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EXHIBIT 99.1
 
FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
 
FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS
AND DECLARES CASH DIVIDEND


CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, October 25, 2012 – First Financial Holdings, Inc. (“First Financial,” NASDAQ: FFCH), the holding company for First Federal Bank (“First Federal”), announced today net income available to common shareholders of $5.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared with $11.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and $113 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2011.  Diluted net income per common share was $0.34 for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, compared with $0.70 for the prior quarter and $0.01 for the same quarter last year.  The quarter ended June 30, 2012 included a $9.0 million after-tax gain on the acquisition of Plantation Federal Bank (“Plantation”) and a $3.1 million after-tax net charge related to repositioning the balance sheet.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, net income available to common shareholders was $18.1 million, compared with a net loss of $(45.2) million for the same period of 2011.  Diluted net income per common share from continuing operations was $1.09, compared with a net loss of $(2.52) for the first nine months of 2011.

“First Financial is pleased to report another quarter of solid earnings as we continue to successfully execute on our strategic priorities,” said R. Wayne Hall, president and chief executive officer of First Financial and First Federal.  “In addition to maintaining operating results, we are extremely pleased that credit metrics have remained stable since our bulk loan sale in October 2011.  We believe that all of our initiatives have positioned us well to provide enhanced value to our shareholders.”

Highlights for the Quarter

·  
Net interest margin increased 27 basis points to 4.35% at September 30, 2012.
·  
Credit metrics remained stable with non-covered nonperforming assets to total assets of 1.42% at September 30, 2012, compared with 1.45% at June 30, 2012.
·  
Net charge-offs totaled $7.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, compared with $6.7 million for the prior quarter, while the provision for loan losses was $4.5 million and $4.7 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012, respectively.
·  
First Financial remains well capitalized at September 30, 2012 with total risk-based capital of 15.70%, Tier 1 risk-based capital of 14.42%, and Tier 1 leverage capital of 10.12%.  Tangible common equity to tangible common assets ratio increased to 6.77% at quarter end.

Balance Sheet

Total assets at September 30, 2012 were $3.2 billion, a decrease of $58.7 million or 1.8% from June 30, 2012 and an increase of $39.2 million or 1.2% over September 30, 2011.  The decrease from June 30, 2012 was primarily the result of lower portfolio loans due to payoffs and paydowns, and a decline in loans held for sale, partially offset by purchases of bank owned life insurance investments during the quarter.  The increase in total assets over September 30, 2011 was principally due to the Plantation acquisition and the Liberty Savings Bank (“Liberty”) branch acquisitions in April 2012, partially offset by a decrease in investment securities and reductions in loans held for sale as a result of the bulk loan sale completed in October 2011.
 
Investment securities at September 30, 2012 totaled $276.6 million, a decrease of $16.8 million or 5.7% from June 30, 2012 and a decrease of $192.9 million or 41.1% from September 30, 2011.  The decrease from June 30, 2012 was due to normal principal reductions and cash flows from called securities, partially offset by new security purchases.  The decrease from September 30, 2011 was the result of the sale of $203.6 million of mortgage-backed securities during the June 30, 2012 quarter as part of a balance sheet repositioning initiative.

The following table summarizes the loan portfolio by major categories.

 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 2
 
                               
LOANS
(in thousands)
 
September 30,
2012
   
June 30,
2012
   
March 31,
2012
   
December 31,
2011
   
September 30,
2011
 
Residential loans
                             
Residential 1-4 family
  $ 1,008,130     $ 1,023,800     $ 972,881     $ 975,405     $ 909,907  
Residential construction
    19,660       19,601       15,501       15,117       16,431  
Residential land
    52,616       56,073       40,794       41,612       40,725  
Total residential loans
    1,080,406       1,099,474       1,029,176       1,032,134       967,063  
                                         
Commercial loans
                                       
Commercial business
    125,345       107,804       88,054       83,814       80,871  
Commercial real estate
    520,135       555,588       447,339       456,541       471,296  
Commercial construction
    1,801       17,201       16,289       16,477       15,051  
Commercial land
    74,306       78,011       54,786       61,238       67,432  
Total commercial loans
    721,587       758,604       606,468       618,070       634,650  
                                         
Consumer loans
                                       
Home equity
    380,000       388,534       347,825       357,270       369,213  
Manufactured housing
    277,744       276,607       275,845       275,275       276,047  
Marine
    69,314       59,643       50,458       52,590       55,243  
Other consumer
    45,318       49,621       45,795       50,118       53,118  
Total consumer loans
    772,376       774,405       719,923       735,253       753,621  
Total loans
    2,574,369       2,632,483       2,355,567       2,385,457       2,355,334  
Less: Allowance for loan losses
    46,351       48,799       50,776       53,524       54,333  
Net loans
  $ 2,528,018     $ 2,583,684     $ 2,304,791     $ 2,331,933     $ 2,301,001  
                                         

Total loans at September 30, 2012 decreased $58.1 million or 2.2% from June 30, 2012 and increased $219.0 million or 9.3% over September 30, 2011.  The decrease from June 30, 2012 was a result of reductions in all three major loan categories due to several large payoffs and paydowns on commercial real estate and commercial land loans, higher loss claims on the Plantation portfolio, and normal cash flows.  The marine portfolio increased $9.7 million or 16.2% due to strong demand for First Federal’s yacht loan product, which was introduced earlier in 2012.  The increase over September 30, 2011 was primarily the result of the Plantation and Liberty acquisitions which occurred during the June 30, 2012 quarter.

The allowance for loan losses was 1.80% of total loans at September 30, 2012, compared with 1.85% of total loans at June 30, 2012 and 2.31% of total loans at September 30, 2011.  The decrease in the allowance ratio from June 30, 2012 was due to the continued improvement in historical loss factors and stable credit metrics since the bulk loan sale in October 2011.  In addition, the change in the allowance ratio from September 30, 2011 was affected by acquiring loans in the Plantation and Liberty acquisitions that are carried at fair value and do not currently have an associated allowance.  The allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2012 was 1.99% of loans excluding loans covered under a purchase and assumption loss share agreement (“loss share agreements”) with the FDIC (“covered loans”), and represented 1.2 times coverage of the non-covered nonperforming loans.

At September 30, 2012, loans held for sale totaled $53.8 million, a decrease of $18.6 million or 25.7% from June 30, 2012 and a decrease of $41.1 million or 43.3% from September 30, 2011.  The decrease from June 30, 2012 was related to the volume of mortgage origination and timing of sales closed in the secondary market during the current quarter.  Loans held for sale at September 30, 2011 were comprised of $40.8 million in residential mortgage loans awaiting sale in the secondary market and $54.1 million of loans in the bulk loan sale pool.  The decrease from September 30, 2011 was principally caused by completing the bulk loan sale in October 2011, partially offset by higher residential mortgage loans held for sale due to additional volume from the correspondent lending expansion.

The FDIC indemnification asset, net at September 30, 2012 was $75.0 million, a decrease of $2.3 million or 3.0% from June 30, 2012 and an increase of $24.6 million or 48.7% over September 30, 2011.  The decrease from June 30, 2012 was due to the receipt of claims reimbursement from the FDIC, partially offset by normal accretion.  The increase over September 30, 2011 was the result of establishing a $34.3 million indemnification asset during the second quarter of 2012 due to the Plantation transaction, as well as normal accretion of the existing indemnification asset, partially offset by the receipt of claims reimbursement from the FDIC.   Additionally, First Federal began to amortize a potential  impairment on the FDIC indemnification asset related to the Cape Fear transaction as the performance of the underlying loans has been better than originally projected and may result in lower future reimbursements under the loss share agreement.  In addition, the accretable yield on the Cape Fear covered loans was adjusted during the current quarter, which contributed to the increase in net interest income and significantly offset the amortization expense related to the FDIC indemnification asset.

 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 3
 
Bank owned life insurance totaled $50.2 million at September 30, 2012, an increase of $40.2 million over June 30, 2012 and an increase of $50.2 million over September 30, 2011.  The increases were the result of establishing a bank owned life insurance program on certain corporate officers as part of a strategy to reduce total benefits costs.

Other assets totaled $83.0 million at September 30, 2012, a decrease of $20.1 million or 19.5% from June 30, 2012 and a decrease of $35.6 million or 30.0% from September 30, 2011.  The decreases were principally due to current tax adjustments recorded, federal tax refunds received during the twelve month period ended September 30, 2012 and a $2.1 million write-down of the state deferred tax asset during the first quarter of 2012 after First Federal’s conversion to a South Carolina state-chartered commercial bank related to a difference in applicable South Carolina tax laws for banks versus thrifts.  In addition, other real estate owned (“OREO”) at September 30, 2012 declined $6.6 million and $4.6 million from June 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011, respectively, as sales of properties outpaced foreclosures.

Core deposits, which include checking, savings, and money market accounts, totaled $1.6 billion at September 30, 2012, an increase of $26.2 million or 1.6% over June 30, 2012 and an increase of $395.1 million or 32.3% over September 30, 2011.  The increases were primarily the result of the Plantation and Liberty transactions as well as the introduction of new retail deposit products and sales processes during 2012.  Time deposits at September 30, 2012 totaled $1.0 billion, a decrease of $112.6 million or 10.2% from June 30, 2012 and a decrease of $81.2 million or 7.5% from September 30, 2011.  The decreases were the effect of planned reductions in maturing high rate retail and wholesale time deposits, partially offset by the Plantation and Liberty transactions.

Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) at September 30, 2012 totaled $253.0 million, an increase of $20.0 million or 8.6% over June 30, 2012 and a decrease of $305.0 million or 54.7% from September 30, 2011.  The increase over June 30, 2012 was essentially caused by short-term funding needs.  The decrease from September 30, 2011 was primarily the effect of prepaying $125.0 million of long-term FHLB advances during the June 30, 2012 quarter as part of a balance sheet repositioning initiative, as well as a shift in funding mix due to the organic growth of core deposits and the acquisition of low-cost deposits from Plantation and Liberty.

Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2012 was $292.5 million, an increase of $5.2 million or 1.8% over June 30, 2012 and an increase of $24.0 million or 8.9% over September 30, 2011.  The increases were due to the effect of net operating results, partially offset by a reduction in accumulated other comprehensive income related to investment securities valuations during the last twelve months.  Both First Financial’s and First Federal’s regulatory capital ratios are in excess of “well-capitalized” minimums, as presented in the following table.

                                     
         
For the Quarters Ended
 
         
September 30,
2012
   
June 30,
2012
   
March 31,
2012
   
December 31,
2011
   
September 30,
2011
 
First Financial
                                   
Equity to assets
          9.01 %     8.69 %     8.84 %     8.81 %     8.37 %
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP)
      6.77       6.47       6.70       6.67       6.27  
Book value per common share
        $ 13.77     $ 13.45     $ 12.89     $ 12.84     $ 12.31  
Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP)
      13.25       12.91       12.75       12.69       12.16  
Dividends paid per common share, authorized
      0.05       0.05       0.05       0.05       0.05  
Common shares outstanding, end of period (000s)
      16,527       16,527       16,527       16,527       16,527  
                                               
   
Regulatory
Minimum for
"Well-Capitalized"
                                         
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio1
    5.00%       10.12 %     9.79 %     10.22 %                
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio1
    6.00       14.42       13.89       14.81                  
Total risk-based capital ratio1
    10.00       15.70       15.16       16.08                  
                                                 
First Federal2
                                               
Leverage capital ratio
    5.00%       9.47 %     9.06 %     9.00 %     8.92 %     8.26 %
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
    6.00       13.50       12.86       13.05       12.35       11.26  
Total risk-based capital ratio
    10.00       14.78       14.13       14.32       13.61       12.53  
                                                 
 
1   Interest income used in the average rate calculation includes the tax equivalent adjustment of $592 thousand, and $447 thousand for the nine months
     ended September 30, 2012, and 2011, respectively, calculated based on a federal tax rate of 35%.
2  Average loans include loans held for sale and  nonaccrual loans.  Loan fees, which are not material for any of the periods, have been included
    in loan interest income for the rate calculation.

Asset Quality
 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 4
 
The following tables illustrate the trend in quality and risk inherent in the loan portfolio.

                                                             
DELINQUENT LOANS
 
September 30, 2012
   
June 30, 2012
   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
   
September 30, 2011
 
(30-89 days past due)
(dollars in thousands)
    $    
% of
Portfolio
      $    
% of
Portfolio
      $    
% of
Portfolio
      $    
% of
Portfolio
      $    
% of
Portfolio
 
Residential loans
                                                                     
Residential 1-4 family
  $ 2,361       0.23 %   $ 1,244       0.12 %   $ 1,889       0.19 %   $ 2,986       0.31 %   $ 1,722       0.19 %
Residential land
    157       0.30       475       0.85       123       0.30       561       1.35       65       0.16  
Total residential loans
    2,518       0.23       1,719       0.16       2,012       0.20       3,547       0.34       1,787       0.18  
                                                                                 
Commercial loans
                                                                               
Commercial business
    582       0.46       903       0.84       1,677       1.90       908       1.08       868       1.07  
Commercial real estate
    2,397       0.46       3,014       0.54       3,065       0.69       3,514       0.77       3,394       0.72  
Commercial construction
    ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       595       3.95  
Commercial land
    318       0.43       675       0.87       2,271       4.15       1,185       1.94       537       0.80  
Total commercial loans
    3,297       0.46       4,592       0.61       7,013       1.16       5,607       0.91       5,394       0.85  
                                                                                 
Consumer loans
                                                                               
Home equity
    2,204       0.58       2,017       0.52       3,315       0.95       4,525       1.27       3,408       0.92  
Manufactured housing
    2,506       0.90       1,835       0.66       1,502       0.54       3,267       1.19       2,600       0.94  
Marine
    227       0.33       300       0.50       358       0.71       597       1.14       980       1.77  
Other consumer
    742       1.64       626       1.26       445       0.97       831       1.66       629       1.18  
Total consumer  loans
    5,679       0.74       4,778       0.62       5,620       0.78       9,220       1.25       7,617       1.01  
Total delinquent loans
  $ 11,494       0.45 %   $ 11,089       0.42 %   $ 14,645       0.62 %   $ 18,374       0.77 %   $ 14,798       0.63 %
                                                                                 
 
Total delinquent loans at September 30, 2012 increased $405 thousand or 3.7% from June 30, 2012 and decreased $3.3 million or 22.3% from September 30, 2011 due to continued collection efforts.  Total delinquent loans at September 30, 2012 included $1.4 million in covered loans, as compared with $2.9 million at June 30, 2012.

                                                             
   
September 30, 2012
   
June 30, 2012
   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
   
September 30, 2011
 
NONPERFORMING ASSETS
(dollars in thousands)
    $    
% of
Portfolio
      $    
% of
Portfolio
      $    
% of
Portfolio
      $    
% of
Portfolio
      $    
% of
Portfolio
 
Residential loans
                                                                     
Residential 1-4 family
  $ 10,881       1.08 %   $ 10,460       1.02 %   $ 6,649       0.68 %   $ 4,977       0.51 %   $ 1,595       0.18 %
Residential land
    1,558       2.96       1,423       2.54       1,398       3.43       1,448       3.48       1,140       2.80  
Total residential loans
    12,439       1.15       11,883       1.08       8,047       0.78       6,425       0.62       2,735       0.28  
                                                                                 
Commercial loans
                                                                               
Commercial business
    1,407       1.12       1,198       1.11       1,931       2.19       3,666       4.37       4,322       5.34  
Commercial real estate
    15,853       3.05       15,918       2.87       18,474       4.13       17,127       3.75       18,400       3.90  
Commercial construction
    247       13.71       261       1.52       261       1.60       605       3.67       266       1.77  
Commercial land
    2,990       4.02       4,577       5.87       5,240       9.56       5,232       8.54       6,310       9.36  
Total commercial loans
    20,497       2.84       21,954       2.89       25,906       4.27       26,630       4.31       29,298       4.62  
                                                                                 
Consumer loans
                                                                               
Home equity
    10,145       2.67       10,636       2.74       9,779       2.81       8,192       2.29       6,871       1.86  
Manufactured housing
    2,221       0.80       2,197       0.79       2,648       0.96       3,461       1.26       2,922       1.06  
Marine
    90       0.13       29       0.05       63       0.12       246       0.47       47       0.09  
Other consumer
    228       0.50       306       0.62       131       0.29       224       0.45       127       0.24  
Total consumer  loans
    12,684       1.64       13,168       1.70       12,621       1.75       12,123       1.65       9,967       1.32  
Total nonaccrual loans
    45,620       1.77       47,005       1.79       46,574       1.98       45,178       1.89       42,000       1.78  
Loans 90+ days still accruing
    74               75               51               121               171          
Restructured loans, still accruing
    3,340               2,857               3,276               2,411               734          
Total nonperforming loans
    49,034       1.90 %     49,937       1.90 %     49,901       2.12 %     47,710       2.00 %     42,905       1.82 %
Nonperforming loans held for sale
    ---               ---               ---               ---               39,412          
Other repossessed assets acquired
    21,579               28,191               21,818               20,487               26,212          
Total nonperforming assets
  $ 70,613             $ 78,128             $ 71,719             $ 68,197             $ 108,529          
                                                                                 
 
Total nonperforming assets at September 30, 2012 decreased $7.5 million or 9.6% from June 30, 2012 and decreased $37.9 million or 34.9% from September 30, 2011.  The decrease from June 30, 2012 was primarily the result of a $6.6 million reduction in OREO due to continued sales and write-downs.  Total nonperforming loans decreased from the linked quarter as a result of ongoing active management of special assets.  The decrease from September 30, 2011 was principally due to resolution of several nonperforming commercial loans, the October 2011 bulk loan sale of nonperforming loans held for sale, and a decline in OREO, partially offset by increases in nonperforming residential mortgage and consumer loans.  Covered nonperforming loans totaled $10.0 million at September 30, 2012, essentially unchanged from June 30, 2012 and a decrease of $9.0 million from September 30, 2011.  Covered OREO totaled $14.6 million at September 30, 2012, a decrease of $5.4 million from June 30, 2012 and an increase of $5.9 million from September 30, 2011.  The increase from September 30, 2011 was due to properties acquired in the Plantation transaction, partially offset by a decline in the level of legacy OREO properties due to sales and writedowns.
 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 5
 
Classified loans at September 30, 2012 totaled $117.8 million, an increase of $4.4 million or 3.9% over June 30, 2012 and an increase of $9.4 million or 8.7% over September 30, 2011.  The increases were the effect of a prolonged cycle to resolve foreclosed residential mortgages in South Carolina.  Covered classified loans totaled $20.6 million at September 30, 2012, essentially unchanged from June 30, 2012 and a decrease of $13.5 million or 39.5% from September 30, 2011.  Non-covered classified assets to Tier 1 capital and the allowance for loan losses totaled 27.58% at September 30, 2012, compared with 26.83% and 39.32% at June 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011, respectively.

                                                             
   
September 30, 2012
   
June 30, 2012
   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
   
September 30, 2011
 
NET CHARGE-OFFS
(dollars in thousands)
    $    
% of
Portfolio*
      $    
% of
Portfolio*
      $    
% of
Portfolio*
      $    
% of
Portfolio*
      $    
% of
Portfolio*
 
Residential loans
                                                                     
Residential 1-4 family
  $ 294       0.12 %   $ 1,070       0.42 %   $ 507       0.21 %   $ 391       0.16 %   $ 414       0.18 %
Residential land
    403       2.91       78       0.59       701       6.75       532       5.31       165       1.58  
Total residential loans
    697       0.26       1,148       0.42       1,208       0.47       923       0.37       579       0.24  
                                                                                 
Commercial loans
                                                                               
Commercial business
    924       3.22       334       1.34       825       3.60       640       3.22       136       0.69  
Commercial real estate
    1,994       1.47       714       0.54       1,462       1.30       1,417       1.22       433       0.36  
Commercial construction
    11       0.56       (2 )     (0.05 )     (2 )     (0.05 )     (3 )     (0.07 )     635       16.12  
Commercial land
    1,037       5.43       723       4.00       1,439       9.87       804       4.94       2,052       12.15  
Total commercial loans
    3,966       2.14       1,769       0.99       3,724       2.41       2,858       1.83       3,256       2.04  
                                                                                 
Consumer loans
                                                                               
Home equity
    1,125       1.17       2,580       2.71       2,264       2.57       2,955       3.26       4,910       5.28  
Manufactured housing
    778       1.12       666       0.97       1,467       2.13       845       1.23       978       1.42  
Marine
    146       0.88       82       0.60       361       2.83       142       1.05       158       1.12  
Other consumer
    269       2.22       428       3.48       469       3.90       531       4.09       217       1.61  
Total consumer  loans
    2,318       1.20       3,756       1.98       4,561       2.51       4,473       2.41       6,263       3.31  
Total net charge-offs
  $ 6,981       1.07 %   $ 6,673       1.04 %   $ 9,493       1.60 %   $ 8,254       1.39 %   $ 10,098       1.71 %
                                                                                 
*Represents an annualized rate
                                                                         

Net charge-offs for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 were essentially unchanged from the prior quarter, with no individually large loans charged-off.

