Important Information for Hibernia Bank Customers and Employees

Hibernia Bank (NYSE: HIB) today released the following
information for customers and employees in the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina:

   --  For consumer and small-business customers in areas directly
        impacted by the hurricane, Hibernia is finalizing specific
        plans for deferring payments. Complete details will be
        available Friday, Sept. 2.

   --  Hibernia has set up a toll-free number where employees can ask
        questions and receive guidance from the bank on a variety of
        issues regarding the impact on them from the hurricane. To
        obtain this special toll-free number, employees should call
        the bank's emergency information line and listen to the
        message.

   --  Hundreds of employees from both the storm-impacted area and
        other markets are currently working in unaffected areas to
        support their colleagues, customers and communities. Hibernia
        employees who have evacuated are needed to work in branch and
        other offices in the areas where they are staying. They can
        receive a list of locations where their assistance is needed
        from the special toll-free number.

   --  Branches and non-branch locations in the New Orleans area will
        remain closed until further notice because of the impact of
        Hurricane Katrina. The parishes affected by the closures
        include: Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, Washington and St.
        Bernard. The company will make every effort to get these
        branches operational again when the time is practical. All
        other Hibernia locations are open and operating as usual.

   --  The company recognizes that some systems have been impacted by
        the hurricane and is working hard to restore them so that
        customers continue to receive the type of service for which
        Hibernia is known.

   --  Members of Hibernia's executive management team have relocated
        to unaffected markets. They meet on a scheduled basis several
        times a day to monitor the status of the disaster recovery
        effort and implement strategies to continue serving customers
        and take care of employees.

   Hibernia is on Forbes magazine's list of the world's 2,000 largest
companies and Fortune magazine's list of America's top 1,000 companies
according to annual revenue. Hibernia has $22.1 billion in assets and
321 locations in 34 Louisiana parishes and 36 Texas counties.