News/Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2006

Hancock Bank to fête downtown Pensacola financial center tomorrow

PENSACOLA, FL (October 2, 2006) - Bank executives, city officials, chamber of commerce ambassadors, downtown business owners, and local residents will gather tomorrow, October 3, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. to help 107-year-old Hancock Bank celebrate official ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the company's 40 South Palafox Street office in downtown Pensacola.

Located on the first floor of the historic Thiesen Building - a local landmark almost as old as Hancock Bank itself, the full-service Pensacola financial center constitutes Hancock's debut location in this thriving Panhandle city. The branch opened for business in early September and offers traditional financial solutions such as banking, mortgage services, trust and investments, insurance, and wealth management and features a comprehensive array of commercial and small business services.

"Hancock Bank was founded to help facilitate commerce and opportunity throughout the Gulf South. We are honored to be part of the Pensacola business community and look forward to growing with Pensacola as our local financial professionals serve families and businesses across the region," said Marty Stubblefield, market president for Hancock's Florida franchise.

Stubblefield said the bank's lighthouse logo represents the company's legacy as a catalyst for economic development since 1899. He anticipates the hallmark will become a familiar reminder throughout the city of the core ideals on which Hancock was founded: strength and stability, honor and integrity, commitment to service, teamwork, and personal responsibility.

"A lighthouse was often one of the first signs of a viable, growing economy in a coastal town. Hancock adopted the lighthouse logo many years ago as a symbol of our unwavering commitment to helping build bright, successful Gulf South communities," Stubblefield added.

Visitors to Hancock Bank's downtown office can also register through tomorrow's ribbon-cutting for a chance to win a Sharp 26-inch wide-screen flat-panel LCD television.

Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC) - the parent company of Hancock Bank of Florida, Hancock Bank (Mississippi), and Hancock Bank of Louisiana - has assets of $6.26 billion. Hancock Bank stands among the strongest, safest financial institutions in the United States and is the only financial services company headquartered in the Gulf South to rate among the top 20 percent of America's top performing banks. Additional corporate information or on-line banking and bill pay services is available online.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION
R. Paul Maxwell, VP & Corporate Communications Manager
228.563.7953 or paul_maxwell@hancockbank.com