First Community Corporation Announces First Quarter Results and Cash Dividend

LEXINGTON, S.C., April 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 

Highlights

• Net income of $1.47 million, a 4.6% increase in net income year-over-year
• Diluted EPS of $0.22 per common share, a 4.8% increase year-over-year
• Loan growth of $4.8 million, a 4.0% annualized rate of increase
• Loan production of $26.4 million during the quarter
• Pure deposit growth (including customer cash management accounts) of $9.6 million, a 6.5% annualized rate of increase
• Total assets of $870.4 million, an increase of 4.1% year-over-year
• Regulatory capital ratios remain strong at 10.23% (Tier 1 Leverage) and 16.24% (Total Capital) along with Tangible Common Equity / Tangible Assets (TCE/TA) ratio of 8.70%
• Non-performing assets (NPAs) of 0.87%
• Net charge-offs of 0.03% (annualized)
• Cash dividend of $0.08 per common share, which is the 57^th consecutive quarter of cash dividends paid to common shareholders

Today, First Community Corporation (Nasdaq: FCCO), the holding company for First Community Bank, reported net income for the first quarter of 2016.  Net income for the first quarter of 2016 was $1.47 million as compared to $1.40 million in the first quarter of 2015.  Diluted earnings per common share were $0.22 for the first quarter of 2016 as compared to $0.21 for the first quarter of 2015.

First Community President and CEO, Mike Crapps, commented, "Loan growth continued in the first quarter with growth of $4.8 million and production of $26.4 million.  This compares to $10.5 million in loan growth and $26.5 million in production in the first quarter of 2015.  Loan payoffs and paydowns impacted total loan growth in the first quarter of 2016; however, we are pleased with the momentum in loan production and the prospects for portfolio growth ahead."  

As previously announced, the company expanded its footprint into the Upstate of South Carolina with the opening of a loan production office in Greenville.  Mr. Crapps commented, "Business activity in the Greenville area is strong, and for the past two years, we have been seeking the right bankers to help expand our presence in this market.  We are very pleased to assemble a team that matches our distinct style of banking and will help us grow our other lines of business in the future."  Crapps continued, "One of First Community's primary strategic initiatives is to re-mix the asset side of its balance sheet, moving toward a goal of an 80% loan-to-earning asset mix; thereby enhancing net interest income and earnings per share.  This entry into the fast growing Greenville market will serve as a catalyst to move closer to this important goal.  While initially the team's work will be focused on growth in the commercial loan portfolio, they will also be able to identify prospects for other lines of business, including financial planning and mortgage banking.  Longer term, First Community will seek the appropriate strategy to build out a deposit franchise in Greenville as well."

Cash Dividend and Capital

The Board of Directors has approved a cash dividend for the first quarter of 2016.  The company will pay a $0.08 per share dividend to holders of the company's common stock.  This dividend is payable May 13, 2016 to shareholders of record as of May 2, 2016.  Mr. Crapps commented, "Our entire board is pleased that our performance enables the company to continue its cash dividend for the 57^th consecutive quarter." 

Each of the regulatory capital ratios (Leverage, Tier I Risk Based and Total Risk Based) exceed the well capitalized minimum levels currently required by regulatory statute.  At March 31, 2016, the company's regulatory capital ratios (Leverage, Tier I Risk Based and Total Risk Based) were 10.23%, 15.41%, and 16.24%, respectively.  This compares to the same ratios as of March 31, 2015, of 10.26%, 15.95%, and 16.77%, respectively.  Additionally, the regulatory capital ratios for the company's wholly owned subsidiary, First Community Bank, were 9.80%, 14.79%, and 15.62% respectively as of March 31, 2016.  Further, the company's ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets was 8.70% as of March 31, 2016.  As of March 31, 2016, the Common Equity Tier One ratio is 12.87% for the company and 14.79% for the bank.  

Asset Quality

The non-performing assets ratio, at 0.87% of total assets, remained an area of strength for the company.    Non-accrual loans increased $1.2 million due to the reclassification of one loan relationship, while Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) balances decreased $974 thousand with the sale of various properties during the quarter.  The ratio of classified loans plus OREO now stands at 13.53% of total regulatory risk-based capital as of March 31, 2016 down significantly from the March 31, 2015 ratio of 18.33% and the December 31, 2015 ratio of 14.68%. 

