News/Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31 , 2003

Hancock Bank distributes $6.6 million in Christmas Club savings

GULFPORT, MS (October 31, 2003 ) - With more than $6.6 million in Hancock Bank Christmas Club savings tucked away in their collective pocket, Hancock Bank customers from Moss Point, MS, to Ville Platte, LA, can do their part to help America regain economic sure-footing this holiday shopping season.

This week, Hancock Bank distributed Christmas Club payments to more than 13,000 customers in South Mississippi and Louisiana - confirming another record year for participation in Hancock's Christmas savings plan. By transferring payments from customers' checking accounts directly to Christmas Club accounts, Hancock's holiday savings program offers customers a convenient means of preparing for extra seasonal expenses.

"We hope the Hancock Bank Christmas Club program helps brighten customers' holiday celebrations and foster a stronger economy by giving customers additional buying power during the height of the retail year," said Hancock Bank President and Chief Executive Officer George A. Schloegel.

This year's total Hancock Bank Christmas Club accounts included more than 600 new savings plan customers - a five percent increase since 2002. Many of those new Christmas Club customers as well as longtime account holders choose the convenience and security of direct deposit to receive their Christmas Club savings disbursements. Hancock has offered its Christmas Club savings program as a customer service since 1914 without interruption, excluding a period during World War I when savings were converted to Liberty Bonds.

Customers can receive additional Christmas Club information or open new Christmas Club accounts at any full-service Hancock Bank office. Current Christmas Club members can begin 2004 deposits to existing accounts now without opening new accounts.

Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC) - parent company of Hancock Bank (Mississippi) and Hancock Bank of Louisiana - has assets of $4.1 billion. Founded in 1899, Hancock Bank operates 102 full-service offices and more than 135 automated teller machines throughout South Mississippi and Louisiana as well as subsidiaries Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency, Hancock Mortgage Corporation, and Harrison Finance Company. Additional corporate information as well as on-line banking and bill pay services is available at www.hancockbank.com.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION
R. Paul Maxwell, AVP & Corporate Communications Manager
800.522.6542 (ext. 5252) or 228.214.5252
paul_maxwell@hancockbank.com