MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. ("South Atlantic" or the "Company") (OTCQX: SABK), parent of South Atlantic Bank (the "Bank"), reported consolidated net income of $2.0 million, or $0.26 per diluted common share, for the three months ended March 31, 2022, a decrease of $1.5 million, or $0.20 per diluted common share, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021.   

"We are very pleased with our financial performance during the first quarter of 2022.  We achieved 7.5 percent loan growth during the quarter, net of Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans, which continue to be forgiven by the Small Business Administration ("SBA").  We continue to see a strong loan pipeline developing for 2022.  We believe our investments in hiring seasoned lenders are making an immediate impact in all of our markets.  Our core earnings, defined as net of mortgage and PPP fees, continue to improve, even though we are reflecting lower earnings per share during the first quarter of 2022 due to an expected reduction in PPP fees and reduced secondary mortgage fees.  We are encouraged by the activity in our loan pipeline and believe we are well-positioned for the remainder of 2022 in all of our markets," said K. Wayne Wicker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of South Atlantic

Earnings Summary

Net interest income was $9.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $8.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $466 thousand, or 5.3 percent, primarily due to an increase of $1.1 million in interest income on securities due to increased securities holdings, partially offset by a reduction in interest and fee income on loans of $453 thousand, as a large portion of PPP-related SBA fee income was realized in the first quarter of  2021 as PPP loans were forgiven by the SBA, and an increase in interest expense driven by a larger deposit portfolio.

Discount accretion included in the net interest income was $60 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $75 thousand for the same period in 2021. 

Noninterest income declined $2.3 million, or 66.5 percent, to $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.  This decline in noninterest income during the three months ended March 31, 2022 is primarily due to a $1.5 million decrease in gains on the sale of securities and a $951 thousand decrease in secondary mortgage fees. 

Noninterest expense increased $445 thousand, or 5.9 percent, to $8.0 million for the three months ending March 31, 2022 compared to $7.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.  This increase in noninterest expense during the three months ended March 31, 2022 is primarily due to salary and benefits expenses increasing by $364 thousand due to the hiring of seasoned commercial lenders and overhead costs to support our operations. 

Financial Performance

Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data


 Three Months Ended


March 31,

December 31,

September 30,

June 30,

March 31,

December 31,


2022

2021

2021

2021

2021

2020

Interest Income







     Loans

$        8,231

$           8,020

$             8,029

$       8,292

$       8,684

$           8,096

     Investments

1,832

1,698

1,396

1,119

748

734

Total Interest Income

$      10,063

$           9,718

$             9,425

$       9,411

$       9,432

$           8,830

Interest Expense

740

550

514

559

575

665

Net Interest Income

$        9,323

$           9,168

$             8,911

$       8,852

$       8,857

$           8,165

Provision for Loan Losses

75

553

111

375

285

665

Noninterest Income

1,163

1,956

2,145

2,260

3,478

2,138

Noninterest Expense

8,003

7,818

7,721

7,625

7,558

7,418

Income Before Taxes

$        2,408

$           2,753

$             3,224

$       3,112

$       4,492

$           2,220

Provision for Income Taxes

402

499

620

637

978

376

Net Income

$        2,006

$           2,254

$             2,604

$       2,475

$       3,514

$           1,844








Basic Earnings Per Share

$          0.26

$              0.30

$               0.34

$         0.33

$         0.47

$              0.25

Diluted Earnings Per Share

$          0.26

$              0.29

$               0.34

$         0.32

$         0.46

$              0.24








Weighed Average Shares Outstanding






     Basic

7,580,618

7,573,020

7,553,866

7,513,030

7,509,333

7,504,098

     Diluted

7,707,204

7,694,569

7,683,857

7,633,965

7,600,275

7,561,005








Total Shares Outstanding

7,591,915

7,577,805

7,577,805

7,541,109

7,509,333

7,509,333

Noninterest Income/Expense

Dollars in Thousands


 Three Months Ended


March 31,

December 31,

September 30,

June 30,

March 31,


2022

2021

2021

2021

2021

Noninterest Income






     Service charges and fees

$           134

$               131

$                125

$          118

$          126

     Securities gains, net

(545)

