounts, some of its checking accounts carry non-waivable fees, making it less flexible than Hancock Whitney in this area.
Final Take
Hancock Whitney Bank stands out as a reliable choice for Gulf State residents who prefer in-person banking with the added convenience of robust mobile and online tools. Its Freestyle Savings account is particularly noteworthy, offering competitive rates, a low minimum opening deposit, and an easily waived monthly fee.
FAQ
Although the basic idea behind a checking account can be simple to understand, there are still many common questions surrounding them, in part because there are so many different kinds. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding checking accounts.- Does Hancock Whitney have Zelle?
- Yes. Zelle is available via online banking and the mobile app.
- What is the daily transfer limit?
- Hancock Whitney limits transfers to three per day. Handyline credit lines are excluded from that limit.
- What is the minimum balance at Hancock Whitney?
- There is no minimum balance, per se. Minimum opening deposit, minimum balance to avoid maintenance fees and minimum balance to earn interest vary by account.
- What types of accounts does Hancock Whitney offer?
- Hancock Whitney offers checking and savings accounts as well as money market accounts and certificates of deposit. The bank also serves the banking and financing needs of business and commercial customers.
Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Dec. 11, 2024.Â
This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
To determine rankings for the Best CD Accounts of 2025, GOBankingRates considered the following factors (excluding neobanks): (1) total assets as sourced from the FDIC; (2) number of branch locations as sourced from the FDIC; (3) minimum deposit to open an account; (4) 12-month CD APY rate; (5) 60-month CD APY rate, and (6) the average mobile app rating between the Google Play (Android) and Apple stores. All factors were then scored and combined, with the lowest score being the best. Factors (1) and (2) were weighed 0.5 times, factor (3) was weighed 2 times, and factors (4) and (5) were weighed 4 times. All products and offerings had to be available as of Nov. 1, 2024, to be considered. Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Dec. 11, 2024.
To determine the Best Money Market Accounts of 2025, GOBankingRates analyzed the following factors from all banks (excluding neobanks): (1) total assets as sourced from the FDIC; (2) number of branch locations as sourced from the FDIC; (3) minimum deposit to open an account; (4) APY on the money market account; (5) the minimum balance needed to earn the APY; (6) monthly money market fee ratio (percentage of the minimum to avoid fees compared to the monthly fee itself); and (7) the average mobile app rating between the Google Play (Android) and Apple stores. All factors were then scored and combined, with the lowest score being the best. Factors (1) and (2) were weighed 0.5 times, and factor (4) was weighed 4 times. All products and offerings had to be available as of Nov. 1, 2024, to be considered. Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Dec. 11, 2024.
