form10q-85804_fbnc.htm



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549



FORM 10-Q


QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007


 
Commission File Number  0-15572


FIRST BANCORP
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


North Carolina
 
56-1421916
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)
 
Identification Number)
     
     
341 North Main Street, Troy, North Carolina
 
27371-0508
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
     
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
(910)   576-6171


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve 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.     ý YES     o NO

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.    o Large Accelerated Filer     ý Accelerated Filer     o Non-Accelerated Filer

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  o YES     ý NO

The number of shares of the registrant's Common Stock outstanding on July 31, 2007 was 14,401,178.







INDEX
FIRST BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES


 
Page
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
3
   
 
4
   
 
5
   
 
6
   
 
7
   
   
8
   
15
   
30
   
31
   
 
   
33
   
34
   
35
   
36
   


Page 2



Part I.  Financial Information
Item 1 - Financial Statements
 
First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets

 
($ in thousands-unaudited)
 
June 30,
2007
   
December 31,
2006 (audited)
   
June 30,
2006
 
                   
ASSETS
                 
Cash & due from banks, noninterest-bearing
  $
39,435
     
43,248
     
31,295
 
Due from banks, interest-bearing
   
67,643
     
83,877
     
83,894
 
Federal funds sold
   
41,855
     
19,543
     
22,029
 
     Total cash and cash equivalents
   
148,933
     
146,668
     
137,218
 
                         
Securities available for sale (costs of $136,116,
                       
     $130,824, and $118,549)
   
133,859
     
129,964
     
115,428
 
                         
Securities held to maturity (fair values of $13,277,
                       
      $13,168, and $10,704)
   
13,469
     
13,122
     
10,726
 
                         
Presold mortgages in process of settlement
   
4,146
     
4,766
     
2,586
 
                         
Loans
   
1,802,308
     
1,740,396
     
1,635,899
 
   Less:  Allowance for loan losses
    (20,104 )     (18,947 )     (17,642 )
   Net loans
   
1,782,204
     
1,721,449
     
1,618,257
 
                         
Premises and equipment
   
45,379
     
43,540
     
37,152
 
Accrued interest receivable
   
11,959
     
12,158
     
9,887
 
Goodwill
   
49,505
     
49,505
     
47,247
 
Other intangible assets
   
1,701
     
1,889
     
1,823
 
Other
   
14,703
     
13,563
     
12,385
 
        Total assets
  $
2,205,858
     
2,136,624
     
1,992,709
 
                         
LIABILITIES
                       
Deposits:   Demand - noninterest-bearing
  $
239,640
     
217,291
     
209,062
 
NOW accounts
   
193,907
     
193,435
     
184,166
 
Money market accounts
   
241,460
     
205,994
     
182,439
 
Savings accounts
   
104,925
     
103,346
     
113,917
 
Time deposits of $100,000 or more
   
449,873
     
422,772
     
390,589
 
Other time deposits
   
570,756
     
552,841
     
510,495
 
     Total deposits
   
1,800,561
     
1,695,679
     
1,590,668
 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
   
41,715
     
43,276
     
30,602
 
Borrowings
   
178,013
     
210,013
     
195,013
 
Accrued interest payable
   
5,863
     
5,649
     
4,856
 
Other liabilities
   
12,248
     
19,302
     
11,655
 
     Total liabilities
   
2,038,400
     
1,973,919
     
1,832,794
 
                         
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
Common stock, No par value per share
                       
     Issued and outstanding:  14,392,803,
         14,352,884, and 14,279,847 shares
   
56,645
     
56,035
     
54,827
 
Retained earnings
   
116,061
     
111,220
     
107,151
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (5,248 )     (4,550 )     (2,063 )
     Total shareholders’ equity
   
167,458
     
162,705
     
159,915
 
          Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $
2,205,858
     
2,136,624
     
1,992,709
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.


Page 3


First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income


   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
($ in thousands, except share data-unaudited)
 
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                         
INTEREST INCOME
                       
Interest and fees on loans
  $
34,492
     
29,215
     
67,703
     
55,977
 
Interest on investment securities:
                               
     Taxable interest income
   
1,606
     
1,402
     
3,145
     
2,731
 
     Tax-exempt interest income
   
136
     
127
     
269
     
254
 
Other, principally overnight investments
   
683
     
571
     
1,336
     
1,068
 
     Total interest income
   
36,917
     
31,315
     
72,453
     
60,030
 
                                 
INTEREST EXPENSE
                               
Savings, NOW and money market
   
2,567
     
1,635
     
4,824
     
2,968
 
Time deposits of $100,000 or more
   
5,524
     
4,174
     
10,860
     
7,851
 
Other time deposits
   
6,647
     
5,004
     
13,033
     
9,436
 
Other, primarily borrowings
   
2,501
     
2,058
     
5,192
     
3,478
 
     Total interest expense
   
17,239
     
12,871
     
33,909
     
23,733
 
                                 
Net interest income
   
19,678
     
18,444
     
38,544
     
36,297
 
Provision for loan losses
   
1,322
     
1,400
     
2,443
     
2,415
 
Net interest income after provision
                               
   for loan losses
   
18,356
     
17,044
     
36,101
     
33,882
 
                                 
NONINTEREST INCOME
                               
Service charges on deposit accounts
   
2,300
     
2,225
     
4,477
     
4,299
 
Other service charges, commissions and fees
   
1,266
     
1,119
     
2,525
     
2,324
 
Fees from presold mortgages
   
292
     
244
     
619
     
511
 
Commissions from sales of insurance and financial products
   
344
     
325
     
803
     
764
 
Data processing fees
   
53
     
37
     
100
     
73
 
Securities gains
   
487
     
205
     
487
     
205
 
Other gains (losses)
   
115
      (311 )    
82
      (378 )
     Total noninterest income
   
4,857
     
3,844
     
9,093
     
7,798
 
                                 
NONINTEREST EXPENSES
                               
Salaries
   
6,535
     
5,734
     
12,878
     
11,519
 
Employee benefits
   
1,984
     
1,786
     
3,762
     
3,567
 
   Total personnel expense
   
8,519
     
7,520
     
16,640
     
15,086
 
Net occupancy expense
   
922
     
858
     
1,860
     
1,674
 
Equipment related expenses
   
939
     
818
     
1,877
     
1,629
 
Intangibles amortization
   
94
     
60
     
188
     
121
 
Other operating expenses
   
4,036
     
3,808
     
8,075
     
7,283
 
     Total noninterest expenses
   
14,510
     
13,064
     
28,640
     
25,793
 
                                 
Income before income taxes
   
8,703
     
7,824
     
16,554
     
15,887
 
Income taxes
   
3,284
     
3,029
     
6,249
     
6,101
 
                                 
NET INCOME
  $
5,419
     
4,795
     
10,305
     
9,786
 
                                 
Earnings per share:
                               
     Basic
  $
0.38
     
0.34
     
0.72
     
0.69
 
     Diluted
   
0.37
     
0.33
     
0.71
     
0.68
 
                                 
    Dividends declared per share 
   0.19        0.18      
 0.38
       0.36  
                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
     Basic
   
