HATTIESBURG, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBMS), holding company for The First, A National Banking Association, (www.thefirstbank.com) today reported earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The First Bancshares, Inc. also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.0375 per common share. The record date will be May 10, 2013 with a payable date of May 24, 2013.
Net income available to common shareholders for the three months ended March 31, 2013 amounted to $1,119,000, or $.35 per diluted share, compared to $865,000 or $.28 per diluted share for the same quarter in 2012, an increase of $254,000 or 29.4%.
M. Ray “Hoppy” Cole, President & Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased with our first quarter results. Our Company continues to grow both in terms of size and profitability.”
The following are key highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2013:
Net Interest Income and Non-Interest Income
Net interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 increased to $5.9 million compared to $5.5 million for the same quarter in 2012. This increase was a result of increased loan volume, and lower funding costs. Net interest margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 was 3.53% as compared to 3.42% for the calendar year 2012.
Non-interest income increased for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012 by $455,000, or 30.8%. The majority of the increase, $415,000, was from an award granted to our Company by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund due to our increased level of community development products and services throughout the markets we serve.
Non-Interest Expense Increased
Non-interest expense increased $457,000 to $5,979,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2012. This reflects an increase of 8.3% in non-interest expense primarily related to costs associated with the acquisition of First National Bank of Baldwin County in the amount of $341,000 as well as an increase in salaries and employee benefits associated with the start of our private banking division.
Total Assets, Net Loans and Deposits Increased
Total assets were up $67.5 million or 9.4% between December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013. Total deposits increased $66.7 million or 11.2% over the same period. Total loans net of unearned discount increased $11.7 million or 2.8% between December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013.
At March 31, 2013, The First Bancshares, Inc. reported total net loans of $425.4 million, total assets of $788.9 million, total deposits of $663.3 million and stockholders’ equity of $87.1 million. Return on average assets was .60% and return on average equity was 6.45%.
About The First Bancshares, Inc.
The First Bancshares, Inc., headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is the parent company of The First, A National Banking Association. Founded in 1996, The First has operations in Hattiesburg, Laurel, Purvis, Picayune, Pascagoula, Bay St. Louis, Wiggins, Gulfport, Biloxi, Long Beach, Diamondhead and Ocean Springs, Mississippi as well as Bogalusa, Louisiana. The Company’s stock is traded on NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol FBMS. Information is available on the Company’s website: www.thefirstbank.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This news release contains statements regarding the projected performance of The First Bancshares, Inc. and its subsidiary. These statements constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Actual results may differ materially from the projections provided in this release since such projections involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: competitive pressures among financial institutions increasing significantly; economic conditions, either nationally or locally, in areas in which the Company conducts operations being less favorable than expected; and legislation or regulatory changes which adversely affect the ability of the Company to conduct business combinations or new operations. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments. Further information on The First Bancshares, Inc. is available in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov.
($ amounts in thousands, except earnings, book value and total share volume)
For three months
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
Net income applicable to Common Stock
Earnings per share applicable to common shareholders-Basic
Earnings per share applicable to common shareholders-Diluted
Allowance for loan losses as % of net loans
Loans past due 90 days and still accruing
The First Bancshares, Inc.M. Ray “Hoppy” Cole, CEO, 601-268-8998orDeeDee Lowery, CFO, 601-268-8998
Source: The First Bancshares, Inc.