10-K

                                                   UNITED STATES
                                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                              WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

                                                     FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

[ X ]  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
       EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]

For the fiscal year ended  December 31, 2003.

       OR

[   ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
       EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

For the transition period from __________________ to ______________________
Commission file number    0-13089
                          -------
                                                Hancock Holding Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Mississippi                          64-0693170
- --------------------------------      ------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
  incorporation or organization)

 One Hancock Plaza, Gulfport, Mississippi                  39501
- ------------------------------------------              ------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code      (228) 868-4727
                                                        --------------
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                                     Name of Each Exchange on
               Title of Each Class                       Which Registered
               -------------------                   -------------------------
                    NONE                                      NONE

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                               COMMON STOCK, $3.33 PAR VALUE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  (Title of Class)


        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers
pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and
will not be  contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in
definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference
in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. X
          ---

       Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file
such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for the past 75 days.
Yes    X        No
      ---

                              Continued

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The aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of February 29, 2004 was approximately $686,036,940 (based on an average market price of $59.47). For purposes of this calculation only, shares held by non-affiliates are deemed to consist of (a) shares held by all shareholders other than directors and executive officers of the registrant plus (b) shares held by directors and officers as to which beneficial ownership has been disclaimed.

On December 31, 2003, the registrant had outstanding 15,225,468 shares of common stock for financial statement purposes.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2003 are incorporated by reference into Part I and Part II of this report.

Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement used in connection with the Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on February 26, 2004, filed by the Registrant on January 30, 2004, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

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                                                     CONTENTS


PART I

Item 1.      Business                                                                         4
Item 2.      Properties                                                                      31
Item 3.      Legal Proceedings                                                               33
Item 4.      Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders                             33

PART II

Item 5.      Market for the Registrant's Common Stock
              and Related Stockholder Matters                                                33
Item 6.      Selected Financial Data                                                         33
Item 7.      Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
              Condition and Results of Operations                                            33
Item 7a      Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
              Market Risk                                                                    34
Item 8.      Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                                     34
Item 9.      Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
               on Accounting and Financial Disclosure                                        35
Item 9a      Controls and Procedures                                                         36

PART III

Item 10.     Directors and Executive Officers of the
               Registrant                                                                    36
Item 11.     Executive Compensation                                                          38
Item 12.     Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
                Owners and Management                                                        38
Item 13.     Certain Relationships and Related Transactions                                  38
Item 14.     Principal Accountant Fees and Services                                          38

PART IV

Item 15.     Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and
                Reports on Form 8-K                                                          38

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                                                      PART I

                                                 ITEM 1 - BUSINESS

                                         BACKGROUND AND CURRENT OPERATIONS

Background

General:

Hancock Holding Company (the Company), organized in 1984 as a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, is headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi. At December 31, 2003 the Company operated 101 banking offices and 140 automated teller machines (ATMs) in the states of Mississippi and Louisiana through two wholly-owned bank subsidiaries, Hancock Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi (Hancock Bank MS) and Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Hancock Bank LA). Hancock Bank MS also operates a loan production office in the State of Alabama. Hancock Bank MS and Hancock Bank LA are referred to collectively as the “Banks”.

The Banks are community oriented and focus primarily on offering commercial, consumer and mortgage loans and deposit services to individuals and small to middle market businesses in their respective market areas. The Company’s operating strategy is to provide its customers with the financial sophistication and breadth of products of a regional bank, while successfully retaining the local appeal and level of service of a community bank. At December 31, 2003, the Company had total assets of $4.15 billion and employed on a full-time equivalent basis 1,245 persons in Mississippi and 489 persons in Louisiana.

Hancock Bank MS was originally chartered as Hancock County Bank in 1899. Since its organization, the strategy of Hancock Bank MS has been to achieve a dominant market share on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Prior to a series of acquisitions begun in 1985, growth was primarily internal and was accomplished by branch expansions in areas of population growth where no dominant financial institution previously served the market area. Economic expansion on the Mississippi Gulf Coast has resulted primarily from growth of military and government-related facilities, tourism, port facility activities, industrial complexes and the gaming industry. Based on the most current available published data, Hancock Bank MS has the largest deposit market share in each of the following four counties: Harrison, Hancock, Jackson and Pearl River. In addition, Hancock Bank MS has a significant presence in the following counties: Lamar, Forrest and Jefferson Davis. With assets of $2.5 billion at September 30, 2003, Hancock Bank MS was ranked the third largest bank in Mississippi.

In August 1990, the Company formed Hancock Bank LA to assume the deposit liabilities and acquire the consumer loan portfolio, corporate credit card portfolio and non-adversely classified securities portfolio of American Bank and Trust, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, (AmBank), from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Economic expansion in East Baton Rouge Parish has resulted from growth in state government and related service industries, educational and medical complexes, petrochemical industries, port facility activities and transportation and related industries. With assets of $1.6 billion at September 30, 2003, Hancock Bank LA was ranked the fourth largest bank in Louisiana.

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Beginning with the 1985 acquisition of the Pascagoula-Moss Point Bank in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the Company has acquired approximately $1.6 billion in assets and approximately $1.4 billion in deposit liabilities through selected acquisitions or purchase and assumption transactions.

Recent Acquisition Activity:

On December 31, 2003, the Company completed the acquisition of Magna Insurance Company, formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Union Planters Corporation, Memphis, Tennessee. Chartered in 1987, Magna Insurance Company is a well-capitalized life insurance company headquartered in Mississippi and licensed to conduct business in 16 states. The acquisition will enable the Company to offer Magna products and services through the Banks and other client banks across the entire southeastern United States and much of the Midwest. With assets of $41.4 million, Magna is rated B++, or very good, by A.M. Best. The net purchase price was $19.4 million.

On February 22, 2003, the Company completed the acquisition of two Dryades Savings Bank branches located in Metairie, LA and Kenner, LA (both suburbs of New Orleans, LA). Both locations are within minutes of the Causeway connecting metropolitan Jefferson Parish to St. Tammany Parish’s thriving Northshore communities. The two acquired facilities have a combined total deposit base of approximately $40 million. The Company acquired $4.2 million in assets, which includes the core deposit intangible totaling $2.4 million. The core deposit intangible resulting from this acquisition has a weighted average life of 10 years. Amortization of the core deposit intangible was approximately $436,000 in 2003. Amortization is estimated to be approximately $476,000 in 2004, $381,000 in 2005, $305,000 in 2006, $244,000 in 2007, $195,000 in 2008 and the remainder of $343,000 thereafter.

Current Operations

Loan Production and Credit Review:

The Banks’ primary lending focus is to provide commercial, consumer, leasing and real estate loans to consumers and to small and middle market businesses in their respective market areas. The Banks have no significant concentrations of loans to particular borrowers or loans to any foreign entities. Each loan officer has Board approved loan limits on the principal amount of secured and unsecured loans that can be approved for a single borrower without prior approval of a loan committee. All loans, however, must meet the credit underwriting standards and loan policies of the Banks.

All loans over an individual loan officer’s Board approved lending authority must be approved by the Bank’s loan committee, the region’s loan committee or by another loan officer with greater lending authority. Both the regional loan committee and the Bank’s senior loan committee must review and approve any loan for a borrower whose total indebtedness exceeds the region’s approved limit. Each loan file is reviewed by the Bank’s loan operations quality assurance function, a component of its loan review system, to ensure proper documentation and asset quality.

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Loan Review and Asset Quality:

Each bank’s portfolio of loan relationships aggregating $250,000 or more is annually reviewed by the respective bank to identify any deficiencies and to take corrective actions as necessary. Periodically, selected loan relationships aggregating less than $250,000 are reviewed. As a result of such reviews, each bank places on its Watchlist loans requiring close or frequent review. All loans classified by a regulatory auditor are also placed on the Watchlist. All Watchlist and past due loans are reviewed monthly by the Banks’ senior lending officers and by the Banks’ Board of Directors.

In addition, all loans to a particular borrower are considered, regardless of classification, each time such borrower requests a renewal or extension of any loan or requests a new loan. All lines of credit are reviewed annually before renewal. The Banks currently have mechanisms in place that allow for at least an annual review of the financial statements and the financial condition of all borrowers, except borrowers with secured installment and residential mortgage loans.

Consumer loans, which become 60 days delinquent are reviewed regularly by management. Generally, a consumer loan, which is delinquent 120 days, is in process of collection through repossession and liquidation of collateral or has been deemed currently uncollectible. Loans deemed currently uncollectible are charged-off. As a matter of policy, loans are placed on a nonaccrual status when the loan is 1) maintained on a cash basis due to the deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower, 2) payments, in full, of principal or interest are not expected or 3) the principal or interest has been in default for a period of 90 days, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection.

The Banks follow the standard FDIC loan classification system. This system provides management with (1) a general view of the quality of the overall loan portfolio (each branch’s loan portfolio and each commercial loan officer’s loan portfolio) and (2) information on specific loans that may need individual attention.

The Banks hold nonperforming assets, consisting of real property, vehicles and other items held for resale, which were acquired generally through the process of foreclosure. At December 31, 2003, the book value of real estate held for resale was approximately $5.4 million.

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Securities Portfolio:

The Banks maintain portfolios of securities consisting primarily of U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government agency issues, mortgage-backed securities, CMOs and tax-exempt obligations of states and political subdivisions. The portfolios are designed to enhance liquidity while providing acceptable rates of return. Therefore, the Banks invest only in high-grade investment quality securities with acceptable yields and generally with durations of less than 5 years.

The Banks’ policies limit investments to securities having a rating of no less than “Baa” by Moody’s Investors’ Service, Inc., except for certain obligations of Mississippi or Louisiana counties, parishes and municipalities.

Deposits:

The Banks have several programs designed to attract depository accounts offered to consumers and to small and middle market businesses at interest rates generally consistent with market conditions. Additionally, the Banks offer 140 ATMs: ATMs at the Company’s banking offices and free-standing ATMs at other locations. As members of regional and international ATM networks such as “STAR”, “PLUS” and “CIRRUS”, the Banks offer customers access to their depository accounts from regional, national and international ATM facilities. Deposit flows are controlled by the Banks primarily through pricing, and to a certain extent, through promotional activities. Management believes that the rates it offers, which are posted weekly on deposit accounts, are generally competitive with other financial institutions in the Banks’ respective market areas.

Trust Services:

The Banks, through their respective Trust Departments, offer a full range of trust services on a fee basis. The Banks act as executor, administrator or guardian in administering estates. Also provided are investment custodial services for individuals, businesses and charitable and religious organizations. In their trust capacities, the Banks provide investment management services on an agency basis and act as trustee for pension plans, profit sharing plans, corporate and municipal bond issues, living trusts, life insurance trusts and various other types of trusts created by or for individuals, businesses and charitable and religious organizations. As of December 31, 2003, the Trust Departments of the Banks had approximately $4.7 billion of assets under administration compared to $4.4 billion as of December 31, 2002. $3.1 billion of administered assets as of December 31, 2003 were corporate accounts and the remaining balances were personal, employee benefit, estate and other trust accounts.

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Operating Efficiency Strategy:

The primary focus of the Company’s operating strategy is to increase operating income and to reduce operating expense. A Company’s operating efficiency ratio indicates the percentage of each dollar of net revenue that is used to fund operating expenses. Net revenue for a financial institution is the total of net interest income plus non-interest income, excluding securities transactions gains or losses. Operating expenses exclude the amortization of intangibles. The Company’s operating efficiency ratio was 57.83% for both years ended December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002.

Other Activities:

Hancock Bank MS has 9 subsidiaries through which it engages in the following activities: providing consumer financing services; mortgage lending; owning, managing and maintaining certain real property; providing general insurance agency services; holding investment securities; marketing credit life insurance; and providing discount investment brokerage services. The income of these subsidiaries generally accounts for less than 10% of the Company’s total net earnings.

In 1994, the Company began offering alternative investments through a third party vendor. The investment centers are now located in several branch locations in Mississippi and Louisiana to accommodate the investment needs of customers whose financial portfolio requirements fall outside the traditional commercial bank product line. During 1999, the investment sales force was internalized and the management structure reorganized in order to align sales activity with Company objectives.

During 2001, the Company began servicing mortgage loans for the Federal National Mortgage Association. The loans serviced are originated and closed by the Company’s mortgage subsidiary. The servicing activity is also performed by this same subsidiary. However, in the middle of 2003 the Company changed its strategy and reverted to selling the majority of its conforming loans with servicing released.

In July 2003, Hancock Bank MS opened a loan processing office in Mobile, Alabama. No deposits are currently accepted at this location.

Hancock Bank MS also owns approximately 3,700 acres of timberland in Hancock County, Mississippi, most of which was acquired through foreclosure in the 1930‘s. Timber sales and oil and gas leases on this acreage generate less than 1% of the Company’s annual income.

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Competition:

The deregulation of the financial services industry, the elimination of many previous distinctions between commercial banks and other financial institutions and legislation enacted in Mississippi, Louisiana and other states allowing state-wide branching, multi-bank holding companies and regional interstate banking has created a highly competitive environment for commercial banking in the Company’s market area. The principal competitive factors in the markets for deposits and loans are interest rates paid and charged. The Company also competes through the efficiency, quality, range of services and products it provides, convenience of office and ATM locations and office hours.

In attracting deposits and in its lending activities, the Company competes generally with other commercial banks, savings associations, credit unions, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, securities brokerage firms, mutual funds and insurance companies and other financial institutions. Many of these institutions have greater available resources than the Company.

Available Information

The Company maintains an internet website at www.hancockbank.com. The Company makes available free of charge on the website its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders is also available on the Company’s website. These reports are made available on the Company’s website as soon as reasonably practical after the reports are filed with the Commission. Information on the Company’s website is not incorporated into this Form 10-K or the Company’s other securities filings and is not part of them.

SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

Bank Holding Company Regulation

General:

The Company is subject to extensive regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve) pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the Bank Holding Company Act). On January 26, 2002 the Company qualified as a financial holding company, giving it broader powers as discussed below. To date the Company has exercised its powers as a financial holding company to acquire a non-controlling interest in a third party service provider for insurance companies and, in December 2003 acquired Magna Insurance Company. The Company also is required to file certain reports with, and otherwise complies with the rules and regulations of, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under federal securities laws.

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Federal Regulation:

The Bank Holding Company Act generally prohibits a corporation owning a bank from engaging in activities other than banking, managing or controlling banks or other permissible subsidiaries. Acquiring or obtaining control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company engaged in activities other than those activities determined by the Federal Reserve to be so closely related to banking, managing or controlling banks as to be proper incident thereto is also prohibited. In determining whether a particular activity is permissible, the Federal Reserve considers whether the performance of the activity can reasonably be expected to produce benefits to the public that outweigh possible adverse effects. For example: making, acquiring or servicing loans; leasing personal property; providing certain investment or financial advice; performing certain data processing services; acting as agent or broker in selling credit life insurance, and performing certain insurance underwriting activities have all been determined by regulations of the Federal Reserve to be permissible activities. The Bank Holding Company Act does not place territorial limitations on permissible bank-related activities of bank holding companies. Despite prior approval, however, the Federal Reserve has the power to order a holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or its control of any subsidiary when it has reasonable cause to believe that continuation of such activity or control of such subsidiary constitutes a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of any bank subsidiary of that holding company.

The Bank Holding Company Act requires every bank holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve: (1) before it may acquire ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank if, after such acquisition, such bank holding company will own or control more than 5% of the voting shares of such bank, (2) before it or any of its subsidiaries other than a bank may acquire all of the assets of a bank, (3) before it may merge with any other bank holding company, or (4) before it may engage in permissible non-banking activities. In reviewing a proposed acquisition, the Federal Reserve considers financial, managerial and competitive aspects. The future prospects of the companies and banks concerned and the convenience and needs of the community to be served must also be considered. The Federal Reserve also reviews the indebtedness to be incurred by a bank holding company in connection with the proposed acquisition to ensure that the holding company can service such indebtedness without adversely affecting the capital requirements of the holding company or its subsidiaries. The Bank Holding Company Act further requires that consummation of approved bank holding company or bank acquisitions or mergers must be delayed for a period of not less than 15 nor more than 30 days following the date of approval. During such 15 to 30-day period, complaining parties may obtain a review of the Federal Reserve’s order granting its approval by filing a petition in the appropriate United States Court of Appeals petitioning that the order be set aside.

On November 12, 1999, President Clinton signed into law the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (the “Financial Services Modernization Act”). The Financial Services Modernization Act repeals the two affiliation provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act: Section 20, which restricted the affiliation of Federal Reserve Member Banks with firms “engaged principally” in specified securities activities; and Section 32, which restricts officer, director, or employee interlocks between a member bank and any company or person “primarily engaged” in specified securities activities. In addition, the Financial Services Modernization Act also contains provisions that expressly preempt any state law restricting the establishment of financial affiliations, primarily related to insurance. The general effect of the law is to establish a comprehensive framework to permit affiliations among qualified bank holding companies, commercial banks, insurance companies, securities firms, and other financial service providers by revising and expanding the Bank Holding Company Act framework to permit a holding company system to engage in a full range of financial activities

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through a new entity known as a Financial Holding Company. “Financial activities” is broadly defined to include not only banking, insurance, and securities activities, but also merchant banking and additional activities that the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines to be financial in nature, incidental to such financial activities, or complementary activities that do not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally.

         Generally, the Financial Services Modernization Act:

                  •        Repeals  historical  restrictions on, and eliminates many federal and state law barriers
                  to,  affiliations  among  banks,  securities  firms,  insurance  companies,  and other  financial
                  service providers;

                  •        Provides a uniform  framework for the functional  regulation of the activities of banks,
                  savings institutions, and their holding companies;

                  •        Broadens the activities  that may be conducted by national banks,  banking  subsidiaries
                  of bank holding companies, and their financial subsidiaries;

                  •        Provides an enhanced framework for protecting the privacy of consumer information;

                  •        Adopts a number of  provisions  related  to the  capitalization,  membership,  corporate
                  governance, and other measures designed to modernize the Federal Home Loan Bank system;

                  •        Modifies  the laws  governing  the  implementation  of the  Community  Reinvestment  Act
                  ("CRA"); and

                  •        Addresses a variety of other  legal and  regulatory  issues  affecting  both  day-to-day
                  operations and long-term activities of financial institutions.

The Financial Services Modernization Act requires that each bank subsidiary of a financial holding company be well capitalized and well managed as determined by the subsidiary bank’s principal regulator. To be considered well managed, the bank must have received at least a satisfactory composite rating and a satisfactory management rating at its last examination. To be well capitalized, the bank must have a leverage capital ratio of 5%, a Tier 1 Risk-based capital ratio of 6% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 10%. These ratios are discussed further below. In the event a financial holding company becomes aware that a subsidiary bank ceases to be well capitalized or well managed, it must notify the Federal Reserve and enter into an agreement to cure such condition. The consequences of a failure to cure such condition are that the Federal Reserve Board may order divestiture of the bank. Alternatively, a financial holding company may comply with such order by ceasing to engage in the financial holding company activities that are unrelated to banking or otherwise impermissible for a bank holding company.

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The Federal Reserve has adopted capital adequacy guidelines for use in its examination and regulation of bank holding companies and financial holding companies. The regulatory capital of a bank holding company or financial holding company under applicable federal capital adequacy guidelines is particularly important in the Federal Reserve’s evaluation of a holding company and any applications by the bank holding company to the Federal Reserve. If regulatory capital falls below minimum guideline levels, a financial holding company may lose its status as a financial holding company and a bank holding company or bank may be denied approval to acquire or establish additional banks or non-bank businesses or to open additional facilities. In addition, a financial institution’s failure to meet minimum regulatory capital standards can lead to other penalties, including termination of deposit insurance or appointment of a conservator or receiver for the financial institution. There are two measures of regulatory capital presently applicable to bank holding companies, (1) risk-based capital and (2) leverage capital ratios.

The Federal Reserve rates bank holding companies by a component and composite 1-5 rating system. This system is designed to help identify institutions, which require special attention. Financial institutions are assigned ratings based on evaluation and rating of their financial condition and operations. Components reviewed include capital adequacy, asset quality, management capability, the quality and level of earnings, the adequacy of liquidity and sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations.

The leverage ratios adopted by the Federal Reserve require all but the most highly rated bank holding companies to maintain Tier 1 Capital at 4% of total assets. Certain bank holding companies having a composite 1 rating and not experiencing or anticipating significant growth may satisfy the Federal Reserve guidelines by maintaining Tier 1 Capital of at least 3% of total assets. Tier 1 Capital for bank holding companies includes: stockholders’ equity, minority interest in equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries and qualifying perpetual preferred stock. In addition, Tier 1 Capital excludes goodwill and other disallowed intangibles. The Company’s leverage capital ratio at December 31, 2003 was 9.29% and 9.19% at December 31, 2002.

The risk-based capital guidelines are designed to make regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk profiles among banks and bank holding companies, to account for off-balance sheet exposure and to minimize disincentives for holding liquid assets. Under the risk-based capital guidelines, assets are assigned to one of four risk categories; 0%, 20% 50% and 100%. As an example, U.S. Treasury securities are assigned to the 0% risk category while most categories of loans are assigned to the 100% risk category. A two-step process determines the risk weight of off-balance sheet items such as standby letters of credit. First, the amount of the off-balance sheet item is multiplied by a credit conversion factor of either 0%, 20%, 50% or 100%. The result is then assigned to one of the four risk categories. At December 31, 2003, the Company’s off-balance sheet items aggregated $581.2 million; however, after the credit conversion these items represented $117.1 million of balance sheet equivalents.

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The primary component of risk-based capital is Tier 1 Capital, which for the Company is essentially equal to common stockholders’ equity, less goodwill and other intangibles. Tier 2 Capital, which consists primarily of the excess of any perpetual preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, subordinated debt and general allowances for loan losses, is a secondary component of risk-based capital. The risk-weighted asset base is equal to the sum of the aggregate dollar values of assets and off-balance sheet items in each risk category, multiplied by the weight assigned to that category. A ratio of Tier 1 Capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 4% and a ratio of Total Capital (Tier 1 and Tier 2) to risk-weighted assets of at least 8% must be maintained by bank holding companies. At December 31, 2003, the Company’s Tier 1 and Total Capital ratios were 14.21% and 15.60%, respectively. At December 31, 2002, the Company’s Tier 1 and Total Capital ratios were 14.88% and 16.11%, respectively.

The prior approval of the Federal Reserve must be obtained before the Company may acquire substantially all the assets of any bank, or ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank, if, after such acquisition, it would own or control, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of the voting shares of such bank. In no case, however, may the Federal Reserve approve an acquisition of any bank located outside Mississippi unless such acquisition is specifically authorized by the laws of the state in which the bank to be acquired is located. The banking laws of Mississippi presently permit out-of-state banking organizations to acquire Mississippi banking organizations, provided the out-of-state banking organization’s home state grants similar privileges to banking organizations in Mississippi. In addition, Mississippi banking organizations were granted similar powers to acquire certain out-of-state financial institutions pursuant to the Interstate Bank Branching Act, which was adopted in 1996.

With the passage of The Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994, adequately capitalized and managed bank holding companies are permitted to acquire control of banks in any state, subject to federal regulatory approval, without regard to whether such a transaction is prohibited by the laws of any state. Beginning June 1, 1997, federal banking regulators may approve merger transactions involving banks located in different states, without regard to laws of any state prohibiting such transactions; except that, mergers may not be approved with respect to banks located in states that, before June 1, 1997, enacted legislation prohibiting mergers by banks located in such state with out-of-state institutions. Federal banking regulators may permit an out-of-state bank to open new branches in another state if such state has enacted legislation permitting interstate branching. The legislation further provides that a bank holding company may not, following an interstate acquisition, control more than 10% of nationwide insured deposits or 30% of deposits in the relevant state. States have the right to adopt legislation to lower the 30% limit. Additional provisions require that interstate activities conform to the Community Reinvestment Act.

The Company is required to give the Federal Reserve prior written notice of any purchase or redemption of its outstanding equity securities if the gross consideration for the purchase or redemption, when combined with the net consideration paid for all such purchases or redemptions during the preceding 12 months, is equal to 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated net worth. The Federal Reserve may disapprove such a transaction if it determines that the proposal constitutes an unsafe or unsound practice, would violate any law, regulation, Federal Reserve order or directive or any condition imposed by, or written agreement with, the Federal Reserve.

In November 1985, the Federal Reserve adopted its Policy Statement on Cash Dividends Not Fully Covered by Earnings (the Policy Statement). The Policy Statement sets forth various guidelines that the Federal Reserve believes that a bank holding company should follow in establishing its dividend policy. In general, the Federal Reserve stated that bank holding companies should pay dividends only out of current earnings. It also stated that dividends should not be paid unless the prospective rate of earnings retention by the holding company appears consistent with its capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition.

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The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Banks. There are various restrictions that limit the ability of the Banks to finance, pay dividends or otherwise supply funds to the Company or other affiliates. In addition, subsidiary banks of holding companies are subject to certain restrictions on any extension of credit to the bank holding company or any of its subsidiaries, on investments in the stock or other securities thereof and on the taking of such stock or securities as collateral for loans to any borrower. Further, a bank holding company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in connection with extensions of credit, or leases or sales of property or furnishing of services.

Bank Regulation

The operations of the Banks are subject to state and federal statutes applicable to state banks and national banks, respectively, and the regulations of the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), to the extent states banks are granted parity with national banks. Such statutes and regulations relate to, among other things, required reserves, investments, loans, mergers and consolidations, issuance of securities, payment of dividends, establishment of branches and other aspects of the Banks’ operations.

Hancock Bank MS is subject to regulation and periodic examinations by the FDIC and the State of Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Hancock Bank LA is subject to regulation and periodic examinations by the FDIC and the Office of Financial Institutions, State of Louisiana. These regulatory authorities examine such areas as reserves, loan and investment quality, management policies, procedures and practices and other aspects of operations. These examinations are designed for the protection of the Banks’ depositors, rather than their stockholders. In addition to these regular examinations, the Company and the Banks must furnish periodic reports to their respective regulatory authorities containing a full and accurate statement of their affairs.

As a result of the enactment of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA), a financial institution insured by the FDIC can be held liable for any losses incurred by, or reasonably expected to be incurred by, the FDIC in connection with (1) the default of a commonly controlled FDIC-insured financial institution or (2) any assistance provided by the FDIC to a commonly controlled financial institution in danger of default.

The Banks are members of the FDIC, and their deposits are insured as provided by law by the Bank Insurance Fund (BIF). On December 19, 1991, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA) was enacted. The Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by Section 302 of FDICIA, calls for risk-related deposit insurance assessment rates. The risk classification of an institution will determine its deposit insurance premium. Assignment to one of three capital groups, coupled with assignment to one of three supervisory sub-groups, determines which of the nine risk classifications is appropriate for an institution.

Page 14 of 44

Effective in the first quarter of 1996, the FDIC lowered banks’ deposit insurance premiums from 4 to 31 cents per hundred dollars in insured deposits to a rate of 0 to 27 cents. The Banks have received a risk classification of 1A for assessment purposes. In 1997 an assessment for the Financing Corporation’s debt service was added to the FDIC quarterly premium payment. That assessment averaged 4.12 cents per hundred dollars of insured deposits during 2003 and 3.98 (annualized) for the first quarter of 2004. Total assessments paid to the FDIC amounted to $531 thousand in 2003. For the year ended December 31, 2003, premiums on OAKAR deposits from the acquisitions of Peoples Federal Savings Association, Lamar Bank and two Dryades Savings Bank branches totaled $14 thousand.

