<ARTICLE>                               9
<LEGEND>

Exhibit 27
Selected Financial Data


THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY'S SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                  SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                            151,086
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>              2,755
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                   22,500
<TRADING-ASSETS>                        0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>       607,370
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>            429,551
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>              435,258
<LOANS>                         1,652,151
<ALLOWANCE>                       (27,029)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  3,002,162
<DEPOSITS>                      2,485,251
<SHORT-TERM>                      156,214
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                24,087
<LONG-TERM>                         2,315
<COMMON>                           36,872
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0
<PREFERRED>                             0
<OTHER-SE>                        297,716
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>  3,002,162
<INTEREST-LOAN>                    71,487
<INTEREST-INVEST>                  49,979
<INTEREST-OTHER>                    1,516
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                  109,819
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                 62,987
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 68,842
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>              92,472
<LOAN-LOSSES>                       7,241
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                      5
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                    83,563
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    40,419
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>         40,419
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         0
<CHANGES>                               0
<NET-INCOME>                       27,595
<EPS-BASIC>                             0
<EPS-DILUTED>                        2.54
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                       4.72
<LOANS-NON>                        12,123
<LOANS-PAST>                        7,790
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                        0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                         0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                   25,713
<CHARGE-OFFS>                       7,679
<RECOVERIES>                        1,754
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                  27,029
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>               27,029
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                     0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>             2,000