14,384,511
     
14,296,159
     
14,372,311
     
14,275,472
 
     Diluted
   
14,473,446
     
14,433,830
     
14,480,333
     
14,425,500
 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Page 4


First Bancorpand Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
($ in thousands-unaudited)
 
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                         
Net income
  $
5,419
     
4,795
     
10,305
     
9,786
 
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale:
                               
Unrealized holding losses arising during the period, pretax
    (1,175 )     (1,621 )     (910 )     (1,717 )
      Tax benefit
   
458
     
632
     
354
     
669
 
Reclassification to realized gains
    (487 )     (205 )     (487 )     (205 )
      Tax expense
   
190
     
80
     
190
     
80
 
Pension adjustments:
                               
Pension adjustment related to unfunded pension liability
   
     
     
     
16
 
       Tax expense
   
     
     
      (6 )
Amortization of prior service cost, actuarial loss and transition obligation
   
161
     
     
254
     
 
       Tax expense
    (63 )    
      (99 )    
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
    (916 )     (1,114 )     (698 )     (1,163 )
 
Comprehensive income
  $
4,503
     
3,681
     
9,607
     
8,623
 




See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Page 5



First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

   
Common Stock
   
Retained
   
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
   
Share-
holders’
 
(In thousands, except per share - unaudited)
 
Shares
   
Amount
   
Earnings
   
Income (Loss)
   
Equity
 
                               
                               
Balances, January 1, 2006
   
14,229
    $
54,121
     
102,507
      (900 )    
155,728
 
                                         
Net income
                   
9,786
             
9,786
 
Cash dividends declared ($0.36 per share)
                    (5,142 )             (5,142 )
Common stock issued under stock option plan
   
66
     
618
                     
618
 
Common stock issued into dividend reinvestment plan
   
37
     
815
                     
815
 
Purchases and retirement of common stock
    (53 )     (1,112 )                     (1,112 )
Tax benefit realized from exercise of nonqualified stock options
   
     
94
                     
94
 
Stock-based compensation
   
     
291
                     
291
 
Other comprehensive loss
                            (1,163 )     (1,163 )
                                         
Balances, June 30, 2006
   
14,279
    $
54,827
     
107,151
      (2,063 )    
159,915
 
                                         
Balances, January 1, 2007
   
14,353
    $
56,035
     
111,220
      (4,550 )    
162,705
 
                                         
Net income
                   
10,305
             
10,305
 
Cash dividends declared ($0.38 per share)
                    (5,464 )             (5,464 )
Common stock issued under stock option plan
   
40
     
415
                     
415
 
Purchases and retirement of common stock
   
      (8 )                     (8 )
Tax benefit realized from exercise of nonqualified stock options 
 
     
36
                     
36
 
Stock-based compensation
   
     
167
                     
167
 
Other comprehensive loss
                            (698 )     (698 )
                                         
Balances, June 30, 2007
   
14,393
    $
56,645
     
116,061
      (5,248 )    
167,458
 


See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 

Page 6


First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows



   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
($ in thousands-unaudited)
 
2007
   
2006
 
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
           
Net income
  $
10,305
     
9,786
 
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
     Provision for loan losses
   
2,443
     
2,415
 
     Net security premium amortization
   
28
     
45
 
     Gain on sale of securities available for sale
    (487 )     (205 )
     Other (gains) losses
    (82 )    
378
 
     Decrease (increase) in net deferred loan fees and costs
    (17 )    
247
 
     Depreciation of premises and equipment
   
1,615
     
1,382
 
     Stock-based compensation expense
   
167
     
291
 
     Amortization of intangible assets
   
188
     
121
 
     Deferred income tax benefit
    (679 )     (1,849 )
     Origination of presold mortgages in process of settlement
    (38,211 )     (31,781 )
     Proceeds from sales of presold mortgages in process of settlement
   
38,831
     
32,542
 
     Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable
   
199
      (940 )
     Decrease in other assets
   
1,438
     
213
 
     Increase in accrued interest payable
   
214
     
1,021
 
     Decrease in other liabilities
    (6,807 )     (1,479 )
          Net cash provided by operating activities
   
9,145
     
12,187
 
                 
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
               
     Purchases of securities available for sale
    (45,323 )     (23,565 )
     Purchases of securities held to maturity
    (1,934 )     (2,682 )
     Proceeds from maturities/issuer calls of securities available for sale
   
36,230
     
18,248
 
     Proceeds from maturities/issuer calls of securities held to maturity
   
1,576
     
3,186
 
     Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale
   
4,185
     
1,575
 
     Net increase in loans
    (64,477 )     (154,743 )
     Purchases of premises and equipment
    (3,444 )     (3,730 )
          Net cash used by investing activities
    (73,187 )     (161,711 )
                 
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
               
     Net increase in deposits and repurchase agreements
   
103,321
     
93,163
 
     Proceeds from (repayments of) borrowings, net
    (32,000 )    
94,774
 
     Cash dividends paid
    (5,457 )     (5,133 )
     Proceeds from issuance of common stock
   
415
     
1,433
 
     Purchases and retirement of common stock
    (8 )     (1,112 )
     Tax benefit from exercise of nonqualified stock options
   
36
     
94
 
          Net cash provided by financing activities
   
66,307
     
183,219
 
                 
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
   
2,265
     
33,695
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period
   
146,668
     
103,523
 
                 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period
  $
148,933
     
137,218
 
                 
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
     Interest
  $
33,695
     
22,712
 
     Income taxes
   
12,364
     
7,571
 
Non-cash transactions:
               
     Unrealized loss on securities available for sale, net of taxes
    (853 )     (1,173 )
     Foreclosed loans transferred to other real estate
   
1,301
     
774
 


See notes to consolidated financial statements.



Page 7



First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


 (unaudited) 
For the Periods Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006
 

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2007 and 2006 and the consolidated results of operations and consolidated cash flows for the periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.  All such adjustments were of a normal, recurring nature.  Reference is made to the 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for a discussion of accounting policies and other relevant information with respect to the financial statements.  The results of operations for the periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Note 2 – Accounting Policies

Note 1 to the 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC contains a description of the accounting policies followed by the Company and discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.  The following paragraphs update that information as necessary.