In general, FDICIA subjects banks and bank holding companies to significantly increased regulation and supervision. FDICIA increased the borrowing authority of the FDIC in order to recapitalize the BIF, and the future borrowings are to be repaid by increased assessments on FDIC member banks. Other significant provisions of FDICIA require a new regulatory emphasis linking supervision to bank capital levels. Also, federal banking regulators are required to take prompt regulatory action with respect to depository institutions that fall below specified capital levels and to draft non-capital regulatory measures to assure bank safety.

FDICIA contains a “prompt corrective action” section intended to resolve problem institutions at the least possible long-term cost to the deposit insurance funds. Pursuant to this section, the federal banking agencies are required to prescribe a leverage limit and a risk-based capital requirement indicating levels at which institutions will be deemed to be “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” and “critically undercapitalized.” In the case of a depository institution that is “critically undercapitalized” (a term defined to include institutions which still have positive net worth), the federal banking regulators are generally required to appoint a conservator or receiver.

FDICIA further requires regulators to perform annual on-site bank examinations, places limits on real estate lending and tightens audit requirements. The new legislation eliminated the “too big to fail” doctrine, which protects uninsured deposits of large banks, and restricts the ability of undercapitalized banks to obtain extended loans from the Federal Reserve Board discount window. FDICIA also imposes new disclosure requirements relating to fees charged and interest paid on checking and deposit accounts. Most of the significant changes brought about by FDICIA required new regulations.

In addition to regulating capital, the FDIC has broad authority to prevent the development or continuance of unsafe or unsound banking practices. Pursuant to this authority, the FDIC has adopted regulations that restrict preferential loans and loan amounts to “affiliates” and “insiders” of banks, require banks to keep information on loans to major stockholders and executive officers and bar certain director and officer interlocks between financial institutions. The FDIC is also authorized to approve mergers, consolidations and assumption of deposit liability transactions between insured banks and between insured banks and uninsured banks or institutions to prevent capital or surplus diminution in such transactions where the resulting, continuing or assumed bank is an insured nonmember state bank, like Hancock Bank MS and Hancock Bank LA.

Page 15 of 44

Although Hancock Bank MS and Hancock Bank LA are not members of the Federal Reserve System, they are subject to Federal Reserve regulations that require the Banks to maintain reserves against transaction accounts (primarily checking accounts). Because reserves generally must be maintained in cash or in noninterest-bearing accounts, the effect of the reserve requirements is to increase the cost of funds for the Banks. The Federal Reserve regulations currently require that reserves be maintained against net transaction accounts in the amount of 3% of the aggregate of such accounts up to $38.8 million, or, if the aggregate of such accounts exceeds $38.8 million, $1.164 million plus 10% of the total in excess of $38.8 million. This regulation is subject to an exemption from reserve requirements on a limited amount of an institution’s transaction accounts.

The Financial Services Modernization Act also permits national banks, and through state parity statutes, state banks, to engage in expanded activities through the formation of financial subsidiaries. A national bank may have a subsidiary engaged in any activity authorized for national banks directly or any financial activity, except for insurance underwriting, insurance investments, real estate investment or development, or merchant banking, which may only be conducted through a subsidiary of a Financial Holding Company. Financial activities include all activities permitted under new sections of the Bank Holding Company Act or permitted by regulation.

A national bank seeking to have a financial subsidiary, and each of its depository institution affiliates, must be “well-capitalized” and “well-managed.” The total assets of all financial subsidiaries may not exceed the lesser of 45% of a bank’s total assets, or $50 billion. A national bank must exclude from its assets and equity all equity investments, including retained earnings, in a financial subsidiary. The assets of the subsidiary may not be consolidated with the bank’s assets. The bank must also have policies and procedures to assess financial subsidiary risk and protect the bank from such risks and potential liabilities.

The Financial Services Modernization Act also includes a new section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act governing subsidiaries of state banks that engage in “activities as principal that would only be permissible” for a national bank to conduct in a financial subsidiary. It expressly preserves the ability of a state bank to retain all existing subsidiaries. Because Mississippi permits commercial banks chartered by the state to engage in any activity permissible for national banks, the Bank will be permitted to form subsidiaries to engage in the activities authorized by the Financial Services Modernization Act. In order to form a financial subsidiary, a state bank must be well-capitalized, and the state bank would be subject to the same capital deduction, risk management and affiliate transaction rules as applicable to national banks.

Page 16 of 44

Summary:

The foregoing is a brief summary of certain statutes, rules and regulations affecting the Company and the Banks. It is not intended to be an exhaustive discussion of all the statutes and regulations having an impact on the operations of such entities.

The Company’s management has exercised its powers as a financial holding company to acquire a non-controlling interest in a third party service company for the insurance industry and, in December 2003, acquired Magna Insurance Company. Management continues to examine its strategic business plan to determine whether, based on market conditions, the relative financial conditions of the Banks, regulatory capital requirements, general economic conditions, and other factors, the Company or Banks desire to further utilize any of their expanded powers provided in the Financial Services Modernization Act.

The Company does not believe that the Financial Services Modernization Act will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations in the near-term. However, to the extent that it permits holding companies, banks, securities firms, and insurance companies to affiliate, the financial services industry may experience further consolidation. The Financial Services Modernization Act is intended to grant to community banks certain powers as a matter of right that larger institutions have accumulated on an ad hoc basis. Nevertheless, this act may have the result of increasing the amount of competition that the Company and the Banks face from larger institutions and other types of companies offering financial products, some of which may have substantially more financial resources than the Company and the Banks.

Finally, additional bills may be introduced in the future in the United States Congress and state legislatures to alter the structure, regulation and competitive relationships of financial institutions. It cannot be predicted whether and what form any of these proposals will be adopted or the extent to which the business of the Company and the Banks may be affected thereby.

Effect of Governmental Policies:

The difference between the interest rate paid on deposits and other borrowings and the interest rate received on loans and securities comprise most of a bank’s earnings. In order to mitigate the interest rate risk inherent in the industry, the banking business is becoming increasingly dependent on the generation of fee and service charge revenue.

The earnings and growth of a bank will be affected by both general economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policy of the United States Government and its agencies, particularly the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve sets national monetary policy such as seeking to curb inflation and combat recession. This is accomplished by its open-market operations in United States government securities, adjustments in the amount of reserves that financial institutions are required to maintain and adjustments to the discount rates on borrowings and target rates for federal funds transactions. The actions of the Federal Reserve in these areas influence the growth of bank loans, investments and deposits and also affect interest rates on loans and deposits. The nature and timing of any future changes in monetary policies and their potential impact on the Company cannot be predicted.

Page 17 of 44

STATISTICAL INFORMATION

The following tables and other material present certain statistical information regarding the Company. This information is not audited and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes.

Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity and Interest Rates and Differentials:

Net interest income, the difference between interest income and interest expense, is the most significant component of the Banks’ earnings. For internal analytical purposes, management adjusts net interest income to a “taxable equivalent” basis using a 35% federal tax rate on tax exempt items (primarily interest on municipal securities and loans).

Another significant statistic in the analysis of net interest income is the effective interest differential (also referred to as the net interest margin), which is the average of net interest earned, net interest income (te) less net interest expense, on the Company’s average earning assets. The difference between the average yield on earning assets and the effective rate paid for all deposits and borrowed funds, non-interest-bearing as well as interest-bearing, is the net interest spread. Since a portion of the Bank’s deposits does not bear interest, such as demand accounts, the rate paid for all funds is lower than the rate on interest-bearing liabilities alone. The net interest margin (te) for the years 2003 and 2002 was 4.45% and 4.70%, respectively.

Recognizing the importance of interest differential to total earnings, management places great emphasis on managing interest rate spreads. Although interest differential is affected by national, regional, and area economic conditions, including the level of loan demand and interest rates, there are opportunities to influence interest differential through appropriate loan and investment policies. These policies are designed to maximize interest differential while maintaining sufficient liquidity and availability of funds for purposes of meeting existing commitments and for investment in loans and other investment opportunities that may arise.

“Table 10 - Summary of Average Balance Sheets, Net Interest Income (te) & Interest Rates” included under the caption “Results of Operations” on pages 43 through 45 of the Company’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

Information regarding the changes in interest income on interest-earning assets and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities relating to rate and volume variances is included in “Table 11 - Summary of Changes in Net Interest Income (te)” under the caption “Results of Operations” on pages 43 through 45 of the Company’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

Page 18 of 44

Interest Rate Sensitivity:

To control interest rate risk, management regularly monitors the volume of interest sensitive assets compared with interest sensitive liabilities over specific time intervals. The Company’s interest rate risk management policy is designed to reduce the exposure to changes in its net interest margin in periods of interest rate fluctuations. Interest rate risk is monitored, quantified and managed to produce an acceptable impact on short-term earnings.

The interest sensitivity gap is the difference between total interest sensitive assets and liabilities in a given time period. At December 31, 2003, the Company’s cumulative interest sensitivity gap in the one year interval was (8.0%). The percentage reflects a higher level of interest sensitive liabilities than assets re-pricing within one year. Generally, when rate sensitive liabilities exceed rate sensitive assets, the net interest margin is expected to be positively affected during periods of decreasing interest rates and negatively affected during periods of increasing rates.

The following tables set forth the scheduled re-pricing or maturity of the Company’s assets and liabilities at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002. The assumed prepayment of investments and loans were based on the Company’s assessment of current market conditions on such dates. Estimates have been made for the re-pricing of savings, NOW and money market accounts. Actual prepayments and deposit withdrawals will differ from the following analysis due to variable economic circumstances and consumer behavior. Although assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or re-pricing periods, reactions will vary as to timing and degree of interest rate change.

Page 19 of 44

                                    Analysis of Interest Sensitivity at December 31, 2003

                                                                                                                 Non-
                                                             Within      6 months      1 to 3      > 3        Sensitive
                                                 Overnight  6 months     to 1 year      years     years        Balance      Total
                                                 ---------  ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------   ---------- ----------
                                                                      (amounts in thousands)
Assets

  Securities                                     $       -  $  222,439  $  184,857  $   415,614  $  455,139   $       -  $1,278,049
  Federal funds sold & Short-term investments       11,138           -         150            -           -           -      11,288
  Loans                                             31,477   1,190,556     213,713      514,248     498,650           -   2,448,644
  Other assets                                           -           -           -            -           -     412,377     412,377
                                                 ---------  ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------   ---------- ----------
      Total Assets                               $  42,615  $1,412,995  $  398,720   $  929,862  $  953,789   $ 412,377  $4,150,358
                                                 =========  ==========  ==========   ==========  ==========   =========  ==========
Liabilities
  Interest bearing transaction deposits          $       -  $  811,256  $  212,119   $  612,678  $   62,661   $       -  $1,698,714
  Time deposits                                          -     351,459     118,889      330,758     311,281           -   1,112,387
  Non-interest bearing deposits                          -     310,781     133,810      188,406       3,748           -     636,745
  Federal funds purchased                                -           -           -            -           -           -           -
  Borrowings                                       159,496          78          77           15      50,258           -     209,924
  Other liabilities                                      -           -           -            -           -      57,707      57,707
  Shareholders' Equity                                   -      37,067           -            -     397,814           -     434,881
                                                 ---------  ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------   ---------   ----------
      Total Liabilities & Equity                 $ 159,496  $1,510,641  $  464,895   $1,131,857 $  825,762   $   57,707   $4,150,358
                                                 =========  ==========  ==========   ==========  ==========   =========   ==========

Interest sensitivity gap                         $(116,881) $ (97,646)  $ (66,175)   $(201,995) $  128,027   $ 354,670
Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap         $(116,881) $(214,527)  $(280,702)   $(482,697) $(354,670)   $       -
Cumulative interest rate
  sensitivity gap as a percentage of
  total earning assets                              ( 3.0)%     (6.0)%      (8.0)%      (13.0)%    (10.0)%



                                    Analysis of Interest Sensitivity at December 31, 2002

                                                                                                                 Non-
                                                             Within      6 months      1 to 3      > 3        Sensitive
                                                 Overnight  6 months     to 1 year      years     years        Balance      Total
                                                 ---------  ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------   ---------- ----------
                                                                      (amounts in thousands)
Assets

  Securities                                     $       -  $  264,002  $  235,338  $   467,133  $  494,965   $       -  $1,461,438
  Federal funds sold & Short-term investments       22,214           -         216            -      24,827           -      47,257
  Loans                                             26,512   1,072,824     279,728      511,423     214,494           -   2,104,981
  Other assets                                           -           -           -            -      66,807     292,664     359,471
                                                 ---------  ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------   ---------- ----------
      Total Assets                               $  48,726  $1,336,826  $  515,282   $  978,556  $  801,093   $ 292,664  $3,973,147
                                                 =========  ==========  ==========   ==========  ==========   =========  ==========
Liabilities
  Interest bearing transaction deposits          $       -  $  736,755  $  192,087   $  554,900  $   57,729   $       -  $1,541,471
  Time deposits                                          -     432,127     149,750      277,138     270,223           -   1,129,238
  Non-interest bearing deposits                          -     264,865     126,270      220,209      19,446           -     630,790
  Federal funds purchased                                -           -           -            -           -           -           -
  Borrowings                                       165,237           -           -            -      46,840           -     212,077
  Other liabilities                                      -           -           -            -           -      34,989      34,989
  Shareholders' Equity                                   -           -       9,774            -     414,808           -     424,582
                                                 ---------  ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------   ---------   ----------
      Total Liabilities & Equity                 $ 165,237  $1,433,747  $  477,881   $1,052,247 $   809,046   $  34,989   $3,973,147
                                                 =========  ==========  ==========   ==========  ==========   =========   ==========
Interest sensitivity gap                         $(116,511) $ (96,921)  $ (37,401)   $ (73,691) $   (7,953)   $ 257,675
Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap         $(116,511) $(213,432)  $(176,031)   $(249,722) $ (257,675)   $       -
Cumulative interest rate
  sensitivity gap as a percentage of
  total earning assets                              ( 3.0)%     (6.0)%      (5.0)%       (7.0)%      (7.0)%

Page 20 of 44

Income Taxes:

The Company had income tax expense of $24.6 million, $22.5 million and $17.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. This represents an effective income tax rate of 30.9% for 2003, 30.6% for 2002 and 31.3% for 2001. The effective income tax rates are lower than the statutory rates since the Company earns a portion of its income on tax-exempt loans and securities.

Performance and Equity Ratios:

Information regarding performance and equity ratios is contained in the “Financial Highlights” on pages 10 and 11 of the Company’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders incorporated herein by reference.

Securities Portfolio:

The Company generally purchases securities to be held to maturity, with a maturity schedule that provides ample liquidity. Securities classified as held-to-maturity are carried at amortized cost. Certain securities have been classified as available-for-sale based on management’s internal assessment of the portfolio considering future liquidity, earning requirements and capital position.

The available-for-sale portfolio balance was $1.1 billion at December 31, 2003. At December 31, 2003, the amortized cost of the held-to-maturity portfolio was $160.0 million and the fair value was $169.5 million.

The amortized cost of securities classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, were as follows (in thousands):

                                                   December 31,
                                     ---------------------------------------
                                           2003         2002        2001
                                     -----------   -----------  ------------
U.S.Treasury                         $     9,966   $    49,970  $    30,258
U.S. government agencies                 346,836       517,482      440,481
Municipal obligations                     70,070        74,270       85,284
Mortgage-backed securities               348,266        43,820       69,704
CMOs                                     321,324       524,414      422,368
Other debt securities                      7,219        12,288       19,338
Equity securities                         11,723        11,216       10,696
                                     -----------   -----------  ------------
                                     $ 1,115,404   $ 1,233,460  $ 1,078,129
                                     ===========   ===========  ============

Page 21 of 44

The amortized cost, yield and fair value of debt securities classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2003, by contractual maturity, were as follows (amounts in thousands):

                                              Over Five      Over Five
                               One Year         Year           Year           Over                                    Weighted
                                  or           Through        Through          Ten                      Fair          Average
                                 Less         Five Years      Ten Years       Years        Total        Value         Yield
                              ---------      -----------    -----------    ----------   ----------   -----------      ---------
U.S. Treasury                 $       -      $     9,966    $        -     $       -    $     9,966  $    10,001      1.82%
U.S. government agencies        189,986          120,426        35,576            848       346,836      347,654      3.91%
Municipal obligations             3,869           22,824        36,001          7,376        70,070       73,336      4.41%
Mortgage-backed securities            -            4,871        65,559        277,836       348,266      346,474      4.62%
CMOs                                  -            2,745        69,567        249,012       321,324      321,239      4.62%
Other debt securities                 -            4,879             -          2,340         7,219        7,796      6.71%
                              ---------      -----------    -----------    ----------   ----------   -----------
                             $  193,855      $   165,711    $  206,703     $  537,412   $ 1,103,681  $ 1,106,500      4.37%
                              =========      ===========    ===========    ==========   ===========  ===========

Fair Value                   $  194,866      $   168,654    $  207,890     $  535,090   $ 1,106,500

Weighted Average Yield            3.94%            3.98%         4.38%          4.65%         4.37%

The amortized cost of securities classified as held-to-maturity at December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were as follows (in thousands):

                                                December 31,
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                    2003            2002                2001
                                 ----------     -----------         ------------
U.S. Treasury                    $      574     $       294         $       293
U.S. government agencies             14,737          16,350              35,746
Municipal obligations               117,484         136,122             148,545
Mortgage-backed securities           18,727          35,950              37,749
CMOs                                  1,403          30,087              58,508
Other debt securities                 7,058           9,176               6,529
                                 ----------     -----------         ------------
                                 $  159,983     $   227,979         $   287,370
                                 ==========     ===========         ============

The amortized cost, yield and fair value of securities classified as held-to-maturity at December 31, 2003, by contractual maturity, were as follows (amounts in thousands):

                                              Over Five      Over Five
                               One Year         Year           Year           Over                                     Weighted
                                  or           Through        Through          Ten                      Fair           Average
                                 Less         Five Years      Ten Years       Years        Total        Value           Yield
                              ---------      -----------    -----------    ----------   ----------   -----------      ---------
U.S. Treasury                 $     344      $       230    $         -    $        -   $      574   $       574         6.11%
U.S. government agencies          3,954            4,048          2,858         3,877       14,737        15,079         5.65%
Municipal obligations             7,292           32,897         75,676         1,619      117,484       125,550         4.82%
Mortgage-backed securities          876            6,196          3,539         8,116       18,727        19,667         6.82%
CMOs                                  -            1,403              -             -        1,403         1,458         6.81%
Other debt securities             3,218            3,253            587             -        7,058         7,123         6.65%
                              ---------      -----------    -----------    ----------   ----------   -----------
                              $  15,684      $    48,027    $    82,660    $   13,612   $  159,983   $   169,451         5.23%
                              =========      ===========    ===========    ==========   ===========  ===========
Fair Value                     $ 15,964         $ 50,531       $ 88,851    $   14,105   $  169,451

Weighted Average Yield            5.77%            5.22%          4.99%         6.05%        5.23%

Page 22 of 44

Loan Portfolio:

The Banks’ primary lending focus is to provide commercial, consumer and real estate loans to consumers and to small and middle market businesses in their respective market areas. Diversification in the loan portfolio is a means of reducing the risks associated with economic fluctuations. The Banks have no significant concentrations of loans to particular borrowers or loans to any foreign entities.

Loan underwriting standards and loan loss allowance maintenance further reduces the impact of credit risk to the Company. Loans are underwritten on the basis of cash flow capacity and collateral market value. Generally, real estate mortgage loans are made when the borrower produces sufficient cash flow capacity and equity in the property to offset historical market devaluations. The loan loss allowance adequacy is tested quarterly based on historical losses through different economic cycles and projected future losses specifically identified.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the composition of the loan portfolio of the Company:

                                                                         Loan Portfolio
                                                                        ----------------
                                                                           December 31,
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              2003               2002             2001              2000            1999
                                          ------------      ------------      -----------      -------------    -------------
                                                                           (in thousands)
Real estate:
  Residential mortgages 1-4 family        $    645,123      $    539,808      $    458,372     $     410,716    $    342,443
  Residential mortgages multifamily             22,803            20,305            21,875            20,510          18,939
  Home equity lines/loans                      110,634            86,609            56,887            42,644          29,549
  Construction and development                 235,049           197,166           184,750           171,009         136,179
  Nonresidential                               536,389           445,733           398,704           328,005         309,488
Commercial, industrial and other               395,678           346,808           308,306           281,701         214,041
Consumer                                       463,642           434,407           435,205           396,112         417,594
Lease financing and depository
  Institutions                                  34,388            29,565            23,632            27,394          24,727
Political subdivisions                               -                 -                 -            21,755          24,687
Credit cards and other revolving credit         15,437            14,085            12,333            11,393          40,789
                                          ------------      ------------      ------------     -------------    -------------
                                             2,459,143         2,114,486         1,900,064         1,711,239       1,558,436
Less, unearned income                           10,499             9,504            10,025            11,398          16,915
                                          ------------      ------------      ------------     -------------    -------------
Net loans                                 $  2,448,644      $  2,104,982      $  1,890,039     $   1,699,841    $  1,541,521
                                          ============      ============      ============     =============

Page 23 of 44

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the approximate contractual maturity by type of the loan portfolio of the Company:

                                                               Loan Maturity Schedule

                                             December 31, 2003                              December 31, 2002
                           -----------------------------------------------------   -----------------------------------------------
                                              Maturity Range                                  Maturity Range
                           -----------------------------------------------------   -----------------------------------------------
                                          After One                                           After One
                             Within        Through       After Five                 Within     Through      After Five
                            One Year      Five Years       Years       Total       One Year   Five Years       Years      Total
                           ----------     ----------    -----------  ----------    ---------  ----------   -----------  ----------
                                                                    (in thousands)
Commercial, industrial
  and other                $  710,699     $ 338,733     $ 103,541     $1,152,973   $ 132,706  $  184,926   $  29,176   $  346,808
Real estate - construction    129,970        32,019         7,716        169,705     140,322      44,852      11,992      197,166
All other loans               295,743       479,093       361,629      1,136,465     391,972     839,214     339,326    1,570,512
                           ----------     ----------    -----------  -----------   ---------  ----------   -----------  ----------
Total loans                $1,136,412     $ 849,845     $ 472,886     $2,459,143   $ 665,000  $1,068,992   $ 380,494   $2,114,486
                           ==========     ==========    ===========  ===========   =========  ==========   ===========  ==========

The sensitivity to interest rate changes of that portion of the Company’s loan portfolio that matures after one year is shown below:

                  Loan Sensitivity to Changes in Interest Rates

                                                                    December 31,
                                                          ---------------------------------
                                                            2003                   2002
                                                          ------------          -----------
                                                                   (in thousands)
Commercial, industrial, and real estate construction
  maturing after one year:
   Fixed rate                                             $   224,616           $   180,020
   Floating rate                                              257,393                90,926
Other loans maturing after one year:
   Fixed rate                                                 649,609               815,612
   Floating rate                                              191,113               362,928
                                                          ------------          -----------
Total                                                     $ 1,322,731           $ 1,449,486
                                                          ============          ===========

Page 24 of 44

Nonperforming Assets:

The following table sets forth nonperforming assets by type for the periods indicated, consisting of nonaccrual loans, restructured loans and real estate owned. Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing are also disclosed.

                                                                              December 31,
                                                  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2003            2002         2001           2000          1999
                                                  ----------     -----------   ----------    ----------    ------------
                                                                         (Amounts in thousands)
Nonaccrual loans:
  Real estate                                     $   10,031     $    10,521   $   14,358    $    7,856     $    5,129
  Commercial, industrial and other                     2,088           1,276        2,877         2,296          1,236
  Consumer, credit card and other
    revolving credit                                      42              73           93            30            536
  Lease financing                                          -               -            -             -              -
  Depository institutions                                  -               -            -             -              -
  Political subdivisions                                   -               -            -             -              -
Restructured loans                                         -               -            -             -            152
                                                  ----------     -----------   ----------    ----------    ------------
Total nonperforming loans                             12,161          11,870       17,328        10,182          7,053
Acquired other real estate                                 -               -        1,330             -            794
Foreclosed assets                                      5,809           5,936        1,673         1,492            822
                                                  ----------     -----------   ----------    ----------    ------------
Total nonperforming assets                        $   17,970     $    17,806   $   20,331    $   11,674    $     8,669
                                                  ==========     ===========   ==========    ==========    ============

Loans 90+ days past due and still accruing        $    3,682     $     6,407   $   12,591    $    9,277    $     4,442
                                                  ==========     ===========   ==========    ==========    ============
Ratios (%):
  Nonperforming loans to net loans                     0.50%           0.56%        0.92%        0.60%           0.46%
  Nonperforming assets to net loans and
    foreclosed assets                                  0.73%           0.84%        1.07%        0.69%           0.56%
  Nonperforming loans to average net loans             0.54%           0.61%        0.97%        0.63%           0.49%
  Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming            302%            293%         199%         281%            365%
    loans

The amount of interest that would have been recorded on nonaccrual loans had the loans not been classified as “nonaccrual” was $762,000, $662,000, $735,000, $686,000 and $462,000 for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

Interest actually received on nonaccrual loans was not material. The amount of interest recorded on restructured loans did not differ significantly from the interest that would have been recorded under the original terms of those loans.

Analysis of Allowance for Loan Losses:

     The allowance for loan losses is a valuation account available to absorb losses on loans. All losses are charged to the allowance for loan losses when the loss actually occurs or when a determination is made that a loss is likely to occur; recoveries are credited to the allowance for loan losses at the time of receipt. Periodically, management estimates the probable level of losses to determine whether the allowance is adequate to absorb reasonably foreseeable, anticipated losses in the existing portfolio based on the Company’s past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay, and the estimated value of any underlying collateral and current economic conditions. All commercial loans in lending relationships with an aggregate balance of $250,000 or more are risk rated and evaluated on an individual basis, as well as,

Page 25 of 44

all consumer and mortgage real estate loans with a balance of $100,000 or more. All consumer and mortgage real estate loans under $100,000 are risk rated as pools of homogeneous loans and classified according to past due status. Commercial loans are reviewed for impairment at the time a loan is no longer current or at the time management is made aware of a degradation in a borrower’s financial status or a deficiency in collateral. Loss factors recommended by the Banks’ regulators are applied to loans graded by standard loan classifications in determining a general allowance. Unclassified loans are categorized and reserved for at the greater of a five-year average net charge-off ratio or a minimum threshold stated as a percentage of loans outstanding. The allowance for loan loss stated as a percentage of period end loans, used in conjunction with the evaluation of current and anticipated economic conditions, composition of the Company’s present loan portfolio, and trends in both delinquencies and nonaccruals, is a measurement standard utilized by management in determining the adequacy of the allowance. The unallocated portion of the allowance for loan losses is available to compensate for the uncertainties in estimating the potential losses.

