FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2006

Hancock Holding Company to present
at FTN Midwest Securities Corp Small & Mid Cap Bank Conference

GULFPORT, MS (September 8, 2006) - Executives of Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC), the parent company of 107-year-old Hancock Bank, will present a corporate overview to attendees at the FTN Midwest Securities Corp Small & Mid Cap Bank Conference in New York City, NY, from 1:20 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, September 15, 2006.

At the FTN Midwest Securities Corp conference, Hancock's chief executive officer George A. Schloegel and chief financial officer Carl J. Chaney will review the company's recent financial performance and business strategies. Investor Relations vice president Paul D. Guichet will attend to coordinate one-on-one meetings with analysts and investors.

A live webcast of Hancock's presentation will be available at www.ftnmidwest.com by clicking the conference icon. A replay of the company's presentation will be available at this link for a period of 60 days after the conference. Investors and analysts may also access a copy of the presentation by visiting Hancock's website and selecting the Investor Relations link.

Hancock Holding Company - the parent company of Hancock Bank (Mississippi), Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Hancock Bank of Florida, and Magna Insurance Company - has assets of $6.26 billion. Founded in 1899, 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. Hancock offers comprehensive financial solutions through more than 140 banking and financial services offices and more than 130 automated teller machines throughout South Mississippi, Louisiana, southern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.

Investors can access additional corporate information or on-line 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.

— 30 —

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Paul D. Guichet, VP, Investor Relations
800.522.6542 or 228.563.6559
paul_guichet@hancockbank.com