MT. PLEASANT, S.C., April 22, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southcoast Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:SOCB) announced an unaudited net loss of $579,000, or $.12 per basic share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. This compares to unaudited net income of $363,000, or $0.08 per basic share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The March 31, 2011 loss per share is based on 4,790,957 basic average shares compared to 4,550,015 basic average shares for the first quarter of 2010.
"The first quarter's results were impacted by a provision for loan loss expense of $1,150,000 and a $176,000 other-than-temporary impairment expense on an investment security," said L. Wayne Pearson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "While we continue to work diligently to reduce our non-performing asset levels, we continue to maintain strong capital levels and are encouraged by a 12% improvement in our net interest income over the quarter ended March 31, 2010."
Net interest income increased $351,000 from $2,882,000 for the first quarter of 2010 to $3,233,000 for the first quarter of 2011, as interest expense decreased by $816,000 between the two periods. The Company's annualized net interest margin improved by 55 basis points to 3.27% for the first quarter of 2011 from 2.72% for the first quarter of 2010, due to a significant reduction in our cost of funds.
Non-interest income decreased from $1,257,000 for the first quarter of 2010 to $342,000 for the first quarter of 2011, primarily due to the recognition of $835,000 in gains on the sale of available for sale securities in the 2010 period compared to gains of only $21,000 for the first quarter of 2011. Non-interest income levels for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 also included the effect of a $176,000 other-than-temporary impairment charge on an investment security. The amount of securities gains and other-than-temporary impairment charges may fluctuate significantly between periods.
Non-interest expense levels increased from $2,619,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 to $3,429,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. The 2010 period included the benefit of $562,000 in net gains on the sale of other real estate owned compared to only $2,000 in net gains for the comparable 2011 period. Insurance expense also increased by $73,000 between the two periods, primarily due to increases in FDIC insurance expense.
Total assets as of March 31, 2011 were $474.9 million compared to $478.3 million as of December 31, 2010; a decrease of 0.7%. Loans, excluding loans held for sale, decreased to $330.8 million, down 1.7% from $336.4 million as of December 31, 2010. Deposits during the same period increased 2.1% to $352.0 million, while other borrowings decreased 12.9% to $63.6 million. Brokered certificates of deposit as of March 31, 2011 totaled $47.4 million, down 21.8% from the December 31, 2010 total of $60.6 million as the Company continued to reduce non-core funding.
Our ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets improved from 6.65% as of December 31, 2010 to 6.37% as of March 31, 2011. Our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans was 2.66% as of March 31, 2011, compared to 2.83% as of December 31, 2010. Our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total non-performing loans totaled 42.58% as of March 31, 2011, compared to 41.61% as of December 31, 2010.
The subsidiary bank's capital position as of March 31, 2011 remains in excess of the well-capitalized requirements under the regulatory framework for corrective action, with tier 1 capital to average assets of 10.09%, tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 13.58%, and total capital to risk-weighted assets of 14.87%. "We continue to be encouraged by the future direction of our Company given our capital strength and improvement in core operations during these difficult times," concluded Pearson.
About Southcoast Financial Corporation
Southcoast Financial Corporation, headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, is the holding company of Southcoast Community Bank. The Bank, which opened for business July 20, 1998, is a state chartered commercial bank operating from its main office at 530 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and nine branches in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Trading in Southcoast Financial Corporation's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol SOCB.
| Southcoast Financial Corporation | ||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||
|
March 31 2011 |
December 31 2010 |
|
| (Unaudited) | (Audited) | |
| Assets | ||
| Cash and due from banks | $26,667 | $20,062 |
| Federal Funds sold | 2,823 | -- |
| Investments | 68,932 | 76,412 |
| Loans held for sale | -- | 417 |
| Loans | 330,847 | 336,449 |
| Less: Allowance for loan losses | 8,814 | 9,513 |
| Net loans | 322,033 | 326,936 |
| Fixed assets | 22,206 | 22,447 |
| Other assets | 32,286 | 32,052 |
| Total Assets | $474,947 | $478,326 |
| Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity | ||
| Deposits: | ||
| Non-interest bearing | $29,038 | $28,855 |
| Interest bearing | 322,956 | 315,747 |
| Total deposits | 351,994 | 344,602 |
| Other borrowings | 63,580 | 72,963 |
| Other liabilities | 3,082 | 4,673 |
| Junior subordinated debentures | 10,310 | 10,310 |
| Total liabilities | 428,966 | 432,548 |
| Shareholders' Equity | ||
| Common Stock | 54,289 | 54,258 |
| Retained Deficit and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | (8,308) | (8,480) |
| Total shareholders' equity | 45,981 | 45,778 |
| Total Liabilities and Shareholders' equity | $474,947 | $478,326 |
| Southcoast Financial Corporation | ||
| Consolidated Income Statement | ||
| (Dollars in thousands, except share data) | ||
| Quarter Ended | ||
|
March 31, 2011 |
March 31, 2010 |
|
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |
| Interest Income | ||
| Interest and fees on loans | $4,491 | $4,774 |
| Interest on investments | 512 | 687 |
| Interest on Fed funds sold | 7 | 14 |
| Total interest income | 5,010 | 5,475 |
| Interest expense | 1,777 | 2,593 |
| Net interest income | 3,233 | 2,882 |
| Provision for loan losses | 1,150 | 1,000 |
| Net interest after provision | 2,083 | 1,882 |
| Securities gains | 21 | 835 |
| Securities other-than-temporary impairment | (176) | 0 |
| Other noninterest income | 497 | 422 |
| Total noninterest income | 342 | 1,257 |
| Total operating income | 2,425 | 3,139 |
| Noninterest expense | ||
| Salaries and benefits | 1,699 | 1,664 |
| Occupancy and furniture and equipment | 657 | 767 |
| Other expenses | 1,072 | 188 |
| Total noninterest expense | 3,428 | 2,619 |
| Income before taxes | (1,003) | 520 |
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (424) | 157 |
| Net income | ($579) | $363 |
| Basic net income per common share | ($0.12) | $0.08 |
| Diluted net income per common share | ($0.12) | $0.08 |
| Average number of common shares | ||
| Basic | 4,790,957 | 4,550,015 |
| Diluted | 4,790,957 | 4,550,015 |