Page 26 of 44

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, average net loans outstanding, allowance for loan losses, amounts charged-off and recoveries of loans previously charged-off:

                                                            At and For The Years Ended December 31,
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 2003             2002              2001            2000          1999
                                            -----------       -----------       -----------      -----------  -----------

Net loans outstanding at end of period      $ 2,448,644       $ 2,104,982       $ 1,890,039      $ 1,699,841  $ 1,541,521
                                            ===========       ===========       ===========      ===========  ===========
Average net loans outstanding               $ 2,238,245       $ 1,961,299       $ 1,792,559      $ 1,611,046  $ 1,452,305
                                            ===========       ===========       ===========      ===========  ===========
Balance of allowance for loan losses
  at beginning of period                    $    34,740       $    34,417       $    28,604      $    25,713  $    21,800
Loans charged-off:
  Real estate                                       291               109                45               80           85
  Commercial                                      4,868             9,143             6,386            6,803        3,112
  Consumer, credit cards and other
    revolving credit                             14,311            14,291             9,853            6,802        8,999
  Lease financing                                    73                10                14               34            5
  Depository institutions                             -                 -                 -                -            -
  Political subdivisions                              -                 -                 -                -            -
                                            -----------       -----------       -----------      -----------  -----------
  Total charge-offs                              19,543            23,553            16,298           13,719       12,201
                                            -----------       -----------       -----------      -----------  -----------
Recoveries of loans previously
  charged-off:
  Real estate                                       180                 7                 2                1            5
  Commercial                                      1,112               639               319            1,333          808
  Consumer, credit cards and other
    revolving credit                              5,103             5,135             4,365            2,814        2,797
  Lease financing                                     4                 -                 1                -             1
  Depository institutions                             -                 -                 -                -            -
  Political subdivisions                              -                 -                 -                -            -
                                            -----------       -----------       -----------      -----------  -----------
  Total recoveries                                6,399             5,781             4,687            4,148        3,611
                                            -----------       -----------       -----------      -----------  -----------
  Net charge-offs                                13,144            17,772            11,611            9,571        8,590
  Provision for loan losses                      15,154            18,495             9,082           12,609        8,688
  Balance acquired through acquisition &
    other                                             -              (400)            8,342             (147)       3,815
                                            -----------       -----------       -----------      -----------  -----------
  Balance of allowance for loan losses
    at end of period                        $    36,750      $     34,740       $    34,417      $    28,604  $    25,713
                                            ===========       ===========       ===========      ===========  ===========

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain ratios related to the Company’s charge-offs, allowance for loan losses and outstanding loans:

                                                         At and For The Years Ended December 31,
                                                     ----------------------------------------------
                                                       2003     2002      2001     2000      1999
                                                     -------- -------   ------   -------  ---------
Ratios:
  Net charge-offs to average net loans                  0.59%    0.91%    0.65%     0.59%    0.59%
  Net charge-offs to period-end net loans               0.54%    0.84%    0.61%     0.56%    0.56%
  Allowance for loan losses to average net loans        1.64%    1.77%    1.92%     1.78%    1.77%
  Allowance for loan losses to period-end net loans     1.50%    1.65%    1.82%     1.68%    1.67%
  Net charge-offs to loan loss allowance               35.77%   51.16%   33.74%    33.46%   33.41%
  Loan loss provision to net charge-offs              115.29%  104.07%   78.22%   131.74%  101.14%

An allocation of the loan loss allowance by major loan category is set forth in the following table. Except for an increase in the outstanding loan portfolio balance, there were no relevant variations in loan concentrations, quality or terms. The allocation is not necessarily indicative of the category of future losses, and the full allowance at December 31, 2003 is available to absorb losses occurring in any category of loans.

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                                                                   December 31,
                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                2003              2002               2001               2000              1999
                         -----------------  ----------------  -----------------  ----------------  ------------------
                         Allowance  % of    Allowance  % of   Allowance  % of    Allowance  % of   Allowance  % of
                             for    Loans      for    Loans     for      Loans     for     Loans     for      Loans
                            Loan   to Total   Loan   to Total   Loan    to Total   Loan   to Total   Loan    to Total
                           Losses   Loans    Losses   Loans    Losses    Loans    Losses   Loans    Losses    Loans
                         --------  -------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Real estate                $9,711   63.30    $7,664   61.26    $6,701    42.73    $5,700   57.26    $4,300    53.68
Commercial, industrial
  and other                15,311   17.41    11,610   17.71    14,380    22.13     8,200   19.39     7,900    16.71
Consumer and other
  revolving credit         10,718   19.29    10,174   21.02     9,848    35.14    11,444   23.35    11,200    29.61
Unallocated                 1,010       -     5,292       -     3,488        -     3,260       -     2,313        -
                         --------  -------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
                          $36,750  100.00   $34,740  100.00   $34,417   100.00   $28,604  100.00   $25,713   100.00
                         ========  ======== ======== ======== ========= ======== ======== ======== ========= ========

Deposits and Other Debt Instruments:

The following table sets forth the distribution of the average deposit accounts for the periods indicated and the weighted average interest rate paid on each category of deposits:

                                            2003                         2002                           2001
                               ----------------------------  --------------------------  ---------------------------
                                           Percent                      Percent                       Percent
                                  Average     of      Rate    Average      of      Rate    Average      of      Rate
                                  Balance  Deposits    (%)    Balance   Deposits    (%)     Balance   Deposits   (%)
                               ----------  --------  -----  ----------  --------   ----    --------   --------  ----
                                                                        (amounts in thousands)

Non-interest bearing accounts    $604,448   17.74        -    $601,374    18.94       -    $562,989     19.96       -
NOW accounts                      694,681   20.39     1.14     552,419    17.40    1.84     195,079      6.92    1.76
Money market and other
  savings accounts                984,667   28.90     0.99     887,357    27.95    1.60     917,024     32.51    2.74
Time deposits                   1,123,409   32.97     3.25   1,133,796    35.71    3.80   1,145,259     40.61    5.47
                               ----------  ------           ----------   ------          ----------    ------
                               $3,407,205  100.00           $3,174,946   100.00          $2,820,351    100.00
                               ==========  ======           ==========   ======          ==========    ======

The Banks traditionally price their deposits to position themselves competitively with the local market. The Banks’ policy is not to accept brokered deposits.

Time certificates of deposit of $100,000 and greater at December 31, 2003 had maturities as follows:

                                     December 31, 2003
                                     -----------------
                                       (in thousands)

Three months or less                    $  136,384
Over three through six months               49,668
Over six months through one year            32,692
Over one year                              229,159
                                        ----------
Total                                   $  447,903
                                        ==========

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Short-Term Borrowings:

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the Company’s short-term borrowings, which consist of federal funds purchased and Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances as well as securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

                                                                 Years Ended December 31,
                                                           ------------------------------------
                                                             2003         2002          2001
                                                           ---------     -------      ---------
                                                                    (amounts in thousands)
Federal funds purchased and FHLB advances:
  Amount outstanding at period-end                                $0          $0          $125
  Weighted average interest at period-end                      0.00%       0.00%         1.30%
  Maximum amount at any month-end during period              $37,000      $1,550        $2,000
  Average amount outstanding during period                    $5,335      $1,832        $1,316
  Weighted average interest rate during period                 1.19%       1.57%         3.58%

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
  Amount outstanding at period-end                          $150,096    $161,058      $161,208
  Weighted average interest at period-end                      0.80%       0.92%         1.45%
  Maximum amount at any month end during-period             $105,641    $189,858      $195,905
  Average amount outstanding during period                  $177,535    $173,084      $159,511
  Weighted average interest rate during period                 0.81%       1.28%         3.29%

Liquidity:

Liquidity management encompasses the Company’s ability to ensure that funds are available to meet the cash flow requirements of depositors and borrowers, while also ensuring that the Company has adequate cash flow to meet it’s various needs, including operating, strategic and capital. Without proper liquidity management, the Company would not be able to perform the primary function of a financial intermediary and would not be able to meet the needs of the communities in which it has a presence and serves. In addition, the parent holding company’s principal source of liquidity is dividends from its subsidiary banks. Liquidity is required at the parent holding company level for the purpose of paying dividends to stockholders, servicing of any debt the Company may have, business combinations as well as general corporate expenses. As of December 31, 2003, all liquidity ratios approved and tracked by the Company’s Asset Liability Committee were within policy limits.

The asset portion of the balance sheet provides liquidity primarily through loan principal repayments, maturities of investment securities and occasional sales of various assets. Short-term investments such as federal funds sold, securities purchased under agreements to resell and maturing interest-bearing deposits with other banks are additional sources of liquidity funding. As of December 31, 2003 and 2002, free securities stood at 41.4% or $529.1 million and 42.6% or $633.4 million, respectively.

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The liability portion of the balance sheet provides liquidity through various customers’ interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing deposit accounts. Purchases of federal funds, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other short-term borrowings are additional sources of liquidity and represent the Company’s incremental borrowing capacity. These sources of liquidity are short-term in nature and are used as necessary to fund asset growth and meet short-term liquidity needs. The Company’s short-term borrowing capacity includes a line of credit with the Federal Home Loan Bank of over $264 million and borrowing capacity at the Federal Reserve’s Discount Window in excess of $100 million. As of December 31, 2003, the Company’s core deposits were $2.905 billion and Net Wholesale Funding stood at $620.9 million.

More information on liquidity can be found under the caption “Liquidity” - Table 5. Liquidity Ratios on pages 39 through 40 of the Company’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Capital Resources:

The information under the caption “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements”, Note 9 - Common Stockholders’ Equity on page 25 of the Company’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

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Impact of Inflation:

The Company’s non-interest income and expenses can be affected by increasing rates of inflation; however, unlike most industrial companies, the assets and liabilities of financial institutions such as the Banks are primarily monetary in nature. Interest rates, therefore, have a more significant impact on the Banks’ performance than the effect of general levels of inflation on the price of goods and services.

Forward Looking Statements

Congress passed the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 in an effort to encourage corporations to provide information about a company’s anticipated future financial performance. This act provides a safe harbor for such disclosure, which protects the companies from unwarranted litigation, if actual results are different from management expectations. In addition to historical information, this report contains forward-looking statements and information, which are based on management’s beliefs, plans, expectations and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements and information presented reflects management’s views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and financial results. The words “may”, “should”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “continue”, “believe”, “seek”, “estimate” and similar expressions used in this report do not relate to historical facts and are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places in this report, including, but not limited to, statements found in Item 1 “Business” and in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis”. All phases of the Company’s operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the risks and uncertainties discussed in this report, including, without limitation, the portions referenced above, and the uncertainties set forth from time to time in the Company’s other public reports and filings and public statements, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, and any of which, or a combination of which, could materially affect the results of the Company’s operations and whether forward-looking statements made by the Company ultimately prove accurate.

ITEM 2 - PROPERTIES

The Company’s main offices are located at One Hancock Plaza, Gulfport, Mississippi. The building has fourteen stories, of which seven are utilized by the Company. The remaining seven stories are presently leased to outside parties.

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Title to the following banking offices in Mississippi and Louisiana is owned in fee (number of locations shown in parenthesis):

Albany, LA           (1)      Loranger, LA          (1)
Alexandria, LA       (2)      Lyman, MS             (1)
Baker, LA            (1)      Mamou, LA             (1)
Baton Rouge, LA      (13)     Mandeville, LA        (1)
Bay St. Louis, MS    (2)      Metairie, LA          (1)
Biloxi, MS           (3)      Moss Point, MS        (1)
Bogalusa, LA         (1)      Oakdale, LA           (1)
Bunkie, LA           (1)      Ocean Springs, MS     (2)
Covington, LA        (1)      Opelousas, LA         (1)
Denham Springs, LA   (3)      Pascagoula, MS        (2)
D'Iberville, MS      (1)      Pass Christian, MS    (1)
Escatawpa, MS        (1)      Petal, MS             (1)
Eunice, LA           (1)      Picayune, MS          (1)
Franklinton, LA      (1)      Pineville, LA         (1)
Gautier, MS          (1)      Poplarville, MS       (1)
Glenmora, LA         (1)      Prentiss, MS          (1)
Gonzales, LA         (1)      Purvis, MS            (2)
Gulfport, MS         (6)      St. Francisville, LA  (1)
Hammond, LA          (2)      Sumrall, MS           (1)
Hattiesburg, MS      (2)      Vancleave, MS         (1)
Independence, LA     (1)      Walker, LA            (1)
Long Beach, MS       (1)      Waveland, MS          (1)

The following banking offices in Mississippi and Louisiana are leased under agreements with unexpired terms of from four to forty-nine years including renewal options (number of locations shown in parenthesis):

Baton Rouge, LA   (4)      Long Beach, MS   (1)
Bay St. Louis, MS (3)      Pascagoula, MS   (2)
Biloxi, MS        (1)      Picayune, MS     (2)
Diamondhead, MS   (1)      Ponchatoula, LA  (1)
Gulfport, MS      (5)      Saucier, MS      (1)
Hammond, LA       (1)      Slidell, LA      (1)
Hattiesburg, MS   (2)      Springfield, LA  (1)
Kiln, MS          (1)      Ville Platte, LA (1)
Kenner, LA        (1)

In addition to the above, Hancock Bank MS owns land and other properties acquired through foreclosures of loan collateral. The major item is approximately 3,700 acres of timber land in Hancock County, Mississippi, which Hancock Bank MS acquired by foreclosure in the 1930‘s.

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ITEM 3 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, all such matters are adequately covered by insurance or, if not so covered, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial statements of the Company.

ITEM 4 - SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended December 31, 2003.

PART II
ITEM 5 - MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Stock Split:

On July 12, 2002 the Company’s Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock split in the form of a 50% common stock dividend. The additional shares were payable August 5, 2002 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 23, 2002.

All information concerning earnings per share, dividends per share, and number of shares outstanding have been adjusted to give effect to this split.

The information under the caption “Market Information” on page 12 of the Company’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 6 - SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The information under the caption “Financial Highlights” on pages 10 and 11 of the Company’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The information under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” on Pages 36 through 47 of the Company’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

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Off-Balance Sheet Risk

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into financial instruments, such as commitments to extend credit and letters of credit, to meet the financing needs of its customers. Such instruments are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements until they are funded and involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk not reflected in the consolidated balance sheets. The contract amounts of these instruments reflect the Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other party on whose behalf the instrument has been issued. The Company undertakes the same credit evaluation in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments and may require collateral or other credit support for off-balance-sheet financial instruments.

At December 31, 2003 the Company had $547.4 million in unused loan commitments outstanding, of which approximately $345.9 million were at variable rates and the remainder was at fixed rates. A commitment to extend credit is an agreement to lend to a customer as long as the conditions established in the agreement have been satisfied. A commitment to extend credit generally has a fixed expiration date or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee by the borrower. Since commitments often expire without being fully drawn, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements of the Company. The Company continually evaluates each customer’s credit worthiness on a case-by-case basis. Occasionally, a credit evaluation of a customer requesting a commitment to extend credit results in the Company obtaining collateral to support the obligation.

Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing a letter of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending a loan. At December 31, 2003 the Company had $33.7 million in letters of credit issued and outstanding.

ITEM 7A - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The information under the caption “Asset/Liability Management” on pages 40 through 42 of the Company’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 8 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The following consolidated financial statements of the Company and subsidiaries, and the independent auditors’ report, appearing on Pages 10 through 47 of the Company’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference:

        Financial Highlights on Pages 10 through 12
        Independent Auditors' Report on Page 13
        Consolidated Balance Sheets on Page 14

Page 34 of 44

        Consolidated Statements of Earnings on Page 15
        Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity on Page 16
        Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings on Page 16
        Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows on Page 17
        Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on Pages 18 through 35
        Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
            And Results of Operations on Pages 36 through 47.

ITEM 9 - CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

On January 20, 2004 the Company dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP as its independent auditors, after Deloitte & Touche LLP completed its audit of the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved the decision to change auditors.

During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 and the interim period from January 1, 2004 to January 20, 2004, there were no disagreements between the Company and Deloitte & Touche LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to Deloitte & Touche LLP’s satisfaction, would have caused Deloitte & Touche LLP to make a reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in their reports on the financial statements fo such years.

During the two most recent fiscal years and the interim period from January 1, 2004 to January 20, 2004, Deloitte & Touche LLP’s reports on the financial statements of the Company did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

During the two most recent fiscal years and the interim period from January 1, 2004 to January 20, 2004, the Company did not consult with Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding any of the matters or events set forth in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

On January 20, 2004, the Board of Directors appointed KPMG LLP, a firm of independent certified public accountants, as auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004, and until their successors are selected. The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved the decision to change auditors.

The Company has been advised that neither the firm nor any of its partners has any direct or any material indirect financial interest in the securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except as auditors and consultants on accounting procedures and tax matters. Additionally, during the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, there were no consultations between the Company and KPMG LLP regarding application of an accounting principle, the type of audit opinion that might be issued on the Company’s financial statements, or on any other matter.

Although not required to do so, the Board of Directors chose to submit its appointment of KPMG LLP for ratification by the Company’s shareholders. This matter was submitted to the Company’s shareholders for ratification during the Company’s annual meeting held on February 26, 2004 and is more fully described in the Company’s proxy statement to be filed with the Commission.

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ITEM 9A - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c), a company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” means controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.

As of December 31, 2003, (the “Evaluation Date”), the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in the Exchange Act Rules. Based on their evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are sufficiently effective to ensure that material information relating to the Company and required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.

Changes in Internal Controls

Subsequent to the Evaluation Date, there have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls.

PART III ITEM 10 - DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

For information concerning directors who are not also executive officers of the registrant, see “Directors of HHC” (Pages 6 & 7) in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held February 26, 2004, which was filed by the Registrant in definitive form with the Commission on January 30, 2004 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Information concerning executive officers of the registrant is listed below.

Leo W. Seal, Jr.

Director of the Company since 1984. President, Hancock Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi from 1963 to 1990; President of Hancock Holding Company since 1984, Chief Executive Officer from 1984 to 2000, Advisory Director, Hancock Bank of Louisiana since 1993. Mr. Seal has been employed with Hancock Bank since 1947. He was elected to the Board of Directors of Hancock Bank in 1961 and named President in 1963 and in 1977 he was named Chief Executive Officer.

George A. Schloegel

Director of the Company since 1984. President, Hancock Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi, since 1990, Vice Chairman of the Board of Hancock Holding Company since 1984 and named Chief Executive Officer, Hancock Holding Company 2000; Director of Hancock Bank of Louisiana, since 1990 and named President in July 2003; Director of Mississippi Power Company, Gulfport, Mississippi. Mr. Schloegel was employed part-time with Hancock Bank from 1956-1959 and began full-time employment in 1962. He served in various capacities until being named President in 1990.

A. Hartie Spence

Chairman of the Board, Hancock Bank of Louisiana since 1996. President, Hancock Bank of Louisiana from 1997 through June 2003. Prior to that Mr. Spence served as President, Calcasieu Marine National Bank, Lake Charles, Louisiana from 1987 to 1996.

Page 36 of 44

Charles A. Webb, Jr.

Executive Vice President and Secretary, Hancock Holding Company since 1992; Director Hancock Bank since 1995; Executive Vice President, Hancock Bank since 1977 and named Vice Chairman in July 2003; Director, Hancock Bank of Louisiana since 1990. Mr. Webb has been employed with Hancock Bank since 1948. He served as Vice President and Secretary of the Company from 1984 until 1992.

Robert E. Easterly

Executive Vice President, Hancock Bank of Louisiana since 1995; President and Chief Executive Officer, First National Bank of Denham Springs from 1981-1996; Chairman of the Board, First National Bank of Denham Springs from 1993-1996; Director, Hancock Bank since 1995.

Carl J. Chaney

Chief Financial Officer, Hancock Holding Company and Hancock Bank since 1998; Executive Vice President, Hancock Holding Company and Hancock Bank since 2001; Senior Vice President, Hancock Holding Company and Hancock Bank from 1999 to 2001. Prior to Mr. Chaney joining Hancock, he was Director and Shareholder of the law firm, Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A., Jackson Mississippi from 1995 to 1998, where he specialized in Investment Banking and Merger and Acquisitions in the Banking Industry.

John M. Hairston

Chief Operating Officer, Hancock Holding Company and Hancock Bank since 1997; Executive Vice President, Hancock Holding Company and Hancock Bank since 2001; Senior Vice President, Hancock Holding Company and Hancock Bank from 1996 to 2001; Vice President, Hancock Bank from 1994 to 1995; Senior Operations Officer, Hancock Holding Company from 1994 to 1996. Prior to Mr. Hairston joining Hancock, he was a Manager with Financial Services Consulting, a Division of Andersen Consulting, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Richard T. Hill

Executive Vice President, Hancock Holding Company, since February 2002; Senior Vice President and Louisiana Retail Banking Executive, Hancock Bank of Louisiana, from June 1998 to January 2002; Executive Vice President and Retail Banking Executive, City National Bank (a subsidiary of First Commerce Corporation), November 1993 -June 1998.

Clifton J. Saik

Executive Vice President, Hancock Holding Company, since February 2002; Senior Vice President and Director, Trust and Financial Services Group, Hancock Bank from July 1998 to January 2002. Prior to coming to Hancock Bank, Mr. Saik served in the following capacities at First Commerce Corporation, New Orleans, Louisiana: Executive Vice President and Director, Card Services; CEO, Marquis Insurance Agency, L.L.C.; and Member, Marquis Investments, L.L.C. Management Committee, June 1997 - June 1998; Executive Vice President and Director, Trust and Retail Brokerage Services Group, Senior Vice President and Director, Trust Group; October 1994 to June 1997; Senior Vice President and Senior Trust Officer, October 1992 to October 1994.

Code of Ethics

The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of this Code of Ethics can be found at the Company’s internet website at www.hancockbank.com. The Company intends to disclose any amendments to its Code of Ethics, and any waiver from a provision of the Code of Ethics granted to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions, on the Company’s internet website within five business days following such amendment or waiver. The information contained on or connected to the Company’s internet website is not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K and should not be considered part of this or any other report that we file with or furnish to the SEC.

Page 37 of 44

ITEM 11 - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

For information concerning this item see “Executive Compensation” (pages 10-16) in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held February 26, 2004, which was filed by the Registrant in definitive form with the Commission on January 30, 2004 and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12 - SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

For information concerning this item see “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” (page 8) and “Security Ownership of Management” (page 9) in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held February 26, 2004, which was filed by the Registrant in definitive form with the Commission on January 30, 2004 and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13 - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

For information concerning this item see “Certain Transactions and Relationships” (Page 16) in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held February 26, 2004, which was filed by the Registrant in definitive form with the Commission on January 30, 2004 and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14 - PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

For information concerning this item, see “Principal Accounting Firm Fees” on Page 20 of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held February 26, 2004, which was filed by the Registrant in definitive form with the Commission on January 30, 2004 and is incorporated herein by reference.

PART IV
ITEM 15 - EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
Hancock Holding Company and Consolidated Subsidiaries
(a) 1. and 2. Consolidated Financial Statements:

The following have been incorporated herein from the Company’s 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders and are incorporated herein by reference:

- -        Independent Auditors' Report
- -        Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2003 and 2002
- -        Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the three years ended December 31, 2003
- -        Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the three years ended December 31, 2003
- -        Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings for the three years ended December 31, 2003
- -        Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three years ended December 31, 2003
- -        Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the three years ended December 31, 2003
- -        Financial Highlights at and as of each of the five years ended December 31, 2003

All other financial statements and schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the required information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.

Page 38 of 44

(a) 3. Exhibits:

   (2.1)       Agreement and Plan of Merger between Hancock Holding Company and Lamar Capital Corporation dated
               February 21, 2001 (Appendix C to the Prospectus contained in the S-4 Registration Statement
               333-60280 filed on May 4, 2001 and incorporated by reference herein).

   (3.1)       Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation dated November 8, 1990 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the
               Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990 and incorporated herein by reference).

   (3.2)       Amended and Restated Bylaws dated November 8, 1990 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Form 10-K
               for the year ended December 31, 1990 and incorporated herein by reference).

   (3.3)       Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Hancock Holding Company, dated October
               16, 1991 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
               1991).

   (3.4)       Articles of Correction, filed with Mississippi Secretary of State on November 15, 1991 (filed as
               Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1991).

   (3.5)       Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Hancock Holding Company, adopted
               February 13, 1992 (filed as Exhibit 3.5 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December
               31, 1992 and incorporated herein by reference).

   (3.6)       Articles of Correction, filed with Mississippi Secretary of State on March 2, 1992 (filed as
               Exhibit 3.6 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 and incorporated
               herein by reference).

   (3.7)       Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation adopted February 20, 1997 (filed as Exhibit
               3.7 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by
               reference).

   (4.1)       Specimen stock certificate (reflecting change in par value from $10.00 to $3.33, effective March
               6, 1989) (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1989
               and incorporated herein by reference).

   (4.2)       By executing this Form 10-K, the Registrant hereby agrees to deliver to the Commission upon
               request copies of instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Registrant
               or its consolidated subsidiaries or its unconsolidated subsidiaries for which financial statements
               are required to be filed, where the total amount of such securities authorized thereunder does not
               exceed 10 percent of the total assets of the Registrant and its subsidiaries on a consolidated
               basis.

  (10.1)       1996 Long Term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year
               ended December 31, 1995, and incorporated herein by reference).

  (10.2)       Description of Hancock Bank Executive Supplemental Reimbursement Plan, as amended (filed as
               Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, and incorporated
               herein by reference).

  (10.3)       Description of Hancock Bank Automobile Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant's Form 10-K
               for the year ended December 31, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference).

  (10.4)       Description of Deferred Compensation Arrangement for Directors (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the
               Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference).

  (10.5)       Site Lease Agreement between Hancock Bank and City of Gulfport, Mississippi dated as of March 1,
               1989 (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1989 and
               incorporated herein by reference).

Page 39 of 44

  (10.6)       Project Lease Agreement between Hancock Bank and City of Gulfport, Mississippi dated as of March
               1, 1989 (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1989
               and incorporated herein by reference).

  (10.7)       Deed of Trust dated as of March 1, 1989 from Hancock Bank to Deposit Guaranty National Bank as
               trustee (filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1989
               and incorporated herein by reference).

  (10.8)       Trust Indenture between City of Gulfport, Mississippi and Deposit Guaranty National Bank dated as
               of March 1, 1989 (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December
               31, 1989 and incorporated herein by reference).

  (10.9)       Guaranty Agreement dated as of March 1, 1989 from Hancock Bank to Deposit Guaranty National Bank
               as trustee (filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
               1989 and incorporated herein by reference).

 (10.10)       Bond Purchase Agreement dated as of February 23, 1989 among Hancock Bank, J. C. Bradford & Co. and
               City of Gulfport, Mississippi (filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant's Form 10-K for the year
               ended December 31, 1989 and incorporated herein by reference).

     (13)      Annual Report to Stockholders for year ending December 31, 2003 furnished for the information of
               the Commission only and not deemed "filed" except for those portions which are specifically
               incorporated herein by reference).

     (21)      Proxy Statement for the Registrant's Annual Meeting of Shareholders on February 26, 2004 (deemed "filed"
               for the purposes of this Form 10-K only for those portions which are specifically incorporated
               herein by reference).

