AUGUSTA, Ga., April 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southeastern Bank Financial Corp. (OTCQB:SBFC), the holding company for Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta (GB&T), today reported quarterly net income of $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, or $0.57 in diluted earnings per share, compared to $3.8 million, or $0.57 in diluted earnings per share, in the first quarter of 2013.
"We are pleased to report an incremental increase in earnings over the year-ago period," said President and Chief Operating Officer Ronald L. Thigpen. "Our net interest margin remains compressed in a historically low interest rate environment, and we saw lower mortgage income due to significantly reduced origination volume. Our credit costs decreased further as asset quality continued to improve and noninterest expense decreased. Retail investment and trust income continue to improve, and our balance sheet grew, as we saw both core loan growth and solid deposit growth. Overall, we continue to perform well."
Total assets at March 31, 2014, were $1.7 billion, an increase of $57.9 million from December 31, 2013. Loans outstanding at the end of the first quarter were $940.3 million, an increase of $23.9 million from December 31, 2013, and an increase of $34.9 million from March 31, 2013. Total deposits were $1.5 billion at March 31, 2014, an increase of $48.4 million from December 31, 2013, and an increase of $36.0 million from March 31, 2013. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $82.5 million at the end of the first quarter of 2014.
Net interest income for the first quarter of 2014 totaled $12.6 million, a 4.7 percent decrease from $13.2 million for the same period in 2013. Noninterest income for the first quarter totaled $4.1 million, a decrease from $4.8 million for the same period a year ago, primarily due to significantly lower mortgage origination volume. Noninterest expense was $10.1 million in the first quarter of 2014, a 5.5 percent decrease from a year ago resulting from continued expense control.
The net interest margin was 3.16 percent for the quarter-ended March 31, 2014, compared to 3.21 percent at December 31, 2013, and 3.40 percent for the same period a year ago. Annualized return on average assets (ROA) was 0.91 percent for the first quarter of 2014, unchanged from the same period a year ago, and annualized return on average shareholder's equity (ROE) was 11.36 percent, an increase of 23 basis points from the first quarter of 2013.
Nonperforming assets at March 31, 2014, were 1.38 percent of total assets, compared to 1.58 percent at December 31, 2013, and 1.80 percent at March 31, 2013. Net charge-offs for the first quarter of 2014 totaled 0.52 percent of average loans on an annualized basis, compared to 0.68 percent annualized in the fourth quarter of 2013 and 0.77 percent annualized in the first quarter of 2013. The company held $1.3 million in OREO at March 31, 2014, compared to $1.0 million at December 31, 2013, and $2.4 million at March 31, 2013.
The company's loan-loss provision expense was $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2014, a 24.1 percent decrease from $1.4 million in the previous quarter, and a 39.4 percent decrease from $1.7 million in the first quarter a year ago. The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2014, was $26.3 million, or 2.80 percent of loans outstanding, compared to $26.4 million, or 2.88 percent of loans outstanding, at December 31, 2013, and $28.9 million, or 3.20 percent of loans outstanding, at March 31, 2013.
"We have seen expected decreases in net interest margin, as well as mortgage income due to reduced origination volume," said Thigpen. "However, retail investment and trust income are on the upswing, and our balance sheet remains strong, as we are encouraged by core loan growth and solid deposit growth."
On April 23, 2014, the company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.13 per share of common stock payable on May 23, 2014, to shareholders of record as of May 9, 2014. Based on the share price of $21.98 at the close of business on Thursday, April 24, 2014, this dividend represents an annualized yield to shareholders of 2.37 percent.
About Southeastern Bank Financial Corp.
Southeastern Bank Financial Corp. is the $1.7 billion-asset bank holding company of Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta (GB&T). GB&T is the largest locally owned and operated community bank in the Augusta metro market, with nine full-service Augusta-area offices, three full-service offices in Aiken County, S.C., operating as Southern Bank & Trust and one limited service Loan Production Office in Athens, Ga. The company also has mortgage operations in Augusta and Savannah. The banks focus primarily on real estate, commercial and consumer loans to individuals, small to medium-sized businesses and professionals, and also provide wealth management and trust services. The company's common stock is publicly traded under the symbol SBFC on OTCQB. Investors can find Real-Time quotes and market information for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com or by visiting the Company's Web site, www.georgiabankandtrust.com.
Safe Harbor Statement - Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this release by Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation (The Company) other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking and subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are made based upon management's belief as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including: unanticipated changes in the Bank's local economy and in the national economy; governmental monetary and fiscal policies; deposit levels, loan demand, loan collateral values and securities portfolio values; difficulties in interest rate risk management; difficulties in operating in a variety of geographic areas; the effects of competition in the banking business; changes in governmental regulation relating to the banking industry, including regulations relating to branching and acquisitions; failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for loan losses, including the value of collateral underlying delinquent loans; and other factors. The Company cautions that such factors are not exclusive. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by, or on behalf of, the Company.
| SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION | ||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||
| March 31, | ||
| 2014 | December 31, | |
| Assets | (Unaudited) | 2013 |
| Cash and due from banks | $ 59,276,252 | $ 36,766,420 |
| Interest-bearing deposits in other banks | 23,210,306 | 10,570,222 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 82,486,558 | 47,336,642 |
| Available-for-sale securities | 654,738,139 | 649,979,319 |
| Loans held for sale | 13,524,561 | 10,638,179 |
| Loans | 926,754,248 | 905,712,691 |
| Less allowance for loan losses | 26,300,086 | 26,408,723 |
| Loans, net | 900,454,162 | 879,303,968 |
| Premises and equipment, net | 27,313,152 | 27,002,697 |
| Accrued interest receivable | 6,356,711 | 6,221,061 |
| Bank-owned life insurance | 36,023,057 | 35,744,649 |
| Restricted equity securities | 4,398,400 | 4,869,600 |
| Other real estate owned | 1,287,329 | 1,013,563 |
| Deferred tax asset | 18,104,786 | 21,022,576 |
| Other assets | 2,538,781 | 6,193,363 |
| $1,747,225,636 | $1,689,325,617 | |
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||
| Deposits | ||
| Noninterest-bearing | $ 196,656,868 | $ 187,287,015 |
| Interest-bearing: | ||
| NOW accounts | 374,094,581 | 351,798,554 |
| Savings | 522,224,262 | 521,656,334 |
| Money management accounts | 16,323,630 | 16,065,409 |
| Time deposits of $100,000 or more | 311,483,175 | 293,003,961 |
| Other time deposits | 82,384,019 | 84,991,883 |
| 1,503,166,535 | 1,454,803,156 | |
| Securities sold under repurchase agreements | 712,488 | 808,311 |
| Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank | 64,000,000 | 64,000,000 |
| Accrued interest payable and other liabilities | 15,920,327 | 16,598,876 |
| Due to broker | 2,506,055 | -- |
| Subordinated debentures | 21,546,646 | 21,546,646 |
| Total liabilities | 1,607,852,051 | 1,557,756,989 |
| Stockholders' equity: | ||
| Preferred stock, no par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares outstanding in 2014 and 2013, respectively | -- | -- |
| Common stock, $3.00 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 6,743,641 and 6,680,225 shares issued in 2014 and 2013, respectively; 6,743,641 and 6,679,982 shares outstanding in 2014 and 2013, respectively | 20,230,923 | 20,040,675 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 62,722,437 | 62,863,774 |
| Retained earnings | 61,706,322 | 58,768,914 |
| Treasury stock, at cost; 0 and 243 shares in 2014 and 2013, respectively | -- | (3,380) |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net | (5,286,097) | (10,101,355) |
| Total stockholders' equity | 139,373,585 | 131,568,628 |
| $1,747,225,636 | $1,689,325,617 | |
| SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION | ||
| Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | ||
| (Unaudited) | ||
| Three Months Ended | ||
| March 31, | ||
| 2014 | 2013 | |
| Interest income: | ||
| Loans, including fees | $ 11,280,502 | $ 11,690,761 |
| Investment securities | 3,533,605 | 3,981,738 |
| Interest-bearing deposits in other banks | 14,998 | 16,223 |
| Total interest income | 14,829,105 | 15,688,722 |
| Interest expense: | ||
| Deposits | 1,588,816 | 1,829,483 |
| Securities sold under repurchase agreements | 759 | 888 |
| Other borrowings | 667,850 | 669,367 |
| Total interest expense | 2,257,425 | 2,499,738 |
| Net interest income | 12,571,680 | 13,188,984 |
| Provision for loan losses | 1,057,320 | 1,744,743 |
| Net interest income after provision for loan losses | 11,514,360 | 11,444,241 |
| Noninterest income: | ||
| Service charges and fees on deposits | 1,628,894 | 1,673,793 |
| Gain on sales of loans | 819,460 | 1,839,840 |
| (Loss) gain on sale of fixed assets, net | (1,082) | 5,500 |
| Investment securities gains (losses), net | 250,639 | (44,229) |
| Retail investment income | 573,921 | 500,708 |
| Trust service fees | 323,121 | 304,886 |
| Earnings from cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance | 278,408 | 282,534 |
| Miscellaneous income | 217,905 | 188,655 |
| Total noninterest income | 4,091,266 | 4,751,687 |
| Noninterest expense: | ||
| Salaries and other personnel expense | 5,766,151 | 6,197,409 |
| Occupancy expenses | 944,192 | 935,081 |
| Other real estate losses (gains), net | (35,065) | 409,729 |
| Other operating expenses | 3,437,815 | 3,156,545 |
| Total noninterest expense | 10,113,093 | 10,698,764 |
| Income before income taxes | 5,492,533 | 5,497,164 |
| Income tax expense | 1,686,641 | 1,720,747 |
| Net income | $ 3,805,892 | $ 3,776,417 |
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | ||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives | (355,111) | 344,389 |
| Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale | 8,486,696 | (906,580) |
| Reclassification adjustment for realized (gain) loss on securities, net of OTTI | (250,639) | 44,229 |
| Tax effect | (3,065,688) | 201,487 |
| Total other comprehensive income (loss) | 4,815,258 | (316,475) |
| Comprehensive income | $ 8,621,150 | $ 3,459,942 |
| Basic net income per share | $ 0.57 | $ 0.57 |
| Diluted net income per share | $ 0.57 | $ 0.57 |
| Weighted average common shares outstanding | 6,680,634 | 6,677,409 |
| Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding | 6,680,717 | 6,677,409 |