HANCOCK HOLDING CO
10-K, 1998-03-31
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                                       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, 1997 .

       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


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

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

Registrant's telephone number, including area code      (228) 868-4715

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. 
                             ------

         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 90 days. Yes X No





<PAGE>



                                   Continued

The  aggregate  market value of the voting stock held by  non-affiliates  of the
registrant as of January 2, 1998, was approximately  $539,171,000.  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, 1997, the registrant had outstanding  10,916,770  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, 1997 are  incorporated  by  reference  into 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 19, 1998, filed by
the Registrant on January 20, 1998, are  incorporated by reference into Part III
of this report.



                                                  Page 2 of 50

<PAGE>




                                                     CONTENTS


PART I

Item 1.   Business                                                             4
Item 2.   Properties                                                          38
Item 3.   Legal Proceedings                                                   39
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security
            Holders                                                           39

PART II

Item 5.   Market for the Registrant's Common Stock
            and Related Stockholder Matters                                   39
Item 6.   Selected Financial Data                                             39
Item 7.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of
            Financial Condition and Results of Operations                     39
Item 7a.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk          40
Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data                         42
Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
            on Accounting and Financial Disclosure                            43

PART III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the
            Registrant                                                        43
Item 11.  Executive Compensation                                              43
Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
            Owners and Management                                             43
Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions                      43

PART IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and
            Reports on Form 8-K                                               44

                                                  Page 3 of 50

<PAGE>



                                   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.  The Company operates 82
banking offices and over 100 automated  teller machines  ("ATM's") 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 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,  1997,  the  Company  had total  assets of $2.5  billion  and  employed on a
full-time basis 834 persons in Mississippi and 434 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  concentrating  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.  Hancock Bank MS currently has the
largest  market  share  in each of the  four  counties  in  which  it  operates:
Harrison,  Hancock,  Jackson and Pearl  River.  With  assets of $1.6  billion at
December 31, 1997, Hancock Bank MS currently ranks as the fourth largest bank in
Mississippi.

                                                  Page 4 of 50

<PAGE>



        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 $.9 billion at December
31, 1997,  Hancock Bank LA is the largest bank headquartered in East Baton Rouge
Parish.

        In November 1996, the Company  expanded the Baton Rouge market area into
the Hammond  area,  where many of the people who work in Baton Rouge live,  with
the  acquisition  of Community  Bancshares,  Inc.  Community  Bancshares,  Inc.,
Independence,  Louisiana,  owned  100% of the  stock  of  Community  State  Bank
("Community").

        Beginning with the 1985  acquisition of the  Pascagoula-Moss  Point Bank
("PMP") in  Pascagoula,  Mississippi,  the  Company has  acquired  approximately
$1,045 million in assets and approximately  $938 million in deposit  liabilities
through selected acquisitions or purchase and assumption transactions.

Recent Acquisition Activity:

     In August  1991,  Hancock  Bank MS  acquired  certain  assets  and  deposit
liabilities of Peoples Federal Savings Association,  Bay St. Louis, Mississippi,
from the RTC.  As a result  of this  transaction,  the Bank  acquired  assets of
approximately  $39.0  million and deposit  liabilities  of  approximately  $38.5
million.

     The Company  borrowed  $18,750,000 from Whitney National Bank, New Orleans,
Louisiana  ("Whitney"),  to  partially  fund  the  acquisition  of  Metropolitan
National  Bank and AmBank in 1990.  On  November  28,  1991,  the  Company  sold
1,785,375  shares of its common  stock at $14.78 per share  (adjusted  for a 15%
stock dividend in 1996).  This followed a two-for-one stock split in the form of
a 100% stock dividend on October 15, 1991, and an increase in authorized  shares
to 20,000,000.  The net proceeds of this sale, after  underwriting  discount and
expenses, of approximately $24,700,000, were

                                                  Page 5 of 50

<PAGE>




used to pay the principal and interest on  $18,500,000  of principal debt on the
Whitney loan and increase Hancock Bank LA's capital by $5,000,000.


        In April 1994,  the Company merged Hancock Bank LA with First State Bank
and Trust Company of East Baton Rouge Parish,  Baker,  Louisiana ("Baker").  The
merger was consummated by the exchange of all outstanding  common stock of Baker
in return for approximately 606,000 shares (adjusted for a 15% stock dividend in
1996) of common stock of the  Company.  The merger was  accounted  for using the
pooling-of-interests  method;  therefore, all prior years' financial information
has been restated.

        On January 13, 1995, the Company acquired First Denham Bancshares,  Inc.
("Bancshares")  which owned 100% of the stock of First  National  Bank of Denham
Springs ("Denham"), Denham Springs, Louisiana. The acquisition was in return for
approximately  $4,000,000  cash and  890,000  shares  (adjusted  for a 15% stock
dividend in 1996) of common stock of the Company.  The acquisition was accounted
for using the purchase  method.  Bancshares  had total  assets of  approximately
$111,000,000  and  stockholders'  equity  of  approximately  $11,300,000  as  of
December 31, 1994 and net earnings of approximately $2,600,000 for the year then
ended. On August 15, 1996, Denham was merged into Hancock Bank LA.

        On February 1, 1995, the Company merged Hancock Bank LA with  Washington
Bank & Trust  Company,  Franklinton,  Louisiana  ("Washington").  The merger was
consummated  by the exchange of all  outstanding  common stock of  Washington in
return for  approximately  624,000 shares  (adjusted for a 15% stock dividend in
1996) of common stock of the  Company.  The merger was  accounted  for using the
pooling-of-interests  method;  therefore, all prior years' financial information
has been restated.  Washington had total assets of approximately $86,100,000 and
stockholders'  equity of approximately  $12,400,000 as of December 31, 1994, and
net earnings of approximately $1,300,000 for the year then ended.

        In November  1996,  the Company  acquired  Community  Bancshares,  Inc.,
Independence,  Louisiana,  ("Community")  which  owned  100%  of  the  stock  of
Community State Bank. The acquisition was in return for approximately $5,000,000
cash and 513,000  shares  (adjusted for a 15% stock  dividend in 1996) of common
stock of the  Company.  The  acquisition  was  accounted  for using the purchase
method. Community had total assets of approximately

                                                  Page 6 of 50

<PAGE>



$91,000,000 and stockholders' equity of approximately $11,000,000 as of December
31, 1995 and net earnings of approximately $900,000 for the year then ended.

        On January 17,  1997,  the Company  acquired  Southeast  National  Bank,
Hammond,   Louisiana   ("Southeast").   The   acquisition   was  in  return  for
approximately $3,700,000 cash and 121,000 shares of common stock of the Company.
The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method. Southeast had total
assets of approximately  $40,000,000 and  stockholders'  equity of approximately
$4,000,000  as of December 31, 1996 and net earnings of  approximately  $500,000
for the year then ended.

        On July 15, 1997, the Company acquired  Commerce  Corporation,  Inc., St
Francisville,  Louisiana ("Commerce"),  which owned 100% of the stock of Bank of
Commerce and Trust Company,  for  approximately  $330,000 cash, 65,000 shares of
common stock of the Company and the  assumption of Commerce debt owed to certain
individuals in the aggregate principal amount of $1,250,000. The transaction was
accounted  for  using  the  purchase  method.   Commerce  had  total  assets  of
approximately  $29,000,000 and stockholders' equity of approximately $800,000 as
of December  31, 1996 and net  earnings of  approximately  $260,000 for the year
then ended.

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 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 he or she can  approve  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.

        For Hancock Bank MS, all loans over an individual  loan officer's  Board
approved lending  authority and below a regional approved limit must be approved
by his or her  region's  loan  committee or by another loan officer with greater
lending authority. Both the regional loan committee and the

                                                  Page 7 of 50

<PAGE>



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.

        For Hancock Bank LA, all loans over an individual  loan officer's  Board
approved  lending  authority  must be approved by the Bank's,  his or her 
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 $500,000.  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.



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 regulator 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 reviewed, 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

                                                  Page 8 of 50

<PAGE>



in process of collection  through  repossession and liquidation of collateral or
has been deemed currently  uncollectible.  Loans deemed currently  uncollectible
are charged-off against the allowance account. 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,  1997,  the  book  value  of
nonperforming assets held for resale was approximately $2.4 million.

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 7
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 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

                                                  Page 9 of 50

<PAGE>



rates generally consistent with market conditions. Additionally, the Banks offer
over 100 ATMs: over 65 ATMs at the 80 banking offices and over 40  free-standing
ATMs at other locations.  As members of regional and  international ATM networks
such as "PULSE",  "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 or, in some cases, slightly below 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,  1997,  the Trust
Departments  of the  Banks  had  approximately  $1.5  billion  of  assets  under
management,  of which $0.7 billion were corporate accounts and $0.8 billion were
personal, employee benefit, estate and other trust accounts.

Operating Efficiency Strategy:

     The  primary  focus of the  Company's  operating  strategy  is to  increase
operating income and to reduce operating expense.  Beginning in January of 1988,
management  has taken  steps to  improve  operating  efficiencies.  As a result,
employees at Hancock Bank MS have been reduced from .78 per $1 million in assets
in February 1988 to .51 as of December 31, 1997. Since its acquisition in August
1990,  Hancock  Bank LA  employees  have been reduced from .97 per $1 million of
assets to .46 as of  December  31,  1997.  Management  annually  establishes  an
employee to asset goal for each Bank.  The Banks also have set an internal  long
range goal of at least covering

                                                  Page 10 of 50

<PAGE>



total salary and benefit  costs by fee income.  The ratio of fee income to total
salary and benefit  costs is $.54 to $1.00 at Hancock  Bank MS.  Hancock Bank LA
has a higher level of fee income and through  December 31, 1997,  has achieved a
ratio of $.90 to $1.00.

Other Activities:

     Hancock  Bank MS has seven  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
annual income.

        During 1994, the Company began offering alternative  investments through
a third party vendor.  The  Investment  Center is now located in several  branch
locations in Mississippi  and Louisiana to accommodate  the investment  needs of
customers whose needs fall outside the traditional commercial bank product line.

     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.

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.


                                                  Page 11 of 50

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        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, insurance companies and other financial institutions.  Many
of these institutions have greater available resources than the Company.


                                            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").  The
Company also is required to file certain reports with, and otherwise comply with
the rules and  regulations  of, the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission") under federal securities laws.

Federal Regulation:

     The Bank Holding Company Act generally  prohibits the Company from engaging
in  activities  other  than  banking,  managing  or  controlling  banks or other
permissible subsidiaries.  Acquiring or obtaining control 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

                                                  Page 12 of 50

<PAGE>



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,  or (3) before it may merge with any other
bank holding company. 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  acquisitions  or mergers  must be delayed at least 30
days  following  the date of approval.  During such 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.

     The Federal Reserve has adopted capital adequacy  guidelines for use in its
examination and regulation of bank holding companies.  The regulatory capital of
a bank holding company under applicable  federal capital adequacy  guidelines is
particularly  important in the Federal  Reserve's  evaluation  of a bank holding
company and any applications by the bank holding company to the Federal Reserve.
If  regulatory  capital  falls below minimum  guideline  levels,  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

                                                  Page 13 of 50

<PAGE>



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,  and the adequacy of
liquidity.  Effective January 1, 1997, a sixth component was added to the rating
system - Sensitivity  to market risk.  This  component  addresses  primarily the
issue of a bank's 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% to 5%
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, 1997, was 10.24%.

     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,
1997, the Company's  off-balance  sheet items aggregated $262 million;  however,
after

                                                  Page 14 of 50

<PAGE>



the credit  conversion  these items  represented  $32  million of balance  sheet
equivalents.

     The primary  component of  risk-based  capital is Tier 1 Capital,  which is
essentially  equal to common  stockholders'  equity,  plus a certain  portion of
perpetual  preferred  stock.  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, 1997, the Company's Tier 1
and Total Capital ratios were 18.22% and 19.18%, 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.  This reciprocity privilege is restricted
to banking  organizations  in specified  geographic  regions that  encompass the
states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Missouri,  North Carolina, South Carolina,  Tennessee,  Texas, Virginia and West
Virginia.  In  addition,  Mississippi  banking  organizations  are  permitted to
acquire certain out-of-state financial  institutions.  A bank holding company is
additionally  prohibited from engaging in non-banking  activities,  or acquiring
direct or indirect  control of more than 5% of the voting  shares of any company
engaged in non-banking activities.

        With the passage of The Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act

                                                  Page 15 of 50

<PAGE>



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.

     The activities of the Company are also restricted by the provisions of

                                                  Page 16 of 50

<PAGE>



the  Glass-Steagall  Act of 1933 (the "Act"). The Act prohibits the Company from
owning subsidiaries engaged principally in the issue, floatation,  underwriting,
public sale or  distribution  of  securities.  Regulators  and  legislators  are
currently reviewing the interpretation,  scope and application of the provisions
of the Act. The outcome of the current examination and the effect of the outcome
on the  ability  of bank  holding  companies  to  engage in  securities  related
activities cannot be predicted.

     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").  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

                                                  Page 17 of 50

<PAGE>



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.

        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.  Total  assessments  paid  to the  FDIC  amounted  to $236
thousand in 1997. The Banks paid BIF premiums of 1.26 cents per hundred  dollars
of insured  deposits during 1997.  Premiums for the first and second quarters of
1998 have  decreased  to 1.256  cents per hundred  dollars of insured  deposits.
Premiums on OAKAR deposits from the 1991  acquisition of Peoples Federal Savings
Association totalled $20 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 Bank  Insurance
Fund,  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

                                                  Page 18 of 50

<PAGE>



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 and the OCC have  broad
authority to prevent the development or continuance of unsafe or unsound banking
practices. Pursuant to this authority, the FDIC and OCC have 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.

        Although the Hancock Bank MS and Hancock Bank LA are not members of the

                                                  Page 19 of 50

<PAGE>



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 $43.1  million,  or,
if the aggregate of such accounts exceeds $43.1 million, $1.293 million plus 10%
of the  total in excess of $43.1  million.  This  regulation  is  subject  to an
exemption  from reserve  requirements  on a limited  amount of an  institution's
transaction accounts.

        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.

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  will comprise
most of a bank's earnings. Due to recent deregulation of the industry,  however,
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 20 of 50

<PAGE>



                                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 STOCKHOLDER'S 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, which is the difference between the average
rate of interest  earned on earning  assets and the effective  rate paid for all
funds,  noninterest-bearing as well as interest-bearing.  Since a portion of the
Bank's deposits do not bear interest, such as demand deposits, the rate paid for
all funds is lower than the rate on interest-bearing liabilities alone. The rate
differential for the years 1997 and 1996 was 5.09% and 5.10%, 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
significant 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.



