Beach First Announces Earnings Growth of 52%


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., April 13, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Beach First National Bancshares, Inc. (OTCBB:BFNB) today announced that its first quarter earnings increased 51.6%.

Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, totaled $307,649, an increase of 51.6% when compared to the $202,928, reported for the same period a year ago. Total assets grew to $184.9 million, which represents an increase of 30.9% from the same period a year ago. Total deposits grew to $151.7 million, an increase of 27.0% from the same period a year ago. Total loans grew to $144.3 million, a 40.4% increase from the same period a year ago.

Walt Standish, president and chief executive officer, said, "Beach First National Bank has achieved strong financial performance in the first quarter, setting the stage for a productive year to come. We continue to bolster our product line with the addition of small-business friendly services such as the business Visa Check Card and NetTeller internet banking, while upgrading our technology to support our growing banking network."

Beach First National Bancshares, Inc. is the parent of Beach First National Bank, a $185 million financial institution headquartered in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Beach First operates offices in Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and recently announced plans to open an office in the Litchfield Market Village at the entrance to Willbrook Plantation this summer. Beach First offers a full line of banking products and services, including NetTeller internet banking. The company's stock trades under the symbol BFNB.



                                     March 31,            December 31,
                               2004           2003            2003
                               ----           ----            ----
                            (unaudited)   (unaudited)      (audited)
                                                           ---------

    ASSETS

 Cash and due from
  banks                     $ 3,246,513    $ 4,123,657   $  4,886,682
 Federal funds sold and
   short-term investments    12,163,000     13,696,000      4,598,520
 Investment securities
  available for sale         17,113,065     12,527,987     11,918,074
 Loans, net                 142,330,206    101,415,012    133,851,712
 Federal Reserve Bank
   stock                        309,000        164,700        309,000
 Federal Home Loan Bank
  stock                         825,000        325,000        575,000
 Premises and equipment,
  net                         4,270,701      4,679,225      4,477,943
 Cash Value of life
  insurance                   3,115,165      2,960,785      3,076,570
 Other assets                 1,569,749      1,349,075      1,399,535
                          -------------  -------------  -------------

       Total assets       $ 184,942,399  $ 141,241,441  $ 165,093,036
                          =============  =============  =============

      LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 LIABILITIES:

 Deposits

  Noninterest bearing
   deposits                $ 22,538,769   $ 15,575,039   $ 23,454,124
  Interest bearing
   deposits                 129,121,788    103,867,686    114,645,442
                          -------------  -------------  -------------
   Total deposits           151,660,557    119,442,725    132,099,566
  Advances from Federal
    Home
   Loan Bank                 16,500,000      6,500,000     11,500,000
 Other liabilities            1,363,904      1,229,738        760,577
                          -------------  -------------  -------------
      Total liabilities     169,524,461    127,172,463    150,360,143
                          -------------  -------------  -------------

 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

 Common stock, $1 par
  value; 10,000,000
  shares authorized;
  1,342,018 issued and
  outstanding                 1,342,018      1,318,368      1,323,768
 Paid-in capital             12,003,806     11,787,899     11,837,299
 Retained earnings            2,025,970        912,318      1,718,321
 Accumulated other
  comprehensive income           46,144         50,393       (146,495)
                          -------------  -------------  -------------
    Total shareholders'
     equity                  15,417,938     14,068,978     14,732,893
                          -------------  -------------  -------------
     Total liabilities
      and shareholders'
      equity               $184,942,399   $141,241,441   $165,093,036
                           ============   ============   ============




          Beach First National Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiary
                      Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
                    Consolidated Statement of Income
                               (unaudited)

                                              Three Months Ended
                                                   March 31
                                              2004          2003
                                              ----          ----


 INTEREST INCOME

    Interest and fees on loans             $ 2,222,578  $ 1,723,473
    Investment securities                      153,409      113,298
    Federal funds sold                          16,140        8,124
                                           -----------  -----------
           Total interest income             2,392,127    1,844,895

 INTEREST EXPENSE

    Deposits                                   576,409      562,633
    Other borrowings                            84,260       44,812
                                           -----------  -----------
        Total interest expense                 660,669      607,445

        Net interest income                  1,731,458    1,237,450

 PROVISION FOR POSSIBLE LOAN
    LOSSES                                     215,000       68,000
                                           -----------  -----------

    Net interest income after
     provision for possible
      loan losses                            1,516,458    1,169,450
                                           -----------  -----------

 NONINTEREST INCOME
    Service fees on
     deposit accounts                          131,091      121,382
    Gain on sale of
     investment securities                          (3)      73,639
    Other income
                                                96,680       87,634
                                           -----------  -----------
      Total noninterest income                 227,768      282,655
                                           -----------  -----------

 NONINTEREST EXPENSES

    Salaries and wages                         554,850      483,130
    Employee benefits
                                               122,718       98,852
    Supplies and printing                       18,529       29,444
    Advertising and public
     relations                                  49,488       41,928
    Professional fees                           43,443       34,736
    Depreciation and amortization              108,252      104,997
    Occupancy                                  107,346       86,772
    Data processing fees                        84,011       66,841
    Other operating expenses


                                               167,258      183,296
                                           -----------  -----------
       Total noninterest expenses            1,255,895    1,129,996
                                           -----------  -----------

       Income before income taxes              488,331      322,109

 INCOME TAX EXPENSE                            180,682      119,181
                                           -----------  -----------

       Net  income                         $   307,649  $   202,928
                                           ===========  ===========

 BASIC NET INCOME PER
  COMMON SHARE                             $       .23  $       .15
                                           ===========  ===========

 DILUTED NET INCOME PER
  COMMON SHARE                             $       .22  $       .15
                                           ===========  ===========

 Weighted average common
  shares outstanding - basic                 1,318,368    1,342,108
 Weighted average common
  shares outstanding -
  diluted                                    1,327,305    1,358,732

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