First Financial Bankshares Announces Fourth Quarter Results and 25th Year of Consecutive Earnings Growth

ABILENE, Texas, Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIN) today reported earnings for the fourth quarter of 2011 of $17.47 million, up 12.6 percent compared with earnings of $15.52 million in the same quarter last year.  Basic earnings per share were $0.56 for the fourth quarter of 2011 compared with $0.49 in the same quarter a year ago.  

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased 5.6 percent to $38.2 million compared with $36.2 million in 2010.  The net interest margin, on a taxable equivalent basis, was 4.44 percent compared with 4.69 percent in the same quarter last year and 4.62 percent in the third quarter of this year.  

The provision for loan losses was $1.22 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared with $1.99 million in the same quarter last year and $1.35 million in the third quarter of this year. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of loans and foreclosed assets totaled 1.64 percent at December 31, 2011, compared with 1.60 percent at September 30, 2011, and 1.53 percent at December 31, 2010.  

Noninterest income in the fourth quarter of 2011 was $12.79 million compared with $12.87 million in the same quarter a year ago. Trust fees increased to $3.15 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared with $2.91 million in the same quarter last year.  Service charges on deposit accounts decreased to $4.31 million during the fourth quarter of 2011 compared with $4.85 million for the same quarter a year ago, due primarily to reduced customer use of overdraft services.  ATM and credit card fees increased to $3.55 million during the fourth quarter of 2011 from $3.02 million in the same quarter last year.  

Noninterest expense in the fourth quarter of 2011 was $26.26 million, essentially unchanged from the same quarter last year. The Company's efficiency ratio in the fourth quarter of 2011 improved to 48.33 percent compared with 50.53 percent in the same quarter last year.

For the year, net income increased 14.6 percent to $68.37 million from $59.66 million in 2010, making 2011 the 25th consecutive year of earnings increases for the Company. Basic earnings per share rose to $2.17 for the year from $1.91 in the previous year. The prior year's results included net proceeds after tax of $1.30 million from the expropriation of company-owned property in Southlake, Texas, by the Texas Department of Transportation.  Excluding this extraordinary item, net income for 2010 would have been $58.36 million, or $1.87 per share.  

Net interest income increased 11.62 percent for the year to $152.00 million from $136.17 million a year ago. The provision for loan losses for 2011 totaled $6.63 million compared with $8.96 million the prior year.  Noninterest income was $51.44 million for the year compared with $49.48 million a year ago. Noninterest expense rose to $104.62 million in 2011 compared with $98.26 million last year primarily as a result of our Huntsville acquisition.  

As of December 31, 2011, consolidated assets for the Company totaled $4.12 billion compared with $3.78 billion a year ago. Loans grew 5.7 percent and totaled $1.79 billion at year end compared with loans of $1.69 billion a year ago. Total deposits were $3.33 billion as of December 31, 2011, a 7.1 percent growth over $3.11 billion a year earlier. Shareholders' equity rose to $508.54 million as of December 31, 2011, compared with $441.69 million the prior year.  

"It is a special honor to be able to announce to our shareholders that 2011 marked a quarter century of consecutive annual earnings increases for the Company," said F. Scott Dueser, Chairman, President and CEO. "This rare accomplishment could not have occurred without the dedication, hard work and expertise of our executive team, bank presidents and all our people.

"We are especially pleased with the loan and deposit growth we achieved in 2011, the successful integration of our newly acquired bank in Huntsville, Texas, and the continued growth for our Trust Company," Dueser said. "We believe First Financial's future remains bright, despite challenges from a sluggish national economy, extraordinarily low interest rates and the burden of complying with new federal regulations in the banking industry.  In the year ahead, we will continue to pursue both internal growth opportunities and acquisitions, while keeping our focus on providing exceptional customer service and serving the needs of our communities."  

About First Financial Bankshares

Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that operates 11 separately chartered banks with 52 locations in Texas. The bank subsidiaries are First Financial Bank, N.A., Abilene, Albany, Clyde, Moran and Odessa; First Financial Bank, N.A., Eastland, Ranger, Cisco and Rising Star; First Financial Bank, N.A., Cleburne, Burleson, Alvarado, Midlothian and Crowley; First Financial Bank, Hereford; First Financial Bank, Huntsville; First Financial Bank, N.A., Mineral Wells; First Financial Bank, N.A., San Angelo; First Financial Bank, N.A., Southlake, Bridgeport, Boyd, Decatur, Keller and Trophy Club; First Financial Bank, N.A., Stephenville, Granbury, Glen Rose and Acton; First Financial Bank, N.A., Sweetwater, Roby, Trent and Merkel; and First Financial Bank, N.A., Weatherford, Willow Park, Aledo, Brock and Fort Worth. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with six locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company.

The Company is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol FFIN.  For more information about First Financial Bankshares, please visit our website at http://www.ffin.com and follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/First_Financial.

Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based upon the belief of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made beyond information currently available to the Company's management, and may be, but not necessarily are, identified by such words as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "target", "forecast" and "goal".  Because such "forward-looking statements" are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include competition from other financial institutions and financial holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses, and similar variables.  Other key risks are described in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be obtained under "Investor Relations-Documents/Filings" on the Company's Web site or by writing or calling the Company at 325.627.7155.  Except as otherwise stated in this news announcement, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE First Financial Bankshares, Inc.