Retirement and Employee Benefit Plans (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	$ 224,585
Equity securities-large cap [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	72,607
Equity securities-small cap [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	44,191
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	33,319
U.S. government and agency secutities and other [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	44,017
Cash and equivalents [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	12,189
Hancock Horizon Diversified International Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	18,262
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	162,281
Level 1 [Member] \| Equity securities-large cap [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	72,607
Level 1 [Member] \| Equity securities-small cap [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	44,191
Level 1 [Member] \| U.S. government and agency secutities and other [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	15,032
Level 1 [Member] \| Cash and equivalents [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	12,189
Level 1 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Diversified International Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	18,262
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	62,304
Level 2 [Member] \| Corporate debt securities [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	33,319
Level 2 [Member] \| U.S. government and agency secutities and other [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	28,985
Hancock Plan [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	103,475	71,640
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Government Money Market Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	28,081	2,573
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Strategic Income Bond Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	29,895	25,974
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Quantitative Long/ Short Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	3,674	3,525
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Diversified International Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	6,266	6,277
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Burkenroad Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	2,414	2,264
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Growth Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	13,403	12,392
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Value Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	19,742	18,635
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	103,475	71,640
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 1 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Government Money Market Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	28,081	2,573
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 1 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Strategic Income Bond Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	29,895	25,974
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 1 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Quantitative Long/ Short Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	3,674	3,525
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 1 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Diversified International Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	6,266	6,277
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 1 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Burkenroad Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	2,414	2,264
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 1 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Growth Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	13,403	12,392
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 1 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Value Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	19,742	18,635
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Government Money Market Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Strategic Income Bond Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Quantitative Long/ Short Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Diversified International Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Burkenroad Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Growth Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Value Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 3 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Government Money Market Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 3 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Strategic Income Bond Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 3 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Quantitative Long/ Short Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 3 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Diversified International Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 3 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Burkenroad Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 3 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Growth Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Hancock Plan [Member] \| Level 3 [Member] \| Hancock Horizon Value Fund [Member]
Fair Value of the Whitney Pension Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets	$ 0	$ 0

Assets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those non-benefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets.

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