Southside Bancshares, Inc. Announces Net Income for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

TYLER, Texas, July 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southside Bancshares, Inc. ("Southside" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:SBSI) today reported its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012.

Southside reported net income of $7.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012, a decrease of $4.9 million, or 38.8%, when compared to the same period in 2011. Fair value gains-securities decreased $2.5 million as there were no fair value gains or losses for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $2.5 million for the same period in 2011. In addition net interest income decreased $2.0 million and we recorded impairment charges on our Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advance option fees of $1.4 million. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased $3.1 million, or 14.9%, to $17.9 million when compared to $21.0 million for the same period in 2011.

Diluted earnings per common share were $0.45 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 when compared to $0.73 for the same period in 2011, a decrease of $0.28, or 38.4%. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, diluted earnings per common share decreased $0.19, or 15.6% to $1.03 when compared to $1.22 for the same period in 2011.

The return on average shareholders' equity for the six months ended June 30, 2012, was 13.51%, compared to 18.82% for the same period in 2011. The annual return on average assets was 1.09% for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to 1.39% for the same period in 2011.

"We are pleased to report our second quarter financial results," stated Sam Dawson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southside Bancshares, Inc. "During the second quarter, we continued to experience increased levels of lending activity, resulting in a $42.3 million increase in loans. Given that global economic growth seems to have entered yet another stagnant phase, we are especially grateful to have experienced a meaningful increase in quality loan demand in the areas we serve. In fact, over the first half of 2012, we have reported a 17.6% annualized increase in loans totaling $96.0 million. We are proud to partner with the communities we serve because these communities play an important role in fostering economic growth. Given the current interest rate environment, we believe our loan growth will play an important and positive role in managing our net interest margin."

"During the first quarter of 2012 we sold all of our securities carried at fair value through income which eliminated potentially significant future fluctuations in either gains or losses through our income statement associated with fair value changes during the period reported.  During the second quarter of 2011 we recorded fair value gains-securities of $2.5 million. In addition, we are pleased to report that any future impairment expense related to our FHLB advance option fees will be significantly reduced and limited, as the current remaining balance is $195,000.  The decrease in our net interest income was partially the result of an increase in prepayments on our mortgage-backed securities and partially related to the sale of the securities carried at fair value through income during the first quarter. Mortgage refinancing activity has increased this quarter due not only to the historical low interest rate environment, but also due to government programs designed to encourage mortgage refinancing." 

"In our securities portfolio we have increased our allocation to the municipal securities market. We believe that allocating resources to sectors with book yields that are not impacted by prepayments should help mitigate future mortgage-backed securities prepayment volatility. On the funding side, our cost of funds is very likely to continue its decline over the near to medium term as our higher priced FHLB advances mature. Of our approximately $274 million of 'higher cost FHLB funding', which we define as 2.0% or higher, approximately 70% with an average cost of 3.80% will roll off over the next 15 months. Over the next two years, approximately 94% of our high cost long term advances with an average cost of 3.60% will mature. This was possible because rather than taking out long term advances, to manage our interest rate risk, nearly two years ago we decided to purchase options on those advances as a hedge against increasing market demands for longer term fixed rate loans and the purchase of longer duration securities. These options gave us the ability to utilize short-term funding at an average cost below 0.18% to fund longer duration assets without increasing our interest rate risk. The purchase of these options also gave us the opportunity to take out long-term funding as a hedge for our long-term assets at a much more opportune time at interest rates well below those available when we purchased the options. In addition to our funding, $36.1 million of our trust preferred long-term debt will transition from the initial average fixed rate of 6.86% to an average floating rate of three month LIBOR plus 1.64%. This positive impact to our earnings will start in the fourth quarter."

"Given the mixed global outlook, a prudent bank must be prepared for both a prolonged period of sluggish growth and low interest rates as well as a more normal economic and interest rate environment. We view our quality loan growth and additional municipal bond investments as logical substitutes for a portion of our current mortgage-backed securities, and believe these asset allocations, combined with continued careful consideration of funding choices, should positively impact our future net interest margin." 

"At December 31, 2007, we had $132.3 million in shareholders' equity. At the end of the second quarter, June 30, 2012, we are proud to report $263.4 million in shareholders' equity. Management of shareholder capital is one the most important responsibilities of a board of directors and senior management. We will utilize that capital to continue our loan growth. We are indeed fortunate to have organically grown capital in an economic environment characterized by recession and nationwide credit concern. We are actively reviewing opportunities to utilize that capital to further expand our franchise. Contrary to what is sometimes reported, profitability is a productive activity. We will use our profits to both assist and expand our service areas. In this scenario, we believe everyone wins. We live in extraordinarily uncertain times and intend to fully participate in the eventual economic recovery. We are proud of our accomplishments, but we are far more excited about our accomplishments yet to come. We fully understand that without the support of our communities, employees and shareholders, our success would not be possible. I thank you for that support."

