News/Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2008

Hancock Bank to observe Independence Day holiday

GULFPORT, MS (July 2, 2008) - Hancock Bank's 164 banking and financial services offices in South Mississippi, south central Louisiana, southern Alabama, and north Florida will not open on Friday, July 4, 2008, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

All Hancock Bank Saturday banking locations will open for regular business hours on Saturday, July 5, 2008; and all Hancock Bank corporate locations, trust offices, branches, and subsidiaries will resume regular business hours on Monday, July 7, 2008.

Customers can access the conveniences of 24-hour, seven-days-a-week financial services through Hancock's HandyCall^® telephone banking, online banking and bill pay at www.hancockbank.com, and 134-plus ATMs across the company's Gulf South I-10 corridor markets.

Recently ranked third among America's top-performing financial institutions, Hancock Bank consistently rates among the nation's strongest, safest banks. Hancock subsidiaries include Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency and its divisions of Ross King Walker and J. Everett Eaves, and Harrison Finance Company. Parent company Hancock Holding Company (NASDAQ: HBHC) has assets of approximately $6.4 billion.

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For More Information

R. Paul Maxwell, VP & Corporate Communications Manager
228.563.7953 or paul_maxwell@hancockbank.com