HANCOCK WHITNEY CORP (HWC) Business

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

ORGANIZATION

Hancock Whitney Corporation (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 of 1956, as amended. The Company provides comprehensive financial services through its bank subsidiary, Hancock Whitney Bank (the “Bank”), a Mississippi state bank, and other nonbank affiliates. Our principal executive offices are located at 2510 14th Street, Gulfport, Mississippi, 39501, and our telephone number is (800) 522-6542. Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “HWC.”

At December 31, 2025, our balance sheet totaled $35.5 billion, with loans of $24.0 billion and deposits of $29.3 billion.

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), letters of credit and similar financial guarantees. The Bank provides trust and investment management services to retirement plans, corporations and individuals and provides its customers with access to investment advisory and brokerage products.

We offer other services through bank and nonbank subsidiaries. The 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 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. Our holding company’s nonbank subsidiary, Hancock Whitney Investment Services, Inc., provides customers with access to fixed annuity and life insurance products, investment advisory services and also participates in select underwriting transactions, primarily for banking clients.

We operate primarily in southern and central Mississippi; southern and central Alabama; northwest, central and southern Louisiana; the northern, central and panhandle regions of Florida; certain areas of east and northeast Texas; and the metropolitan areas of Nashville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia. At December 31, 2025, we had 180 banking locations and 221 ATMs across our footprint. 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 priority is to continue 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 and services that contribute to the goal of diversifying our sources of revenue from both new and existing clients. We continue to make progress in our multiyear organic growth plan announced in late 2024 that includes both the hiring of additional revenue-generating associates and expanding our footprint in Florida and Texas. To-date, we have added a net 22 new bankers associated with this growth plan and expect to hire as many as 50 new bankers in 2026 that will support both commercial and business banking growth initiatives. We opened one new financial center in 2025 and expect to open four additional centers in 2026, all located in the North Dallas, Texas area. The May 2025 acquisition of Florida-based Sabal Trust Company expanded our trust and asset management business with the addition of their leadership team and clients, including approximately $3 billion in assets under management. This acquisition provides the opportunity to develop relationships and offer other private banking, wholesale and retail banking products and services in high-growth markets in the central Florida region. We also continue to evaluate future acquisition opportunities that have the potential to increase shareholder value, provided overall economic conditions and our capital levels would support such a transaction.

Additional information regarding the Company and the Bank is available at investors.hancockwhitney.com.

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. In addition, and to a lesser degree, the Bank makes loans both regionally and nationally, generally through its specialty lines of business, including the equipment finance, commercial real estate and healthcare segments, often with sponsors in our market areas. We seek to provide quality loan products that are attractive to borrowers and profitable to the Bank. We look to build enduring, 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 provide a consistent lending process 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

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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.

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;

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

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appraisal requirements (and their review);

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loan approval hierarchy;

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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);

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

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lending limits; and

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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, 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, healthcare, shared national credits, leveraged loans and energy-related loans so that the mix is consistent with our risk tolerance. In addition, we also employ enhanced due diligence on select customers, portfolios, industry sectors and concentrations for economic or other risk events to foster alignment between credit risk appetite and concentration risk management. Information related to our loan portfolio concentrations is presented in Table 12, "Commercial and Industrial Loans by Industry Concentration" and Table 13, "Commercial Real Estate-Income Producing and Construction by Property Type Concentration" in Item 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

Our underwriting process is structured to require oversight that is proportional to the size and complexity of the lending relationship. We delegate lending authority primarily to Regional or Senior Commercial Credit Officers and loan credit specialists in our centralized underwriting units, which 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 credit officer or loan credit specialist. Minimal loan authority is held by leaders within the originating lines of business and is in place to primarily support limited incremental approvals under specific parameters. 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 another member of the Executive Credit Officer group, 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.

Loans are assigned internal risk ratings using various processes depending on the type and size of the loan. Internal risk ratings are used in the origination and renewal processes to assess risk on proposed transactions, monitor customer and portfolio quality trends, establish a basis for appropriate pricing, and gauge the degree of attention, servicing and/or monitoring required. Internal risk ratings are updated as new information becomes available as a result of periodic reviews of credit quality, a change in borrower performance or approval of new loan exposure.