                                                  Page 21 of 50

<PAGE>



        The following table shows interest income on interest-earning assets and
related  average  yields  earned  and  interest   expense  on   interest-bearing
liabilities and related average rates paid for the periods indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                  Comparative Average Balances - Yields and Rates

                                                                      Years Ended December 31,
                                               1997                                   1996                                   1995
                                 ----------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ---------------------------
                                                 Interest   Average            Interest      Average             Interest   Average
                                      Average   Income or  Yield or   Average  Income or     Yield or  Average   Income or Yield or
                                      Balance    Expense     Rate     Balance  Expense        Rate     Balance    Expense    Rate
                                  -----------   ---------  ------  ----------  ----------    ------- ---------- ---------- ---------
                                                                      (Amounts in thousands)
ASSETS
Interest-earning assets:
 Investment securities:
<S>                               <C>            <C>        <C>   <C>           <C>           <C>   <C>         <C>           <C>  
 U.S. Treasury                    $   240,539    $ 14,734   6.13% $  221,120    $ 13,567      6.14% $  257,228  $ 14,568      5.66%
 U.S. government obligations          552,154      34,699   6.28%    449,687      34,886      7.76%    493,315    33,726      6.84%
 Municipal obligations                 74,838       6,385   8.53%     60,690       5,451      8.98%     57,001     5,426      9.52%
 Other securities                     116,672      10,041   8.61%    171,889       6,780      3.94%     87,606     6,231      7.11%
 Federal funds sold & securities
 purchased under agreements
 to resell                             50,256       2,733   5.44%    106,316       5,580      5.25%     99,559     5,820      5.85%
 Interest-bearing time deposits
 with other banks                         996          64   6.43%      1,543          87      5.64%        500        31      6.20%
 Net loans (2)(3)                   1,201,381     117,474   9.78%  1,083,165     107,079      9.89%  1,000,907    98,029      9.79%
                                   ----------    --------   -----  ---------     -------      -----  ----------  -------      -----
 Total interest-earning
     assets/interest income (1)     2,236,836     186,130   8.32%  2,094,410     173,430      8.28%  1,996,116   163,831      8.21%
 Less: Allowance for loan losses      (20,410)       --       --     (17,670)       --         --      (16,532)     --          --

Noninterest-earning assets:
 Cash and due from banks              119,271        --       --     121,157        --         --      104,854      --          --
 Property and equipment                40,149        --       --      37,185        --         --       37,786      --          --
 Other assets                          67,107        --       --      50,795        --         --       93,302      --          --
                                              -----------   ----- -----------   ---------    -----------  -------   ----------------
 Total assets                     $ 2,442,953 $   186,130   7.62% $2,285,877     173,430      7.59% $2,215,526    163,831     7.39%
                                  =========== ===========   ===== ==========    ========      ===== ===========   ========    =====
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Interest-bearing liabilities:
 Deposits:
 Savings, NOW and money
   market                         $   746,665 $    20,714   2.77%$   694,017      19,001      2.74%$   739,091    20,515      2.78%
 Time                                 834,147      45,436   5.45%    778,602      41,624      5.35%    717,064    37,097      5.17%
 Federal funds purchased                2,304         107   4.64%     11,425         549      4.80%     15,284       863      5.65%
 Securities sold under
 agreements to repurchase             118,855       5,277   4.44%     79,411       3,465      4.36%     53,924     2,219      4.12%
 Long-term bonds                        1,369         164   4.60%      1,795         158      8.80%      2,799       203      7.25%
 Capital notes                           --          --       --         --            7       --          --        265      0.00%
                                  -----------  ----------   -----  ---------    --------      -----  ---------    -------     -----
 Total interest-bearing
 liabilities/interest expense       1,703,340      71,698   4.21%  1,565,250      64,804      4.14%  1,528,162    61,162      4.00%

Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
 Demand deposits                      453,218        --       --     472,909        --          --     439,495      --          --
 Other liabilities                     15,092        --       --      17,667        --          --      32,135      --          --
 Stockholders' equity                 271,303        --       --     230,051        --          --     215,734      --          --
                                  -----------  -----------  ----- ----------   ---------     ----- -----------    ------      ------
Total liabilities &
  stockholders' equity            $ 2,442,953 $    71,698   2.93% $2,285,877      64,804     2.83% $ 2,215,526    61,162      2.76%
                                  ==========  ===========   ===== ==========   =========     ===== ===========    ======      =====

                                        

<PAGE>



Interest-earning assets           $ 2,236,836                    $ 2,094,410                     $   1,996,116
Interest-bearing liabilities        1,703,340                      1,565,250                         1,528,162
Interest income                                   186,130                        173,430                         163,831
Interest expense                                   71,698                         64,804                          61,162
                                              -----------                      ---------                        --------
Interest income/interest-
  earning assets                                            8.32%                             8.28%                          8.21%
Interest expense/interest-
  bearing liabilities                                       4.21%                             4.14%                          4.00%
Interest spread                                             4.11%                             4.14%                          4.21%
Net interest income                           $   114,432                      $ 108,626                        $102,669
                                              ===========                      =========                        ========

Net interest margin                                         5.12%                             5.19%                          5.14%

</TABLE>


(1)    Includes tax equivalent adjustments to interest income of $2.7 million, 
       $1.9 million and $2.3 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, using
       an effective tax rate of 35% .

(2)    Interest income includes fees on loans of $6.2 million, $5.7 million and 
       $4.1 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

(3)    Includes nonaccrual loans.  See "Nonperforming Assets."


                                                  Page 23 of 50

<PAGE>



        The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated,  a summary of
the changes in interest income on  interest-earning  assets and interest expense
on  interest-bearing   liabilities   relating  to  rate  and  volume  variances.
Nonaccrual  loans  are  included  in  average  amounts  of loans and do not bear
interest  for purposes of the  presentation.  Changes that are not solely due to
volume or rate are allocated to volume.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                             Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income

                                                                                   Years Ended December 31,
                                                1997                           1996                              1995
                                    --------------------------- ---  --------------------------------  ----------------------------
                                    Volume       Rate       Total       Volume       Rate      Total     Volume    Rate      Total
                                    --------  -----------   ------  -----------   ---------  -------  ----------  ------   --------
                                                                        (Amounts in thousands)
<S>                                <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>     
INTEREST INCOME Investment securities:
 U.S. Treasury                     $  1,192  $   (   25)   $1,167  $   (2,044)   $  1,043   $(1,001) $( $3,327)     727   $( 2,600)
 U.S. government obligations          7,985      (8,172)   (  187)     (2,984)      4,144     1,160      4,761    4,193      8,954
 Municipal obligations (1)            1,270      (  336)      934         351      (  326)       25        837   (  323)       514
 Other securities                    (2,188)      5,449     3,261       5,992      (5,443)      549        827      691      1,518
 Federal funds sold & securities
 purchased under agreements
 to resell                           (2,943)         96    (2,847)        395      (  6      (  240)       594    1,394      1,988
 Interest bearing time deposits
 with other banks                    (   31)          8    (   23)         65      (    9)       56   (     14)       7    (     7)
 Net Loans                           11,692      (1,297)   10,395       8,053         997     9,050      9,261    5,801     15,062
                                    --------   ---------   --------   --------    --------    ------   --------  -------   --------
 Total                               16,977      (4,277)   12,700       9,828      (  229)    9,599      12,939  12,490     25,429
                                    --------   ---------   --------   --------    --------    ------   --------  -------   --------

INTEREST EXPENSE
 Deposits:
 Savings, NOW and money
 market                               1,489         224     1,713      (1,253)     (  261)   (1,514)  (    490)     302    (   188)
 Time                                 2,972         840     3,812       3,181       1,346     4,527      3,097    6,510      9,607
 Federal funds purchased             (  438)      (   4)   (  442)     (  218)     (   96)   (  314)  (    189)     298        109
 Securities sold under
 agreements to repurchase             1,720          92     1,812       1,050         196     1,246      1,202      299      1,501
 Long-term bonds                     (   39)         38    (    1)     (   73)         28    (   45)  (     62)       9    (    53)
 Capital notes                            0           0         0      (  258)         --    (  258)       265   (   76)       189
                                    --------   --------   --------    --------    --------   -------   --------  -------   --------
 Total                                5,704       1,190     6,894       2,429       1,213     3,642      3,823     7,342    11,165
                                    --------   --------   --------    --------    --------   --------  --------  -------   --------

Increase (decrease) in
  net interest income              $ 11,273    $ (5,467) $  5,806    $  7,399    $ (1,442) $  5,957   $  9,116  $  5,148  $ 14,264
                                   ========    ========= ========    ========    ========= ========   ========  ========  =========

</TABLE>


(1)  Yields on tax-exempt investments have been adjusted to a tax equivalent 
     basis utilizing a 35% effective tax rate.

(2)  Interest earned includes fees on loans of $6.2 million, $5.7 million and 
     $4.1 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.


                                                  Page 24 of 50

<PAGE>




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  management  policy is
designed to produce a stable net  interest  margin in periods of  interest  rate
fluctuations.  Interest  sensitive  assets  and  liabilities  are those that are
subject to maturity or repricing within a given time period.  Interest rate risk
is  monitored,  quantified  and  managed  to  produce  a 5% or  less  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, 1997,
the Company's  cumulative interest  sensitivity gap in the one year interval was
(22.91%) as compared to a cumulative  interest  sensitivity  gap in the one year
interval of (21.75%) at December  31,  1996.  The  percentage  reflects a higher
level of interest  sensitive  liabilities than assets repricing 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 Company's  interest rate sensitivity
gap at December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1996:


                                                  Page 25 of 50

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                        Analysis of Interest Sensitivity at December 31, 1997

                                                     After Three
                                          Within       Through        One       After Five
                                          Three         Twelve      Through      Years and
                                          Months        Months     Five Years   Insensitive      Total
                                        ---------     ---------    ----------   ----------     ----------
                                                           (Amounts in thousands)


<S>                                     <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>       
Net loans                               $ 252,135     $ 1165388     $ 623,655    $ 228,301     $1,220,629
Securities and time deposits              112,815       103,824       411,090      454,334      1,082,063
Federal funds                              35,500            --            --           --         35,500
                                        ---------     ---------    ----------    ---------     ----------
Total earning assets                    $ 400,450     $ 220,362    $1,034,745    $ 682,635     $2,338,192
                                        =========     =========    ==========    =========     ==========


                                            17.13%         9.42%        44.25%       29.20%        100.00%

Interest bearing deposits, excluding
  CDs greater than $100,000             $ 645,178     $ 272,983    $  392,167    $  29,311     $1,339,639
CDs greater than $100,000                 100,267        91,361        68,650           --        221,698
Short-term borrowings                      44,867            --            --      125,667        170,534
Other borrowings                              500         1,279            --           --          1,779
                                        ---------     ---------    ----------    ---------     ----------
Total interest-bearing funds              790,812       365,623       460,817      154,978      1,772,230
Interest-free funds                            --            --            --      565,962        565,962
                                        ---------     ---------    ----------    ---------     ----------
Funds supporting earning assets         $ 790,812     $ 365,623    $  460,817    $ 720,940     $2,338,192
                                        =========     =========    ==========    =========     ========== 


                                            33.82%        15.64%        19.71%       30.84%        100.00%

Interest sensitivity gap                $(390,362)    $(145,261)    $ 573,928    $( 38,305)            --
Cumulative gap                          $(390,362)    $(535,623)    $  38,305           --             --
Percent of total earning assets            (16.70%)      (22.91%)        1.64%           --            --

</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                        Analysis of Interest Sensitivity at December 31, 1996

                                                     After Three
                                          Within       Through        One       After Five
                                          Three         Twelve      Through      Years and
                                          Months        Months     Five Years   Insensitive      Total
                                                           (Amounts in thousands)


<S>                                     <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>       
Net loans                               $ 302,553     $ 107,128     $ 531,015    $ 233,271     $1,173,967
Securities and time deposits              119,629        94,242       225,752      464,914        904,537
Federal funds                              12,000            --            --           --         12,000
                                        ---------     ---------     ---------    ---------     ----------
Total earning assets                    $ 434,182     $ 201,370     $ 756,767    $ 698,185     $2,090,504
                                        =========     =========     =========    =========     ==========


                                            20.77%         9.64%        36.20%       33.39%        100.00%

Interest bearing deposits, excluding
  CDs greater than $100,000            $  542,277     $ 285,565     $ 440,733    $   3,339     $1,271,914
CDs greater than $100,000                  97,686        75,521        48,491           --        221,698
Short-term borrowings                      87,609            --            --           --         87,609
Other borrowings                              500         1,050            --           --          1,550
                                        ---------     ---------     ---------    ---------     ----------
Total interest-bearing funds              728,072       362,136       489,224        3,339      1,582,771
Interest-free funds                            --            --            --      507,733        507,733
                                        ---------     ---------     ---------    ---------     ----------
Funds supporting earning assets         $ 728,072     $ 362,136     $ 489,224    $ 511,072     $2,090,504
                                        =========     =========     =========    =========     ==========


                                            34.82%        17.33%        23.40%       24.45%        100.00%

Interest sensitivity gap                $(293,890)    $(160,766)    $ 267,543    $ 187,113             --
Cumulative gap                          $(293,890)    $(454,656)    $(187,113)          --             --
Percent of total earning assets            (14.06%)      (21.75%)       (8.95%)         --             --
</TABLE>

                                                  Page 26 of 50

<PAGE>




Income Taxes:

      The Company had income tax expense of $17.4  million and $15.2 million for
the years  ended  December  31,  1997 and 1996,  respectively.  This  represents
effective tax rates of 36.2% and 32.4% for the years ended December 31, 1997 and
1996,  respectively.  The 15.2%  increase in income tax expense is due to, among
other things, increased taxable income, state income taxes, and higher levels of
non-deductible goodwill amortization expense in conjunction with the most recent
three mergers.

Performance and Equity Ratios:

      The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated,  the percentage
of net income to average assets and average stockholders' equity, the percentage
of  common  stock  dividends  to  net  income  and  the  percentage  of  average
stockholders' equity to average assets.

                                                     Years Ended December 31,
                                                     ------------------------
                                                       1997    1996    1995
                                                      -----    -----   -----

Return on average assets (%)                           1.25     1.38    1.22
Return on average stockholders' equity (%)            11.29    13.74   12.50
Dividend payout ratio (%)                             36.05    28.90   31.45
Average stockholders' equity to average assets (%)    11.11    10.06    9.74


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 Company increased its  available-for-sale  portfolio during 1997.
Generally,  securities with a market risk have been placed in this category. The
December 31, 1997  amortized  cost of the  held-to-maturity  portfolio  was $916
million and the market value was $925 million. The available-for-sale  portfolio
balance was $164 million at December 31, 1997.



                                                  Page 27 of 50

<PAGE>



      The amortized cost of securities  classified as  available-for-sale  as of
December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, were as follows (in thousands):
                                              December 31
                                  1997           1996            1995
                                --------       --------        ------
U.S. Treasury securities        $ 54,637       $    499        $  1,493
Other U.S. gov. obligations       46,039         53,802          61,470
Municipal obligations              1,496            923             962
Other securities                   6,305            ---             544
Mortgage-backed securities        27,538          5,373           5,140
CMOs                              21,427         33,038          34,695
Equity securities                  6,089          4,932           4,993
                                --------       --------        --------
                                $163,531       $ 98,567        $109,297
                                ========       ========        ========


        The amortized cost, yield and market value of debt securities classified
as  available-for-sale  as of December 31, 1997, by estimated maturity,  were as
follows (in thousands):

                                           Amortized
                                             Cost     Yield (%)  Market Value
                                          ---------   ---------  ------------

Due in one year or less                    $ 29,820     5.90       $ 29,774
Due after one year through five years        68,343     5.90         68,373
Due after five years through ten years       25,856     6.72         25,825
Due after ten years                          33,423     6.21         33,572
                                           --------     ----       --------

                                           $157,442     6.10       $157,544
                                           ========     ====       ========


        The amortized cost of securities  classified as  held-to-maturity  as of
December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 were as follows (in thousands):

                                                December 31
                                   1997            1996             1995
                                 --------        --------         ------
U.S. Treasury securities         $210,525        $175,171         $239,892
Other U.S. gov. obligations       267,437         338,796          317,140
Municipal obligations              88,062          66,367           56,961
Other securities                   25,874             ---           11,027
Mortgage-backed securities        133,925          87,991           50,427
CMOs                              190,539         135,673           63,082
                                 --------        --------         --------
                                 $916,362        $803,998         $738,529
                                 ========        ========         ========



                                                  Page 28 of 50

<PAGE>




        The amortized cost,  yield and market value of securities  classified as
held-to-maturity  as of December  31, 1997,  by  contractual  maturity,  were as
follows (in thousands):

                                          Amortized
                                             Cost    Yield (%)  Market Value
                                          ---------  ---------  ------------

Due in one year or less                    $194,406     6.30       $194,626
Due after one year through five years       305,508     6.36        307,880
Due after five years through ten years      177,870     6.49        179,584
Due after ten years                         238,578     6.67        242,868
                                           --------     ----       --------
                                           $916,362     6.32       $924,958
                                           ========     ====       ========


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
concentrations  of  loans  to  particular  borrowers  or  loans  to any  foreign
entities.

        Loan underwriting  standards and loan loss allowance maintenance further
reduce 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  monthly based on historical  losses through
different economic cycles and projected future losses specifically identified.



