FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2007

Hancock Bank hosts WWII documentary display
at downtown Gulfport headquarters

DEFENDING AMERICA - Hancock Bank Chairman Leo W. Seal, Jr., (second from left) served two years with the U.S. Army in the European theatre. Pictured in Bay St. Louis with Seal in 1943 are (from left) C.C. McDonald, Jr.; Elliot Cowand; and Emile Gex.

      GULFPORT, MS (September 20, 2007) - To help foster the preservation of World War II history through moving personal accounts by the men and women who were there, Hancock Bank has partnered with Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) to host a promotional display for Ken Burns' "The War" documentary in the lobby of the bank's downtown Gulfport headquarters.

     Scheduled at One Hancock Plaza through October 5, 2007, the traveling MPB display comprises photographs and production excerpts from Burns' seven-part epic series, which premieres on MPB this Sunday, September 23, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. and continues over two weeks. Viewers should consult local television listings or visit www.mpbonline.org for broadcast details.

     "World War II changed the course of history as we know it; and the freedoms we enjoy today are the results of many sacrifices by the men and women in the service and their families. We were all very proud to serve our country," said Hancock Bank Chairman Leo W. Seal, Jr., who served in Europe during WWII with the operations unit of the United States Army 328th Ordinance Company.

     Seal, Hancock chief executive officer John M. Hairston, and other Hancock executives are involved with Operation Thank You, a foundation that facilitates visits for WWII veterans to the WWII memorial in Washington, D.C.

     Six years in the making, "The War" focuses on the extraordinary stories of ordinary citizens from four American hometowns, including Mobile, AL, that collectively represent all of the communities enduring four harrowing years of world war. The film scales the almost unfathomable complexity and catastrophe of WWII to a human level that reiterates how dramatically WWII impacted the lives of every family in America. Directed and produced by Burns and Lynn Novick, the series also honors and celebrates the bravery and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation - the people who fought and lived through one of history's greatest periods known simply as "The War."

    To provide local connections and perspectives, MPB will also broadcast several WWII specials in September and October featuring Mississippians who faced the war daily on the home front and the battlefield. Additionally, through May 31, 2008, Mississippi veterans and their families can read and share WWII stories with MPB by clicking the "THE WAR Share Your Story" link at www.mpbonline.org and can e-mail photos to webmaster@mpbonline.org. Collected stories and photos will become part of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) WWII archives for national viewing and historical preservation.

     "These personal accounts - compelling and heartfelt experiences of the realities of World War II, are our history; they are most worthy of our collecting and preserving for generations to come," said MPB's executive director, Marie Antoon.

About Hancock Bank

     Hancock Bank ranks fourth among the country's top-performing banks. Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC) - parent company of Hancock Bank Mississippi, Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Hancock Bank of Alabama, and Hancock Bank of Florida - has assets of more than $6 billion. Bank subsidiaries include Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency, and Harrison Finance Company. More information and online banking are available at www.hancockbank.com.

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