Southcoast Announces Second Quarter Earnings Per Share Increase


MT. PLEASANT, S.C., July 25, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Southcoast Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:SOCB), announced that it had unaudited pre-tax income of $1,918,000 and unaudited net income of $1,514,000, or unaudited net income of $.32 per basic share, for the six months ended June 30, 2008. This compares to unaudited pre-tax income of $2,565,000 and unaudited net income of $1,695,000, or unaudited net income of $0.30 per basic share for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The June 30, 2008 earnings per share are based on 4,691,867 basic average shares outstanding compared to 5,725,460 basic average shares outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2007. This decrease in average shares is the result of the Company's ongoing program to repurchase and retire outstanding shares. Most recently the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 484,527 shares, or 10% of the Company's outstanding shares, as of January 22, 2008. During the quarter the Company repurchased 115,221 shares for a total of $1,642,540.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, L. Wayne Pearson said, "While we experienced a drop in net income compared to the same period of 2007, we saw an improvement in earnings per share of two cents. We attribute this to our ongoing stock buyback initiative. Total assets of the Corporation increased to $537,292,000, up from $487,704,000 at June 30, 2007. As our branch network continues to mature, we look forward to continued asset growth and increased branch profitability," said Pearson.

For the quarter ending June 30, 2008, pre-tax income was $975,000 and net income was $770,000 or net income of $0.17 per basic share. This compares to pre-tax income of $1,290,000 and net income of $864,000, or net income of $0.15 per basic share, for the quarter ending June 30, 2007. The 2008 earnings per share are based on 4,665,247 basic average shares outstanding compared to 5,603,193 basic average shares outstanding for the quarter ending June 30, 2007.

Total assets as of June 30, 2008 were $537.3 million compared to $500.9 million as of December 31, 2007, an increase of 10.2%. Loans, excluding loans held for sale, increased to $397.3 million, up 6.7% from $378.4 million as of December 31, 2007. Deposits during the same period increased 9.6% to $375.7 million. As of June 30, 2008, the ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 1.19% and the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans was 1.25%.

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. Southcoast Financial Corporation's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol SOCB.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events. Any or all of our forward-looking statements here or in other publications may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including those identified in our reports filed with the SEC. Many such factors will be important in determining our actual future results. Consequently, no forward-looking statements can be guaranteed. Our actual results may vary materially, and there are no guarantees about the performance of our stock. We undertake no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any future disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports filed with the SEC.



 Southcoast Financial Corporation
 SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 (dollars in thousands, except earnings per share)

                                                    Six Months Ended
                                                  June 2008  June 2007
                                                      (Unaudited)

 INCOME STATEMENT DATA
  Net interest income                                $7,543     $7,365
  Provision for loan losses                           1,110         --
  Noninterest income                                  1,508      1,164
  Noninterest expenses                                6,023      5,964
  Net income                                          1,514      1,695

 PER SHARE DATA*
  Net income per share
   Basic                                              $0.32      $0.30
   Diluted                                            $0.32      $0.30

 BALANCE SHEET DATA
  Total assets                                     $537,292   $487,704
  Total deposits                                    375,726    308,652
  Total loans (net)                                 392,392    368,025
  Investment securities                              76,944     59,785
  Total earning assets                              472,436    433,116
  Other borrowings                                   90,284     75,500
  Junior subordinated debentures                     10,310     21,655
  Shareholders' equity                               57,572     68,945

 Average shares outstanding
  Basic                                           4,691,867  5,725,460
  Diluted                                         4,692,028  5,731,162

 Key ratios**
  Return on assets                                     0.59%      0.72%
  Return on equity                                     5.04%      4.63%
  Equity to asset ratio                               10.72%     14.14%
  Non-performing assets to assets***                   1.19%      0.38%
  Reserve to loans                                     1.25%      1.16%
  Net interest margin                                  3.43%      3.48%

  Employees                                             109        118
  # of accounts                                      12,776     11,516
  # of offices open                                      10         10
  # of offices under construction                         0          0
  # of office sites purchased                             3          2
  ATM stand alone                                         1          1

                   Year       Year       Year       Year       Year
                   Ended      Ended      Ended      Ended      Ended
                 Dec. 2007  Dec. 2006  Dec. 2005  Dec. 2004  Dec. 2003

 INCOME STATEMENT
  DATA
  Net interest
   income          $14,354    $16,145    $13,914    $10,692     $7,858
  Provision for
   loan losses           0        723        865      1,146        735
  Noninterest
   income            2,554      3,837      2,725      2,700      1,711
  Noninterest
   expenses         11,999     11,542      9,243      7,966      6,171
  Net income         3,429      4,839      4,189      2,982      1,704

 PER SHARE DATA*
  Net income per
   share
   Basic             $0.63      $0.81      $0.97      $0.76      $0.69
   Diluted           $0.63      $0.80      $0.97      $0.75      $0.67

 BALANCE SHEET
  DATA
  Total assets    $500,852   $481,856   $476,599   $366,102   $253,217
  Total deposits   342,755    310,893    311,554    258,153    166,213
  Total loans
   (net)           374,117    363,246    371,656    293,207    199,732
  Investment
   securities       62,609     46,461     35,203     24,831     22,049
  Total earning
   assets          443,200    445,119    440,942    344,482    238,009
  Other
   borrowings       81,230     67,841     67,000     58,000     41,100
  Junior
   subordinated
   debentures       10,310     21,655     21,655     11,345     11,345
  Shareholders'
   equity           62,741     78,803     73,315     36,571     33,410