                                                  Page 29 of 50

<PAGE>



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

                                                                    Loan Portfolio

                                                                     December 31,
                                              1997          1996             1995         1994            1993
                                              ----          ----             ----         ----            ----
                                                               (Amounts in thousands)

<S>                                      <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>       
Real estate:
  Residential mortgages 1-4 family       $  260,432      $  260,945     $  224,646     $  214,247     $  213,216
  Residential mortgages multifamily          10,881           7,642          9,674          7,302          7,124
  Home equity lines                          10,814          10,169         11,825         11,740         13,147
  Construction and development               55,454          55,585         41,602         35,719         24,234
  Nonresidential                            139,332         131,578        127,027        112,957        119,094
Commercial, industrial and other            177,379         169,061        176,942        119,997        160,385
Consumer                                    513,362         494,456        409,608        397,879        366,401
Lease financing and depository
  institutions                               16,889          15,881         13,811         10,074          6,673
Political subdivisions                       16,327          12,142         14,394         12,806         11,668
Credit card                                  44,785          41,311         32,104         30,794         27,466
                                         ----------      ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
                                          1,245,355       1,198,770      1,061,633        953,515        949,408
  Less, unearned income                      24,726          24,803         26,656         27,850         26,396
                                         ----------      ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
  Net loans                              $1,220,629      $1,173,967     $1,034,977     $  925,665     $  923,012
                                         ==========      ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========

</TABLE>



        The  following  table  sets  forth,  for  the  periods  indicated,   the
approximate maturity by type of the loan portfolio of the Company:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                    Loan Maturity Schedule

                                       December 31, 1997                            December 31, 1996
                            -----------------------------------------    -----------------------------------------
                                        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
                            --------  ---------- --------  ----------    --------  ---------- --------  ----------
                                                          (Amounts in thousands)

<S>                         <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>           <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>       
Commercial, industrial and
  other                     $ 65,974   $ 82,407  $ 20,680  $  169,061    $ 68,436   $ 77,960  $ 23,418  $  169,814
Real estate - construction    32,966     18,957     3,611      55,585      44,714     18,994     7,349      71,057
All other loans              157,382    578,526   284,802   1,020,709     148,232    557,936   251,731     957,899
                            --------   --------  --------  ----------    --------   --------  --------  ----------

Total loans                 $256,322   $679,890  $309,143  $1,245,355    $261,382   $654,890  $282,498  $1,198,770
                            ========   ========  ========  ==========    ========   ========  ========  ==========

</TABLE>



                                                  Page 30 of 50

<PAGE>



        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, December 31,
                                                        1997         1996
                                                    ------------ ------------
                                                      (Amounts in thousands)
Commercial, industrial, and real estate 
  construction maturing after one year:
    Fixed rate                                         $ 94,517    $ 89,399
    Floating rate                                        31,187      38,323
Other loans maturing after one year:
    Fixed rate                                          831,716     784,875
    Floating rate                                        31,610      24,791
                                                       --------    --------

Total                                                  $989,033    $937,388
                                                       ========    ========


Nonperforming Assets:

        The  following  table  sets forth  nonperforming  assets by type for the
periods  indicated,  consisting of nonaccrual  loans,  restructured  loans, real
estate owned and loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing:
<TABLE>

                                                                 December 31,
                                                1997     1996        1995         1994        1993
                                                ----     ----        ----         ----        ----
                                                                 (Amounts in thousands)
Nonaccrual loans:
<S>                                        <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>    
  Real estate                              $   331    $   753      $ 2,406     $ 1,914     $ 1,888
  Commercial, industrial and other             319        169        1,144         525       1,424
  Consumer                                     378      1,298        1,176       1,287       1,322
  Lease financing                                1        ---          ---         ---         ---
  Depository institutions                      ---        ---          ---         ---         ---
  Political subdivisions                       ---        ---          ---         ---         ---
Restructured loans                           2,869        685          611         614         482
                                           -------    -------      -------     -------     -------
Total nonperforming loans                    3,898      2,905        5,337       4,340       5,116
Acquired real estate owned                     435        147          140         ---         ---
Real estate owned                            1,923      1,728          946       1,001       1,029
                                           -------    -------      -------     -------     -------
Total nonperforming assets                 $ 6,256    $ 4,780      $ 6,423     $ 5,341     $ 6,145
                                           =======    =======      =======     =======     =======

Loans 90+ days past due and still 
  accruing                                 $ 5,423    $ 8,361      $ 4,089     $ 2,692     $ 4,338
                                           =======    =======      =======     =======     =======

Ratios (%):
  Nonperforming loans to net loans            0.32         0.25        0.52       0.47        0.55
  Nonperforming assets to net loans and
    real estate owned                         0.51         0.41        0.62       0.58        0.67
  Nonperforming loans to average net loans    0.32         0.27        0.53       0.48        0.60
  Allowance for loan losses to 
   nonperformingloans                       538.74       681.58      325.86     354.19      299.18

</TABLE>


                                                  Page 31 of 50

<PAGE>



        The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the amount of
interest  that would have been  recorded on  nonaccrual  loans had the loans not
been  classified  as  "nonaccrual"  as well as the interest that would have been
recorded under the original terms of restructured loans:

                                              December 31,
                     1997        1996        1995         1994        1993
                     ----        ----        ----         ----        ----
                                          (Amounts in thousands)

Nonaccrual         $    101   $    220      $   463     $   340     $   441
Restructured            281         68           60          56          45
                   --------   --------      -------     -------     -------
Total              $    382    $   288      $   523     $   396     $   486
                   ========    =======      =======     =======     =======


        Interest  actually received on nonaccrual loans was  insignificant.  The
amount of interest recorded on restructured  loans did not differ  significantly
from the amount shown in the table above.




                                                  Page 32 of 50

<PAGE>



Analysis of Allowance for Loan Losses:

        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:
<TABLE>

                                                                    December 31,
                                            1997      1996         1995         1994        1993
                                            ----      ----         ----         ----        ----
                                                                 (Amounts in thousands)

<S>                                     <C>        <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>       
Net loans outstanding at end of 
  period                                $1,220,629 $1,173,967  $1,034,978   $  925,665  $  923,012
                                        ==========  ==========  ==========   ========== ==========

Average net loans outstanding           $1,201,381 $1,083,165   $1,000,907  $  904,342  $  847,526
                                        ========== ==========   ==========  ==========  ==========

Balance of allowance for loan losses
  at beginning of period                    19,800 $   17,391   $   15,372  $   15,306  $   14,682
Loans charged-off:
  Real estate                                   22         73          210         106         318
  Commercial                                   997        975          636         637       2,218
  Consumer                                   7,145      5,417        4,524       2,706       3,087
  Lease financing                               49          1           13         ---          53
  Depository institutions                      ---         ---         ---         ---         ---
  Political subdivisions                       ---        ---          ---         ---         ---
                                        ---------- ----------   ----------  ----------  ----------

  Total charge-offs                          8,213      6,466        5,383       3,449       5,676
                                        ---------- ----------   ----------  ----------  ----------
Recoveries of loans previously
  charged-off:
  Real estate                                    5        186           15          53         102
  Commercial                                   646        937          971         570         695
  Consumer                                   1,529        945          839         886         869
  Lease financing                                1          0            5           8           2
  Depository institutions                      ---        ---          ---         ---         ---
  Political subdivisions                       ---        ---          ---         ---         ---
                                        ---------- ----------   ----------  ----------  ----------
  Total recoveries                           2,181      2,068        1,830       1,517       1,668
                                        ---------- ----------   ----------   ---------  ----------
  Net charge-offs                            6,032      4,398        3,553       1,932       4,008
  Provision for loan losses                  6,399      6,153        4,425       1,998       4,632
  Balance acquired through acquisition         833        654        1,147         ---         ---
                                        ---------- ----------   ----------  ----------  ----------
  Balance of allowance for loan losses
    at end of period                    $   21,000 $   19,800   $   17,391  $   15,372  $   15,306
                                        ========== ==========   ==========  ==========  ==========
</TABLE>


        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:
<TABLE>

                                                                   Years Ended December 31,
                                                        1997   1996     1995   1994    1993
                                                       -----   ----    -----   -----   -----
<S>                                                    <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>  
Ratios (%):
Net charge-offs to average net loans                    0.50    0.41    0.35    0.21    0.47
Net charge-offs to period-end net loans                 0.49    0.37    0.34    0.21    0.43
Allowance for loan losses to average net loans          1.75    1.83    1.74    1.70    1.81
Allowance for loan losses to period-end net loans       1.72    1.69    1.68    1.66    1.66
Net charge-offs to loan loss allowance                 28.72   22.21   20.43   12.57   26.19
Net charge-offs to loan loss provision                 94.26   71.47   80.29   96.70   86.53

</TABLE>


                                                  Page 33 of 50

<PAGE>



        An allocation  of the loan loss  allowance by major loan category is set
forth in the following  table.  The allocation is not necessarily  indicative of
the category of future  losses,  and the full allowance at December 31, 1997, is
available to absorb losses occurring in any category of loans.
<TABLE>

                                                                   December 31,
                              1997                 1996                 1995                     1994                   1993
                         ----------------     ----------------     -----------------     ------------------     --------------------
                         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
                         ----------------     ----------------     -----------------     ------------------     --------------------
                                                                  (Amounts in thousands)

<S>                       <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>  
Real estate               $ 2,500    38.05     $ 3,000   49.94     $ 2,000    39.08     $ 1,250    40.06     $ 1,250     39.69
Commercial, industrial
  and other               $ 5,900    16.25       5,750   16.52       5,250    19.32       5,000    14.98       5,000     18.82
Consumer                  $ 9,300    42.03       8,250   31.11       7,500    38.58       6,500    41.73       6,500     38.60
Credit card               $ 1,200     3.67         800    2.43         500     3.02         500     3.23         500      2.89
Unallocated                 2,100      ---       2,000     ---       2,141      ---       2,122      ---       2,056       ---
                          -------   ------       -----  ------       -----   ------       -----   ------       -----    ------

                          $21,000   100.00     $19,800  100.00      17,391   100.00     $15,372   100.00     $15,306    100.00
                          =======   ======     =======  ======      ======   ======     =======   ======     =======    ======
</TABLE>


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 rates on
each category of deposits:
<TABLE>

                                            1997                                1996                                    1995
                               -------------------------------    ---------------------------------    -------------------------
                                           Percent                              Percent                               Percent
                                              of                                   of                                   of
                                Amount    Deposits  Rate (%)     Amount     Deposits  Rate (%)     Amount     Deposits Rate (%)
                                                                       (Amounts in thousands)


<S>                         <C>           <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>      <C>            <C>        <C>
Non-interest bearing 
  accounts                  $  453,218    22.28       ---    $   472,909     24.30      --      $  439,495      23.18      ---
NOW accounts                   306,120    15.05      2.52        268,391     13.80     2.68        288,947      15.24     2.64
Money market and other
  savings accounts             440,545    21.66      2.95        425,626     21.88     2.78        450,144      23.75     2.86
Time deposits                  834,147    41.01      5.45        778,602     40.02     5.34        717,064      37.83     5.17
                            ----------   ------               ----------    ------              ----------    -------

                            $2,034,030   100.00               $1,945,528    100.00              $1,895,650     100.00
                            ==========   ======               ==========    ======              ==========     ======
</TABLE>

        The Banks  traditionally  price their deposits to position themselves in
the  middle of the local  market.  The Banks'  policy is not to accept  brokered
deposits.

                                                  Page 34 of 50

<PAGE>



        Time  certificates  of deposit of $100,000 and over at December 31, 1997
had maturities as follows:
                             December 31, 1997
                           (Amounts in thousands)

Three months or less             $100,267
Over three through six months      51,402
Over six through twelve months     39,959
Over twelve months                 68,650
                                 --------
Total                            $260,278
                                 ========

Short-Term Borrowings:

        The  following  table  sets forth  certain  information  concerning  the
Company's  short-term  borrowings,  which consist of federal funds purchased and
securities sold under agreements to repurchase.
<TABLE>

                                                     Years ended December 31,
                                                    1997        1996         1995
                                                  ---------   --------- -----------
                                                         (Amounts in thousands)
<S>                                               <C>         <C>         <C>     
Federal funds purchased:
  Amount outstanding at period-end                $      0    $      0    $ 11,300
  Weighted average interest at period-end             0.00%       0.00%       3.12%
  Maximum amount at any month-end during period   $  5,875    $ 19,725    $ 16,325
  Average amount outstanding during period        $  2,304    $ 11,425    $ 15,284
  Weighted average interest rate during period        4.64%       4.80%       5.65%

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
  Amount outstanding at period-end                $170,534    $ 87,609    $ 55,285
  Weighted average interest at period-end             4.61%       4.25%       2.50%
  Maximum amount at any month end during-period   $172,827    $156,595    $ 88,070
  Average amount outstanding during period        $118,855    $ 79,411    $ 53,924
  Weighted average interest rate during period        4.44%       4.36%       4.12%
</TABLE>


Liquidity:

        Liquidity  represents  an  institution's  ability  to  provide  funds to
satisfy  demands from  depositors,  borrowers  and other  commitments  by either
converting  assets into cash or accessing new or existing sources of incremental
funds.  The  principal  sources of funds that  provide  liquidity  are  customer
deposits,  payments of interest and principal on loans,  maturities in and sales
of investment  securities,  earnings and borrowings.  At December 31, 1997, cash
and due  from  banks,  securities  available-for-sale,  federal  funds  sold and
repurchase agreements were in excess of 15% of total deposits.

        The Company depends upon the dividends paid to it from the Banks as a

                                                  Page 35 of 50

<PAGE>



principal source of funds for its debt service and dividend requirements.  As of
December  31,  1997,  there  was  approximately  $100  million  available  to be
dividended to the Company from the Banks.

Capital Resources:

        Risk-based and leverage capital ratios for the Company and the Banks for
the periods indicated are shown in the following table:
<TABLE>

                                   Risk-Based Capital Ratios                    Tier 1 Leverage
                   -----------------------------------------------------   --------------------------
                              Total                     Tier 1                      Ratio
                   --------------------------   -------------------------  ---------------------------
                   December 31,  December 31,   December 31, December 31,   December 31,  December 31,
                      1997          1996          1997         1996           1997         1996
                      ----          ----          ----         ----           ----         ----

<S>                  <C>          <C>            <C>         <C>              <C>         <C>   
Hancock Bank MS      18.45%       18.62%         17.65%      17.79%           9.75%       10.10%
Hancock Bank LA      20.58        19.63          19.33       18.38           10.94        10.54
Company              19.18        19.02          18.22       18.03           10.24        10.37
</TABLE>

        Risk-based capital  requirements are intended to make regulatory capital
more  sensitive  to risk  elements  of the  Company.  Currently,  the Company is
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 must  maintain a minimum
Tier 1 Leverage  ratio  (Tier 1 capital to total  assets) of at least 3.0% based
upon the regulator's latest composite rating of the institution.

New Accounting Standards:

        In June 1997, the Financial  Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial  Accounting  Standards ("SFAS")  "Reporting  Comprehensive  Income"
which  requires that an enterprise  report by major  components  and as a single
total,  the change in net assets  during the period from  non-owner  sources and
SFAS  No.  131  "Disclosures   about  Segments  of  an  Enterprise  and  Related
Information"  which establishes  annual and interim  reporting  standards for an
enterprise's  operating  segments and related  disclosures  about its  products,
services,  geographic  areas and major  customers.  Adoption of these statements
will not  impact  the  Company's  consolidated  financial  position,  results of
operations or cash flows, and any effect will be limited to the form and content
of its  disclosures.  Both  statements are effective for fiscal years  beginning
after  December  15,  1997.  The  Company  is in the  process of  reviewing  its
operating segments.



                                                  Page 36 of 50

<PAGE>



Impact of Inflation:

        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  effect  on  the  Banks'
performance than the effect of general levels of inflation on the price of goods
and  services.  Interest  rates  earned and paid by the Banks are  affected to a
degree by the rate of  inflation,  and  noninterest  income and  expenses can be
affected by increasing  rates of inflation;  however,  the Company believes that
the  effects of  inflation  are  generally  manageable  through  asset/liability
management.