     (22)      Subsidiaries of the Registrant.


                                              Jurisdiction            Holder of
               Name                         of Incorporation      Outstanding Stock*
               ----                         ----------------      -----------------

     Hancock Bank                              Mississippi      Hancock Holding Company
     Hancock Bank of Louisiana                 Louisiana        Hancock Holding Company
     Magna Insurance Company                   Mississippi      Hancock Holding Company
     Hancock Bank Securities Corporation       Mississippi      Hancock Bank
     Hancock Insurance Agency                  Mississippi      Hancock Bank
     Hancock Investment Services, Inc.         Mississippi      Hancock Bank
     Hancock Investment Services of MS, Inc.   Mississippi      Hancock Investment Services, Inc.
     Hancock Investment Services of LA, Inc.   Louisiana        Hancock Investment Services, Inc.
     Town Properties, Inc.                     Mississippi      Hancock Bank
     The Gulfport Building, Inc.               Mississippi      Hancock Bank
     Harrison Finance Company                  Mississippi      Hancock Bank
     Hancock Mortgage Corporation              Mississippi      Hancock Bank and
                                                                Hancock Bank Securities Corporation
     HBLA Properties, LLC                      Louisiana        Hancock Bank of Louisiana
     Harrison Life Insurance Company           Mississippi      79% owned by Hancock Bank

               * All are 100% owned except as indicated.

     (23)      Independent Auditors' Consent

     (31)      Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) - Certifications of George A. Schloegel and Carl J. Chaney

     (32)      Section 1350 Certifications of George A. Schloegel and Carl J. Chaney

Page 40 of 44

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

          1.       A Form 8-K was filed on October 1, 2003 for the purpose of announcing, by press release, the Company's
                   CEO, George Schloegel's participation in the Wall Street Reporters' analysts roundtable
                   conference call on September 30, 2003.

          2.       A Form 8-K was filed on October 15, 2003 for the purpose of announcing, by press release, that the
                   Company's earnings for the first 9 months of 2003 were up 6 percent compared to the first 9
                   months of 2002.

          3.       A Form 8-K was filed on January 6, 2004 for the purpose of announcing, by press release, that the
                   Company had completed the purchase of Magna Insurance Company on December 31, 2003.



(c):
          Not applicable.

 (d):
          Not applicable.

Page 41 of 44

                                            SIGNATURES



         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 thereunto duly authorized.


                                                                 HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY
                                                              --------------------------------
                                                                         Registrant



March 11, 2004                            By:  /s/ George A. Schloegel
- -----------------                            ------------------------------
     Date                                      George A. Schloegel
                                               Vice-Chairman of the Board
                                               Chief Executive Officer



March 11, 2004                            By:  /s/ Carl J. Chaney
- -----------------                            ------------------------------
     Date                                      Carl J. Chaney
                                               Executive Vice President &
                                               Chief Financial Officer



               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed
below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

/s/ Leo W. Seal, Jr.
- ------------------------------              President,                           March 11, 2004
Leo W. Seal, Jr.                            Director

/s/ Joseph F. Boardman, Jr.
- ------------------------------
Joseph F. Boardman, Jr.                     Chairman of the Board,               March 11, 2004
                                            Director

/s/ George A. Schloegel
- ------------------------------              Vice Chairman of the Board,          March 11, 2004
George A. Schloegel                         Director,
                                            Chief Executive Officer


- ------------------------------              Director , Emeritus                  March 11, 2004
Dr. Homer C. Moody, Jr.


- ------------------------------              Director                             March 11, 2004
James B. Estabrook, Jr.

/s/ Charles H. Johnson
- ------------------------------              Director                             March 11, 2004
Charles H. Johnson

/s/ L. A. Koenenn, Jr.
- ------------------------------              Director, Emeritus                   March 11, 2004
L. A. Koenenn, Jr.

Page 42 of 44

(signatures continued)

/s/ Victor Mavar
- ------------------------------              Director, Emeritus                   March 11, 2004
Victor Mavar

/s/ Christine L. Smilek
- ------------------------------              Director                             March 11, 2004
Christine L. Smilek

/s/ Frank E. Bertucci
- ------------------------------              Director                             March 11, 2004
Frank E. Bertucci

/s/ James H. Horne
- ------------------------------              Director                             March 11, 2004
James H. Horne

/s/ Carl J. Chaney
- ------------------------------              Executive Vice President and         March 11, 2004
Carl J. Chaney                              Chief Financial Officer

/s/ Robert W. Roseberry
- ------------------------------              Director                             March 11, 2004
Robert W. Roseberry

Page 43 of 44

Exhibit (23)


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements of Hancock Holding Company on Form S-8 (No. 333-11831) and on Form S-3 (No. 33-31782) of our report dated January 19, 2004 incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New Orleans, Louisiana
March 3, 2004

Page 44 of 44

EX-13

                                              HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                        FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   (amounts in thousands)                                                     At and For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                          -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 2003          2002          2001           2000         1999
                                                          -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Period-End Balance Sheet Data:
   Securities                                                 $1,278,049    $1,486,810    $1,372,794    $  994,095    $1,148,722
   Short-term investments                                         11,288        47,257       100,433        62,877         3,100
   Loans, net of unearned income                               2,448,644     2,104,982     1,890,039     1,699,841     1,541,521
   Total earning assets                                        3,737,981     3,639,049     3,363,266     2,756,813     2,693,343
   Allowance for loan losses                                      36,750        34,740        34,417        28,604        25,713
   Total assets                                                4,150,358     3,973,147     3,679,845     3,013,430     2,991,874
   Total deposits                                              3,447,847     3,301,500     3,039,734     2,503,788     2,397,653
   Short-term notes                                                9,400             -             -             -             -
   Long-term notes                                                50,428        51,020        51,606         2,177         2,714
   Total preferred stockholders' equity                           37,067        37,069        37,069             -             -
   Total common stockholders' equity                             397,814       387,513       367,548       341,390       310,427
Average Balance Sheet Data:
   Securities                                                 $1,466,156    $1,493,574    $1,220,074    $1,090,558    $1,251,971
   Short-term investments                                         57,986        83,427       119,832        42,672        28,845
   Loans, net of unearned income                               2,238,245     1,961,299     1,792,559     1,611,046     1,455,086
   Total earning assets                                        3,762,387     3,538,300     3,132,465     2,744,276     2,735,902
   Allowance for loan losses                                      35,391        33,135        32,487        26,591        23,939
   Total assets                                                4,111,949     3,857,698     3,416,044     2,993,972     3,006,195
   Total deposits                                              3,407,205     3,174,946     2,820,351     2,477,916     2,505,531
   Short-term notes                                                   26             -             -             -             -
   Long-term notes                                                50,677        51,299        31,569         2,426         2,795
   Total preferred stockholders' equity                           37,069        37,069        16,733             -             -
   Total common stockholders' equity                             396,034       388,821       359,097       325,508       308,854
Performance Ratios:
   Return on average assets                                         1.34%         1.32%         1.15%         1.23%         1.05%
   Return on average assets excluding gain on sale of
      credit cards, securities transactions and merger-
      related costs                                                 1.31%         1.32%         1.16%         1.15%         1.05%
   Return on average common equity                                 13.88%        13.13%        10.93%        11.31%        10.27%
   Return on average common equity excluding gain
      on sale of credit cards, securities transactions and
      merger-related costs                                         13.60%        13.13%        10.56%        10.56%        10.25%
   Net interest margin (te)*                                        4.45%         4.70%         4.50%         4.70%         4.73%
   Average loans to average deposits                               65.69%        61.77%        63.56%        65.02%        58.07%
   Non-interest expense as a percent of total revenue (te)
      and excluding amortization of intangibles and
      securities transactions                                      57.83%        57.83%        60.07%        57.91%        63.21%
   Non-interest expense as a percent of total revenue (te)
      and excluding amortization of intangibles, securities
      transactions, gain on sale of credit cards and
      merger-related costs                                         57.83%        57.83%        59.73%        59.13%        63.21%
   Allowance for loan losses to period-end loans                    1.50%         1.65%         1.82%         1.68%         1.67%
   Non-performing assets to loans plus other real estate            0.73%         0.84%         1.07%         0.69%         0.56%
   Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans
      and accruing loans 90 days past due                         169.73%       143.48%       104.54%       136.53%       196.12%
   Net charge-offs to average loans                                 0.59%         0.91%         0.65%         0.59%         0.59%
   FTE employees (period end)                                      1,734         1,790         1,736         1,590         1,664
*Tax Equivalent (te) amounts are calculated using a marginal federal income tax rate of 35%

Page 1 of 37

                                              HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                        FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  (amounts in thousands)                                                     At and For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                          -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 2003          2002          2001           2000           1999
                                                          -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Ratios:
  Average common stockholders' equity to                         9.63         10.08         10.51          10.87           10.27
     average assets
  Common stockholders' equity to total assets                    9.59          9.75          9.99          11.33           10.38
  Tier 1 leveraged                                               9.29          9.19          8.50          10.24            9.61
  Tier 1 risk-based                                             14.21         14.88         14.47          15.50           15.60
  Total risk-based                                              15.60         16.11         15.73          16.75           16.85

Income Data:
  Interest income                                            $218,149      $230,781      $234,870       $216,947     $   207,675
  Interest expense                                             57,961        72,053       101,362         94,251          83,961
  Net interest income                                         160,188       158,728       133,508        122,696         123,713
  Net interest income (te)                                    167,358       166,190       140,941        128,981         129,375
  Provision for loan losses                                    15,154        18,495         9,082         12,609           8,688
  Non-interest income (excluding securities trans-
     actions and gain on sale of credit cards)                 73,089        71,589        54,326         48,695          45,545
  Securities transactions                                       1,667             4            18              3              67
  Gain on sale of credit card portfolio                             -             -             -          3,753               -
  Non-interest expense (excluding merger-related costs)       140,208       138,258       120,982        108,818         114,340
  Merger-related costs                                              -             -           670              -
  Earnings before income taxes                                 79,582        73,569        57,118         53,720          46,298
  Net earnings                                                 54,955        51,043        39,255         36,824          31,710
  Net earnings available to common stockholders                52,302        48,390        37,928         36,824          31,710

Per Common Share Data:
  Net earnings:
        Basic                                                $   3.41      $   3.07      $   2.36       $   2.26     $      1.94
        Diluted                                                  3.29          3.00          2.36           2.26            1.94
  Cash dividends paid                                            0.88          0.80          0.75           0.83            0.67
  Book value to common                                       $  26.13      $  25.09      $  23.13       $  21.19     $     19.03
  Dividend payout ratio                                         25.81%        26.06%        31.78%         36.73%          34.54%
  Weighted average number of shares outstanding
     Basic                                                     15,357        15,743        16,047         16,290          16,331
     Diluted                                                   16,705        17,042        16,639         16,301          16,352
  Number of shares outstanding (period end)                    15,225        15,443        15,893         16,110          16,310
  Market data:
     High closing price                                      $  58.50      $  50.37      $  29.97       $  27.92     $     32.00
     Low closing price                                          42.00         27.56         23.33          19.17           24.75
     Period-end closing price                                   54.57         44.65         28.69          25.50           25.83
     Trading volume                                             5,703         9,406         3,275          3,375           2,978

Page 2 of 37

                                              HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

Summary of Quarterly Operating Results (unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Fourth     Third      Second       First      Fourth     Third      Second      First
                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest income (te)              $56,464    $56,976     $56,400    $ 55,479    $58,557    $60,260     $59,931    $59,496
Interest expense                  (13,529)   (13,889)    (14,962)    (15,581)   (16,762)   (17,597)    (18,373)   (19,320)
                                 ---------  --------    ---------   ---------  --------   ---------   ---------   --------

Net interest income (te)           42,935     43,087      41,438      39,898     41,795     42,663      41,558     40,176
Provision for loan losses          (4,180)    (3,988)     (3,966)     (3,020)    (4,691)    (3,597)     (4,879)    (5,329)
Non-interest income                20,210     19,091      17,661      17,794     19,011     17,674      17,519     17,390
Non-interest expense              (35,568)   (36,352)    (35,297)    (32,991)   (35,438)   (35,163)    (34,063)   (33,596)
Taxable equivalent adjustment      (1,767)    (1,767)     (1,773)     (1,862)    (1,855)    (1,856)     (1,860)    (1,891)
                                 ---------  --------    ---------   ---------  --------   ---------   ---------   --------
 Earnings before income taxes      21,630     20,071      18,063      19,819     18,822     19,72l      18,275     16,750
Income taxes                       (6,382)    (6,409)     (5,681)     (6,156)    (5,072)    (6,430)     (5,694)    (5,329)
                                 ---------  --------    ---------   ---------  --------   ---------   ---------   --------
Net earnings                      $15,248    $13,662     $12,382     $13,663    $13,750    $13,291     $12,581    $11,421
                                 =========  ========    =========   =========  ========   =========   =========  =========
Basic earnings per common share:
Net earnings                        $0.96      $0.85      $0.76        $0.84      $0.84      $0.80      $0.75       $0.68
Net earnings excluding gain on
 sales of securities                 0.92       0.85       0.72         0.81       0.84       0.80       0.75        0.68

Diluted earnings per common share:
Net earnings                         0.91       0.82       0.74         0.82       0.82       0.78       0.73        0.67
Net earnings excluding gain on
 sales of securities                 0.88       0.82       0.70         0.79       0.82       0.78       0.73        0.67

Market Information

     The Company's common stock trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "HBHC" and is quoted in publications under "HancHd". The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of the Company's common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market. These prices do not reflect retail mark-ups, mark-downs or commissions.

                                                                                                                  Cash
                                                                        High                 Low                Dividends
                                                                        Sale                 Sale                 Paid
                                                                      --------             -------             ----------
 2003
     4th quarter                                                       58.50                49.35                 0.23
     3rd quarter                                                       51.69                46.01                 0.23
     2nd quarter                                                       49.25                42.00                 0.21
     1st quarter                                                       46.94                42.80                 0.21

 2002
     4th quarter                                                       50.37                42.00                 0.20
     3rd quarter                                                       49.73                39.33                 0.20
     2nd quarter                                                       45.13                35.17                 0.20
     1st quarter                                                       36.17                27.56                 0.20

     There were 5,478 registered holders and approximately 9,134 unregistered holders of common stock of the Company at January 2, 2004 and 16,618,120 shares issued. On January 2, 2004, the high and low sale prices of the Company's common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market were $55.87 and $54.98, respectively. The principal source of funds to the Company to pay cash dividends is the dividends received from the Hancock Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi and Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (the Banks). Consequently, dividends are dependent upon earnings, capital needs, regulatory policies and statutory limitations affecting the Banks. Federal and state banking laws and regulations restrict the amount of dividends and loans a bank may make to its parent company. Dividends paid to the Company by Hancock Bank are subject to approval by the Commissioner of Banking and Consumer Finance of the State of Mississippi and those paid by Hancock Bank of Louisiana are subject to approval by the Commissioner for Financial Institutions of the State of Louisiana. The Company's management does not expect regulatory restrictions to affect its policy of paying cash dividends. Although no assurance can be given that Hancock Holding Company will continue to declare and pay regular quarterly cash dividends on its common stock, the Company has paid regular cash dividends since 1937.

Page 3 of 37

MANAGEMENT'S REPORT ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      The management of Hancock Holding Company is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements, related financial data and other information in the annual report. The financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include amounts based on management's estimates and judgements where appropriate. Financial information appearing throughout this annual report is consistent with that in the financial statements

      The Company's financial statements have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants. Management has made available to Deloitte & Touche LLP, all of the Company's financial records and related data, as well as the minutes of stockholders' and directors' meetings. Furthermore, management believes that all representations made to Deloitte & Touche LLP during the Company's audit were valid and appropriate.

      Management of the Company has established and maintained a system of internal control that provides reasonable assurance as to the integrity and reliability of the financial statements, the protection of assets from unauthorized use or disposition and the prevention and detection of fraudulent financial reporting. The system of internal control provides for appropriate division of responsibility, is documented by written policies and procedures that are communicated to employees with significant roles in the financial reporting process, and is updated as necessary. Management continually monitors the system of internal control for compliance. The Company maintains a professional staff of internal auditors who independently assess the effectiveness of internal controls and recommend possible system improvements. As part of their audit of the Company's 2003 financial statements, Deloitte & Touche LLP considered the Company's system of internal control to the extent they deemed necessary to determine the nature, timing and extent of their audit tests. Management has considered the recommendations of the internal auditors and Deloitte & Touche LLP concerning the Company's system of internal control and has taken actions that it believes are cost-effective in the circumstances to respond appropriately to these recommendations. Management believes that, as of December 31, 2003, the Company's system of internal control is adequate to accomplish the objectives discussed above.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Board of Directors and Stockholders
Hancock Holding Company
Gulfport, Mississippi

      We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Hancock Holding Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive earnings, common stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

      We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

      In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Hancock Holding Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Deloitte & Touche LLP
New Orleans, Louisiana
January 19, 2004

Page 4 of 37

                                              HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(amounts in thousands, except share data)                                  December 31,
                                                                ----------------------------------
                                                                     2003                2002
                                                                --------------      --------------
Assets:
Cash and due from banks                                         $   178,082         $   187,786
Interest-bearing deposits with other banks                            5,554               4,268
Securities available for sale, at fair value
 (amortized cost of $1,115,404 and $1,233,460)                    1,118,066           1,258,831
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
 (fair value of $169,451 and $238,196)                              159,983             227,979
Federal funds sold                                                    5,734              42,989
Loans                                                             2,459,143           2,114,486
 Less:
  Allowance for loan losses                                         (36,750)            (34,740)
  Unearned income                                                   (10,499)             (9,504)
                                                                --------------      --------------
  Loans, net                                                      2,411,894           2,070,242
Property and equipment, net                                          73,332              71,355
Other real estate, net                                                5,439               5,936
Accrued interest receivable                                          23,125              25,480
Goodwill, net                                                        49,100              49,100
Other intangible assets, net                                          8,131               7,266
Life insurance contracts                                             51,165                   -
Other assets                                                         60,753              21,915
                                                                --------------      --------------
 Total Assets                                                   $ 4,150,358         $ 3,973,147
                                                                ==============      ==============
Liabilities, Preferred Stock and Common Stockholders' Equity:
Deposits:
 Non-interest bearing demand                                    $   636,745         $   630,790
 Interest-bearing savings, NOW,
  money market and time                                           2,811,102           2,670,710
                                                                --------------      --------------
 Total deposits                                                   3,447,847           3,301,500
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase                      150,096             161,058
Short-term notes                                                      9,400                   -
Long-term notes                                                      50,428              51,020
Other liabilities                                                    57,706              34,987
                                                                --------------      --------------
  Total Liabilities                                               3,715,477           3,548,565

Commitments and contingencies (notes 15 and 16)                           -                   -
Preferred Stock-$20 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized
 and 1,658,187 shares issued-redemption value $33,163,740            37,067              37,069
Common Stockholders' Equity:
 Common stock - $3.33 par value per share;
  75,000,000 shares authorized, 16,608,120 shares issued             55,305              55,305
 Capital surplus                                                    145,125             145,950
 Retained earnings                                                  247,001             208,253
 Accumulated other comprehensive income                              (6,304)             10,049
 Unearned compensation                                                 (957)               (552)
 Treasury stock, 1,095,551 shares in 2003 and 881,607
  shares in 2002, at cost                                           (42,356)            (31,492)
                                                                --------------      --------------
  Total Common Stockholders' Equity                                 397,814             387,513
                                                                --------------      --------------
  Total Liabilities, Preferred Stock and
  Common Stockholders' Equity                                   $ 4,150,358         $ 3,973,147
                                                                ==============      ==============
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Page 5 of 37

                                              HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

 (amounts in thousands, except share data)                            Years Ended December 31,
                                                            -------------------------------------------
                                                                 2003            2002            2001
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
 Interest Income:
  Loans                                                        $159,367       $157,292      $ 162,049
  U.S. Treasury securities                                          948          1,605          3,023
  Obligations of U.S. government agencies                        19,162         25,468         24,951
  Obligations of states and political subdivisions                9,358         10,625          9,660
  Mortgage-backed securities                                     12,558          5,617          8,992
  CMOs                                                           14,905         26,636         19,428
  Federal funds sold                                                532            790          4,981
  Other investments                                               1,319          2,748          1,786
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
   Total interest income                                        218,149        230,781        234,870
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
 Interest Expense:
  Deposits                                                       54,191         67,385         94,525
  Federal funds purchased and securities sold
   under agreements to repurchase                                 1,509          2,243          6,659
  Long-term notes and other interest                              2,261          2,425            178
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
   Total interest expense                                        57,961         72,053        101,362
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
  Net Interest Income                                           160,188        158,728        133,508
 Provision for loan losses                                       15,154         18,495          9,082
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
  Net interest income after provision for loan losses           145,034        140,233        124,426
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
 Non-Interest Income:
  Service charges on deposit accounts                            42,544         42,246         30,408
  Trust fees                                                      7,724          7,603          6,454
  Investment and annuity fees                                     3,615          4,722          3,444
  Insurance commissions and fees                                  2,750          2,312          1,371
  ATM fees                                                        3,994          3,771          3,327
  Secondary mortgage market operations                            1,728          2,409          1,560
  Credit card merchant discount fees                              3,643          3,284          2,734
  Securities gains, net                                           1,667              4             18
  Other income                                                    7,091          5,242          5,028
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
   Total non-interest income                                     74,756         71,593         54,344
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
Non-Interest Expense:
  Salaries and employee benefits                                 81,409         77,300         67,622
  Net occupancy expense of premises                               9,286          8,535          8,175
  Equipment rentals, depreciation and maintenance                 9,097          8,802          7,842
  Amortization of intangibles                                     1,148            750          4,349
  Other expense                                                  39,268         42,871         33,664
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
   Total non-interest expense                                   140,208        138,258        121,652
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
  Earnings Before Income Taxes                                   79,582         73,569         57,118
Income taxes                                                     24,627         22,526         17,863
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
  Net Earnings                                                   54,955         51,043         39,255
Preferred dividends                                               2,653          2,653          1,327
                                                            ------------    -----------     -----------
  Net Earnings Available to Common Stockholders                $ 52,302       $ 48,390       $ 37,928
                                                            ============    ===========     ===========
Basic earnings per common share                                $   3.41       $   3.07       $   2.36
                                                            ============    ===========     ===========
Diluted earnings per common share                              $   3.29       $   3.00       $   2.36
                                                            ============    ===========     ===========
See notes to consolidated financial statements

Page 6 of 37

Start Here                                   HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMMON STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 (amounts in thousands, except share data)
                                                                                    Accumulated
                                                                                       Other
                                              Common        Capital     Retained    Comprehensive      Unearned    Treasury
                                               Stock        Surplus     Earnings    Income (Loss)    Compensation   Stock
                                             ----------- -----------   -----------  -------------    ------------   ----------
Balance, January 1, 2001                     $  55,305   $  146,107    $  146,851   $     (1,461)    $     (844)    $  (4,567)
Net earnings                                                               39,255
Cash dividends - $0.75 per share                                          (12,195)
Cash dividends - $0.80 per preferred share                                 (1,327)
Change in unrealized gain on
securities available for sale, net                                                         6,203
Transactions relating to restricted
stock grants, rid                                                                                           411
Treasury stock transactions, net                                145                                                    (6,335)
                                             ----------- -----------   -----------  -------------    ------------   ----------
Balance, December 31, 2001                       55,305     146,252      172,584           4,742           (433)      (10,902)
Net earnings                                                              51,043
Cash dividends - $0.80 per corrrrwn share                                (12,721)
Cash dividends - $1.60 per preferred share                                (2,653)
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net                                                 (6,442)
Change in unrealized gain on
securities available for sale, net                                                        11,749
Transactions relating to restricted
stock grants, net                                                                                          (119)
Treasury stock transactions, net                               (302)                                                  (20,590)
                                             ----------- -----------   -----------  -------------    ------------   ----------
Balance, December 31, 2002                       55,305     145,950      208,153          10,049           (552)      (31,492)
Net earnings                                                              54,955
Cash dividends - $0.88 per common share                                 (13, 554)
Cash dividends - $1.60 per preferred share                                (2,653)
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net                                                 (1,574)
Change in unrealized gain on
securities available for sale, net                                                       (14,779)
Transactions relating to restricted
stock grants, net                                                                                          (405)
Treasury stock transactions, net                              (825)                                                   (10,864)
                                             ----------- -----------   -----------  -------------    ------------   ----------
Balance, December 31,2003                    $   55,305  $ 145,125     $ 247,001    $     (6,304)    $     (957)    $ (42,356)
                                             =========== ===========   ===========  =============    ============   ==========




                                          HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS


(amounts in thousands)                                                      Years Ended December 31,
                                                                  --------------------------------------------
                                                                       2003           2002            2001
                                                                  -------------  -------------   -------------
Net earnings                                                      $     54,955   $     51,043   $     39,255
Other comprehensive earnings:
  Minimum pension liability adjustment, net                             (1,574)        (6,442)
  Unrealized (loss) gain on securities available for sale, net:
    Unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during the year          (13,695)        11,752          6,127
    Reclassification adjustments for losses (gains)
       included in net earnings                                         (1,084)            (3)            76
                                                                  -------------  -------------   -------------
         Total other comprehensive (loss) earnings                     (16,353)         5,307          6,203
                                                                  -------------  -------------   -------------
           Total Comprehensive Earnings                           $     38,602   $     56,350    $    45,458
                                                                  =============  =============   =============
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Page 7 of 37

                                                   HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 (amounts in thousands)                                                             Years Ended December 31,
                                                                      -------------------------------------------------
                                                                           2003              2002              2001
                                                                      --------------    --------------    -------------
 Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
 Net earnings                                                         $      54,955     $      51,043     $     39,255
 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
    net cash provided by operating activities:
       Depreciation and amortization of software                              9,882             8,791             8,442
       Provision for loan losses                                             15,154            18,494             9,082
       Provision for losses on other real estate owned                        1,068             1,587               121
       Provision for deferred income taxes                                      150             1,626             1,463
       Amortization of securities                                            11,366             5,631             1,812
       Gains on sales of securities available for sale                       (1,667)               (4)             (18)
       Amortization of intangible assets                                      1,148               750             4,349
       Decrease in interest receivable                                        2,355             2,380             1,018
       Decrease in interest payable                                          (1,303)           (3,672)           (2,909)
       Other, net                                                            (7,071)            3,298            (7,054)
                                                                      --------------    --------------    -------------
          Net cash provided by operating activities                          86,037            89,924            55,561
                                                                      --------------    --------------    -------------
 Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
    Net (increase) decrease in interest-bearing time deposits                (1,286)            4,165            (4,566)
    Proceeds from maturities of securities held to maturity                  67,780            59,101           129,991
    Purchase of securities held to maturity                                       -                 -                 -
    Proceeds from sales and maturities of
       available-for-sale securities                                      1,353,722           643,774           456,511
    Purchase of securities available for sale                            (1,245,149)         (804,446)         (788,247)
    Net decrease (increase) in federal funds sold                            37,255            49,011           (12,225)
    Net (increase) decrease in loans                                       (363,633)         (237,278)            9,350
    Purchase of property, equipment and software, net                        (9,167)          (10,861)          (12,451)
    Proceeds from sales of other real estate                                  4,911             4,950             4,442
    Purchase of bank owned life insurance                                   (50,000)                -                 -
    Net cash received (used) in business acquisitions                        32,769                 -               (52)
                                                                      --------------    --------------    -------------
         Net cash used by investing activities                             (172,798)         (291,584)         (217,247)
                                                                      --------------    --------------    -------------
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
    Net increase in deposits                                                107,106           261,766           219,625
    Net (decrease) increase in federal funds purchased and
    securities sold under agreements to repurchase                          (10,962)             (275)           16,772
    Advances of short-term notes                                              9,400                 -                 -
    Repayments of long-term notes                                              (592)             (586)          (20,572)
    Dividends paid                                                          (16,207)          (15,375)          (13,522)
    Treasury stock transactions, net                                        (11,688)          (20,892)           (6,189)
                                                                      --------------    --------------    -------------
         Net cash provided by financing activities                           77,057           224,638           196,114
                                                                      --------------    --------------    -------------
Net (decrease) increase in cash and due from banks                           (9,704)           22,978            34,428
Cash and due from banks, beginning                                          187,786           164,808           130,380
                                                                      --------------    --------------    -------------
Cash and due from banks, ending                                       $     178,082     $     187,786     $     164,808
                                                                      ==============    ==============    =============
Supplemental Information:
   Income taxes paid                                                  $      22,839     $      19,731     $      16,050
   Interest paid                                                             59,264            75,725           104,271

Supplemental Information of Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities:
   Issuance of redeemable preferred stock in connection with
      acquisition of a business                                       $          -      $          -      $      37,069
   Transfers from loans to other real estate                                 7,068             9,924              3,295

See notes to consolidated financial statements

Page 8 of 37

HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 - BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

     Hancock Holding Company (the Company) is a bank holding company headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi operating in the states of Mississippi and Louisiana through two wholly-owned bank subsidiaries, Hancock Bank, Gulfport, Mississippi and Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (the Banks). The Banks are community oriented and focus primarily on offering commercial, consumer and mortgage loans and deposit services to individuals and small to middle market businesses in their respective market areas. The Company's operating strategy is to provide its customers with the financial sophistication and breadth of products of a regional bank, while successfully retaining the local appeal and level of service of a community bank.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

     The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and general practices within the banking industry. The following is a summary of the more significant of those policies.