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) released FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48).  FIN 48 clarifies the accounting and reporting for uncertainties in income tax law.  FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive model for the financial statement recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns.  The cumulative effect of applying the provisions of this interpretation is required to be reported separately as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the year of adoption. The Company’s adoption of FIN 48 in the first quarter of 2007 did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (Statement 157).  Statement 157 provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities.  The standard also requires expanded disclosures about the extent to which companies measure assets and liabilities at fair value, the information used to measure fair value, and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings.  Statement 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company does not expect the adoption of Statement 157 to materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (Statement 159).  This statement permits, but does not require, entities to measure many financial instruments at fair value.  The objective is to provide entities with an opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.  Entities electing this option will apply it when the entity first recognizes an eligible instrument and will report unrealized gains and losses on such instruments in current earnings.  This statement 1) applies to all entities, 2) specifies certain election dates, 3) can be applied on an instrument-by-instrument basis with some exceptions, 4) is irrevocable and 5) applies only to entire instruments.  One exception is demand deposit liabilities, which are explicitly excluded as qualifying for fair value.  With respect to FASB Statement No. 115, available for sale and held to maturity securities at the effective date of Statement 159 are eligible for the fair value option at that date.  If the fair value option is elected for those securities at the effective date, cumulative unrealized gains and losses at that date will be included in the cumulative-effect adjustment and thereafter, such securities will be accounted for as trading securities.  Statement 159 is effective for the Company

Page 8


on January 1, 2008.  Earlier adoption is permitted in 2007 if the Company also elects to apply the provisions of Statement 157.  The Company did not elect early adoption of  Statement 159 and believes that it is unlikely that it will expand its use of fair value accounting upon the January 1, 2008 effective date.

Note 3 – Reclassifications

Certain amounts reported in the period ended June 30, 2006 have been reclassified to conform to the presentation for June 30, 2007.  These reclassifications had no effect on net income or shareholders’ equity for the periods presented, nor did they materially impact trends in financial information.

Note 4 – Equity-Based Compensation Plans

     At June 30, 2007, the Company had the following equity-based compensation plans:  the First Bancorp 2007 Equity Plan, the First Bancorp 2004 Stock Option Plan, the First Bancorp 1994 Stock Option Plan, and four plans that were assumed from acquired entities, which are all described below.  The Company’s shareholders approved all equity-based compensation plans, except for those assumed from acquired companies.  The First Bancorp 2007 Equity Plan became effective upon the approval of shareholders on May 2, 2007.  As of June 30, 2007, the First Bancorp 2007 Equity Plan was the only plan that had shares available for future grants.

The First Bancorp 2007 Equity Plan and its predecessor plans, the First Bancorp 2004 Stock Option Plan and the First Bancorp 1994 Stock Option Plan (“Predecessor Plans”), are intended to serve as a means of attracting, retaining and motivating key employees and directors and to associate the interests of the plans’ participants with those of the Company and its shareholders.  The Predecessor Plans only provided for the ability to grant stock options, whereas the First Bancorp 2007 Equity Plan, in addition to providing for grants of stock options, also allows for grants of other types of equity-based compensation including stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted performance stock, unrestricted stock, and performance units.  Since it became effective on May 2, 2007, the only grant of stock-based compensation under the First Bancorp 2007 Equity Plan has been the grant of 2,250 stock options to each of the Company’s non-employee directors on June 1, 2007.

 The Company’s historical practice has been that stock option grants to non-employee directors have had no vesting requirements, whereas, except as discussed below, stock option grants to employees have generally had five-year vesting schedules (20% vesting each year).  In April 2004, the Company’s Compensation Committee granted 128,000 options to employees with no vesting requirements.  These options were granted without any vesting requirements for two reasons - 1) the options were granted primarily as a reward for past performance and therefore had already been “earned” in the view of the Committee, and 2) to potentially minimize the impact that any change in accounting standards for stock options could have on future years’ reported net income.  Employee stock option grants since the April 2004 grant have reverted to having five year vesting periods.  The Company’s options provide for immediate vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the plans).  Under the terms of these three plans, options can have a term of no longer than ten years, and all options granted thus far under these plans have had a term of ten years.  Except for grants to directors (see below), the Company cannot estimate the amount of future stock option grants at this time.  In the past, stock option grants to employees have been irregular, generally falling into three categories - 1) to attract and retain new employees, 2) to recognize changes in responsibilities of existing employees, and 3) to periodically reward exemplary performance.  As it relates to directors, the Company has historically granted 2,250 stock options to each of the Company’s non-employee directors in June of each year, and expects to continue doing so for the foreseeable future.  At June 30, 2007, there were 597,336 options outstanding related to these three plans with exercise prices ranging from $9.75 to $22.12.  At June 30, 2007, there were 1,155,500 shares remaining available for grant under the First Bancorp 2007 Equity Plan.

The Company also has four stock option plans as a result of assuming plans of acquired companies.  At June 30, 2007, there were 33,921 stock options outstanding in connection with these plans, with option prices ranging from $10.22 to $11.49.

Page 9



The Company issues new shares when options are exercised.

Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for all of these plans using the intrinsic value method prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (Opinion 25) and related interpretations.  Because all of the Company’s stock options had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, no compensation cost had ever been recognized.  On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” (Statement 123(R)).  Statement 123(R) supersedes Opinion 25 (and related interpretations) and requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements.  Statement 123(R) permitted public companies to adopt its requirements using one of two methods.  The “modified prospective” method recognizes compensation for all stock options granted after the date of adoption and for all previously granted stock options that become vested after the date of adoption.  The “modified retrospective” method includes the requirements of the “modified prospective” method described above, but also permits entities to restate prior period results based on the amounts previously presented under FASB Statement No. 123 for purposes of pro-forma disclosures.  The Company elected to adopt  Statement 123(R) under the “modified prospective” method and accordingly did not restate prior period results.

The Company measures the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.  The Company determines the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model as follows:  the risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant; the dividend yield is based on the Company’s dividend yield at the time of the grant (subject to adjustment if the dividend yield on the grant date is not expected to approximate the dividend yield over the expected life of the option); the volatility factor is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock (subject to adjustment if historical volatility is reasonably expected to differ from the past); and the weighted-average expected life is based on the historical behavior of employees related to exercises, forfeitures and cancellations.

For the three month periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, the adoption of Statement 123(R) resulted in stock-based compensation expense of $156,000 and $244,000, respectively, which was classified as “salaries expense” on the Consolidated Statements of Income.  For the six months periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $167,000 and $291,000, respectively.  The Company recognized income tax benefits in the income statement related to stock-based compensation of $56,000 and $78,000 for each of the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The compensation expense recorded related to the vesting of several stock option grants made prior to January 1, 2006, as well as grants of 2,250 options to each non-employee director of the Company in June of each year with no vesting requirements.  This compensation expense was reflected as an adjustment to cash flows from operating activities on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.  At June 30, 2007, the Company had $32,000 of unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested stock options.  The cost is expected to be amortized over a weighted-average life of 1.5 years, with $23,000 being expensed during the remainder of 2007, equally distributed among the two remaining quarters, and $3,000 being expensed in each of 2008, 2009 and 2010, equally distributed among each of the four quarters of each year.  In addition, as discussed above, the Company granted 2,250 options, without vesting requirements, to each of its non-employee directors on June 1, 2007 and expects to continue this grant on June 1 of each year.

As noted above, certain of the Company’s stock option grants contain terms that provide for a graded vesting schedule whereby portions of the award vest in increments over the requisite service period.  As provided for under Statement 123(R), the Company has elected to recognize compensation expense for awards with graded vesting schedules on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award.  Statement 123(R) requires companies to recognize compensation expense based on the estimated number of stock options and awards that will ultimately vest.  Over the past five years, there have only been nine forfeitures or expirations, totaling 13,500 options, and therefore the Company assumes that all options granted will become vested.

