Photo Release -- Hancock And Whitney Announce Exnicios To Become Whitney Bank President Following Closing Of The Merger; Thomas To Continue As Chief Credit Officer For Whitney Bank

NEW ORLEANS, March 2, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Executives of Hancock Holding Company (Nasdaq:HBHC) and Whitney Holding Corporation (Nasdaq:WTNY) today announced the appointment of longtime Whitney executive and New Orleans community leader Joseph S. Exnicios as Whitney Bank President, effective upon closing of the Hancock and Whitney merger, which is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval and other conditions to closing. Current Whitney Executive Vice President of Credit Administration Suzanne C. Thomas will continue as Chief Credit Officer of Whitney Bank.

Joseph S. Exnicios Suzanne C. Thomas

Photos accompanying this release are available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8827 , http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8828

Hancock Holding Company President and CEO Carl J. Chaney said, "We enthusiastically support Joe and Suzanne in their anticipated roles of President and Chief Credit Officer, respectively, of the resulting $11.5 billion Whitney Bank headquartered in New Orleans. Both Joe and Suzanne have a long history with the Whitney commercial banking team throughout the five-state Whitney franchise."