86

46

-

990

     Secondary mortgage income

804

1,014

1,214

1,365

1,755

     Other income

770

725

760

777

607

Total noninterest income

$        1,163

$           1,956

$             2,145

$       2,260

$       3,478







Noninterest expense






Salaries and employee benefits

$        5,161

$           4,767

$             4,888

$       4,847

$       4,797

Occupancy

1,042

1,257

1,043

1,092

1,121

Other expense

1,800

1,794

1,790

1,686

1,640

Total noninterest expense

$        8,003

$           7,818

$             7,721

$       7,625

$       7,558

Balance Sheet Activity

Total assets increased $64.2 million to $1.3 billion as of March 31, 2022, compared to $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2021.  This increase in total assets during the three months ended March 31, 2022 was driven primarily by an increase in net loans of $39.0 million and an increase in investment securities of $13.6 million, offset by a reduction in mortgage loans held for sale of $5.9 million.  Total loans, net of $14.2 million in paydowns and payoffs of PPP loans, grew 5.3 percent over the quarter ended March 31, 2022 compared to 1 percent for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Total deposits increased $74.1 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2022, of which $9.8 million was noninterest bearing, compared to an increase of $86.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Balance Sheets

Dollars in Thousands


March 31,

December 31,

September 30,

June 30,

March 31,

December 31,


2022

2021

2021

2021

2021

2020

Cash and Cash Equivalents

$            108,901

$           95,378

$           83,753

$         142,008

$         112,694

$           40,682

Trading Securities

9,510

10,055

9,977

-

-

-

Investment Securities

338,293

324,176

298,131

220,429

148,739

125,229

Loans Held for Sale

3,840

9,692

5,631

7,807

26,559

36,676

Loans







     Loans

772,978

733,896

708,436

718,026

691,141

686,894

     Less Allowance for Loan Losses

(8,235)

(8,159)

(7,606)

(7,494)

(7,109)

(6,824)

Loans, Net

$            764,743

$         725,737

$         700,830

$         710,532

$         684,032

$         680,070

OREO

-

-

-

-

-

-

Property, net of accumulated depreciation

$              19,550

$           19,772

$           20,274

$           20,350

$           20,371

$           20,313

BOLI

23,990

23,839

23,682

23,525

23,369

23,215

Goodwill

5,349

5,349

5,349

5,349

5,349

5,349

Core Deposit Intangible

590

640

692

746

802

859

Other Assets

21,366

17,315

16,196

15,088

14,749

14,148

Total Assets

$        1,296,132

$     1,231,953

$     1,164,515

$     1,145,834

$     1,036,664

$         946,541








Deposits







     Noninterest bearing

$            356,345

$         346,525

$         350,175

$         349,345

$         304,430

$         245,321

     Interest bearing

799,866

735,577

693,520

678,231

617,021

589,533

Total Deposits

$        1,156,211

$     1,082,102

$     1,043,695

$     1,027,576

$         921,451

$         834,854

Other Borrowings

-

-

-

14

-

-

Other Liabilities

45,438

44,339

16,650

15,422

16,242

13,865

Total Liabilities

$        1,201,649

$     1,126,441

$     1,060,345

$     1,043,012

$         937,693

$         848,719








Shareholders' Equity

$              94,483

$         105,512

$         104,170

$         102,822

$           98,971

$           97,822








Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

$        1,296,132

$     1,231,953

$     1,164,515

$     1,145,834

$     1,036,664

$         946,541

PPP Loans

The Company processed 1,013 PPP loans, totaling $91.7 million, during phase one of the PPP, which began in April 2020 and ended in August 2020. We have received forgiveness payments of $91.7 million from the SBA for all 1,013 phase one PPP loans, leaving no outstanding loans from phase one of the PPP as of December 31, 2021.  The Company processed an additional 519 PPP loans, totaling $54.6 million, during phase two of the PPP, which began in January 2021 and ended in May 2021.  We have received forgiveness payments of $44.4 million from the SBA for phase two PPP loans as of March 31, 2022.  We anticipate that the remaining phase two PPP loans will be forgiven by the SBA or otherwise repaid by mid-year 2022. 

