SPOTLIGHT: Making a difference in Louisiana and Texas

Patrick Bell never met a stranger. As vice president of government relations for Hibernia National Bank in New Orleans, his outgoing and energetic personality is perfect for his role lobbying for banking-related legislation with the Louisiana and Texas Legislatures and U.S. Congress. He is also responsible

"My style of lobbying is relationship-building," Bell explained. "When I lobby public officials, part of my job is to educate them on issues and how they impact Hibernia, its employees and subsidiaries. When educating them, I tell them what I think the other side will say and offer our response. They appreciate that."

Bell is able to count many Louisiana and Texas legislators as long-time friends. His lobbying style parallels the philosophy of Hibernia, which prides itself on being a relationshipfocused company.

Hibernia, with more than $22 billion in assets, is a bank on-the-grow, especially in Texas. The Louisiana-based bank built and opened 15 new offices in high-growth markets in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, Hibernia completed a merger with Coastal Bancorp Inc., which almost doubled Hibernia's Texas customer deposits and added 43 branches in 18 Texas counties. Earlier this year, the company's board of directors authorized an additional $150 million to extend the Texas program beyond 2005.