HWC 10-Q Quarter ended March 31, 2015

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015

OR

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 0-13089

HANCOCK HOLDING COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(228) 868-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NOT APPLICABLE

(Former name, address and fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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 ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes ¨ No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. 77,891,909 common shares were outstanding as of May 1, 2015.

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Hancock Holding Company

Index

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

1

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

(Unaudited)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

2

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

3

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

4

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

(Unaudited)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

5

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

1. Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Hancock Holding Company and all other entities in which it has a controlling interest (the “Company”). The financial statements include all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Some financial information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted in this Form 10-Q pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Financial information reported in these financial statements is not necessarily indicative of the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows for any other interim or annual period.

Use of Estimates

The accounting principles the Company follows and the methods for applying these principles conform with GAAP and with those generally practiced within the banking industry. These accounting principles require management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

There were no material changes or developments with respect to methodologies that the Company uses when applying what management believes are critical accounting policies and developing critical accounting estimates as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

2. Securities

The amortized cost and fair value of securities classified as available for sale and held to maturity follow:

7

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

2. Securities (continued)

The following table presents the amortized cost and fair value of debt securities at March 31, 2015 by contractual maturity. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because of rights to call or repay obligations with or without penalties and scheduled and unscheduled principal payments on mortgage-backed securities and CMOs.

The Company held no securities classified as trading at March 31, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

The details for securities classified as available for sale with unrealized losses for the periods indicated follow:

8

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

2. Securities (continued)

The details for securities classified as held to maturity with unrealized losses for the periods indicated follow:

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

2. Securities (continued)

The unrealized losses relate to changes in market rates on fixed-rate debt securities since the respective purchase dates. In all cases, the indicated impairment would be recovered no later than the security’s maturity date or possibly earlier if the market price for the security increases with a reduction in the yield required by the market. None of the unrealized losses relate to the marketability of the securities or the issuer’s ability to meet contractual obligations. The Company believes it has adequate liquidity and, therefore, does not plan to and, more likely than not, will not be required to sell these securities before recovery of the indicated impairment. Accordingly, the unrealized losses on these securities have been determined to be temporary.

Securities with carrying values totaling $3.0 billion at March 31, 2015 and $3.2 billion at December 31, 2014 were pledged as collateral primarily to secure public deposits or securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

3. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses

Loans, net of unearned income, consisted of the following:

11

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

3. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses (continued)

The following briefly describes the distinction among originated, acquired and FDIC acquired loans and certain significant accounting policies relevant to each category.

Originated loans

Loans reported as “originated” include both loans originated for investment and acquired-performing loans where the discount (premium) has been fully accreted (amortized). Originated loans are reported at the principal balance outstanding, net of unearned income. Interest on loans and accretion of unearned income, including deferred loan fees, are computed in a manner that approximates a level yield on recorded principal. Interest on loans is recognized in income as earned.

The accrual of interest on an originated loan is discontinued when, in management’s opinion, it is probable that the borrower will be unable to meet payment obligations as they become due, as well as when required by regulatory provisions. When accrual of interest is discontinued on a loan, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed and payments subsequently received are applied first to recover principal. Interest income is recognized for payments received after contractual principal has been satisfied. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest contractually due are brought current and future payment performance is reasonably assured.

Acquired loans

Loans reported as “acquired” are those loans that were purchased in the 2011 Whitney Holding Corporation acquisition. These loans were recorded at estimated fair value at the acquisition date with no carryover of the related allowance for loan losses. The Whitney acquired loans were segregated between those considered to be performing (“acquired-performing”) and those with evidence of credit deterioration (“acquired-impaired”) based on such factors as past due status, nonaccrual status and credit risk ratings (rated substandard or worse). The acquired loans were further segregated into loan pools designed to facilitate the development of expected cash flows to be used in estimating fair value to facilitate purchase accounting. Acquired-performing loans are accounted for under ASC 310-20 and acquired-impaired loans are accounted for under ASC 310-30.