PPP Loans

Dollars in Thousands


For the Periods Ended


March 31,
2021


December 31,
2021


September 30,
2021


June 30,
2021


March 31,
2021


December 31,
2020


Remaining

Total PPP Loans Outstanding

$       10,178


$          24,414


$           38,470


$       56,226


$       72,457


$         76,819

















Phase 1 Fee Income

$                -


$                   -


$                     -


$            477


$         1,433


$               983


$                   -

Phase 2 Fee Income

$            536


$                538


$                 687


$            560


$            125


$                   -


$               236

Net Interest Margin

Net interest margin, on a tax equivalent basis ("net interest margin"), declined by 3 basis points to 3.29 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to 3.32 percent for the three months ended December 31, 2021. The decline is attributable primarily to the 7 basis point increase in overall cost of funds, offset by the increase in yield on earning assets by 2 basis points and decrease in rates on interest-bearing deposits by 2 basis points.  

Net Interest Margin Analysis

Dollars in Millions


Three Months Ended


March 31, 2022


December 31, 2021


September 30, 2021


June 30, 2021


March 31, 2021



Average


Yield/


Average


Yield/


Average


Yield/


Average


Yield/


Average


Yield/



Balance


Rate


Balance


Rate


Balance


Rate


Balance


Rate


Balance


Rate


Interest earning assets





















Loans

$        751


4.00%


$        719


3.97%


$        711


3.94%


$        704


3.96%


$        690


3.99%


Loan fees



0.42%




0.42%




0.51%




0.70%




1.00%


  Loans with fees

$        751


4.42%


$        719


4.40%


$        711


4.45%


$        704


4.65%


$        690


4.98%























Total Interest earning assets

$     1,157


3.54%


$     1,105


3.52%


$     1,055


3.58%


$     1,003


3.79%


$        903


4.25%























Interest-bearing liabilities





















Total interest bearing deposits

$        750


0.25%


$        741


0.27%


$        689


0.30%


$        640


0.35%


$        596


0.39%























Total interest bearing liabilities

$        779


0.38%


$        747


0.29%


$        689


0.30%


$        640


0.35%


$        596


0.39%























Cost of funds



0.27%




0.20%




0.19%




0.23%




0.27%























Net interest margin



3.29%




3.32%




3.38%




3.56%




3.99%


Credit Quality

We continue to see strong credit quality throughout our markets through March 31, 2022.  As of March 31, 2022, there are no loans classified as non-accrual and no loans past due greater than 90 days.  Provision expense during the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $75 thousand compared to $575 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2021. 

As previously disclosed, the Bank worked closely with borrowers who were unable to meet their contractual obligations due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by offering loan modifications or payment deferrals to certain borrowers on a short-term basis.  As of March 31, 2022, there are no loans with short-term modifications or payment deferrals due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Credit Quality Analysis

For the Periods Ended


March 31,
2022


December 31,
2021


September 30,
2021


June 30,
2021


March 31,
2021

LLR to Total Loans

1.07%


1.11%


1.07%


1.04%


1.03%

LLR to Total Loans (Net PPP)

1.08%


1.15%


1.14%


1.13%


1.16%

NPAs to Avg Assets

0.00%


0.01%


0.01%


0.00%


3.00%

NCOs to Total Loans

0.00%


0.00%


0.00%


0.00%


0.00%











Total NPAs (thousands)

$                    -


$                   75


$                   75


$               -


$                244

 

 

