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                     Exhibit 99 to Hancock Holding Company Form 8-K

                        HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    FOR MORE INFORMATION
- ---------------------    --------------------
July 18, 2000            George A. Schloegel, Chief Executive Officer
                         (228) 868-4706
                         Carl J. Chaney, Chief Financial Officer
                         (228) 868-4727 or 1-800-522-6542 (Ext. 4727)


            HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY ANNOUNCES STOCK BUY-BACK PROGRAM

GULFPORT,  MS (July 18, 2000) - Hancock Holding  Company  President Leo W. Seal,
Jr., today  announced Board of Directors'  approval of a stock buy-back  program
allowing the company to repurchase up to 10% of  Hancock&'s  outstanding  common
stock.  The  actual  number of shares to be  repurchased  and the timing of such
purchases will be determined by the market  conditions and management  decision.
The shares  purchased  can be purchased  in open market or privately  negotiated
transactions.  Shares  purchased under this program will be held in treasury and
used  for  general  corporate  purposes  as  determined  by  Hancock's  Board of
Directors.

In making  this  decision,  Seal said,  "The Board of  Directors  and  executive
management  believe it is  appropriate,  at this time, to use surplus capital to
repurchase shares of its common stock."


Hancock Holding Company, the parent company of Hancock Bank (Mississippi) and
Hancock Bank of Louisiana, has assets of $3 billion. Founded in 1899, Hancock
Bank stands as one of the strongest, safest financial institutions in the United
States according to Veribanc, Inc. Bauer Financial Reports, Inc., also awarded
Hancock Bank five stars - the highest rating possible - for 19 consecutive
quarters. Hancock Bank operates 92 full-service offices and 130 automated
teller machines throughout South Mississippi and Louisiana. Bank subsidiaries
include Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency, Hancock
Mortgage Corporation and Harrison Finance Company.


Readers can learn more about Hancock Bank at www.hancockbank.com.
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