10-Q_111306

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2006

 

OR

 

[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Transition Period from                       to                    

 

Commission file number 000-27719

 

               Greenville First Bancshares, Inc.                

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

      South Carolina              

            58-2459561     

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

112 Haywood Road

 

                         Greenville, S.C.                       

             29607  

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

        864-679-9000     

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

       Not Applicable    

(Former name, former address, and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months

(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes [ X ]  No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of "accelerated filer and large

accelerated  filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer [   ]                                Accelerated filer [   ]                                       Non-accelerated filer [ X ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).        Yes [   ]  No [ X ]

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:  2,933,868 shares of common stock,

$.01 par value per share, were issued and outstanding as of October 25, 2006.

 

 


 


 

GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

            

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

             The financial statements of Greenville First Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiary are set forth in the following pages.

 

GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS                            

                                                          

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

Assets

 

Cash and due from banks

 $

10,270,282 

 $

6,223,397 

Federal funds sold

5,113,284 

19,380,755 

Investment securities available for sale

49,440,232 

11,310,956 

Investment securities held to maturity-

  (fair value $16,887,932 and $18,709,112)

17,518,379 

19,345,016 

Other investments, at cost

6,880,100 

5,475,400 

Loans, net

385,739,546 

334,040,776 

Property and equipment, net

6,340,911 

5,576,882 

Accrued interest receivable

2,272,331 

1,694,648 

Bank owned life insurance

8,055,000 

Other real estate owned

779,218 

Other assets

2,730,162 

2,264,713 

         Total assets

 $

495,139,445 

 $

405,312,543 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

Deposits

 $

339,959,604 

    

 $

254,148,041 

Official checks outstanding

770,595 

7,786,468 

Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements

14,680,000 

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

104,500,000 

  

79,500,000 

Junior subordinated debentures

13,403,000 

13,403,000 

Accrued interest payable

2,173,939 

1,510,635 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

998,686 

3,811,652 

Total liabilities

461,805,824 

374,839,796 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

Shareholders' equity

 

Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, 10,000,000 shares

authorized, no shares issued          

Common stock, par value $.01

    Authorized, 10,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding  2,933,868 and

     2,659,719 at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

29,339 

26,597 

Additional paid-in capital

30,820,044 

25,626,740 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(170,538)

(150,602)

Retained earnings 

2,654,776 

4,970,012 

Total shareholders' equity

33,333,621 

30,472,747 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

 $

495,139,445 

 $

405,312,543 

See notes to consolidated financial statements that are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

2



 GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

For the three months ended

 

September 30,

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

(Unaudited)

Interest income

 

Loans

 $

7,266,867 

 $

5,234,626 

Investment securities

766,990 

416,249 

Federal funds sold

100,211 

18,436 

        Total interest income

8,134,068 

5,669,311 

Interest expense

 

   Deposits

3,068,681 

1,629,321 

   Borrowings

1,371,967 

935,121 

Total interest expense

4,440,648 

2,564,442 

   Net interest income

3,693,420 

3,104,869 

   Provision for loan losses

400,000 

225,000 

 

   Net interest income after provision for loan losses

3,293,420 

2,879,869 

 

Noninterest income

 

 

Loan fee income

29,683 

42,000 

Service fees on deposit accounts

66,772 

58,446 

Other real estate owned activity

(88,903)

Other income

105,375 

101,405 

       

Total noninterest income

112,927 

201,851 

Noninterest expenses

 

Compensation and benefits

1,085,922 

837,851 

Professional fees

126,386 

67,895 

Marketing

108,067 

104,834 

Insurance

48,068 

39,188 

Occupancy

161,981 

211,813 

Data processing and related costs

225,558 

229,167 

Telephone

20,540 

11,391 

Other

77,654 

83,903 

Total noninterest expenses

1,854,176 

1,586,042 

Income before income taxes expense

1,552,171 

1,495,678 

Income tax expense

532,494 

568,357 

 

Net income

 $

1,019,677 

 $

927,321 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share

 

 

 

 

Basic

 $

.35 

 $

.32 

Diluted

 $

.32 

 $

.29 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

 

   Basic

2,933,721 

2,925,698 

   Diluted

3,231,605 

3,224,499 

See notes to consolidated financial statements that are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

3



GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

For the nine months ended

 

September 30,

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

(Unaudited)

Interest income

 

Loans

 $

20,210,226 

 $

14,176,899 

Investment securities

1,855,836 

1,251,114 

Federal funds sold

192,007 

51,756 

        Total interest income

22,258,069 

15,479,769 

Interest expense

 

   Deposits

7,696,917 

4,237,255 

   Borrowings

3,945,043 

2,535,716 

Total interest expense

11,641,960 

6,772,971 

   Net interest income

10,616,109 

8,706,798 

   Provision for loan losses

1,200,000 

835,000 

 

   Net interest income after provision for loan losses

9,416,109 

7,871,798 

 

Noninterest income

 

 

Loan fee income

89,145 

138,369 

Service fees on deposit accounts

195,031 

194,583 

Other real estate owned activity

(103,392)

Other income

221,716 

299,768 

       

Total noninterest income

402,500 

632,720 

Noninterest expenses

 

Compensation and benefits

3,176,784 

2,428,499 

Professional fees

308,250 

231,821 

Marketing

350,192 

313,142 

Insurance

135,776 

112,749 

Occupancy

495,587 

582,123 

Data processing and related costs

622,147 

676,972 

Telephone

59,818 

34,425 

Other

264,564 

239,099 

Total noninterest expenses

5,413,118 

4,618,830 

Income before income taxes expense

4,405,491 

3,885,688 

Income tax expense

1,573,955 

1,476,561 

 

Net income

 $

2,831,536 

 $

2,409,127 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share

 

 

 

 

Basic

 $

.97 

 $

.82 

Diluted

 $

.87 

 $

.75 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

 

   Basic

2,930,898 

2,921,304 

   Diluted

3,237,901 

3,217,858 

See notes to consolidated financial statements that are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

4



GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER  30, 2006  AND 2005
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

Total

 

 

Additional

 

other

 

 

 

share-

Common stock

 

paid-in

 

comprehensive

 

Retained

 

holders'

Shares

 

Amount

 

capital

 

income (loss)

 

earnings

 

equity

December 31, 2004

2,647,994 

 $

26,480 

 $

25,546,259 

 $

49,989 

$

2,455,860 

 $

28,078,588 

 

Net income

-  

-  

-  

-  

2,409,127 

2,409,127 

 

Comprehensive income, net of tax -

 

Unrealized holding loss on securities

available for sale

-  

-  

-  

(106,731)

-  

(106,731)

Comprehensive income

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

2,302,396

Proceeds from exercise of stock

options and warrants

11,731 

117

80,481 

-  

-  

80,598 

 

September 30, 2005

2,659,725 

 $

26,597 

 $

25,626,740

 $

(56,742)

$

4,864,987 

 $

30,461,582 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2005

2,659,719 

 $

26,597 

 $

25,626,740 

 $

(150,602)

$

4,970,012 

 $

30,472,747 

Net income

-  

-  

-  

-  

2,831,536 

2,831,536 

 

Comprehensive income, net of tax -

 

Unrealized holding loss on securities

 

available for sale

-  

-  

-  

(19,936)

-  

(19,936)

 

Comprehensive income

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

2,811,600 

 

 

Proceeds from exercise of stock

options

7,500 

75 

49,645 

-  

-  

49,720 

Stock dividend (10%), net of cash in

lieu of fractional shares

266,649 

2,667 

5,143,659

-  

(5,146,772)

(446)

 

 

September 30, 2006

2,933,868 

 $

29,339 

 $

30,820,044 

 $

(170,538)

$

2,654,776 

 $

33,333,621 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements that are an integral part of these consolidated statements.


5



GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

For the nine months ended

 

September 30,

 

2006

 

2005

 

(Unaudited)

Operating activities

 

Net income

 $

2,831,536 

 $

2,409,127 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash

provided by (used for) operating activities:

Provision for loan losses

1,200,000 

835,000 

Depreciation and other amortization

259,626 

187,569 

Accretion and amortization of securities discounts and premium, net

80,005 

96,280 

Gain on sale of real estate owned

(1,065)

Increase in deferred tax asset

(402,413)

(124,447)

Increase in other assets, net

(630,448)

(286,791)

Increase (decrease) in other liabilities, net

(9,165,535)

1,157,295 

 

Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities

(5,828,294)

4,274,033 

Investing activities

 

Increase (decrease) in cash realized from:

 

Origination of loans, net

(55,017,192)

(43,932,332)

 

Purchase of property and equipment

(1,023,655)

(1,910,389)

Purchase of investment securities:

Available for sale

(41,828,730)

Held to maturity

(10,258,021)

    

Other investments

(5,567,200)

(3,944,250)

Payments and maturity of investment securities:

Available for sale

3,624,315 

1,424,652 

Held to maturity

1,791,564 

2,921,643 

Other investments

4,162,500 

2,459,700 

Purchase of bank owned life insurance

(8,055,000)

Proceeds from sale of real estate acquired in settlement of loans

1,340,269 

28,000 

Net cash used for investing activities

(100,573,129)

(53,210,997)

Financing activities

 

Increase in deposits, net

85,811,563 

32,019,790 

Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings

(14,680,000)

3,132,001 

 

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

49,720 

80,598 

Increase in Federal Home Loan Bank advances

25,000,000 

20,840,000 

Cash in lieu of fractional shares

(446)

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

96,180,837 

56,072,389 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

(10,220,586)

7,135,425 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of  the period

25,604,152 

5,338,336 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

 $

15,383,566 

 $

12,473,761 

Supplemental information

 

Cash paid for

 

Interest

 $

10,978,656 

 $

6,088,475 

Income taxes

 $

1,976,369 

 $

1,982,000 

 

   Schedule of non-cash transactions

 

Foreclosure of real estate

 $

2,118,421 

 $

Unrealized loss on securities, net of income taxes

 $

(19,936)

 $

(106,731)

See notes to consolidated financial statements that are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

6



GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.  AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Note 1 - Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

Business activity

             Greenville First Bancshares, Inc. is a South Carolina corporation that owns all of the capital stock of Greenville First Bank, N.A. and all of the stock of Greenville First Statutory Trust I and Trust II (collectively the "Trusts").  The bank is a national bank organized under the laws of the United States located in Greenville County, South Carolina.  The bank is primarily engaged in the business of accepting demand deposits and savings deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and providing commercial, consumer and mortgage loans to the general public.  The bank owns all of the capital stock of JB Properties.  This subsidiary is for the purpose of owning real estate acquired in loan foreclosures.  The Trusts are special purpose subsidiaries for the sole purpose of issuing trust preferred securities. 

Basis of Presentation

             The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q.  Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2006.  For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (Registration Number 000-27719) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Greenville First Bancshares, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary Greenville First Bank, N.A.  The financial statements related to the special purpose subsidiaries, Greenville First Statutory Trust I and Trust II, have not been consolidated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Interpretation No. 46.

 Cash and Cash Equivalents

             For purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash and federal funds sold are included in "cash and cash equivalents."  These assets have contractual maturities of less than three months.

Note 2 - Stock Dividend            

             On June 20, 2006, the company's Board of Directors approved a 10 percent stock dividend to the company's shareholders.  The record date was July 24, 2006 and the distribution date was August 14, 2006.  Earnings per share and average shares outstanding have been adjusted to reflect the stock dividend in the Consolidated Statements of Income and in Note 4.

 Note 3 - Line of Credit

             The company has an unused $4.5 million revolving line of credit with another bank that matures on March 20, 2007.  The line of credit bears interest at a rate of three-month libor plus 2.00%, which at September 30, 2006 was 7.37%.  The company has pledged the stock of the bank as collateral for this line of credit.  The line of credit agreement contains various covenants related to net income and asset quality.  As of September 30, 2006, the company believes it is in compliance with all covenants.

