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    Southern First Reports First Quarter 2026 Results

    4/21/26 8:30:00 AM ET
    $SFST
    Major Banks
    Finance
    Get the next $SFST alert in real time by email

    GREENVILLE, S.C., April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST) (Southern First), today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2026. Strong loan growth and continued margin expansion drove year-over-year net interest income growth of 29%. Net income was $9.9 million and diluted earnings per share was $1.19, representing a $0.54, or 83%, increase over the first quarter of 2025, and relatively unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2025. Return on average assets was 0.91%, up 39 basis points over the first quarter of last year, and tangible common equity to assets was 8.29%, up 41 basis points from the first quarter of 2025. Net charge-offs were approximately $50 thousand, or 0.01% of average loans, annualized, consistent with linked quarter and year-over-year results. Nonperforming assets were 0.26% of total assets, down from 0.32% for the fourth quarter. Provision for credit losses increased by $650 thousand, and the allowance for credit losses represented 1.10% of loans, consistent with the past several quarters.

    Southern First logo. (PRNewsfoto/Southern First Bancshares, Inc.)

    "We are excited to report our first quarter 2026 results which include record retail deposit growth of nearly $210 million, representing a 27% annualized growth rate. Our first quarter 2026 net income was $9.9 million and is 88% higher than the same quarter last year. We have tremendous momentum in growing client relationships and raised additional capital in the form of common equity this quarter to support our growth expectations," stated Art Seaver, Chief Executive Officer.

    On April 15, 2026, Southern First announced an underwritten public offering of 1,050,000 shares of common stock and granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to 157,500 additional shares. The offering closed on April 17, 2026, with a total of 1,207,500 shares issued at $54.00 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $65.2 million before discounts and expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include supporting organic growth initiatives, providing capital to the Company's bank subsidiary, redeeming or repurchasing outstanding indebtedness, including subordinated debt, and for working capital purposes.

    Financial Highlights – First Quarter 2026:

    Earnings

    • Diluted earnings per common share was $1.19, up $0.54, or 83%, compared to the first quarter of 2025; and down slightly by $0.01 from the fourth quarter of 2025
    • Net income improved to $9.9 million, a $4.6 million increase, or 88%, compared to the first quarter of 2025
    • Total revenue was $33.8 million, an increase of $7.3 million, or 28%, year-over-year and $2.0 million on a linked quarter basis
    • Net interest income improved by $6.9 million, or 29% year-over-year, driven primarily by new loan volume
    • Net interest margin was 2.88%, a 16 basis point increase from 2.72% for the fourth quarter of 2025, and included a $543 thousand repayment of interest on one large nonaccrual loan
    • Noninterest income was $3.5 million compared to $3.1 million for the first quarter last year; the increase was impacted by a one-time $515 thousand loss on the sale of securities in the fourth quarter of 2025
    • Noninterest expense to average assets was 1.84%, compared to 1.87% for first quarter of 2025
    • Return on average equity was 10.67%, compared to 6.38% for the first quarter of 2025
    • Return on average assets was 0.91%, compared to 0.52% for the first quarter of 2025

    Balance Sheet

    • Total loans were $3.9 billion, up $97.1 million, or 10% (annualized), from the fourth quarter of 2025
    • Retail deposits were $3.4 billion, up $207.8 million, or 27% (annualized) from the fourth quarter of 2025
    • Book value per common share was $46.00, an increase of 10% (annualized) from the fourth quarter of 2025
    • Tangible common equity (TCE) ratio was 8.29%, down 8 basis points on a linked quarter basis driven by loan growth, and up from 7.88% for the first quarter of 2025
    • Common equity Tier1 ratio (CET1) was 11.03%, down slightly from the fourth quarter of 2025, and up from 10.75% for the first quarter 2025