                                                  Page 37 of 50

<PAGE>



                            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.

        The  building  has been leased  from the City of Gulfport in  connection
with a urban development  revenue bond issue. The bonds matured and were paid in
full during 1997. Hancock Bank MS, however, effectively has had ownership of the
building  since title to the facility  reverts when all  outstanding  bonds have
been paid. For this reason, the Company has carried the building as an asset and
the bonds as a long term  payable on its  balance  sheet.  Pending the filing of
certain documents, ownership will legally transfer to the Company.

        The following  banking  offices in Mississippi and Louisiana are held in
fee (number of locations shown in parenthesis):

        Albany, LA               (1)       Hammond, LA              (2)
        Angie, LA                (1)       Independence, LA         (1)
        Baker, LA                (1)       Long Beach, MS           (2)
        Baton Rouge, LA         (13)       Loranger, LA             (1)
        Bay St. Louis, MS        (2)       Lyman, MS                (1)
        Biloxi, MS               (3)       Moss Point, MS           (1)
        Bogalusa, LA             (1)       Mt. Hermon, LA           (1)
        Denham Springs, LA       (4)       Ocean Springs, MS        (2)
        D'Iberville, MS          (1)       Pascagoula, MS           (4)
        Escatawpa, MS            (1)       Pass Christian, MS       (1)
        Franklinton, LA          (1)       Picayune, MS             (2)
        French Settlement, LA    (1)       Ponchatoula, LA          (1)
        Gautier, MS              (1)       Poplarville, MS          (1)
        Gulfport, MS             (7)       Walker, LA               (1)
                                           Waveland, MS             (1)


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

        Baton Rouge, LA          (5)       Hammond, LA              (1)
        Bay St. Louis, MS        (3)       Pascagoula, MS           (1)
        Biloxi, MS               (1)       Picayune, MS             (2)
        Diamondhead, MS          (1)       St. Francisville, LA     (1)
        Gulfport, MS             (4)       Springfield, LA          (1)
                                           Vancleave, MS            (1)



                                                  Page 38 of 50

<PAGE>



        In addition to the above, Hancock Bank MS owns land and other properties
acquired through  foreclosures of loans.  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.

                            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 outside 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 condition 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, 1997.

                                        PART II

                    ITEM 5 - MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK
                                 AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

        The information under the caption "Market  Information" on page 6 of the
Company's  1997  Annual  Report  to  Stockholders  is  incorporated   herein  by
reference.

                           ITEM 6 - SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The  information  under the  caption  "Consolidated  Summary of Selected
Financial  Information"  on  Page 7 of  the  Company's  1997  Annual  Report  to
Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.

                      ITEM 7 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                      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 35 and 36 of the
Company's  1997  Annual  Report  to  Stockholders  is  incorporated   herein  by
reference.

                                                  Page 39 of 50

<PAGE>



      ITEM 7A - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

        The  Company's net income is dependent on its net interest  income.  Net
interest  income  is  susceptible  to  interest  rate  risk to the  degree  that
interest-bearing  liabilities  mature  or  reprice  on a  different  basis  than
interest-earning  assets.  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 net interest income.
Similarly,  when  interest-earning  assets  mature or reprice  more quickly than
interest-bearing liabilities,  falling interest rates could result in a decrease
in net income.

        In an attempt  to manage its  exposure  to  changes in  interest  rates,
management  monitors the Company's  interest rate risk.  The Company's  interest
rate  management  policy is designed to produce a stable net interest  margin in
periods of interest rate fluctuations. Interest sensitive assets and liabilities
are those that are subject to maturity or repricing  within a given time period.
Management  also  reviews  the  Company's   securities   portfolio,   formulates
investment strategies and oversees the timing and implementation of transactions
to assure  attainment of the Board's  objectives in the most  effective  manner.
Notwithstanding  the Company's  interest rate risk  management  activities,  the
potential for changing interest rates is an uncertainty that can have an adverse
effect on net income.

        In  adjusting  the  Company's  asset/liability  position,  the Board and
management  attempt to manage the Company's  interest rate risk while  enhancing
net  interest  margins.  At times,  depending  on the level of general  interest
rates,  the  relationship  between long and short-term  interest  rates,  market
conditions and  competitive  factors,  the Board and management may determine to
increase the Company's interest rate risk position somewhat in order to increase
its net interest margin.  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 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  cost than  certificate  accounts,  and that a  material
portion of such accounts may be more resistant to changes in interest rates than
are certificate accounts. At December 31, 1997 the Company had

                                                  Page 40 of 50

<PAGE>



$273  million of regular  savings and club  accounts  and $470  million of money
market and NOW accounts,  representing 46.4% of total interest-bearing depositor
accounts.

        One approach  used to quantify  interest  rate risk is the net portfolio
value ("NPV")  analysis.  NPV includes shareholder equity of the Company as 
reported in the financial statements, adjusted for changes in the carrying
value of investments, loans and certificates of deposit, when considering
changes in market values on a pre-tax basis.  In essence,  this analysis  
calculates  the difference between the present value of liabilities  and the 
present value of expected cash flows from assets and  off-balance  sheet  
contracts.  The following  table sets forth,  at December 31 1997, an analysis 
of the Company's  interest rate risk as measured by the estimated  changes in 
NPV resulting  from an  instantaneous  and sustained  parallel shift in the 
yield curve (+ or - 400 basis points,  measured in 100 basis point increments).

Change in                                         Estimated Increase
 Interest         Estimated                      (Decrease) in NPV
  Rates          NPV Amount                      Amount      Percent
- -----------      -----------                     ---------------------
(Basis Points)                                 (Dollars in thousands)

   +400           $ 125,143                $( 159,398)              (56)
   +300             167,841                 ( 116,700)              (41)
   +200             205,447                 (  79,094)              (29)
   +100             244,874                 (  39,667)              (14)
   ----             284,541                       ----              ----
   -100             315,631                    31,090                11
   -200             346,406                    61,865                22
   -300             378,736                    94,195                33
   -400             411,955                   127,414                45

        Certain assumptions in assessing the interest rate risk were employed in
preparing  data  for  the  Company  included  in  the  preceding  table.   These
assumptions relate to interest rates, loan prepayment rates, deposit decay rates
and the  market  values of  certain  assets  under  the  various  interest  rate
scenarios.  It was also  assumed  that  delinquency  rates  will not change as a
result of changes in interest rates although there can be no assurance that this
will be the case. Even if interest rates change in the designated amounts, there
can be no assurance that the Company's  assets and liabilities  would perform as
set forth above. 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 NPV than indicated above.

        As with any method of measuring interest rate risk, certain shortcomings
are inherent in the methods of analysis  presented above. For example,  although
certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or period

                                                  Page 41 of 50

<PAGE>



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.

        The  Company  does not  currently  engage in trading  activities  or use
derivative   instruments  to  control  interest  rate  risk.  Even  though  such
activities  may be permitted  with the approval of the Board of  Directors,  the
Company does not intend to engage in such activities in the immediate future.

        Interest  rate risk is the most  significant  market risk  affecting the
Company. Other types of market risk, such as foreign currency exchange rate risk
and  commodity  price risk,  do not arise in the normal  course of the Company's
business activities.

     Forward Looking Information - Congress passed the Private Securities 
Litigation Reform Act 0f 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 companies from 
unwarranted  litigation if actual results are different from management 
expectations.  This report 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.

             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 18 through 34 of the  Company's  1997 Annual
  Report   to    Stockholders    is   incorporated herein by reference:

                    Consolidated Balance Sheets on Page 18
                Consolidated Statements of Earnings on Page 19
          Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity on Page 20
               Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows on Page 21
       Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on Pages 22 through 33
                    Independent Auditors' Report on Page 34






                                                  Page 42 of 50

<PAGE>



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

        There  have  been  no  disagreements  with  the  Company's   independent
accountants and auditors on any matter of accounting  principles or practices or
financial statement disclosure.

                                       PART III

             ITEM 10 - DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

        For information concerning this item, see "Election of Directors" (Pages
3-7) and "Executive  Compensation"  (Pages 8-13) in the Proxy  Statement for the
Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  held February 19, 1998,  which was filed by the
Registrant  in  definitive  form with the  Commission on January 20, 1998 and is
incorporated herein by reference.


                           ITEM 11 - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        For information concerning this item see "Executive Compensation" (Pages
8-13) in the  Proxy  Statement  for the  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  held
February 19, 1998, which was filed by the Registrant in definitive form with the
Commission on January 20, 1998 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 4) and "Election of Directors" (Pages 3-7) in the Proxy
Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders  held February 19, 1998,  which
was filed by the  Registrant in definitive  form with the  Commission on January
20, 1998 and is incorporated herein by reference.


            ITEM 13 - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

        For  information  concerning  this item see  "Certain  Transactions  and
Relationships" (Page 14) in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of

                                                  Page 43 of 50

<PAGE>



Shareholders  held  February  19,  1998,  which was filed by the  Registrant  in
definitive  form with the  Commission  on January 20,  1998 and is  incorporated
herein by reference.

                                        PART IV

       ITEM 14 - 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  1997
Annual Report to Stockholders and are incorporated herein by reference:

        - Independent Auditors' Report
        - Consolidated  Balance  Sheets  as of  December  31,  1997  and 1996 -
          Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the three years ended 
          December 31, 1997
        - Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the three years
          ended December 31, 1997
        - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three years ended
          December 31, 1997
        - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the three years ended
          December 31, 1997

        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.

(a) 3. Exhibits:

   (2.1)  Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 30, 1985 among Hancock
          Holding Company, Hancock Bank and Pascagoula-Moss Point Bank (filed
          as Exhibit 2 to the Registrant's Form 8-K dated June 6, 1985 and
          incorporated herein by reference).

   (2.2)  Amendment dated July 9, 1985 to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated
          May 30, 1985 among Hancock Holding Company, Hancock Bank and
          Pascagoula-Moss Point Bank (filed as Exhibit 19 to Registrant's Form

                                                  Page 44 of 50

<PAGE>



          10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1985 and incorporated herein by
          reference).

   (2.3)   Stock Purchase Agreement dated February 12, 1990 among Hancock
           Holding Company, Metropolitan Corporation and Metropolitan National
           Bank (filed as Exhibit 2.3 to Registrant's Form 10-K for the year
           ended December 31, 1989 and incorporated herein by reference).

   (2.4)   Modified Purchase and Assumption Agreement dated August 2, 1990,
           among Hancock Bank of Louisiana and the Federal Deposit Insurance
           Corporation, receiver of American Bank and Trust Company of Baton
           Rouge, Louisiana (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q
           for the quarter ended June 30, 1990 and incorporated herein by
           reference).

    (2.5)  Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated November 30, 1993 among
           Hancock Holding Company, Hancock Bank of Louisiana and First State
           Bank and Trust Company of East Baton Rouge Parish, Baker, Louisiana
           (filed as Exhibit 2.5 to the Registrant's Form 10-K dated December
           31, 1993).

   (2.6)   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated July 6, 1994 among
           Hancock Holding Company and Washington Bancorp, Franklinton,
           Louisiana (filed as Exhibit 2 to the Registrant's Form S-4,
           Registration Number 33-56505, dated November 16, 1994).

   (2.7)   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated August 20, 1994 among
           Hancock Holding Company and First Denham Bancshares, Inc., Denham
           Springs, Louisiana (filed as Exhibit 2 to the Registrant's Form S-4,
           Registration Number 33-56285, dated November 2, 1994).

   (2.8)   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated November 15, 1996 among
           Hancock Holding Company, Hancock Bank of Louisiana, Community
           Bancshares, Inc. and Community State Bank, Hammond Louisiana (filed
           as Exhibit 2 to the Registrant's Form S-4, Registration Number 333-
           11873, dated September 12, 1996).

   (2.9)   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated January 17, 1997 among
           Hancock Holding Company, Hancock Bank of Louisiana and Southeast

                                                  Page 45 of 50

<PAGE>



           National Bank, Hammond, Louisiana (filed as Exhibit 2 to the
           Registrant's Form S-4, Registration Number 333-14223, dated October
           16, 1996).

  (2.10)   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated July 16, 1997 among
           Hancock Holding Company, Hancock Bank of Louisiana and Commerce
           Corporation, St. Francisville, Louisiana (filed as Exhibit 2 to the
           Registrant's Form S-4, Registration Number 323-26577, dated May 6,
           1997).

   (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

                                                  Page 46 of 50

<PAGE>



           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).

  (10.6)   Project Lease Agreement between Hancock Bank and City of Gulfport,

                                                  Page 47 of 50

<PAGE>



           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, 1997
          (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 19, 1998 (deemed "filed" for the purposes of this Form
          10-K only for those portions which are specifically incorporated
          herein by reference).







                                                  Page 48 of 50

<PAGE>



  (22)    Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

                               Jurisdiction              Holder of
Name                         Of Incorporation        Outstanding Stock (1)
- ------------                 ----------------        ------------------------
Hancock Bank                    Mississippi          Hancock Holding Company
Hancock Bank of Louisiana       Louisiana            Hancock Holding Company
Hancock Bank Securities
  Corporation                   Mississippi          Hancock Bank
Hancock Insurance Agency        Mississippi          Hancock Bank
Hancock Investment Services
  Inc.                          Mississippi          Hancock Bank
Town Properties, Inc.           Mississippi          Hancock Bank
The Gulfport Building, Inc.
 of Mississippi                 Mississippi          Hancock Bank
Harrison Finance Company        Mississippi          Hancock Bank
Hancock Mortgage Corporation    Mississippi          Hancock Bank and
                                                     Hancock Bank Securities
                                                         Corporation
Harrison Life Insurance         Mississippi          79% owned by Hancock
 Company                                             Bank

   (1)   All are 100% owned except as indicated.

  (23)   Consent of Independent Accountants.

  (27)   Financial Data Schedule.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

               No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of the
period covered by this report.

(c):

               The  response  to  this  portion  of Item  14 is  submitted  as a
separate section of this report.

(d):
               Not applicable.

                                                  Page 49 of 50

<PAGE>




                                      SIGNATURES

               Pursuant  to the  requirements  of  Section  13 or  15(d)  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


DATE    March 25, 1998                   /s/ Leo W. Seal, Jr.
     -----------------------            ---------------------
                                       By Leo W. Seal, Jr., President

               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 and Director       March 25, 1998
- ------------------------------
 Leo W. Seal, Jr.                (Chief Executive Officer)



 /s/ Joseph F. Boardman, Jr.     Director,                    March 25, 1998
- ------------------------------
 Joseph F. Boardman, Jr.         Chairman of the Board



 /s/ Thomas W. Milner, Jr.       Director                     March 25, 1998
- ------------------------------
 Thomas W. Milner, Jr.



 /s/ George A. Schloegel         Director,                    March 25, 1998
- ------------------------------
 George A. Schloegel             Vice-Chairman of the Board
                                 Chief Financial Officer
                                 (Principal Accounting 
                                  and Financial Officer)


 /s/ Dr. Homer C. Moody, Jr.     Director                     March 25, 1998
- ------------------------------
 Dr. Homer C. Moody, Jr.



 /s/ James B. Estabrook, Jr.     Director                     March 25, 1998
- ------------------------------
 James B. Estabrook, Jr.



 /s/ Charles H. Johnson          Director                     March 25, 1998
- ------------------------------
 Charles H. Johnson



 /s/ L. A. Koenenn, Jr.          Director                     March 25, 1998
- ------------------------------
 L. A. Koenenn, Jr.



 /s/ Victor Mavar                Director                     March 25, 1998
- ------------------------------
 Victor Mavar



<PAGE>


EXHIBIT INDEX


13    Only  Pages 5,6,7 and 18-36 of the Registrant's  Annual  Report  to  
Shareholders expressly  incorporated  by  reference  herein are included in 
this exhibit and, therefore, are filed as a part of this report of Form 10-K.