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The Bank also has an independent credit review team to provide the Board of Directors and Executive Management with an independent review and monitoring system for evaluating the corporation’s credit quality and compliance with external regulations and internal policies, practices, and procedures related to credit risk exposure. The credit review staff assists in the early identification of credit problems and determines that corrective measures are being taken to reduce or avoid potential losses. This includes reviewing the activities of lending personnel to allow for timely follow-up and corrective action for loans showing signs of deteriorating financial condition. It also encompasses identifying and making corrective recommendations concerning deficiencies existing in the lending function and contributing toward refinement of the Bank’s loan policies.

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 broad range of industries. Commercial and industrial loans are made available to businesses for working capital (including financing of inventory and receivables), for business expansion, to facilitate the acquisition of a business, and for the purchase of equipment and machinery, including equipment leasing, among other items.

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 interest and may incorporate a personal or corporate guarantee; however, some short-term loans may be made on an unsecured basis, including a relatively small portfolio of corporate credit cards, generally issued as a part of overall customer relationships. Asset-based loans, such as accounts receivable and business inventory secured loans, may have limits on borrowing that are based on the collateral values. Our source of repayment for asset-based loans is generally the conversion of those assets to cash and 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 multifamily, retail, healthcare related facilities, industrial, office, hotel/motel and restaurants, 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. Past experience has shown that commercial real estate conditions can be volatile, particularly during economic downturns, so we actively monitor concentrations within this portfolio segment, among others.

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 generally 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 operations.

Acquisition and development loans are generally 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, with consideration of the size and complexity of the facility. Construction loans are largely 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 permanent loans from external 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 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.

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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 generally sold in the secondary mortgage market, depending on current strategies. 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 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. Consumer loans also include a relatively 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 and whether the borrower is located in the Bank’s primary market areas are also factors considered in making such loans.

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 or minus 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 and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

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, including purchases, sales, classification as either available for sale or held to maturity, and hedging activities. 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 of the Company's risk management structure and governance.

Deposits

The Bank has several programs designed to attract and retain 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 a significant 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

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sources. Deposit flows are generally controlled primarily through pricing, and to a lesser extent, through promotional activities. Deposit levels can also be, and in the past have been influenced by other factors such as inflows from government stimulus programs, general changes in consumer and business spending behavior, including those as a result of inflation and recessionary concerns, inflows from hurricane-related insurance proceeds, and customer confidence in the institution, among other things. Further, deposit levels are also impacted by the level of brokered deposits, discussed below. Management believes that the rates that it offers on deposit accounts are generally competitive with other financial institutions in the Bank’s 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. We consider our deposit base to be seasoned, stable and well diversified.

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, have large balances, and are subject to seasonal balance changes. 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, including time deposits and money market accounts, 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. Brokered deposits are fully insured by the FDIC because they are participated out by the deposit broker in shares of $250,000 or less. Brokered deposit issuances are approved by ALCO as one component of its funding strategy to support ongoing asset growth until such time 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.” Brokered deposits as of December 31, 2025 were negligible at less than $1,000.

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. The May 2025 acquisition of Sabal Trust Company expanded assets under management by approximately $3 billion. At December 31, 2025, the trust department of the Bank had approximately $39.7 billion of assets under administration, comprised of investment management and investment advisory agency accounts of $8.1 billion and other custody and safekeeping accounts of $14.3 billion, corporate trust accounts of $5.1 billion, and personal, employee benefit, estate and other trust accounts totaling $12.2 billion.

HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our employees, whom we refer to as associates, are our most valuable asset. Associates are the collective face, voice and spirit of our organization. To the people and communities we serve, our associates are Hancock Whitney. For more than 125 years, our culture and core values are a consistent beacon that guides how our associates carry on our legacy with honor, integrity and service. Additionally, the policies and practices we define for associates further reinforce the founding principles fundamental to who we are and how we do business. Embracing the uniqueness our associates bring to our various teams fortifies us, making us a stronger and more resilient company. This inclusivity cultivates a sense of belonging and encouragement, supporting our associates, clients, communities, and shareholders in realizing their individual potential, aspirations and ambitions.

