8-K

UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWashington, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
February 21, 2017 (February 20, 2017)Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission file number : 001-36872

Mississippi	64-0693170
(State of incorporation)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
One Hancock Plaza
2510 14th Street
Gulfport, Mississippi	39501
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(228) 868-4000(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01.

On February 20, 2017, Hancock Holding Company announced that its banking subsidiary, Whitney Bank ("Whitney"), has received regulatory approval to acquire approximately $1.3 billion in loans, 9 branch locations with approximately $500 million in transaction and savings deposits, and to assume approximately $600 million in FHLB borrowings from First NBC Bank Holding Company's banking subsidiary First NBC Bank ("First NBC").  The transaction was announced on December 30, 2016.  On January 4, 2017 Whitney acquired approximately $160 million of the identified loans, and on January 27, 2017 Whitney acquired a second tranche of approximately $100 million of the identified loans as detailed in the purchase agreement. The transaction is expected to close March 10, 2017 subject to customary closing conditions.

A copy of the press release announcing the regulatory approval is furnished hereto as Exhibit 99.1.  In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, the information presented in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall the information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01.Exhibits.

(d)Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated February 20, 2017

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY
February 21, 2017	By:	/s/ Michael M. Achary
		Michael M. Achary
		SEVP & Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
Exhibit 99.1	Press Release dated February 20, 2017

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release

February 20, 2017

For More Information

Trisha Voltz Carlson, SVP Investor Relations Manager

504.299.5208 or trisha.carlson@hancockwhitney.com

Whitney Receives Approval to Close Transaction with First NBC

Transaction to Acquire 9 Branches and Certain Assets and Liabilities

GULFPORT, Miss.  (February 20, 2017) — Hancock Holding Company (Nasdaq: HBHC) today announced that its banking subsidiary, Whitney Bank ("Whitney"), has received regulatory approval to acquire approximately $1.3 billion in loans, 9 branch locations with approximately $500 million in transaction and savings deposits, and to assume approximately $600 million in FHLB borrowings from First NBC Bank Holding Company's (Nasdaq: FNBC) banking subsidiary First NBC Bank ("First NBC").

The transaction was announced on December 30, 2016. On January 4, 2017 Whitney acquired approximately $160 million of the identified loans, and on January 27, 2017 Whitney acquired a second tranche of approximately $100 million of the identified loans as detailed in the purchase agreement. The transaction is expected to close March 10, 2017 subject to customary closing conditions.

About Hancock Holding Company

Hancock Holding Company is a financial services company with regional business headquarters and locations across the Gulf South. The company's banking subsidiary provides comprehensive financial products and services through Hancock Bank locations in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and Whitney Bank locations in Louisiana and Texas, including traditional, online, and mobile banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. The company operates a loan production office in Nashville, Tennessee. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com.

Important Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Any statement that does not describe historical or current facts is a forward-looking statement. These statements often include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "forecast," "goals," "targets," "initiatives," "focus," "potentially," "probably," "projects," "outlook" or similar expressions or future conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would," and "could." Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and on information currently available to management. Our statements speak as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements in light of new information or future events.

Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on such statements. Actual results may differ materially from those set

forth in the forward looking statements, including as a result of changes in the level of loans and deposits to be acquired, the ability to retain customers following closing, receipt of certain third party approvals and the ability to realize expected cost savings. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Part I, "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and in other periodic reports that we file with the SEC.

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