FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2008

Hancock Holding Company announces quarterly dividend

GULFPORT, MS (February 19, 2008) - Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC) today announced that the company's board of directors approved a regular first quarter 2008 common stock cash dividend of $0.24 per share.

Approved during the February meeting of the company's board of directors, the regular quarterly common stock cash dividend is payable March 17, 2008, to shareholders of record as of March 5, 2008.

Hancock Holding Company - parent company of Hancock Bank Mississippi, Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Hancock Bank of Florida, and Hancock Bank of Alabama - has assets of approximately $6.1 billion. Bank subsidiaries include Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency, and Harrison Finance Company. Founded October 9, 1899, Hancock Bank consistently ranks as one of the country's strongest, safest financial institutions according to Veribanc, Inc., and BauerFinancial Services, Inc. Thomson Financial also listed Hancock as the ninth largest corporate trustee bank in the U.S.

Investors can access additional corporate information or online banking and bill pay services at www.hancockbank.com.

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For More Information

Carl J. Chaney, Chief Executive Officer
John M. Hairston, Chief Executive Officer
Michael M. Achary, Chief Financial Officer
Paul D. Guichet, VP, Investor Relations
800.522.6542 or 228.563.6559