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      Southern First Reports Fourth Quarter 2025 Results

      Southern First logo. (PRNewsfoto/Southern First Bancshares, Inc.)

      News provided by

      Southern First Bancshares, Inc.

      Jan 22, 2026, 07:15 ET

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      GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFST), holding company for Southern First Bank, today announced its financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2025.

      "We are very pleased to report our fourth quarter financial performance, which was our strongest of 2025 and clearly demonstrates the continued momentum we achieved throughout the year. We maintained solid loan growth, funded by even stronger growth in client deposits. Our full banking relationship strategy continues to drive improving financial returns, including an expanding net interest margin that increased 10 basis points from last quarter and 36 basis points over last year. We continue to strengthen our balance sheet with higher capital levels and have again achieved outstanding asset quality. Our team remains highly motivated and intentional about improving financial performance while delivering client service at levels that are second to none, and that commitment was clearly reflected in our results this quarter and throughout the year. We are fortunate to operate in some of the strongest markets in the Southeast and will continue expanding our teams to grow our business in the disciplined manner that has defined our success. While we remain mindful of broader economic conditions and factors impacting our business, our markets have proven to be resilient and offer tremendous growth opportunities that we intend to fully capitalize on," stated Art Seaver, Chief Executive Officer. "Looking ahead to the new year, we are optimistic and have high expectations for continued financial performance improvement. Our business pipeline is strong and our team is ready. We expect to build on our track record of attracting experienced bankers who share our commitment to exceptional client service and to supporting our local communities, which remains at the core of everything we do."

      2025 Fourth Quarter Highlights

      • Diluted earnings per common share of $1.21, up $0.14, or 13%, from Q3 2025, and up $0.51, or 73%, compared to Q4 2024
      • Net interest margin of 2.72%, compared to 2.62% for Q3 2025 and 2.25% for Q4 2024
      • Total loans of $3.8 billion, up 6% from Q4 2024; Total deposits of $3.7 billion, up 8% from Q4 2024; Core deposits of $2.9 billion, up 8% from Q4 2024
      • Nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.32% and past due loans to total loans of 0.13%
      • Book value per common share of $44.89 increased 3% from Q3 2025 and increased 11% compared to Q4 2024; Tangible Common Equity (TCE) ratio of 8.37%


      Quarter Ended



      December 31

      September 30

      June 30

      March 31

      December 31



      2025

      2025

      2025

      2025

      2024

      Earnings ($ in thousands, except per share data):







      Net income available to common shareholders

      $

      9,857

      8,662

      6,581

      5,266

      5,627

      Earnings per common share, diluted


      1.21

      1.07

      0.81

      0.65

      0.70

      Total revenue(1)


      31,834

      31,129

      28,629

      26,497

      25,237

      Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)(2)


      2.72 %

      2.62 %

      2.50 %

      2.41 %

      2.25 %

      Return on average assets(3)


      0.90 %

      0.80 %

      0.63 %

      0.52 %

      0.54 %

      Return on average equity(3)


      10.77 %

      9.78 %

      7.71 %

      6.38 %

      6.80 %

      Efficiency ratio(4)


      57.85 %

      60.86 %

      67.54 %

      71.08 %

      73.48 %

      Noninterest expense to average assets (3)


      1.68 %

      1.74 %

      1.86 %

      1.87 %

      1.78 %

      Balance Sheet ($ in thousands):







      Total loans(5)

      $

      3,845,124

      3,789,021

      3,746,841

      3,683,919

      3,631,767

      Total deposits


      3,716,803

      3,676,417

      3,636,329

      3,620,886

      3,435,765

      Core deposits(6)


      2,884,163

      2,884,604

      2,867,193

      2,820,194

      2,661,736

      Total assets


      4,403,494

      4,358,589

      4,308,067

      4,284,311

      4,087,593

      Book value per common share


      44.89

      43.51

      42.23

      41.33

      40.47

      Loans to deposits


      103.45 %

      103.06 %

      103.04 %

      101.74 %

      105.70 %

      Holding Company Capital Ratios(7):