We promise our associates an environment where they can grow, have a voice, and are important. We are committed to providing an associate experience and total rewards package that attracts, develops and retains top quality talent. We continually review and develop strategies that support the needs of our associates while balancing business needs. In 2025, the Company’s human capital strategy continued to focus on evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of our associates and supporting various initiatives to improve operations and overall efficiency while maintaining our commitment to our clients, communities and shareholders.

A strong and impactful human capital program begins at the top. Our Board of Directors oversees our overall corporate strategy and sets the tone for our culture, values and high ethical standards, and through its committees, holds management accountable for results. The Board of Directors’ Compensation Committee expands beyond a traditional compensation-focused role to include oversight of all human capital management efforts within Hancock Whitney. The Compensation Committee is provided periodic updates on the Company’s human capital management efforts, including talent acquisition and retention; talent and performance management;

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learning and development; total rewards; and associate well-being through a human capital management dashboard that it reviews periodically throughout the year. The dashboard includes a mixture of trending and point-in-time metrics designed to provide information and analysis of workforce demographics, talent acquisition, workforce stability, total rewards, and associate programs.

Workforce Demographics

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had 3,627 full-time equivalent associates, predominately located in our core footprint of Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Texas and Tennessee, compared to 3,476 associates as of December 31, 2024. Approximately 43% of associates were employed in Consumer Banking, 12% in Commercial Banking, 10% in Wealth Management, and 35% in Treasury, Operations, and Other Corporate Business & Administration. As of December 31, 2025, approximately 65% of our associates were female and approximately 29% were people of color. In 2025, approximately 58% of our new hires were female and approximately 35% of new hires were people of color. All associates are chosen on the basis of their qualifications, experience and merit. Our hiring practices are maintained and implemented in accordance with applicable law.

Inclusion and Belonging

Our more than 125-year-old founding principles inspire us to prioritize doing good to positively impact the lives and communities we serve. Embracing inclusivity and a sense of belonging is at the core of our values, recognizing that diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences strengthen our ability to meet the needs of our associates, communities, clients and shareholders. By fostering a culture that values varied viewpoints, we enhance teamwork, encourage innovative collaboration, and improve organizational performance. This wider range of thinking empowers us to serve our stakeholders more effectively.

Our commitment to inclusion and belonging starts at the top of our organization, with oversight by the Compensation Committee. The Company has a council dedicated to our ongoing commitment to inclusion and belonging. With oversight from executive leadership, the council consists of associates from a variety of locations, business segments, demographics, tenures, and experiences who work together to promote an inclusive workplace.

We are committed to fostering respect, belonging and individual potential, supporting, developing, and celebrating our workforce, and creating a high-performing culture where all associates can thrive. We continuously assess the impact of our initiatives, programs and practices to uphold these commitments to our associates and the Company.

In 2025, we continued our efforts to build and attract an inclusive workforce by cultivating new relationships, strengthening existing partnerships, and enhancing recruiting efforts with key organizations. We were intentional with our campus recruiting, internship, and programming efforts across the footprint, to have a diverse talent pool that is representative of the communities we serve. Our corporate internship program continued to provide an inclusive experience that uniquely incorporates mentorship, financial education, community connection, and learning opportunities across the organization and footprint. We proudly hosted the 2025 class of interns, all chosen based on merit and qualifications, expanding our diverse pool of future talent and campus advocates. Additionally, we continued to partner with many external professional organizations to expand our talent pipeline.

The Company continues to enhance its learning opportunities with programs and experiences designed to listen and learn directly from the voices and experiences of our associates including Living Room Conversations, Cultural Tasting Series, Understanding Cultural Bias Training, and Associate Spotlights featuring new associates, women of excellence, kindness, and for living our core values to help drive inclusive behaviors and inspire a growth mindset.

Our Associate Resource Groups (ARGs), introduced in 2023, continue to grow and cultivate community, connection, and inclusion. These voluntary groups, led by associates, serve as a platform for networking, creating community, professional development, and raising awareness about relevant issues that promote inclusion and belonging in the workplace and beyond. All ARGs are open to all associates regardless of background. By engaging in our ARGs, associates can learn, celebrate, and support one another, fostering stronger teams, increased productivity, and a culture of innovation. Launched in March 2023, the SheConnects ARG aims to establish an environment that empowers women to connect, learn, and uplift one another. In August 2023, the Able ARG was introduced to promote unity, facilitate meaningful conversations, and provide support for individuals with disabilities and, when applicable, their caregivers. The Black Professional Collaborative ARG, launched in 2024, creates avenues for professional growth, development, and support for African American/Black associates. Introduced in 2024, the Young Professional Network ARG empowers early career professionals to network with peers and seasoned associates, gaining insights into the unique challenges and opportunities at the early stages of their careers for development and growth.

