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    Southern First Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results

    10/28/25 7:15:00 AM ET
    $SFST
    Major Banks
    Finance
    Get the next $SFST alert in real time by email

    GREENVILLE, S.C., Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST), holding company for Southern First Bank, today announced its financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2025.

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

    "Our third quarter financial performance clearly shows the steady momentum that continued this quarter, in line with our expectations. Our team remains highly focused on executing our plans for increased profitability and high-quality loan growth, funded by client retail deposits, which is core to our full relationship banking strategy. Superior asset quality metrics and margin expansion are the result of our intentional and disciplined approach. We have again achieved historically high revenue growth over the same quarter last year, at a rate which was two and a half times our expense growth. This expanded profitability further strengthened capital levels, providing ample support for our strong business pipelines. Although we maintain a cautious outlook and actively monitor for emerging risks, our markets have continued to exhibit vibrant and sustainable growth momentum," stated Art Seaver, Chief Executive Officer. "We continue to attract and retain experienced bankers who share our commitment to outstanding client service, delivered with a personal touch, and to supporting our local communities. Our Southeastern markets remain healthy and resilient, and we are well positioned to benefit from the opportunities created by ongoing banking industry consolidation. This quarter's results reinforce our optimism in the financial outlook for the remainder of the year."

    2025 Third Quarter Highlights

    • Diluted earnings per common share of $1.07, up $0.26, or 32%, from Q2 2025, and $0.53, or 98%, compared to Q3 2024
    • Net interest margin of 2.62%, compared to 2.50% for Q2 2025 and 2.08% for Q3 2024
    • Total loans of $3.8 billion, up 4% (annualized) from Q2 2025; core deposits of $2.9 billion, up 2% (annualized) from Q2 2025
    • Nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.27% and past due loans to total loans of 0.18%
    • Book value per common share of $43.51 increased 12% (annualized) from Q2 2025 and 9% compared to Q3 2024; Tangible Common Equity (TCE) ratio of 8.18%




    Quarter Ended





    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    December 31

    September 30





    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

    2024

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













    Net income available to common shareholders

    $

    8,662

    6,581

    5,266

    5,627

    4,382

    Earnings per common share, diluted



    1.07

    0.81

    0.65

    0.70

    0.54

    Total revenue(1)



    31,129

    28,629

    26,497

    25,237

    23,766

    Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)(2)



    2.62 %

    2.50 %

    2.41 %

    2.25 %

    2.08 %

    Return on average assets(3)



    0.80 %

    0.63 %

    0.52 %

    0.54 %

    0.43 %

    Return on average equity(3)



    9.78 %

    7.71 %

    6.38 %

    6.80 %

    5.40 %

    Efficiency ratio(4)



    60.86 %

    67.54 %

    71.08 %

    73.48 %

    75.90 %

    Noninterest expense to average assets (3)



    1.74 %

    1.86 %

    1.87 %

    1.78 %

    1.75 %

    Balance Sheet ($ in thousands):













    Total loans(5)

    $

    3,789,021

    3,746,841

    3,683,919

    3,631,767

    3,619,556

    Total deposits



    3,676,417

    3,636,329

    3,620,886

    3,435,765

    3,518,825

    Core deposits(6)



    2,884,604

    2,867,193

    2,820,194

    2,661,736

    2,705,429

    Total assets



    4,358,589

    4,308,067

    4,284,311

    4,087,593

    4,174,631

    Book value per common share



    43.51

    42.23

    41.33

    40.47

    40.04

    Loans to deposits



    103.06 %

    103.04 %

    101.74 %

    105.70 %

    102.86 %

    Holding Company Capital Ratios(7):













    Total risk-based capital ratio



    12.79 %

    12.63 %

    12.69 %

    12.70 %

    12.61 %

    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio



    11.26 %

    11.11 %

    11.15 %

    11.16 %

    10.99 %

    Leverage ratio



    8.72 %

    8.73 %

    8.79 %

    8.55 %

    8.50 %

    Common equity tier 1 ratio(8)



    10.88 %

    10.71 %

    10.75 %

    10.75 %

    10.58 %

    Tangible common equity(9)



    8.18 %

    8.02 %

    7.88 %

    8.08 %

    7.82 %

    Asset Quality Ratios:













    Nonperforming assets/total assets



    0.27 %

    0.27 %

    0.26 %

    0.27 %

    0.28 %

    Classified assets/tier one capital plus allowance for credit losses



    3.90 %

    4.28 %

    4.24 %

    4.25 %

    4.35 %

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



    0.18 %

    0.14 %

    0.27 %

    0.18 %

    0.09 %

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



    0.00 %

    0.00 %

    0.00 %

    0.04 %

    0.05 %

    Allowance for credit losses/loans(5)