Quarterly Results of Operations

First Financial reported net income from continuing operations of $6.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared with $12.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011.

Net interest income

Net interest margin, on a fully tax-equivalent basis, was 4.35% for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, as compared with 4.08% for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 and 3.87% for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  The increase over the linked quarter was primarily the result of a full-quarter impact of the accretion and amortization of purchase accounting adjustments resulting from the Plantation acquisition as well as improved performance on Cape Fear loans, a lower cost of funds as maturing time deposits are replaced with core deposits and the funding mix continues to shift from borrowings, and higher yields on investments due to acceleration of accretion on called investment securities.  The increase over the same quarter last year was essentially caused by the same factors,  but at a greater magnitude due to the full quarter effect.

Net interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 was $33.2 million, an increase of $1.5 million or 4.7% over the prior quarter and an increase of $4.1 million or 14.2% over the same quarter last year.  The increases were primarily the effect of higher levels of average earning assets from the Plantation and Liberty acquisitions.

Provision for loan losses

After determining what First Financial believes is an adequate allowance for loan losses based on the estimated risk inherent in the loan portfolio, the provision for loan losses is calculated based on the net effect of the change in the allowance for loan losses and net charge-offs.  The provision for loan losses was $4.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, essentially unchanged from the linked quarter and a decrease of $4.4 million or 49.3% from the same quarter last year.  The decrease from the same period last year was related to the continued improvement in historical loss trends and general stabilization of credit metrics through September 30, 2012.

Noninterest income

 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 6
 
Noninterest income totaled $14.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $18.0 million from the prior quarter and an increase of $310 thousand or 2.2% over the same quarter last year.  The decrease from the linked quarter was primarily the result of the $14.6 million gain on the acquisition of Plantation, and a $3.5 million gain on the sale of investment securities related to the balance sheet repositioning, which were recorded in the June 30, 2012 quarter.  Mortgage and other loan income decreased $311 thousand or 7.1% due in large part to unfavorable hedge adjustments on both the mortgage servicing rights and the mortgage pipeline hedges in the current quarter, partially offset by higher gains on sales of residential mortgage loans into the secondary market during the current quarter as volumes increased.  Service charges on deposit accounts continue to trend upward due to a higher number of transaction accounts.  Brokerage fees decreased $220 thousand or 25.1% due to seasonal trends with lower sales volume in the current quarter.

In addition to the two gains discussed above, other key factors contributing to the increase over the same quarter last year included higher service charges on deposit accounts ($576 thousand) due to higher transaction-related revenue from increases in both volume and fees, as well as higher mortgage and other loan income ($1.3 million) due to higher residential mortgage origination levels related to the continued low interest rate environment and the addition of correspondent lenders.  The increases were partially offset by the effect of a $1.9 million net gain recorded in the same quarter last year related to the resolution of some of the loans previously identified as part of the bulk loan pool.

Noninterest expense

Noninterest expense totaled $33.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $6.2 million or 15.9% from the prior quarter and an increase of $3.4 million or 11.6% over the same quarter last year.  The June 30, 2012 quarter included an $8.5 million termination charge on the prepayment of FHLB advances as part of the balance sheet repositioning.  Excluding the termination charge, noninterest expenses for the June 30, 2012 quarter totaled $30.7 million, which is $2.3 million or 7.5% lower than the current quarter.  All expense categories increased over both prior periods due to the full-quarter impact of the Plantation and Liberty operations.  In addition, the increase over the linked quarter was due to higher salaries and employee benefits, OREO expenses, other loan expense, and other expense, partially offset by lower occupancy costs.  Salaries and employee benefits increased due to higher group insurance costs related to the timing of claims.  OREO expenses increased $896 thousand due to higher write-downs on OREO properties.  Other loan expense increased $337 thousand due to higher foreclosure-related expenses.  Other expenses increased $844 thousand primarily the result of beginning to amortize a projected impairment on the FDIC indemnification asset related to the Cape Fear transaction ($563 thousand this quarter) as well as a post-sale settlement of $487 thousand on one of the insurance agencies sold during 2011.  Occupancy costs decreased $600 thousand due to expenses associated with closing four in-store branches during the previous quarter.

In addition to the impact of the Plantation and Liberty transactions, the increase over the same quarter of the prior year was related to professional services ($391 thousand), other loan expense ($630 thousand), and other expense ($2.4 million), partially offset by lower OREO expenses ($2.1 million).  The increase in professional fees was a direct result of acquisition expenses related to Plantation and Liberty and other strategic initiatives. The increase in other loan expense was due to higher foreclosure-related costs as well as higher loan origination and servicing costs.  In addition to the factors mentioned above, other expense increased due to conversion-related expenses associated with migrating Plantation customers to First Federal’s core operating systems during the current quarter.  The decrease in OREO expenses was primarily the effect of fewer write-downs of OREO properties, recognition of more gains on the sales of properties, and less OREO related expense.

Income Taxes

The income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2012 totaled $3.5 million, a decrease of $4.2 million from the linked quarter and an increase of $1.6 million over the same quarter last year.  The quarter ended June 30, 2012 included the establishment of a $5.6 million deferred tax liability related to the gain on the Plantation acquisition, partially offset by a $1.9 million tax benefit related to the balance sheet repositioning.  In addition, the variances from both prior periods were the result of the change in pre-tax income.  The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2012 was 34.53%, compared with 38.00% and 39.65% for the quarters ended June 30, 2012 and September 30, 2011 respectively.  The decreases were principally due to higher tax-exempt income resulting from purchasing bank owned life insurance.

Year-to-Date Results of Operations

First Financial reported net income from continuing operations of $21.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared with a net loss of $38.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Net interest income

 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 7
 
Net interest margin, on a fully tax-equivalent basis, was 4.09% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared with 3.84% for the same period of 2011.  The increase was primarily the result of average rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities declining 35 basis points while interest-earning asset yields declined only 9 basis points.  Contributing to the decline in interest-bearing liabilities was the replacement of high cost maturing time deposits with low-cost core deposits generated organically as well as acquired from Plantation and Liberty.

Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 totaled $93.2 million, an increase of $5.4 million or 6.1% over the same period of 2011.  The increase was essentially caused by the Planation and Liberty transactions.

Provision for loan losses

The provision for loan losses was $16.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared with $99.4 million for the same period of 2011.  The decrease was primarily the result of $65.7 million recorded in 2011 related to the reclassification of loans to loans held for sale, as well as improvement in historical loss trends and credit metrics through September 30, 2012.

Noninterest income

Noninterest income totaled $60.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of $23.3 million over the same period of 2011.  The increase was principally caused by the $14.6 million gain on the Plantation acquisition and the $3.5 million gain on the sale of investment securities related to the balance sheet repositioning strategy.  In addition, mortgage and other loan income increased $6.0 million and service charges on deposit accounts increased $2.1 million, both due to an increased volume of transactions.  The increases were partially offset by the $1.9 million gain on sold loan pool, as discussed above.

Noninterest expense

Noninterest expense totaled $101.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of $12.7 million or 14.3% over the same period of 2011.  The increase was primarily the result of the $8.5 million FHLB termination charge related to the balance sheet repositioning strategy.  Other significant variances included higher occupancy costs ($1.0 million), professional services ($1.2 million), other loan expense ($1.2 million), and other expenses ($4.2 million), partially offset by lower salaries and employee benefits ($1.5 million), FDIC insurance and regulatory fees ($462 thousand), and a goodwill impairment in 2011 ($630 thousand).  In addition to the factors discussed above for the quarterly results, other expenses increased due to deposit rewards management expenses related to higher customer debit card usage.  The decrease in salaries and employee benefits was primarily the effect of compensation agreements entered into during the prior year.  The decrease in FDIC insurance and regulatory fees was due to the new assessment methodology implemented by the FDIC during 2011.  The variances in the other categories were essentially caused by the factors discussed above in the quarterly analysis.

Income Taxes

The income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 totaled $15.5 million, an increase of $39.8 million over the prior year.  The increase was primarily the result of the change in pre-tax income, a $2.1 million write-down of the state deferred tax asset in the first quarter of 2012, and the establishment of a $5.6 million deferred tax liability related to the gain on the Plantation acquisition in the second quarter of 2012.  The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was 42.43%, compared with 38.54% for the same period last year.  The increase was principally caused by the state deferred tax asset write-down, partially offset by higher tax-exempt income related to bank owned life insurance.

Cash Dividend Declared

On October 25, 2012, First Financial declared a quarterly cash dividend of $12.50 per share on its Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, payable on November 15, 2012 to preferred shareholders of record as of November 5, 2012.  First Financial also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per common share, payable on November 23, 2012 to shareholders of record as of November 8, 2012.

Conference Call

R. Wayne Hall, president and CEO; Blaise B. Bettendorf, EVP and CFO; and Joseph W. Amy, EVP and CCO; will review the quarter’s results in a conference call at 9:00 am (ET), October 26, 2012.  The live audio webcast is available on First Financial’s website at www.firstfinancialholdings.com and will be available for 90 days.

 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 8
 
About First Financial

First Financial Holdings, Inc. (“First Financial”, NASDAQ: FFCH) is a Charleston, South Carolina financial services provider with $3.2 billion in total assets as of September 30, 2012.  First Financial offers integrated financial solutions, including personal, business, and wealth management services.  First Federal Bank (“First Federal”), which was founded in 1934 and is the primary subsidiary of First Financial, serves individuals and businesses throughout coastal South Carolina, Florence, and Greenville, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina.  First Financial subsidiaries include: First Federal; First Southeast Investor Services, Inc., a registered broker-dealer; and First Southeast 401(k) Fiduciaries, Inc., a registered investment advisor.  First Federal is the largest financial institution headquartered in the Charleston, South Carolina metropolitan area and the third largest financial institution headquartered in South Carolina, based on asset size.  Additional information about First Financial is available at www.firstfinancialholdings.com.

Discontinued Operations Financial Statement Presentation

As a result of First Financial’s sales of its insurance agency subsidiary, First Southeast Insurance Services, Inc., which was completed on June 1, 2011, and its managing general insurance agency subsidiary, Kimbrell Insurance Group, Inc., which was completed on September 30, 2011, the financial condition, operating results, and the gain or loss on the sales, net of transaction costs and taxes, for these subsidiaries have been segregated from the financial condition and operating results of First Financial’s continuing operations throughout this release and, as such, are presented as discontinued operations.  While all prior periods have been revised retrospectively to align with this treatment, these changes do not affect First Financial’s reported consolidated financial condition or operating results for any of the prior periods.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to results presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), this press release includes non-GAAP financial measures such as the efficiency ratio, the tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio, tangible common book value per share, and pre-tax pre-provision earnings.  First Financial believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide additional information that is useful to investors in understanding its underlying performance, business, and performance trends and such measures help facilitate performance comparisons with others in the banking industry.  Non-GAAP measures have inherent limitations, are not required to be uniformly applied, and are not audited.  Readers should be aware of these limitations and should be cautious to their use of such measures.  To mitigate these limitations, First Financial has procedures in place to ensure that these measures are calculated using the appropriate GAAP or regulatory components in their entirety and to ensure that its performance is properly reflected to facilitate consistent period-to-period comparisons.  Although management believes the above non-GAAP financial measures enhance investors’ understanding of First Financial’s business and performance, these non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for GAAP basis financial measures.

In accordance with industry standards, certain designated net interest income amounts are presented on a taxable equivalent basis, including the calculation used in the efficiency ratio.

First Financial believes the exclusion of goodwill and other intangible assets facilitates the comparison of results for ongoing business operations.  The tangible common equity (“TCE”) ratio and tangible book value per common share (“TBV”) have become a focus of some investors, analysts and banking regulators.  Management believes these measures may assist investors in analyzing First Financial’s capital position absent the effects of intangible assets and preferred stock.  Because TCE and TBV are not formally defined by GAAP or codified in the federal banking regulations, these measures are considered to be non-GAAP financial measures.  However, analysts and banking regulators may assess First Financial’s capital adequacy using TCE or TBV, therefore, management believes that it is useful to provide investors the ability to assess its capital adequacy on the same basis.

First Financial believes that pre-tax, pre-provision earnings are a useful measure in assessing its core operating performance, particularly during times of economic stress.  This measurement, as defined by management, represents total revenue (net interest income plus noninterest income) less noninterest expense.  As recent results for the banking industry demonstrate, credit write-downs, loan charge-offs, and related provisions for loan losses can vary significantly from period to period, making a measure that helps isolate the impact of credit costs on profitability important to investors.