23    Independent Auditor's Consent.

27    Financial Data Schedule.  


































Page 5
Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries Financial Highlights
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Amounts in thousands (except per share data)
                                                         1997         1996             % Change
                                                    ----------  -----------           ----------
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>                        <C> 
Earnings statement data:
Net interest income                                 $  112,197  $   106,719                5.13
Provision for loan losses                                6,399        6,154                3.98
Earnings before income taxes                            47,975       46,773                2.57
Net earnings                                            30,624       31,603               (3.10)

Per share data:
Basic and diluted earnings*                         $     2.82  $      3.08               (8.44)
Cash dividends paid*                                      1.00         0.88               13.64
Book value (period end)                                  26.44        24.42                8.27
Weighted average shares outstanding                     10,870       10,277                5.77
Shares outstanding 12/31                                10,916       10,725                1.78

Balance sheet data (period end):
Securities                                          $1,079,995  $   901,592               19.79
Net loans                                            1,220,629    1,173,967                3.97
Allowance for loan losses                               21,000       19,800                6.06
Total assets                                         2,537,957    2,289,582               10.85
Total deposits and deposit related liabilities       2,233,181    2,014,185               10.87
Long-term bonds and notes                                1,279        1,050               21.81
Total stockholders' equity                             288,573      261,938               10.17

Balance sheet data (average for the year):
Securities                                          $  984,203  $   903,386                8.95
Net loans                                            1,201,381    1,083,165               10.91
Allowance for loan losses                               20,410       17,670               15.51
Total assets                                         2,442,953    2,285,877                6.87
Total deposits and deposit related liabilities       2,155,189    2,027,105                6.32
Long-term bonds and notes                                1,369        1,795              (23.73)
Total stockholders' equity                             271,303      230,051               17.93

Performance ratios (%):
Return on average assets                                  1.25         1.38               (9.42)
Return on average stockholders' equity                   11.29        13.74              (17.83)
Allowance for loan losses to period-end loans             1.72         1.69                1.78
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans       538.74       681.58              (20.96)
Net charge-offs to period-end loans                       0.49         0.37               32.43
Net interest margin                                       5.14         5.20               (1.15)

                                                                                         Regulatory
                                                                                         Requirement
                                                                                         -----------
Capital ratios (%):
Primary capital                                          11.37        11.11                   -
Tier 1 leveraged                                         10.24        10.37                   3%
Tier 1 risk-based                                        18.22        18.03                   4%
Total risk-based                                         19.18        19.02                   8%
</TABLE>

* The Earnings and Cash Dividends Paid Per Common Share is based on the weighted
average  number  of  shares  after  giving  retroactive  effect  for a 15% stock
dividend in 1996. Actual Cash Dividends Paid in 1996 were $1.00.
<PAGE>
Page 6
Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries
Description of Business

Hancock Holding Company (the "Company") is a bank holding company  headquartered
in Gulfport,  Mississippi with total  consolidated  assets of approximately $2.5
billion at December 31, 1997. The Company operates a total of 80 banking offices
and over 100 automated teller machines ("ATMs") 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.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Summary of Quarterly Operating Results
                                                1997                                    1996
                               -------------------------------------   --------------------------------------
                                 First   Second    Third     Fourth     First    Second    Third     Fourth
                               -------------------------------------   --------------------------------------

                                                         (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
<S>                           <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>    
Interest incom                $ 44,300   $45,698   $46,356   $47,541   $42,320   $42,432   $43,138   $43,633
Interest expense                17,003    17,783    18,158    18,754    16,152    16,104    15,979    16,569
                               -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------
Net interest income             27,297    27,915    28,198    28,787    26,168    26,328    27,159    27,064

Provision for loan losses          836     1,508     2,993     1,062     1,004       797     1,036     3,317
Earnings before income taxes    12,282    12,818    10,477    12,398    11,623    11,934    12,005    11,211
Net earnings                     8,257     8,193     6,687     7,487     7,768     8,032     8,082     7,721
Basic and diluted
  earnings per share           $  0.76   $  0.76   $  0.61   $  0.69   $  0.76   $  0.79   $  0.79   $  0.74
</TABLE>

Market Information
The Company's common stock trades on the NASDAQ National Market System under the
symbol"HBHC" and is listed in newspapers under NASDAQ market quotations under
"HancHd".  The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of the 
Company's common stock as reported on the NASDAQ National Market System. These 
prices do not reflect retail mark-ups, mark-downs or commissions.

                                                         Cash
                          High            Low          Dividends
                          Sale            Sale           Paid
                        -------         -------        ---------
1997
        1st Quarter     $ 42.50         $ 39.25         $  0.25
        2nd Quarter     $ 49.00         $ 39.50         $  0.25
        3rd Quarter     $ 51.50         $ 46.00         $  0.25
        4th Quarter     $ 63.25         $ 50.12         $  0.25

1996
                                                                   Actual Cash
                                      Restated*                  Dividends Paid
                        -----------------------------------     ---------------
        1st Quarter     $32.83          $31.09            $0.22       $0.25
        2nd Quarter     $35.22          $31.09            $0.22       $0.25
        3rd Quarter     $35.00          $31.52            $0.22       $0.25
        4th Quarter     $42.50          $32.61            $0.22       $0.25

*      The figures presented have been restated to reflect the effect of a 15% 
stock dividend paid in 1996.

There were 5,488  holders of record of common stock of the Company at January 2,
1998 and  10,916,770  shares  outstanding.  On January 2, 1998, the high and low
sale prices of the  Company's  common  stock as reported on the NASDAQ  National
Market  System were $60.50 and $59.17,  respectively.  The  principal  source of
funds  to the  Company  to pay  cash  dividends  are the  earnings  of the  Bank
subsidiaries.  Consequently,  dividends are  dependent  upon  earnings,  capital
needs,  regulatory policies and other policies affecting the Banks. For example,
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.  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.  However,
the Company has paid regular cash dividends since 1937.
<PAGE>
Page 7
Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Summary of Selected Financial Information

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Amounts In Thousands (except for per share data)
        Years Ended December 31,
        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                              1997         1996          1995          1994         1993
                                       -----------   -----------   -----------    ----------    ----------

Interest Income:
<S>                                    <C>           <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>       
  Interest and fees on loans           $   117,474   $   107,080   $    97,626    $   82,563    $   80,176
  Income on federal funds sold               2,733         5,580         5,820         3,832         3,603
  Interest & dividends on investments       63,688        58,863        58,083        49,884        49,936

      Total interest income                183,895       171,523       161,529       136,279       133,715
                                       ------------  -----------    ----------    ----------    ----------

Interest Expense:
  Interest on deposits                      66,150        60,625        57,612        48,193        46,935
  Interest on federal funds purchased
    and securities purchased under
    agreements to resell                     5,383         4,013         3,082         1,472         1,021
  Interest on bonds, notes and other           165           166           468           332           44
                                       -----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
      Total interest expense                71,698        64,804        61,162        49,997        48,396
                                       -----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------

Net Interest Income                        112,197       106,719       100,367        86,282        85,319
Provision for loan losses                    6,399         6,154         4,425         1,998         4,632
                                       -----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------

Net Interest Income after Provision
    for Loan Losses                        105,798       100,565        95,942        84,284        80,687
  Other income                              29,866        26,460        23,956        20,557        22,153
  Other expenses                            87,689        80,252        79,816        71,218        67,450
                                       -----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
  Earnings before income taxes              47,975        46,773        40,082        33,623        35,390
  Income taxes                              17,351        15,170        13,065        10,493        10,528
                                       -----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
Net Earnings                            $   30,624    $   31,603    $   27,017    $   23,130    $   24,862
                                       ===========    ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========

Per Common Share:
  Basic and diluted earnings            $     2.82    $     3.08    $     2.65    $     2.48    $     2.67
  Cash dividends paid*                        1.00          0.88          0.84          0.80          0.78
  Weighted average number of shares         10,870        10,277        10,181         9,314         9,307

Return on Average Assets                      1.25%         1.38%         1.22%         1.13%         1.27%
Dividend payout                              36.05%        28.90%        31.45%        32.21%        29.29%

Balance Sheet Data December 31:
  Total assets                          $2,537,957    $2,289,582    $2,234,286    $2,026,929    $1,988,125
  Total deposits and deposit
     related liabilities                 2,233,181     2,014,185     1,991,069     1,800,810     1,790,338
  Total long-term bonds and notes            1,279         1,050         2,035         2,955         4,300
  Stockholders' equity                     288,573       261,938       224,179       182,277       166,712
</TABLE>

  *Earnings and Cash Dividends Paid per Common Share are based on the weighted 
average number of shares after giving retroactive effect for a 15% stock 
dividend in December 1996.  Actual Cash Dividends Paid in 1996, 1995, 1994 and 
1993 were $1.00, $0.96, $0.92, and $0.90, respectively.

On April 29, 1994, the Company merged Hancock Bank of Louisiana,  a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, with First State Bank and Trust Company of East Baton
Rouge Parish, Baker,  Louisiana (Baker). On February 1, 1995, the Company merged
Hancock Bank of Louisiana with Washington  Bank and Trust Company,  Franklinton,
Louisiana   (Washington).   These   mergers   were   accounted   for  using  the
pooling-of-interests   method,  and,   therefore,   all  prior  years  financial
information has been restated.  On January 13, 1995, the Company  acquired First
Denham  Bancshares,  Inc.,  Denham Springs,  Louisiana,  which owned 100% of the
stock of First National Bank of Denham Springs  (Denham).  This  acquisition was
accounted for using the purchase method and the results of operations  since the
date of  acquisition  have  been  included  in the  consolidated  statements  of
earnings. On November 15, 1996, the Company acquired Community Bancshares, Inc.,
Independence,  Louisiana,  which owned 100% of the stock of Community State Bank
(Community).  This  acquisition  was accounted for using the purchase method and
results of operations  since the date of  acquisition  have been included in the
consolidated  statements of earnings.  On January 17, 1997 the Company  acquired
Southeast  National  Bank,  Hammond,  Louisiana  (Southeast)  for  approximately
$3,700,000  cash  and  121,000  shares  of  common  stock  of the  Company.  The
acquisition  was accounted for using the purchase  method of accounting  and the
results of operations  since  January 17, 1997 are included in the  consolidated
statements of earnings.  The excess of the purchase  price over the value of net
tangible assets acquired was assigned to goodwill and is being amortized over 15
years.  On July  15,  1997  the  Company  acquired  Commerce  Corporation,  Inc.
(Commerce),  St. Francisville,  Louisiana, which owned 100% of the stock of Bank
of Commerce and Trust Company, for approximately $330,000 cash and 65,000 shares
of common stock and the assumption of Commerce debt owed to certain  individuals
in the aggregate  principal amount of $1,250,000.  The transaction was accounted
for using the purchase method of accounting and the results of operations  since
July 15, 1997 are  included in the  consolidated  statements  of  earnings.  The
excess of the purchase price over the value of net tangible  assets acquired was
assigned to goodwill and is being amortized over 15 years.
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page 18
Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets


                                                                 December 31,
                                                     ----------------------------------
                                                             1997               1996
                                                     ---------------    ---------------
Assets:
<S>                                                  <C>                <C>            
Cash and due from banks (non-interest bearing)       $   113,124,897    $   119,483,272
Interest bearing time deposits with other banks            2,067,500          2,945,001
Securities available-for-sale
  (amortized cost of $163,531,000 and $98,567,000)       163,633,434         97,594,689
Securities held-to-maturity
  (market value of $924,958,000 and $806,710,000)        916,361,847        803,997,535
Federal funds sold                                        35,500,000         12,000,000
Loans                                                  1,245,355,439      1,198,769,903
  Less:
     Allowance for loan losses                           (21,000,000)       (19,800,000)
     Unearned income                                     (24,725,896)       (24,803,151)
                                                     ---------------    ---------------
     Loans, net                                        1,199,629,543      1,154,166,752
Property and equipment                                    42,810,352         40,412,254
Other real estate                                          2,357,399          1,875,683
Accrued interest receivable                               20,976,878         20,188,062
Other assets                                              41,494,695         36,918,982
                                                     ---------------    ---------------

Total Assets                                         $ 2,537,956,545    $ 2,289,582,230
                                                     ===============    ===============

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
  Deposits:
    Non-interest bearing demand                      $   462,730,852    $   432,963,782
    Interest-bearing savings, NOW,
      money market and other time                      1,599,916,793      1,493,612,581
                                                     ---------------    ---------------
  Total Deposits                                       2,062,647,645      1,926,576,363
  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase         170,533,618         87,609,038
  Other liabilities                                       14,922,683         12,408,884
  Long-term bonds and notes                                1,279,402          1,050,000
                                                     ---------------    ---------------
Total Liabilities                                      2,249,383,348      2,027,644,285

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 11 and 12)
Stockholders' Equity:
  Common stock: $3.33 par value per share;
    75,000,000 shares authorized, 11,072,770 and
    10,887,302 shares issued and outstanding              36,872,324         36,254,716
  Capital surplus                                        200,766,498        194,499,422
  Undivided profits                                       51,401,100         31,816,568
  Unrealized gain (loss) on securities
    available-for-sale, net of deferred taxes                 65,742           (632,761)
  Unearned compensation                                     (532,467)               ---
                                                     ---------------    ---------------
Total Stockholders' Equity                               288,573,197        261,937,945
                                                     ---------------    ---------------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity           $ 2,537,956,545    $ 2,289,582,230
                                                     ===============    ===============

</TABLE>




See notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>

Page 19
Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
<TABLE>


                                                                 Years Ended December 31,
                                                       ---------------------------------------------
                                                             1997             1996            1995
                                                       ------------    -------------   -------------
Interest Income:
<S>                                                    <C>             <C>             <C>          
  Interest and fees on loans                           $ 117,473,854   $ 107,079,501   $  97,626,040
  Interest on:
    U.S. Treasury securities                              14,733,156      13,567,085      14,567,927
    Obligations of other U.S. government agencies         34,699,383      34,885,873      33,726,484
    Obligations of states and political subdivisions       4,150,307       3,543,436       3,526,973
  Interest on federal funds sold                           2,733,341       5,580,275       5,820,225
  Interest on time deposits and other                     10,105,014       6,866,644       6,261,921
                                                       -------------   -------------   -------------

       Total interest income                             183,895,055     171,522,814     161,529,570
                                                       -------------   -------------   -------------

Interest Expense:
  Interest on deposits                                    66,149,396      60,624,862      57,612,465
  Interest on securities sold under agreements to
       repurchase and federal funds purchased              5,383,358       4,013,259       3,081,896
  Interest on bonds and notes                                165,449         165,840         468,029
                                                       -------------   -------------   -------------

       Total interest expense                             71,698,203      64,803,961      61,162,390
                                                       -------------   -------------   -------------

Net Interest Income                                      112,196,852     106,718,853     100,367,180
Provision for loan losses                                  6,399,481       6,153,753       4,424,701
                                                       -------------   -------------   -------------

Net Interest Income after Provision


    for Loan Losses                                      105,797,371     100,565,100      95,942,479
Non-Interest Income:
  Service charges on deposit accounts                     18,528,677      16,877,678      15,040,119
  Other service charges, commissions and fees              4,657,517       4,412,938       4,693,062
  Securities gains (losses)                                  278,651          30,531         (49,121)
  Other                                                    6,401,572       5,139,145       4,271,598
                                                       -------------   -------------   -------------

       Total non-interest income                          29,866,417      26,460,292      23,955,658
                                                       -------------   -------------   -------------

Non-Interest Expense:
  Salaries and employee benefits                          46,472,455      42,384,113      41,319,402
  Net occupancy expense of premises                        4,366,166       4,263,421       3,751,201
  Equipment rentals, depreciation and maintenance         10,274,698      10,510,300       9,968,619
  Other                                                   26,574,650      23,094,554      24,777,018
                                                       -------------   -------------   -------------

       Total non-interest expense                         87,687,969      80,252,388      79,816,240
                                                       -------------   -------------   -------------


Earnings Before Income Taxes                              47,975,819      46,773,004      40,081,897