     Consolidation The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of the Company, the Banks and other subsidiaries. Significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

     Comprehensive Income - Comprehensive income includes net earnings and other comprehensive income, which, in the case of the Company, includes only unrealized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale and the minimum pension liability.

     Use of Estimates - In preparing the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. The determination of the allowance for loan losses is a material estimate that is particularly subject to significant change.

     Cash - For the purpose of presentation in the statements of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents are defined as those amounts included in the balance sheet caption "Cash and due from banks".

     Securities - Securities have been classified into one of three categories: trading, available for sale, or held to maturity. Management determines the appropriate classification of debt securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates this classification periodically. Trading account securities are held for resale in anticipation of short-term market movements. Debt securities are classified as held to maturity when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Securities not classified as held to maturity or trading are classified as available for sale. The Company had no significant trading account securities during the three years ended December 31, 2003.

     Held-to-maturity securities are stated at amortized cost. Available-for-sale securities are stated at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity until realized.

     The amortized cost of debt securities classified as held to maturity or available for sale is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity or option date or, in the case of mortgage-backed securities, over the estimated life of the security. Amortization, accretion and accrued interest are included in interest income on securities. Realized gains and losses, and declines in value judged to be other than temporary, are included in net securities gains and losses. Gains and losses on the sale of securities available for sale are determined using the specific-identification method.

     Derivative Instruments - The Company recognizes all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the Company's balance sheet and measures those instruments at fair value. If certain conditions are met, a derivative may be specially designated as a hedge. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation. The Company is not currently engaged in any significant activities with derivatives.

     Loans - Certain loan origination fees and certain direct origination costs are recognized as an adjustment to the yield on the related loan. Interest on loans is recorded to income as earned. Where doubt exists as to collectibility of a loan, the accrual of interest is discontinued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed and payments subsequently received are applied first to principal. Interest income is recorded after principal has been satisfied and as payments are received.

     The Company considers a loan to be impaired when, based upon current information and events, it believes it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The Company's impaired loans include troubled debt restructurings, and performing and non-performing major loans for which full payment of principal or interest is not expected. Non-major homogenous loans, which are evaluated on an overall basis, generally include all loans under $500,000. The Company calculates an allowance required for impaired loans based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, the loan's observable market price or the fair value of its collateral. If the recorded investment in the impaired loan exceeds the measure of fair value, a valuation allowance is required as a component of the allowance for loan losses. Changes to the valuation allowance are recorded as a component of the provision for loan losses.

Page 9 of 37

     Generally, loans of all types, which become 90 days delinquent are reviewed relative to collectibility. Unless such loans are in the process of terms revision to bring to a current status, collection through repossession or foreclosure, those loans deemed uncollectible are charged off against the allowance account. As a matter of policy, loans are placed on a non-accrual status when doubt exists as to collectibility.

     Allowance for Loan Losses - The allowance for loan losses is a valuation account available to absorb losses on loans. All losses are charged to the allowance for loan losses when the loss actually occurs or when a determination is made that a loss is likely to occur; recoveries are credited to the allowance for loan losses at the time of receipt. Periodically, management estimates the probable level of losses to determine whether the allowance is adequate to absorb reasonably foreseeable, anticipated losses in the existing portfolio based on the Company's past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrowers' ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral and current economic conditions. The allowance for loan losses is increased by charges to expense and decreased by loan charge-offs (net of recoveries).

     Property and Equipment - Property and equipment are recorded at amortized cost. Depreciation is computed principally by the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which generally range from 7 to 39 years for buildings and improvements and from 3 to 7 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the term of the lease or the asset's useful life.

     Other Real Estate - Other real estate acquired through foreclosure and bank acquisitions is stated at the fair market value at the date of acquisition, net of the costs of disposal. When a reduction to fair market value at the time of foreclosure is required, it is charged to the allowance for loan losses. Any subsequent adjustments are charged to expense.

     Goodwill - Goodwill related to acquisitions consummated prior to July 1, 2001 was being amortized over fifteen years using an accelerated method. Goodwill related to the July 1, 2001 acquisition of Lamar Capital Corporation was not amortized. Accumulated amortization of intangible assets amounted to approximately $16.9 million at December 31, 2003 and 2002.

     In June 2001 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 141 "Business Combinations" and No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangibles". These Statements provide that, among other things, (1) all business combinations on or after July 1, 2001 be accounted for as purchases, (2) any related goodwill on those acquisitions does not require amortization, but is subject to a periodic impairment test and that (3) goodwill on any of the Company's acquisitions prior to July 1, 2001 not be amortized after January 1, 2002, but is subject to periodic impairment tests. There was no amortization of goodwill recorded in the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002. Goodwill amortization amounted to approximately $3.6 million in 2001. Goodwill amortization is not deductible for income tax purposes.

     Other Intangible Assets - Other intangible assets consist of core deposit intangibles and mortgage servicing rights. Core deposit intangibles relating to acquired banks is being amortized over lives ranging from six to ten years using accelerated methods. Accumulated amortization of core deposit intangibles amounted to approximately $2.5 million and $1.4 million at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Mortgage servicing rights are rights to service mortgage loans for others, whether the loans were acquired through purchase or loan origination. Purchased mortgage servicing rights are capitalized at cost. For loans originated and sold, where the servicing rights have been retained, the Company allocates the cost of the loan and servicing right based on their relative fair values. Mortgage servicing rights are amortized over the estimated period of the related net servicing income. Impairment for mortgage servicing rights, if any, is tested periodically and is recognized through a valuation allowance.

     Life Insurance Contracts - Life insurance contracts represent single premium life insurance contracts on the lives of certain officers of the Company. The Company is the beneficiary of these policies, which were purchased during the third quarter of 2003 for $50.0 million. These contracts are reported at their cash surrender value of $51.2 million and changes in the cash surrender value are included in other income and amounted to $1.2 million in 2003.

     Self Insurance - The Company is self insured for certain risks including employee health insurance and records appropriate liabilities for these risks.

     Transfers of Financial Assets - The Company recognizes the financial and servicing assets it controls and the liabilities it incurs, derecognizes financial assets when control has been surrendered, and derecognizes liabilities when extinguished. All measurements and allocations are based on fair value.

      Trust Income - Trust income is recorded as earned.

     Income Taxes - Provisions for income taxes are based on taxes payable or refundable for the current year (after exclusion of non-taxable income such as interest on state and municipal securities) and deferred taxes on temporary differences between the amount of taxable income and pre-tax financial income. Deferred taxes on temporary differences are calculated at the currently enacted tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes.

     Stock Based Compensation - The Company applies the Accounting Practices Board (APB) Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations in accounting for its stock options. The pro forma disclosures required by SFAS No. 123 "Accounting for Stock Based Compensation" are included in Note 12.

     Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share - Basic earnings per common share (EPS) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net earnings available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the entity. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net earnings by the total of the weighted average number of shares

Page 10 of 37

outstanding plus the effect of outstanding options and convertible preferred stock. On July 12, 2002, the Company's Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock split in the form of a 50% stock dividend. The additional shares were payable August 5, 2002 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 23, 2002. All information concerning earnings per share, dividends per share, and numbers of shares outstanding have been adjusted to give effect to this split.

     Accounting Pronouncements - In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity." SFAS No. 150 provides that certain financial instruments previously categorized as equity may need to be reclassified as liabilities. Such instruments include equity shares with mandatory redemption features, and instruments, other than outstanding equity shares, that represent an obligation to repurchase equity shares or an obligation that must or may be settled by issuing a variable number of equity shares. The Company has analyzed the terms of its preferred stock and determined that no reclassification is required by this statement. As indicated in Note 8, the Company has called its preferred stock for redemption on February 4, 2004.

     In late 2002 and early 2003, the FASB issued two interpretations of existing accounting principles. FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 45, "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others," elaborated on disclosures an entity should make about its obligations under certain guarantees and clarified that a guarantor should recognize a liability for the fair value of the obligations when a guarantee is first issued. The only significant guarantees issued by the Company that have been identified as subject to the guidance of FIN No. 45 are its standby letters of credit. The requirement to recognize a liability was effective for those guarantees issued or modified beginning in 2003. Given the current volume and type of guarantees issued, the amount of the liability required to be reported at December 31, 2003 was insignificant. Note 15 provides information on off-balance sheet financial instruments.

     FIN No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities," was issued in response to perceived weaknesses in the accounting for special-purpose entities, in particular the possibility that a controlling financial interest in such an entity might not result in consolidation of the entity with the holder of the interest. The specific entities to which FIN No. 46 refers are called "variable interest entities," and the interpretation explains how to identify a variable interest entity and how an enterprise should assess its interest in such an entity to decide whether consolidation is appropriate. The Company has no interests that would require consolidation under the guidance of FIN No. 46.

     Reclassifications - Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation.

NOTE 2 - ACQUISITIONS AND GOODWILL

     On December 31, 2003, the Company completed the acquisition of Magna Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Union Planters Corporation, Memphis, Tennessee. The acquisition will enable the Company to offer Magna products and services through the Banks and other client banks across the entire southeastern United States and much of the Midwest. The net purchase price was $19.4 million.

     The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition (in thousands):

Cash and Investments                                                  $  24,348
Prepaid Reinsurance                                                      13,863
Other                                                                     3,169
                                                                      -----------
  Total Assets Acquired                                                  41,380
                                                                      -----------
Unearned Premiums                                                        20,792
Other                                                                     1,188
                                                                      -----------
  Total Liabilities Assumed                                              21,980
                                                                      -----------
    Net Cash Paid in Connection with the Acquisition                  $ (19,400)
                                                                      ===========

     On February 22, 2003, the Company completed the acquisition of two Dryades Savings Bank branches located in Metairie and Kenner, LA (both suburbs of New Orleans, LA). Both locations are within minutes of the causeway connecting metropolitan Jefferson Parish to St. Tammany Parish's thriving Northshore communities. The Company acquired the two branches in order to further strengthen both the comprehensive services provided to existing customers and the value offered to its shareholders. The two acquired facilities have a combined total deposit base of approximately $40 million. The Company acquired $4.2 million in assets, which includes the core deposit intangible totaling $2.4 million. The core deposit intangible has a weighted average life of 10 years. Amortization of the core deposit intangible was approximately $436,000 in 2003. Amortization is estimated to be approximately $476,000 in 2004, $381,000 in 2005, $305,000 in 2006, $244,000 in 2007, $195,000 in 2008 and the remainder of $343,000 thereafter. The Company received $35 million in consideration for the assumption of the deposit liabilities, net of related assets.

     The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition (in thousands):

     Proforma earnings information has not been provided for both acquisitions since the effect is not significant.

Page 11 of 37

 Cash                                                                 $     232
 Loans                                                                      240
 Property and Equipment                                                   1,353
 Core Deposit Intangibles                                                 2,380
                                                                      -----------
   Total Assets Acquired                                                  4,205
                                                                      -----------
 Deposits                                                                39,241
 Other                                                                       13
                                                                      -----------
   Total Liabilities Assumed                                             39,254
                                                                      -----------
    Net Cash Received in Connection with the Acquisition              $  35,049
                                                                      ===========

     On July 1, 2001 the Company acquired 100% of the common stock of Lamar Capital Corporation (LCC), Purvis, Mississippi and its subsidiaries, The Lamar Bank and Southern Financial Services, Inc. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and the results of LCC's operations are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company from the date of acquisition. LCC operated 9 banking offices in southern Mississippi. The Company acquired LCC in order to expand the geographic area in which its services are offered. The aggregate purchase price was approximately $51.3 million, including cash of $14.2 million and 1,658,275 shares of mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred stock with a fair value of $37.1 million.

     The following unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations give effect to the acquisition of LCC as though it had occurred on January 1, 2001 (in thousands, except per share data):

     The unaudited pro forma information is not necessarily indicative either of results of operations that would have occurred had the purchase been made as of January 1, 2001, or of future results of operations of the combined companies.

                                                                      Year Ended
                                                                      December 31,
                                                                         2001
                                                                      -----------
  Interest income                                                      $250,140
  Interest expense                                                      110,956
  Provision for loan losses                                              12,352
                                                                      -----------
    Net interest income after provision for loan losses                 126,832

  Net earnings available to common stockholders                        $ 35,260
  Basic earnings per common share                                        $ 2.21
  Diluted earnings per common share                                      $ 2.21

     The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition (in thousands):

 Cash and due from banks                                              $  14,155
 Securities                                                             169,204
 Federal funds sold                                                      20,775
 Loans                                                                  210,021
 Property and equipment                                                   9,971
 Core deposit intangible                                                  5,500
 Goodwill                                                                12,200
 Other                                                                    1,000
                                                                      -----------
   Total assets acquired                                                442,826
                                                                      -----------

 Deposits                                                               316,322
 Other liabilities                                                       75,204
                                                                      -----------
   Total liabilities assumed                                            391,526
                                                                      -----------
     Net assets acquired                                              $  51,300
                                                                      ===========

     The core deposit intangible has a weighted average life of 10 years. Amortization of the core deposit intangible was approximately $680,000 in 2003, $720,000 in 2002 and $710,000 in 2001. Amortization is estimated to be approximately $634,000 in 2004, $507,000 in 2005, $406,000 in 2006, $324,000 in 2007, $260,000 in 2008 and the remainder of $1,259,000 thereafter. Goodwill was assigned to the Mississippi segment and is not deductible for tax purposes. No amortization of any goodwill related to this acquisition was recorded in 2002 or 2001 in accordance with SFAS No. 142.

Page 12 of 37

     Following is a reconciliation of net earnings and basic and diluted net earnings per share as reported to the amounts that would have been reported if SFAS No. 142 had been effective as of January 1, 2001 and the amortization of goodwill had been discontinued as of that date:

                                                                                          Years Ended December 31,
                                                                                 2003             2002               2001
                                                                             ------------      ------------     ------------
      Net earnings                                                           $    54,955       $    51,043      $     39,255
      Add back goodwill amortization                                                  -                 -              3,606
                                                                             ------------      ------------     ------------
      Adjusted net earnings                                                  $    54,955       $    51,043      $     42,861
                                                                             ------------      ------------     ------------
      Basic earnings per common share
         Reported net earnings                                               $      3.41       $      3.07      $       2.36
         Goodwill amortization                                                         -                 -              0.26
                                                                             ------------      ------------     ------------
         Adjusted net earnings                                               $      3.41       $      3.01      $       2.62
                                                                             ------------      ------------     ------------

      Diluted earnings per common share
         Reported net earnings                                               $      3.29       $      3.00      $       2.36
         Goodwill amortization                                                         -                 -              0.26
                                                                             ------------      ------------     ------------
         Adjusted net earnings                                               $      3.29       $      3.00      $       2.58
                                                                             ============      ============     ============

NOTE 3 - SECURITIES

      The amortized cost and fair value of securities classified as available for sale were as follows (in thousands):

                                           December 31, 2003                                      December 31, 2002
                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Gross        Gross                                   Gross         Gross
                           Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized       Fair        Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized      Fair
                              Cost       Gains        Losses        Value           Cost       Gains        Losses        Value
                           ----------- -----------  -----------  ------------   ------------ -----------  -----------  ----------
U.S. Treasury              $    9,966  $       35   $        -   $    10,001    $    49,970  $      865   $        -   $   50,835
U.S. government agencies      346,836       3,345        2,527       347,654        517,482      13,013            -      530,495
Municipal obligations          70,070       3,465          199        73,336         74,270       2,294            -       76,564
Mortgage-backed securities    348,266       1,980        3,772       346,474         43,820       1,868           16       45,672
CMOs                          321,324       1,523        1,608       321,239        524,414       6,957            -      531,371
Other debt securities           7,219         577            -         7,796         12,288         765          443       12,610
Equity securities              11,723          28          185        11,566         11,216          73            5       11,284
                           ----------- -----------  -----------  ------------   ------------ -----------  -----------  ----------
                           $1,115,404  $   10,953   $    8,291   $ 1,118,066    $ 1,233,460  $   25,835   $      464   $1,258,831
                           =========== ===========  ===========  ============   ============ ===========  ===========  ==========

     The amortized cost and fair value of securities (excluding equity securities, which have no maturity) classified as available for sale at December 31, 2003, by contractual maturity, were as follows (in thousands):

                                                                                                         Amortized        Fair
                                                                                                            Cost         Value
                                                                                                       --------------------------
Due in one year or less                                                                                 $   193,855     $ 194,866
Due after one year through five years                                                                       165,711       168,654
Due after five years through ten years                                                                      206,703       207,890
Due after ten years                                                                                         537,412       535,090
                                                                                                       -------------  -----------
                                                                                                        $ 1,103,681   $ 1,106,500
                                                                                                       =============  ===========

     The amortized cost and fair value of securities classified as held to maturity were as follows (in thousands):

                                           December 31, 2003                                      December 31, 2002
                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Gross        Gross                                   Gross         Gross
                           Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized       Fair        Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized      Fair
                              Cost       Gains        Losses        Value           Cost       Gains        Losses        Value
                           ----------- -----------  -----------  ------------   ------------ -----------  -----------  ----------
U.S. Treasury              $      574  $        -   $        -   $       574    $       294  $        -   $        -   $      294
U.S. government agencies       14,737         348            6        15,079         16,350         629            -       16,979
Municipal obligations         117,484       8,067            1       125,550        136,122       7,081            -      143,203
Mortgage-backed securities     18,727         942            2        19,667         35,950       1,627            -       37,577
CMOs                            1,403          55            -         1,458         30,087         880            -       30,967
Other debt securities           7,058          65            -         7,123          9,176           -            -        9,176
                           ----------- -----------  -----------  ------------   ------------ -----------  -----------  ----------
                           $  159,983  $    9,477   $        9   $   169,451    $   227,979      10,217            -   $  238,196
                           =========== ===========  ===========  ============   ============ ===========  ===========  ==========

Page 13 of 37

     The amortized cost and fair value of securities classified as held to maturity at December 31, 2003, by contractual maturity, were as follows (in thousands):

                                                                                           Amortized      Fair
                                                                                              Cost        Value
                                                                                      --------------------------
Due in one year or less                                                                $     15,684  $    15,964
Due after one year through five years                                                        48,027       50,531
Due after five years through ten years                                                       82,660       88,851
Due after ten years                                                                          13,612       14,105
                                                                                      -------------- -----------
                                                                                       $    159,983  $   169,451
                                                                                      ============== ===========

     The details concerning securities classified as available for sale with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2003 were as follows (in thousands):

                                                  Losses Less Than        Losses 12 months
                                                     12 months               or Greater                    Total
                                              ------------------------  -----------------------   ----------------------
                                                               Gross                   Gross                     Gross
                                                   Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized       Fair     Unrealized
                                                   Value      Losses       Value      Losses         Value       Losses
                                              ------------  ----------  ----------  -----------   -----------  ---------
U.S. government agencies                      $   100,216   $   2,515   $     836   $       13    $  101,052   $   2,528
Municipal obligations                               8,330         199           -            -         8,330         199
Mortgage-backed securities                        212,765       3,655       5,270          116       218,035       3,771
CMOs                                              175,572       1,608          -             -       175,572       1,608
Equity securities                                   1,930         185          -             -         1,930         185
                                              ------------  ----------  ----------  -----------   -----------  ---------
                                              $   498,813   $   8,162       6,106   $      129   $   504,919   $   8,291
                                              ============  ==========  ========== ============   ===========  =========

     The details concerning securities classified as held to maturity with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2003 were as follows (in thousands):

                                                    Losses Less Than        Losses 12 months
                                                       12 months               or Greater                    Total
                                                ------------------------  -----------------------   ----------------------
                                                                 Gross                  Gross                      Gross
                                                     Fair     Unrealized     Fair     Unrealized       Fair     Unrealized
                                                     Value      Losses       Value      Losses         Value       Losses
                                                ------------  ----------  ----------  -----------   -----------  ---------
U.S. government agencies                                -     $       -   $   2,114   $        6   $     2,114   $      6
Municipal obligations                                 448             1           -            -           448          1
Mortgage-backed securities                            311             2           -            -           311          2
                                                ------------  ----------  ----------  -----------   -----------  ---------
                                                $     759     $       3   $   2,114   $        6   $     2,873   $      9
                                                ============  ==========  ==========  ===========   ===========  =========

     As of December 31, 2003, the Company has approximately 1,200 investments. Of the total portfolio only 75 securities show an unrealized loss. Management and the Asset/Liability Committee are continually monitoring the securities portfolio and the Company believes that its premium amortization policies are appropriate. Accordingly, it is expected that the loss position on these securities will be mitigated producing appropriate returns.

     Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities were $256,620,000 in 2003, $67,124,000 in 2002 and $41,336,000 in 2001. Gross gains of $2,030,000 in 2003, $323,000 in 2002, $42,000 in 2001 and gross losses of $363,000 in 2003, $318,000 in 2002 and $159,000 in 2001 were realized on such sales. There were no material gains or losses on held-to-maturity securities called during 2003, 2002 or 2001.

     Securities with an amortized cost of approximately $735,311,000 at December 31, 2003 and $830,670,000 at December 31, 2002, were pledged primarily to secure public deposits and securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

NOTE 4 - LOANS

Loans, net of unearned income, consisted of the following (in thousands):

                                                                                               December 31,
                                                                                       -------------------------
                                                                                             2003        2002
                                                                                       ------------- -----------
 Real estate loans                                                                      $ 1,549,985  $ 1,289,602
 Commercial and industrial loans                                                            281,310      275,297
 Loans to individuals for household, family
  and other consumer expenditures                                                            472,371     442,485
 Leases and other loans                                                                      144,978      97,598
                                                                                       ------------- -----------
                                                                                         $ 2,448,644 $ 2,104,982
                                                                                       ============= ===========

Page 14 of 37

     The Company generally makes loans in its market areas of South Mississippi and Southern Louisiana. Loans are made in the normal course of business to its directors, executive officers and their associates on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons. Such loans did not involve more than normal risk of collectibility. The balance of loans to the Company's directors, executive officers and their affiliates at December 31, 2003 and 2002 was approximately $15,240,000 and $17,442,000, respectively.

      Changes in the allowance for loan losses were as follows (in thousands):

                                                                                       Years Ended Decembber 31,
                                                                               ---------------------------------------
                                                                                   2003         2002         2001
                                                                               ------------- ------------ ------------
 Balance at January 1                                                           $   34,740   $    34,417  $    28,604
 Balance acquired through acquisitions & other                                           -          (400)       8,342
 Recoveries                                                                          6,399         5,781        4,687
 Loans charged off                                                                 (19,543)      (23,553)     (16,298)
 Provision charged to operating expense                                             15,154        18,495        9,082
                                                                               ------------- ------------ ------------
 Balance at December 31                                                         $   36,750   $    34,740  $    34,417
                                                                               ============= ============ ============

     Non-accrual and renegotiated loans amounted to approximately 0.50% and 0.56% of total loans at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively. In addition, the Company's other individually evaluated impaired loans amounted to approximately 0.15% and 0.30% of total loans at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Related reserve amounts were not significant and there was no significant change in these amounts during the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 or 2001. The amount of interest not accrued on these loans did not have a significant effect on earnings in 2003, 2002 or 2001.

     Transfers from loans to other real estate amounted to approximately $7,068,000, $9,924,000 and $3,295,000 in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Valuation allowances associated with other real estate amounted to $2,205,000, $2,675,000 and $688,000 at December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

NOTE 5 - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

     Property and equipment, stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization, consisted of the following (in thousands):

                                                                                           December 31,
                                                                                  --------------------------
                                                                                       2003         2002
                                                                                  -------------  -----------
  Land, buildings and leasehold improvements                                       $    81,331   $   75,230
  Furniture, fixtures and equipment                                                     64,035       62,845
                                                                                  -------------  -----------
                                                                                       145,366      138,075
  Accumulated depreciation and amortization                                            (72,034)     (66,720)
                                                                                  -------------  -----------
                                                                                   $    73,332   $   71,355
                                                                                  =============  ===========

NOTE 6 - DEPOSITS

     The maturities of time deposits at December 31, 2003, are as follows (in thousands):

                 2004                                                                       $   470,348
                 2005                                                                           223,817
                 2006                                                                           106,941
                 2007                                                                           222,042
                 2008 and thereafter                                                             89,239
                                                                                           ------------
                                                                                            $ 1,112,387
                                                                                           ============

     Time deposits of $100,000 or more totaled approximately $447,903,000 and $459,991,000 at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

NOTE 7 - SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM NOTES

     Short-term notes consist of a promissory note for $9,400,000. These funds were used to fund the purchase of Magna Insurance Company on December 31, 2003. The note bears interest at rate of 2.75% and matures on March 31, 2004.

