Peoples Financial Corporation Earns $1,485,000 for 2010

BILOXI, Miss., Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Peoples Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: PFBX), parent of The Peoples Bank, earned $1,485,000 in 2010, despite recording a loss of $1,197,000 in fourth quarter due to a $3,065,000 loan loss provision, announced Chevis C. Swetman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the holding company and the bank.

The loan loss reserve at the end of 2010 totaled $6,650,000, compared to $7,828,000 at the end of 2009. Charge-offs in 2010 totaled $8,291,000, of which $5,514,000 were taken in the fourth quarter. Nonaccrual loans were $14,537,000 as of December 31, 2010, a decrease of $7,469,000 from December 31, 2009, as a result of charge-offs and foreclosure on non-performing loans.

"We continued to purge our balance sheet of non-performing loans during the most recent quarter," said Swetman. "This is the most painful process any of us has ever seen, but it is in the long-term best interest of our bank," he added.

Earnings per share for 2010 totaled $.29 per average weighted share, compared to $.62 per average weighted share in 2009. Earnings per share figures are based on average weighted shares outstanding of 5,151,661 and 5,170,430 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Loan balances at the end of 2010 totaled $410 million, 12% lower than $465 million on the books at the end of 2009.  "Our lower loan volume reflects the sluggish economic climate that pervades the Mississippi Gulf Coast region, as businesses across virtually every category here remain ultra-cautious about expansion," said Swetman.

"Despite these difficult economic circumstances, our operations remain profitable and our primary capital base remains strong," said Swetman. "In fact, our capital ratio increased 47 basis points, so that at the end of 2010, our primary capital reached 12.96%, compared to 12.49% at the end of 2009," he said.

Founded in 1896, with $786 million in assets as of December 31, 2010, The Peoples Bank operates 16 branches along the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties. In addition to a comprehensive range of retail and commercial banking services, the bank also operates a trust and investment services department that has provided customers with financial, estate and retirement planning services since 1936.  

The Peoples Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Peoples Financial Corporation, listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol PFBX. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.thepeoples.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements and reflects industry conditions, company performance and financial results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risk factors and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ from the anticipated results and expectation expressed in such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Peoples Financial Corporation