Acquired-performing loans were segregated into pools based on common risk characteristics such as loan type, credit risk ratings, and contractual interest rate and repayment terms. The major loan types included commercial and industrial loans not secured by real estate, real estate construction and land development loans, commercial real estate loans, residential mortgage loans, and consumer loans, with further segregation within certain loan types as needed. Expected cash flows, both principal and interest, from each pool were estimated based on key assumptions covering such factors as prepayments, default rates, and severity of loss given a default. These assumptions were developed using both historical experience and the portfolio characteristics at acquisition as well as available market research. The fair value estimate for each acquired-performing pool was based on the estimate of expected cash flows from the pool discounted at prevailing market rates.

The difference at the acquisition date between the fair value and the contractual amounts due of an acquired-performing loan pool (the “fair value discount”) is accreted into income over the estimated life of the pool. Acquired-performing loans are placed on nonaccrual status and reported as nonperforming or past due using the same criteria applied to the originated portfolio.

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

3. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses (continued)

The acquired-impaired loans were segregated into pools by identifying loans with common credit risk profiles and were based primarily on characteristics such as loan type and market area in which originated. The major loan types included commercial and industrial loans not secured by real estate, real estate construction and land development loans, commercial real estate loans, and residential mortgage loans, with further segregation within certain loan types as needed. The acquired-impaired loans were further disaggregated by geographic region in recognition of the differences in general economic conditions affecting borrowers in certain states. The fair value estimate for each pool of acquired-impaired loans was based on the estimate of expected cash flows from the pool discounted at prevailing market rates.

The excess of estimated cash flows expected to be collected from an acquired-impaired loan pool over the pool’s carrying value is referred to as the accretable yield and is recognized in interest income using an effective yield method over the expected life of the loan pool. Each pool of acquired-impaired loans is accounted for as a single asset with a single composite interest rate and an aggregate expectation of cash flows. Acquired-impaired loans in pools with an accretable yield and expected cash flows that are reasonably estimable are considered to be accruing and performing even though collection of contractual payments on loans within the pool may be in doubt, because the pool is the unit of accounting. Acquired-impaired loans are generally not subject to individual evaluation for impairment and are not reported with impaired loans or troubled debt restructurings even if they would otherwise qualify for such treatment.

FDIC acquired loans and the related loss share receivable

Loans reported as “FDIC acquired” are loans purchased in the 2009 acquisition of Peoples First Community Bank (Peoples First) that were covered by two loss share agreements between the FDIC and the Company. These loans are accounted for as acquired-impaired loans as described above in the section on acquired loans. The Company treated all loans for the Peoples First acquisition as impaired based on the significant amount of deteriorating and nonperforming loans, comprised mainly of adjustable rate mortgages and home equity loans, located in Florida. The loss share receivable is measured separately from the related covered loans as it is not contractually embedded in the loans and is not transferrable should the loans be sold. The fair value of the loss share receivable at acquisition was estimated by discounting expected reimbursements for losses from the loans covered by the loss share agreements, including appropriate consideration of possible true-up payments to the FDIC at the expiration of the agreements.

The loss share receivable is reviewed and updated prospectively as loss estimates related to covered loan pools change. Increases in expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreement will lead to an increase in the loss share receivable. A decrease in expected reimbursements is reflected first as a reversal of any previously recorded increase in the loss share receivable on the covered loan pool with the remainder reflected as a reduction in the loss share receivable’s accretion rate. Increases and decreases in the loss share receivable related to changes in loss estimates result in reductions in or additions to the provision for loan losses, which serves to offset the impact on the provision from impairments or impairment reversals recognized on the underlying covered loan pool. The excess (or shortfall) of expected claims as compared to the carrying value of the loss share receivable is accreted (amortized) into noninterest income over the shorter of the remaining life of the covered loan pool or the life of the loss share agreement. The impact on operations of a reduction in the loss share receivable’s accretion rate is associated with an increase in the accretable yield on the underlying loan pool. The loss share receivable is reduced as cash is received from the FDIC related to losses incurred on covered assets.

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

3. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses (continued)

The following schedule shows activity in the loss share receivable for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:

The loss share agreement covering the non-single family FDIC acquired portfolio expired in December 2014. The loss share agreement covering the single family portfolio expires in December 2019.

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Hancock Holding Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

3. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses (continued)

The following schedule shows activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 as well as the corresponding recorded investment in loans at the end of each period.