     Long-term notes consist primarily of $50,000,000 of advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), of which $40,000,000 bears interest at 4.49% and is due January 21, 2009 and $10,000,000 bears interest at 4.75% and is due November 11, 2008. The rates were fixed through 2003 and the advances are now floating rate advances. The FHLB can begin making annual elections to reset the rates to a floating rate of .35% above the three month London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR) (approximately 1.12% at January 12, 2004) for the remaining terms of the advances. These advances are collateralized by a blanket pledge of certain residential mortgage loans. The Company has an available line of credit with the FHLB of approximately $265,000,000, which has no outstanding balance at December 31, 2003.

Page 15 of 37

NOTE 8 - REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK

     On June 28, 2001 the Company's stockholders approved the issuance of up to 50 million shares of $20 par value preferred stock on terms to be determined by the Company's Board of Directors.

     The issuance of 1,658,275 shares of 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock Series A was authorized by the Board of Directors in connection with the acquisition of Lamar Capital Corporation on July 1, 2001. Each share of the preferred stock is convertible into .6666 of the Company's common stock at any time after issuance. The Company can call for conversion of the preferred stock into common stock or for redemption at par any time between the 30th and 60th month following issuance if the closing price of the Company's common stock exceeds $37.50 for 20 consecutive days. After 60 months, the Company can call for redemption at par at any time. At the end of 30 years the Company must redeem the preferred stock at par.

     The Series A Preferred stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital for regulatory purposes but is classified between liabilities and stockholders' equity for reporting under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

     On January 5, 2004, the Company announced that it has elected to call for redemption all the outstanding shares of the Company's preferred stock on February 4, 2004. The total redemption price, including accrued dividends to the redemption date is $20.15 per share. Pursuant to the terms of the preferred stock, the redemption is contingent on the Company's common stock trading at $37.50 or above for 20 consecutive trading days beginning after January 1, 2004. The closing price of the Company's common stock on January 2, 2004 was $55.87. In lieu of the cash redemption price of $20.15 per share, shareholders may convert each share of the preferred stock into 0.6666 shares of the Company common stock at any time on or before 5:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, January 28, 2004.

NOTE 9 - COMMON STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

     Common stockholders' equity of the Company includes the undistributed earnings of the bank subsidiaries. Dividends are payable only out of undivided profits or current earnings. Moreover, dividends to the Company's stockholders can generally be paid only from dividends paid to the Company by the Banks. Consequently, dividends are dependent upon earnings, capital needs, regulatory policies and statutory limitations affecting the Banks. Federal and state banking laws and regulations restrict the amount of dividends and loans a bank may make to its parent company. Dividends paid by Hancock Bank are subject to approval by the Commissioner of Banking and Consumer Finance of the State of Mississippi and those paid by Hancock Bank of Louisiana are subject to approval by the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of the State of Louisiana. The amount of capital of the subsidiary banks available for dividends at December 31, 2003 was approximately $129 million.

     Risk-based capital requirements are intended to make regulatory capital more sensitive to risk elements of the Company. Currently, the Company and its bank subsidiaries are required to maintain a minimum risk-based capital ratio of 8.0%, with not less than 4.0% in Tier 1 capital. In addition, the Company and its bank subsidiaries must maintain a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio (Tier 1 capital to total average assets) of at least 3.0% based upon the regulators latest composite rating of the institution.

     The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA) required each federal banking agency to implement prompt corrective actions for institutions that it regulates. The rules provide that an institution is "well capitalized" if its total risk-based capital ratio is 10.0% or greater, its Tier 1 risked-based capital ratio is 6.0% or greater, its leverage ratio is 5.0% or greater and the institution is not subject to a capital directive. Under this regulation, both of the subsidiary banks were deemed to be "well capitalized" as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 based upon the most recent notifications from their regulators. There are no conditions or events since those notifications that management believes would change these classifications.

Page 16 of 37

     The Company and its bank subsidiaries are required to maintain certain minimum capital levels. At December 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company and the Banks were in compliance with their respective statutory minimum capital requirements. Following is a summary of the actual capital levels at December 31, 2003 and 2002 (amounts in thousands):

                                                                                                               To be Well
                                                                                     Required for          Capitalized Under
                                                                                    Minimum Capital        Prompt Corrective
                                                          Actual                        Adequacy           Action Provisions
                                                 ------------------------  ----------------------------  --------------------
                                                    Amount        Ratio %       Amount        Ratio %     Amount      Ratio %
                                                 -----------    ---------  -------------     ----------  ----------  --------
At December 31, 2003
  Total capital (to risk weighted assets)
     Company                                      $  415,167      15.60      $  212,968        8.00      $   N/A         N/A
     Hancock Bank                                    247,064      16.12         122,638        8.00        153,297      10.00
     Hancock Bank of Louisiana                       153,254      13.02          94,166        8.00        117,708      10.00
  Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)
     Company                                      $  378,417      14.21      $  106,484        4.00      $   N/A         N/A
     Hancock Bank                                    225,487      14.71          61,319        4.00         91,978       6.00
     Hancock Bank of Louisiana                       138,081      11.73          47,083        4.00         70,625       6.00
  Tier 1 leverage capital
     Company                                      $  378,417       9.29      $  122,172        3.00      $   N/A         N/A
     Hancock Bank                                    225,487       9.06          74,687        3.00        124,479       5.00
     Hancock Bank of Louisiana                       138,081       8.56          48,374        3.00         80,624       5.00

At December 31, 2002
  Total capital (to risk weighted assets)
     Company                                      $  384,079      16.11      $  190,674        8.00      $   N/A         N/A
     Hancock Bank                                    230,850      15.68         117,787        8.00        147,234      10.00
     Hancock Bank of Louisiana                       153,798      15.81          77,840        8.00         97,300      10.00
  Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)
     Company                                      $  354,535      14.88      $   95,337        4.00      $   N/A         N/A
     Hancock Bank                                    212,420      14.43          58,894        4.00         88,341       6.00
     Hancock Bank of Louisiana                       141,610      14.55          38,920        4.00         58,380       6.00
  Tier 1 leverage capital
     Company                                      $  354,535       9.19      $  115,809        3.00      $   N/A         N/A
     Hancock Bank                                    212,420       8.90          71,635        3.00        119,392       5.00
     Hancock Bank of Louisiana                       141,610       9.28          45,768        3.00         76,281       5.00

Page 17 of 37

NOTE 10 - INCOME TAXES

     Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

                                                                                        December 31,
                                                                               -----------------------------
                                                                                    2003            2002
                                                                               --------------  -------------
  Deferred tax assets:

  Accrued pension liability                                                     $     2,997     $     2,033
  Post-retirement benefit obligation                                                  1,832           2,097
  Allowance for loan losses                                                          12,233           9,870
  Deferred compensation                                                               1,129           1,450
  Other                                                                                 -               345
                                                                               --------------  -------------
                                                                                     18,191          15,795
                                                                               --------------  -------------
  Deferred tax liabilities:

  Loan servicing assets                                                              (1,668)         (1,190)
  Property and equipment depreciation                                                (4,975)         (4,200)
  Unrealized gain on securities available for sale                                     (950)         (8,880)
  Core deposit intangible                                                            (1,220)         (1,583)
  Discount accretion on securities                                                   (1,925)         (1,527)
  Other                                                                                (265)             -
                                                                               --------------  ---------------
                                                                                    (11,003)        (17,380)
                                                                               --------------  -------------
   Net deferred tax (liability) asset                                           $     7,188      $   (1,585)
                                                                               ==============  =============

      Income taxes consisted of the following components (in thousands):

                                                                                  Years Ended December 31,
                                                                         --------------------------------------------
                                                                            2003             2002               2001
                                                                         -----------      ------------       ---------
  Currently payable                                                         24,477         $ 20,900           $ 16,400
  Deferred                                                                     150            1,626              1,463
                                                                         -----------      ------------       ---------
                                                                          $ 24,627         $ 22,526           $ 17,863
                                                                         ===========      ============       =========

     The reason for differences in income taxes reported compared to amounts computed by applying the statutory income tax rate of 35% to earnings before income taxes were as follows (in thousands):

                                                                                  Years Ended December 31,
                                                            ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     2003                    2002                    2001
                                                            ----------------------   ----------------------   -------------------
                                                              Amount          %       Amount         %         Amount           %
                                                            -----------    -------   ---------    ---------   -----------   -----
Taxes computed at statutory rate                            $  27,854          35    $ 25,749          35      $ 19,991        35
Increases (decreases) in taxes resulting from:
    State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit         619           1         214           -          300         -
    Tax-exempt interest                                        (3,964)         (5)     (4,254)         (5)       (4,133)      (7)
    Goodwill amortization                                          -           -           -            -         1,262        2
    Other, net                                                    118          -          817           1           443        1
                                                            -----------    -------   ---------    ---------   -----------   -----
       Income tax expense                                   $  24,627          31    $ 22,526          31      $ 17,863       31
                                                            ===========    =======   =========    =========   ===========   =====

     The income tax provisions related to items included in the Statement of Other Comprehensive Earnings were as follows (in thousands):

                                                                                 Years Ended December 31,
                                                                     ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                          2003               2002                2001
                                                                     ----------------    --------------   ---------------
Minimum pension liability                                             $       (964)      $     (3,948)       $        -
Unrealized holdings gains                                                   (7,931)             6,326              3,300
Reclassification adjustments                                                    -                  -                  41
                                                                     ----------------    --------------   ---------------
    Total Provision (Benefit)                                         $     (8,895)      $      2,378        $     3,341
                                                                     ================    ==============   ===============

NOTE 11 - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

     The Company has a non-contributory pension plan covering substantially all salaried full-time employees who have been employed by the Company the required length of time. The Company's current policy is to contribute annually the minimum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes. The benefits are based upon years of service and the employee's compensation during the last five years of employment. Data relative to the pension plan follows (in thousands):

                                                                                    Years Ended December 31,
                                                                             ---------------------------------
                                                                                 2003                   2002
                                                                             -----------            ----------
 Change in Benefit Obligation:
   Benefit obligation at beginning of year                                    $ 45,188               $ 38,166
   Service cost                                                                  1,808                  1,700
   Interest cost                                                                 2,977                  2,697
   Actuarial loss                                                                3,801                  4,452
   Benefits paid                                                                (2,172)                (1,827)
                                                                             -----------            ----------
     Benefit obligation at end of year                                          51,602                 45,188
                                                                             -----------            ----------
 Change in Plan Assets:
   Fair value of plan assets at
     beginning of year                                                          35,285                 34,504
   Actual return on plan assets                                                  3,573                    484
   Employer contributions                                                        2,957                  2,301
   Benefits paid                                                                (2,172)                (1,826)
   Expenses                                                                       (138)                  (178)
                                                                             -----------            ----------
     Fair value of plan assets at end of year                                   39,505                 35,285
                                                                             -----------            ----------
       Unfunded status                                                         (12,097)                (9,903)
 Unrecognized net actuarial loss                                                16,987                 14,714
 Unrecognized prior service cost                                                   109                    200
 Adjustment to recognize minimum pension liability                             (12,928)               (10,390)
                                                                             -----------            ----------
   Accrued pension cost, net                                                    (7,929)                (5,379)
                                                                             ===========            ==========
 Rate assumptions at December 31:
   Discount rate                                                                 6.25%                  6.75%
   Expected return on plan assets                                                8.00%                  8.00%
   Rate of compensation increase                                                 3.00%                  3.50%


                                                                                   Years Ended December 31,
                                                                            ----------------------------------
                                                                               2003         2002         2001
                                                                            ----------   ----------  ---------
 Net pension expense included the following
  (income) expense components:
  Service cost benefits earned during the period                             $ 1,808      $ 1,700     $ 1,516
  Interest cost on projected benefit obligation                                2,977        2,697       2,496
  Return on plan assets                                                       (2,711)      (2,670)     (2,604)
 Amortization of prior service cost                                               92           92          92
 Net amortization and deferral                                                   804          349         123
                                                                            ----------   ----------  ---------
   Net pension expense                                                       $ 2,970      $ 2,168     $ 1,623
                                                                            ==========   ==========  =========

     In accordance with FASB No. 87, the Company has recorded an additional minimum pension liability for underfunded plans of $12,928,000 and $10,390,000 at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. This amount represents the excess of accumulated benefit obligations over the Plan's assets as adjusted for prepaid pension costs. Accumulated benefit obligations represent the actuarial present value of benefits attributable to employee service through the measurement date, excluding the effect of projected future pay increases. A corresponding amount, net of related income taxes of $4,912,000 and $3,948,000 for December 31, 2003 and 2002 was charged directly to common stockholders' equity and is a component of other comprehensive income. The principal cause of this underfunded pension liability is that the actual return on plan assets in recent years has been less than expected due to overall market conditions and the discount rate used to measure the liability has declined in a direction consistent with the recent trend in interest rates. The Company has been making the contributions required by the IRS.

     The Company sponsors two defined benefit post-retirement plans, other than the pension plan, that cover full-time employees who have reached 45 years of age. One plan provides medical benefits and the other provides life insurance benefits. The post-retirement health care plan is contributory, with retiree contributions adjusted annually and subject to certain employer contribution maximums; the life insurance plan is non-contributory. Data relative to these post-retirement benefits, none of which have been funded, were as follows (in thousands):

Page 18 of 37

                                                                                   Years Ended December 31
                                                                                ----------------------------
                                                                                    2003              2002
                                                                                ------------       ---------
 Change in Benefit Obligation:
 Benefit obligation at beginning of year                                         $ 4,913            $ 4,425
 Service cost                                                                        226                244
 Interest cost                                                                       335                301
 Actuarial loss                                                                      885                325
 Benefits paid                                                                      (612)              (382)
                                                                                ------------       ---------
   Benefit obligation at end of year                                               5,747              4,913

 Fair value of plan assets                                                             -                  -
                                                                                ------------       ---------
   Amount unfunded                                                                (5,747)            (4,913)

 Unrecognized transition obligation being
   amortized over 20 years                                                            41                 46
 Unrecognized net actuarial loss                                                     836                108
                                                                                ------------       ---------
   Accrued post-retirement benefit cost                                          $(4,870)           $(4,759)
                                                                                ============       =========
 Rate assumptions at December 31:
   Discount rate                                                                   6.25%               6.50%

     For measurement purposes in 2003, a 13% annual rate of increase in the over age 65 per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed for 2004. The rate was assumed to decrease gradually to 5.00% over 6 years and remain at that level thereafter. In 2002, a 14% annual rate of increase in the over age 65 per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed. The rate was assumed to decrease gradually to 5.25% over 7 years and remain at that level thereafter. The health care cost trend rate assumption has an effect on the amounts reported. To illustrate, increasing the assumed health care cost trend rates by 1% in each year would increase the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2003, by $491,000 and the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic post-retirement benefit cost for the year then ended by $90,000. A 1% decrease in the rate would decrease those items by $491,000 and $72,000, respectively.

                                                                                         Years Ended December 31,
                                                                                     --------------------------------
                                                                                        2003        2002        2001
                                                                                     --------     --------     ------
 Net Periodic Post-Retirement Benefit Cost:
 Service cost benefits attributed to service during the year                           $ 226       $ 244       $ 185
 Interest costs on accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation                        335         301         301
 Amortization of transition obligation over 20 years                                       5           5          53
 Amortization of unrecognized net loss and other                                         (29)        (40)        (26)
                                                                                     --------     --------     ------
   Net Periodic Post-Retirement Cost                                                   $ 537       $ 510       $ 513
                                                                                     ========     ========     ======

     Prior to 2002, the Company had a non-contributory profit sharing plan covering substantially all salaried full-time employees who had been employed the required length of time. Contributions were made at the discretion of the Board of Directors and amounted to $751,000 in 2001. The profit sharing plan was merged into the Company's 401(k) retirement plan effective January 1, 2002.

     The Company has a 401(k) retirement plan covering substantially all employees who have been employed the required length of time and meet certain other requirements. Under this plan, employees can defer a portion of their salary and matching contributions are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors, which amounted to $1,138,000 in 2003 and $1,235,000 in 2002. The Company made no matching contributions to this plan prior to 2002 since it was making contributions to its profit sharing plan and matching contributions to the stock purchase plan described below.

     In addition, the Company has an employee stock purchase plan that is designed to provide the employees of the Company a convenient means of purchasing common stock of the Company. Substantially all salaried, full-time employees, with the exception of Leo W. Seal, Jr., President, who have been employed by the Company the required length of time are eligible to participate. Prior to 2002, the Company contributed an amount equal to 25% of each participant's contribution, which contribution could not exceed 5% of the employee's base pay. The Company's contribution amounted to $118,000 in 2001.

     The post-retirement plans relating to health care payments and life insurance and the stock purchase plan are not guaranteed and are subject to immediate cancellation and/or amendment. These plans are predicated on future Company profit levels that will justify their continuance. Overall health care costs are also a factor in the level of benefits provided and continuance of these post-retirement plans. There are no vested rights under the post-retirement health or life insurance plans.

Page 19 of 37

NOTE 12 - EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS

     In February 1996, the stockholders of the Company approved the Hancock Holding Company 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) to provide incentives and awards for employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. Awards as defined in the Plan include, with limitations, stock options (including restricted stock options), restricted and performance shares, and performance stock awards, all on a stand-alone, combination or tandem basis. A total of 7,500,000 common shares can be granted under the Plan with an annual grant maximum of 1% of the Company's outstanding common stock (as reported for the fiscal year ending immediately prior to such plan year). The exercise price is equal to the market price on the date of grant, except for certain of those granted to major shareholders where the option price is 110% of the market price.

     On January 6, 2003, options to purchase 162,930 shares were granted, of which 160,897 are exercisable at $44.71 per share and 2,033 are exercisable at $49.18 per share. Options totaling 160,897 vest at a rate of 20% per year on the anniversary date of grant and 2,033 are exercisable six months after the date of grant.

     On January 9, 2002, options to purchase 147,976 shares were granted, which are exercisable at $28.99 per share. These options are exercisable at a vesting rate of 25% per year on the anniversary date of grant.

   Following is a summary of the transactions:
                                                                 Number of           Average             Exercise
                                                                  Options          Exercise Price       of Options
                                                                Outstanding         Per Share            Aggregate
                                                                ------------      ---------------    ---------------
Balance January 1, 2001                                            465,979          $    28.28         $ 13,180,099
Granted                                                                  -                   -                    -
Exercised                                                              (38)              23.03                 (875)
Cancelled                                                          (30,783)              28.09             (864,656)
                                                                ------------      ---------------    ---------------
   Balance December 31, 2001                                       435,158               28.30           12,314,568
Granted                                                            147,976               28.99            4,289,908
Exercised                                                          (42,498)              27.41           (1,164,862)
Cancelled                                                           (9,189)              31.83             (292,521)
                                                                ------------      ---------------    ---------------
   Balance December 31, 2002                                       531,447               28.50           15,147,093
Granted                                                            162,930               44.77            7,293,688
Exercised                                                          (50,425)              26.97           (1,359,816)
Cancelled                                                          (16,946)              34.89             (591,179)
                                                                ------------      ---------------    ---------------
   Balance December 31, 2003                                        627,006         $    32.68         $ 20,489,786
                                                                ============      ===============    ===============

      Following is a summary of certain information about the exercisable stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2003:

                                                                  Number of           Average            Average
  Range of                                                         Options            Years to         Exercise Price
  Exercise Prices                                                 Outstanding        Expiration         Per Share
  ---------------                                                -------------      -------------     ---------------
  $23.33-$25.67                                                      159,746               7.36        $     24.50
  $26.67-$28.05                                                       61,275               6.01              27.96
  $29.00-$31.90                                                       62,648               6.00              29.00
  $40.00                                                              61,406               5.00              40.00
                                                                 -------------      -------------     ---------------
  $23.33-$40.00                                                      345,075               6.46        $     28.69
                                                                 =============      =============     ===============

     At December 31, 2003, options on 345,075 shares were exercisable at $23.33 to $40.00 per share, with a weighted average price of $28.69 per share. At December 31, 2002, options on 306,357 shares were exercisable at $23.33 to $40.00 per share, with a weighted average price of $29.43 per share. The weighted average remaining contractual life of options outstanding at December 31, 2003 was 6.9 years.

     The Company has adopted the disclosure-only option under SFAS No. 123. The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2003 and 2002 was $14.18 and $9.69, respectively. Had compensation costs for the Company's stock options been determined based on the fair value at the grant date, consistent with the method under SFAS No. 123, the Company's net earnings and earnings per share would have been as indicated below.

Page 20 of 37

                                                                                            Years Ended December 31,
                                                                              ------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  2003             2002                2001
                                                                              ------------       ----------         ----------
   Net earnings available to common
     stockholders (in thousands):
     As reported                                                                $ 54,955         $ 51,043            $ 39,255
     Deduct total stock based compensation (fair value method)                    (1,202)            (885)               (410)
                                                                              ------------       ----------         ----------
     Pro forma                                                                  $ 53,753         $ 50,158            $ 38,845
                                                                              ============       ==========         ==========
   Basic earnings per share:
     As reported                                                                $   3.41          $  3.07            $   2.36
     Pro forma                                                                      3.33             3.02                2.34
   Diluted earnings per share:
     As reported                                                                $   3.29          $  3.00            $   2.36
     Pro forma                                                                      3.22             2.94                2.33

      The fair value of the options granted under the Company's stock option plans during the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 was estimated using the Black-Scholes Pricing Model with the following assumptions used: dividend yield 1.97% and 2.80%, expected volatility of 28% and 34%, risk-free interest rates of 4.25% and 5.10%, respectively and expected lives of 8 years in 2003 and 2002.

     During 2003, the Company granted 21,600 restricted shares, which vest at the end of three years. During 2002, the Company granted 20,738 restricted shares, which vest at the end of three years. During 2001, the Company granted 488 restricted shares, which vest at the end of three years, and 150 restricted shares, which also vest at the end of three years. Vesting is contingent upon continued employment by the Company. On December 31, 2003, 41,626 of these restricted grants were not vested. The 2003 shares had a market value of $44.71 at the date of grant. The 2002 shares had a market value of $28.99 at the date of grant. The 2001 shares had respective market values of $25.79 and $28.30 at the dates of grant. Compensation expense related to restricted stock grants totaled $487,000 for 2003, $480,000 for 2002, and $402,000 for 2001. The remaining unearned compensation of $957,000 is being amortized over the life of the grants.

NOTE 13 - NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

     Following is a summary of the information used in the computation of earnings per common share (in thousands).

                                                                                          Years Ended December 31,
                                                                               -------------------------------------------
                                                                                   2003            2002             2001
                                                                               ----------      ----------       ----------
 Net earnings - used in computation of diluted
    earnings per common share                                                   $ 54,955        $ 51,043         $ 39,255
 Preferred dividend requirement                                                    2,653           2,653            1,327
                                                                               ----------      ----------       ----------
 Net earnings available to common stockholders -
    used in computation of basic earnings
    per common share                                                            $ 52,302        $ 48,390         $ 37,928
                                                                               ==========      ==========       ==========                                                                                         ----------      ----------       ----------
 Weighted average number of common shares
    outstanding - used in computation of
    basic earnings per common share                                               15,357          15,743           16,047
 Effect of dilutive securities
    Stock options                                                                    243             194               42
    Convertible preferred stock                                                    1,105           1,105              550
                                                                               ----------      ----------       ----------
 Weighted average number of common shares
    outstanding plus effect of dilutive
    securities - used in computation of
    diluted earnings per common share                                             16,705          17,042           16,639
                                                                               ==========      ==========       ==========

NOTE 14 - DISCLOSURES ABOUT THE FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

     The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate:

     Cash, Short-Term Investments and Federal Funds Sold - For those short-term instruments, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Page 21 of 37

     Securities - For securities, fair value equals quoted market price, if available. If a quoted market price is not available, a reasonable estimate of fair value is used.

     Loans - The fair value of loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans with the same remaining maturities would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings.

     Deposits - The fair value of demand deposits, savings accounts, and certain money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit is estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.

     Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase and Federal Funds Purchased -For these short-term liabilities, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

     Short-Term Notes - For short-term notes, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

     Long-Term Notes - Rates currently available to the Company for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities are used to estimate fair value of existing debt.

     Commitments - The fair value of commitments to extend credit was not significant.

      The estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments were as follows (in thousands):

                                                                                         December 31,
                                                               --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           2003                             2002
                                                               -----------------------------    -----------------------------
                                                                  Carrying         Fair           Carrying            Fair
                                                                   Amount          Value           Amount             Value
                                                               ------------     ------------   --------------   -------------
Financial assets:
  Cash, interest-bearing deposits and federal funds sold          $ 189,371       $ 189,371       $ 235,043        $ 235,043
  Securities available for sale                                   1,118,066       1,118,066       1,258,831        1,258,831
  Securities held to maturity                                       159,983         169,451         227,979          238,196
  Loans, net of unearned income                                   2,448,644       2,636,979       2,104,982        2,285,066
    Less: allowance for loan losses                                 (36,750)        (36,750)        (34,740)         (34,740)
                                                               ------------     ------------   --------------   -------------
      Loans, net                                                  2,411,894       2,600,229       2,070,242        2,250,326
Financial liabilities:
  Deposits                                                       $3,447,847      $3,470,604      $3,301,500       $3,338,013
  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase                    150,096         150,096         161,058          161,058
  Short-term notes                                                    9,400           9,400            -                 -
  Long-term notes                                                    50,428          53,807          51,020           51,751

NOTE 15 - OFF-BALANCE-SHEET RISK

     In the normal course of business, the Company enters into financial instruments, such as commitments to extend credit and letters of credit, to meet the financing needs of its customers. Such instruments are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements until they are funded and involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk not reflected in the consolidated balance sheets. The contract amounts of these instruments reflect the Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other party on whose behalf the instrument has been issued. The Company undertakes the same credit evaluation in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments and may require collateral or other credit support for off-balance-sheet financial instruments. These obligations are summarized below (in thousands):

                                                                                           December 31,
                                                                               --------------------------------
                                                                                   2003                2002
                                                                               --------------     -------------
   Commitments to extend credit                                                $  547,448           $  390,107
   Letters of credit                                                               33,710               20,323

     Approximately $345,850,000 and $225,958,000 of commitments to extend credit at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, were at variable rates and the remainder was at fixed rates. A commitment to extend credit is an agreement to lend to a customer as long as the conditions established in the agreement have been satisfied. A commitment to extend credit generally has a fixed expiration date or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee by the borrower. Since commitments often expire without being fully drawn, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements of the Company. The Company continually evaluates each customer's credit worthiness on a case-by-case basis. Occasionally, a credit evaluation of a customer requesting a commitment to extend credit results in the Company obtaining collateral to support the obligation.

Page 22 of 37

     Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing a letter of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending a loan.

NOTE 16 - CONTINGENCIES

     The Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, all such matters are adequately covered by insurance or, if not so covered, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial statements of the Company.

