GULFPORT, Miss. (February 1, 2010) - New Orleans native Edward G. "Ed" Francis is Hancock Holding Company's new Chief Commercial Banking Officer. Company CEOs Carl J. Chaney and John M. Hairston announced the promotion earlier today.

Francis currently leads Hancock's commercial banking initiatives in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, including corporate banking, commercial real estate, business banking, public finance, institutional banking, and treasury services.

With a bachelor of science degree in managerial finance from The University of Mississippi, Francis completed the Management Training Program of the Memphis-based National Bank of Commerce. After four years in the First Tennessee Bank commercial banking division, he joined Hancock Bank in 1997 as a commercial relationship manager.

Francis graduated from the prestigious Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University, where he has served as a faculty member since 2005. He is also a faculty member at the Mississippi School of Banking and the Alabama School of Banking.

After Hurricane Katrina, Francis worked with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development to create the Louisiana Small Business Emergency Loan Program. He also lobbied Congress and the Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C., with ideas for streamlining small business post-storm relief and represented the American Bankers Association with testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee.

Francis has been a member of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation Grant Making Committee and a Louisiana Business and Industry board member. He is also a Coastal Conservation Association national board member and executive committee alternate.

Francis and his wife have four children and live in Baton Rouge.

Founded in 1899, Hancock Bank operates more than 180 banking and financial services offices in four states and consistently rates among America's safest, most trustworthy top-10 banks. Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC), the parent company of Hancock Bank, has assets of approximately $8.7 billion. Forbes.com recently ranked Hancock 14th among America's best banks. BauerFinancial, Inc., has recommended Hancock Bank as one of the strongest U.S. financial institutions for more than 20 consecutive years. More corporate information and e-banking are available at www.hancockbank.com.

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For More Information

R. Paul Maxwell, VP & Corporate Communications Manager
1.800.522.6542 or paul_maxwell@hancockbank.com