Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Banks - Regional / Hancock Whitney

Hancock Whitney

hwc · NASDAQ Financial Services
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Ticker hwc
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Financial Services
Industry Banks - Regional
Employees 1001-5000
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FY2019 Annual Report · Hancock Whitney
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Honor & Integrity

Strength & Stability

Commitment to Service

Teamwork

Personal Responsibility

Hancock Whitney Corporation 
2019 Annual Report

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hancockwhitney.com

Your Dream. Our Mission.

 
 
 
 
Earnings Per Share – Diluted

$3.72 $3.72

$2.48

$1.87

$1.64

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total Loans
  PPNR(TE)(a)
Earnings Per Share – Diluted
(in billions)
(in millions)

$455.2
$3.72 $3.72
$21.2
$434.4
$20.0

$401.8
$19.0

$2.48

$15.7

$16.8
$323.4

$256.4

$1.64

$1.87

2015
2015
2015

2016
2016
2016

2017
2017
2017

2018
2018
2018

2019
2019
2019

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

25
500
4.0

3.5
20
400

3.0
15
300
2.5

2.0
10
200
1.5

5
1.0
100

0.5
0
0
0.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

Earnings Per Share – Diluted

$3.72 $3.72

$2.48

$1.87

$1.64

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Earnings Per Share – Diluted

Total Loans

(in billions)

  PPNR(TE)(a)
Total Loans
Total Deposits
(in millions)
(in billions)
(in billions)

$3.72 $3.72

$21.2

$20.0

$19.0

500

25

25

400

20

20

$22.3

$434.4
$20.0

$401.8
$19.0

$19.4

$23.2 $23.8
$455.2
$21.2

500

400

300

200

100

0

25

500

20

400

15

300

5

100

0

0

25

$18.3

$16.8
$323.4

$15.7

300

15

15

$256.4

  PPNR(TE)(a)
(in millions)

Hancock Whitney Corporation
Financial Highlights

$434.4

$455.2

$401.8

$323.4

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

$256.4

INCOME STATEMENT DATA

Net income

Net interest income (TE)*

Pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) (TE) (a)
2018

2019

2016

2017

2015

COMMON SHARE DATA

Earnings per share – diluted

Book value per share (period-end)

Tangible book value per share (period-end)

Total Deposits
  PPNR(TE)(a)
(in billions)
(in millions)

$23.2 $23.8
Cash dividends per share
Earnings Per Share
$22.3
$455.2
$434.4
(Operating)*

Market data
$19.4

$401.8

$18.3

4.5

4.0

$256.4
3.5

High sales price

$323.4

Up 127%

Low sales price

$3.99

10

200

3.0

Period-end closing price
$2.89

2.5

PERIOD-END BALANCE SHEET DATA

2.0

1.5

Securities
$1.77

$1.91

Loans

1.0
2015

2015

2017

2016
Earning assets
2016
2015
Total assets

2017
2016

Total deposits

2018

2018
2017

2019

2019

2018

Common stockholders’ equity

Total Deposits
Return on Average Assets
(in billions)
(Operating)*
Earnings Per Share
(Operating)*

$23.2 $23.8

$22.3

1.25%

Return on average assets

PERFORMANCE RATIOS

$19.4

$18.3

Return on average common equity
$3.99

Up 127%

0.96%
Net interest margin (TE)*

Efficiency ratio (b)

$2.89

+54 bps

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0

4.5

20

4.0

15

3.5

0.9

0.8

3.0

10

2.5

0.7

0.6

1.3

1.2
4.5
1.1

1.0
$4.01
4.0
0.9
3.5
0.8
3.0
0.7

0.6
2.5

0.5
2.0
0.4
1.5

1.0
2019

1.3
1.21%
1.2

$4.01

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.67%

Allowance for loan losses as percent of period-end loans

0.66%

0.67%

2015

2015

2015

2016

2016

2016

2017

2017

2017

2018

2018

2018

2019

2019

2019

2.0
5

0.5

1.5

0.4

0
1.0

$1.91

Tangible common equity ratio (c)
$1.77
Return on average tangible common equity
2015
Leverage (Tier 1) ratio
2016

2017
2018

2019
2018

2017

2018

2016

2016

2017

2015
2015

2019

2019

2015

$16.8

$15.7

$2.48

$1.87

$1.64

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

2018

2018

2019

2019

Total Loans

(in billions)

$20.0

$19.0

$21.2

$16.8

$15.7

200

10

10

100

5

0

0

5

0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

25

20

15

10

5

0

Total Deposits
(in billions)

$23.2 $23.8

$22.3

$19.4

$18.3

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

Return on Average Assets
(Operating)*

1.25%

1.21%

*Taxable equivalent (TE) amounts are calculated using a federal income tax rate of 21% for years ended 
December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019 and 35% for all other years presented.

0.96%

(a) Pre-provision net revenue is net interest income (TE)* and noninterest income less noninterest expense. 
Management believes that PPNR is a useful financial measure because it enables investors to assess the 
company’s ability to generate capital to cover credit losses through a credit cycle.

+54 bps

0.67%

0.66%

(b) The efficiency ratio is noninterest expense to total net interest income (TE)* and noninterest income, 
excluding amortization of purchased intangibles and nonoperating items.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

(c) The tangible common equity ratio is common stockholders’ equity less intangible assets divided by total 
assets less intangible assets.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

Earnings Per Share
(Operating)*

Up 127%

2019

$3.99

$4.01

2018

$2.89

$1.77

$327,380
$1.91
$909,991

$323,770

$865,015

$455,221

$434,409

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

$3.72

$39.62

$3.72

$35.98

$28.63

Return on Average Assets
(Operating)*
Earnings Per Share
(Operating)*

$1.02
1.25%

$25.62

$1.08

$44.74

Up 127%

0.96%

$33.63

0.67%

$43.88

0.66%

$2.89

$56.40
$3.99
$32.59

$34.65
+54 bps

1.21%

$4.01

Hancock Whitney New Markets Fund, LLC

Board of Directors

$1.77

$1.91
$6,243,313

$5,670,584

2015

$21,212,755
2016

2017

$20,026,411
2018

2019

2015

$27,622,161
2016
$30,600,757

2017

$25,836,239
2018
$28,235,907

2019

$23,803,575

$23,150,185

$3,467,685
Return on Average Assets
(Operating)*

$3,081,340

1.12%

9.91%

0.96%

3.44%

58.50%

0.66%

0.90%

8.45%

13.66%
2016

8.76%

1.25%
1.17%

1.21%

Stockholders  may  also  contact  the  company  directly  by  emailing 

shareholderservices@hancockwhitney.com.

11.04%

3.38%

57.77%
+54 bps
0.97%

8.02%

Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan

Stockholders seeking full details about the plan may call 888-490-1239, 

email help@astfinancial.com, access on the website www.astfinancial.com, 

or write:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC 

2017

15.62%
2018
8.67%

2019

6201 15th Avenue 

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Corporate Information

Annual Meeting

Financial Information

The annual meeting of stockholders will be held at 10:30 a.m. Central Time, 

Copies of Hancock Whitney Corporation financial reports, including the 

Wednesday, April 29, 2020, Hancock Whitney Plaza, Gulfport, Mississippi.

Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K, 

Corporate Offices

Hancock Whitney Plaza 

2510 14th Street 

Gulfport, MS 39501 

228-868-4000 

800-522-6542

Subsidiaries of Hancock Whitney Corporation

Hancock Whitney Investment Services, Inc.

Hancock Whitney Bank

Hancock Whitney Equipment Finance, LLC

Hancock Whitney Equipment Finance and Leasing, LLC

The company’s Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select 

Common Stock

Market under the symbol HWC.

Stockholder Information

Stockholders  seeking  information  may  call  the  Transfer  Agent  at 

888-490-1239, email help@astfinancial.com, access on the website 

www.astfinancial.com, or write:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC 

6201 15th Avenue 

Brooklyn, NY 11219

are available without charge upon request to:

Trisha Voltz Carlson 

Executive Vice President 

Investor Relations Manager 

Hancock Whitney Corporation 

Post Office Box 4019 

Gulfport, MS 39502-4019

trisha.carlson@hancockwhitney.com

Earnings releases and other financial information about the company are 

available on the company’s IR website, www.hancockwhitney.com/investors.

Jerry L. Levens*

Frank E. Bertucci

Hardy B. Fowler

John M. Hairston

Randall W. Hanna

James H. Horne

Constantine “Dean” S. Liollio

Sonya C. Little

Thomas H. Olinde

Christine L. Pickering

Robert W. Roseberry

Joan C. Teofilo

C. Richard Wilkins

Corporate & Affiliate Bank Officers

John M. Hairston

President & CEO

Michael M. Achary

Chief Financial Officer

Samuel B. Kendricks

Chief Credit Risk Officer

Cecil “Chip” W. Knight, Jr.

Chief Banking Officer

Joseph S. Exnicios

Miles S. Milton

President, Hancock Whitney Bank

Chief Wealth Management Officer

Cash Dividend Direct Deposit

Stockholders may elect to have their Hancock Whitney Corporation dividends 

directly deposited into a checking, savings, or money market account. This 

service provides a safe, convenient method of receiving dividends and 

is offered at no cost to stockholders. To obtain more information and an 

enrollment form, call 888-490-1239, email help@astfinancial.com, access 

Joshua R. Caldwell

Chief Internal Auditor

D. Shane Loper

Chief Operating Officer

Stephen E. Barker

Sr. Accounting & Finance 

Executive

Joy Lambert Phillips

General Counsel &  

Corporate Secretary

Joseph S. Schwertz, Jr.

Chief Risk Officer

Suzanne C. Thomas

Chief Credit Approval Officer

on the website www.astfinancial.com, or write:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC 

6201 15th Avenue 

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Cindy S. Collins

Rudi Hall Wetzel

Chief Compliance Officer

Chief Human Resources Officer

Michael K. Dickerson

Christopher S. Ziluca

Subsidiary Business Lines 

Chief Credit Officer

Executive

Alan M. Ganucheau

Treasurer

*Independent Chairman of the Board

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

25

4.0

3.5

3.0

20

2.5

15

2.0

10

1.5

5

1.0

0.5

0.0

0

25

20

15

10

5

0

2019 Financial Highlights

We completed 2019 on a positive note, surpassing expectations 
with solid results. For the year, EPS was $3.72 and included almost 
$33 million of merger costs related to the acquisition of MidSouth 
Bancorp,  Inc.  in  Lafayette,  Louisiana.  Excluding  those  costs, 
operating EPS* for the year was $4.01. 

Operating leverage* increased $24 million compared to 2018, 
loans grew $1.2 billion, criticized and nonperforming loans both 
declined year-over-year, and our tangible common equity (TCE) 
ratio was up 43 basis points.

Loan growth was in line with our guidance of mid-single-digit 
average growth year-over-year, with the annual results coming in 
as expected. MidSouth added approximately $785 million of loans 
in the third quarter; however, we also saw a decrease in legacy 
energy loans of $164 million over the course of 2019. We expect 
to continue reducing our energy portfolio in 2020 and offsetting 
that reduction with more granular production across our footprint 
and in other specialty lines of business. 

We achieved our energy concentration goal of below 5 percent 
during  2019;  and  with  a  de-emphasis  in  that  sector,  we  are 
updating our strategic goal to 2-4 percent of our loan portfolio.

Going forward, we expect to see continued improvement on an 
annual basis in our asset quality metrics, although quarter-over-
quarter progress will not always be linear. As previously mentioned, 
we do expect to see continued charge-off activity as we resolve 
our remaining problem loans, particularly from the energy cycle.

Our net interest margin (NIM) was a bright spot for both the fourth 
quarter and the year, with expansion reported linked-quarter, same 
quarter a year ago, and year-over-year. Proactive NIM management 
included a focus on improving loan yields and reducing deposit 
costs. These were significant focus points in 2019 and will continue 
to be in 2020.

Capital remained strong, with TCE ending the year at 8.45 percent. 
In October, we announced that we entered into an agreement to 
repurchase approximately 5 million shares of our common stock 
through an accelerated share repurchase program (ASR). The ASR 
allows us to buy back a number of shares similar to the number of 
shares issued for the MidSouth acquisition, effectively transforming 
the acquisition from a stock to cash transaction and improving the 
profitability of the deal.

To Our Shareholders:

Growth.  Innovation.  Excellence.  Those  words  embody  the 
accomplishments your company achieved in 2019, our 120th year. 

With growth in 2019, Hancock Whitney has new locations in Louisiana, 
Texas, and Alabama and serves clients and communities in eight states.

Through an acquisition and new construction, Hancock Whitney 
became a bright new banking option for more people in more 
hometowns  across  our  footprint,  and  we  surpassed  the  $30 
billion mark in assets. As associates across the eight states where 
we do business delivered the Commitment to Service central to 
who we are, we continued a wide-ranging technology initiative to 
bring about better, easier and more effective ways to help clients 
achieve their financial goals. Our strength, stability, and service 
once again earned accolades, affirming us among America’s top-
rated institutions.

Our success in 2019 came from your confidence in Hancock 
Whitney, the clients who trust us, the communities that look to us 
as an advocate for opportunity, and the 4,000-plus associates who 
carry on the core values that define what we believe and how we 
work together to help people and businesses prosper.

Earnings Per Share
(Operating)*

Up 127%

$3.99

$4.01

$2.89

$1.77

$1.91

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

* Non-GAAP measure. A reconciliation is included in the following 10-K.

Earnings Per Share – Diluted

$3.72 $3.72

$2.48

$1.87

$1.64

  PPNR(TE)(a)

(in millions)

$455.2

$434.4

$401.8

$323.4

$256.4

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total Loans

(in billions)

Total Deposits

(in billions)

$23.2 $23.8

$22.3

Return on Average Assets
(Operating)*

1.25%

1.21%

$20.0

$19.0

$21.2

$19.4

$18.3

$16.8

$15.7

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.96%

0.67%

0.66%

+54 bps

Return on Tangible Common Equity
(Operating)*

16.76%

14.74%

12.54%

+641 bps

8.33%

8.74%

1

18.00

14.00

10.00

6.00

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

25

20

15

10

5

0

500

400

300

200

100

0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

25

20

15

10

5

0

A Look Back

The  charts  below  show  a  five-year  recap,  indicating  marked 
improvement the company has made over those years. We charted 
a new course in 2015 designed to return us to target profitability 
levels. Challenging rate and credit environments caused us to 
re-evaluate certain strategies and make appropriate adjustments 
along the way.

During the same period, we benefited from a growing U.S. economy 
and  strategic  acquisitions.  We  completed  five  transactions  in 
the past five years that were financial in nature and accretive to 
earnings. Along with a deliberate remix in lending growth, the 
transactions helped grow the company to more than $30 billion 
in assets and strengthened our position in existing markets and 
facilitated entry into new ones.

Our capital has remained strong, and we have managed it, we believe, 
in the best interest of our shareholders through organic growth, 
increasing dividends, stock repurchases, and profitable M&A.

With profitability back to peer levels and stable, despite a falling 
rate environment, we worked vigorously to bring our net interest 
margin and credit metrics back to, or better than, peer averages. 
We have made progress on both—actually moving above average 
on NIM.

In the first quarter of 2019, we achieved peer levels in NIM. For 
the next three quarters we reported a better-than-peer average 
Earnings Per Share
net interest margin. While we have attained the NIM goal, we will 
(Operating)*
not lose sight on what it takes to keep it there and will work hard 
to maintain it.
4.5

Earnings Per Share
(Operating)*

4.5

$455.2

3.5

3.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

The other focus point is related to asset quality. We have made 
meaningful progress on both, but still have work to do, especially 
$2.89
on nonperforming loans (NPLs) and TDRs. The gap to peers on 
commercial criticized loans has diminished from 375 basis points 
$1.91
in the first quarter of 2018 to 44 basis points at year-end 2019, 
while the gap on NPLs has narrowed from 145 basis points to 72 
basis points.
1.0

$1.91
$1.77

$2.89

$1.77

2.0

1.5

1.5

2.0

2.5

2016
2015

2017
2016

2018
2017

2019
2018

2019

1.0
2015

Looking to the future—as we do each January —we’ve updated our 
corporate strategic objectives (CSOs). Our CSOs are based on the 
results of our annual budget and multiyear business plan.

With achievement of profitability metrics, we opted to take a more 
conventional approach to discussing longer-term goals. Instead  
of  specifying  a  particular  quarterly  target,  we’re  sharing  our 
expectations for our three-year annualized outlook represented 
by the business plan. If interest rates change for the better, or 
we  find  an  attractive  acquisition,  we  expect  to  accomplish 
the  goals  early.  If  the  environment  changes  and  presents  
more challenges, it may take us longer to achieve our goals. Our 
CSOs  are  meant  to  convey  where  we  believe  the  company  is 
headed based on our focus and outlook today—all designed to 
enhance long-term shareholder value. 

As we begin 2020, our Hancock Whitney team remains focused 
on building upon positive momentum and capitalizing on available 
opportunities in our markets.

Growing Places

In  third  quarter  2019,  Lafayette, 
Louisiana-based MidSouth Bank joined 
Hancock Whitney through a low-risk, 
high-return acquisition that aligned with 
our strategic goals for continued growth.

MidSouth Bank and Hancock Whitney 
were neighbors for many years, with 
similar cultures and a shared focus 
on growing relationships across the 
region.  The  MidSouth  acquisition 
boosted convenience for clients in the 
Louisiana and Texas communities we 
already served and introduced Hancock 
Whitney’s warm 5-star service to new 
clients in thriving neighboring cities 
and towns such as Shreveport and 
Natchitoches in Louisiana, and College 
Station,  Conroe,  Dallas,  Longview, 
Marshall, and Tyler in Texas.

Workers raise the Hancock 
Whitney badge at a 
former MidSouth Bank 
location following the 2019 
acquisition that expanded 
Hancock Whitney in 
existing and new Louisiana 
and Texas markets.

Return on Average Assets
Return on Average Assets
(Operating)*
(Operating)*

Return on Tangible Common Equity
(Operating)*

Return on Tangible Common Equity
(Operating)*

1.25%

1.25%
1.21%

1.21%

18.00

18.00

16.76%

16.76%

0.96%

0.96%

14.00

14.00

12.54%

12.54%

14.74%

14.74%

0.67%
0.66%

0.66%

+54 bps

+54 bps

10.00

10.00

8.33%

8.74%
8.33%

8.74%

+641 bps

+641 bps

2015
2016

2016
2017

2017
2018

2018
2019

2019

6.00

6.00
2015

2016
2015

2017
2016

2018
2017

2019
2018

2019

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8
0.67%
0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4
2015

$323.4

$323.4

4.0

4.0

Up 127%

Up 127%

$3.99

$4.01
$3.99

$4.01

2015

2016

2015

2017

2016

2018

2017

2019

2018

2019

2015

2016

2015

2017

2016

2018

2017

2019

2018

2019

$455.2

$434.4

Earnings Per Share – Diluted

Earnings Per Share – Diluted

  PPNR(TE)(a)

(in millions)

  PPNR(TE)(a)
(in millions)

400

400

$401.8

$401.8

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

25

20

15

10

5

0

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

25

20

15

10

5

0

$3.72 $3.72

$3.72 $3.72

500

500

$434.4

$2.48

$2.48

300

300

$256.4

$256.4

2.0

$1.64

$1.87

$1.64

$1.87

Total Loans

Total Loans

(in billions)

(in billions)

Total Deposits

(in billions)

$22.3

$20.0

$19.0

$19.0

$16.8

$15.7

$16.8

$15.7

$21.2

$20.0

$21.2

$18.3

20

$19.4

$18.3

$19.4

200

200

100

100

0

0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

25

20

15

10

5

0

25

15

10

5

0

Total Deposits
(in billions)
$23.2 $23.8

$22.3

$23.2 $23.8

2015

2016

2015

2017

2016

2018

2017

2019

2018

2019

2015

2016

2015

2017

2016

2018

2017

2019

2018

2019

* Non-GAAP measure. A reconciliation is included in the following 10-K.

2

A new Hancock Whitney financial center in downtown Fairhope, 
Alabama now serves clients living and doing business in that thriving 
Alabama Eastern Shore community.

New financial centers in flagship locales such as Fairhope, 
Alabama; Houma, Lafayette, and New Orleans in Louisiana; 
and Beaumont and Houston in Texas, bring local bankers, 
clients, and communities together for partnerships focused 
on strong, solid futures for people and the places we call home.

In the Bay County, Florida region where Category 5 Hurricane 
Michael wreaked havoc in 2018, opening a new Lynn Haven 
financial center created new jobs, helped refurbish local tree-
scapes,  and  reinforced  our  commitment  to  helping  the  city’s 
resilient citizens rebuild. Additionally, a Panama City location under 
reconstruction on the highly traveled Highway 77 rises in tribute to 
the community’s undaunted spirit following Michael’s devastation.

Building Community

We  continue  our  longstanding  tradition  of  volunteering  with 
and contributing to countless organizations and activities that 
align  with  our  corporate  mission  and  purpose  as  well  as  our 
community engagement and business 
strategies.  By  doing  and  giving,  we 
promote  economic  and  community 
development; education and research; 
financial  literacy;  conservation  and 
environmental  sustainability;  family 
entertainment; high school, college, 
and  professional  sports;  health  and 
wellness; fine arts and culture; history 
and heritage; community tradition; and 
quality of life for all people. 

At the ribbon cutting for a new financial center to help Bay County, 
Florida continue rebuilding from 2018’s Hurricane Michael,  
Hancock Whitney donated four live oaks to the city of Lynn Haven  
to honor the region’s strong spirit and symbolize new jobs created  
by opening the location.

In  2019,  reported  associate  volunteerism  rose  21  percent,  
with  associates  recording  almost  7,000  community  service 
volunteer hours. Hancock Whitney associates also participated in 
more than 940 financial education activities with 190 organizations, 
impacting the lives of thousands of students and adults. Hancock 
Whitney Financial Cents, our comprehensive online and in-person 
financial education program, helped thousands of students and 
adults learn critical money management skills to create more 
secure financial futures.

Your  company  invested  more  than  $5.8  million  in  charitable 
contributions, empowering local communities in 2019. More than 
$1.3 million of that amount supported Community Reinvestment 
Act (CRA) eligible activities benefiting low-to moderate-income 
individuals and neighborhoods. In its second year, our competitive 
grant  partnership  with  the  Greater  New  Orleans  Foundation 
provided  $200,000  to  16  nonprofits  in  five  Gulf  South  states 
focused  on  affordable  housing  construction  or  rehabilitation, 
programs supporting expansion of existing businesses with $1 
million or less in revenues, and youth programs providing job and 
entrepreneurship training and internships.

Since  2017,  our  Hancock  Whitney  Community  Development 
Advisory Council has offered insights and advice on ways to create 
even more opportunities for our communities and underserved 
populations. The council is composed of accomplished leaders 
in housing, economic development, small business development, 
health and human services, and other fields essential to community 
success. These leaders regularly confer with company executives and  
our CRA team about how to make the biggest differences for the 
most people.

In 2019, the Hancock Whitney competitive grant program provided a 
total of $200,000 to nonprofits focused on affordable housing, small 
business, and youth job training for low- to moderate-income individuals 
and communities.

3

Our associates are the faces, voices, and collective spirit of the 
company  throughout  the  communities  we  serve.  A  recently 
established Hancock Whitney Diversity Council includes a cross-
section of associates advising and advocating key considerations 
and best practices for an inclusive corporate community with an 
associate population reflecting the demographics and diversity of 
the clients and communities we serve.

quarters—more than 30 years in a row—
as of December 31, 2019. No financial 
institution  can  pay  for  or  opt  out  of  a 
BauerFinancial, Inc., rating. 

Our Hancock Whitney mobile banking 
app rated almost 5 stars on the App Store 
based on user opinions.

Advancing Technology

BauerFinancial, Inc., 
has recommended 
Hancock Whitney as 
one of America’s most 
financially sound banks 
for more than 30 years 
in a row.

The financial services industry is evolving 
rapidly  as  technology  improves  and 
clients’ needs change. Hancock Whitney 
is already technologically competitive and scalable. As a company 
that never knows completion, we’re investing in and deploying sales 
technology during the next several quarters as part of a prioritized 
strategy to differentiate Hancock Whitney as the financial partner 
of choice across the Gulf South. 

We’ll  empower  our  associates  with  the  best  capabilities  to 
complement relationships and grow their business. We’ll engage 
the most accomplished professionals by becoming the preferred 
financial  services  employer  in  our  region.  We’ll  implement 
streamlined processes designed to ensure a warm 5-star client 
experience marked by simplified operations, improved accuracy, 
and accelerated fulfillment. To fortify and move us forward, we’ll 
leverage multifaceted technology enhancements to enable us 
to serve clients better, which will help us grow our market share 
across the communities we serve.

Succeeding Together

Hancock  Whitney  was  founded  to  help  people  achieve  their 
dreams. We know that mission means never settling for status 
quo. Instead, we continue to change and grow together with the 
people and the communities we serve by understanding our clients 
and what their dreams may be. 

Together, we pursue the choices that help make those dreams real. 
We’ve done that for 120-plus years, and your faith in us further 
inspires and strengthens our commitment to growth, innovation, 
and excellence for generations to come.

We thank you for investing in the Hancock Whitney organization 
and the future we share together.

The Hancock Whitney Diversity Council comprises associates  
from throughout the organization who foster best practices for an 
inclusive corporate community to serve diverse communities across  
the Gulf South.

Earning Honors and Recognition

Because our associates demonstrate the 
ideals at the heart of our organization, 
we’re able to perpetuate the culture of 
core values our founders put forth 120 
years ago. This past year, national media 
recognized our efforts to be a best-in-
class workplace. Forbes listed Hancock 
Whitney as one of America’s Best Mid-
Size Employers in 2019, an accolade 
based on associate feedback.

Based on associate 
feedback, Hancock 
Whitney earned Forbes’ 
recognition as one of the 
nation’s best mid-size 
employers.

Greenwich  Associates—respected 
for  lauding  banks  that  deliver 
the  best  quality  to  clients—once  again  recognized  
Hancock Whitney, with 23 Excellence and Best Brand awards 
for middle market and small business banking in 2019. With 
these most recent honors, Hancock Whitney has received a 
grand  total  of  184  Greenwich  Awards,  with  17  Best  Brand 
Awards since 2013 and 167 Excellence Awards since 2005.

The  country’s  leading  independent  bank  rating  and  analysis 
firm, BauerFinancial, Inc., has recommended Hancock Whitney 
as one of America’s strongest, safest banks for 121 consecutive 

With gratitude,

John M. Hairston 
President & CEO

4

UNITED STATES  
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549  
FORM 10-K  

(cid:1409)(cid:1409) 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 

OR  

(cid:1407)(cid:1407) 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

Commission file number 001-36872  

Hancock Whitney Corporation 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  

Mississippi 
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 

64-0693170 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 

Hancock Whitney Plaza, 2510 14th Street,  
Gulfport, Mississippi 
(Address of principal executive offices) 

39501 
(Zip Code)    

(228) 868-4727 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  

Tit 

Title of Each Class 

COMMON STOCK, $3.33 PAR VALUE 

 Trading 
Symbol 
HWC 

Name of Exchange on Which Registered 

The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE  

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  (cid:1409)    No  (cid:1407)  

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  (cid:1407)    No  (cid:1409)  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such 
filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  (cid:1409)    No  (cid:1407)  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 
of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  (cid:1409)    No  (cid:1407)  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer,  a non-accelerated filer small reporting company or an 
emerging growth company. See definitions of “ large accelerated filer”  “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth 
company”in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:  

Large accelerated filer 
Non-accelerated filer 

  (cid:1409) 
  (cid:1407) 
  (cid:3)

Emerging growth company    (cid:1407)(cid:3)

   Accelerated filer 
   Smaller reporting company 

  (cid:1407) 
  (cid:1407) 
  (cid:3)
  (cid:3)

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for 
complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  (cid:133) 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  (cid:1407)    No  (cid:1409)  

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant as of February 14, 2020 was $3.5 billion based upon the closing 
market price on NASDAQ on June 30, 2019. For purposes of this calculation only, shares held by nonaffiliates are deemed to consist of (a) shares 
held by all shareholders other than directors and executive officers of the registrant plus (b) shares held by directors and officers as to which 
beneficial ownership has been disclaimed.  

On January 31, 2020, the registrant had 87,236,434 shares of common stock outstanding.  

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE  

Portions of the definitive proxy statement for our annual meeting of shareholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (“SEC” or “the Commission”) are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.  

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
  
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Hancock Whitney Corporation 
Form 10-K  
Index  

PART I
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES 
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

PART II 

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 

AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES 

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS  

OF OPERATIONS 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND  

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

PART III 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND  

RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

PART IV   

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES  
ITEM 16  FORM 10-K SUMMARY  

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19 
30 
30 
30 
30 

31 
33 

37 
67 
68 

131 
131 
131 

131 
132 

132 
132 
132 

133 
136 

  
  
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Hancock Whitney Corporation 
Glossary of Defined Terms 

Entities: 
Hancock Whitney Corporation – a financial holding company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission   
Hancock Whitney Bank – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hancock Whitney Corporation through which Hancock Whitney 
Corporation conducts its banking operations 
Company – Hancock Whitney Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries 
Parent – Hancock Whitney Corporation, exclusive of its subsidiaries 
Bank – Hancock Whitney Bank  
Other terms: 
ACL – Allowance for credit losses 
AFS – Available for sale securities 
ALCO – Asset Liability Management Committee 
AOCI – accumulated other comprehensive income or loss 
ALLL – allowance for loan and lease losses 
AMT – Alternative Minimum Tax 
ASC – Accounting Standards Codification 
ASR- Accelerated Share Repurchase 
ASU- Accounting standard update 
ATM - automated teller machine 
Basel II - Basel Committee's 2004 Regulatory Capital Framework (Second Accord) 
Basel III - Basel Committee's 2010 Regulatory Capital Framework (Third Accord) 
Basel Committee - Basel Committee on Banking Supervision 
BOLI- Bank-owned life insurance 
BSA – Bank Secrecy Act 
bp(s) – basis point(s)  
C&I – commercial and industrial loans 
Capital One - Capital One, National Association, from which the Company acquired a trust and asset management business in 2018 
CD – certificate of deposit 
CDE – Community Development Entity 
CECL – Current Expected Credit Losses 
CEO – Chief Executive Officer 
CET1 – common equity tier 1 capital as defined by Basel III capital rules 
CFO – Chief Financial Officer 
CFPB – Consumer Finance Protection Bureau 
COSO – Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission 
CMO – Collateralized Mortgage Obligation 
CRA – Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 
CRE – commercial real estate 
DIF – Deposit Insurance Fund 
Dodd-Frank Act – The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act  
FASB – Financial Accounting Standards Board 
FDIC – Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
FDICIA – Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 
Federal Reserve Board – The 7-member Board of Governors that oversees the Federal Reserve System, establishes 
monetary policy (interest rates, credit, etc.), and monitors the economic health of the country. Its members are appointed 
by the President subject to Senate confirmation, and serve 14-year terms. 
Federal Reserve System – The 12 Federal Reserve Banks, with each one serving member banks in its own district. 
This system, supervised by the Federal Reserve Board, has broad regulatory powers over the money supply and the 
credit structure. They implement the policies of the Federal Reserve Board and also conduct economic research.  

1 

 
  
  
 
FFIEC – Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council 
FHA – Federal Housing Administration 
FHLB – Federal Home Loan Bank 
GAAP – Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America 
IRS – Internal Revenue Service 
LIBOR – London Interbank Offered Rate 
LIHTC – Low Income Housing Tax Credit 
LTIP – long-term incentive plan 
MBS – mortgage-backed securities 
MD&A – management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations 
MidSouth - MidSouth Bancorp, Inc., an entity the Company acquired on September 21, 2019 
MDBCF – Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance 
NAICS – North American Industry Classification System 
n/m – not meaningful 
NSF – non-sufficient funds 
OCI – other comprehensive income 
OD - Overdraft 
ORE – other real estate 
PCI – Purchased credit impaired  
PPNR – pre-provision net revenue 
SEC – U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 
Securities Act – Securities Act of 1933, as amended 
SOFR – Secured Overnight Financing Rate 
Tax Act – Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 
TDR – troubled debt restructuring (as defined in ASC 310-40) 
TSR – Total shareholder return 
te – taxable equivalent, or a term used to indicate that a financial measure is presented on a fully taxable equivalent basis 
USA Patriot – Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act 
of 2001 
U.S. Treasury – The United States Department of the Treasury 
Volcker Rule – section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations promulgated thereunder, as applicable 

2 

 
  
  
 
  
 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS   

PART I 

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning and protections of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended, and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Important factors that could cause actual results to 
differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this annual report are set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K 
and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC and include, but are not limited to, the following:  

(cid:120)(cid:3)

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(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

balance sheet and revenue growth expectations may differ from actual results; 

the risk that our provision for loan losses may be inadequate or may be negatively affected by credit risk exposure; 

loan growth expectations; 

management’s predictions about charge-offs, including energy-related credits, the impact of changes in oil and gas prices 
on our energy portfolio, and the downstream impact on businesses that support that sector, especially in the Gulf Coast 
Region; 

the risk that our enterprise risk management framework may not identify or address risks adequately, which may result in 
unexpected losses; 

the impact of the MidSouth transaction, the trust and asset management transaction or future business combinations on 
our performance and financial condition including our ability to successfully integrate the businesses; 

deposit trends; 

credit quality trends; 

changes in interest rates; 

net interest margin trends; 

future expense levels; 

success of revenue-generating initiatives; 

the effectiveness of derivative financial instruments and hedging activities to manage risks; 

risks related to our reliance on third parties to provide key components of our business infrastructure, including the risks 
related to disruptions in services or financial difficulties of a third-party vendor; 

risks related to the ability of our operational framework to manage risks associated with our business such as credit risk 
and operation risk, including third-party vendors and other service providers, which could among other things, result in a 
breach of operating or security systems as a result of a cyber-attack or similar act; 

projected tax rates; 

future profitability; 

purchase accounting impacts, such as accretion levels; 

our ability to identify and address potential cybersecurity risks, including data security breaches, credential stuffing, 
malware, “denial-of-service” attacks, “hacking” and identify theft, a failure of which could disrupt our business and result 
in the disclosure of and/or misuse or misappropriation of confidential or proprietary information, disruption or damage to 
our systems, increased costs, losses, or adverse effects to our reputation; 

our ability to receive dividends from Hancock Whitney Bank could affect our liquidity, including our ability to pay 
dividends or take other capital actions; 

the impact on our financial results, reputation, and business if we are unable to comply with all applicable federal and 
state regulations or other supervisory actions or directives and any necessary capital initiatives; 

our ability to effectively compete with other traditional and non-traditional financial services companies, some of whom 
possess greater financial resources than we do or are subject to different regulatory standards than we are; 

our ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting; 

potential claims, damages, penalties, fines and reputational damage resulting from pending or future litigation, regulatory 
proceedings and enforcement actions; 

the financial impact of future tax legislation; 

3 

 
  
  
 
 
  
(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

changes in laws and regulations affecting our businesses, including legislation and regulations relating to bank products 
and services, as well as changes in the enforcement and interpretation of such laws and regulations by applicable 
governmental and self-regulatory agencies, which could require us to change certain business practices, increase 
compliance risk, reduce our revenue, impose additional costs on us, or otherwise negatively affect our businesses; and 

other risks and risk factors described in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” herein and those identified from time to time in reports 
we file with the SEC. 

Also, any statement that does not describe historical or current facts is a forward-looking statement. These statements often include the 
words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “forecast,” “goals,” “targets,” “initiatives,” “focus,” 
“potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook” or similar expressions or future conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” 
“would,” and “could.” Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and on 
information currently available to management. Our statements speak as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to 
update these statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements in light of new 
information or future events.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in the Company’s forward-looking 
statements include, but are not limited to, those risk factors outlined in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”  

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to 
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of differences in actual results, changes in assumptions or 
changes in other factors affecting such statements, except as required by law.  

4 

 
  
  
 
  
 
 
ITEM 1.       BUSINESS 

ORGANIZATION  

Hancock Whitney Corporation is a financial services company organized in 1984 as a bank holding company registered under the 
Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.  In 2002, the Company qualified as a financial holding company, giving it broader 
powers to engage in financial activities. The Company, headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, provides comprehensive financial 
services through its bank subsidiary, Hancock Whitney Bank (the “Bank”), a Mississippi state bank, and other bank and nonbank 
affiliates.  

At December 31, 2019, our balance sheet had grown to $30.6 billion, with loans totaling $21.2 billion and deposits totaling 
$23.8 billion, and we had 4,136 employees on a full time equivalent basis.   

NATURE OF BUSINESS AND MARKETS  

The Bank offers a broad range of traditional and online banking services to commercial, small business and retail customers, 
providing a variety of transaction and savings deposit products, treasury management services, secured and unsecured loan products 
(including revolving credit facilities), and letters of credit and similar financial guarantees.  The Bank also provides trust and 
investment management services to retirement plans, corporations and individuals.  

We offer other services through bank and nonbank subsidiaries. Our nonbank subsidiary of the holding company, Hancock Whitney 
Investment Services, Inc., provides investment brokerage services, annuity and life insurance products, and participates in select 
underwriting transactions, primarily for banking clients with which we have an existing relationship. Our bank’s subsidiaries Hancock 
Whitney Equipment Finance, LLC and Hancock Whitney Equipment Finance and Leasing, LLC, provide commercial finance 
products to middle market and corporate clients, including loans, leases and related structures. We have other subsidiaries of the bank 
for purposes such as facilitating investments in new market tax credit activities and holding certain foreclosed assets.  

We operate primarily in the Gulf South region of the U.S., comprised of southern Mississippi; southern and central Alabama; 
southern, central and northwest Louisiana; the northern, central, and panhandle regions of Florida; and certain areas of east and 
northeast Texas, including the Houston, Beaumont and Dallas areas, among others. We also operate a loan production office in 
Nashville, Tennessee and separate trust and investment management offices in Texas, New York and New Jersey.   

Our operating strategy is to provide customers with the financial sophistication and range of products of a regional bank, while 
successfully retaining the commercial appeal and level of service of a community bank. Our size and scale enables us to attract and 
retain high quality employees, to whom we refer as associates, who are focused on executing this strategy.  

Some of the most common forms of commerce along the Gulf Coast and other areas we serve are energy and related services, 
petrochemical refining, military and government related activities, educational and medical complexes, transportation services and 
port facilities, tourism and gaming.  

Our priority is to grow revenue in our existing markets with controlled expenses while providing five-star service through enhanced 
technology and processes that make banking simpler for our clients. We have and will continue to invest in promoting new and 
enhanced products that contribute to the goals of continuing to diversify our sources of revenue and increasing core deposit funding.  
Our September 2019 acquisition of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. strengthened our footprint in some of our existing markets and provided 
entry into new markets in Louisiana and Texas. We will continue to evaluate future acquisition opportunities that have the potential to 
increase shareholder value, provided overall economic conditions and our capital levels support such a transaction. 

Additional information regarding the Company and the Bank is available at https://www.hancockwhitney.com using the link titled 
Investor Relations.  

Loan Production, Underwriting Standards and Credit Review  

The Bank’s primary lending focus is to provide commercial, consumer and real estate loans to consumers, small and middle market 
businesses, and corporate clients in the markets served by the Bank. We seek to provide quality loan products that are attractive to the 
borrower and profitable to the Bank. We look to build strong, profitable client relationships over time and maintain a strong presence 
and position of influence in the communities we serve. Through our relationship-based approach, we have developed a deep 
knowledge of our customers and the markets in which they operate. We continually work to ensure consistency of the lending 
processes across our banking footprint, to strengthen the underwriting criteria we employ to evaluate new loans and loan renewals, 
and to diversify our loan portfolio in terms of type, industry and geographical concentration. We believe that these measures position 
the Bank to meet the credit needs of businesses and consumers in the markets we serve while pursuing a balanced strategy of loan 
profitability, growth and credit quality.  

5 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
The following describes the underwriting procedures of the lending function and presents our principal categories of loans. The results 
of our lending activities and the relative risk of the loan portfolio are discussed in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of 
Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”  

The Bank has a set of loan policies, underwriting standards and key underwriting functions designed to achieve a consistent lending 
and credit review approach. Our underwriting standards address the following criteria:  

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collateral requirements;  

guarantor requirements (including policies on financial statements, tax returns, and guarantees);  

requirements regarding appraisals and their review;  

loan approval hierarchy;  

standard consumer and small business credit scoring underwriting criteria (including credit score thresholds, maximum 
maturity and amortization, loan-to-value limits, global debt service coverage, and debt to income limits);  

commercial real estate and commercial and industrial underwriting guidelines (including minimum debt service coverage 
ratio, maximum amortization, minimum equity requirements, maximum loan-to-value ratios);  

lending limits; and  

credit approval authorities. 

Additionally, our loan concentration policy sets limits and manages our exposures within specified concentration tolerances, including 
those to particular borrowers, foreign entities, industries, and property types for commercial real estate. This policy sets standards for 
portfolio risk management and reporting, the monitoring of large borrower concentration limits and systematic tracking of large 
commercial loans and our portfolio mix. We continually monitor our concentration of commercial real estate, health care and energy-
related loans to ensure the mix is consistent with our risk tolerance. We define concentration as the total of funded and unfunded 
commitments as a percentage of total Bank capital (as defined for risk-based capital ratios). Portfolio segment concentrations (shown 
as a percentage of risk-based capital) as of December 31, 2019 are as follows:   

Portfolio Segment Concentrations  

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Commercial non-real estate — 451%  

Commercial real estate - owner occupied — 118%  

Commercial real estate-income producing and construction — 166% 

Residential mortgage — 122% 

Consumer real estate secured — 80% 

Consumer other — 64% 

The following details the more significant industry concentrations for commercial non-real estate and owner occupied real estate 
included above (shown as a percentage of risk-based capital) as of December 31, 2019:  

Significant Industry Concentrations  

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

Manufacturing — 56%  

Healthcare and social service — 49% 

Construction — 48%  

Real estate — 47%  

Mining, oil and gas — 46% 

Finance and insurance — 43% 

(cid:120)(cid:3) Wholesale trade – 42%  

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

Retail trade – 40%  

Transportation and warehousing — 36%  

Professional, scientific and technology services — 30% 

Government and public administration – 26% 

6 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our underwriting process is structured to require oversight that is proportional to the size and complexity of the lending relationship. 
We delegate designated regional managers, relationship managers, and credit officers loan authority that can be utilized to approve 
credit commitments for a single borrowing relationship. The limit of delegated authority is based upon the experience, skill and 
training of the relationship manager or credit officer. Certain types and sizes of loans and relationships must be approved by either one 
of the Bank’s centralized underwriting units or by Regional or Senior Regional Commercial Credit Officers, either individually or 
jointly with either the Chief Credit Officer or Chief Credit Approval Officer, depending upon the overall size of the borrowing 
relationship.  

Loans are underwritten in accordance with the underwriting standards and loan policies of the Bank. Loans are underwritten primarily 
on the basis of the borrower’s ability to make timely debt service payments, and secondarily on collateral value. Generally, real estate 
secured loans and mortgage loans are made when the borrower produces evidence of the ability to make timely debt service payments 
along with appropriate equity investment in the property. Appropriate and regulatory compliant third party valuations are required at 
the time of origination for real estate secured loans.  

The following briefly describes the composition of our loan portfolio by segment: 

Commercial and industrial 

The Bank offers a variety of commercial loan services to a diversified customer base over a range of industries, including energy, 
wholesale and retail trade in various durable and nondurable products, manufacturing of such products, marine transportation and 
maritime construction, financial and professional services, healthcare services, and agricultural production. Commercial and industrial 
loans are made available to businesses for working capital (including financing of inventory and receivables), business expansion, to 
facilitate the acquisition of a business, and the purchase of equipment and machinery, including equipment leasing.  

Commercial non-real estate loans may be secured by the assets being financed or other tangible or intangible business assets such as 
accounts receivable, inventory, enterprise value, or commodity interests, and may incorporate a personal or corporate guarantee; 
however, some short-term loans may be made on an unsecured basis, including a small portfolio of corporate credit cards, generally 
issued as a part of overall customer relationships.  Asset-based loans, such as accounts receivables and commodity interest secured 
loans, may have limits on borrowing that are based on the collateral values.  In the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the 
availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts 
due from its customers.  

Commercial real estate – owner occupied loans consist of commercial mortgages on properties where repayment is generally 
dependent on the cash flow from the ongoing operations and activities of the borrower.  Like commercial non-real estate, these loans 
are primarily made based on the identified cash flows of the borrower, but also have the added strength of the value of underlying real 
estate collateral.    

Commercial real estate – income producing 

Commercial real estate – income producing loans consist of loans secured by commercial mortgages on properties where the loan is 
made to real estate developers or investors and repayment is dependent on the sale, refinance or income generated from the operation 
of the property.  Properties financed include retail, office, multifamily, senior housing, hotel/motel, skilled nursing facilities and other 
commercial properties.   

Repayment of commercial real estate – income producing loans is generally dependent on the successful operation of the property 
securing the loan. Commercial real estate loans may be adversely affected by conditions in the real estate markets or in the general 
economy. The properties securing the commercial real estate – income producing portfolios are diverse in terms of type and 
geographic location. We monitor and evaluate these loans based on collateral, geography and risk grade criteria. This portfolio has 
experienced minimal losses in the last few years; however, past experience has shown that commercial real estate conditions can be 
volatile, so we actively monitor concentrations within this portfolio segment.   

Construction and land development 

Construction and land development loans are made to facilitate the acquisition, development, improvement and construction of both 
commercial and residential-purpose properties.  Such loans are made to builders and investors where repayment is expected to be 
made from the sale, refinance or operation of the property or to businesses to be used in their business operations.   

Acquisition and development loans are underwritten utilizing feasibility studies, independent appraisal reviews, sensitivity analysis of 
real estate absorption and lease rates, and financial analysis of the developers and property owners. Construction loans are generally 
based upon cost estimates, the amount of sponsor equity investment, and the projected value of the completed project. The Bank 
monitors the construction process to mitigate or identify risks as they arise. Construction loans often involve the disbursement of 
substantial funds with repayment largely dependent on the success of the ultimate project. Sources of repayment for these types of 
construction loans may be pre-committed permanent loans from approved long-term lenders, sales of developed property, or an 
interim loan commitment from the Bank until permanent financing is obtained. These loans are typically closely monitored by on-site 
inspections and are considered to have higher risks than other real estate loans due to their ultimate repayment being sensitive to 

7 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
interest rate changes, governmental regulation of real property, general economic conditions, and the availability of long-term 
financing to repay the construction loan in full.  

Owner occupied loans for the development and improvement of real property to commercial customers to be used in their business 
operations are underwritten subject to normal commercial and industrial credit standards and are generally subject to project tracking 
processes, similar to those required for commercial real estate – income producing loans.  

This portfolio also includes residential construction loans and loans secured by raw land not yet under development. 

Residential Mortgages 

Residential mortgages consist of closed-end loans secured by first liens on 1- 4 family residential properties. The portfolio includes 
both fixed and adjustable rate loans, although most longer-term, fixed-rate loans originated are sold in the secondary mortgage market.  
The sale of fixed-rate mortgage loans allows the Bank to manage the interest rate risks related to such lending operations.  

Consumer 

Consumer loans include second lien mortgage home loans, home equity lines of credit and nonresidential consumer purpose loans. 
Nonresidential consumer loans include both direct and indirect loans. Direct nonresidential consumer loans are made to finance the 
purchase of personal property, including automobiles, recreational vehicles and boats, and for other personal purposes (secured and 
unsecured), and deposit account secured loans. Indirect nonresidential loans include automobile financing provided to the consumer 
through an agreement with automobile dealerships. Consumer loans also include a small portfolio of credit card receivables issued on 
the basis of applications received through referrals from the Bank’s branches, online and other marketing efforts.      

The Bank approves consumer loans based on income and financial information submitted by prospective borrowers as well as credit 
reports collected from various credit agencies. Financial stability and credit history of the borrower are the primary factors the Bank 
considers in granting such loans. The availability of collateral is also a factor considered in making such loans. Consideration is also 
given to whether the borrower is located in the Bank’s primary market areas.  

Securities Portfolio  

The investment portfolio primarily consists of U.S. agency debt securities, U.S. agency mortgage-related securities and obligations of 
states and municipalities classified as either available for sale or held to maturity. We consider the available for sale portfolio as one of 
many sources of liquidity available to fund our operations. Investments are made in accordance with an investment policy approved by 
the Board Risk Committee.  Company policies generally limit investments to agency securities and municipal securities determined to 
be investment grade according to an internally generated score, which generally includes a rating of not less than “Baa” or its 
equivalent by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.  The investment portfolio is tested monthly under multiple 
stressed interest rate scenarios, the results of which are used to manage our interest rate risk position. The rate scenarios include 
regulatory and management agreed upon instantaneous and ramped rate movements that may be up to plus 500 basis points. The 
combined portfolio has a target effective duration of two to five and a half years.  

A significant portion of the securities portfolio is used to secure certain deposits and other liabilities requiring collateralization. We 
limit the percentage of securities that can be pledged in order to keep a portion of securities available to support liquidity. The 
securities portfolio can also be pledged to increase our line of credit available at the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Dallas, 
although we have not had to do so historically.  

The investments subcommittee of the asset/liability committee (ALCO) is responsible for the oversight, monitoring and management 
of the investment portfolio. The investments subcommittee is also responsible for the development of investment strategies for the 
consideration and approval of ALCO. Final authority and responsibility for all aspects of the conduct of investment activities rests 
with the Board Risk Committee, all in accordance with the overall guidance and limitations of the investment policy. See Item 7. 
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Enterprise Risk Management,” for further 
discussion.  

Deposits  

The Bank has several programs designed to attract deposit accounts from consumers and businesses at interest rates generally 
consistent with market conditions. Deposits are the most significant funding source for the Company’s interest-earning assets. Interest 
paid on deposits represents the largest component of our interest expense. Deposits are attracted principally from clients within our 
retail branch network through the offering of a broad array of deposit products to individuals and businesses, including noninterest-
bearing demand deposit accounts, interest-bearing transaction accounts, savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, and time 
deposit accounts. Terms vary among deposit products with respect to commitment periods, minimum balances and applicable fees. 
Interest rates offered on interest-bearing deposits are determined based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, 
(1) interest rates offered in local markets by competitors, (2) current and expected economic conditions, (3) anticipated future interest 
rates, (4) the expected amount and timing of funding needs, and (5) the availability and cost of alternative funding sources. Deposit 

8 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
flows are controlled primarily through pricing, and to a lesser extent, through promotional activities. Management believes that the 
rates that it offers on deposit accounts are generally competitive with other financial institutions in the Bank’s respective market areas. 
Client deposits are attractive sources of funding because of their stability and low relative cost. Deposits are regarded as an important 
part of the overall client relationship.  

The Bank also holds deposits of public entities. The Bank’s strategy for acquiring public funds, as with any type of deposit, is 
determined by ALCO’s funding and liquidity subcommittee while pricing strategies are determined by ALCO’s deposit pricing 
subcommittee. Typically, many public fund deposits are allocated based upon the rate of interest offered and the ability of a bank to 
provide collateralization. The Bank can influence the level of its public fund deposits through pricing decisions. Public deposits 
typically require the pledging of collateral, most commonly marketable securities and Federal Home Loan Bank letters of credit. This 
is taken into account when determining the level of interest to be paid on public deposits. The pledging of collateral, monitoring and 
management reporting represents additional operational requirements for the Bank. Public fund deposits are more volatile than other 
core deposits because they tend to be price sensitive and have large balances. Public funds are only one of many possible sources of 
liquidity that the Bank has available to draw upon as part of its liquidity funding strategy as set by ALCO.  

Brokered deposits of $166 million at December 31, 2019 represent less than 1% of total deposits. Brokered deposits are funds which 
the Bank obtains through deposit brokers who sell participations in a given bank deposit account or instrument to one or more 
investors. These brokered deposits are fully insured by the FDIC because they are participated out by the deposit broker in shares of 
$250,000 or less. These brokered deposit issuances were approved by ALCO as one component of its funding strategy to support 
ongoing asset growth until such time as customer deposit growth ultimately replaces the brokered deposits. Under the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”), the Bank may continue to accept brokered deposits as long as it is 
either “well-capitalized” or “adequately-capitalized.” 

Trust Services  

The Bank, through its trust department, offers a full range of trust services on a fee basis. In its trust capacities, the Bank provides 
investment management services on an agency basis and acts as trustee for pension plans, profit sharing plans, corporate and 
municipal bond issues, living trusts, life insurance trusts and various other types of trusts created by or for individuals, businesses, and 
charitable and religious organizations. At December 31, 2019, the trust department of the Bank had approximately $24.1 billion of 
assets under administration, comprised of investment management and investment advisory agency accounts of $5.9 billion and other 
custody and safekeeping accounts of $9.0 billion, corporate trust accounts of $3.9 billion, and personal, employee benefit, estate and 
other trust accounts totaling $5.2 billion. 

COMPETITION  

The financial services industry is highly competitive in our market areas. The principal factors in the competition for deposits and 
loans are interest rates and fee structures associated with the various products offered. We also compete through the efficiency, quality 
and range of services and products we provide, as well as the convenience provided by an extensive network of customer access 
channels including local branch offices, ATMs, online and mobile banking, and telebanking centers. In attracting deposits and in our 
lending activities, we generally compete with other commercial banks, savings associations, credit unions, mortgage banking firms,  
securities brokerage firms, mutual funds and insurance companies, and other financial and non-financial institutions offering similar 
products.  

AVAILABLE INFORMATION  

We make available free of charge, on or through our investor relations website www.hancockwhitney.com/investors, our Annual 
Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings pursuant to Section 13(a) or 
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and amendments to such filings, as soon as reasonably practicable after each is 
electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains the Company’s reports, proxy 
statements, and the Company’s other SEC filings. The address of the SEC’s website is www.sec.gov. We include our website address 
throughout this filing only as textual references. The information contained on our website is not incorporated in this document by 
reference. 

Also available on our investor relations website are our corporate governance documents, including Corporate Governance 
Guidelines, Code of Business Ethics for Officers and Associates, Whistleblower Policy, Code of Ethics for Financial Officers, Code of 
Ethics for Directors and Committee Charting.  These documents are also available in print to any stockholder who requests a copy. 

9 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SUPERVISION AND REGULATION  

Bank holding companies and banks are extensively regulated under federal and state law.  This discussion is a summary and is 
qualified in its entirety by reference to the particular statutory and regulatory provisions described below and is not intended to be an 
exhaustive description of the statutes or regulations applicable to the Company or the Bank. 

Changes in laws and regulations may alter the structure, regulation and competitive relationships of financial institutions. In addition, 
bank regulatory agencies may issue enforcement actions, policy statements, interpretive letters and similar written guidance applicable 
to us or the Bank.  It cannot be predicted whether and in what form new laws and regulations, or interpretations thereof, may be 
adopted or the extent to which the business of the Company and the Bank may be affected thereby, but they may have a material 
adverse effect on our business, operations, and earnings.  

Supervision, regulation, and examination of the Company, the Bank, and our respective subsidiaries by the appropriate regulatory 
agencies, as described herein, are intended primarily for the protection of consumers, bank depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund 
(“DIF”) of the FDIC, and the U.S. banking and financial system, rather than holders of our capital stock.   

Bank Holding Company Regulation  

The Company is subject to extensive supervision and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the 
“Federal Reserve”) pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “Bank Holding Company Act”). We are 
required to file with the Federal Reserve periodic reports and such other information as the Federal Reserve may request.  Ongoing 
supervision is provided through regular examinations by the Federal Reserve and other means that allow the regulators to gauge 
management’s ability to identify, assess and control risk in all areas of operations in a safe and sound manner and to ensure 
compliance with laws and regulations. In addition to regulation by the Federal Reserve as a bank holding company, the Company is 
subject to regulation by the State of Mississippi under its general business corporation laws, and to supervision by the Mississippi 
Department of Consumer Finance (the “MDBCF”).  The Federal Reserve may also examine our non-bank subsidiaries. Various 
federal and state bodies regulate and supervise our brokerage, investment advisory and insurance agency operations. These include, 
but are not limited to, the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), federal and state banking regulators and 
various state regulators of insurance and brokerage activities.   

Violations of laws and regulations, or other unsafe and unsound practices, may result in regulatory agencies imposing fines or 
penalties, cease and desist orders, or taking other enforcement actions. Under certain circumstances, these agencies may enforce these 
remedies directly against officers, directors, employees and other parties participating in the affairs of a bank or bank holding 
company. Under federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to the safety and soundness of insured depository institutions, 
federal and state banking regulators have the authority to compel or restrict certain actions on our part if they determine that we have 
insufficient capital or other resources, or are otherwise operating in a manner that may be deemed to be inconsistent with safe and 
sound banking practices. Under this authority, our bank regulators can require us or our subsidiaries to enter into informal or formal 
supervisory agreements, including board resolutions, memoranda of understanding, written agreements and consent or cease and desist 
orders, pursuant to which we would be required to take identified corrective actions to address cited concerns and to refrain from 
taking certain actions. 

If we become subject to and are unable to comply with the terms of any future regulatory actions or directives, supervisory 
agreements, or orders, then we could become subject to additional, heightened supervisory actions and orders, possibly including 
consent orders, prompt corrective action restrictions and/or other regulatory actions, including prohibitions on the payment of 
dividends on our common stock and preferred stock. If our regulators were to take such additional supervisory actions, then we could, 
among other things, become subject to significant restrictions on our ability to develop any new business, as well as restrictions on our 
existing business, and we could be required to raise additional capital, dispose of certain assets and liabilities within a prescribed 
period of time, or both. The terms of any such supervisory action could have a material negative effect on our business, reputation, 
operating flexibility, financial condition, and the value of our common stock and preferred stock. 

Activity Limitations.  The Company is registered with the Federal Reserve as a bank holding company and has elected to be treated as 
a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act. Bank holding companies generally are limited to the business of 
banking, managing or controlling banks, and other activities that the Federal Reserve determines to be closely related to banking, or 
managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. Bank holding companies are prohibited from acquiring or obtaining 
control of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding voting interests of any company that engages in activities other than those 
activities permissible for bank holding companies. Examples of activities that the Federal Reserve has determined to be permissible 
are making, acquiring, brokering, or servicing loans; leasing personal property; providing certain investment or financial advice; 
performing certain data processing services; acting as agent or broker in selling credit life insurance and other insurance products in 
certain locations; and performing certain insurance underwriting activities. The Bank Holding Company Act does not place 
geographic limits on permissible non-banking activities of bank holding companies. Even with respect to permissible activities, 
however, the Federal Reserve has the power to order a holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or its control of 
any subsidiary when the Federal Reserve has reasonable cause to believe that continuation of such activity or control of such 
subsidiary would pose a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of any bank subsidiary of that holding company. 

10 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As a financial holding company, we are permitted to engage directly or indirectly in a broader range of activities than those permitted 
for a bank holding company that has not elected to be a financial holding company. Financial holding companies may also engage in 
activities that are considered to be financial in nature, as well as those incidental or, if determined by the Federal Reserve, 
complementary to financial activities.  We and the Bank must each remain “well-capitalized” and “well-managed” and the Bank must 
receive a Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) rating of at least “Satisfactory” at its most recent examination in order for us to 
maintain our status as a financial holding company. If the Company or the Bank ceases to be “well capitalized” or “well managed” 
under applicable regulatory standards, or if the Bank receives a rating of less than satisfactory under the CRA, the Federal Reserve 
Board may, among other things, place limitations on our ability to conduct these broader financial activities or, if the deficiencies 
persist, require us to divest the banking subsidiary or the businesses engaged in activities permissible only for financial holding 
companies.  

In addition, the Federal Reserve has the power to order a bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any nonbanking 
activity or terminate its ownership or control of any nonbank subsidiary, when it has reasonable cause to believe that continuation of 
such activity or such ownership or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness, or stability of any bank 
subsidiary of that bank holding company.  As further described below, each of the Company and the Bank is well-capitalized under 
applicable regulatory standards as of December 31, 2019, and the Bank has a rating of “Satisfactory” in its most recent CRA 
evaluation. 