Income Taxes                                              17,351,400      15,170,000      13,065,000
                                                       -------------   -------------   -------------

Net Earnings                                           $  30,624,419   $  31,603,004   $  27,016,897
                                                       =============   =============   =============

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share            $        2.82   $        3.08   $        2.65
                                                       =============   =============   =============


</TABLE>




See notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>

Page 20
Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995
<TABLE>


                                                                                                         
                                                                                                          Unrealized  
                                                 Common Stock                                             Gain (Loss) 
                                       -----------------------------                                     on Securities
                                            Shares                       Capital         Undivided       Available-for-   Unearned
                                            Issued          Amount       Surplus          Profits         Sale, Net     Compensation
                                       --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------   --------------  ------------

<S>                                        <C>          <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>          
Balance, January 1, 1995                   8,247,851    $ 27,465,344    $104,170,000   $ 51,056,611    $   (415,070)
  Net earnings                                                                           27,016,897
  Cash dividends:  $.84 per share                                                        (8,661,027)
  Change in unrealized gain(loss)
     on securities available-for-sale                                                                       727,148
  Merger with Denham accounted
     for as a purchase                       774,098       2,577,746      20,240,868
  Transfer from undivided profits                                          5,589,132     (5,589,132)
                                        ------------   ------------   --------------   --------------   -------------   ------------

Balance, December 31, 1995                 9,021,949      30,043,090     130,000,000     63,823,349         312,078
  Net Earnings                                                                           31,603,004
  Cash dividends:  $.88 per share                                                        (9,134,130)
  Change in unrealized gain(loss)
     on securities available-for-sale                                                                      (944,839)
  15% Stock dividend                       1,351,960       4,502,027      49,914,363    (54,475,655)
  Acquisition of Community
     accounted for as a purchase             513,393       1,709,599      14,585,059
                                        ------------    ------------    ------------   ------------    ------------    -----------

Balance, December 31, 1996                10,887,302      36,254,716     194,499,422     31,816,568        (632,761)
  Net earnings                                                                           30,624,419
  Cash Dividends:  $1.00 per share                                                      (11,039,887)
  Change in unrealized gain(loss)
     on securities available-for-sale                                                                       698,503
  Acquisition of Southeast
     accounted for as a purchase             120,900         402,597       3,486,530
  Acquisition of Commerce
     accounted for as a purchase              64,568         215,011       2,780,546
  Transactions relating to
     restricted stock grants, net                                                                                         (532,467)
                                        ------------    ------------    ------------   ------------    ------------    ------------

Balance, December 31, 1997                11,072,770    $ 36,872,324    $200,766,498   $ 51,401,100    $     65,742    $  (532,467)
                                        ============    ============    ============   ============    ============    ============



</TABLE>













See notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>


Page 21
Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
<TABLE>

                                                                    Years Ended December 31,
                                                        ------------------------------------------------
                                                               1997             1996            1995
                                                        --------------   --------------   --------------
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
<S>                                                     <C>              <C>              <C>          
  Net Earnings                                          $  30,624,419    $  31,603,004    $  27,016,897
    Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
      net cash provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation                                        4,705,432        4,818,532        4,343,507
        Provision for loan losses                           6,399,481        6,153,753        4,424,701
        Deferred income taxes (credit)                       (395,000)        (754,000)        (790,000)
        (Gains) losses on sales of securities                (278,651)         (30,531)          49,121
        Increase in interest receivable                      (282,032)        (117,042)      (1,130,794)
        Amortization of intangible assets                   2,281,666        2,230,082        2,450,553
        Increase (decrease) in interest payable                14,102         (215,863)       1,869,527
        Other:  net                                         1,140,190         (734,320)         860,087
                                                        -------------    -------------    -------------
  Net cash provided by operating activities                44,209,607       42,953,615       39,093,599
                                                        -------------    -------------    -------------

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
  Net (decrease) increase in interest bearing
    time deposits                                          (2,056,716)       1,395,000         (100,000)
  Proceeds from maturities of
    securities held-to-maturity                           261,488,556      372,251,124      394,491,517
  Purchases of securities held-to-maturity               (359,318,934)    (375,169,554)    (363,531,311)
  Proceeds from sales and maturities of securities
    available-for-sale                                     31,441,417       25,122,385       10,164,925
  Purchase of securities available-for-sale               (97,379,020)     (34,102,782)      (1,831,268)
  Net (increase) decrease in federal funds sold and
    securities purchased under agreements to resell       (18,525,000)     147,175,000      (96,725,000)
  Net increase in loans                                   (11,363,057)    (109,554,135)     (39,410,863)
  Purchase of property and equipment, net                  (5,206,091)      (5,029,439)      (3,460,209)
  Proceeds from sales of other real estate                  1,737,568        1,169,568          628,300
  Net cash received in connection with
    purchase transactions                                   2,288,000          201,830        7,872,000
                                                        -------------    -------------    -------------
  Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities    (196,893,277)      23,458,997      (91,901,909)
                                                        -------------    -------------    -------------

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
  Net increase (decrease) in deposits                      75,490,602      (82,051,076)      54,419,827
  Dividends paid                                          (11,039,887)      (9,193,395)      (8,661,027)
  Repayments of long-term bonds and notes                  (1,050,000)        (985,000)        (920,000)
  Net increase in federal funds purchased,
    securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    and other temporary funds                              82,924,580       21,023,725       11,713,955
                                                        -------------    -------------    -------------
  Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     146,325,295      (71,205,746)      56,552,755
                                                        -------------    -------------    -------------

Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Due From Banks         (6,358,375)      (4,793,134)       3,744,445
Cash and Due From Banks, Beginning                        119,483,272      124,276,406      120,531,961
                                                        -------------    -------------    -------------
Cash and Due From Banks, Ending                         $ 113,124,897    $ 119,483,272    $ 124,276,406
                                                        =============    =============    =============

Supplemental Information
    Income Taxes Paid                                   $  16,410,052    $  17,185,000    $  13,600,000
    Interest Paid                                          71,684,101       65,019,824       60,910,863

</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>
Page 22
Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

NOTE 1 - 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.

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.

Use of Estimates.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 
generally accepted accounting principles requires management 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 from those estimates.

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 trading  account  securities  during the three years ended  December  31,
1997.    Held-to-maturity    securities   are   stated   at   amortized    cost.
Available-for-sale  securities are stated at market 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, 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.  Gains and losses on the
sale   of   securities    available-for-sale    are    determined    using   the
specific-identification method.

Allowance for Loan Losses.  The allowance for loan losses is a valuation account
available  to absorb  probable  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 recovery. Periodically during the year management
estimates the probable  level of future losses to determine  whether the reserve
is adequate to absorb  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  borrower's  ability  to  repay,  the
estimated value of any underlying  collateral and current  economic  conditions.
Based on these estimates,  the allowance for loan losses is increased by charges
to income and decreased by 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. Leasehold improvements are 
amortized over the shorter of the term of the lease or the asset's useful life.

Intangible Assets.  Intangible assets, which amounted to $28,633,000 and 
$24,582,000 at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, include the values 
assigned to the core deposits of acquired banks which are being amortized over 
lives ranging from six to seven years using accelerated methods, and goodwill 
which is being amortized over fifteen years.

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

Loans.  Loan origination fees and certain direct  origination costs are deferred
and  recognized as an  adjustment of the yield on the related loan.  Interest on
commercial  and real  estate  mortgage  loans is  recorded  as income as earned.

<PAGE>
Page 23

Unearned  income on installment  loans is recognized as income based on a method
which approximates the interest method.  Where doubt exists as to collectibility
of a loan,  the accrual of interest is  discontinued  and payments  received are
applied  first to  principal.  Upon such  discontinuances,  all  unpaid  accrued
interest is  reversed.  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 in which full payment of principal or interest is not expected.  Non major
homogeneous  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 loans  effective  interest  rate, or at 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. Generally, loans of all types which become 90 days delinquent are in the
process of  collection  through  repossession,  foreclosure  or have been deemed
currently  uncollectible.  Loans deemed currently  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.

Trust Fees.  Trust fees are recorded when received, which is the general 
practice within the banking industry.

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
and between the tax basis of assets and liabilities  and their reported  amounts
in the  financial  statements.  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 APB Opinion No. 25 and related 
interpretations in accounting for its stock options. Accordingly, no 
compensation cost has been recognized. The pro forma disclosures required by 
SFAS 123 are included in Note 9.

Basic and Diluted  Earnings Per Common Share.  In February  1997,  the Financial
Accounting  Standards  Board ("FASB") issued  Statement of Financial  Accounting
Standard No. 128,  Earnings Per Share.  This Statement  simplifies the standards
for computing  earnings per share previously  required under APB Opinion No. 15,
Earnings  Per Share.  Basic  earnings per share (EPS)  excludes  dilution and is
computed  by  dividing  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  similarly to fully diluted EPS pursuant to APB
Opinion No. 15. SFAS No. 128 is effective for 1997 and required  restatement  of
all prior  period EPS data.  Basic and diluted  earnings  per share as currently
presented  are the same  amounts as  primary  earnings  per share as  previously
reported.

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".

NOTE 2 - ACQUISITIONS

Poolings
On  February  1,  1995,  the  Company  merged  Hancock  Bank  of  Louisiana,   a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Company, with Washington Bank and Trust Company,
Franklinton,  Louisiana (Washington). The merger was consummated by the exchange
of all  outstanding  common  stock of  Washington  in return  for  approximately
624,000  shares  (adjusted for a 15% stock  dividend in 1996) of common stock of
the Company. The merger was accounted for using the pooling-of-interests method.
Net interest income and net earnings of Washington was $372,000 and $114,000 for
the period from January 1, 1995 to January 31, 1995, respectively.

<PAGE>
Page 24

Purchases

On January 13, 1995,  the Company  acquired  First Denham  Bancshares,  Inc. for
approximately  $4,000,000  cash and  890,000  shares  (adjusted  for a 15% stock
dividend in 1996) of common stock of the Company.  First Denham Bancshares,  Inc
owned 100% of the stock of First National Bank of Denham Springs  (Denham).  The
acquisition  was  accounted  for using the  purchase  method and the  results of
operation since January 13, 1995 are included in the consolidated  statements of
earnings.  The excess of the  purchase  price over the value of the net tangible
assets  acquired was assigned to goodwill and is being  amortized over 15 years.
On  November  15,  1996,  the  Company  acquired  Community   Bancshares,   Inc.
(Community) for approximately $5,000,000 cash and 513,000 shares (adjusted for a
15% stock dividend in 1996) of common stock of the Company.  The acquisition was
accounted  for using the  purchase  method and the results of  operations  since
November 15, 1996 are included in the consolidated  statements of earnings.  The
excess of the purchase price over the value of the net tangible  assets acquired
was assigned to goodwill and is being  amortized  over 15 years.  On January 17,
1997  the  Company  acquired   Southeast  National  Bank,   Hammond,   Louisiana
(Southeast) for approximately $3,700,000 cash and 121,000 shares of common stock
of the Company.  The  acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of
accounting and the results of operations  since January 17, 1997 are included in
the consolidated  statements of earnings.  The excess of the purchase price over
the value of net tangible  assets acquired was assigned to goodwill and is being
amortized  over 15  years.  On July  15,  1997  the  Company  acquired  Commerce
Corporation,  Inc. (Commerce), St. Francisville,  Louisiana, which owned 100% of
the stock of Bank of Commerce and Trust Company, for approximately $330,000 cash
and 65,000  shares of common stock and the  assumption  of Commerce debt owed to
certain  individuals  in the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  $1,250,000.  The
transaction  was accounted for using the purchase  method of accounting  and the
results of  operations  since July 15,  1997 are  included  in the  consolidated
statements of earnings.  The excess of the purchase  price over the value of the
net tangible  assets  acquired  was assigned to goodwill and is being  amortized
over 15 years.  The  following  unaudited  pro  forma  consolidated  results  of
operations  give effect to the  acquisitions  of Denham and  Community as though
they had occurred on January 1, 1995;  and Southeast and Commerce as though they
had  occurred  on January  1,  1996,  (amounts  in  thousands,  except for share
amounts):

                                                    Years ended December 31,
                                             ---------------------------------
                                                 1997       1996       1995
                                             ---------- ----------  ----------
Interest income                              $ 185,124  $ 182,372   $ 167,275
Interest expense                               (72,162)   (69,278)    (63,772)
Provision for loan losses                       (6,565)    (6,179)     (4,425)
                                             ---------  ---------   ---------
Net interest income after provision for
  loan losses                                  106,397    106,915      99,078

Net earnings                                 $  30,643  $  32,624   $  27,977
Basic and diluted earnings per common share  $    2.81  $    2.99   $    2.65

The unaudited pro forma  information  is not  necessarily  indicative  either of
results of operations that would have occurred had the purchases been made as of
January  1, 1995 or January 1, 1996,  as  appropriate,  or of future  results of
operations of the combined companies.

 In connection with the 1997, 1996 and 1995 acquisitions, liabilities were 
assumed as follows (in thousands):

                                              1997          1996         1995
                                           ----------   ----------   ----------
Fair value of all assets, excluding cash   $  68,815    $  96,623    $ 120,407
Cash acquired, net of amount paid              2,288          202        7,872
Market value of common stock issued           (6,885)     (16,295)     (22,819)
                                           ---------    ---------    ---------
Liabilities assumed                        $  64,218    $  80,530    $ 105,460
                                           =========    =========    =========

<PAGE>
Page 25

NOTE 3 - SECURITIES
The book and market values of securities classified as  available-for-sale  were
as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>

                                    December 31, 1997                      December 31, 1996
                                ------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------



                                           Gross     Gross                         Gross     Gross
                              Amortized  Unrealized Unrealized  Market  Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Market
                                Cost       Gains     Losses     Value     Cost      Gains     Losses     Value
                             ----------  -------   --------  --------- --------- -------   --------  ---------
<S>                            <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>    
U.S. Treasury securities       $54,637   $    79   $     8   $54,708   $   499   $     3   $     0   $   502
Other U.S. gov. obligations     46,039         5       126    45,918    53,802       120       501    53,421
Municipal obligations            1,496        30         0     1,526       923         2         0       925
Other Securities                 6,305         0         5     6,300         0         0         0         0
Mortgage-backed securities      27,538       318        29    27,827     5,373       317       391     5,299
CMOs                            21,427         0       162    21,265    33,038       111       633    32,516
Equity securities                6,089         0         0     6,089     4,932         0         0     4,932
                              --------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------

                              $163,531   $   432   $   330   163,633 $  98,567   $   553   $ 1,525   $97,595
                              ========   =======   =======   =======   =======   =======   =======   =======
</TABLE>

The  amortized  cost  and  market  value of the debt  securities  classified  as
available-for-sale at December 31, 1997, by estimated maturity,  were as follows
(in thousands):

                                    Amortized Cost  Market Value
                                    --------------  -------------

Due in one year or less                  $ 29,820   $ 29,774
Due after one year through five years      68,343     68,373
Due after five years through ten years     25,856     25,825
Due after ten years                        33,423     33,572
                                         --------   --------
                                         $157,442   $157,544
                                         ========   ========

The amortized cost and market values of securities classified as 
held-to-maturity were as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>

                                            December 31, 1997                        December 31, 1996
                             ------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------



                                           Gross       Gross                           Gross      Gross
                              Amortized  Unrealized  Unrealized Market    Amortized  Unrealized Unrealized Market
                                 Cost      Gains      Losses     Value      Cost        Gains     Losses   Value
                             ---------   --------   --------  --------- ---------   ---------    -------   --------
<S>                          <C>         <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>         <C>          <C>       <C>     
U.S. Treasury securities     $ 210,525   $  2,533   $    127  $ 212,931 $  175,171  $   1,990    $    60   $177,101
Other U.S. gov. obligations    267,437      1,112        312    268,237    338,796        618      1,863    337,551
Municipal obligations           88,062      2,979         37     91,004     66,367      2,088         47     68,408
Other Securities                25,874         19         20     25,873          0          0          0          0
Mortgage-backed securities     133,925      1,943        137    135,731     87,991        498        222     88,267
CMOs                           190,539      1,245        602    191,182    135,673        300        590    135,383
                              --------   --------   --------   -------- ----------  ---------    -------   --------
                              $916,362   $  9,831   $  1,235  $ 924,958 $  803,998  $   5,494    $ 2,782   $806,710
                              ========   ========   ========   ========   ========  =========    =======   ========
</TABLE>

The amortized cost and market value of securities classified as held-to-maturity
as  of  December  31,  1997,  by  contractual  maturity,  were  as  follows  (in
thousands):

                                     Amortized Cost Market Value
                                     -------------- -------------
Due in one year or less                 $ 194,406 $ 194,626
Due after one year through five years     305,508   307,880
Due after five years through ten years    177,870   179,584
Due after ten years                       238,578   242,868
                                          -------   -------
                                        $ 916,362 $ 924,958
                                          =======   =======

Proceeds from sales of  available-for-sale  securities were $12,919,000 in 1997,
$20,425,000  in 1996 and  $9,435,000  in 1995.  Gross gains of $321,000 in 1997,
$178,000  in 1996 and  $16,000  in 1995 and  gross  losses of  $42,000  in 1997,
$147,000 in 1996 and $65,000 in 1995 were  realized on those  sales.  Securities
with a book  value  of  approximately  $600,264,000  at  December  31,  1997 and
$440,507,000  at December 31,  1996,  were  pledged to secure  public  deposits,
securities  sold under  agreements  to  repurchase,  and for other  purposes  as
required or permitted by law.
<PAGE>
Page 26

The Company's  collateralized  mortgage obligations ("CMOs") generally consist 
of first and second tranche sequential pay and/or planned  amortization class 
(PAC) instruments. Interest income on CMOs and mortgage-backed securities is 
generally included  with interest on  obligations  of other U.S.  government  
agencies and corporations due to their guarantees of the underlying mortgages.