The Company’s only option grants for the first six months of 2007 and 2006 were grants of 24,750 and 29,250 options to non-employee directors on June 1, 2007 and 2006, respectively (2,250 options per director).  The per share weighted-average fair value of options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2007 and June 30,

Page 10


 2006, was $5.80, and $6.79, respectively, on the date of the grant using the following weighted-average assumptions:

 
Six months ended
June 30, 2007
 
Six months ended
June 30, 2006
Expected dividend yield
3.88%
 
3.30%
Risk-free interest rate
4.92%
 
5.05%
Expected life
7 years
 
7 years
Expected volatility
32.91%
 
32.56%

The following table presents information regarding the activity during the first six months of 2007 related to all of the Company’s stock options outstanding:

   
All Options Outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
Six months ended June 30, 2007
 
Number of
Shares
   
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
   
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual
Term
   
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
($000)
 
Outstanding at the beginning of the period
   
656,104
    $
16.94
             
Granted during the period
   
24,750
     
19.61
             
Exercised during the period
   
49,597
     
12.95
             
Forfeited or expired during the period
   
     
             
Outstanding at end of period
   
631,257
    $
17.36
     
5.2
    $
864
 
 
Exercisable at June 30, 2007
   
620,257
    $
17.37
     
5.2
    $
844
 

The Company received $415,000 and $618,000 as a result of stock option exercises during the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The intrinsic value of the stock options exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 was $460,000 and $787,000, respectively.  The Company recorded $36,000 and $94,000 in associated tax benefits from the exercise of nonqualified stock options during the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Note 5 – Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share were computed by dividing net income by the weighted average common shares outstanding.  Diluted earnings per share includes the potentially dilutive effects of the Company’s stock option plan. The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used in computing basic and diluted earnings per share:

   
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
 
($ in thousands except per
    share amounts)
 
Income
(Numer-
ator)
   
Shares
(Denom-
inator)
   
Per Share
Amount
   
Income
(Numer-
ator)
   
Shares
(Denom-
inator)
   
Per Share
Amount
 
                                     
Basic EPS
                                   
  Net income
  $
5,419
     
14,384,511
    $
0.38
    $
4,795
     
14,296,159
    $
0.34
 
                                                 
Effect of Dilutive Securities
   
-
     
88,935
             
-
     
137,671
         
                                                 
Diluted EPS
  $
5,419
     
14,473,446
    $
0.37
    $
4,795
     
14,433,830
    $
0.33
 


Page 11



   
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
 
($ in thousands except per
    share amounts)
 
Income
(Numer-
ator)
   
Shares
(Denom-
inator)
   
Per Share
Amount
   
Income
(Numer-
ator)
   
Shares
(Denom-
inator)
   
Per Share
Amount
 
                                     
Basic EPS
                                   
  Net income
  $
10,305
     
14,372,311
    $
0.72
    $
9,786
     
14,275,472
    $
0.69
 
                                                 
Effect of Dilutive Securities
   
-
     
108,022
             
-
     
150,028
         
                                                 
Diluted EPS
  $
10,305
     
14,480,333
    $
0.71
    $
9,786
     
14,425,500
    $
0.68
 

For both the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2007, there were 214,980 options that were antidilutive because the exercise price exceeded the average market price for the period.  For both the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006, there were 220,980 options that were antidilutive because the exercise price exceeded the average market price for the period.  Antidilutive options have been omitted from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the respective periods.

Note 6 – Asset Quality Information

Nonperforming assets are defined as nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 or more days and still accruing interest, restructured loans and other real estate.  Nonperforming assets are summarized as follows:

 
($ in thousands)
 
June 30,
2007
   
December 31,
2006
   
June 30,
2006
 
                   
Nonperforming loans:
                 
   Nonaccrual loans
  $
6,457
     
6,852
    $
3,973
 
   Restructured loans
   
7
     
10
     
12
 
   Accruing loans> 90 days past due
   
     
     
 
Total nonperforming loans
   
6,464
     
6,862
     
3,985
 
Other real estate
   
1,830
     
1,539
     
2,024
 
Total nonperforming assets
  $
8,294
     
8,401
    $
6,009
 
                         
Nonperforming loans to total loans
    0.36%       0.39%       0.24%  
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of loans and other real estate
    0.46%       0.48%       0.37%  
Nonperforming assets to total assets
    0.38%       0.39%       0.30%  
Allowance for loan losses to total loans
    1.12%      
1.09%
      1.08%  

 

Note 7 – Deferred Loan Fees

Loans are shown on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of net deferred loan costs (fees) of $44,000, $27,000, and ($64,000) at June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006, and June 30, 2006, respectively.

Page 12


Note 8 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The following is a summary of the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of amortizable intangible assets as of June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006, and June 30, 2006, and the carrying amount of unamortized intangible assets as of those same dates.

   
June 30, 2007
   
December 31, 2006
   
June 30, 2006
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
Gross Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
   
Gross Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
   
Gross Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Amortizable intangible assets:
                                   
   Customer lists
  $
394
     
164
     
394
     
148
     
394
     
131
 
   Core deposit premiums
   
2,945
     
1,474
     
2,945
     
1,302
     
2,441
     
1,116
 
        Total
  $
3,339
     
1,638
     
3,339
     
1,450
     
2,835
     
1,247
 
                                                 
Unamortizable intangible assets:
                                               
   Goodwill
  $
49,505
             
49,505
             
47,247
         
   Pension
  $
             
             
235
         
                                                 

Amortization expense totaled $94,000 and $60,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  Amortization expense totaled $188,000 and $121,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The following table presents the estimated amortization expense for each of the five calendar years ending December 31, 2011 and the estimated amount amortizable thereafter.  These estimates are subject to change in future periods to the extent management determines it is necessary to make adjustments to the carrying value or estimated useful lives of amortized intangible assets.

 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Estimated Amortization
Expense
 
2007
  $
374
 
2008
   
316
 
2009
   
279
 
2010
   
262
 
2011
   
247
 
Thereafter
   
411
 
         Total
  $
1,889
 
         


Page 13


Note 9 – Pension Plans

The Company sponsors two defined benefit pension plans – a qualified retirement plan (the “Pension Plan”), which is generally available to all employees, and a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP Plan”), which is for the benefit of certain senior management executives of the Company.

The Company recorded pension expense totaling $621,000 and $581,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, related to the Pension Plan and the SERP Plan.  The following table contains the components of the pension expense.

   
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007 Total
   
2006 Total
 
(in thousands)
 
Pension Plan
   
Pension Plan
   
SERP Plan
   
SERP Plan
   
Both Plans
   
Both Plans
 
Service cost – benefits earned during the period
  $
373
     
341
     
108
     
79
     
481
     
420
 
Interest cost
   
279
     
227
     
61
     
52
     
340
     
279
 
Expected return on plan assets
    (326 )     (268 )    
     
      (326 )     (268 )
Amortization of transition obligation
   
     
1
     
     
     
     
1
 
Amortization of net (gain)/loss
   
95
     
112
     
22
     
22
     
117
     
134
 
Amortization of prior service cost
   
3
     
6
     
6
     
9
     
9
     
15
 
   Net periodic pension cost
  $
424
     
419
     
197
     
162
     
621
     
581
 

The Company recorded pension expense totaling $1,137,000 and $1,162,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, related to the Pension Plan and the SERP Plan.  The following table contains the components of the pension expense.