Source of Strength Obligations.  A bank holding company is required to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to its 
subsidiary bank and to maintain resources adequate to support its bank. The term “source of financial strength” means the ability of a 
company, such as us, that directly or indirectly owns or controls an insured depository institution, such as the Bank, to provide 
financial assistance to such insured depository institution in the event of financial distress.  The appropriate federal banking agency for 
the depository institution (in the case of the Bank, this agency is the FDIC) may require reports from us to assess our ability to serve as 
a source of strength and to enforce compliance with the source of strength requirements by requiring us to provide financial assistance 
to the Bank in the event of financial distress.  If we were to enter bankruptcy or become subject to the orderly liquidation process 
established by the Dodd-Frank Act, any commitment by us to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of the Bank 
would be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee or the FDIC, as appropriate, and entitled to a priority of payment. In addition, the FDIC 
provides that any insured depository institution generally will be liable for any loss incurred by the FDIC in connection with the 
default of, or any assistance provided by the FDIC to, a commonly controlled insured depository institution.  The Bank is an FDIC-
insured depository institution and thus subject to these requirements. 

Acquisitions. The Bank Holding Company Act requires every bank holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal 
Reserve or waiver of such prior approval before it (1) acquires ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank if, after such 
acquisition, such bank holding company will own or control more than five percent (5%) of the voting shares of such bank, 
(2) acquires all of the assets of a bank, or (3) merges with any other bank holding company. In reviewing a proposed covered 
acquisition, among other factors, the Federal Reserve considers (1) the financial and managerial resources of the companies involved, 
including pro forma capital ratios; (2) the risk to the stability of the United States banking or financial system; (3) the convenience and 
needs of the communities to be served, including performance under the CRA; and (4) the effectiveness of the companies in 
combatting money laundering. The Federal Reserve also reviews any indebtedness to be incurred by a bank holding company in 
connection with a proposed acquisition to ensure that the bank holding company can service such indebtedness without adversely 
affecting its ability to serve as a source of strength to its bank subsidiaries.  Well capitalized and well managed bank holding 
companies are permitted to acquire control of banks in any state, subject to federal regulatory approval, without regard to whether 
such a transaction is prohibited by the laws of any state. However, a bank holding company may not, following an interstate 
acquisition, control more than 10% of nationwide insured deposits or 30% of deposits within any state in which the acquiring bank 
operates. States have the right to lower the 30% limit, although no states within the Company’s current market area have done so.  
Federal banking regulators are also required to take into account compliance with the CRA in evaluating any proposal for interstate 
bank acquisitions. 

Change in Control.  Federal law restricts the amount of voting stock of a bank holding company or a bank that a person may acquire 
without the prior approval of banking regulators. Under the federal Change in Bank Control Act and the regulations thereunder, a 
person or group must give advance notice to and obtain approval from the Federal Reserve before acquiring control of any bank 
holding company, such as the Company. The Change in Bank Control Act creates a rebuttable presumption of control if a member or 
group acquires a certain percentage or more of a bank holding company’s voting stock. As a result, a person or entity generally must 
provide prior notice to the Federal Reserve before acquiring the power to vote 10% or more of our outstanding common stock.  The 
overall effect of such laws is to make it more difficult to acquire a bank holding company by tender offer or similar means than it 
might be to acquire control of another type of corporation. Consequently, shareholders of the Company may be less likely to benefit 
from the rapid increases in stock prices that may result from tender offers or similar efforts to acquire control of other companies. 
Investors should be aware of these requirements when acquiring shares of our stock.   

Anti-tying rules.  A bank holding company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in certain tying arrangements in 
connection with extensions of credit, leases or sales of property, or furnishing of services.  

Volcker Rule. The Volcker Rule generally prohibits us and our subsidiaries from (i) engaging in proprietary trading for our own 
account, and (ii) acquiring or retaining an ownership interest in or sponsoring a “covered fund,” all subject to certain exceptions. The 
Volcker Rule also specifies certain limited activities in which we and our subsidiaries may continue to engage, and required us to 

11 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
implement a compliance program. On October 8, 2019, the federal banking agencies issued changes to the Volcker Rule intended to 
simplify compliance with the Rule’s “proprietary trading” restrictions. Under the revised rules, firms that do not have significant 
trading activities will have simplified and streamlined compliance requirements, while firms with significant trading activity will have 
more stringent compliance requirements. The revisions continue to prohibit proprietary trading, while providing greater clarity and 
certainty for activities allowed under the law. With the changes, the agencies expect that the universe of trades that are considered 
prohibited proprietary trading will remain generally the same as under the agencies' 2013 rule. The rules will be effective on January 
1, 2020, with a compliance date of January 1, 2021.   

Capital Requirements  

The Company and the Bank are required under federal law to maintain certain minimum capital levels based on ratios of capital to 
total assets and capital to risk-weighted assets. The required capital ratios are minimums, and the federal banking agencies may 
determine that a banking organization, based on its size, complexity or risk profile, must maintain a higher level of capital in order to 
operate in a safe and sound manner. Risks such as concentration of credit risks and the risk arising from non-traditional activities, as 
well as the institution’s exposure to a decline in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates, and an institution’s 
ability to manage those risks are important factors that are to be taken into account by the federal banking agencies in assessing an 
institution’s overall capital adequacy. The following is a brief description of the relevant provisions of these capital rules and their 
potential impact on our capital levels. 

The Company and the Bank are subject to the following risk-based capital ratios: a common equity Tier 1 ("CET1") risk-based capital 
ratio, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, which includes CET1 and additional Tier 1 capital, and a total capital ratio, which includes Tier 
1 and Tier 2 capital.  CET1 is primarily comprised of the sum of common stock instruments and related surplus net of treasury stock, 
retained earnings, and certain qualifying minority interests, less certain adjustments and deductions, including with respect to 
goodwill, intangible assets, mortgage servicing assets and deferred tax assets subject to temporary timing differences. Additional Tier 
1 capital is primarily comprised of noncumulative perpetual preferred stock, tier 1 minority interests and grandfathered trust preferred 
securities. Tier 2 capital consists of instruments disqualified from Tier 1 capital, including qualifying subordinated debt, other 
preferred stock and certain hybrid capital instruments, and a limited amount of loan loss reserves up to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-
weighted assets, subject to certain eligibility criteria. The capital rules also define the risk-weights assigned to assets and off-balance 
sheet items to determine the risk-weighted asset components of the risk-based capital rules, including, for example, certain “high 
volatility” commercial real estate, past due assets, structured securities and equity holdings.  

The leverage capital ratio, which serves as a minimum capital standard, is the ratio of Tier 1 capital to quarterly average assets net of 
goodwill, certain other intangible assets, and certain required deduction items. The required minimum leverage ratio for all banks and 
bank holding companies is 4%. 

In addition, effective January 1, 2019, the capital rules required a capital conservation buffer of CET1 capital of 2.5% above each of 
the minimum capital ratio requirements (CET1, Tier 1, and total risk-based capital), which is designed to absorb losses during periods 
of economic stress.  These buffer requirements must be met for a bank or bank holding company to be able to pay dividends, engage 
in share buybacks or make discretionary bonus payments to executive management without restriction.  

Failure to be well-capitalized or to meet minimum capital requirements could result in certain mandatory and possible additional 
discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have an adverse material effect on our operations or financial condition. 
For example, only a well-capitalized depository institution may accept brokered deposits without prior regulatory approval. Failure to 
be well-capitalized or to meet minimum capital requirements could also result in restrictions on the Company’s or the Bank’s ability to 
pay dividends or otherwise distribute capital or to receive regulatory approval of applications or other restrictions on its growth.  

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”), among other things, requires the federal bank 
regulatory agencies to take “prompt corrective action” regarding depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital 
requirements. FDICIA establishes five regulatory capital tiers: “well capitalized”, “adequately capitalized”, “undercapitalized”, 
“significantly undercapitalized”, and “critically undercapitalized”. A depository institution’s capital tier will depend upon how its 
capital levels compare to various relevant capital measures and certain other factors, as established by regulation. FDICIA generally 
prohibits a depository institution from making any capital distribution (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management 
fee to its holding company if the depository institution would thereafter be undercapitalized. FDICIA imposes progressively more 
restrictive restraints on operations, management and capital distributions, depending on the category in which an institution is 
classified.  Undercapitalized depository institutions are subject to restrictions on borrowing from the Federal Reserve System. In 
addition, undercapitalized depository institutions may not accept brokered deposits absent a waiver from the FDIC, are subject to 
growth limitations and are required to submit capital restoration plans for regulatory approval. A depository institution's holding 
company must guarantee any required capital restoration plan, up to an amount equal to the lesser of 5 percent of the depository 
institution's assets at the time it becomes undercapitalized or the amount of the capital deficiency when the institution fails to comply 
with the plan.  Federal banking agencies may not accept a capital plan without determining, among other things, that the plan is based 
on realistic assumptions and is likely to succeed in restoring the depository institution's capital. If a depository institution fails to 
submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it is significantly undercapitalized. All of the federal bank regulatory agencies have 

12 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
adopted regulations establishing relevant capital measures and relevant capital levels for federally insured depository institutions. The 
Bank was well capitalized at December 31, 2019, and brokered deposits are not restricted. 

To be well-capitalized, the Bank must maintain at least the following capital ratios: 

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

6.5% CET1 to risk-weighted assets; 

8.0% Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets; 

10.0% Total capital to risk-weighted assets; and 

5.0% leverage ratio. 

The Federal Reserve has not yet revised the well-capitalized standard for bank holding companies to reflect the higher capital 
requirements imposed under the current capital rules. For purposes of the Federal Reserve’s Regulation Y, including determining 
whether a bank holding company meets the requirements to be a financial holding company, bank holding companies, such as the 
Company, must maintain a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater and a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater to 
be well-capitalized. If the Federal Reserve were to apply the same or a very similar well-capitalized standard to bank holding 
companies as that applicable to the Bank, the Company’s capital ratios as of December 31, 2019 would exceed such revised well-
capitalized standard. Also, the Federal Reserve may require bank holding companies, including the Company, to maintain capital 
ratios substantially in excess of mandated minimum levels, depending upon general economic conditions and a bank holding 
company’s particular condition, risk profile and growth plans.  

In 2019, the Company’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios are above the applicable well-capitalized standards and met the 
capital conservation buffer requirements. Based on current estimates, we believe that the Company and the Bank will continue to 
exceed all applicable well-capitalized regulatory capital requirements and the capital conservation buffer in 2020.  Risk-based capital 
ratios and the leverage capital ratio at December 31, 2019 under currently applicable capital adequacy rules for the Company and the 
Bank were as follows:     

        Minimum Capital      

Tier 1 leverage capital ratio 
Risk-based capital ratios 

Common Equity Tier 1 capital 
Tier 1 capital 
Total risk-based capital (Tier 1 plus 
   Tier 2) 

*Applies to Bank  

   Minimum 

   Well-Capitalized          
   Under Prompt 
   Corrective Action*         

Plus Capital 
         Conservation 

4.00   %      

4.50   %      
6.00   %      

5.00   

6.50   
8.00   

Buffer 

   Company       

Bank 

N/A   %      

8.76   %      

8.96   % 

7.00   %      
8.50   %      

10.50   %      
10.50   %      

10.74   % 
10.74   % 

8.00   %      

10.00   

10.50   %      

11.90   %      

11.53   % 

In December 2018, the federal banking agencies issued a joint final rule to revise their regulatory capital rules to address the 
implementation of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, “Current Expected Credit Losses,” commonly referred to as CECL, 
effective January 1, 2020 for the Bank and Company. The final rule allows for an optional three-year phase-in period for the day-one 
adverse regulatory capital effects that banking organizations are expected to experience upon adopting CECL. The Company has 
elected to use the optional three-year phase in method and has sufficient capital to cover the day one impact of CECL. See further 
discussion of CECL and the impact of adoption in Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting 
Pronouncements in Item 8 – “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this document. 

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Payment of Dividends 

Hancock Whitney Corporation is a legal entity separate and distinct from Hancock Whitney Bank and other subsidiaries.  Its primary 
source of cash, other than securities offerings, is dividends from the Bank. Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, no dividends may 
be paid by an insured bank if the bank is in arrears in the payment of any insurance assessment due to the FDIC.  The payment of 
dividends by the Bank may also be affected by other regulatory requirements and policies, such as the maintenance of adequate 
capital. If, in the opinion of the applicable regulatory authority, a bank under its jurisdiction is engaged in, or is about to engage in, an 
unsafe or unsound practice (which, depending on the financial condition of the bank, could include the payment of dividends), such 
authority may require, after notice and hearing, that such bank cease and desist from such practice. The FDIC has formal and informal 
policies which provide that insured banks should generally pay dividends only out of current operating earnings. 

Under a Federal Reserve policy adopted in 2009, the board of directors of a bank holding company must consider certain factors to 
ensure that its dividend level is prudent relative to maintaining a strong financial position, and is not based on overly optimistic 
earnings scenarios, such as potential events that could affect its ability to pay, while still maintaining a strong financial position. As a 
general matter, the Federal Reserve has indicated that the board of directors of a bank holding company should consult with the 
Federal Reserve and eliminate, defer or significantly reduce the bank holding company’s dividends if:  

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

its net income available to shareholders for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid during that period, is 
not sufficient to fully fund the dividends;  

its prospective rate of earnings retention is not consistent with its capital needs and overall current and prospective 
financial condition; or  

it will not meet, or is in danger of not meeting, its minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios.  

Bank Regulation  

The operation of the Bank is subject to state and federal statutes applicable to state banks and the regulations of the Federal Reserve, 
the FDIC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”). The operations of the Bank may also be subject to applicable 
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) regulation to the extent state banks are granted parity with national banks. Such 
statutes and regulations relate to, among other things, required reserves, investments, loans, mergers and consolidations, issuances of 
securities, payments of dividends, establishment of branches, consumer protection and other aspects of the Bank’s operations. 
Violations of laws and regulations, or other unsafe and unsound practices, may result in these agencies imposing fines or penalties, 
cease and desist orders, or taking other enforcement actions.  Under certain circumstances, these agencies may enforce these remedies 
directly against officers, directors, employees and other parties participating in the affairs of a bank or bank holding company. 

Safety and Soundness.  The Federal Deposit Insurance Act requires the federal prudential bank regulatory agencies, such as the FDIC, 
to prescribe, by regulation or guideline, operational and managerial standards for all insured depository institutions relating to: (1) 
internal controls; (2) information systems and audit systems; (3) loan documentation; (4) credit underwriting; (5) interest rate risk 
exposure; and (6) asset quality. The agencies also must prescribe standards for asset quality, earnings, and stock valuation, as well as 
standards for compensation, fees and benefits. The federal banking agencies have adopted regulations and Interagency Guidelines 
Establishing Standards for Safety and Soundness to implement these required standards. These guidelines set forth the safety and 
soundness standards used to identify and address problems at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. Under 
the regulations, if a regulator determines that a bank fails to meet any standards prescribed by the guidelines, the regulator may require 
the bank to submit an acceptable plan to achieve compliance, consistent with deadlines for the submission and review of such safety 
and soundness compliance plans. 

Examinations. The Bank is subject to regulation, reporting, and periodic examinations by the FDIC, the Mississippi Department of 
Banking and Consumer Finance (the “MDBCF”), and the CFPB. These regulatory authorities routinely examine the Bank’s reserves, 
loan and investment quality, consumer compliance, management policies, procedures and practices and other aspects of operations. 
The FDIC has adopted the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s (“FFIEC”) rating system and assigns each financial 
institution a confidential composite rating based on an evaluation and rating of six essential components of an institution’s financial 
condition and operations, including Capital Adequacy, Asset Quality, Management, Earnings, Liquidity and Sensitivity to Market 
Risk (“CAMELS”), as well as the quality of risk management practices.   

Consumer Protection. The Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB, an independent regulatory authority housed within the Federal 
Reserve having centralized authority, including examination and enforcement authority, for consumer protection in the banking 
industry.  The CFPB has rule writing, examination, and enforcement authority with regard to the Bank’s (and the Company’s) 
compliance with a wide array of consumer financial protection laws, including the Truth in Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement 
Procedures Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Home Mortgage 
Disclosure Act, the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (except Sections 615(e) and 628), the Fair Debt 

14 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collection Practices Act, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (sections 502 through 509 relating to privacy), among others. The CFPB 
has broad authority to enforce a prohibition on unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practice.  The Bank is subject to direct 
supervision and examination by the CFPB. The CFPB also may examine our other direct or indirect subsidiaries that offer consumer 
financial products or services. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act permits states to adopt consumer protection laws and regulations that 
are stricter than those regulations promulgated by the CFPB, and state attorneys general are permitted to enforce consumer protection 
rules adopted by the CFPB against certain institutions. 

Branching. The Dodd-Frank Act authorizes national and state banks to establish de novo branches in other states to the same extent a 
bank chartered in those states would be so permitted.  

Deposit Insurance Assessments. The Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”) of the FDIC insures the deposits of the Bank generally up to a 
maximum of $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.  The FDIC charges insured depository 
institutions quarterly premiums to maintain the DIF.  Deposit insurance assessments are based on average total consolidated assets 
minus its average tangible equity.  For larger institutions, such as the Bank, the FDIC uses a performance score and a loss-severity 
score to calculate an initial assessment.   In calculating these scores, the FDIC uses a bank’s capital level and supervisory ratings (its 
“CAMELS ratings”) and certain financial measures to assess the institution’s ability to withstand asset-related stress and funding-
related stress.  The FDIC has the ability to make discretionary adjustments to the total score based upon significant risk factors that are 
not adequately captured in the calculations. The assessment rate schedule can change from time to time, at the discretion of the FDIC, 
subject to certain limits.  

Insurance of deposits may be terminated by the FDIC upon a finding that an institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is 
in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition 
imposed by the FDIC.  The Bank does not believe that it is taking or is subject to any action, condition or violation that could lead to 
termination of its deposit insurance.  In addition, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act provides that, in the event of the liquidation or other 
resolution of an insured depository institution, the claims of depositors of the institution, including the claims of the FDIC as subrogee of 
insured depositors, and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as a receiver, will have priority over other general 
unsecured claims against the institution, including those of the parent bank holding company. 

Insider Transactions. In addition to regulating capital, federal banking agencies have broad authority to prevent the development or 
continuance of unsafe or unsound banking practices. Pursuant to this authority, the Federal Reserve has adopted regulations that 
restrict preferential loans and loan amounts to “affiliates” and “insiders” of banks, require banks to keep information on loans to major 
shareholders and executive officers and bar certain director and officer interlocks between financial institutions.  

Mergers, Subsidiaries. The FDIC is also authorized to approve mergers, consolidations and assumption of deposit liability 
transactions between insured banks and between insured banks and uninsured banks or institutions to prevent capital or surplus 
diminution in such transactions where the resulting, continuing or assumed bank is an insured nonmember state bank.  

Reserves. Although the Bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve, it is subject to Federal Reserve regulations that require the Bank 
to maintain reserves against transaction accounts (primarily checking accounts). These reserve requirements are subject to annual 
adjustment by the Federal Reserve. 

Anti-Money Laundering.  Under the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and 
Obstruct Terrorism (“USA PATRIOT”) Act of 2001, financial institutions are subject to prohibitions against specified financial 
transactions and account relationships as well as enhanced due diligence and “know your customer” standards in their dealings with 
foreign financial institutions and foreign customers. The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions to establish anti-money 
laundering programs with minimum standards that include: 

(cid:120)(cid:3)
(cid:120)(cid:3)
(cid:120)(cid:3)
(cid:120)(cid:3)
(cid:120)(cid:3)

a system of internal policies, procedures, and controls to ensure ongoing compliance; 
the designation of an individual responsible for coordinating and monitoring compliance; 
an ongoing employee training program;  
an independent audit function to test the programs; and 
appropriate risk-based procedures for conducting ongoing customer due diligence. 

Bank regulators routinely examine institutions for compliance with these anti-money laundering obligations and recently have been 
active in imposing “cease and desist” and other regulatory orders and money penalty sanctions against institutions found to be in 
violation of these requirements.  In addition, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has adopted new regulations that became 
effective on May 11, 2018, that require, subject to certain exclusions and exemptions, covered financial institutions to identify and 
verify the identity of beneficial owners of legal entity customers. 

Economic Sanctions. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) is responsible for helping to ensure that U.S. entities do not 
engage in transactions with certain prohibited parties, as defined by various Executive Orders and acts of Congress.  OFAC publishes, 

15 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and routinely updates, lists of names of persons and organizations suspected of aiding, harboring or engaging in terrorist acts, 
including the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.  If we find a name on any transaction, account or wire transfer 
that is on an OFAC list, we must undertake certain specified activities, which could include blocking or freezing the account or 
transaction requested, and we must notify the appropriate authorities. 

Concentrations in Lending.  During 2006, the federal bank regulatory agencies released guidance on “Concentrations in Commercial 
Real Estate Lending” (the “Guidance”) and advised financial institutions of the risks posed by CRE lending concentrations. The 
Guidance requires that appropriate processes be in place to identify, monitor and control risks associated with real estate lending 
concentrations. Higher allowances for loan losses and capital levels may also be required. The Guidance is triggered when CRE loan 
concentrations exceed either: 

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

Total reported loans for construction, land development, and other land of 100% or more of a bank’s total risk based 
capital; or 

Total reported loans secured by multifamily and nonfarm nonresidential properties and loans for construction, land 
development, and other land of 300% or more of a bank’s total risk based capital. 

The Guidance also applies when a bank has a sharp increase in CRE loans or has significant concentrations of CRE secured by a 
particular property type.  

Community Reinvestment Act.  The Bank is subject to the provisions of the CRA, which imposes a continuing and affirmative obligation, 
consistent with their safe and sound operation, to help meet the credit needs of entire communities where the bank accepts deposits, 
including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. The FDIC’s assessment of the Bank’s CRA record is made available to the public. 
Further, a less than satisfactory CRA rating will slow, if not preclude, expansion of banking activities and prevent a company from 
becoming or remaining a financial holding company. Federal CRA regulations require, among other things, that evidence of 
discrimination against applicants on a prohibited basis, and illegal or abusive lending practices be considered in the CRA evaluation. The 
Bank has a rating of “Satisfactory” in its most recent CRA evaluation. 

Consumer Regulation. Activities of the Bank are subject to a variety of statutes and regulations designed to protect consumers. These 
laws and regulations include, among numerous other things, provisions that: 

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

limit the interest and other charges collected or contracted for by the Bank, including rules respecting the terms of credit 
cards and of debit card overdrafts; 

govern the Bank’s disclosures of credit terms to consumer borrowers; 

require the Bank to provide information to enable the public and public officials to determine whether it is fulfilling its 
obligation to help meet the housing needs of the communities it serves; 

prohibit the Bank from discriminating on the basis of race, creed or other prohibited factors when it makes decisions to 
extend credit; 

govern the manner in which the Bank may collect consumer debts; and 

prohibit unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices in the provision of consumer financial products and services. 

Mortgage Rules. Pursuant to rules adopted by the CFPB, banks that make residential mortgage loans are required to make a good faith 
determination that a borrower has the ability to repay a mortgage loan prior to extending such credit, require that certain mortgage 
loans contain escrow payments, obtain new appraisals under certain circumstances, comply with integrated mortgage disclosure rules, 
and follow specific rules regarding the compensation of loan originators and the servicing of residential mortgage loans.  

Risk-retention rules. Banks that sponsor the securitization of asset-backed securities are generally required to retain not less than 5% 
of the credit risk of any loan they securitize, except for residential mortgages that meet certain low-risk standards.  

Transactions with affiliates. There are various restrictions that limit the ability of the Bank to finance, pay dividends or otherwise 
supply funds to the Company or other affiliates. In addition, banks are subject to certain restrictions under Section 23A and B of the 
Federal Reserve Act on certain transactions, including any extension of credit to its bank holding company or any of its other 
affiliates, on investments in the securities thereof, and on the taking of such securities as collateral for loans to any borrower.  

Privacy, Credit Reporting and Cybersecurity.  The Bank is subject to federal and state banking regulations that limit its ability to 
disclose non-public information about consumers to non-affiliated third parties and prescribe standards for the protection of consumer 
information. These limitations require us to periodically disclose our privacy policies to consumers and allow consumers to prevent 
disclosure of certain personal information to a non-affiliated third party under certain circumstances.  Consumers also have the option 
to direct banks and other financial institutions not to share information about transactions and experiences with affiliated companies 
for the purpose of marketing products or services.  Banking institutions are required to implement a comprehensive information 

16 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
security program that includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer 
records and information, as well as maintain procedures for notifying customers in the event of a security breach.  These security and 
privacy policies and procedures for the protection of confidential and personal information are in effect across our lines of business.  
The Company has adopted and implemented our Comprehensive Information Security Policy to comply with these federal 
requirements.   

The Bank uses credit bureau data in underwriting activities.  Use of such data is regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and 
Regulation V on a uniform, nationwide basis, including credit reporting, prescreening, and sharing of information between affiliates 
and the use of credit data.  The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, which amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act, permits 
states to enact identity theft laws that are not inconsistent with the conduct required by the provisions of that Act. 

Furthermore, the federal banking regulators regularly issue guidance regarding cybersecurity intended to enhance cyber risk 
management. A financial institution is expected to implement multiple lines of defense against cyber-attacks and ensure that their risk 
management procedures address the risk posed by potential cyber threats.  A financial institution is further expected to maintain 
procedures to effectively respond to a cyber-attack and resume operations following any such attack.  The Company has adopted and 
implemented an Information Security Program to comply with the regulatory cybersecurity guidance.  

Debit Interchange Fees. Interchange fees are fees that merchants pay to credit card companies and card-issuing banks such as the 
Bank for processing electronic payment transactions on their behalf. The maximum permissible interchange fee that an issuer may 
receive for an electronic debit transaction is the sum of 21 cents per transaction and 5 basis points multiplied by the value of the 
transaction, subject to an upward adjustment of 1 cent if an issuer certifies that it has implemented policies and procedures reasonably 
designed to achieve the fraud-prevention standards set forth by the Federal Reserve. In addition, the legislation prohibits card issuers 
and networks from entering into arrangements requiring that debit card transactions be processed on a single network or only two 
affiliated networks, and allows merchants to determine transaction routing.  

Nonbanking Subsidiaries  

The Company’s nonbanking subsidiaries may also be subject to a variety of state and federal laws. For example, Hancock Whitney 
Investment Services, Inc. is subject to supervision and regulation by the SEC, FINRA and the State of Mississippi.   

Compensation 

In June 2010, the federal banking agencies issued joint guidance on executive compensation designed to help ensure that a banking 
organization’s incentive compensation policies do not encourage imprudent risk taking and are consistent with the safety and 
soundness of the organization. In addition, in June 2012, the Commission issued final rules to implement the Dodd-Frank Act’s 
requirement that the Commission direct the national securities exchanges to adopt certain listing standards related to the compensation 
committee of a company’s board of directors as well as its compensation advisers.  

In 2016, the Federal Reserve, FDIC and SEC proposed rules that would, depending upon the assets of the institution, directly regulate 
incentive compensation arrangements and would require enhanced oversight and recordkeeping.  As of December 31, 2019, these 
rules had not been implemented.  We have instituted measures to ensure that our incentive compensation plans do not encourage 
inappropriate risks, consistent with three key principles—that incentive compensation arrangements should appropriately balance risk 
and financial rewards, be compatible with effective controls and risk management, and be supported by strong corporate governance. 

Accounting and Controls 

The Company is also required to file certain reports with, and otherwise comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC under 
federal securities laws.   For example, we are required to comply with various corporate governance and financial reporting 
requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules and regulations adopted by the SEC, the Public Company 
Accounting Oversight Board, and Nasdaq.  In particular, we are required to include management and independent registered public 
accounting firm reports on internal controls over financial reporting as part of our Annual Report on Form 10-K in order to comply 
with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  We have evaluated our controls, including compliance with the SEC rules on internal 
controls.  The assessments of our financial reporting controls as of December 31, 2019 are included in this report under Item 9A. 
“Controls and Procedures.”  Our failure to comply with these internal control rules may materially adversely affect our reputation, 
ability to obtain the necessary certifications to financial statements, and the value of our securities.   

17 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance 

The Dodd-Frank Act addresses many investor protection, corporate governance, and executive compensation matters that affect most 
U.S. publicly traded companies. The Dodd-Frank Act (1) grants shareholders of U.S. publicly traded companies an advisory vote on 
executive compensation; (2) enhances independence requirements for Compensation Committee members; and (3) requires companies 
listed on national securities exchanges to adopt incentive-based compensation clawback policies for executive officers. 

Effect of Governmental Monetary and Fiscal Policies  

The difference between the interest rate paid on deposits and other borrowings and the interest rate received on loans and securities 
comprises most of a bank’s earnings. In order to mitigate the interest rate risk inherent in the industry, the banking business is 
becoming increasingly dependent on the generation of fee and service charge revenue.  

The earnings and growth of a bank will be affected by both general economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policy of the 
U.S. government and its agencies, particularly the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve sets national monetary policy such as seeking 
to curb inflation and combat recession. This is accomplished by its open-market operations in U.S. government securities, adjustments 
in the amount of reserves that financial institutions are required to maintain and adjustments to the discount rates on borrowings and 
target rates for federal funds transactions. The actions of the Federal Reserve in these areas influence the growth of bank loans, 
investments and deposits and also affect interest rates on loans and deposits. The nature and timing of any future changes in monetary 
policies and their potential impact on the Company cannot be predicted.  

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 

The names, ages, positions and business experience of our executive officers as of February 24, 2020:  

Name 
John M. Hairston 

Michael M. Achary 

Joseph S. Exnicios 

D. Shane Loper 

Stephen E. Barker 

Cecil W. Knight Jr. 

Joy Lambert Phillips 

Christopher S. Ziluca 

Age 
56 

59 

64 

54 

63 

56 

64 

58 

Position 

President of the Company since 2014; Chief Executive Officer since 2008 and Chief 
Operating Officer from 2008 to 2014; Director since 2006. 
Sr. Executive Vice President since 2017; Executive Vice President from 2008 to 2016; Chief 
Financial Officer since 2007. 
Sr. Executive Vice President since 2017; Executive Vice President from 2011 to 2016; 
President of Hancock Whitney Bank since 2011. 
Sr. Executive Vice President since 2017; Executive Vice President from 2008 to 2016; Chief 
Operating Officer since 2014; Chief Administrative Officer from 2013 to 2014; Chief Risk 
Officer from 2012 to 2013; Chief Risk and Administrative Officer from 2010 to 2012. 
Executive Vice President since 2016; Senior Accounting and Finance Executive since 2019; 
Chief Accounting Officer since 2011. 
Executive Vice President since 2016; Chief Banking Officer since 2016; President and owner 
of Alidade partners, LLC from 2012 to 2016. 
Executive Vice President since 2009; Corporate Secretary since 2011; General Counsel since 
1999. 
Executive Vice President since 2018; Chief Credit Officer since 2018; Senior Vice President 
and Chief Credit Officer of Webster Bank from 2010 to 2018. 

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ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS 

We face a number of significant risks and uncertainties in connection with our operations. Our business, results of operations and 
financial condition could be materially adversely affected by the factors described below.  

While we describe each risk separately, some of these risks are interrelated and certain risks could trigger the applicability of other 
risks described below. Also, the risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones that we may face. Additional risks and 
uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently do not consider significant, could also potentially impair, and have a 
material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.  

Risks Related to Economic and Market Conditions  

We may be vulnerable to certain sectors of the economy and to economic conditions both generally and locally across the specific 
markets in which we operate.  

Our financial performance may be adversely affected by macroeconomic factors that affect the U.S. economy. Unfavorable economic 
conditions, particularly in the Gulf South region, could significantly affect the demand for our loans and other products, the ability of 
borrowers to repay loans, and the value of collateral securing loans.   

Volatility in global financial markets may have a spillover effect that would ultimately impair the performance of the U.S. economy 
and, in turn, our results of operations and financial condition.   

We are subject to lending concentration risk. 

Our loan portfolio contains several industry and collateral concentrations including, but not limited to, commercial and residential real 
estate, energy and healthcare.  Due to the exposure in these concentrations, disruptions in markets, economic conditions, changes in 
laws or regulations or other events could cause a significant impact on the ability of borrowers to repay and may have a material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. 

A substantial portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate. In weak economies, or in areas where real estate market conditions 
are distressed, we may experience a higher than normal level of nonperforming real estate loans. The collateral value of the portfolio 
and the revenue stream from those loans could come under stress, and additional provisions for the allowance for credit losses could 
be necessitated. Our ability to dispose of foreclosed real estate at prices at or above the respective carrying values could also be 
impaired, causing additional losses.  

At December 31, 2019, energy or energy-related loans comprised approximately 4.5% of our loan portfolio. Weakness in the oil and 
gas sector continues to impact many energy-related entities’ profitability, liquidity and/or enterprise value. Global markets for oil and 
gas have and may continue to be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and/or other events beyond our control. Further volatility in 
commodity prices could have a negative impact on the U.S. economy and, in particular, the economies of energy-dominant states such 
as Texas and Louisiana, two of our core markets. Such circumstances could have a material adverse effect on the performance of 
energy-related businesses and other commercial segments in these markets, and, in turn, on our financial condition and results of 
operations. 

Certain changes in interest rates, mortgage origination, inflation, deflation, or the financial markets could affect our results of 
operations, demand for our products and our ability to deliver products efficiently.  

Our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature and we are subject to significant risks tied to changes in interest rates that 
are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control. Our ability to operate profitably is largely dependent upon net interest 
income. Net interest income is the primary component of our earnings and is affected by both local external factors such as economic 
conditions in the Gulf South and local competition for loans and deposits, as well as broader influences, such as federal monetary 
policy and market interest rates. Unexpected movement in interest rates markedly changing the slope of the current yield curve could 
cause our net interest margins to decrease, subsequently reducing net interest income. In addition, such changes could adversely affect 
the valuation of our assets and liabilities. 

In addition, loan originations, and potentially loan revenues, could be adversely impacted by sharply rising interest rates. If market 
rates of interest increase, it would increase debt service requirements for some of our borrowers; adversely affect those borrowers’ 
ability to pay as contractually obligated; potentially reduce loan demand or result in additional delinquencies or charge-offs; and 
increase the cost of our deposits, which are a primary source of funding.  

19 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
The fair market value of our securities portfolio and the investment income from these securities also fluctuate depending on general 
economic and market conditions. In addition, actual net investment income and/or cash flows from investments that carry prepayment 
risk, such as mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities, may differ from those anticipated at the time of investment as a result 
of interest rate fluctuations.  

An underperforming stock market could adversely affect wealth management fees associated with managed securities portfolios and 
could also reduce brokerage transactions, therefore reducing investment brokerage revenues. An increase in inflation could cause our 
operating costs related to salaries and benefits, technology, and supplies to increase at a faster pace than revenues. 

Although management believes it has implemented an effective asset and liability management strategy to manage the potential 
effects of changes in interest rates, including the use of adjustable rate and/or short-term assets, and FHLB advances or longer term 
repurchase agreements, any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on 
our financial condition and results of our operation and our strategies may not always be successful in managing the risk associated 
with changes in interest rates. 

Changes in the policies of monetary authorities and other government action could adversely affect our profitability.  

Interest rates and our financial performance are affected by credit policies of monetary authorities, particularly the Federal Reserve. 
The instruments of monetary policy employed by the Federal Reserve include open market transactions in U.S. government securities, 
changes in the discount rate or the federal funds rate on bank borrowings and changes in reserve requirements against bank deposits. 
In view of changing conditions in the national economy and in the money markets, we cannot predict the potential impact of future 
changes in interest rates, deposit levels, and loan demand on our business and earnings. Furthermore, the actions of the U.S. 
government and other governments may result in currency fluctuations, exchange controls, market disruption, material decreases in 
the values of certain of our financial assets and other adverse effects.  

The Federal Reserve raised rates nine times during 2015-2018, and reduced rates three times in 2019. Further rate changes reportedly 
are dependent on the Federal Reserve’s assessment of economic data as it becomes available. If interest rates continue to decline, our 
net interest income may decrease. In addition, a decrease in interest rates could negatively impact our margins and profitability. As the 
Federal Reserve Board increases the Fed Funds rate, overall interest rates have also risen, which may negatively impact the U.S. 
economy.  Further, changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence (i) the amount of interest we 
receive on loans and securities, (ii) the amount of interest we pay on deposits and borrowings, (iii) our ability to originate loans and 
obtain deposits, (iv) the fair value of our assets and liabilities, and (v) the reinvestment risk associated with changes in the duration of 
our mortgage-backed securities portfolio. When interest-bearing liabilities reprice or mature more quickly than interest-earning assets, 
an increase in interest rates generally would tend to result in a decrease in net interest income.   

Changes in U.S. trade policies and other factors beyond the Company's control, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory 
tariffs, may adversely impact its business, financial condition and results of operations. 

In recent years, there has been discussion and dialogue regarding potential changes to U.S. trade policies, legislation, treaties and 
tariffs, including trade policies and tariffs affecting other countries, including China, the European Union, Canada and Mexico and 
retaliatory tariffs by such countries. Tariffs and retaliatory tariffs have been imposed, and additional tariffs and retaliation tariffs have 
been proposed. Such tariffs, retaliatory tariffs or other trade restrictions on products and materials that the Company's customers 
import or export, including among others, agricultural products, could cause the prices of its customers' products to increase, which 
could reduce demand for such products, or reduce its customer margins, and adversely impact their revenues, financial results and 
ability to service debt. This, in turn, could adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations. 

In addition, to the extent changes in the political environment have a negative impact on the Company or on the markets in which the 
Company operates its business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely impacted in the future. 
It remains unclear what the U.S. Administration or foreign governments will or will not do with respect to tariffs already imposed, 
additional tariffs that may be imposed, or international trade agreements and policies. A trade war or other governmental action related 
to tariffs or international trade agreements or policies has the potential to negatively impact the Company's and/or its customers' costs, 
demand for its customers' products, and/or the U.S. economy or certain sectors thereof and, thus, adversely impact the Company's 
business, financial condition and results of operations. 

United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union (“Brexit”) could adversely affect financial markets generally. 

The uncertainty regarding Brexit could adversely affect financial markets generally. While the Company has limited direct loans to or 
deposits from foreign entities, the uncertain impact of Brexit on British and European businesses, financial markets, and related 
businesses in the United States could also adversely affect financial markets generally. The commercial soundness of many financial 
institutions may be closely interrelated as a result of relationships between the institutions. As a result, concerns about, or a default or 
threatened default by, one institution could lead to significant market-wide liquidity and credit problems, losses or defaults by other 

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institutions. The Company’s business could be adversely affected directly by the default of another institution or if the financial 
services industry experiences significant market-wide liquidity and credit problems. 

The financial soundness and stability of other financial institutions could adversely affect us.  

Our ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and financial soundness and stability 
of other financial institutions as a result of credit, trading, clearing or other relationships with such institutions. We routinely execute 
transactions with counterparties in the financial industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks and other institutional 
clients. As a result, defaults by, and even rumors regarding, other financial institutions, or the financial services industry generally, 
could impair our ability to effect such transactions and could lead to losses or defaults by us. In addition, a number of our transactions 
expose us to credit risk in the event of default of a counterparty or client. Additionally, our credit risk may be increased if the 
collateral we hold in connection with such transactions cannot be realized or can only be liquidated at prices that are not sufficient to 
cover the full amount of our financial exposure. Any such losses could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and 
results of operations.  

We may be adversely impacted by the transition from LIBOR  

In July 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that regulates LIBOR) announced it intends to stop 
compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee (“ARRC”) has 
proposed that the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) is the rate that represents best practice as the alternative to USD-
LIBOR for use in derivatives and other financial contracts that are currently indexed to USD-LIBOR. ARRC has proposed a paced 
market transition plan to SOFR from USD-LIBOR and organizations are currently considering industry wide and company-specific 
transition plans as it relates to derivatives and cash markets exposed to USD-LIBOR.  

If LIBOR ceases to exist or if the methods of calculating LIBOR change from current methods for any reason, interest rates on our 
floating rate obligations, loans, derivatives, and other financial instruments tied to LIBOR rates, as well as the revenue and expenses 
associated with those financial instruments, may be adversely affected. Any uncertainty regarding the continued use and reliability 
of LIBOR as a benchmark interest rate could adversely affect the value of our floating rate obligations, loans, derivatives, and other 
financial instruments tied to LIBOR rates. 

A substantial portion of our variable rate loans are indexed to LIBOR.  While many of these loans contain either provisions for the 
designation of an alternate benchmark rate or “fallback” provisions providing for alternative rate calculations in the event LIBOR is 
unavailable, not all of our loans, derivatives or financial instruments contain such provisions, and the existing provisions and/or recent 
modifications to our documents to address transition may not adequately address the actual changes to LIBOR or the financial impact 
of successor benchmark rates.  We may not be able to successfully amend these loans, derivatives and financial instruments to provide 
for alternative benchmarks or alternative rate calculations and such amendments could prove costly and may impact our ability to 
maintain hedge accounting treatment on certain cash flow hedges. Even with provisions allowing for designation of alternative 
benchmarks or “fallback” provisions, changes to or the discontinuance of LIBOR could result in customer uncertainty and disputes 
arising as a consequence of the transition from LIBOR. All of this could result in damage to our reputation, loss of customers and 
additional costs to us, all of which could be material. 

Tax law and regulatory changes could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in 2017 provided significant changes to U.S. corporate and individual tax laws. Future changes to 
tax laws, including a repeal of all or part of this Act, could significantly impact our business in the form of greater than expected 
income tax expense. Such changes may also negatively impact the financial condition of our customers and/or overall economic 
conditions.  

Governmental responses to market disruptions and other events may be inadequate and may have unintended consequences.  

Congress and financial regulators may implement measures designed to stabilize financial markets in periods of disruption.  The 
overall impact of these efforts on the financial markets may be unclear and could adversely affect our business.  

We compete with a number of financial services companies that are not subject to the same degree of regulatory oversight. The impact 
of the existing regulatory framework and any future changes to it could negatively affect our ability to compete with these institutions, 
which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and prospects.  

We may need to rely on the financial markets to provide needed capital.  

Our common stock is listed and traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. If our capital resources prove in the future to be 
inadequate to meet our capital requirements, we may need to raise additional debt or equity capital. If conditions in the capital markets 

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are not favorable, we may be constrained in raising capital. We maintain a consistent analyst following; therefore, downgrades in our 
prospects by one or more of our analysts may cause our stock price to fall and significantly limit our ability to access the markets for 
additional capital requirements. An inability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms when and if needed could have a material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.  

The interest rates that we pay on our securities are also influenced by, among other things, the credit ratings that we, our affiliates 
and/or our securities receive from recognized rating agencies. Our credit ratings are based on a number of factors, including our 
financial strength and some factors not entirely within our control such as conditions affecting the financial services industry 
generally, and remain subject to change at any time. A downgrade to the credit rating of us or our affiliates could affect our ability to 
access the capital markets, increase our borrowing costs and negatively impact our profitability. A downgrade to us, our affiliates or 
our securities could create obligations or liabilities to us under the terms of our outstanding securities that could increase our costs or 
otherwise have a negative effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additionally, a downgrade to the credit rating of 
any particular security issued by us or our affiliates could negatively affect the ability of the holders of that security to sell the 
securities and the prices at which any such securities may be sold.  

Because our decision to incur debt and issue securities in future offerings will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond 
our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings and debt financings. Further, market 
conditions could require us to accept less favorable terms for the issuance of our securities in the future. In addition, geopolitical and 
worldwide market conditions may cause disruption or volatility in the U.S. equity and debt markets, which could hinder our ability to 
issue debt and equity securities in the future on favorable terms.  

Risks Related to the Financial Services Industry  

We must maintain adequate sources of funding and liquidity.  

Effective liquidity management is essential for the operation of our business. We require sufficient liquidity to support our operations 
and fund outstanding liabilities, as well as to meet regulatory requirements. Our access to sources of liquidity in amounts adequate to 
fund our activities on terms that are acceptable to us could be impaired by factors that affect us specifically or the financial services 
industry or economy generally. Factors that could detrimentally impact our access to liquidity sources include an economic downturn 
that affects the geographic markets in which our loans and operations are concentrated, or any material deterioration of the credit 
markets. Our access to deposits may also be affected by the liquidity needs of our depositors and the loss of deposits to alternative 
investments. Although we have historically been successful in replacing maturing deposits and advances as necessary, we might not 
be able to duplicate that success in the future, especially if a large number of our depositors were to withdraw their amounts on 
deposit. A failure to maintain an adequate level of liquidity could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and 
results of operations.  

We may rely on the mortgage secondary market from time to time to provide liquidity.  

From time to time, we have sold to certain agencies certain types of mortgage loans that meet their conforming loan requirements in 
order to reduce our interest rate risk and provide liquidity. There is a risk that these agencies will limit or discontinue their purchases 
of loans that are conforming due to capital constraints, a change in the criteria for conforming loans or other factors. Additionally, 
various proposals have been made to reform the U.S. residential mortgage finance market, including the role of the agencies. The 
exact effects of any such reforms are not yet known, but may limit our ability to sell conforming loans to the agencies. If we are 
unable to continue to sell conforming loans to the agencies, our ability to fund, and thus originate, additional mortgage loans may be 
adversely affected, which would in turn adversely affect our results of operations.  

Greater loan losses than expected may adversely affect our earnings.  

We are exposed to the risk that our borrowers will be unable to repay their loans in accordance with their terms and that any collateral 
securing the payment of their loans may not be sufficient to assure repayment. Credit risk is inherent in our business and any material 
level of credit failure could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Our credit risk with respect to our real estate and 
construction loan portfolio relates principally to the creditworthiness of our corporate borrowers and the value of the real estate 
pledged as security for the repayment of loans. Our credit risk with respect to our commercial and consumer loan portfolio will depend 
on the general creditworthiness of businesses and individuals within our local markets. Our credit risk with respect to our energy loan 
portfolio is subject to commodity pricing that is determined by factors outside of our control.  

We make various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of our loan portfolio and provide an allowance for estimated 
loan losses based on a number of factors. This process requires subjective and complex judgments, including analysis of economic or 
market conditions that might impair the ability of borrowers to repay their loans. If our assumptions or judgments prove to be 
incorrect, the allowance for credit losses may not be sufficient to cover actual credit losses. We may have to increase our allowance in 
the future in response to the request of one of our primary banking regulators, to adjust for changing conditions and assumptions, to 
adjust for changes in resolution strategies, or as a result of any deterioration in the quality of our loan and lease portfolio. Losses in 
excess of the existing allowance or any provisions for loan losses taken to increase the allowance will reduce our net income and could 

22 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Future provisions for loan losses may vary materially 
from the amounts of past provisions. 

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company was required to and has adopted Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, “Financial 
Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” (commonly referred to as Current 
Expected Credit Losses, or CECL) that changed the approach to recognizing credit losses from an “incurred loss” methodology. Under 
the incurred loss methodology, credit losses were recognized only when the losses were probable or had been incurred; under CECL, 
entities are required to recognize the full amount of expected credit losses for the lifetime of the financial assets, based on historical 
experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. While the standard does not impact actual losses, it does 
accelerate the timing of the recognition of losses and adds additional uncertainty and potential volatility with added length of forecast 
period and additional assumptions such as prepayment speeds and funding of lending commitments not previously impacting the 
allowance. Changes in forecast assumptions may result in an unfavorable impact to our results of operations and our capital level. 

We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about clients and counterparties.  

In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions with clients and counterparties, we rely in substantial part on 
information furnished by or on behalf of clients and counterparties, including financial statements and other financial information. We 
also may rely on representations of clients and counterparties as to the accuracy and completeness of that information and, with 
respect to financial statements, on reports of independent auditors if made available. If this information is inaccurate, we may be 
subject to loan defaults, financial losses, regulatory action, reputational harm or other adverse effects with respect to our business, 
financial condition and results of operations.  

We are subject to a variety of risks in connection with any sale of loans we may conduct.  

From time to time we may sell all or a portion of one of more loan portfolios, and in connection therewith we may make certain 
representations and warranties to the purchaser concerning the loans sold and the procedures under which those loans have been 
originated and serviced. If any of these representations and warranties are incorrect, we may be required to indemnify the purchaser 
for any related losses, or we may be required to repurchase part or all of the affected loans. We may also be required to repurchase 
loans as a result of borrower fraud or in the event of early payment default by the borrower on a loan we have sold. If we are required 
to make any indemnity payments or repurchases and do not have a remedy available to us against a solvent counterparty to the loan or 
loans, we may not be able to recover our losses resulting from these indemnity payments and repurchases. Consequently, our results of 
operations may be adversely affected.  

Risks Related to Our Operations  

A failure in our operational systems or infrastructure, or those of third parties, could impair our liquidity, disrupt our businesses, 
result in the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, damage our reputation and cause financial losses.  

Our ability to adequately conduct and grow our business is dependent on our ability to create and maintain an appropriate operational 
and organizational control infrastructure. Operational risk can arise in numerous ways including employee fraud, theft or malfeasance; 
customer fraud; and control lapses in bank operations and information technology. Because the nature of the financial services 
business involves a high volume of transactions, certain errors in processing or recording transactions appropriately may be repeated 
or compounded before they are discovered. We have recently and plan to continue to make investments in new technologies for sales 
and service, including mobile and online banking, as well as teller, customer service and loan origination platforms. These new 
technologies and/or operational changes may lead to increased operational risk. Our dependence on our employees and automated 
systems, including the automated systems used by acquired entities and third parties, to record and process transactions may further 
increase the risk that technical failures or tampering of those systems will result in losses that are difficult to detect. We are also 
subject to disruptions of our operating systems arising from events that are wholly or partially beyond our control. In addition, 
products, services and processes are continually changing and we may not fully appreciate or identify new operational risks that may 
arise from such changes. Failure to maintain an appropriate operational infrastructure can lead to loss of service to customers, 
additional expenditures related to the detection and correction of operational failures, reputational damage and loss of customer 
confidence, legal actions, and noncompliance with various laws and regulations.  

We continuously monitor our operational and technological capabilities and make modifications and improvements when we believe it 
to be appropriate to do so. However, there are inherent limits to such capabilities. In some instances, we may build and maintain these 
capabilities ourselves. We also outsource some of these functions to third parties. These third parties may experience errors or 
disruptions that could adversely impact us and over which we may have limited control. Third parties may fail to properly perform 
services or comply with applicable laws and regulations, and replacing third party providers could entail significant delay and 
expense. We also face risk from the integration of new infrastructure platforms and/or new third party providers of such platforms into 
existing businesses.  

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Our operational and communications systems and infrastructure may fail or may be the subject of a breach or cyber-attack that, if 
successful, could adversely affect our business and disrupt business continuity. 

We depend on our ability to process, record and monitor a large number of client transactions and to communicate with clients and 
other institutions on a continuous basis. Our clients depend on us for access to their assets and account information. As client, 
industry, public and regulatory expectations regarding operational and information security have increased, our operational systems 
and infrastructure continue to be safeguarded and monitored for potential failures, disruptions and breakdowns, whether as a result of 
events beyond our control or otherwise.  

Our online, business, financial, accounting, data processing, or other operating systems and facilities may stop operating properly or 
become disabled or damaged as a result of a number of factors, including events that are wholly or partially beyond our control. For 
example, there could be sudden increases in client transaction volume; electrical or telecommunications outages; natural disasters such 
as earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes; disease pandemics; events arising from local or larger scale political or social 
matters, including terrorist acts; occurrences of employee error, fraud, or malfeasance; and, as described below, cyber-attacks.  

Although we have response plans, business continuity plans and other safeguards in place, our operations and communications may be 
adversely affected by significant and widespread disruption to our systems and infrastructure that support our businesses and clients. 
While we continue to evolve and modify our response and business continuity plans, there can be no assurance in an escalating threat 
environment that they will be effective in avoiding disruption and business impacts. Our insurance may not be adequate to compensate 
us for all resulting losses, and the cost to obtain adequate coverage may increase for us or the industry. 

Security risks for financial institutions such as ours have dramatically increased in recent years, in part because of the proliferation of 
new technologies, the use of the internet and telecommunications technologies to conduct financial transactions, and the increased 
sophistication, resources and activities of hackers, terrorists, activists, organized crime, and other external parties, including nation 
state actors. In addition, clients may use devices or software to access our products and services that are beyond our control 
environment, which may provide additional avenues for attackers to gain access to confidential information. Although we have 
information security procedures and controls in place, certain of our technologies, systems, networks, and clients’ devices and 
software have in the past and in the future likely will continue to be the target of cyber-attacks or information security breaches that 
could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, use, loss, change or destruction of our or our clients’ confidential, 
proprietary and other information (including personal identifying information of individuals), or otherwise disrupt our or our clients’ 
or other third parties’ business operations. Further, U.S. financial institutions and financial services companies will continue to face 
breaches in security of their websites or other systems, including attempts to shut down access to their networks and systems in an 
attempt to extract compensation from them to regain control. Financial institutions have also experienced, and will continue to be the 
target of, distributed denial-of-service attacks, a sophisticated and targeted attack intended to disable or degrade internet service or to 
sabotage systems.  

We and others in our industry are, and will continue to be, regularly the subject of attempts by attackers to gain unauthorized access to 
our networks, systems, data and other infrastructure, or to obtain, change, or destroy confidential data (including personal identifying 
information of individuals) through a variety of means, including computer hacking, acts of vandalism or theft, malware, computer 
viruses or other malicious codes, phishing, employee error or malfeasance, catastrophes, unforeseen events or other cyber-attacks. In 
the future, these attacks may result in unauthorized individuals obtaining access to our confidential information or that of our clients, 
or otherwise accessing, damaging, or disrupting our systems or infrastructure. 

To date, we have seen no material impact on our business or operations from cyber attacks or events. Any future significant 
compromise or breach of our data security, whether external or internal, or misuse of customer, associate, supplier or Company data, 
could result in significant disruption of our operations, reimbursement and other costs, lost sales, fines, lawsuits and other legal 
exposure, a loss of trust in us on the part of our clients, vendors or other counterparties, client attrition and damage to our reputation. 
Any of these could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, our financial condition, and/or our share price. However, 
the ever-evolving threats mean we and our third-party service providers and vendors must continually evaluate and adapt our 
respective systems and processes and overall security environment, as well as those of any companies we acquire. We are 
continuously enhancing our controls, processes and practices designed to protect our networks, systems, data and other infrastructure 
from attack, damage or unauthorized access. This continued enhancement will require us to expend additional resources, including to 
investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities that may be detected. Despite our ongoing investments in security 
resources, talent, and business practices, there is no guarantee that these measures will be adequate to safeguard against all data 
security breaches, system compromises or misuses of data. 

We, or third-parties from whom we license critical information technology systems, may be alleged to have infringed upon 
intellectual property rights owned by others. 

Competitors or other third parties may allege that we, or consultants or other third parties retained or indemnified by us or from whom 
we license critical information technology systems, infringe on their intellectual property rights. Given the complex, rapidly changing 
and competitive technological and business environment in which we operate, and the potential risks and uncertainties of intellectual 
property-related litigation, an assertion of an infringement claim against us or our vendors may cause us to spend significant amounts 

24 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
to defend the claim (even if we ultimately prevail); to pay significant money damages; to lose significant revenues; to be prohibited 
from using the relevant systems, processes, technologies or other intellectual property; to cease offering certain products or services or 
to incur significant license, royalty or technology development expenses. Moreover, it has become common in recent years for 
individuals and groups to purchase intellectual property assets for the sole purpose of making claims of infringement and attempting to 
extract settlements from companies like ours. Even in instances where we believe that claims and allegations of intellectual property 
infringement against us are without merit, defending against such claims is time consuming and expensive and could result in the 
diversion of time and attention of our management and employees. In addition, although in some cases a third party may have agreed 
to indemnify us for such costs, such indemnifying party may refuse, or be unable, to uphold its contractual obligations. 

We must attract and retain skilled personnel.  

Our success depends, in substantial part, on our ability to attract and retain skilled, experienced personnel in key positions within the 
organization. Competition for qualified candidates in the activities and markets that we serve is intense. If we are not able to hire or 
retain these key individuals, we may be unable to execute our business strategies and may suffer adverse consequences to our 
business, financial condition and results of operations.  

If we are unable to attract and retain qualified employees, or do so at rates insufficient to maintain our competitive position, or if 
compensation costs required to attract and retain employees increase materially, our business and results of operations could be 
materially adversely affected.  

Natural and man-made disasters could affect our ability to operate.  

Our market areas are susceptible to hurricanes. Natural disasters, such as hurricanes and flooding and man-made disasters, such as oil 
spills in the Gulf of Mexico, can disrupt our operations; result in significant damage to our properties or properties and businesses of 
our borrowers, including property pledged as collateral; interrupt our ability to conduct business; and negatively affect the local 
economies in which we operate.  

We cannot predict whether or to what extent damage caused by future hurricanes and other disasters will affect our operations or the 
economies in our market areas, but such events could cause a decline in loan originations, a decline in the value or destruction of 
properties securing the loans and an increase in the risk of delinquencies, foreclosures or loan losses. Climate change may be 
increasing the nature, severity and frequency of adverse weather conditions, making the impact from these types of natural disasters 
on us or our customers worse. 

We rely on the existence of, and ability of private and public insurance programs to provide coverage for these types of events. The 
unavailability of these types of coverage or the inability of these entities to perform could have a materially adverse impact on our 
operations.  

Societal responses to climate change could adversely affect our business and performance, including indirectly through impacts on 
our customers. 

Concerns over the long-term impacts of climate change have led and will continue to lead to governmental efforts around the world to 
mitigate those impacts. Consumers and businesses also may change their behavior on their own as a result of these concerns. The 
Company and its customers will need to respond to new laws and regulations as well as consumer and business preferences resulting 
from climate change concerns. We and our customers may face cost increases, asset value reductions, operating process changes, and 
the like. The impact on our customers will likely vary depending on their specific attributes, including reliance on or role in carbon 
intensive activities. Among the impacts to the Company could be a drop in demand for our products and services, particularly in 
certain sectors. In addition, we could face reductions in creditworthiness on the part of some customers or in the value of assets 
securing loans. Our efforts to take these risks into account may not be effective in protecting us from the negative impact of new laws 
and regulations or changes in consumer or business behavior. 

We are exposed to reputational risk.  

Negative public opinion can result from our actual or alleged improper activities, such as lending practices, data security breaches, 
corporate governance policies and decisions, and acquisitions, any of which may damage our reputation. Negative public opinion can 
also result from action or inaction related to environmental, social and corporate governance matters. Additionally, actions taken by 
government regulators and community organizations may also damage our reputation. Negative public opinion could adversely affect 
our ability to attract and retain customers or expose us to litigation and regulatory action.  

25 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Employee misconduct could expose us to significant legal liability and reputational harm. 

We are vulnerable to reputational harm because we operate in an industry in which integrity and the confidence of our customers are 
of critical importance. Our employees could engage in fraudulent, illegal, wrongful or suspicious activities, and/or activities resulting 
in consumer harm that adversely affects our customers and/or our business. The precautions we take to detect and prevent such 
misconduct may not always be effective and regulatory sanctions and/or penalties, serious harm to our reputation, financial condition, 
customer relationships and ability to attract new customers. In addition, improper use or disclosure of confidential information by our 
employees, even if inadvertent, could result in serious harm to our reputation, financial condition and current and future business 
relationships. The precautions we take to detect and prevent such misconduct may not always be effective. 

Returns on pension plan assets may not be adequate to cover future funding requirements.  

Investments in the portfolio of our defined benefit pension plan may not provide adequate returns to fully fund benefits as they come 
due, thus causing higher annual plan expenses and requiring additional contributions by us to the defined benefit pension plan.  

The value of our goodwill and other intangible assets may decline in the future.  

A significant decline in our expected future cash flows, a significant adverse change in the business climate, slower growth rates or a 
significant and sustained decline in the price of our common stock may necessitate our taking charges in the future to reflect an 
impairment of our goodwill. Future regulatory actions could also have a material impact on assessments of goodwill for impairment.  

