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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March
7, 2006
Hancock
Holding Company listed 25th among America's top 150 performers
GULFPORT,
MS (March 7, 2006) - Hancock Holding Company, already parent
company to one of the nation's strongest, safest financial
institutions, recently ranked 25th among America's Top 150
Performers, according to the fourth quarter 2005 issue of
Bank
Director magazine .
Hancock
was the only financial services company headquartered in the
Gulf South to finish in the top 20 percent of top-performing
institutions.
The
magazine, a publication for directors of financial companies,
used methodology that identified high profitability, a strong
balance sheet, and excellent asset quality to measure the
performance of the 150 largest publicly owned banks and thrifts
in the country.
 "We
are very honored to earn this distinction as a top-performing
bank. This recognition stands as a testament to the commitment
of our entire Hancock team - directors, management, officers,
and staff - in upholding the strength, stability, integrity,
and service on which the company was founded," said Hancock
Bank President and Chief Executive Officer George A. Schloegel.
ank
Director's Bank Performance Scorecard evaluated publicly available
data over four linked quarters and considered six criteria
to determine the top 150 institutions: return on average assets
(ROA): return on average equity (ROE); Tier-1 capital ratio;
leverage ratio; non-performing asset ratio; and reserve coverage.
Founded
in 1899, Hancock Bank operates 102 branches
and more than 130 automated
teller machines in South Mississippi, Louisiana, and the
Florida Panhandle. Subsidiaries include Hancock Investment
Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency and its divisions
of J. Everett Eaves
and Ross King Walker
, and Harrison Finance Company. Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ:
HBHC) - the parent company of Hancock Bank Mississippi, Hancock
Bank of Louisiana, Hancock Bank of Florida, and Magna Insurance
Company - has assets of more than $6 billion.
Additional
corporate information
and online
banking services are available online.
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FOR
MORE INFORMATION
R. Paul Maxwell, VP & Corporate Communications
Manager
228.822.4075 or paul_maxwell@hancockbank.com
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