   
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007 Total
   
2006 Total
 
(in thousands)
 
Pension Plan
   
Pension Plan
   
SERP Plan
   
SERP Plan
   
Both Plans
   
Both Plans
 
Service cost – benefits earned during the period
  $
720
     
682
     
191
     
158
     
911
     
840
 
Interest cost
   
533
     
454
     
119
     
104
     
652
     
558
 
Expected return on plan assets
    (645 )     (536 )    
     
      (645 )     (536 )
Amortization of transition obligation
   
     
2
     
     
     
     
2
 
Amortization of net (gain)/loss
   
157
     
224
     
41
     
44
     
198
     
268
 
Amortization of prior service cost
   
6
     
12
     
15
     
18
     
21
     
30
 
   Net periodic pension cost
  $
771
     
838
     
366
     
324
     
1,137
     
1,162
 

The Company’s contributions to the Pension Plan are based on computations by independent actuarial consultants and are intended to ensure that the Pension Plan exceeds minimum funding standards at all times according to standards established by the Internal Revenue Service.  The contributions are invested to provide for benefits under the Pension Plan.  The Company estimates that its contribution to the Pension Plan will be $1,000,000 during 2007.

The Company’s funding policy with respect to the SERP Plan is to fund the related benefits primarily from the operating cash flow of the Company.  The Company estimates that its payments to participants in the SERP Plan will be $184,000 in 2007.

Note 10 – Pending Acquisition

On July 12, 2007, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire Great Pee Dee Bancorp, Inc. (“Great Pee Dee”), the holding company for a community bank headquartered in Cheraw, South Carolina with three branches and total assets of $219 million.  Under the terms of the agreement and subject to possible adjustment, each share of Great Pee Dee common stock issued and outstanding on the merger date will be converted into and exchanged for the right to receive 1.15 shares of the Companys common stock.  Additional information is available in the press release and merger agreement filed with the SEC (www.sec.gov) on July 13, 2007.


Page 14



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

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting principles followed by the Company and the methods of applying these principles conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and with general practices followed by the banking industry.  Certain of these principles involve a significant amount of judgment and/or use of estimates based on the Company’s best assumptions at the time of the estimation.  The Company has identified three policies as being more sensitive in terms of judgments and estimates, taking into account their overall potential impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements – 1) the allowance for loan losses, 2) tax uncertainties, and 3) intangible assets.

Allowance for Loan Losses

Due to the estimation process and the potential materiality of the amounts involved, the Company has identified the accounting for the allowance for loan losses and the related provision for loan losses as an accounting policy critical to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  The provision for loan losses charged to operations is an amount sufficient to bring the allowance for loan losses to an estimated balance considered adequate to absorb losses inherent in the portfolio.

Management’s determination of the adequacy of the allowance is based primarily on a mathematical model that estimates the appropriate allowance for loan losses.  This model has two components.  The first component involves the estimation of losses on loans defined as “impaired loans.”  A loan is considered to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  The estimated valuation allowance is the difference, if any, between the loan balance outstanding and the value of the impaired loan as determined by either 1) an estimate of the cash flows that the Company expects to receive from the borrower, discounted at the loan’s effective rate, or 2) in the case of a collateral-dependent loan, the fair value of the collateral.

The second component of the allowance model is to estimate losses for all loans not considered to be impaired loans.  First, loans that have been risk graded by the Company as having more than “standard” risk but are not considered to be impaired are assigned estimated loss percentages generally accepted in the banking industry.  Loans that are classified by the Company as having normal credit risk are segregated by loan type, and estimated loss percentages are assigned to each loan type, based on the historical losses, current economic conditions, and operational conditions specific to each loan type.

The reserve estimated for impaired loans is then added to the reserve estimated for all other loans.  This becomes the Company’s “allocated allowance.”  In addition to the allocated allowance derived from the model, management also evaluates other data such as the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans, net loan growth information, nonperforming asset levels and trends in such data.  Based on this additional analysis, the Company may determine that an additional amount of allowance for loan losses is necessary to reserve for probable losses.  This additional amount, if any, is the Company’s “unallocated allowance.”  The sum of the allocated allowance and the unallocated allowance is compared to the actual allowance for loan losses recorded on the books of the Company, and any adjustment necessary for the recorded allowance to equal the computed allowance is recorded as a provision for loan losses.  The provision for loan losses is a direct charge to earnings in the period recorded.

Although management uses the best information available to make evaluations, future adjustments may be necessary if economic, operational, or other conditions change.  In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company’s allowance for loan losses.  Such agencies may require the Company to recognize additions to the allowance based on the examiners’ judgment about information available to them at the time of their examinations.

Page 15



For further discussion, see “Nonperforming Assets” and “Summary of Loan Loss Experience” below.

Tax Uncertainties

The Company reserves for tax uncertainties in instances when it has taken a position on a tax return that may differ from the opinion of the applicable taxing authority.  In accounting for tax contingencies, the Company assesses the relative merits and risks of certain tax transactions, taking into account statutory, judicial and regulatory guidance in the context of the Company's tax position.  For those matters where it is probable that the Company will have to pay additional taxes, interest or penalties and a loss or range of losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company records reserves in the consolidated financial statements.  For those matters where it is reasonably possible but not probable that the Company will have to pay additional taxes, interest or penalties and the loss or range of losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company only makes disclosures in the notes and does not record reserves in the consolidated financial statements.  The process of concluding that a loss is reasonably possible or probable and estimating the amount of loss or range of losses and related tax reserves is inherently subjective, and future changes to the reserve may be necessary based on changes in management's intent, tax law or related interpretations, or other functions.

Intangible Assets

Due to the estimation process and the potential materiality of the amounts involved, the Company has also identified the accounting for intangible assets as an accounting policy critical to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

When the Company completes an acquisition transaction, the excess of the purchase price over the amount by which the fair market value of assets acquired exceeds the fair market value of liabilities assumed represents an intangible asset.  The Company must then determine the identifiable portions of the intangible asset, with any remaining amount classified as goodwill.  Identifiable intangible assets associated with these acquisitions are generally amortized over the estimated life of the related asset, whereas goodwill is tested annually for impairment, but not systematically amortized.  Assuming no goodwill impairment, it is beneficial to the Company’s future earnings to have a lower amount assigned to identifiable intangible assets and higher amount of goodwill as opposed to having a higher amount considered to be identifiable intangible assets and a lower amount classified as goodwill.

