1. Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Hancock Holding Company and all other entities in which it has a controlling interest (the “Company”). The financial statements include all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Some financial information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (U.S. GAAP) have been condensed or omitted in this Form 10-Q pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Financial information reported in these financial statements is not necessarily indicative of the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows for any other interim or annual period.

Use of Estimates

The accounting principles the Company follows and the methods for applying these principles conform with U.S. GAAP and with those generally practiced within the banking industry. These accounting principles require management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL) is a valuation account available to absorb losses on loans. The ALLL is maintained at an amount sufficient to cover the estimated credit losses associated with the loan and lease portfolios of the Company as of the date of the determination. Credit losses arise not only from credit risk, but also from other risks inherent in the lending process including, but not limited to, collateral risk, operational risk, concentration risk, and economic risk. As such, all related risks of lending are considered when assessing the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses. Quarterly, management estimates the inherent losses in the existing loan portfolio based on a number of factors, including the Company’s past loan loss and delinquency experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral and current economic conditions.

The analysis and methodology for estimating the ALLL include two primary elements. A loss rate analysis which incorporates a historical loss rate as updated for current conditions is used for loans collectively evaluated for impairment, and a specific reserve analysis is used for loans individually evaluated for impairment.

During the second quarter of 2013, management revised the methodology for the loss-rate analysis for the originated and acquired-performing loan portfolios due to the increased size and complexity of the Company’s commercial loan portfolio. The primary changes in the methodology were to segment loans with similar risk characteristics at a more granular level and to lengthen the period used for analyzing loss emergence and estimating loss factors. The changes were implemented as of April 1, 2013 and resulted in no material change in the total amount of the allowance for loan losses. Management made the following principal changes to the methodology during the second quarter of 2013:

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Established a more granular stratification of the major loan segments to enhance the homogeneity of the loan classes. For the loss-rate analysis, the Company previously segmented loans into three primary groups—commercial, residential mortgage and consumer. The revised loan segments are commercial non-real estate, construction and land development, commercial real estate, residential mortgage and consumer. Both quantitative and qualitative factors are applied at the more detailed portfolio segments.

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Included portfolio risk ratings in loss-rate analysis. Commercial loans (commercial non-real estate, construction and land development and commercial real estate) are further subdivided by risk rating, and retail loans (residential mortgage and consumer) are further subdivided by delinquency. Previously, the methodology indirectly incorporated risk ratings and delinquencies.

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Lengthened the loss emergence period. The Company uses an eighteen month loss emergence period for commercial loans and a twelve month loss emergence period for retail loans. Historical loss rates are calculated for each commercial segment using a weighted average of three eighteen-month periods over a fourteen quarter look-back period, and for each retail segment using a weighted average of three twelve-month periods over a twelve quarter look-back period. Previously, historical loss rates for all loan segments were calculated using an average of three twelve month loss emergence periods over a three year look back period. As circumstances dictate, management will make adjustments to the loss history to reflect differences in current conditions as compared to those during the historical loss period. Conditions to be considered include problem loan trends, current business and economic conditions, credit concentrations, lending policies and procedures, lending staff, collateral values, loan profiles and volumes, loan review quality, and changes in competition and regulations.

There were no changes in the methodology for the specific reserve analysis for loans individually evaluated for impairment or acquired credit-impaired loans.

There were no other material changes or developments with respect to methodologies that the Company uses when applying what management believes are critical accounting policies and developing critical accounting estimates as disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.