UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 16, 2009

WHITNEY HOLDING CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Louisiana	0-1026	72-6017893
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

228 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

(Addresses of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

 (504) 586-7272

(Registrant’s Phone Number, including Area Code)

____________________________________________________

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 5.02  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Appointment of New Director

On December 16, 2009, the Board of Directors (the Board) of Whitney Holding Corporation (the Company), pursuant to its authority to increase the number of directors and to fill vacancies on the board in accordance with the Company’s Charter, expanded the Board and elected Hardy B. Fowler as a new director to fill the resulting vacancy.  Mr. Fowler’s term will expire at the 2010 annual shareholders meeting at which time it is expected he will stand for reelection by the Company’s shareholders.  The Board has not yet appointed Mr. Fowler to any board committee.

Mr. Fowler has no related persons transactions with the Company.

On December 17, 2009, the Company issued a news release announcing the election of the new director as described in this Item 5.02. The news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	News Release, dated December 17, 2009

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

WHITNEY HOLDING CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Thomas L. Callicut, Jr.
	Thomas L. Callicutt, Jr.
	Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: December 18, 2009

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