For the Company, the primary identifiable intangible asset typically recorded in connection with a whole bank or bank branch acquisition is the value of the core deposit intangible, whereas when the Company acquires an insurance agency, the primary identifiable intangible asset is the value of the acquired customer list.  Determining the amount of identifiable intangible assets and their average lives involves multiple assumptions and estimates and is typically determined by performing a discounted cash flow analysis, which involves a combination of any or all of the following assumptions:  customer attrition/runoff, alternative funding costs, deposit servicing costs, and discount rates.  The Company typically engages a third party consultant to assist in each analysis.  For the whole bank and bank branch transactions recorded to date, the core deposit intangibles have generally been estimated to have a life ranging from seven to ten years, with an accelerated rate of amortization.  For insurance agency acquisitions, the identifiable intangible assets related to the customer lists were determined to have a life of ten to fifteen years, with amortization occurring on a straight-line basis.

Subsequent to the initial recording of the identifiable intangible assets and goodwill, the Company amortizes the identifiable intangible assets over their estimated average lives, as discussed above.  In addition, on at least an annual basis, goodwill is evaluated for impairment by comparing the fair value of the Company’s reporting units to their related carrying value, including goodwill (the Company’s community banking operation is its only material reporting unit).  At its last evaluation, the fair value of the Company’s community banking operation exceeded its carrying value, including goodwill.  If the carrying value of a reporting unit were ever to exceed its fair value, the Company would determine whether the implied fair value of the goodwill, using a discounted cash flow analysis, exceeded the carrying value of the goodwill.  If the carrying value of the goodwill exceeded the implied fair value

Page 16


of the goodwill, an impairment loss would be recorded in an amount equal to that excess.  Performing such a discounted cash flow analysis would involve the significant use of estimates and assumptions.

The Company reviews identifiable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.  The Company’s policy is that an impairment loss is recognized, equal to the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and its fair value, if the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset.  Estimating future cash flows involves the use of multiple estimates and assumptions, such as those listed above.

Current Accounting Matters

See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements above as it relates to accounting standards that have been recently adopted by the Company.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $5,419,000, a 13.0% increase over the $4,795,000 reported for the corresponding period of 2006. Diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of 2007 amounted to $0.37, a 12.1% increase over the $0.33 reported for the second quarter of 2006.

For the six month period ended June 30, 2007, net income amounted to $10,305,000, a 5.3% increase over the $9,786,000 reported for the first half of 2006.  Diluted earnings per share amounted to $0.71 for the first six months of 2007, an increase of 4.4% over the $0.68 reported in the comparable period of 2006.

Total assets at June 30, 2007 amounted to $2.21 billion, 10.7% higher than a year earlier. Total loans at June 30, 2007 amounted to $1.80 billion, a 10.2% increase from a year earlier, and total deposits amounted to $1.80 billion at June 30, 2007, a 13.2% increase from a year earlier.

The increase in loans and deposits over the past twelve months resulted in an increase in the Company’s net interest income when comparing the three and six month periods of 2007 to comparable periods in 2006. Net interest income for the second quarter of 2007 amounted to $19.7 million, a 6.7% increase over the $18.4 million recorded in the second quarter of 2006. Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2007 amounted to $38.5 million, a 6.2% increase over the $36.3 million recorded in the same six month period in 2006.

The impact of the growth in loans and deposits on the Company’s net interest income was partially offset by a decline in the Company’s net interest margin (tax-equivalent net interest income divided by average earning assets). The Company’s net interest margin for the second quarter of 2007 was 4.03% compared to 4.22% for second quarter of 2006.  The Company’s net interest margin for the first six months of 2007 was 4.00% compared to 4.28% for the same six months of 2006.  The lower net interest margins realized in 2007 compared to 2006 were primarily due to deposit rates paid by the Company rising by more than loan and investment yields. This has been caused by 1) the flat interest rate yield curve that has prevailed in the marketplace for most of the past year, 2) customers shifting their funds from low cost deposits to higher cost deposits as rates have risen, and 3) intense competition in the Company’s market area for loans and deposits that has impacted loan and deposit pricing.

Although the Company’s 2007 net interest margins have been lower than in 2006, the second quarter of 2007 net interest margin of 4.03% was 6 basis points higher than the 3.97% net interest margin realized in the first quarter of 2007.  This was primarily due to the repricing of fixed rate loans that matured and renewed at higher interest rates during the quarter and the stabilization of the Company’s funding costs.  The average loan yield realized by the Company increased by 9 basis points from the first quarter of 2007, while the Company’s average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased by only 4 basis points.  The relatively small increase in the average rate

Page 17


paid on interest-bearing liabilities is primarily due to the short-term nature of the Company’s deposit portfolio coupled with the relatively stable interest rate environment that has been in effect since the last Federal Reserve interest rate increase that occurred in July 2006.

The Company’s provisions for loan losses did not vary significantly when comparing the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 to the comparable periods of 2006.  The provision for loan losses for the second quarter of 2007 was $1.3 million compared to $1.4 million for the second quarter of 2006.  The provision for loan losses for each of the six month periods ended June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2006 amounted to $2.4 million.  Factors that played an offsetting role in this comparison were i) lower 2007 loan growth, which generally results in a lower provision for loan losses, and ii) higher levels of nonperforming assets and net charge-offs in 2007, which generally increase the necessary provision for loan losses.  
 
Noninterest income amounted to $4.9 million in the second quarter of 2007, a 26.4% increase from the $3.8 million recorded in the second quarter of 2006.  Noninterest income for the six months ended June 30, 2007 amounted to $9.1 million, an increase of 16.6% from the $7.8 million recorded in the first half of 2006.  Securities gains were $487,000 in the second quarter of 2007 compared to $205,000 in the second quarter of 2006.  “Other gains (losses)” amounted to a net gain of $115,000 in the second quarter of 2007 compared to a net loss of $311,000 in the second quarter of 2006.  For the six months ended June 30, 2007, “Other gains (losses)” amounted to a net gain of $82,000 compared to a net loss of $378,000 in the first half of 2006.  The variances in “Other gains (losses)” in 2007 compared to 2006 relate primarily to a merchant credit card liability that the Company incurred in 2006.  The Company expensed $230,000 in the second quarter of 2006 related to this situation and another $1.67 million in the third quarter of 2006.  During 2007, the Company determined that its ultimate exposure to this loss is approximately $190,000 less than the original estimated total loss of $1.9 million that was reserved in 2006.  Accordingly, the Company reversed $50,000 of this loss during the first quarter of 2007 and the remaining $140,000 in the second quarter of 2007 by recording “other gains” to reduce this liability.

Noninterest expenses amounted to $14.5 million in the second quarter of 2007, an 11.1% increase over the $13.1 million recorded in the comparable period of 2006.  Noninterest expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2007 amounted to $28.6 million, an 11.0% increase from the $25.8 million recorded in the first six months of 2006.  The increases in noninterest expenses were primarily attributable to costs associated with the Company’s overall growth in loans, deposits and branch network.  Expense associated with the Company’s stock option plan amounted to $156,000 and $167,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $244,000 and $291,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, respectively.

The Company’s effective tax rate was approximately 38%-39% for each of the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2007.

The Company’s annualized return on average assets for the second quarter of 2007 was 1.03% compared to 1.02% for the second quarter of 2006.  The Company’s annualized return on average assets for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was 0.99% compared to 1.07% for the first half of 2006.

