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8-K - FORM 8-K - Southeastern Bank Financial CORPt79856_8k.htm

 
Exhibit 99.1
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information:
Ronald L. Thigpen
President and Chief Operating Officer
Southeastern Bank Financial Corp.
706-481-1014
 
Southeastern Bank Financial Corp. Reports Earnings
for the Second Quarter 2014 and Declares Dividend
 
AUGUSTA, Ga., July 25, 2014 – Southeastern Bank Financial Corp. (OTCQB:SBFC), the holding company for Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta (GB&T), today reported quarterly net income of $4.0 million, or $0.60 in diluted earnings per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2014, compared to $4.0 million, or $0.60 in diluted earnings per share, in the second quarter of 2013.
 
“We are pleased to report incremental increases in net income for both the quarter and first six months of 2014,” said President and Chief Operating Officer Ronald L. Thigpen. “The ongoing historically low interest rate environment continues to squeeze our net interest margin and net interest income. Our loan-loss provision has decreased significantly owing to continued asset quality improvement. Noninterest income is down due primarily to lower mortgage lending volume. But we also saw quarterly improvement in both retail investment and trust income, as well as excellent loan and total deposit growth. We continued our steady performance in the quarter.”
 
Total assets at June 30, 2014, were $1.8 billion, an increase of $91.3 million from Dec. 31, 2013. Total loans outstanding at the end of the second quarter were $984.7 million, an increase of $68.4 million from Dec. 31, 2013, and an increase of $81.3 million from June 30, 2013. Total deposits were $1.5 billion at June 30, 2014, an increase of $77.0 million from Dec. 31, 2013, and an increase of $88.9 million from June 30, 2013. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $81.0 million at the end of the second quarter of 2014.
 
 
 

 

 
Net interest income for the second quarter of 2014 totaled $13.0 million, a 2.0 percent decrease from $13.3 million for the same period in 2013, resulting from lower spreads in the ongoing compressed interest rate environment. Noninterest income for the second quarter totaled $4.5 million, a 13.5 percent decline from the same period a year ago, due primarily to lower mortgage lending volume. Noninterest expense was $10.6 million in the second quarter of 2014, a 3.4 percent increase from a year ago, kept in check by significantly lower losses related to Other Real Estate.
 
The net interest margin was 3.18 percent for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, compared to 3.16 percent at March 31, 2014, and 3.36 percent for the same period a year ago. Annualized return on average assets (ROA) was 0.93 percent for the second quarter of 2014, a decrease of 2 basis points from the same period a year ago, and annualized return on average shareholder’s equity (ROE) was 11.39 percent, a decrease of 3 basis points from the second quarter of 2013.
 
Nonperforming assets at June 30, 2014, were 1.28 percent of total assets, compared to 1.38 percent at March 31, 2014, and 2.08 percent at June 30, 2013. Net charge-offs for the second quarter of 2014 totaled 0.18 percent of average loans on an annualized basis, compared to 0.52 percent annualized in the first quarter of 2014 and 1.87 percent annualized in the second quarter of 2013. The company held $1.5 million in OREO at June 30, 2014, compared to $1.3 million at March 31, 2014, and $1.1 million at June 30, 2013.
 
The company’s loan-loss provision expense was $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2014, a 4.4 percent decrease from $1.1 million in the previous quarter, and a 58.1 percent decrease from $2.4 million in the second quarter a year ago. The allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2014, was $26.9 million, or 2.80 percent of loans outstanding, compared to $26.3 million, or 2.84 percent of loans outstanding, at March 31, 2014, and $27.3 million, or 3.12 percent of loans outstanding, at June 30, 2013.
 
“We continue to see growth in the balance sheet, with significant core loan and deposit growth,” said Thigpen. “We expect ongoing margin pressure from this low interest rate environment to contribute to lower net interest income and we continue to be focused on increasing noninterest income and controlling noninterest expense.
 
 
 

 

 
On July 23, 2014, the company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.13 per share of common stock payable on August 22, 2014, to shareholders of record as of August 8, 2014. Based on the share price of $23.80 at the close of business on Thursday, July 24, 2014, this dividend represents an annualized yield to shareholders of 2.18 percent.
 
About Southeastern Bank Financial Corp.
Southeastern Bank Financial Corp. is the $1.8 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 primary focus is on real estate, commercial and consumer loans to individuals, small to medium-sized businesses and professionals, and also provides wealth management, trust and retail investment 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
                 
   
June 30,
       
   
2014
   
December 31,
 
Assets  
(Unaudited)
   
2013
 
             
Cash and due from banks
  $ 71,979,967     $ 36,766,420  
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks
    9,054,964       10,570,222  
Cash and cash equivalents     81,034,931       47,336,642  
                 
Available-for-sale securities
    647,599,251       649,979,319  
                 
Loans held for sale
    24,499,481       10,638,179  
                 
Loans
    960,230,782       905,712,691  
   Less allowance for loan losses
    26,882,652       26,408,723  
Loans, net     933,348,130       879,303,968  
                 
