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    Southern First Reports Fourth Quarter 2025 Results

    1/22/26 7:15:00 AM ET
    $SFST
    Major Banks
    Finance
    Get the next $SFST alert in real time by email

    GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST), holding company for Southern First Bank, today announced its financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2025.

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

    "We are very pleased to report our fourth quarter financial performance, which was our strongest of 2025 and clearly demonstrates the continued momentum we achieved throughout the year. We maintained solid loan growth, funded by even stronger growth in client deposits. Our full banking relationship strategy continues to drive improving financial returns, including an expanding net interest margin that increased 10 basis points from last quarter and 36 basis points over last year. We continue to strengthen our balance sheet with higher capital levels and have again achieved outstanding asset quality. Our team remains highly motivated and intentional about improving financial performance while delivering client service at levels that are second to none, and that commitment was clearly reflected in our results this quarter and throughout the year. We are fortunate to operate in some of the strongest markets in the Southeast and will continue expanding our teams to grow our business in the disciplined manner that has defined our success. While we remain mindful of broader economic conditions and factors impacting our business, our markets have proven to be resilient and offer tremendous growth opportunities that we intend to fully capitalize on," stated Art Seaver, Chief Executive Officer. "Looking ahead to the new year, we are optimistic and have high expectations for continued financial performance improvement. Our business pipeline is strong and our team is ready. We expect to build on our track record of attracting experienced bankers who share our commitment to exceptional client service and to supporting our local communities, which remains at the core of everything we do."

    2025 Fourth Quarter Highlights

    • Diluted earnings per common share of $1.21, up $0.14, or 13%, from Q3 2025, and up $0.51, or 73%, compared to Q4 2024
    • Net interest margin of 2.72%, compared to 2.62% for Q3 2025 and 2.25% for Q4 2024
    • Total loans of $3.8 billion, up 6% from Q4 2024; Total deposits of $3.7 billion, up 8% from Q4 2024; Core deposits of $2.9 billion, up 8% from Q4 2024
    • Nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.32% and past due loans to total loans of 0.13%
    • Book value per common share of $44.89 increased 3% from Q3 2025 and increased 11% compared to Q4 2024; Tangible Common Equity (TCE) ratio of 8.37%




    Quarter Ended





    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    December 31





    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

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













    Net income available to common shareholders

    $

    9,857

    8,662

    6,581

    5,266

    5,627

    Earnings per common share, diluted



    1.21

    1.07

    0.81

    0.65

    0.70

    Total revenue(1)



    31,834

    31,129

    28,629

    26,497

    25,237

    Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)(2)



    2.72 %

    2.62 %

    2.50 %

    2.41 %

    2.25 %

    Return on average assets(3)



    0.90 %

    0.80 %

    0.63 %

    0.52 %

    0.54 %

    Return on average equity(3)



    10.77 %

    9.78 %

    7.71 %

    6.38 %

    6.80 %

    Efficiency ratio(4)



    57.85 %

    60.86 %

    67.54 %

    71.08 %

    73.48 %

    Noninterest expense to average assets (3)



    1.68 %

    1.74 %

    1.86 %

    1.87 %

    1.78 %

    Balance Sheet ($ in thousands):













    Total loans(5)

    $

    3,845,124

    3,789,021

    3,746,841

    3,683,919

    3,631,767

    Total deposits



    3,716,803

    3,676,417

    3,636,329

    3,620,886

    3,435,765

    Core deposits(6)



    2,884,163

    2,884,604

    2,867,193

    2,820,194

    2,661,736

    Total assets



    4,403,494

    4,358,589

    4,308,067

    4,284,311

    4,087,593

    Book value per common share



    44.89

    43.51

    42.23

    41.33

    40.47

    Loans to deposits



    103.45 %

    103.06 %

    103.04 %

    101.74 %

    105.70 %

    Holding Company Capital Ratios(7):













    Total risk-based capital ratio



    12.89 %

    12.79 %

    12.63 %

    12.69 %

    12.70 %

    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio



    11.44 %

    11.26 %

    11.11 %

    11.15 %

    11.16 %

    Leverage ratio



    8.93 %

    8.72 %

    8.73 %

    8.79 %

    8.55 %

    Common equity tier 1 ratio(8)