Adverse events or circumstances could impact the recoverability of our intangible assets including significant loss of core deposits, 
customer relationships acquired in our trust and asset management transaction, losses of acquired credit card accounts and/or balances, 
increased competition or adverse changes in the economy. To the extent these intangible assets are deemed unrecoverable, a non-cash 
impairment charge would be recorded. While an impairment charge does not impact regulatory capital, it could have a material 
adverse effect on our results of operations.  

Risks Related to Our Business Strategy  

We are subject to industry competition which may have an impact upon our success.  

Our profitability depends on our ability to compete successfully in a highly competitive market for banking and financial services, and 
we expect such challenges to continue. Certain of our competitors are larger and have more resources than we do. We face 
competition in our regional market areas from other commercial banks, savings associations, credit unions, mortgage banking firms, 
securities brokerage firms, mutual funds and insurance companies, and other financial institutions that offer similar services. Some of 
our nonbank competitors are not subject to the same extensive supervision and regulation to which we or the Bank are subject, and 
may accordingly have greater flexibility in competing for business. Over time, certain sectors of the financial services industry have 
become more concentrated, as institutions involved in a broad range of financial services have been acquired by other firms. These 
developments could result in our competitors gaining greater capital and other resources, or being able to offer a broader range of 
products and services with more geographic range.  

Another competitive factor is that the financial services market, including banking services, is undergoing rapid changes with frequent 
introductions of new technology-driven products and services. Our future success may depend, in part, on our ability to use 
technology competitively to offer products and services that provide convenience to customers and create additional efficiencies in our 
operations. The widespread adoption of new technologies has and will continue to require us to make substantial capital expenditures 
to modify or adapt our systems to remain competitive and offer new products and services. Our ability to effectively implement new 
technologies to improve our operations and systems will impact our competitive position in the financial services industry. 
Furthermore, we may not be successful in introducing new products and services in response to industry trends or developments in 
technology, or those new products may not be accepted by customers.  

If we are unable to successfully compete for new customers and to retain our current customers, our business, financial condition or 
results of operations may also be adversely affected, perhaps materially. In particular, if we experience an outflow of deposits as a 
result of our customers desiring to do business with our competitors, we may be forced to rely more heavily on borrowings and other 
sources of funding to operate our business and meet withdrawal demands, thereby adversely affecting our net interest margin.  

The implementation of other new lines of business or new products and services may subject us to additional risk. 

We continuously evaluate our service offerings and may implement new lines of business or offer new products and services within 
existing lines of business in the future. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts.  In developing and 
marketing new lines of business and/or new products and services, we undergo a new product process to assess the risks of the 
initiative, and invest significant time and resources to build internal controls, policies and procedures to mitigate those risks, including 
hiring experienced management to oversee the implementation of the initiative.  Initial timetables for the introduction and 
development of new lines of business and/or new products or services may not be achieved and price and profitability targets may not 

26 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
prove feasible. External factors, such as compliance with regulations, competitive alternatives, and shifting market preferences, may 
also impact the successful implementation of a new line of business and/or a new product or service. Furthermore, any new line of 
business and/or new product or service could require the establishment of new key and other controls and have a significant impact on 
our existing system of internal controls. Failure to successfully manage these risks in the development and implementation of new 
lines of business and/or new products or services could have a material adverse effect on our business and, in turn, our financial 
condition and results of operations. 

Our future growth and financial performance may be negatively affected if we are unable to successfully execute our growth 
plans, which may include acquisitions and de novo branching.  

We may not be able to continue our organic, or internal, growth, which depends upon economic conditions, our ability to identify 
appropriate markets for expansion, our ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel, our ability to fund growth at a reasonable cost, 
sufficient capital to support our growth initiatives, competitive factors, banking laws, and other factors.  

We may seek to supplement our internal growth through acquisitions. We cannot predict the number, size or timing of acquisitions, or 
whether any such acquisition will occur at all. Our acquisition efforts have traditionally focused on targeted banking entities in 
markets in which we currently operate and markets in which we believe we can compete effectively. However, as consolidation of the 
financial services industry continues, the competition for suitable acquisition candidates may increase and, as the number of 
appropriate targets decreases, the prices for potential acquisitions could increase which could reduce our potential returns, and reduce 
the attractiveness of these opportunities to us. We may compete with other financial services companies for acquisition opportunities, 
and many of these competitors have greater financial resources than we do and may be able to pay more for an acquisition than we are 
able or willing to pay.  

We also may be required to use a substantial amount of our available cash and other liquid assets, or seek additional debt or equity 
financing, to fund future acquisitions. Such events could make us more susceptible to economic downturns and competitive pressures, 
and additional debt service requirements may impose a significant burden on our results of operations and financial condition. If we 
are unable to locate suitable acquisition candidates willing to sell on terms acceptable to us, or we are otherwise unable to obtain 
additional debt or equity financing necessary for us to continue making acquisitions, we would be required to find other methods to 
grow our business and we may not grow at the same rate we have in the past, or at all.  

We must generally satisfy several conditions, including receiving federal regulatory approval, in order execute most acquisition 
transactions. In determining whether to approve a proposed bank acquisition, federal bank regulators will consider, among other 
factors, the effect of the acquisition on competition, financial condition, and future prospects. The regulators also review current and 
projected capital ratios and levels; the competence, experience, and integrity of management and its record of compliance with laws 
and regulations; the convenience and needs of the communities to be served (including the acquiring institution’s record of 
compliance under the Community Reinvestment Act) and the effectiveness of the acquiring institution in combating money laundering 
activities. We cannot be certain when or if, or on what terms and conditions, any required regulatory approvals will be granted. We 
may also be required to sell banks or branches as a condition to receiving regulatory approval, which condition may not be acceptable 
to us or, if acceptable to us, may reduce the benefit of any acquisition. Additionally, federal and/or state regulators may charge us with 
regulatory and compliance failures of an acquired business that occurred prior to the date of acquisition, and such failures may result 
in the imposition of formal or informal enforcement actions.  

We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully consolidate any business or assets we acquire with our existing business. 
The integration of acquired operations and assets may require substantial management effort, time and resources and may divert 
management’s focus from other strategic opportunities and operational matters. Acquisitions may not perform as expected when the 
transaction was consummated and may be dilutive to our overall operating results and stockholders’ equity per share of common 
stock. Specifically, acquisitions could result in higher than expected deposit attrition, loss of key employees or other consequences 
that could adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with customers and employees. We may also sell or consider selling 
one or more of our businesses. Such a sale would generally be subject to certain federal and/or state regulatory approvals, and may not 
be able to generate gains on sale or related increases in shareholder’s equity commensurate with desirable levels.  

In addition to the acquisition of existing financial institutions, as opportunities arise, we may explore de novo branching as a part of 
our internal growth strategy and possibly enter into new markets through de novo branching. De novo branching and any acquisition 
carry numerous risks, including the following:  

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

the inability to obtain all required regulatory approvals;  

significant costs and anticipated operating losses associated with establishing a de novo branch or a new bank;  

the inability to secure the services of qualified senior management;  

the failure of the local market to accept the services of a new bank owned and managed by a bank holding company 
headquartered outside of the market area of the new bank;  

economic downturns in the new market;  

the inability to obtain attractive locations within a new market at a reasonable cost; and  

the additional strain on management resources and internal systems and controls. 

27 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We have experienced, to some extent, many of these risks with our de novo branching to date.  

Changes in retail distribution strategies and consumer behavior may adversely impact our investments in bank premises, 
equipment, technology and other assets and may lead to increased expenditures to change our retail distribution channel.  

We have significant investments in bank premises and equipment for our branch network.  Advances in technology such as e-
commerce, telephone, internet and mobile banking, and in-branch self-service technologies including automated teller machines and 
other equipment, as well as an increasing customer preference for these other methods of accessing our products and services, could 
decrease the value of our branch network, technology, or other retail distribution physical assets and may cause us to change our retail 
distribution strategy, close and/or sell certain branches or parcels of land held for development and restructure or reduce our remaining 
branches and work force. These actions could lead to losses on these assets or could adversely impact the carrying value of any long-
lived assets and may lead to increased expenditures to renovate, reconfigure or close a number of our remaining branches or to 
otherwise reform our retail distribution channel.  

Risks Related to the Legal and Regulatory Environment  

We are subject to regulation by various federal and state entities.  

We are subject to the regulations of the Commission, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the CFPB and the MDBCF. New regulations 
issued by these or other agencies may adversely affect our ability to carry on our business activities. We are subject to various federal 
and state laws, and certain changes in these laws and regulations may adversely affect our operations. Other than the federal securities 
laws, the laws and regulations governing our business are intended primarily for the protection of our depositors, our customers, the 
financial system and the FDIC insurance fund, not our shareholders or other creditors. Further, we must obtain approval from our 
regulators before engaging in certain activities, and our regulators have the ability to compel us to, or restrict us from, taking certain 
actions entirely, such as increasing dividends, entering into merger or acquisition transactions, acquiring or establishing new branches, 
and entering into certain new businesses. Noncompliance with certain of these regulations may impact our business plans, including 
our ability to branch, offer certain products, or execute existing or planned business strategies.  

For additional information regarding laws and regulations to which our business is subject, see “Supervision and Regulation.”  

Any of the laws or regulations to which we are subject, including tax laws, regulations or their interpretations, may be modified or 
changed from time to time, and we cannot be assured that such modifications or changes will not adversely affect us. Failure to 
appropriately comply with any such laws or regulations could result in sanctions by regulatory authorities, civil monetary penalties or 
damage to our reputation, all of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.  

In addition, as the regulatory environment related to information security, data collection and use, and privacy becomes increasingly 
rigorous, with new and constantly changing requirements applicable to our business, compliance with those requirements could also 
result in additional costs. 

Changes in accounting policies or in accounting standards could materially affect how we report our financial condition and 
results of operations.  

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), 
including the accounting rules and regulations of the Commission and the FASB, requires management to make significant estimates 
and assumptions that impact our financial statements by affecting the value of our assets or liabilities and results of operations. Some 
of our accounting policies are critical because they require management to make difficult, subjective and complex judgments about 
matters that are inherently uncertain and because materially different amounts may be reported if different estimates or assumptions 
are used. If such estimates or assumptions underlying our financial statements are incorrect, our financial condition and results of 
operations could be adversely affected.  

From time to time, the FASB and the Commission change the financial accounting and reporting standards or the interpretation of 
such standards that govern the preparation of our external financial statements. These changes are beyond our control, can be difficult 
to predict, may require extraordinary efforts or additional costs to implement and could materially impact how we report our financial 
condition and results of operations. Additionally, we may be required to apply a new or revised standard retrospectively, resulting in 
the restatement of prior period financial statements in material amounts.  

We and other financial institutions have been the subject of litigation, investigations and other proceedings which could result in 
legal liability and damage to our reputation.  

We and certain of our directors, officers and subsidiaries may be named from time to time as defendants in various class actions and 
other litigation relating to our business and activities. Past, present and future litigation has included or could include claims for 
substantial compensatory and/or punitive damages or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages. We are also involved from time 
to time in other reviews, investigations and proceedings (both formal and informal) by governmental, law enforcement and self-
regulatory agencies regarding our business. These matters could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions, 
amendments and/or restatements of our Commission filings and/or financial statements, determinations of material weaknesses in our 

28 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclosure controls and procedures or other relief. Substantial legal liability or significant regulatory action against us, as well as 
matters in which we are involved that are ultimately determined in our favor, could materially adversely affect our business, financial 
condition or results of operations, cause significant reputational harm to our business, divert management attention from the operation 
of our business and/or result in additional litigation.  

In addition, in recent years, a number of judicial decisions have upheld the right of borrowers to sue lending institutions on the basis of 
various evolving legal theories, collectively termed “lender liability.” Generally, lender liability is founded on the premise that a 
lender has either violated a duty, whether implied or contractual, of good faith and fair dealing owed to the borrower or has assumed a 
degree of control over the borrower resulting in the creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the borrower or its other creditors or 
shareholders. We have been and in the future could become subject to claims based on this or other evolving legal theories.  

Risks Related to Our Common Stock  

Future issuances of equity securities could dilute the interests of holders of our common stock, and our common stock ranks 
junior to indebtedness.  

Our common stock ranks junior to all of our existing and future indebtedness with respect to distributions and liquidation. In addition, 
future issuances of equity securities, including pursuant to outstanding options, could dilute the interests of our existing shareholders, 
including you, and could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. Moreover, to the extent that we issue restricted stock 
units, phantom shares, stock appreciation rights, options or warrants to purchase our common stock in the future and those stock 
appreciation rights, options or warrants are exercised or as the restricted stock units vest, our shareholders may experience further 
dilution.  

Holders of our shares of common stock do not have preemptive rights. Additionally, sales of a substantial number of shares of our 
common stock in the public markets and the availability of those shares for sale could adversely affect the market price of our 
common stock.  

Our ability to deliver and pay dividends depends primarily upon the results of operations of our subsidiary Bank, and we may not 
pay, or be permitted to pay, dividends in the future.  

We are a bank holding company that conducts substantially all of our operations through our subsidiary Bank. As a result, our ability 
to make dividend payments on our common stock will depend primarily upon the receipt of dividends and other distributions from the 
Bank.  

The ability of the Bank to pay dividends or make other payments to us, as well as our ability to pay dividends on our common stock, is 
limited by the Bank’s obligation to maintain sufficient capital and by other general regulatory restrictions on its dividends, which have 
tightened since the financial crisis. The Federal Reserve has stated that bank holding companies should not pay dividends from 
sources other than current earnings. If these requirements are not satisfied, we will be unable to pay dividends on our common stock.  

We may also decide to limit the payment of dividends even when we have the legal ability to pay them in order to retain earnings for 
use in our business, which could adversely affect the market value of our common stock. There can be no assurance of whether or 
when we may pay dividends in the future.  

Mississippi law, and anti-takeover provisions in our amended articles of incorporation and bylaws could make a third-party 
acquisition of us difficult and may adversely affect share value.  

Our amended articles of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us (even if 
doing so might be beneficial to our shareholders) and for holders of our securities to receive any related takeover premium for their 
securities.  

We are also subject to certain provisions of state and federal law and our articles of incorporation that may make it more difficult for 
someone to acquire control of us. Under federal law, subject to certain exemptions, a person, entity, or group must notify the federal 
banking agencies before acquiring 10% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a bank holding company, including shares of our 
common stock. Banking agencies review the acquisition to determine if it will result in a change of control. The banking agencies 
have 60 days to act on the notice, and take into account several factors, including the resources of the acquirer and the antitrust effects 
of the acquisition. Additionally, a bank holding company must obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before, among other 
things, acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any bank. There are also Mississippi 
statutory provisions and provisions in our articles of incorporation that may be used to delay or block a takeover attempt. As a result, 
these statutory provisions and provisions in our articles of incorporation could result in our being less attractive to a potential acquirer 
and limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.  

29 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares of our common stock are not insured deposits and may lose value.  

Shares of our common stock are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any depository institution and are not insured or 
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other governmental agency or instrumentality, any other deposit insurance fund or by any other public 
or private entity, and are subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of principal. 

Securities analysts might not continue coverage on our common stock, which could adversely affect the market for our common 
stock. 

The trading price of our common stock depends in part on the research and reports that securities analysts publish about us and our 
business.  We do not have any control over these analysts, and they may not continue to cover our common stock.  If securities 
analysts do not continue to cover our common stock, the lack of research coverage may adversely affect the market price of our 
common stock.  If securities analysts continue to cover our common stock, and our common stock is the subject of an unfavorable 
report, the price of our common stock may decline.   If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or fail to publish regular reports 
on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause the price or trading volume of our common stock to decline. 

ITEM 1B.     UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS 

None.  

ITEM 2.     PROPERTIES 

The Company’s main office, which is the headquarters of the holding company, is located at Hancock Whitney Plaza, in Gulfport, 
Mississippi. The Bank makes portions of their main office facilities and certain other facilities available for lease to third parties, 
although such incidental leasing activity is not material to the Company’s overall operations.  

The Company operates 217 full service banking and financial services offices and 288 automated teller machines across our market, 
primarily in the Gulf south corridor, including southern Mississippi; southern and central Alabama; southern, central and northwest 
Louisiana; the northern, central, and panhandle regions of Florida; and certain areas of east Texas, including Houston, Beaumont and 
Dallas, among others. Additionally, the Company operates a loan production office in Nashville, Tennessee and five trust and asset 
management offices in New York, New Jersey, Mississippi and Texas. The Company owns approximately 48% of these facilities, and 
the remaining banking facilities are subject to leases, each of which we consider reasonable and appropriate for its location. We ensure 
that all properties, whether owned or leased, are maintained in suitable condition. We also evaluate our banking facilities on an 
ongoing basis to identify possible under-utilization and to determine the need for functional improvements, relocations, closures or 
possible sales. The Bank and subsidiaries of the Bank hold a variety of property interests acquired in settlement of loans. Some of 
these properties were acquired in transactions before 1979 and are carried at nominal amounts on our balance sheet and reflected a net 
gain of $0.1 million in our operating results in 2019.  

ITEM 3.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 

We and our subsidiaries are party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that loss 
contingencies, if any, arising from pending litigation and regulatory matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated 
financial position or liquidity.  

ITEM 4.     MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 

Not applicable.  

30 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 5.       MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND 

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES  

PART II 

Market Information  

The Company’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “HWC.” There were 8,754 
active holders of record of the Company’s common stock at January 31, 2020 and 87,236,434 shares outstanding.  

Stock Performance Graph  

The following performance graph and related information are neither “soliciting material” nor “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such 
information be incorporated by reference into any future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934, each as amended, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into such filing.  

The performance graph compares the cumulative five-year shareholder return on the Company’s common stock, assuming an 
investment of $100 on December 31, 2014 and the reinvestment of dividends thereafter, to that of the common stocks of United States 
companies reported in the Nasdaq Total Return Index and the common stocks of the KBW Regional Banks Total Return Index. The 
KBW Regional Banks Total Return Index is a proprietary stock index of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., that tracks the returns of 50 
regional banking companies throughout the United States.  

(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:19)

(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:19)

(cid:20)(cid:24)(cid:19)

(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)

(cid:24)(cid:19)

(cid:19)
(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:23)

(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:24)

(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:25)

(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:26)

(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:27)

(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:28)

Hancock Whitney Corporation

KBW Regional Banks Index

NASDAQ Composite-Total Return

31 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity Compensation Plan Information 

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2019 with respect to shares of common stock that may be issued under 
the Company’s equity compensation plans.  

Plan Category 

Equity compensation plans approved by 
   security holders 
Equity compensation plans not approved by 
   security holders 
Total 

Number of Securities to 
be Issued Upon Exercise 
of Outstanding Options, 
Warrants and Rights 
(a) 

Weighted-
Average Exercise 
Price of Outstanding 
Options, Warrants 
and Rights 
(b) 

Number of Securities 
Remaining Available for 
Future Issuance Under 
Equity Compensation Plans 
(Excluding Securities 
Reflected in Column (a)) 
(c) 

214,006   (1)    $   

6,891   (3)         

220,897     

30.84   (2) 

46.04   (3) 

399,831   

—   
399,831   

(1)(cid:3)

(2)(cid:3)

(3)(cid:3)

Includes 67,426 shares potentially issuable upon the vesting of outstanding restricted share units and 11,826 shares potentially issuable upon the vesting of 
outstanding performance share units that represent awards deferred into the Company’s Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan. Also includes 113,100 
performance share awards at 100% of target. If the highest level of performance conditions is met, the total performance shares issued would be 220,700 and the 
total performance share units issued would be 23,652.  

The weighted average exercise price relates only to the exercise of outstanding options included in column (a)  

Represents securities to be issued upon the exercise of options that were assumed by the Company in the acquisition of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities  

On September 23, 2019, the Company’s board of directors approved a new stock buyback program that authorizes the Company to 
repurchase up to 5.5 million shares of our common stock through the expiration date of December 31, 2020. The program allows the 
Company to repurchase its common shares in the open market, by block purchase, through accelerated share repurchase programs, in 
privately negotiated transactions, or as otherwise determined by the Company in one or more transactions. The Company is not 
obligated to purchase any shares under this program, and the board of directors may terminate or amend the program at any time prior 
to the expiration date.  

On October 18, 2019, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC 
(“Morgan Stanley”) to repurchase $185 million of the Company’s common stock. Pursuant to the ASR agreement, the Company made 
a $185 million payment to Morgan Stanley on October 21, 2019, and received from Morgan Stanley an initial delivery of 
approximately 3.6 million shares of our common stock, which represented 75% of the estimated total number of shares to be 
repurchased based on the October 18, 2019 closing price of our common stock. The final number of shares to be repurchased will be 
based generally on the volume-weighted average price per share of common stock during the term of the ASR agreement, less a 
discount, and subject to possible adjustments in accordance with the terms of the ASR agreement. Final settlement of the ASR 
agreement is scheduled to occur no later than the third quarter of 2020. 

Under a prior Board approved stock buyback program in place from May 2018 to September 2019, the Company repurchased 200,000 
shares of its common stock at an average price of $41.30 per share. 

Common stock repurchase activity during the fourth quarter of 2019 was as follows: 

Oct 1, 2019 - Oct 31, 2019 
Nov 1, 2019 - Nov 30, 2019 
Dec 1, 2019 - Dec 31, 2019 
Total 

Total Number of 
Shares of Units 
Purchased 

Average Price Paid 
Per Share 

Total Number of 
Shares Purchased as 
a Part of Publicly 
Announced Plans 
or Programs 

Maximum Number 
of Shares That May 
Yet Be Purchased 
Under Plans or 
Programs 

3,611,870      $   
—           
—           
3,611,870      $   

38.42        
—        
—        
38.42        

3,611,870        
—        
—        
3,611,870        

1,888,130   
1,888,130   
1,888,130   

32 

 
  
  
 
  
  
     
  
     
  
  
  
     
  
     
  
  
     
   
     
   
     
          
    
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
     
     
     
  
     
     
     
     
   
 
ITEM 6.       SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 

The following tables set forth certain selected historical consolidated financial data and should be read in conjunction with Item 7. 
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial 
Statements and Notes thereto included in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”  An overview of non-GAAP 
measures and the reasons why management believes they are useful is included in Item 7. “Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.” 
Appear later in this item. 

(in thousands, except per share data) 
Income Statement: 
Interest income 
Interest income (te) (a) (b) 
Interest expense 
Net interest income (te) (a) (b) 
Provision for credit losses 
Noninterest income 
Noninterest expense 
Income before income taxes 
Income tax expense 
Net income 
For informational purposes only: 
Nonoperating items, pretax 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2017 

2016 

2018 

2015 

47,708           

   $    1,125,782      $    1,028,268      $    900,581      $    732,167      $    679,646   
         1,140,556            1,044,445            934,971            758,006            693,234   
         230,565            179,430            108,269           
54,472   
         909,991            865,015            826,702            684,955            638,762   
73,038   
         315,907            285,140            267,781            250,781            237,284   
         770,677            715,746            692,691            612,315            619,655   
         392,739            382,116            308,434            186,923            169,765   
38,304   
   $    327,380      $    323,770      $    215,632      $    149,296      $    131,461   

58,968            110,659           

36,116           

37,627           

73,051           

58,346           

65,359           

92,802           

Nonoperating noninterest (income) 
Merger-related costs 
Other nonoperating expense 
Impact of re-measurement of deferred tax asset (c)          

      $ 

—         $ 
32,666           
—           
—           

541         $ 
6,187           
22,756           
—           

(4,352 )       $ 
19,370           
9,103           
19,520           

—         $ 
—           
4,978           
—           

(333 ) 
—   
16,241   
—   

Common Share Data: 
Earnings per share: 

Basic earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share 

Cash dividends paid 
Book value per share (period-end) 
Tangible book value per share (period-end) 

      $ 

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)   

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)   

3.72         $ 
3.72   
1.08      (cid:3)(cid:3)   
39.62   
28.63   

3.72         $ 
3.72   
1.02      (cid:3)(cid:3)   
35.98   
25.62      (cid:3)(cid:3)   

2.49         $ 
2.48   
0.96      (cid:3)(cid:3)   
33.86   
24.05      (cid:3)(cid:3)   

1.87         $ 
1.87   
0.96   
32.29   
23.87   

1.64   
1.64   
0.96   
31.14   
21.74   

(a)(cid:3)

(b)(cid:3)

Interest income includes the net impact of discount accretion and premium amortization arising from business combinations totaling $23.2 million, $23.1 
million, $28.3 million, $19.3 million and $35.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  

For analytical purposes, management adjusts interest income and net interest income for tax-exempt items to a taxable equivalent basis using a federal income 
tax rate of 21% for the years 2019 and 2018 and 35% for all other periods presented.  

(c)(cid:3)

Income tax expense resulting from re-measurement of the net deferred tax asset following the enactment of the Tax Act. 

33 

 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
  
        
  
          
  
          
  
          
  
          
  
  
        
        
        
           
           
           
           
   
        
           
           
           
           
   
        
        
        
           
           
           
           
   
        
           
           
           
           
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
(in thousands) 
Period-End Balance Sheet Data: 
Total loans, net of unearned income (a) 
Loans held for sale 
Securities 
Short-term investments 
Total earning assets 
Allowance for loan losses 
Goodwill and other intangible assets 
Other assets 
Total assets 
Noninterest-bearing deposits 
Interest-bearing transaction and savings deposits 
Interest-bearing public fund deposits 
Time deposits 
Total interest-bearing deposits 
Total deposits 
Short-term borrowings 
Long-term debt 
Other liabilities 
Stockholders' equity 
Total liabilities & stockholders' equity 
Average Balance Sheet Data: 
Total loans, net of unearned income (a) 
Loans held for sale 
Securities (b) 
Short-term investments 
Total earning assets 
Allowance for loan losses 
Goodwill and other intangible assets 
Other assets 
Total assets 
Noninterest-bearing deposits 
Interest-bearing transaction and savings deposits 
Interest-bearing public fund deposits 
Time deposits 
Total  interest-bearing deposits 
Total deposits 
Short-term borrowings 
Long-term debt 
Other liabilities 
Stockholders' equity 
Total liabilities & stockholders' equity 

2019 

At and For the Years Ended December 31, 
2016 
2017 
2018 

2015 

55,864         

28,150         

34,064         

78,177         

39,865         

92,384         

110,229         

111,094         

(191,251 )       
962,260         

(194,514 )       
887,123         

(229,418 )       
708,950         

(217,308 )       
836,163         

  $   21,212,755     $   20,026,411     $   19,004,163     $   16,752,151     $   15,703,314   
20,434   
       6,243,313          5,670,584          5,888,380          5,017,128          4,463,792   
565,555   
      27,622,161         25,836,239         25,024,792         21,881,520         20,753,095   
(181,179 ) 
728,731   
       2,207,587          1,707,059          1,692,439          1,614,250          1,532,958   
  $   30,600,757     $   28,235,907     $   27,336,086     $   23,975,302     $   22,833,605   
  $    8,775,632     $    8,499,027     $    8,307,497     $    7,658,203     $    7,276,127   
       8,845,097          8,000,093          8,181,554          6,910,466          6,767,881   
       3,364,416          3,006,516          3,040,318          2,563,758          2,253,645   
       2,818,430          3,644,549          2,723,833          2,291,839          2,051,259   
      15,027,943         14,651,158         13,945,705         11,766,063         11,072,785   
      23,803,575         23,150,185         22,253,202         19,424,266         18,348,912   
       2,714,872          1,589,128          1,703,890          1,225,406          1,423,644   
490,145   
157,761   
       3,467,685          3,081,340          2,884,949          2,719,768          2,413,143   
  $   30,600,757     $   28,235,907     $   27,336,086     $   23,975,302     $   22,833,605   

436,280         
169,582         

305,513         
188,532         

224,993         
190,261         

233,462         
381,163         

41,680         

25,710         

28,777         

21,920         

190,965         

163,287         

363,077         

380,294         

(196,125 )       
906,775         

(214,452 )       
859,498         

(217,550 )       
718,592         

(223,416 )       
806,900         

  $   20,380,027     $   19,378,428     $   18,280,885     $   16,064,593     $   14,433,367   
18,101   
       5,864,228          6,020,947          5,442,829          4,706,482          4,208,195   
513,659   
      26,476,900         25,588,372         24,108,711         21,180,146         19,173,322   
(133,470 ) 
740,666   
       1,937,899          1,522,390          1,548,556          1,497,445          1,464,502   
  $   29,125,449     $   27,755,808     $   26,240,751     $   23,178,633     $   21,245,020   
  $    8,255,859     $    8,095,256     $    7,777,652     $    7,232,221     $    6,195,234   
       8,274,604          7,946,765          7,746,220          6,772,364          6,877,394   
       3,078,073          2,849,297          2,664,929          2,261,659          1,844,802   
       3,690,768          3,275,680          2,642,781          2,390,081          2,207,359   
      15,043,445         14,071,742         13,053,930         11,424,104         10,929,555   
      23,299,304         22,166,998         20,831,582         18,656,325         17,124,789   
       1,942,144          2,190,772          2,006,896          1,412,194          1,025,133   
478,078   
174,233   
       3,302,696          2,932,263          2,806,868          2,463,067          2,442,787   
  $   29,125,449     $   27,755,808     $   26,240,751     $   23,178,633     $   21,245,020   

469,064         
177,983         

384,127         
211,278         

266,870         
198,905         

233,539         
347,766         

(a)(cid:3)

(b)(cid:3)

Includes nonaccrual loans.  

Average securities does not include unrealized holding gains/losses on available for sale securities. 

34 

 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
  
      
  
         
  
         
  
         
  
         
  
  
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
          
          
          
          
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
 
($ in thousands) 
Performance Ratios: 
Return on average assets 
Return on average common equity 
Return on average tangible common equity 
Earning asset yield (te) 
Total cost of funds 
Net interest margin (te) 
Noninterest income to total revenue (te) 
Efficiency ratio (a) 
Average loan/deposit ratio 
FTE employees (period-end) 
Capital Ratios: 
Common stockholders' equity to total assets 
Tangible common equity ratio (b) 
Tier 1 leverage 
Tier 1 risk-based capital 
Total risk-based capital 

Asset Quality Information: 
Nonaccrual loans (c) 
Restructured loans – still accruing 
Total nonperforming loans 
Other real estate (ORE) and foreclosed assets 
Total nonperforming assets 
Accruing loans 90 days past due (d) 
Net charge-offs 
Allowance for loan losses 
Reserve for unfunded commitments 
Allowance for credit losses 
Total provision for credit losses 
Ratios: 
Nonperforming assets to loans + ORE 
   and foreclosed assets 
Accruing loans 90 days past due as a percent of 
loans 

Nonperforming assets + accruing loans 90 days 
past due to loans + foreclosed assets 

Net charge-offs to average loans 
Allowance for loan losses to period-end loans 
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans 
   and accruing loans 90 days past due 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2017 

2016 

2018 

2015 

1.12 %       
9.91 %       
13.66 %       
4.31 %       
0.87 %       
3.44 %       
25.77 %       
58.50 %       
87.47 %       
4,136          

11.33 %       
8.45 %       
8.76 %       
10.50 %       
11.90 %       

1.17 %       
11.04 %       
15.62 %       
4.08 %       
0.70 %       
3.38 %       
24.79 %       
57.77 %       
87.42 %       
3,933          

10.91 %       
8.02 %       
8.67 %       
10.48 %       
11.99 %       

0.82 %       
7.68 %       
10.78 %       
3.88 %       
0.45 %       
3.43 %       
24.47 %       
58.87 %       
87.76 %       
3,887          

10.55 %       
7.73 %       
8.43 %       
10.21 %       
11.90 %       

0.64 %       
6.06 %       
8.56 %       
3.58 %       
0.34 %       
3.23 %       
26.80 %       
62.79 %       
86.11 %       
3,724          

11.34 %       
8.64 %       
9.56 %       
11.26 %       
13.21 %       

0.62 % 
5.38 % 
7.72 % 
3.62 % 
0.28 % 
3.33 % 
27.09 % 
66.12 % 
84.28 % 
3,921   

10.57 % 
7.62 % 
8.55 % 
9.96 % 
11.86 % 

39,818          

26,270          

30,405          

61,265           139,042           120,493          

  $    245,833      $    187,295      $    252,800      $    317,970      $    159,713   
4,297   
       307,098           326,337           373,293           357,788           164,010   
27,133   
  $    337,503      $    352,607      $    400,835      $    376,731      $    191,143   
6,582   
7,653   
  $   
 $   
 $   
  $   
17,821   
46,997   
 $    181,179   
  $    191,251   
—   
3,974   
 $    181,179   
  $    195,225   
73,038   
  $   

3,039   
 $   
 $   
58,463   
 $    229,418   
—   
 $    229,418   

5,589   
 $   
 $   
52,262   
 $    194,514   
—   
 $    194,514   

27,766   
 $   
 $   
68,552   
 $    217,308   
—   
 $    217,308   

58,968      $    110,659      $   

27,542          

36,116      $   

47,708      $   

18,943          

1.59 %       

1.76 %       

2.11 %       

2.25 %       

1.22 % 

0.03 %       

0.03 %       

0.15 %       

0.02 %       

0.05 % 

1.62 %       
0.23 %       
0.90 %       

1.79 %       
0.27 %       
0.97 %       

2.25 %       
0.38 %       
1.14 %       

2.26 %       
0.37 %       
1.37 %       

1.26 % 
0.11 % 
1.15 % 

60.97 %       

58.60 %       

54.18 %       

63.58 %       

105.54 % 

(a)(cid:3)

(b)(cid:3)

(c)(cid:3)

The efficiency ratio is noninterest expense to total net interest (te) and noninterest income, excluding amortization of purchased intangibles and nonoperating 
items. 

The tangible common equity ratio is common shareholders’ equity less intangible assets divided by total assets less intangible assets. 

Included in nonaccrual loans are $132.5 million, $85.5 million, $99.2 million, $81.9 million and $8.8 million of nonaccruing restructured loans at December 31, 
2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Nonaccrual loans and accruing loans past due 90 days or more do not include purchased credit impaired loans, 
which were written down to fair value upon acquisition and accrete interest income over the remaining life of the loan.   

(d)(cid:3)

Excludes 90+ accruing troubled debt restructured loans already reflected in total nonperforming loans of $8.7 million at December 31, 2018.  

35 

 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
      
  
  
      
  
  
      
  
  
      
  
  
      
  
  
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
          
          
          
          
   
      
      
      
      
      
  
      
          
          
          
          
   
      
          
          
          
          
   
      
      
      
     
     
     
     
      
          
          
          
          
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
 
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP measures: 

Operating revenue (te) and operating pre-provision net revenue (te) 

(in thousands) 
Net interest income 
Noninterest income 
Total revenue 
Taxable equivalent 
   adjustment (a) 
Nonoperating revenue 
Operating revenue (te) 
Noninterest expense 
Nonoperating expense 
Operating pre-provision net 
   revenue (te) 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2019 

2018 

Years Ended December 31, 
2017 

2016 

2015 

895,217      $ 
315,907        
1,211,124      $ 

14,774   

—        
1,225,898      $ 
(770,677 )      
32,666        

848,838   $    
285,140        
1,133,978   $    

16,177        
541        
1,150,696   $    
(715,746 )      
28,943        

792,312   $    
267,781        
1,060,093   $    

34,390        
(4,352 )      
1,090,131   $    
(692,691 )      
28,473        

659,116   $    
250,781        
909,897   $    

25,839        
—        
935,736   $    
(612,315 )      
4,978        

625,174   
237,284   
862,458   

13,588   
—   
876,046   
(619,655 ) 
15,908   

487,887   

$ 

463,893   $    

425,913   $    

328,399   $    

272,299   

Operating earnings per share - diluted 

   (in thousands, expect per share amounts) 
Net Income 
Net income allocated to 
participating securities 
Net income available to 
common shareholders 
Nonoperating items, net of 
income tax 
Income tax resulting from re-
measurement of deferred tax 
Nonoperating items allocated to    
participating securities 
Operating earnings available to 
common shareholders 
Weighted average common 
shares - diluted 
Earnings per share - diluted 
Operating earnings per 
share - diluted 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2019 

2018 

Years Ended December 31 
2017 

2016 

2015 

327,380      $ 

323,770   $    

215,632   $    

149,296   $    

131,461   

(5,546 ) 

(5,930 )      

(4,670 )      

(3,598 )      

(3,128 ) 

321,834   

$ 

317,840   $    

210,962   $    

145,698   $    

128,333   

25,806   

—   

(435 ) 

23,546        

15,679        

3,236        

10,340   

—        

19,520        

—   

(439 )      

(731 )      

(82 )      

—   

(233 ) 

347,205   

$ 

340,947   $    

245,430   $    

148,852   $    

138,440   

86,599   

3.72      $ 

85,521        
3.72   $    

84,963        
2.48   $    

77,949        
1.87   $    

78,307   
1.64   

4.01   

$ 

3.99   $    

2.89   $    

1.91   $    

1.77   

(a) Taxable equivalent (te) amounts are calculated using a federal income tax rate of 21% for 2019 and 2018, and 35% for all other periods presented. 

36 

 
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
     
  
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
ITEM 7.       MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF 
OPERATIONS 

The purpose of this discussion and analysis is to focus on significant changes and events in the financial condition and results of 
operations of Hancock Whitney Corporation and subsidiaries during the year ended December 31, 2019 and selected prior periods. 
This discussion and analysis is intended to highlight and supplement financial and operating data and information presented elsewhere 
in this report, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes. The discussion contains forward-looking statements, 
which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, our actual results may 
differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. See Forward-Looking Statements in Part I of this Annual 
Report.   

Non-GAAP Financial Measures  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations include non-GAAP measures used to 
describe our performance.  A reconciliation of those measures to GAAP measures are provided in Item 6. “Selected Financial Data.”  
The following is an overview of the non-GAAP measures used and the reasons why management believes they are useful and 
important in understanding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are included below. 

Consistent with Securities and Exchange Commission Industry Guide 3, we present net interest income, net interest margin and 
efficiency ratios on a fully taxable equivalent (“te”) basis. The te basis adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from 
certain loans and investments using the statutory federal tax rate (21% for 2019 and 2018 and 35% for all other periods presented) to 
increase tax-exempt interest income to a taxable-equivalent basis. We believe this measure to be the preferred industry measurement 
of net interest income and it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources.  

We present certain additional non-GAAP financial measures to assist the reader with a better understanding of the Company’s 
performance period over period, as well as to provide investors with assistance in understanding the success management has 
experienced in executing its strategic initiatives. We use the term “operating” to describe a financial measure that excludes income or 
expense considered to be nonoperating in nature. Items identified as nonoperating are those that, when excluded from a reported 
financial measure, provide management or the reader with a measure that may be more indicative of forward-looking trends in the 
Company’s business. However, these non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations and should not be considered in 
isolation or as a substitute for analysis of results or capital position under U.S. GAAP.  

We define Operating Revenue as net interest income (te) and noninterest income less nonoperating revenue.  We define Operating 
Pre-Provision Net Revenue as operating revenue (te) less noninterest expense, excluding nonoperating items. Management believes 
that operating pre-provision net revenue is a useful financial measure because it enables investors and others to assess the company’s 
ability to generate capital to cover credit losses through a credit cycle.  

We define Operating Earnings as reported net income excluding nonoperating items net of income tax.  We define Operating 
Earnings per Share as operating earnings expressed as an amount available to each common shareholder on a diluted basis.  

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW  

Our 2019 results reflect another year of growth and strong performance as year-over-year earnings increased, assets exceeded $30 
billion, and both commercial criticized and total nonperforming loans declined. Capital remains strong with our tangible common 
equity ratio up 43 bps for the year to 8.45%. Loans at December 31, 2019 totaled $21.2 billion, up $1.2 billion or 6%, in line with 
guidance and net of a strategic reduction in energy lending. Deposits totaled $23.8 billion, up $653.4 million or 3% for the year. Our 
net interest margin for 2019 was up 6 bps to 3.44%, as management focused on improving loan yields and reducing deposit costs. We 
have invested in technology that enhanced digital platforms for both online and mobile banking, aimed at improving client retention 
and sales efficiencies. We remain focused on building upon the positive momentum from 2019 while also looking to capitalize on 
opportunities in our markets.  

Acquisitions and Divestiture 

On September 21, 2019, we completed the acquisition of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. (“MidSouth”) (NYSE: MSL), parent company of 
MidSouth Bank, N.A, with simultaneous operational conversion. We acquired net assets of approximately $130 million, including 
loans totaling $788 million, net of a $42 million discount; cash, short-term investments and securities available for sale totaling $581 
million; and deposits of $1.3 billion, which includes $390 million of noninterest-bearing deposits. 

In consideration for the net assets acquired, each outstanding share of MidSouth common stock converted to 0.2952 shares of our 
common stock. As such, we issued approximately 5.0 million shares resulting in a transaction value of approximately $194 million. 

37 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                   
 
 
 
The transaction resulted in goodwill of $63 million. Upon acquisition, we closed or consolidated 20 MidSouth branches. The 
Company incurred acquisition-related expenses of $33 million, or $0.29 per diluted share. The transaction was accretive to income 
beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019. The transaction provides the opportunity for both enhanced growth in several of our current 
markets, such as MidSouth’s home market of Lafayette, Louisiana, as well as opportunities for expansion into new markets in 
Louisiana and Texas. 

On July 13, 2018, we completed the acquisition of the trust and asset management business from Capital One, National Association 
(“Capital One”).  The combination increased our assets under administration at the merger date to $26 billion and our assets under 
management to $10 billion.  In addition, we assumed approximately $217 million of customer deposit liabilities.  

On March 9, 2018, we sold our consumer finance subsidiary, Harrison Finance Company, due to a change in corporate strategy.  We 
received cash of approximately $79 million and recorded a loss on the sale of $1 million.   

For additional information on these transactions, refer to Note 2 – Acquisitions and Divestitures in Item 8. “Financial Statements and 
Supplementary Data.” 

Current Economic Environment and Near Term Outlook 

Most of our market areas experienced a modest to moderate expansion in economic activity during 2019, according to the Federal 
Reserve’s Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions (“Beige Book”).  

Manufacturing reported moderate to decelerating demand, however, optimism for the future increased. The demand for commercial 
real estate was strong to steady during 2019 in most of our footprint. Most of our sectors experienced positive metrics as rents 
continued to grow and vacancies trended downward at a modest pace, however, activity in the office market in Houston was mixed.   

Activity in the energy sector expanded at the beginning of the year, began to slow during the year, and ended the year with a slight 
uptick.  The industry remains distressed, and access to capital is limited, especially for smaller firms, and bankruptcies are likely to 
rise.  However, U.S. crude oil production is projected to grow in 2020. The Company continues to proactively reduce its energy 
exposure in light of current conditions.  

The residential real estate market experienced growth during 2019, with lower mortgage rates during the year driving increases in 
demand, firm price appreciation, and higher single-family sales than the previous year.   

Retail sales and consumer spending activity for 2019 ended somewhat positive in most of our footprint, with an increase in retail sales 
and flat to improving auto sales. Online sales continue to dominate overall sales activity.  Tourism was strong over the holiday season 
and the outlook remains positive with healthy advance bookings.  Overall, the retail outlook improved towards the end of the year.   

Financial services in our markets reported healthy loan demand and overall improving asset quality, consistent with trends in most of 
our portfolios. Reduced uncertainty related to tariffs and trade generally increased optimism for the future.  We believe we are 
positioned for continued growth in 2020. 

Highlights of 2019 Financial Results  

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $327.4 million compared to $323.8 million in 2018, with earnings per diluted 
common share unchanged at $3.72.  Following are financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2019:   

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

Net income increased $3.6 million, or 1% over 2018, to $327.4 million and included $32.7 million of merger-related 
expenses; net income of $323.8 million for 2018 included merger related expenses of $6.2 million and $23.3 of other 
nonoperating items 

Earnings per diluted common share was $3.72 for 2019, unchanged from 2018; excluding nonoperating items, earnings 
per diluted common share was $4.01 for 2019 and $3.99 for 2018 

Operating pre-provision net revenue was up $24 million, with an increase in operating revenue (te) of $75 million, 
partially offset by an increase in operating expense of $51 million, compared to 2018 

Net interest margin for 2019 was 3.44%, an increase of 6 bps from 2018 

Tangible common equity ratio was up 43 bps to 8.45%, compared to 8.02% at year-end 2018 

Loans totaled $21.2 billion, up $1.2 billion, 6%, and in line with guidance; deposits totaled $23.8 billion, up $653 million, 
or 3% 

Criticized commercial loans declined $45 million, or 7%; nonperforming loans declined by $19 million, or 6% 

Total assets at December 31, 2019 were $30.6 billion, up $2.4 billion, or 8%, from December 31, 2018 

Completed the acquisition of Midsouth Bancorp, Inc. (“MSL”) on September 21, 2019, with a simultaneous systems 
conversion 

38 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
(cid:120)(cid:3)

Board approved increased buyback authorization to 5.5 million shares and executed an accelerated share repurchase 
agreement in October 2019 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS  

The following is a discussion of results from operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to December 31, 2018.  
Refer to previously filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K Item 7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
Results of Operations for discussion of prior year variances. 

Net Interest Income  

Net interest income was $895 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, up from $849 million in 2018. Net interest income is the 
primary component of our earnings and represents the difference, or spread, between revenue generated from interest-earning assets 
and the interest expense related to funding those assets. For analytical purposes, net interest income is adjusted to a taxable equivalent 
basis (te) using the statutory federal tax rate (21% for both 2019 and 2018, and 35% for 2017) on tax exempt items (primarily interest 
on municipal securities and loans).  

Net interest income (te) for 2019 totaled $910 million, a $45 million, or 5%, increase from 2018. The increase in 2019 net interest 
income was largely volume driven, with a $0.9 billion, or 3%, increase in average earning assets partially offset by a $0.7 billion, or 
4%, increase in interest-bearing liabilities, and also reflects an improved net interest margin. 

The net interest margin is the ratio of net interest income (te) to average earning assets. The net interest margin increased 6 basis 
points (bps) to 3.44% in 2019 from 3.38% in 2018, primarily due to an improving mix in average earning assets, with a higher level of 
loans to earnings assets and a proactive strategy to remix our loan book towards more granular higher-yielding production, as well as 
the late 2018 sale of lower-yielding securities available for sale as part of an investment portfolio restructure. The improving margin 
also reflects our efforts to control deposit costs. Further, net interest recoveries increased $2.2 million in 2019, improving the net 
interest margin by 1 bp. The discussions of Asset/Liability Management and Net Interest Income at Risk in this item provide 
additional information regarding our management of interest rate risk and the potential impact from changes in interest rates, 
respectively 

The overall yield on earning assets was 4.31% in 2019, up 23 bps from 2018, driven primarily by a 23 bps increase in loan yield to 
4.81% in 2019.  The tax-equivalent yield on the investment securities portfolio increased 9 bps from 2018 to 2.62%. The securities 
yield reflects a continued shift in the mix of the portfolio to a higher concentration of higher-yielding commercial mortgage-backed 
securities.  Average commercial mortgage-backed securities totaled approximately $1.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019 
compared to $1.1 billion in 2018.  

The cost of funding earning assets increased 17 bps to 0.87% in 2019 from 0.70% in 2018 due largely to the Federal Reserve interest 
rate increases during 2018, and to a lesser extent, promotional pricing campaigns aimed at attracting and retaining deposits. However, 
the cost of funding earning assets began to decrease during the second half of 2019 as the Federal Reserve lowered rates three times 
during that period.  Total borrowing costs decreased 2 bps to 1.96% in 2019 with increased use of promotional rate federal home loan 
bank borrowings. Interest-free funding sources, including noninterest-bearing deposits, funded 35% of average earning assets in 2019, 
down from 36% in 2018. 

39 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TABLE 1. Summary of Average Balances, Interest and Rates (te) (a)  

($ in millions) 
Assets 
Interest-Earnings Assets: 

Commercial & real estate loans (te) 
(a) 
Residential mortgage loans 
Consumer loans 
Loan fees & late charges 
Loans (te) (b) 
Loans held for sale 
Investment securities: 

U.S. Treasury and government 
   agency securities 
Mortgage-backed securities and 
   collateralized mortgage 
obligations 
Municipals (te) 
Other securities 

Total investment 

securities (te) (c) 

Short-term investments 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

Average 
Balance 

Interest 
(d) 

    Rate     

Average 
Balance 

Interest 
(d) 

     Rate        

Average 
Balance 

Interest 
(d) 

    Rate     

  $  15,289.6    $   739.0     4.83  %   $  14,487.3    $   655.0     4.52  %   $  13,751.0    $  584.6     4.25  % 
      2,974.1        121.7     4.09           2,794.8        114.5     4.10           2,445.8        95.0     3.89    
      2,116.3        121.5     5.74           2,096.3        117.4     5.60           2,084.1       115.1     5.52    
—        (0.4 )   0.0    
     20,380.0        981.0     4.81          19,378.4        888.2     4.58          18,280.9       794.3     4.35    
21.9        0.9     3.88    

(1.2 )   0.0          

1.3     0.0          

1.9     4.50          

0.9     3.68          

41.7       

25.7       

—       

—       

134.1       

3.1     2.30          

142.6       

3.2     2.22          

128.1        2.7     2.11    

      4,821.6        122.3     2.54           4,927.2        119.1     2.42           4,327.8        96.2     2.22    
968.1        37.0     3.82    
18.8        0.4     1.92    

28.2     3.12          
0.1     3.79          

30.1     3.18          
0.1     2.62          

904.4       
4.1       

947.6       
3.6       

      5,864.2        153.7     2.62           6,021.0        152.5     2.53           5,442.8       136.3     2.50    
363.1        3.5     0.95    

4.0     2.07          

2.8     1.70          

191.0       

163.3       

Total earning assets (te) 

     26,476.9       1,140.6     4.31  %      25,588.4       1,044.4     4.08  %      24,108.7       935.0     3.88  % 

Nonearning assets: 

Other assets 
Allowance for loan losses 

Total assets 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity 
Interest-bearing Liabilities: 

Interest-bearing transaction and 
   savings deposits 
Time deposits 
Public funds 

Total interest-bearing deposits 

Repurchase agreements 
Other short-term borrowings 
Long-term debt 

      2,844.6       
(196.1 )     
  $  29,125.4       

           2,381.9       
(214.5 )     
       $  27,755.8       

           2,355.5       
(223.4 )     
       $  26,240.8       

60.1     0.73  %   $   7,946.8    $  
73.7     2.00           3,275.7       
54.2     1.76           2,849.3       

  $   8,274.6    $  
41.7     0.52  %   $   7,746.2    $   29.4     0.38  % 
      3,690.8       
51.9     1.59           2,642.8        28.0     1.06    
37.1     1.30           2,664.9        19.2     0.72    
      3,078.0       
     15,043.4        188.0     1.25          14,071.8        130.7     0.93          13,053.9        76.6     0.59    
501.7        0.6     0.12    
35.0     2.02           1,505.2        15.1     1.01    
384.1        16.0     4.16    
12.6     4.73          

456.0       
28.6     1.98           1,734.8       
266.9       
11.4     4.87          

493.3       
      1,448.9       
233.5       

2.6     0.52          

1.1     0.23          

Total interest-bearing liabilities 

     17,219.1        230.6     1.34  %      16,529.5        179.4     1.09  %      15,444.9       108.3     0.70  % 

Noninterest-bearing: 

Noninterest-bearing deposits 
Other liabilities 
Stockholders' equity 

Total liabilities and stockholders' 
   equity 

Net interest income (te) and margin 
Net earning assets and spread 
Interest cost of funding earning assets 

      8,255.9       
347.8       
      3,302.6       

           8,095.2       
198.9       
           2,932.2       

           7,777.7       
211.3       
           2,806.9       

  $  29,125.4       

       $  27,755.8       

       $  26,240.8       

    $   910.0     3.44          

    $   865.0     3.38          

  $   9,257.8       

     2.97       $   9,058.9       
     0.87  %      

     3.00       $   8,663.8       
     0.70  %      

    $  826.7     3.43    
     3.18    
     0.45  % 

(a)(cid:3)

(b)(cid:3)

(c)(cid:3)

(d)(cid:3)

Taxable equivalent (te) amounts are calculated using federal income tax rate of 21% for 2019 and 2018 and 35% for 2017. 

Includes nonaccrual loans.  

Average securities do not include unrealized holding gains or losses on available for sale securities. 

Included in interest income is net purchase accounting accretion of $23.2 million, $23.1 million and $28.3 million for the years December 31, 2019, 2018, and 
2017, respectively. 

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TABLE 2. Summary of Changes in Net Interest Income (te) (a) (b)  

(in thousands) 
Interest Income (te) 
Commercial & real estate loans (te) (a) 
Residential mortgage loans 
Consumer loans 
Loan fees & late charges 
Loans (te) (c) 
Loans held for sale 
Investment securities: 

U.S. Treasury and government 

agency securities 

Mortgage-backed securities and 

collateralized mortgage obligations 

Municipals 
Other securities 

Short-term investments 
Total earning assets (te) 
Interest-bearing transaction and 
savings deposits 
Time deposits 
Public funds 

Total interest-bearing deposits 

Repurchase agreements 
Other interest-bearing liabilities 
Long-term debt 

Total interest expense 
Net interest income (te) variance 

Total investment in securities (te) (d)    

2019 Compared to 2018 
Due to 
Change in 

Total 
Increase 
(Decrease) 

2018 Compared to 2017 
Due to 
Change in 

Total 
Increase 
(Decrease) 

Volume 

Rate 

Volume 

Rate 

   $    37,389      $    46,643      $    84,032      $    32,215      $    38,107      $    70,322   
    19,531   
2,285   
1,626   
    93,764   
95   

5,430     
    17,108     
1,626     
    62,271     
(47 )   

(197 )   
4,292     
(2,502 )   
    48,236     
247     

7,337     
(174 )   
—     
    44,552     
683     

    14,101     
    (14,823 )   
—     
    31,493     
142     

7,140     
4,118     
(2,502 )   
    92,788     
930     

(59 )   

(20 )   

(79 )   

318     

152     

470   

(1,628 )   
(1,357 )   
16     
(3,028 )   
515     
    42,722     

4,806     
(590 )   
46     
4,242     
664     
    53,389     

3,178     
(1,947 )   
62     
1,214     
1,179     
    96,111     

    14,010     
(676 )   
(367 )   
    13,285     
(2,515 )   
    42,405     

8,906     
(6,150 )   
98     
3,006     
1,838     
    67,068     

    22,916   
(6,826 ) 
(269 ) 
    16,291   
(677 ) 
    109,473   

1,784     
7,142     
3,173     
    12,099     
95     
(5,610 )   
(1,615 )   
4,969     

    16,587     
    14,683     
    13,904     
    45,174     
1,405     
(790 )   
378     
    46,167     

    18,371     
    21,825     
    17,077     
    57,273     
1,500     
(6,400 )   
(1,237 )   
    51,136     

778     
7,785     
1,414     
9,977     
(59 )   
2,665     
(5,339 )   
7,244     

   $    37,753      $   

7,222      $    44,975      $    35,161      $   

    11,565     
    16,165     
    16,462     
    44,192     
539     
    17,215     
1,971     
    63,917     

    12,343   
    23,950   
    17,876   
    54,169   
480   
    19,880   
(3,368 ) 
    71,161   
3,151      $    38,312   

(a)(cid:3)

(b)(cid:3)

(c)(cid:3)

(d)(cid:3)

Taxable equivalent (te) amounts are calculated using a federal income tax rate of 21% for 2019 and 2018 and 35% for 2017. 

Amounts shown as due to changes in either volume or rate includes an allocation of the amount that reflects the interaction of volume and rate changes. This 
allocation is based on the absolute dollar amounts of change due solely to changes in volume or rate.  

Includes nonaccrual loans. 

Average securities do not include unrealized holding gains or losses on available for sale securities. 

Provision for Credit Losses  

The provision for credit losses was $48 million in 2019 compared to $36 million in 2018. The 2019 provision includes net charge-offs 
of $47 million, or 0.23% of average loans outstanding, and a build of a $4 million reserve for unfunded lending commitments, 
partially offset by a $3 million release of the allowance for funded loan losses. The provision in 2018 was comprised of net charge-
offs of $52 million, or 0.27% of average loans outstanding, partially offset by a reduction in the allowance for loan losses, primarily 
related to the reserve for energy-related loans. The $5 million year over year decrease in net charge-offs is primarily attributable to an 
$8 million decrease in energy net charge-offs. Non-energy net charge-offs increased $3 million from the prior period, including a $9 
million fraud-related net charge-off of a lease financing facility in 2019.  

Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Balance Sheet Analysis—
Allowance for Credit Losses” provides additional information on changes in the allowance for credit losses and general credit quality.  

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Noninterest Income  

Noninterest income for 2019 totaled $316 million, a $31 million, or 11%, increase from 2018. Nearly all noninterest income 
categories experienced increases in 2019, with significant increases in income from derivatives, bank card fees, trust fees, and 
secondary mortgage fees. There was no nonoperating income in 2019.  Nonoperating income for 2018 included a $1.1 million loss on 
the disposition of our consumer finance business and the net impact of a portfolio restructure that included a $33.2 million gain on the 
sale of Visa Class B common shares, offset by losses on sales of lower yielding securities of $25.5 million and loans of $7.1 million.  
Nonoperating income for 2017 included $4.4 million gain on the sale of selected Hancock Horizon funds. 

Table 3 presents, for each of the three years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the components of noninterest income, along 
with the percentage changes between years. Table 4 presents nonoperating income by component for the years ended December 31, 
2018 and 2017.  

TABLE 3. Noninterest Income  

 ($ in thousands) 
Service charges on deposit accounts 
Trust fees 
Bank card and ATM fees 
Investment and annuity fees and insurance commissions 
Secondary mortgage market operations 
Net gains on sale of assets 
Securities transactions 
 Income from bank-owned life insurance 
 Credit-related fees 
 Income from derivatives 
 Other miscellaneous income 
 Total noninterest income 

n/m = not meaningful 

TABLE 4. Nonoperating Income 

(in thousands) 
Gain (loss) on portfolio restructure 

Gain on sale of Visa Class B common shares 
Loss on sale of investment securities 
Loss on sale of loans 

Total net gain on portfolio restructure 

Gain (loss) on sale of assets 
Total nonoperating noninterest income 

      % Change      

2018 

      % Change      

2017 

2019 
   $    86,364        
    61,609        
    66,976        
    26,574        
    19,853        
593        
—        
    14,946        
    11,399        
    12,958        
    14,635        
    315,907        

1   %    $    85,272        
    55,488        
11        
    60,440        
11        
    25,348        
5        
    15,632        
27        
    24,654        
(98 )      
    (25,480 )   
100        
    12,424        
20        
    11,065        
3        
5,368        
141        
    14,929        
(2 )      
    285,140        
11        

3   %    $    83,166   
    44,538   
25        
    53,779   
12        
    23,741   
7        
    15,209   
3        
7,478   
230        
—   
n/m        
    11,473   
8        
    11,140   
(1 )      
5,870   
(9 )      
    11,387   
31        
    267,781   
6        

2019 

2018 

2017 

   $ 

   $ 

—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   

33,229   
(25,480)   
(7,145)   
604   
(1,145)   
(541)   

— 
— 
— 
— 
4,352 
4,352 

Service charges on deposit accounts were up $1.1 million, or 1%, from 2018 with increases in both business service charges and 
consumer overdrafts, primarily due to the impact of MidSouth. 

Trust fees totaled $61.6 million in 2019, a $6.1 million, or 11%, increase from 2018.  The increase in trust fees is primarily due to the 
acquisition of the trust and asset management business on July 13, 2018, partially offset by changes in market conditions. Trust assets 
under management totaled $9.4 billion at December 31, 2019, compared to $8.6 billion at December 31, 2018. 

Bank card and ATM fees totaled $67.0 million in 2019, up $6.5 million, or 11%, compared to 2018. Bank card and ATM fees include 
income from credit card, debit card and ATM transactions, and merchant service fees. The growth over 2018 is the result of increased 
card activity during 2019, due in part to the MidSouth acquisition late in the third quarter.   

