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    Southern First Reports Results for First Quarter 2024

    4/18/24 4:15:00 PM ET
    $SFST
    Major Banks
    Finance
    Get the next $SFST alert in real time by email

    GREENVILLE, S.C., April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST), holding company for Southern First Bank, today announced its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024.

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

    "Our team generated excellent performance during the first quarter in terms of growing profitable client relationships and continuing to manage our credit quality exceptionally well," stated Art Seaver, the Company's Chief Executive Officer. "Our disciplined approach to pricing both loans and deposits resulted in improvement in our net interest margin, and this focus will continue as we build on our success for the long-term benefit of our communities and stakeholders."

    2024 First Quarter Highlights

    • Net income was $2.5 million and diluted earnings per common share were $0.31 for Q1 2024
    • Total loans increased to $3.6 billion at Q1 2024, compared to $3.4 billion at Q1 2023
    • Total deposits increased to $3.5 billion at Q1 2024, compared to $3.4 billion at Q1 2023
    • Strong credit quality with nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.09% and past due loans to total loans of 0.36% at Q1 2024
    • Net interest margin was 1.94% for Q1 2024, compared to 2.36% for Q1 2023 
    • Book value per common share increased to $38.65 at Q1 2024, or 4%, over Q1 2023

     





    Quarter Ended





    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31





    2024

    2023

    2023

    2023

    2023

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













    Net income available to common shareholders

    $

    2,522

    4,167

    4,098

    2,458

    2,703

    Earnings per common share, diluted



    0.31

    0.51

    0.51

    0.31

    0.33

    Total revenue(1)



    21,309

    21,390

    22,094

    21,561

    22,468

    Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)(2)



    1.94 %

    1.92 %

    1.97 %

    2.05 %

    2.36 %

    Return on average assets(3)



    0.25 %

    0.40 %

    0.40 %

    0.26 %

    0.30 %

    Return on average equity(3)



    3.22 %

    5.39 %

    5.35 %

    3.27 %

    3.67 %

    Efficiency ratio(4)



    84.94 %

    79.61 %

    78.31 %

    80.67 %

    76.12 %

    Noninterest expense to average assets (3)



    1.81 %

    1.64 %

    1.69 %

    1.82 %

    1.89 %

    Balance Sheet ($ in thousands):













    Total loans(5)

    $

    3,643,766

    3,602,627

    3,553,632

    3,537,616

    3,417,945

    Total deposits



    3,460,681

    3,379,564

    3,347,771

    3,433,018

    3,426,774

    Core deposits(6)



    2,807,473

    2,811,499

    2,866,574

    2,880,507

    2,946,567

    Total assets



    4,105,704

    4,055,789

    4,019,957

    4,002,107

    3,938,140

    Book value per common share



    38.65

    38.63

    37.57

    37.42

    37.16

    Loans to deposits



    105.29 %

    106.60 %

    106.15 %

    103.05 %

    99.74 %

    Holding Company Capital Ratios(7):













    Total risk-based capital ratio



    12.59 %

    12.57 %

    12.56 %

    12.40 %

    12.67 %

    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio



    10.63 %

    10.60 %

    10.58 %

    10.42 %

    10.66 %

    Leverage ratio



    8.43 %

    8.14 %

    8.17 %

    8.48 %

    8.80 %

    Common equity tier 1 ratio(8)



    10.22 %

    10.19 %

    10.17 %

    10.00 %

    10.23 %

    Tangible common equity(9)



    7.68 %

    7.70 %

    7.56 %

    7.53 %

    7.60 %

    Asset Quality Ratios:













    Nonperforming assets/ total assets



    0.09 %

    0.10 %

    0.11 %

    0.08 %

    0.12 %

    Classified assets/tier one capital plus allowance for credit losses



    3.99 %

    4.25 %

    4.72 %

    4.68 %

    5.10 %

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



    0.36 %

    0.37 %

    0.13 %

    0.07 %

    0.11 %

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



    0.03 %

    0.00 %

    0.01 %

    0.03 %

    0.01 %

    Allowance for credit losses/loans(5)



    1.11 %

    1.13 %

    1.16 %

    1.16 %

    1.18 %

    Allowance for credit losses/nonaccrual loans



    1,109.13 %

    1,026.58 %

    953.25 %

    1,363.11 %

    854.33 %

    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

     

    INCOME STATEMENTS – Unaudited

















    Quarter Ended





    Mar 31

    Dec 31

    Sept 30

    Jun 30

    Mar 31

    (in thousands, except per share data)