    Asset Quality

    • Nonperforming assets to total assets were 0.26%, compared to 0.32% for the linked quarter, primarily due to the repayment of a large nonaccrual loan, while accruing loans 30 days or more past due to total loans were 0.20%, compared to 0.14% for the fourth quarter
    • Classified assets were 3.25% as a percentage of total loans compared to 4.28% for the linked quarter end
    • Provision for credit losses was $1.3 million and includes a $1.2 million provision for loan losses and a $150 thousand provision for unfunded commitments driven by new loan growth; Allowance for credit losses to total loans remained at 1.10% for the quarter
    • Net charge-offs were 0.01% as a percentage of average loans on an annualized basis

    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA



















    Quarter Ended



    Mar 31 2026-





    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31



    Mar 31 2025





    2026

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025



    Change

    Income Statement Summary ($ in thousands):

















    Net interest income

    $

    30,259

    28,744

    27,529

    25,295

    23,383



    29.4 %

    Noninterest income



    3,540

    3,090

    3,600

    3,334

    3,114



    13.7 %

    Total Revenue



    33,799

    31,834

    31,129

    28,629

    26,497



    27.6 %

    Provision for credit losses



    1,300

    650

    850

    700

    750



    73.3 %

    Noninterest expense



    20,015

    18,416

    18,946

    19,336

    18,836



    6.3 %

    Income before income tax expense



    12,484

    12,768

    11,333

    8,593

    6,911



    80.6 %

    Income tax expense



    2,597

    2,911

    2,671

    2,012

    1,645



    57.9 %

    Net income available to common shareholders



    9,887

    9,857

    8,662

    6,581

    5,266



    87.8 %



















    Earnings ($ in thousands, except per share data):

















    Earnings per common share, diluted



    1.19

    1.20

    1.06

    0.81

    0.65



    83.1 %

    Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)(1)



    2.88 %

    2.72 %

    2.62 %

    2.50 %

    2.41 %



    0.47

    Return on average assets(2)



    0.91 %

    0.90 %

    0.80 %

    0.63 %

    0.52 %



    0.39

    Return on average equity(2)



    10.67 %

    10.77 %

    9.78 %

    7.71 %

    6.38 %



    4.29

    Efficiency ratio(3)



    59.22 %

    57.85 %

    60.86 %

    67.54 %

    71.08 %



    (11.86)

    Noninterest expense to average assets (2)



    1.84 %

    1.68 %

    1.74 %

    1.86 %

    1.87 %



    (0.03)

    Balance Sheet ($ in thousands):

















    Total loans(4)

    $

    3,942,219

    3,845,124

    3,789,021

    3,746,841

    3,683,919



    7.0 %

    Total deposits



    3,873,455

    3,716,803

    3,676,417

    3,636,329

    3,620,886



    7.0 %

    Retail deposits(5)



    3,371,721

    3,163,914

    3,108,411

    3,075,631

    3,020,392



    11.6 %

    Total assets



    4,578,402

    4,403,494

    4,358,589

    4,308,067

    4,284,311



    6.9 %

    Book value per common share



    46.00

    44.89

    43.51

    42.23

    41.33



    11.3 %

    Loans to deposits



    101.78 %

    103.45 %

    103.06 %

    103.04 %

    101.74 %



    0.04

    Holding Company Capital Ratios(6):

















    Total risk-based capital ratio



    12.83 %

    12.89 %

    12.79 %

    12.63 %

    12.69 %



    0.14

    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio



    11.40 %

    11.44 %

    11.26 %

    11.11 %

    11.15 %



    0.25

    Leverage ratio



    9.05 %

    8.93 %

    8.72 %

    8.73 %

    8.79 %



    0.26

    Common equity Tier 1 ratio(7)



    11.03 %

    11.06 %

    10.88 %

    10.71 %

    10.75 %



    0.28

    Tangible common equity(8)



    8.29 %

    8.37 %

    8.18 %

    8.02 %

    7.88 %



    0.41

    Asset Quality Ratios:

















    Nonperforming assets/total assets



    0.26 %

    0.32 %

    0.27 %

    0.27 %

    0.26 %



    ­­—

    Classified assets/Tier 1 capital plus allowance for

    credit losses



    3.25 %

    4.28 %

    3.97 %

    4.35 %

    4.31 %



    (1.06)

    Accruing loans 30 days or more past due/loans(4)