7



Note 4 - Earnings per Share

             The following schedule reconciles the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings per share computations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.  Dilutive common shares arise from the potentially dilutive effect of the company's stock options and warrants that are outstanding.  The assumed conversion of stock options and warrants can create a difference between basic and dilutive net income per common share.  The average dilutive shares have been computed utilizing the "treasury stock" method.

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

2006

 

2005

Basic Earnings Per Share

  Average common shares

2,933,721 

2,925,698 

  Net income

 $

1,019,677 

 $

927,321 

  Earnings per share

 $

0.35 

 $

0.32 

Diluted Earnings Per Share

  Average common shares

2,933,721 

2,925,698 

  Average dilutive common shares

297,884 

298,801 

  Adjusted average common shares

3,231,605 

3,224,499 

  Net income

 $

1,019,677 

 $

927,321 

  Earnings per share

 $

0.32 

 $

0.29 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September  30,

 

2006

 

2005

Basic Earnings Per Share

  Average common shares

2,930,898 

2,921,304 

  Net income

 $

2,831,536 

 $

2,409,127 

  Earnings per share

 $

0.97 

 $

0.82 

Diluted Earnings Per Share

  Average common shares

2,930,898 

2,921,304 

  Average dilutive common shares

307,003 

296,554 

  Adjusted average common shares

3,237,901 

3,217,858 

  Net income

 $

2,831,536 

 $

2,409,127 

  Earnings per share

 $

0.87 

 $

0.75 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note 5 - Stock Based Compensation

 

            The company has a stock-based employee compensation plan.  On January 1, 2006, the company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123(R), Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to account for compensation costs under its stock option plan.  The company previously utilized the intrinsic value method under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (as amended) ("APB 25").  Under the intrinsic value method prescribed by APB 25, no compensation costs were recognized for the company's stock options because the option exercise price in its plans equals the market price on the date of grant.  Prior to January 1, 2006, the company only disclosed the pro forma effects on net income and earnings per share as if the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) had been utilized. On December 20, 2005, the Board of Directors approved accelerating the vesting of 45,813 unvested stock options effective December 28, 2005.  The decision to accelerate vesting of these options was made so as to reduce compensation expense upon the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) by approximately $68,000 and $52,000 in the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively, and $4,000 in each of the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009.

8



            In adopting SFAS No. 123, the company elected to use the modified prospective method to account for the transition from the intrinsic value method to the fair value recognition method.  Under the modified prospective method, compensation cost is recognized from the adoption date forward for all new stock options granted and for any outstanding unvested awards as if the fair value method had been applied to those awards as of the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share as if the fair value based method had been applied to all outstanding and unvested awards in each period.  All stock options were fully vested at September 30, 2006.

 

Three Months Ended September 30

2006

 

2005

Net income as reported

$

1,019,677 

$

927,321 

Add:  Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net

income, net of related tax effects

Deduct:  Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair

value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

(17,992)

Pro forma net income including stock-based compensation cost based on fair-

value method

$

1,019,677 

$

909,329 

Earnings per share:

   Basic - as reported

$

0.35 

$

0.32 

   Basic - pro forma

$

0.35 

$

0.31 

   Diluted - as reported

$

0.32 

$

0.29 

   Diluted - pro forma

$

0.32 

$

0.28 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30

2006

 

2005

Net income as reported

$

2,831,536 

$

2,409,127 

Add:  Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net

income, net of related tax effects

Deduct:  Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair

value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

(53,976)

Pro forma net income including stock-based compensation cost based on fair-

value method

$

2,831,536 

$

2,355,151 

Earnings per share:

   Basic - as reported

$

0.97 

$

0.82 

   Basic - pro forma

$

0.97 

$

0.81 

   Diluted - as reported

$

0.87 

$

0.75 

  Diluted - pro forma

$

0.87 

$

0.73 

            

             The fair value of the option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.  The following assumptions were used for grants: expected volatility of 6.76% for 2005, risk-free interest rate of 4.02% for 2005, expected lives of the options 10 years, and the assumed dividend rate was zero.  No options were granted during the nine month period ended September 30, 2006.

 

9



Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

            The following discussion reviews our results of operations and assesses our financial condition.  You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements.  The commentary should be read in conjunction with the discussion of forward-looking statements, the financial statements and the related notes and the other statistical information included in this report.


DISCUSSION OF FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

             This report contains "forward-looking statements" relating to, without limitation, future economic performance, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and projections of revenues and other financial items that are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management.  The words "may," "will," "anticipate," "should," "would," "believe," "contemplate," "expect," "estimate," "continue," and "intend," as well as other similar words and expressions of the future, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, and our operating performance each quarter is subject to various risks and uncertainties that are discussed in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation:

•    significant increases in competitive pressure in the banking and financial services industries;

•    changes in the interest rate environment which could reduce anticipated or actual margins;

•    changes in political conditions or the legislative or regulatory environment;

•    general economic conditions, either nationally or regionally and especially in our primary service area, becoming less favorable than expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality;

•    changes occurring in business conditions and inflation;

•    changes in technology;

•    changes in monetary and tax policies;

•    the level of allowance for loan loss;

•    the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs;

•    the rates of loan growth and the lack of seasoning of our loan portfolio;

•    adverse changes in asset quality and resulting credit risk-related losses and expenses;

•    loss of consumer confidence and economic disruptions resulting from terrorist activities;

•    changes in the securities markets; and

•    other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Overview

 

               We were incorporated in March 1999 to organize and serve as the holding company for Greenville First Bank, N.A.  Since we opened our bank in January 2000, we have experienced consistent growth in total assets, loans, deposits, and shareholders' equity, which has continued during the first nine months of 2006.  To support this growth, we conducted an underwritten public offering of our common stock in 2004.  On September 24, 2004 and October 15, 2004, we sold 800,000 and 120,000 shares, respectively, of common stock.  The net proceeds from this offering were approximately $15.0 million.

 

Like most community banks, we derive the majority of our income from interest received on our loans and investments.  Our primary source of funds for making these loans and investments is our deposits, on which we pay interest.  Consequently, one of the key measures of our success is our amount of net interest income, or the difference between the income on our interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and the expense on our interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings.  Another key measure is the spread between the yield we earn on these interest-earning assets and the rate we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities, which is called our net interest spread. 

 

There are risks inherent in all loans, so we maintain an allowance for loan losses to absorb probable losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible.  We maintain this allowance by charging a provision for loan losses against our operating earnings for each period.  We have included a detailed discussion of this process, as well as several tables describing our allowance for loan losses.

10


 

In addition to earning interest on our loans and investments, we earn income through fees and other charges to our customers.  We have also included a discussion of the various components of this noninterest income, as well as of our noninterest expense.

                The following discussion and analysis also identifies significant factors that have affected our financial position and operating results during the periods included in the accompanying financial statements.  We encourage you to read this discussion and analysis in conjunction with our financial statements and the other statistical information included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Critical Accounting Policies

                We have adopted various accounting policies that govern the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and with general practices within the banking industry in the preparation of our financial statements.  Our significant accounting policies are described in the footnotes to our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2005, as filed in our annual report on Form 10-K.

                Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by us that have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities.  We consider these accounting policies to be critical accounting policies.  The judgment and assumptions we use are based on historical experience and other factors, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Because of the nature of the judgment and assumptions we make, actual results could differ from these judgments and estimates that could have a material impact on the carrying values of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations.

                We believe the allowance for loan losses is the critical accounting policy that requires the most significant judgments and estimates used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements.  Some of the more critical judgments supporting the amount of our allowance for loan losses include judgments about the credit worthiness of borrowers, the estimated value of the underlying collateral, the assumptions about cash flow, determination of loss factors for estimating credit losses, the impact of current events, and conditions, and other factors impacting the level of probable inherent losses.  Under different conditions, the actual amount of credit losses incurred by us may be different from management's estimates provided in our consolidated financial statements.  Refer to the portion of this discussion that addresses our allowance for loan losses for a more complete discussion of our processes and methodology for determining our allowance for loan losses.

Effect of Economic Trends

          Beginning in July of 2004 and through the third quarter of 2006, our rates on both short-term or variable rate interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities increased as the Federal Reserve began to increase short-term rates as the economy showed signs of strengthening following an economic decline and historically low interest rates.  During this period, the Federal Reserve increased rates 17 times for a total of 425 basis points.  Three of these rate increases occurred during the first six months of 2006 for a total of 75 basis points.  However, the Federal Reserve allowed short-term rates to remain unchanged during the third quarter of 2006, leading many economists to believe that the Federal Reserve is nearing the end of this cycle of rate increases.  The following discussion includes our analysis of the effect we anticipate changes in interest rates will have on our financial condition.  However, no assurance can be given related to future actions that the Federal Reserve may choose to take or that the results we anticipate will actually occur.

11



 
Results of Operations

Income Statement Review

Summary

 

Three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

Our net income was $1.0 million and $927,321 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, an increase of $92,356, or 10.0%.  The increase in net income resulted primarily from an increase of $588,551 in net interest income and $35,863 decrease in income tax expense which were partially offset by an increase of $175,000 in the provision for loan losses, a decrease of $88,924 in noninterest income, and $268,134 of additional noninterest expense.  Our efficiency ratio was 48.7% and 48.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  Our efficiency ratio declined slightly because our net interest income and other income increased at a lower rate than the increases in our overhead expenses. 

Nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

                Our net income was $2.8 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, an increase of $422,409, or 17.5%.  The increase in net income resulted primarily from an increase of $1.9 million in net interest income, partly offset by an increase of $365,000 in the provision for loan losses, a decrease of $230,220 in noninterest income, $794,288 of additional noninterest expense and a $97,394 increase in income tax expense.  Our efficiency ratio was 49.1% and 49.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  Our efficiency ratio has improved because our net interest income and other income increased at a higher rate than the increases in our overhead expenses.

Net Interest Income

 

                Our level of net interest income is determined by the level of earning assets and the management of our net interest margin.  The continuous growth in our loan portfolio is the primary driver of the increase in net interest income.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, our average loan portfolio was $65.4 million higher compared to the average for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.  The growth in the first nine months of 2006 was $51.8 million.  We anticipate the growth in loans will continue to drive our growth in assets and our growth in net interest income.  However, no assurance can be given that we will be able to continue to increase loans at the same levels we have experienced in the past. 

Our decision to grow the loan portfolio at the current pace created the need to increase deposits and borrowings.  This loan growth strategy also resulted in a significant portion of our assets being in higher earning loans than in lower yielding investments.  At September 30, 2006, net loans represented 77.9% of total assets.  However, as described below, we have also increased our level of deposits significantly.  While we plan to continue our focus on increasing the loan portfolio, as rates on investment securities have risen during 2006 and we obtained these additional deposits, we increased the size of the investment portfolio.  As a result, net loans as a percentage of total assets has actually decreased from the 84% amount at June 30, 2006.  Our investment portfolio increased by $37.7 million in the first nine months of 2006.  At September 30, 2006, investments and federal funds sold represented 15.9% of total assets. 

The historically low interest rate environment in the last four years allowed us to obtain short-term borrowings and wholesale certificates of deposit generally at rates that were lower than certificate of deposit rates being offered in our local market.  Therefore, we decided not to begin our retail deposit office expansion program until the beginning of 2005.  This funding strategy allowed us to continue to operate in one location until 2005, maintain a smaller staff, and not incur marketing costs to advertise deposit rates, which in turn allowed us to focus on the fast growing loan portfolio. 

