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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2004
Hancock
Bank branches, finance, insurance offices open for business
after Ivan
GULFPORT, MS (September 17, 2004, 1:00 p.m., CDT) -
As of mid-morning today, Hancock Bank officials reported that
all Hancock Bank offices have resumed regular business hours
following Hurricane Ivan, excluding a few offices of bank
subsidiary Harrison Finance Company in the storm-battered
Pensacola, FL, region.
Hancock locations back to business-as-usual include the bank's
103 Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida branches; Harrison
Finance Company offices in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama;
corporate offices in downtown Gulfport and at CitiPlace in
Baton Rouge; corporate trust offices in Gulfport, Jackson,
MS, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge; subsidiaries Hancock Insurance
Agency, Magna Insurance Company, Hancock Mortgage Corporation,
and Hancock Investment Services, Inc.; and the Hancock Bank
Business Financial Center in west Mobile, AL.
The company is determining anticipated business operations
for Harrison Finance sites in the Pensacola area as roads
reopen.
Bank offices not in the storm's immediate projected path maintained
regular business hours for the duration of the hurricane,
with some branches opening early Wednesday to accommodate
evacuees. Additionally, bank staff worked around-the-clock
during the storm to ensure at least 85 percent of Hancock
branches in areas impacted by Ivan re-opened yesterday - less
than 12 hours after the Category 3 tempest made landfall along
the Central Gulf Coast.
"Well
before Hurricane Ivan passed over our area, our Hancock team
had plans in place to ensure we were able to provide our customers
access to financial services during recovery. Our Hancock
bankers will continue to be available to help our customers
and our communities in the aftermath of Ivan. Being there
when our customers need us most has been Hancock's way of
doing business since 1899," said Hancock Bank President
and Chief Executive Officer George A. Schloegel.
Hancock operates more than 130 automated teller machines across
the Gulf South. Additionally, Hancock's web site (www.hancockbank.com)
includes a listing of bank locations and phone numbers as
well as online banking and bill pay services. Customers can
access the bank's HandyCall® account information and customer
service hotline at 1-800-448-8812 (Mississippi), 1-800-256-4636
(Louisiana), or 1-800-726-0920 (Florida).
Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC) - the parent company
of Hancock Bank (Mississippi), Hancock Bank of Louisiana,
and Hancock Bank of Florida - has assets of $4.6 billion.
Hancock Bank consistently ranks as one of the strongest, safest
financial institutions in the United States.
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FOR
MORE INFORMATION
R. Paul Maxwell, VP & Corporate Communications Manager
800.522.6542 (ext. 85252) or 228.214.5252
paul_maxwell@hancockbank..com
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