    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.11 %

    Allowance for credit losses/nonaccrual loans



    364.50 %

    362.35 %

    378.09 %

    366.94 %

    346.78 %

    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

     

    INCOME STATEMENTS – Unaudited





















    Quarter Ended



    Sept 30 2025 -





    Sept 30

    Jun 30

    Mar 31

    Dec 31

    Sept 30



    Sept 30 2024

    (in thousands, except per share data)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

    2024



    % Change

    Interest income

















    Loans

    $

    50,999

    48,992

    47,085

    47,163

    47,550



    7.25 %

    Investment securities



    1,342

    1,357

    1,403

    1,504

    1,412



    (4.96 %)

    Federal funds sold



    2,645

    1,969

    1,159

    2,465

    2,209



    19.74 %

      Total interest income



    54,986

    52,318

    49,647

    51,132

    51,171



    7.46 %

    Interest expense

















    Deposits



    24,703

    24,300

    23,569

    25,901

    27,725



    (10.90 %)

    Borrowings



    2,754

    2,723

    2,695

    2,773

    2,855



    (3.54 %)

      Total interest expense



    27,457

    27,023

    26,264

    28,674

    30,580



    (10.21 %)

    Net interest income



    27,529

    25,295

    23,383

    22,458

    20,591



    33.69 %

    Provision (reversal of) for credit losses



    850

    700

    750

    (200)

    -



    100 %

    Net interest income after provision for credit losses



    26,679

    24,595

    22,633

    22,658

    20,591



    29.57 %

    Noninterest income

















    Mortgage banking income



    1,600

    1,569

    1,424

    1,024

    1,449



    10.42 %

    Service fees on deposit accounts



    625

    567

    539

    499

    455



    37.36 %

    ATM and debit card income



    601

    586

    552

    607

    599



    0.33 %

    Income from bank owned life insurance



    439

    413

    403

    407

    401



    9.48 %

    Other income



    335

    199

    196

    242

    271



    23.62 %

      Total noninterest income



    3,600

    3,334

    3,114

    2,779

    3,175



    13.39 %

    Noninterest expense

















    Compensation and benefits



    11,299

    11,674

    11,304

    10,610

    10,789



    4.73 %

    Occupancy



    2,447

    2,523

    2,548

    2,587

    2,595



    (5.70 %)

    Outside service and data processing costs



    2,158

    2,189

    2,037

    2,003

    1,930



    11.81 %

    Insurance



    961

    910

    1,010

    1,077

    1,025



    (6.24 %)

    Professional fees



    605

    609

    509

    656

    548



    10.40 %

    Marketing



    412

    397

    374

    335

    319



    29.15 %

    Other



    1,064

    1,034

    1,054

    1,276

    833



    27.73 %

      Total noninterest expenses



    18,946

    19,336

    18,836

    18,544

    18,039



    5.03 %

    Income before provision for income taxes



    11,333

    8,593

    6,911

    6,893

    5,727



    97.89 %

    Income tax expense



    2,671

    2,012

    1,645

    1,266

    1,345



    98.59 %

    Net income available to common shareholders

    $

    8,662

    6,581

    5,266

    5,627

    4,382



    97.67 %



















    Earnings per common share – Basic

    $

    1.08

    0.81

    0.65

    0.70

    0.54





    Earnings per common share – Diluted



    1.07

    0.81

    0.65

    0.70

    0.54





    Basic weighted average common shares



    8,031

    8,036

    8,078

    8,023

    8,064





    Diluted weighted average common shares



    8,080

    8,051

    8,111

    8,097

    8,089





     [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

    Net income for the third quarter of 2025 was $8.7 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, a $2.1 million increase from the second quarter of 2025 and a $4.3 million increase from the third quarter of 2024. Net interest income increased $2.2 million during the third quarter of 2025, compared to the second quarter of 2025, and increased $6.9 million, compared to the third 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 $850 thousand for the third quarter of 2025 compared to a provision for credit losses of $700 thousand for the second quarter of 2025 and no provision for credit losses for the third quarter of 2024. The provision during the third quarter of 2025 includes a $500 thousand provision for credit losses and a $350 thousand provision for the reserve for unfunded commitments. The provision for credit losses in the third quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by a change in qualitative factors related to an increase in past due loans and risk migration among our commercial business and non-owner occupied loans.