    0.20 %

    0.14 %

    0.18 %

    0.14 %

    0.27 %



    (0.07)

    Net charge-offs (recoveries)/average loans(4) (YTD

    annualized)



    0.01 %

    0.00 %

    0.00 %

    0.00 %

    0.00 %



    0.01

    Allowance for credit losses/loans(4)



    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %



    —

    Allowance for credit losses/nonaccrual loans



    378.22 %

    305.65 %

    364.50 %

    362.35 %

    378.09 %



    0.13

     

    INCOME STATEMENTS – Unaudited





















    Quarter Ended



    Mar 31 2026 -





    Mar 31

    Dec 31

    Sept 30

    Jun 30

    Mar 31



    Mar 31 2025

    (in thousands, except per share data)



    2026

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025



    Change

    Interest income

















    Loans

    $

    51,257

    51,069

    50,999

    48,992

    47,085



    8.9 %

    Investment securities



    1,399

    1,268

    1,342

    1,357

    1,403



    (0.3 %)

    Federal funds sold



    1,955

    2,193

    2,645

    1,969

    1,159



    68.7 %

      Total interest income



    54,611

    54,530

    54,986

    52,318

    49,647



    10.0 %

    Interest expense

















    Deposits



    21,697

    23,052

    24,703

    24,300

    23,569



    (7.9 %)

    Borrowings



    2,655

    2,734

    2,754

    2,723

    2,695



    (1.5 %)

      Total interest expense



    24,352

    25,786

    27,457

    27,023

    26,264



    (7.3 %)

    Net interest income



    30,259

    28,744

    27,529

    25,295

    23,383



    29.4 %

    Provision for credit losses



    1,300

    650

    850

    700

    750



    73.3 %

    Net interest income after provision for credit losses



    28,959

    28,094

    26,679

    24,595

    22,633



    27.9 %

    Noninterest income

















    Mortgage banking income



    1,493

    1,689

    1,600

    1,569

    1,424



    4.8 %

    Service fees on deposit accounts



    756

    634

    625

    567

    539



    40.3 %

    ATM and debit card income



    588

    638

    601

    586

    552



    6.5 %

    Income from bank owned life insurance



    446

    450

    439

    413

    403



    10.7 %

    Loss on sale of securities



    -

    (515)

    -

    -

    -



    0.0 %

    Other income



    257

    194

    335

    199

    196



    31.1 %

      Total noninterest income



    3,540

    3,090

    3,600

    3,334

    3,114



    13.7 %

    Noninterest expense

















    Compensation and benefits



    11,980

    10,529

    11,299

    11,674

    11,304



    6.0 %

    Occupancy



    2,490

    2,465

    2,447

    2,523

    2,548



    (2.3 %)

    Outside service and data processing costs



    2,267

    2,144

    2,158

    2,189

    2,037



    11.3 %

    Insurance



    892

    994

    961

    910

    1,010



    (11.7 %)

    Professional fees



    675

    732

    605

    609

    509



    32.6 %

    Marketing



    399

    346

    412

    397

    374



    6.7 %

    Other



    1,312

    1,206

    1,064

    1,034

    1,054



    24.5 %

      Total noninterest expenses



    20,015

    18,416

    18,946

    19,336

    18,836



    6.3 %

    Income before provision for income taxes



    12,484

    12,768

    11,333

    8,593

    6,911



    80.6 %

    Income tax expense



    2,597

    2,911

    2,671

    2,012

    1,645



    57.9 %

    Net income available to common shareholders

    $

    9,887

    9,857

    8,662

    6,581

    5,266



    87.7 %



















    Earnings per common share – Basic

    $

    1.21

    1.22

    1.07

    0.81

    0.65



    86.2 %

    Earnings per common share – Diluted



    1.19

    1.20

    1.06

    0.81

    0.65



    83.1 %

    Basic weighted average common shares



    8,163

    8,106

    8,091

    8,090

    8,078



    1.1 %

    Diluted weighted average common shares



    8,293

    8,229

    8,176

    8,124

    8,111



    2.2 %

    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

     

