Hancock Holding Company announces stock split

GULFPORT, MS (February 26, 2004) - The Board of Directors of Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC) has declared a two-for-one stock split in the form of a 100 percent common stock dividend. The additional shares will be payable March 18, 2004, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 8, 2004.

As a result of the stock split, shareholders of record will receive one additional share for every share held; and cash instead of any fractional shares.

"In order for investors to have easier access to obtaining an interest in Hancock Holding Company, a stock split of this type achieves that goal. An added benefit is that we believe this stock split will help make Hancock Holding Company stock more marketable as our company continues to grow," said Hancock Holding Company Chief Executive Officer George A. Schloegel.

Hancock Holding Company - the parent company of Hancock Bank Mississippi and Hancock Bank of Louisiana - has assets of $4.2 billion. One-hundred-five-year-old Hancock Bank ranks among the top 4.6 percent of America's financial institutions for financial strength and stability, according to Veribanc, Inc., and has received a BauerFinancial, Inc., five-star superior rating (the highest rating possible) for the past 36 consecutive quarters. Hancock Bank operates 102 full-service offices and more than 140 automated teller machines throughout South Mississippi and Louisiana as well as subsidiaries Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency, Hancock Mortgage Corporation, Magna Insurance Company, and Harrison Finance Company.

Investors can access additional corporate information or on-line banking and bill pay services at www.hancockbank.com.

"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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