 Average shares
  outstanding
  Basic          5,419,474  6,007,137  4,335,319  3,945,175  2,471,038
  Diluted        5,423,915  6,012,445  4,340,470  4,001,380  2,529,742

 Key ratios**
  Return on
   assets             0.71%      1.00%      1.04%      0.98%      0.79%
  Return on
   equity             4.96%      6.22%      9.28%      8.56%     10.43%
  Equity to asset
   ratio             12.53%     16.35%     15.38%      9.99%     13.19%
  Non-performing
   assets to
   assets***          0.91%      0.18%      0.11%      0.27%      0.04%
  Reserve to
   loans              1.14%      1.19%      1.14%      1.15%      1.18%
  Net interest
   margin             3.40%      3.64%      3.69%      3.78%      3.90%

  Employees            114        110         91         77         68
  # of accounts     11,737     10,778     10,728      9,391      7,814
  # of offices
   open                 10          8          8          7          5
  # of offices
   under
   construction          0          2          1          0          2
  # of office
   sites
   purchased             0          2          0          2          1
  ATM stand alone        1          1          1          1          0


 *   Per share data has been adjusted for 10% stock dividends in 2007,
     2006, 2005, and 2004.
 **  Ratios for six months are annualized
 *** Non-performing assets include nonaccruing loans and other real
     estate owned.


                  Southcoast Financial Corporation
                   Consolidated Income Statements
          (Dollars in thousands, except earnings per share)

                           Six Months Ended       Three Months Ended
                         June 30,    June 30,    June 30,    June 30,
                           2008        2007        2008        2007
                        (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
 Interest Income
  Interest and fees on
   loans                   $13,803     $14,223      $6,969      $7,249
  Interest on
   investments               1,734       1,206         916         604
  Interest on Fed funds
   sold                         19         297           7          80
                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Total interest income    15,556      15,726       7,892       7,933

 Interest expense            8,013       8,361       3,802       4,209
                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Net interest income       7,543       7,365       4,090       3,724
 Provision for loan
  losses                     1,110           0         729           0
                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Net interest income
    after provision          6,433       7,365       3,361       3,724

 Noninterest income          1,508       1,164         714         561
                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Total operating
    income                   7,941       8,529       4,075       4,285

 Noninterest expense
  Salaries and
   benefits                  3,436       3,423       1,713       1,695
  Occupancy and
   equipment                 1,166       1,105         591         560
  Other expenses             1,421       1,436         796         740
                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------

   Total noninterest
    expense                  6,023       5,964       3,100       2,995

 Income before taxes         1,918       2,565         975       1,290

 Income tax expense            404         870         205         426
                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------
 Net income                 $1,514      $1,695        $770        $864
                         =========  ==========  ==========  ==========
 Basic net income per
  share                      $0.32       $0.30       $0.17       $0.15

 Diluted net income per
  share                      $0.32       $0.30       $0.17       $0.15

 Average number of
  shares
   Basic                 4,691,867   5,725,460   4,665,247   5,603,193
   Diluted               4,692,028   5,731,162   4,665,696   5,609,052


                  Southcoast Financial Corporation
                     Consolidated Balance Sheets

                    June 30     June 30   Dec. 31   Dec. 31   Dec. 31
                     2008        2007       2007      2006      2005
                  (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) (Audited) (Audited)
 Assets
 Cash and due from
  banks             $12,187      $8,816     $7,033    $7,008   $14,378
 Federal Funds
  sold                  801       1,162      3,774    31,204    16,964
 Investments         76,944      59,785     62,609    46,460    35,203
 Loans held for
  sale                  323         347        384       140     9,275
 Loans              397,339     372,340    378,414   367,611   375,926
 Less: Allowance
  for loan losses     4,947       4,315      4,297     4,364     4,270
                   --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
 Net loans          392,392     368,025    374,117   363,247   371,656
 Fixed assets        26,593      25,653     26,735    25,126    19,898
 Other assets        28,052      23,916     26,200     8,671     9,225
                   --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
  Total Assets     $537,292    $487,704   $500,852  $481,856  $476,599
                   ========    ========   ========  ========  ========
 Liabilities &
  Shareholders'
  Equity
 Deposits:
  Non-interest
   bearing           31,509      36,625    $32,607   $34,694   $38,754
  Interest bearing  344,217     272,027    310,148   276,199   272,800
                   --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
   Total deposits   375,726     308,652    342,755   310,893   311,554
 Other borrowings    90,284      85,924     81,230    67,841    67,000
 Other liabilities    3,400       2,528      3,816     2,664     3,075
 Junior
  subordinated
  debentures         10,310      21,655     10,310    21,655    21,655
                   --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
  Total
   liabilities      479,720     418,759    438,111   403,053   403,284

 Shareholders'
  Equity
  Common Stock       54,491      68,635     60,157    75,316    70,268
  Retained
   Earnings and
   Accumulated
   Other
   Comprehensive
   Income or Loss     3,081         310      2,584     3,487     3,047
                   --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
   Total
    shareholders'
    equity           57,572      68,945     62,741    78,803    73,315
                   --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
   Total
    Liabilities
    and
    Shareholders'
    equity         $537,292    $487,704   $500,852  $481,856  $476,599
                   ========    ========   ========  ========  ========

 Book Value Per
  Share              $12.50      $12.59     $12.52    $14.41    $14.80
 Reserve to Loans
  Ratio                1.25%       1.16%      1.14%     1.19%     1.14%


            

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