    NET INTEREST INCOME AND MARGIN - Unaudited













    For the Three Months Ended



    March 31, 2026

    December 31, 2025

    March 31, 2025

    (dollars in thousands)

    Average

    Balance

    Income/

    Expense

    Yield/

    Rate(2)

    Average

    Balance

    Income/

    Expense

    Yield/

    Rate(2)

    Average

    Balance

    Income/

    Expense

    Yield/

    Rate(2)

    Interest-earning assets



















    Federal funds sold and interest-

    bearing deposits

    $     211,039

    $     1,956

    3.76 %

    $     218,291

    $     2,193

    3.99 %

    $     107,821

    $     1,159

    4.36 %

      Investment securities, taxable

    141,309

    1,368

    3.93 %

    138,616

    1,229

    3.52 %

    143,609

    1,361

    3.84 %

      Investment securities, nontaxable(1)

    6,332

    40

    2.58 %

    7,641

    51

    2.63 %

    7,914

    55

    2.80 %

      Loans(9)

    3,899,002

    51,257

    5.33 %

    3,830,741

    51,069

    5.29 %

    3,673,912

    47,085

    5.20 %

        Total interest-earning assets

    4,257,682

    54,621

    5.20 %

    4,195,289

    54,542

    5.16 %

    3,933,256

    49,660

    5.12 %

      Noninterest-earning assets

    156,466





    151,515





    157,053





        Total assets

    $4,414,148





    $4,346,804





    $4,090,309





    Interest-bearing liabilities



















    NOW accounts

    $   421,527

    1,102

    1.06 %

    $   360,509

    834

    0.92 %

    $   306,707

    597

    0.79 %

    Savings & money market

    1,649,248

    11,819

    2.91 %

    1,614,469

    12,530

    3.08 %

    1,520,632

    12,750

    3.40 %

    Time deposits

    895,101

    8,776

    3.98 %

    937,557

    9,688

    4.10 %

    930,282

    10,222

    4.46 %

    Total interest-bearing deposits

    2,965,876

    21,697

    2.97 %

    2,912,535

    23,052

    3.14 %

    2,757,621

    23,569

    3.47 %

    FHLB advances and other borrowings

    240,000

    2,245

    3.79 %

    240,000

    2,295

    3.79 %

    240,000

    2,244

    3.79 %

    Subordinated debentures

    24,903

    411

    6.69 %

    24,903

    439

    6.99 %

    24,903

    451

    7.34 %

    Total interest-bearing liabilities

    3,230,779

    24,353

    3.06 %

    3,177,438

    25,786

    3.22 %

    3,022,524

    26,264

    3.52 %

    Noninterest-bearing liabilities

    807,686





    806,235





    732,761





    Shareholders' equity

    375,683





    363,131





    335,024





    Total liabilities and shareholders'

    equity

    $4,414,148





    $4,346,804





    $4,090,309





    Net interest spread





    2.15 %





    1.94 %





    1.60 %

    Net interest income (tax equivalent) /

    margin



    $30,268

    2.88 %



    $28,756

    2.72 %



    $23,396

    2.41 %

    Less: tax-equivalent adjustment(1)



    9





    12





    13



    Net interest income



    $30,259





    $28,744





    $23,383



    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

     

    BALANCE SHEETS - Unaudited



















    Ending Balance



    Mar 31 2026 -





    Mar 31

    Dec 31

    Sept 30

    Jun 30

    Mar 31



    Mar 31 2025

    (in thousands, except per share data)



    2026

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025



    Change

    Assets

















    Cash and cash equivalents:

















      Cash and due from banks

    $

    32,723

    27,821

    24,600

    25,184

    24,904



    31.4 %

      Federal funds sold



    228,235

    183,473

    178,534

    180,834

    263,612



    (13.4 %)

      Interest-bearing deposits with banks



    81,818

    58,289

    79,769

    65,014

    16,541



    394.6 %

        Total cash and cash equivalents



    342,776

    269,583

    282,903

    271,032

    305,057



    12.4 %

    Investment securities:

















      Investment securities available for sale



    124,224

    127,730

    131,040

    128,867

    131,290



    (5.4 %)