    Noninterest income was $3.6 million for the third quarter of 2025, compared to $3.3 million for the second quarter of 2025, and $3.2 million for the third quarter of 2024. Mortgage banking income continues to be the largest component of noninterest income at $1.6 million in fee revenue for the third and second quarters of 2025, and $1.4 million for the third quarter of 2024. In addition, service fees on deposit accounts increased 10% over the prior quarter and 37% over the prior year.

    Noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2025 was $18.9 million, a $390 thousand decrease from the second quarter of 2025, and a $907 thousand increase from the third quarter of 2024. The decrease in noninterest expense from the previous quarter was driven by a decrease in compensation and benefits and occupancy expenses, offset in part by an increase in insurance expense. The increase in noninterest expense from the previous year related primarily to increases in compensation and benefits, outside service and data processing costs, and other noninterest expenses, offset in part by a decrease in occupancy.

    The effective tax rate was 23.6% for the third quarter of 2025, 23.4% for the second quarter of 2025, and 23.5% for the third 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



    September 30, 2025

    June 30, 2025

    September 30, 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

    $     238,552

    $     2,645

    4.40 %

    $     179,095

    $     1,969

    4.41 %

    $     158,222

    $     2,209

    5.55 %

      Investment securities, taxable

    141,143

    1,307

    3.67 %

    141,898

    1,315

    3.72 %

    137,087

    1,370

    3.98 %

      Investment securities, nontaxable(2)

    7,811

    45

    2.31 %

    7,740

    55

    2.83 %

    8,047

    55

    2.70 %

      Loans(10)

    3,783,885

    50,999

    5.35 %

    3,724,064

    48,992

    5.28 %

    3,629,050

    47,550

    5.21 %

        Total interest-earning assets

    4,171,391

    54,996

    5.23 %

    4,052,797

    52,331

    5.18 %

    3,932,406

    51,184

    5.18 %

      Noninterest-earning assets

    150,552





    154,051





    158,550





        Total assets

    $4,321,943





    $4,206,848





    $4,090,956





    Interest-bearing liabilities



















    NOW accounts

    $   329,301

    746

    0.90 %

    $   331,811

    752

    0.91 %

    $   314,669

    835

    1.06 %

    Savings & money market

    1,599,710

    13,509

    3.35 %

    1,566,345

    13,398

    3.43 %

    1,523,834

    15,287

    3.99 %

    Time deposits

    984,078

    10,448

    4.21 %

    942,880

    10,150

    4.32 %

    909,192

    11,603

    5.08 %

    Total interest-bearing deposits

    2,913,089

    24,703

    3.36 %

    2,841,036

    24,300

    3.43 %

    2,747,695

    27,725

    4.01 %

    FHLB advances and other borrowings

    240,087

    2,296

    3.79 %

    240,000

    2,270

    3.79 %

    240,065

    2,297

    3.81 %

    Subordinated debentures

    24,903

    458

    7.30 %

    24,903

    453

    7.30 %

    36,261

    558

    6.12 %

    Total interest-bearing liabilities

    3,178,079

    27,457

    3.43 %

    3,105,939

    27,023

    3.49 %

    3,024,021

    30,580

    4.02 %

    Noninterest-bearing liabilities

    792,575





    758,626





    744,025





    Shareholders' equity

    351,289





    342,283





    322,910





    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

    $4,321,943





    $4,206,848





    $4,090,956





    Net interest spread





    1.80 %





    1.69 %





    1.16 %

    Net interest income (tax equivalent) / margin



    $27,539

    2.62 %



    $25,308

    2.50 %



    $20,604

    2.08 %

    Less: tax-equivalent adjustment(2)



    10





    13





    13



    Net interest income



    $27,529





    $25,295





    $20,591



    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

    Net interest income was $27.5 million for the third quarter of 2025, a $2.2 million increase from the second quarter of 2025, driven by a $2.7 million increase in interest income, partially offset by a $434 thousand increase in interest expense. The increase in interest income was driven by an increase in the yield on interest-earning assets, as loan yield increased seven basis points over the previous quarter. In addition, the cost of our interest-bearing deposits decreased seven basis points over the previous quarter. In comparison to the third quarter of 2024, net interest income increased $6.9 million, resulting primarily from a 65 basis point decrease in the cost of interest-bearing deposits. Net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, was 2.62% for the third quarter of 2025, a 12 basis point increase from 2.50% for the second quarter of 2025 and a 54 basis point increase from 2.08% for the third quarter of 2024.

