Hancock Holding Company - parent company of Hancock Bank (Mississippi), Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Hancock Bank of Florida, and Hancock Bank of Alabama - had assets of approximately $6.8 billion as of September 30, 2009. Founded in 1899, Hancock Bank consistently ranks as one of the country's strongest, safest financial institutions, according to BauerFinancial, Inc. More corporate information and e-banking are available at www.hancockbank.com.

The Hancock Holding Company logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2758

"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: Congress passed the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 in an effort to encourage corporations to provide information about companies' anticipated future financial performance. This act provides a safe harbor for such disclosure, which protects the companies from unwarranted litigation if actual results are different from management expectations. This release contains forward-looking statements and reflects management's current views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance, and financial results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Hancock Holding Company

CONTACT:  Hancock Holding Company
Carl J. Chaney, President  & Chief Executive Officer
Michael M. Achary, Executive Vice President
& Chief Financial Officer
Paul D. Guichet, Vice President, Investor Relations
800.522.6542
228.563.6559

Expected next dividend:
Dividend Announcement Date: 11/17/2009
Dividend Record Date: 12/4/2009
Dividend Pay Date: 12/15/2009
Dividend Amount: 0.24

Expected next dividend:
Dividend Announcement Date: 11/17/2009
Dividend Record Date: 12/4/2009
Dividend Pay Date: 12/15/2009
Dividend Amount: 0.24

Hancock executives stated that the unusually tight discount and high degree of interest in the offering indicates tremendous national market confidence in the strength and stability of 110-year-old Hancock Bank and the four-state region the company serves.

"We are very pleased with the overwhelming interest and the results this offering generated. This ranking comes despite headlines about the challenges large national banks face. For 110 years, Hancock Bank has been a strong, solid business partner helping to sustain and energize local and regional economies across the Gulf South. These proceeds further position Hancock Holding Company to consider opportunities that fit the company's strategic growth plan throughout the Gulf South region," said Hancock Holding Company President and Chief Executive Officer Carl J. Chaney.

On October 20, 2009, Hancock Holding Company, in connection with the offering, issued 4,945,000 shares of common stock, including 645,000 shares issued pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option. Net proceeds of the offering to Hancock were approximately $167.3 million after estimated expenses. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. and Morgan Stanley acted as joint book-running managers, and Sterne Agee & Leach, Stifel Nicolaus & Co. and FIG Partners served as co-managers.

About the Offering

This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer or sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, copies of which may be obtained from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Equity Capital Markets, 787 Seventh Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10019 or by calling toll-free (800) 966-1559 and from Morgan Stanley at 180 Varick St, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department or by email at prospectus@morganstanley.com.

About Hancock Holding Company

Hancock Holding Company -- parent company of Hancock Bank (Mississippi), Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Hancock Bank of Florida, and Hancock Bank of Alabama -- operates more than 150 banking and financial services offices and more than 130 ATMs and has assets of approximately $6.8 billion as of September 30, 2009.

Founded in 1899, Hancock Bank consistently rates among America's strongest, safest financial institutions and has ranked as one of the nation's Top 10 Best Banks, according to Bank Director Magazine, for two years in a row. Bank subsidiaries include Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency and its divisions of Ross King Walker and J. Everett Eaves, and Harrison Finance Company.

Additional corporate information and e-banking are available at www.hancockbank.com.

The Hancock Holding Company logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2758

The Hancock Bank logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2759

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

(Logo: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=)

Congress passed the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 in an effort to encourage corporations to provide information about companies' anticipated future financial performance. This act provides a safe harbor for such disclosure, which protects the companies from unwarranted litigation if actual results are different from management expectations. This release contains forward-looking statements which are not historical facts and reflects management's current views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance, and financial results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Hancock Holding Company

CONTACT:  Hancock Holding Company
Carl J. Chaney, President & Chief Executive Officer
Michael M. Achary, Chief Financial Officer
Paul D. Guichet, VP, Investor Relations
& Corporate Governance
800.522.6542
228.563.6559