Beach First Announces Earnings Growth


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., Oct. 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Beach First National Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:BFNB) today announced that its year-to-date net income grew 17.6 percent over figures reported for the same period in 2006.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, increased 17.6 percent, totaling $5,132,922 or $1.04 per diluted share, when compared to the $4,364,717, or $0.90 per diluted share, reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, grew 5.3 percent, totaling $1,822,106 or $0.37 per diluted share, when compared to the $1,729,819, or $0.35 per diluted share reported for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.

"Current market conditions have made for an even more challenging environment for banks during 2007," said Walt Standish, Beach First president and chief executive officer. "The unsettled housing market, disruptions in the credit markets, and the ensuing Federal Reserve interest rate cut have all factored into bank performance across the industry this year. Beach First has weathered these conditions well and we are optimistic about the future."

Standish continued, "The expansion of our North Myrtle Beach office will be completed in November of this year, while plans for our newest office at 73rd Avenue North in Myrtle Beach are proceeding well, and we expect to open in the first quarter of 2008. We also continued to strengthen our mortgage lending team despite the recent turmoil in the housing markets, so we can take advantage of opportunities when conditions improve."

Additional Third Quarter Highlights

Total assets grew to $571.4 million, which represents an increase of 16.1 percent from September 30, 2006. Total deposits grew to $440.3 million, an increase of 15.0 percent from September 30, 2006. Total loans grew to $471.8 million, a 16.8 percent increase over the September 30, 2006 figure.

Annualized return on average equity was 14.34 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to 13.93 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Annualized return on average assets was 1.24 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to 1.30 percent for the same period a year ago. Return on average shareholders' equity was 14.53 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared to 15.78 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2006. Return on average assets was 1.26 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared to 1.36 percent for the same period a year ago.

The net interest margin was 4.24 percent for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, compared to 4.57 percent for the same period a year ago. Book value per share stood at $10.70 per share at September 30, 2007, compared to $9.14 per share at September 30, 2006.

Beach First operates six banking locations in Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Beach First offers a full line of banking products and services, including NetTeller internet banking. A seventh location is scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2008 at 7202 North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. The bank's mortgage lending division operates eight mortgage offices in the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic states. The company's stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol BFNB and the website is beachfirst.com.

The Beach First National Bank logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=703

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 subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, such as a downturn in the economy, greater than expected noninterest expenses, excessive loan losses, regulatory actions or changes and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more detailed description of factors that could cause or contribute to such differences, please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.



             Beach First National Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                           Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
                            Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                     September 30,        December 31,
                                   2007         2006         2006
                                   ----         ----         ----
                                (unaudited)  (unaudited)   (audited)
                                                            -------
    ASSETS
 Cash and due from banks       $  5,067,749 $  6,694,944 $  5,198,945
 Federal funds sold and short
  term investments                  359,278      235,866   14,010,667
 Investment securities
  available for sale             69,093,920   62,892,627   68,474,531
 Loans, net                     458,997,863  389,971,616  392,848,582
 Mortgage Loans Held for Sale     6,392,792    8,174,321   12,478,222
 Federal Reserve Bank stock         984,000      984,000      984,000
 Federal Home Loan Bank stock     3,395,300    2,475,600    2,475,600
 Premises and equipment, net     15,303,367   11,197,614   14,344,330
 Cash value life insurance        3,522,501    3,393,144    3,424,586
 Investment in BFNB Trusts          310,000      310,000      310,000
 Other assets                     7,958,718    5,705,823    5,651,876
                               ------------ ------------ ------------
     Total assets              $571,385,488 $492,035,555 $520,201,339
                               ============ ============ ============

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 LIABILITIES:
 Deposits
  Noninterest bearing
   deposits                    $ 40,317,614 $ 35,560,935 $ 37,194,469
  Interest bearing deposits     399,947,404  347,223,536  379,162,660
                               ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total deposits              440,265,018  382,784,471  416,357,129
 Advances from Federal Home
  Loan Bank                      55,000,000   37,500,000   37,500,000
 Other borrowings                 9,281,626   14,780,469    7,209,820
 Junior subordinated
  debentures                     10,310,000   10,310,000   10,310,000
 Other liabilities                5,202,383    3,085,054    3,364,811
                               ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total liabilities           520,059,027  448,459,994  474,741,760
                               ------------ ------------ ------------
 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
 Common stock, $1 par value;
  10,000,000 shares authorized;
  shares issued and outstanding -
  4,842,766 at September 30, 2007;
  4,768,512 at September 30, 2006;
  and 4,768,413 at
  December 31, 2006               4,842,766    4,768,512    4,768,413
 Paid-in capital                 29,110,906   28,657,576   28,657,576
 Retained earnings               17,839,719   10,878,299   12,706,795
 Accumulated other
  comprehensive income (loss)      (466,930)    (728,826)    (673,205)
                               ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total shareholders' equity   51,326,461   43,575,561   45,459,579
                               ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity      $571,385,488 $492,035,555 $520,201,339
                               ============ ============ ============