    BALANCE SHEETS - Unaudited



















    Ending Balance



    Sept 30 2025 -





    Sept 30

    Jun 30

    Mar 31

    Dec 31

    Sept 30



    Sept 30 2024

    (in thousands, except per share data)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

    2024



    % Change

    Assets

















    Cash and cash equivalents:

















      Cash and due from banks

    $

    24,600

    25,184

    24,904

    22,553

    25,289



    (2.72 %)

      Federal funds sold



    178,534

    180,834

    263,612

    128,452

    226,110



    (21.04 %)

      Interest-bearing deposits with banks



    79,769

    65,014

    16,541

    11,858

    9,176



    769.32 %

        Total cash and cash equivalents



    282,903

    271,032

    305,057

    162,863

    260,575



    8.57 %

    Investment securities:

















      Investment securities available for sale



    131,040

    128,867

    131,290

    132,127

    134,597



    (2.64 %)

      Other investments



    20,066

    19,906

    19,927

    19,490

    19,640



    2.17 %

        Total investment securities



    151,106

    148,773

    151,217

    151,617

    154,237



    (2.03 %)

    Mortgage loans held for sale



    6,906

    10,739

    11,524

    4,565

    8,602



    (19.72 %)

    Loans (5)



    3,789,021

    3,746,841

    3,683,919

    3,631,767

    3,619,556



    4.68 %

    Less allowance for credit losses



    (41,799)

    (41,285)

    (40,687)

    (39,914)

    (40,166)



    4.07 %

        Loans, net



    3,747,222

    3,705,556

    3,643,232

    3,591,853

    3,579,390



    4.69 %

    Bank owned life insurance



    55,324

    54,886

    54,473

    54,070

    53,663



    3.10 %

    Property and equipment, net



    84,586

    85,921

    87,369

    88,794

    90,158



    (6.18 %)

    Deferred income taxes



    12,657

    12,971

    13,080

    13,467

    11,595



    9.16 %

    Other assets



    17,885

    18,189

    18,359

    20,364

    16,411



    8.98 %

        Total assets

    $

    4,358,589

    4,308,067

    4,284,311

    4,087,593

    4,174,631



    4.41 %

    Liabilities

















    Deposits

    $

    3,676,417

    3,636,329

    3,620,886

    3,435,765

    3,518,825



    4.48 %

    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



    60,921

    61,373

    60,924

    56,481

    64,365



    (5.35 %)

        Total liabilities



    4,002,241

    3,962,605

    3,946,713

    3,757,149

    3,848,093



    4.01 %

    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



    (1,929)

    (2,774)

    (3,372)

    (3,884)

    (4,219)



    (54.28 %)

    Additional paid-in capital



    125,035

    124,839

    124,561

    124,641

    124,288



    0.60 %

    Accumulated other comprehensive loss



    (8,426)

    (9,609)

    (10,016)

    (11,472)

    (9,063)



    (7.03 %)

    Retained earnings



    241,586

    232,924

    226,343

    221,077

    215,450



    12.13 %

        Total shareholders' equity



    356,348

    345,462

    337,598

    330,444

    326,538



    9.13 %

        Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

    $

    4,358,589

    4,308,067

    4,284,311

    4,087,593

    4,174,631



    4.41 %

    Common Stock

















    Book value per common share

    $

    43.51

    42.23

    41.33

    40.47

    40.04



    8.67 %

    Stock price:

















      High



    45.54

    38.51

    38.50

    44.86

    36.45



    24.94 %

      Low



    38.74

    30.61

    31.88

    33.26

    27.70



    39.86 %

      Period end



    44.12

    38.03

    32.92

    39.75

    34.08



    29.46 %

    Common shares outstanding



    8,189

    8,181

    8,169

    8,165

    8,156



    0.40 %

    [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

     

    ASSET QUALITY MEASURES - Unaudited





    Quarter Ended





    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    (dollars in thousands)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

    2024

    Nonperforming Assets













    Commercial













      Owner occupied RE

    $

    262

    -

    -

    -

    -

      Non-owner occupied RE



    6,911

    6,941

    6,950

    7,641

    7,904

      Commercial business



    195

    717

    1,087

    1,016

    838

    Consumer













      Real estate



    3,394

    3,028

    2,414

    1,908

    2,448

      Home equity



    705

    708

    310

    312

    393

      Other



    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    Total nonaccrual loans



    11,467

    11,394

    10,761

    10,877

    11,583

    Other real estate owned



    275

    275

    275

    -

    -

    Total nonperforming assets

    $

    11,742

    11,669

    11,036

    10,877

    11,583

    Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:













