Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:33 — 51.6MB)
Jerry Vascocu, Acadiana Market President of IberiaBank, sat down with Discover Lafayette host, Jan Swift to discuss his banking career. A Ruston native, Jerry graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in economics. Married to Julie Hiatt Vascocu, they have two children.
Jerry joined IBERIABANK’s Baton Rouge commercial banking division in 2005 at a time of explosive growth for the bank. When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, the organization decided to diversify its geographic footprint to minimize future risk. Under the leadership of CEO Daryl Byrd, the bank’s first expansion occurred in January 2007 with the purchase of Arkansas based Pulaski Bank and Trust. From there, the bank moved into other community banking environments which fit its business model. Jerry served as the bank’s Market President in Little Rock in 2007 before moving to Lafayette in 2010 and has served as Acadiana Market President since then.
Today, IBERIABANK has 325 combined locations, including 190 bank branches and three loan production offices in 12 states primarily throughout the South. The company has 16 wealth management locations in five states, and one Iberia Capital Partners office in New Orleans. Founded in 1887 originally as a Savings & Loan, the bank has come quite a long way in its growth and ability to serve its large client base. Since this original podcast was taped, IBERIABANK announced its planned merger with First Horizon National Bank to be finalized in 2020.
IBERIABANK has stepped up to meet the challenges presented by the Covid-19 crisis. For more information, please visit https://www.iberiabank.com/landing-pages/covid-19.
Active in the community, Jerry served as Chair of One Acadiana’s Board of Directors in 2016. He also served as a Board Member of Upper Lafayette Economic Development, on the leadership teams of United Way of Acadiana and the Community Foundation of Acadiana, Ascension Episcopal’s Board of Trustees, and University of Louisiana – Lafayette’s Business Advisory Council.
Community involvement is important to Jerry, as well as all IBERIABANK employees throughout the organization. Charged with giving back to the community, the bank gets involved in a selective way with organizations who make a difference. In lieu of television ads, they become engaged in the community and partner strategically. Jerry shared that its mission is to be a top-notch corporate citizen. They strive to blend a community bank feel with large bank capabilities. IBERIABANK believes that the healthier the community in which the bank is located, the healthier the bank will be.
IBERIABANK Civic Impact Partners evaluate the bank’s footprint throughout the Southeast U. S to determine where the bank can best invest their lending dollars as well as its own equity dollars to improve housing opportunities in moderate to low-income areas. Just recently, IBERIABANK invested in the new, 192-unit, affordable apartment community, called Brook Pointe Family Apartments, which is situated behind North Lafayette’s Walmart at 504 N. Pierce Street. This is one of the bank’s largest investments to date.
Jerry is a big proponent of Project Front Yard and he has consistently encouraged locals to work together to improve our community’s gateway, especially on the drive into town on I-10. He discussed how the initial impression upon entering Lafayette Parish doesn’t quite capture the many great things about living here, and the work of Project Front Yard and other organizations is worth the investment in time and labor.
A man of faith, Jerry reiterated several times that one’s prayer life, family, and friends are crucial to maintaining balance in one’s life. He counsels his team, whether its his family or bank employees, to be a positive, shining light, rather than allowing darkness to pervade. His manner of being has always exemplified this philosophy.
Thank you, Jerry Vascocu, and IBERIABANK for all you contribute to Lafayette!
This post was updated on April 1, 2020.
