Peoples Financial Corporation First Quarter 2012 Earnings Increase 15.3% Over First Quarter 2011

BILOXI, Miss., April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Peoples Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Capital Market: PFBX), parent of The Peoples Bank, reported net income of $505,000 for the first quarter of 2012, a 15.3% increase over the first quarter of 2011, announced Chevis C. Swetman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the holding company and the bank.

Loan volume increased 5.3% over the first quarter of 2011 to $428 million, compared to $407 million in the same period last year.

The provision for loan losses in the first quarter of 2012 declined 15.8% to $540,000, compared to $641,000 in the first quarter a year ago.

Earnings per weighted average share for first quarter of 2012 increased to $.10, compared to $.09 per average weighted share in the first quarter of 2011. Earnings per share figures are based on weighted average shares outstanding of 5,136,918 for both three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

"We are encouraged by the steady, if slow, increase in loan demand," said Swetman. "Other positive signs in our revenue for the first quarter of this year include a 4.7% increase in non-interest income, which helped offset the exact same percentage decrease in our net interest income," he said.

"Unnaturally low interest rates continue to squeeze our margins, so our non-interest income assumes greater importance in our revenue stream until monetary policy at the federal level returns to historical norms, " added Swetman.

During the first quarter of 2012, $1,838,000 in loans were transferred to other real estate.  Other real estate with a carrying value of $266,000 was sold during the first quarter at a loss of $9,400, net of taxes.  Approximately $3,850,000 in loans were placed on nonaccrual, which resulted in the Company charging off accrued interest of $72,000, net of taxes.

The bank's primary capital ratio increased to 13.51% at the end of the first quarter of 2012, compared to 13.43% at the end of the same period in 2011.

Founded in 1896, with $900 million in assets as of March 31, 2012, 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