Trouble debt restructurings, that are still accruing interest, increased to $1.63 million at March 31, 2016.  This $400 thousand increase is attributed to one loan relationship.  Loans past due 30-89 days were $2.1 million (0.42% of loans) this quarter, an increase of $200 thousand on a linked quarter basis.  Net charge-offs for the quarter were $49 thousand (0.03% annualized ratio). 

Mr. Crapps commented, "Pure deposit growth continues to be an area of strength for the bank.  With our current level of liquidity and continued success in pure deposit growth, we have the funding available to support significant additional loan growth."     

Revenue

Net Interest Income/Net Interest Margin

Net interest income was stable on a linked quarter basis at $6.337 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared to fourth quarter 2015 net interest income of $6.348 million.  First quarter net interest margin, on a tax equivalent basis, increased on a linked quarter basis at 3.33% compared to net interest margin of 3.29% in the fourth quarter.  Net interest income in the first quarter of 2015 was $6.5 million and net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis was 3.62%.  Net interest income in the first quarter of 2015 was positively impacted by two payoffs on purchase impaired loans, increasing net interest income by $420 thousand and positively impacting net interest margin by 22 basis points during that quarter.  Absent those two payoffs, net interest income would have increased by approximately $309 thousand in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income, adjusted for securities gains was $2.030 million in the first quarter of 2016, an increase of $50 thousand over the first quarter of 2015 non-interest income adjusted for securities gains and the loss on the early extinguishment of debt of $1.980 million .  Income from the mortgage line of business was $665 thousand in the first quarter of 2016, down $70 thousand year-over-year.  Mr. Crapps noted, "Production during the quarter was somewhat lower than in 2015 with the revenue impact muted somewhat by higher yields than the prior year."

Revenue earned in the first quarter of this year in the financial planning and investment advisory line of business was stable at $291 thousand compared to first quarter of 2015 revenue of $296 thousand. 

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense increased on a linked quarter basis with total non-interest expense of $6.3 million with the majority of the increase based in salaries and benefits and other operating expenses.  The year-over-year salaries and benefits expense increase included normal salary increases, increased medical benefit costs, as well as the addition of the Greenville loan production team in the last month of the quarter.  The majority of other operating expenses were related to the mass reissue of all ATM and debit cards to upgrade to the current EMV/Chip Card technology.  This is a non-recurring expense.  In addition, ATM and debit card losses were unusually high in January and February prior to the conversion to EMV technology, but returned to normal levels in March.  Additionally, other operating expenses also included costs related to the bank's conversion to a new Bill Pay provider, about half of that expense recognized in the first quarter of this year.  Occupancy expenses were also up year-over-year due to additional uninsured damages related to the floods in October of 2015 and a major equipment repair.  Both of these costs have now been fully expensed and no additional related costs are anticipated.         

First Community Corporation stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "FCCO" and is the holding company for First Community Bank, a local community bank based in the Midlands of South Carolina.  First Community Bank operates fifteen banking offices located in the Midlands and Aiken, South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia and a loan production office in Greenville, South Carolina.  The bank also has two other lines of business, First Community Bank Mortgage and First Community Financial Consultants, a financial planning/investment advisory division.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 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, goals, projections and expectations, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such risks, uncertainties and other factors, include, among others, the following: (1) competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (2) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations may be different than expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in the credit quality or a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on the company's loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses; (3) the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs, the level of allowance for loan loss, the rates of loan growth, or adverse changes in asset quality in our loan portfolio, which may result in increased credit risk-related losses and expenses; (4) changes in the U.S. legal and regulatory framework; (5) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt markets and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions) could have a negative impact on the company; (6) technology and cybersercurity risks, including potential business disruptions, reputational risks, and financial losses, associated with potential attacks on or failures by our computer systems and computer systems of our vendors and other third parties; and (7) risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, or in any of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC since the end of the fiscal year covered by our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. 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.

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SOURCE First Community Corporation