Note 4 - Loans
Loans consisted of the following (in thousands):
                                                    December 31,
                                             -----------------------
                                                  1997         1996
                                             ------------ ----------
Real estate loans - primarily mortgage       $  476,612   $  465,919
Commercial and industrial loans                 175,721      169,515
Loans to individuals for household, family
 and other consumer expenditures                558,147      534,560
Leases                                           16,889       15,881
Other loans                                      17,986       12,895
                                             ----------   ----------
                                             $1,245,355   $1,198,770
                                             ==========   ==========

 Changes in the allowance for loan losses are as follows (in thousands):
                                            1997        1996        1995
                                         --------    ----------  --------
Balance at January 1                     $ 19,800    $ 17,391    $ 15,372
Balance acquired through acquisitions         833         654       1,147
Recoveries                                  2,181       2,068       1,830
Loans charged off                          (8,213)     (6,466)     (5,383)
Provision charged to operating expense      6,399       6,153       4,425
                                         --------    --------    --------
Balance at December 31                   $ 21,000    $ 19,800    $ 17,391
                                         ========    ========    ========


The Company  generally makes loans in its market areas of South  Mississippi and
Southeastern  Louisiana.  Loans are made in the normal course of business to its
directors and 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 or contain other  unfavorable  features.  The
balance  of  loans  to  related  parties  at  December  31,  1997  and  1996 was
approximately $8,133,000 and $6,080,000, respectively.
Non-accrual and renegotiated loans amounted to approximately .30% of total loans
at December 31, 1997 and .25% at December  31, 1996.  The amount of interest not
accrued on these  loans did not have a  significant  effect on earnings in 1997,
1996 or 1995.
The  Company's  impaired  loans  amounted  to less than  .25% of total  loans at
December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related reserve amounts were not significant
at those dates.  There was no  significant  change in these  amounts  during the
years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 or 1995. Interest income recognized on these
loans amounted to  approximately  $125,000,  $100,000 and $300,000 for the years
ended  December 31, 1997,  1996 and 1995  respectively.  Transfers from loans to
other real estate amounted to approximately $1,894,000,  $1,952,000 and $574,000
in 1997, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  Reserve  balances  associated with other
real estate  amounted to $812,000  and  $668,000 at December  31, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.

NOTE 5 - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 Property and equipment  are stated at cost less  accumulated  depreciation  and
amortization as follows (in thousands):

                                                    December 31,
                                                 -----------------
                                                   1997     1996
                                                 -------   -------
Land, buildings and leasehold improvements       $47,073   $46,730
Furniture, fixtures and equipment                 42,022    37,047
                                                 -------   -------
                                                  89,095    83,777
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization    46,285    43,365
                                                 -------   -------
                                                 $42,810   $40,412
                                                 =======   =======
<PAGE<
Page 27

NOTE 6 - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Basic and diluted  earnings per common  share is based on the  weighted  average
number of shares outstanding of approximately 10,870,000 and 10,877,000 in 1997,
10,277,000 and  10,277,000 in 1996 and 10,181,000 and 10,181,000 in 1995,  which
have been  reduced by shares of stock  owned by  subsidiaries  and after  giving
retroactive effect to the 15% stock dividend paid in 1996. At December 31, 1997,
these subsidiaries owned 162,200 shares of stock.
Stockholders'  equity of the Company includes the undistributed  earnings of the
subsidiary Banks. 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 which, with respect to
Hancock  Bank,  are  subject to  approval  by the  Commissioner  of Banking  and
Consumer  Finance  of the State of  Mississippi.  The  amount of  capital of the
subsidiary banks available for dividends at December 31, 1997 was  approximately
$100 million.
The Company and its bank  subsidiaries  are required to maintain certain minimum
capital levels. At December 31, 1997 and 1996, the Company and the banks were in
compliance with their respective statutory minimum capital requirements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Following is a summary of the capital levels:

                                                                                   To be Well
                                                                  Required      Capitalized Under
                                                                 for Capital    Prompt Corrective
                                                   Actual     Adequacy Purposes  Action Provisions
                                           -----------------   ----------------- ----------------
                                             Amount    Ratio % Amount    Ratio % Amount Ratio %
                                            --------  ------   ------    -----   ------ --------

<S>                                         <C>        <C>   <C>          <C>  <C>    
As of December 31, 1997:
 Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
  Company                                   $273,724   19.18 $ 114,200    8.00 $   N/A
  Hancock Bank                               165,059   18.45    71,600    8.00  89,500 10.00
  Hancock Bank of Louisiana                  109,517   20.58    42,600    8.00  53,200 10.00

 Tier I Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
  Company                                   $259,940   18.22$ 57,100      4.00 $   N/A
  Hancock Bank                               157,927   17.65  35,800      4.00  53,700  6.00
  Hancock Bank of Louisiana                  102,865   19.33  21,300      4.00  31,900  6.00

 Tier I Leveraged Capital
  Company                                   $259,940   10.24$ 76,100      3.00 $   N/A
  Hancock Bank                               157,927    9.75  48,600      3.00  81,000  5.00
  Hancock Bank of Louisiana                  102,865   10.94  28,200      3.00  47,000  5.00

</TABLE>
<TABLE>

                                                                                    To be Well
                                                                   Required     Capitalized Under
                                                                  for Capital    Prompt Corrective
                                                   Actual      Adequacy Purposes Action Provisions
                                            --------------- -------------------- -----------------
                                             Amount    Ratio %Amount     Ratio % Amount   Ratio %
                                            --------   ----- -------     ------- ------   -------

<S>                                         <C>        <C>                <C>  <C>        <C>
As of December 31, 1996:
 Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
  Company                                   $250,369   19.02$105,300      8.00 $   N/A
  Hancock Bank                               152,370   18.62  65,500      8.00  81,800    10.00
  Hancock Bank of Louisiana                   97,801   19.63  39,800      8.00  49,800    10.00

 Tier I Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets)
  Company                                   $237,356   18.03$ 52,700      4.00 $   N/A
  Hancock Bank                               145,583   17.79  32,700      4.00  49,100     6.00
  Hancock Bank of Louisiana                   91,575   18.38  20,000      4.00  29,900     6.00

 Tier I Leveraged Capital
  Company                                   $237,356   10.37$ 69,000      3.00 $   N/A
  Hancock Bank                               145,583   10.10  43,200      3.00  72,100     5.00
  Hancock Bank of Louisiana                   91,575   10.54  26,000      3.00  43,400     5.00
</TABLE>


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
<PAGE>
Page 28

its bank  subsidiaries  must  maintain a minimum Tier 1 leveraged  ratio (Tier 1
capital to total  assets) of at least  3.0%  based  upon the  regulators  latest
composite rating of the institutions.  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% or greater,  its Tier 1 risked-based capital ratio is 6% or
greater, its leveraged ratio is 5% or greater and the institution is not subject
to a capital directive. Under this regulation, each of the subsidiary banks were
deemed to be well  capitalized  as of December  31, 1997 and 1996 based upon the
most recent  notifications  from their  regulators.  There are no  conditions or
events since those  notifications  that  management  believes would change their
classifications.

NOTE 7 - 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 are as follows (in thousands):

                                                                 December 31,
                                                            --------------------
                                                               1997      1996
                                                            -------    --------
Deferred tax assets:
   Post-retirement benefit obligation                       $   993    $   789
   Reserve for loan losses not currently deductible           6,022      5,002
   Reserve for other real estate not currently deductible       284        234
   Deferred compensation                                        725        715
   Lease accounting                                             195        159
   Unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale             339
   Other                                                        242        547
                                                            -------    -------
                                                              8,461      7,785
                                                            -------    -------

Deferred tax liabilities:
   Tax over book depreciation                                (3,325)    (3,517)
   Prepaid pension                                           (1,088)      (959)
   Unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale             (36)
   Market discount accretion                                 (1,321)      (638)
                                                            -------    -------

                                                             (5,770)    (5,114)
                                                            -------    -------
Net deferred tax asset                                      $ 2,691    $ 2,671
                                                            =======    =======

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

                       1997        1996        1995
                    ----------- ----------- ---------
Currently payable   $ 17,746    $ 15,924    $ 13,855
Deferred                (395)       (754)       (790)
                    --------    --------    --------
                    $ 17,351    $ 15,170    $ 13,065
                    ========    ========    ========

Income  taxes  amounted to less than the amounts  computed by applying  the U.S.
Federal income tax rate of 35% to earnings before income taxes.  The reasons for
these differences are as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>

                                                    1997                          1996                      1995
                                                ----------                   ------------              ----------
                                                   Amount            %        Amount               %    Amount           %
                                                ----------      --------     ------------     --- ---- ----------    --------
<S>                                              <C>                  <C>      <C>                  <C>  <C>              <C>
Taxes computed at statutory rate                 $ 16,792             35       $ 16,371             35   $ 14,029         35
Increases (decreases) in taxes resulting from:
 State income taxes                                   550              1              -              -          -          -
 Tax exempt interest income                        (1,501)            (3)        (1,583)            (3)    (1,355)        (3)
 Goodwill amortization                                831              2            400              -        380          1
 Miscellaneous items - net                            679              1            (18)             -        11           -
                                                 --------       --------       --------       --------   --------   ---------
Income tax expense                               $ 17,351             36       $ 15,170             32   $ 13,065         33
                                                 ========       ========       ========       ========   ========   =========
</TABLE>

The related  income tax  provision  (credit) on  securities  gains  (losses) was
$98,000 in 1997, $10,700 in 1996 and $(17,000) in 1995.

<PAGE>
Page 29

NOTE 8 - 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  employee's
        compensation during the last five years of employment.  Data relative to
        the pension plan follows (in thousands):   
<TABLE>
                                                                    December 31,
                                                               --------------------
                                                                  1997        1996
                                                               --------    ---------
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
<S>                                                            <C>         <C>     
   Vested benefit obligation                                   $ 24,557    $ 22,702
                                                               ========    ========
   Accumulated benefit obligation                              $ 24,650    $ 22,792
                                                               ========    ========
   Projected benefit obligation for service rendered to date   $(26,742)   $(24,687)
   Plan assets at fair value                                     26,524      23,251
                                                               --------    --------
   Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets           (218)     (1,436)
   Remaining unrecognized portion of net obligation being
    amortized over 15 years                                         183         228
   Unrecognized prior service cost                                  659         751
   Unrecognized net loss from past experience different
    from that assumed                                             2,484       3,197
                                                               --------    --------
   Prepaid pension cost included in other assets               $  3,108    $  2,740
                                                               ========    ========

                                                                     Years Ended December 31,
                                                               --------------------------------
Net pension expense included the                                  1997        1996        1995
                                                               --------    --------    --------
   following  (income) expense components:
  Service cost - benefits earned during the period             $    942    $    850    $    836
  Interest cost on projected benefit obligation                   1,871       1,628       1,555
  Return on plan assets                                          (3,091)     (2,222)     (2,411)
  Net amortization and deferral                                   1,478         747       1,275
                                                               --------    --------    --------
Net pension expense                                            $  1,200    $  1,003    $  1,255
                                                               ========    ========    ========
</TABLE>

The  discount  rate and rate of increase in future  compensation  levels used in
determining the actuarial present value of the projected benefit  obligation was
7.75% and 3.0% in 1997 and 1996,  respectively.  The expected  rate of return on
plan assets was 8% in 1997 and 1996. The Plan's assets consist primarily of U.S.
government  and agency  obligations,  certificates  of deposit  and other  fixed
income obligations.
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 noncontributory. The actuarial and recorded
liabilities for these post-retirement  benefits, none of which have been funded,
are as follows (in thousands):
                                                        December 31,
                                                   ------------------
Accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations:      1997       1996
                                                   -------    -------

  Retirees                                         $ 2,952    $ 2,159
  Fully eligible active plan participants            1,051      1,071
  Other active plan participants                     1,506      1,410
                                                   -------    -------
                                                     5,509      4,640
  Unrecognized transition obligation                (2,006)    (2,150)
  Unrecognized net (loss) gain                        (665)      (236)
                                                   -------    -------
                                                   $ 2,838    $ 2,254
                                                   =======    =======

Net periodic post-retirement benefit costs included the following components (in
thousands):
<TABLE>

                                                                     1997    1996     1995
                                                                    -----   ------   -----
<S>                                                                 <C>     <C>      <C>  
Amortization of unrecognized net gain (loss)                        $   0   $ (30)   $  55
Service cost-benefits attributed to service during the year           233     219      264
Interest costs on accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations     357     254      390
Amortization of transition obligation over 20 years                   143     143      143
                                                                    -----   -----    -----
Net periodic post-retirement benefit cost                           $ 733   $ 586    $ 852
                                                                    =====   =====    =====
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Page 30

For  measurement  purposes  in 1997,  an 8.5% annual rate of increase in the per
capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed. The rate was assumed to
decrease  gradually  to 5.5% for 2003 and  remain at that level  thereafter.  In
1996,  rates of 9.0% and 5.5% were assumed,  and in 1995, rates of 9.5% and 5.5%
were assumed.  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 as of December 31, 1997, by $719,000 and the aggregate of the service
and interest cost  components of net periodic  post-retirement  benefit cost for
the year then ended by  $89,000.  The  weighted  average  discount  rate used in
determining the accumulated  post-retirement benefit obligation was 7.0% in 1997
and 7.5% in 1996 and 1995.
The Company has a  non-contributory  profit sharing plan covering  substantially
all salaried  full-time  employees who have been employed the required length of
time.  Contributions  are made at the  discretion  of the Board of Directors and
amounted to $568,500 in 1997, $568,500 in 1996 and $456,000 in 1995.
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.,  who have been  employed  by the  Company  the
required  length of time are  eligible  to  participate,  if they so elect.  The
Company  contributes an amount equal to 25% of each participant's  contribution,
which  contribution  cannot exceed 5% of the employee's  base pay. The Company's
contribution  amounted to $84,500 in 1997,  $71,000 in 1996 and $58,000 in 1995.
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.

