Hancock Holding Co. (HBHC)

Hancock Holding Company, a financial holding company, provides a range of banking and financial services to consumers, and small and middle market businesses in Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and Alabama. The company generates various deposit products, such as non-interest bearing demand, NOW account, money market, savings, and time deposits. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial, consumer, commercial leasing, and real estate loans. The company also offers a range of trust services that primarily include operating as an executor, administrator, or guardian in administering estates; investment custodial services for individuals, businesses, and charitable and religious organizations; and investment management services on an agency basis, as well as operates as trustee for pension plans, profit sharing plans, corporate and municipal bond issues, living trusts, life insurance trusts, and various other types of trusts. In addition, it engages in providing consumer financing services; owning, managing, and maintaining real property; providing general insurance agency services; holding investment securities; marketing credit life insurance; and providing discount investment brokerage services. Further, the company owns approximately 3,700 acres of timberland in Hancock County, Mississippi. As of December 31, 2008, it operated approximately 157 banking and financial services offices and 137 automated teller machines. The company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi.

For the nine months ended 30 September 2006, Hancock Holding Company's total interest income rose 35% to $257.2M. Net interest income after LLP totaled $192M, up from $94.7M. Net income totaled $80M, up from $35M. Net interest income reflects higher interest income on loans and gain from partial reversal of the storm-related allowance. Net income also reflects increased credit card merchant fees and higher income from mortgage market operations.