FAYETTEVILLE, Ga., Aug. 12, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. (OTCBB:SCSG) reported net income of $607,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 compared to $1,599,000 for the same quarter a year ago. The decline was largely due to an increase in the provision for loan losses of $1,038,000 for the quarter. For the six month period ended June 30, 2008, net income was $2,012,000 compared to $3,204,000 for the same period in 2007. Again, the decline was largely due to an increase in the provision for loan losses of $1,244,000 for the period. On a per share basis, results were $0.15 per share for the current quarter compared to $0.40 for the same period a year ago, and $0.51 per share for the current year six month period compared to $0.81 a year ago. All per share amounts are stated on a basic and fully diluted basis. Results of operations for 2007 do not include the net income of Bank of Chickamauga as its results are only included prospectively from its date of acquisition which was July 1, 2008.
Return on average assets was 0.39% for the current quarter compared to 1.20% for the same period in 2007, and 0.56% for the current year compared to 1.03% for 2007. Return on average equity was 3.37% for the quarter compared to 9.28% in 2007, and 4.78% and 8.06% for the six-month periods in 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company's net interest margin declined from the previous year to date period, decreasing from 4.55% for 2007 to 3.99% for 2008. For the quarter, the net interest margin declined from 4.63% for 2007 to 3.87% for 2008. The primary reason for the decline relates to several reductions in the Federal Reserve's discount rate that have totaled 300 basis points since August 2007.
During the current quarter, the Company recorded $1.1 million in its provision for loan losses, compared to $77,000 for the same period a year ago. For the year to date, the provision totaled $1.5 million compared to $226,000 for the same period a year ago. As a result, the Company's allowance for loan losses increased to $6.2 million at June 30, 2008, compared to $5.0 million at December 31, 2007 and $4.7 million at June 30, 2007. At June 30, 2008, nonperforming assets were $13.3 million compared to $2.1 million at December 31, 2007. Nonperforming assets at June 30, 2008 included $11.1 million in nonaccrual loans. Of this amount, one loan in the amount of $5.7 million became nonaccrual on March 31, 2008 and another loan for $3.8 million was placed on nonaccrual as of June 30, 2008. These loans are both residential development and construction loans and are being monitored closely in terms of the financial condition of the borrowers and the value of the underlying collateral. At June 30, 2008, the allowance for loan losses was 1.62% of loans compared to 1.32% at December 31, 2007. Net chargeoffs were 0.10% and 0.02% of average loans for the year to date periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. For the three month periods, net chargeoffs were 0.27% and 0.09% of average loans for 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Total assets at June 30, 2008 were $618.1 million compared to $606.0 million at December 31, 2007, an increase of $12.1 million, or 2.0%, and $531.4 million at June 30, 2007, an increase of $86.7 million, or 16.3%. The increase in assets from June 30, 2007 primarily relates to the acquisition of Bank of Chickamauga on July 1, 2007. From December 31, 2007, loans increased $8.7 million or 2.3% to $382.7 million, while deposits increased $14.8 million or 2.9% to $528.7 million.
In a press release dated July 2, 2008, the Company announced that it declared a dividend of $0.13 per share. The dividend was paid on July 31, 2008 to shareholders of record as of July 17, 2008.
About SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.
SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. is the parent company of four bank subsidiaries operating a total of fourteen branch offices. Bank of Upson, based in Thomaston, GA, has two branches in Upson County, three branches in Meriwether County operating as Meriwether Bank & Trust, and two branches in Fayette County operating as SouthCrest Bank; The First National Bank of Polk County, based in Cedartown, GA, operates three branches in Polk County; Peachtree Bank, based in Maplesville, AL, operates two branches in Chilton County, Alabama; and Bank of Chickamauga, located in Chickamauga, Georgia, which operates two branches in Walker County, Georgia. SouthCrest is traded on the OTC-Bulletin Board under the symbol "SCSG."
Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements including statements relating to present or future trends or factors generally affecting the banking industry and specifically affecting SouthCrest's operations, markets and products. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "expects," or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected for many reasons, including, without limitation, changing events and trends that have influenced SouthCrest's assumptions, but that are beyond SouthCrest's control. These trends and events include (i) changes in the interest rate environment which may reduce margins, (ii) not achieving expected growth, (iii) less favorable than anticipated changes in the national and local business environment and securities markets, (iv) adverse changes in the regulatory requirements affecting SouthCrest, (v) greater competitive pressures among financial institutions in SouthCrest's markets and (vi) greater loan losses than historic levels. Additional information and other factors that could affect future financial results are included in SouthCrest's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.
Consolidated Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)
Quarter Ended June 30 Year Ended June 30
-------------------------- ----------------------------
2008 2007 %Change 2008 2007 %Change
-------------------------- ----------------------------
All dollars in
thousands except
per share data
EARNINGS
Net interest
income $5,261 $5,467 -3.8% $10,799 $10,835 -0.3%
Provision for
loan losses 1,115 77 1348.1% 1,470 226 550.4%
Noninterest
income 1,841 1,573 17.0% 3,762 3,052 23.3%
Noninterest
expense 5,262 4,636 13.5% 10,394 8,993 15.6%
Income taxes 118 728 -83.8% 685 1,464 -53.2%
Net income 607 1,599 -62.0% 2,012 3,204 -37.2%
PER SHARE
INFORMATION
Earnings
per share $0.15 $0.40 -62.5% $0.51 $0.81 -37.0%
Dividends
per share 0.130 0.130 0.0% 0.260 0.260 0.0%
Book value
per share 18.21 17.65 3.2%
Average shares
outstanding 3,916,003 3,952,328 3,916,358 3,952,328
OPERATING RATIOS (1)
Net interest
margin 3.87% 4.63% 3.99% 4.55%
Return on
average assets 0.39% 1.20% 0.56% 1.03%
Return on
average equity 3.37% 9.28% 4.78% 8.06%
Efficiency ratio 74.09% 66.11% 71.38% 64.89%
Net chargeoffs/
average loans 0.27% 0.09% 0.10% 0.02%
AVERAGE BALANCES
Loans $381,479 $333,674 14.3% $377,609 $333,302 13.3%
Total earning
assets 547,290 479,376 14.2% 544,497 480,338 13.4%
Total assets 618,833 536,068 15.4% 615,615 537,271 14.6%
Deposits 448,921 374,082 20.0% 445,339 375,460 18.6%
Borrowed funds 6,610 6,457 2.4% 8,054 6,620 21.7%
Shareholders'
equity 72,542 69,081 5.0% 72,307 68,464 5.6%
As of June 30, As of
------------------ Dec. 31
END OF PERIOD 2008 2007 %Change 2007 %Change
BALANCES --------------------------- ----------------------
Loans $382,712 $336,450 13.8% $374,054 2.3%
Allowance for
loan losses 6,206 4,674 32.8% 4,952 25.3%
Total earning
assets 544,558 471,699 15.4% 534,108 2.0%
Intangible
assets 18,610 13,109 42.0% 19,047 -2.3%
Total assets 618,106 531,470 16.3% 606,009 2.0%
Deposits 528,728 447,023 18.3% 513,931 2.9%
Borrowed funds 6,555 6,394 2.5% 9,610 -31.8%
Shareholders'
equity 71,611 69,759 2.7% 71,721 -0.2%
End of period
shares
outstanding 3,931,528 3,952,328 3,931,528
ASSET QUALITY
(END OF PERIOD)
Loans 90 days
past due and
still accruing $ 912 $ 368 $ 247
Nonaccrual Loans 11,113 178 1,633
Other Real
Estate Owned 1,290 502 256
Total
nonperforming
assets 13,315 1,048 2,136
Nonperforming
assets / total
assets 2.15% 0.20% 0.35%
Allowance for
loan losses /
total loans 1.62% 1.39% 1.32%
---------------
(1) All ratios
are annualized.