GULFPORT, Miss., May 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hancock Holding Company's (Nasdaq:HBHC) President & CEO, Carl J. Chaney, CFO, Michael M. Achary, and Chief Credit Officer, Samuel B. Kendricks, will address analysts and investors attending the Gulf South Bank Conference in New Orleans, on Monday, May 14, 2012 beginning at 1:05 p.m. Central Time.

Interested parties may access a live listen-only webcast of the presentation through the Investor Relations section of Hancock's website at www.hancockbank.com. A replay of the presentation will be available following the conference. 

About Hancock Holding Company

Hancock Holding Company, the parent company of Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank, operates 258 branches and more than 350 ATMs across Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. 

The Hancock Holding Company family of financial services companies also includes Hancock Investment Services, Inc.; Hancock Insurance Agency and Whitney Insurance Agency, Inc.; and corporate trust offices in Gulfport and Jackson, Miss., New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La., and Orlando, Fla.; and Harrison Finance Company. 

Additional information is available at www.hancockbank.com and www.whitneybank.com.

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

CONTACT: Trisha Voltz Carlson, SVP Investor Relations Manager
         504-299-5208 or trisha.carlson@hancockbank.com