The Company’s annualized return on average equity for the second quarter of 2007 was 12.85% compared to 11.83% for the second quarter of 2006.  The Company’s annualized return on average equity for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was 12.38% compared to 12.30% for the first half of 2006.

Page 18


Components of Earnings

Net interest income is the largest component of earnings, representing the difference between interest and fees generated from earning assets and the interest costs of deposits and other funds needed to support those assets.  Net interest income for the three month period ended June 30, 2007 amounted to $19,678,000, an increase of $1,234,000, or 6.7%, from the $18,444,000 recorded in the second quarter of 2006.  Net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis for the three months ended June 30, 2007 amounted to $19,818,000, an increase of $1,249,000, or 6.7%, from the $18,569,000 recorded in the second quarter of 2006.  Management believes that analysis of net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis is useful and appropriate because it allows a comparison of net interest income amounts in different periods without taking into account the different mix of taxable versus non-taxable investments that may have existed during those periods.

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2007
   
2006
 
Net interest income, as reported
  $
19,678
     
18,444
 
Tax-equivalent adjustment
   
140
     
125
 
Net interest income, tax-equivalent
  $
19,818
     
18,569
 

Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2007 amounted to $38,544,000, an increase of $2,247,000, or 6.2%, from the $36,297,000 recorded in the first six months of 2006.  Net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis for the six months ended June 30, 2007 amounted to $38,807,000, an increase of $2,259,000, or 6.2%, from the $36,548,000 recorded in the first six months of 2006.

   
Six Months Ended June,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2007
   
2006
 
Net interest income, as reported
  $
38,544
     
36,297
 
Tax-equivalent adjustment
   
263
     
251
 
Net interest income, tax-equivalent
  $
38,807
     
36,548
 

There are two primary factors that cause changes in the amount of net interest income recorded by the Company - 1) growth in loans and deposits, and 2) the Company’s net interest margin.  For the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, the increases in net interest income over the comparable periods in 2006 were due to growth in loans and deposits, as the Company’s net interest margins in 2007 have been lower than in the comparable periods of 2006.  The Company’s net interest margin of 4.03% in the second quarter of 2007 was lower than the 4.22% recorded in the second quarter of 2006.  For the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company’s net interest margin was 4.00% and 4.28%, respectively.  The Company’s believes the primary reasons behind its decreasing net interest margin are 1) deposit rates paid by the Company rising by more than loan and investment yields, which is largely associated with the flat interest rate yield curve currently prevailing in the marketplace 2) the negative impact of the Company having more of its overall funding occurring in its highest cost funding sources, which is a result of needing to fund high loan growth, as well as customers shifting their funds from low cost deposits to higher cost deposits as interest rates have risen, and 3) intense competition in the Company’s market area for loans and deposits that has impacted loan and deposit pricing.

 The following tables present net interest income analysis on a taxable-equivalent basis for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.


Page 19



   
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
Average
Volume
   
Average
Rate
   
Interest
Earned
or Paid
   
Average
Volume
   
Average
Rate
   
Interest
Earned
or Paid
 
Assets
                                   
Loans (1)
  $
1,783,794
      7.76%     $
34,492
    $
1,593,070
      7.36%     $
29,215
 
Taxable securities
   
128,795
      5.00%      
1,606
     
118,172
      4.76%      
1,402
 
Non-taxable securities (2)
   
13,381
      8.27%      
276
     
12,058
      8.38%      
252
 
Short-term investments
   
47,578
      5.76%      
683
     
40,927
      5.60%      
571
 
Total interest-earning assets
   
1,973,548
      7.53%      
37,057
     
1,764,227
      7.15%      
31,440
 
                                                 
Cash and due from banks
   
40,401
                     
37,552
                 
Premises and equipment
   
45,276
                     
36,647
                 
Other assets
   
57,302
                     
47,808
                 
   Total assets
  $
2,116,527
                    $
1,886,234
                 
                                                 
Liabilities
                                               
NOW accounts
  $
195,402
      0.40%     $
195
    $
188,112
      0.36%     $
171
 
Money market accounts
   
231,838
      3.37%      
1,948
     
173,434
      2.57%      
1,113
 
Savings accounts
   
107,299
      1.58%      
424
     
114,012
      1.23%      
351
 
Time deposits>$100,000
   
436,355
      5.08%      
5,524
     
380,229
      4.40%      
4,174
 
Other time deposits
   
567,337
      4.70%      
6,647
     
507,359
      3.96%      
5,004
 
     Total interest-bearing deposits
   
1,538,231
      3.84%      
14,738
     
1,363,146
      3.18%      
10,813
 
Securities sold under agreements
     to repurchase
   
42,361
      3.86%      
408
     
29,102
      3.76%      
273
 
Borrowings
   
124,207
      6.76%      
2,093
     
109,422
      6.54%      
1,785
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
   
1,704,799
      4.06%      
17,239
     
1,501,670
      3.44%      
12,871
 
                                                 
Non-interest-bearing deposits
   
224,979
                     
206,635
                 
Other liabilities
   
17,580
                     
15,403
                 
Shareholders equity
   
169,169
                     
162,526
                 
   Total liabilities and
       shareholders’ equity
  $
2,116,527
                    $
1,886,234
                 
                                                 
Net yield on interest-earning
  assets and  net interest income
            4.03%     $
19,818
              4.22%     $
18,569
 
Interest rate spread
            3.47%                       3.71%          
                                                 
Average prime rate
            8.25%                       7.90%          
(1)           Average loans include nonaccruing loans, the effect of which is to lower the average rate shown.

(2)
Includes tax-equivalent adjustments of $140,000 and $125,000 in 2007 and 2006, respectively, to reflect the tax benefit that the Company received related to its tax-exempt securities, which carry interest rates lower than similar taxable investments due to their tax exempt status.  This amount has been computed assuming a 39% tax rate and is reduced by the related nondeductible portion of interest expense.

Page 20



   
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
Average
Volume
   
Average
Rate
   
Interest
Earned
or Paid
   
Average
Volume
   
Average
Rate
   
Interest
Earned
or Paid
 
Assets
                                   
Loans (1)
  $
1,770,320
      7.71%     $
67,703
    $
1,554,763
      7.26%     $
55,977
 
Taxable securities
   
127,137
      4.99%      
3,145
     
116,541
      4.73%      
2,731
 
Non-taxable securities (2)
   
13,209
      8.12%      
532
     
11,940
      8.53%      
505
 
Short-term investments
   
45,964
      5.86%      
1,336
     
40,137
      5.37%      
1,068
 
Total interest-earning assets
   
1,956,630
      7.49%      
72,716
     
1,723,381
      7.05%      
60,281
 
                                                 
Cash and due from banks
   
39,232
                     
37,739
                 
Premises and equipment
   
44,819
                     
35,907
                 
Other assets
   
57,770
                     
47,746
                 
   Total assets
  $
2,098,451
                    $
1,844,773
                 
                                                 
                                                 
Liabilities
                                               
NOW accounts
  $
192,787
      0.40%     $
387
    $
189,626
      0.34%     $
323
 