In anticipation of rising interest rates, we opened one retail deposit office in March of 2005 and a second in November of 2005.  Our focus for these two locations is to obtain low cost transaction accounts that we believe will be less impacted by changing market rates.  Our goal is to increase both the percentage of assets being funded by "in market" retail deposits and to increase the percentage of low-cost transaction accounts to total deposits.  The two additional retail deposit offices are assisting us in meeting these objectives.  We also anticipate that deposit promotions and the opening of the two new offices will continue to have a negative impact on earnings in the year 2006.  However, we believe that these two strategies will provide additional clients in our local market and will provide a lower alternative cost of funding.  At September 30, 2006, retail deposits represented $247.8 million, or 50.0% of total assets, borrowings represented $117.9 million, or 23.8% of total assets, and wholesale out-of-market deposits represented $92.1 million, or 18.6% of total assets.

As more fully discussed in the - "Market Risk" and - "Liquidity and Interest Rate Sensitivity" sections below, at September 30, 2006, 52.0% of our loans had variable rates.  Given our percentage of rate-sensitive loans, our primary focus during the past three years has been to obtain short-term liabilities to fund our asset growth.  This strategy improves our ability to manage the impact on our earnings resulting from anticipated changes in market interest rates.

12



At September 30, 2006, 74.3% of our interest-bearing liabilities had a maturity of less than one year.   Therefore, we believe that we are positioned to benefit from future decreases in short-term rates.  Conversely, future increases in short-term rates would likely have a negative effect on our earnings.  At September 30, 2006, we had $111.5 million more liabilities than assets that reprice within the next twelve months.  Based on a review of our deposit portfolio, we believe that the majority of our interest bearing transaction accounts, would only be impacted by a portion of any change in market rates.  This key assumption is utilized in our overall evaluation of our level of interest sensitivity.

We intend to maintain a capital level for the bank that exceeds the OCC requirements to be classified as a "well capitalized" bank.  To provide the additional capital needed to support our bank's growth in assets, in 2003 we issued $6.2 million in junior subordinated debentures in connection with our trust preferred securities offering.  During 2004, we issued 920,000 additional shares of common stock that resulted in $14.9 million of additional capital.  In 2005, we issued an additional $7.2 million in junior subordinated debentures in a second trust preferred securities offering.  We also have a $4.5 million unused short-term holding company line of credit that could be utilized to provide additional capital for the bank if deemed necessary. As of September 30, 2006, the company's regulatory capital levels were over $12.4 million in excess of the various well capitalized requirements.

In addition to the growth in both assets and liabilities, and the timing of repricing of our assets and liabilities, net interest income is also affected by the ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities and the changes in interest rates earned on our assets and interest rates paid on our liabilities.

Our net interest income margin was 3.25% and 3.35% for the three months and nine months ended September 3 0, 2006, respectively, while our net interest spread was 2.82% and 2.91% for the same periods, respectively.  During these periods, our net interest margin exceeded our net interest spread because we had more interest-earning assets than interest-bearing liabilities.  Average interest-earning assets exceeded average interest-bearing liabilities by $44.4 million, and $45.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively. 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, our rates on both short-term or variable rate earning-assets and short-term or variable rate interest-bearing liabilities continued to increase primarily as a result of the actions taken by the Federal Reserve over the last twelve months to raise short-term rates.  The impact of the Federal Reserve's actions resulted in an increase in both the yields on our variable rate assets and the rates that we paid for our short-term deposits and borrowings.  Our net interest spread declined since more of our rate-sensitive liabilities repriced than our rate-sensitive assets during the 12 month period ending September 30, 2006.  Given the fact that the Federal Reserve has increased short-term rates by 425 basis points since July 2004, we believe that short-term interest rates are currently at or near their peak.  Therefore, we have chosen to increase the amount of fixed rate loans in our loan portfolio and targeted to have a significant portion of our liabilities to reprice within a twelve-month period. 

We have included a number of tables to assist in our description of various measures of our financial performance.  For example, the "Average Balances" tables show the average balance of each category of our assets and liabilities as well as the yield we earned or the rate we paid with respect to each category during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.  A review of these tables show that our loans typically provide higher interest yields than do other types of interest-earning assets, which is why we direct a substantial percentage of our earning assets into our loan portfolio.  Similarly, the "Rate/Volume Analysis" tables demonstrate the effect of changing interest rates and changing volume of assets and liabilities on our financial condition during the periods shown.  A review of these tables shows that the significant portion of the increases in net interest income in both the 2006 and 2005 periods have resulted from the increased levels of assets and liabilities in each period.  We also track the sensitivity of our various categories of assets and liabilities to changes in interest rates, and we have included tables to illustrate our interest rate sensitivity with respect to interest-earning accounts and interest-bearing accounts.  Finally, we have included various tables that provide detail about our investment securities, our loans, our deposits, and other borrowings.

The following table sets forth information related to our average balance sheets, average yields on assets, and average costs of liabilities.  We derived these yields by dividing income or expense by the average balance of the corresponding assets or liabilities.  We derived average balances from the daily balances throughout the periods indicated.  During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, we had no interest-bearing deposits in other banks or any securities purchased with agreements to resell.  All investments were owned at an original maturity of over one year.  Nonaccrual loans are included in the following tables.  Loan yields have been reduced to reflect the negative impact on our earnings of loans on nonaccrual status.  The net of capitalized loan costs and fees are amortized into interest income on loans.

13



 

Average Balances, Income and Expenses, and Rates

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

2006

2005

Average

Income/

Yield/

Average

Income/

Yield/

Balance

Expense

Rate(1)

Balance

Expense

Rate(1)

(Dollars in thousands)

Earnings

Federal funds sold

$

7,482 

$

100 

5.30%

$

2,284 

$

18 

3.13%

Investment securities

59,694 

767 

5.10%

37,174 

416 

4.44%

Loans

383,853 

7,267 

7.51%

317,680 

5,235 

6.54%

  Total earning-assets

451,029 

8,134 

7.15%

357,138 

5,669 

6.30%

Non-earning assets

19,176 

7,034 

  Total assets

$

470,205 

$

364,172 

Interest-bearing liabilities

NOW accounts

$

30,821 

145 

1.87%

$

27,049 

97 

1.42%

Savings & money market

93,989 

828 

3.50%

44,305 

208 

1.86%

Time deposits

169,864 

2,096 

4.90%

140,273 

1,324 

3.74%

Total interest-bearing deposits

294,674 

3,069 

4.13%

211,627 

1,629 

3.05%

FHLB advances

92,853 

1,036 

4.43%

75,185 

676 

3.57%

Other borrowings

19,107 

336 

6.98%

23,224 

259 

4.42%

Total interest-bearing liabilities

406,634 

4,441 

4.33%

310,036 

2,564 

3.28%

Non-interest bearing liabilities

30,542 

23,648 

Shareholders' equity

33,029 

30,488 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

470,205 

$

364,172 

Net interest spread

2.82%

3.02%

Net interest income / margin

$

3,693 

3.25%

$

3,105

3.45%

    (1) Annualized for the three month period.

Our net interest spread was 2.82% for the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to 3.02% for the three months ended September 30, 2005.  The net interest spread is the difference between the yield we earn on our interest-earning assets and the rate we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities.  Because we had more interest-bearing liabilities than interest-earning assets that repriced, our net interest spread decreased 20 basis points in the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the same period in 2005.

Our net interest margin is calculated as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.  Our net interest margin for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was 3.25%, compared to 3.45% for the three months ended September 30, 2005.  During the three months ended September 30, 2006, interest-earning assets averaged $451.0 million, compared to $357.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2005.  Interest earning assets exceeded interest bearing liabilities by $44.4 million and $47.1 million for the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. 

Our loan yield increased 97 basis points for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005 as a result of approximately 52% of the loan portfolio having variable rates, combined with the increase in rates over the twelve months ended September 30, 2006.  Offsetting the increase in our loan yield is a 108 basis point increase in the cost of our interest-bearing deposits for the third quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005.  The increase in the rate on our time deposits is due to the renewal rates on time deposits being much higher than the original rates as a result of the number of increases in the market rate in the past twenty-four months.  In addition, the cost of our savings and money market accounts has increased by 164 basis points as we have increased the rates we offer on these products to stay competitive in response to the increase in short-term market rates.  The 86 basis point increase in FHLB advances and the 256 basis point increase in other borrowed funds in the third quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 resulted primarily from the impact of the 150 basis point increase in short-term market rates over the past twelve months.  The rate on other borrowings increased more than the increase in market rates as a result of the additional $7.2 million trust preferred securities that were obtained at a higher cost at the end of 2005.  As of September 30, 2006, approximately 48% of our FHLB advances had variable rates, while all of our other borrowings had variable rates.

14



Net interest income, the largest component of our income, was $3.7 million and $3.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, an increase of $588,551.  Average earning assets were $93.9 million higher during the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 and average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $96.6 million during the same period.  The higher average balances resulted in $636,000 additional net interest income.  Net interest income did not increase by the total impact of higher volumes due to the negative net impact that higher interest rates on both interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities had on earnings.

Interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was $8.1 million, consisting of $7.3 million on loans, $766,990 on investments, and $100,211 on federal funds sold.  Interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2005 was $5.7 million, consisting of $5.2 million on loans, $416,249 on investments, and $18,436 on federal funds sold.  Interest on loans for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 represented 89.3% and 92.3%, respectively, of total interest income, while income from investments and federal funds sold represented 10.7% and 7.7% of total interest income.  The high percentage of interest income from loans relates to our strategy to maintain a significant portion of our assets in higher earning loans compared to lower yielding investments.  Average loans represented 85.1% and 89.0% of average interest-earning assets for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  Included in interest income on loans for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $124,731 and $164,185, respectively, related to the net amortization of loan fees and capitalized loan origination costs.

Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was $4.4 million, consisting of $3.1 million related to deposits and $1.4 million related to borrowings.  Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2005 was $2.6 million, consisting of $1.6 million related to deposits and $935,121 related to borrowings.  Interest expense on deposits for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 represented 69.1% and 63.5%, respectively, of total interest expense, while interest expense on borrowings represented 30.9% and 36.5%, respectively, of total interest expense for the same three month periods.  During the three months ended September 30, 2006, average interest-bearing deposits increased by $83.1 million over the same period in 2005, while FHLB and other borrowings during the three months ended September 30, 2006 increased $13.6 million over the same period in 2005.  Both the short-term borrowings from the FHLB and the sale of securities under agreements to repurchase provide us with the opportunity to obtain low cost funding with various maturities similar to the maturities on our loans and investments. 

15



 

Average Balances, Income and Expenses, and Rates

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

2006

2005

Average

Income/

Yield/

Average

Income/

Yield/

Balance

Expense

Rate(1)

Balance

Expense

Rate(1)

(Dollars in thousands)

Earnings

Federal funds sold

$

4,988 

$

192 

5.15%

$

2,275 

$

52 

3.06%

Investment securities

49,565 

1,856 

5.01%

37,412 

1,251 

4.47%

Loans

369,556 

20,210 

7.31%

304,201 

14,177 

6.23%

  Total earning-assets

424,109 

22,258 

7.02%

343,888 

15,480 

6.02%

Non-earning assets

15,086 

6,166 

  Total assets

$

439,195 

$

350,054 

Interest-bearing liabilities

NOW accounts

$

36,279 

502 

1.85%

$

28,383 

296 

1.39%

Savings & money market

77,639 

1,964 

3.38%

46,573 

606 

1.74%

Time deposits

152,855 

5,231 

4.58%

126,687 

3,335 

3.52%

Total interest-bearing deposits

266,773 

7,697 

3.86%

201,643 

4,237 

2.81%

FHLB advances

85,937 

2,747 

4.27%

73,468 

1,822 

3.32%

Other borrowings

26,041 

1,198 

6.15%

24,322 

714 

3.92%

Total interest-bearing liabilities

378,751 

11,642 

4.11%

299,433 

6,773 

3.03%

Non-interest bearing liabilities

28,323 

21,244 

Shareholders' equity

32,121 

29,377 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

439,195 

$

350,054 

Net interest spread

2.91%

2.99%

Net interest income / margin

$

10,616 

3.35%

$

8,707 

3.39%

    (1) Annualized for the nine month period.