Investment and annuity fees and insurance commissions totaled $26.6 million in 2019 compared to $25.3 million in 2018.  The $1.2 
million, or 5%, increase is primarily due to increased investment sales, partially offset by a decrease in annuity sales. 

Income from secondary mortgage operations totaled $19.9 million in 2019, up $4.2 million, or 27%, from a year earlier. Mortgage 
loan production increased by approximately 7% in 2019 compared to 2018, and the percentage of loan production sold in the 
secondary market increased 28%. We offer a full range of mortgage products to our customers and sell those that do not fit the rate 
and liquidity risk profile of our held for investment portfolio. We typically sell longer-term fixed rate loans while retaining the 

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majority of adjustable rate loans, as well as loans generated through programs to support customer relationships, including programs 
for high net worth individuals and non-builder construction loans. The ultimate amount of loans sold in the secondary market relative 
to the amount retained by the Company is a management decision made as part of the ALCO process.  

Net gains on sales of assets were $0.6 million in 2019 compared to net gains of $24.7 million in 2018.  Gains on sales of assets in 
2018 included a gain of $33.2 million on the sale of Visa B shares, partially offset by a loss of $7.1 million on the sale of lower-
yielding loans.  We had no net losses on securities transactions in 2019 compared to a loss of $25.5 million in 2018 on the sale of 
lower-yielding securities as part of our securities portfolio restructure. 

Income from bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”) increased $2.5 million, or 20%, to $14.9 million. The increase was mainly due to 
the income earned from a $37.9 million year-over-year increase in the average balance of insurance contracts outstanding, as well as 
an increase in mortality benefits. 

Income from our customer interest rate derivative program totaled $13.0 million in 2019, compared to $5.4 million in 2018.  Increased 
derivative income reflects increased customer interest rate swap sales due to the low rate environment.  Derivative income can be 
volatile and is dependent upon the composition of the portfolio, customer sales activity and market value adjustments due to market 
interest rate movement.   

Other miscellaneous income was $14.6 million in 2019, down $0.3 million, or 2%, compared to 2018. Other miscellaneous income is 
comprised of various items, including $4.7 million of income from small business investment companies and FHLB stock dividends, 
and syndication fees of $1.4 million. 

Noninterest Expense  

Noninterest expense for 2019 totaled $771 million, up $55 million, or 8%, compared to 2018. The largest individual components of 
the increase in operating expense were personnel expense, data processing and other miscellaneous expense. These increases were 
partially offset by a decrease in deposit insurance and regulatory fees. Explanations of the variances are discussed in more detail 
below. Noninterest expense for 2019 includes $32.7 million in nonoperating expenses associated with the MidSouth acquisition.  
Noninterest expense for 2018 includes $28.9 million in nonoperating expenses, including $12.0 million in brand consolidation 
expenses, $6.2 million related to the trust and asset management acquisition, $3.3 million related to a bank-owned life insurance 
restructure and a $3.5 million one-time incentive bonus. 

Table 5 presents, for each of the three years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, noninterest expense, along with the percentage 
changes between years. Table 6 presents nonoperating expenses, included in noninterest expense (Table 5) by component for the same 
periods.  

TABLE 5. Noninterest Expense  

 ($ in thousands) 
Compensation expense 
Employee benefits 

Personnel expense 
Net occupancy expense 
Equipment expense 
Data processing expense 
Professional services expense 
Amortization of intangibles 
Deposit insurance and regulatory fees 
Other real estate and foreclosed assets (income) expense 
Advertising 
Corporate value and franchise taxes 
Entertainment and contributions 
Telecommunications and postage 
Printing and supplies 
Travel expenses 
Tax credit investment amortization 
Other retirement expense 
Other miscellaneous expense 
Total noninterest expense 

      % Change      

2018 

      % Change      

2017 

9   %   $    330,968       
    73,727       
6        
    404,695       
9        
    47,795       
7        
    16,367       
12        
    74,129       
12        
    41,579       
8        
    22,050       
(5 )      
    31,423       
(38 )      
(2,985 )     
(122 )      
    12,334       
24        
    13,595       
17        
    11,359       
(5 )      
    14,659       
—        
5,548       
(11 )      
5,338       
(1 )      
5,166       
(4 )      
    (18,661 )     
(11 )      
    31,355       
19        
  $ 715,746       
8        

3   %   $    320,096   
    71,817   
3        
    391,913   
3        
    47,869   
(0 )      
    14,841   
10        
    66,385   
12        
    40,235   
3        
    22,417   
(2 )      
    29,627   
6        
(2,669 ) 
12        
    15,031   
(18 )      
    12,797   
6        
8,260   
38        
    14,686   
—        
5,138   
8        
5,043   
6        
4,850   
7        
    (15,249 ) 
22        
    31,517   
(1 )      
 $ 692,691   
3        

2019 
   $    362,083       
    77,796       
      439,879       
    50,936       
    18,393       
    82,981       
    45,007       
    20,844       
    19,512       
671       
    15,251       
    15,949       
    10,777       
    14,588       
4,947       
5,278       
4,943       
    (16,561 )     
    37,282       
 $ 770,677       

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TABLE 6. Nonoperating Expense  

 (in thousands) 
Personnel expense 
Net occupancy expense 
Equipment expense 
Data processing expense 
Professional services expense 
Other real estate (income) expense 
Advertising 
Printing and supplies 
Other expense: 

Loss on restructuring of bank-owned life insurance contracts 
Write-down related to termination of FDIC loss share agreement 
Other miscellaneous 

Total other expenses 
Total nonoperating expense 

2019 

2018 

2017 

7,506      $   
789     
675     
1,092     
7,075     
130     
2,581     
538     

5,413      $   
1,172     
1,782     
3,572     
7,236     
2     
756     
1,184     

—   
—   
12,280   
12,280   
32,666   

 $   

3,302   
—   
4,523   
7,825   
28,943   

 $   

3,662   
452   
325   
974   
9,681   
(1,511 ) 
1,389   
183   

—   
6,603   
6,715   
13,318   
28,473   

   $   

   $   
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)   

Total personnel expense was up $35.2 million, or 9%, in 2019 compared to 2018 primarily due to merit increases, higher production 
incentives, and additional operating and nonoperating personnel expense from the MidSouth acquisition and a full year of the trust and 
asset management business that was acquired on July 13, 2018. 

Total occupancy and equipment expenses increased $5.2 million, or 8%, in 2019 compared to 2018. This increase was primarily due 
to higher costs in 2019 related to the MidSouth acquisition. 

Data processing expense in 2019 was up $8.9 million, or 12%, from 2018. Excluding nonoperating items, data processing expense was 
up $11.3 million, or 16%, primarily related to cost associated with new technology investments and higher card transaction processing 
costs resulting from increased card activity and expenses related to MidSouth. 

Professional services expense increased $3.4 million, or 8%, from 2018, primarily due to consulting and other professional fees related 
to the implementation of new technology aimed at becoming more scalable, effective and efficient as well as additional expenses 
related to MidSouth including transaction expenses and costs associated with integration.  

Amortization of intangibles in 2019 totaled $20.8 million, a $1.2 million, or 5%, decrease from 2018 as a result of the accelerated 
amortization methods used, offset by $1.0 million of core deposit intangible amortization related to the MidSouth acquisition and $0.9 
million of customer intangibles related to a full year of the wealth and asset management business acquired July 13, 2018. 

Deposit insurance and regulatory fees decreased $11.9 million, or 38%, from 2018 mainly due to a reduction in the risk-based deposit 
insurance assessment fees and the elimination of the quarterly deposit insurance fund surcharge fees beginning with the fourth quarter 
of 2018.   

Other real estate and foreclosed asset expense was $0.7 million in 2019, compared to net gains on other real estate dispositions of $3.0 
million in 2018.  The 2018 gain was primarily related to the sale of one property.  

Business development-related expenses (including advertising, travel, entertainment and contributions) were up $2.3 million, or 8% 
from 2018.  The increase was primarily related to the MidSouth acquisition. 

Corporate value and franchise taxes were up $2.4 million, or 17%, to $15.9 million in 2019, also due to asset growth.   

Noninterest expense in both 2019 and 2018 was reduced by a net credit in other retirement expense. The net credit was $2.1 million, 
or 11%, lower in 2019, based on performance of pension plan assets.   

All other expenses increased $5.0 million, or 9%, from 2018 primarily due to costs associated with the acquisition of MidSouth, 
partially offset by higher 2018 losses of $3.3 million associated with the restructure of bank-owned life insurance contracts. 

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Income Taxes  

We recorded income tax expense at an effective rate of 16.6% in 2019 and 15.3% in 2018. The effective tax rate in 2019 compared to 
2018 was higher because 2018 included a $9.9 million income tax benefit from return to provision adjustments associated with various 
tax reform related initiatives. We are currently forecasting an effective tax rate for both the first quarter and full year 2020 of 
approximately 18%-19%. 

Our effective tax rate has historically varied from the federal statutory rate primarily due to tax-exempt income and tax credits. 
Interest income on bonds issued by or loans to state and municipal governments and authorities, and earnings from the life insurance 
contract program are the major components of tax-exempt income.   

Table 7 reconciles reported income tax expense to that computed at the statutory tax rate of 21% for the years ended December 31, 
2019 and 2018, and 35% for the year ended December 31, 2017. 

TABLE 7. Income Taxes  

(in thousands) 
Taxes computed at statutory rate 
Tax credits: 
   QZAB/QSCB 
   NMTC - Federal and State 
   LIHTC and other tax credits 
Total tax credits 
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit 
Tax-exempt interest 
Life insurance contracts 
Employee share-based compensation 
FDIC assessment disallowance 
Return to provision adjustment 
Impact of deferred tax asset re-measurement 
Other, net 
Income tax expense 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

 $   

82,475   

 $   

80,244   

 $   

107,952   

(2,840 ) 
(6,953 ) 
(500 ) 
(10,293 ) 
7,204   
(10,435 ) 
(3,901 ) 
(842 ) 
1,895   
(1,459 ) 
—   
715   
65,359   

 $   

(3,038 ) 
(7,941 ) 
(365 ) 
(11,344 ) 
8,770   
(10,803 ) 
(2,019 ) 
(1,380 ) 
2,818   
(9,942 ) 
—   
2,002   
58,346   

 $   

(2,570 ) 
(6,716 ) 
—   
(9,286 ) 
4,288   
(18,870 ) 
(5,360 ) 
(5,824 ) 
—   
(120 ) 
19,520   
502   
92,802   

 $   

The main source of tax credits has been investments in tax-advantage securities and tax credit projects. These investments are made 
primarily in the markets we serve and directed at tax credits issued under the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (“QZAB”), Qualified 
School Construction Bonds (“QSCB”), as well as Federal and State New Market Tax Credit (“NMTC”) and Low-Income Housing 
Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) programs.  The investments generate tax credits which reduce current and future taxes and are recognized when 
earned as a benefit in the provision for income taxes. The Tax Act repealed the provisions related to tax credit bonds effective for 
bonds issued after December 31, 2017.  

We have invested in NMTC projects through investments in our own CDEs, as well as other unrelated CDEs. Federal tax credits from 
NMTC investments are recognized over a seven-year period, while recognition of the benefits from state tax credits varies from three 
to five years.  

Based only on tax credit investments that have been made through 2019, we expect to realize benefits from federal and state tax 
credits over the next three years totaling $7.5 million, $7.8 million and $8.6 million for 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. We intend 
to continue making investments in tax credit projects.  However, our ability to access new credits will depend upon, among other 
factors, federal and state tax policies and the level of competition for such credits.   

At December 31, 2019, we had a net deferred tax liability of $38 million, which is comprised of $148 million of deferred tax liabilities 
offset against $110 million in deferred tax assets (net of state valuation allowance). Several factors are considered in determining the 
recoverability of the deferred tax asset components, such as the history of taxable earnings, reversal of taxable temporary differences, 
future taxable income and tax planning strategies. Based on our review of these factors, we have established a $1.4 million valuation 
allowance for state net operating losses. 

45 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
     
     
  
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS 

Investment Securities  

Our investment in securities was $6.2 billion at December 31, 2019, compared to $5.7 billion at December 31, 2018. The investment 
securities portfolio is managed by ALCO to assist in the management of interest rate risk and liquidity while providing an acceptable 
rate of return. At December 31, 2019, the amortized cost of securities available for sale totaled $4.6 billion and securities held to 
maturity totaled $1.6 billion, compared to $2.8 billion and $3.0 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2018. During the fourth quarter 
of 2019, we adopted Accounting Standards Update 2019-04 which permits, among other things, a one-time reclassification of debt 
securities eligible to be hedged under the last-of-layer-method from held to maturity to available for sale. Upon adoption, we 
transferred investment securities with an amortized cost of approximately $1.2 billion from the held to maturity portfolio to available 
for sale portfolio. With this change, the investment portfolio allocation is 75% available for sale and 25% held to maturity.  

Our securities portfolio consists mainly of residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage-backed 
securities that are issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies. We invest only in high quality investment grade securities and 
manage the investment portfolio duration generally between two and five and a half years. At December 31, 2019, the average 
expected maturity of the portfolio was 5.47 years with an effective duration of 4.16 years and a nominal weighted-average yield of 
2.49%. Management simulations indicate that the effective duration would increase to 4.32 years with a 100 bp increase in the yield 
curve and increase to 4.47 years with a 200 bp increase. At December 31, 2018, the average expected maturity of the portfolio was 
5.67 years with an effective duration of 4.67 years and a nominal weighted-average yield of 2.75%. The change in expected maturity, 
effective duration, and nominal weighted-average yield is primarily related to reinvestment of securities portfolio cash flow and 
growth during 2019. During 2019, we invested approximately $470 million in fixed rate commercial mortgage backed securities and 
simultaneously entered into last-of-layer swaps on these assets.    

There were no investments in securities of a single issuer, other than U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities and 
mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies that exceeded 10% of stockholders’ equity. We do not 
invest in subprime or “Alt A” home mortgage-backed securities. Investments classified as available for sale are carried at fair value, 
while held to maturity securities are carried at amortized cost. Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available for sale securities are 
excluded from net income and are recognized, net of tax, in other comprehensive income and in AOCI, a separate component of 
stockholders’ equity.  

The amortized cost of securities at December 31, 2019 and 2018 was as follows: 

TABLE 8. Debt Securities by Type  

(in thousands) 
Available for sale securities 
U.S. Treasury and government agency securities 
Municipal obligations 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Collateralized mortgage obligations 
Corporate debt securities 

Held to maturity securities 
U.S. Treasury and government agency securities 
Municipal obligations 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Collateralized mortgage obligations 

December 31, 

2019 

2018 

98,320   
242,016   
1,910,909   
1,570,765   
807,600   
8,000   
4,637,610   

50,000   
641,019   
29,687   
539,371   
307,932   
1,568,009   

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

74,339   
246,713   
1,468,912   
799,060   
163,282   
3,500   
2,755,806   

50,000   
688,201   
640,393   
357,175   
1,243,778   
2,979,547  

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

The amortized cost, fair value and yield of debt securities at December 31, 2019, by final contractual maturity, are presented in the 
table below.  Securities are classified according to their final contractual maturities without consideration of scheduled and 
unscheduled principal amortization, potential prepayments or call options. Accordingly, actual maturities will differ from their 
reported contractual maturities. The expected average maturity years presented in the tables includes scheduled principal payments 
and assumptions for prepayments.  

46 

The following table presents debt securities maturities by type at December 31, 2019: 

TABLE 9. Debt Securities Maturities by Type 

Over One 
Year 
Through 
Five Years   

Over Five 
Years 
Through 
Ten Years 

One Year 
or Less 

Over 
Ten 
Years 

Total 

Fair 
Value 

Weighted 
Average 
Yield (te)   

Expected 
Average 
Maturity 
Years 

Contractual Maturity 

$   —    (cid:3)$  

—    (cid:3)$  

—    (cid:3)$  

—   

1,817   

33,168   

98,320    (cid:3)$  
207,031   

98,320    (cid:3)$  
242,016   

98,672   
249,805   

2.54 %    
3.09 %    

6.6  
6.0  

356   

48,155   

470,631   

   1,391,767   

   1,910,909   

   1,924,157   

2.50 %    

4.9  

—   

98,399   

   1,222,068   

250,298   

   1,570,765   

   1,586,467   

2.58 %    

7.5  

—   
3,500   

33,908   
4,500   

—   
808,215   
—   
7,988   
356    (cid:3)$  151,871    (cid:3)$  1,764,275    (cid:3)$  2,721,108    (cid:3)$  4,637,610    (cid:3)$  4,675,304   
363    (cid:3)$  154,646    (cid:3)$  1,778,398    (cid:3)$  2,741,897    (cid:3)$  4,675,304   
2.41 %    
3.65 %    

773,692   
—   

807,600   
8,000   

2.48 %    

2.51 %    

2.79 %    

 $  
$  

2.01 %    
4.32 %    
2.48 %    

2.7  
3.4  
5.5  

$  50,000     $  

—     $  

—     $  

—     $  

50,000     $  

—   

37,908   

221,556   

381,555   

641,019   

50,003   
668,096   

1.68 %    
3.15 %    

0.1  
5.8  

—   

—   

—   

29,687   

29,687   

30,570   

3.22 %    

4.7  

—   

   102,101   

437,270   

—   

539,371   

551,264   

2.70 %    

7.2  

—   

—   

311,071   
 $  50,000     $  140,009     $   672,094     $   705,906     $  1,568,009     $  1,611,004   
$  50,003    (cid:3)   141,929    (cid:3)   694,992    (cid:3)   724,080    (cid:3)$  1,611,004   

294,664   

307,932   

13,268   

2.86 %    
2.89 %    

2.8  
5.5  

1.68 %    

2.67 %    

2.87 %    

3.04 %    

2.89 %    

(in thousands) 
Available for sale 
U.S. Treasury and government 
   agency securities 
Municipal obligations 
Residential mortgage-backed 
   securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed 
   securities 
Collateralized mortgage 
   obligations 
Other debt securities 
Total debt securities 
Fair Value 
Weighted Average Yield 

Held to maturity 
U.S. Treasury and government 
   agency securities 
Municipal obligations 
Residential mortgage-backed 
   securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed 
   securities 
Collateralized mortgage 
   obligations 
Total debt securities 
Fair Value 
Weighted Average Yield 

Loan Portfolio 

Total loans at December 31, 2019 were $21.2 billion, compared to $20.0 billion at December 31, 2018. The $1.2 billion, or 6%, 
increase is primarily attributable to the MidSouth transaction, as well as organic growth. We saw a $164 million decrease in legacy 
energy loans during 2019 and have targeted a continued reduction of our energy portfolio to a range of 2% to 4% of our total loan 
portfolio, with a focus on retaining our full relationship clients. Management expects full year end of period growth percentage for 
2020 to be in the mid-single digits. 

The composition of our loan portfolio was as follows: 

TABLE 10. Loans Outstanding by Type  

(in thousands) 
Total loans: 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 

Total commercial & industrial 

Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 

Total loans 

2019 

2018 

December 31, 
2017 

2016 

2015 

   $    9,166,947      $    8,620,601      $    8,297,937      $    7,613,917      $    6,995,824   
1,859,469   
8,855,293   
1,553,082   
1,151,950   
2,049,524   
2,093,465   
   $   21,212,755      $   20,026,411      $   19,004,163      $   16,752,151      $   15,703,314  

2,738,460   
  11,905,407   
2,994,448   
1,157,451   
2,990,631   
2,164,818   

2,457,748   
  11,078,349   
2,341,779   
1,548,335   
2,910,081   
2,147,867   

2,142,439   
  10,440,376   
2,384,599   
1,373,421   
2,690,472   
2,115,295   

1,906,821   
9,520,738   
2,013,890   
1,010,879   
2,146,713   
2,059,931   

47 

 
  
The commercial and industrial (“C&I”) loan portfolio includes both commercial non-real estate and commercial real estate – owner 
occupied loans.  C&I loans totaled $11.9 billion, or 56% of the total loan portfolio, at December 31, 2019, an increase of $0.8 billion 
from December 31, 2018. Approximately half of the growth is related to the MidSouth transaction, with the remaining growth across 
the entire footprint and in most specialty lines.  

Our commercial and industrial customer base is diversified over a range of industries, including wholesale and retail trade in various 
durable and nondurable products and the manufacture of such products, marine transportation and maritime construction, energy, 
healthcare, financial and professional services, and agricultural production. We lend mainly to middle-market and smaller commercial 
entities, although we do participate in larger shared-credit loan facilities with businesses well known to the relationship officers and 
generally operating in our market areas. Shared national credits funded at December 31, 2019 totaled approximately $2.2 billion, or 
10% of total loans. Approximately $475 million of our shared national credits at December 31, 2019 were with energy-related 
borrowers.  

Loans outstanding to customers in energy-related industries totaled $1.0 billion at December 31, 2019, or 4.5% of total loans, down 
$96 million compared to $1.1 billion at December 31, 2018. The decrease in energy-related loans resulted from net payoffs and 
charge-offs, partially offset by new originations and $69 million of MidSouth acquired loans that are mostly comprised of customers 
in the support service sector. At December 31, 2019, approximately $467 million, or 48%, of the energy portfolio was comprised of 
customers engaged in exploration and production, transportation and storage activities. The remaining $496 million, or 52%, of the 
portfolio was comprised of customers engaged in onshore and offshore services and products to support exploration and production 
activities. As noted previously, we expect to continue to reduce our energy portfolio and have targeted a concentration level between 
2% and 4% of the total loan portfolio. The reduction in the energy portfolio is expected to be offset with organic growth across our 
entire footprint and in other specialty lines of business.   

Commercial real estate – income producing loans totaled $3.0 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of $652.7 million, or 28%, 
from December 31, 2018.  The increase reflects construction loans converting to permanent financing, coupled with $171 million 
loans from the MidSouth acquisition, as well as organic growth. The increase was partially offset by approximately $595 million in 
paydowns.   

Construction and land development loans totaled approximately $1.2 billion at December 31, 2019, compared to $1.5 billion at 
December 31, 2018, a decrease of $390.9 million, or 25%. The decrease was primarily due to construction and land development 
loans converting to permanent financing.  

Residential mortgages were up $80.6 million, or 3%, from December 31, 2018. The increase in mortgage loans is due primarily to the 
transfer of loans from construction and land development, as well as the addition of approximately $35 million in MidSouth loans. 
The increase was partially offset by increased paydowns and $45 million in loan sales during second quarter of 2019.  Consumer loans 
totaled $2.2 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of $17.0 million, or 1%, compared to December 31, 2018.   

48 

The following tables provide detail of the more significant industry concentrations for our commercial and industrial loan portfolio, 
which is based on NAICS codes, and property type concentrations of our commercial real estate - income producing portfolios.  

TABLE 11.  Commercial & Industrial Loans by Industry Concentration 

($ in thousands) 
Commercial & industrial loans: 
Real estate and rental and leasing 
Health care and social assistance 
Retail trade (a) 
Manufacturing (a) 
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (a) 
Transportation and warehousing (a) 
Public administration 
Wholesale trade (a) 
Construction 
Finance and insurance 
Professional, scientific, and technical services (a) 
Accommodation and food services 
Other services (except public administration) 
Educational services 
Other (a) 
Total commercial & industrial loans 

December 31, 

2019 

2018 

Balance 

Pct of 
Total 

Balance 

Pct of 
Total 

$ 

1,420,736   
1,144,369   
1,098,787   
1,008,904   
842,644   
833,739   
774,401   
754,547   
724,646   
677,500   
520,990   
456,141   
452,702   
342,544   
852,757   
$   11,905,407   

12   %    $ 
10   
9   
8   
7   
7   
7   
6   
6   
6   
4   
4   
4   
3   
7   

1,326,146   
1,120,799   
937,971   
877,950   
1,016,870   
717,746   
814,442   
602,052   
643,932   
605,663   
462,984   
385,958   
436,390   
359,997   
769,449   
100   %    $   11,078,349   

12   % 
10   
8   
8   
9   
7   
7   
6   
6   
6   
4   
3   
4   
3   
7   
100   % 

(a)(cid:3)

The Company’s energy-related lending portfolio includes loans within each of these selected industry categories as the definition is based on source of revenue.
The energy-related lending portfolio totaled $1.0 billion and $1.1 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

TABLE 12.  Commercial Real Estate – Income Producing by Property Type Concentration 

($ in thousands) 
Commercial real estate - income producing loans: 
Retail 
Office 
Industrial 
Multifamily 
Hotel/motel 
Other 

Total commercial real estate - income producing loans 

December 31, 

2019 

2018 

Balance 

Pct of 
Total 

Balance 

Pct of 
Total 

$ 

670,042   
533,569   
430,517   
407,068   
374,350   
578,902   
$  2,994,448   

22   %    $ 
18   
14   
14   
13   
19   

507,129   
444,973   
311,933   
332,145   
374,430   
371,169   
100   %    $  2,341,779   

22   % 
19   
13   
14   
16   
16   
100   % 

49 

The following table shows average loans by category for each of the prior three years and the effective taxable equivalent yield the 
percentage of total loans:  

TABLE 13. Average Loans 

($ in thousands) 
Total loans: 
Commercial & real estate loans 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 

Total loans 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

Balance 

  Yield  
(te) 

 Pct of   
 Total   

Balance 

    Yield   
(te) 

  Pct of   
  Total   

Balance 

    Yield   
(te) 

  Pct of   
  Total   

 $  15,289,645    4.83  % 
2,974,094    4.09  
2,116,288    5.74  

75  %  $  14,487,335    4.52  %  
15  
10  

2,794,804    4.10  
2,096,289    5.60  

75  %  $  13,751,022    4.25  %    75  % 
2,445,787    3.89  
14  
2,084,076    5.52  
11  

13  
12  

 $  20,380,027    4.81  %   100  %  $  19,378,428    4.58  %    100  %  $  18,280,885    4.35  %     100  % 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the approximate contractual maturity by type of the loan portfolio. 

TABLE 14. Loan Maturities by Type  

December 31, 2019 

(in thousands) 
Total loans: 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 

Total commercial & industrial 

Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 

Total loans 

Maturity Range 

Within 
One Year 

After One 
Through 
Five Years 

After Five 
Years 

Total 

$  2,341,282    $  4,816,513    $  2,009,152    $ 
991,857   
5,808,370   
1,741,356   
409,377   
43,613   
643,938   

9,166,947   
2,738,460   
   11,905,407   
2,994,448   
1,157,451   
2,990,631   
2,164,818   
$  3,511,906    $  8,646,654    $  9,054,195    $    21,212,755  

1,547,980   
3,557,132   
750,979   
473,717   
2,883,319   
1,389,048   

198,623   
2,539,905   
502,113   
274,357   
63,699   
131,832   

The sensitivity to interest rate changes for the portion of our loan portfolio that matures after one year is shown below. 

TABLE 15. Loan Sensitivity to Changes in Interest Rates  

(in thousands) 
Total loans: 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 

Total commercial & industrial 

Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 

Total loans 

Fixed Rate 

December 31, 2019 
Floating Rate 

Total 

$ 

$ 

3,018,102    $ 
1,751,380   
4,769,482   
940,142   
470,121   
1,855,098   
811,633   
8,846,476    $ 

3,807,563    $ 
6,825,665   
788,457   
2,539,837   
4,596,020   
9,365,502   
1,552,193   
2,492,335   
412,973   
883,094   
1,071,834   
2,926,932   
2,032,986   
1,221,353   
8,854,373    $    17,700,849  

50 

Nonperforming Assets 

The following table sets forth nonperforming assets by type for the periods indicated, consisting of nonaccrual loans, troubled debt 
restructurings and other real estate owned (ORE) and foreclosed assets. Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing are also 
disclosed.   

TABLE 16. Nonperforming Assets 

(in thousands) 
Loans accounted for on a nonaccrual basis: (a) 

Commercial  non-real estate loans 
Commercial non-real estate loans - restructured 

Total commercial non-real estate loans 
Commercial  real estate - owner occupied 
Commercial  real estate - owner occupied - 
   restructured 

Total commercial real estate - owner occupied loans 

Commercial real estate - income producing loans 
Commercial real estate - income producing loans - 
   restructured 

Total commercial real estate - income producing 
   loans 

Construction and land development loans 
Construction and land development loans - 
   restructured 

Total construction and land development loans 

Residential mortgage loans 
Residential mortgage loans - restructured 

Total residential mortgage loans 

Consumer loans 
Consumer loans -restructured 

Total consumer loans 
Total nonaccrual loans 

Restructured loans - still accruing: 
Commercial non-real estate loans 
Commercial real estate loans - owner occupied 
Commercial real estate loans - income producing 
Construction and land development loans 
Residential mortgage loans 
Consumer loans 

Total restructured loans - still accruing 

Total nonperforming loans 
ORE and foreclosed assets 

Total nonperforming assets (b) 

Loans 90 days past due still accruing (c) 
Total restructured loans 
Ratios: 

Nonperforming assets to loans plus ORE and 
   foreclosed assets 
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans 
   and accruing loans 90 days past due 
Loans 90 days past due still accruing to loans 

2019 

2018 

December 31, 
2017 

2016 

2015 

  $    49,628   
  129,050   
  178,678   
7,413   

  $    26,617   
84,036   
  110,653   
16,682   

  $    63,387   
89,476   
  152,863   
23,549   

  $   170,703   
78,334   
  249,037   
13,433   

  $    83,677   
5,066   
88,743   
8,841   

295   
7,708   
2,489   

213   
16,895   
4,991   

2,440   
25,989   
9,054   

981   
14,414   
13,147   

1,160   
10,001   
10,225   

105   

—   

5,520   

807   

590   

2,594   
1,051   

4,991   
2,134   

14,574   
3,791   

13,954   
3,651   

10,815   
15,993   

166   
1,217   
36,638   
2,624   
39,262   
16,159   
215   
16,374   
  $   245,833   

  $    59,136   
—   
373   
111   
514   
1,131   
61,265   
  307,098   
30,405   
  $   337,503   
  $    6,582   
  $   193,720   

12   
2,146   
34,594   
1,272   
35,866   
16,744   
—   
16,744   
  $   187,295   

  $   130,075   
7,286   
398   
9   
546   
728   
  139,042   
  326,337   
26,270   
  $   352,607   
  $    5,589   
  $   224,575   

16   
3,807   
38,703   
1,777   
40,480   
15,087   
—   
15,087   
  $   252,800   

  $   114,224   
1,578   
3,827   
—   
480   
384   
  120,493   
  373,293   
27,542   
  $   400,835   
  $    27,766   
  $   219,722   

898   
4,549   
22,815   
851   
23,666   
12,350   
—   
12,350   
  $   317,970   

  $    32,887   
493   
5,939   
—   
259   
240   
39,818   
  357,788   
18,943   
  $   376,731   
  $    3,039   
  $   121,689   

1,301   
17,294   
23,082   
717   
23,799   
9,061   
—   
9,061   
  $   159,713   

  $   

—   
1,638   
2,473   
20   
106   
60   
4,297   
  164,010   
27,133   
  $   191,143   
  $    7,653   
  $    13,131   

1.59   %   

1.76   %   

2.11   %   

2.25   %   

1.22   % 

60.97   %   
0.03   %   

58.60   %   
0.03   %   

54.18   %   
0.15   %   

63.58   %   
0.02   %   

105.54   % 
0.05   % 

(a)(cid:3)

(b)(cid:3)

(c)(cid:3)

Nonaccrual loans and accruing loans past due 90 days or more do not include purchased credit-impaired loans which were written down to fair value upon
acquisition and accrete interest income the remaining life of the loan.  

Includes total nonaccrual loans, total restructured loans—still accruing and ORE and foreclosed assets. 

Excludes 90+ accruing troubled debt restructured loans already reflected in total nonperforming loans of $8.7 million at December 31, 2018. 

51 

Nonperforming assets decreased $15.1 million, or 4%, in 2019 to $337.5 million at December 31, 2019. Nonperforming loans, which 
include nonaccrual loans and TDRs still accruing, decreased $19.2 million from December 31, 2018. The decrease was primarily due 
to a reduction in restructured accruing loans as a result of several paydowns of energy-related loans, partially offset by the downgrades 
of few large energy-related and other non-energy C&I loans to nonaccrual status.   

Loans modified in TDRs totaled $193.7 million at December 31, 2019 compared to $224.6 million at December 31, 2018, including 
$132.5 million and $85.5 million, respectively, of loans reported in nonaccrual loans. TDRs arise when a borrower is experiencing, or 
is expected to experience, financial difficulties in the near-term and, consequently, a modification that would otherwise not be 
considered is granted to the borrower. Certain loans modified in a TDR may continue to accrue interest when the individual facts and 
circumstances of the borrower indicate that we will collect all amounts due. Accruing TDRs totaled $61.3 million, or 20% of 
nonperforming loans at December 31, 2019, down from $139.0 million, or 43% of nonperforming loans at December 31, 2018. The 
$77.8 million decrease is mainly attributable to paydowns of energy-related loans.  

Nonenergy-related nonperforming loans totaling $149.2 million at December 31, 2019 are spread across industries and geographies 
and do not indicate any systemic risk in our portfolios. Our energy-related nonperforming loans totaled $157.9 million at December 
31, 2019.  We continue to make progress in working through our problem credits in both our energy and nonenergy portfolios and 
expect that improvement to continue into 2020, assuming no significant changes in economic conditions.   

Allowance for Credit Losses 

The allowance for credit losses represents management’s estimate of probable credit losses inherent in the loan and lease portfolios 
and related unfunded lending exposures at period end. We determine the allowance in accordance with applicable accounting literature 
as well as regulatory guidance related to receivables and contingencies. Management, with Board of Directors oversight, is responsible 
for ensuring the adequacy of the allowance. The allowance is evaluated for adequacy on at least a quarterly basis. For a discussion of 
this process, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements located in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” 

At December 31, 2019, the allowance for credit losses was $195.2 million, consisting of $191.3 million in funded allowance for loan 
losses and a $4.0 million reserve for unfunded lending commitments, compared to $194.5 million at December 31, 2018. The $0.7 
million increase compared to December 31, 2019 is attributable to a $4.0 million increase in the reserve for unfunded lending 
commitments in 2019 related to impaired reserves on letter of credit exposures, largely offset by a decrease in the funded allowance 
for loan losses. The energy-related allowance for credit losses increased $5.9 million to $39.1 million at December 31, 2019, with the 
allowance for loan losses comprising 3.3% of energy loans outstanding up from 3.1% at the prior year end. The increase in energy 
reserves is due largely to impaired reserves on a few reserve-based lending credits. The non-energy allowance for credit losses 
decreased $5.2 million to $156.1 million in 2019. The decline in the non-energy allowance is due in part to improving credit metrics 
and continued strong credit performance in the construction and residential mortgage portfolios.  

Criticized commercial loans totaled $580.7 million at December 31, 2019, down $44.9 million, or 7%, compared to December 31, 
2018, which is net of a $29.8 million of the increase attributable to MidSouth loans which are covered by the purchased discount. The 
decrease in commercial criticized loans includes $25.5 million attributable to the commercial nonenergy portfolio (net of $28.9 
million increase from MidSouth), and $19.4 million attributable to the energy portfolio (net of $0.9 million increase from MidSouth). 
Criticized loans are defined as those having potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention (risk-rated special 
mention, substandard and doubtful), including both accruing and nonaccruing loans. Our commercial nonenergy criticized portfolio, 
totaling $320.6 million at December 31, 2019 is comprised of loans that are diversified as to both industry and geography. 
Commercial nonenergy criticized loans comprised 2.12% of that portfolio at December 31, 2019, down from 2.49% at December 31, 
2018. At December 31, 2019, criticized loans in the energy portfolio were $260 million, or approximately 27% of that portfolio. 
Energy-related loans delinquent for more than 30 days, including accrual and nonaccrual loans, totaled $60.1 million, or 6%, of the 
energy portfolio at December 31, 2019.  

The ratio of the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of period-end loans was 0.90% at December 31, 2019, compared to 0.97% at 
December 31, 2018. The reduction in coverage is due in part to the addition of the acquired MidSouth loans with no carryover 
allowance.  The allowance coverage excluding the impact of MidSouth loans totaled 0.93% at December 31, 2019.  The remaining 
decline in coverage year-over-year is due largely to the sizable reduction in energy loan levels that are carried at a higher coverage 
than the nonenergy portfolio along with overall improving credit metrics across both portfolios. Management believes the coverage 
levels are consistent with the risk inherent in the portfolios. Should economic conditions and/or our resolution strategies change, the 
level of reserves may need to be adjusted accordingly.  

Net charge-offs during 2019 were $47.0 million, or 0.23%, of average total loans down from charge-offs of $52.3 million, or 0.27% of 
average total loans, for the year ended December 31, 2018. Net charge-offs in 2019 included a $9.0 million net fraud related charge 
for an equipment finance credit. Energy net charge-offs contributed $10.1 million, and $18.2 million to total losses for the years ended 
December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Commercial nonenergy net charge-offs increased $4.9 million during 2019 to $21.7 
million, due primarily to the fraud-related equipment finance charge. Residential mortgage net charge-offs were $0.4 million 

52 

compared to a net recovery in 2018 of $1.6 million. Consumer net charge-offs were down $3.9 million in 2019 to $14.8 million. Net 
losses from the consumer finance subsidiary sold in 2018 contributed $1.5 million to the reduction compared to the prior year. 

The following table sets forth activity in the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated:   

TABLE 17. Summary of Activity in the Allowance for Credit Losses  

(in thousands) 
Provision and Allowance for Credit Losses 
Allowance for Loan Losses: 
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period 
Loans charged-off: 
Commercial non real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 
Total commercial & industrial 
Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Total Commercial 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 
Total charge-offs 
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off: 
Commercial non real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 
Total commercial & industrial 
Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Total commercial 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 
Total recoveries 
Total net charge-offs 
Provision for loan losses 
Decrease in allowance as a result of sale of subsidiary 
Decrease in FDIC loss share receivable 
Allowance for loan losses at end of period 
Reserve for Unfunded Lending Commitments: 
Reserve for unfunded lending commitments at beginning 
of period 
Provision for losses on unfunded lending commitments 
Reserve for unfunded lending commitments  at end of 
period 
Total Allowance for Credit Losses 
Total Provision for Credit Losses 
Ratios: 
Gross charge-offs to average loans 
Recoveries to average loans 
Net charge-offs to average loans 
Allowance for loan losses to period-end loans 

2019 

2018 

December 31, 
2017 

2016 

2015 

  $   194,514   

  $   217,308   

  $   229,418   

  $   181,179   

  $   128,762   

39,600   
137   
39,737   
32   
7   
39,776   
846   
18,455   
59,077   

40,069   
8,059   
48,128   
1,633   
334   
50,095   
614   
23,913   
74,622   

51,479   
558   
52,037   
259   
696   
52,992   
2,839   
31,430   
87,261   

42,620   
1,847   
44,467   
347   
982   
45,796   
1,363   
26,107   
73,266   

8,361   
1,392   
9,753   
2,833   
2,834   
15,420   
2,407   
16,831   
34,658   

6,940   
306   
7,246   
569   
140   
7,955   
480   
3,645   
12,080   
46,997   
43,734   
—   
—   
  $   191,251   

14,385   
317   
14,702   
221   
96   
15,019   
2,179   
5,162   
22,360   
52,262   
36,116   
(6,648 )   
—   
  $   194,514   

7,526   
848   
8,374   
988   
1,603   
10,965   
1,064   
6,680   
18,709   
68,552   
58,968   
—   
(2,526 )   
  $   217,308   

4,084   
749   
4,833   
991   
2,086   
7,910   
895   
5,998   
14,803   
58,463   
  110,659   
—   
(3,957 )   
  $   229,418   

5,046   
2,634   
7,680   
763   
3,089   
11,532   
771   
4,534   
16,837   
17,821   
73,038   
—   
(2,800 ) 
  $   181,179   

—   
3,974   

—   
—   

—   
—   

—   
—   

—   
—   

  $    3,974   
  $   195,225   
  $    47,708   

  $   
—   
  $   194,514   
  $    36,116   

  $   
—   
  $   217,308   
  $    58,968   

  $   
—   
  $   229,418   
  $   110,659   

  $   
—   
  $   181,179   
  $    73,038   

0.29   %   
0.06   %   
0.23   %   
0.90   %   

0.39   %   
0.12   %   
0.27   %   
0.97   %   

0.47   %   
0.10   %   
0.38   %   
1.14   %   

0.45   %   
0.09   %   
0.37   %   
1.37   %   

0.20   % 
0.09   % 
0.11   % 
1.15   % 

An allocation of the loan loss allowance by major loan category is set forth in the following table.  

53 

TABLE 18. Allocation of Allowance for Loan Losses by Category 

2019 

2018 

December 31, 
2017 

2016 

2015 

($ in thousands) 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - 
   owner occupied 

Total commercial 
   & industrial 

Commercial real estate - 
   income producing 
Construction and land 
   development 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 
Total 

Allowance 
for Loan 
Losses 
 $  106,432   

% of Total 
Allowance  

Allowance 
for Loan 
Losses 

% of Total 
Allowance  

Allowance 
for Loan 
Losses 

% of Total 
Allowance  

Allowance 
for Loan 
Losses 

% of Total 
Allowance  

Allowance 
for Loan 
Losses 

55   $   97,752   

50   $  127,918   

59   $  147,052   

64   $  109,428   

% of Total 
Allowance  
60  

10,977   

6   

13,757   

7   

12,962   

6   

11,083   

5   

9,858   

  117,409   

61      111,509   

57      140,880   

65      158,135   

69      119,286   

20,869   

11   

17,638   

9   

13,709   

6   

13,509   

6   

6,041   

9,350   
20,331   
23,292   
 $  191,251   

5   
11   
12   

15,647   
23,782   
25,938   
100   $  194,514   

8   
12   
14   

7,372   
24,844   
30,503   
100   $  217,308   

4   
11   
14   

6,271   
25,361   
26,142   
100   $  229,418   

3   
11   
11   

5,642   
25,353   
24,857   
100   $  181,179   

6  

66  

3  

3  
14  
14  
100  

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company was required to and has adopted Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, “Financial 
Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” commonly referred to as Current 
Expected Credit Losses or CECL, that changed the approach to recognizing credit losses from an incurred loss methodology to one 
that recognizes the full amount of expected credit losses for the lifetime of the financial assets, based on historical experience, current 
conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. We expect the adoption of this guidance, pending final approval through our 
governance process, to result in a $76.7 million increase in allowance for credit losses on January 1, 2020, comprised of increases in 
the ALLL of $49.4 million and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments of $27.3 million, with $19.8 million of the ALLL 
increase reclassified from the fair value mark for acquired impaired loans considered purchased credit deteriorated under the new 
guidance, and resulting in a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings (net of tax) of $44.1 million. For further discussion on 
the standard and our methodology, see Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements 
in Item 8 – “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this document. 

Short-Term Investments 

Short-term liquidity investments, including interest-bearing bank deposits and federal funds sold, decreased $0.9 million from 
December 31, 2018 to a total of $110.2 million at December 31, 2019. Average short-term investments for 2019 totaled $191.0 
million, a $27.7 million, or 17%, increase from 2018. Short-term liquidity assets are held to ensure funds are available to meet the 
cash flow needs of both borrowers and depositors.  

Deposits 

Total deposits were $23.8 billion at December 31, 2019, up $653.4 million, or 3%, from December 31, 2018, which included the 
impact of approximately $1.3 billion of deposits assumed from the MidSouth acquisition. Average deposits in 2019 of $23.3 billion 
were up $1.1 billion, or 5% over 2018.  

At December 31, 2019, noninterest-bearing demand deposits were $8.8 billion, up $276.6 million, or 3%, from December 31, 2018 
which includes $390 million of noninterest-bearing demand deposits assumed in the MidSouth acquisition. Noninterest-bearing 
demand deposits comprised 37% of total deposits at December 31, 2019 and 2018.  

Interest-bearing transaction and savings accounts of $8.8 billion at December 31, 2019 increased $845.0 million, or 11%, from 
December 31, 2018, with increase mainly attributable to deposits from the MidSouth acquisition. 

Interest-bearing public fund deposits totaled $3.4 billion at December 31, 2019, up $357.9 million, or 12%, from December 31, 2018. 
Year-end public fund account balances are subject to annual fluctuations dependent upon a number of factors, including the timing of 
tax collections. Seasonal cash inflows from public entities in the fourth quarter of each year typically results in higher balances than at 
other times during the year with subsequent reductions in the first quarter of the following year.  

Time deposits other than public funds totaled $2.8 billion at December 31, 2019, down $826.1 million, or 23%, from December 31, 
2018. The decrease is driven primarily by a $1.1 billion decrease in brokered certificates of deposit, partially offset by an increase in 
retail certificates of deposits. As part of our portfolio management, we replaced higher cost brokered certificates of deposit with lower 
cost FHLB advances.  

54 

  
  
  
  
  
Table 19 sets forth average balances and weighted-average rates paid on deposits for each year in the three-year period ended 
December 31, 2019, as well as the percentage of total deposits for each category. Table 20 sets forth the maturities of time certificates 
of deposit greater than $250,000 at December 31, 2019.  

TABLE 19. Average Deposits 

($ in millions) 
Interest-bearing deposits: 
Interest-bearing transaction 
   deposits 
Money market deposits 
Savings deposits 
Time deposits 
Public Funds 

Total interest-bearing deposits 

Noninterest bearing demand 
   deposits 

Total deposits 

Balance 

2019 

Rate 

Mix 

Balance 

2018 

Rate 

Mix 

Balance 

2017 

Rate 

Mix 

$    1,999.5       0.62   % 
4,487.8       1.05   
1,796.1       0.02   
3,682.0       2.00   
3,078.1       1.76   
   15,043.5       1.25   % 

8.6  %  $    1,666.4       0.38   % 

7.5  %  $    1,651.4       0.25   % 

7.9  % 

19.3  
7.7  
15.8  
13.2  
64.6  

4,520.1       0.77   
1,770.9       0.02   
3,265.1       1.59   
2,849.3       1.30   
   14,071.8       0.93   % 

20.4  
8.0  
14.7  
12.9  
63.5  

4,338.9       0.57   
1,765.8       0.03   
2,632.9       1.06   
2,664.9       0.72   
   13,053.9       0.59   % 

20.8  
8.6  
12.6  
12.8  
62.7  

8,255.9   
 $   23,299.4   

35.4  

8,095.2   
   100.0  %  $   22,167.0   

36.5  

7,777.7   
   100.0  %  $   20,831.6   

37.3  
   100.0  % 

TABLE 20. Maturity of Time Certificates of Deposit greater than or equal to $250,000* 

(in thousands) 
Three months 
Over three months through six months 
Over six months through one year 
Over one year 
Total 

*

Includes public fund time deposits

Short-Term Borrowings 

December 31, 
2019 

382,665   
427,192   
428,645   
133,024   
1,371,526  

$ 

$ 

Short-term borrowings totaled $2.7 billion at December 31, 2019, up $1.1 billion from December 31, 2018.  Average short-term 
borrowings for 2019 totaled $1.9 billion, down $248.6 million compared to 2018. Short-term borrowings are a core portion of the 
Company’s funding strategy and can fluctuate depending on our funding needs and the sources utilized.  

Table 21 sets forth balances of short-term borrowings for each of the past three years.  Short-term borrowings consist of federal funds 
purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and borrowings from the FHLB. Customer repurchase agreements are a 
source of customer funding. These agreements are offered mainly to commercial customers to assist them with their ongoing cash 
management strategies or to provide a temporary investment vehicle for their excess liquidity pending redeployment for corporate or 
investment purposes. While customer repurchase agreements provide a recurring source of funds to the Bank, the amounts available 
over time will vary.  

55 

TABLE 21. Short-Term Borrowings 

($ in thousands) 
Federal funds purchased: 

Amount outstanding at period end 
Average amount outstanding during period 
Maximum amount at any month end during period 
Weighted-average interest at period end 
Weighted-average interest rate during period 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase: 

Amount outstanding at period end 
Average amount outstanding during period 
Maximum amount at any month end during period 
Weighted-average interest at period end 
Weighted-average interest rate during period 

FHLB borrowings: 

Amount outstanding at period end 
Average amount outstanding during period 
Maximum amount at any month end during period 
Weighted-average interest at period end 
Weighted-average interest rate during period 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

$ 

$ 

 $ 

 $ 

195,450   
49,297   
202,933   

1.60 % 
2.30 % 

484,422   
493,344   
518,042   

0.54 % 
0.52 % 

 $ 

 $ 

425   
39,968   
100,925   

2.00 % 
2.11 % 

428,599   
456,000   
500,345   

0.32 % 
0.23 % 

140,754   
27,063   
140,754   

1.00 % 
1.37 % 

430,569   
501,719   
587,569   

0.17 % 
0.12 % 

$  2,035,000   
1,399,503   
1,941,774   

 $  1,160,104   
1,694,804   
2,410,258   

 $  1,132,567   
1,478,114   
2,061,652   

1.17 % 
1.96 % 

2.48 % 
2.02 % 

1.35 % 
1.00 % 

The $2.0 billion of FHLB borrowings at December 31, 2019 consists of two notes, one fixed and one variable rate, totaling 
$775 million that mature in 2020; three fixed rate non-amortizing puttable notes totaling $800 million that mature in 2034 which are 
classified as short-term as the FHLB has the option to put (terminate) the advance prior to maturity; and four variable rate notes 
totaling $460 million that mature in 2025 to 2026. These four variable rate notes reset either monthly or quarterly and may be repaid at 
our option either in whole or in part at par on any reset date, subject to advanced notice of no less than two days before the reset date 
and therefore are included in short-term borrowings. 

Long-Term Debt 

Long-term debt at December 31, 2019 includes $150 million of 30-year subordinated notes at a fixed rate of 5.95% maturing on June 
15, 2045. Subject to prior approval by the Federal Reserve, we may redeem the notes in whole or in part on any interest payment date 
on or after June 15, 2020. This debt qualifies as Tier 2 capital in the calculation of certain regulatory capital ratios. 

Other long-term debt consists primarily of borrowings associated with tax credit fund activities. Although these borrowings have 
indicated maturities through 2053, each is expected to be satisfied at the end of the seven-year compliance period for the related tax 
credit investments. 

Operating Leases 

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the amended provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842, 
“Leases,” using the modified retrospective approach, impacting the reporting and disclosures for operating leases. The core principle 
of Topic 842 is that a lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability representing the present value of future 
lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset over the lease term, as well 
as the disclosure of key information about operating leasing arrangements. Upon adoption, the Company recorded a gross-up of assets 
and liabilities in its consolidated balance sheet, with approximately $116 million for right-of-use assets and $131 million of lease 
payment obligations offset by the elimination of $15 million of existing lease incentive and other deferred rent liabilities. At 
December 31, 2019, the right of use assets was $110.0 million, net of $12.2 million in accumulated amortization, and the lease 
liability was $127.7 million. Accounting for leases in accordance with Topic 842 has not had a material impact upon our consolidated 
results of operations, and is not expected to in future periods. Refer to Note 6 – Operating Leases for further information related to the 
operating lease accounting policy, practical expedient elections for adoption and operating leasing information at adoption. 

Loan Commitments and Letters of Credit  

In the normal course of business, the Bank enters into financial instruments, such as commitments to extend credit and letters of credit, 
to meet the financing needs of their customers. Such instruments are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial 
statements until they are funded, although they expose the Bank to varying degrees of credit risk and interest rate risk in much the 
same way as funded loans.  

56 

Commitments to extend credit totaled $7.5 billion at December 31, 2019, of which $458.8 million represents commitments to extend 
credit to energy-related borrowers.  Commitments to lend include revolving commercial credit lines, non-revolving loan commitments 
issued mainly to finance the acquisition and development of construction of real property or equipment, and credit card and personal 
credit lines. The availability of funds under commercial credit lines and loan commitments generally depends on whether the borrower 
continues to meet credit standards established in the underlying contract, which may include the maintenance of sufficient collateral 
coverage levels, payment and financial performance, and compliance with other contractual conditions. Loan commitments generally 
have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee by the borrower. Credit card and personal 
credit lines are generally subject to adjustment or cancellation if the borrower’s credit quality deteriorates. A number of commercial 
and personal credit lines are used only partially or, in some cases, not at all before they expire, and the total commitment amounts do 
not necessarily represent our future cash requirements.  

Letters of credit totaled $393.3 million at December 31, 2019, of which approximately $62.0 million are to energy-related borrowers. 
A substantial majority of the letters of credit are standby agreements that obligate the Bank to fulfill a customer’s financial 
commitments to a third party if the customer is unable to perform. The Bank issues standby letters of credit primarily to provide credit 
enhancement to customers’ other commercial or public financing arrangements and to help them demonstrate financial capacity to 
vendors of essential goods and services.  

The contract amounts of these instruments reflect our exposure to credit risk. The Bank undertakes the same credit evaluation in 
making loan commitments and assuming conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments and may require collateral 
or other credit support. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has a reserve for unfunded lending commitments of $4.0 million. 

The following table shows the commitments to extend credit and letters of credit at December 31, 2019 and 2018 according to 
expiration date.  

TABLE 22. Loan Commitments and Letters of Credit 

(in thousands) 
December 31, 2019 
Commitments to extend credit 
Letters of credit 

Total 

(in thousands) 
December 31, 2018 
Commitments to extend credit 
Letters of credit 

Total 

ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT 

Total 

Less Than 
1 Year 

1-3 
Years

3-5 
Years

More Than 
5 Years 

Expiration Date 

$   7,530,143    $   3,316,431    $   1,811,564    $   1,491,367    $ 

393,284   

314,425   

35,086   

43,773   

$   7,923,427    $   3,630,856    $   1,846,650    $   1,535,140    $ 

910,781   
—   
910,781  

Total 

Less Than 
1 Year 

1-3 
Years

3-5 
Years

More Than 
5 Years 

Expiration Date 

$   7,234,528    $   3,297,301    $   1,485,363    $   1,542,817    $ 

365,498   

280,114   

36,633   

48,751   

$   7,600,026    $   3,577,415    $   1,521,996    $   1,591,568    $ 

909,047   
—   
909,047  

We proactively manage risks to capture opportunities and maximize shareholder value. We balance revenue generation and 
profitability with the inherent risks of our business activities. Enterprise risk management helps protect shareholder value by 
assessing, monitoring, and managing the risks associated with our businesses. Strong risk management practices enhance decision-
making, facilitate successful implementation of new initiatives, and where appropriate, support undertaking greater levels of well-
managed risk to drive growth and achieve strategic objectives. Our risk management culture integrates a board-approved risk appetite 
with senior management direction and governance to facilitate the execution of the Company’s strategic plan. This integration ensures 
the daily management of risks by product types and continuous corporate monitoring of the levels of risk across the Company. We 
make changes to our enterprise risk management program and risk governance framework as described here at the direction of senior 
management and the Board of Directors to capture opportunities and to respond to changes in strategic, business, and operational 
environments.  

57 

Risk Categories and Definitions  

Consistent with other participants in the financial services industry, the primary risk exposures of the Company are credit, market, 
liquidity, operational, legal, reputational, and strategic. We have adopted these seven risk categories as outlined by the Federal 
Reserve Board and other bank regulators to govern the risk management of banks and bank holding companies. Oversight 
responsibility for these categories is assigned within our risk committee governance structure.  

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

Credit risk arises from the potential that a borrower or counterparty will fail to perform on an obligation. 

Market risk is a financial institution’s condition resulting from adverse movements in market rates or prices, such as 
interest rates, foreign exchange rates, or equity prices.  

Liquidity risk is the potential that an institution will be unable to meet its obligations as they come due because of an 
inability to liquidate assets or obtain adequate funding (referred to as “funding liquidity risk”) or that it cannot easily 
unwind or offset specific exposures without significantly lowering market prices because of inadequate market depth or 
market disruptions (“market liquidity risk”).  

Operational risk is the potential that inadequate information systems, operational problems, breaches in internal controls, 
breaches in customer data, fraud, or unforeseen catastrophes will result in unexpected losses. Consistently and 
interchangeably for the Company, Basel II defines this risk as the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal 
processes, people and systems, or from external events. The Company assesses compliance risk, the risk to current or 
anticipated earnings or capital arising from violations of laws, rules or regulations, or from non-conformance with 
prescribed practices, internal policies and procedures or ethical standards, as a subcategory of operational risk.  

Legal risk is the potential that unenforceable contracts, lawsuits, or adverse judgments can disrupt or otherwise negatively 
affect the operations or condition of a banking organization.  

Reputational risk is the potential that negative publicity regarding an institution’s business practices, whether true or not, 
will cause a decline in the customer base, costly litigation, or revenue reductions. The Company also recognizes its 
reputation with shareholders and associates is an important factor of reputational risk.  

Strategic risk is the risk to current or anticipated earnings, capital, or franchise or enterprise value arising from adverse 
business decisions, poor implementation of business decisions, or lack of responsiveness to changes in the competitive 
landscape of banking and financial services industries and operating environment. 

Risk Committee Governance Structure 

Effective risk management governance requires active oversight, participation, and interaction by senior management and the Board of 
Directors. Our enterprise risk management framework uses a tiered risk/reward committee structure to facilitate the timely discussion 
of significant risks, issues and risk mitigation strategies to inform management and the Board’s decision making. Additionally, the 
committee structure provides ongoing oversight and facilitates escalation within assigned risk committees. Following is a summary of 
our risk governance structure and related responsibilities:  

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

Board risk committees. The Company’s Board of Directors has established a Board Risk Committee and Credit Risk 
Management Subcommittee of the Board Risk Committee to oversee the effective establishment of a risk governance 
framework, provide for an independent Credit Review assurance function, ensure the overall corporate risk profile is 
within its risk appetite, and direct changes or make recommendations to the Board of Directors when determined 
necessary. Additionally, the Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee to provide independent oversight on 
the effectiveness of these matters and the Company’s internal control environment. The Board Risk Committee is chaired 
by an independent director. The Board has designated Ms. Joan Teofilo, an independent director who serves on the Board 
Risk Committee, as its risk management expert.   

Governance committees. The Capital Committee (CAPCO) of the Company serves as the senior level management 
risk/reward committee and oversees the business strategy, organizational structure, capital planning, and liquidity 
strategies for the Company. CAPCO directly oversees the strategic and reputation risk categories, which include litigation 
strategy and the development of capital stress testing within the Company’s risk governance framework. CAPCO drives 
business strategy development and execution, provides corporate financial oversight, and is responsible for portfolio risk 
committee oversight. CAPCO provides oversight of the portfolio risk/reward committees to ensure tactics to address 
business strategy changes are properly vetted and adopted, and protect the Company’s reputation.  

Portfolio committees. The Company has three portfolio risk/reward committees focusing on credit (CREDCO), market 
and liquidity (ALCO), and operational, legal and compliance (OPCO) risk categories. These committees review and 
monitor the risk categories in a portfolio context ensuring risk assessment and management processes are being effectively 
executed to identify and manage risk and direct changes and escalate issues to CAPCO and Board Risk Committees when 
needed. The committees also monitor the risk portfolios for changes to the Company’s risk profile as well as ensure the 
risk portfolio is performing within the board-approved risk appetite. Portfolio committees report to CAPCO. 

58 

Risk Leadership and Organization 

The risk management function of the Company, which includes the Chief Risk Officer, is led by the President of Hancock Whitney 
Bank. The Chief Risk Officer provides overall vision, direction and leadership regarding our enterprise risk management program. 
The Chief Risk Officer exercises independent judgment and reporting of risk through a direct working relationship with the Board 
Risk Committee, and the Chief Credit Officer has the same role with the Credit Risk Management Subcommittee. The functional areas 
reporting to the Chief Risk Officer are the enterprise risk management program office, operational risk management, model validation, 
regulatory relations, corporate insurance and the enterprise-wide compliance program. The Chief Risk Officer also works closely with 
the Chief Internal Auditor to provide assurance to the Board and senior management regarding risk management controls and their 
effectiveness. The Chief Internal Auditor reports to the Board’s Audit Committee to assure independence of the internal audit 
function. Other risk management functions reporting to the President include the Chief Credit Officer and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) 
Officer.  

