GULFPORT, Miss., July 29, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- During the toughest national economy since the 1930s, a 110-year pledge to strength, stability, and integrity has again earned Hancock Holding Company (Nasdaq:HBHC) -- parent company of Hancock Bank -- a top spot among America's best banks.
In the August 2009 edition, U.S. Banker magazine names Hancock 12th on a roster of the top-100 mid-tier banks ranked by a three-year average of return on equity (ROE). Hancock is the only bank headquartered in the central Gulf South listed as a top-25 performer.
U.S. Banker tapped Hancock 4th among the top-25 banks in 2007 -- again, the only bank based in the Gulf South on that roll. The magazine's latest recognition follows a series of national accolades that place Hancock among the nation's 100 Most Trustworthy Companies, according to Forbes.com; the Top 10 Best Banks as rated by Bank Director magazine for two years in a row, and ABA Banking Journal's Top 25 Banks.
In June 2009, BauerFinancial Services, Inc., also recommended Hancock as one of the strongest, safest U.S. banks for the 79th consecutive quarter. Bank leaders say these ongoing kudos stem from Hancock's founding promise to deliver shareholder value and financial soundness to Gulf South customers.
"Hancock Bank was established in 1899 during a recession to help people survive and succeed. The company's solid business practices, proactive risk management, and history of supporting strategic community development remain core to our operating philosophy. Those values have sustained Hancock through the best and worst times in our country's history," said Carl J. Chaney, Hancock's president and chief executive officer.
Considered a key financial performance indicator, ROE measures how well a company earns profits on behalf of its shareholders. The U.S. Banker article defines mid-tier banks as institutions with assets between $2 billion and $10 billion. Hancock Holding Company has assets of approximately $7.05 billion.
"We're honored to receive U.S. Banker's rating for Hancock's three-year average ROE. It's a great privilege and responsibility to serve our customers according to ideals that have made Hancock a value for stockholders, a catalyst for smart economic growth, and a safe place for customers to deposit their money for more than a century. We are very proud of the nearly 2,000 associates who keep Hancock strong, independent, and able to say no to government bailouts," added fellow CEO and Chief Operating Officer John M. Hairston.
Hancock Holding Company is the parent company of Hancock Bank Mississippi, Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Hancock Bank of Florida, and Hancock Bank of Alabama. Hancock operates 157 banking and financial services offices and 137 ATMs across a four-state, I-10 corridor market. Bank subsidiaries include Hancock Investment Services, Inc., Hancock Insurance Agency and its divisions of Ross King Walker and J. Everett Eaves, and Harrison Finance Company.
Additional corporate information and e-banking are available at www.hancockbank.com.
The Hancock Holding Company logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2758
The Hancock Bank logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2759