Our net interest spread was 2.91% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to 2.99% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.  The net interest spread is the difference between the yield we earn on our interest-earning assets and the rate we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities.  Because we had more interest-bearing liabilities than interest-earning assets that repriced, our net interest spread decreased 8 basis points in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the same period in 2005.

Our net interest margin is calculated as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.  Our net interest margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was 3.35%, compared to 3.39% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, interest-earning assets averaged $424.1 million, compared to $343.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005.  Interest earning assets exceeded interest bearing liabilities by $45.4 million and $44.5 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. 

Our loan yield increased 108 basis points for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005 as a result of approximately 52% of the loan portfolio having variable rates, combined with the increase in rates over the twelve months ended September 30, 2006.  Offsetting the increase in our loan yield is a 105 basis point increase in the cost of our interest-bearing deposits for the first nine months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005.  The increase in the rate on our time deposits is due to the renewal rates on time deposits being much higher than the original rates due to the number of increases in the market rate in the past twenty-four months.  In addition, the cost of our savings and money market accounts has increased by 164 basis points as we have increased the rates we offer on these products to stay competitive in response to the increase in short-term market rates.  The 95 basis point increase in FHLB advances and the 223 basis point increase in other borrowed funds in the first nine months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 resulted primarily from the impact of the 150 basis point increase in short-term market rates over the past twelve months.  The rate on other borrowings increased more than the increase in market rates as a result of the additional $7.2 million trust preferred securities that were obtained at a higher cost at the end of 2005.  As of September 30, 2006, approximately 48% of our FHLB advances had variable rates, while all of our other borrowings had variable rates.

Net interest income, the largest component of our income, was $10.6 million and $8.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  Of the $1.9 million increase in net interest income, approximately $1.8 million related to the impact of higher average earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005.  Average earning assets were $80.2 million higher during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005, and average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $79.3 million during the same period.  The remaining increase in net interest income is largely a result of the net impact of higher interest rates on both interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

Interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $22.3 million, consisting of $20.2 million on loans, $1.9 million on investments, and $192,007 on federal funds sold.  Interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was $15.5 million, consisting of $14.2 million on loans, $1.3 million on investments, and $51,756 on federal funds sold.  Interest on loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 represented 90.8% and 91.6%, respectively, of total interest income, while income from investments and federal funds sold represented only 9.2% and 8.4% of total interest income.  The high percentage of interest income from loans relates to our strategy to maintain a significant portion of our assets in higher earning loans compared to lower yielding investments.  Average loans represented 87.1% and 88.5% of average interest-earning assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  Included in interest income on loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, was $402,167 and $441,024, respectively, related to the net amortization of loan fees and capitalized loan origination costs.

Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $11.6 million, consisting of $7.7 million related to deposits and $3.9 million related to borrowings.  Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was $6.8 million, consisting of $4.2 million related to deposits and $2.5 million related to borrowings.  Interest expense on deposits for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 represented 66.1% and 62.6%, respectively, of total interest expense, while interest expense on borrowings represented 33.9% and 37.4%, respectively, of total interest expense for the same periods.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, average interest-bearing deposits increased by $65.1 million over the same period in 2005, while FHLB and other borrowings during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 increased $14.2 million over the same period in 2005.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we pledged additional collateral to the FHLB, allowing us to increase our FHLB borrowings.  Both the short-term borrowings from the FHLB and the sale of securities under agreements to repurchase provide us with the opportunity to obtain low cost funding with various maturities similar to the maturities on our loans and investments.

16



Rate/Volume Analysis

                 Net interest income can be analyzed in terms of the impact of changing interest rates and changing volume.  The following table sets forth the effect which the varying levels of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the applicable rates have had on changes in net interest income for the periods presented.            

Three Months Ended

September 30, 2006 vs. 2005

 

September 30, 2005 vs. 2004

Increase (Decrease) Due to

Increase (Decrease) Due to

Volume

 

Rate

Rate/
Volume

Total

Volume

 

Rate

Rate/
Volume

Total

(Dollars in thousands)

Interest income

 

  Loans

$

1,086 

$

776 

$

170 

$

2,032 

$

863 

$

773  

$

195 

$

1,831 

  Investment securities

252 

62 

37 

351 

177 

8  

191 

  Federal funds sold

41 

13 

28 

82 

8  

12 

      Total interest income

1,379 

851 

235 

2,465 

1,042 

789 

203 

2,034 

Interest expense

 

  Deposits

629 

581 

229 

1,439 

253 

341  

91 

685 

  FHLB advances

159 

163 

38 

360 

67 

221  

42 

330 

  Other borrowings

(46)

149 

(26)

77 

97  

105 

      Total interest expense

742 

893 

241 

1,876 

325 

659  

136 

1,120 

Net interest income

$

637 

$

(42)

$

(6)

$

589 

$

717 

$

130  

$

67 

$

914 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2006 vs. 2005

 

September 30, 2005 vs. 2004

Increase (Decrease) Due to

Increase (Decrease) Due to

Volume

 

Rate

Rate/
Volume

Total

Volume

 

Rate

Rate/
Volume

Total

(Dollars in thousands)

Interest income

 

  Loans

$

3,042 

$

2,455 

$

536 

$

6,033 

$

2,673 

$

1,863  

$

549 

$

5,085 

  Investment securities

406 

150 

49 

605 

538 

24  

19 

581 

  Federal funds sold

62 

36 

42 

140 

29  

37 

      Total interest income

3,510 

2,641 

627 

6,778 

3,214 

1,916  

573 

5,703 

Interest expense

 

  Deposits

1,378 

1,568 

514 

3,460 

622 

885 

220 

1,727 

  FHLB advances

310 

526 

89 

925 

318 

508  

204 

1,030 

  Other borrowings

50 

405 

29 

484 

47 

247  

30 

324 

      Total interest expense

1,738 

2,499 

632 

4,869 

987 

1,640  

454 

3,081 

Net interest income

$

1,772 

$

142 

$

(5)

$

1,909 

$

2,227 

$

276  

$

119 

$

2,622 

 

Provision for Loan Losses


 
            We have established an allowance for loan losses through a provision for loan losses charged as an expense on our statement of income.  We review our loan portfolio periodically to evaluate our outstanding loans and to measure both the performance of the portfolio and the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.  Please see the discussion below under "Balance Sheet Review - Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses" for a description of the factors we consider in determining the amount of the provision we expense each period to maintain this allowance.

17



            Three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

For the three months ended September 30, 2006, we incurred a noncash expense related to the provision for loan losses of $400,000, bringing the allowance for loan losses to $4.6 million, or 1.18% of gross loans, as of September 30, 2006.  During the three month period ended September 30, 2006, we charged-off $49,472 in loans and recorded $36,197 of recoveries on loans previously charged-off.  In contrast, for the third quarter of 2005, we added $225,000 to the provision for loan losses, resulting in an allowance of $4.6 million at September 30, 2005.  As of September 30, 2005, the allowance was at 1.41% of gross loans.  This higher than normal level was a result of only $29,661 of charged-off loans during the three months ended September 30, 2005, offset by recoveries of $62,286 for the same period, and other key factors which indicated potential underlying weaknesses in specific loans in the portfolio at the time.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we incurred a noncash expense related to the provision for loan losses of $1.2 million, bringing the allowance for loan losses to $4.6 million, or 1.18% as a percentage of gross loans, as of September 30, 2006.  The $1.2 million provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 related primarily to the level of charge-offs that occurred during this period.   During the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, we charged-off $1.2 million in loans and recorded $119,152 of recoveries on loans previously charged-off.  In contrast, for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we added $835,000 to the provision for loan losses, resulting in an allowance of $4.6 million at September 30, 2005. 

The substantial portion, or $1.0 million, of loans charged-off in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 relates to a group of loans with a common interest totaling $2.9 million.  These loans were secured by diversified real estate or vehicles, on which we have foreclosed.  We charged-off $318,000 related to this group of loans in the first quarter of 2006 and $713,737 in the second quarter of 2006 in order to reduce the carrying value of these loans to what we believe is their fair market value.  During the second and third quarters of 2006, we sold $1.3 million of the property which had secured these loans.  At September 30, 2006, the remaining $779,218 in property which had secured these loans is recorded at their fair market value as other real estate owned on our consolidated balance sheet.

At September 30, 2006, the allowance for loan losses represented 7.1 times the amount of non-performing loans, compared to 3.8 times at September 30, 2005.  As a result of this level of coverage on non-performing loans, we determined that the provisions of $400,000 and $1.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 to be adequate.

Noninterest Income

            
The following table sets forth information related to our noninterest income. 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

September 30,

 

September 30,

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loan fee income

$

29,683 

$

42,000 

$

89,145 

$

138,369 

Service fees on deposit accounts

66,772 

58,446 

 

195,031 

194,583 

Other real estate owned activity

(88,903)

 

(103,392)

Other income

105,375 

101,405 

 

221,716 

299,768 

 Total noninterest income

$

112,927 

$

201,851 

$

402,500 

$

632,720 

 

 

 

 

 Three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 

Noninterest income in the three month period ended September 30, 2006 was $112,927, a decrease of 44.1% over noninterest income of $201,851 in the same period of 2005.  The $88,924 decrease in noninterest income is related to decreases of $12,317 in loan fee income and a net loss of $88,903 in real estate owned operations, partially offset by an $8,326 increase in service fees on deposit accounts and a $3,970 increase in other income.

18



                Loan fee income consists primarily of late charge fees, fees from issuance of letters of credit and mortgage origination fees we receive on residential loans funded and closed by a third party.  Loan fees were $29,683 and $42,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The $12,317 decrease for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 related primarily to an $9,787 reduction in mortgage origination fees and a $5,617 decrease in fees received from the issuance of letters of credit, offset by an increase of $3,087 in late charge fees.  Mortgage origination fees were $0 and $9,787 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, while income related to amortization of fees on letters of credit was $7,465 and $13,082 for the third quarter of 2006 and 2005, respectively.  Late charge fees were $22,218 and $19,131 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. 

Service fees on deposits were $66,772 and $58,446 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The $8,326 increase relates primarily to additional NSF fees collected on deposit accounts in the third quarter of 2006.  NSF income was $39,402 and $33,267 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, representing 59.0% of total service fees on deposits in the 2006 period compared to 56.9% of total service fees on deposits in the 2005 period.  Partially offsetting the increase in NSF fees collected was a $1,969 decrease in service charges on deposit accounts which were $18,298 and $20,267 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.    

As a result of loans that were transferred into real estate owned in the first and second quarters of 2006, our cost of owning the real estate exceeded income derived from the property by $88,903 for the three months ended September 30, 2006.  We had no income or expenses on real estate owned for the same period in 2005.

Other income consisted primarily of income from bank owned life insurance, fees received on debit card transactions and sale of customer checks.  Other income was $105,375 and $101,405 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  A significant portion of the $3,970 increase is related to income earned on bank owned life insurance which we purchased in the third quarter of 2006.  Income derived from life insurance was $55,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2006.  Offsetting the income from life insurance was a $53,377 decrease in debit card transaction fees due to a change in merchant service providers whereby we now receive a net fee related to the service provided to our merchant clients.  In prior years, we received a substantially higher fee, but also incurred additional transaction costs.  Debit card transaction fees were $36,661 and $90,038 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively and represented 34.8% and 88.8% of total other income for the third quarters of 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The corresponding transaction costs associated with debit card transactions are included in noninterest outside service expense.  The debit card transaction costs were $21,387 and $75,790 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The net impact of the fees received and the related cost of the debit card transactions on earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $15,274 and $14,248, respectively.

Nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

               Noninterest income in the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 was $402,500, a decrease of 36.4% over noninterest income of $632,720 in the same period of 2005.  The $230,220 decrease in noninterest income is related to decreases of $49,224 in loan fee income and $78,052 in other income, and a net loss of $103,392 in real estate owned operations. 

Loan fee income consists primarily of late charge fees, fees from issuance of letters of credit and mortgage origination fees we receive on residential loans funded and closed by a third party.  Loan fees were $89,145 and $138,369 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The $49,224 decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 related primarily to a $25,109 reduction in mortgage origination fees and a $29,486 decrease in fees received from the issuance of letters of credit which were offset by a $5,371 increase in late charge fees.  Mortgage origination fees were $2,885 and $27,994 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, while income related to amortization of fees on letters of credit was $24,118 and $53,604 for the first nine months of 2006 and 2005, respectively.  Late charge fees were $62,142 and $56,771 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. 

Service fees on deposits were $195,031 and $194,583 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  While the number of client accounts continues to grow, service fees on deposits increased only slightly due primarily to the amount of NSF fees collected in the first nine months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005.  NSF income decreased $5,722 to $110,493 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $116,215 for the same period in 2005, representing 56.7% of total service fees on deposits in the 2006 period compared to 59.7% of total service fees on deposits in the 2005 period.   Partially offsetting the decrease in NSF fees collected was a $1,600 increase in service charges on deposit accounts which were $66,414 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $64,814 for the same period ended September 30, 2005. 

19


 

As a result of loans that were transferred into real estate owned in the first and second quarters of 2006, our cost of owning the real estate exceeded income derived from the property by $103,392 for the nine months ended September 3 0, 2006.  We had no income or expenses on real estate owned for the same period in 2005.

 

Other income consisted primarily of income from bank owned life insurance, fees received on debit card transactions and sale of customer checks.  Other income was $221,716 and $299,768 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  A significant portion of the $78,052 decrease is related to a change in merchant service providers whereby we now receive a net fee related to the service provided to our merchant clients, offset by income from bank owned life insurance which we purchased in the third quarter of 2006.  Income derived from life insurance was $55,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Debit card transaction fees decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, because in prior years, we received a substantially higher fee, but also incurred additional transaction costs.  Debit card transaction fees were $106,775 and $262,810 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively and represented 48.2% and 87.7% of total other income for the first nine months of 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The corresponding transaction costs associated with debit card transactions are included in noninterest outside service expense.  The debit card transaction costs were $60,199 and $218,021 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The net impact of the fees received and the related cost of the debit card transactions on earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $46,576 and $44,789, respectively.

                

Noninterest expenses

                The following table sets forth information related to our noninterest expenses. 

            

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30,

September 30,

2006

 

2005

2006

 

2005

Compensation and benefits

$

1,085,922

$

837,851

$

3,176,784 

$

2,428,499 

Professional fees

126,386

67,895

308,250 

231,821 

Marketing

108,067

104,834

350,192 

313,142 

Insurance       

48,068

39,188

135,776 

112,749 

Occupancy

161,981

211,813

495,587 

582,123 

Data processing and related costs

225,558

229,167

622,147 

676,972 

Telephone     

20,540

11,391

59,818 

34,425 

Other  

77,654

83,903

264,564 

239,099 

 Total noninterest expense

$

1,854,176

$

1,586,042

$

5,413,118 

$

4,618,830 

 

Three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

We incurred noninterest expenses of $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005.  Average interest-earning assets increased 26.3% during this period, while general and administrative expense increased 16.9%.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2006, compensation and benefits, occupancy, and data processing and related costs represented 79.5% of the total noninterest expense compared to 80.6% for the same period in 2005. 

 

Nine  months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

 

We incurred noninterest expenses of $5.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.  Average interest-earning assets increased 23.3% during this period, while general and administrative expense increased 17.2%.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compensation and benefits, occupancy, and data processing and related costs represented 79.3% of the total noninterest expense compared to 79.8% for the same period in 2005. 

20



The following table sets forth information related to our compensation and benefits. 

 

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30,

September 30,

2006

 

2005

2006

 

2005

Base compensation

$

758,877 

$

595,485 

$

2,237,124 

$

1,687,593 

Incentive compensation

189,000 

162,000 

512,000 

457,500 

 Total compensation

947,877 

757,485 

2,749,124 

2,145,093 

Benefits          

170,055 

113,731 

534,140 

382,496 

Capitalized loan origination costs

(32,010)

(33,365)

(106,480)

(99,090)

 Total compensation and benefits

$

1,085,922

$

837,851 

$

3,176,784 

$

2,428,499 

 

Three months ended September30, 2006 and 2005

Compensation and benefits expense was $1.1 million and $837,851 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.   Compensation and benefits represented 58.6% and 52.8% of our total noninterest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The $248,071 increase in compensation and benefits in the third quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 resulted from increases of $163,392 in base compensation,  $27,000 in additional incentive compensation, $56,324 higher benefits expense, and a decrease of $1,355 in capitalized loan origination costs.  Loan origination costs are required to be capitalized and amortized over the life of the loan as a reduction of loan interest income.

The $248,071 increase in base compensation expense related to the cost of 8 additional employees as well as annual salary increases. Five of the new employees relate to the staff that was hired for the new retail office that opened in the fourth quarter of 2005.  The remaining employees were hired to support the growth in both loans and deposits.   Incentive compensation represented 17.4% and 19.3 % of total compensation and benefits for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The incentive compensation expense recorded for the third quarter of 2006 and 2005 represented an accrual of the portion of the estimated incentive compensation earned during the third quarter of the respective year.  Benefits expense increased $56,324 in the third quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 and represented 17.9% and 15.0% of the total compensation for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

Compensation and benefits expense was $3.2 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.   Compensation and benefits represented 58.7% and 52.6% of our total noninterest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The $748,285 increase in compensation and benefits in the first nine months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 resulted from increases of $549,531 in base compensation,  $54,500 in additional incentive compensation, and $151,644 higher benefits expense.  These amounts were partly offset by an increase of $7,390 in loan origination compensation expense which is required to be capitalized and amortized over the life of the loan as a reduction of loan interest income. 

The $549,531 increase in base compensation expense related to the cost of 8 additional employees as well as annual salary increases. Five of the new employees relate to the staff hired for the new retail office that opened in the fourth quarter of 2005.  The remaining employees were hired to support the growth in both loans and deposits.  Incentive compensation represented 16.1% and 18.8 % of total compensation and benefits for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The incentive compensation expense recorded for the first nine months of 2006 and 2005 represented an accrual of the portion of the estimated incentive compensation earned during the first nine months of the respective year.  Benefits expense increased $151,644 in the first nine months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005.  Benefits expense represented 19.4% and 17.8% of the total compensation for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

21



The following tables set forth information related to our data processing and related costs. 

 

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30,

September 30,

2006

 

2005

2006

 

2005

Data processing costs

$

150,661 

$

111,527 

$

409,945 

$

335,711 

Debit card transaction expense

21,387 

75,790 

60,199 

218,021 

Courier expense

23,080 

20,509 

68,246 

60,521 

Other expenses

30,430 

21,341 

83,757 

62,719 

   Total data processing and related costs

$

225,558 

$

229,167 

$

622,147 

$

676,972 

 

Data processing and related costs were $225,558 and $229,167, a decrease of $3,609, for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  During the first nine months of 2006 and the same period of 2005, our data processing and related costs were $622,147 and $676,972, respectively, a decrease of $54,825.   

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2006, our data processing costs for our core processing system were $150,661 compared to $111,527 for the three months ended September 30, 2005.   We have contracted with an outside computer service company to provide our core data processing services.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, data processing costs were $409,945 and $335,711, respectively.

 

Data processing costs increased $39,134, or 35.1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, data processing costs increased $74,234, or 22.1%, compared to the same period in 2005.  The increases in costs were caused by the higher number of loan and deposit accounts.  A significant portion of the fee charged by the third party processor is directly related to the number of loan and deposit accounts and the related number of transactions. 

We receive income from debit card transactions performed by our clients.  Since we outsource this service, we are charged related transaction expenses from our merchant service provider.  Debit card transaction expense was $21,387 and $75,790 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.    The decrease of $54,403 relates primarily to a change in merchant service card providers, whereby we now receive net fee income related to the service provided to our merchant clients.  In prior years, we received a substantially higher fee, but also incurred a higher transaction cost.  During the first nine months of 2006 and 2005, debit card transaction expense was $60,199 and $218,021, respectively.  The decrease of $157,822 relates primarily to a change in merchant service card providers as discussed above.

Occupancy expense, which represented 8.7% and 13.4% of total noninterest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, decreased $49,832, in spite of the addition of two new retail offices.  The additional costs of the two new retail offices were largely offset because we purchased our main retail office and headquarter building at the end of 2005.  The depreciation expense related to our main office and headquarter building is significantly less than the rent expense paid in prior years.  Occupancy expense was $161,981 and $211,813 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, occupancy expense decreased $86,536 to $495,587 from $582,123 for the same period ended September 30, 2005.  Occupancy expense represented 9.2% and 12.6% of total noninterest expense for the first nine months of 2006 and 2005, respectively.     

The remaining $73,504 increase in noninterest expense for the three month period ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 was primarily a result of a $58,491increase in professional fees.  In addition, insurance and telephone expenses increased by $8,880 and $9,149, respectively, and other noninterest expenses decreased by $6,249.  Professional fees increased as a result of legal fees related to research of certain strategic business opportunities and the overall growth of our company.  For the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, remaining noninterest expenses increased $187,364 from the same period in 2005.  Of this amount, professional fees and marketing expenses represented $76,429 and $37,050 of the increase, respectively.  Of the remaining $73,885 increase, insurance costs represented $23,027, telephone expenses represented $25,393, and other expenses represented $25,465.  The increase in marketing expenses relates to expanding our market awareness in the Greenville market, while the additional professional fees relates primarily to additional legal fees related to research of certain strategic business opportunities and the overall growth of our company. 

22



Income tax expense was $532,494 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $568,357 during the same period in 2005.   The decrease for the third quarter 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 is due to a lower effective tax rate resulting primarily from the tax exempt income on bank owned life insurance which we purchased in the third quarter of 2006.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, income tax expense was $1.6 million compared to $1.5 million for the same period in 2005.  The increase for the nine month period related primarily to the higher level of income before taxes.

 Balance Sheet Review

General

                At September 30, 2006, we had total assets of $495.1 million, consisting principally of $385.7 million in net loans, $73.8 million in investments, $5.1 million in federal funds sold, and $10.3 million in cash and due from banks.  Our liabilities at September 30, 2006 totaled $461.8 million, which consisted principally of $340.0 million in deposits, $104.5 million in FHLB advances, and $13.4 million in junior subordinated debentures.  At September 30, 2006, our shareholders' equity was $33.3 million.

At December 31, 2005, we had total assets of $405.3 million, consisting principally of $334.0 million in net loans, $36.1 million in investments, $19.4 million in federal funds sold, and $6.2 million in cash and due from banks.  Our liabilities at December 31, 2005 totaled $374.8 million, consisting principally of $254.1 million in deposits, $79.5 million in FHLB advances, $14.7 million of short-term borrowings, $7.8 million of official checks outstanding, and $13.4 million of junior subordinated debentures.  At December 31, 2005, our shareholders' equity was $30.5 million.