Credit Risk 

The Bank’s primary lending focus is to provide commercial, consumer, and real estate loans to consumers, to small and middle market 
businesses, to larger corporate clients in their respective market areas, and to state, county, and municipal government entities. 
Diversification in the loan portfolio is a means to reduce the risks associated with economic fluctuations. The Bank has no significant 
concentrations of loans to individual borrowers or foreign entities.  

Approximately 4.5% of the Bank’s loan portfolio consists of commercial non-real estate loans to the energy and energy-related 
sectors. These energy-based loans are actively reviewed, reported and managed. This level of lending to the energy sector is expected 
given our footprint and is an area of specialization and core competency of our organization. Managing collateral is an essential 
component of managing the Bank’s energy-related credit risk exposure. Collateral valuations are obtained at the time of origination, 
and updated if it is determined that the collateral value has deteriorated or if the loan is deemed to be a problem loan. In light of the 
current pressure on the energy sector, we continue to manage our exposure, improve our cross industry diversification, and proactively 
manage potential impacts to earnings.  

Real estate loan levels are monitored throughout the year and the bank currently does not have a commercial real estate concentration 
as defined by interagency guidelines.   

Managing collateral is also an essential component of managing the Bank’s real estate-related credit risk exposure. For real estate-
secured loans, third party valuations are obtained at the time of origination, and updated if it is determined that the collateral value has 
deteriorated or if the loan is deemed to be a problem loan. Property valuations are ordered through, and reviewed by, the Bank’s 
appraisal department. The property valuation, along with anticipated selling costs, are used to determine if there is loan impairment, 
leading to a recommendation for partial charge off or appropriate allowance allocation.  

The Bank maintains an active Credit Review function, whose Credit Review Manager reports to the Credit Risk Management 
Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the Board Risk Committee, to help ensure that developing credit concerns are identified and 
addressed in a timely manner. Further, an active watch list review process is in place as part of the Bank’s problem loan management 
strategy, and a list of loans 90 days past due and still accruing is reviewed with management (including the Chief Credit Officer) at 
least monthly. Recommendations flow from all of the above activities with the goal of recognizing nonperforming loans and 
determining the appropriate accrual status.  

Asset/Liability Management  

Asset liability management consists of quantifying, analyzing and controlling interest rate risk (IRR) to maintain stability in net 
interest income under varying interest rate environments. The principal objective of asset liability management is to maximize net 
interest income while operating within acceptable risk limits established for interest rate risk and maintaining adequate levels of 
liquidity. Our net earnings are materially dependent on our net interest income.  

IRR on the Company’s balance sheet consists of reprice, option, yield curve, and basis risks. Reprice risk results from differences in 
the maturity or repricing of asset and liability portfolios. Option risk arises from “embedded options” present in many financial 
instruments such as loan prepayment options, deposit early withdrawal options and interest rate options. These options allow 
customers opportunities to benefit when market interest rates change, which typically results in higher costs or lower revenue for the 
Company. Yield curve risk refers to the risk resulting from unequal changes in the spread between two or more rates for different 
maturities for the same instrument. Basis risk refers to the potential for changes in the underlying relationship between market rates 
and indices, which subsequently result in changes to the profit spread on an earning asset or liability. Basis risk is also present in 
administered rate liabilities, such as savings accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, and money market accounts where 
historical pricing relationships to market rates may change due to the level or directional change in market interest rates.   

59 

ALCO manages our IRR exposures through pro-active measurement, monitoring, and management actions. ALCO is responsible for 
maintaining levels of IRR within limits approved by the Board of Directors through a risk management policy that is designed to 
promote a stable net interest margin in periods of interest rate fluctuation. Accordingly, the Company’s interest rate sensitivity and 
liquidity are monitored on an ongoing basis by its ALCO, which oversees market risk management and establishes risk measures, 
limits and policy guidelines for managing the amount of interest rate risk and its effect on net interest income and capital. A variety of 
measures are used to provide for a comprehensive view of the magnitude of interest rate risk, the distribution of risk, the level of risk 
over time and the exposure to changes in certain interest rate relationships.  

The Company utilizes an asset/liability model as the primary quantitative tool in measuring the amount of IRR associated with 
changing market rates. The model is used to perform net interest income, economic value of equity, and gap analyses. The model 
quantifies the effects of various interest rate scenarios on projected net interest income and net income over the next twelve-month and 
24-month periods. The model measures the impact on net interest income relative to a base case scenario of hypothetical fluctuations
in interest rates over the next 24 months. These simulations incorporate assumptions regarding balance sheet growth and mix, pricing
and the repricing and maturity characteristics of the existing and projected balance sheet. The impact of interest rate derivatives, such
as interest rate swaps, caps and floors, is also included in the model. Other interest rate-related risks such as prepayment, basis and
option risk are also considered.

Net Interest Income at Risk 

Our primary market risk is interest rate risk that stems from uncertainty with respect to the absolute and relative levels of future 
market interest rates that affect our financial products and services. In an attempt to manage our exposure to interest rate risk, 
management measures the sensitivity of our net interest income and cash flows under various market interest rate scenarios, 
establishes interest rate risk management policies and implements asset/liability management strategies designed to promote a 
relatively stable net interest margin under varying rate environments.  

The following table presents an analysis of our interest rate risk as measured by the estimated changes in net interest income resulting 
from an instantaneous and sustained parallel shift in rates at December 31, 2019. Shifts are measured in 100 basis point increments in 
a range from -500 to +500 basis points from base case, with -100 through +300 basis points presented in Table 23.  Our interest rate 
sensitivity modeling incorporates a number of assumptions including loan and deposit repricing characteristics, the rate of loan 
prepayments and other factors. The base scenario assumes that the current interest rate environment is held constant over a 24-month 
forecast period and is the scenario to which all others are compared in order to measure the change in net interest income. Policy limits 
on the change in net interest income under a variety of interest rate scenarios are approved by the Board of Directors.  All policy 
scenarios assume a static volume forecast where the balance sheet is held constant, although other scenarios are modeled. 

TABLE 23. Net Interest Income (te) at Risk 

Change in Interest Rates 
(basis points) 
-  100
+ 100
+ 200
+ 300

Estimated Increase 
(Decrease) in NII 

Year 1 

Year 2 

(3.22 ) % 
3.13   % 
5.92   % 
8.58   % 

(4.50 ) % 
3.98   % 
7.35   % 
10.48   % 

The results indicate a general asset sensitivity across most scenarios driven primarily by repricing in variable rate loans and a funding 
mix which is composed of material volumes of non-interest bearing and lower rate sensitive deposits. When deemed prudent, 
management has taken actions to mitigate exposure to interest rate risk with on- or off-balance sheet financial instruments and intends 
to do so in the future. Possible actions include, but are not limited to, changes in the pricing of loan and deposit products, modifying 
the composition of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and adding to, modifying or terminating existing interest rate swap 
agreements or other financial instruments used for interest rate risk management purposes.  

Even if interest rates change in the designated amounts, there can be no assurance that our assets and liabilities would perform as 
anticipated. Additionally, a change in the U.S. Treasury rates in the designated amounts accompanied by a change in the shape of the 
U.S. Treasury yield curve would cause significantly different changes to net interest income than indicated above. Strategic 
management of our balance sheet and earnings is fluid and would be adjusted to accommodate these movements. As with any method 
of measuring interest rate risk, certain shortcomings are inherent in the methods of analysis presented above. For example, although 
certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods to repricing, they may react in different degrees to changes in 
market interest rates. Also, the interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market 
interest rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in market rates. Certain assets such as adjustable-rate loans 
have features which restrict changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset. Also, the ability of many 

60 

borrowers to service their debt may decrease in the event of an interest rate increase. All of these factors are considered in monitoring 
exposure to interest rate risk. 

In July 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that regulates LIBOR) announced it intends to stop 
compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. At December 31, 2019, approximately 31% of our loan 
portfolio consisted of variable rate loans tied to LIBOR, along with related derivatives and other financial instruments. During the 
third quarter of 2019, the Company began transition activities by modifying documents to include pre-cessation fallback trigger 
language in all new and renewed loan and derivative transactions that reference LIBOR. Our LIBOR transition team is continuing to 
monitor developments and is taking steps to ensure readiness when the LIBOR benchmark rate is discontinued.  

Liquidity 

Liquidity management is focused on ensuring that funds are available to meet the cash flow requirements of our depositors and 
borrowers, while also meeting the operating, capital and strategic cash flow needs of the Company, the Bank and other subsidiaries. 
As part of the overall asset and liability management process, liquidity management strategies and measurements have been developed 
to manage and monitor liquidity risk.  

TABLE 24. Liquidity Metrics 

Free securities / total securities 
Core deposits  / total deposits 
Wholesale funds / core deposits 
Average loans / average deposits 

2019 

2018 

2017 

47.27   %   
93.54   %   
13.99   %   
87.47   %   

41.39   %   
90.47   %   
14.53   %   
87.42   %   

44.15   % 
93.03   % 
13.76   % 
87.76   % 

The asset portion of the balance sheet provides liquidity primarily through loan principal repayments, maturities and repayments of 
investment securities and occasional sales of various assets. Short-term investments such as federal funds sold, securities purchased 
under agreements to resell and interest-bearing deposits with the Federal Reserve Bank or with other commercial banks are additional 
sources of liquidity to meet cash flow requirements. Free securities represent unpledged securities that can be sold or used as collateral 
for borrowings, and include unpledged securities assigned to short-term dealer repurchase agreements or to the Federal Reserve Bank 
discount window. Management has established an internal target for the ratio of free securities to total securities to be 20% or more. 
As shown in Table 24 above, our ratios of free securities to total securities were 47.27% and 41.39%, respectively, at December 31, 
2019 and 2018. Securities and FHLB letters of credit are pledged as collateral related to public funds and repurchase agreements. The 
total pledged securities at December 31, 2019 were down $13 million compared to December 31, 2018.   

The liability portion of the balance sheet provides liquidity mainly through the Company’s ability to use cash sourced from various 
customers’ interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing deposit accounts and sweep accounts.  At December 31, 2019, deposits totaled 
$23.8 billion, an increase of $0.7 billion, or 3%, from December 31, 2018. This increase was due largely to $1.3 billion in deposits 
from the MidSouth transaction.  Core deposits represent total deposits excluding certificates of deposits (“CDs”) of $250,000 or more 
and brokered deposits. The ratio of core deposits to total deposits was 93.54% at December 31, 2019, compared to 90.47% to 
December 31, 2018. Core deposits totaled $22.3 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of $1.3 billion from December 31, 2018. 
Brokered deposits totaled $0.2 billion as of December 31, 2019 compared to $1.2 billion at December 31, 2018. Maturing brokered 
deposits in the fourth quarter of 2019 were replaced with lower cost, short-term FHLB advances. Use of brokered deposits as a 
funding source is subject to strict parameters regarding the amount, term, and interest rate.  

Purchases of federal funds, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other short-term borrowings from customers provide 
additional sources of liquidity to meet short-term funding requirements. In addition to funding from customer sources, the Bank has a 
line of credit with the FHLB that is secured by blanket pledges of certain mortgage loans. At December 31, 2019, the Bank had 
borrowed $2.0 billion from the FHLB and had approximately $2.2 billion remaining available under this line.  The Bank also has 
unused borrowing capacity at the Federal Reserve’s discount window of approximately $2.6 billion.  There were no outstanding 
borrowings with the Federal Reserve at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. 

Wholesale funds, comprised of short-term borrowings, long-term debt and brokered deposits were 13.99% of core deposits at 
December 31, 2019 and 14.53% at December 31, 2018. Wholesale funds totaled $3.1 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of 
$71.2 million from December 31, 2018.  As previously discussed, core deposits at December 31, 2019 increased $1.3 billion 
compared to December 31, 2018.  The Company has established an internal target for wholesale funds to be less than 25% of core 
deposits. 

Another key measure the Company uses to monitor its liquidity position is the loan to deposit ratio (average loans outstanding for the 
reporting period divided by average deposits outstanding).  The loan-to-deposit ratio measures the amount of funds the Company 
lends for each dollar of deposits on hand. Our average loan-to-deposit ratio was 87.47% for 2019 compared to 87.42% in 2018. 
Management has established a target range for the loan to deposit ratio of 87% to 89%, which could be exceeded under certain 
circumstances. 

61 

Dividends received from the Bank have been the primary source of funds available to the Parent Company for the payment of 
dividends to our stockholders and for servicing its debt. The liquidity management process takes into account the various regulatory 
provisions that can limit the amount of dividends that the Bank can distribute to the Parent Company, as described in Note 12 to the 
consolidated financial statements, “Stockholders’ Equity.” The Parent targets cash and other liquid assets to provide liquidity in an 
amount sufficient to fund approximately four quarters of anticipated common stockholder dividends, but will temporarily operate 
below that level if a return to the target can be achieved in the near-term. On September 23, 2019, the Bank declared a special 
dividend of $150 million to the Parent to assist in the completion of the MidSouth acquisition and provide additional liquidity for 
approved share buyback program and other activity of the Parent. 

Operational Risk Management 

Operational risk is the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal controls and processes, people and systems, or from 
external events, including fraud, litigation and breaches in data security. We depend on the ability of our employees and systems to 
process, record and monitor a large number of transactions on an on-going basis.  As operational risk remains elevated and as 
customer and regulatory expectations regarding information security have increased, the Company continues to enhance its controls, 
processes and systems in order to protect the Company’s networks, computers, software and data from attack, damage or unauthorized 
access.    

Cybersecurity is a significant operational risk for financial institutions as a result of increases in the number of incidents and the 
sophistication of cyber-attacks.  Cyber-attacks include computer hacking, acts of vandalism or theft, malware, computer viruses or 
other malicious codes, credential validation, denial of service, phishing, and employee malfeasance, each utilized to disrupt the 
operations of a financial institution, which in certain instances have resulted in unauthorized access to confidential, proprietary or 
other information, including customer account information.    

The Board Risk Committee has primary responsibility for the oversight of operational risk.  In this capacity, the Board Risk 
Committee oversees the Company’s processes for identifying, assessing, monitoring and managing cybersecurity risk. The Chief 
Information Security Officer (CISO), a member of management, supports the information security risk oversight responsibilities of the 
Board and its committees and involves the appropriate personnel in information risk management.  The CISO attends Board Risk 
Committee meetings on a quarterly basis and sits in executive session with the Board Risk Committee members twice each year.  The 
CISO annually provides an Information Security Program Summary report to the Board, outlining the overall status of our Information 
Security Program and the Company’s compliance with regulatory guidelines.  In addition, individual business lines have direct and 
primary responsibility and accountability for identifying, controlling, and monitoring operational risks embedded in their business 
activities. 

The CISO is also responsible for managing the day-to-day cybersecurity operations and leads the IT Risk Governance Subcommittee, 
a management level committee, whose objective is to protect the integrity, security, safety and resiliency of our corporate information 
systems and assets.  This committee meets regularly to review the development of our Information Security Program.  Our 
Information Security Program is comprised of a collection of policies, guidelines and procedures, which are regularly updated and 
approved by appropriate management committees. As part of our Information Security Program, we have adopted a Comprehensive 
Information Security Policy and an Incident Response Plan.  The Incident Response Plan is intended to proceed on parallel paths in 
the event of an incident, including implementation of (i) a forensic and containment, eradication and remediation plan, and (ii) a line 
of business response plan (including legal, compliance, business, insurance and communications). 

We contract with outside vendors on an annual basis to conduct vulnerability/penetration tests against the Company’s network.  We 
have also contracted with third parties to assist in cyber incident response, forensics and communications.  Any third party service 
provider or vendor utilized as part of the Company’s cybersecurity framework is required to comply with the Company’s policies 
regarding non-public personal information and information security.  In addition, information security training programs are in place 
for all new associates, as well as required annual training for all associates.  Internal policies and procedures have been adopted to 
encourage the reporting of potential security attacks or risks.   

To date, the Company has not experienced an attack that has significantly impacted its results of operations, financial condition and 
cash flows. Addressing cybersecurity risks is a priority for the Company, and the Company is committed to enhancing its systems of 
internal controls and business continuity and disaster recovery plans.  See Item 1A. “Risk Factors” for further discussion of the risks 
associated with an interruption or breach in our information systems or infrastructure.    

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS 

The following table summarizes all significant contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019, according to payments due by period. 
Obligations under deposit contracts and short-term borrowings are not included. The maturities of time deposits in amounts greater 
than $250,000 are presented in Table 20. Purchase obligations represent legal and binding contracts to purchase services and goods 
that cannot be settled or terminated without paying substantially all of the contractual amounts.  

62 

TABLE 25. Contractual Obligations 

(in thousands) 
Long-term debt obligations 
Operating lease obligations 
Purchase obligations 

Total 

CAPITAL RESOURCES 

Payment due by period 
1-3 
Years

Total 

Less Than 
1 Year 

More Than 
5 Years 
   375,025   
89,677   
—   
   $    764,590      $    129,155      $    106,588      $    64,145      $    464,702  

   $    472,554      $    35,286   
16,382   
77,487   

35,367   
31,498   
39,723   

26,876   
25,850   
11,419   

   163,407   
   128,629   

3-5 
Years

The Company currently has a strong capital position which is vital to continued profitability, promotes depositor and investor 
confidence, and provides a solid foundation for future growth and flexibility in addressing strategic opportunities. Stockholders’ 
equity totaled $3.5 billion at December 31, 2019 compared to $3.1 billion at December 31, 2018. The $386 million increase resulted 
primarily from net income for the year of $327.4 million and a $126.0 million decrease in other comprehensive loss largely related to 
the market adjustment on the available for sale securities portfolio and cash flow hedges, partially offset by $94.9 million in dividends 
paid. On September 21, 2019, the Company issued approximately 5.0 million shares of common stock at $38.42 per share as 
consideration in its acquisition of MidSouth. Refer to Note 2 – Acquisitions and Divestiture for more information regarding this 
transaction.  Shares issued as a part of the MidSouth acquisition were largely offset by shares repurchased through the accelerated 
share repurchase agreement discussed below. 

Our tangible common equity ratio was 8.45% at December 31, 2019, compared to 8.02% at December 31, 2018. The increase in the 
tangible common equity ratio primarily due to net tangible retained earnings and net gains included in other accumulated 
comprehensive loss, partially offset by growth in tangible assets. Management has established an internal target for the tangible equity 
ratio of at least 8.00%; however, management will allow the tangible common equity ratio to drop below 8.00% on a temporary basis 
if it believes that the shortfall can be replenished through normal operations with a short timeframe. 

The primary quantitative measures that regulators use to gauge capital adequacy are the ratios of total, tier 1 and common equity tier 1 
regulatory capital to risk-weighted assets (risk-based capital ratios) and the ratio of Tier 1 capital to average total assets (leverage 
ratio). The Federal Reserve Board’s final rule implementing the Basel III regulatory capital framework and related Dodd-Frank Act 
changes was effective for the Company on January 1, 2015. The final rule strengthened the definition of regulatory capital, increased 
risk-based capital requirements, and made selected changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets. The rule sets the Basel III 
minimum regulatory capital requirements for all organizations. It includes a common equity Tier 1 ratio of 4.5% of risk-weighted 
assets, raises the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio from 4.0% to 6.0% of risk-weighted assets and sets a conservation buffer of 2.5% of 
risk-weighted assets; however, the rule allows for transition periods for certain changes, including the conservation buffer. Based on 
capital ratios as of December 31, 2019 using Basel III definitions, the Company and the Bank exceeded all capital requirements of the 
new rule, including the fully phased-in conservation buffer. The Company and the Bank have established internal targets for its total 
risk-based capital ratio, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and leverage ratio of 11.5%, 9.5% and 7.0%, respectively.  

At December 31, 2019, our regulatory capital ratios were well in excess of current regulatory minimum requirements. Additionally, 
both the Company and the Bank were considered “well capitalized” by regulatory agencies.  The following table shows the 
Company’s capital ratios for the past five years. Note 12 – Stockholders’ Equity to the consolidated financial statements provides 
additional information about the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios.  

63 

TABLE 26.  Risk-Based Capital and Capital Ratios 

 (in thousands) 
Common equity tier 1 capital 
Additional tier 1 capital 

Tier 1 capital 
Tier 2 capital 

Total capital 

Risk-weighted assets 
Ratios 

2018 

2019 

2016 

2017 
$   2,584,162     $   2,391,762     $   2,214,723     $   2,184,812     $   1,844,992   
—   
1,844,992   
350,921   
 $   2,929,387     $   2,736,276     $   2,582,031     $   2,564,230     $   2,195,913   
$  24,611,706     $  22,814,154     $  21,695,628     $  19,404,265     $  18,515,904   

—   
2,184,812   
379,418   

—   
2,391,762   
344,514   

—   
2,214,723   
367,308   

—   
2,584,162   
345,225   

2015 

Leverage (Tier 1 capital to average assets) 
Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted 
assets 
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets 
Total capital to risk-weighted assets 
Common stockholders' equity to total assets 
Tangible common equity to total assets 

8.76 %  

8.67 %  

8.43 %  

9.56 %  

8.55 % 

10.50 %  
10.50 %  
11.90 %  
11.33 %  
8.45 %  

10.48 %  
10.48 %  
11.99 %  
10.91 %  
8.02 %  

10.21 %  
10.21 %  
11.90 %  
10.55 %  
7.73 %  

11.26 %  
11.26 %  
13.21 %  
11.34 %  
8.64 %  

9.96 % 
9.96 % 
11.86 % 
10.57 % 
7.62 % 

In December 2018, the federal banking agencies issued a joint final rule to revise their regulatory capital rules to address the 
implementation of CECL, which was effective January 1, 2020 for the Bank and Company. The final rule allows for an optional three-
year phase-in period for the day-one adverse regulatory capital effects that banking organizations are expected to experience upon 
adopting CECL. The Company has elected to use the optional three-year phase in method and has sufficient capital to cover the day 
one impact of CECL. Based on the current expected impact of CECL as of January 1, 2020, and using the phase-in, the Company’s 
day one leverage and common tier 1 equity capital ratios are reduced by 4 bps, with no impact to total risk-based capital as the 
increased allowance for credit loss available for Tier 2 covers the reduction in equity. The Company’s tangible common equity ratio is 
reduced by 14 bps. See further discussion of CECL and the impact of adoption in Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting 
Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements in Item 8 – “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this document.  

The Company paid quarterly dividends $0.27 per share during 2019 for an annual cash dividend rate of $1.08 per share, up from $1.02 
per share in 2018.  The Company has paid uninterrupted quarterly dividends to shareholders since 1967. 

STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM  

On September 23, 2019, the Company’s board of directors approved a stock buyback program that authorizes the Company to 
repurchase up to 5.5 million shares of its common stock through the expiration date of December 31, 2020. The program allows the 
Company to repurchase its common shares in the open market, by block purchase, through accelerated share repurchase programs, in 
privately negotiated transactions, or as otherwise determined by the Company in one or more transactions. The Company is not 
obligated to purchase any shares under this program, and the board of directors may terminate or amend the program at any time prior 
to the expiration date.  

On October 18, 2019, the company entered into an accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC 
(“Morgan Stanley”) to repurchase $185 million of the Company’s common stock. Pursuant to the ASR agreement, the Company made 
a $185 million payment to Morgan Stanley on October 21, 2019, and received from Morgan Stanley on the same day an initial 
delivery of approximately 3.6 million shares of the Company’s common stock, which represents approximately 75% of the estimated 
total number of shares to be repurchased under the ASR agreement based on the October 18, 2019 closing price of the Company’s 
common stock.  The final number of shares to be repurchased will be based generally on the volume-weighted average price per share 
of the Company’s common stock during the term of the ASR agreement, less a discount, and subject to possible adjustments in 
accordance with the terms of the ASR agreement.  Final settlement of the ASR agreement is scheduled to occur not later than the third 
quarter of 2020. 

Subsequent to December 31, 2019, the Company repurchased 315,851 shares of its common stock at a price of $40.26.(cid:3)

The Company had a prior Board-approved stock buyback program in place from May 2018 to September 2019. During the fourth 
quarter of 2018, the Company repurchased 200,000 shares of its common stock at an average price of $41.30 per share.  

See Item 5. “Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” for 
additional discussion of the Company’s common stock buyback program. 

64 

FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS 

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $92.1 million, or $1.03 per diluted common share, compared to $67.8 million, or $0.77, 
in the third quarter of 2019 and $96.2 million, or $1.10, in the fourth quarter of 2018. The fourth quarter of 2019 included $3.9 million 
($.03 per share after-tax impact) of nonoperating expenses related to the MidSouth acquisition. The third quarter of 2019 included 
$28.8 million ($.26 per share impact) of nonoperating merger related costs and the fourth quarter of 2018 included $1.9 million ($.02 
per share impact) of nonoperating items.  

Highlights of our fourth quarter of 2019 results (compared to third quarter 2019): 

•(cid:3)

•(cid:3)

•(cid:3)

•(cid:3)

•(cid:3)

•(cid:3)

•(cid:3)

Net income increased $24.3 million, or $0.26 per share

Excluding nonoperating merger costs of $3.9 million and $28.8 million in the fourth and third quarters of 2019,
respectively, earnings per share were up $.03 to $1.06 per share 

Pre-tax pre-provision net revenue increased $0.6 million, with revenue up $9.8 million and operating expense up $9.2
million 

Energy loans decreased $71 million to $963 million, or 4.5% of total loans

Criticized commercial loans declined $79 million, or 12%, with energy down $21 million and nonenergy down $58
million 

Net interest margin (te) improved by 2 bps to 3.43%

Tangible common equity ratio was down 37 bps to 8.45%, with the decrease related to the accelerated share repurchase
agreement announced October 21, 2019 

Total loans at December 31, 2019 were $21.2 billion, an increase of $177 million, or 1%, from September 30, 2019.  Included in net 
growth was a reduction of $71 million in energy credits. The Company’s net loan growth during the quarter was diversified across 
most of the footprint and also in our specialty lines of business such as healthcare and equipment finance.  

Total deposits at December 31, 2019 were $23.8 billion, down $398 million, or 2%, from September 30, 2019. The primary driver of 
the fourth quarter decrease is a paydown of brokered deposits.   

Noninterest-bearing deposits totaled $8.8 billion at December 31, 2019, up $89 million, or 1%, from September 30, 2019 and 
comprised 37% of total deposits at December 31, 2019. Interest-bearing transaction and savings deposits totaled $8.8 billion at year-
end 2019, up $86 million, or 1%, compared to September 30, 2019.  

Time deposits of $2.8 billion decreased $983 million, or 26%, from September 30, 2019.  The decrease in time deposits reflects a 
decrease in brokered time deposits of $876 million and a decrease in retail CDs of $106 million.  As part of our portfolio management, 
we replaced brokered time deposits at a rate of 2.40% with FHLB advances at a cost of 1.68%.  Interest-bearing public fund deposits 
increased $409 million, or 14%, to $3.4 billion at December 31, 2019. The increase in public funds is seasonal and primarily related to 
year-end tax payments collected by local municipalities. Typically, these balances begin to runoff in the first quarter of each year. 

The provision for loan losses recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019 was $9.2 million, down from $12.4 million in the third quarter of 
2019. Net charge-offs were $9.5 million, or 0.18% of average total loans on an annualized basis in the fourth quarter of 2019, 
compared to $12.5 million, or 0.25% of average total loans, for the third quarter of 2019.   

Net interest income (te) for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $236.7 million, up $10.1 million from the third quarter of 2019.  The 
increase is a result of a higher level of average earning assets in the quarter, mainly due to the MidSouth acquisition, and a lower cost 
of funds. The net interest margin (te) improved by 2 bps to 3.43% for the fourth quarter, driven by a full quarter of MidSouth and a 
change in the borrowing mix, partially offset by lower interest recoveries and a change in the earning asset mix.  

Noninterest income totaled $82.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, down $0.3 million, or less than 1%, from the third quarter of 
2019. Service charges and bank card and ATM fees were up primarily due to the impact of MidSouth.  Fees from secondary mortgage 
operations were up, primarily from the low rate environment.  Trust fees were up $0.4 million, or 3%, while insurance and investment 
commissions and annuity fees were down $0.6 million, or 9%.  Other noninterest income was down from the third quarter, primarily 
due to declines in specialty income. 

65 

Noninterest expense of $197.9 million, declined $15.7 million from the third quarter of 2019. Total expense for the fourth quarter of 
2019 included $3.9 million of merger costs related to the acquisition of MidSouth, compared to $28.8 million of merger costs in the 
third quarter of 2019. Excluding merger costs, operating expense totaled $194.0 million, up $9.3 million, or 5%, from the third quarter 
of 2019. The increase was primarily related to the impact of MidSouth operations. 

The effective income tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2018 was 16%.  Management expects the tax rate in the first quarter of 2020 to 
approximate 18-19%. The effective income tax rate continues to be less than the statutory rate due primarily to tax-exempt income and 
tax credits. 

The summary of quarterly financial information appearing in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” provides 
selected comparative financial information for each of the four quarters of 2019 and 2018.  

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES 

The accounting principles we follow and the methods for applying these principles conform to accounting principles generally 
accepted in the United States of America and general practices followed by the banking industry. The significant accounting principles 
and practices we follow are described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. These principles and practices require 
management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial 
statements and accompanying notes. Management evaluates the estimates and assumptions made on an ongoing basis to help ensure 
the resulting reported amounts reflect management’s best estimates and judgments given current facts and circumstances. The 
following discusses certain critical accounting policies that involve a higher degree of management judgment and complexity in 
producing estimates that may significantly affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. 

Acquisition Accounting 

Acquisitions are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Purchased assets, including identifiable intangible assets, 
and assumed liabilities are recorded at their respective acquisition date fair values. Management applies various valuation 
methodologies to these assets and liabilities which often involve a significant degree of judgment, particularly when liquid markets do 
not exist for the particular item being valued. Examples of such items include loans, deposits, identifiable intangible assets and certain 
other assets and liabilities acquired or assumed in business combinations. Management uses significant estimates and assumptions to 
value such items, including, among others, projected cash flows, repayment rates, default rates and losses assuming default, discount 
rates, and realizable collateral values. The valuation of other identifiable assets, including core deposit and customer list intangibles, 
requires significant assumptions such as projected attrition rates, expected revenue and costs, discount rates and other forward-looking 
factors. The purchase date valuations and any subsequent adjustments also determine the amount of goodwill or bargain purchase gain 
recognized in connection with the business combination. Certain assumptions and estimates must be updated regularly in connection 
with the ongoing accounting for purchased loans. Valuation assumptions and estimates may also have to be revisited in connection 
with periodic assessments of possible value impairment, including impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and certain other long-
lived assets. The use of different assumptions could produce significantly different valuation results, which could have material 
positive or negative effects on our results of operations. 

Allowance for Credit Losses 

The allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) is comprised of allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL), a valuation account available to 
absorb losses on loans and leases, and the reserve for unfunded lending commitments, a liability established to absorb credit losses on 
off-balance sheet exposure. The ACL is established and maintained at an amount that in management’s estimation is sufficient to 
cover the estimated credit losses inherent in the loan and lease portfolios and off-balance sheet exposures 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 
inherent losses in the 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 ACL for the originated and acquired performing portfolios include two primary 
elements. A loss rate analysis that incorporates a historical loss rate as updated for current conditions is used for credits collectively 
evaluated for impairment, and a specific reserve analysis is used for credits individually evaluated for impairment.  

The loss rate analysis includes several subjective inputs including portfolio segmentation, portfolio risk ratings, historical look-back 
and loss emergence periods. Management considers the appropriateness of these critical assumptions as part of its allowance review. 
The loss rate analysis is supplemented by a review of qualitative factors that considers whether current conditions differ from those 
existing during the historical-based loss rate analysis. Such factors include, but are not limited to, problem loan trends, changes in loan 

66 

profiles and volumes, changes in lending policies and procedures, current economic and business conditions and credit concentrations. 
While qualitative data related for these factors is used where available, there is a high level of judgment applied assumptions that are 
susceptible to significant change.  

The qualitative component comprised 24% of the total ACL as of December 31, 2019. The qualitative component of the ACL 
continues to reflect the prolonged stress in the energy industry and as well as the continued benign credit environment that results in 
lower quantitative loss calculations. While we believe the level of allowance is sufficient to absorb losses inherent in the portfolio 
today, actual results could differ significantly depending on the depth and duration of the energy cycle and the overall impact to the 
portfolio, which remains uncertain.  

For impaired credits that are individually evaluated, a specific allowance is calculated as the shortfall between the credit’s value and 
the bank’s exposure. The loan’s value is measured by either the loan’s observable market price, the fair value of the collateral of the 
loan (less liquidation costs) if it is collateral dependent, or by the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s 
effective interest rate. Values for impaired credits are highly subjective and based on information available at the time of valuation and 
the current resolution strategy. Actual results could differ from these estimates.  

Accounting for Retirement Benefits 

Management makes a variety of assumptions in applying principles that govern the accounting for benefits under the Company’s 
defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. These assumptions are essential to the actuarial valuation that 
determines the amounts recognized and certain disclosures it makes in the consolidated financial statements related to the operation of 
these plans. Two of the more significant assumptions concern the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the rate needed 
to discount projected benefits to their present value. Changes in these assumptions impact the cost of retirement benefits recognized in 
net income and comprehensive income. Certain assumptions are closely tied to current conditions and are generally revised at each 
measurement date. For example, the discount rate is reset annually with reference to market yields on high quality fixed-income 
investments. Other assumptions, such as the rate of return on assets, are determined, in part, with reference to historical and expected 
conditions over time and are not as susceptible to frequent revision. Holding other factors constant, the cost of retirement benefits will 
move opposite to changes in either the discount rate or the rate of return on assets. Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary 
Data—Note 17” provides further discussion on the accounting for retirement and employee benefit plans and the estimates used in 
determining the actuarial present value of the benefit obligations and the net periodic benefit expense.  

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS  

See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements that appears in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”  

ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 

The information required for this item is included in the section entitled “Asset/Liability Management” that appears in Item 7. 
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and is incorporated here by reference.  

67 

ITEM 8.       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 

The Company’s unaudited quarterly results for 2019 and 2018 are presented below.  

Summary of Quarterly Results  

(Unaudited)  

(in thousands, except per share data) 
Income Statement Data: 
Interest income (te) (a) 
Interest expense 
Net interest income (te) (a) 
Taxable equivalent adjustment 
Net interest income 
Provision for credit losses 
Noninterest income 
Noninterest expense 
Income before income taxes 
Income tax expense 
Net income 

Balance Sheet Data: 
Period end balance sheet data 
Total assets 
Earning assets 
Loans 
Deposits 
Stockholders' equity 

Average balance sheet data 
Total assets 
Earning assets 
Loans 
Deposits 
Stockholders' equity 

Performance Ratios: 

Return on average assets 
Return on average common equity 
Net interest margin (te) (a) 

Common Shares Data: 
Earnings per share: 

Basic 
Diluted 

Cash dividends per common share 
Operating pre-provision net revenue (TE) (b) 
Net interest income 
Noninterest income 
Total revenue 
Taxable equivalent adjustment 
Nonoperating revenue 
Operating revenue (TE) 
Noninterest expense 
Nonoperating expense 
Operating pre-provision net revenue (TE) 

First 

Second 

Third 

Fourth 

2019 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

280,107   
(57,029 ) 
223,078   
3,824   
219,254   
(18,043 ) 
70,503   
(175,700 ) 
96,014   
16,850   
79,164   

28,490,231   
25,881,559   
20,112,838   
23,380,294   
3,190,575   

28,451,548   
26,020,447   
20,126,948   
23,114,139   
3,118,051   

1.13 %   
10.30 %   
3.46 %   

0.91   
0.91   
0.27   

219,254   
70,503   
289,757   
3,824   
—   
293,581   
(175,700 ) 
—   
117,881   

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

284,096   
(60,510 ) 
223,586   
3,718   
219,868   
(8,088 ) 
79,250   
(183,567 ) 
107,463   
19,186   
88,277   

28,761,863   
26,088,759   
20,175,812   
23,236,042   
3,318,915   

28,537,810   
25,992,894   
20,150,104   
23,137,563   
3,230,503   

1.24 %   
10.96 %   
3.45 %   

1.01   
1.01   
0.27   

219,868   
79,250   
299,118   
3,718   
—   
302,836   
(183,567 ) 
—   
119,269   

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

286,816   
(60,225 ) 
226,591   
3,652   
222,939   
(12,421 ) 
83,230   
(213,554 ) 
80,194   
12,387   
67,807   

30,543,549   
27,565,973   
21,035,952   
24,201,299   
3,586,380   

29,148,106   
26,437,613   
20,197,114   
23,091,355   
3,383,738   

0.92 %   
7.95 %   
3.41 %   

0.77   
0.77   
0.27   

222,939   
83,230   
306,169   
3,652   
—   
309,821   
(213,554 ) 
28,810   
125,077   

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

289,537   
(52,801 ) 
236,736   
3,580   
233,156   
(9,156 ) 
82,924   
(197,856 ) 
109,068   
16,936   
92,132   

30,600,757   
27,622,161   
21,212,755   
23,803,575   
3,467,685   

30,343,293   
27,441,459   
21,037,942   
23,848,374   
3,473,693   

1.20 % 
10.52 % 
3.43 % 

1.03   
1.03   
0.27   

233,156   
82,924   
316,080   
3,580   
—   
319,660   
(197,856 ) 
3,856   
125,660  

(a)(cid:3)
(b)(cid:3)

Taxable equivalent (te) amounts are calculated using a marginal federal income tax rate of 21%.
For discussion of non-GAAP measures, refer to Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” 

68 

Summary of Quarterly Results (continued) 

(Unaudited)  

(in thousands, except per share data) 
Income Statement Data: 
Interest income (te) (a) 
Interest expense 
Net interest income (te) (a) 
Taxable equivalent adjustment 
Net interest income 
Provision for loan losses 
Noninterest income 
Noninterest expense 

Income before income taxes 

Income tax expense 
Net income 

Balance Sheet Data: 
Period end balance sheet data 
Total assets 
Earning assets 
Loans 
Deposits 
Stockholders' equity 

Average balance sheet data 
Total assets 
Earning assets 
Loans 
Deposits 
Stockholders' equity 

Performance Ratios: 

Return on average assets 
Return on average common equity 
Net interest margin (te) (a) 

Common Shares Data: 
Earnings per share 

Basic 
Diluted 

Cash dividends per common share 
Operating Pre-Provision Net Revenue (b) 
Net interest income 
Noninterest income 
Total revenue 
Taxable equivalent adjustment 
Nonoperating revenue 
Operating revenue (TE) 
Noninterest expense 
Nonoperating expense 
Operating pre-provision net revenue (TE) 

First 

Second 

Third 

Fourth 

2018 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

245,358   
(35,731 ) 
209,627   
3,963   
205,664   
(12,253 ) 
66,252   
(170,791 ) 
88,872   
16,397   
72,475   

27,297,337   
25,105,948   
19,092,504   
22,485,722   
2,896,038   

27,237,077   
25,106,283   
19,028,490   
22,043,419   
2,872,813   

1.08 %   
10.23 %   
3.37 %   

0.83   
0.83   
0.24   

205,664   
66,252   
271,916   
3,963   
1,145   
277,024   
(170,791 ) 
5,853   
112,086   

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

256,385   
(40,757 ) 
215,628   
4,081   
211,547   
(8,891 ) 
68,832   
(184,402 ) 
87,086   
15,909   
71,177   

27,925,477   
25,625,047   
19,370,917   
22,235,338   
2,929,555   

27,485,052   
25,391,025   
19,193,234   
22,101,474   
2,908,997   

1.04 %   
9.81 %   
3.40 %   

0.82   
0.82   
0.24   

211,547   
68,832   
280,379   
4,081   
—   
284,460   
(184,402 ) 
15,805   
115,863   

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

267,307   
(49,018 ) 
218,289   
4,095   
214,194   
(6,872 ) 
75,518   
(181,187 ) 
101,653   
17,775   
83,878   

28,098,175   
25,668,281   
19,543,717   
22,417,807   
2,978,878   

28,026,923   
25,832,372   
19,464,639   
22,021,559   
2,952,431   

1.19 %   
11.27 %   
3.36 %   

0.96   
0.96   
0.27   

214,194   
75,518   
289,712   
4,095   
—   
293,807   
(181,187 ) 
4,827   
117,447   

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 
$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

275,395   
(53,924 ) 
221,471   
4,038   
217,433   
(8,100 ) 
74,538   
(179,366 ) 
104,505   
8,265   
96,240   

28,235,907   
25,836,239   
20,026,411   
23,150,185   
3,081,340   

28,259,963   
26,011,183   
19,817,729   
22,498,145   
2,993,265   

1.35 % 
12.76 % 
3.39 % 

1.11   
1.10   
0.27   

217,433   
74,538   
291,971   
4,038   
(604 ) 
295,405   
(179,366 ) 
2,458   
118,497  

(a)(cid:3)
(b)(cid:3)

Taxable equivalent (te) amounts are calculated using a marginal federal income tax rate of 21%.
For discussion of non-GAAP measures, refer to Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” 

69 

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING 

The management of Hancock Whitney Corporation has prepared the consolidated financial statements and other information in our 
Annual Report in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and is responsible for its 
accuracy. The financial statements necessarily include amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments.  

In meeting its responsibility, management relies on internal accounting and related control systems. The internal control systems are 
designed to ensure that transactions are properly authorized and recorded in the Company’s financial records and to safeguard the 
Company’s assets from material loss or misuse. Such assurance cannot be absolute because of inherent limitations in any internal 
control system.  

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such 
term is defined in the Rule 13(a)–15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under the supervision and with the participation of 
management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company conducted an 
evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated 
Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Management also conducted 
an assessment of requirements pertaining to Section 112 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act. This section 
relates to management’s evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, including controls over the preparation of financial 
statements in accordance with the instructions to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Bank Holding Companies (Form FR Y-
9C) and in compliance with laws and regulations. Our evaluation included a review of the documentation of controls, evaluations of 
the design of the internal control system and tests of the effectiveness of internal controls.  

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 was audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, an 
independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their accompanying report which expresses an unqualified opinion on the 
effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019.  

Based on the Company’s evaluation under the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013), management concluded 
that internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2019.  

John M. Hairston 
President & Chief Executive Officer 
(Principal Executive Officer)  
February 24, 2020 

Michael M. Achary 
Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer 
(Principal Financial Officer) 
February 24, 2020 

70 

Report(cid:3)of(cid:3)Independent(cid:3)Registered(cid:3)Public(cid:3)Accounting(cid:3)Firm(cid:3)

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Hancock Whitney Corporation 

Opinions(cid:3)on(cid:3)the(cid:3)Financial(cid:3)Statements(cid:3)and(cid:3)Internal(cid:3)Control(cid:3)over(cid:3)Financial(cid:3)Reporting(cid:3)

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Hancock Whitney Corporation and its subsidiaries (the 
“Company”) as of Decemberr 31, 2019  nd 2018, and the related consolidated statements of income, of comprehensive 
income, of changes in stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 
2019, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited 
the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal 
Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission (COSO). 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial 
position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of 
the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the 
United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control 
over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated 
Framework (2013) issued by the COSO. 

Basis(cid:3)for(cid:3)Opinions(cid:3)

The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal 
control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, 
included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to 
express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over 
financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting 
Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance 
with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission 
and the PCAOB. 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and 
perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material 
misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was 
maintained in all material respects. 

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material 
misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that 
respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and 
disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used 
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial 
statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control 
over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and 
operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other 
procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our 
opinions. 

Definition(cid:3)and(cid:3)Limitations(cid:3)of(cid:3)Internal(cid:3)Control(cid:3)over(cid:3)Financial(cid:3)Reporting(cid:3)

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the 
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with 
generally accepted accounting principles. Management's assessment and our audit of the Company's internal control over 
financial reporting also included controls over the preparation of financial statements in accordance with the instructions 
to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Bank Holding Companies (Form FR Y-9C) to comply with the reporting 
requirements of Section 112 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (FDICIA). A company’s 
internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of 
records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the 
company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial 
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the 
company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and 
(iii)  rovide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition 
of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

71 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate 
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

Critical(cid:3)Audit(cid:3)Matters(cid:3)
(cid:3)
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated 
financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to 
accounts or disclosures that are material to the(cid:3)consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially 
challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our 
opinion on the consolidated(cid:3)financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit 
matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they 
relate.re

Allowance for Credit Losses – Qualitative Component 

As described in Notes 1 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the allowance for credit losses is comprised of 
allowance for loan and lease losses, a valuation account available to absorb losses on loans and leases, and the reserve for 
unfunded lending commitments, a liability established to absorb credit  losses on off-balance sheet exposure. As of 
December 31, 2019, the total allowance for credit losses was $195.2 million on total loans of $21.2 billion. Management’s 
analysis and methodology for estimating the allowance for credit losses include two primary elements; a loss rate analysis, 
which incorporates a historical loss rate as updated for current conditions, is used for credits collectively evaluated for 
impairment; and a specific reserve analysis is  used for loans individually evaluated for impairment. As disclosed by 
management, the loss rate analysis includes several subjective inputs including portfolio segmentation, portfolio risk 
ratings, historical look-back and loss emergence periods. As circumstances dictate, the loss rate analysis is supplemented 
by management’s review of qualitative factors that considers whether current conditions differ from those existing during 
the historical-based loss rate analysis. Such factors include, but are not limited to, problem loan trends, changes in loan 
profiles and volumes, changes in lending policies and procedures, current economic and business conditions and credit 
concentrations. As disclosed by management, while qualitative data for these factors is used where available, there is a high 
level of judgment applied to these assumptions that are susceptible to significant change. The qualitative component 
comprised 24% of the total allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2019.   

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the qualitative component of the 
allowance for credit losses is a critical audit matter are there was significant judgment by management in determining the 
qualitative component, which in turn led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in performing 
procedures and evaluating audit evidence relating to the assumptions used in the qualitative component. 

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming an 
overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls 
relating to the Company’s allowance estimation process, which included controls over the assumptions used in the 
qualitative component. These procedures also included, among others, (i) testing management’s process for determining 
the qualitative component of the allowance for credit losses, including evaluating the appropriateness of management’s 
methodology for determining the qualitative component; (ii) testing the data used in the estimate; and (iii) evaluating the 
reasonableness of the assumptions. Evaluating the assumptions used in the qualitative component included evaluating the 
reasonableness of the qualitative factors considering the current conditions and portfolio characteristics relative to the 
historical loss period.   

Acquisition of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. - Discount Rate Assumptions used in the Valuation of Acquired Loans and Core 
Deposit Intangible Asset 

As described in Notes 1 and 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company completed the acquisition of MidSouth 
Bancorp, Inc. for net consideration of $193.8 million during 2019, including MidSouth’s loan and deposit portfolios. The 
transaction was accounted for as a business combination under the purchase method of accounting. Purchased assets, 
including identifiable intangibles, and assumed liabilities are recorded at their respective acquisition date fair values. As 
disclosed by management, management applied various valuation methodologies to these assets and liabilities which often 
involve a significant degree of judgment, particularly when liquid markets do not exist for the particular item being valued. 
The loans acquired were recorded at an estimated fair value of $788 million as of the acquisition date. Additionally, a core 
deposit intangible asset of $31.5 million representing the value of the relationships with deposit customers was recorded as 
of the acquisition date. Management uses significant estimates and assumptions to value acquired loans, including, among 
others, projected cash flows, repayment rates, default rates and losses assuming default, discount rates, and realizable 
collateral values. The valuation of other identifiable assets, including core deposit and customer list intangibles, requires 
significant assumptions such as projected attrition rates, expected revenue and costs, discount rates and other forward-
looking factors.   

72 

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the valuation of acquired loans 
and the core deposit intangible asset in the acquisition of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. is a critical audit matter are (i) there was 
a high degree of auditor judgment and subjectivity in applying procedures relating to the discount rate assumptions used 
in the fair value measurement of the acquired loans and core deposit intangible asset due to the significant amount of 
judgment by management when developing the estimates; (ii) there was significant audit effort in evaluating the discount 
rate assumptions relating to the estimates; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill 
and knowledge to assist in performing these procedures and evaluating the audit evidence obtained. 

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our 
overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls 
relating to management’s valuation of the acquired loans and core deposit intangible asset, including controls over 
development of the discount rate assumptions used in the estimates. These procedures also included, among others, (i) 
reading the purchase agreement; (ii) testing management’s process for estimating the fair value of the acquired loans and 
core deposit intangible asset; (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of data provided by management relating to the 
acquired loans and core deposit intangible asset; and (iv) evaluating the appropriateness of the valuation methods and the 
reasonableness of discount rate assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the acquired loans and core deposit 
intangible asset, using professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in doing so. Evaluating the 
reasonableness of the discount rate assumptions involved considering the methodology and assumptions used, including 
the risk-free rate, equity risk premium, company beta and risk premiums applied in deriving the discount rate 
assumptions. 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 

New Orleans, Louisiana 
February 24, 2020 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2009. 

73 

Hancock Whitney Corporation and Subsidiaries 
Consolidated Balance Sheets  

(in thousands, except per share data) 
Assets: 
Cash and due from banks 
Interest-bearing bank deposits 
Federal funds sold 
Securities available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $4,637,610(cid:3)
   and $2,755,806) 
Securities held to maturity (fair value of $1,611,004 and $2,935,856)(cid:3)
Loans held for sale 
Loans 

Less: allowance for loan losses 
Loans, net 

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $249,527 
   and $225,969 
Right of use assets, net of accumulated amortization of $12,194 
Prepaid expense 
Other real estate and foreclosed assets, net 
Accrued interest receivable 
Goodwill 
Other intangible assets, net 
Life insurance contracts 
Deferred tax asset, net 
Funded pension assets, net 
Other assets 

Total assets 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity: 
Deposits: 

Noninterest-bearing 
Interest-bearing 
Total deposits 
Short-term borrowings 
Long-term debt 
Accrued interest payable 
Lease liabilities 
Deferred tax liability, net 
Other liabilities 

Total liabilities 
Stockholders' equity: 
Common stock 
Capital surplus 
Retained earnings 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net 

Total stockholders' equity 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 
Preferred shares authorized (par value of $20.00 per share) 
Preferred shares issued and outstanding 
Common shares authorized (par value of $3.33 per share) 
Common shares issued 
Common shares outstanding 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.  

74 

December 31, 

2019 

2018 

$ 

432,104    $ 
109,961   
268   

4,675,304   
1,568,009   
55,864   
21,212,755   
(191,251 ) 
21,021,504   

380,209   
110,023   
40,178   
30,405   
92,037   
855,453   
106,807   
608,063   
—   
185,791   
328,777   
30,600,757    $ 

8,775,632    $ 

15,027,943   
23,803,575   
2,714,872   
233,462   
10,200   
127,703   
37,721   
205,539   
27,133,072   

309,513   
1,736,664   
1,476,232   
(54,724 ) 
3,467,685   

30,600,757    $ 
50,000   
—   
350,000   
92,947   
87,515   

$ 

$ 

$ 

383,372   
110,579   
515   

2,691,037   
2,979,547   
28,150   
20,026,411   
(194,514 ) 
19,831,897   

353,668   
—   
35,047   
26,270   
86,681   
790,972   
96,151   
549,300   
22,967   
65,125   
184,629   
28,235,907   

8,499,027   
14,651,158   
23,150,185   
1,589,128   
224,993   
12,267   
—   
—   
177,994   
25,154,567   

292,716   
1,725,741   
1,243,592   
(180,709 ) 
3,081,340   
28,235,907   
50,000   
—   
350,000   
87,903   
85,643  

Hancock Whitney Corporation and Subsidiaries 
Consolidated Statements of Income  

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

(in thousands, except per share data) 
Interest income: 

Loans, including fees 
Loans held for sale 
Securities-taxable 
Securities-tax exempt 
Short-term investments 

Total interest income 

Interest expense: 

Deposits 
Short-term borrowings 
Long-term debt 

Total interest expense 

Net interest income 
Provision for credit losses 

Net interest income after provision for credit losses 

Noninterest income: 

Service charges on deposit accounts 
Trust fees 
Bank card and ATM fees 
Investment and annuity fees and insurance commissions 
Secondary mortgage market operations 
Net gain on sales of assets 
Securities transactions 
Other income 

Total noninterest income 

Noninterest expense: 

Compensation expense 
Employee benefits 

Personnel expense 
Net occupancy expense 
Equipment expense 
Data processing expense 
Professional services expense 
Amortization of intangibles 
Deposit insurance and regulatory fees 
Other real estate (income) expense 
Other expense 

Total noninterest expense 
Income before income taxes 

Income taxes 

Net income 

Earnings per common share - basic 
Earnings per common share - diluted 
Dividends paid per share 
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic 
Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.  

75 

 $ 

 $ 

971,735   
1,876   
127,459   
20,757   
3,955   
1,125,782   

 $ 

877,875   
946   
124,720   
21,951   
2,776   
1,028,268   

187,988   
30,766   
11,811   
230,565   
895,217   
47,708   
847,509   

86,364   
61,609   
66,976   
26,574   
19,853   
593   
—   
53,938   
315,907   

362,083   
77,796   
439,879   
50,936   
18,393   
82,981   
45,007   
20,844   
19,512   
671   
92,454   
770,677   
392,739   
65,359   

130,715   
36,096   
12,619   
179,430   
848,838   
36,116   
812,722   

85,272   
55,488   
60,440   
25,348   
15,632   
24,654   
(25,480 ) 
43,786   
285,140   

330,968   
73,727   
404,695   
47,795   
16,367   
74,129   
41,579   
22,050   
31,423   
(2,985 ) 
80,693   
715,746   
382,116   
58,346   

 $ 
 $ 
 $ 
 $ 

327,380    $ 
3.72    $ 
3.72    $ 
1.08    $ 

86,488   
86,599   

323,770    $ 
3.72    $ 
3.72    $ 
1.02    $ 

85,355   
85,521   

772,030   
851   
102,013   
22,235   
3,452   
900,581   

76,546   
15,735   
15,988   
108,269   
792,312   
58,968   
733,344   

83,166   
44,538   
53,779   
23,741   
15,209   
7,478   
—   
39,870   
267,781   

320,096   
71,817   
391,913   
47,869   
14,841   
66,385   
40,235   
22,417   
29,627   
(2,669 ) 
82,073   
692,691   
308,434   
92,802   
215,632   
2.49   
2.48   
0.96   
84,695   
84,963  

Hancock Whitney Corporation and Subsidiaries  
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

$ 

327,380  

$ 

323,770    $ 

215,632   

143,922  
13,429  
—  
2,398  

3,153  
162,902  
36,917  
125,985  
453,365  

$ 

(52,757 ) 
34,966   
—   
(45,198 ) 

3,296   
(59,693 ) 
(13,386 ) 
(46,307 ) 
277,463    $ 

(425 ) 
5,801   
17,315   
(10,929 ) 

3,786   
15,548   
4,088   
11,460   
227,092  

(in thousands) 
Net income 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes: 
Net change in unrealized gain/loss on available for sale securities and cash 
flow hedges 
Reclassification of net losses realized and included in earnings 
Valuation adjustment for pension plan amendment 
Other valuation adjustments of employee benefit plans 
Amortization of unrealized net loss on securities transferred to held to 
maturity 

Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes 

Income tax expense (benefit) 

Other comprehensive income (loss) net of income taxes 
Comprehensive income 

$ 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.  

76 

Hancock Whitney Corporation and Subsidiaries  
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity 

Accumulated 
Other 

Common Stock 

Capital 
  Amount  Surplus 

  Shares 
   87,495     $   291,358   $   1,698,253    $    850,689    $ 

Retained     Comprehensive   
Earnings 

Loss, net 

—   
—   
—   

—   
—   
—   

215,632   
—   
215,632   

Total 

(120,532 )  $   2,719,768   
215,632   
11,460   
227,092   

—   
11,460   
11,460   

—   
—   
1,358   

—   
—   
16,644   

25,330   
(83,266 )  
133   

(25,330 )  
—   
—   

—   
(83,266 ) 
18,135   

(in thousands, except parenthetical share data) 
Balance, December 31, 2016 
Net income 
Other comprehensive income 
Comprehensive income 

Reclassification of certain tax effects from 
   accumulated other comprehensive loss 
Cash dividends declared ($0.96 per common share) 
Common stock activity, long-term incentive plan 
Issuance of stock from dividend reinvestment and 
   stock purchase plans 
Balance, December 31, 2017 
Net income 
Other comprehensive loss 
Comprehensive income 

Cash dividends declared ($1.02 per common share) 
Common stock activity, long-term incentive plan 
Issuance of stock from dividend reinvestment 
   and stock purchase plans 
Purchase of common stock under stock buyback 
   program (200,000 shares) 
Balance, December 31, 2018 
Net income 
Other comprehensive income 
Comprehensive income 

—   
—   
—   

—   
—   
408   

—   

—   
—   
—   
—   

Cash dividends declared ($1.08 per common share) 
Common stock issued as consideration in business 
combination 
Common stock activity, long-term incentive plan 
Issuance of stock from dividend reinvestment 
   and stock purchase plan 
Initial delivery of shares under accelerated share 
repurchase agreement (3,611,870 shares) 
Forward contract for accelerated share repurchase 
agreement 
Balance, December 31, 2019 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.  