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Total Rewards

We strive to provide a comprehensive total rewards package that meets the various needs of our associates, including market-competitive pay and robust benefit options that attract and retain top talent. To assist in keeping our total rewards programs competitive, we engage in nationally recognized third-party compensation and benefits surveys and utilize the expertise of an independent executive compensation firm, an outside benefits broker, and benefits consulting firms. These resources are used to objectively evaluate our compensation and benefits packages and benchmark them against industry peers and similarly situated organizations on an annual basis.

Our compensation philosophy is a performance-based strategy which aligns our programs with our business goals and objectives. Base salaries are established considering competitive market rates for specific roles as well as the experience and performance levels of our associates. The Company rewards associates for individual performance through merit-based compensation increases and provides additional opportunities for financial advancement through promotions and various incentive opportunities.

We promote a pay-for-performance philosophy and motivate a majority of our associate population with incentive compensation designed to drive strategies, behaviors and business goals while effectively balancing risk and reward. We also use long-term incentive compensation to attract and retain top talent and to keep associates focused on long-term company performance, significant milestone achievements and creation of shareholder value.

Talent Acquisition, Development and Retention

Hancock Whitney is dedicated to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional talent and strives to keep associates motivated, rewarded and appreciated through our commitment to competitive total rewards packages, career development, and an inclusive workplace.

Recognizing the development of our associates is critical to our success, the Company invests in resources for associates to have access to the tools needed to do their jobs effectively and succeed within the organization, including technical, skills-based, management and leadership programs, as well as formal talent, performance management and succession planning processes. Through customized learning plans, associates are provided with targeted resources to help them gain the knowledge and skills needed to successfully perform their duties in accordance with the Company’s practices. Associates also have access to a full suite of optional classes and self-directed resources to personalize career development and prioritize their unique needs and growth opportunities. Additionally, the Company supports the use of external resources such as professional conferences, specialized seminars, banking schools and other development and leadership programs to supplement associates’ professional development and provides a tuition assistance program for those seeking to deepen their education at undergraduate and graduate levels.

Our agile Learning and Development strategy, LEARN (Leverage Education and Resources Now), offers individualized learning and development solutions for associates at all levels. Built on the ethos of associate growth, voice, and importance, LEARN enhances the associate learning experience. LEARN fosters a culture that gives all associates permission to learn and grow, expanding opportunities and creating tailored pathways for development.

Health, Safety & Well-Being

At Hancock Whitney, the overall health, safety, and well-being of our associates are top priorities. We are committed to providing robust, competitive benefits and programs that support associates in all aspects and stages of life. We continually explore opportunities for new or enhanced benefits and other programs to better support the overall well-being of our associates.

Supplementing our various benefit plans and programs, the Hancock Whitney Associate Assistance Fund provides assistance for associates with personal and financial needs during times of unexpected or unavoidable emergencies or disasters. The fund is managed by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and funded by contributions from the Company as well as associates, board members and partner organizations.

Rooted in the Gulf South, we recognize that providing relief and recovery resources to help associates and their families remain safe and recover quickly when a storm hits is paramount. Throughout the year, especially during hurricane season, we encourage associates to prepare for inclement weather and natural disasters. We provide associates with resources to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including the American Red Cross, Employee Assistance Program, and Hancock Whitney Associate Assistance Fund. We periodically prompt associates to review and update contact information and emergency contact information in our HR system so that that they receive company communications and outreach during emergency situations.

We remain committed to providing a safe, secure environment for our associates and clients. We continuously remind associates of their critical role in maintaining a safe and secure working environment. Trainings and communications are provided to educate and

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reinforce our safety and security protocols including safely accessing facilities and workspaces; safeguarding information and devices; and preventing, detecting, and reporting crimes and suspicious activities.