Please refer to the Selected Financial Information table and the Non-GAAP Reconciliation table later in this release for additional information.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this release that are not statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements that include terms such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “potentially,”

 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 9
 
“probably,” “projects,” “outlook,” or similar expressions or future conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” or “could” constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements regarding First Financial’s future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond First Financial’s control or are subject to change.  No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the general business environment; general economic conditions nationally and in the States of North and South Carolina; interest rates; the North and South Carolina real estate markets; the demand for mortgage loans; the credit risk of lending activities, including changes in the level and trend of delinquent and nonperforming loans and charge-offs; changes in First Federal’s allowance for loan losses and provision for loan losses that may be affected by deterioration in the housing and real estate markets; results of examinations by banking regulators, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, require First Federal to increase its allowance for loan losses, write-down assets, change First Federal’s regulatory capital position or affect its ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits, which could adversely affect liquidity and earnings; First Financial’s ability to control operating costs and expenses; First Financial’s ability to successfully integrate any assets, liabilities, customers, systems, and management personnel acquired or may in the future acquire into its operations and its ability to realize related revenue synergies and cost savings within expected time frames and any goodwill charges related thereto; competitive conditions between banks and non-bank financial services providers; and regulatory changes, including new or revised rules and regulations implemented pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  Other risks are also detailed in First Financial’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which are available at the SEC’s website www.sec.gov. Other factors not currently anticipated may also materially and adversely affect First Financial’s results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.  There can be no assurance that future results will meet expectations.  While First Financial believes that the forward-looking statements in this release are reasonable, the reader should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.  In addition, these statements speak only as of the date made.  First Financial does not undertake, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
 

 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 10
 
                               
                               
FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
 
                               
(in thousands)
 
September 30,
2012
   
June 30,
2012
   
March 31,
2012
   
December 31,
2011
   
September 30,
2011
 
                               
ASSETS
       
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash and due from banks
  $ 50,749     $ 62,831     $ 57,645     $ 61,400     $ 54,307  
Interest-bearing deposits with banks
    35,668       7,270       5,879       15,275       31,630  
Total cash and cash equivalents
    86,417       70,101       63,524       76,675       85,937  
Investment securities
                                       
Securities available for sale, at fair value
    236,048       244,059       442,531       404,550       412,108  
Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost
    17,331       20,014       19,835       20,486       21,671  
Nonmarketable securities
    23,254       29,327       37,965       32,694       35,782  
Total investment securities
    276,633       293,400       500,331       457,730       469,561  
Loans
    2,574,369       2,632,483       2,355,567       2,385,457       2,355,334  
Less:  Allowance for loan losses
    46,351       48,799       50,776       53,524       54,333  
Net loans
    2,528,018       2,583,684       2,304,791       2,331,933       2,301,001  
Loans held for sale
    53,761       72,402       52,339       48,303       94,872  
FDIC indemnification asset, net
    75,017       77,311       46,272       51,021       50,465  
Premises and equipment, net
    83,916       85,285       83,146       82,907       83,423  
Bank owned life insurance
    50,241       10,000       ---       ---       ---  
Other intangible assets, net
    8,478       8,931       2,310       2,401       2,491  
Other assets
    83,006       103,060       92,825       95,994       118,560  
Total assets
  $ 3,245,487     $ 3,304,174     $ 3,145,538     $ 3,146,964     $ 3,206,310  
                                         
LIABILITIES
                                       
Deposits
                                       
Noninterest-bearing checking
  $ 382,077     $ 359,352     $ 307,750     $ 279,310     $ 278,944  
Interest-bearing checking
    507,262       502,731       435,320       429,907       440,584  
Savings and money market
    730,365       731,428       563,344       522,496       505,059  
Retail time deposits
    869,544       934,245       753,481       791,544       824,875  
Wholesale time deposits
    127,509       175,446       204,594       215,941       253,395  
Total deposits
    2,616,757       2,703,202       2,264,489       2,239,198       2,302,857  
Advances from FHLB
    253,000       233,000       533,000       561,000       558,000  
Long-term debt
    47,204       47,204       47,204       47,204       47,204  
Other liabilities
    36,026       33,504       22,802       22,384       29,743  
Total liabilities
    2,952,987       3,016,910       2,867,495       2,869,786       2,937,804  
                                         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                       
Preferred stock
    1       1       1       1       1  
Common stock
    215       215       215       215       215  
Additional paid-in capital
    196,612       196,409       196,204       196,002       195,790  
Treasury stock, at cost
    (103,563 )     (103,563 )     (103,563 )     (103,563 )     (103,563 )
Retained earnings
    202,832       198,100       187,311       187,367       173,587  
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
    (3,597 )     (3,898 )     (2,125 )     (2,844 )     2,476  
Total shareholders’ equity
    292,500       287,264       278,043       277,178       268,506  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 3,245,487     $ 3,304,174     $ 3,145,538     $ 3,146,964     $ 3,206,310  
                                         
 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 11
 
                                           
FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
 
                                           
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
September 30,
2012
   
June 30,
2012
   
March 31,
2012
   
December 31,
 2011
   
September 30,
 2011
   
September 30,
2012
    September 30,
2011
 
                                           
INTEREST INCOME
                                         
Interest and fees on loans
  $ 37,104     $ 35,643     $ 32,476     $ 33,460     $ 33,828     $ 105,223     $ 103,169  
Interest and dividends on investments
    2,771       3,538       3,867       3,859       4,390       10,176       13,691  
Other
    139       162       16       293       338       317       1,352  
Total interest income
    40,014       39,343       36,359       37,612       38,556       115,716       118,212  
INTEREST EXPENSE
                                                       
Interest on deposits
    3,747       3,981       3,951       4,554       5,323       11,679       18,131  
Interest on borrowed money
    3,070       3,649       4,156       4,159       4,169       10,875       12,314  
Total interest expense
    6,817       7,630       8,107       8,713       9,492       22,554       30,445  
NET INTEREST INCOME
    33,197       31,713       28,252       28,899       29,064       93,162       87,767  
Provision for loan losses
    4,533       4,697       6,745       7,445       8,940       15,975       99,418  
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses
    28,664       27,016       21,507       21,454       20,124       77,187       (11,651 )
NONINTEREST INCOME
                                                       
Service charges on deposit accounts
    7,772       7,558       7,302       7,099       7,196       22,632       20,559  
Mortgage and other loan income
    4,061       4,372       3,435       2,681       2,743       11,868       5,918  
Trust and plan administration
    1,117       1,078       1,081       1,192       1,333       3,276       3,561  
Brokerage fees
    655       875       664       532       588       2,194       1,911  
Other
    754       699       769       650       647       2,222       1,992  
Other-than-temporary impairment on investment securities
    (145 )     (145 )     (69 )     (180 )     (169 )     (359 )     (345 )
Gain on acquisition
    ---       14,550       ---       ---       ---       14,550       ---  
Gain on sale or call of investment securities
    334       3,543       ---       ---       ---       3,877       1,419  
Gain on sold loan pool, net
    ---       ---       ---       20,796       1,900       ---       1,900  
Total noninterest income
    14,548       32,530       13,182       32,770       14,238       60,260       36,915  
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
                                                       