5,044   
—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

3,220   

—   

   87,903     $   292,716   $   1,718,117    $   1,008,518    $ 

—   
—   
—   
—   
—   

—   

—   

—   
—   
—   
—   
—   

—   

—   

—   
—   
—   
—   
12,482   

3,409   

(8,267 )  

323,770   
—   
323,770   
(88,838 )  
142   

—   

—   

   87,903     $   292,716   $   1,725,741    $   1,243,592    $ 

—   
—   
—   
—   

—   
—   
—   
—   

327,380   
—   
327,380   
(94,871 )  

16,797   
—   

177,052   
15,257   

—   

3,614   

—   

   (138,768 )  

—   

(46,232 )  

—   
131   

—   

—   

—   

   92,947     $   309,513   $   1,736,664    $   1,476,232    $ 

—   

3,220   
(134,402 )  $   2,884,949   
323,770   
(46,307 ) 
277,463   
(88,838 ) 
12,624   

—   
(46,307 )  
(46,307 )  
—   
—   

—   

3,409   

—   

(8,267 ) 
(180,709 )  $   3,081,340   
327,380   
125,985   
453,365   
(94,871 ) 

—   
125,985   
125,985   
—   

—   
—   

—   

193,849   
15,388   

3,614   

—   

(138,768 ) 

—   

(46,232 ) 
(54,724 )  $   3,467,685  

77 

Hancock Whitney Corporation and Subsidiaries 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows  

(in thousands) 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: 

Net income 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided 
   by operating activities: 

Depreciation and amortization 
Provision for credit losses 
(Gain) loss on sale other real estate and foreclosed assets 
Deferred tax expense 
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance contracts 
Gain on sale of Visa Class B common shares 
Loss on sale of securities available for sale 
(Gain) loss on the sale of loans 
Loss on sale of business 
Loss on disposal of other assets 
Net (increase) decrease in loans held for sale 
Net amortization of securities premium/discount 
Amortization of intangible assets 
Amortization of FDIC loss share receivable 
Stock-based compensation expense 
Contribution to pension plan 
Increase (decrease) in interest payable and other liabilities 
Net payments from FDIC for loss share claims 
Decrease in FDIC loss share receivable 
Increase in other assets 
Other, net 

Net cash provided by operating activities 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

$ 

327,380    $ 

323,770    $ 

215,632   

30,902   
47,708   
626   
47,100   
(16,158 ) 
—   
—   
(619 ) 
—   
1,109   
(27,773 ) 
32,166   
20,844   
—   
20,902   
(100,000 ) 
(1,753 ) 
—   
—   
(22,556 ) 
(7,929 ) 
351,949   

26,532   
36,116   
(3,355 ) 
45,214   
(7,850 ) 
(33,229 ) 
25,480   
6,991   
1,145   
1,897   
11,986   
33,161   
22,050   
—   
19,793   
(39,000 ) 
(9,397 ) 
—   
—   
(13,811 ) 
1,691   
449,184   

28,142   
58,968   
(2,839 ) 
49,831   
(14,959 ) 
—   
—   
(3,363 ) 
—   
1,587   
3,317   
33,244   
22,417   
2,427   
17,633   
—   
2,307   
2,299   
8,613   
(9,836 ) 
(4,335 ) 
411,085  

78 

Hancock Whitney Corporation and Subsidiaries  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—(Continued) 

(in thousands) 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: 

Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale 
Proceeds from maturities of securities available for sale 
Purchases of securities available for sale 
Proceeds from maturities of securities held to maturity 
Purchases of securities held to maturity 
Net (increase) decrease in short-term investments 
Proceeds from sale of loans 
Net increase in loans 
Purchase of life insurance contracts 
Proceeds from the sale of Visa Class B shares 
Purchases of property and equipment 
Proceeds from sales of other real estate 
Cash acquired in stock-based business combination 
Consideration (paid) received in business combinations 
Proceeds from the sale of business, net of cash sold 
Other, net 

Net cash used in investing activities 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: 

Net increase (decrease) in deposits 
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings 
Repayments of long-term debt 
Issuance of long-term debt 
Dividends paid 
Payroll tax remitted on net share settlement of equity awards 
Repurchase of common stock 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 
Proceeds from dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan 

Net cash provided by financing activities 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS 
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, BEGINNING 
CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS, ENDING 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION 

Income taxes paid 
Interest paid 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR NON-CASH 
INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES 

Assets acquired in settlement of loans 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

268,413    $ 
294,681   
(1,010,805 ) 
417,520   
(183,626 ) 
281,251   
112,048   
(555,008 ) 
(32,788 ) 
—   
(42,716 ) 
30,658   
28,059   
(1,112 ) 
—   
(65,597 ) 
(459,022 ) 

(627,557 ) 
1,058,748   
(14,222 ) 
20,846   
(94,871 ) 
(6,295 ) 
(185,000 ) 
542   
3,614   
155,805   
48,732   
383,372   
432,104    $ 

455,162    $ 
327,141   
(629,976 ) 
359,312   
(375,770 ) 
(18,710 ) 
166,462   
(1,358,077 ) 
(1,822 ) 
42,858   
(50,664 ) 
17,214   
—   
141,769   
77,648   
551   
(846,902 ) 

679,669   
(114,762 ) 
(90,216 ) 
20,610   
(88,838 ) 
(8,695 ) 
(8,267 ) 
1,232   
3,409   
394,142   
(3,576 ) 
386,948   
383,372    $ 

213,877   
338,843   
(742,279 ) 
373,088   
(863,457 ) 
351,087   
59,483   
(1,051,628 ) 
(50,000 ) 
—   
(20,297 ) 
24,324   
—   
476,609   
—   
(4,971 ) 
(895,321 ) 

900,427   
(118,151 ) 
(204,111 ) 
165   
(83,266 ) 
(11,881 ) 
—   
12,092   
3,220   
498,495   
14,259   
372,689   
386,948   

28,288    $ 

232,456   

7,283    $ 

175,382   

45,092   
108,702   

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

21,285    $ 

22,393    $ 

19,140  

79 

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements 

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS  

Hancock Whitney Corporation (the “Company”) is a financial services company that provides a comprehensive network of full-
service financial choices to customers primarily in the Gulf South region through its bank subsidiary, Hancock Whitney Bank (the 
“Bank”), a Mississippi state bank.  The Bank offers a broad range of traditional and online banking services to commercial, small 
business and retail customers, providing a variety of transaction and savings deposit products, treasury management services, secured 
and unsecured loan products (including revolving credit facilities), and letters of credit and similar financial guarantees. The Bank also 
provides trust and investment management services to retirement plans, corporations and individuals. The Company also offers 
investment brokerage services through its broker-dealer subsidiary, Hancock Whitney Investment Services, Inc., a nonbank subsidiary 
of the holding company. The Company primarily operates across the Gulf South region, including southern Mississippi; southern and 
central Alabama; southern, central and northwest Louisiana; the northern, central, and panhandle regions of Florida; and the certain 
areas of east and northeast Texas including Houston, Beaumont and Dallas, among others. In addition, the Company operates a loan 
production office in Nashville, Tennessee and trust and investment management offices in Texas, New York and New Jersey. 

The Company was organized in 1984 as a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as 
amended and qualified as a financial holding company in 2002. The corporate headquarters of the Company is in Gulfport, 
Mississippi. 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. 
(U.S. GAAP) and those generally practiced within the banking industry. Following is a summary of the more significant accounting 
policies.  

Basis of Presentation 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all other entities in which the Company has a 
controlling interest. Significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period 
amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.    

Use of Estimates 

The accounting principles the Company follows and the methods for applying these principles conform to U.S. GAAP and general 
practices followed by the banking industry. These accounting principles and practices 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.  

Fair Value Accounting 

U.S. GAAP requires the use of fair values in determining the carrying values of certain assets and liabilities in the financial 
statements, as well as for specific disclosures about certain assets and liabilities.  

Accounting guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to these valuation techniques used to measure fair 
value giving preference to quoted prices in active markets (level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs such as a reporting 
entity’s own data or information or assumptions developed from this data (level 3). Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar 
assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, observable inputs 
other than quoted prices, such as interest rates and yield curves, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by 
observable market data by correlation or other means.  

80 

Business Combinations 

Business combinations are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Purchased assets, including identifiable 
intangibles, and assumed liabilities are recorded at their respective acquisition date fair values. If the fair value of net assets purchased 
exceeds the consideration given, a bargain purchase gain is recognized. If the consideration given exceeds the fair value of the net 
assets received or if the fair value of the net liabilities assumed exceeds the consideration received, goodwill is recognized. Fair values 
are subject to refinement for up to one year after the closing date of an acquisition as information relative to closing date fair values 
becomes available. Purchased loans acquired in a business combination are recorded at estimated fair value on their purchase date 
with no carryover of the related allowance for loan losses.  

All identifiable intangible assets that are acquired in a business combination are recognized at the acquisition date fair value. 
Identifiable intangible assets are recognized separately if they arise from contractual or other legal rights or if they are separable (i.e., 
capable of being sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged separately from the entity).  

Cash and Due from Banks 

The Company considers only cash on hand, cash items in process of collection and balances due from financial institutions as cash and 
cash equivalents. 

Securities 

Securities are classified as trading, held to maturity or available for sale. Management determines the appropriate classification of debt 
and equity securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates this classification periodically as conditions change that could require 
reclassification.  

Available for sale securities are stated at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and unrealized holding losses, other than those 
determined to be other than temporary, are reported net of tax in other comprehensive income and in accumulated other 
comprehensive income (“AOCI”) until realized.  

Securities that the Company both positively intends and has the ability to hold to maturity are classified as securities held to maturity 
and are carried at amortized cost. The intent and ability to hold are not considered satisfied when a security is available to be sold in 
response to changes in interest rates, prepayment rates, liquidity needs or other reasons as part of an overall asset/liability management 
strategy.  

Premiums and discounts on securities, both those held to maturity and those available for sale, are amortized and accreted to income 
as an adjustment to the securities’ yields using the effective interest method. Realized gains and losses on securities, including 
declines in value judged to be other than temporary, are reported net as a component of noninterest income. The cost of securities sold 
is specifically identified for use in calculating realized gains and losses.  

Loans  

Loans Held for Sale 

Residential mortgage loans originated for sale are classified as loans held for sale and carried at the lower of cost or market. Forward 
sales commitments on a best-efforts basis are entered into with third parties concurrently with interest rate lock commitments made to 
prospective borrowers. Held for sale loans also includes residential construction loans that are anticipated to be sold upon completion 
of the construction term. At times, management may decide to sell loans that were not originated for that purpose. Those loans are 
reclassified as held for sale when that decision is made and also carried at the lower of cost or market. 

Loans held for investment 

Loans that the Company has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are considered loans 
held for investment and reported as “Loans” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and in the related footnote disclosures.  Loans held 
for investment include loans originated for investment and loans acquired in purchase transactions. 

Originated loans are reported at the principal balance outstanding net of unearned income.  Interest on loans and accretion of unearned 
income, including net deferred loan fees and costs, are computed in a manner that approximates a level yield on recorded principal. 
Interest on loans is recognized in income as earned.  

The accrual of interest on an originated loan is discontinued (“nonaccrual status”) when, in management’s opinion, it is probable that 
the borrower will be unable to meet payment obligations as they become due, as well as when required by regulatory provisions. 
When accrual of interest is discontinued on a loan, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed and payments subsequently received are 
applied first to recover principal. Interest income is recognized for payments received after contractual principal has been satisfied. 
Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest contractually due are brought current and future payment 
performance is reasonably assured.   

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Loans that are acquired in purchase transactions are recorded at estimated fair value at the acquisition date with no carryover of the 
related allowance for loan losses.  Acquired loans are segregated between those considered to be performing (“purchased credit 
performing”) and those with evidence of credit deterioration (“purchased credit impaired”) based on such factors as past due status, 
nonaccrual status and credit risk ratings.  Purchased credit performing loans are accounted for under Accounting Standards 
Codification (“ASC”) 310-20 and purchased credit impaired loans are accounted for under ASC 310-30. Purchased credit impaired 
loans for which the timing and amount of future cash flows cannot be reasonably projected are accounted for using the cost recovery 
method.  

With the exception of those accounted for using the cost recovery method, the acquired loans are further segregated into loan pools 
designed to facilitate the development of expected cash flows to be used in estimating fair value.  The pools are based on common risk 
characteristics such as market area, loan type, credit risk ratings, contractual interest rate, and repayment terms.  Loan types can 
include commercial and industrial loans not secured by real estate, construction and land development loans, commercial real estate 
loans, residential mortgage loans, and consumer loans, with further segregation within certain loan types as needed.  Expected cash 
flows, both principal and interest, from each pool are estimated based on key assumptions covering such factors as prepayments, 
default rates, and severity of loss given a default.  These assumptions are developed using both historical experience and the portfolio 
characteristics at acquisition as well as available market research.  The fair value estimate for each pool is based on the estimate of 
expected cash flows from the pool discounted at prevailing market rates. 

The difference at the acquisition date between the fair value and the contractual amounts due for each purchased credit performing 
loan pool (the “fair value discount”) is accreted into income over the estimated life of the pool.  Purchased credit performing loans are 
placed on nonaccrual status and reported as nonperforming or past due using the same criteria applied to the originated portfolio.   

The excess of estimated cash flows expected to be collected from each purchased credit impaired loan pool over the pool’s carrying 
value is referred to as the accretable yield and is recognized in interest income using an effective yield method over the expected life 
of the pool.  Each pool of purchased credit impaired loans is accounted for as a single asset with a single composite interest rate and an 
aggregate expectation of cash flows.  Purchased credit impaired loans in pools with an accretable yield and expected cash flows that 
are reasonably estimable are considered to be accruing and performing even though collection of contractual payments on loans within 
the pool may be in doubt.  Purchased credit impaired loans accounted for in pools are generally not subject to individual evaluation for 
impairment and are not reported with impaired loans or troubled debt restructurings even if they would otherwise qualify for such 
treatment. 

Impaired Loans 

The Company considers a loan to be impaired when, based upon current information and events, it believes it is probable all amounts 
due according to the contractual terms of the loans agreement will not be collected.  A loan is not considered impaired due to a delay 
in payment if all amounts due, including interest accrued at the contractual interest rate of the period of delay, is expected to be 
collected.  Impaired loans include loans on nonaccrual, certain purchased credit impaired loans accounted for using the cost recovery 
method, and loans modified in troubled debt restructurings (defined below), both accruing and nonaccrual statuses.  Purchased credit 
impaired loans accounted for in pools with an accretable yield are considered performing and excluded from impaired loans as this 
accounting methodology takes into consideration expected future credit losses.  

Troubled Debt Restructurings 

Troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) occur when a borrower is experiencing, or is expected to experience, financial difficulties in the 
near-term and a modification in loan terms is granted that would otherwise not have been considered.  

Troubled debt restructurings can result in loans remaining on nonaccrual, moving to nonaccrual, or continuing to accrue, depending on 
the individual facts and circumstances of the borrower. All loans whose terms have been modified in a TDR, including both 
commercial and retail loans, are reported as “impaired.” When measuring impairment on a TDR, the loan’s value is determined by 
either the present value of expected cash flows calculated using the loan’s effective interest rate before the restructuring, or the loan’s 
observable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. If the value as determined is less than the 
recorded investment in the loan, the difference is charged off through the allowance for loan and lease losses. Modified acquired-
impaired loans are not removed from their accounting pool and accounted for as a TDR even if those loans would otherwise be 
deemed TDRs.  

82 

Allowance for Credit Losses 

The Allowance for Credit Losses (ACL) is comprised of the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses (ALLL), a valuation account 
available to absorb losses on loans and the Reserve for Unfunded Lending Commitments, a liability established to absorb credit losses 
on off-balance sheet exposures. The ACL is established and maintained at an amount sufficient to cover estimated credit losses 
inherent in the loan and lease portfolios and off balance sheet exposures 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 inherent losses in the portfolio and unfunded 
exposures 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 ACL include two primary elements: A loss rate analysis, which incorporates a 
historical loss rate as updated for current conditions, is used for credits collectively evaluated for impairment; and a specific reserve 
analysis is used for credits individually evaluated for impairment. For the loss rate analysis, the Company segments loans into 
commercial non-real estate, commercial real estate – owner occupied, commercial real estate – income producing, construction and 
land development, residential mortgage and consumer, with further segmentation as deemed appropriate. Both quantitative and 
qualitative factors are applied at the detailed portfolio segments. Commercial loans (commercial non-real estate, commercial real 
estate – owner occupied, commercial real estate – income producing and construction and land development), are further subdivided 
by risk rating, while retail loans (residential mortgage and consumer) are further subdivided by delinquency. The Company uses loss 
emergence periods developed based on historical experience, which is currently 24 months for commercial loans and twelve to 
eighteen months for retail and residential mortgage loans. Historical loss rates are calculated using a weighted average of the loss 
emergence periods in the historical look back period. As circumstances dictate, management will make adjustments to the overall loss 
rate 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.  

When a loan is determined to be impaired, the amount of impairment is recognized by creating a specific allowance for any shortfall 
between the loan’s value and its recorded investment. The loan’s value is measured by either the loan’s observable market price, the 
fair value of the collateral of the loan (less liquidation costs) if it is collateral dependent, or by the present value of expected future 
cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate. Loans individually analyzed for impairment are not incorporated into the 
pool analysis to avoid double counting. The Company limits the specific reserve analysis to include all impaired commercial and 
residential mortgage loans with relationship balances of $1 million or greater and all loans classified as troubled debt restructurings.  

The monitoring of credit risk also extends to unfunded credit commitments, such as unused commercial credit lines and letters of 
credit, and management establishes reserves as needed for its estimate of probable losses on such commitments. Similar to funded 
loans, the methodology for estimating losses for the reserve for unfunded lending commitments includes a collective review as well as 
individual evaluations of impaired borrowers. The reserve for unfunded lending commitments is reflected in other liabilities in the 
consolidated balance sheets. 

It is the policy of the Company to promptly charge off all commercial and residential mortgage loans, or portions of loans, when 
available information reasonably confirms that they are wholly or partially uncollectible. Prior to recognizing a loss, asset value is 
established based on an assessment of the value of the collateral securing the loan, the borrower’s and the guarantor’s ability and 
willingness to pay and the status of the account in bankruptcy court, if applicable. Consumer loans are generally charged down when 
the loan is 120 days past due for most secured and unsecured loans and 150 days past due for consumer credit card loans, unless the 
loan is clearly both well secured and in the process of collection. Loans are charged down to the fair value of the collateral, if any, less 
estimated selling costs. Loans are charged off against the allowance for loan losses with subsequent recoveries added back to the 
allowance.  

Allowance for purchased credit performing loans is evaluated at each reporting date subsequent to acquisition.  An allowance is 
determined for each loan pool using a methodology similar to that described above for originated loans and then compared to the 
remaining fair value discount for that pool.  If the allowance is greater than the discount, the excess is recognized as an addition to the 
allowance through a provision for loan losses.  If the allowance is less than the discount, no additional allowance is recognized. 

For purchased credit impaired loans accounted for in pools, estimated cash flows expected to be collected are recast at each reporting 
date for each loan pool that is material individually or in the aggregate. These evaluations require the continued use and updating of 
key assumptions and estimates such as default rates, loss severity given default and prepayment speed assumptions, similar to those 
used for the initial fair value estimate.  Management’s judgment must be applied in developing these assumptions.  If the present value 
of expected cash flows for a pool is less than its carrying value, impairment is recognized by an increase in the allowance for loan 
losses and a charge to the provision for loan losses. If the present value of expected cash flows for a pool is greater than its carrying 

83 

value, any previously established allowance for loan losses is reversed and any remaining difference increases the accretable yield 
which will be taken into interest income over the remaining life of the loan pool.   

Property and Equipment 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is charged to expense 
using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are up to 30 years for buildings and three to ten 
years for most furniture and equipment. Amortization expense for software is generally charged over three years, or seven years for 
core systems. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the terms of the respective leases or the estimated useful lives of the 
improvements, whichever is shorter. The Company evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate that such 
long-lived assets have been impaired. Measurement of any impairment of such long-lived assets is based on their fair values.  

Property and equipment used in operations is considered held for sale when certain criteria are met, including when management has 
committed to a plan to sell the asset, the asset is available for sale in its immediate condition, and the sale is probable within one year 
of the reporting date. Assets held for sale are reported at the lower of cost or fair value less costs to sell. Gains and losses related to 
retirement or disposition of property and equipment are recorded in other income under noninterest income on the consolidated 
statements of income as realized.  

Operating Leases 

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the amended provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842, 
“Leases,” using the modified retrospective approach, impacting the reporting and disclosures for operating leases. Under the revised 
standard, the Company recognizes a liability representing the present value of future lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-
use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset over the lease term in the statement of financial position. 

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception of the contract and assesses the appropriate classification as finance 
or operating. Operating leases with terms greater than one year are included in right-of-use lease assets and lease obligations on the 
Company’s balance sheets. The lease term includes payments to be made in optional or renewal periods only if the lessee is 
reasonably certain to exercise an option to extend the lease or not to exercise an option to terminate the lease.  Operating lease right-
of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term 
using the interest rate implicit in the contract, when available, or the Company’s incremental collateralized borrowing rate with similar 
terms. Agreements with both lease and non-lease components are accounted for separately, with only the lease component capitalized. 
The right-of-use asset is the amount of the lease liability adjusted for prepaid or accrued lease payments, remaining balance of any 
lease incentives received, unamortized initial direct costs, and impairment. Lease expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the 
lease term through amortization of the right-of-use asset plus implicit interest accreted on the operating lease liability obligation, and 
is reflected in Net Occupancy Expense in the Consolidated Statement of Income.  

The Company evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate right-of-use assets have been impaired. 
Measurement of any impairment of such assets is based on their fair values. Once a right-of-use asset for an operating lease is 
impaired, the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset is reduced through expense and the remaining balance is subsequently 
amortized on a straight-line basis. 

Some of the Company’s leases contain variable components, such as annual changes to rent based on the consumer price index. 
Operating lease liabilities are not re-measured as a result of changes to variable components unless the lease must be re-measured for 
some other reason such as a renewal that was not reasonably certain of being exercised. Changes to the variable components are 
treated as variable lease payments and recognized in the period in which the obligation for those payments was incurred.  

The Company elected to use the standard’s “package of practical expedients,” which allows the use of previous conclusions about 
lease identification, lease classification and the accounting treatment for initial direct costs. The Company also elected the short-term 
lease recognition exemption for all leases with lease terms of one year or less; as such, the Company will not recognize right-of-use 
assets or lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet for such leases.  

For periods prior to January 1, 2019, lease accounting was in accordance with the previously effective guidance of Financial 
Accounting Standard Codification Topic 840, “Leases,” where operating lease cost were expensed as incurred and non-cancellable 
future minimum operating lease payments were presented for disclosure only.    

Other Real Estate and Foreclosed Assets 

Other real estate and foreclosed assets includes real property and other assets that have been acquired in satisfaction of loans, and real 
property no longer used in the Bank’s business. These assets are recorded at the estimated fair value less the estimated cost of 
disposition and carried at the lower of either cost or market. Fair value is based on independent appraisals and other relevant factors. 
Any initial reduction in the carrying amount of a loan to the fair value of the collateral received less selling costs is charged to the 
allowance for loan losses. Each asset is revalued on an annual basis, or more often if market conditions necessitate. Subsequent losses 

84 

on the periodic revaluation of these assets and gains or losses recognized on disposition are charged to current earnings, as are 
revenues from and costs of operating and maintaining real property; with the resulting net (income) expense reflected in noninterest 
expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Improvements made to real property are capitalized if the expenditures are 
expected to be recovered upon the sale of the property.  

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets 

Goodwill represents the excess of consideration paid over the fair value of net assets acquired or the excess of the fair value liabilities 
assumed over consideration received in a business combination.  Goodwill is not amortized but is assessed for impairment on an 
annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment.  The impairment test compares the estimated 
fair value of a reporting unit with its net book value.  The Company has assigned all goodwill to one reporting unit that represents 
overall banking operations. The fair value of the reporting unit is based on valuation techniques that market participants would use in 
an acquisition of the whole unit, and may include analysis such as estimated discounted cash flows, the quoted market price of the 
Company’s stock, adjusted for a control premium, and observable average price-to-earnings and price-to-book multiples of 
competitors.  If the unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value, an estimate of the implied fair value of the goodwill is compared to 
the goodwill’s carrying value, and any impairment recognized. 

Other identifiable intangible assets with finite lives, such as core deposit intangibles, customer lists and trade name, are initially 
recorded at fair value and are generally amortized over the periods benefited. These assets are evaluated for impairment in a similar 
manner to long-lived assets.  

Life Insurance Contracts 

Bank-owned life insurance contracts (BOLI) are comprised of long-term life insurance contracts on the lives of certain current and 
past employees where the insurance policy benefits and ownership are retained by the employer. Its cash surrender value is an asset 
that the Company uses to partially offset the future cost of employee benefits. The cash value accumulation on BOLI is permanently 
tax deferred if the policy is held to the insured person’s death and certain other conditions are met.  

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities 

The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value as components of other assets and other liabilities. The 
accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected 
to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the 
criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair 
value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value 
hedges. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of 
forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain 
or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that 
are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow 
hedge.  

For derivatives designated as hedging the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset or liability (fair value hedge), the gain or 
loss is recognized in earnings in the period of the fair value change together with the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item 
attributable to the risk being hedged. Derivatives designated as hedging exposure to variable cash flows of a forecasted transaction 
(cash flow hedge), are reported as a component of other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the 
forecasted transaction affects earnings or in certain circumstances, when the hedge is terminated, with the full impact of hedge gains 
and losses recognized in the period in which the hedged transaction impacts the entity’s earnings. For derivatives that are not 
designated as hedging instruments, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recognized in earnings immediately. Note 11 - 
Derivatives describes the derivative instruments currently used by the Company and discloses how these derivatives impact the 
Company’s financial position and results of operations.  

85 

Stockholders’ Equity 

Common stock reflects shares issued at par value.  Repurchase of the Company’s common stock (treasury stock) is recorded at cost as 
a reduction of stockholders’ equity within capital surplus in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Statements of 
Changes in Stockholders’ Equity.  When treasury shares are subsequently reissued, treasury stock is reduced by the cost of such stock 
using the first-in-first-out method, with the difference recorded in capital surplus or retained earnings, as applicable. 

Revenue Recognition 

Interest Income 

Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis driven by written contracts, such as loan agreements or securities contracts. Loan 
origination fees and costs are recognized over the life of the loan as an adjustment to yield.  

Service Charges on Deposit Accounts 

Service charges on deposit accounts include transaction based fees for non-sufficient funds, account analysis fees, and other service 
charges on deposits, including monthly account service fees. Non-sufficient funds fees are recognized at the time when the account 
overdraft occurs in accordance with regulatory guidelines.  Account analysis fees consist of fees charged on certain business deposit 
accounts based upon account activity as well as other monthly account fees, and are recorded under the accrual method of accounting 
as services are performed.   

Other service charges are earned by providing depositors safeguard and remittance of funds as well as by providing other elective 
services for depositors that are performed upon the depositor’s request. Charges for deposit services for the safeguard and remittance 
of funds are recognized at the end of the statement cycle, after services are provided, as the customer retains funds in the account. 
Revenue for other elective services is earned at the point in time the customer uses the service. 

Trust Fees 

Trust fee income represents revenue generated from asset management services provided to individuals, businesses, and institutions. 
The Company has a fiduciary responsibility to the beneficiary of the trust to perform agreed upon services which can include investing 
assets, periodic reporting, and providing tax information regarding the trust. In exchange for these trust and custodial services, the 
Company collects fee income from beneficiaries as contractually determined via fee schedules. The Company’s performance 
obligation is primarily satisfied over time as the services are performed and provided to the customer.  These fees are recorded under 
the accrual method of accounting as the services are performed.  The Company generally acts as the principal in these transactions and 
records revenue and expenses on a gross basis.   

Bank Card and Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”) Fees 

Bank card and ATM fees include credit card, debit card and ATM transaction revenue. The majority of this revenue is card 
interchange fees earned through a third party network. Performance obligations are satisfied for each transaction when the card is used 
and the funds are remitted. The network establishes interchange fees that the merchant remits for each transaction, and costs are 
incurred from the network for facilitating the interchange with the merchant.  Card fees also include merchant services fees earned for 
providing merchants with card processing capabilities.    

ATM income is generated from allowing customers to withdraw funds from other banks’ machines and from allowing a non-customer 
cardholder to withdraw funds from the Company’s machines. The Company satisfies its performance obligations for each transaction 
at the point in time that the withdrawal is processed.  

Bank card and ATM fee income is recorded on accrual basis as services are provided with the related expense reflected in data 
processing expense.   

86 

Investment and Annuity Fees and Insurance Commissions 

Investment and annuity services fee income represents income earned from investment and advisory services. The Company provides 
its customers with access to investment products through the use of third party carriers to meet their financial needs and investment 
objectives. Upon selection of an investment product, the customer enters into a policy with the carrier. The performance obligation is 
satisfied by fulfilling its responsibility to acquire the investment for which a commission fee is earned from the carrier based on 
agreed-upon fee percentages on a trade date basis. The Company has a contractual relationship with a third party broker dealer to 
provide full service brokerage and investment advisory activities. As the agent in the arrangement, the Company recognizes the 
investment services commissions on a net basis.  Investment revenue also includes portfolio management fees, which represent 
monthly fees charged on a contractual basis to customers for the management of their investment portfolios and are recorded under the 
accrual method of accounting on a gross basis, with expenses recorded in the appropriate expense line item.   

This revenue line item includes investment banking income, which includes fees for services arising from securities offerings or 
placements in which the Company acts as a principal. Revenue is recognized at the time the underwriting is completed and the 
revenue is reasonably determinable.  Any costs associated with these transactions are reflected in the appropriate expense line item. 

Insurance commission revenue is recognized on a gross basis as of the effective date of the insurance policy as the Company’s 
performance obligation is connecting the customer to the insurance products.  The Company also receives contingent commissions 
from insurance companies as additional incentive for achieving specified premium volume goals and/or the loss experience of the 
insurance placed. Contingent commissions from insurance companies are recognized when determinable, which is generally when 
such commissions are received or when we receive data from the insurance companies that allows the reasonable estimation of these 
amounts. Any costs associated with these transactions are reflected in the appropriate expense line item. 

Secondary Mortgage Market Operations 

Secondary mortgage market operations revenue is primarily comprised of service release premiums earned on the sale of closed-end 
mortgage loans to other financial institutions or government agencies that are recognized in revenue as each sales transaction occurs. 

Net Gain (Loss) on Sales of Assets 

Net gain (loss) on sales of assets reflects the excess (deficiency) of proceeds received over the carrying amount of assets sold plus cost 
to sell for various assets other than foreclosed real estate. Gain or loss on the sale of assets are recognized as each transaction occurs. 

Securities Transactions 

Securities transactions includes net realized gain (losses) on securities sold reflecting the excess (deficiency) of proceeds received over 
the specifically identified carrying amount of the assets being sold plus cost to sell.  Securities sales are recorded as each transaction 
occurs on a trade-date basis.  Securities transactions also include declines in fair value for both available for sale and held to maturity 
securities when those declines are deemed to be other than temporary.   

Income from Bank-Owned Life Insurance 

Bank-owned life insurance income primarily represents income earned from the appreciation of the cash surrender value of insurance 
contracts held and the proceeds of insurance benefits. Revenue from the proceeds of insurance benefits is recognized at the time a 
claim is confirmed. 

Credit Related Fees  

Credit-related fee income includes letters of credit fees and unused commercial commitment fees. Revenue for letters of credit fees is 
recognized over time. Revenue for unused commercial commitment fees are recognized based on contractual terms, generally when 
collected. 

Income from Derivatives 

Income from derivatives consists primarily of income from interest rate swaps, net of fair value adjustments for customer derivatives 
and the related offsetting agreements with unrelated financial institutions for which the derivative instruments are not designated as 
hedges.  

87 

Other Miscellaneous Income 

Other miscellaneous income represents a variety of revenue streams, including safe deposit box income, wire transfer fees, syndication 
fees and any other income not reflected above.  Income is recorded once the performance obligation is satisfied, generally on the 
accrual basis or on a cash basis if not material and/or considered constrained. 

Advertising Costs 

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and recorded as a component of noninterest expense. 

Income Taxes  

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Current tax liabilities or assets are recognized for the estimated 
income taxes payable or refundable on tax returns to be filed with respect to the current year. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are 
based on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of the Company’s assets and 
liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years 
in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled. Valuation allowances are established against deferred tax 
assets if, based on all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the assets will not be realized. The benefit of a 
position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return is recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on 
its technical merits.  The effects of changes in tax rates and laws upon deferred tax balances are recognized in the period in which the 
legislation is enacted.  

The Company makes investments that generate investment tax credits (ITC).  The Company uses the deferral method of accounting 
whereby the tax benefit from the investment tax credits is recognized as a reduction of the book basis of the related asset and is 
amortized into income over the tax life of the underlying investment. 

The Company also made investments in projects that yield tax credits issued under the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) and 
Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCB) prior to December 31, 2017, as well as Federal and state New Market Tax Credit 
(NMTC) programs. Returns on these investments are generated through the receipt of federal and state tax credits. The tax credits are 
recorded as a reduction to the income tax provision in the year that they are earned. Tax credits from QZAB and QSCB bonds are 
generally earned over the life of the bonds in lieu of interest income. Credits on Federal NMTC investments are earned over the seven- 
year compliance period beginning with the year of investment. Credits on State NMTC investments are generally earned over a three 
to five-year period depending upon the specific state program. For investments where the return of the principal is not expected, the 
equity investment is amortized over the life of the tax compliance period as a component of noninterest expense.  

The Company also invests in affordable housing projects that generate low-income tax credits (LIHTC) that are earned over a 10-year 
period, beginning with the year the rental activity begins. The proportional amortization method is used for investments in affordable 
housing projects that qualify for LIHTC when the Company, as the investor, does not have significant influence over such projects. 
For such projects, the investment is proportionally amortized over the same period as the expected tax benefits from the underlying 
projects as a component of the income tax provision. If needed, write-downs of LIHTC investments are also presented as a component 
of the income tax provision, on a net basis with the amortization. Should the Company have significant influence over projects, the 
cost or equity method of accounting is used and investment amortization is a component of noninterest expense. The significant 
influence criteria that enables use of the proportional amortization method is reevaluated if events occur that change the Company’s 
influence on the project. The Company currently only has LIHTC investments accounted for under the proportional method of 
accounting.  

With the exception of QZAB and QSCB tax credits, all of the tax credits described above can be carried back one-year and carried 
forward 20 years if the credit cannot be fully used in the year the credits first become available for use. QZAB and QSCB tax credits 
generally can be carried forward indefinitely if they cannot be fully used in the year the credits are generated. 

Retirement Benefits 

The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans and certain other defined benefit postretirement plans for eligible employees. 
The amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements with respect to these plans are based on actuarial valuations that 
incorporate various assumptions regarding future experience under the plans. Note 17 – Retirement Benefit Plans discusses the 
actuarial assumptions and provides information about the liabilities or assets recognized for the funded status of the Company’s 
obligations under these plans, the net benefit expense charged to current operations, and the amounts recognized as a component of 
other comprehensive income loss and AOCI.  

88 

Share-Based Payment Arrangements 

The grant date fair value of equity instruments awarded to employees and directors establishes the cost of the services received in 
exchange, and the cost associated with awards that are expected to vest is recognized over the requisite service period.  Share-based 
compensation for service-based awards that contain a graded vesting schedule is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite 
service period for the entire award. Forfeitures of unvested awards are recognized in earnings in the period in which they occur. Refer 
to Note 18 – Share-Based Payment Arrangements for additional information. 

Earnings per Share 

The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method. The two-class method allocates net income to each class of 
common stock and participating security according to the common dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed 
earnings. Participating securities currently consist of unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to 
dividends or dividend equivalents.  

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income applicable to common shareholders by the weighted-average 
number of common shares outstanding for the applicable period. Shares outstanding exclude treasury shares and unvested share-based 
payment awards under long-term incentive compensation plans and directors’ compensation plans. Diluted earnings per common 
share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding increased by the number of shares in which 
employees would vest under performance-based stock awards and stock unit awards based on expected performance factors and by the 
number of additional shares that would have been issued if potentially dilutive stock options were exercised, each as determined using 
the treasury stock method.  

Reportable Segment Disclosures 

Accounting standards require that information be reported about a company’s operating segments using a “management approach.” 
Reportable segments are identified in these standards as those revenue-producing components for which discrete financial information 
is produced internally and which are subject to evaluation by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources 
to segments. The Company’s stated strategy is to provide a consistent package of banking products and services throughout a coherent 
market area; as such, the Company has identified its overall banking operations as its only reportable segment. Because the overall 
banking operations comprise substantially all of the Company’s consolidated operations, no separate segment disclosures are 
presented.  

Other  

Assets held by the Bank in a fiduciary capacity are not assets of the Bank and are not included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. 

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS  

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2019 

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, 
“Leases (Topic 842),” to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities 
on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. With the exception of short-term leases, lessees are 
required to recognize a lease liability representing the lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a 
discounted basis, and a right-of-use asset representing the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term 
upon adoption. Lessor accounting was largely unchanged under the new guidance, except for clarification of the definition of initial 
direct costs which provided additional guidance on the timing of recognition of those costs. Subsequent to the issuance of this update, 
the FASB issued three additional ASUs that provide codification improvements and certain transition elections, including ASU 2018-
11, which permits an additional transition method whereby an entity may elect to record a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening 
balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company was required to and did adopt the standard effective January 1, 
2019, using the modified retrospective transition method permitted by ASU 2018-11. Thus, the Company’s reporting for the 
comparative periods presented in the financial statements and disclosures continues to be in accordance with GAAP Topic 840. Upon 
adoption, the Company recorded a gross-up of assets and liabilities in its Consolidated Balance Sheet, with $116.3 million for right of 
use assets and $131.1 million of lease payment obligations offset by the elimination of $14.8 million of existing lease incentive and 
other deferred rent liabilities. Accounting for leases in accordance with Topic 842 has not had a material impact upon the Company’s 
consolidated results of operations, and is not expected to in future periods. Refer to the “Operating Lease” section of this note for 
information regarding accounting policy and operating lease practical expedient elections at adoption, and Note 6 – Operating Leases 
for further information related to the Company’s lease contracts and assets at December 31, 2019. 

In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, 
Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments.” The Update provides clarification and correction to 
certain areas of previously issued ASUs concerning financial instruments (2016-01, 2016-13 and 2017-12). Effective dates for 

89 

adoption of this Update’s provisions vary in accordance with the effective dates and adoption status of the amended ASUs. Clarifying 
guidance includes an amendment to update transition provisions related to a one-time election to reclassify debt securities from held to 
maturity to available for sale where the debt securities are eligible to be hedged under the last-of-layer method in accordance with 
Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The clarification included the following related to the transfer election and reclassified 
securities:  (1) the transfer does not call into question an entity’s assertion to hold to maturity those debt securities that continue to be 
classified as held-to-maturity (2) the securities are not required to be designated in a last-of-layer hedging relationship (3) the 
securities may be sold by an entity after reclassification. During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company exercised the one-time 
election to transfer securities with an amortized cost of approximately $1.2 billion from its held to maturity portfolio to its available 
for sale portfolio. Refer to Note 3 – Securities for further information about the Company’s investment securities. 

Issued but Not Yet Adopted Accounting Standards 

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740).”  The amendments in 
this Update are meant to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to GAAP. The amendments also 
improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP by modifying and/or revising the accounting for certain income tax transactions 
and by clarifying certain existing codification. The amendments in the update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years 
and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company is currently assessing the impact of 
adoption of this guidance, but does not expect the update to have a material impact upon its financial position and results of 
operations. 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – General (Subtopic 
715-20): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans.” The amendments in this
Update modify certain disclosure requirements by removing disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, clarifying
specific requirements of disclosures, and adding disclosure requirements identified as relevant. The amendments in this Update are
effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020 for public business entities, and early adoption is permitted. The Company
will modify its pension and postretirement plan disclosures upon adoption of this guidance. Adoption of this guidance will have no
impact upon the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the 
Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” The amendments in this Update modify certain disclosure requirements on 
fair value measurements set forth in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements. In addition, the amendments in this Update eliminate the 
phrase “an entity shall disclose at a minimum” to promote the appropriate exercise of discretion by entities when considering fair 
value measurement disclosures to clarify that materiality is an appropriate consideration of entities and their auditors when evaluating 
disclosure requirements. The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those 
fiscal years, beginning after December 31, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. The Company will modify its fair value 
measurements disclosures upon adoption of this guidance. Adoption of this guidance will have no impact upon the Company’s results 
of operations or financial condition. 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on 
Financial Instruments.” The ASU, more commonly referred to as Current Expected Credit Losses, or CECL, requires the measurement 
of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and 
reasonable and supportable forecasts. Financial institutions and other organizations are required to use forward-looking information to 
inform their credit loss estimates. Many of the loss estimation techniques currently applied will still be permitted, although the inputs 
to those techniques will change to reflect the full amount of expected credit losses. Organizations will continue to use judgment to 
determine which loss estimation method is appropriate for their circumstances. In addition, the ASU amends the accounting for credit 
losses on debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. The ASU is effective for public business entities for 
fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with a cumulative-effect adjustment to 
retained earnings for non-purchased credit impaired loans as of the beginning of the year of adoption. For purchased credit impaired 
loans, there is no impact to retained earnings upon adoption; rather, the entity will reclassify a portion of the purchase accounting fair 
value mark to allowance for credit losses as of the beginning of the year of adoption.  

The Company expects adoption of this guidance, pending final approval through our governance process, to result in a $76.7 million 
increase in allowance for credit losses on January 1, 2020, comprised of increases in the ALLL of $49.4 million and the reserve for 
unfunded lending commitments of $27.3 million, with $19.8 million of the ALLL increase reclassified from the fair value mark for 
acquired impaired loans considered purchased credit deteriorated under the new guidance, and resulting in a cumulative-effect 
adjustment to retained earnings (net of tax) of $44.1 million. Calculated credit losses on held to maturity debt securities were not 
material and there was no impact to the Company’s available for sale portfolio or other financial instruments.  

The Company’s CECL allowance for credit losses estimates loan and unfunded exposures over a two-year reasonable and supportable 
forecast period utilizing the weighted average of a range of macroeconomic scenarios, and then reverts to longer historical loss 

90 

experience to estimate losses for the remaining life. The Company utilizes internally developed credit models and third party 
economic forecasts for the calculation of the reasonable supportable forecast for the majority of the portfolio and other methods, 
generally historical loss based, for select portfolios. The credit models consist primarily of multivariate regression and autoregressive 
models that correlate historical net charge-off rates to select macroeconomic variables at a collective-level, using similar portfolio and 
regional aggregation as the incurred methodology. Forward-looking macroeconomic forecasts are applied as inputs to the regression 
equations to estimate quarterly pooled net charge-off rates over the reasonable and supportable period. The net charge-off rates from 
the credit models or, for the post reasonable supportable period, the portfolios’ long-term average loss rates are applied to the balance 
run-off forecasts. The balance run-off forecast incorporates prepayment assumptions developed using historical experience using the 
same macroeconomic forecasts as the credit models. Forecasted net charge-off rates are also applied to forecasted draws and 
subsequent run-off of unfunded commitments that are also based on historical experience. Qualitative adjustments to the output of 
quantitative results are made using the same factors for consideration as under the current incurred methodology. The Company also 
continues to establish specific reserves on individually evaluated nonaccrual and loans modified in troubled debt restructures as these 
loans are deemed to not share risk characteristics with other financial assets, largely unchanged from the incurred process.    

Note 2. Acquisitions and Divestiture 

Acquisitions 

MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. 

On September 21, 2019, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding common stock of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. 
(“MidSouth”) (NYSE: MSL), parent company of MidSouth Bank, N.A. The acquisition provides the Company opportunity for both 
enhanced growth in several of its current markets, such as MidSouth’s home market of Lafayette, Louisiana, as well as opportunities 
for expansion into new markets in Louisiana and Texas. The transaction was accounted for as a business combination whereby the 
Company acquired net assets with an estimated fair value of $130.5 million and recorded goodwill of $63.4 million. In consideration 
for the net assets acquired, the Company issued approximately 5.0 million shares of common stock, resulting in a transaction value of 
$193.8 million.  

Due to the close proximity to the acquisition date, certain acquisition-date fair value measurements have not been finalized and are 
subject to change. As the Company obtains the information related to facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date, 
provisional measurements will be finalized, and any adjustments, if necessary, will be included in the allocation in the reporting period 
in which the final amounts are determined, not to exceed one year from the acquisition date. The following table sets forth the 
preliminary acquisition date fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and the resulting goodwill. The goodwill is not 
deductible for federal income tax purposes.  

(in thousands) 
ASSETS 
Cash and due from banks 
Interest bearing bank deposits 
Federal funds sold 
Securities available for sale 
Loans 
Property and equipment 
Other real estate 
Identifiable intangible assets 
Other assets 

Total identifiable assets 

LIABILITIES 
Deposit liabilities 
Short term borrowings 
Long term debt 
Other liabilities 

Total liabilities 
Net assets acquired 
Value of stock-based consideration 
Goodwill 

91 

$ 

$ 

28,059   
276,911   
3,475   
272,240   
787,628   
34,288   
343   
31,500   
79,888   
1,514,332   

1,280,947   
66,996   
13,919   
21,990   
1,383,852   
130,480   
193,849   
63,369  

The loans acquired were recorded at an estimated fair value at the acquisition date using a loss adjusted cash flow method, with no 
carryover of the related allowance for loan losses. Acquired loans are classified as either purchased credit performing or purchased 
credit impaired based on such factors as past due status, nonaccrual status and internal risk rating. Loans considered to be purchased 
credit performing were accounted for under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 310-20. The purchased credit performing 
loans had a book balance of $686.0 million, of which $18.8 million is not expected to be collected, and an estimated fair value of 
$667.1 million. Loans considered to be purchased credit impaired were accounted for under ASC 310-30 using the expected cash flow 
method. The purchased credit impaired loans had a book balance of $143.9 million and an estimated fair value of $120.5 million.  

The securities available for sale portfolio consisted primarily of collateralized mortgage obligations and mortgaged backed securities. 
Substantially all of the portfolio acquired was sold prior to December 31, 2019.   

The core deposit intangible asset of $31.5 million represents the value of the relationships with deposit customers based on the 
favorable source of funds method. The core deposit intangible will be amortized using sum of years’ digits over the asset’s estimated 
life of 15 years.  

Short-term borrowings consisted of customer repurchase agreements of $39.5 million and two FHLB advances totaling $27.5 million. 
The FHLB advances had 30 day maturities with fixed interest rates of 2.16%.  

Long-term debt consisted of three trust preferred debentures with maturities through 2037; however, each was callable and were 
eligible for redemption at the Company’s election. The Company redeemed each debenture in full prior to December 31, 2019.  

The operating results of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2019 includes the results from the operations of the acquired 
business from the date of acquisition. The results of the acquired business are not material to the Company’s consolidated results of 
operations and, as such, neither supplemental pro forma information of the combined entity nor revenue and earnings contributed by 
the acquired business since the date of acquisition are presented.  

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company incurred acquisition related costs of approximately $32.7 million. The 
following table presents the acquisition related costs by component: 

(in thousands) 
Personnel expense 
Net occupancy and equipment expense 
Professional services expense 
Data processing expense 
Other real estate 
Advertising expense 
Other expense 
Total merger-related expenses 

$ 

$ 

7,506   
1,464   
7,075   
1,092   
130   
2,581   
12,818   
32,666  

Personnel expense includes severance and change in control costs. Professional services expense includes legal and consulting costs, 
including costs associated with systems conversion. Other expense includes contract and lease termination fees and other transaction-
related costs.  

92 

Trust and Asset Management Business 

On July 13, 2018, the Company acquired the bank-managed high net worth individual and institutional investment management and 
trust business of Capital One, National Association (“Capital One”).  The transaction added assets under management of $4 billion 
and assets under management and administration of $10.4 billion to the Company’s existing trust and asset management business.  In 
addition, the Company assumed approximately $217 million of customer deposit liabilities. The following table sets forth the 
acquisition date fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed, the consideration received, and the resulting goodwill. 
The goodwill is deductible for federal income tax purposes.  

(in thousands) 
ASSETS 
Accounts receivable 
Identifiable intangible assets 
Total identifiable assets 

LIABILITIES 
Deposit liabilities 
Other liabilities 

Total liabilities 
Net liabilities assumed 
Consideration received 
Goodwill 

$ 

$ 

2,803   
27,562   
30,365   

217,432   
151   
217,583   
(187,218 ) 
140,657   
46,561   

Identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships that are being amortized using an accelerated method based on forecasted 
cash flows over a useful life of approximately 17 years.  

The operating results of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 includes the results from the operations of the 
acquired trust and asset management business from the date of acquisition. The results are not material to the Company’s results of 
operations and, as such, supplemental proforma financial information for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 is not 
presented. During year ended December 31, 2018, the Company incurred acquisition related costs of approximately $6.2 million. 

Goodwill Resulting from Business Combinations 

Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the net assets acquired or the excess of the fair 
value of net liabilities assumed over the consideration received. It is comprised of estimated future economic benefits arising from the 
transaction that cannot be individually identified or do not qualify for separate recognition. These benefits include expanded presence 
in existing markets and entry into new markets, and expected earnings streams and operational efficiencies that the Company believes 
will result from these business combinations.  

The following table illustrates the change in the Company’s goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018: 

 (in thousands) 
Goodwill balance at December 31, 2017 
Additions and adjustments: 

Initial goodwill recorded in acquisition of trust and asset management business 
Measurement period adjustments - acquisition of trust and asset management business 

Goodwill balance at December 31, 2018 
Additions and adjustments: 

Final settlement of cash consideration - acquisition of trust and asset management business 
Initial goodwill recorded in acquisition of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. 
Measurement period adjustments - acquisition of MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. 

Goodwill balance at December 31, 2019 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

745,523   

45,634   
(185 ) 
790,972   

1,112   
69,207   
(5,838 ) 
855,453  

93 

Divestiture 

On March 9, 2018, the Company sold its consumer finance subsidiary, Harrison Finance Company. The Company received cash of 
approximately $78.9 million and recorded a loss on the sale of $1.1 million.  

Note 3. Securities 

The amortized cost and fair value of securities classified as available for sale and held to maturity at December 31, 2019 and 2018 
follow.  

Securities Available for Sale 

(in thousands) 
U.S. Treasury and government agency 
   securities 
Municipal obligations 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Collateralized mortgage obligations 
Corporate debt securities 

Securities Held to Maturity 

(in thousands) 
U.S. Treasury and government agency 
   securities 
Municipal obligations 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Collateralized mortgage obligations 

December 31, 2019 
Gross 
Gross 
Amortized    Unrealized   Unrealized  
Gains 

Losses 

Cost 

Fair 
Value 

December 31, 2018 
Gross 
Gross 
Amortized    Unrealized   Unrealized  
Gains 

Losses 

Cost 

Fair 
Value 

 $  

652   $   

98,672   $  

98,320   $   

300   $  
—   

71,706  
240,427  
6,646   
4,284      29,794      1,443,402  
770,077  
1,953      30,936   
161,925  
2,260   
3,500  
—   
 $  4,637,610   $   52,367   $   14,673   $  4,675,304   $  2,755,806   $    7,500   $   72,269   $  2,691,037  

246,713  
7,020      1,924,157     1,468,912  
799,060  
4,178      1,586,467  
163,282  
808,215  
3,142   
3,500  
7,988  
33   

242,016  
   1,910,909  
  1,570,765  
807,600  
8,000  

74,339   $    —   $    2,633   $  
360   

7,789   
  20,268   
  19,880   
3,757   
21   

903   
—   

249,805  

December 31, 2019 

Gross 

Gross 

Amortized 
Cost 

  Unrealized   Unrealized  

Gains 

Losses 

Fair 
Value 

December 31, 2018 

Gross 
Amortized    Unrealized   Unrealized  
Gains 

Losses 

Gross 

Cost 

Fair 
Value 

 $  

50,003   $  

50,000   $   

3   $    —   $  

49,522  
681,045  
9,503   
635,737  
6,117   
  10,882   
346,669  
  22,493      1,222,883  
 $  1,568,009   $   44,103   $    1,108   $  1,611,004   $  2,979,547   $    5,782   $   49,473   $  2,935,856  

688,201  
668,096  
640,393  
30,570  
551,264  
357,175  
311,071     1,243,778  

  27,146   
883   
  12,474   
3,597   

641,019  
29,687  
539,371  
307,932  

2,347  
1,461  
376  
1,598  

69   
—   
581   
458   

50,000   $    —   $   

478   $  

The Company held no securities classified as trading at December 31, 2019 or 2018. 

Under the provisions ASU 2019-04, the Company made a one-time election to transfer securities with an amortized cost of $1.2 
billion from the held to maturity portfolio to the available for sale portfolio. The securities transferred are eligible to be hedged under 
the last of layer method; as such, the reclassification allows the Company to take advantage of the amended fair value hedging rules in 
the future, should it meet the Company’s investment strategy.   

The following tables present the amortized cost and fair value of debt securities at December 31, 2019 by contractual maturity. Actual 
maturities will differ from contractual maturities because of rights to call or repay obligations with or without penalties and scheduled 
and unscheduled principal payments on mortgage-backed securities and collateral mortgage obligations.  

 (in thousands) 
Debt Securities Available for Sale 
Due in one year or less 
Due after one year through five years 
Due after five years through ten years 
Due after ten years 

Total available for sale debt securities 

Amortized 
Cost 

Fair 
Value 

$ 

$ 

356   (cid:3)(cid:3) $ 

151,871   (cid:3)(cid:3)
1,764,275   (cid:3)(cid:3)
2,721,108   (cid:3)(cid:3)
4,637,610      $ 

363  
154,646  
1,778,398   
2,741,897  
4,675,304  

94 

 (in thousands) 
Debt Securities Held to Maturity 
Due in one year or less 
Due after one year through five years 
Due after five years through ten years 
Due after ten years 

Total held to maturity debt securities 

Amortized 
Cost 

Fair 
Value 

$ 

$ 

50,000   (cid:3)(cid:3) $ 

140,009   (cid:3)(cid:3)
672,094   (cid:3)(cid:3)
705,906   (cid:3)(cid:3)
1,568,009    $ 

50,003   
141,929  
694,992  
724,080  
1,611,004  

The details for securities classified as available for sale with unrealized losses at December 31, 2019 follow. 

Available for sale 

(in thousands) 
U.S. Treasury and government agency securities 
Municipal obligations 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Collateralized mortgage obligations 
Corporate debt securities 

. 

Losses < 12 Months 
Gross 
   Unrealized 
Losses 

Fair 
Value 

Losses 12 Months or > 
Gross 
   Unrealized 
Losses 

Fair 
Value 

Total 

Fair 
Value 

Gross 
   Unrealized 
Losses 

300     $   

  $    28,235     $   

300   
—   
7,020   
4,178   
3,142   
33   
  $   998,312     $    10,661     $   599,072     $    4,012     $   1,597,384     $    14,673  

—     $   
—   
  399,787   
14,896   
  184,389   
—   

28,235     $   
—   
819,853   
473,751   
274,078   
1,467   

—     $   
—   
1,978   
207   
1,827   
—   

—   
  420,066   
  458,855   
89,689   
1,467   

—   
5,042   
3,971   
1,315   
33   

The details for securities classified as available for sale with unrealized losses at December 31, 2018 follow. 

Available for sale 

(in thousands) 
U.S. Treasury and government agency securities 
Municipal obligations 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Collateralized mortgage obligations 

Losses < 12 Months 
Gross 
   Unrealized 
Losses 

Fair 
Value 

Losses 12 Months or > 
Gross 
   Unrealized 
Losses 

Fair 
Value 

Total 

Fair 
Value 

Gross 
   Unrealized 
Losses 

  $   

—     $   

—     $   

71,706     $    2,633     $   

71,706     $    2,633   
6,645   
29,794   
30,936   
2,260   
  $   442,773     $    4,928     $   1,687,704     $    67,340     $   2,130,477     $    72,268  

212,086   
  1,067,916   
666,711   
112,058   

41,203   
  305,090   
96,226   
254   

170,883   
762,826   
570,485   
111,804   

6,054   
27,309   
29,085   
2,259   

591   
2,485   
1,851   
1   

The details for securities classified as held to maturity with unrealized losses at December 31, 2019 follow. 

Held to maturity 

(in thousands) 
U.S. Treasury and government agency securities 
Municipal obligations 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Collateralized mortgage obligations 

Losses < 12 Months 
Gross 
   Unrealized 
Losses 

Fair 
Value 

Losses 12 Months or > 
Gross 
   Unrealized 
Losses 

Fair 
Value 

Total 

Fair 
Value 

Gross 
Unrealized 
Losses 

—     $   

—     $   
31   
—   
—   
458   
489     $    85,414     $   

7,878   
—   
28,426   
49,110   

—   
69   
—   
581   
458   
1,108  

  $   

—     $   

4,735   
—   
28,426   
—   

—     $   
38   
—   
581   
—   

—     $   

3,143   
—   
—   
49,110   

  $    33,161     $   

619     $    52,253     $   

95 

The details for securities classified as held to maturity with unrealized losses as of December 31, 2018 follow. 

Held to maturity 

(in thousands) 
U.S. Treasury and government agency securities 
Municipal obligations 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Collateralized mortgage obligations 

Losses < 12 Months 
Gross 
   Unrealized 
Losses 

Fair 
Value 

Losses 12 Months or > 
Gross 
   Unrealized 
Losses 

Fair 
Value 

Total 

Fair 
Value 

Gross 
   Unrealized 
Losses 

  $   

—     $   

—     $   

49,521     $   

478   
9,503   
6,117   
10,882   
22,493   
  $   401,593     $    2,660     $   1,720,624     $    46,813     $   2,122,217     $    49,473  

  233,469   
90,730   
—   
77,394   

466,749   
325,981   
305,419   
974,547   

233,280   
235,251   
305,419   
897,153   

7,247   
5,994   
10,882   
22,212   

2,256   
123   
—   
281   

49,521     $   

478     $   

The unrealized losses primarily relate to changes in market rates on fixed rate debt securities since the respective purchase date. In all 
cases, the indicated impairment on these debt securities would be recovered no later than the security’s maturity date or possibly 
earlier if the market price for the security increases with a reduction in the yield required by the market. None of the unrealized losses 
relate to the marketability of the securities or the issuers’ abilities to meet contractual obligations. The Company believes it has 
adequate liquidity and, therefore, does not plan to and, more likely than not, will not be required to sell these securities before 
recovery of the indicated impairment. Accordingly, the unrealized losses on these securities have been determined to be temporary.  

The following table presents the proceeds from, gross gains on, and gross losses on sales of securities during the years ended 
December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017: 

(in thousands) 
Proceeds 
Gross gains 
Gross losses 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

$ 

268,413    $ 
—   
—   

455,162    $ 
—   
25,480   

213,877   
—   
—  

Securities with carrying values totaling approximately $3.3 billion at December 31, 2019 and $3.4 billion at December 31, 2018 were 
pledged, primarily to secure public deposits or securities sold under agreements to repurchase.  

Note 4. Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses 

The Company generally makes loans in its market areas of south Mississippi; southern and central Alabama; northwest, central and 
south Louisiana; the northern, central and panhandle regions of Florida; and certain areas of east and northeast Texas, including 
Houston, Beaumont and Dallas; and Nashville, Tennessee.  The following table presents loans, net of unearned income, by portfolio 
class at December 31, 2019 and 2018:   

 (in thousands) 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 
Total commercial and industrial 

Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 

Total loans 

2019 

9,166,947  
2,738,460  
11,905,407  
2,994,448  
1,157,451  
2,990,631  
2,164,818  
21,212,755  

$ 

$ 

2018 

8,620,601   
2,457,748   
11,078,349   
2,341,779   
1,548,335   
2,910,081   
2,147,867   
20,026,411  

$ 

$ 

The Bank makes loans in the normal course of business to directors and executive officers of the Company and the Bank and to their 
associates. Loans to such related parties are made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral requirements, 
as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unrelated parties and do not involve more than normal risk of 
collectability when originated. Balances of loans to the Company’s directors, executive officers and their associates at December 31, 
2019 and 2018 were approximately $13.4 million and $37.5 million, respectively. Included in such loans at December 31, 2018 was 
$22.4 million to directors that retired in 2019. Related party loan activity in 2019 includes new loans of $7.1 million and repayments 
of $8.8 million.  

96 

The Bank has a line of credit with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas that is secured by blanket pledges of certain qualifying loan 
types. The Bank had borrowings on this line of $2.0 billion and $1.2 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

The following schedules show activity in the allowance for credit losses by portfolio segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 
and the activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the year ended December 31, 2018, as well as the 
corresponding recorded investment in loans at December 31, 2019 and 2018.  

