Gulf Coast Bank, Your Local SBA Lender
Gulf Coast Bank began offering SBA loans in 1978. Today, GCB is the only community bank to consistently rank among the top 10 SBA lenders in the state of Louisiana.
GCB is a member of the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL). Our SBA team members stay updated on the latest trends and changes in SBA by continuing education and maintaining annual NAGGL certifications.
We are Gulf Coast Bank
Building lasting relationships with our customers is a priority at Gulf Coast Bank, and our SBA team is no different. We take pride in getting to know our customers personally, and by doing so, we’re able to customize our lending strategies. By tailoring our loan options to specifically fit the individual needs of our customers, we can increase the likelihood of success in their business ventures. When our customers succeed, we succeed.
We invite you to start a relationship with Gulf Coast Bank and our SBA team today. Whether it be at your business, or one of our 10 office locations across Acadiana, our team can meet you where it’s most convenient for you.
We are here to assist you
Our team of specialists is ready to help you understand the details of SBA Lending and if it is a right fit for your business.
Our History
On February 1, 1971, Gulf Coast Bank opened its doors for the first time at approximately 6:00 am. The small trailer on the site of the current Main Office in Abbeville housed the eager staff of three people, Richard Dubois, Ruby Bertrand, and the founder of Gulf Coast Bank, Charles A. Patout.
Patrick Patout, CEO and President of Gulf Coast Bank, said of his father “He understood business, he was a businessman. He was a workaholic.”
Charles was a Renaissance man. Among his numerous trades, the father of eight had been a plumber, electrician, real estate developer, and sugarcane farmer before dedicating himself to opening Gulf Coast Bank.
He recognized the underserved market in Vermilion Parish and made it his mission to open a new Bank.
Charles was an extremely proud veteran who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the Air Force). That fighting spirit proved useful while working to open Gulf Coast Bank because the battle took roughly seven years.
Charles’ son Paul joined the Gulf Coast Bank team in 1980, and another of his sons, Pat Patout, current Gulf Coast Bank Chairman of the Board, joined in 1982.
“He understood what it meant to be a customer,” Paul said of his father. “He had so much passion for the Bank and all the communities we get to serve. He understood we had to earn customers’ business. They have to choose us. We need to have passion.”
Charles’s passion for the company and community was contagious. He and the growing staff at Gulf Coast Bank worked to solidify customer service at the core of the company and strove to build a quality reputation.
That foundation of service has remained the central focus of Gulf Coast Bank ever since.
Providing outstanding customer service and maintaining active involvement in the communities we serve are still top priorities for all Gulf Coast Bank employees, and that passion comes directly from the enthusiasm and dedication on which the company was founded.
Providing outstanding customer service and maintaining active involvement in the communities we serve are still top priorities for all Gulf Coast Bank employees, and that passion comes directly from the enthusiasm and dedication on which the company was founded.
Charles passed away in 1999 leaving a legacy of hard work and service behind him.
Today, Gulf Coast Bank has 9 locations throughout Acadiana and employs more than 120 people.
As banking continues to change at an increasingly rapid pace, one thing will never change, the passion and dedication to service we have at Gulf Coast Bank.
Thank you for providing us with continued opportunities to serve our communities. We look forward to being able to assist you with all your financial needs.