GULFPORT, Miss. (February 1, 2010) - Hancock Holding Company President and Chief Executive Officer Carl J. Chaney today announced the assignment of D. Shane Loper as Chief Risk Officer and Chief Administrative Officer for the company.

Loper will be responsible for Hancock's Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) function as well as for maintaining his current oversight of corporate support services and operating areas, including deposit and lending operations, technology, direct banking, human resources, administrative services and other administrative areas. As the executive charged with reporting enterprise risk to Hancock's board of directors, Loper will work closely with the board's Enterprise Risk Management Committee.

"Chief Risk Officer Loper will be responsible for ensuring Hancock's ERM process is structured to maintain Hancock's conservative tolerance of risk for the protection of customers and for shareholders," said Chaney.

Loper received a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and an MBA from Troy State University. He is also a graduate of the prestigious Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. In 2008 Bank Systems and Technology magazine named the Ocean Springs native among America's Elite 8 in technology for his exemplary leadership and success in restoring Hancock's critical operations after Hurricane Katrina.

CEO and Chief Operating Officer John M. Hairston added, "We are proud to have an internally developed associate rise to such a trusted position in the company. Loper's diversity of assignments in various areas of the organization provide an excellent background for this new duty."

Recently named the regional chairman of the board for the Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA, he is also a director for the Gulf Coast Business Council and co-chairs the GCBC Master's Program. A Mississippi Business Journal Top 40 under 40 honoree in 2005, Loper earned additional distinction from the Journal of South Mississippi Business in 2008 as one of the Gulf Coast's Outstanding Community Leaders.

He served as a major in the Mississippi National Guard and is an active member of St. Paul Methodist Church. Loper lives in Ocean Springs with his wife. They have two children.

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