Condensed Parent Company Information - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 352,428	$ 473,532	$ 443,032
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of available for sale securities	(512,088)	(1,074,744)	(285,825)
Proceeds from principal paydowns of securities available for sale	1,455	178	48,336
Other, net	(3,986)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	10,911us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	(376)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(1,910,459)	(4,497)	(17,733)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long term debt	21,000	24,515	232,720
Repayment of long term debt	(35,360)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(35,278)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(192,087)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Dividends paid to stockholders	(80,392)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(81,212)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(82,690)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Net cash provided by (used by) financing activities	1,566,046	(569,086)	(414,755)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	8,015	(100,051)	10,544
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, BEGINNING	348,440us-gaap_CashAndDueFromBanks	448,491us-gaap_CashAndDueFromBanks	437,947us-gaap_CashAndDueFromBanks
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, ENDING	356,455us-gaap_CashAndDueFromBanks	348,440us-gaap_CashAndDueFromBanks	448,491us-gaap_CashAndDueFromBanks
Hancock [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows from operating activities - principally dividends received from subsidiaries	126,491	257,251	18,789
Net cash provided by operating activities	126,491	257,251	18,789
Cash flows from investing activities
Contribution of capital to subsidiary		(870)	(955)
Loans to nonbank subsidiaries, net of repayments			1,684
Purchase of available for sale securities			(77,058)
Proceeds from principal paydowns of securities available for sale	12,664	18,685	47,305
Other, net		(5,630)
Net cash (used in) investing activities	12,664	12,185	(29,024)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long term debt			217,933
Repayment of long term debt	(35,200)	(35,200)	(140,000)
Dividends paid to stockholders	(80,392)	(81,673)	(83,151)
Stock transactions, net	(45,130)	(112,266)	13,479
Net cash provided by (used by) financing activities	(160,722)	(229,139)	8,261
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(21,567)	40,297	(1,974)
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, BEGINNING	66,338	26,041	28,015
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, ENDING	$ 44,771	$ 66,338	$ 26,041

Payment Of Loans To Nonbank Subsidiaries Net

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Cash flows from investing activities-principally contribution of capital to subsidiary.

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Principally dividends received from subsidiaries.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are the amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Includes effect from exchange rate changes.

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For banks and other depository institutions: Includes cash on hand (currency and coin), cash items in process of collection, noninterest bearing deposits due from other financial institutions (including corporate credit unions), and noninterest bearing balances with the Federal Reserve Banks, Federal Home Loan Banks and central banks.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) of financing activities, excluding discontinued operations. Financing activity cash flows include obtaining resources from owners and providing them with a return on, and a return of, their investment; borrowing money and repaying amounts borrowed, or settling the obligation; and obtaining and paying for other resources obtained from creditors on long-term credit.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) of investing activities, excluding discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets.

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