News Details

Hancock Holding Company Announces Quarterly Dividend

August 19, 2008

GULFPORT, Miss., Aug. 19, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hancock Holding Company (Nasdaq:HBHC) today announced that the company's board of directors approved a regular third quarter 2008 common stock cash dividend of $0.24 per share.

Approved during the August meeting of the company's board of directors, the regular quarterly common stock cash dividend is payable September 15, 2008, to shareholders of record as of September 5, 2008.

Hancock Holding Company -- parent company of Hancock Bank Mississippi, Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Hancock Bank of Florida, and Hancock Bank of Alabama -- has assets of approximately $6.27 billion. Bank subsidiaries include Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency, and Harrison Finance Company. Founded October 9, 1899, Hancock Bank recently rated third among America's top-performing banks and consistently ranks as one of the country's strongest, safest financial institutions according to Veribanc, Inc. and BauerFinancial Services, Inc.

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

The Hancock Holding Company logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2758

CONTACT:  Hancock Holding CompanyCarl J. Chaney, Chief Executive Officer
          Michael M. Achary, Chief Financial Officer
          Paul D. Guichet, VP, Investor Relations
          800.522.6542
          228.563.6559