Retirement and Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Defined Benefit Plan-Pension [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Expected future pension plan benefit payments

	Hancock		Whitney
	Qualified		Qualified		Nonqualified		Total
2012	$	4,273	$	6,993	$	888	$	12,154
2013		4,394		7,410		883		12,687
2014		4,640		8,020		1,041		13,701
2015		4,971		8,735		1,134		14,840
2016		5,342		9,432		1,138		15,912
2017-2021		33,222		57,629		5,792		96,643
	$	56,842	$	98,219	$	10,876	$	165,937

Defined Benefit Plan-Postretirement [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Expected future pension plan benefit payments

	Hancock		Whitney		Total
2012	$	832	$	1,246	$	2,078
2013		795		1,293		2,088
2014		838		1,244		2,082
2015		784		1,141		1,925
2016		813		1,056		1,869
2017-2021		4,245		4,450		8,695
	$	8,307	$	10,430	$	18,737

Hancock Plan [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan-Pension [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Components of defined benefit obligation

	2011			2010
Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation, beginning of year	$	101,746		$	89,720
Service cost		4,689			3,501
Interest cost		5,453			5,233
Actuarial loss		27,429			7,155
Benefits paid		(4,202	)		(3,863	)
Benefit obligation, end of year		135,115			101,746
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year		71,640			61,313
Actual return on plan assets		1,375			7,718
Employer contributions		34,907			6,726
Benefit payments		(4,202	)		(3,863	)
Expenses		(245	)		(254	)
Fair value of plan assets, end of year		103,475			71,640
Funded status at end of year—net liability	$	(31,640	)	$	(30,106	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss
Unrecognized loss at beginning of year	$	38,810		$	36,753
Amount of (loss)/gain recognized during the year		(2,343	)		(2,281	)
Net actuarial loss/(gain)		31,789			4,338
Unrecognized loss at end of year	$	68,256		$	38,810

Components of net periodic benefit cost

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	4,689		$	3,500		$	3,107
Interest cost		5,453			5,233			4,833
Expected return on plan assets		(5,490	)		(4,646	)		(3,873	)
Recognized net amortization and deferral		2,343			2,281			2,648
Net periodic benefit cost		6,995			6,368			6,715
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes
Net (loss)/gain recognized during the year		(2,343	)		(2,281	)		(2,648	)
Net actuarial loss/(gain)		31,789			4,338			(1,089	)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		29,446			2,057			(3,737	)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	36,441		$	8,425		$	2,978
Weighted average assumptions as of measurement date
Discount rate for benefit obligations		4.35	%		5.46	%		5.95	%
Discount rate for net periodic benefit cost		5.46	%		5.95	%		5.96	%
Expected long-term return on plan assets		7.50	%		7.50	%		7.50	%
Rate of compensation increase		4.00	%		4.00	%		4.00	%

Fair values measurements of pension plan assets

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011
Asset Category	Total		Quoted Prices in Active  Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Hancock Horizon Government Money Market Fund	$	28,081	$	28,081	$	—	$	—
Hancock Horizon Strategic Income Bond Fund		29,895		29,895		—		—
Hancock Horizon Quantitative Long/Short Fund		3,674		3,674		—		—
Hancock Horizon Diversified International Fund		6,266		6,266		—		—
Hancock Horizon Burkenroad Fund		2,414		2,414		—		—
Hancock Horizon Growth Fund		13,403		13,403		—		—
Hancock Horizon Value Fund		19,742		19,742		—		—
TOTAL	$	103,475	$	103,475	$	—	$	—

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2010
Asset Category	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Hancock Horizon Government Money Market Fund	$	2,573	$	2,573	$	—	$	—
Hancock Horizon Strategic Income Bond Fund		25,974		25,974		—		—
Hancock Horizon Quantitative Long/Short Fund		3,525		3,525		—		—
Hancock Horizon Diversified International Fund		6,277		6,277		—		—
Hancock Horizon Burkenroad Fund		2,264		2,264		—		—
Hancock Horizon Growth Fund		12,392		12,392		—		—
Hancock Horizon Value Fund		18,635		18,635		—		—
TOTAL	$	71,640	$	71,640	$	—	$	—

Weighted average asset allocations and target allocations

	Plan Assets at December 31,						Target Allocation at December 31,
Asset category	2011			2010			2011			2010
Equity securities		44	%		60	%		40-70	%		40-70	%
Fixed income securities		29	%		36	%		30-60	%		30-60	%
Cash equivalents		27	%		4	%		0-10	%		0-10	%
		100	%		100	%

Hancock Plan [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan-Postretirement [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Components of defined benefit obligation