      Total risk-based capital ratio


      12.89 %

      12.79 %

      12.63 %

      12.69 %

      12.70 %

      Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio


      11.44 %

      11.26 %

      11.11 %

      11.15 %

      11.16 %

      Leverage ratio


      8.93 %

      8.72 %

      8.73 %

      8.79 %

      8.55 %

      Common equity tier 1 ratio(8)


      11.06 %

      10.88 %

      10.71 %

      10.75 %

      10.75 %

      Tangible common equity(9)


      8.37 %

      8.18 %

      8.02 %

      7.88 %

      8.08 %

      Asset Quality Ratios:







      Nonperforming assets/total assets


      0.32 %

      0.27 %

      0.27 %

      0.26 %

      0.27 %

      Classified assets/tier one capital plus allowance for credit losses


      4.22 %

      3.90 %

      4.28 %

      4.24 %

      4.25 %

      Accruing loans 30 days or more past due/loans(5)


      0.13 %

      0.18 %

      0.14 %

      0.27 %

      0.18 %

      Net charge-offs (recoveries)/average loans(5) (YTD annualized)


      0.00 %

      0.00 %

      0.00 %

      0.00 %

      0.04 %

      Allowance for credit losses/loans(5)


      1.10 %

      1.10 %

      1.10 %

      1.10 %

      1.10 %

      Allowance for credit losses/nonaccrual loans


      305.65 %

      364.50 %

      362.35 %

      378.09 %

      366.94 %

      [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

      INCOME STATEMENTS – Unaudited












      Quarter Ended


      Twelve Months Ended



      Dec 31

      Sept 30

      Jun 30

      Mar 31

      Dec 31


      December 31

      (in thousands, except per share data)


      2025

      2025

      2025

      2025

      2024


      2025

      2024

      Interest income










      Loans

      $

      51,069

      50,999

      48,992

      47,085

      47,163


      198,145

      186,863

      Investment securities


      1,268

      1,342

      1,357

      1,403

      1,504


      5,370

      5,812

      Federal funds sold


      2,193

      2,645

      1,969

      1,159

      2,465


      7,966

      8,537

        Total interest income


      54,530

      54,986

      52,318

      49,647

      51,132


      211,481

      201,212

      Interest expense










      Deposits


      23,052

      24,703

      24,300

      23,569

      25,901


      95,624

      108,774

      Borrowings


      2,734

      2,754

      2,723

      2,695

      2,773


      10,906

      11,216

        Total interest expense


      25,786

      27,457

      27,023

      26,264

      28,674


      106,530

      119,990

      Net interest income


      28,744

      27,529

      25,295

      23,383

      22,458


      104,951

      81,222

      Provision (reversal) for credit losses


      650

      850

      700

      750

      (200)


      2,950

      125

      Net interest income after provision for credit losses


      28,094

      26,679

      24,595

      22,633

      22,658


      102,001

      81,097

      Noninterest income










      Mortgage banking income


      1,689

      1,600

      1,569

      1,424

      1,024


      6,282

      5,560

      Service fees on deposit accounts


      634

      625

      567

      539

      499


      2,365

      1,764

      ATM and debit card income


      638

      601

      586

      552

      607


      2,377

      2,337

      Income from bank owned life insurance


      450

      439

      413

      403

      407


      1,705

      1,569

      Loss on sale of securities


      (515)

      -

      -

      -

      -


      (515)