(in thousands) 
Allowance for credit losses 
Allowance for loan losses: 
Beginning balance 
Charge-offs 
Recoveries 
Net provision for loan losses 

Ending balance - allowance for loan losses 
Reserve for unfunded lending commitments: 
Beginning balance 
Provision for losses on unfunded commitments 
Ending balance - reserve for unfunded lending 
commitments 
Total allowance for credit losses 

Allowance for loan losses: 

Individually evaluated for impairment 
Amounts related to purchased credit 
impaired loans 
Collectively evaluated for impairment 
Allowance for loan losses 

Reserve for unfunded lending commitments: 
Individually evaluated for impairment 

Total allowance for credit losses 

Loans: 

Individually evaluated for impairment 
Purchased credit impaired loans 
Collectively evaluated for impairment 

Total loans 

(in thousands) 
Allowance for loan losses: 
Beginning balance 
Charge-offs 
Recoveries 
Net provision for loan losses 
Other 

Ending balance - allowance for loan losses 

  $   

Allowance for loan losses: 

Individually evaluated for impairment 
Amounts related to purchased credit 
impaired loans 
Collectively evaluated for impairment 

Total allowance for loan losses 

  $   

Commercial 
Non-Real
Estate

Commercial 
Real Estate-
Owner
Occupied

Total 
Commercial
and Industrial   

Commercial 
Real Estate-
Income
Producing

Construction 
and Land
Development

Residential 
Mortgages

Year Ended December 31, 2019 

Consumer 

Total 

  $   

97,752     $   
(39,600 )   
6,940   
41,340   

  $    106,432     $   

13,757     $   
(137 )   
306   
(2,949 )   
10,977     $   

111,509     $   
(39,737 )   
7,246   
38,391   
117,409     $   

17,638     $   
(32 )   
569   
2,694   
20,869     $   

15,647     $   

(7 )   
140   
(6,430 )   
9,350     $   

23,782     $   
(846 )   
480   
(3,085 )   
20,331     $   

25,938     $   
(18,455 )   
3,645   
12,164   
23,292     $   

194,514   
(59,077 ) 
12,080   
43,734   
191,251   

  $   

—     $   

3,974   

—     $   
—   

—     $   

3,974   

—     $   
—   

—     $   
—   

—     $   
—   

—     $   
—   

—   
3,974   

  $   
3,974     $   
  $    110,406     $   

—     $   
10,977     $   

3,974     $   
121,383     $   

—     $   
20,869     $   

—     $   
9,350     $   

—     $   
20,331     $   

—     $   
23,292     $   

3,974   
195,225   

  $   

21,733     $   

104     $   

21,837     $   

18     $   

21     $   

217     $   

292     $   

22,385   

164   
84,535   

  $    106,432     $   

169   
10,704   
10,977     $   

333   
95,239   
117,409     $   

39   
20,812   
20,869     $   

136   
9,193   
9,350     $   

7,474   
12,640   
20,331     $   

275   
22,725   
23,292     $   

8,257   
160,609   
191,251   

  $   
3,974     $   
  $    110,406     $   

—     $   
10,977     $   

3,974     $   
121,383     $   

—     $   
20,869     $   

—     $   
9,350     $   

—     $   
20,331     $   

—     $   
23,292     $   

3,974   
195,225   

  $    232,438     $   

245,651   
215,245   
  20,751,859   
  $   9,166,947     $   2,738,460     $   11,905,407     $   2,994,448     $    1,157,451     $   2,990,631     $   2,164,818     $   21,212,755  

236,819     $   
67,273   
  11,601,315   

1,898     $   
35,353   
  2,957,197   

1,483     $   
5,346   
  2,157,989   

5,174     $   
86,757   
  2,898,700   

4,381     $   
36,200   
  2,697,879   

20,516   
   1,136,658   

31,073   
  8,903,436   

277     $   

Commercial 
Non-Real
Estate

Commercial 
Real Estate-
Owner
Occupied

Total 
Commercial
and 
Industrial

Commercial 
Real Estate-
Income
Producing

Construction 
and Land
Development

Residential 
Mortgages

Year Ended December 31, 2018 

Consumer 

Total 

  $    127,918     $   

(40,069 )   
14,385   
(4,482 )   
—   
97,752     $   

12,962     $  
(8,059 )   
317   
8,537   
—   
13,757     $  

140,880     $   
(48,128 )   
14,702   
4,055   
—   
111,509     $   

13,709     $   
(1,633 )   
221   
5,341   
—   
17,638     $   

7,372     $   
(334 )   
96   
8,513   
—   
15,647     $   

24,844     $   
(614 )   
2,179   
(2,627 )   
—   
23,782     $   

30,503     $   
(23,913 )   
5,162   
20,834   
(6,648 )   
25,938     $   

217,308   
(74,622 ) 
22,360   
36,116   
(6,648 ) 
194,514   

  $   

3,636     $   

607     $  

4,243     $   

210     $   

1     $   

444     $   

216     $   

5,114   

239   
93,877   
97,752     $   

215   
12,935   
13,757     $  

454   
106,812   
111,509     $   

43   
17,385   
17,638     $   

83   
15,563   
15,647     $   

9,766   
13,572   
23,782     $   

388   
25,334   
25,938     $   

10,734   
178,666   
194,514   

Loans: 

Individually evaluated for impairment 
Purchased credit impaired loans 
Collectively evaluated for impairment 

Total loans 

  $    239,384     $   

268,755   
129,596   
  19,628,060   
  $   8,620,601     $   2,457,748     $  11,078,349     $   2,341,779     $    1,548,335     $   2,910,081     $   2,147,867     $   20,026,411  

261,050     $   
12,841   
 10,804,458   

2,701     $   
3,757   
  2,335,321   

1,007     $   
4,181   
  2,142,679   

21,666     $  
6,212   
  2,429,870   

3,387   
   1,544,827   

105,430   
  2,800,775   

6,629   
  8,374,588   

3,876     $   

121     $   

97 

 
 
  
  
Impaired Loans 

The following table shows the composition of nonaccrual loans by portfolio class.  Purchased credit impaired loans accounted for in 
pools with an accretable yield are considered to be performing and are excluded from the table.  

(in thousands) 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 
Total commercial and industrial 

Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 

Total loans 

December 31, 

2019 

2018 

$ 

$ 

178,678  
7,708  
186,386  
2,594  
1,217  
39,262  
16,374  
245,833  

$ 

$ 

110,653   
16,895   
127,548   
4,991   
2,146   
35,866   
16,744   
187,295  

For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the estimated amount of interest income from nonaccrual loans that would 
have been recorded had the loans not been assigned nonaccrual status was $13.9 million, $13.7 million and $14.7 million, 
respectively. 

Nonaccrual loans include nonaccruing loans modified in troubled debt restructurings (TDRs) of $132.5 million and $85.5 million, at 
December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Total TDRs, both accruing and nonaccruing, were $193.7 million at December 31, 2019 
and $224.6 million at December 31, 2018. 

The table below details TDRs that were modified during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 by portfolio segment. All 
such loans are individually evaluated for impairment.  

($ in thousands) 

Troubled Debt Restructurings: 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - 
owner occupied 

Total commercial and 
industrial 

Commercial real estate - 
income producing 
Construction and land 
development 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 

Total loans 

2019 

Outstanding 
Recorded Investment 

Years Ended 
2018 

Outstanding 
Recorded Investment 

2017 

Outstanding 
Recorded Investment 

Number 
of 
Contracts    

Pre- 
Modification    

Post- 
Modification    
13    $    64,051    $    57,240   

Pre- 
Modification    

Post- 
Modification    
29    $    85,306    $    85,306   

Pre- 
Modification    

Post- 
Modification   
52    $    162,909    $    162,909   

Number 
of 
Contracts    

Number 
of 
Contracts    

1   

167   

167   

2   

6,138   

6,138   

5   

5,684   

5,684   

14   

64,218   

57,407   

31   

91,444   

91,444   

57   

   168,593   

   168,593   

1   

123   

123   

1   

1,564   

1,564   

5   

5,625   

5,625   

323   
323   
3   
3,286   
3,286   
21   
10   
168   
168   
49    $    68,118    $    61,307   

—   
—   
—   
1,297   
1,297   
14   
10   
455   
455   
56    $    94,760    $    94,760   

—   
—   
—   
2,812   
2,812   
15   
40   
40   
1   
78    $    177,070    $    177,070  

The TDRs modified during the year ended December 31, 2019 reflected in the table above include $18.7 million of loans with 
extended amortization terms or other payment concessions, $41.3 million of loans with significant covenant waivers and $8.1 million 
with other modifications.  In addition, the Company received approximately $6.8 million of equity securities of one commercial non-
real estate borrower in satisfaction of a portion of its debt. The TDRs modified during the year ended December 31, 2018 include 
$50.8 million of loans with extended amortization terms or other payment concessions, $14.6 million of loans with significant 
covenant waivers, and $29.4 million with other modifications.  The TDRs modified during the year ended December 31, 2017 include 
$98.1 million of loans with extended terms or other payment concessions, $76.2 million of loans with significant covenant waivers, 
and $2.8 million of other modifications. 

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had unfunded commitments of approximately $2.4 million and $2.1 million, 
respectively, to borrowers whose loan terms had been modified in TDRs.  

98 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
No TDRs modified during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2017 subsequently defaulted within twelve month of modification. 
Of the TDRs modified during the year ended December 31, 2018, one residential mortgage totaling $0.2 million, one owner-occupied 
commercial real estate loan totaling $1.8 million and one consumer loan totaling less than $ 0.1 million defaulted within 12 months of 
the modification.  

The tables below present loans that are individually evaluated for impairment disaggregated by portfolio class at December 31, 2019 
and 2018. Loans individually evaluated for impairment include TDRs and loans that are determined to be impaired and have aggregate 
relationship balances of $1 million or more.  

(in thousands) 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 
Total commercial and industrial 

Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 

December 31, 2019 

Recorded 
Investment 
Without an 
Allowance 

Recorded 
Investment 
With an 
Allowance 

Unpaid 
Principal 
Balance 

Related 
Allowance 

   $   

134,191      $   
2,665   
136,856   
373   
—   
3,383   
479   

98,247      $   
1,716   
99,963   
1,525   
277   
1,791   
1,004   

270,078      $   
7,793   
277,871   
1,959   
322   
5,709   
1,906   

21,733   
104   
21,837   
18   
21   
217   
292   

Total loans 

   $   

141,091      $   

104,560      $   

287,767      $   

22,385  

(in thousands) 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 
Total commercial and industrial 

Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 

Total loans 

   $   

December 31, 2018 

Recorded 
Investment 
Without an 
Allowance 

Recorded 
Investment 
With an 
Allowance 

Unpaid 
Principal 
Balance 

Related 
Allowance 

   $   

144,625      $   

13,027   
157,652   
1,138   
100   
2,058   
279   
161,227    $   

94,759      $   
8,639   
103,398   
1,563   
21   
1,818   
728   
107,528      $   

273,290      $   

25,888   
299,178   
3,428   
121   
4,421   
1,253   
308,401      $   

3,636   
607   
4,243   
210   
1   
444   
216   
5,114  

The tables below present the average balances and interest income for total impaired loans for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 
2018. Interest income recognized represents interest on accruing loans modified in a TDR. 

(in thousands) 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 
Total commercial and industrial 

Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 

Total loans 

Years Ended 

December 31, 2019 

December 31, 2018 

Average 
Recorded 
Investment 

Interest 
Income 
Recognized 

Average 
Recorded 
Investment 

Interest 
Income 
Recognized 

4,917      $   

196   
5,113   
27   
4   
11   
77   
5,232      $   

286,146      $   

25,325   
311,471   
9,155   
145   
5,598   
814   
327,183      $   

7,919   
343   
8,262   
71   
—   
18   
39   
8,390  

   $   

223,500      $   

14,719   
238,219   
2,407   
906   
4,578   
1,464   
247,574      $   

   $   

99 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Aging Analysis 

The tables below present the age analysis of past due loans by portfolio class at December 31, 2019 and 2018. Purchased credit 
impaired loans with an accretable yield are considered to be current:  

December 31, 2019 
(in thousands) 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 

Total commercial and industrial 
Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Residential mortgages 

Consumer 
Total loans 

December 31, 2018 
(in thousands) 

Commercial non-real estate 
Commercial real estate - owner occupied 
Total commercial and industrial 

Commercial real estate - income producing 
Construction and land development 
Residential mortgages 
Consumer 

Total loans 

Credit Quality Indicators 

30-59 
Days 
Past Due 

60-89 
Days 
Past Due 

Greater 
Than 
90 Days 
past due 

Total 
Past Due 

Current 

Total 
Loans 

Recorded 
Investment 
> 90 Days
and 
Accruing 

  $   20,893    $   13,445    $   100,806    $   135,144    $   9,031,803    $   9,166,947    $   1,537  
830  
2,367  
450  
2,042  
85  
1,638  
  $   83,693    $   30,183    $   146,942    $   260,818    $   20,951,937    $   21,212,755    $    6,582  

2,738,460   
   11,905,407   
2,994,448   
1,157,451   
2,990,631   
2,164,818   

2,725,774   
   11,757,577   
2,990,097   
1,148,544   
2,925,603   
2,130,116   

7,268   
   108,074   
2,910   
2,480  
23,577   
9,901  

12,686   
   147,830   
4,351   
8,907  
65,028   
34,702   

4,862   
   25,755   
738   
5,747  
   32,867   
   18,586   

556   
   14,001   
703   
680  
8,584   
6,215  

30-59 
Days 
Past Due 

60-89 
Days 
Past Due 

Greater 
Than 
90 Days 
Past Due 

Total 
Past Due 

Current 

Total 
Loans 

Recorded 
Investment 
> 90 Days
and 
Accruing 

  $   12,257    $    3,895    $    77,551    $    93,703    $    8,526,898    $    8,620,601    $   10,823  
380  
  11,203  
1,844  
644  
—  
618  
  $   77,690    $   26,767    $   132,593    $   237,050    $   19,789,361    $   20,026,411    $   14,309  

2,457,748   
   11,078,349   
2,341,779   
1,548,335   
2,910,081   
2,147,867   

2,439,242   
   10,966,140   
2,333,141   
1,537,644   
2,839,331   
2,113,105   

18,506   
   112,209   
8,638   
10,691   
70,750   
34,762   

2,394   
   14,651   
2,371   
7,397   
   32,869   
   20,402   

1,570   
5,465   
772   
1,129   
   14,706   
4,695   

14,542   
92,093   
5,495   
2,165   
23,175   
9,665   

The tables below present the credit quality indicators classes by segments and portfolio class of loans at December 31, 2019 and 
December 31, 2018.  

(in thousands) 
Grade: 
Pass 
Pass-Watch 
Special Mention 
Substandard 
Doubtful 
Total 

December 31, 2019 

Commercial 
Non- 
Real Estate 

Commercial 
Real 
Estate - Owner 
Occupied 

Total 
Commercial 
and Industrial 

Commercial 
Real 
Estate - 
Income 
Producing 

Construction 
and 
Land 
Development 

Total 
Commercial 

 $  8,492,113    $  2,517,448    $  11,009,561    $   2,883,553    $   1,120,997    $  15,014,111  
462,502  
101,583  
479,110  
—  
 $  9,166,947    $  2,738,460    $  11,905,407    $   2,994,448    $   1,157,451    $  16,057,306  

220,850  
71,654  
382,330  
—  

367,116  
86,305  
442,425  
—  

146,266  
14,651  
60,095  
—  

69,765   
14,995   
26,135   
—  

25,621   
283  
10,550   
—  

100 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
(in thousands) 
Grade: 
Pass 
Pass-Watch 
Special Mention 
Substandard 
Doubtful 
Total 

(in thousands) 
Performing 
Nonperforming 

Total 

December 31, 2018 

Commercial 
Non- 
Real Estate 

Commercial 
Real 
Estate - Owner 
Occupied 

Total 
Commercial 
& Industrial 

Commercial 
Real 
Estate - 
Income 
Producing 

Construction 
and 
Land 
Development 

Total 
Commercial 

 $  7,875,588    $  2,274,211    $  10,149,799    $   2,265,087    $   1,487,599    $  13,902,485  
440,415  
105,227  
520,336  
—  
 $  8,620,601    $  2,457,748    $  11,078,349    $   2,341,779    $   1,548,335    $  14,968,463  

260,510  
75,752  
408,751  
—  

344,781  
98,901  
484,868  
—  

46,535   
5,510   
24,647   
—   

49,099   
816   
10,821   
—   

84,271  
23,149  
76,117  
—  

December 31, 2019 

December 31, 2018 

Residential 
Mortgage 

Consumer 

Total 

Residential 
Mortgage 

Consumer 

Total 

  $   2,950,854    $   2,147,312    $   5,098,166    $   2,873,669    $   2,130,395    $   5,004,064   
53,884   
  $   2,990,631    $   2,164,818    $   5,155,449    $   2,910,081    $   2,147,867    $   5,057,948  

36,412   

57,283   

17,472   

39,777   

17,506   

Below are the definitions of the Company’s internally assigned grades:  

Commercial:  

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

Pass - loans properly approved, documented, collateralized, and performing which do not reflect an abnormal credit risk. 

Pass - Watch - credits in this category are of sufficient risk to cause concern. This category is reserved for credits that 
display negative performance trends. The “Watch” grade should be regarded as a transition category.  

Special Mention - a criticized asset category defined as having potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close 
attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may, at some future date, result in the deterioration of the 
repayment prospects for the credit or the institution’s credit position. Special mention credits are not considered part of the 
Classified credit categories and do not expose an institution to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification.  

Substandard - an asset that is inadequately protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of 
the collateral pledged, if any. Assets so classified must have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the 
liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the institution will sustain some loss if the 
deficiencies are not corrected.  

Doubtful - an asset that has all the weaknesses inherent in one classified Substandard with the added characteristic that the 
weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly 
questionable and improbable.  

Loss - credits classified as Loss are considered uncollectable and are charged off promptly once so classified. 

Residential and Consumer: 

(cid:120)(cid:3)

(cid:120)(cid:3)

Performing – accruing loans that have not been modified in a troubled debt restructuring.  

Nonperforming – loans for which there are good reasons to doubt that payments will be made in full. All loans with 
nonaccrual status and all loans that have been modified in a troubled debt restructuring are classified as nonperforming. 

101 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Purchased Credit Impaired Loans 

Changes in the carrying amount of purchased credit impaired loans and related accretable yield are presented in the following table for 
the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:  

(in thousands) 
Balance at beginning of period 
Additions 
Payments received, net 
Accretion 
Increase (decrease) in expected cash flows based on actual 

 cash flow and changes in cash flow assumptions 

Balance at end of period 

Residential Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure 

2019 

2018 

Carrying 
Amount 
of Loans 

Accretable 
Yield 

Carrying 
Amount 
of Loans 

Accretable 
Yield 

 $   

 $   

129,596   
120,562   
(48,076 ) 
13,163   

 $   

37,294   
6,246   
(4,601 ) 
(13,163 ) 

153,403   
—   
(39,556 ) 
15,749   

 $   

62,517   
—   
(5,779 ) 
(15,749 ) 

—   
215,245   

 $   

4,170   
29,946   

 $   

—   
129,596   

 $   

(3,695 ) 
37,294  

 $   

Loans in process of foreclosure include those for which formal foreclosure proceedings are in process according to local requirements 
of the applicable jurisdiction. Included in loans are $8.6 million and $7.1 million of consumer loans secured by single family 
residential mortgage real estate that are in process of foreclosure as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In addition to the 
single family residential real estate loans in process of foreclosure, the Company also held $6.3 million and $1.8 million of foreclosed 
single family residential properties in other real estate owned as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  

Loans Held for Sale 

Loans held for sale totaled $55.9 million and $28.1 million, respectively, at December 31, 2019 and 2018. Substantially all loans held 
for sale are residential mortgage loans originated for sale. Concurrent with the commitment to lend, the Company enters into a forward 
commitment to sell these loans on a best efforts delivery basis.  

102 

Note 5. Property and Equipment  

Property and equipment consisted of the following at December 31, 2019 and 2018: 

(in thousands) 
Land and land improvements 
Buildings and leasehold improvements 
Furniture, fixtures and equipment 
Software 
Assets under development 

Accumulated depreciation and amortization 
Property and equipment, net 

December 31, 

2019 

2018 

$ 

   $    

79,720   
339,503   
115,051   
75,448   
20,014   
629,736   
(249,527 ) 
380,209   

 $ 

(cid:3)

 $ 

70,960   
311,409   
92,805   
72,721   
31,742   
579,637   
(225,969 ) 
353,668  

Assets under development is comprised primarily of software design and implementation costs. 

Depreciation and amortization expense was $30.9 million, $26.5 million and $28.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 
2018 and 2017, respectively.  

Property and Equipment Held for Sale 

Certain of the Company’s property and equipment meet the criteria to be classified as assets held for sale. The carrying values of such 
assets were $0.3 million and $27.0 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and were reported within Other Assets in the 
consolidated balance sheets. For more information on the Company’s policy for accounting for assets held for sale, refer to Note 1 – 
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements.   

Note 6. Operating Leases 

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the amended provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842, 
“Leases,” using the modified retrospective approach, impacting the reporting and disclosures for operating leases. The core principle of 
Topic 842 is that a lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability representing the present value of future lease 
payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset over the lease term, as well as the 
disclosure of key information about operating leasing arrangements. Refer to Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for 
a description of the Company’s policy and transition elections.  

The Company has operating leases on a number of its branches, certain regional headquarters and other properties to limit its exposure 
to ownership risks such as fluctuations in real estate prices and obsolescence. The Company leases real estate with lease terms 
generally from five to 20 years, some of which have renewal options from one to 20 years. As these extension options are not 
generally considered reasonably certain of renewal, they are not included in the lease term. The Company is not a lessee in any 
contracts classified as finance leases. 

The following tables present supplemental information pertaining to operating leases at and for the year ended December 31, 2019. 

 (dollars in thousands) 
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities for 
   operating leases 
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities 

Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) 
Weighted average discount rate 

Year Ended 
December 31, 
2019 

$ 

16,027   
121,066   

December 31, 
2019 

12.95   

3.53 % 

103 

The following table sets forth the maturities of the Company’s lease liabilities and the present value discount at December 31, 2019. 

 (dollars in thousands) 
2019 
2020 
2021 
2022 
2023 
Thereafter 
Total 
Present value discount 
Lease liability 

$ 

$ 

16,382   
15,947   
15,551   
13,973   
11,877   
89,677   
163,407   
(35,704 ) 
127,703  

The following table sets forth the components of the Company’s lease expense for the year ended December 31, 2019. 

(in thousands) 
Operating lease expense 
Short-term lease expense 
Variable lease expense 
Sublease income 
Total 

December 31, 
2019 

$ 

$ 

18,075   
462   
46   
(322 ) 
18,261  

The Company elected the optional transition method to not restate prior periods. Rental expense under ASC 840 approximated 
$18.2 million and $17.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  

Note 7. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets 

Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired or the excess of the fair value of 
the net liabilities assumed over the consideration received in a business combination. The 2019 acquisition of MidSouth resulted in 
goodwill of $63.4 million and the 2018 acquisition of the trust and asset management business resulted in goodwill of $46.6 million. 
The carrying amount of goodwill was $855.5 million and $791.0 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For additional 
information regarding changes to the Company’s carrying amount of goodwill, refer to Note 2 – Business Combinations.  

The Company completed its annual impairment test of goodwill as of September 30, 2019 by performing a qualitative (“Step Zero”) 
assessment.  The qualitative assessment involved the examination of changes in macroeconomic conditions, industry and market 
conditions, overall financial performance, cost factors and other relevant entity-specific events, including changes in management and 
other key personnel and changes in the share price of the Company’s common stock.  As a result of the assessment, the Company 
concluded that its goodwill was not impaired.  

No goodwill impairment charges were recognized during 2019, 2018 or 2017. 

Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over the periods benefited and are evaluated for impairment similar to 
other long-lived assets. The purchase and carrying values of intangible assets subject to amortization at December 31, 2019 and 2018 
were as follows:  

(in thousands) 
Core deposit intangibles 
Credit card and trust relationships 
Merchant processing relationships 

Purchase 
Value 

December 31, 2019 
Accumulated 
Amortization 

Carrying 
Value 

 $ 

 $ 

247,455   
49,962   
10,000   
307,417   

 $ 

 $ 

168,577   
22,448  
9,585   
200,610   

 $ 

 $ 

78,878  
27,514  
415  
106,807  

104 

(in thousands) 
Core deposit intangibles 
Credit card and trust relationships 
Merchant processing relationships 

Purchase 
Value 

December 31, 2018 
Accumulated 
Amortization 

Carrying 
Value 

 $ 

 $ 

215,955   
49,962   
10,000   
275,917   

 $ 

 $ 

151,446   
19,564   
8,756   
179,766   

 $ 

 $ 

64,509   
30,398   
1,244   
96,151  

Aggregate amortization expense by category of finite lived intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 is 
as follows: 

(in thousands) 
Core deposit intangibles 
Credit card and trust relationships 
Merchant processing relationships 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

$   

$   

17,132   
2,883   
829   
20,844   

 $   

 $   

18,566   
2,682   
802   
22,050   

 $   

 $   

19,442   
1,975   
1,000   
22,417  

At December 31, 2019, the weighted-average remaining life of core deposit intangibles was approximately 10 years, and the 
weighted-average remaining life of other identifiable intangibles was approximately 15 years.  

The following table shows estimated amortization expense of other intangible assets at December 31, 2019 for the five succeeding 
years and all years thereafter, calculated based on current amortization schedules.  

 (in thousands) 
2020 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
Thereafter 

$ 

 $ 

19,916  
16,665  
14,033  
11,557  
9,413  
35,223  
106,807  

Note 8. Time Deposits  

The following table presents a detail of deposits at December 31, 2019 and 2018: 

 (in thousands) 
Noninterest-bearing deposits 
Interest-bearing retail transaction and savings deposits 
Interest-bearing public fund deposits 

Public fund transaction and savings deposits 
Public fund time deposits 

Total interest-bearing public fund deposits 
Retail time deposits 
Brokered time deposits 
Total interest-bearing deposits 
Total deposits 

$ 

$ 

2019 

2018 

8,775,632 
8,845,097 

 $ 

8,499,027 
8,000,092 

2,803,912 
560,503 
3,364,415 
2,652,842 
165,589 
15,027,943 
23,803,575 

 $ 

2,622,938 
383,578 
3,006,516 
2,416,086 
1,228,464 
14,651,158 
23,150,185 

105 

The maturity of time deposits at December 31, 2019 follows.  

(in thousands) 
2020 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
Thereafter 
Total time deposits 

$   

$   

2,841,291   
405,102   
87,059   
20,106   
10,212   
1,402   
3,365,172  

Certificates of deposit in amounts greater than or equal to $250,000 totaled approximately $1.4 billion at December 31, 2019. 

Note 9. Short-Term Borrowings  

The following table presents information concerning short-term borrowing at and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018: 

(in thousands) 
Federal funds purchased: 

Amount outstanding at period end 
Average amount outstanding during period 
Maximum amount at any month end during period 
Weighted-average interest at period end 
Weighted-average interest rate during period 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase: 

Amount outstanding at period end 
Average amount outstanding during period 
Maximum amount at any month end during period 
Weighted-average interest at period end 
Weighted-average interest rate during period 

FHLB borrowings: 

Amount outstanding at period end 
Average amount outstanding during period 
Maximum amount at any month end during period 
Weighted-average interest at period end 
Weighted-average interest rate during period 

$ 

$ 

$ 

December 31, 

2019 

2018 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

195,450   
49,297   
202,933   

1.60 % 
2.30 % 

484,422   
493,344   
518,042   

0.54 % 
0.52 % 

2,035,000   
1,399,503   
1,941,774  

1.17 % 
1.96 % 

425  
39,968   
100,925   

2.00 % 
2.11 % 

428,599  
456,000   
500,345   

0.32 % 
0.23 % 

1,160,104   
1,694,804   
2,410,258   

2.48 % 
2.02 % 

Federal funds purchased represent unsecured borrowings from other banks, generally on an overnight basis. 

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (“repurchase agreements”) are funds borrowed on a secured basis by selling securities 
under agreements to repurchase, mainly in connection with treasury-management services offered to deposit customers. The customer 
repurchase agreements mature daily and are secured by agency securities. As the Company maintains effective control over assets sold 
under agreements to repurchase, the securities continue to be presented in the consolidated balance sheets. Because the Company acts 
as a borrower transferring assets to the counterparty, and the agreements mature daily, the Company’s risk is limited.  

The $2.0 billion of FHLB borrowings at December 31, 2019 consists of two notes, one fixed and one variable rate, totaling 
$775 million that mature in 2020; three fixed rate non-amortizing puttable notes totaling $800 million that mature in 2034 that are 
classified as short-term as the FHLB has the option to put (terminate) the advance prior to maturity; and four variable rate notes 
totaling $460 million maturing from 2025 to 2026. These four variable rate notes reset monthly or quarterly and may be repaid at our 
option, either in whole or in part at par, on any reset date, subject to advanced notice of no less than two days before the reset date and, 
therefore, are classified as short-term borrowings.  

106 

Note 10. Long-Term Debt  

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, long-term debt was comprised of the following:  

(in thousands) 
Subordinated notes payable, maturing June 2045 
Other long-term debt 
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs 

Total long-term debt 

December 31, 

2019 

2018 

  $ 

$ 

150,000   
87,890   
(4,428 ) 
233,462   

 $ 

 $ 

150,000   
79,598   
(4,605 ) 
224,993  

The following table sets forth unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the respective debt instruments as of December 31, 
2019: 

(in thousands) 
Subordinated notes payable, maturing June 2045 
Other long-term debt 

Total 

Principal 

150,000   
87,890   
237,890   

 $ 

 $ 

$ 

$ 

Unamortized 

Debt 

Issuance 

Costs 

4,428   
—  
4,428  

On March 9, 2015, the Company completed the issuance of subordinated notes payable with an aggregate principal amount of 
$150 million, maturing on June 15, 2045. These notes accrue interest at a fixed rate of 5.95% per annum, with quarterly interest 
payments which began in June 2015. Subject to prior approval by the Federal Reserve, the Company may redeem the notes in whole 
or in part on any interest payment date on or after June 15, 2020. This debt qualifies as tier 2 capital in the calculation of certain 
regulatory capital ratios.  

Substantially all of the Company’s other long-term debt consists of borrowings associated with tax credit fund activities. Although 
these borrowings have indicated maturities through 2053, each is expected to be satisfied at the end of the seven-year compliance 
period for the related tax credit investments.  

Note 11. Derivatives  

Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives 

The Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage risks related to differences in the amount, timing, and duration of 
the Company’s known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments, currently associated with fixed rate 
brokered deposits and certain investment securities and select pools of variable rate loans. The Bank also entered into interest rate 
derivative agreements as a service to certain qualifying customers. The Bank manages a matched book with respect to these customer 
derivatives in order to minimize its net risk exposure resulting from such agreements. The Bank also enters into risk participation 
agreements under which it may either sell or buy credit risk associated with a customer’s performance under certain interest rate 
derivative contracts related to loans in which participation interests have been sold to or purchased from other banks.  

107 

  
  
  
Fair Values of Derivative Instruments on the Balance Sheet 

The table below presents the notional or contractual amounts and fair values of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well 
as their classification on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2019 and 2018.  

(in thousands) 
Derivatives designated 

as hedging instruments: 
Interest rate swaps - 
variable rate loans 
Interest rate swaps - 
securities 
Interest rate swaps - 
brokered deposits 

Derivatives not designated 
as hedging instruments: 
Interest rate swaps 
Risk participation 
agreements 
Forward 
commitments to sell 
residential mortgage 
loans 
Interest rate-lock 
commitments on 
residential mortgage 
loans 
Foreign exchange 
forward contracts 
Visa Class B 
derivative contract 

Total derivatives 
Less: netting adjustments 
(2)

Total derivate 
assets/liabilities 

December 31, 2019 

 (cid:3)(cid:3)

Derivative (1)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3) 

December 31, 2018 

Derivative (1)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

Type 
of 
Hedge 

Notional or 
Contractual 
Amount 

Assets 

Liabilities 

Notional or 
Contractual 
Amount 

Assets 

  Liabilities   

Cash 
Flow 
Fair 
Value 
Fair 
Value 

$  1,175,000  

$   24,172   

$  

337    $  875,000  

$   3,954   

$    9,173   

441,400  

1,474   

1,759   

—  

—   

—   

43,000  
$  1,659,400    

—   
$   25,646   

9   

483,110  
$   2,105    $  1,358,110    

—   
$   3,954   

2,089   
$    11,262   

N/A 

$  3,759,232  

$   54,512   

$   55,664    $  2,554,808  

$   23,670   

$    24,669   

N/A 

254,825  

21   

45   

171,222  

10   

131   

  N/A 

145,623  

651   

744   

77,208  

110   

664   

N/A 

  N/A 

  N/A 

83,224  

64,632  

369   

303   

375   

59,119  

366   

37,749  

464   

751   

67   

718   

43,753  
$  4,351,289    
$  6,010,689    

—   
$   55,856   
$   81,502   

5,704   

43,753  
$   62,898    $  2,943,859    
$   65,003    $  4,301,969    

—   
$   25,005   
$   28,959   

7,304   
$    33,553   
$    44,815   

 (27,056 )   

   (43,914 )    

   (11,979 )   

  (22,588 ) 

$   54,446   

$   21,089   

$   16,980   

  $  22,227  

(1) 

(2) 

Derivative assets and liabilities are reported in other assets or other liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets.

Represents balance sheet netting of derivative assets and liabilities for variation margin collateral held or placed with the same central clearing counterparty. See 
offsetting assets and liabilities for further information. 

Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk 

The Company is party to various interest rate swap agreements designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges of the Company’s 
forecasted variable cash flows for pools of variable rate loans.  For each agreement, the Company receives interest at a fixed rate and 
pays at a variable rate. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company terminated five swap agreements and paid 
termination fees of approximately $10.6 million.  The resulting accumulated other comprehensive loss is being amortized over the 
remaining maturities of the designated instruments. Amortization of other comprehensive loss on terminated cash flow hedges totaled 
$4.1 million and $6.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The notional amounts of the swap 
agreements in place at December 31, 2019 expire as follows:  $50 million in 2021; $475 million in 2022; $550 million in 2023; $100 
million in 2024.  

108 

Fair Value Hedges of Interest Rate Risk 

Interest rate swaps on brokered deposits 

The Company enters into interest rate swap agreements that modify the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk by effectively 
converting a portion of the Company’s brokered certificates of deposit from fixed rates to variable rates. The maturities and call 
features of these interest rate swaps match the features of the hedged deposits. As interest rates fall, the decline in the value of the 
certificates of deposit is offset by the increase in the value of the interest rate swaps. Conversely, as interest rates rise, the value of the 
underlying hedged deposits increases, but the value of the interest rate swaps decreases, resulting in no impact on earnings. Interest 
expense is adjusted by the difference between the fixed and floating rates for the period the swaps are in effect.  

Interest rate swaps on securities available for sale 

During the third quarter of 2019, the Company executed multiple forward starting fixed payer swaps to convert the latter portion of 
pools of available for sale securities to a floating rate. These instruments were designated as last-of-layer fair value hedges against the 
select closed pools of prepayable commercial mortgage backed securities. This strategy provides the Company with a fixed rate 
coupon during the front end unhedged tenor of the bonds and results in a floating rate security during the back end hedged tenor, with 
hedged start dates between August 2023 through August 2024 and maturity dates from January 2028 through January 2029. In 
accordance with ASC 815, an entity may exclude prepayment risk when measuring the change in fair value of the hedged item 
attributable to interest rate risk under the last-of-layer approach. The fair value of the hedged item attributable to interest rate risk will 
be presented in interest income along with the change in the fair value of the hedging instrument.  

At December 31, 2019, the amortized cost basis of the closed portfolio of prepayable commercial mortgage backed securities totaled 
$498.3 million. The amount that represents the hedged items was $441.4 million and the basis adjustment associated with the hedged 
items totaled $0.3 million.  

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges 

Customer interest rate derivative program 

The Bank enters into interest rate derivative agreements, primarily rate swaps, with commercial banking customers to facilitate their 
risk management strategies. The Bank enters into offsetting agreements with unrelated financial institutions, thereby mitigating its net 
risk exposure resulting from such transactions.  Because the interest rate derivatives associated with this program do not meet hedge 
accounting requirements, changes in the fair value of both the customer derivatives and the offsetting derivatives are recognized 
directly in earnings.  

Risk participation agreements  

The Bank also enters into risk participation agreements under which it may either assume or sell credit risk associated with a 
borrower’s performance under certain interest rate derivative contracts.  In those instances where the Bank has assumed credit risk, it 
is not a direct counterparty to the derivative contract with the borrower and has entered into the risk participation agreement because it 
is a party to the related loan agreement with the borrower.  In those instances in which the Bank has sold credit risk, it is the sole 
counterparty to the derivative contract with the borrower and has entered into the risk participation agreement because other banks 
participate in the related loan agreement.  The Bank manages its credit risk under risk participation agreements by monitoring the 
creditworthiness of the borrower, based on the Bank’s normal credit review process.  

Mortgage banking derivatives  

The Bank also enters into certain derivative agreements as part of its mortgage banking activities. These agreements include interest 
rate lock commitments on prospective residential mortgage loans and forward commitments to sell these loans to investors on a best 
efforts delivery basis.  

Customer foreign exchange forward contract derivatives 

The Bank enters into foreign exchange forward derivative agreements, primarily forward foreign currency contracts, with commercial 
banking customers to facilitate their risk management strategies. The Bank manages its risk exposure from such transactions by 
entering into offsetting agreements with unrelated financial institutions. The Bank has not elected to designate these foreign exchange 
forward contract derivatives as hedges; as such, changes in the fair value of both the customer derivatives and the offsetting 
derivatives are recognized directly in earnings.  

109 

Visa Class B derivative contract  

The Company is a member of Visa USA. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company sold the majority of its Visa Class B 
holdings, at which time it entered into a derivative agreement with the purchaser whereby the Company will make or receive cash 
payments whenever the conversion ratio of the Visa Class B shares into Visa Class A shares is adjusted. The conversion ratio changes 
when Visa deposits funds to a litigation escrow established by Visa to pay settlements for certain litigation, for which Visa is 
indemnified by Visa USA members. The Company is also required to make periodic financing payments to the purchaser until all of 
Visa’s covered litigation matters are resolved. Thus, the derivative contract extends until the end of Visa’s Covered Litigation matters, 
the timing of which is uncertain. 

The contract includes a contingent accelerated termination clause based on the credit ratings of the Company. At December 31, 2019 
and 2018, the fair value of the liability associated with this contract was $5.7 million and $7.3 million respectively. Refer to Note 20 – 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments for discussion of the valuation inputs and process for this derivative liability. 

Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statements of Income 

The effects of derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 
are presented in the table below. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the reduction of interest income attributable to 
cash flow hedges includes amortization of accumulated other comprehensive loss that resulted from termination of certain interest rate 
swap contracts. 

Derivative Instruments: 

Fair value hedges- securities 
Cash flow hedges - variable rate loans 
Fair value hedges - brokered deposits 
All other instruments 

Total 

Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features 

Location of Gain (Loss) 
Recognized in the Statement of 
Income: 

   Interest income 
   Interest income 
   Interest expense 
   Other noninterest income 

Year Ended December 31, 

2019 

2018 

2017 

$ 

$ 

1    $ 

(4,255)   
(1,752)   
12,958   
6,952    $ 

—    $ 

(4,497)   
(2,343)   
5,368   
(1,472)    $ 

— 
(280) 
829 
5,870 
6,419 

Certain of the Bank’s derivative instruments contain provisions allowing the financial institution counterparty to terminate the 
contracts in certain circumstances, such as the downgrade of the Bank’s credit ratings below specified levels, a default by the Bank on 
its indebtedness, or the failure of the Bank to maintain specified minimum regulatory capital ratios or its regulatory status as a well-
capitalized institution. These derivative agreements also contain provisions regarding the posting of collateral by each party. The 
Company is not in violation of any such provisions. The aggregate fair value of derivative instruments with credit risk-related 
contingent features that were in a net liability position at December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $12.9 million and $0.4 million, 
respectively, for which the Company had posted collateral of $12.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively.  

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities 

The Bank’s derivative instruments with certain counterparties contain legally enforceable netting provisions that allow for net 
settlement of multiple transactions to a single amount, which may be positive, negative, or zero. Agreements with certain bilateral 
counterparties require both parties to maintain collateral in the event that the fair values of derivative instruments exceed established 
exposure thresholds. For centrally cleared derivatives, the Company is subject to initial margin posting and daily variation margin 
exchange with the central clearinghouses. Offsetting information in regards to all derivative assets and liabilities, including accrued 
interest subject to these master netting agreements at December 31, 2019 and 2018 is presented in the following tables:  

As of December 31, 2019 

(in thousands) 
Derivative Assets 
Derivative Liabilities 

Gross 
Amounts 
Offset in the 
Statement of 
Financial 
Position 

Net Amounts 
Presented in 
the 
Statement of 
Financial 
Position 

Gross 
Amounts 
Recognized 

   $   
 $   

27,938   
56,523   

 $   
 $   

(27,915 )   $   
(44,570 )   $   

23   
11,953  

Gross Amounts Not Offset in the 
Statement of Financial Position 

Financial 
Instruments 
 $   
 $  

23   
23  

Cash 
Collateral 

Net 
Amount 

 $   
 $   

-   
35,113  

 $   
 $   

-   
(23,183 ) 

110 

  
As of December 31, 2018 

(in thousands) 
Derivative Assets 
Derivative Liabilities 

Gross 
Amounts 
Offset in the 
Statement of 
Financial 
Position 

Net Amounts 
Presented in 
the 
Statement of 
Financial 
Position 

Gross 
Amounts 
Recognized 

Gross Amounts Not Offset in the 
Statement of Financial Position 

Financial 
Instruments 

Cash 
Collateral 

Net 
Amount 

   $   
   $   

16,167   
23,811   

 $   
 $   

(12,842 )   $   
(21,651 )   $   

3,325      $   
2,160      $   

1,846   
1,846   

 $   
 $   

—   
2,871   

 $   
 $   

1,479   
(2,557 ) 

The Company has excess collateral compared to total exposure due to initial margin requirements for day-to-day rate volatility. 

Note 12. Stockholders’ Equity  

Common Shares Outstanding 

Common shares outstanding exclude treasury shares of 4.0 million and 0.9 million with a first-in-first-out cost basis of $135.8 million 
and $18.5 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  Shares outstanding also exclude unvested restricted share awards of 
1.4 million and 1.3 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. 

Shares Issued as Consideration in Business Combination 

On September 21, 2019, the Company issued 5,044,332 million shares of common stock valued at $193.8 million as consideration in 
its acquisition of MidSouth. Refer to Note 2 – Acquisitions and Divestiture for further information.   

Stock Buyback Program 

On September 23, 2019, the Company’s board of directors approved an amended stock buyback program that authorizes the Company 
to repurchase up to 5.5 million shares of its common stock through the expiration date of December 31, 2020. The program, as 
amended, allows the Company to repurchase its common shares in the open market, by block purchase, through accelerated share 
repurchase programs, in privately negotiated transactions, or as otherwise determined by the Company in one or more transactions. 
The Company is not obligated to purchase any shares under this program, and the board of directors may terminate or amend the 
program at any time prior to the expiration date.   

On October 18, 2019, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC 
(“Morgan Stanley”) to repurchase $185 million of the Company’s common stock. Pursuant to the ASR agreement, the Company made 
a $185 million payment to Morgan Stanley on October 21, 2019, and received from Morgan Stanley day an initial delivery of 
3,611,870 shares of the Company’s common stock, which represented 75% of the estimated total number of shares to be repurchased 
based on the October 18, 2019 closing price of the Company’s common stock.  The Company is accounting for the ASR as two 
separate transactions. The initial delivery of shares totaling $138.8 million were accounted for as treasury shares, and the value of the 
remaining shares to be exchanged upon final settlement totaling $46.2 million is being treated as a forward contract.  The Company 
determined the forward contract meets scope exception provided for in ASC 815-10-15-74(a) and, as such, qualifies for equity 
classification.  

The final number of shares to be repurchased will be based generally on the volume-weighted average price per share of the 
Company’s common stock during the term of the ASR agreement, less a discount, and subject to possible adjustments in accordance 
with the terms of the ASR agreement. Because the ASR is uncollared, the Company may be obligated to return a portion of the initial 
shares should the average share price increase over the remaining term of the contract. Final settlement of the ASR agreement is 
scheduled to occur no later than the third quarter of 2020.  

In 2018, under a previous Board-approved stock buyback program in place from May 2018 to September 2019, the Company 
repurchased 200,000 shares of its common stock at an average price of $41.30 per share.  

111 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) 

A roll forward of the components of AOCI is included as follows: 

 (in thousands) 
Balance, December 31, 2016 
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) 
Reclassification of net loss realized  and included in 
earnings 
Valuation adjustment for employee benefit plan 
amendment 
Other valuation adjustment for employee benefit 
plans 
Amortization of unrealized net loss on securities 
transferred to held to maturity 
Income tax expense (benefit) 
Reclassification of certain tax effects (a) 
Balance, December 31, 2017 
Net change in unrealized (loss) gain 
Reclassification of net loss realized and included in 
earnings 
Valuation adjustment for employee benefit plans 
Amortization of unrealized net loss on securities 
transferred to held to maturity 
Income tax expense (benefit) 
Balance, December 31, 2018 
Net change in unrealized gain or loss 
Reclassification of net (gain) loss realized and 
included in earnings 
Valuation adjustment for employee benefit plans 
Unrealized loss on securities transferred to available 
for sale 
Amortization of unrealized net loss on securities 
transferred to held to maturity 
Income tax expense 
Balance, December 31, 2019 

Available 
for Sale 
Securities 

HTM 
Securities 
Transferred 
from AFS 

Employee 
Benefit 
Plans 

Cash Flow 
Hedges 

Equity 
Method 
Investment 

 $    (28,679 )   $    (14,392 )   $    (72,501 )   $    (4,960 )    $ 

Total 
 $   (120,532 ) 
(425 ) 

5,801   

17,315   

—   

—   

—   

—   

(10,929 ) 

3,786   
—   
4,088   
—   
25,330   
—   
—     $   (134,402 ) 
(52,757 ) 
—   

6,903   

—   

—   

—   

—   

(7,328 ) 

5,201   

600   

17,315   

—   

(10,929 ) 

—   

—   

—   
1,067   
6,669   

3,786   
1,393   
2,586   

—   
4,228   
13,936   

—   
(2,600 ) 
2,139   

 $    (29,512 )   $    (14,585 )   $    (79,078 )   $    (11,227 )    $ 

—   

(697 ) 

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   
—   

   (52,060 ) 

25,480   
—   

—   
(5,967 ) 

4,989   
(45,198 ) 

4,497   
—   

—   
—   

34,966   
(45,198 ) 

3,296   
755   

—   
(9,040 ) 

—   
866   

 $    (50,125 )   $    (12,044 )   $   (110,247 )   $    (8,293 )    $ 

  115,413   

—   
—   

—   

—   
—   

—   

28,943   

9,174   
2,398   

4,255   
—   

   (13,236 ) 

13,236   

—   

—   

3,296   
—   
—   
(13,386 ) 
—     $   (180,709 ) 
143,922   

(434 ) 

—   
—   

—   

13,429   
2,398   

—   

—   
23,102   
 $    28,950     $   

3,153   
3,706   

—   
2,603   

—   
7,506   

639     $   (101,278 )   $    17,399     $  

—   
—   

3,153   
36,917   
(434 )   $    (54,724 ) 

(a)(cid:3)

Represents the reclassification of stranded income tax effects to Retained Earnings upon adoption of ASU 2018-02.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income or Loss (“AOCI”) is reported as a component of stockholders’ equity. AOCI can include, 
among other items, unrealized holding gains and losses on securities available for sale (“AFS”), including the Company’s share of 
unrealized gains and losses reported by a partnership accounted for under the equity method, gains and losses associated with pension 
or other post-retirement benefits that are not recognized immediately as a component of net periodic benefit cost, and gains and losses 
on derivative instruments that are designated as, and qualify as, cash flow hedges. Net unrealized gains and losses on AFS securities 
reclassified as securities held to maturity (“HTM”) also continue to be reported as a component of AOCI and will be amortized over 
the estimated remaining life of the securities as an adjustment to interest income. Subject to certain thresholds, unrealized losses on 
employee benefit plans will be reclassified into income as pension and post-retirement costs are recognized over the remaining service 
period of plan participants. Accumulated gains or losses on the cash flow hedge of the variable rate loans described in Note 11 will be 
reclassified into income over the life of the hedge. Accumulated other comprehensive loss resulting from the terminated interest rate 
swaps will be amortized over the remaining maturities of the designated instruments. Gains and losses within AOCI are net of 
deferred income taxes, where applicable.   

112 

 
The following table shows the line items in the consolidated statements of income affected by amounts reclassified from AOCI: 

Amount reclassified from AOCI (a) 
(in thousands) 
Amortization of unrealized net loss on 
   securities transferred to HTM 
Tax effect 
Net of tax 
Gain (loss) on sale of AFS securities 
Tax effect 
Net of tax 
Amortization of defined benefit pension and 
   post-retirement items (b) 
Tax effect 
Net of tax 
Reclassification of unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges 
Tax effect 
Net of tax 
Amortization of loss on terminated cash flow hedges 
Tax effect 
Net of tax 
Total reclassifications, net of tax 

(a)(cid:3)

Amounts in parenthesis indicate reduction in net income.

Regulatory Capital 

Year Ended December 31, 

2019 

2018 

Increase (decrease) in affected line 
item in the income statement 

 $   

 $   

(3,153 )   $   
713   
(2,440 ) 
—   
—   
—   

(9,174 )   $   
2,074   
(7,100 ) 

(110 )   $   
25   
(85 ) 
(4,145 ) 
937   
(3,208 ) 

$   

(12,833 )   $   

(3,296 )    Interest income 
755      Income taxes 

(2,541 )    Net income 

(25,480 )    Securities transactions 

5,720      Income taxes 

(19,760 )    Net income 

(4,989 )    Other noninterest expense 
1,122      Income taxes 
(3,867 )    Net income 
1,072      Interest income 
(244 )    Income taxes 
828      Net Income 
(5,569 )    Interest income 
1,269      Income taxes 
(4,300 )    Net income 
(30,468 )    Net income 

Measures of regulatory capital are an important tool used by regulators to monitor the financial health of financial institutions. The 
primary quantitative measures used to gauge capital adequacy are Common equity tier 1, Tier 1 and Total regulatory capital to risk-
weighted assets (risk-based capital ratios) and the Tier 1 capital to average total assets (leverage ratio). Both the Company and the 
Bank subsidiary are required to maintain minimum risk-based capital ratios of 8.0% total capital, 4.5% Tier 1 Common Equity, and 
6.0% Tier 1 capital. The minimum leverage ratio is 3.0% for bank holding companies and banks that meet certain specified criteria, 
including having the highest supervisory rating. All others are required to maintain a leverage ratio of at least 4.0%.  

To evaluate capital adequacy, regulators compare an institution’s regulatory capital ratios with their agency guidelines, as well as with 
the guidelines established as part of the uniform regulatory framework for prompt corrective supervisory action toward financial 
institutions. The framework for prompt corrective action categorizes capital levels into one of five classifications rating from well-
capitalized to critically under-capitalized. For an institution to be eligible to be classified as well capitalized its total risk-based capital 
ratios must be at least 10.0% for total capital, 6.5% for Tier 1 Common Equity and 8.0% for Tier 1 capital, and its leverage ratio must 
be at least 5.0%. In reaching an overall conclusion on capital adequacy or assigning a classification under the uniform framework, 
regulators also consider other subjective and quantitative measures of risk associated with an institution. The Company and the Bank 
were deemed to be well capitalized based upon the most recent notifications from their regulators. There are no conditions or events 
since those notifications that management believes would change the classifications. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company 
and the Bank were in compliance with all of their respective minimum regulatory capital requirements.  

113 

Following is a summary of the actual regulatory capital amounts and ratios for the Company and the Bank together with 
corresponding regulatory capital requirements at December 31, 2019 and 2018.  

($ in thousands) 
At December 31, 2019 

Tier 1 leverage capital 

Actual 

Required for 
Minimum Capital 
Adequacy 

Required 
To Be Well 
Capitalized 

Amount 

Ratio % 

Amount 

Ratio % 

Amount 

Ratio % 

Hancock Whitney Corporation 
Hancock Whitney Bank 

  $   2,584,162   
  2,640,913   

8.76     $   1,180,163   
  1,179,194   
8.96  

4.00     $   1,475,204   
  1,473,992   
4.00   

Common equity tier 1 (to risk weighted assets) 

Hancock Whitney Corporation 
Hancock Whitney Bank 

Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets) 
Hancock Whitney Corporation 
Hancock Whitney Bank 

Total capital (to risk weighted assets) 
Hancock Whitney Corporation 
Hancock Whitney Bank 

At December 31, 2018 

Tier 1 leverage capital 

Hancock Whitney Corporation 
Hancock Whitney Bank 

Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets) 
Hancock Whitney Corporation 
Hancock Whitney Bank 

Total capital (to risk weighted assets) 
Hancock Whitney Corporation 
Hancock Whitney Bank 

Regulatory Restrictions on Dividends 

  $   2,584,162   
  2,640,913   

10.50  
10.74   

 $   1,107,527  
  1,106,558   

4.50     $   1,599,761   
  1,598,362   
4.50   

  $   2,584,162   
  2,640,913   

10.50     $   1,476,702   
  1,475,411  
10.74  

6.00     $   1,968,936   
  1,967,214   
6.00  

  $   2,929,387   
  2,836,138   

11.90  
11.53   

 $   1,968,936  
  1,967,214   

8.00     $   2,461,171   
  2,459,018   
8.00   

10.00  
10.00   

  $   2,391,762   
  2,351,090   

10.48     $   1,026,637   
  1,025,355   
10.32   

4.50     $   1,482,920   
  1,481,068   
4.50   

  $   2,391,762   
  2,351,090   

10.48     $   1,368,849   
  1,367,140   
10.32   

6.00     $   1,825,132   
  1,822,853   
6.00   

  $   2,736,276   
  2,545,604   

11.99     $   1,825,132   
  1,822,053   
11.17   

8.00     $   2,281,415   
  2,278,566   
8.00   

10.00   
10.00  

5.00   
5.00   

6.50   
6.50   

8.00   
8.00   

5.00   
5.00   

6.50   
6.50   

8.00   
8.00   

Hancock Whitney Corporation 
Hancock Whitney Bank 

  $   2,391,762   
  2,351,090   

8.67     $   1,103,544   
  1,101,372   
8.54   

4.00     $   1,379,430   
  1,376,715   
4.00   

Common equity tier 1 (to risk weighted assets) 

Regulatory policy statements provide that generally bank holding companies should pay dividends only out of current operating 
earnings and that the level of dividends must be consistent with current and expected capital requirements. Dividends received from 
the Bank have been the primary source of funds available to the Company for the payment of dividends to its stockholders. Federal 
and state banking laws and regulations restrict the amount of dividends the Bank may distribute to the Company without prior 
regulatory approval, as well as the amount of loans it may make to the Company. Dividends paid by the Bank are subject to approval 
by the Commissioner of Banking and Consumer Finance of the State of Mississippi. Further, beginning January 1, 2019, a capital 
conservation buffer of 2.5% above each of the minimum capital ratio requirements (common equity tier 1, Tier 1, and total risk-based 
capital) must be met for a bank or bank holding company to be able to pay dividends.   

114 

Note 13. Noninterest Income and Noninterest Expense 

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company sold the majority of its holdings of Visa Class B common shares. The sale resulted in 
a gain of approximately $33.2 million, which is included in net gain on sales of assets on the Consolidated Statement of Income. For 
more information on the circumstances surrounding the sale, refer to Note 11 – Derivatives.  

The components of other noninterest income and other noninterest expense are as follows: 

(in thousands) 
Other noninterest income: 

Income from bank-owned life insurance 
Credit-related fees 
Income from derivatives 
Other miscellaneous income 
Total other noninterest income 
Other noninterest expense: 

Advertising 
Corporate value and franchise taxes 
Entertainment and contributions 
Telecommunication and postage 
Printing and supplies 
Travel expenses 
Tax credit investment amortization 
Other retirement expense 
Other miscellaneous expense 
Total other noninterest expense 

Note 14. Income Taxes  

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

14,946   
11,399   
12,958   
14,635   
53,938   

15,251   
15,949   
10,777   
14,588   
4,947   
5,278   
4,943   
(16,561 ) 
37,282   
92,454   

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

12,424   
11,065   
5,368   
14,929   
43,786   

12,334   
13,595   
11,359   
14,659   
5,548   
5,338   
5,166   
(18,661 ) 
31,355   
80,693   

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

 $ 

11,473   
11,140   
5,870   
11,387   
39,870   

15,031   
12,797   
8,260   
14,686   
5,138   
5,043   
4,850   
(15,249 ) 
31,517   
82,073  

Income tax expense included in net income consisted of the following components: 

(in thousands) 
Included in net income 
Current federal 
Current state 
Total current provision 
Deferred federal 
Deferred state 
Total deferred provision 
Total included in net income 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

$ 

$ 

12,172    $ 
6,087   
18,259   
46,290   
810   
47,100   
65,359    $ 

7,594   
5,538   
13,132   
41,078   
4,136   
45,214   
58,346   

 $   

 $   

38,859   
4,112   
42,971   
48,653   
1,178   
49,831   
92,802  

Income tax expense does not reflect the tax effects of amounts recognized in other comprehensive income and in AOCI, a separate 
component of stockholders’ equity.  These amounts include unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale or transferred 
to held to maturity, unrealized gains and losses on derivatives and hedging transactions, and valuation adjustments of defined benefit 
and other post-retirement benefit plans. Refer to Note 12 – Stockholders’ Equity for additional information.  

Temporary differences arise between the tax bases of assets or liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes. 
The expected tax effects from when these differences are resolved are recorded currently as deferred tax assets or liabilities.  

115 

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:  

(in thousands) 
Deferred tax assets: 
Allowance for loan losses 
Employee compensation and benefits 
Loan purchase accounting adjustments 
Tax credit carryforward 
Securities 
Federal/State net operating loss 
Lease liability 
Other 
Gross deferred tax assets 
State valuation allowance 
Net deferred tax assets 
Deferred tax liabilities: 
Employee compensation and benefits 
Securities 
Fixed assets & intangibles 
Lease Financing 
Right-of-use asset 
Other 
Gross deferred tax liabilities 
Net deferred tax asset (liability) 

December 31, 

2019 

2018 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

47,008    $ 
—   
18,717   
2,025   
—   
7,295   
29,003   
7,893   
111,941   
(1,415 ) 
110,526    $ 

(9,662 )  $ 
(9,589 ) 
(48,144 ) 
(41,565 ) 
(24,887 ) 
(14,400 ) 

(148,247 )  $ 
(37,721 )  $ 

45,198   
12,796   
1,132   
2,059   
17,390   
1,629   
—   
18,431   
98,635   
(1,629 ) 
97,006   

—   
—   
(44,277 ) 
(23,605 ) 
—   
(6,157 ) 
(74,039 ) 
22,967  

Reported income tax expense differed from amounts computed by applying the statutory income tax rate of 21% for the years ended 
December 31, 2019 and 2018 and 35% for the year ended December 31, 2017 to earnings before income taxes. The primary 
differences are due to tax-exempt income, federal and state tax credits, and excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation in 
2019. The main source of tax credits has been investments in tax-advantaged securities and tax credit projects. These investments are 
made primarily in the markets we serve and directed at tax credits issued under the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (“QZAB”), 
Qualified School Construction Bonds (“QSCB”), as well as Federal and State New Market Tax Credit (“NMTC”) and Low-Income 
Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) programs.  A summary of the factors that impacted income tax expense follows.    

2019 

Amount 

% 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

Amount 

% 

2017 

Amount 

% 

$   

82,475   

21.0   %   $   

80,244   

21.0   %   $    107,952   

35.0   % 

($ in thousands) 
Taxes computed at statutory rate 
Increases (decreases) in taxes resulting 
   from: 

State income taxes, net of federal 
   income tax benefit 
Tax-exempt interest 
Life insurance contracts 
Tax credits 
Employee share-based compensation 
FDIC assessment disallowance 
Return to provision adjustment 
Impact of deferred tax asset re-
measurement 
Other, net 

Income tax expense 

 $   

7,204   
(10,435 )   
(3,901 )   
(10,293 )   
(842 )   
1,895   
(1,459 )   

—   
715   
65,359   

1.8   
(2.7 )   
(1.0 )   
(2.6 )   
(0.2 )   
0.5   
(0.4 )   

—   
0.2   

16.6   %   $   

8,770   
(10,803 )   
(2,019 )   
(11,344 )   
(1,380 )   
2,818   
(9,942 )   

—   
2,002   
58,346   

2.3   
(2.8 )   
(0.5 )   
(3.0 )   
(0.3 )   
0.7   
(2.6 )   

—   
0.5   

15.3   %   $   

4,288   
(18,870 )   
(5,360 )   
(9,286 )   
(5,824 )   

—   
(120 )   

19,520   
502   
92,802   

1.4   
(6.1 )   
(1.7 )   
(3.1 )   
(1.9 )   
—   
—   

6.3   
0.2   
30.1   % 

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $2.0 million in state tax credit carryforwards that originated in the tax 
years from 2015 through 2019 and begin expiring in 2022. These carryforwards are primarily from investments in state NMTC 
projects.  

In 2019, the Company invested in certain affordable housing project limited partnerships that are qualified low-income housing tax 
credit developments. These investments are considered variable interest entities for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary 

116 

and, therefore, are not consolidated. The tax credits, when realized, will be reflected in the consolidated statement of income as a 
reduction of income tax expense. The unamortized portion of the investment is reflected within other assets in the consolidated 
balance sheets. The Company’s investments in affordable housing limited partnerships totaled $37.3 million at December 31, 2019. 
There were no such investments at December 31, 2018.  