    11.06 %

    10.88 %

    10.71 %

    10.75 %

    10.75 %

    Tangible common equity(9)



    8.37 %

    8.18 %

    8.02 %

    7.88 %

    8.08 %

    Asset Quality Ratios:













    Nonperforming assets/total assets



    0.32 %

    0.27 %

    0.27 %

    0.26 %

    0.27 %

    Classified assets/tier one capital plus allowance for credit losses



    4.22 %

    3.90 %

    4.28 %

    4.24 %

    4.25 %

    Accruing loans 30 days or more past due/loans(5)



    0.13 %

    0.18 %

    0.14 %

    0.27 %

    0.18 %

    Net charge-offs (recoveries)/average loans(5) (YTD annualized)



    0.00 %

    0.00 %

    0.00 %

    0.00 %

    0.04 %

    Allowance for credit losses/loans(5)



    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    Allowance for credit losses/nonaccrual loans



    305.65 %

    364.50 %

    362.35 %

    378.09 %

    366.94 %

    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

     

    INCOME STATEMENTS – Unaudited























    Quarter Ended



    Twelve Months Ended





    Dec 31

    Sept 30

    Jun 30

    Mar 31

    Dec 31



    December 31

    (in thousands, except per share data)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024



    2025

    2024

    Interest income



















    Loans

    $

    51,069

    50,999

    48,992

    47,085

    47,163



    198,145

    186,863

    Investment securities



    1,268

    1,342

    1,357

    1,403

    1,504



    5,370

    5,812

    Federal funds sold



    2,193

    2,645

    1,969

    1,159

    2,465



    7,966

    8,537

      Total interest income



    54,530

    54,986

    52,318

    49,647

    51,132



    211,481

    201,212

    Interest expense



















    Deposits



    23,052

    24,703

    24,300

    23,569

    25,901



    95,624

    108,774

    Borrowings



    2,734

    2,754

    2,723

    2,695

    2,773



    10,906

    11,216

      Total interest expense



    25,786

    27,457

    27,023

    26,264

    28,674



    106,530

    119,990

    Net interest income



    28,744

    27,529

    25,295

    23,383

    22,458



    104,951

    81,222

    Provision (reversal) for credit losses



    650

    850

    700

    750

    (200)



    2,950

    125

    Net interest income after provision for credit losses



    28,094

    26,679

    24,595

    22,633

    22,658



    102,001

    81,097

    Noninterest income



















    Mortgage banking income



    1,689

    1,600

    1,569

    1,424

    1,024



    6,282

    5,560

    Service fees on deposit accounts



    634

    625

    567

    539

    499



    2,365

    1,764

    ATM and debit card income



    638

    601

    586

    552

    607



    2,377

    2,337

    Income from bank owned life insurance



    450

    439

    413

    403

    407



    1,705

    1,569

    Loss on sale of securities



    (515)

    -

    -

    -

    -



    (515)