Loans and Deposits

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, total loans increased by $96.0 million, or 8.8%, when compared to December 31, 2011. During the six months ended June 30, 2012, real estate 1-4 family increased $78.2 million, real estate other increased $8.4 million, municipal loans increased $8.0 million, loans to individuals increased $4.1 million, commercial loans increased $2.9 million and construction loans decreased $5.7 million.

Nonperforming assets increased during the first six months of 2012 by $590,000, or 4.5%, to $13.8 million, or 0.41% of total assets at June 30, 2012, when compared to 0.40% at December 31, 2011. This increase is primarily a result of an increase in other real estate owned. 

During the six months ended June 30, 2012, deposits, net of brokered deposits, increased $176.2 million, or 8.2%, compared to December 31, 2011. During this six month period public fund deposits increased $59.0 million and we had a business account that experienced a temporary increase of approximately $70 million.

Net Interest Income for the Three Months

Net interest income decreased $2.0 million, or 8.2%, to $22.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012, when compared to $24.6 million for the same period in 2011. For the three months ended June 30, 2012, our net interest spread decreased to 2.98% when compared to 3.52% for the same period in 2011. The net interest margin decreased to 3.21% for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to 3.80% for the same period in 2011. The primary reason for the decrease in the net interest spread and margin was an increase in prepayments on the mortgage-backed securities which resulted in increased amortization expense.

Net Interest Income for the Six Months 

Net interest income decreased $285,000, or 0.6%, to $46.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, when compared to $46.8 million for the same period in 2011. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, our net interest spread decreased to 3.11% from 3.39% for the same period in 2011. The net interest margin decreased to 3.36% for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to 3.68% for the same period in 2011. Increased prepayments on our mortgage-backed securities were the primary reason for the decrease in the net interest margin and spread. 

Net Income for the Three Months

The decrease in net income for the three months ended June 30, 2012, when compared to the same period in 2011, was the result of a decrease in fair value gains-securities of $2.5 million, a decrease in net interest income of $2.0 million and an impairment charge related to our FHLB advance option fees of $1.4 million.

Noninterest expense increased $980,000, or 5.4%, for the three months ended June 30, 2012, compared to the same period in 2011 primarily due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits and an increase in other expense. 

Net Income for the Six Months 

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased $3.1 million, or 14.9%, to $17.9 million, when compared to $21.0 million for the same period in 2011 due to a $1.2 million increase in provision for loan losses as a result of loan growth, a net $1.1 million decrease in gain on sale of securities and fair value gains-securities, and a $1.8 million increase in the impairment charges on FHLB advance option fees. 

Noninterest expense increased $770,000, or 2.1%, primarily as a result of an increase in salaries and employee benefits. 

About Southside Bancshares, Inc.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company with approximately $3.40 billion in assets that owns 100% of Southside Bank. Southside Bank currently has 48 banking centers in Texas and operates a network of 50 ATMs. 

To learn more about Southside Bancshares, Inc., please visit our investor relations website at www.southside.com/investor. Our investor relations site provides a detailed overview of our activities, financial information and historical stock price data. To receive e-mail notification of company news, events and stock activity, please register on the E-mail Notification portion of the website. Questions or comments may be directed to Susan Hill at (903) 531-7220, or susan.hill@southside.com.

The Southside Bancshares, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=9555

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements of other than historical fact that are contained in this document and in other written material, press releases and oral statements issued by or on behalf of the Company, a bank holding company, may be considered to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of and subject to the protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management's views as of any subsequent date. These statements may include words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "anticipate," "appear," "believe," "could," "should," "may," "intend," "probability," "risk," "target," "objective," "plans," "potential," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are statements with respect to the Company's beliefs, plans, expectations, objectives, goals, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions and future performance and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For example, discussions about trends in asset quality, liquidity, growth and earnings and certain market risk disclosures, including the impact of interest rate uncertainty, are based upon information presently available to management and are dependent on choices about key model characteristics and assumptions and are subject to various limitations. By their nature, certain of the market risk disclosures are only estimates and could be materially different from what actually occurs in the future. As a result, actual income gains and losses could materially differ from those that have been estimated. 

Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect the Company's financial results, is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 under "Forward-Looking Information" and Item 1A. "Risk Factors," and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to announce publicly the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments. 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The analysis below shows average interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities together with the average yield on the interest earning assets and the average cost of the interest bearing liabilities.