Associate Engagement

We strive to create a culture of engagement where each associate knows they are important, valued, and can grow. We engage our associates through various channels including written, digital and face-to-face communications with targeted audiences ranging from all associates, core leaders, teams and one-on-ones. We encourage continuous open communication with our associates and leaders where input is welcomed through an environment of mutual respect and trust. We promote a workplace focused on gratitude and appreciation through our Value of You recognition program, Community Connection volunteer program as well as other associate campaigns throughout the year.

We generally conduct associate engagement surveys on a biennial basis to measure our associates’ connection and commitment to the Company and its goals. In our 2024 assessment, we conducted an anonymous online associate engagement survey to measure associate engagement and collect associate feedback. During the survey, associates answered questions and provided comments to capture their feelings about the Company, leadership, and their team of associates. Our Company leaders are grateful for the consistent, strong response from our associates, indicating an engaged, connected and committed workforce. The survey reflected that almost three out of every four associates feel a sense of belonging and respect across the Company. Using the results of the engagement survey, a leadership series was launched to communicate ongoing leader insights and engage associates to reiterate the key role our associates play in shaping our path forward.

Open Communication

Our Open Communication Policy cultivates a culture of open and honest communication between managers and associates as a day-to-day business practice. Managers set the tone of the workplace by welcoming input from associates in an environment of mutual respect and trust. We believe this process helps to define any issue and work toward resolving it in an informal manner.

We encourage associates to work with their immediate managers to resolve questions, conflicts and disputes. If concerns involve the immediate manager, or if the issue has not been resolved appropriately, associates may escalate the issue to the next-level manager and ultimately Human Resources.

Integrity in Action

Upholding the core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability and Personal Responsibility and further protecting our clients, associates, and Company’s financial safety and soundness, our associates are expected to conduct business in a lawful, ethical and fair manner. All associates are strongly encouraged to report ethical concerns related to matters such as accounting, internal controls, auditing, discrimination, and harassment and/or violations or suspected violations of laws or regulations, our Code of Conduct, or other Company policies and procedures by clients, associates, or vendors. Integrity in Action, our whistleblower policy, provides our associates and others with a confidential method of reporting illegal, unethical, or unsafe activity. Administered through a third-party provider, the independent reporting service allows individuals to make reports confidentially by telephone or online 24 hours a day, seven days a week and allows for anonymous reports, if desired. All reports are investigated by Human Resources and/or Internal Audit and monitored through final disposition. Updates are provided to the Audit Committee on a quarterly basis. A copy of our Integrity in Action Whistleblower Policy is available under Governance Documents on our website, www.hancockwhitney.com.

COMPETITION

The financial services industry is highly competitive and may become more competitive as a result of recent and ongoing legislative, regulatory, and technological changes, as well as continued consolidation within the financial services industry and the addition of nontraditional competitors into our markets, including financial technology companies (fintechs), crowdfunding, stablecoins, cryptocurrency exchanges and other emerging digital and mobile payment platforms. The traditional 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, private equity companies, securities brokerage firms, mutual funds and insurance companies, and other financial and non-financial institutions offering similar products.

The continuing consolidation within the financial services industry is leading to larger, better capitalized and geographically diverse institutions with enhanced product and technology capabilities. In addition to competition from fintechs and other emerging digital platforms, certain technology companies are working to provide financial services directly to their customers. These nontraditional

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financial service providers have been successful in developing digital and other products and services that effectively compete with traditional banking services, but are in some cases subject to fewer regulatory restrictions than banks and bank holding companies, allowing them to operate with greater flexibility and lower cost structures. Further, bank failures have and may in the future diminish public confidence in small and regional banks’ abilities to safeguard deposits in excess of federally insured limits, which could prompt customers to maintain their deposits with larger financial institutions.

Recent federal regulatory developments, including the establishment of a national framework for “payment stablecoins” under the GENIUS Act, may further increase competition from nonbank entities and fintech firms authorized to issue, distribute, or support stablecoin‑based payment instruments. These regulated stablecoins could serve as substitutes for traditional bank deposits and payment products, potentially affecting deposit levels, payment‑related fee income, and customer treasury‑management relationships.