Salaries and employee benefits
    15,621       15,212       15,142       14,511       14,672       45,975       47,441  
Occupancy costs
    2,333       2,933       2,267       2,144       2,187       7,533       6,512  
Furniture and equipment
    2,132       1,893       1,809       1,870       1,724       5,834       5,318  
Other real estate owned, net
    1,030       134       530       1,541       3,115       1,694       3,782  
FDIC insurance and regulatory fees
    693       761       994       830       576       2,448       2,910  
Professional services
    1,980       1,875       1,465       1,042       1,589       5,320       4,161  
Advertising and marketing
    964       966       652       789       868       2,582       2,665  
Other loan expense
    1,620       1,283       1,351       1,043       990       4,254       3,014  
Intangible amortization
    512       368       90       90       80       970       244  
Other expense
    6,144       5,300       4,409       5,026       3,787       15,853       11,655  
FHLB prepayment termination charge
    ---       8,525       ---       ---       ---       8,525       ---  
Goodwill impairment
    ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       630  
Total noninterest expense
    33,029       39,250       28,709       28,886       29,588       100,988       88,332  
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes
    10,183       20,296       5,980       25,338       4,774       36,459       (63,068 )
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations
    3,516       7,712       4,241       9,766       1,893       15,469       (24,308 )
NET INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    6,667       12,584       1,739       15,572       2,881       20,990       (38,760 )
 Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    ---       ---       ---       ---       (1,804 )     ---       (3,593 )
NET INCOME (LOSS)
  $ 6,667     $ 12,584     $ 1,739     $ 15,572     $ 1,077     $ 20,990     $ (42,353 )
Preferred stock dividends
    813       812       813       813       813       2,438       2,438  
Accretion on preferred stock discount
    160       158       156       153       151       474       446  
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON  SHAREHOLDERS
  $ 5,694     $ 11,614     $ 770     $ 14,606     $ 113     $ 18,078     $ (45,237 )
                                                         
Net income (loss) per common share from continuing operations
                                                 
Basic
  $ 0.34     $ 0.70     $ 0.05     $ 0.88     $ 0.12     $ 1.09     $ (2.52 )
Diluted
    0.34       0.70       0.05       0.88       0.12       1.09       (2.52 )
                                                         
Net loss per common share from discontinued operations
                                                 
Basic
  $ ---     $ ---     $ ---     $ ---     $ (0.11 )   $ ---     $ (0.22 )
Diluted
    ---       ---       ---       ---       (0.11 )     ---       (0.22 )
                                                         
Net income (loss) per common share
                                                       
Basic
  $ 0.34     $ 0.70     $ 0.05     $ 0.88     $ 0.01     $ 1.09     $ (2.74 )
Diluted
    0.34       0.70       0.05       0.88       0.01       1.09       (2.74 )
                                                         
Average common shares outstanding
                                                       
Basic
    16,527       16,527       16,527       16,527       16,527       16,527       16,527  
Diluted
    16,529       16,528       16,528       16,527       16,527       16,528       16,527  
                                                         
 
 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 12
 
                                                       
FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
                                           
NET INTEREST MARGIN ANALYSIS (Unaudited)
                                     
   
For the Quarters Ended
                   
   
September 30, 2012
   
June 30, 2012
   
Change in
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
   
Average
Rate
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
   
Average
Rate
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
   
Basis
Points
Earning assets
                                                     
Interest-bearing deposits with banks
  $ 19,130     $ 7       0.15 %   $ 10,191     $ 19       0.75 %   $ 8,939     $ (12 )     (60 )
Investment securities1
    291,223       2,771       4.06       443,181       3,538       3.40       (151,958 )     (767 )     66  
Loans2
    2,673,438       37,104       5.53       2,619,409       35,643       5.46       54,029       1,461       7  
FDIC indemnification asset
    77,641       132       0.68       69,816       143       0.82       7,825       (11 )     (14 )
Total earning assets
    3,061,432       40,014       5.23       3,142,597       39,343       5.05       (81,165 )     671       18  
Interest-bearing liabilities
                                                                       
Deposits
    2,292,106       3,747       0.65       2,254,290       3,981       0.71       37,816       (234 )     (6 )
Borrowings
    294,796       3,070       4.14       428,505       3,649       3.43       (133,709 )     (579 )     71  
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    2,586,902       6,817       1.05       2,682,795       7,630       1.14       (95,893 )     (813 )     (9 )
                                                                         
Net interest income
          $ 33,197                     $ 31,713                     $ 1,484          
                                                                         
Net interest margin
                    4.35 %                     4.08 %                     27  
                                                     
1   Interest income used in the average rate calculation includes the tax equivalent adjustment of $184 thousand, and $226 thousand for the quarters ended
    September 30, 2012 and June 30,  2012, respectively, calculated based on a federal tax rate of 35%.
2  Average loans include loans held for sale and nonaccrual loans.  Loan fees, which are not material for any of the periods, have been included
    in loan interest income for the rate calculation.
 
                                     
   
For the Nine Months Ended
                   
   
September 30, 2012
   
September 30, 2011
   
Change in
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
Average
Balance
   
Interest
   
Average
Rate
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
   
Average
Rate
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
   
Basis
Points
 
Earning Assets
                                                     
Interest-bearing deposits with banks
  $ 12,625     $ 27       0.29 %   $ 10,946     $ 15       0.18 %   $ 1,679     $ 12       11  
Investment securities1
    407,826       10,176       3.52       456,188       13,691       4.13       (48,362 )     (3,515 )     (61 )
Loans2
    2,571,323       105,223       5.46       2,538,159       103,169       5.43       33,164       2,054       3  
FDIC indemnification asset
    65,455       290       0.59       61,755       1,337       2.90       3,700       (1,047 )     (231 )
Total Earning Assets
    3,057,229       115,716       5.08       3,067,048       118,212       5.17       (9,819 )     (2,496 )     (9 )
Interest-bearing liabilities
                                                                       
Deposits
    2,164,081       11,679       0.72       2,113,483       18,131       1.15       50,598       (6,452 )     (43 )
Borrowings
    443,776       10,875       3.27       581,593       12,314       2.83       (137,817 )     (1,439 )     44  
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    2,607,857       22,554       1.16       2,695,076       30,445       1.51       (87,219 )     (7,891 )     (35 )
                                                                         
Net interest income
          $ 93,162                     $ 87,767                     $ 5,395          
                                                                         
Net interest margin
                    4.09 %                     3.84 %                     25  
                                                                         
                                                                         
1   Interest income used in the average rate calculation includes the tax equivalent adjustment of $592 thousand, and $447 thousand for the nine months
     ended September 30, 2012, and 2011, respectively, calculated based on a federal tax rate of 35%.
2  Average loans include loans held for sale and  nonaccrual loans.  Loan fees, which are not material for any of the periods, have been included
    in loan interest income for the rate calculation.