    2024

    2023

    2023

    2023

    2023

    Interest income













    Loans

    $

    45,605

    44,758

    43,542

    41,089

    36,748

    Investment securities



    1,478

    1,674

    1,470

    706

    613

    Federal funds sold



    1,280

    2,703

    2,435

    891

    969

      Total interest income



    48,363

    49,135

    47,447

    42,686

    38,330

    Interest expense













    Deposits



    26,932

    27,127

    25,130

    25,937

    17,179

    Borrowings



    2,786

    2,948

    2,972

    1,924

    727

      Total interest expense



    29,718

    30,075

    28,102

    23,861

    17,906

    Net interest income



    18,645

    19,060

    19,345

    18,825

    20,424

    Provision (reversal) for credit losses



    (175)

    (975)

    (500)

    910

    1,825

    Net interest income after provision for credit losses



    18,820

    20,035

    19,845

    17,915

    18,599

    Noninterest income













    Mortgage banking income



    1,164

    868

    1,208

    1,337

    622

    Service fees on deposit accounts



    387

    371

    356

    331

    325

    ATM and debit card income



    544

    565

    588

    536

    555

    Income from bank owned life insurance



    377

    361

    349

    338

    332

    Other income



    192

    165

    248

    194

    210

      Total noninterest income



    2,664

    2,330

    2,749

    2,736

    2,044

    Noninterest expense













    Compensation and benefits



    10,857

    9,401

    10,231

    10,287

    10,356

    Occupancy



    2,557

    2,718

    2,562

    2,518

    2,457

    Outside service and data processing costs



    1,846

    2,000

    1,744

    1,705

    1,629

    Insurance



    955

    937

    1,243

    897

    689

    Professional fees



    618

    581

    504

    751

    660

    Marketing



    369

    364

    293

    335

    366

    Other



    898

    1,027

    725

    900

    947

      Total noninterest expenses



    18,100

    17,028

    17,302

    17,393

    17,104

    Income before provision for income taxes



    3,384

    5,337

    5,293

    3,258

    3,539

    Income tax expense



    862

    1,170

    1,195

    800

    836

    Net income available to common shareholders

    $

    2,522

    4,167

    4,098

    2,458

    2,703















    Earnings per common share – Basic

    $

    0.31

    0.51

    0.51

    0.31

    0.34

    Earnings per common share – Diluted



    0.31

    0.51

    0.51

    0.31

    0.33

    Basic weighted average common shares



    8,110

    8,056

    8,053

    8,051

    8,026

    Diluted weighted average common shares



    8,142

    8,080

    8,072

    8,069

    8,092

    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

    Net income for the first quarter of 2024 was $2.5 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, a $1.6 million decrease from the fourth quarter of 2023 and a $181 thousand decrease from the first quarter of 2023.  Net interest income decreased $415 thousand during the first quarter of 2024, compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, and decreased $1.8 million, compared to the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in net interest income from the prior quarter was driven by less interest income on our federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits, while the decrease from the prior year was driven by an increase in deposit and funding costs.     

    There was a reversal of the provision for credit losses of $175 thousand for the first quarter of 2024, compared to a reversal of $975 thousand during the fourth quarter of 2023 and a provision of $1.8 million during the first quarter of 2023.  The provision reversal of $175 thousand during the first quarter of 2024 relates to a reversal in the reserve for unfunded commitments, driven by a decrease in the balance of unfunded commitments at March 31, 2024.  As we continue to experience low net charge-offs, our expected loss rates continue to decline, resulting in a reduction in the allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans.

    Noninterest income was $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2024, compared to $2.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, and $2.0 million for the first quarter of 2023. Mortgage banking income continues to be the largest component of our noninterest income at $1.2 million for the first quarter of 2024, $868 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2023, and $622 thousand for the first quarter of 2023.

    Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2024 was $18.1 million, a $1.1 million increase from the fourth quarter of 2023, and a $996 thousand increase from the first quarter of 2023. The increase in noninterest expense from the previous quarter was driven by an increase in compensation and benefits expense, while the increase from the prior year related not only to an increase in compensation and benefits expenses, but also to increases in outside service and data processing costs and insurance expenses. The increase in compensation and benefits expenses during the current quarter was due primarily to an increase in various benefit-related expenses.  In addition, the increase in outside service and data processing costs from the prior quarter and prior year was driven by an increase in software licensing and maintenance costs, while insurance costs increased over the prior year due to higher FDIC insurance premiums.