We believe our relationship-based approach to banking has allowed us to remain competitive in our markets as many of our financial services clients are generally influenced by convenience, quality of service, personal contacts, price of services, availability of products, and technology that supports the client experience. We have made and continue to make investments in technology to develop the Company's digital platform and capabilities to remain competitive in meeting our clients’ evolving needs and expectations.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We make available free of charge, on or through our investor relations website investors.hancockwhitney.com, 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 our 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 shareholder who requests a copy.

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 or all aspects of those statutes and regulations.

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 the Company 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.

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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 BHC 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. 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 Banking and 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 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, if issued, 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, if issued.

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 BHC 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 5% of any class of 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; securities brokerage; and performing certain insurance underwriting activities. The BHC Act does not place domestic 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.

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. If 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 Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (CRA), the Federal Reserve 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.

As further described below, the Company and the Bank are each well-capitalized under applicable regulatory standards as of December 31, 2025, and the Bank has a rating of “Outstanding” in its most recent CRA evaluation.

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Source of Strength Obligations. A bank holding company, such as Hancock Whitney Corporation, 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 BHC 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 5% of any class 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 combating 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 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 any class 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 prohibits us and our subsidiaries from (i) engaging in certain 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 requires us to implement a compliance program.

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.

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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 risk-based 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 allowance for credit loss 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 total 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, the capital rules also require 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.

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% 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. The Bank was well capitalized at December 31, 2025, and brokered deposits are not restricted.

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

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5.0% leverage ratio.

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6.5% CET1 to risk-weighted assets;

·
8.0% Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets; and

·
10.0% Total capital to risk-weighted assets.

The Federal Reserve has different requirements than those imposed under the current capital rules applicable to banks. 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, 2025 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.

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Throughout 2025, the Company’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios were 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 2026. Risk-based capital ratios and the leverage capital ratio at December 31, 2025 for the Company and the Bank were as follows:

*Applies to Bank.

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:

•
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;

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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, 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.

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Examinations. The Bank is subject to regulation, reporting, and periodic examinations by the FDIC, the MDBCF, and the CFPB. These regulatory authorities routinely examine the Bank’s 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. Federal banking regulators and Congress have recently signaled that updates to the CAMELS rating framework are under consideration, including potential reforms intended to improve the objectivity, clarity, and consistency of component ratings; however, these initiatives remain in development and have not yet been finalized, and the potential impact on the Bank’s future examinations is uncertain.

Consumer Protection. 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 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 practices. 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.

In March 2023, the CFPB issued a final rule to implement Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which requires lenders to collect, and report information about lending to “women owned, minority-owned and small businesses.” This rule was due to take effect in stages depending upon lending volume of the depository institution as early as 2025. However, the final rule has been subject to ongoing court challenges with federal courts granting nationwide stays, delaying compliance. In June 2025, the CFBP published an interim final rule that pushed back compliance dates, acknowledging litigation and industry concerns. In November 2025, the CFPB issued proposed revisions to streamline the rule, reduce complexity for lenders and improve data quality. The proposed revision included increasing the threshold for covered transactions, narrowing the scope to exclude certain products and discretionary data points, simplifying the demographics and delaying the compliance dates under a phased in approach to 2027 through 2028. The comment period for the proposed rule ended on December 15, 2025. The Bank continues to monitor these developments.

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 deposits of the Bank are insured by the FDIC up to applicable limits. 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 and applies one of four risk categories determined by reference to its capital levels, supervisory ratings, and certain other factors. The assessment rate schedule can change from time to time, at the discretion of the FDIC, subject to certain limits. In October of 2022, the FDIC adopted a final rule to increase the initial base deposit insurance assessment rate by two basis points, applicable to all insured depository institutions, which began with the first quarterly assessment period in 2023 and will remain in effect until the level of the DIF reserve ratios to insured deposits meets the FDIC's long-term goals. The increased assessment remains in effect and is expected to continue in the near-term.

In addition, under section 13(c)(4)(G) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, a loss to the DIF arising from the use of a systemic risk exception must be recovered from one or more special assessments on insured depository institutions, depository institution holding companies (with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to holding companies), or both, as the FDIC determines to be appropriate. In November 2023, the FDIC approved a final rule to implement a special assessment to recover the loss to the DIF associated with two bank failures that occurred during early 2023. The assessment base for the special assessment is equal to estimated uninsured deposits reported as of December 31, 2022, adjusted to exclude the first $5 billion, to be collected at an annual rate of approximately 13.4 basis points for an anticipated total of eight quarterly assessment periods, beginning with the first quarterly assessment period of 2024.