      Total assets



    0.27 %

    0.27 %

    0.26 %

    0.27 %

    0.28 %

      Total loans



    0.31 %

    0.31 %

    0.30 %

    0.30 %

    0.32 %

    Classified assets/tier 1 capital plus allowance for credit losses



    3.90 %

    4.28 %

    4.24 %

    4.25 %

    4.35 %





    Quarter Ended





    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    (dollars in thousands)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

    2024

    Allowance for Credit Losses













    Balance, beginning of period

    $

    41,285

    40,687

    39,914

    40,166

    40,157

    Loans charged-off



    (55)

    (68)

    (78)

    (143)

    (118)

    Recoveries of loans previously charged-off



    69

    16

    101

    141

    127

      Net loans (charged-off) recovered



    14

    (52)

    23

    (2)

    9

    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses



    500

    650

    750

    (250)

    -

    Balance, end of period

    $

    41,799

    41,285

    40,687

    39,914

    40,166

    Allowance for credit losses to gross loans



    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.10 %

    1.11 %

    Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans



    364.50 %

    362.35 %

    378.09 %

    366.94 %

    346.78 %

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



    0.00 %

    0.01 %

    0.00 %

    0.00 %

    0.00 %

    Total nonperforming assets were $11.7 million at September 30, 2025, representing 0.27% of total assets compared to 0.27% for the second quarter of 2025 and 0.28% for the third quarter of 2024. In addition, the classified asset ratio decreased to 3.90% for the third quarter of 2025 from 4.28% in the second quarter of 2025 and 4.35% in the third quarter of 2024.

    At September 30, 2025, the allowance for credit losses was $41.8 million, or 1.10% of total loans, compared to $41.3 million, or 1.10% of total loans at June 30, 2025, and $40.2 million, or 1.11% of total loans, at September 30, 2024. We had net recoveries of $14 thousand, for the third quarter of 2025, compared to net charge-offs of $52 thousand for the second quarter of 2025 and net recoveries of $9 thousand for the third quarter of 2024. There was a provision for credit losses of $500 thousand for the third quarter of 2025, compared to a provision for credit losses of $650 thousand for the second quarter of 2025 and no provision for credit losses for the third quarter of 2024. The provision during the third quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by changes in qualitative factors related to an increase in past due loans and risk migration among our commercial business and non-owner occupied loans.

    LOAN COMPOSITION - Unaudited







    Quarter Ended





    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    (dollars in thousands)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

    2024

    Commercial













    Owner occupied RE

    $

    705,383

    686,424

    673,865

    651,597

    642,608

    Non-owner occupied RE



    943,304

    939,163

    926,246

    924,367

    917,642

    Construction



    71,928

    68,421

    90,021

    103,204

    144,665

    Business



    604,411

    589,661

    561,337

    556,117

    521,535

    Total commercial loans



    2,325,026

    2,283,669

    2,251,469

    2,235,285

    2,226,450

    Consumer













    Real estate



    1,159,693

    1,164,187

    1,147,357

    1,128,629

    1,132,371

    Home equity



    239,996

    234,608

    223,061

    204,897

    195,383

    Construction



    25,842

    25,210

    23,540

    20,874

    21,582

    Other



    38,464

    39,167

    38,492

    42,082

    43,770

    Total consumer loans



    1,463,995

    1,463,172

    1,432,450

    1,396,482

    1,393,106

    Total gross loans, net of deferred fees    



    3,789,021

    3,746,841

    3,683,919

    3,631,767

    3,619,556

    Less—allowance for credit losses



    (41,799)

    (41,285)

    (40,687)

    (39,914)

    (40,166)

    Total loans, net

    $

    3,747,222

    3,705,556

    3,643,232

    3,591,853

    3,579,390

     

    DEPOSIT COMPOSITION - Unaudited







    Quarter Ended





    September 30

    June 30

    March 31

    December 31

    September 30

    (dollars in thousands)



    2025

    2025

    2025

    2024

    2024

    Non-interest bearing

    $

    736,518

    761,492

    671,609

    683,081

    689,749

    Interest bearing:













       NOW accounts



    343,615

    341,903

    371,052

    314,588

    339,412

       Money market accounts



    1,572,738

    1,537,400

    1,563,181

    1,438,530

    1,423,403

       Savings



    29,381

    32,334

    32,945

    31,976

    29,283

       Time, less than $250,000



    202,353

    194,064

    181,407

    193,562

    223,582

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



    791,812

    769,136

    800,692

    774,028

    813,396

    Total deposits

    $

    3,676,417

    3,636,329

    3,620,886

    3,435,765

    3,518,825

     

    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 $791,812,000.

     (7) September 30, 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-third-quarter-2025-results-302594242.html

    SOURCE Southern First Bancshares, Inc.

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