      -

      Other income


      194

      335

      199

      196

      242


      924

      911

        Total noninterest income


      3,090

      3,600

      3,334

      3,114

      2,779


      13,138

      12,141

      Noninterest expense










      Compensation and benefits


      10,529

      11,299

      11,674

      11,304

      10,610


      44,806

      43,546

      Occupancy


      2,465

      2,447

      2,523

      2,548

      2,587


      9,983

      10,291

      Outside service and data processing costs


      2,144

      2,158

      2,189

      2,037

      2,003


      8,528

      7,741

      Insurance


      994

      961

      910

      1,010

      1,077


      3,875

      4,022

      Professional fees


      732

      605

      609

      509

      656


      2,455

      2,404

      Marketing


      346

      412

      397

      374

      335


      1,529

      1,412

      Other


      1,206

      1,064

      1,034

      1,054

      1,276


      4,358

      3,910

        Total noninterest expenses


      18,416

      18,946

      19,336

      18,836

      18,544


      75,534

      73,326

      Income before provision for income taxes


      12,768

      11,333

      8,593

      6,911

      6,893


      39,605

      19,912

      Income tax expense


      2,911

      2,671

      2,012

      1,645

      1,266


      9,239

      4,382

      Net income available to common shareholders

      $

      9,857

      8,662

      6,581

      5,266

      5,627


      30,366

      15,530











      Earnings per common share – Basic

      $

      1.23

      1.08

      0.81

      0.65

      0.70


      3.77

      1.92

      Earnings per common share – Diluted


      1.21

      1.07

      0.81

      0.65

      0.70


      3.75

      1.91

      Basic weighted average common shares


      8,045

      8,031

      8,036

      8,078

      8,023


      8,048

      8,081

      Diluted weighted average common shares


      8,123

      8,080

      8,051

      8,111

      8,097


      8,091

      8,117

      [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

      Net income for the fourth quarter of 2025 was $9.9 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, a $1.2 million increase from the third quarter of 2025 and a $4.2 million increase from the fourth quarter of 2024. Net interest income increased $1.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2025, as compared to the third quarter of 2025, and increased $6.3 million, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. The increase in net interest income from the prior quarter and prior year was primarily driven by an increase in interest income on loans, combined with a decrease in interest expense on deposits.

      The provision for credit losses was $650 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to a provision for credit losses of $850 thousand for the third quarter of 2025 and a $200 thousand reversal of the provision for credit losses for the fourth quarter of 2024. The provision during the fourth quarter of 2025 includes a $550 thousand provision for credit losses and a $100 thousand provision for the reserve for unfunded commitments. The provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by an increase in the impairment on individually evaluated loans.

      Noninterest income was $3.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $3.6 million for the third quarter of 2025, and $2.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. Mortgage banking income continues to be the largest component of noninterest income at $1.7 million in fee revenue for the fourth quarter of 2025 and $1.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease in noninterest income from the previous quarter was driven by a $515 thousand loss on the sale of securities, as we executed transactions in our portfolio as part of our overall balance sheet and interest rate risk management strategies.

      Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2025 was $18.4 million, a $530 thousand decrease from the third quarter of 2025, and a $128 thousand decrease from the fourth quarter of 2024. The decrease in noninterest expense from the previous quarter was driven by a decrease in compensation and benefits primarily related to a reduction in group medical insurance expense, offset in part by an increase in professional fees and other noninterest expenses. The decrease in noninterest expense from the previous year related primarily to decreases in compensation and benefits, occupancy, and insurance expense, offset in part by an increase in outside service and data processing costs.

      The effective tax rate was 22.8% for the fourth quarter of 2025, 23.6% for the third quarter of 2025, and 18.4% for the fourth quarter of 2024. The changes in the effective tax rate are driven by the effect of equity compensation transactions during the quarter.

      NET INTEREST INCOME AND MARGIN - Unaudited







      For the Three Months Ended


      December 31, 2025

      September 30, 2025

      December 31, 2024

      (dollars in thousands)

      Average
      Balance

      Income/
      Expense

      Yield/
      Rate(3)

      Average
      Balance

      Income/
      Expense

      Yield/
      Rate(3)

      Average
      Balance

      Income/
      Expense

      Yield/
      Rate(3)