In 2024, as a result of changes in loss estimates for the 2023 failures, the FDIC began providing quarterly updates to the collection period for the special assessment for impacted institutions. Under the final rule, the FDIC retains the ability to cease collection early, extend the special assessment collection period one or more quarters beyond the initial eight-quarter collection period, or impose a final shortfall special assessment on a one-time basis after the receiverships for the two banks are terminated. The collection period could change due to updates to the estimated loss pursuant to the systemic risk determination or if assessments collected change due to

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corrective amendments to the amount of uninsured deposits reported for the December 31, 2022 reporting period. In December 2025, the FDIC issued an interim final rule to amend the collection period of the special assessment, reducing the rate at which the special assessment will be collected in the eighth collection quarter, to ensure that the cumulative amount collected through the eighth collection quarter will be approximately equal to the loss estimate as of September 30, 2025, and will enable the FDIC to avoid collecting amounts in excess of that loss estimate. The interim final rule also requires the FDIC to provide an offset to regular quarterly deposit insurance assessments for banks subject to the special assessment if the aggregate amount collected exceeds losses following the resolution of litigation. In addition, under the interim final rule, upon final termination of the receiverships, the FDIC will either: (1) provide an offset to regular quarterly deposit insurance assessments if the FDIC has over collected or (2) collect a one-time final shortfall special assessment if the FDIC has under collected. The interim final rule was effective upon publication in the Federal Register on December 19, 2025, with a 30-day comment period. The Bank continues to monitor these developments.

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 is not 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.

Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders. The Bank is subject to restrictions on extensions of credit and certain other transactions between the Bank and the Company or any nonbank affiliate. Generally, these covered transactions with either the Company or any affiliate are limited to 10% of the Bank’s capital and surplus, and all such transactions between the Bank and the Company and all of its nonbank affiliates combined are limited to 20% of the Bank’s capital and surplus. Loans and other extensions of credit from the Bank to the Company or any affiliate generally are required to be secured by eligible collateral in specified amounts. In addition, any transaction between the Bank and the Company or any affiliate are required to be on an arm’s length basis. Federal banking laws also place similar restrictions on certain extensions of credit by insured banks, such as the Bank, to their directors, executive officers and principal shareholders.

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.

On September 17, 2024, the FDIC approved the Final Statement of Policy on Bank Merger Transactions (2024 Statement of Policy) which, if it remained in place, would have resulted in additional scrutiny, including heightened financial stability analysis, to mergers that result in a large insured depository institution with more than $100 billion in total assets, public meetings for mergers that result in insured depository institutions with $50 billion or more in total assets, and board briefings for applications over 270 days old. On May 20, 2025, the FDIC approved the rescission of the agency’s 2024 Statement of Policy and the reinstatement of the Statement of Policy on Bank Merger Transactions that was in effect prior to 2024. The agency plans to conduct a broader re-evaluation of its bank merger review process.

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. Effective March 26, 2020, reserve requirement ratios were reduced to zero percent.

Anti-Money Laundering. A continued focus of governmental policy relating to financial institutions has been combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The USA PATRIOT Act broadened the application of anti-money laundering (AML) regulations to apply to additional types of financial institutions such as broker-dealers, investment advisors and insurance companies, and strengthened the ability of the U.S. Government to help prevent, detect and prosecute international money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The principal provisions of Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act require that regulated financial institutions, including state member banks: (i) establish an AML program that includes training and audit components; (ii) comply with regulations regarding the verification of the identity of any person seeking to open an account; (iii) take additional required precautions with non-U.S. owned accounts; and (iv) perform certain verification and certification of money laundering risk for their foreign correspondent banking relationships. Failure of a financial institution to comply with the USA PATRIOT Act’s requirements could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution. The Bank has systems and procedures in place to meet the requirements of these regulations and will continue to revise and update its policies, procedures and controls to reflect changes required by law.

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FinCEN has adopted rules that require financial institutions to obtain beneficial ownership information with respect to legal entities with which such institutions conduct business, subject to certain exclusions and exemptions. Bank regulators are focusing their examinations on AML compliance, and we continue to monitor and augment, where necessary, our AML compliance programs.

