News/Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2005

Hancock Holding Company, Hancock Bank earn Moody's upgrades

GULFPORT, MS (July 7, 2005) - Moody's Investors Service - one of the world's most respected and widely used independent credit rating, research, and risk analysis resources - has upgraded the issuer rating for Gulfport based Hancock Holding Company to A3 and, at the same time, increased ratings for bank subsidiaries Hancock Bank (Mississippi) and Hancock Bank of Louisiana to A2 for long-term deposits.

Additionally, the rating agency affirmed the banks' short-term deposit ratings at Prime 1, Moody's highest ranking.

Independent credit ratings and research help investors evaluate a company's stability based on vulnerability to credit risks. According to this week's announcement from Moody's, Hancock's upgraded ratings stem from a review of Hancock's ongoing ability to generate healthy financial results while expanding its banking presence in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida. Hancock's performance in areas of profitability, asset quality, and capital is superior to the respective peer medians for similarly rated banks; and the company's liquidity remains sound, supported by its stable core deposit base.

"We are very pleased with these upgraded ratings and attribute our success to the expertise and commitment of the members of our Hancock team who have helped preserve and grow the strength, stability, integrity, and service that have distinguished the Hancock organization since 1899," said George A. Schloegel, Hancock president and chief executive officer.

Moody's acknowledged Hancock's ability to minimize the 106-year-old company's sensitivity to interest rate changes tied to a comparatively high level of fixed-rate loans - roughly 60 percent of the loan portfolio - by maintaining a stable base of core deposits that inelastically re-price and by implementing an asset/liability model that enables Hancock to monitor and manage interest rate risk sensitivity more effectively. Moody's also explored Hancock's proprietary annuity business and gained comfort that the associated risks of the business are at a manageable level.

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 $4.8 billion. Hancock Bank operates 103 offices and more than 130 automated teller machines in South Mississippi, Louisiana, and the Florida Panhandle as well as subsidiaries Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency, and Harrison Finance Company. Hancock also has corporate trust offices in Gulfport, Jackson, MS, Baton Rouge, LA, and downtown New Orleans, LA, and a business financial center in Alabama's port city of Mobile. Additional corporate information and online banking and bill-pay services are available online.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Carl J. Chaney, EVP & Chief Financial Officer
Paul D. Guichet, VP, Investor Relations
800.522.6542 or 228.214.5242