Southcoast Financial Corporation Reports Full-Year, Fourth Quarter 2011 Results


MT. PLEASANT, S.C., Feb. 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southcoast Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:SOCB) today announced unaudited financial results for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2011, along with a revised strategic focus. This focus will be centered on new profitable deposit and loan growth, improving technology to help deliver more efficient banking services, a new marketing campaign, and continued efforts to reduce our non-performing assets.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2011, the Company reported a net loss of $4.8 million or $0.91 per share, compared with a net loss of $1.0 million or $0.19 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2011, Southcoast reported a net loss of $16.5 million or $3.12 per diluted share compared with net income of $69,000 or $0.01 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2010.

The Company's net loss in the fourth quarter and full-year 2011, primarily reflect increased provisions for loan losses. Financial results in 2011 also included an income tax expense of $4.6 million, reflecting a full valuation allowance taken on the Company's deferred tax asset in second quarter 2011.

The Company's subsidiary bank, Southcoast Community Bank, increased reserves for loan losses, successfully re-priced a significant number of deposit accounts, eliminated $28.8 million of wholesale deposits, and continued to be well-capitalized by regulatory standards. L. Wayne Pearson, President and CEO, commented: "In 2011, we focused on strengthening asset quality, carefully assessing the Bank's balance sheet and taking an aggressive stance in moving non-performing loans through the foreclosure process and removing them from the balance sheet."

Southcoast's net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2011 was 3.12% compared with 2.91% for the year ended December 31, 2010. In 2011, the Bank recorded net interest income of $12.3 million compared with $12.0 million in 2010. Pearson explained that, "Through careful re-pricing of our deposits, we lowered interest cost by approximately 51 basis points. Throughout 2011, we were successful in reducing the Bank's use of wholesale deposits, and added lower-cost core deposits to support our ability to continue pursuing quality lending opportunities." Total interest income in 2011 was $18.9 million compared with $21.4 million in 2010. The decrease in interest income was due to rate and volume decreases in the loan and investment portfolios.

Southcoast Financial's provision for loan losses as of December 31, 2011 was $10.0 million compared with $3.8 million in 2010, and its fourth quarter 2011 loan loss provision was $3.4 million, compared with a fourth quarter 2010 loan loss provision of $1.7 million. As a result of the Company's recorded provision for loan losses, the ratio of reserves to nonperforming loans improved to 54.90% as of December 31, 2011 compared with 48.39% as of December 31, 2010. The Company's ratio of loan loss reserves to total loans increased as of December 31, 2011 to 3.34% compared with 2.83% as of December 31, 2010.

Noninterest income was $2.8 million in 2011 compared with $4.3 million in 2010. The decrease was due to additional security gains taken in 2010. Fourth quarter 2011 noninterest income was $619,000 compared with $488,000 in fourth quarter 2010. Compared with 2010, noninterest expense increased by $4.3 million, due to an increase of $3.5 million in impairments to other real estate owned. For the quarter, noninterest expense increased by $1.2 million. Impairments of other real estate owned increased by $1.3 million.

Gross loans were $319.7 million as of year-end 2011 compared with $336.4 million as of year-end 2010. This decrease reflects $9.4 million of loans transferred to Other Real Estate Owned and $8.8 million of loan charge-offs. The Company's total assets as of December 31, 2011 were $427.5 million, compared with $478.3 million as of December 31, 2010.

Deposits as of December 31, 2011 totaled $316.1 million, compared with $344.6 million as of December 31, 2010. Pearson explained that this decrease reflected a reduction in wholesale deposits of $28.8 million. The Bank grew non-interest bearing deposits to $34.1 million as of December 31, 2011 compared with $28.9 million as of December 31, 2010. The Company's total liabilities as of December 31, 2011 were $396.7 million, compared with $432.5 million as of December 31, 2010.

"Southcoast remains well-capitalized by regulatory standards. As of December 31, 2011, the Bank's Tier One Leverage ratio was 8.91% and its Total Risk Based Capital ratio was 13.18%. These ratios are above the FDIC minimums for well-capitalized institutions. The Company's tangible book value per share was $5.81 at December 31, 2011," said Pearson.

About Southcoast Financial Corporation

Southcoast Financial Corporation, headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, is the holding company of Southcoast Community Bank. The Bank, which opened for business July 20, 1998, is a state chartered commercial bank operating from its main office at 530 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and nine branches in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Trading in Southcoast Financial Corporation's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol SOCB.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this news release which express "belief," "intention," "expectation," "anticipate," "strategy," "vision" and similar expressions, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of Southcoast Financial's management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, such management. Any forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some of the information in this presentation is derived from third party sources that we believe to be reliable, but we make no guarantees that such information is correct. Such statements are inherently uncertain and there can be no assurance that the underlying assumptions will prove to be accurate. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Please refer to the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information about historical performance and risk factors. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements. Southcoast does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the events or circumstances after the date on which the forward-looking statement is made, or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.