    -

    Other income



    194

    335

    199

    196

    242



    924

    911

      Total noninterest income



    3,090

    3,600

    3,334

    3,114

    2,779



    13,138

    12,141

    Noninterest expense



















    Compensation and benefits



    10,529

    11,299

    11,674

    11,304

    10,610



    44,806

    43,546

    Occupancy



    2,465

    2,447

    2,523

    2,548

    2,587



    9,983

    10,291

    Outside service and data processing costs



    2,144

    2,158

    2,189

    2,037

    2,003



    8,528

    7,741

    Insurance



    994

    961

    910

    1,010

    1,077



    3,875

    4,022

    Professional fees



    732

    605

    609

    509

    656



    2,455

    2,404

    Marketing



    346

    412

    397

    374

    335



    1,529

    1,412

    Other



    1,206

    1,064

    1,034

    1,054

    1,276



    4,358

    3,910

      Total noninterest expenses



    18,416

    18,946

    19,336

    18,836

    18,544



    75,534

    73,326

    Income before provision for income taxes



    12,768

    11,333

    8,593

    6,911

    6,893



    39,605

    19,912

    Income tax expense



    2,911

    2,671

    2,012

    1,645

    1,266



    9,239

    4,382

    Net income available to common shareholders

    $

    9,857

    8,662

    6,581

    5,266

    5,627



    30,366

    15,530





















    Earnings per common share – Basic

    $

    1.23

    1.08

    0.81

    0.65

    0.70



    3.77

    1.92

    Earnings per common share – Diluted



    1.21

    1.07

    0.81

    0.65

    0.70



    3.75

    1.91

    Basic weighted average common shares



    8,045

    8,031

    8,036

    8,078

    8,023



    8,048

    8,081

    Diluted weighted average common shares



    8,123

    8,080

    8,051

    8,111

    8,097



    8,091

    8,117

    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

    Net income for the fourth quarter of 2025 was $9.9 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, a $1.2 million increase from the third quarter of 2025 and a $4.2 million increase from the fourth quarter of 2024. Net interest income increased $1.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to the third quarter of 2025, and increased $6.3 million, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. The increase in net interest income from the prior quarter and prior year was primarily driven by an increase in interest income on loans, combined with a decrease in interest expense on deposits.

    The provision for credit losses was $650 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to a provision for credit losses of $850 thousand for the third quarter of 2025 and a $200 thousand reversal of the provision for credit losses for the fourth quarter of 2024. The provision during the fourth quarter of 2025 includes a $550 thousand provision for credit losses and a $100 thousand provision for the reserve for unfunded commitments. The provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by an increase in the impairment on individually evaluated loans.

    Noninterest income was $3.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $3.6 million for the third quarter of 2025, and $2.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. Mortgage banking income continues to be the largest component of noninterest income at $1.7 million in fee revenue for the fourth quarter of 2025 and $1.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease in noninterest income from the previous quarter was driven by a $515 thousand loss on the sale of securities, as we executed transactions in our portfolio as part of our overall balance sheet and interest rate risk management strategies.

    Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2025 was $18.4 million, a $530 thousand decrease from the third quarter of 2025, and a $128 thousand decrease from the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease in noninterest expense from the previous quarter was driven by a decrease in compensation and benefits primarily related to a reduction in group medical insurance expense, offset in part by an increase in professional fees and other noninterest expenses. The decrease in noninterest expense from the previous year related primarily to decreases in compensation and benefits, occupancy, and insurance expense, offset in part by an increase in outside service and data processing costs.

    The effective tax rate was 22.8% for the fourth quarter of 2025, 23.6% for the third quarter of 2025, and 18.4% for the fourth quarter of 2024. The changes in the effective tax rate are driven by the effect of equity compensation transactions during the quarter.

    NET INTEREST INCOME AND MARGIN - Unaudited













    For the Three Months Ended



    December 31, 2025

    September 30, 2025

    December 31, 2024

    (dollars in thousands)

    Average

    Balance

    Income/

    Expense

    Yield/

    Rate(3)

    Average

    Balance

    Income/

    Expense

    Yield/

    Rate(3)

    Average

    Balance

    Income/

    Expense

    Yield/

    Rate(3)

    Interest-earning assets



















    Federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits

    $     218,291

    $     2,193

    3.99 %

    $     238,552

    $     2,645

    4.40 %

    $     203,065

    $     2,465

    4.83 %

      Investment securities, taxable

    138,616

    1,229

    3.52 %

    141,143

    1,307

    3.67 %

    145,932

    1,462

    3.99 %

      Investment securities, nontaxable(2)

    7,641

    51

    2.63 %

    7,811

    45

    2.31 %

    7,988

    55

    2.72 %

      Loans(10)