NOTE 17 - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

     The following is selected supplemental information (in thousands):

                                                                                   Years Ended December 31,
                                                                              -------------------------------------
                                                                                  2003          2002         2001
                                                                              ----------    ----------   ----------
 Other non-interest expense:
   Postage                                                                      $ 3,972       $ 3,647      $ 3,540
   Communication                                                                  4,381         4,261        4,310
   Data processing                                                                7,158         6,887        6,102
   Professional fees                                                              3,718         4,762        3,467
   Taxes and licenses                                                             2,907         4,376        2,759
   Printing and supplies                                                          1,724         2,054        1,882
   Marketing                                                                      4,381         3,848        2,871

NOTE 18 - SEGMENT REPORTING

     The Company's primary segments are geographically divided into the Mississippi (MS) and Louisiana (LA) markets. Each segment offers the same products and services but are managed separately due to different pricing, product demand and consumer markets. Both segments offer commercial, consumer and mortgage loans and deposit services. Following is selected information for the Company's segments (in thousands):

                                                                      Years Ended December 31,
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        2003                     2002                    2001
                                                --------------------   ------------------------ ----------------------
                                                    MS          LA          MS          LA          MS           LA
                                                ----------  ---------   -----------   ---------  -----------  ----------
Interest income                                 $ 121,664    $ 83,368    $ 131,286    $ 88,166    $ 138,787    $ 90,255
Interest expense                                   38,982      19,301       49,735      22,784       66,867      37,404
                                                ----------  ---------   -----------   ---------  -----------  ----------
  Net interest income                              82,682      64,067      81,551       65,382      71,920       52,851
Provision for loan losses                           7,635       5,970       9,895        6,803       4,235        3,640
Non-interest income                                37,198      26,555      35,447       26,120      27,108       21,691
Depreciation and amortization                       6,335       3,053       5,587        2,757       5,344        2,857
Other non-interest expense                         64,609      51,528      72,765       40,696      60,238       41,594
                                                ----------  ---------   -----------   ---------  -----------  ----------
Earnings before income taxes                       41,301      30,071      28,751       41,246      29,211       26,451
Income taxes                                       12,480       9,074       7,909       13,138       7,891        8,544
                                                ----------  ---------   -----------   ---------  -----------  ----------
  Net earnings                                  $  28,821    $ 20,997    $ 20,842     $ 28,108    $ 21,320     $ 17,907
                                                ==========  =========   ===========   =========  ===========  ==========

Page 23 of 37

                                                                          At and For Years Ended December 31,
                                                                   -----------------------------------------------
                                                                         2003             2002             2001
                                                                   -------------    -------------     ------------
  Net Interest Income:
    MS                                                               $   82,682       $   81,551       $   71,920
    LA                                                                   64,067           65,382           52,851
    Other                                                                13,439           11,795            8,737
                                                                   -------------    -------------     ------------
      Consolidated net interest income                               $  160,188       $  158,728       $  133,508
                                                                   =============    =============     ============
  Net Earnings:
    MS                                                               $   28,821       $   20,842       $   21,320
    LA                                                                   20,997           28,108           17,907
    Other                                                                 5,137            2,093               28
                                                                   -------------    -------------     ------------
      Consolidated net earnings                                      $   54,955       $   51,043       $   39,255
                                                                   =============    =============     ============
  Assets:
    MS                                                               $2,471,918       $2,426,379       $2,320,914
    LA                                                                1,673,973        1,578,505        1,442,919
    Other                                                               125,659           92,601           67,537
    Intersegment                                                       (121,192)        (124,338)        (151,525)
                                                                   -------------    -------------     ------------
      Consolidated assets                                            $4,150,358       $3,973,147       $3,679,845
                                                                   =============    =============     ============
 

     During 2003, the Company changed the method it used to allocate administrative charges between its Mississippi and Louisiana segments and the Parent Company. This change was based on an analysis of costs for 2003. The administrative charges allocated to the Louisiana segment were $14.1 million in 2003 and $4.9 in 2002. These charges were allocated from the Mississippi segment ($11.3 million in 2003 and $4.9 million in 2002) and the Parent Company ($2.8 million in 2003 and $0 in 2002). Prior to 2002, the Company did not allocate administrative charges between its segments.

     Goodwill and core deposit intangibles assigned to the Mississippi segment totaled approximately $15.5 million, of which $12.1 million represented goodwill and $3.4 million represented core deposit intangibles, at December 31, 2003. At December 31, 2002, goodwill and core deposit intangibles assigned to the Mississippi segment totaled approximately $16.2 million, of which $12.1 million represented goodwill and $4.1 million represented core deposit intangibles. The related goodwill amortization was $0 in 2001. The related core deposit amortization was approximately $712,000 in 2003, $750,000 in 2002 and $745,000 in 2001.

     Goodwill and core deposit assigned to the Louisiana segment totaled approximately $39.0 million, of which $37.0 million represented goodwill and $2.0 million represented core deposit intangibles, at December 31, 2003. Goodwill assigned to the Louisiana segment totaled approximately $37.0 million, at December 31, 2002. The related goodwill amortization was approximately $3,606,000 in 2001. The related core deposit amortization was approximately $436,000 in 2003. Both segments recorded no amortization of goodwill during 2003 and 2002 due to the implementation of SFAS No. 142 as discussed in Note 1. The segments performed a fair value based impairment test on its goodwill and determined that the fair value exceeded the recorded value at December 2003 and 2002. No impairment loss, therefore, was recorded.

NOTE 19 - SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY
                   (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)

                                             Balance Sheets

                                                                                            December 31,
                                                                              --------------------------------------
                                                                                     2003                 2002
                                                                              -----------------    -----------------
Assets:
  Investment in subsidiaries                                                    $ 429,432,401         $ 424,077,283
  Due from subsidiaries and other assets                                           15,215,270             4,321,956
                                                                              -----------------    -----------------
                                                                                $ 444,647,671         $ 428,399,239
                                                                              =================    =================
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
  Due to subsidiaries                                                           $      22,419         $   3,541,667
  Other liabilities                                                                 9,744,256               275,938
  Preferred stock                                                                  37,066,939            37,068,905
  Common stockholders' equity                                                     397,814,057           387,512,729
                                                                              -----------------    -----------------
                                                                                $ 444,647,671         $ 428,399,239
                                                                              =================    =================

Page 24 of 37

                                           Statements of Earnings

                                                                                         Years Ended December 31,
                                                                          -------------------------------------------------
                                                                                2003            2002              2001
                                                                          ---------------  --------------    --------------
Dividends received from subsidiaries                                       $ 42,501,396     $ 33,580,276      $ 39,338,376
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries greater than
  dividends received                                                         12,097,393       19,404,436         2,167,084
Net earnings/(expenses), including taxes                                        355,996       (1,941,249)       (2,250,320)
                                                                          ---------------  --------------    --------------
Net earnings                                                                 54,954,785       51,043,463        39,255,140
Preferred dividends                                                          (2,653,238)      (2,653,240)       (1,326,851)
                                                                          ---------------  --------------    --------------
Net earnings available to common stockholders                              $ 52,301,547     $ 48,390,223      $ 37,928,289
                                                                          ===============  ==============    ==============

                                          Statements of Cash Flows

                                                                                      Years Ended December 31,
                                                                          -------------------------------------------------
                                                                               2003            2002               2001
                                                                          ---------------  --------------    --------------
Cash flows from operating activities - principally
  dividends received from subsidiaries                                     $ 36,266,184     $ 38,934,506 $    $ 33,623,680
Cash flows from investing activities - principally
  business acquisitions                                                     (19,400,000)        (500,000)      (12,890,062)
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Advances of short-term notes                                                9,400,000
  Dividends paid to stockholders                                            (16,208,182)     (15,374,679)      (13,521,896)
  Dividends paid to subsidiaries                                               (209,549)        (194,640)         (181,664)
  Treasury stock transactions, net                                          (11,688,120)     (20,892,096)       (6,189,623)
                                                                          ---------------  --------------    --------------
    Net cash used by financing activities                                   (18,705,851)     (36,461,415)      (19,893,183)
                                                                          ---------------  --------------    --------------
  Net (decrease) increase in cash                                            (1,839,667)       1,973,091           840,435
Cash, beginning                                                               2,990,022        1,016,931           176,496
                                                                          ---------------  --------------    --------------
Cash, ending                                                               $  1,150,355     $  2,990,022      $  1,016,931
                                                                          ===============  ==============    ==============

Page 25 of 37

HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Purpose

      The purpose of this discussion and analysis is to focus on significant changes and events in the financial condition and results of operations of Hancock Holding Company and its subsidiaries during 2003 and selected prior periods. This discussion and analysis is intended to highlight and supplement data and information presented elsewhere in this report, including the preceding consolidated financial statements and related notes. Certain information relating to prior years has been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.

Forward-Looking Statements

     Congress passed the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 in an effort to encourage corporations to provide information about a company's anticipated future financial performance. This act provides a safe harbor for such disclosure, which protects the company from unwarranted litigation, if actual results are different from management expectations. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements and reflects management's current views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and financial results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ from the anticipated results and expectations, expressed in such forward-looking statements.

Critical Accounting Policies

     Certain critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgements and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. The Company's single most critical accounting policy relates to its allowance for loan losses, which reflects the estimated losses resulting from the inability of its borrowers to make loan payments. If the financial condition of its borrowers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, its estimates would be updated, and additional provisions for loan losses may be required.

Summary

     The Company reported net earnings of $55.0 million in 2003, an increase of $4.0 million, or 8%, from the $51.0 million earned in 2002. Diluted earnings per common share was $3.29 in 2003, an increase of $0.29, or 10% from 2002's $3.00.

     The key components of 2003's earnings performance follow:

     •  Net interest income, on a tax-equivalent (te)* basis, increased $1.2 million, or
        1%,  from 2002 to 2003 due to an  increase  of $224  million,  or 6%, in average
        earning assets,  from average loan growth of $277 million,  or 14%. The increase
        in  average  earning  assets was  funded  primarily  with  deposit  growth.  The
        aforementioned  expansion  of the  Company's  earning  asset  base  as  well  as
        improvement  in earning  asset mix were the main factors  behind the increase in
        net interest income (te) compared to a year ago.

     •  Non-interest income,  inclusive of securities  transaction gains in 2002 & 2003,
        grew  $3.2  million,  or 4%,  from  2002 to  2003.  Significant  increases  were
        reflected in insurance  commissions  and fees  ($438,000),  credit card merchant
        discount fees  ($359,000),  other fees and income ($1.8  million) and securities
        gains ($1.7 million).  Partially  offsetting the increased  non-interest  income
        when  compared to 2002 was the  decrease in  investment  and annuity  fees ($1.1
        million) and secondary mortgage market operations ($681,000).

     •  Non-interest  expense,  increased  $2.0  million,  or 2%,  from  2002  to  2003.
        Significant  increases  were  reflected in personnel  expense ($4.1 million) and
        occupancy   ($750,000),   equipment  expense   ($295,000)  and  amortization  of
        intangibles  ($398,000).  However,  these increases were offset by a substantial
        decrease in other operating expense ($3.6 million).

     •  The Company  provided  $15.2 million for loan losses in 2003,  compared to $18.5
        million  for 2002 - a decrease  of $3.3  million,  or 18%.  The  decrease in the
        provision  for loan losses was  primarily  due to lower net  charge-offs,  which
        decreased $4.6 million or 26% during 2003.

      *Tax-equivalent (te) amounts are calculated using a marginal federal tax income tax rate of 35%.

Page 26 of 37

Loans and Allowance For Loan Losses

     Average loans increased $277 million, or 14%, in 2003 compared to an increase of $169 million, or 9%, in 2002. Table 1 shows average loans for a three-year period.

TABLE 1. AVERAGE LOANS

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (dollars in thousands)                                       2003                     2002                      2001
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Commercial & R.E. Loans                              $1,140,288     50.9%       $992,699     50.6%       $883,913     49.3%
 Mortgage loans                                          336,603     15.0%        246,333     12.6%        236,708     13.2%
 Direct consumer loans                                   494,311     22.1%        503,629     25.7%        493,812     27.5%
 Indirect consumer loans                                 216,080      9.7%        176,583      9.0%        144,280      8.0%
 Finance company loans                                    50,963      2.3%         42,055      2.1%         33,846      1.9%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total average loans (net of unearned)            $2,238,245    100.0%     $1,961,299    100.0%     $1,792,559    100.0%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The Company experienced an overall increase in loan growth that affected all loan categories as its successful efforts to generate profitable loan volume continued.

      As indicated by Table 1, commercial and real estate loans increased $148 million, or 15%, from 2002. Included in this category are commercial real estate loans, which are secured by properties used in commercial or industrial operations. The Company originates commercial and real estate loans to a wide variety of customers in many different industries, and as such, no single industry concentrations existed at December 31, 2003.

      Average mortgage loans of $336.6 million were $90.3 million, or 37%, higher than in 2002. The majority of the growth in 2003 for this category was in retail mortgage loans. The Company originates both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage loans. Certain types of mortgage loans are sold in the secondary mortgage market, while the Banks retain other types. The Banks also originate home equity loans. This product offers customers the opportunity to leverage rising home prices and equity to obtain tax-advantaged consumer financing.

      Direct consumer loans, which include loans and revolving lines of credit made directly to consumers, were down $9.3 million, or 2%, from 2002. The Company also originates indirect consumer loans, which consist primarily of consumer loans originated through a third party such as an automobile dealer or other point of sale channels. Average indirect consumer loans of $216.1 million for 2003 were up $39.5 million, or 22%, from 2002. The Company owns a finance company subsidiary, which originates both direct and indirect consumer loans. Finance company loans increased approximately $8.9 million, or 21%, at December 31, 2003, compared to the subsidiary's outstanding loans on December 31, 2002. The loan growth in the Finance company was mainly due to expansion into new geographical markets.

      At December 31, 2003, the allowance for loan losses was $36.7 million, or 1.50%, of year-end loans, compared to $34.7 million, or 1.65%, of year-end loans for 2002. Net charge-offs amounted to $13.1 million in 2003, as compared to $17.8 million in 2002. The $4.7 million decrease from 2002 was primarily related to a decrease in commercial/real estate loan charge-offs. Gross charge-offs were higher in 2002 primarily due to the removal of credits acquired in the Lamar Bank acquisition in 2001 that were determined uncollectible. Overall, the allowance for loan losses was 170% of non-performing loans and accruing loans 90 days past due at year-end 2003, compared to 143% at year-end 2002. Management utilizes several quantitative methodologies for determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses and is of the opinion that the allowance at December 31, 2003 is adequate even after considering the recent slowdown in the U.S. economy. Table 2 presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses over the past 5 years.

Page 27 of 37

TABLE 2. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY IN THE ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(dollars in thousands)                                               2003        2002        2001        2000         1999
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at the beginning of year                                   $34,740     $34,417     $28,604      $25,713     $21,800
Reserves acquired in bank purchase and other                             0        (400)      8,342         (147)      3,815
Provision for loan losses
    charged to operations                                           15,154      18,495       9,082       12,609       8,688
Loans charged to the allowance
    Commercial, real estate & mortgage                               5,232       9,262       6,445        6,917       3,202
    Direct and indirect consumer                                     9,626       9,384       6,324        4,084       6,769
    Demand deposit accounts                                          4,685       4,907       3,529        2,718       2,230
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total                                                        19,543      23,553      16,298       13,719      12,201
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off
    Commercial, real estate & mortgage                               1,296         646         322        1,334         814
    Direct and indirect consumer                                     2,117       2,071       2,026        1,174       1,670
    Demand deposit accounts                                          2,986       3,064       2,339        1,640       1,127
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total                                                         6,399       5,781       4,687        4,148       3,611
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net charge-offs                                                     13,144      17,772      11,611        9,571       8,590
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at the end of year                                         $36,750     $34,740     $34,417      $28,604     $25,713
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios
    Gross charge-offs to average loans                               0.87%       1.20%       0.91%        0.85%       0.84%
    Recoveries to average loans                                      0.29%       0.29%       0.26%        0.26%       0.25%
    Net charge-offs to average loans                                 0.59%       0.91%       0.65%        0.59%       0.59%
    Allowance for loan losses to year end loans                      1.50%       1.65%       1.82%        1.68%       1.67%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Non-performing assets consist of loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis, restructured loans and foreclosed assets. Table 3 presents information related to non-performing assets for the five years ended December 31, 2003. Total non-performing assets at December 31, 2003 were $18.0 million, an increase of $164,000, or 1%, from December 31, 2002. Loans that are over 90 days past due but still accruing were $3.7 million at December 31, 2003. This compares to $6.4 million at December 31, 2002. This decrease was due primarily to Management's aggressive efforts to reduce the levels of past due loans. Efforts on the part of Management to reduce the levels of non-performing assets as well as past due loans will continue in 2004.

TABLE 3. NON-PERFORMING ASSETS

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       December 31
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (dollars in thousands)                                          2003         2002         2001         2000         1999
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis                    $12,161      $11,870      $17,328      $10,182       $6,901
   Restructured loans                                                  0            0            0            0          152
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total non-performing loans                                 12,161       11,870       17,328       10,182        7,053
    Foreclosed Assets                                              5,809        5,936        3,003        1,492        1,616
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total non-performing assets                               $17,970      $17,806      $20,331      $11,674       $8,669
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Loans 90 days past due still accruing                         $3,682       $6,407      $12,591       $9,277       $4,442
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ratios
       Non-performing assets to loans plus
          other real estate                                        0.73%        0.84%        1.07%        0.69%        0.56%
       Allowance for loan losses to non-performing
          loans and accruing 90 days past due                       170%         143%         105%         137%         196%
      Loans 90 days past due still accruing to loans               0.15%        0.30%        0.67%        0.55%        0.29%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Investment Securities

     The Company's investment in securities was $1.278 billion at December 31, 2003, compared to $1.487 billion at December 31, 2002. Average investment securities were $1.466 billion for 2003 as compared to $1.494 billion for 2002.

     The Company generally purchases securities that provide stable cash flows for liquidity purposes while limiting the amount of prepayment risk. Certain securities have been classified as available for sale based on management's internal assessment of the portfolio after considering the Company's liquidity requirements and the portfolio's exposure to changes in market interest rates and prepayment activity. Certain other securities are classified as held to maturity based on management's assessment of the ability to hold those securities.

Page 28 of 37

      At December 31, 2003, the composition of the securities portfolio was 87% classified as available for sale and 13% as held to maturity. At December 31, 2002, these relative percentages were 85% available for sale and 15% held to maturity. The December 31, 2003 carrying value of the held-to-maturity portfolio was $160.0 million and the market value was $169.4 million. The available-for-sale portfolio was $1.118 billion at December 31, 2003.

      The vast majority of securities in the Bank's portfolio are fixed rate and there were no investments in securities of a single issuer, other than U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government agency securities and mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, that exceeded 10% of stockholder's equity. At December 31, 2003, the average life of the portfolio in maturity years was 3.69 with an effective duration of 2.61 and an average coupon of 4.79%.

      During 2003, the Company sold $256.6 million of securities from the available for sale portfolio with near-term maturity dates at a pretax net securities gain of $1.7 million. The Company recorded net securities gains during 2002 and 2001 of $4,000 and $18,000, respectively. The Banks do not normally maintain securities trading portfolios.

Deposits and Other Borrowings

     Deposits increased to $3.448 billion at December 31, 2003 from $3.302 billion at December 31, 2002, an increase of $146 million, or approximately 4%. Of the increase in year-end deposits from 2002 to 2003, approximately $156 million consisted of core interest-bearing transaction deposits. Total average deposits increased by $232.3 million, or 7%, from 2002 to 2003.

     Over the course of 2003, the Company experienced continuing demand for the safety and liquidity of deposit products, which helped fuel overall deposit growth. However, the Company did experience some disintermediation of time deposits primarily into interest-bearing transaction accounts. This was due to the historically low interest rate environment throughout 2003 and customer behavior that favored transaction accounts over time deposits. Time deposits, which consisted mainly of certificates of deposits, decreased by more than $10 million from January through December 2003. However, interest-bearing transaction accounts, which include NOW accounts, money market investment accounts and savings accounts were up more than $239 million for the same time period. In addition, non-interest-bearing deposits were up almost $3 million for the period January through December 2003. The vast majority of the aforementioned net growth occurred as consumers moved investments from the still uncertain stock market to safer investment avenues such as financial institutions.

     Borrowings consist primarily of purchases of federal funds, sales of securities under repurchase agreements and borrowings from the FHLB. In addition, the Company has a short-term note consisting of a promissory note for $9.4 million. These funds were used to fund the purchase of Magna Insurance Company on December 31, 2003. (See Note 2 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.) The note bears interest at 2.75% and matures on March 31, 2004. In total, borrowings were down over $2.2 million from December 31, 2002 to December 31, 2003. Sales of securities under repurchase agreements decreased $11.0 million from year-end 2002, while borrowings from the FHLB were down $.592 million. Substantially offsetting these decreases was the $9.4 million increase in a short-term note as previously discussed. The majority of the FHLB borrowings consist of two notes with maturities in 2008 and 2009. The average interest rate on the two notes is 4.54% and was fixed through 2003. The FHLB can now make annual elections to reset the rates to LIBOR plus 0.35%. There were no purchases of federal funds outstanding at year-end 2003 and 2002.

TABLE 4. AVERAGE DEPOSITS

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (dollars in thousands)                                              2003                   2002                 2001
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Non-interest bearing demand deposits                         $604,448     18%       $601,374    19%      $562,989    20%
 NOW account deposits                                          694,681     20%        552,419    17%       195,079     7%
 Money market deposits                                         442,919     13%        438,364    14%       619,000    22%
 Savings deposits                                              541,748     16%        448,993    14%       298,024    11%
 Time deposits                                               1,123,409     33%      1,133,796    36%     1,145,259    41%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total average deposits                                  $3,407,205    100%     $3,174,946   100%    $2,820,351   100%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Liquidity

     Liquidity management encompasses the Company's ability to ensure that funds are available to meet the cash flow requirements of depositors and borrowers, while also ensuring that the Company has adequate cash flow to meet it's various needs, including operating, strategic and capital. Without proper liquidity management, the Company would not be able to perform the primary function of a financial intermediary and would not be able to meet the needs of the communities in which it has a presence and serves. In addition, the parent holding company's principal source of liquidity is dividends from its subsidiary banks. Liquidity is required at the parent holding company level for the purpose of paying dividends to stockholders, servicing of any debt the Company may have, business combinations as well as general corporate expenses. As of December 31, 2003, all liquidity ratios approved and tracked by the Company's Asset Liability Committee were within policy limits.

Page 29 of 37

     The asset portion of the balance sheet provides liquidity primarily through loan principal repayments, maturities of investment securities and occasional sales of various assets. Short-term investments such as federal funds sold, securities purchased under agreements to resell and maturing interest-bearing deposits with other banks are additional sources of liquidity funding. As of December 31, 2003 and 2002, free securities stood at 41.4% or $529.1 million and 42.6% or $633.4 million, respectively.

     The liability portion of the balance sheet provides liquidity through various customers' interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing deposit accounts. Purchases of federal funds, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other short-term borrowings are additional sources of liquidity and represent the Company's incremental borrowing capacity. These sources of liquidity are short-term in nature and are used as necessary to fund asset growth and meet short-term liquidity needs. The Company's short-term borrowing capacity includes a line of credit with the Federal Home Loan Bank of over $264 million and borrowing capacity at the Federal Reserve's Discount Window in excess of $100 million. As of December 31, 2003, the Company's core deposits were $2.905 billion and Net Wholesale Funding stood at $620.9 million.

TABLE 5. LIQUIDITY RATIOS

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (dollars in thousands)                                                                       2003         2002
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Free Securities                                                                             41.40%       42.60%
 Free Securities-Net Wholesale Funds/Core Deposits                                           10.90%       13.20%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Wholesale Funding Diversification
    Certificate of Deposits > $100,000 (Excluding Public Funds)                               6.80%        7.50%
    Brokered Certificate of Deposits                                                          0.60%        0.60%
    Public Fund Certificate of Deposits                                                    $143,250     $141,410
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Net Wholesale Funding Maturity Concentrations
    Overnight                                                                                 0.00%        0.00%
    Up to 3 Months                                                                            3.60%        4.10%
    Up to 6 Months                                                                            1.50%        2.60%
    Over 6 Months                                                                             6.00%        5.60%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Net Wholesale Funds                                                                       $620,890     $644,293
 Core Deposits                                                                           $2,904,775   $2,810,748
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contractual Obligations

     Table 6 shows all significant contractual obligations of the Company at December 31, 2003 according to payments due by period.

TABLE 6. CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Payment due by period
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(dollars in thousands)                                       Less than     1-3          3-5      More than
                                                  Total       1 year      years        years      5 years
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certificates of Deposit                         $1,112,387   $470,348    $330,758    $311,256         $25
Short-Term Debt Obligations                        159,496    159,496           0           0           0
Long-Term Debt Obligations                          50,428        155          15      10,022      40,236
Operating Lease Obligations                         15,261      2,811       3,898       2,140       6,412
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Asset/Liability Management

      The asset liability management (ALM) process at the Company consists of quantifying, analyzing and controlling interest rate risk (IRR) to maintain stability in net interest income (NII) under varying interest rate environments. The principal objective of ALM is to maximize net interest income while operating within acceptable limits established for interest rate risk and maintaining adequate levels of liquidity.

     The Company's net income is dependent on its net interest income. Net interest income is susceptible to IRR to the degree that interest-bearing liabilities mature or reprice on a different basis than interest-earning assets. This timing difference represents a potential risk to the Company's future earnings. When interest-bearing liabilities mature or reprice more quickly than interest-earning assets in a given period, a significant increase in market rates of interest could adversely affect NII. Similarly, when interest-earning assets mature or reprice more quickly than interest-bearing liabilities, falling interest rates could result in a decrease in NII.

Page 30 of 37

     Management and the Asset/Liability Committee (ALCO) directs the Company's IRR management through a Risk Management policy that is designed to produce a stable net interest margin (NIM) in periods of interest rate fluctuation. In adjusting the Company's asset/liability position, the Board and management attempt to direct the Company's IRR while enhancing the NIM. At times depending on the general level of interest rates, the relationship between long-term and short- term interest rates, market conditions and competitive factors, the Board and management may determine to increase its NIM. Not withstanding the Company's IRR management activities, the potential for changing interest rates is an uncertainty that can have an adverse effect on net income.

     Interest sensitive assets and liabilities are those that are subject to maturity or repricing within a given time period. Management also administers this sensitivity through the development and implementation of lending, funding and pricing strategies designed to achieve NII performance goals while minimizing the potential negative variations in NII under different interest rate scenarios. Additionally, securities portfolio management is fully integrated into the interest rate scenarios. Investment strategies, including portfolio durations and cash flows, are formulated and continually adjusted during implementation to assure attainment of objectives in the most effective manner.

     The Company's results of operations and net portfolio values remain vulnerable to increases in interest rates and to fluctuations in the difference between long-term and short-term interest rates. The Company also controls interest rate risk reductions by emphasizing non-certificate depositor accounts. The Board and management believe that such accounts carry a lower interest cost than certificate accounts and that a material portion of such accounts may be more resistant to changes in interest rates.

     One approach used to quantify interest rate risk is the NII at risk analysis. NII at risk measures the risk of a decline in earnings due to potential short-term and long-term changes in interest rates. Table 7 presents an analysis of the Company's IRR as measured by the estimated changes in NII resulting from an instantaneous and sustained parallel shift in the yield curve (+ or - 300 basis points, measured in 100 basis point increments) at December 31, 2003 and 2002. Current interest rate levels make it improbable that rates would fall in excess of 100 basis points; therefore, those scenarios are not presented. Table 7 indicates that the Company's level of NII declines under rising and falling rates, except in an increase of 100 basis points, which produces a slight rise in NII. Furthermore, NII declines to a lesser degree in a rising rate environment versus a falling interest rate environment.