    Our effective tax rate was 25.5% for the first quarter of 2024, 21.9% for the fourth quarter of 2023, and 23.6% for the first quarter of 2023. The higher tax rate in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the prior quarter and prior year was primarily related to the effect of equity compensation transactions during the quarter.

    NET INTEREST INCOME AND MARGIN - Unaudited













    For the Three Months Ended



    March 31, 2024

    December 31, 2023

    March 31, 2023

    (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

    $     89,969

    $     1,280

    5.71 %

    $     197,482

    $     2,703

    5.43 %

    $     85,966

    $      969

    4.57 %

      Investment securities, taxable

    137,271

    1,436

    4.20 %

    151,969

    1,632

    4.26 %

    87,521

    530

    2.46 %

      Investment securities, nontaxable(2)

    8,097

    55

    2.70 %

    7,831

    55

    2.76 %

    10,266

    106

    4.21 %

      Loans(10)

    3,622,972

    45,605

    5.05 %

    3,586,863

    44,758

    4.95 %

    3,334,530

    36,748

    4.47 %

        Total interest-earning assets

    3,858,309

    48,376

    5.03 %

    3,944,145

    49,148

    4.94 %

    3,518,283

    38,353

    4.42 %

      Noninterest-earning assets

    159,813





    174,717





    161,310





        Total assets

    $4,018,122





    $4,118,862





    $3,679,593





    Interest-bearing liabilities



















     NOW accounts

    $   295,774

    660

    0.90 %

    $   301,424

    656

    0.86 %

    $   303,176

    440

    0.59 %

     Savings & money market

    1,620,521

    16,299

    4.03 %

    1,697,144

    17,042

    3.98 %

    1,661,878

    11,992

    2.93 %

     Time deposits

    801,734

    9,973

    4.99 %

    759,839

    9,429

    4.92 %

    543,425

    4,747

    3.54 %

    Total interest-bearing deposits

    2,718,029

    26,932

    3.97 %

    2,758,407

    27,127

    3.90 %

    2,508,479

    17,179

    2.78 %

     FHLB advances and other borrowings

    241,319

    2,229

    3.71 %

    257,880

    2,387

    3.67 %

    18,243

    200

    4.45 %

     Subordinated debentures

    36,333

    557

    6.15 %

    36,305

    561

    6.13 %

    36,224

    527

    5.90 %

    Total interest-bearing liabilities

    2,995,681

    29,718

    3.98 %

    3,052,592

    30,075

    3.91 %

    2,562,946

    17,906

    2.83 %

     Noninterest-bearing liabilities

    707,890





    759,413





    818,123





     Shareholders' equity

    314,551





    306,857





    298,524





    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

    $4,018,122





    $4,118,862





    $3,679,593





     Net interest spread





    1.05 %





    1.04 %





    1.59 %

     Net interest income (tax equivalent) / margin



    $18,658

    1.94 %



    $19,073

    1.92 %



    $20,447

    2.36 %

     Less:  tax-equivalent adjustment(2)



    13





    13





    23



     Net interest income



    $18,645





    $19,060





    $20,424



    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

    Net interest income was $18.6 million for the first quarter of 2024, a $415 thousand decrease from the fourth quarter of 2023, driven by a $772 thousand decrease in interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, partially offset by a $357 thousand decrease in interest expense. The decrease in interest income was driven by a $107.5 million decrease in average federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposit balances. In comparison to the first quarter of 2023, net interest income decreased $1.8 million, resulting primarily from a $432.7 million increase in average interest-bearing liabilities during the 12 months ended March 31, 2024, combined with a 115-basis point increase in the average cost.  Our net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, was 1.94% for the first quarter of 2024, a two-basis point increase from 1.92% for the fourth quarter of 2023 and a 42-basis point decrease from 2.36% for the first quarter of 2023.  During the first quarter of 2024, the yield on our loan portfolio increased by 10-basis points, while the cost of our interest-bearing deposits increased by only seven basis points, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, resulting in a slight increase in net interest margin for the period.  The lower net interest margin during the first quarter of 2024, as compared to the first quarter of 2023, was a result of our deposit and borrowing costs increasing faster than our loan yield as our interest-bearing liabilities have been more sensitive to changes in the federal funds rate over the past two years. 