    3,830,741

    51,069

    5.29 %

    3,783,885

    50,999

    5.35 %

    3,620,765

    47,163

    5.18 %

        Total interest-earning assets

    4,195,289

    54,542

    5.16 %

    4,171,391

    54,996

    5.23 %

    3,977,750

    51,145

    5.12 %

      Noninterest-earning assets

    151,515





    150,552





    158,779





        Total assets

    $4,346,804





    $4,321,943





    $4,136,529





    Interest-bearing liabilities



















    NOW accounts

    $   360,509

    834

    0.92 %

    $   329,301

    746

    0.90 %

    $   300,902

    693

    0.92 %

    Savings & money market

    1,614,469

    12,530

    3.08 %

    1,599,710

    13,509

    3.35 %

    1,492,534

    13,525

    3.61 %

    Time deposits

    937,557

    9,688

    4.10 %

    984,078

    10,448

    4.21 %

    992,335

    11,683

    4.68 %

    Total interest-bearing deposits

    2,912,535

    23,052

    3.14 %

    2,913,089

    24,703

    3.36 %

    2,785,771

    25,901

    3.70 %

    FHLB advances and other borrowings

    240,000

    2,295

    3.79 %

    240,087

    2,296

    3.79 %

    240,000

    2,295

    3.80 %

    Subordinated debentures

    24,903

    439

    6.99 %

    24,903

    458

    7.30 %

    24,903

    478

    7.64 %

    Total interest-bearing liabilities

    3,177,438

    25,786

    3.22 %

    3,178,079

    27,457

    3.43 %

    3,050,674

    28,674

    3.74 %

    Noninterest-bearing liabilities

    806,235





    792,575





    756,636





    Shareholders' equity

    363,131





    351,289





    329,219





    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

    $4,346,804





    $4,321,943





    $4,136,529





    Net interest spread





    1.94 %





    1.80 %





    1.38 %

    Net interest income (tax equivalent) / margin



    $28,756

    2.72 %



    $27,539

    2.62 %



    $22,471

    2.25 %

    Less: tax-equivalent adjustment(2)



    12





    10





    13



    Net interest income



    $28,744





    $27,529





    $22,458



    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

    Net interest income was $28.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, a $1.2 million increase from the third quarter of 2025, driven by a $1.7 million decrease in interest expense. The decrease in interest expense was driven by a 22 basis point decrease in the cost of our interest-bearing deposits over the previous quarter. In comparison to the fourth quarter of 2024, net interest income increased $6.3 million, resulting primarily from $218 million growth in the average balances of our interest-earning assets combined with a 56 basis point decrease in the cost of interest-bearing deposits. Net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, was 2.72% for the fourth quarter of 2025, a 10 basis point increase from 2.62% for the third quarter of 2025 and a 47 basis point increase from 2.25% for the fourth quarter of 2024.

    BALANCE SHEETS - Unaudited



















    Ending Balance



    Dec 31 2025 -





    Dec 31

    Sept 30

    Jun 30

    Mar 31

    Dec 31



    Dec 31 2024

    (in thousands, except per share data)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024



    % Change

    Assets

















    Cash and cash equivalents:

















      Cash and due from banks

    $

    27,821

    24,600

    25,184

    24,904

    22,553



    23.36 %

      Federal funds sold



    183,473

    178,534

    180,834

    263,612

    128,452



    42.83 %

      Interest-bearing deposits with banks



    58,289

    79,769

    65,014

    16,541

    11,858



    391.56 %

        Total cash and cash equivalents



    269,583

    282,903

    271,032

    305,057

    162,863



    65.53 %

    Investment securities:

















      Investment securities available for sale



    127,730

    131,040

    128,867

    131,290

    132,127



    (3.33 %)

      Other investments



    20,063

    20,066

    19,906

    19,927

    19,490



    2.94 %

        Total investment securities



    147,793

    151,106

    148,773

    151,217

    151,617



    (2.52 %)

    Mortgage loans held for sale



    11,569

    6,906

    10,739

    11,524

    4,565



    153.43 %

    Loans (5)



    3,845,124

    3,789,021

    3,746,841

    3,683,919

    3,631,767



    5.87 %

    Less allowance for credit losses



    (42,280)

    (41,799)

    (41,285)

    (40,687)

    (39,914)



    5.93 %

        Loans, net



    3,802,844

    3,747,222

    3,705,556

    3,643,232

    3,591,853



    5.87 %

    Bank owned life insurance



    55,775

    55,324

    54,886

    54,473

    54,070



    3.15 %

    Property and equipment, net



    83,465

    84,586

    85,921

    87,369

    88,794



    (6.00 %)

    Deferred income taxes



    13,702

    12,657

    12,971

    13,080

    13,467



    1.75 %

    Other assets



    18,763

    17,885

    18,189

    18,359

    20,364



    (7.86 %)

        Total assets

    $

    4,403,494

    4,358,589

    4,308,067

    4,284,311

    4,087,593



    7.73 %

    Liabilities

















    Deposits

    $

    3,716,803

    3,676,417

    3,636,329

    3,620,886

    3,435,765



    8.18 %

    FHLB Advances



    240,000

    240,000

    240,000

    240,000

    240,000



    0.00 %

    Subordinated debentures



    24,903

    24,903

    24,903

    24,903

    24,903



    0.00 %

    Other liabilities



    53,131

    60,921

    61,373

    60,924

    56,481



    (5.93 %)

        Total liabilities



    4,034,837

    4,002,241

    3,962,605

    3,946,713

    3,757,149



    7.39 %

    Shareholders' equity

















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



    -

    -

    -

    -

    -



    -

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



    82

    82

    82

    82

    82



    -

    Nonvested restricted stock



    (1,338)

    (1,929)

    (2,774)

    (3,372)

    (3,884)



    (65.55 %)

    Additional paid-in capital



    125,924

    125,035

    124,839

    124,561

    124,641



    1.03 %

    Accumulated other comprehensive loss



    (7,454)

    (8,426)

    (9,609)

    (10,016)

    (11,472)



    (35.02 %)

    Retained earnings



    251,443

    241,586

    232,924

    226,343

    221,077



    13.74 %

        Total shareholders' equity



    368,657

    356,348

    345,462

    337,598

    330,444



    11.56 %

        Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

    $

    4,403,494

    4,358,589

    4,308,067

    4,284,311

    4,087,593



    7.73 %

    Common Stock

















    Book value per common share

    $

    44.89

    43.51

    42.23

    41.33

    40.47



    10.92 %

    Stock price:

















      High



    55.50

    45.54

    38.51

    38.50

    44.86



    23.72 %

      Low



    41.15

    38.74

    30.61

    31.88

    33.26



    23.72 %

      Period end



    51.52

    44.12

    38.03

    32.92

    39.75



    29.61 %

    Common shares outstanding



    8,213

    8,189

    8,181

    8,169

    8,165



    0.59 %

    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

     

    ASSET QUALITY MEASURES - Unaudited





    Quarter Ended





    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    December 31

    (dollars in thousands)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

    Nonperforming Assets













    Commercial













      Owner occupied RE

    $

    259

    262

    -

    -

    -

      Non-owner occupied RE



    6,917

    6,911

    6,941

    6,950

    7,641

      Commercial business



    189

    195

    717

    1,087

    1,016

    Consumer













      Real estate



    5,763

    3,394

    3,028

    2,414

    1,908

      Home equity



    705

    705

    708

    310

    312

    Total nonaccrual loans



    13,833

    11,467

    11,394

    10,761

    10,877

    Other real estate owned



    275

    275

    275

    275

    -

    Total nonperforming assets

    $

    14,108

    11,742

    11,669

    11,036

    10,877

    Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:













      Total assets



    0.32 %

    0.27 %

    0.27 %

    0.26 %

    0.27 %

      Total loans



    0.37 %

    0.31 %

    0.31 %

    0.30 %

    0.30 %

    Classified assets/tier 1 capital plus allowance for credit losses



    4.22 %

    3.90 %

    4.28 %

    4.24 %

    4.25 %





    Quarter Ended





    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    December 31

    (dollars in thousands)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

    Allowance for Credit Losses













    Balance, beginning of period

    $

    41,799

    41,285

    40,687

    39,914

    40,166

    Loans charged-off



    (150)

    (55)

    (68)

    (78)

    (143)

    Recoveries of loans previously charged-off



    81

    69

    16

    101

    141

      Net loans (charged-off) recovered



    (69)

    14

    (52)

    23

    (2)

    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses



    550

    500

    650

    750

    (250)