Premises and equipment, net
    27,379,247       27,002,697  
Accrued interest receivable
    5,987,039       6,221,061  
Bank-owned life insurance
    36,304,149       35,744,649  
Restricted equity securities
    4,398,400       4,869,600  
Other real estate owned
    1,500,002       1,013,563  
Deferred tax asset
    15,919,575       21,022,576  
Other assets
    2,606,648       6,193,363  
                 
    $ 1,780,576,853     $ 1,689,325,617  
                 
  Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                
                 
Deposits
               
     Noninterest-bearing
  $ 196,701,793     $ 187,287,015  
     Interest-bearing:
               
NOW accounts
    392,968,835       351,798,554  
        Savings
    522,861,133       521,656,334  
        Money management accounts
    15,370,461       16,065,409  
        Time deposits of $100,000 or more
    322,844,870       293,003,961  
        Other time deposits
    81,065,197       84,991,883  
      1,531,812,289       1,454,803,156  
                 
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    653,273       808,311  
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank
    64,000,000       64,000,000  
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities
    17,470,680       16,598,876  
Subordinated debentures
    20,000,000       21,546,646  
                 
Total liabilities     1,633,936,242       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; 6,744,253 and 6,680,225 shares issued in 2014 and 2013, respectively; 6,744,253 and 6,679,982 shares outstanding in 2014 and 2013, respectively
    20,232,759       20,040,675  
  Additional paid-in capital
    62,850,459       62,863,774  
  Retained earnings
    64,873,818       58,768,914  
  Treasury stock, at cost; 0 and 243 shares in 2014 and 2013, respectively
          (3,380 )
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net
    (1,316,425 )     (10,101,355 )
                 
  Total stockholders’ equity     146,640,611       131,568,628  
                 
    $ 1,780,576,853     $ 1,689,325,617  
 
 
 

 

 
SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
(Unaudited)
                                 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Interest income:
                       
Loans, including fees
  $ 11,640,560     $ 11,744,176     $ 22,921,062     $ 23,434,937  
Investment securities
    3,618,401       3,897,515       7,152,006       7,879,253  
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks
    17,914       20,662       32,912       36,885  
Total interest income
    15,276,875       15,662,353       30,105,980       31,351,075  
                                 
Interest expense:
                               
Deposits
    1,584,877       1,683,039       3,173,693       3,512,522  
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    2,249       813       3,008       1,701  
Other borrowings
    659,125       676,209       1,326,975       1,345,576  
Total interest expense     2,246,251       2,360,061       4,503,676       4,859,799  
                                 
Net interest income
    13,030,624       13,302,292       25,602,304       26,491,276  
                                 
Provision for loan losses
    1,010,384       2,413,949       2,067,704       4,158,692  
                                 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    12,020,240       10,888,343       23,534,600       22,332,584  
                                 
Noninterest income:
                               
Service charges and fees on deposits
    1,792,581       1,793,770       3,421,475       3,467,563  
Gain on sales of loans
    1,372,632       2,155,303       2,192,092       4,056,812  
Gain on sale of fixed assets, net
    12,604       16,204       11,522       21,704  
Investment securities gains (losses), net
    26,341       14,903       276,980       (29,326 )
Retail investment income
    514,071       487,132       1,087,992       987,840  
Trust service fees
    318,537       284,369       641,658       589,255  
Earnings from cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance
    281,092       287,915       559,500       570,449  
Miscellaneous income
    204,818       186,758       422,723       375,413  
  Total noninterest income     4,522,676       5,226,354       8,613,942       10,039,710  
                                 
Noninterest expense:
                               
Salaries and other personnel expense
    6,147,991       6,140,533       11,914,142       12,337,942  
Occupancy expenses
    986,592       939,055       1,930,784       1,874,136  
Other real estate losses (gains), net
    21,831       207,571       (13,234 )     617,300  
Other operating expenses
    3,484,540       3,000,886       6,922,355       6,219,098  
Total noninterest expense     10,640,954       10,288,045       20,754,047       21,048,476  
                                 
Income before income taxes
    5,901,962       5,826,652       11,394,495       11,323,818  
                                 
Income tax expense
    1,857,714       1,824,018       3,544,355       3,544,765  
                                 
Net income
  $ 4,044,248     $ 4,002,634     $ 7,850,140     $ 7,779,053  
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives
    (288,200 )     780,581       (643,311 )     1,124,970  
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale
    6,811,549       (18,927,847 )     15,298,245       (19,834,428 )
Reclassification adjustment for realized (gain) loss on securities, net of OTTI
    (26,341 )     (14,903 )     (276,980 )     29,326  
Tax effect
    (2,527,336 )     7,065,083       (5,593,024 )     7,266,571  
Total other comprehensive income (loss)     3,969,672       (11,097,086 )     8,784,930       (11,413,561 )
                                 
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 8,013,920     $ (7,094,452 )   $ 16,635,070     $ (3,634,508 )
                                 
Basic net income per share
  $ 0.61     $ 0.60     $ 1.18     $ 1.16  
                                 
Diluted net income per share
  $ 0.60     $ 0.60     $ 1.17     $ 1.16  
                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    6,681,253       6,678,807       6,680,945       6,678,112  
                                 
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding
    6,686,332       6,678,807       6,682,954       6,678,112