GULFPORT, Miss. (January 29, 2010) - Hancock Holding Company Chief Executive Officers Carl J. Chaney and John M. Hairston today announced the promotion of Richard T. Hill to Chief Retail Banking Officer for the company.

Hill, who joined Hancock in 1998, is currently the executive vice president responsible for all of the company's consumer financial services operations, including 138 bank branches, mortgage operations, and 34 Harrison Finance Company subsidiary offices across an I-10 corridor spanning Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

The veteran Baton Rouge banker is a Louisiana State University alumnus and a graduate of the prestigious Graduate School of Banking at LSU. Hill has held Certified Financial Planner designation since 1986 and completed the Savings and Loan Institute of the South. A former mortgage loan originator and branch manager, he was also an investment broker with two different national investment firms. Hill returned to commercial banking in the trust and investment management division of the former New Orleans based First Commerce Corporation. The longtime community volunteer also serves on the LSU College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Advisory Council.

Hill resides in Baton Rouge with his wife. They have two sons.

Hancock Bank was founded on October 9, 1899. Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC), parent company of Hancock Bank, has assets of approximately $8.7 billion and stands among the nation's top-performing, most trustworthy financial institutions. Forbes.com recently ranked Hancock 14th among America's best banks; and BauerFinancial, Inc., recommended Hancock Bank as one of the strongest, safest 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