Hancock Whitney established a new asset-based lending division primarily serving 12 states across the southern United States. Mike Knuckles will lead the line of business based in suburban Atlanta and direct all recruiting and hiring.

Hancock Whitney’s asset-based lending division will focus on providing working capital solutions to middle-market clients throughout their various business cycles. The division will go to market as Hancock Whitney Business Capital.

“This new division is a significant extension of our core strength in providing banking services and financing to middle-market businesses headquartered in the nation’s southern states,” Eric Obeck, chief commercial banking officer of Hancock Whitney, said. “Mike Knuckles joined Hancock Whitney as the asset-based lending division manager last year and has spent extensive time creating the required infrastructure to launch this new division.”

Knuckles and his soon to be announced team of ABL professionals will work with clients to understand their working capital financing needs and structure financial solutions that will help businesses attain their financial goals.

Knuckles joined Hancock Whitney after serving as an executive vice president responsible for establishing and managing an ABL division for another regional commercial bank based in the Southeast for nine years.

“I am excited and grateful to have this opportunity to build out a new asset-based lending line of business for such a prestigious institution as Hancock Whitney,” Knuckles said. “This larger platform will provide a much more dynamic and attractive foundation from which to better serve the targeted market.”