    Balance, end of period

    $

    42,280

    41,799

    41,285

    40,687

    39,914

    Allowance for credit losses to gross loans



    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans



    305.65 %

    364.50 %

    362.35 %

    378.09 %

    366.94 %

    Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans QTD (annualized)



    0.01 %

    0.00 %

    0.01 %

    0.00 %

    0.00 %

    Total nonperforming assets were $14.1 million at December 31, 2025, representing 0.32% of total assets compared to 0.27% for the third quarter of 2025 and 0.27% for the fourth quarter of 2024. In addition, the classified asset ratio increased to 4.22% for the fourth quarter of 2025 from 3.90% in the third quarter of 2025 and decreased from 4.25% in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    At December 31, 2025, the allowance for credit losses was $42.3 million, or 1.10% of total loans, compared to $41.8 million, or 1.10% of total loans at September 30, 2025, and $39.9 million, or 1.10% of total loans, at December 31, 2024. We had net charge-offs of $69 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to net recoveries of $14 thousand for the third quarter of 2025 and net charge-offs of $2 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2024. There was a provision for credit losses of $550 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to a provision for credit losses of $500 thousand for the third quarter of 2025 and a reversal of the provision for credit losses of $250 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2024. The provision during the fourth quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by additional impairment on our individually evaluated loans.   

    LOAN COMPOSITION - Unaudited







    Quarter Ended





    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    December 31

    (dollars in thousands)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

    Commercial













    Owner occupied RE

    $

    736,979

    705,383

    686,424

    673,865

    651,597

    Non-owner occupied RE



    956,812

    943,304

    939,163

    926,246

    924,367

    Construction



    63,666

    71,928

    68,421

    90,021

    103,204

    Business



    619,667

    604,411

    589,661

    561,337

    556,117

    Total commercial loans



    2,377,124

    2,325,026

    2,283,669

    2,251,469

    2,235,285

    Consumer













    Real estate



    1,153,285

    1,159,693

    1,164,187

    1,147,357

    1,128,629

    Home equity



    248,685

    239,996

    234,608

    223,061

    204,897

    Construction



    24,997

    25,842

    25,210

    23,540

    20,874

    Other



    41,033

    38,464

    39,167

    38,492

    42,082

    Total consumer loans



    1,468,000

    1,463,995

    1,463,172

    1,432,450

    1,396,482

    Total gross loans, net of deferred fees    



    3,845,124

    3,789,021

    3,746,841

    3,683,919

    3,631,767

    Less—allowance for credit losses



    (42,280)

    (41,799)

    (41,285)

    (40,687)

    (39,914)

    Total loans, net

    $

    3,802,844

    3,747,222

    3,705,556

    3,643,232

    3,591,853

     

    DEPOSIT COMPOSITION - Unaudited







    Quarter Ended





    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    December 31

    (dollars in thousands)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

    Non-interest bearing

    $

    732,287

    736,518

    761,492

    671,609

    683,081

    Interest bearing:













       NOW accounts



    423,270

    343,615

    341,903

    371,052

    314,588

       Money market accounts



    1,573,039

    1,572,738

    1,537,400

    1,563,181

    1,438,530

       Savings



    29,470

    29,381

    32,334

    32,945

    31,976

       Time, less than $250,000



    180,783

    202,353

    194,064

    181,407

    193,562

       Time and out-of-market deposits, $250,000 and over



    777,954

    791,812

    769,136

    800,692

    774,028

    Total deposits

    $

    3,716,803

    3,676,417

    3,636,329

    3,620,886

    3,435,765

     

    Footnotes to tables:



     (1) Total revenue is the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.

     (2) 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.

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

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

     (5) Excludes mortgage loans held for sale.

     (6) Excludes out of market deposits and time deposits greater than $250,000 totaling $777,954,000.

     (7) December 31, 2025 ratios are preliminary.

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

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

    (10) Includes mortgage loans held for sale.

    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 $4.4 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.

    FINANCIAL & MEDIA CONTACT:

    ART SEAVER  864-679-9010

    WEB SITE: www.southernfirst.com

     

    Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-first-reports-fourth-quarter-2025-results-302666859.html

    SOURCE Southern First Bancshares, Inc.

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