      Interest-earning assets










      Federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits

      $     218,291

      $     2,193

      3.99 %

      $     238,552

      $     2,645

      4.40 %

      $     203,065

      $     2,465

      4.83 %

        Investment securities, taxable

      138,616

      1,229

      3.52 %

      141,143

      1,307

      3.67 %

      145,932

      1,462

      3.99 %

        Investment securities, nontaxable(2)

      7,641

      51

      2.63 %

      7,811

      45

      2.31 %

      7,988

      55

      2.72 %

        Loans(10)

      3,830,741

      51,069

      5.29 %

      3,783,885

      50,999

      5.35 %

      3,620,765

      47,163

      5.18 %

          Total interest-earning assets

      4,195,289

      54,542

      5.16 %

      4,171,391

      54,996

      5.23 %

      3,977,750

      51,145

      5.12 %

        Noninterest-earning assets

      151,515



      150,552



      158,779



          Total assets

      $4,346,804



      $4,321,943



      $4,136,529



      Interest-bearing liabilities










      NOW accounts

      $   360,509

      834

      0.92 %

      $   329,301

      746

      0.90 %

      $   300,902

      693

      0.92 %

      Savings & money market

      1,614,469

      12,530

      3.08 %

      1,599,710

      13,509

      3.35 %

      1,492,534

      13,525

      3.61 %

      Time deposits

      937,557

      9,688

      4.10 %

      984,078

      10,448

      4.21 %

      992,335

      11,683

      4.68 %

      Total interest-bearing deposits

      2,912,535

      23,052

      3.14 %

      2,913,089

      24,703

      3.36 %

      2,785,771

      25,901

      3.70 %

      FHLB advances and other borrowings

      240,000

      2,295

      3.79 %

      240,087

      2,296

      3.79 %

      240,000

      2,295

      3.80 %

      Subordinated debentures

      24,903

      439

      6.99 %

      24,903

      458

      7.30 %

      24,903

      478

      7.64 %

      Total interest-bearing liabilities

      3,177,438

      25,786

      3.22 %

      3,178,079

      27,457

      3.43 %

      3,050,674

      28,674

      3.74 %

      Noninterest-bearing liabilities

      806,235



      792,575



      756,636



      Shareholders' equity

      363,131



      351,289



      329,219



      Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

      $4,346,804



      $4,321,943



      $4,136,529



      Net interest spread



      1.94 %



      1.80 %



      1.38 %

      Net interest income (tax equivalent) / margin


      $28,756

      2.72 %


      $27,539

      2.62 %


      $22,471

      2.25 %

      Less: tax-equivalent adjustment(2)


      12



      10



      13


      Net interest income


      $28,744



      $27,529



      $22,458


      [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

      Net interest income was $28.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, a $1.2 million increase from the third quarter of 2025, driven by a $1.7 million decrease in interest expense. The decrease in interest expense was driven by a 22 basis point decrease in the cost of our interest-bearing deposits over the previous quarter. In comparison to the fourth quarter of 2024, net interest income increased $6.3 million, resulting primarily from $218 million growth in the average balances of our interest-earning assets combined with a 56 basis point decrease in the cost of interest-bearing deposits. Net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, was 2.72% for the fourth quarter of 2025, a 10 basis point increase from 2.62% for the third quarter of 2025 and a 47 basis point increase from 2.25% for the fourth quarter of 2024.

      BALANCE SHEETS - Unaudited










      Ending Balance


      Dec 31 2025 -



      Dec 31

      Sept 30

      Jun 30

      Mar 31

      Dec 31


      Dec 31 2024

      (in thousands, except per share data)


      2025

      2025

      2025

      2025

      2024


      % Change

      Assets









      Cash and cash equivalents:









        Cash and due from banks

      $

      27,821

      24,600

      25,184

      24,904

      22,553


      23.36 %

        Federal funds sold


      183,473

      178,534

      180,834

      263,612

      128,452


      42.83 %

        Interest-bearing deposits with banks


      58,289

      79,769

      65,014

      16,541

      11,858


      391.56 %

          Total cash and cash equivalents


      269,583

      282,903

      271,032

      305,057

      162,863


      65.53 %

      Investment securities:









        Investment securities available for sale


      127,730

      131,040

      128,867

      131,290

      132,127


      (3.33 %)

        Other investments


      20,063

      20,066

      19,906

      19,927

      19,490


      2.94 %

          Total investment securities


      147,793

      151,106

      148,773

      151,217

      151,617


      (2.52 %)

      Mortgage loans held for sale


      11,569

      6,906

      10,739

      11,524

      4,565


      153.43 %

      Loans (5)


      3,845,124

      3,789,021

      3,746,841

      3,683,919

      3,631,767


      5.87 %

      Less allowance for credit losses


      (42,280)

      (41,799)

      (41,285)

      (40,687)

      (39,914)


      5.93 %

          Loans, net


      3,802,844

      3,747,222

      3,705,556

      3,643,232

      3,591,853


      5.87 %

      Bank owned life insurance


      55,775

      55,324

      54,886

      54,473

      54,070


      3.15 %

      Property and equipment, net


      83,465

      84,586

      85,921

      87,369

      88,794


      (6.00 %)

      Deferred income taxes


      13,702

      12,657

      12,971

      13,080

      13,467


      1.75 %

      Other assets


      18,763

      17,885

      18,189

      18,359

      20,364


      (7.86 %)

          Total assets

      $

      4,403,494

      4,358,589

      4,308,067

      4,284,311

      4,087,593


      7.73 %

      Liabilities









      Deposits

      $

      3,716,803

      3,676,417

      3,636,329

      3,620,886

      3,435,765


      8.18 %

      FHLB Advances


      240,000

      240,000

      240,000

      240,000

      240,000


      0.00 %

      Subordinated debentures


      24,903

      24,903

      24,903

      24,903

      24,903


      0.00 %

      Other liabilities


      53,131

      60,921

      61,373

      60,924

      56,481


      (5.93 %)

          Total liabilities


      4,034,837

      4,002,241

      3,962,605

      3,946,713

      3,757,149


      7.39 %

      Shareholders' equity









      Preferred stock - $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized


      -

      -

      -

      -

      -


      -

      Common Stock - $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized


      82

      82

      82

      82

      82


      -

      Nonvested restricted stock


      (1,338)

      (1,929)

      (2,774)

      (3,372)

      (3,884)


      (65.55 %)

      Additional paid-in capital


      125,924

      125,035

      124,839

      124,561

      124,641


      1.03 %

      Accumulated other comprehensive loss


      (7,454)

      (8,426)

      (9,609)

      (10,016)

      (11,472)


      (35.02 %)

      Retained earnings


      251,443

      241,586

      232,924

      226,343

      221,077


      13.74 %

          Total shareholders' equity


      368,657

      356,348

      345,462

      337,598

      330,444


      11.56 %

          Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

      $

      4,403,494

      4,358,589

      4,308,067

      4,284,311

      4,087,593


      7.73 %

      Common Stock









      Book value per common share

      $

      44.89

      43.51

      42.23

      41.33

      40.47


      10.92 %

      Stock price:









        High


      55.50

      45.54

      38.51

      38.50

      44.86


      23.72 %

        Low


      41.15

      38.74

      30.61

      31.88

      33.26


      23.72 %

        Period end


      51.52

      44.12

      38.03

      32.92

      39.75


      29.61 %

      Common shares outstanding


      8,213

      8,189

      8,181

      8,169

      8,165


      0.59 %

      [Footnotes to table located on page 6]

      ASSET QUALITY MEASURES - Unaudited



      Quarter Ended



      December 31

      September 30

      June 30

      March 31

      December 31

      (dollars in thousands)