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011			2010
Change in postretirement benefit obligation
Projected postretirement benefit obligation, beginning of year	$	12,373		$	10,290
Service cost		137			125
Interest cost		611			556
Plan participants' contributions		346			310
Actuarial loss		4,294			2,098
Benefit payments		(1,108	)		(1,006	)
Projected postretirement benefit obligation, end of year		16,653			12,373
Change in plan assets
Plan assets, beginning of year		—			—
Employer contributions		763			696
Plan participants' contributions		345			310
Benefit payments		(1,108	)		(1,006	)
Plan assets, end of year		—			—
Funded status at end of year—net liability	$	(16,653	)	$	(12,373	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss
Unrecognized loss at beginning of year	$	5,546		$	3,701
Amount of (loss)/gain recognized during the year		(489	)		(253	)
Net actuarial loss/(gain)		4,294			2,098
Unrecognized loss at end of year	$	9,351		$	5,546

Components of net periodic benefit cost

	Years Ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost
Service cost	$	137		$	124		$	114
Interest costs		611			556			565
Amortization of net loss		538			302			296
Amortization of prior service cost		(48	)		(48	)		(48	)
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost		1,238			934			927
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes
Amount of loss recognized during the year		(538	)		(302	)		(296	)
Net actuarial (gain)/loss		4,293			2,098			1,574
Amortization of prior service cost		48			48			48
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		3,803			1,844			1,326
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	5,041		$	2,778		$	2,253

Assumed health care cost trend rates

	1% Decrease		Assumed		1% Increase
	in Rates		Rates		in Rates
Aggregated service and interest cost	$	654	$	748	$	866
Postretirement benefit obligation		14,655		16,653		19,114

Whitney Plan [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan-Pension [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Components of defined benefit obligation

	December 31, 2011
	Qualified			Nonqualified
Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at acquisition date	$	216,992		$	14,442
Service cost		3,751			27
Interest cost		6,664			438
Actuarial loss		40,542			1,597
Benefits paid		(3,556	)		(570	)
Benefit obligation, end of year		264,393			15,934
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at acquisition date		223,495			—
Actual return on plan assets		(5,354	)		—
Employer contributions		10,000			570
Benefit payments		(3,556	)		(570	)
Expenses		—			—
Fair value of plan assets, end of year		224,585			—
Funded status at end of year—net liability	$	(39,808	)	$	(15,934	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss
Unrecognized loss at acquistion date	$	—		$	—
Amount of (loss)/gain recognized during the year		—			—
Net actuarial loss/(gain)		55,524			1,597
Unrecognized loss at end of year	$	55,524		$	1,597

Components of net periodic benefit cost

	Year Ended
	December 31, 2011
	Qualified			Nonqualified
Net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	3,751		$	27
Interest cost		6,664			438
Expected return on plan assets		(9,628	)		—
Recognized net amortization and deferral		—			—
Net periodic benefit cost		787			465
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes
Net (loss)/gain recognized during the year		—			—
Net actuarial loss/(gain)		55,524			1,597
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		55,524			1,597
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	56,311		$	2,062
Weighted average assumptions as of measurement date
Discount rate for benefit obligations		4.31	%		4.31	%
Discount rate for net periodic benefit cost		5.35	%		5.35	%
Expected long-term return on plan assets		7.50	%		—
Rate of compensation increase		3.58	%		3.58	%

Weighted average asset allocations and target allocations

	At December 31, 2011
	Plan			Target
	Assets			Allocation
Asset category
Equity securities		60	%		40-70	%
Fixed income securities		35	%		30-50	%
Cash equivalents		5	%		0-10	%
		100	%

Whitney Plan [Member] | Defined Benefit Plan-Postretirement [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Components of defined benefit obligation

	Period Ended December 31 2011
Change in postretirement benefit obligation
Projected postretirement benefit obligation, from acquisition date	$	15,949
Service cost		—
Interest cost		480
Plan participants' contributions		523
Actuarial loss		1,645
Benefit payments		(1,143	)
Projected postretirement benefit obligation, end of year		17,454
Change in plan assets
Plan assets, beginning of year		—
Employer contributions		620
Plan participants' contributions		523
Benefit payments		(1,143	)
Plan assets, end of year		—
Funded status at end of year—net liability	$	(17,454	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss
Unrecognized loss at beginning of year	$	—
Amount of (loss)/gain recognized during the year		—
Net actuarial loss/(gain)		1,645
Unrecognized loss at end of year	$	1,645

Components of net periodic benefit cost

	2011
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost
Service cost	$	—
Interest costs		480
Amortization of net loss		—
Amortization of prior service cost		—
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost		480
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes
Amount of loss recognized during the year		—
Net actuarial (gain)/loss		1,645
Amortization of prior service cost		—
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		1,645
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other
comprehensive income	$	2,125

Assumed health care cost trend rates

	1% Decrease in Rates		Assumed Rates		1% Increase in Rates
Aggregated service and interest cost	$	431	$	480	$	538
Postretirement benefit obligation		15,620		17,454		19,631