      Other investments



    20,377

    20,063

    20,066

    19,906

    19,927



    2.3 %

        Total investment securities



    144,601

    147,793

    151,106

    148,773

    151,217



    (4.4 %)

    Mortgage loans held for sale



    13,723

    11,569

    6,906

    10,739

    11,524



    19.1 %

    Loans (5)



    3,942,219

    3,845,124

    3,789,021

    3,746,841

    3,683,919



    7.0 %

    Less allowance for credit losses



    (43,378)

    (42,280)

    (41,799)

    (41,285)

    (40,687)



    6.6 %

        Loans, net



    3,898,841

    3,802,844

    3,747,222

    3,705,556

    3,643,232



    7.0 %

    Bank owned life insurance



    56,221

    55,775

    55,324

    54,886

    54,473



    3.2 %

    Property and equipment, net



    88,580

    83,465

    84,586

    85,921

    87,369



    1.4 %

    Deferred income taxes



    13,812

    13,702

    12,657

    12,971

    13,080



    5.6 %

    Other assets



    19,848

    18,763

    17,885

    18,189

    18,359



    8.1 %

        Total assets

    $

    4,578,402

    4,403,494

    4,358,589

    4,308,067

    4,284,311



    6.9 %

    Liabilities

















    Deposits

    $

    3,873,455

    3,716,803

    3,676,417

    3,636,329

    3,620,886



    7.0 %

    FHLB Advances



    240,000

    240,000

    240,000

    240,000

    240,000



    0.0 %

    Subordinated debentures



    24,903

    24,903

    24,903

    24,903

    24,903



    0.0 %

    Other liabilities



    60,631

    53,131

    60,921

    61,373

    60,924



    (0.5 %)

        Total liabilities



    4,198,989

    4,034,837

    4,002,241

    3,962,605

    3,946,713



    6.4 %

    Shareholders' equity

















    Preferred stock - $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares

    authorized



    -

    -

    -

    -

    -



    0.0 %

    Common Stock - $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares

    authorized



    82

    82

    82

    82

    82



    0.0 %

    Nonvested restricted stock



    (1,302)

    (1,338)

    (1,929)

    (2,774)

    (3,372)



    (61.4 %)

    Additional paid-in capital



    127,168

    125,924

    125,035

    124,839

    124,561



    2.1 %

    Accumulated other comprehensive loss



    (7,865)

    (7,454)

    (8,426)

    (9,609)

    (10,016)



    (21.5 %)

    Retained earnings



    261,330

    251,443

    241,586

    232,924

    226,343



    15.5 %

        Total shareholders' equity



    379,413

    368,657

    356,348

    345,462

    337,598



    12.4 %

        Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

    $

    4,578,402

    4,403,494

    4,358,589

    4,308,067

    4,284,311



    6.9 %



















    Common Stock

















    Book value per common share

    $

    46.00

    44.89

    43.51

    42.23

    41.33



    11.3 %

    Stock price:

















      High



    61.08

    55.50

    45.54

    38.51

    38.50



    58.6 %

      Low



    51.26

    41.15

    38.74

    30.61

    31.88



    60.8 %

      Period end



    54.50

    51.52

    44.12

    38.03

    32.92



    65.6 %

    Common shares outstanding



    8,248

    8,213

    8,189

    8,181

    8,169



    1.0 %

    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

     

    ASSET QUALITY MEASURES - Unaudited





    Quarter Ended





    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    (dollars in thousands)



    2026

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025

    Nonperforming Assets













    Commercial













      Owner occupied RE

    $

    2,317

    259

    262

    -

    -

      Non-owner occupied RE



    1,712

    6,917

    6,911

    6,941

    6,950

      Commercial business



    909

    189

    195

    717

    1,087

    Consumer













      Real estate



    5,786

    5,763

    3,394

    3,028

    2,414

      Home equity



    745

    705

    705

    708

    310

    Total nonaccrual loans



    11,469

    13,833

    11,467

    11,394

    10,761

    Other real estate owned



    475

    275

    275

    275

    275

    Total nonperforming assets

    $

    11,944

    14,108

    11,742

    11,669

    11,036

    Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:













      Total assets



    0.26 %

    0.32 %

    0.27 %

    0.27 %

    0.26 %

      Total loans



    0.30 %

    0.37 %

    0.31 %

    0.31 %

    0.30 %

    Classified assets/Tier 1 capital plus allowance for credit

    losses



    3.14 %

    4.22 %

    3.90 %

    4.28 %

    4.24 %

    Accruing loans 30 days or more past due/loans(4)



    0.20 %

    0.14 %

    0.18 %

    0.14 %

    0.27 %





    Quarter Ended





    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    (dollars in thousands)



    2026

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025

    Allowance for Credit Losses













    Balance, beginning of period

    $

    42,280

    41,799

    41,285

    40,687

    39,914

    Loans charged-off



    (78)

    (150)

    (55)

    (68)

    (78)

    Recoveries of loans previously charged-off



    26

    81

    69

    16

    101

      Net loans (charged-off) recovered



    (52)

    (69)

    14

    (52)

    23

    Provision for credit losses



    1,150

    550

    500

    650

    750

    Balance, end of period

    $

    43,378

    42,280

    41,799

    41,285

    40,687

    Allowance for credit losses to gross loans



    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans



    378.22 %

    305.65 %

    364.50 %

    362.35 %

    378.09 %

    Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans QTD

    (annualized)



    0.01 %

    0.01 %

    0.00 %

    0.01 %

    0.00 %

    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

     

    LOAN COMPOSITION - Unaudited





















    Quarter Ended



    Qtr



    Yr





    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31



    Over Qtr



    Over Yr

    (dollars in thousands)



    2026

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025



    $ Change



    $ Change

    Commercial





















    Owner occupied RE

    $

    759,602

    736,979

    705,383

    686,424

    673,865



    22,623



    85,737

    Non-owner occupied RE



    950,696

    956,812

    943,304

    939,163

    926,246



    (6,116)



    24,450

    Construction



    69,463

    63,666

    71,928

    68,421

    90,021



    5,797



    (20,558)

    Business



    677,742

    619,667

    604,411

    589,661

    561,337



    58,075



    116,405

    Total commercial loans



    2,457,503

    2,377,124

    2,325,026

    2,283,669

    2,251,469



    80,379



    206,034

    Consumer





















    Real estate



    1,148,129

    1,153,285

    1,159,693

    1,164,187

    1,147,357



    (5,156)



    772

    Home equity



    262,530

    248,685

    239,996

    234,608

    223,061



    13,845



    39,469

    Construction



    33,879

    24,997

    25,842

    25,210

    23,540



    8,882



    10,339

    Other



    40,178

    41,033

    38,464

    39,167

    38,492



    (855)



    1,686

    Total consumer loans



    1,484,716

    1,468,000

    1,463,995

    1,463,172

    1,432,450



    16,716



    52,266

    Total gross loans, net of deferred fees    



    3,942,219

    3,845,124

    3,789,021

    3,746,841

    3,683,919



    97,095



    258,300

    Less—allowance for credit losses



    (43,378)

    (42,280)

    (41,799)

    (41,285)

    (40,687)



    (1,098)



    (2,691)

    Total loans, net

    $

    3,898,841

    3,802,844

    3,747,222

    3,705,556

    3,643,232



    95,997



    255,609























    Yield on average loans



    5.33 %

    5.29 %

    5.35 %

    5.28 %

    5.20 %



    n/a



    n/a

     

    DEPOSIT COMPOSITION - Unaudited





















    Quarter Ended



    Qtr



    Yr





    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31



    Over Qtr



    Over Yr

    (dollars in thousands)



    2026

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025



    $ Change



    $ Change

    Non-interest bearing

    $

    799,692

    732,287

    736,518

    761,492

    671,609



    67,405



    128,083

    Interest bearing:





















       NOW accounts



    495,657

    423,270

    343,615

    341,903

    371,052



    72,387



    124,605

       Money market accounts



    1,652,125

    1,573,039

    1,572,738

    1,537,400

    1,563,181



    79,086



    88,944

       Savings



    30,332

    29,470

    29,381

    32,334

    32,945



    862



    (2,613)

