Hancock Whitney Corporation filed an 8-K on November 12, 2026, disclosing the execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Trustmark Corporation, under which Trustmark will merge with and into Hancock Whitney, with Hancock Whitney continuing as the surviving corporation.

Key Highlights

  • Merger agreement signed: The Agreement and Plan of Merger between Hancock Whitney Corporation and Trustmark Corporation is dated as of November 11, 2026, according to the filing.
  • Transaction structure: Trustmark will merge with and into Hancock Whitney, with Hancock Whitney continuing as the surviving corporation.
  • Expected closing timeline: The acquisition is expected to close late in the first quarter of 2027, subject to conditions.
  • Closing conditions: The transaction requires regulatory approvals, shareholder approvals from both companies, and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.
  • Joint announcement: Hancock Whitney and Trustmark issued a joint press release on November 12, 2026, and provided supplemental investor presentations in connection with the disclosure.
  • Securities listed: Hancock Whitney Common Stock (trading symbol HWC) and 6.25% Subordinated Notes (trading symbol HWCPZ) are both listed on NASDAQ:HWC.

Hancock Whitney and Trustmark Announce Merger Agreement

According to the filing, Hancock Whitney Corporation, the parent company of Hancock Whitney Bank, and Trustmark Corporation, the parent company of Trustmark Bank, jointly announced on November 12, 2026 the execution of a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger. The agreement, dated November 11, 2026, provides that Trustmark will merge with and into Hancock Whitney, with Hancock Whitney surviving the transaction.

The company disclosed that the acquisition is expected to close late in the first quarter of 2027. Completion of the transaction is subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals, shareholder approvals from both Hancock Whitney and Trustmark, and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. No assurance of completion was stated in the filing beyond these conditions.

The 8-K was filed under Item 7.01 (Regulation FD Disclosure) and is accompanied by two exhibits: Exhibit 99.1, a copy of the joint press release, and Exhibit 99.2, an investor presentation providing supplemental information about the proposed transaction. The filing also checked the box indicating it is intended to simultaneously satisfy the obligation under Rule 425 of the Securities Act as a written communication. The filing noted that the information furnished under Item 7.01 "shall not be deemed 'filed' for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934." The filing contains forward-looking statements, which the company and Trustmark cautioned "are not guarantees of future performance" and are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to assess.

What Was Disclosed

Hancock Whitney Corporation filed an 8-K disclosing the November 11, 2026 Agreement and Plan of Merger with Trustmark Corporation, under which Trustmark would merge into Hancock Whitney. The deal is expected to close late in the first quarter of 2027, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.