Deposits (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Maturities for time deposits
2012	$ 2,395,425
2013	327,779
2014	85,203
2015	154,998
2016	65,220
Thereafter	47,622
Total time deposits	3,076,247
Interest-bearing deposits with no stated maturity	7,120,996
Total interest-bearing deposits	$ 10,197,243	$ 5,648,473

Interest-bearing deposits with no stated maturity

No definition available.

Name:	hbhc_InterestBearingDepositsWithNoStatedMaturity
Namespace Prefix:	hbhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate of all domestic and foreign interest-bearing deposit liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposits (including certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts) held by the entity with a remaining term of greater than five years.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-DEP

-Chapter 13

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph a

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesAfterYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposits (including certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts) held by the entity with a remaining term of greater than four years but five years or less.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposits (including certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts) held by the entity with a remaining term of greater than three years but four years or less.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposits (including certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts) held by the entity with a remaining term of twelve months or less.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesYearOne
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposits (including certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts) held by the entity with a remaining term of greater than two years but three years or less.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of time deposits (including certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts) held by the entity with a remaining term of greater than twelve months, but two years or less.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositMaturitiesYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate amount of time deposits, including certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositsByMaturityAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration