WTNY Whitney Holding Corp. (MM)

Whitney National Bank has won 12 Greenwich Excellence Awards in Small Business and Middle Market Banking. Less than five percent of financial institutions were selected for awards out of more than 750 eligible providers, and with a dozen awards, Whitney is one of this year's leading recipients.

In the Small Business Banking category, Whitney was honored with eight National Greenwich Excellence Awards, and two Regional Awards (complete list below). "Whitney is proud to be among this year's top winners in the Small Business Banking category and it is especially gratifying since these awards represent the voice of our customers," said Whitney President, John M. Turner, Jr. "Our customers are the foundation of our success and fulfilling their financial needs is the focus of everything we do."

Whitney's 12 Greenwich Excellence Awards include:

Small Business Banking:

Overall Satisfaction

Relationship Manager Performance

Financial Stability

Branch Satisfaction

Treasury Management – Overall Satisfaction

Treasury Management – Accuracy of Operations

Treasury Management – Customer Service

Treasury Management – Product Capabilities

Overall Satisfaction – South Region

Treasury Management – Overall Satisfaction – South Region

Middle Market Banking:

Overall Satisfaction

Treasury Management – Overall Satisfaction

"Receiving both National and Regional Awards across multiple categories in both Small Business and Middle Market Banking illustrates the quality, consistency and strength of the relationships we build with our customers," Turner said. "Our ongoing service quality initiatives are investments in customer loyalty, ensuring that every Whitney Banker meets the comprehensive needs of their clients."

Sponsored by Greenwich Associates, a leading international research-based consulting firm in institutional financial services, Greenwich Excellence Awards are based on having a significantly different percentage of "Excellent" ratings than the mean for all banks at a 95% confidence level. The awards reflect ratings received from interviews with more than 25,000 business executives at companies with revenues between $1 million and $500 million.

Greenwich Associates provides research-based strategy management services for financial professionals. Greenwich Associates' studies provide benefits to the buyers and sellers of financial services in the form of benchmark information on best practices and market intelligence on overall trends. Based in Stamford, Connecticut, with additional offices in London, Toronto, Tokyo, and Singapore, the firm offers over 100 research-based consulting programs to more than 250 global financial services companies. Visit www.greenwich.com, for more information.

Whitney Holding Corporation (Nasdaq:WTNY) through its banking subsidiary Whitney National Bank, serves the five-state Gulf Coast region stretching from Houston, Texas, across southern Louisiana and the coastal region of Mississippi; to central and southern Alabama; the panhandle of Florida; and the Tampa Bay metropolitan area of Florida. WTNY-G

The Whitney Holding Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5777

CONTACT: Liza Copping
         504-599-3082
         lcopping@whitneybank.com