NOTE 9 - EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS
In February 1996 the  stockholders  of the Company  approved the Hancock Holding
Company  1996  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan to provide  incentives  and awards for
employees  of the Company and it's  subsidiaries.  Awards as defined in the Plan
includes, 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 5,000,000 common shares can
be granted under the Plan with a maximum of 1% of the  outstanding  common stock
(as reported for the fiscal year ending  immediately prior to such plan year) in
any one 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 December 15,  1996,  options to purchase
35,250 shares were granted, of which 32,978 are exercisable at $40 per share and
2,272 are exercisable at $44 per share.  27,522 of these options are exercisable
on the first  anniversary  of the date of grant and  7,728 are  exercisable  six
months  after date of grant.  The options  generally  expire ten years after the
date of grant.
On December 11, 1997,  options to purchase 62,375 were granted,  of which 60,860
shares are  exercisable  at $66 per share and 1,515 are  exercisable  at $66 per
share.  48,288 of these options are exercisable on the first  anniversary of the
date of grant and 14,087 are exercisable six months after the date of grant.

Below is a summary of the transactions:
                                        Exercise Price
                            ------------------------------------
                             Number of
                              Options   Average Price
                            Outstanding  Per Share   Aggregate
                            -----------    ------   -----------
Balance January 1, 1996               0    $    0.00$         0
Granted                          35,250        40.26  1,419,000
                            -----------    ------   -----------
Balance December 31, 1996        35,250        40.26  1,419,000
Granted                          62,375        60.15  3,752,000
Cancelled                        (1,300)       40.00    (52,000)
                            -----------    ------   -----------
Balance December 31, 1997        96,325    $   53.14$ 5,119,000
                            ===========    ======   ===========

Options on 33,950 shares were  exercisable  at December 31, 1997 with a weighted
average  exercise price of $40.27 per share.  The weighted  average  contractual
life of options outstanding at December 31, 1997 was 9.5 years.
<PAGE>
Page 31

The     Company  has  adopted  the  disclosure-only  option  under  SFAS No. 123
        "Accounting  for Stock Based  Compensation".  The weighted  average fair
        value of options  granted  during  1997 and 1996 was $20.36 and  $11.53,
        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 123, the  Company's  net income and earnings
        per share would have been as indicated below: 

                                        Year Ended December 31,
                                       -------------------------
                                             1997        1996
                                       ----------   ----------
Net earnings
  As reported                          $   30,624   $   31,603
  Pro Forma                                30,220       31,584
Basic and diluted earnings per share
  As reported                          $     2.82   $     3.08
  Pro Forma                                  2.78         3.07

 The fair value of the options  granted under the  Company's  stock option plans
during  the years  ended  December  31,  1997 and 1996 was  estimated  using the
Black-Scholes  Pricing Model with the following assumptions used: dividend yield
of 1.6% and 2.3%,  expected  volatility of 25% and 22%, risk free interest rates
of 5.5% and 5.6%, and expected lives of 8 years and 8 years, respectively.
 The Company also issued 12,300  restricted  share grants during 1997 which vest
at the end of three years.  Vesting is contingent  upon continued  employment by
the Company.  All of these  grants were  outstanding  at December 31, 1997.  The
6,100 and 6,200 shares had respective  market values of $42 and $60 per share at
the dates of grant, and $96,000 of compensation expense relating to these grants
was recorded in 1997. The remaining  unearned  compensation of $532,467 is being
amortized over the life of the grants.

NOTE 10 - DISCLOSURES ABOUT 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 that
value: Cash, Short-term Investments and Federal Funds Sold. For those short-term
instruments,  the  carrying  amount  is a  reasonable  estimate  of fair  value.
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 would be made to borrowers 
with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.

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.  Long-Term Bond
and 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 
are as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>

                                                                                December 31,
                                                         --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      1997                          1996
                                                         --------------------------     -------------------------
                                                             Carrying        Fair        Carrying          Fair
                                                              Amount         Value        Amount           Value
                                                          ------------  ------------   -----------    ------------
Financial Assets:
<S>                                                      <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        
   Cash, short-term investments and federal funds sold   $   150,692    $   150,692    $   134,428    $   134,428
   Securities available-for-sale                             163,633        163,633         97,595         97,595
   Securities held-to-maturity                               916,362        924,958        803,998        806,710
   Loans                                                   1,220,630      1,208,958      1,173,967      1,167,767
     Less: allowance for loan losses                         (21,000)       (21,000)       (19,800)       (19,800)
                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
     Loans, net of reserve                                 1,199,630      1,187,958      1,154,167      1,147,967

Financial Liabilities:
   Deposits                                              $ 2,062,648    $ 2,063,604    $ 1,926,576    $ 1,925,157
   Securities sold under agreements to repurchase            170,534        170,534         87,609         87,609
   Long-term bonds and notes                                   1,279          1,279          1,050          1,050
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
Page 32

NOTE 11 - 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  which are not  reflected in the  accompanying
consolidated  financial  statements,  until they are funded or related  fees are
incurred or received. These instruments 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
                              ----------------------
                                   1997     1996
                              ----------  ---------
Commitments to extend credit   $241,000   $224,500
Letters of credit                 8,950      7,700

Approximately  $181,000,000  and $183,000,000 of commitments to extend credit at
December  31,  1997 and  1996,  respectively,  were at  variable  rates  and the
remainder  were at fixed rates.  The  difference  between the interest  rates on
commitments  to extend credit and market rates is reflected in the  consolidated
financial  statements over the terms of the related loans when, and if, they are
made.
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   customers'   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.

NOTE 12 - Commitments and CONTINGENCIES
The Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course
of business. In the opinion of management, after consultation with outside 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
condition of the Company.

NOTE 13 - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The following is selected supplemental information (in thousands):


                                       Years Ended December 31,
                                      -------------------------
                                        1997     1996    1995
                                      -------  ------   ------

Other non-interest income:
  Trust fee income                    $2,946   $2,412   $2,525
Other non-interest expense:
  Deposit insurance premium expense      236      285    2,221
  Postage expense                      3,088    2,327    2,354

NOTE 14 - IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In June  1997,  the  FASB  issued  Statement  of  Financial  Standards  No.  130
"Reporting  Comprehensive  Income" which  requires that an enterprise  report by
major  components  and as a single  total,  the change in net assets  during the
period from non-owner sources and SFAS No. 131 "Disclosures about Segments of an
Enterprise  and  Related  Information"  which  establishes  annual  and  interim
reporting   standards  for  an  enterprises   operating   segments  and  related
disclosures about its products, services,  geographic areas and major customers.
Adoption  of  these  statements  will  not  impact  the  Company's  consolidated

<PAGE>
Page 33

financial position,  results of operations or cash flows, and any effect will be
limited  to the  form  and  content  of its  disclosures.  Both  statements  are
effective for fiscal years  beginning after December 15, 1997. The Company is in
the process of reviewing its operating segments.

NOTE 15 - SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY
             (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)


                                BALANCE SHEETS

                                                December 31,
                                        ---------------------------
                                             1997           1996
                                        ------------ --------------
Assets:
 Investment in subsidiaries             $289,423,238   $261,740,752
 Other                                       811,280        225,736
                                        ------------   ------------
                                        $290,234,518   $261,966,488
                                        ============   ============

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
 Accrued Expenses                       $    381,919   $     28,543
 Note Payable                              1,279,402              -
 Stockholders' Equity                    288,573,197    261,937,945
                                        ------------   ------------
                                        $290,234,518   $261,966,488
                                        ============   ============

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                   STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

                                                                               Years Ended December 31,
                                                                    ---------------------------------------------
                                                                          1997            1996            1995
                                                                    -------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                                                 <C>             <C>             <C>         
Dividends received from subsidiaries                                $ 17,150,000    $ 15,391,000    $  9,112,361
Excess equity in earnings of subsidiaries over dividends received     14,793,067      16,632,753      18,201,558
Interest and other expenses                                           (1,847,491)       (555,788)       (398,472)
Income tax credit                                                        528,843         135,039         101,450
                                                                    ------------    ------------    ------------
Net Earnings                                                        $ 30,624,419    $ 31,603,004    $ 27,016,897
                                                                    ============    ============    ============
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                        STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                      Years Ended December 31,
                                           ---------------------------------------------
                                                 1997            1996            1995
                                           -------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                        <C>             <C>             <C>         
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
 principally dividends from subsidiaries   $ 15,116,205    $ 14,813,634    $ 10,054,361
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 purchase transactions                       (4,062,524)     (5,622,371)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 principally dividends paid                 (11,039,887)     (9,134,130)    (10,028,311)
                                           ------------    ------------    ------------
Net increase in cash                             13,794          57,133          26,050
Cash, Beginning                                 157,307         100,174          74,124
                                           ------------    ------------    ------------
Cash, Ending                               $    171,101    $    157,307    $    100,174
                                           ============    ============    ============

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Page 34

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,  1997 and 1996,  and the related
statements  of  earnings,  stockholders'  equity  and cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1997.  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  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  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,  1997  and  1996,  and the  results  of their
operations  and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.



Deloitte & Touche LLP

New Orleans, Louisiana
January 13, 1998

<PAGE>
Page 35

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


Results of Operations

For the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996
The  Company's  net  income was $30.6  million,  or $2.82 per share for the year
ended December 31, 1997,  compared with $31.6 million,  or $3.08 per share,  for
the year ended  December 31, 1996. Net interest  income and non interest  income
increased as a result of increased  volume.  Net interest  margin  declined from
5.20% in 1996 to 5.14% in 1997.  Revenue  increases were offset by higher levels
of operating  costs and income taxes.  Income taxes  increased $2.2 million over
1996 due to, among other things,  increased taxable income,  state income taxes,
and higher levels of non-deductible goodwill amortization expense in conjunction
with the most recent three mergers. The provision for loan losses increased from
$6.2 million to $6.4 million as a result of increased loan charge-off  activity.
The loan loss allowance was 1.72% of period-end  loans and  represented  539% of
non-performing loan balances at December 31, 1997.


For the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995
The Company's  net income was $31.6  million,  or $3.08 per share,  for the year
ended December 31, 1996,  compared with $27.0 million,  or $3.05 per share,  for
the year ended  December 31,  1995.  The increase in net income can be primarily
attributed to increased  loan volume and an increase in the net interest  margin
from an average of 5.13% in 1995 to 5.20% in 1996. The Bank's balance sheets are
liability  sensitive  with deposits  repricing  faster than loans and investment
securities.   Non-interest   income   increased  $2.5  million  or  10.4%  while
non-interest  expenses increased 0.6% or $500 thousand.  FDIC premium expense in
1996  was $2  million  lower  than in 1995,  which  offset  acquisition  related
expenses  and  other  normal  expense  increases.  The  provision  for loan loss
increased  from $4.4  million to $6.2  million in 1996 as a result of  increased
loan charge-off  activity and increased loan volume. The loan loss allowance was
1.69% of period-end loans and represented 682% of  non-performing  loan balances
at December 31, 1996.


Financial Condition

Securities
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  and  earning  requirements.  The
December 31, 1997 book value of the held-to-maturity  portfolio was $916 million
and the market value was $925 million. The available-for-sale  portfolio balance
was  $164  million  at  December  31,  1997.  Total   securities   increased  by
approximately $178 million during 1997.


Loans
Loans  outstanding  increased  $46.7  million in 1997  bringing the December 31,
1997,  net loan  portfolio  balances to $1.2  billion or 52% of earning  assets.
Loans acquired through the Southeast and Commerce transactions  accounted for as
purchases amounted to $41 million or 88% of the increase.  Non-performing  loans
were $3.9 million or less than 1/2% of the December  31,  1997,  loan  balances.
Restructured  loans were insignificant and the amount of interest not accrued on
non-performing  loans did not  significantly  effect  earnings in 1997,  1996 or
1995. The Company generally makes loans in its market areas of South Mississippi
and Southeastern Louisiana.


Deposits and Deposit Related Liabilities
Deposits  increased  to $2.1  billion on December  31,  1997.  Interest  bearing
deposit  balances  increased  7%.  Deposits  acquired  through the Southeast and
Commerce transactions  accounted for as purchases amounted to $62 million. Other
deposit related liabilities,  principally  securities purchased under agreements
to resell,  increased  from $88 million in 1996 to $171 million in 1997, or 94%.
Deposits and deposit  related  liabilities  are the Company's  primary source of
funds supporting its earning assets base.


Liquidity
Liquidity  represents the Company's  ability to provide funds to satisfy demands
from depositors,  borrowers and other commitments by either converting assets to
cash or accessing new or existing  funds.  The principal  sources of funds which
provide liquidity are customer  deposits,  payments of principal and interest on

<PAGE>
Page 36

loans, maturities and sales of securities, earnings and borrowings. During 1995,
the Company  established  a line of credit  with the  Federal  Home Loan Bank in
excess of $30 million, providing an additional liquidity source. At December 31,
1997, cash and due from banks,  securities  available-for-sale and federal funds
sold were in excess of 62% of total deposits.


Capital Resources
Composite  ratings by the respective  regulatory  authorities of the Company and
Banks establish minimum capital levels. Currently, the Company and the Banks are
required to maintain  minimum Tier I leveraged ratios of at least 3%, subject to
increase to at least 4% to 5%, depending on the composite rating. As of December
31, 1997,  the Company and the Banks capital  balances were in excess of current
regulatory minimum requirements and showed increases over the prior year.


Year 2000
In 1997 the Company began addressing all the systems requiring  modifications to
accomodate  the turn of the century.  Testing of these systems will begin during
1998  with a  complete  year  end  test to be  accomplished  at the end of 1998.
Management believes it has dedicated adequate resources to this project and does
not believe that the cost of implementation will be a significant amount.


New Accounting Standards
In June  1997,  the  FASB  issued  Statement  of  Financial  Standards  No.  130
"Reporting  Comprehensive  Income" which  requires that an enterprise  report by
major  components  and as a single  total,  the change in net assets  during the
period from non-owner sources and SFAS No. 131 "Disclosures about Segments of an
Enterprise  and  Related  Information"  which  establishes  annual  and  interim
reporting   standards  for  an  enterprises   operating   segments  and  related
disclosures about its products, services,  geographic areas and major customers.
Adoption  of  these  statements  will  not  impact  the  Company's  consolidated
financial position,  results of operations or cash flows, and any effect will be
limited  to the  form  and  content  of its  disclosures.  Both  statements  are
effective for fiscal years  beginning after December 15, 1997. The Company is in
the process of reviewing its operating segments.


Form 10-K Annual Report
Hancock  Holding Company files an annual report with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  on Form  10-K.  A copy  of the  report  filed  on  Form  10-K,  when
completed,  will be sent free of charge to any  shareholder by writing to George
A. Schloegel, Vice-Chairman,  Hancock Holding Company, P. O. Box 4019, Gulfport,
MS 39502.




                               Exhibit (23)


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the  Registration  Statement of
Hancock  Holding  Company  on Form S-8 (No.  2-99863)  and on Form S-3 (No.  33-
31782) of our report dated  January 13, 1998  incorporated  by reference in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.



DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New Orleans, Louisiana
March 25, 1998


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                    9
<MULTIPLIER>                                             1,000
       
<S>                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                           12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                     JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                       DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                                 113,125
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   2,068
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                        35,500
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                             0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            163,633
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                 916,362
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                   924,958
<LOANS>                                              1,220,629
<ALLOWANCE>                                           (21,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       2,537,957
<DEPOSITS>                                           2,062,648
<SHORT-TERM>                                           170,534
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                     14,923
<LONG-TERM>                                              1,279
<COMMON>                                                36,872
                                        0
                                                  0
<OTHER-SE>                                             251,701
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                       2,537,957
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                        117,418
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                       56,316
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                        10,105
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                       183,895
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                      66,149
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      71,698
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                  112,197
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                            6,399
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                         279
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                         87,688
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                         47,976
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                              47,976
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                            30,624
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             2.82
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             2.82
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                            5.12
<LOANS-NON>                                              3,898
<LOANS-PAST>                                             5,423
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                             0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                              0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                        19,800
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                            8,213
<RECOVERIES>                                             2,181
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                       21,000
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                    21,000
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                          0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                  2,100
        


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