Federal Funds Sold

                At September 30, 2006, our federal funds sold were $5.1 million, or 1.0% of total assets.  At December 31, 2005, our $19.4 million in short-term investments in federal funds sold on an overnight basis comprised 4.8% of total assets.  Due to the large amount of official checks outstanding, our federal funds sold were higher than normal at December 31, 2005. 

 Investments

                Contractual maturities and yields on our investments that are available for sale and are held to maturity at September 30, 2006 are shown in the following table.  Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.  We had no investments maturing in less than one year as of September 30, 2006.

 

 

One to Five Years

 

Five to Ten Years

 

Over Ten Years

 

Total

 

 

Amount

Yield

 

Amount

Yield

 

Amount

Yield

 

Amount

Yield

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Available for Sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal agencies

$

1,980

5.06%

$

$

-  

$

1,980 

5.06%

State and political subdivisions

-

-

1,285

3.83%

1,285

3.83%

Mortgage-backed securities

-

-

4,840 

5.32%

41,335 

5.69%

46,175 

5.65%

Total

$

1,980

5.06%

$

4,840 

5.32%

$

42,620 

5.63%

$

49,440 

5.58%

 

 

Held to Maturity

 

Mortgage-backed securities

$

-

$

469 

3.92%

$

17,049 

4.58%

$

17,518 

4.56%

            At September 30, 2006, our investments included securities issued by Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and Federal National Mortgage Association with carrying values of $12.9 million and $33.0 million, respectively.

23



The amortized costs and the fair value of our investments at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 are shown in the following table.

 

 

 

September 30, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Amortized

 

Fair

 

Cost

 

Value

 

Cost

 

Value

(Dollars in thousands)

Available for Sale

 

Federal agencies

$

1,996 

$

1,980 

$

1,005 

$

1,012 

State and political subdivisions

1,291 

1,285 

1,292 

1,292 

Mortgage-backed securities

46,412 

46,175 

9,242 

9,007 

 Total

$

49,699 

$

49,440 

$

11,539 

$

11,311 

 

Held to Maturity

Mortgage-backed securities

$

17,518 

$

16,888 

$

19,345 

$

18,709 

                Other investments totaled $6.9 million at September 30, 2006 and consisted of Federal Reserve Bank stock with a cost of $968,700, investments in Greenville First Statutory Trust I and Trust II of $186,000 and $217,000, respectively, and Federal Home Loan Bank stock with a cost of $5.5 million. 

At September 30, 2006, we had $73.8 million in our investment securities portfolio which represented approximately 14.9% of our total assets.  We held U.S. Government agency securities, municipal securities, and mortgage-backed securities with a fair value of $66.3 million and an amortized cost of $67.2 million for an unrealized loss of approximately $889,000.  We believe, based on industry analyst reports and credit ratings, that the deterioration in value is attributed to changes in market interest rates and not in the credit quality of the issuer.  Therefore, these losses are not considered other-than-temporary.  We intend to hold these securities until such time as the value recovers or the securities mature.

At December 31, 2005, the $36.1 million in our investment securities portfolio represented approximately 8.9% of our total assets.  We held U.S. Government agency securities, municipal securities, and mortgage-backed securities with a fair value of $30.0 million and an amortized cost of $30.9 million for an unrealized loss of $864,088.  As a result of the strong growth in our loan portfolio and the historical low fixed rates that were available during the last two and one-half years, through December 31, 2005 we had maintained a lower than normal level of investments.  During the first nine months of 2006, as rates on investment securities have risen and we attracted a material amount of additional deposits, we increased the size of the investment portfolio. 

Contractual maturities and yields on our available for sale and held to maturity investments at December 31, 2005 are shown in the following table.  Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.  At December 31, 2005, we had no securities with a maturity of one to five years.

 

 

Less than One Year

 

Five to Ten Years

 

Over Ten Years

 

Total

 

 

Amount

 

Yield

 

Amount

 

Yield

 

Amount

 

Yield

 

Amount

 

Yield

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Available for Sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal agencies

$

1,012 

5.49 %

$

$

-  

$

1,012 

5.49 %

State and political subdivisions

1,292 

4.00 %

1,292 

4.00 %

Mortgage-backed securities

1,186 

4.64 %

7,821 

4.42 %

9,007 

4.44 %

Total

$

1,012 

5.49 %

$

1,186 

4.64 %

$

9,113 

4.36 %

$

11,311 

4.49 %

 

 

Held to Maturity

 

Mortgage-backed securities

$

-  

$

576 

3.78 %

$

18,769 

4.55 %

$

19,345 

4.53 %

            

At December 31, 2005, our investments included securities issued by Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and Federal National Mortgage Association with carrying values of $1.1 million, $4.1 million, and $24.3 million, respectively.

24



                Other investments totaled $5.5 million at December 31, 2005.  Other investments at December 31, 2005 consisted of Federal Reserve Bank stock with a cost of $863,700, investments in Greenville First Statutory Trust I and II of $186,000 and $217,000, respectively, and Federal Home Loan Bank stock with a cost of $4.2 million. 

 Loans

                Since loans typically provide higher interest yields than other types of interest earning assets, a substantial percentage of our earning assets are invested in our loan portfolio.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, average loans were $369.6 million and $304.2 million, respectively.  Before the allowance for loan losses, total loans outstanding at September 30, 2006 were $390.4 million.  Average loans for the year ended December 31, 2005 were $310.3 million.  Before the allowance for loan losses, total loans outstanding at December 31, 2005 were $338.5 million.

The principal component of our loan portfolio is loans secured by real estate mortgages.    Most of our real estate loans are secured by residential or commercial property.  We do not generally originate traditional long term residential mortgages, but we do issue traditional second mortgage residential real estate loans and home equity lines of credit.  We obtain a security interest in real estate whenever possible, in addition to any other available collateral.  This collateral is taken to increase the likelihood of the ultimate repayment of the loan.  Generally, we limit the loan-to-value ratio on loans we make to 80%.  Due to the short time our portfolio has existed, the current mix may not be indicative of the ongoing portfolio mix.  We attempt to maintain a relatively diversified loan portfolio to help reduce the risk inherent in concentration in certain types of collateral.

The following table summarizes the composition of our loan portfolio at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005. 

 

September 30, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

Amount

 

%  of Total

 

Amount

 

%  of Total

Real estate:

(Dollars in thousands)

 Commercial:

Owner occupied

$

74,492 

19.1 %

$

72,222 

21.3 %

Non-owner occupied

113,268 

29.0 %

96,950 

28.7 %

Construction

24,780 

6.4 %

14,661 

4.3 %

Total commercial real estate

212,540 

54.5 %

183,833 

54.3 %

Consumer:

Residential

57,746 

14.8 %

50,756 

15.0 %

Home equity

37,512 

9.6 %

37,254 

11.0 %

Construction

10,726 

2.7 %

5,409 

1.6 %

Total consumer real estate

105,984 

 

27.1 %

93,419 

27.6 %

Total real estate

318,524 

 

81.6 %

277,252 

81.9 %

Commercial business

63,985 

16.4 %

53,753 

15.9 %

Consumer-other

8,688 

2.2 %

8,211 

2.4 %

Deferred origination fees, net

(837)

(0.2)%

(685)

(0.2)%

      Total gross loans, net of

          deferred fees

390,360 

100.0 %

338,531 

100.0 %

Less-allowance for loan losses

(4,620)

(4,490)

   Total loans, net

$

385,740 

$

334,041 

 Maturities and Sensitivity of Loans to Changes in Interest Rates

                The information in the following tables is based on the contractual maturities of individual loans, including loans which may be subject to renewal at their contractual maturity.  Renewal of such loans is subject to review and credit approval, as well as modification of terms upon maturity.  Actual repayments of loans may differ from the maturities reflected below because borrowers have the right to prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties.

25



The following table summarizes the loan maturity distribution by type and related interest rate characteristics at September 30, 2006.

 

 

 

After one but within five years

 

 

 

 

 

One year or less

 

After five years

 

 

 

Total

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Real estate - mortgage

$

54,878 

$

190,924 

$

37,216 

$

283,018 

Real estate - construction

16,255 

16,104 

3,147 

35,506 

  Total real estate

71,133 

207,028 

40,363 

318,524 

Commercial business

39,344 

23,749 

892 

63,985 

Consumer-other

3,979 

4,375 

334 

8,688 

Deferred origination fees, net

(259)

(488)

(90)

(837)

 Total gross loans, net of   deferred fees

$

114,197 

$

234,664 

$

41,499 

$

390,360 

Loans maturing after one year with:

Fixed interest rates

$

132,448 

Floating interest rates

$

143,715 

 

The following table summarizes the loan maturity distribution by type and related interest rate characteristics at December 31, 2005.

 

After one but within five years

 

 

 

 

 

One year or less

After five years

 

 

 

Total

(Dollars in thousands)

Real estate - mortgage

$

48,762 

$

173,373 

$

35,047 

$

257,182 

Real estate - construction

9,359 

6,708 

4,003 

20,070 

  Total real estate

58,121 

180,081 

39,050 

277,252 

Commercial business

31,849 

21,564 

340 

53,753 

Consumer - other

4,210 

3,689 

312

8,211 

Deferred origination fees, net

(188)

(399)

(98)

(685)

 Total gross loans, net of   deferred fees

$

93,992 

$

204,935 

$

39,604 

$

338,531 

Loans maturing after one year with:

Fixed interest rates

$

95,346 

Floating interest rates

$

149,193 

 

 

26


 

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses

 

            We have established an allowance for loan losses through a provision for loan losses charged to expense on our statement of income.  The allowance for loan losses represents an amount which we believe will be adequate to absorb probable losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible.  Our judgment as to the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is based on a number of assumptions about future events, which we believe to be reasonable, but which may or may not prove to be accurate.  Our determination of the allowance for loan losses is based on evaluations of the collectibility of loans, including consideration of factors such as the balance of impaired loans, the quality, mix, and size of our overall loan portfolio, economic conditions that may affect the borrower's ability to repay, the amount and quality of collateral securing the loans, our historical loan loss experience, and a review of specific problem loans.  We also consider subjective issues such as changes in the lending policies and procedures, changes in the local/national economy, changes in volume or type of credits, changes in volume/severity of problem loans, quality of loan review and board of director oversight, concentrations of credit, and peer group comparisons.  Due to the rapid growth of our bank over the past several years and our short operating history, a large portion of the loans in our loan portfolio and of our lending relationships are of relatively recent origin.  In general, loans do not begin to show signs of credit deterioration or default until they have been outstanding for some period of time, a process known as seasoning.  As a result, a portfolio of older loans will usually behave more predictably than a newer portfolio.  Because our loan portfolio is relatively new, the current level of delinquencies and defaults may not be representative of the level that will prevail when the portfolio becomes more seasoned, which may be higher than current levels.  If delinquencies and defaults increase, we may be required to increase our provision for loan losses, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.  Periodically, we adjust the amount of the allowance based on changing circumstances.  We charge recognized losses to the allowance and add subsequent recoveries back to the allowance for loan losses.  There can be no assurance that charge-offs of loans in future periods will not exceed the allowance for loan losses as estimated at any point in time or that provisions for loan losses will not be significant to a particular accounting period. 

The following table summarizes the activity related to our allowance for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005:

September 30,

2006

 

2005

(Dollars in thousands)

Balance, beginning of period

$

4,490 

$

3,717 

Loans charged-off

(1,189)

(30)

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off

119 

62 

Net loans (charged-off) recovery

$

(1,070)

$

32 

Provision for loan losses

1,200 

835 

Balance, end of period

$

4,620 

$

4,584 

 

Allowance for loan losses to gross loans

1.18% 

1.41% 

Net charge-offs to average loans (annualized)

0.39%

0.00%

We evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses utilizing our credit grading system which we apply to each loan.  All loans graded substandard or below are individually evaluated for impairment and a specific reserve applied as appropriate.  We have retained an independent consultant to review the loan files on a test basis to confirm the grading of our loans.