Bank regulators routinely examine institutions for compliance with these AML obligations and have imposed “cease and desist” and other regulatory orders and money penalty sanctions against institutions found to be in violation of these requirements. On January 1, 2021, Congress passed federal legislation that made sweeping changes to federal AML laws, subject to pending implementation by regulatory rulemaking. On June 30, 2021, FinCEN published the first set of “national AML priorities,” as required by the Bank Secrecy Act, which include, but are not limited to, cybercrime, terrorist financing, fraud, and drug/human trafficking. FinCEN is required to implement regulations to specify how covered financial institutions, such as the Company, should incorporate these national priorities into their AML programs.

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, 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 commercial real estate (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:

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

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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 Community Reinvestment Act (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 “Outstanding” in its most recent CRA evaluation.

On October 24, 2023, the OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC issued a final rule to modernize their respective CRA regulations (2023 CRA Final Rule). The revised rules would have substantially altered the methodology for assessing compliance with the CRA, with material aspects scheduled to take effect January 1, 2026, and revised data reporting requirements taking effect January 1, 2027. The 2023 CRA Final Rule has been subject to an injunction since March 29, 2024. On July 16, 2025, the Federal Reserve, OCC, and FDIC issued a joint proposal to rescind the 2023 CRA Final Rule. The agencies continue to apply the CRA rules as they existed before the 2023 modernization, considering the injunction and pending finalization of the rescission of the modernization rule.

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:

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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;

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

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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;

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

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

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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.

Personal Financial Data Rights Rule. On October 22, 2024, the CFPB issued a final rule implementing section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act, providing consumers with more choices and direction of their own financial data. This rule aims to enhance fair competition, transparency, and accessibility in the markets for consumer financial products and services by requiring institutions that issue credit cards and hold transaction accounts, among others, to provide information about transactions, costs, charges and usage to consumers and authorized third parties in electronic form upon request. The rule mandates that financial institutions and providers allow consumers to access and transfer their financial data to other providers at no charge, which the CFPB believes will promote competition within the industry. Compliance with the rule will be phased in over a five-year period based on asset size for depository institutions, with an expected effective date of April 1, 2027 for our institution. However, this rule has been challenged in court and may be revised by the CFPB. On August 22, 2025, the CFPB released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Personal Financial Data Rights Reconsideration, seeking comments and data to inform its consideration of four issues related to implementation: (1) the proper understanding of who can serve as a “representative” making a request on behalf of the consumer; (2) the optimal approach to the assessment of fees to defray the costs incurred by a “covered person” in responding to a customer driven request; (3) the threat and cost-benefit pictures for data security associated with section 1033 compliance; and (4) the threat picture for data privacy associated with section 1033 compliance. The Bank continues to monitor the developments on this rule.

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 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. Effective April 1, 2022, the federal banking agencies implemented a rule that requires banks to notify their regulators within 36 hours of a “computer-security incident” that rises to the level of a “notification incident.” Refer to Part I, Item 1C. "Cybersecurity" for further discussion.

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.

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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. On October 25, 2023, the FRB proposed to lower the maximum interchange fee that a large debit card issuer can receive for a debit card transaction. The proposal would also establish a regular process for updating the maximum amount every other year going forward. The proposal remains pending as of late 2025, largely due to ongoing litigation surrounding the underlying regulation. We continue to monitor the development of these proposed rule revisions.

Anti-Bribery Laws. Federal law prohibits offering or giving a bank official or any third party (or for the bank official to solicit or receive for himself or a third party) "anything of value" other than what is given or offered to the bank itself. Further, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act makes it unlawful to make payments to foreign government officials to assist in obtaining or retaining business. The Company and the Bank have implemented a Code of Business Ethics that governs the behavior of its officers, employees, and directors.

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. Although those interagency rules have not been finalized or implemented as of December 31, 2025, the SEC has since adopted final clawback rules under Section 954 of the Dodd‑Frank Act, and the NYSE and Nasdaq implemented related listing standards effective October 2, 2023. We have instituted measures so 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, 2025 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 for financial statements, and the value of our securities.

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.

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 to promote maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates. 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

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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 26, 2026 are as follows: