Southern First Reports Results for Second Quarter of 2010

GREENVILLE, S.C., July 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: SFST), holding company for Southern First Bank, NA (also doing business as Greenville First Bank), today announced that net income for the second quarter of 2010 was $94 thousand compared to $355 thousand for the second quarter of 2009.  The lower net income in the 2010 period is primarily due to an increase of $1.3 million in the provision for loan losses, partially offset by a $1.1 million gain on sale of investments.  After our dividend payment to the US Treasury as preferred shareholder, the net loss to common shareholders for the second quarter of 2010 was $238 thousand.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was $113 thousand compared to net income of $843 thousand for the first six months in 2009.  Similarly, the decrease in net income is primarily related to the after tax impact of a $2.0 million additional provision for loan losses, partly offset by a $1.1 million gain on sale of investments.  

"The company's performance in the second quarter was in line with our expectations as higher credit costs and higher FDIC insurance premiums continue to negatively impact our earnings," stated Art Seaver, the company's CEO. "Our primary focus continues to be managing and reducing the risks in our loan portfolio. Nonperforming loans decreased for the quarter to 2.13% of total loans. However, as a result of an increase in real estate owned, our nonperforming assets ratio at June 30, 2010 increased to 2.40%.  Although we believe that our other real estate is fairly valued, the current soft real estate market is a factor in the amount of time it takes to sell these assets," commented Seaver. Nonperforming assets consisted of $12.3 million of nonperforming loans and $5.5 million of other real estate owned at June 30, 2010. During the first six months of 2010, the company recorded $3.1 million in net charge-offs, or 1.08% on an annualized basis, and increased its provision for loan losses to $3.7 million compared to $1.7 million during the 2009 period. The company's reserve for loan losses increased to $8.4 million or 1.44% of loans at June 30, 2010.

Southern First Bank continues to attract retail deposits at a record pace. Total retail deposits have increased $84.5 million during the first six months of 2010. This pace represents a 49% annualized growth rate in retail deposits. This increase in retail funding enabled the company to reduce its wholesale deposits by over $42 million during the first six months of 2010. "The investments in infrastructure in both our Greenville and Columbia markets have resulted in record new client relationships," commented Seaver. "Clients continue to respond to the unique ClientFIRST level of service they find at Southern First. With over 75% of the new deposit growth coming from new transaction accounts, we are excited as more clients continue to choose Southern First as their primary bank." During the second quarter of 2010, the company opened $21.5 million in new core transaction accounts representing a 290% increase over the same period in 2009.

Net interest margin continues to hamper the performance of our company. The higher level of liquidity and higher level of non-performing assets negatively impacted the company's margin during the second quarter. The company expects improvement over the latter half of 2010 with the focus on improving overall loan yields and lowering deposit costs.

Shareholder's equity totaled $59.9 million as of June 30, 2010, an increase of 1.0% from the same period in 2009. With a tier 1 leverage ratio of 9.65% and total risk based capital ratio of 13.12%, the company's capital ratios far exceed the regulatory requirements for a "well capitalized" institution.

Total assets were $741.4 million at June 30, 2010, a 0.2% decrease over total assets of $743.1 million at June 30, 2009. Total loans were $572.4 million as of June 30, 2010, a 1.9% increase over loans at June 30, 2009.  Total assets increased 3.1% since December 31, 2009. The modest increase in assets during the first six months is primarily a result of increases in cash of $15.6 million and $5.8 million in loans.  In addition, during the first six months of 2010, our deposits increased $42.2 million.

The Company's book value per common share was $14.23 as of June 30, 2010, while the closing stock price on that day was $7.25 per share.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this news release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to future plans and expectations, and are thus prospective.  Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to (1) statements with respect to our expectations regarding the Company's net interest margin that are not historical facts, and (2) other statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," and "projects," as well as similar expressions.  Such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate.  Therefore, we can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized.  The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by our company or any person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by our company will be achieved.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: (1) competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (2) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations may be different than expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in the credit quality or a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on the company's loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses; (3) the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs, the level of allowance for loan loss, the rates of loan growth, or adverse changes in asset quality in our loan portfolio, which may result in increased credit risk-related losses and expenses; (4) changes in the U.S. legal and regulatory framework; and (5) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions) could have a negative impact on the company.  Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our reports (such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the company or any person acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements above.  We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

Our summary consolidated financial data as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 has not been audited but, in the opinion of our management, contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our financial position and results of operations for such periods in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA, CONTINUED

SOURCE Southern First Bancshares, Inc.