Retirement Plans

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2025

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Retirement Plans

13. Retirement Plans

The Company offers a qualified defined benefit pension plan, the Hancock Whitney Corporation Pension Plan and Trust Agreement (“Pension Plan”), that covers certain eligible associates and is closed to new entrants. The Company makes contributions to the Pension Plan in amounts sufficient to meet funding requirements set forth in federal employee benefit and tax laws, plus such additional amounts as the Company may determine to be appropriate. The Company made no contributions to the pension plan during the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, and does not anticipate being required to make a contribution during 2025. The Company also sponsors a nonqualified defined benefit plan covering certain associates, under which accrued benefits were frozen and no future benefits are accrued under this plan.

The Company sponsors defined benefit post-retirement plans for certain associates that provide health care and life insurance benefits. These plans are closed to new entrants.

The following table shows the components of net periodic benefit cost included in expense for the periods indicated.

	Three Months Ended June 30,
	Pension Benefits						Other Post-Retirement Benefits
(in thousands)	2025			2024			2025			2024
Service cost	$	1,551		$	1,927		$	9		$	9
Interest cost		6,273			6,010			154			154
Expected return on plan assets		(11,266	)		(11,906	)		—			—
Amortization of net (gain) or loss and prior service costs		1,118			1,420			(185	)		(185	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(2,324	)	$	(2,549	)	$	(22	)	$	(22	)

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	Pension Benefits						Other Post-Retirement Benefits
($ in thousands)	2025			2024			2025			2024
Service cost (benefit)	$	3,151		$	3,906		$	18		$	18
Interest cost		12,548			11,930			308			308
Expected return on plan assets		(22,534	)		(23,823	)		—			—
Amortization of net (gain) or loss and prior service costs		2,258			2,624			(370	)		(370	)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	(4,577	)	$	(5,363	)	$	(44	)	$	(44	)

Service cost is reflected in the “Benefit expense” line item of the Consolidated Statements of Income. Components other than service cost in the in the table above are reflected in “Net other retirement expense” in Note 10 – Other Noninterest Expense, and reported in the “Other expense” line item of the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Additional information related to the Company’s retirement plans, including a defined contribution 401(k) plan, is provided in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.