 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 13
 
                               
FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
                             
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)
 
For the Quarters Ended
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
September 30,
2012
   
June 30,
2012
   
March 31,
2012
   
December 31,
2011
   
September 30,
2011
 
Average for the Quarter
                             
Total assets
  $ 3,283,512     $ 3,339,705     $ 3,151,385     $ 3,153,286     $ 3,201,416  
Investment securities
    291,223       443,181       490,356       469,925       468,360  
Loans
    2,673,438       2,619,409       2,420,000       2,428,743       2,442,071  
Allowance for loan losses
    48,329       50,547       52,282       54,178       55,503  
Deposits
    2,664,207       2,596,642       2,228,613       2,272,035       2,302,518  
Borrowings
    294,796       428,505       609,665       565,114       595,508  
Shareholders' equity
    290,047       285,672       277,390       279,066       267,404  
                                         
Performance Metrics from Continuing Operations
                                       
Return on average assets
    0.81 %     1.51 %     0.22 %     1.98 %     0.36 %
Return on average shareholders' equity
    9.20       17.62       2.51       22.32       4.31  
Net interest margin (FTE)1
    4.35       4.08       3.84       3.91       3.87  
Efficiency ratio (non-GAAP)
    69.19       66.04       68.87       70.12       70.90  
Pre-tax pre-provision earnings (non-GAAP)
  $ 14,716     $ 24,993     $ 12,725     $ 32,783     $ 13,714  
                                         
Performance Metrics From Consolidated Operations
                                       
Return on average assets
    0.81 %     1.51 %     0.22 %     1.98 %     0.13 %
Return on average shareholders' equity
    9.20       17.62       2.51       22.32       1.61  
                                         
Asset Quality Metrics
                                       
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of loans
    1.80 %     1.85 %     2.16 %     2.24 %     2.31 %
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of nonperforming loans
    94.53       97.72       101.75       112.19       126.64  
Nonperforming loans as a percent of loans
    1.90       1.90       2.12       2.00       1.82  
Nonperforming assets as a percent of loans and other repossessed assets acquired2
    2.72       2.94       3.02       2.83       4.48  
Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets
    2.18       2.36       2.28       2.17       3.38  
Net loans charged-off as a percent of average loans (annualized)
    1.07       1.04       1.60       1.39       1.71  
Net loans charged-off
  $ 6,981     $ 6,673     $ 9,493     $ 8,254     $ 10,098  
                                         
Asset Quality Metrics Excluding Covered Loans
                                       
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of non-covered loans
    1.99 %     2.06 %     2.28 %     2.39 %     2.47 %
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of non-covered nonperforming loans
    118.82       123.61       148.22       177.35       227.09  
Nonperforming loans as a percent of non-covered loans
    1.67       1.67       1.54       1.34       1.09  
Nonperforming assets as a percent of non-covered loans and other repossessed assets acquired2
    1.97       2.01       2.00       1.91       3.58  
Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets
    1.42       1.45       1.42       1.37       2.52  
                                         
1 Net interest margin is presented on an annual basis, includes taxable equivalent adjustments to interest income and is based on a federal tax rate of 35%.
 
Nonperforming loans held for sale in the amount of $39,412 thousand are included in loans at September 30, 2011.
 
 
 
 

 
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
 
September 30, 2012 Earnings Release
Page 14
 
                               
FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
                             
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION (Unaudited)
 
For the Quarters Ended
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
September 30,
2012
   
June 30,
2012
   
March 31,
2012
   
December 31,
2011
   
September 30,
2011
 
Efficiency Ratio from Continuing Operations
                             
Net interest income (A)
  $ 33,197     $ 31,713     $ 28,252     $ 28,899     $ 29,064  
Taxable equivalent adjustment (B)
    184       226       182       145       159  
Noninterest income (C)
    14,548       32,530       13,182       32,770       14,238  
Gain on acquisition (D)
    ---       14,550       ---       ---       ---  
Net securities gains (losses) (E)
    189       3,398       (69 )     (180 )     (169 )
Gain on sold loan pool, net (F)
    ---       ---       ---       20,796       1,900  
Noninterest expense (G)
    33,029       39,250       28,709       28,886       29,588  
FHLB prepayment termination charge (H)
    ---       8,525       ---       ---       ---  
Efficiency Ratio: (G-H)/(A+B+C-D-E-F) (non-GAAP)
    69.19 %     66.05 %     68.87 %     70.12 %     70.90 %
                                         
Tangible Assets and Tangible Common Equity
                                       
Total assets
  $ 3,245,487     $ 3,304,174     $ 3,145,538     $ 3,146,964     $ 3,206,310  
Goodwill
    ---       ---       ---       ---       ---  
Other intangible assets, net
    (8,478 )     (8,931 )     (2,310 )     (2,401 )     (2,491 )
Tangible assets (non-GAAP)
  $ 3,237,009     $ 3,295,243     $ 3,143,228     $ 3,144,563     $ 3,203,819  
                                         
Total shareholders' equity
  $ 292,500     $ 287,264     $ 278,043     $ 277,178     $ 268,506  
Preferred stock
    (65,000 )     (65,000 )     (65,000 )     (65,000 )     (65,000 )
Goodwill
    ---       ---       ---       ---       ---  
Other intangible assets, net
    (8,478 )     (8,931 )     (2,310 )     (2,401 )     (2,491 )
Tangible common equity (non-GAAP)
  $ 219,022     $ 213,333     $ 210,733     $ 209,777     $ 201,015  
                                         
Shares outstanding, end of period (000s)
    16,527       16,527       16,527       16,527       16,527  
                                         
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP)
    6.77 %     6.47 %     6.70 %     6.67 %     6.27 %
Book value per common share
  $ 13.77     $ 13.45     $ 12.89     $ 12.84     $ 12.31  
Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP)
    13.25       12.91       12.75       12.69       12.16  
                                         
Pre-tax Pre-provision Earnings from
Continuing Operations
                                 
Income before income taxes
  $ 10,183     $ 20,296     $ 5,980     $ 25,338     $ 4,774  
Provision for loan losses
    4,533       4,697       6,745       7,445       8,940  
Pre-tax pre-provision earnings (non-GAAP)
  $ 14,716     $ 24,993     $ 12,725     $ 32,783     $ 13,714  
                                         

Contact
First Financial Holdings, Inc.
Blaise B. Bettendorf
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(843) 529-5931 or (843) 529-5456
investorrelations@firstfinancialholdings.com
bbettendorf@firstfinancialholdings.com