Southcoast Financial Corporation
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
(dollars in thousands, except earnings per share)
     
  Three Months Ended
   December 2011  December 2010
   (Unaudited)
INCOME STATEMENT DATA    
 Net interest income  $ 2,878  $ 3,208
 Provision for loan losses 3,400 1,676
 Noninterest income 619 488
 Noninterest expenses 4,721 3,552
 Net income (loss)  $ (4,803)  $ (1,009)
     
PER SHARE DATA     
 Net income (loss) per share    
 Basic  $ (0.91)  $ (0.19)
 Diluted  $ (0.91)  $ (0.19)
     
BALANCE SHEET DATA    
 Total assets  $ 427,521  $ 478,326
 Total deposits 316,147 344,602
 Total loans (net) 309,048 326,936
 Investment securities 52,755 76,412
 Other borrowings 66,850 72,963
 Junior subordinated debentures 10,310 10,310
 Shareholders' equity 30,812 45,778
     
Average shares outstanding    
 Basic 5,306,488 5,246,050
 Diluted 5,306,488 5,246,050
     
Book value per share $5.81 $8.70
     
Key ratios     
 Non-performing assets to assets^ 6.74% 5.98%
 Reserve to loans 3.34% 2.83%
 Reserve to nonperforming loans 54.90% 48.39%
 Net interest margin* 3.03% 3.33%
     
* Ratios for three months are annualized.    
^ Includes nonaccrual loans, loans 90 days past due and still accruing interest, and other real estate owned.
 
 Southcoast Financial Corporation
 Consolidated Income Statements
 (Dollars in thousands, except earnings per share)
         
  Year Ended  Three Months Ended
  December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
  2011 2010 2011 2010
  (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Interest Income        
 Interest and fees on loans $17,017 $18,869 $4,034 $4,598
 Interest on investments 1,855 2,525 303 599
 Interest on Fed funds sold 34 50 8 9
 Total interest income 18,906 21,444 4,345 5,206
         
Interest expense 6,648 9,423 1,467 1,998
 Net interest income 12,258 12,021 2,878 3,208
Provision for loan losses 10,023 3,801 3,400 1,676
 Net interest income (loss) after provision 2,235 8,220 (522) 1,532
         
Noninterest income 2,798 4,337 619 488
 Total operating income 5,033 12,557 97 2,020
         
Noninterest expense         
 Salaries and benefits 6,668 6,625 1,624 1,668
 Occupancy and equipment  2,868 2,797 774 659
 Other expenses 7,402 3,259 2,323 1,225
         
 Total noninterest expense 16,938 12,681 4,721 3,552
         
Income (Loss) before taxes (11,905) (124) (4,624) (1,532)
         
Income tax expense (benefit) 4,576  (193) 179  (523)
Net income (loss) ($16,481) $69 ($4,803) ($1,009)
         
Basic net income (loss) per share ($3.12) $0.01 ($0.91) ($0.19)
         
Diluted net income (loss) per share ($3.12) $0.01 ($0.91) ($0.19)
         
Average number of shares        
 Basic 5,287,003 5,087,107 5,306,488 5,246,050
 Diluted 5,287,003 5,087,107 5,306,488 5,246,050
   
  Southcoast Financial Corporation
  Consolidated Balance Sheets
     
   December 31  December 31
  2011 2010
   (Unaudited)  (Audited)
Assets    
Cash and due from banks $18,037 $20,062
Investments 52,755 76,412
Loans held for sale  995 417
Loans 319,740 336,449
Less: Allowance for loan losses 10,692 9,513
     
Net loans 309,048 326,936
Fixed assets 21,977 22,447
Other assets 24,709 32,052
     
 Total Assets $427,521 $478,326
     
Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity    
Deposits:    
 Non-interest bearing $34,120 $28,855
 Interest bearing 282,027 315,747
     
 Total deposits 316,147 344,602
Other borrowings 66,850 72,963
Other liabilities 3,402 4,673
Junior subordinated debentures 10,310 10,310
     
 Total liabilities 396,709 432,548
     
Shareholders' Equity    
 Common Stock  54,382 54,258
 Retained Deficit and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss  (23,570) (8,480)
     
 Total shareholders' equity 30,812 45,778
     
 Total Liabilities and    
 Shareholders' equity $427,521 $478,326

            

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