FAYETTEVILLE, Ga., Jan. 26, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. (OTCBB:SCSG) reported net income of $3,857,000 or $1.52 per share for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to $3,335,000 or $1.53 per share for 2003. For the fourth quarter of 2004, net income was $1,172,000 or $0.32 compared to $766,000 or $0.35 for the same period last year. Most of the increase in net income for both the year and quarter was the result of the Company's merger with First Polk Bankshares, Inc. on September 30, 2004. Assets and liabilities and results of operations for First Polk are only included in the balance sheets and income statements of the Company from the date of merger going forward.
Total assets at December 31, 2004 were $407.7 million compared to $256.2 million at December 31, 2003, with the increase attributable to the merger with First Polk. At December 31, 2004 gross loans (excluding reserves for loan losses) totaled $229.9 million compared to $123.7 million at December 31, 2003, while deposits were $352.3 million at December 31, 2004 compared to $227.5 million at December 31, 2003. At December 31, 2004, the allowance for loan losses was 1.37% of loans compared to 1.48% of loans at December 31, 2003. Net chargeoffs were 0.19% and 0.20% of average loans for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. At December 31, 2004, nonperforming assets were $372,000, or 0.09% of total assets, compared to $217,000, or 0.08% of total assets at December 31, 2003.
"We are pleased with the successful completion of the merger of the two bank holding companies and the profits earned by SouthCrest in this first year of combining our holding companies," said Larry Kuglar, President and CEO.
Danny Brinks, Chairman and COO, added, "The integration of the two merged bank families is going smoothly, with both bank subsidiaries continuing to operate as independent community banks as we seek to realize savings by integrating some behind-the-scenes functions. We remain excited about our combined holding company, and look for positive results as we work towards continued growth and profitability."
In a press release dated January 3, 2005, the Company announced that it declared a dividend of $0.12 per share compared to $0.115 per share for the previous quarter. The dividend will be paid on January 31, 2005 to shareholders of record as of January 17, 2005.
SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. is the parent company of two bank subsidiaries operating a total of nine branch offices. Bank of Upson, based in Thomaston, Georgia, has two branches in Upson County, three branches in Meriwether County operating as Meriwether Bank & Trust, and one branch in Fayette County operating as SouthCrest Bank. First National Bank of Polk County, based in Cedartown, Georgia, operates three branches in Polk County.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined by federal securities laws. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management. Actual results could differ materially from those projected for many reasons, including, without limitation, changing events and trends that have influenced SouthCrest's assumptions, but that are beyond its control. These trends and events include: (i) changes in the interest rate environment that may reduce margins, (ii) not achieving expected growth, (iii) difficulties in integrating the operations of First Polk and Upson after the merger; (iv) less favorable than anticipated changes in the national and local business environments and securities markets, (v) adverse changes in the regulatory requirements affecting SouthCrest, (vi) greater competitive pressures among financial institutions in SouthCrest's markets and (vii) greater loan losses than historic levels. Please refer to SouthCrest's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a summary of important factors that could affect SouthCrest's forward-looking statements. SouthCrest undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this press release.
For more information, contact Larry Kuglar, President and Chief Executive Officer, at 678-721-5205, Doug Hertha, Chief Financial Officer at 770-461-2781, or Danny Brinks, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, at 706-647-5426.
SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.
Consolidated Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)
Quarter Ended December 31 Year Ended December 31
------------------------------------------------------
2004 2003 % Change 2004 2003 % Change
------- ------- -------- -------- ------- --------
All dollars in thousands except per share data
EARNINGS
Net
interest
income $ 4,408 $ 2,072 112.7% $ 12,033 $ 9,130 31.8%
Provision
for
loan
losses 85 81 4.9% 375 324 15.7%
Noninterest
income 1,062 1,188 -10.6% 3,357 3,512 -4.4%
Noninterest
expense 3,724 2,091 78.1% 9,498 7,593 25.1%
Income
taxes 489 322 51.9% 1,660 1,390 19.4%
Net
income 1,172 766 53.0% 3,857 3,335 15.7%
PER SHARE
INFORMATION
Earnings
per
share $ 0.32 $ 0.35 -8.6% $ 1.52% 1.53 -0.7%
Dividends
per
share 0.115 0.115 0.0% 0.460 0.460 0.0%
Book
value
per
share 14.21 11.94 19.0% 14.21 11.94 19.0%
Tangible
book
value
per
share 11.73 10.31 13.8% 11.73 10.31 13.8%
OPERATING
RATIOS (1)
Net
interest
margin 4.67% 3.52% 4.46% 3.95%
Return
on
average
assets 1.13% 1.20% 1.32% 1.33%
Return
on
average
equity 9.04% 11.83% 11.67% 13.15%
Efficiency
ratio 68.08% 64.14% 61.72% 60.06%
Net
chargeoffs/
average
loans 0.22% -0.39% 0.19% 0.20%
AVERAGE
BALANCES
Loans $231,480 $124,550 85.9% $156,003 $119,676 30.4%
Total
earning
assets 375,769 233,679 60.8% 269,649 231,131 16.7%
Total
assets 411,851 254,052 62.1% 292,446 251,687 16.2%
Deposits 329,427 224,789 46.5% 256,035 222,463 15.1%
Shareholders'
equity 51,571 25,694 100.7% 33,039 25,356 30.3%
END OF PERIOD
BALANCES
Loans $229,907 $123,664 85.9%
Reserve for
loan
losses 3,161 1,825 73.2%
Total
earning
assets 374,684 237,238 57.9%
Intangible
assets 8,852 3,573 147.7%
Total
assets 407,672 256,205 59.1%
Deposits 352,252 227,469 54.9%
Shareholders'
equity 50,740 26,045 94.8%
ASSET QUALITY
(END OF PERIOD)
Loans 90
days past
due and
still
accruing $ 186 $ 97
Nonaccrual
Loans -- --
Other Real
Estate
Owned 186 120
Total
nonperforming
assets 372 217
Allowance
for loan
losses/
total
loans 1.37% 1.48%
Nonperforming
assets/
total
assets 0.09% 0.08%
(1) All ratios are annualized.