Performance Ratios

For the Periods Ended


March 31,
2022


December 31,
2021


September 30,
2021


June 30,
2021


March 31,
2021

ROAA

0.65%


0.74%


0.88%


1.10%


1.46%

ROAE

7.94%


8.61%


9.75%


11.74%


14.31%

Efficiency

72.06%


70.28%


69.84%


68.62%


61.27%

NIM

3.29%


3.32%


3.38%


3.56%


3.99%











Book Value

$        12.45


$            13.92


$             13.78


$     13.63


$     13.18

Tangible Book Value

$        11.63


$            13.10


$             12.94


$     12.79


$     12.33

Capital Position

Shareholders' equity totaled $94.5 million as of March 31, 2022, a decrease of $11.0 million from December 31, 2021, driven by a $13.5 million adjustment for unrealized losses in the Bank's available-for-sale securities portfolio since December 31, 2021, partially offset by $2.0 million in year-to-date earnings.  The $13.5 million adjustment for unrealized losses during the period resulted from a decrease in the market value of securities in the Bank's available-for-sale securities portfolio, which is attributed to a significant increase in market interest rates during the period. Generally, the Bank classifies its debt securities held in the Bank's securities portfolio as available-for-sale. During the period, the Bank reclassified a portion of its securities portfolio to held to maturity in order to help mitigate the effects of the rising interest rate environment and the Bank anticipates they will mature at par. The Bank's capital position remains above the minimum regulatory thresholds required to be considered "well-capitalized," with a total risk-based capital ratio of 12.73 percent as of March 31, 2022. The Company reported 7,591,915 total shares outstanding as of March 31, 2022.  This increase of 14,110 shares is due to exercise of options granted. 

Capital Ratios

For the Periods Ended

Bank Only

March 31,
2022


December 31,
2021


September 30,
2021


June 30,
2021


March 31,
2021

Tier 1

11.78%


12.01%


11.30%


11.28%


11.41%

Leverage

8.34%


8.38%


7.63%


7.99%


8.18%

CET-1

11.78%


12.01%


11.30%


11.28%


11.41%

Total

12.73%


12.99%


12.27%


12.27%


12.44%












For the Periods Ended

Additional Data

March 31,
2022


December 31,
2021


September 30,
2021


June 30,
2021


March 31,
2021

Branches

11


11


11


10


10

Employees (Full Time Equivalent)

150


150


149


146


137

About South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc.

South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX: SABK) is a registered bank holding company based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with approximately $1.3 billion in total assets.  The Company's banking subsidiary, South Atlantic Bank, is a full-service financial institution spanning the entire coastal area of South Carolina, and is locally owned, controlled and operated.  The Bank operates eleven offices in Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, Georgetown, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.  The Bank specializes in providing personalized community banking services to individuals, small businesses and corporations.  Services include a full range of consumer and commercial banking products, including mortgage, and treasury management, including South Atlantic Bank goMobile, the Bank's mobile banking app. The Bank also offers internet banking, no-fee ATM access, checking, certificates of deposit and money market accounts, merchant services, mortgage loans, remote deposit capture, and more.  For more information, visit www.SouthAtlantic.bank.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains, among other things, certain statements about future events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements regarding the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (or any current or future variant thereof), statements with references to a future period or statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "outlook" or similar terms or expressions.  These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management team and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the Company's control).  These risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results, performance, and achievements of the Company to be materially different from the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements.  Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate.  Therefore, the Company can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.  The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by the Company or any person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.  Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does 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.

Information contained herein, other than information as of December 31, 2021, is unaudited.  All financial data should be read in conjunction with the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Bank as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as contained in the Company's 2021 Annual Report located on the Company's website.

Available Information

The Company maintains an Internet web site at www.southatlantic.bank/about-us/investor-relations.  The Company makes available, free of charge, on its web site the Company's annual meeting materials, annual reports, and quarterly earnings reports.  In addition, the OTC Markets Group maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding the Company (at www.otcmarkets.com/SABK).

The Company routinely posts important information for investors on its web site (under www.southatlantic.bank and, more specifically, under the Investor Relations tab at www.southatlantic.bank/about-us/investor-relations/).  The Company intends to use its web site as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under the OTC Markets Group OTCQX Rules for U.S. Banks.  Accordingly, investors should monitor the Company's web site, in addition to following the Company's press releases, OTC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.

The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company's web site is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Contacts:

K. Wayne Wicker, Chairman & CEO, 843-839-4410


Dick Burch, EVP & COO 843-839-4412

Member FDIC

 

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SOURCE South Atlantic Bank