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Date: 9/10/2005

Contact: Denise Bottcher or Roderick Hawkins at 225-342-9037

Jefferson Parish Banks Reopen as Part of Governor Blanco's Effort to Rebuild Southeast Louisiana

Gov. Kathleen Blanco announced today that the recovery from Hurricane Katrina will reach a significant milestone in Jefferson Parish on Monday. In order to assist citizens in the parish with their basic living expenses, banks and savings and loan associations will reopen 13 locations on Monday.

With the close cooperation of the Governor's Office of Financial Institutions, these institutions have organized a branch-office sharing arrangement that will result in branch facilities being opened across both East and West Jefferson Parish. At this time, 23 of the 30 institutions which were taking deposits in the parish prior to the hurricane will either open a branch office of their own or will share a facility near their prior branch office. These institutions represent more than 80 percent of the parish's deposit base.

Work continues at an aggressive pace to quickly open the remaining branch offices which are unable to open on Monday. All institutions not able to reopen in Jefferson Parish on Monday will have alternate locations.

"This move to get banks open and serving customers is part of my plan to rebuild and restore Southeast Louisiana," said Governor Blanco. "I am dedicated to returning life to normal for our citizens. Giving them access to basic banking services is a very important step in that direction."

"I applaud the effort these banks and savings and loans have made to reestablish basic banking services for their customers in one of the hardest hit areas of the state only two weeks to the day following Katrina," said John Ducrest, director of the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. "This commitment to their customers' needs is unprecedented and truly reflects the care and concern this industry feels for its fellow citizens."

For their cooperation in opening the banks, Governor Blanco expressed her appreciation to Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, Sheriff Harry Lee, the mayors and police chiefs of the parish's municipalities, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana Bankers Association and the Community Bankers of Louisiana.

Those needing assistance contacting a financial institution, should visit www.ofi.louisiana.gov or call 1-866-783-5530.

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