    BALANCE SHEETS - Unaudited















    Ending Balance





    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    (in thousands, except per share data)



    2024

    2023

    2023

    2023

    2023

    Assets













    Cash and cash equivalents:













      Cash and due from banks

    $

    13,925

    28,020

    17,395

    24,742

    22,213

      Federal funds sold



    144,595

    119,349

    127,714

    170,145

    242,642

      Interest-bearing deposits with banks



    8,789

    8,801

    7,283

    10,183

    7,350

        Total cash and cash equivalents



    167,309

    156,170

    152,392

    205,070

    272,205

    Investment securities:













      Investment securities available for sale



    125,996

    134,702

    144,035

    91,548

    94,036

      Other investments



    18,499

    19,939

    19,600

    12,550

    10,097

        Total investment securities



    144,495

    154,641

    163,635

    104,098

    104,133

    Mortgage loans held for sale



    11,842

    7,194

    7,117

    15,781

    6,979

    Loans (5)



    3,643,766

    3,602,627

    3,553,632

    3,537,616

    3,417,945

    Less allowance for credit losses



    (40,441)

    (40,682)

    (41,131)

    (41,105)

    (40,435)

        Loans, net



    3,603,325

    3,561,945

    3,512,501

    3,496,511

    3,377,510

    Bank owned life insurance



    52,878

    52,501

    52,140

    51,791

    51,453

    Property and equipment, net



    93,007

    94,301

    95,743

    96,964

    97,806

    Deferred income taxes



    12,321

    12,200

    13,078

    12,356

    12,087

    Other assets



    20,527

    16,837

    23,351

    19,536

    15,967

        Total assets

    $

    4,105,704

    4,055,789

    4,019,957

    4,002,107

    3,938,140

    Liabilities













    Deposits

    $

    3,460,681

    3,379,564

    3,347,771

    3,433,018

    3,426,774

    FHLB Advances



    240,000

    275,000

    275,000

    180,000

    125,000

    Subordinated debentures



    36,349

    36,322

    36,295

    36,268

    36,241

    Other liabilities



    53,418

    52,436

    56,993

    51,307

    50,775

        Total liabilities



    3,790,448

    3,743,322

    3,716,059

    3,700,593

    3,638,790

    Shareholders' equity













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



    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

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



    82

    81

    81

    81

    80

    Nonvested restricted stock



    (5,257)

    (3,596)

    (4,065)

    (4,051)

    (4,462)

    Additional paid-in capital



    124,159

    121,777

    121,757

    120,912

    120,683

    Accumulated other comprehensive loss



    (11,797)

    (11,342)

    (15,255)

    (12,710)

    (11,775)

    Retained earnings



    208,069

    205,547

    201,380

    197,282

    194,824

        Total shareholders' equity



    315,256

    312,467

    303,898

    301,514

    299,350

        Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

    $

    4,105,704

    4,055,789

    4,019,957

    4,002,107

    3,938,140

    Common Stock













    Book value per common share

    $

    38.65

    38.63

    37.57

    37.42

    37.16

    Stock price:













      High



    38.71

    37.15

    30.18

    31.34

    45.05

      Low



    29.80

    25.16

    24.22

    21.33

    30.70

      Period end



    31.76

    37.10

    26.94

    24.75

    30.70

    Common shares outstanding



    8,156

    8,088

    8,089

    8,058

    8,048

    [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)



    2024

    2023

    2023

    2023

    2023

    Nonperforming Assets













    Commercial













      Non-owner occupied RE

    $

    1,410

    1,423

    1,615

    754

    1,384

      Commercial business



    488

    319

    404

    137

    1,196

    Consumer













      Real estate



    1,380

    985

    1,228

    1,053

    1,075

      Home equity



    367

    1,236

    1,068

    1,072

    1,078

      Other



    1

    -

    -

    -

    -

    Total nonaccrual loans



    3,646

    3,963

    4,315

    3,016

    4,733

    Other real estate owned



    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    Total nonperforming assets

    $

    3,646

    3,963

    4,315

    3,016

    4,733

    Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:













      Total assets



    0.09 %

    0.10 %

    0.11 %

    0.08 %

    0.12 %

      Total loans



    0.10 %

    0.11 %

    0.12 %

    0.09 %

    0.14 %

    Classified assets/tier 1 capital plus allowance for credit losses



    3.99 %

    4.25 %

    4.72 %

    4.68 %

    5.10 %











    Quarter Ended





    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    (dollars in thousands)



    2024

    2023

    2023

    2023

    2023

    Allowance for Credit Losses













    Balance, beginning of period

    $

    40,682

    41,131

    41,105

    40,435

    38,639

    Loans charged-off



    (424)

    (119)

    (42)

    (440)

    (161)

    Recoveries of loans previously charged-off



    183

    310

    168

    15

    102

      Net loans (charged-off) recovered



    (241)

    191

    126

    (425)

    (59)

    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses



    -

    (640)

    (100)

    1,095

    1,855

    Balance, end of period

    $

    40,441

    40,682

    41,131

    41,105

    40,435

    Allowance for credit losses to gross loans



    1.11 %

    1.13 %

    1.16 %

    1.16 %

    1.18 %

    Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans



    1,109.13 %

    1,026.58 %

    953.25 %

    1,363.11 %

    854.33 %

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



    0.03 %

    (0.02 %)

    (0.01 %)

    0.05 %

    0.01 %

    Total nonperforming assets decreased by $317 thousand during the first quarter of 2024, and represented 0.09% of total assets, a decrease compared to 0.10% for the fourth quarter of 2023 and 0.12% for the first quarter of 2023. While we added three new relationships to nonaccrual during the first quarter of 2024, there were also three relationships either returned to accrual status or paid off during the quarter. In addition, our classified asset ratio decreased to 3.99% for the first quarter of 2024 from 4.25% in the fourth quarter of 2023 and from 5.10% in the first quarter of 2023.

    At March 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses was $40.4 million, or 1.11% of total loans, compared to $40.7 million, or 1.13% of total loans at December 31, 2023, and $40.4 million, or 1.18% of total loans, at March 31, 2023. We had net charge-offs of $241 thousand, or 0.03% annualized, for the first quarter of 2024, compared to net recoveries of $191 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2023 and net charge-offs of $59 thousand for the first quarter of 2023. There was no provision for credit losses recorded during the first quarter of 2024, compared to a reversal of $640 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2023 and a provision of $1.9 million for the first quarter of 2023. As we continue to experience low net charge-offs, the expected loss rates in our allowance for credit loss continue to decline, resulting in no provision for credit loss expense for the quarter.

    LOAN COMPOSITION - Unaudited







    Quarter Ended





    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    (dollars in thousands)



    2024

    2023

    2023

    2023

    2023

    Commercial













    Owner occupied RE

    $

    631,047

    631,657

    637,038

    613,874

    615,094

    Non-owner occupied RE



    944,530

    942,529

    937,749

    951,536

    928,059

    Construction



    157,464

    150,680

    119,629

    115,798

    94,641

    Business



    520,073

    500,161

    500,253

    511,719

    495,161

    Total commercial loans



    2,253,114

    2,225,027

    2,194,669

    2,192,927

    2,132,955

    Consumer













    Real estate



    1,101,573

    1,082,429

    1,074,679

    1,047,904

    993,258

    Home equity



    184,691

    183,004

    180,856

    185,584

    180,974

    Construction



    53,216

    63,348

    54,210

    61,044

    71,137

    Other



    51,172

    48,819

    49,218

    50,157

    39,621

    Total consumer loans



    1,390,652

    1,377,600

    1,358,963

    1,344,689

    1,284,990

    Total gross loans, net of deferred fees    



    3,643,766

    3,602,627

    3,553,632

    3,537,616

    3,417,945

    Less—allowance for credit losses



    (40,441)

    (40,682)

    (41,131)

    (41,105)

    (40,435)

    Total loans, net

    $

    3,603,325

    3,561,945

    3,512,501

    3,496,511

    3,377,510



    DEPOSIT COMPOSITION - Unaudited







    Quarter Ended





    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    (dollars in thousands)



    2024

    2023

    2023

    2023

    2023

    Non-interest bearing

    $

    671,708

    674,167

    675,409

    698,084

    740,534

    Interest bearing:













       NOW accounts



    293,064

    310,218

    306,667

    308,762

    303,743

       Money market accounts



    1,603,796

    1,605,278

    1,685,736

    1,692,900

    1,748,562

       Savings



    32,248

    31,669

    34,737

    36,243

    39,706

       Time, less than $250,000



    206,657

    190,167

    125,506

    114,691

    106,679

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



    653,208

    568,065

    519,716

    582,338

    487,550

      Total deposits

    $

    3,460,681

    3,379,564

    3,347,771

    3,433,018

    3,426,774





    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 $653,208,000.

     (7) March 31, 2024 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 $4.1 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 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) elevated inflation 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 is 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-results-for-first-quarter-2024-302118651.html

    SOURCE Southern First Bancshares, Inc.

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