          Beach First National Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                       Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
                    Consolidated Statements of Income
                             (Unaudited)

                            Nine Months Ended      Three Months Ended
                              September 30,           September 30,
                              -------------           -------------
                            2007        2006        2007        2006
                            ----        ----        ----        ----
 INTEREST INCOME
  Interest and
   fees on loans        $30,643,888 $23,439,481 $10,587,658 $ 8,816,443
  Investment securities   2,783,588   2,048,424     934,016     786,308
  Fed funds sold & other    298,077     330,493     147,841      93,509
                        ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Total interest
     income              33,725,553  25,818,398  11,669,515   9,696,260

 INTEREST EXPENSE
  Deposits               13,980,166   9,502,940   4,780,404   3,651,980
  Advances from
   the FHLB and
   federal funds
   purchased              1,705,203   1,066,931     734,416     379,518
  Junior subordinated
   debentures               967,591     568,977     327,606     202,150
                        ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Total interest
     expense             16,652,960  11,138,848   5,842,426   4,233,648

    Net interest income  17,072,593  14,679,550   5,827,089   5,462,612

 PROVISION FOR
  POSSIBLE LOAN LOSSES      950,800   1,778,600     278,800     591,200
                        ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Net interest income
     after provision
     for possible
     loan losses         16,121,793  12,900,950   5,548,289   4,871,412
                        ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
 NONINTEREST INCOME
  Service fees on
   deposit accounts         426,979     381,611     148,956     119,663
  Gain on sale of loans     703,222     258,842     208,389     258,842
  Retail mortgage
   origination income     2,126,300     527,841     493,648     406,968
  Income from cash value
   life insurance           114,150     106,996      39,734      36,469
  Miscellaneous loan
   fee income             1,514,357     264,278     354,040     264,278
  Other income            1,406,447     970,221     559,428     150,803
                        ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Total noninterest
     income               6,291,455   2,509,789   1,804,194   1,237,022
                        ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
 NONINTEREST EXPENSES
  Salaries and wages      5,984,093   4,205,389   1,636,798   1,715,590
  Employee benefits       1,230,203     762,497     422,781     328,788
  Supplies and printing     150,074      89,542      56,988      30,181
  Advertising and public
   relations                495,967     268,441     178,916      95,658
  Professional fees         455,203     350,610     182,379      81,435
  Depreciation and
   amortization             789,185     365,747     266,224     115,621
  Occupancy               1,335,255     705,281     469,710     299,392
  Data processing fees      528,118     389,333     175,057     142,557
  Other operating
   expenses               3,471,769   1,448,729   1,132,224     589,519
                        ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Total noninterest
     expenses            14,439,867   8,585,569   4,521,077   3,398,741
                        ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Income before
     income taxes         7,973,381   6,825,170   2,831,406   2,709,693

 INCOME TAX EXPENSE       2,840,459   2,460,453   1,009,300     979,874
                        ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Net income          $ 5,132,922 $ 4,364,717 $ 1,822,106 $ 1,729,819
                        =========== =========== =========== ===========
 BASIC NET INCOME
  PER COMMON SHARE      $      1.07 $      0.92 $      0.38 $      0.36
                        =========== =========== =========== ===========
 DILUTED NET INCOME
  PER COMMON SHARE      $      1.04 $      0.90 $      0.37 $      0.35
                        =========== =========== =========== ===========


           Beach First National Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                        Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
                     Asset Quality Ratios and Other Data
                                 (Unaudited)
                                (In thousands)

                                          Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31,
                                          --------- --------- --------
                                             2007     2006      2006
                                             ----     ----      ----

 Total nonperforming loans                  $  550   $2,615    $1,625

 Allowance for loan losses                   6,397    5,671     5,888

 Return on average equity (annualized)       14.34%   13.93%    14.53%

 Return on average assets (annualized)        1.24%    1.30%     1.33%

 Nonperforming loans as a percent of
  total loans                                 0.12%    0.65%     0.40%

 Nonperforming assets, past due and
  restructured loans to total assets          0.15%    0.62%     0.31%

 Net charge-offs to average total loans       0.12%    0.13%     0.17%

 Allowance for loan losses to total loans     1.36%    1.40%     1.43%

 Allowance for loan losses to
  nonperforming loans                     1,163.70%  216.85%   362.45%

                                                 For the       For the
                                              Three Months       Year
                                                  Ended         Ended
                                                Sept. 30,      Dec. 31,
                                                ---------      --------
                                              2007     2006      2006
                                              ----     ----      ----

 Interest rate spread                         3.64%    4.04%     4.06%

 Net interest margin                          4.24%    4.57%     4.62%

 Return on average equity                    14.53%   15.78%    14.53%

 Return on average assets                     1.26%    1.36%     1.33%


            

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