      2025

      2025

      2025

      2025

      2024

      Nonperforming Assets







      Commercial







        Owner occupied RE

      $

      259

      262

      -

      -

      -

        Non-owner occupied RE


      6,917

      6,911

      6,941

      6,950

      7,641

        Commercial business


      189

      195

      717

      1,087

      1,016

      Consumer







        Real estate


      5,763

      3,394

      3,028

      2,414

      1,908

        Home equity


      705

      705

      708

      310

      312

      Total nonaccrual loans


      13,833

      11,467

      11,394

      10,761

      10,877

      Other real estate owned


      275

      275

      275

      275

      -

      Total nonperforming assets

      $

      14,108

      11,742

      11,669

      11,036

      10,877

      Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:







        Total assets


      0.32 %

      0.27 %

      0.27 %

      0.26 %

      0.27 %

        Total loans


      0.37 %

      0.31 %

      0.31 %

      0.30 %

      0.30 %

      Classified assets/tier 1 capital plus allowance for credit losses


      4.22 %

      3.90 %

      4.28 %

      4.24 %

      4.25 %



      Quarter Ended



      December 31

      September 30

      June 30

      March 31

      December 31

      (dollars in thousands)


      2025

      2025

      2025

      2025

      2024

      Allowance for Credit Losses







      Balance, beginning of period

      $

      41,799

      41,285

      40,687

      39,914

      40,166

      Loans charged-off


      (150)

      (55)

      (68)

      (78)

      (143)

      Recoveries of loans previously charged-off


      81

      69

      16

      101

      141

        Net loans (charged-off) recovered


      (69)

      14

      (52)

      23

      (2)

      Provision for (reversal of) credit losses


      550

      500

      650

      750

      (250)

      Balance, end of period

      $

      42,280

      41,799

      41,285

      40,687

      39,914

      Allowance for credit losses to gross loans


      1.10 %

      1.10 %

      1.10 %

      1.10 %

      1.10 %

      Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans


      305.65 %

      364.50 %

      362.35 %

      378.09 %

      366.94 %

      Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans QTD (annualized)


      0.01 %

      0.00 %

      0.01 %

      0.00 %

      0.00 %

      Total nonperforming assets were $14.1 million at December 31, 2025, representing 0.32% of total assets compared to 0.27% for the third quarter of 2025 and 0.27% for the fourth quarter of 2024. In addition, the classified asset ratio increased to 4.22% for the fourth quarter of 2025 from 3.90% in the third quarter of 2025 and decreased from 4.25% in the fourth quarter of 2024.

      At December 31, 2025, the allowance for credit losses was $42.3 million, or 1.10% of total loans, compared to $41.8 million, or 1.10% of total loans at September 30, 2025, and $39.9 million, or 1.10% of total loans, at December 31, 2024. We had net charge-offs of $69 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to net recoveries of $14 thousand for the third quarter of 2025 and net charge-offs of $2 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2024. There was a provision for credit losses of $550 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to a provision for credit losses of $500 thousand for the third quarter of 2025 and a reversal of the provision for credit losses of $250 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2024. The provision during the fourth quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by additional impairment on our individually evaluated loans.   

      LOAN COMPOSITION - Unaudited




      Quarter Ended



      December 31

      September 30

      June 30

      March 31

      December 31

      (dollars in thousands)


      2025

      2025

      2025

      2025

      2024

      Commercial







      Owner occupied RE

      $

      736,979

      705,383

      686,424

      673,865

      651,597

      Non-owner occupied RE


      956,812

      943,304

      939,163

      926,246

      924,367

      Construction


      63,666

      71,928

      68,421

      90,021

      103,204

      Business


      619,667

      604,411

      589,661

      561,337

      556,117

      Total commercial loans


      2,377,124

      2,325,026

      2,283,669

      2,251,469

      2,235,285

      Consumer







      Real estate


      1,153,285

      1,159,693

      1,164,187

      1,147,357

      1,128,629

      Home equity


      248,685

      239,996

      234,608

      223,061

      204,897

      Construction


      24,997

      25,842

      25,210

      23,540

      20,874

      Other


      41,033

      38,464

      39,167

      38,492

      42,082

      Total consumer loans


      1,468,000

      1,463,995

      1,463,172

      1,432,450

      1,396,482

      Total gross loans, net of deferred fees    


      3,845,124

      3,789,021

      3,746,841

      3,683,919

      3,631,767

      Less—allowance for credit losses


      (42,280)

