News/Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2006

Hancock Holding Company reschedules earnings release

GULFPORT, MS (January 11, 2006) - Hancock Holding Company Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman George A. Schloegel today announced that Hancock has rescheduled the release of earnings results for the fourth quarter and year-end 2005 for after close of business on Tuesday, January 31, 2006.

Hancock will provide a live earnings overview beginning at 2:00 p.m. (CST) on Monday, February 6, 2006, accessible through the company's website and Vcall's Investor Calendar. Individuals unable to access the webcast may call 877-407-0783 (callers within the U.S. and Canada) or 201-689-8564 (international callers) to listen to a live conference call.

Hancock originally slated its earnings release for January 19, 2005. Hancock made this schedule change to accommodate expanded procedures implemented in connection with year-end close and the impact of Hurricane Katrina on Hancock - specifically, to allow management time to complete reconciliations and reviews of items unique to the affects of the storm on the company. Hancock does not expect any material adverse impacts to arise from the completion of these reviews.

A telephone replay will be available two hours following completion of the webcast. The replay is accessible to U.S. and Canadian callers at 877-660-6853 and to international callers at 201-612-7415. Callers should enter the account number (286) and conference ID number (185478).

Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC) - parent company of Hancock Bank (Mississippi), Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Hancock Bank of Florida, and Magna Insurance Company - has assets of $4.91 billion at September 30, 2005. Founded in 1899, Hancock Bank stands among the strongest, safest financial institutions in America. Hancock Bank operates 103 full-service offices and more than 140 automated teller machines throughout South Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida as well as subsidiaries Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency, and Harrison Finance Company. Investors can access additional corporate information or online banking and bill pay services online.

"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: Congress passed the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 in an effort to encourage corporations to provide information about companies' anticipated future financial performance. This act provides a safe harbor for such disclosure, which protects the companies from unwarranted litigation if actual results are different from management expectations. This release contains forward-looking statements and reflects management's current views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance, and financial results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause the company's actual results and experience to differ from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Carl J. Chaney, Chief Financial Officer
Paul D. Guichet, V.P., Investor Relations
800.522.6542 or 228.563.6559