 

27



Nonperforming Assets

                The following table shows the nonperforming assets, percentages of net charge-offs, and the related percentage of allowance for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and the year ended December 31, 2005.  All loans over 90 days past due are on and included in loans on nonaccrual.

 

September 30, 2006

 

December 31,  2005

(Dollars in thousands)

Loans over 90 days past due

$

399 

$

351 

Loans on nonaccrual:

Mortgage

559 

419 

Commercial

54 

41 

Consumer

35 

Total nonaccrual loans

648 

466 

Troubled debt restructuring

 

Total of nonperforming loans

648 

466

Other nonperforming assets

779 

Total nonperforming assets

$

1,427 

$

466 

 Percentage of total assets

0.29%

0.12%

Percentage of nonperforming loans and assets to gross loans

0.37%

0.14%

 

The allowance for loan losses was $4.6 million at September 30, 2006 and $4.5 million at December 31, 2005, or 1.18% and 1.33% of outstanding loans, respectively.  During the year ended December 31, 2005, we had net charged-off loans of $227,048.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2006 we had net charge-offs of $1.1 million, and a net recovery of $32,625 for the same period in 2005. 

The substantial portion, or $1.0 million, of loans charged-off during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 relates to a group of loans with a common interest totaling $2.9 million.  These loans were secured by diversified real estate or vehicles, on which we have foreclosed.  We charged-off $318,000 related to this group of loans in the first quarter of 2006 and approximately $714,000 in the second quarter of 2006 in order to reduce the carrying value of these loans to what we believe is their fair market value.  During the second and third quarters of 2006, we sold $524,168 and $546,100, respectively, of the property which had secured these loans.  At September 30, 2006, the remaining $779,218 in property which had secured these loans is recorded as other real estate owned our balance sheet.

At September 30, 2006, the allowance for loan losses represented 7.1 times the amount of non-performing loans compared to 3.8 times at September 30, 2005.  As a result of this level of coverage on non-performing loans, we determined that the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2006 was adequate.

At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, nonaccrual loans represented 0.17% and 0.14% of total loans, respectively.  At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, we had $648,428 and $466,333 of loans, respectively, on nonaccrual status.   Generally, we place a loan on nonaccrual status when it becomes 90 days past due as to principal or interest or when we believe, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that the borrower's financial condition is such that collection of the loan is doubtful.  A payment of interest on a loan that is classified as nonaccrual is recognized as income when received.

The amount of foregone interest income on the nonaccrual loans in the first nine months of 2006 was approximately $32,000.   The amount of interest income recorded in the first nine months of 2006 for loans that were on nonaccrual at September 30, 2006 was approximately $10,000.

28


  

Deposits and Other Interest-Bearing Liabilities

                Our primary source of funds for loans and investments is our deposits, advances from the FHLB, and short-term repurchase agreements.  National and local market trends over the past several years suggest that consumers have moved an increasing percentage of discretionary savings funds into investments such as annuities, stocks, and fixed income mutual funds.  Accordingly, it has become more difficult to attract deposits.  We have chosen to obtain a portion of our certificates of deposit from areas outside of our market.  The deposits obtained outside of our market area generally have comparable rates to those being offered for certificates of deposits in our local market.  We also utilize out-of-market deposits in certain instances to obtain longer-term deposits than are readily available in our local market.  We anticipate that the amount of out-of-market deposits will decline as our new retail deposit offices become established.  The amount of out-of-market deposits was $81.4 million at December 31, 2005 and $92.2 million at September 30, 2006. 

We anticipate being able to either renew or replace these out-of-market deposits when they mature, although we may not be able to replace them with deposits with the same terms or rates.  Our loan-to-deposit ratio was 115% and 133% at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively. 

The following table shows the average balance amounts and the average rates paid on deposits held by us for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.   

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Amount

 

Rate

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

Noninterest bearing demand deposits

$

24,550 

- %

$

18,115 

- %

 

Interest bearing demand deposits

36,279 

1.85 %

28,383 

1.39 %

 

Money market accounts

76,292 

3.43 %

45,276 

1.78 %

 

Saving accounts

1,347 

0.43 %

1,298 

0.36 %

 

Time deposits less than $100,000

33,243 

4.24 %

24,612 

3.27 %

 

Time deposits greater than $100,000

119,612 

4.67 %

102,074 

3.58 %

 

   Total deposits

$

291,323 

3.53 %

$

219,758 

2.58 %

 

Money market accounts and time deposits of $100,000 or more increased considerably for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005.  The significant increase in money market accounts is attributed to the aggressive rates we offered on checking and money market accounts in conjunction with the addition of our two new retail offices.  The increase in time deposits is also related to the addition of the new retail offices as well as an increase in wholesale deposits.

Core deposits, which exclude out-of-market deposits and time deposits of $100,000 or more, provide a relatively stable funding source for our loan portfolio and other earning assets.  Our core deposits were $192.7 million, $136.5 million, and $122.1 million at September 30, 2006, December 31, 2005, and September 30, 2005, respectively. 

All of our time deposits are certificates of deposits.  The maturity distribution of our time deposits of $100,000 or more at September 30, 2006 (in thousands) was as follows:

Three months or less

$

25,358 

Over three through six months

34,085 

Over six  through twelve months

52,951 

Over twelve months

 

34,818 

   Total

$

147,212 

 

Capital Resources


                Total shareholders' equity at September 30, 2006 was $33.3 million.  At December 31, 2005, total shareholders' equity was $30.5 million.  The increase during the first nine months of 2006 resulted primarily from the $2.8 million of net income earned.

29



The following table shows the return on average assets (net income divided by average total assets), return on average equity (net income divided by average equity), and equity to assets ratio (average equity divided by average total assets) for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and the year ended December 31, 2005.  Since our inception, we have not paid cash dividends.

                                     

September  30, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

Return on average assets

0.86 %

 

0.70 %

Return on average equity

11.79 %

 

8.44 %

Equity to assets ratio

7.31 %

 

8.36 %

            

Our return on average assets was 0.86% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase from 0.70% for the year ended December 31, 2005.  In addition, our return on average equity increased to 11.79% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, from 8.44% for the year ended December 31, 2005.  The lower returns for the year ended December 31, 2005 relate to the one-time impairment charge on the purchase of the building that occurred in the late 2005.   The decrease in the equity to assets ratio from December 31, 2005 is a function of the $82.2 million increase in average assets compared to the $2.3 million increase in average equity.

             The following table sets forth the holding company's and the bank's various capital ratios at September 30, 2006 and at December 31, 2005.  For all periods, the bank was considered "well capitalized" and the holding company met or exceeded its applicable regulatory capital requirements.

September 30, 2006

December 31, 2005

Holding

 

 

Holding

 

Company

Bank

 

Company

Bank

Total risk-based capital

13.2 %

12.4 %

14.9 %

13.7 %

Tier 1 risk-based capital

12.0 %

11.2 %

13.6 %

12.4 %

Leverage capital

9.9 %

9.2 %

11.6 %

10.5 %

30



Borrowings


                The following table outlines our various sources of borrowed funds during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and the year ended December 31, 2005, the amounts outstanding at the end of each period, at the maximum point for each component during the periods and on average for each period, and the average interest rate that we paid for each borrowing source.  The maximum month-end balance represents the high indebtedness for each component of borrowed funds at any time during each of the periods shown.

 

-

 

 

 

Maximum

 

 

 

Ending

Period-

Month-end

Average for the Period

 

Balance

End Rate

Balance

Balance

Rate

 

(Dollars in thousands)

At or for the nine months

ended September 30, 2006

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 $

104,500 

4.42 %

 $

104,500 

 $

85,937 

4.27 %

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase

-

0.00 % 

14,434 

11,181 

4.92 %

Federal funds purchased

-

5.73 %

3,345 

765 

5.47 %

Junior subordinated debentures

13,403 

7.58 %

13,403 

13,403 

7.21 %

 

At or for the year

ended December 31, 2005

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 $

79,500 

3.84 %

 $

81,500 

 $

74,013 

3.44 %

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase

14,680 

4.32 %

18,947 

16,710 

3.35 %

Federal funds purchased

4.60 %

755 

2.93 %

Junior subordinated debentures

13,403 

6.74 %

13,403 

6,384 

6.57 %

 

 Effect of Inflation and Changing Prices

             The effect of relative purchasing power over time due to inflation has not been taken into account in our consolidated financial statements.  Rather, our financial statements have been prepared on an historical cost basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

             Unlike most industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature.  Therefore, the effect of changes in interest rates will have a more significant impact on our performance than will the effect of changing prices and inflation in general.  In addition, interest rates may generally increase as the rate of inflation increases, although not necessarily in the same magnitude.  As discussed previously, we seek to manage the relationships between interest sensitive assets and liabilities in order to protect against wide rate fluctuations, including those resulting from inflation.

Commitments and Off-Balance Sheet Risk

                Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a client as long as the client has not violated any material condition established in the contract.  Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require the payment of a fee.  At September 30, 2006, unfunded commitments to extend credit were $80.0 million, of which $38.4 million was at fixed rates and $41.6 million was at variable rates.  At December 31, 2005, unfunded commitments to extend credit were $70.8 million, of which approximately $27.6 million was at fixed rates and $43.2 million was at variable rates.  A significant portion of the unfunded commitments related to consumer equity lines of credit.  Based on historical experience, we anticipate that a significant portion of these lines of credit will not be funded.  We evaluate each client's credit worthiness on a case-by-case basis.  The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by us upon extension of credit, is based on our credit evaluation of the borrower.  The type of collateral varies but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, and commercial and residential real estate.

31



                At September 30, 2006, there was a $2.1 million commitment under letters of credit.  At December 31, 2005, there was a $3.8 million commitment under a letter of credit.  The credit risk and collateral involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers.  Since most of the letters of credit are expected to expire without being drawn upon, they do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

    Prior to September 30, 2006, the company entered into a commitment for approximately $1.3 million to upfit an existing office building in order to relocate our headquarters and main office.  As of September 30, 2005, approximately $934,000 has been paid. The office is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2007.

Except as disclosed in this document, we are not involved in off-balance sheet contractual relationships, unconsolidated related entities that have off-balance sheet arrangements or transactions that could result in liquidity needs or other commitments that significantly impact earnings.

Market Risk

                Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and rates, which principally arises from interest rate risk inherent in our lending, investing, deposit gathering, and borrowing activities.  Other types of market risks, such as foreign currency exchange rate risk and commodity price risk, do not generally arise in the normal course of our business.  Our asset/liability management committee ("ALCO") monitors and considers methods of managing exposure to interest rate risk.  We have both an internal ALCO consisting of senior management that meets at various times during each month and a board ALCO that meets monthly.  The ALCOs are responsible for maintaining the level of interest rate sensitivity of our interest sensitive assets and liabilities within board-approved limits.

We actively monitor and manage our interest rate risk exposure principally by measuring our interest sensitivity "gap," which is the positive or negative dollar difference between assets and liabilities that are subject to interest rate repricing within a given period of time.  Interest rate sensitivity can be managed by repricing assets or liabilities, selling securities available for sale, replacing an asset or liability at maturity, or adjusting the interest rate during the life of an asset or liability.  Managing the amount of assets and liabilities repricing in this same time interval helps to hedge the risk and minimize the impact on net interest income of rising or falling interest rates.  We generally would benefit from increasing market rates of interest when we have an asset-sensitive gap position and generally would benefit from decreasing market rates of interest when we are liability-sensitive.