      (41,799)

      (41,285)

      (40,687)

      (39,914)

      Total loans, net

      $

      3,802,844

      3,747,222

      3,705,556

      3,643,232

      3,591,853

      DEPOSIT COMPOSITION - Unaudited




      Quarter Ended



      December 31

      September 30

      June 30

      March 31

      December 31

      (dollars in thousands)


      2025

      2025

      2025

      2025

      2024

      Non-interest bearing

      $

      732,287

      736,518

      761,492

      671,609

      683,081

      Interest bearing:







         NOW accounts


      423,270

      343,615

      341,903

      371,052

      314,588

         Money market accounts


      1,573,039

      1,572,738

      1,537,400

      1,563,181

      1,438,530

         Savings


      29,470

      29,381

      32,334

      32,945

      31,976

         Time, less than $250,000


      180,783

      202,353

      194,064

      181,407

      193,562

         Time and out-of-market deposits, $250,000 and over


      777,954

      791,812

      769,136

      800,692

      774,028

      Total deposits

      $

      3,716,803

      3,676,417

      3,636,329

      3,620,886

      3,435,765

      Footnotes to tables:


       (1) Total revenue is the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.

       (2) The tax-equivalent adjustment to net interest income adjusts the yield for assets earning tax-exempt income to a comparable yield on a taxable basis.

       (3) Annualized for the respective three-month period.

       (4) Noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.

       (5) Excludes mortgage loans held for sale.

       (6) Excludes out of market deposits and time deposits greater than $250,000 totaling $777,954,000.

       (7) December 31, 2025 ratios are preliminary.

       (8) The common equity tier 1 ratio is calculated as the sum of common equity divided by risk-weighted assets.

       (9) The tangible common equity ratio is calculated as total equity less preferred stock divided by total assets.

      (10) Includes mortgage loans held for sale.

      ABOUT SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES
      Southern First Bancshares, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina is a registered bank holding company incorporated under the laws of South Carolina. The company's wholly owned subsidiary, Southern First Bank, is the second largest bank headquartered in South Carolina. Southern First Bank has been providing financial services since 1999 and now operates in 12 locations in the Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston markets of South Carolina as well as the Charlotte, Triangle and Triad regions of North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. Southern First Bancshares has consolidated assets of approximately $4.4 billion and its common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "SFST."  More information can be found at www.southernfirst.com.

      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 and expectations, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "preliminary", "intend," "plan," "target," "continue," "lasting," and "project," as well as similar expressions. Such 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. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, 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.

      The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: (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 the company conducts operations may be different than expected; (3) the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs, the level of allowance for credit loss, the rates of loan and deposit growth as well as pricing of each product, or adverse changes in asset quality in our loan portfolio, which may result in increased credit risk-related losses and expenses; (4) changes in legislation, regulation, policies, or administrative practices, whether by judicial, governmental, or legislative action, including, but not limited to, changes affecting oversight of the financial services industry or consumer protection; (5) the impact of changes to Congress and the office of the President on the regulatory landscape and capital markets; (6) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions) could continue to have a negative impact on the company; (7) changes in interest rates, which may continue to affect the company's net income, interest expense, prepayment penalty income, mortgage banking income, and other future cash flows, or the market value of the company's assets, including its investment securities; (8) trade wars, government shutdowns, or a potential recession which may cause adverse risk to the overall economy, and could indirectly pose challenges to our clients and to our business; (9) any increase in FDIC assessments which have increased and may continue to increase our cost of doing business; and (10) changes in accounting principles, policies, practices, or guidelines. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our reports (such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements above. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made, except as required by law.

      FINANCIAL & MEDIA CONTACT:
      ART SEAVER  864-679-9010

      WEB SITE: www.southernfirst.com

      SOURCE Southern First Bancshares, Inc.

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