Peoples Financial Corporation Net Income Totals $364,000 for Third Quarter, $2,682,000 for Nine Months of 2010

BILOXI, Miss., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Third quarter net income of Peoples Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: PFBX), parent of The Peoples Bank, totaled $364,000 or $.07 per average weighted share, announced Chevis C. Swetman, chairman and chief executive officer of the holding company and the bank.

Net income for the first nine months of 2010 totaled $2,682,000, a decrease of 7% from the same period in 2009.

Earnings per share for the first nine months of 2010 totaled $.52 per average weighted share, compared to $.56 per share in the same period last year.  Earnings per share figures are based on weighted average shares outstanding of 5,151,697 as of September 30, 2010 and 5,176,744 as of September 30, 2009.

"Our bank generated profit of nearly $1.5 million in the second quarter of this year, but a combination of factors caused business activity and our income to fall sharply this past quarter," said Swetman. "Net interest income for the quarter fell to the lowest levels since 2004, due to historically low interest rates and a near 10% decline in loan demand from the same period last year," he said.

"During this period of slack economy and loan demand, our Board of Directors and senior management team have concentrated our efforts to further strengthen our already solid balance sheet," said Swetman. "As of the end of the third quarter, our primary capital ratio stands at 13.74%, the highest since 2005," he added.

Founded in 1896, with $819 million in assets as of September 30, 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 expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Peoples Financial Corporation