We were asset sensitive during most of the year ended December 31, 2005 and through the first six months of 2006.  As we obtained more fixed rate loans and retail deposits, our gap position has shifted to being liability sensitive.  As of September 30, 2006, we expect to be liability for the next twelve months.  Our variable rate loans and a majority of our deposits reprice over a 12-month period.  Approximately 52% and 61% of our loans were variable rate loans at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.  The ratio of cumulative gap to total earning assets after 12 months was (24.1%) because $111.5 million more liabilities will reprice in a 12 month period than assets.   However, our gap analysis is not a precise indicator of our interest sensitivity position.  The analysis presents only a static view of the timing of maturities and repricing opportunities, without taking into consideration that changes in interest rates do not affect all assets and liabilities equally.  For example, rates paid on a substantial portion of core deposits may change contractually within a relatively short time frame, but those rates are viewed by us as significantly less interest-sensitive than market-based rates such as those paid on noncore deposits.  Net interest income may be affected by other significant factors in a given interest rate environment, including changes in the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

 

Liquidity and Interest Rate Sensitivity

 

             Liquidity represents the ability of a company to convert assets into cash or cash equivalents without significant loss, and the ability to raise additional funds by increasing liabilities.  Liquidity management involves monitoring our sources and uses of funds in order to meet our day-to-day cash flow requirements while maximizing profits.  Liquidity management is made more complicated because different balance sheet components are subject to varying degrees of management control.  For example, the timing of maturities of our investment portfolio is fairly predictable and subject to a high degree of control at the time investment decisions are made.  However, net deposit inflows and outflows are far less predictable and are not subject to the same degree of control.

 

32



             At September 30, 2006, our liquid assets, consisting of cash and due from banks and federal funds sold, amounted to $15.4 million, or 3.1% of total assets.  Our investment securities at September 30, 2006 amounted to $73.8 million, or 14.9% of total assets.  Investment securities traditionally provide a secondary source of liquidity since they can be converted into cash in a timely manner.  However, $30.9 million of these securities are pledged against outstanding debt.  Therefore, the related debt would need to be repaid prior to the securities being sold in order for these securities to be converted to cash.  At December 31, 2005, our liquid assets amounted to $25.6 million, or 6.3% of total assets.  Our investment securities at December 31, 2005 amounted to $36.1 million, or 8.9% of total assets.  However, substantially all of these securities were pledged against outstanding debt. 

 

Our ability to maintain and expand our deposit base and borrowing capabilities serves as our primary source of liquidity.  We plan to meet our future cash needs through the liquidation of temporary investments, the generation of deposits, and from additional borrowings.  In addition, we will receive cash upon the maturity and sale of loans and the maturity of investment securities.  During most of 2005 and the first nine months of 2006, as a result of historically low rates that were being earned on short-term liquidity investments, we chose to maintain a lower than normal level of short-term liquidity securities.  In addition, we maintain three federal funds purchased lines of credit with correspondent banks totaling $23.1 million for which there were no borrowings against the lines at September 30, 2006.  We are also a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, from which applications for borrowings can be made for leverage purposes.  The FHLB requires that securities, qualifying mortgage loans, and stock of the FHLB owned by the bank be pledged to secure any advances from the FHLB.  The unused borrowing capacity currently available from the FHLB at September 30, 2006 was $13.6 million, based on the bank's $5.5 million investment in FHLB stock, as well as qualifying mortgages available to secure any future borrowings.

               

              We have signed a ten-year, five-month lease on a new site for our headquarters and main office that are to be relocated in January 2007.  The lease provides for a substantial reduction in the rent rate for the first five months of the lease in order to induce us to enter into the agreement.  In accordance with SFAS No. 13, "Accounting for Leases," we will amortize the discounted rent over the initial lease term.  Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2006, the monthly rent expense will be approximately $41,000.  The lease provides for annual lease rate escalations based on cost of living adjustments. 

 

We believe that our existing stable base of core deposits, borrowings from the FHLB, and short-term repurchase agreements will enable us to successfully meet our liquidity needs.

 

Asset/liability management is the process by which we monitor and control the mix and maturities of our assets and liabilities. The essential purposes of asset/liability management are to ensure adequate liquidity and to maintain an appropriate balance between interest sensitive assets and liabilities in order to minimize potentially adverse impacts on earnings from changes in market interest rates.  We have both an internal ALCO consisting of senior management that meets at various times during each month and a board ALCO that meets monthly.  The ALCOs are responsible for maintaining the level of interest rate sensitivity of our interest sensitive assets and liabilities within board-approved limits.

33



The following table sets forth information regarding our rate sensitivity as of September 30, 2006 for each of the time intervals indicated. The information in the table may not be indicative of our rate sensitivity position at other points in time.  In addition, the maturity distribution indicated in the table may differ from the contractual maturities of the earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities presented due to consideration of prepayment speeds under various interest rate change scenarios in the application of the interest rate sensitivity methods described above.

 

Within

 

After three but

 

After one but

 

After

 

 

three

 

within twelve

 

within five

 

five

 

 

months

 

months

 

years

 

years

 

Total

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Interest-earning assets:

Federal funds sold

$

 5,113 

$

$

$

$

5,113 

Investment securities

2,447 

6,875 

28,994 

28,643 

66,959 

Loans

212,081 

19,259 

124,788 

34,421 

390,549 

 

Total earning assets

$

219,641 

$

26,134 

$

153,782 

$

63,064 

$

462,621 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

Money market and NOW

$

118,985 

$

$

$

$

118,985 

Regular savings

1,316 

1,316 

Time deposits

38,159 

112,904 

37,396 

167 

188,626 

FHLB advances

60,000 

12,500 

32,000 

104,500 

Junior subordinated debentures

13,403 

13,403 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

$

231,863 

$

125,404 

$

69,396 

$

167 

$

426,830 

Period gap

$

(12,222) 

$

(99,270)

$

84,386 

$

62,897 

Cumulative gap

(12,222) 

(111,492)

(27,106)

35,791 

Ratio of cumulative gap total assets   total earning assets

(2.6 %)

(24.1 %)

(5.9 %)

7.7 %

 

The following table sets forth information regarding our rate sensitivity, as of December 31, 2005, at each of the time intervals.

 

Within

 

After three but

 

After one but

 

After

 

 

three

 

within twelve

 

within five

 

five

 

 

months

 

months

 

years

 

years

 

Total

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 Interest-earning assets:

Federal funds sold

$

19,381 

$

$

$

$

19,381 

Investment securities

1,414 

5,255 

16,322 

7,664 

30,655 

Loans

213,020 

14,672 

80,434 

30,601 

338,727 

Total earning assets

$

233,815 

$

19,927 

$

96,756 

$

38,265 

$

388,763 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

Money market and NOW

$

85,738 

$

$

$

$

85,738 

Regular savings

1,319 

1,319 

Time deposits

19,468 

71,692 

50,749 

3,469 

145,378 

Repurchase agreements

14,680 

14,680 

FHLB advances

27,000 

10,000 

39,500 

3,000 

79,500 

Junior subordinated debentures

13,403 

13,403 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

$

161,608 

$

81,692 

$

90,249 

$

6,469 

$

340,018 

Period gap

$

72,207 

$

(61,765)

$

6,507 

$

31,796 

Cumulative gap

72,207 

10,442 

16,949 

48,745 

Ratio of cumulative gap total assets   total earning assets

18.6 %

2.7 %

4.4 %

12.5 %

 34



Accounting, Reporting, and Regulatory Matters

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

                The following is a summary of recent authoritative pronouncements that affect accounting, reporting, and disclosure of financial information by us:

 

                In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments-an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140.  This Statement amends SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, and SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.  This Statement resolves issues addressed in SFAS No. 133 Implementation Issue No. D1, Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets.  SFAS No. 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. We do not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 155 will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140.  This Statement amends FASB No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities, with respect to the accounting for separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. SFAS No. 156 requires an entity to recognize a servicing asset or servicing liability each time it undertakes an obligation to service a financial asset by entering into a servicing contract; requires all separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities to be initially measured at fair value, if practicable; permits an entity to choose its subsequent measurement methods for each class of separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities; at its initial adoption, permits a one-time reclassification of available-for-sale securities to trading securities by entities with recognized servicing rights, without calling into question the treatment of other available-for-sale securities under Statement 115, provided that the available-for-sale securities are identified in some manner as offsetting the entity's exposure to changes in fair value of servicing assets or servicing liabilities that a servicer elects to subsequently measure at fair value; and requires separate presentation of servicing assets and servicing liabilities subsequently measured at fair value in the statement of financial position and additional disclosures for all separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. An entity should adopt SFAS No. 156 as of the beginning of its first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. We do not believe the adoption of SFAS No. 156 will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. 

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 ("FIN 48"), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.  FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprises' financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.  FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attributable for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosures and transitions.  FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.  We are currently analyzing the effects of FIN 48.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements.  SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  SFAS 157 is effective on January 1, 2008 and is not expected to have a significant impact on our financial statements.

In September, 2006, The FASB ratified the consensuses reached by the FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) relating to EITF 06-4, Accounting for the Deferred Compensation and Postretirement Benefit Aspects of Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements.  EITF 06-4 addresses employer accounting for endorsement split-dollar life insurance arrangements that provide a benefit to an employee that extends to postretirement periods should recognize a liability for future benefits in accordance with FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 106, Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions, or Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 12, Omnibus Opinion-1967.   EITF 06-4 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. Entities should recognize the effects of applying this Issue through either (a) a change in accounting principle through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings or to other components of equity or net assets in the statement of financial position as of the beginning of the year of adoption or (b) a change in accounting principle through retrospective application to all prior periods.  We are currently analyzing the effects the adoption of EITF 06-4 will have on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. 

35



On September 13, 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 ("SAB 108"). SAB 108 provides interpretive guidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year misstatements should be considered in quantifying a potential current year misstatement. Prior to SAB 108, Companies might evaluate the materiality of financial statement misstatements using either the income statement or balance sheet approach, with the income statement approach focusing on new misstatements added in the current year, and the balance sheet approach focusing on the cumulative amount of misstatement present in a company's balance sheet. Misstatements that would be material under one approach could be viewed as immaterial under another approach, and not be corrected. SAB 108 now requires that companies view financial statement misstatements as material if they are material according to either the income statement or balance sheet approach. We have analyzed SAB 108 and determined that upon adoption it will have no impact on our reported results of operations or financial conditions.

             Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

There have been no material changes in our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk as of September 30, 2006 from that presented in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.  See "Market Risk" and "Liquidity and Interest Rate Sensitivity" in Item 2, Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e).  Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our current disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of September 30, 2006.  There have been no significant changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2006 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

The design of any system of controls and procedures is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events.  There can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions, regardless of how remote.

 

 PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 Item 1.             Legal Proceedings.

There are no material pending legal proceedings to which the company is a party or of which any of its property is the subject.

Item 1A.          Risk Factors.

There were no material changes from the risk factors presented in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Item 2.             Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Not applicable

Item 3.             Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

                          Not applicable

36


        

Item 4.             Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

                         Not applicable

Item 5.             Other Information.

Not applicable

Item 6.             Exhibits.

31.1                   Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Principal Executive Officer.

31.2                  Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Principal Financial Officer. 

32                     Section 1350 Certifications. 

37



SIGNATURES

             Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

Registrant

     

Date: November 13, 2006

/s/R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.         

R. Arthur Seaver, Jr.

Chief Executive Officer

Principal Executive Officer

     

Date: November 13, 2006

/s/James M. Austin, III                      

James M. Austin, III

Chief Financial Officer

Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

38


 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number                        Description

31.1         Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Principal Executive Officer.

31.2         Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Principal Financial Officer. 

32            Section 1350 Certifications.

39