       Time deposits, less than $250,000



    170,496

    180,783

    202,353

    194,064

    181,407



    (10,287)



    (10,911)

       Time deposits, $250,000 and over(10)



    725,153

    777,954

    791,812

    769,136

    800,692



    (52,801)



    (75,539)

      Total deposits

    $

    3,873,455

    3,716,803

    3,676,417

    3,636,329

    3,620,886



    156,652



    252,569























    Total retail deposits



    3,371,721

    3,163,914

    3,108,411

    3,075,631

    3,020,392



    207,807



    351,329

    Total wholesale deposits



    501,734

    552,889

    568,006

    560,697

    600,494



    (51,155)



    (98,760)

    Cost of average deposits



    2.37 %

    2.50 %

    2.69 %

    2.75 %

    2.78 %



    n/a



    n/a

    Cost of average retail deposits



    2.06 %

    2.18 %

    2.36 %

    2.42 %

    2.43 %



    n/a



    n/a

    Loans to deposits



    101.78 %

    103.45 %

    103.06 %

    103.04 %

    101.74 %



    n/a



    n/a

























    Footnotes to tables:



     (1) The tax-equivalent adjustment to net interest income adjusts the yield for assets earning tax-exempt income to a comparable yield on a taxable basis.

     (2) Annualized for the respective three-month period.

     (3) Noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.

     (4) Excludes mortgage loans held for sale.

     (5) Excludes out of market (wholesale) deposits totaling $501.7 million.

     (6) March 31, 2026 ratios are preliminary.

     (7) The common equity Tier 1 ratio is calculated as the sum of common equity divided by risk-weighted assets.

     (8) The tangible common equity ratio is calculated as total equity less preferred stock divided by total assets.

     (9) Includes mortgage loans held for sale.

    (10) Includes out of market deposits

     

    ABOUT SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES

    Southern First Bancshares, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina is a registered bank holding company incorporated under the laws of South Carolina. The company's wholly owned subsidiary, Southern First Bank, is the second largest bank headquartered in South Carolina. Southern First Bank has been providing financial services since 1999 and now operates in 12 locations in the Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston markets of South Carolina as well as the Charlotte, Triangle and Triad regions of North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. Southern First Bancshares has consolidated assets of approximately $4.6 billion and its common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "SFST."  More information can be found at www.southernfirst.com.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements in this news release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to future plans and expectations, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "preliminary", "intend," "plan," "target," "continue," "lasting," and "project," as well as similar expressions. Such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, we can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by our company or any person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by our company will be achieved.

    The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: (1) competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (2) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which the company conducts operations may be different than expected; (3) the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs, the level of allowance for credit loss, the rates of loan and deposit growth as well as pricing of each product, or adverse changes in asset quality in our loan portfolio, which may result in increased credit risk-related losses and expenses; (4) changes in legislation, regulation, policies, or administrative practices, whether by judicial, governmental, or legislative action, including, but not limited to, changes affecting oversight of the financial services industry or consumer protection; (5) the impact of changes to Congress and the office of the President on the regulatory landscape and capital markets; (6) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions) could continue to have a negative impact on the company; (7) changes in interest rates, which may continue to affect the company's net income, interest expense, prepayment penalty income, mortgage banking income, and other future cash flows, or the market value of the company's assets, including its investment securities; (8) trade wars, government shutdowns, or a potential recession which may cause adverse risk to the overall economy, and could indirectly pose challenges to our clients and to our business; (9) any increase in FDIC assessments which have increased and may continue to increase our cost of doing business; and (10) changes in accounting principles, policies, practices, or guidelines. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our reports (such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements above. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made, except as required by law.

    MEDIA CONTACT:

    ART SEAVER  864-679-9010

    FINANCIAL CONTACT:

    CHRIS ZYCH 864-679-9070

    WEB SITE: www.southernfirst.com

    Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-first-reports-first-quarter-2026-results-302747706.html

    SOURCE Southern First Bancshares, Inc.

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