The Company had approximately $22.9 million in state net operating loss carryforwards that originated in the tax years 2004 through 
2019 and begin expiring in 2024. A valuation allowance has been established for the state net operating loss carryforwards. The 
impact of this valuation allowance is immaterial to the financial statements.  

The tax benefit of a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return should be recognized when it is more likely than not that the 
position will be sustained on its technical merits.  The liability for unrecognized tax benefits was immaterial as of December 31, 2019, 
2018 and 2017.  The Company does not expect the liability for unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly during 2020.  The 
Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to income tax matters in income tax expense, and the amounts recognized 
during 2019, 2018 and 2017 were insignificant.    

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return, as well as filing various state returns. Generally, 
the returns for years prior to 2016 are no longer subject to examination by taxing authorities.  

Note 15. Earnings Per Share 

The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method. The two-class method allocates net income to each class of 
common stock and participating security according to common dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. 
Participating securities consist of nonvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend 
equivalents 

A summary of the information used in the computation of earnings per common share follows. 

($ in thousands, except per share data) 
Numerator: 
Net income to common shareholders 
Net income allocated to participating securities -- basic and diluted 
Net income allocated to common shareholders - basic and diluted 
Denominator: 
Weighted-average common shares - basic 
Dilutive potential common shares 
Weighted average common shares - diluted 
Earnings per common share: 

Basic 
Diluted 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

327,380  
5,546  
321,834  

$ 

$ 

323,770    $ 
5,930   
317,840    $ 

215,632   
4,670   
210,962   

86,488  
111  
86,599  

85,355   
166   
85,521   

3.72  
3.72  

$ 
$ 

3.72  
$ 
3.72    $ 

84,695   
268   
84,963   

2.49   
2.48  

Potential common shares are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share when their inclusion would have had an 
anti-dilutive effect. Potential common shares can consist of, among other forms, employee and director stock options, unvested 
performance share awards, and deferred restricted units. Weighted-average anti-dilutive potential common shares of this nature totaled 
15,815 for the year ended December 31, 2019, 5,129 for the year ended December 31, 2018, and 10,551 for the year ended 
December 31, 2017.  

The diluted earnings per share computation for the year ended December 31, 2019 also excludes the impact of the forward contract 
related to the October 21, 2019 accelerated share repurchase transaction. Based upon the average daily volume weighted-average price 
of the Company’s common stock at December 31, 2019, the counterparty to the transaction is expected to deliver additional shares for 
the settlement of the forward contract upon settlement; as such, the impact of the forward contract related to the accelerated share 
repurchase transaction would have been anti-dilutive to earnings per share. 

117 

Note 16. Segment Reporting 

Accounting standards require that information be reported about a company’s operating segments using a “management approach.” 
Reportable segments are identified in these standards as those revenue-producing components for which discrete financial information 
is produced internally and which are subject to evaluation by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources 
to segments. Consistent with the Company’s strategy that is focused on providing a consistent package of banking products and 
services across all markets, the Company has identified its overall banking operations as its only reportable segment. Because the 
overall banking operations comprise substantially all of the consolidated operations, no separate segment disclosures are presented.  

118 

Note 17. Retirement Benefit Plans 

The Company offers a qualified defined benefit pension plan, the Hancock Whitney Corporation Pension Plan and Trust Agreement 
(“Pension Plan”), covering certain eligible associates. Eligibility is based on minimum age and service-related requirements. During 
the second quarter of 2017, the Pension Plan was amended to exclude any individual hired or rehired by the Company after June 30, 
2017 from eligibility to participate. The Pension Plan amendment further provided that the accrued benefits of each participant in the 
Pension Plan whose combined age plus years of service as of January 1, 2018 totaled less than 55 were to be frozen as of January 1, 
2018 and not thereafter increase.  

The Company makes contributions to this plan in amounts sufficient to meet funding requirements set forth in federal employee 
benefit and tax laws, plus such additional amounts as the Company may determine to be appropriate. The Company was not required 
to make a contribution to the Pension Plan during 2019 or 2018. During 2018, the Company made a discretionary contribution of $39 
million designated to the 2017 plan year as part of its income tax initiatives. Market conditions during the latter part of 2018 resulted 
in a decline in the Pension Plan’s asset value. The Company made a $100 million discretionary contribution to the Pension Plan during 
the first quarter of 2019, the timing and amount of which was determined with the intent to optimize investment return. The Company 
does not anticipate being required to make a contribution, nor does it anticipate making a discretionary contribution to the Pension 
Plan in 2020.    

The Company also offers a defined contribution retirement benefit plan (401(k) plan), the Hancock Whitney Corporation 401(k) 
Savings Plan and Trust Agreement (“401(k) Plan”), that covers substantially all associates who have been employed 60 days and meet 
a minimum age requirement and employment classification criteria. The Company matches 100% of the first 1% of compensation 
saved by a participant, and 50% of the next 5% of compensation saved. Newly eligible associates are automatically enrolled at an 
initial 3% savings rate unless the associate actively opts out of participation in the plan. The 401(k) Plan was also amended during the 
second quarter of 2017 for participants whose benefits are frozen under the Pension Plan to add an enhanced Company contribution 
beginning January 1, 2018, in the amount of 2%, 4% or 6% of such participant’s eligible compensation, based on the participant’s age 
and years of service with the Company. The 401(k) Plan’s amendment further provided that the Company will contribute to the 
benefit of those associates of the Company hired or rehired after June 30, 2017 and those associates of the Company never enrolled in 
the Pension Plan an additional basic contribution in an amount equal to 2% of the associate’s eligible compensation beginning January 
1, 2018. Participants vest in the new basic and enhanced Company contributions upon completion of three years of service.   

The Company’s 401(k) plan matching expense totaled $15.7 million, $14.6 million and $8.4 million for the years ended December 31, 
2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

Certain associates who were designated executive officers of Whitney Holding Company and/or Whitney National Bank before the 
acquisition by the Company are also covered by an unfunded nonqualified defined benefit pension plan. The benefits under this 
nonqualified plan were designed to supplement amounts to be paid under the defined benefit plan previously maintained for 
employees of Whitney Holding Company and/or Whitney National Bank (the “Whitney Pension Plan”), and are calculated using the 
Whitney Pension Plan’s formula, but without applying the restrictions imposed on qualified plans by certain provisions of the Internal 
Revenue Code. Accrued benefits under this plan were frozen as of December 31, 2012 in connection with the merger of the Whitney 
Pension Plan into the Company’s qualified defined benefit pension plan, and no future benefits will be accrued under this plan.  

The Company also sponsors defined benefit postretirement plans for certain associates. The Hancock postretirement plans are 
available only to associates hired by the Company prior to January 1, 2000. The Hancock plans provide health care and life insurance 
benefits to retiring associates who participate in medical and/or group life insurance benefit plans for active associates and have 
reached 55 years of age with ten years of service, at the time of retirement. The postretirement health care plan is contributory, with 
retiree contributions adjusted annually and subject to certain employer contribution maximums.  

The Whitney postretirement plans are available only to former employees of Whitney Holding Company and/or Whitney National 
Bank who meet the eligibility requirements, and offer health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retirees and their eligible 
dependents. Participant contributions are required under the health plan. These plans restrict eligibility for postretirement health 
benefits to retirees already receiving benefits as of the date of the plan amendments in 2007 and to those active participants who were 
eligible to receive benefits as of December 31, 2007 (i.e., were age 55 with ten years of credited service). Life insurance benefits are 
currently only available to associates who retired before December 31, 2007.  

The Company assumed certain trends in health care costs in the determination of the benefit obligations. The plans assumed a 7.25% 
and(cid:3)7.5% increase in health costs for 2019 and 2018 respectively, declining to 6.25% in 2019 and(cid:3)6.75% in 2018 uniformly over a(cid:3)
four year(cid:3)period, and then following the Getzen model thereafter. At December 31, 2019, the mortality assumption was based on 
Revised RP-2014 Employee and Healthy Annuitants Bottom Quartile Generational Mortality Table for Males and Females - Projected 
with Improvement Scale MP-2019. At December 31, 2018, the mortality assumption was based on Revised RP-2014 Employee and 
Healthy Annuitants Bottom Quartile Generational Mortality Table for Males and Females - Projected with Improvement Scale MP-
2018. 

119 

The following tables detail the changes in the benefit obligations and plan assets of the defined benefit plans for the years ended 
December 31, 2019 and 2018 as well as the funded status of the plans at each year end and the amounts recognized in the Company’s 
consolidated balance sheets. The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for all defined benefit pension plans and other 
postretirement benefit plans.  

(in thousands) 
Change in benefit obligation 

Benefit obligation at beginning of year 

   $   

Service cost 
Interest cost 
Plan participants' contributions 
Net actuarial (gain) loss 
Benefits paid 

Benefit obligation, end of year 

Change in plan assets 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 

Actual return on plan assets 
Employer contributions 
Plan participants' contributions 
Benefit payments 
Expenses 

Fair value of plan assets, end of year 

Funded status at end of year - net asset (liability) 
Amounts recognized in accumulated other 
   comprehensive loss 

Unrecognized loss at beginning of year 

Net actuarial loss (gain) 

Unrecognized gain (loss) at end of year 

Projected benefit obligation 
Accumulated benefit obligation 
Fair value of plan assets 

   $   

   $   

   $   
   $   

2019 

2018 

2019 

2018 

Pension Benefits 

Other Post- 
Retirement Benefits 

  (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)   
492,017   (cid:3)(cid:3) $ 
10,981   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
18,843   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
—   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
81,166   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
(21,141 ) (cid:3)(cid:3)   
581,866   

542,618   
130,745   
101,165   
—   
(21,141 ) 
(1,249 ) 
752,138   
170,272      $ 

513,844      $ 
12,414   
16,762   
—   
(30,796 ) 
(20,207 ) 
492,017   

564,365   
(40,491 ) 
40,138   
—   
(20,207 ) 
(1,187 ) 
542,618   

50,601      $ 

149,470   (cid:3)(cid:3) $ 
(13,218 ) 
136,252      $ 
581,866      $ 
550,005   
752,138   

102,978      $ 
46,492   
149,470      $ 
492,017   
467,300   
542,618   

  (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)   
16,283   (cid:3)(cid:3) $ 
95   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
621   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
547   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
733   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
(1,566 ) (cid:3)(cid:3)   
16,713   

(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)

—   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
—   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
1,019   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
547   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
(1,566 ) (cid:3)(cid:3)   
—   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
—   
(16,713 )    $ 

(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)

(7,015 ) (cid:3)(cid:3) $ 
1,646   (cid:3)(cid:3)   
(5,369 )    $ 

23,036   
120   
621   
628   
(6,717 ) 
(1,405 ) 
16,283   
(cid:3)(cid:3)
—   
—   
777   
628   
(1,405 ) 
—   
—   
(16,283 ) 

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(732 ) 
(6,283 ) 
(7,015 ) 

The net funded status of $170.3 million for pension benefits plans includes an excess of plan assets over the benefit obligation of 
$185.8 million on the defined benefit pension plan, offset by an unfunded benefit obligation of $15.5 million for the nonqualified 
retirement plan.  

120 

The following table shows net periodic benefit cost included in expense and the changes in the amounts recognized in AOCI during 
2019, 2018, and 2017.  

Years Ended December 31, 

($ in thousands) 
Net periodic benefit cost 
Service cost 
Interest cost 
Expected return on plan assets 
Amortization of net loss/ prior service cost 

Net periodic benefit cost 

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) 

Total recognized in other comprehensive 
   income 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit 
   cost and other comprehensive income 

Discount rate for benefit obligations 
Discount rate for net periodic benefit cost 
Expected long-term return on plan assets 
Rate of compensation increase 

2019 

2018 
Pension Benefits 

2017 

2019 

2018 
Other Post-Retirement Benefits 

2017 

  $    10,981      $    12,414      $    15,381      $   
16,762   
  (41,033 ) 
5,423   
(6,434 ) 

16,514   
  (37,632 ) 
5,554   
(183 ) 

18,843   
  (45,199 ) 
10,087   
(5,288 ) 

95      $   

621   
—   
(913 ) 
(197 ) 

120      $   
621   
—   
(434 ) 
307   

129   
668   
—   
(353 ) 
444   

  (10,087 ) 
(3,131 ) 

(5,423 ) 
51,915   

(5,554 ) 
(7,378 ) 

913   
733   

434   
(6,717 ) 

353   
993   

  (13,218 ) 

46,492   

  (12,932 ) 

1,646   

(6,283 ) 

1,346   

$   (18,506 )  $    40,058      $   (13,115 )  $    1,449    $    (5,976 )    $    1,790   

3.14 %   
4.14 %   
7.25 %   

4.14 %   
3.57 %   
7.25 %   

3.57 %   
4.10 %   
7.25 %   

scaled *   

scaled **   

scaled **   

3.11 %   
4.10 %   
n/a   
n/a   

4.10 %   
3.52 %   
n/a   
n/a   

3.52 % 
3.95 % 
n/a   
n/a  

* 
** 

Graded scale, declining from 7.25% at age 20 to 2.25% at age 60 
Graded scale, declining from 7.00% at age 20 to 2.00% at age 60 

The long term rate of return on plan assets is determined by using the weighted-average of historical real returns for major asset 
classes based on target asset allocations.  The discount rates for the benefit obligation were calculated by matching expected future 
cash flows to the Findley Pension Discount Curve (AA) in 2019 and 2018 and the BPSM-AA Only Pension Discount Curve in 2017. 

The following table presents expected plan benefit payments over the ten years succeeding December 31, 2019: 

 (in thousands) 
2020 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025-2029 

. 

Pension 

$ 

22,974 

Post-Retirement 
$ 

849 

$ 

24,016   
25,163   
26,130   
27,414   
156,055   
281,752    $ 

$ 

888   
855   
876   
855   
4,376   
8,699    $ 

Total 

23,823   
24,904   
26,018   
27,006   
28,269   
160,431   
290,451  

The expected benefit payments are estimated based on the same assumptions used to measure the Company’s benefit obligations at 
December 31, 2019.  

The estimated amounts of actuarial loss that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit 
cost over the next year is $5.1 million.  

The following table illustrates the effect on the annual periodic postretirement benefit costs and postretirement benefit obligation of a 
1% increase or 1% decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rates from the rates assumed at December 31, 2019:  

(in thousands) 
Aggregated service and interest cost 
Postretirement benefit obligation 

1% Decrease 
in Rates 

Assumed 
Rates 

1% Increase 
in Rates 

$ 

642    $ 

15,031   

715    $ 

16,712   

806   
18,780  

121 

The fair values of pension plan assets at December 31, 2019 and 2018, by asset category, are shown in the following tables. The fair 
value is presented based on the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs into the valuation 
techniques used to measure fair value.  Level 1 uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, Level 2 uses significant 
observable inputs, and Level 3 uses significant unobservable inputs. In accordance with Subtopic 820-10 common trust funds are 
reported at fair value using net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and are not classified in the fair value 
hierarchy. 

For all investments, the plan attempts to use quoted market prices of identical assets on active exchanges, or Level 1 measurements. 
Where such quoted market prices are not available, the plan will use quoted prices for similar instruments or discounted cash flows to 
estimate the value, reported as Level 2.  

Fair Value Measurements by Asset Category / Fund 
(in thousands) 
Cash and equivalents 

Total cash and cash equivalents 

Fixed income securities 
Mutual fund-fixed income 
Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)-fixed income 

Total fixed income 
Domestic and foreign stock 
Mutual funds-equity 
Total equity 
Total assets at fair value 

Common trust funds (fixed income) 
Common trust fund (real assets) 
Total 

Fair Value Measurements by Asset Category / Fund 
(in thousands) 
Cash and equivalents 

Total cash and cash equivalents 

Fixed income securities 
Mutual fund-fixed income 
Total fixed income 
Domestic and foreign stock 
Mutual funds-equity 
Total equity 
Total assets at fair value 

Common trust funds (fixed income) 
Common trust fund (real assets) 
Total 

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Total 

December 31, 2019 

2,574      $ 
2,574   
23,450   
34,652   
3,134   
61,236   
88,174   
236,436   
324,610   
388,420   
—   
—   
388,420      $ 

—      $ 
—   
45,951   
—   

45,951   

—   

45,951   
—   
—   
45,951      $ 

—      $ 
—   

—   

—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—      $ 

2,574   
2,574   
69,401   
34,652   
3,134   
107,187   
88,174   
236,436   
324,610   
434,371   
258,572   
59,195   
752,138  

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Total 

December 31, 2018 

8,643    $   
8,643   
19,856   
31,556   
51,412   
80,813   
150,466   
231,279   
291,334   
—   
—   
291,334    $   

—    $   
—   
97,025   
—   
97,025   
6   
—   
6   
97,031   
—   
—   
97,031    $   

—      $   
—   
—   
145   
145   
—   
—   
—   
145   
—   
—   

145      $   

8,643   
8,643   
116,881   
31,701   
148,582   
80,819   
150,466   
231,285   
388,510   
125,706   
28,402   
542,618  

  $ 

   $ 

  $   

$   

The following table presents the percentage allocation of the plan assets by asset category and corresponding target allocations at 
December 31, 2019 and 2018.  

Asset category 

2019 

2018 

2019 

2018 

Plan Assets 
at December 31, 

Target Allocation 
at December 31, 

Cash and equivalents 
Fixed income securities 
Equity securities 
Real assets 

0   %   
49   
43   
8   
100   %   

1   %   
51   
43   
5   
100   %   

0 - 5% 
41 - 57% 
35 - 51% 
0 - 12% 

0 - 5% 
35 - 63% 
35 - 51% 
0 - 12% 

122 

Plan assets are invested in long-term strategies and evaluated within the context of a long-term investment horizon. Plan assets will be 
diversified across multiple asset classes so as to minimize the risk of large losses. Short-term fluctuations in value will be considered 
secondary to long-term results. The Company employs a total return approach whereby a diversified mix of asset class investments are 
used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets for an acceptable level of risk. Risk tolerance is established through careful 
consideration of the plan liabilities, plan funded status and the Company’s financial condition. The investment performance of the plan 
is regularly monitored to ensure that appropriate risk levels are being taken and to evaluate returns versus a suitable market 
benchmark. The benefits investment committee meets periodically to review the policy, strategy, and performance of the plans.  

Note 18. Share-Based Payment Arrangements 

The Company maintains incentive compensation plans that incorporate share-based payment arrangements for associates and 
directors. The current plan under which share-based awards may be granted, the 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”), 
was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 2014 annual meeting as a successor to the Company’s 2005 Long-Term Incentive 
Plan (the “2005 Plan”). Certain share-based awards remain outstanding under the 2005 Plan and prior equity incentive compensation 
plans, but no future awards may be granted thereunder.  

The Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors administers the equity incentive plans, makes determinations 
with respect to participation by employees or directors and authorizes the share-based awards. Under the 2014 Plan, participants may 
be awarded stock options (including incentive stock options for associates), restricted shares, performance stock awards and stock 
appreciation rights, all on a stand-alone, combination or tandem basis. To date, the Committee has awarded stock options, tenure-
based restricted shares and performance stock awards under the 2014 Plan and the prior equity incentive plans.  

Under the 2014 Plan, future awards may be granted for the issuance of an aggregate of 2,996,357 shares of the Company’s common 
stock, plus the number of any shares of the Company’s common stock for which awards under the 2005 Plan are cancelled, expired, 
forfeited or settled in cash. The 2014 Plan limits the number of shares for which awards may be granted to any participant during any 
calendar year to 100,000 shares. The Company may use authorized unissued shares or shares held in treasury to satisfy awards under 
the 2014 Plan.  

As of December 31, 2019 there were 0.4 million shares available for future issuance under the 2014 equity compensation plan.  

For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, total share-based compensation recognized in income was $20.9 million, 
$19.8 million and $17.6 million, respectively. The total recognized tax benefit related to the share-based compensation was 
$5.5 million, $5.8 million and $13.3 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  

A summary of stock option activity for 2019 is presented below:  

Options 
Outstanding at January 1, 2019 
Former MidSouth options converted at acquisition 
Exercised/Released 
Cancelled/Forfeited 
Expired 
Outstanding at December 31, 2019 
Exercisable at December 31, 2019 

Number of 
Shares 

Weighted- 
Average 
Exercise 
Price ($) 

46,685      $   
20,530   
(23,365 ) 
—   
(15,305 ) 
28,545      $   
28,545      $   

31.88   
46.76   
33.06   
—   
45.85   
34.11   
34.11   

Weighted- 
Average 
Remaining 
Contractual 
Term 
(Years) 

Aggregate 
Intrinsic 
Value ($000) 

2.6      $   

2.2      $   
2.2      $   

164   
—   
180   
—   
6   
296   
296  

The exercise price for stock options is set at the closing market price of the Company’s stock on the date immediately preceding the 
date of grant, except for the exercise price of certain options granted to major stockholders which is set at 110% of the market price. 
Option awards generally vest equally over five years of continuous service and have ten-year contractual terms.  

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $0.2 million, 
$0.6 million and $4.3 million, respectively.  

123 

A summary of the Company’s nonvested restricted and performance shares for the year ended December 31, 2019 is presented below:  

Nonvested at January 1, 2019 
Granted 
Vested 
Cancelled/Forfeited 
Nonvested at December 31, 2019 

Number of 
Shares 

$ 

1,494,041   
694,377   
(525,166 )   
(66,994 )   

1,596,258   

$ 

Weighted- 
Average 
Grant-Date 
Fair Value ($) 

39.89  
39.85  
38.20  
39.88  
40.43  

As of December 31, 2018, there was $58.6 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested restricted and 
performance shares expected to vest in future periods. This compensation is expected to be recognized in expense over a weighted-
average period of 3.5 years. The total fair value of shares which vested during 2019 and 2018 was $20.1 million and $26.2 million, 
respectively.  

In 2019, the Company granted 33,691 performance shares subject to a total shareholder return (“TSR”) performance metric with a 
grant date fair value of $35.27 per share and 33,691 performance shares subject to an operating earnings per share performance metric 
with a grant date fair value of $32.15 per share to key members of executive management. The number of performance shares subject 
to TSR that ultimately vest at the end of the three-year performance period, if any, will be based on the relative rank of the Company’s 
three-year TSR among the TSRs of a peer group of 42 regional banks.  The fair value of the performance shares subject to TSR at the 
grant date was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation method.  The number of performance shares subject to operating earnings 
per share that ultimately vest will be based on the Company’s attainment of certain operating earnings per share goals over the two-
year performance period. The maximum number of performance shares that could vest is 200% of the target award.  Compensation 
expense for these performance shares is recognized on a straight-line basis over the three-year service period. 

Note 19. Commitments and Contingencies 

Credit Related  

In the normal course of business, the Bank enters into financial instruments, such as commitments to extend credit and letters of credit, 
to meet the financing needs of its customers. Such instruments are not reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements 
until they are funded, although they expose the Bank to varying degrees of credit risk and interest rate risk in much the same way as 
funded loans.  

Commitments to extend credit include revolving commercial credit lines, nonrevolving loan commitments issued mainly to finance 
the acquisition and development or construction of real property or equipment, and credit card and personal credit lines. The 
availability of funds under commercial credit lines and loan commitments generally depends on whether the borrower continues to 
meet credit standards established in the underlying contract and has not violated other contractual conditions. Loan commitments 
generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee by the borrower. Credit card and 
personal credit lines are generally subject to cancellation if the borrower’s credit quality deteriorates. A number of commercial and 
personal credit lines are used only partially or, in some cases, not at all before they expire, and the total commitment amounts do not 
necessarily represent future cash requirements of the Company.  

A substantial majority of the letters of credit are standby agreements that obligate the Bank to fulfill a customer’s financial 
commitments to a third party if the customer is unable to perform. The Bank issues standby letters of credit primarily to provide credit 
enhancement to its customers’ other commercial or public financing arrangements and to help them demonstrate financial capacity to 
vendors of essential goods and services.  

The contract amounts of these instruments reflect the Company’s exposure to credit risk. The Company undertakes the same credit 
evaluation in making loan commitments and assuming conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments and may 
require collateral or other credit support. At December 31, 2019, the Company had a reserve for unfunded lending commitments 
totaling $4.0 million. The Company’s off-balance sheet financial instruments are summarized below:  

(in thousands) 
Commitments to extend credit 
Letters of credit 

$ 

December 31, 

2019 

7,530,143    $ 
393,284   

2018 

7,234,528   
365,498  

124 

Legal Proceedings 

The Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Management does not believe that loss 
contingencies, if any, arising from pending litigation and regulatory matters will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated 
financial position or liquidity of the Company.  

Note 20. Fair Value Measurements 

The FASB defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal 
or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. 
The FASB’s guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to these valuation techniques used to measure 
fair value, giving preference to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1) and the lowest priority to 
unobservable inputs such as a reporting entity’s own data (level 3). Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities 
in active markets, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, observable inputs other than quoted 
prices, such as interest rates and yield curves, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data 
by correlation or other means.  

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis 

The following tables present for each of the fair value hierarchy levels the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured 
at fair value on a recurring basis in the consolidated balance sheets.  

Total recurring fair value measurements - liabilities 
(1)

For further disaggregation of derivative assets and liabilities, see Note 11 – Derivatives. 

(in thousands) 
Assets 
Available for sale debt securities: 

U.S. Treasury and government agency securities 
Municipal obligations 
Corporate debt securities 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Collateralized mortgage obligations 
Total available for sale securities 

Derivative assets (1) 

Total recurring fair value measurements - assets 
Liabilities 

Derivative liabilities (1) 

(in thousands) 
Assets 
Available for sale debt securities: 

U.S. Treasury and government agency securities 
Municipal obligations 
Corporate debt securities 
Residential mortgage-backed securities 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 
Collateralized mortgage obligations 
Total available for sale securities 

Derivative assets (1) 

Total recurring fair value measurements - assets 
Liabilities 

Derivative liabilities (1) 

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Total 

December 31, 2019 

   $   

   $   

   $   
   $   

98,672      $   

249,805   
7,988   
1,924,157   
1,586,467   
808,215   
4,675,304   
54,446   

—      $   
—  
—   
—   
—   
—  
—   
—  
—      $    4,729,750      $   
—   
—      $   
  $  
—  

15,385      $   
15,385      $   

98,672   
—      $   
249,805   
—   
7,988   
—   
1,924,157  
—   
1,586,467   
—   
808,215   
—  
4,675,304   
—   
—   
54,446   
—      $    4,729,750   
—   
5,704      $   
  $  
5,704  

21,089   
21,089  

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Total 

December 31, 2018 

   $   

   $   

   $   
   $   

—      $   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   

71,706      $   

240,427   
3,500   
1,443,402   
770,077   
161,925   
2,691,037   
16,980   
2,708,017      $   

—      $   
—      $   

14,923      $   
14,923      $   

—      $   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
—   
7,304      $   
7,304      $   

71,706   
240,427   
3,500   
1,443,402   
770,077   
161,925   
2,691,037   
16,980   
2,708,017   

22,227   
22,227  

Total recurring fair value measurements - liabilities 
(1)

For further disaggregation of derivative assets and liabilities, see Note 11 – Derivatives. 

125 

Securities classified as level 2 include obligations of U.S. Government agencies and U.S. Government-sponsored agencies, residential 
and commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations that are issued or guaranteed by U.S. government 
agencies, and state and municipal bonds. The level 2 fair value measurements for investment securities are obtained quarterly from a 
third-party pricing service that uses industry-standard pricing models. Substantially all of the model inputs are observable in the 
marketplace or can be supported by observable data. The Company invests only in securities of investment grade quality with a 
targeted duration, for the overall portfolio, generally between two and five and a half years. Company policies generally limit U.S. 
investments to agency securities and municipal securities determined to be investment grade according to an internally generated score 
which generally includes a rating of not less than “Baa” or its equivalent by a nationally recognized statistical rating agency.  

For the Company’s derivative financial instruments designated as hedges and those under the customer interest rate program, the fair 
value is obtained from a third-party pricing service that uses an industry-standard discounted cash flow model that relies on inputs, 
LIBOR swap curves, Overnight Index swap rate curves, all observable in the marketplace. To comply with the accounting guidance, 
credit valuation adjustments are incorporated in the fair values to appropriately reflect nonperformance risk for both the Company and 
the counterparties. Although the Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value these derivative instruments 
fall within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit value adjustments utilize level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit 
spreads. The Company has determined that the impact of the credit valuation adjustments is not significant to the overall valuation of 
these derivatives. As a result, the Company has classified its derivative valuations for these instruments in level 2 of the fair value 
hierarchy. The Company’s policy is to measure counterparty credit risk quarterly for all derivative instruments subject to master 
netting arrangements consistent with how market participants would price the net risk exposure at the measurement date.  

The Company also has certain derivative instruments associated with the Bank’s mortgage-banking activities. These derivative 
instruments include interest rate lock commitments on prospective residential mortgage loans and forward commitments to sell these 
loans to investors on a best efforts delivery basis. The fair value of these derivative instruments is measured using observable market 
prices for similar instruments and is classified as a level 2 measurement. 

The Company’s Level 3 liability consists of a derivative contract with the purchaser of 192,163 shares of Visa Class B common stock. 
Pursuant to the agreement, the Company retains the risks associated with the ultimate conversion of the Visa Class B common shares 
into shares of Visa. Class A common stock, such that the counterparty will be compensated for any dilutive adjustments to the 
conversion ratio and the Company will be compensated for any anti-dilutive adjustments to the ratio. The agreement also requires 
periodic payments by the Company to the counterparty calculated by reference to the market price of Visa Class A common shares at 
the time of sale and a fixed rate of interest that steps up once after the eighth scheduled quarterly payment. The fair value of the 
liability is determined using a discounted cash flow methodology. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value 
measurement are the Company’s own assumptions about estimated changes in the conversion rate of the Visa Class B common shares 
into Visa Class A common shares, the date on which such conversion is expected to occur and the estimated growth rate of the Visa 
Class A common share price. Refer to Note 11 – Derivatives for information about the derivative contract with the counterparty. 

The Company believes its valuation methods for its assets and liabilities carried at fair value are appropriate; however, the use of 
different methodologies or assumptions, particularly as applied to Level 3 assets and liabilities, could have a material effect on the 
computation of their estimated fair values. 

Changes in Level 3 Fair Value Measurements and Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements 

The table below presents a rollforward of the amounts on the consolidated balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2019 for 
financial instruments of a material nature that are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and are measured at fair value on 
a recurring basis:  

 (in thousands) 
Balance at December 31, 2017 

Entry into derivative contract 

Balance at December 31, 2018 

Cash settlements 
Losses included in earnings 
Balance at December 31, 2019 

$ 

$ 

—   
7,304   
7,304   
(1,900 ) 
300   
5,704  

The table below provides an overview of the valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used in those techniques to 
measure the financial instrument measured on a recurring basis and classified within Level 3 of the valuation. The range of 
sensitivities that management utilized in its fair value calculations is deemed acceptable in the industry with respect to the identified 
financial instrument. 

126 

Level 3 Class 

Fair Value at 
December 31, 2019   

Fair Value at 
December 31, 2018 

Valuation 
Techniques 

Other Derivative Liability 

  $ 

5,704   $   

7,304   

Discounted cash 
flow 

Unobservable 
Input 
VISA Class A 
Appreciation 

Conversion rate 

Time until resolution 

Values 
Utilized 

6.0% - 18.0% 

1.62x - 1.59x 
24 - 48 months 

The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers between valuation hierarchy levels as of the end of a reporting period.  There were no 
transfers between levels during the periods presented.  

Fair Value of Assets Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis 

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Collateral-dependent impaired loans are level 2 assets 
measured at the fair value of the underlying collateral based on independent third-party appraisals that take into consideration market-
based information such as recent sales activity for similar assets in the property’s market.  

Other real estate owned and foreclosed assets, including both foreclosed property and surplus banking property, are level 3 assets that 
are adjusted to fair value, less estimated selling costs, upon transfer from loans or property and equipment. Subsequently, other real 
estate owned and foreclosed assets is carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value less estimated selling costs. Fair values are 
determined by sales agreement or third-party appraisals as discounted for estimated selling costs, information from comparable sales, 
and marketability of the assets.  

The fair value information presented below is not as of the period end, rather it was as of the date the fair value adjustment was 
recorded during the twelve months for each of the dates presented below, and excludes nonrecurring fair value measurements of assets 
no longer on the balance sheet.  

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for each of the fair 
value hierarchy levels:  

(in thousands) 
Collateral dependent impaired loans 
Other real estate owned and foreclosed assets 
Total nonrecurring fair value measurements 

(in thousands) 
Collateral dependent impaired loans 
Other real estate owned 
Total nonrecurring fair value measurements 

Level 1 

December 31, 2019 
Level 2 
182,377      $   
—  
182,377      $   

—      $   
—  
—      $   

Level 3 

—      $   

24,422   
24,422      $   

Total 
182,377   
24,422   
206,799  

Level 1 

December 31, 2018 
Level 2 
170,918      $   
—   
170,918      $   

—      $   
—   
—      $   

Level 3 

—      $   

14,594   
14,594      $   

Total 
170,918   
14,594   
185,512  

   $   

   $   

   $   

   $   

Accounting guidance from the FASB requires the disclosure of estimated fair value information about certain on- and off-balance 
sheet financial instruments, including those financial instruments that are not measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis. 
The significant methods and assumptions used by the Company to estimate the fair value of financial instruments are discussed below. 

Cash, Short-Term Investments and Federal Funds Sold – For these short-term instruments, the carrying amount is a reasonable 
estimate of fair value.  

Securities – The fair value measurement for securities available for sale was discussed earlier in the note. The same measurement 
techniques were applied to the valuation of securities held to maturity.  

Loans, Net – The fair value measurement for certain impaired loans was discussed earlier in the note. For the remaining portfolio, fair 
values were generally determined by discounting scheduled cash flows using discount rates determined with reference to current 
market rates at which loans with similar terms would be made to borrowers with similar credit quality.  

Loans Held For Sale – These loans are recorded at fair value and carried at the lower of cost or market. The carrying amount is 
considered a reasonable estimate of fair value.  

Deposits – The accounting guidance requires that the fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as noninterest-bearing 
demand deposits and interest-bearing checking and savings accounts, be assigned fair values equal to amounts payable upon demand 

127 

  
(carrying amounts). The fair value of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit is estimated using the rates currently offered for deposits of 
similar remaining maturities.  

Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Federal Funds Purchased and Short-Term FHLB Borrowings – For these 
short-term liabilities, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.  

Long-Term Debt – The fair value is estimated by discounting the future contractual cash flows using current market rates at which 
debt with similar terms could be obtained.  

Derivative Financial Instruments – The fair value measurements for derivative financial instruments was discussed earlier in the 
note.  

The following tables present the estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments by fair value hierarchy levels and the 
corresponding carrying amount at December 31, 2019 and 2018.  

(in thousands) 
Financial assets: 
Cash, interest-bearing bank 
   deposits, and federal funds sold 
Available for sale securities 
Held to maturity securities 
Loans, net 
Loans held for sale 
Derivative financial instruments 
Financial liabilities: 
Deposits 
Federal funds purchased 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 
Short-term FHLB Borrowings 
Long-term debt 
Derivative financial instruments 

(in thousands) 
Financial assets: 
Cash, interest-bearing bank 
   deposits, and federal funds sold 
Available for sale securities 
Held to maturity securities 
Loans, net 
Loans held for sale 
Derivative financial instruments 
Financial liabilities: 
Deposits 
Federal funds purchased 

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 

FHLB short-term borrowings 
Long-term debt 
Derivative financial instruments 

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Total 
Fair Value 

Carrying 
Amount 

December 31, 2019 

  $    542,333     $   

—     $   

—   
—   
—   
—   
—   

  4,675,304   
  1,611,004   
182,377   
55,864   
54,446   

542,333     $   

—     $   
—   
—   
  20,861,702   
—   
—   

4,675,304   
1,611,004   
  21,044,079   
55,864  
54,446   

542,333  
4,675,304   
1,568,009  
  21,021,504   
55,864   
54,446   

  $   

—     $   

195,450   
484,422   
  2,035,000  
—   
—  

—     $   23,786,775     $   23,786,775     $   23,803,575   
195,450   
—   
484,422   
—   
2,035,000   
—  
233,462   
226,098   
21,089  
15,385   

195,450   
484,422   
2,035,000   
226,098   
21,089   

—   
—   
—   
—   
5,704  

December 31, 2018 

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Total 
Fair Value 

Carrying 
Amount 

  $    494,466     $   

—     $   

494,466     $   

—   
—   
—   
—   
—   

  2,961,037   
  2,935,856   
170,918   
28,150   
16,980   

—     $   
—   
—   
  19,555,969   
—   
—   

2,961,037   
2,935,856   
  19,726,887   
28,150   
16,980   
—   

494,466   
2,691,037   
2,979,547   
  19,831,897   
28,150   
16,980   

—     $   23,129,574     $   23,129,574     $   23,150,185   
425   
—   
428,599   
—   
1,160,104   
—   
224,993   
223,135   
22,227  
14,923   

425   
428,599   
1,160,104   
223,135   
22,227   

—   
—   
—   
—   
7,304   

  $   

—     $   

425   
428,599   
  1,160,104   
—   
—   

128 

Note 21. Condensed Parent Company Information  

The following condensed financial statements reflect the accounts and transactions of Hancock Whitney Corporation only: 

Condensed Balance Sheets 

(in thousands) 
Assets: 
Cash 
Investment in bank subsidiaries 
Investment in non-bank subsidiaries 
Due from subsidiaries and other assets 
Total sssets 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity: 
Long term debt 
Other liabilities 
Stockholders' equity 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 

December 31, 

2019 

2018 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

57,943    $ 

3,524,029   
23,498   
9,101   
3,614,571    $ 

145,572    $ 
1,314   
3,467,685   
3,614,571    $ 

153,939   
3,040,186   
26,274   
6,868   
3,227,267   

145,396   
531   
3,081,340   
3,227,267  

Condensed Statements of Income 

(in thousands) 
Operating Income 
From subsidiaries 

Cash dividends received from bank subsidiaries 
Cash dividend from nonbank Subsidiary 
Noncash dividend from bank subsidiaries 
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries greater than dividends received 

Total operating income 

Other expense, net 
Income tax benefit 
Net income 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 
Comprehensive income 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

$ 

$ 

$ 

240,000    $ 
5,000   
—   
94,185   
339,185   
(15,635 )   
(3,830 )   
327,380    $ 
125,985   
453,365    $ 

200,000    $ 
—   
—   
137,914   
337,914   
(18,728 )   
(4,584 )   
323,770    $ 
(46,307 )   
277,463    $ 

90,000   
—   
11,708   
124,531   
226,239   
(16,931 ) 
(6,324 ) 
215,632   
11,460   
227,092  

129 

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows 

(in thousands) 
Cash flows from operating activities - principally 
   dividends received from subsidiaries 

Net cash provided by operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities: 
Contribution of capital to subsidiary 
Net cash received in acquisition 
Proceeds from sale of securities available for sale 
Proceeds from principal paydowns of securities available for sale 
Other, net 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities: 

Repayment of long term debt 
Dividends paid to stockholders 
Repurchase of common stock 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 
Payroll tax remitted on net share settlement of equity awards 
Payment accelerated share repurchase agreement 
Other, net 

Net cash used in financing activities 

Net increase (decrease) in cash 

Cash, beginning of year 
Cash, end of year 

2019 

Years Ended December 31, 
2018 

2017 

$ 

255,322    $ 
255,322   

216,270    $ 
216,270   

111,591   
111,591   

(50,000 )   
38,505   
—   
—   
(1,874 )   
(13,369 )   

(13,919 )   
(94,871 )   
—   
4,265   
(6,295 )   
(185,000 )   
(42,129 )   
(337,949 )   
(95,996 )   
153,939   

$ 

57,943    $ 

—   
—   
47,557   
9,091   
—   
56,648   

(89,200 )   
(88,838 )   
(8,267 )   
4,693   
(8,695 )   
—   
—   
(190,307 )   
82,611   
71,328   
153,939    $ 

(270,000 ) 
—   
—   
11,015   
—   
(258,985 ) 

(17,900 ) 
(83,266 ) 
—   
15,312   
(11,881 ) 
—   
—   
(97,735 ) 
(245,129 ) 
316,457   
71,328  

130 

ITEM 9.     CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL 
DISCLOSURE 

None.  

ITEM 9A.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures 

The term “disclosure controls and procedures” is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as 
amended (the Exchange Act). The rules refer to our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required 
to be disclosed in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within 
the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to 
our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions 
regarding required disclosure.  

Management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has performed an evaluation of the effectiveness 
of our disclosure controls and procedures and based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer 
have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2019.  

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such 
term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of 
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
principles. The Company’s management, with the participation of its principal executive and principal financial officers, evaluated the 
effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 based on the framework set forth in 
Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. 
Management also conducted an assessment of requirements pertaining to Section 112 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
Improvement Act. This section relates to management’s evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, including controls over 
the preparation of the schedules equivalent to the basic financial statements in accordance with the instructions to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements for Bank Holding Companies (Form Y-9 C) and compliance with specific laws and regulations. Our evaluation 
included a review of the documentation of controls, evaluations of the design of the internal control system and tests of the 
effectiveness of internal controls.  

PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Company’s financial statements 
included in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control 
over financial reporting, which is also included in Item 8.  

Based on the foregoing evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective 
as of December 31, 2019.  

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2019 that 
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 

ITEM 9B.     OTHER INFORMATION 

Hancock Whitney Corporation will hold its Annual Meeting of Shareholders of common stock on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at 
10:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time at Hancock Whitney Plaza, 2510 14th  Street, Gulfport, Mississippi. 

PART III  

ITEM 10.     DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

Information concerning our directors will appear in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission for our 2020 annual meeting of the shareholders under the caption, “Information about Our Directors.” Information 
concerning compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act will appear in our proxy statement under the caption, “Delinquent 
Section 16(a) Reports.” Information concerning our code of business ethics for officers and associates, our code of ethics for financial 
officers, and our code of ethics for directors will appear in our proxy statement under the caption “Transactions with Related Persons.” 
Information concerning our audit committee will appear in our proxy statement under the caption “Board of Directors and Corporate 
Governance – Board Committees – Audit Committee.” The information set forth under each such caption is incorporated herein by 
reference. The information required by Item 10 of this Report regarding our executive officers appears in a separately captioned 
heading in Item 1 of this Report.  

131 

ITEM 11.     EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 

Information concerning our executive and director compensation will appear in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 2020 
annual meeting of shareholders under the caption “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation of Directors,” “Compensation 
Discussion and Analysis,” “Compensation Committee Report,” “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” and 
“Shareholder Proposals for the 2021 Annual Meeting.” Information concerning our compensation committee interlocks and insider 
participation and our compensation committee report will appear in our proxy statement under the caption “Compensation Committee 
Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Compensation Committee Report,” respectively. Such information is incorporated herein by 
reference.  

ITEM 12.     SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED 
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 

Information concerning ownership of certain beneficial owners and management will appear in our definitive proxy statement relating 
to our 2020 annual meeting of shareholders under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.” 
The information set forth under each such caption is incorporated herein by reference.  

ITEM 13.     CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE  

Information concerning certain relationships and related transactions will appear in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 2020 
annual meeting of shareholders under the caption “Transactions with Related Persons.” Information concerning director independence 
will appear in our proxy statement under the caption “Board of Directors and Corporate Governance.” The information set forth under 
each such caption is incorporated herein by reference.  

ITEM 14.     PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES 

Information concerning principal accountant fees and services will appear in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 2020 
annual meeting of shareholders under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.” Such information is incorporated 
herein by reference.  

132 

PART IV  

ITEM 15.     EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 

(a)

The following documents are filed as part of this Report:

1.

The following consolidated financial statements of Hancock Whitney Corporation and subsidiaries are filed as part of this
Report under Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”:

Consolidated Balance Sheets – December 31, 2019 and 2018  
Consolidated Statements of Income – Years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017  
Consolidated Statements of Other Comprehensive Income – Years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity– Years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows –Years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – December 31, 2019  

2.

Financial schedules required to be filed by Item 8 of this Report, and by Item 15(d) below:

The schedules to the consolidated financial statements set forth by Article 9 of Regulation S-X are not required under the related 
instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.  

3.

Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K, and by Item 15(b) below.

All other financial statements and schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the required information is 
presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.  

133 

Exhibit 
Number

2.1 

2.2 

        3.1 

        3.2 

        4.1 

        4.2 

*10.4

*10.5

*10.10

*10.11

*10.13

*10.14

*10.18

*10.20

*10.25

*10.26

*10.27

*10.28

*10.31

EXHIBIT INDEX 

Description

Purchase agreement by and between Hancock Whitney Corporation and MidSouth Bancorp, Inc., dated as of April 30, 
2019 (filed as exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s form 8-K (File No. 001-36872) filed with the Commission on May 2, 2019 

Purchase agreement by and between Whitney Bank and the FDIC, dated as of April 28,2017 (filed as exhibit 1.1 to the 
Company’s 8-K (File No. 001-36872) filed with the commission on May 3, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference). 

Composite Articles of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s 8-K (File No. 001-36872) 
filed with the Commission on May 24,2018 and incorporated herein by reference). 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s 8-K (File No. 001-36872) filed 
with the Commission on May 24,2018 and incorporated herein by reference). 

Specimen stock certificate of the Company (reflecting change in par value from $10.00 to $3.33, effective March 6, 
1989) (filed as Exhibit 4 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-11831) filed with the 
Commission on September 12, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference). 

By executing this Form 10-K, the Company hereby agrees to deliver to the Commission upon request copies of 
instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries or its 
unconsolidated subsidiaries for which financial statements are required to be filed, where the total amount of such 
securities authorized thereunder does not exceed 10 percent of the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a 
consolidated basis. 

2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 0-13089) filed with the 
Commission on April 21, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference). 

Amendment to the Hancock Holding Company 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (filed as Appendix A of the Company’s 
definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (filed with the Commission on March 17, 2017 (File Number 001-36872) 
and incorporated herein by reference). 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, amended and restated effective January 1, 2015 (filed as Exhibit 10.11 to 
the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (File No. 0-13089) filed with the Commission on 
February 27, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference). 

Addendum to Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan describing SERP benefit (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the 
Company’s Form 10-Q (File No. 001-36827) filed with the Commission on August 8, 2014 and incorporated herein by 
reference). 

Amended and Restated Hancock Whitney Corporation 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, effective July 1, 2018 
(filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on November 2, 2018 (File No.001-
36872) and incorporated herein by reference). 

Amendment to 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, dated December 15, 2011 and effective January 1, 2011 (filed as 
Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (File No. 0-13089) filed with the 
Commission and incorporated herein by reference). 

Form of Change in Control Employment Agreement between the Company and certain named executive officers 
effective June 16, 2014 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 0-13089) filed with the 
Commission on June 20, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference). 

Insurance Plan and Summary Plan Description, adopted by the Company effective July 1, 2014 (filed as Exhibit 10.20 
to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (File No. 0-13089) filed with the Commission on 
February 27, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference). 

Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (approved in 2015) (filed as Exhibit 10.24 to the Company’s Form 10-K 
(File No. 0-13089) filed with the Commission on February 26, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference). 

Form of Amended Restricted Stock Award Agreement (amending awards approved in 2016) (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to 
the Company’s Form 10-Q (File No. 001-36827) filed with the Commission on May 9, 2016 and incorporated herein by 
reference). 

Form of Performance Stock Award Agreement (TSR) (approved in 2015) (filed as Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s 
Form 10-K (File No. 0-13089, filed with the Commission on February 26, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference). 

Form of Performance Stock Award Agreement (EPS) (approved in 2015) (filed as Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s 
Form 10-K (File No. 0-13089, filed with the Commission on February 26, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference). 

Executive Incentive Plan (2016) (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q (File No. 001-36827) filed with the 
commission on May 9, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference). 

134 

 **21.1 

Subsidiaries of the Company. 

 **23.1 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. 

 **31.1 

 **31.2 

 **32.1 

 **32.2 

101 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934, as amended. 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934, as amended. 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 

The following financial information from Hancock Whitney Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year 
ended December 31, 2019, formatted in iXBRL (Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) the 
Cover Page (ii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (iv) the Consolidated 
Statements of Comprehensive Income, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (vi) the 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vii) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged in summary 
and detail.. 

104 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). 

*

** 

Compensatory plan or arrangement.

  Filed with this Form 10-K.

135 

ITEM 16.     FORM 10-K SUMMARY 

Not applicable. 

136 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report 
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.  

SIGNATURES  

February 24, 2020 
     Date 

February 24, 2020 
     Date 

February 24, 2020 
     Date 

HANCOCK WHITNEY CORPORATION 
Registrant 

By:    /s/ John M. Hairston 

John M. Hairston 
President & Chief Executive Officer 
(Principal Executive Officer) 

By:    /s/ Michael M. Achary 

Michael M. Achary 
Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer 
(Principal Financial Officer) 

By:    /s/ Stephen E. Barker 

Stephen E. Barker 
Executive Vice President, Senior Accounting and Finance 
Executive  
(Principal Accounting Officer) 

137 

 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on 
behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.  

/s/ Jerry L. Levens 
Jerry L. Levens 

/s/ Frank E. Bertucci 
Frank E. Bertucci 

/s/ Hardy B. Fowler 
Hardy B. Fowler 

/s/ Randall W. Hanna 
Randall W. Hanna 

/s/ James H. Horne 
James H. Horne 

/s/ Constantine S. Liollio 
Constantine S. Liollio 

/s/ Sonya C. Little 
Sonya C. Little 

/s/ Thomas H. Olinde 
Thomas H. Olinde 

/s/ Christine L. Pickering 
Christine L. Pickering 

/s/ Robert W. Roseberry 
Robert W. Roseberry 

/s/ Joan C. Teofilo 
Joan C. Teofilo 

/s/ Richard Wilkins 
C. Richard Wilkins

Chairman of the Board, Director 

February 24, 2020 

February 24, 2020 

February 24, 2020 

 February 24, 2020 

February 24, 2020 

February 24, 2020 

February 24, 2020 

February 24, 2020 

February 24, 2020 

 February 24, 2020 

February 24, 2020 

February 24, 2020 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

138 

 
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[This page intentionally left blank] 

Earnings Per Share – Diluted

$3.72 $3.72

$2.48

$1.87

$1.64

  PPNR(TE)(a)

Hancock Whitney Corporation

(in millions)

Financial Highlights

$434.4

$455.2

$401.8

$323.4

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

$256.4

INCOME STATEMENT DATA

Net income

Net interest income (TE)*

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

COMMON SHARE DATA

Earnings per share – diluted

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) (TE) (a)

$455,221

$434,409

Earnings Per Share

(Operating)*

Up 127%

2019

$3.99

$4.01

2018

$2.89

$1.77

$327,380

$1.91

$909,991

$323,770

$865,015

$3.72

$39.62

$3.72

$35.98

Return on Average Assets

$28.63

$25.62

(Operating)*

Earnings Per Share

$1.08

$1.02

1.25%

(Operating)*

1.21%

$4.01

$1.77

$1.91

$6,243,313

$5,670,584

2015

$21,212,755

2016

2017

$20,026,411

2018

2019

$30,600,757

$28,235,907

$23,803,575

$23,150,185

$3,467,685

$3,081,340

Return on Average Assets

(Operating)*

1.12%

9.91%

3.44%

0.96%

11.04%

3.38%

57.77%

+54 bps

0.97%

8.02%

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

1.3

1.2

4.5

1.1

0.9

3.5

0.8

3.0

0.7

0.6

2.5

0.5

2.0

0.4

1.5

1.0

1.3

1.21%

1.2

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

Earnings Per Share – Diluted

  PPNR(TE)(a)

Total Loans

(in billions)

(in millions)

$3.72 $3.72

$21.2

$434.4

$455.2

$20.0

25

500

Book value per share (period-end)

Tangible book value per share (period-end)

Total Deposits

  PPNR(TE)(a)

(in billions)

(in millions)

Cash dividends per share

Earnings Per Share

$23.2 $23.8

$22.3

$455.2

Market data

$19.4

$401.8

$434.4

(Operating)*

Earnings Per Share – Diluted

$3.72 $3.72

$2.48

$1.87

$1.64

$401.8

$19.0

$2.48

$15.7

$16.8

$323.4

$256.4

$1.64

$1.87

20

400

$18.3

4.5

4.0

High sales price

$323.4

Up 127%

15

300

Low sales price

$256.4

3.5

Period-end closing price

$2.89

$3.99

$4.01

1.0

4.0

$44.74

Up 127%

0.96%

$33.63

$43.88

$56.40

$3.99

$32.59

+54 bps

$34.65

0.67%

0.66%

$2.89

2.5

PERIOD-END BALANCE SHEET DATA

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2015

2015

2015

2016

2016

2016

2017

2017

2017

2018

2018

2018

2019

2019

2019

1.0

2015

2015

Earning assets

2016

2017

2016

2017

2015

2016

2018

2018

2017

2019

2019

2018

2019

2015

$27,622,161

2016

$25,836,239

2018

2017

2019

10

200

3.0

5

100

0

0

2.0

1.5

Securities

$1.77

$1.91

Loans

Total assets

Total deposits

Earnings Per Share – Diluted

Total Loans

(in billions)

$3.72 $3.72

$21.2

$20.0

$19.0

$16.8

$15.7

$2.48

$1.87

$1.64

  PPNR(TE)(a)

Total Loans

Total Deposits

(in millions)

(in billions)

(in billions)

$22.3

$434.4

$20.0

$401.8

$19.4

$19.0

$23.2 $23.8

$455.2

$21.2

$18.3

$323.4

$16.8

$15.7

300

15

15

$256.4

Common stockholders’ equity

Total Deposits

Return on Average Assets

(in billions)

PERFORMANCE RATIOS

Earnings Per Share

(Operating)*

$23.2 $23.8

Return on average assets

(Operating)*

$22.3

1.25%

$19.4

$18.3

Return on average common equity

Up 127%

$3.99

$4.01

Net interest margin (TE)*

0.96%

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2017

2018

2018

2019

2019

2015

2015

2015

2016

2016

2016

2017

2017

2017

2018

2018

2018

2019

2019

2019

Total Loans

(in billions)

Total Deposits

(in billions)

$23.2 $23.8

$22.3

Return on Average Assets

(Operating)*

1.25%

1.21%

$20.0

$19.0

$21.2

$19.4

$18.3

$16.8

$15.7

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

*Taxable equivalent (TE) amounts are calculated using a federal income tax rate of 21% for years ended 

December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019 and 35% for all other years presented.

0.96%

(a) Pre-provision net revenue is net interest income (TE)* and noninterest income less noninterest expense. 

+54 bps

Management believes that PPNR is a useful financial measure because it enables investors to assess the 

0.67%

0.66%

company’s ability to generate capital to cover credit losses through a credit cycle.

(b) The efficiency ratio is noninterest expense to total net interest income (TE)* and noninterest income, 

excluding amortization of purchased intangibles and nonoperating items.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

(c) The tangible common equity ratio is common stockholders’ equity less intangible assets divided by total 

assets less intangible assets.

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

25

4.0

3.5

3.0

20

2.5

15

2.0

10

1.5

5

1.0

0.5

0.0

0

25

20

15

10

5

0

500

400

300

200

100

0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

25

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0

4.5

20

4.0

15

3.5

0.9

10

0.8

3.0

2.5

0.7

0.6

2.0

5

0.5

1.5

0.4

0

1.0

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

25

500

4.0

20

3.5

400

3.0

15

300

2.5

2.0

10

200

1.5

5

1.0

100

0.5

0

0

0.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

500

25

25

400

20

20

200

10

10

100

5

0

0

5

0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

25

20

15

10

5

0

Corporate Information
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of stockholders will be held at 10:30 a.m. Central Time, 

Financial Information
Copies of Hancock Whitney Corporation financial reports, including the 

Wednesday, April 29, 2020, Hancock Whitney Plaza, Gulfport, Mississippi.

Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K, 

Corporate Offices

Hancock Whitney Plaza 
2510 14th Street 
Gulfport, MS 39501 
228-868-4000 
800-522-6542

Subsidiaries of Hancock Whitney Corporation
Hancock Whitney Investment Services, Inc.

Hancock Whitney Bank

Hancock Whitney Equipment Finance, LLC

Hancock Whitney Equipment Finance and Leasing, LLC

Hancock Whitney New Markets Fund, LLC

Common Stock
The company’s Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select 

Market under the symbol HWC.

Stockholder Information
Stockholders  seeking  information  may  call  the  Transfer  Agent  at 
888-490-1239, email  help@astfinancial.com, access on the website 
www.astfinancial.com, or write:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC 
6201 15th Avenue 
Brooklyn, NY 11219

Efficiency ratio (b)

$2.89

+54 bps

0.67%

Allowance for loan losses as percent of period-end loans

0.66%

0.67%

Tangible common equity ratio (c)

$1.91

$1.77

Return on average tangible common equity

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2015

Leverage (Tier 1) ratio

2015

2015

2016

2016

2017

2018

2017

2019

2018

2019

58.50%

0.66%

0.90%

8.45%

13.66%

2016

8.76%

1.25%

1.17%

1.21%

Stockholders  may  also  contact  the  company  directly  by  emailing 
shareholderservices@hancockwhitney.com.

Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan
Stockholders seeking full details about the plan may call 888-490-1239, 
email help@astfinancial.com, access on the website www.astfinancial.com, 
or write:

2017

15.62%

2018

8.67%

2019

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC 
6201 15th Avenue 
Brooklyn, NY 11219

Cash Dividend Direct Deposit
Stockholders may elect to have their Hancock Whitney Corporation dividends 

directly deposited into a checking, savings, or money market account. This 

service provides a safe, convenient method of receiving dividends and 

is offered at no cost to stockholders. To obtain more information and an 
enrollment form, call 888-490-1239, email help@astfinancial.com, access 
on the website www.astfinancial.com, or write:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC 
6201 15th Avenue 
Brooklyn, NY 11219

are available without charge upon request to:

Trisha Voltz Carlson 
Executive Vice President 
Investor Relations Manager 
Hancock Whitney Corporation 
Post Office Box 4019 
Gulfport, MS 39502-4019

trisha.carlson@hancockwhitney.com

Earnings releases and other financial information about the company are 

available on the company’s IR website, www.hancockwhitney.com/investors.

Board of Directors
Jerry L. Levens*

Frank E. Bertucci

Hardy B. Fowler

John M. Hairston

Randall W. Hanna

James H. Horne

Constantine “Dean” S. Liollio

Sonya C. Little

Thomas H. Olinde

Christine L. Pickering

Robert W. Roseberry

Joan C. Teofilo

C. Richard Wilkins

Corporate & Affiliate Bank Officers

John M. Hairston
President & CEO

Michael M. Achary
Chief Financial Officer

Samuel B. Kendricks
Chief Credit Risk Officer

Cecil “Chip” W. Knight, Jr.
Chief Banking Officer

Joseph S. Exnicios
President, Hancock Whitney Bank

Miles S. Milton
Chief Wealth Management Officer

D. Shane Loper
Chief Operating Officer

Stephen E. Barker
Sr. Accounting & Finance 
Executive

Joy Lambert Phillips
General Counsel &  
Corporate Secretary

Joseph S. Schwertz, Jr.
Chief Risk Officer

Joshua R. Caldwell
Chief Internal Auditor

Suzanne C. Thomas
Chief Credit Approval Officer

Cindy S. Collins
Chief Compliance Officer

Rudi Hall Wetzel
Chief Human Resources Officer

Michael K. Dickerson
Subsidiary Business Lines 
Executive

Alan M. Ganucheau
Treasurer

Christopher S. Ziluca
Chief Credit Officer

*Independent Chairman of the Board

Honor & Integrity

Strength & Stability

Commitment to Service

Teamwork

Personal Responsibility

Hancock Whitney Corporation 

2019 Annual Report

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hancockwhitney.com

Your Dream. Our Mission.