TABLE 7. NET INTEREST INCOME (te) AT RISK

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Change in                      Estimated Increase
                                               Interest                       (Decrease) in NII
                                                Rates                        December 31, 2003
                                            --------------                   -------------------
                                            (basis points)

                                                  - 100                             -4.9%
                                                 Stable                              0.0%
                                                  + 100                              1.0%
                                                  + 200                             -0.9%
                                                  + 300                             -3.3%

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 31 of 37

TABLE 8. INTEREST RATE SENSITIVITY

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  December 31, 2003
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Within       6 months     1 to 3        > 3       Non-Sensitive
                                               Overnight   6 months     to 1 year    years        years          Balance      Total
                                               ---------   ----------  ----------   ---------   ----------   -------------- --------
                                                                            (amounts in thousands)
Assets
   Securities                                         $0    $222,439   $184,857    $415,614     $455,139           $0    $1,278,049
   Federal funds sold & Short-term investments   $11,138          $0       $150          $0           $0           $0       $11,288
   Loans                                         $31,477  $1,190,556   $213,713    $514,248     $498,650           $0    $2,448,644
   Other assets                                       $0          $0         $0          $0           $0     $412,377      $412,377
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total Assets                                $42,615  $1,412,995   $398,720    $929,862     $923,789     $412,377    $4,150,358
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities
   Interest bearing transaction deposits              $0    $811,256   $212,119    $612,678      $62,661           $0    $1,698,714
   Time deposits                                      $0    $351,459   $118,889    $330,758     $311,281           $0    $1,112,387
   Non-interest bearing deposits                      $0    $310,781   $133,810    $188,406       $3,748           $0      $636,745
   Federal funds purchased                            $0          $0         $0          $0           $0           $0            $0
   Borrowings                                   $159,496         $78        $77         $15      $50,258           $0      $209,924
   Other liabilities                                  $0          $0         $0          $0           $0      $57,707       $57,707
   Stocldiolders' Equity                              $0     $37,067         $0          $0     $397,814           $0      $434,881
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total Liabilities & Equity                 $159,496   $1,510,641  $464,895  $1,131,857     $825,762      $57,707    $4,150,358
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest sensitivity gap                       ($116,881)    ($97,646) ($66,175)  ($201,995)    $128,027     $354,670
cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap       ($116,881)   ($214,527)($280,702)  ($482,697)   ($354,670)           -
Cumulative interest rate
   sensitivity gap as a percentage of
   total earning assets                           (3.0)%      (6.0)%   (8.0)%     (13.0)%        (10.0)%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Table 8 contains a static gap report, which measures the net amounts of assets or liabilities that reprice in the same time period over the remaining lives of those assets and liabilities. This report displays the Company's gap position as liability sensitive; however, this static gap report does not take into consideration the strategic options available to management designed to maximize NII over time.

     Certain assumptions in assessing IRR were employed in preparing data for the Company included in the preceding tables (Tables 7 & 8). These assumptions relate to interest rates, loan and deposit growth, pricing, loan prepayment speeds, deposit decay rates, securities portfolio strategy and market value of certain assets under the various interest rate scenarios. Even if interest rates change in the designated amounts, there can be no assurance that the Company's assets and liabilities would perform as anticipated. In addition, a change in U. S. Treasury rates in the designated amounts accompanied by a change in the shape of the U. S. Treasury yield curve would cause significantly different changes to the NII than indicated above.

     As with any method of measuring interest rate risk, certain shortcomings are inherent in the methods of analysis presented. For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods to repricing, they may react in different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Also, the interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market interest rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in market rates. Additionally, certain assets, such as adjustable rate loans, have features which restrict changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset. Finally, the ability of many borrowers to service their debt may decrease in the event of an interest rate increase. The Company considers all of these factors in monitoring its exposure to interest rate risk.

Capital Resources

     Common stockholder's equity increased $10.3 million during 2003 and stood at $397.8 million at December 31, 2003. The increase from 2002 was due primarily to a $38.7 million increase in retained earnings and was partially offset by a $14.8 million decrease in the unrealized gain on securities available for sale, a $1.6 million increase in the unfunded pension liability and a $10.9 million increase in treasury stock related to the execution of the Company's ongoing stock buyback program. Dividends paid by the Company to common stockholder's totaled $13.6 million, or $0.88 per common share. This represents an increase of $0.08 per common share over 2002. The Company also paid dividends totaling $2.7 million, or $1.60 per share to preferred stockholders in 2003 and 2002. Preferred stock totaled $37.067 million at December 31, 2003 and totaled $37.069 million at December 31, 2002.

     On January 5, 2004, the Company announced that it has elected to call for redemption all the outstanding shares of the Company's preferred stock on February 4, 2004. The total redemption price, including accrued dividends to the redemption date is $20.15 per share. Pursuant to the terms of the preferred stock, the redemption is contingent on the Company's common stock trading at $37.50 or above for 20 consecutive trading days beginning after January 1, 2004. The closing price of the Company's common stock on January 2, 2004 was $55.87. Stockholders may convert each share of the preferred stock into 0.6666 shares of the Company common stock at any time on or before 5:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, January 28, 2004.

Page 32 of 37

     On July 12, 2002, the Company's Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock split in the form of a 50% stock dividend. The additional shares were payable on August 5, 2002 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 23, 2002. All information concerning earnings per share, dividends per share, and numbers of shares outstanding have been adjusted to give effect to this split.

     Common stockholders' equity at December 31, 2003 reflects a balance of $8.0 million (net of tax) relating to the unfunded portion of the Company's pension plan. The principal cause of this underfunded pension liability is that the actual return on plan assets in recent years has been less than expected due to overall market conditions and the discount rate used to measure the liability has declined consistent with the recent trend in interest rates. The Company changed the discount rate on the obligations from 6.75% at December 31, 2002, to 6.25% at December 31, 2003 to reflect current market conditions.

     A strong capital position, which is vital to the continued profitability of the Company, also promotes depositor and investor confidence and provides a solid foundation for the future growth of the Company. Composite ratings by the respective regulatory authorities of the Company and the Banks establish minimum capital levels. Currently, the Company and the Banks are required to maintain minimum Tier 1 leverage ratios of at least 3%, subject to an increase up to 5%, depending on the composite rating. At December 31, 2003, the Company's and the Banks' capital balances were in excess of current regulatory minimum requirements. As indicated in Table 9 below, the regulatory capital ratios of the Company and the Banks far exceed the minimum required ratios, and the Banks have been categorized as "well capitalized" in the most recent notice received from their regulators.

     The Company continued the execution of the common stock buyback program, which provides for the repurchase of up to 10% of the Company's outstanding common stock. This program was announced in July 2000 and authorized the repurchase of approximately 1,660,000 shares of the Company's outstanding stock. Over the course of 2003, the Company purchased 264,087 shares of common stock at an aggregate price of $12.9 million, or approximately $48.75 per share. In 2002, the Company purchased 438,942 shares of common stock at an aggregate price of $19.7 million, or approximately $44.92 per share. As of December 31, 2003, the total number of common shares purchased under the current stock buyback program was approximately 1,109,000, or 6.8%, of the outstanding common shares at June 30, 2000.

TABLE 9. RISK-BASED CAPITAL AND CAPITAL RATIOS

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (dollars in thousands)                                  2003             2002            2001           2000            1999
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Tier 1 regulatory capital                             $378,417        $354,535        $345,589        $302,094        $279,659
  Tier 2 regulatory capital                               36,750          29,544          30,071          24,416          22,447
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total regulatory capital                          $415,167        $384,079        $375,660        $326,510        $302,106
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Risk-weighted assets                                $2,662,098      $2,383,423      $2,387,945    $ $1,949,085      $1,792,515
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Ratios
     Leverage (Tier 1 capital to average assets)           9.29%           9.19%           8.50%          10.24%           9.61%
     Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets               14.21%          14.88%          14.47%          15.50%          15.60%
     Total capital to risk-weighted assets                15.60%          16.11%          15.73%          16.75%          16.85%
     Common stockholders' equity to total assets           9.29%           9.75%           9.99%          11.33%          10.38%
     Tangible common equity to total assets                8.32%           8.45%           8.61%          10.11%           9.02%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Results of Operations

Net Interest Income

     Net interest income (te) of $167.4 million was recorded for the year 2003, an increase of $1.2 million, or 1%, from 2002. The Company also experienced an increase $25.3 million, or 18%, from 2001 to 2002. The factors contributing to the changes in net interest income for 2003, 2002 and 2001 are presented in Tables 10 and 11. Table 10 is an analysis of the components of the Company's average balance sheets, level of interest income and expense and the resulting earning asset yields and liability rates. Table 11 breaks down the overall changes in the level of net interest income into rate and volume components. Net interest income (te) in 2003 was primarily impacted by increased average earning assets, which were funded primarily with deposit growth. Net interest income (te) in 2002 was impacted by a higher level of average earning assets and an expanded net interest margin (te).

     Average earning assets increased $224 million or 6% during 2003 mainly from average loan growth of $277 million, or 14%. The increase in average earning assets was due, in part, to and was funded primarily with core interest-bearing transaction accounts. Average interest bearing deposits increased $229 million, or 9%. Average securities decreased $27 million, or 2%, over 2002. The net interest margin (te) narrowed to 4.45% in 2003 from 4.70% in 2002. The 25 basis points narrowing in the net interest margin (te) resulted mainly from the overall yield on loans, securities and short-term investments falling more rapidly than total funding costs.

Page 33 of 37

     Average earning assets, increased $406 million, or 13%, from 2001 to 2002. The majority of these funds were invested in the securities portfolio, which increased $274 million, or 22%, while average loans increased $169 million, or 9% from 2001 to 2002. The overall increase in average earning assets was funded primarily by growth in average deposits of $355 million, or 13%, from 2001 to 2002.

     The Company's net interest margin (te) for 2002 was 4.70%, an increase of 20 basis points from the 4.50% recorded in 2001. The earning asset yield (te) narrowed 101 basis points from 7.74% in 2001 to 6.73% in 2002. The Company's loan yield decreased 103 basis points from 2001, while the yield on the securities portfolio was down a total of 79 basis points. The yield on short-term investments decreased 267 basis points. All of the aforementioned declines in earning asset yield were related to the overall reduction in the interest rate environment that occurred in 2002. The Company's total cost of funds fell 120 basis points, while the cost of interest-bearing deposits fell 157 basis points from 2001 to 2002. Within interest-bearing deposits, the cost of interest-bearing transaction deposits fell 129 basis points as the Company aggressively reduced the cost of savings accounts, NOW accounts and money market investment accounts. The cost of time deposits was down 150 basis points from 2001.

TABLE 10. SUMMARY OF AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS
                    NET INTEREST INCOME (te) & INTEREST RATES

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(dollars in thousands)                                 2003                              2002                       2001
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Average                          Average                        Average
                                         Balance      Interest    Rate    Balance     Interest   Rate    Balance     Interest  Rate
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
EARNING ASSETS
   Loans (te)                            $2,238,245   $161,850    7.23%  $1,961,299   $159,453   8.13%  $1,792,559   $164,183  9.16%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   U.S. Treasury securities                  29,575        948    3.20%      48,423      1,605   3.31%      53,930      3,023  5.61%
   U.S. agency securities                   466,809     19,162    4.10%     530,704     25,468   4.80%     447,525     24,564  5.49%
   CMOS                                     440,705     14,905    3.38%     560,264     26,636   4.75%     338,511     19,428  5.74%
   Mortgage-backed securities               302,393     12,558    4.15%      95,158      5,618   5.90%     130,122      8,251  6.34%
   Obligations of states and
      political subdivisions (te)           198,599     14,045    7.07%     222,037     15,926   7.17%     218,196     15,700  7.20%
   FHLB stock and
      other corporate securities             28,075      1,215    4.33%      36,988      2,085   5.64%      31,790      1,869  5.88%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total investment in securities   1,466,156     62,833    4.29%   1,493,574     77,338   5.18%   1,220,074     72,835  5.97%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Federal funds sold and
      short-term investments                 57,986        637    1.10%      83,427      1,452   1.74%     119,832      5,285  4.41%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total earning assets (te)        3,762,387   $225,320    5.99%   3,538,300   $238,243   6.73%   3,132,465   $242,303  7.74%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NON-EARNING ASSETS
   Other assets                             384,953                         352,533                        316,066
   Allowance for loan losses                (35,391)                        (33,135)                       (32,487)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total assets                     $4,111,949                      $3,857,698                     $3,416,044
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LIABILITIES, PREFERRED STOCK AND COMMON STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES
   Interest-bearing transaction deposits $1,303,441    $10,461    0.80%  $1,126,594   $15,678   1.39%     $902,582    $24,206  2.68%
   Time deposits                            980,703     34,429    3.51%     971,457    39,532   4.07%    1,020,249     56,821  5.57%
   Public funds                             518,613      9,301    1.79%     475,521    12,175   2.56%      334,531     13,498  4.03%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total interest-bearing deposits     2,802,757     54,191    1.93%   2,573,572    67,385   2.62%    2,257,362     94,525  4.19%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Customer repurchase agreements           177,535      1,446    0.81%     173,084     2,214   1.28%      159,511      5,241  3.29%
   Other interest-bearing liabilities        56,672      2,324    4.10%      54,798     2,454   4.48%       34,421      1,596  4.64%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total interest-bearing liabilities  3,036,964     57,961    1.91%   2,801,454    72,053   2.57%    2,451,294    101,362  4.14/6
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NON-INTEREST BEARING LIABILITIES, PREFERED STOCK AND COMMON STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
   Demand deposits                          604,448                         601,374                       562,989
   Other liabilities                         37,434                          28,980                        25,931
   Preferred stockholders' equity            37,069                          37,069                        16,733
   Common stockholders' equity              396,034                         388,821                       359,097
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total liabilities, preferred stock &
        common stockholders' equity       $4,111,949               1.54% $3,857,698             2.04%  $3,416,044             3.24%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Net interest income and margin (te)             $167,359     4.45%             $166,190   4.70%               $140,941  4.50%
      Net earning assets and spread         $725,423               4.08%   $736,846             4.16%    $681,171             3.60%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 34 of 37

TABLE 11. SUMMARY OF CHANGES IN NET INTEREST INCOME (te)

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(dollars in thousands)                                        2003 Compared to 2002               2002 Compared to 2001
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Due to                             Due to
                                                              Change in           Total           Change in           Total
                                                         ------------------      Increase      ------------------    Increase
                                                         Volume       Rate      (Decrease)     Volume     Rate      (Decrease)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEREST INCOME (te)
   Loans                                                $15,467    ($13,071)       $2,396     $13,067    ($17,797)    ($4,730)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   U.S. Treasury securities                                (606)        (51)         (657)       (284)     (1,134)     (1,418)
   U.S. agency securities                                (2,867)     (3,439)       (6,306)        846          58         904
   CMOs                                                  (4,987)     (6,745)      (11,732)      6,152       1,056       7,208
   Mortgage-backed securities                             6,352         589         6,941      (2,100)       (533)     (2,633)
   Obligations of states and
     political subdivisions (te)                           (377)     (1,504)       (1,881)         62         164         226
   FHLB stock and
     other corporate securities                            (443)       (427)         (870)        296         (80)        216
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total investment in securities                    (2,928)    (11,577)      (14,505)      4,972        (469)      4,503
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Federal funds and short-term investments                (369)       (446)         (815)     (1,281)     (2,552)     (3,833)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total interest income (te)                       $12,170    ($25,094)     ($12,924)    $16,758    ($20,818)    ($4,060)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEREST EXPENSE
   Interest-bearing transaction deposits                ($2,179)     $7,396        $5,217      $5,024    ($13,552)    ($8,528)
   Time deposits                                           (373)      5,476         5,103      (2,607)    (14,682)    (17,289)
   Public Funds                                          (1,026)      3,901         2,875       4,576      (5,899)     (1,323)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total interest-bearing deposits                   (3,578)     16,773        13,195       6,993     (34,133)    (27,140)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Customer repurchase agreements                           (56)        824           768         413      (3,440)     (3,027)
   Other interest-bearing liabilities                        25         104           129         937         (79)        858
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total interest expense                           ($3,609)    $17,701       $14,092      $8,343    ($37,652)   ($29,309)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Change in net interest income (te)                $8,561     ($7,393)       $1,168      $8,415     $16,834     $25,249
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Provision for Loan Losses

     The provision for loan losses was $15.2 million for 2003, a decrease of $3.3 million from 2002's level of $18.5 million. The decrease from 2002 was as primarily due to lower net charge-offs. Net charge-offs decreased $4.6 million from 2002 to 2003 and were $13.1 million for 2003. The provision for loan losses increased $9.4 million from 2001's level of $9.1 million to $18.5 million in 2002. The increase from 2001 occurred as the Company completed the process of recognizing problem commercial/real estate credits resulting from the Lamar acquisition. The Company's allowance for loan losses as a percent of period-end loans was 1.50% at December 31, 2003, a decrease of 15 basis points from the 1.65% at December 31, 2002.

Non-Interest Income

     Table 12 presents a three-year analysis of the components of non-interest income. Overall, non-interest income of $74.8 million was reported in 2003, as compared to $71.6 million for 2002 and $54.3 million for 2001. This represented an increase of $3.2 million, or 4%, from 2002 to 2003 and an increase of $17.3 million, or 32% from 2001 to 2002.

     Significant increases in non-interest income in 2003 over 2002 were reflected in insurance commissions and fees, credit card merchant discount fees, other fees and income and securities transactions gains. Less significant increases were reflected in service charges on deposit accounts, trust fees and ATM fees. Partially offsetting the increased non-interest income when compared to 2002 was the decrease in investment and annuity fees and secondary mortgage market operations.

     Insurance commissions and fees increased $438,000, or 19%, from 2002 to 2003 primarily due to continuing efforts on behalf of the Company to expand the wealth management line of business. Credit card merchant discount fees increased $359,000, or 11%, when compared to the previous year primarily due to an increase in interchange income and a reduction in processing costs. Other fees and income increased $1.8 million, or 35%, from 2002 to 2003 primarily due to recording income ($1.2 million) on bank owned life insurance. The investment in these life insurance policies totaled approximately $51 million at December 31, 2003. The 2003 level of non-interest income includes a pre-tax net securities gain of $1.7 million, related to the sale of securities available for sale with near-term maturity dates. Investment and annuity fees decreased $1.1 million, or 23%, from 2002 to 2003. During 2003, the

Page 35 of 37

Company recorded a mortgage servicing rights temporary impairment write-down of $850,000, which is the primary factor that secondary mortgage market operations decreased $681,000, or 28% from 2002 to 2003. The Company maintains a mortgage servicing portfolio of approximately $417 million and must periodically perform a valuation of those servicing rights. The $850,000 non-cash pretax write-down was required due to an increase in the expected speed of mortgage loan prepayments resulting form the current low interest rate environment. Further impairment of the mortgage servicing rights portfolio is possible in future quarters and is dependent on mortgage prepayment speeds. Somewhat mitigating this issue for the Company is a recent decision to begin selling mortgage servicing rights versus retaining these rights in our servicing portfolio pending a change in the interest rate environment.

     Significant increases in non-interest income from 2001 were reflected in service charges on deposit accounts, trust income, investment and annuity fees and insurance commissions and fees, secondary mortgage market operations and other fees and income. Less significant changes were reflected in credit card income (primarily merchant discount fees) and ATM fees.

     Service charges on deposit accounts increased $11.8 million, or 39%, from 2001 to 2002. The vast majority of this increase related to service charge income derived from the implementation of a series of initiatives concerning pricing and processing for service charges on deposit accounts. Trust income increased $1.1 million, or 18% from 2001 to 2002. Investment and annuity fees and insurance commissions and fees were $1.3 million and $.9 million, respectively or 37% and 69%, respectively, higher in 2002. These increases occurred as a result of ongoing efforts to build and expand the Company's wealth management line of business. Fees related to the retention of mortgage servicing rights were $2.4 million in 2002. Beginning in second quarter 2001, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Hancock Mortgage Company, began selling 85% to 90% of certain residential mortgage loans originated by that subsidiary in the secondary market to investors where the servicing rights are retained. Higher volumes of mortgage originations contributed to the 54% increase in secondary mortgage market operations income over 2001. ATM fees were up $0.4 million and largely consist of surcharges on foreign (non-Hancock) cardholders that utilize Hancock-owned ATM machines.

TABLE 12. NON-INTEREST INCOME

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (dollars in thousands)                              2003             % change             2002        % change          2003
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Service charges on deposit accounts               $42,544                1%             $42,246           39%         $30,408
   Trust fees                                          7,724                2%               7,603           18%           6,454
   Investment and annuity fees                         3,615              -23%               4,722           37%           3,444
   Insurance commissions and fees                      2,750               19%               2,312           69%           1,371
   Credit card merchant discount fees                  3,643               11%               3,284           20%           2,734
   ATM fees                                            3,994                6%               3,771           13%           3,327
   Secondary mortgage market operations                1,728              -28%               2,409           54%           1,560
   Other fees and income                               7,091               35%               5,242            4%           5,028
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total other non-interest income                  73,089                2%              71,589           32%          54,326
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Securities transactions                            1,667            41575%                   4          -78%              18
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total non-interest income                    $74,756                4%             $71,593           32%         $54,344
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-Interest Expense

     Table 13 presents an analysis of the components of non-interest expense for the years 2003, 2002 and 2001. The Company's level of operating expenses increased $2.0 million, or 1%, from 2002 to 2003 and $16.6 million, or 14% from 2001 to 2002, inclusive a $3.6 million reduction in amortization of purchased intangibles in accordance with the Company's adoption of SFAS No. 142 on January 1, 2002. The Company also had $670,000 of pretax merger-related expenses in 2001, which was related to the acquisition of Lamar Capital Corporation. Excluding the impact of not amortizing purchased intangibles, operating expenses increased $20.2 million or 17%, from 2001 to 2002.

     In 2003, Operating expenses increased $2.0 million, or 1%, over 2002. Increases were reflected in personnel expense ($4.1 million or 5%), occupancy expense ($750,000 or 9%), equipment expense ($295,000 or 3%) and amortization of intangibles ($398,000 or 53%). However, these increases were offset by a substantial decrease in other operating expenses of $3.6 million or 8%). Other operating expenses primarily decreased as a result of decreases in franchise taxes ($1.5 million or 34%), legal and professional services expense ($1.1 million or 22%) and foreclosed real estate expense ($884,000 or 34%).

     Personnel expense increased $9.7 million, or 14% from 2001 to 2002 due, in part, to the full year impact of the Lamar acquisition, as well as an increase in full-time equivalent (FTE) headcount of 54. Less significant increases were reflected in occupancy expense ($361,000 or 4%) and equipment expense ($960,000 or 12%).

Page 36 of 37

     Other operating expense (not including amortization of purchased intangibles) increased $9.2 million, or 27%, from 2001 to 2002. Significant increases, which, in part, were related to a full year impact related to the Lamar acquisition, were reflected in ad valorem and franchise taxes (59%), legal and professional fees (37%), advertising expense (34%), training expenses (40%) and foreclosed real estate expense.

TABLE 13. NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (dollars in thousands)                                         2003     % change         2002        % change         2001
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Employee compensation                                        $65,597         6%          $62,152        14%        $54,524
 Employee benefits                                             15,812         4%           15,148        16%         13,098
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total personnel expense                                    81,409         5%           77,300        14%         67,622
 Equipment and data processing expense                         16,255         4%           15,689        13%         13,944
 Net occupancy expense                                          9,286         9%            8,536         4%          8,175
 Postage and communications                                     8,352         6%            7,908         1%          7,850
 Ad valorem and franchise taxes                                 2,907       -34%            4,376        59%          2,759
 Legal and professional services                                3,718       -22%            4,762        37%          3,467
 Stationery and supplies                                        1,724       -16%            2,054         9%          1,882
 Amortization of intangible assets                              1,148        53%              750        -83%         4,349
 Advertising                                                    4,381        14%            3,848        34%          2,871
 Deposit insurance and regulatory fees                            867        -2%              884         1%            879
 Training expenses                                                519        -9%              569         40%           407
 Other real estate owned expense                                1,706       -34%            2,590         NA           (173)
 Other expense                                                  7,936       -12%            8,992         18%         7,620
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total non-interest expense                                 140,208         1%          138,258         14%       121,652
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 37 of 37

EX-31

EXHIBIT 31


RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) CERTIFICATIONS

I, George A. Schloegel, certify that:

     1.  I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Hancock Holding Company;

     2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
         state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
         such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

     3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this
         report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
         flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

     4.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining
         disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
         internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for
         the registrant and have:

              (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and
              procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to
              the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
              entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

              (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over
              financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding
              the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
              purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

              (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and
              presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and
              procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

              (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial
              reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth
              fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably
              likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

     5.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation
         of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of
         the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

              (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal
              control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's
              ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

              (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a
              significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


March 11, 2004                            By:  /s/ George A. Schloegel
- --------------------                         ----------------------------------------
     Date                                    George A. Schloegel
                                             Vice-Chairman of the Board &
                                             Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT 31


RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) CERTIFICATIONS

I, Carl J. Chaney, certify that:

     1.  I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Hancock Holding Company;

     2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
         state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
         such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

     3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this
         report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
         flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

     4.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining
         disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
         internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for
         the registrant and have:

              (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and
              procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to
              the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
              entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

              (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over
              financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding
              the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
              purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

              (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and
              presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and
              procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

              (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial
              reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth
              fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably
              likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

     5.  The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation
         of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of
         the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

              (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal
              control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's
              ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

              (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a
              significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


 March 11, 2004                             By:   /s/ Carl J. Chaney
- -----------------------                        ----------------------------------------
       Date                                    Carl J. Chaney
                                               Executive Vice President &
                                               Chief Financial Officer

EX-32

SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION

      The undersigned hereby certifies in his capacity as an officer of HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY (the "Company") that the Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K for the periods ended December 31, 2003 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in such report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Company at the end of such periods and the results of operations of the Company for such periods.

 March 11, 2004                             /s/ George A. Schloegel
- -------------------                     ------------------------------
     Date                                George A. Schloegel
                                         Vice-Chairman of the Board &
                                         Chief Executive Officer

      A signed original of this written statement required by Section 1350 has been provided to Hancock Holding Company and will be retained by Hancock Holding Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION

      The undersigned hereby certifies in his capacity as an officer of HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY (the "Company") that the Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K for the periods ended December 31, 2003 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in such report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Company at the end of such periods and the results of operations of the Company for such periods.

  March 11, 2004                           /s/ Carl J. Chaney
- -------------------                     ------------------------------
     Date                                Carl J. Chaney
                                         Executive Vice President &
                                         Chief Financial Officer

      A signed original of this written statement required by Section 1350 has been provided to Hancock Holding Company and will be retained by Hancock Holding Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.