Money market accounts
   
222,983
      3.28%      
3,630
     
169,508
      2.37%      
1,991
 
Savings accounts
   
106,337
      1.53%      
807
     
112,525
      1.17%      
654
 
Time deposits>$100,000
   
433,546
      5.05%      
10,860
     
372,847
      4.25%      
7,851
 
Other time deposits
   
563,635
      4.66%      
13,033
     
501,103
      3.80%      
9,436
 
     Total interest-bearing deposits
   
1,519,288
      3.81%      
28,717
     
1,345,609
      3.04%      
20,255
 
Securities sold under agreements
     to repurchase
   
43,092
      3.84%      
820
     
29,708
      3.63%      
535
 
Borrowings
   
130,632
      6.75%      
4,372
     
91,486
      6.49%      
2,943
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
   
1,693,012
      4.04%      
33,909
     
1,466,803
      3.26%      
23,733
 
                                                 
Non-interest-bearing deposits
   
218,686
                     
201,865
                 
Other liabilities
   
18,850
                     
15,652
                 
Shareholders equity
   
167,903
                     
160,453
                 
   Total liabilities and
       shareholders’ equity
  $
2,098,451
                    $
1,844,773
                 
                                                 
Net yield on interest-earning
  assets and  net interest income
            4.00%     $
38,807
              4.28%     $
36,548
 
Interest rate spread
            3.45%                       3.79%          
                                                 
Average prime rate
            8.25%                       7.66%          
(1)           Average loans include nonaccruing loans, the effect of which is to lower the average rate shown.

(2)
Includes tax-equivalent adjustments of $263,000 and $251,000 in 2007 and 2006, respectively, to reflect the tax benefit that the Company received related to its tax-exempt securities, which carry interest rates lower than similar taxable investments due to their tax exempt status.  This amount has been computed assuming a 39% tax rate and is reduced by the related nondeductible portion of interest expense.


Average loans outstanding for the second quarter of 2007 were $1.784 billion, which was 12.0% higher than the average loans outstanding for the second quarter of 2006 ($1.593 billion).  Average loans outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $1.770 billion, which was 13.9% higher than the average loans outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2006 ($1.555 billion).

The mix of the Company’s loan portfolio remained substantially the same at June 30, 2007 compared to December 31, 2006 with approximately 86% of the Company’s loans being real estate loans, 9% being commercial, financial, and agricultural loans, and the remaining 5% being consumer installment loans.  The majority of the Company’s real estate loans are personal and commercial loans where real estate provides additional security for the loan.

Page 21



Average total deposits outstanding for the second quarter of 2007 were $1.763 billion, which was 12.3% higher than the average deposits outstanding for the second quarter of 2006 ($1.570 billion).  Average deposits outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $1.738 billion, which was 12.3% higher than the average deposits outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2006 ($1.547 billion).  Generally, the Company can reinvest funds from deposits at higher yields than the interest rate being paid on those deposits, and therefore increases in deposits typically result in higher amounts of net interest income for the Company.

See additional discussion regarding reasons for and the nature of the growth in loans and deposits in the section entitled “Financial Condition” below.  The effect of the higher amounts of average loans and deposits was to increase net interest income in 2007.

As derived from the table above, in comparing second quarter 2007 to second quarter 2006, the yield earned on loans, the Company’s primary earning asset, increased by only 40 basis points (from 7.36% to 7.76%) while the average rate paid on other time deposits, the Company’s largest deposit category, increased by 74 basis points (from 3.96% to 4.70%).  In comparing the six months ended June 30, 2007 to the same period in 2006, the yield earned on loans increased by only 45 basis points (from 7.26% to 7.71%), while the average rate paid on other time deposits increased by 86 basis points (from 3.80% to 4.66%).  The difference in these increases negatively impacted the Company’s net interest margin and was largely a result of short-term interest rates prevailing in the market place increasing faster than long-term interest rates - with short-term interest rates being approximately the same as long-term interest rates at June 30, 2007 (commonly referred to as a “flat yield curve”).  A flat yield curve is unfavorable for the Company because the Company’s funding costs are generally tied to short-term interest rates, while its investment rates, in the form of securities and loans, are more closely correlated to long-term interest rates prevailing in the marketplace.

See additional information regarding net interest income in the section below entitled “Interest Rate Risk.”

The Company’s provisions for loan losses did not vary significantly when comparing the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 to the comparable periods of 2006.  The provision for loan losses for the second quarter of 2007 was $1,322,000 compared to $1,400,000 for the second quarter of 2006.  The provision for loan losses for the six month periods ended June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2006 amounted to $2,443,000 and $2,415,000, respectively. Factors that played an offsetting role in this comparison were i) lower 2007 loan growth, which generally results in a lower provision for loan losses, and ii) higher levels of nonperforming assets and net charge-offs in 2007, which generally increase the provision for loan losses.  Loan growth was $26 million in the second quarter of 2007 compared to $83 million in the second quarter of 2006, while loan growth was $62 million for the first half of 2007 compared to $153 million for the first half of 2006.  The Company’s ratios of annualized net charge-offs to average loans were 16 basis points and 15 basis points for the three and six month periods in 2007, respectively, compared to 9 basis points and 6 basis points for the three and six month periods in 2006, respectively.  The Company’s level of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.38% at June 30, 2007 compared to 0.30% a year earlier.

Noninterest income amounted to $4,857,000 in the second quarter of 2007, a 26.4% increase from the $3,844,000 recorded in the second quarter of 2006.  Noninterest income for the six months ended June 30, 2007 amounted to $9,093,000, an increase of 16.6% from the $7,798,000 recorded in the first half of 2006.  The increases were a result of general growth in the Company's customer base, but more significantly were caused by higher amounts of securities gains and “other gains” in 2007 compared to 2006.  

Securities gains were $487,000 in the second quarter of 2007 compared to $205,000 in the second quarter of 2006.  “Other gains (losses)” amounted to a net gain of $115,000 in the second quarter of 2007 compared to a net loss of $311,000 in the second quarter of 2006.  For the six months ended June 30, 2007, “Other gains (losses)” amounted to a net gain of $82,000 compared to a net loss $378,000 in the first half of 2006.  The variances in “Other gains (losses)” in 2007 compared to 2006 relate primarily to a merchant credit card liability that the Company incurred in 2006.  The Company expensed $230,000 in the second quarter of 2006 related to this situation and another $1.67 million in the third quarter of 2006.  During 2007, the Company determined that its

Page 22


ultimate exposure to this loss is approximately $190,000 less than the original estimated total loss of $1.9 million that was reserved in 2006.  Accordingly, the Company reversed $50,000 of this loss during the first quarter of 2007 and the remaining $140,000 in the second quarter of 2007 by recording “other gains” to reduce this liability.

Noninterest expenses amounted to $14,510,000 in the second quarter of 2007, an 11.1% increase over the $13,064,000 recorded in the comparable period of 2006. Noninterest expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2007 amounted to $28,640,000, an 11.0% increase from the $25,793,000 recorded in the first six months of 2006.  The increase in noninterest expenses is primarily attributable to costs associated with the Company’s overall growth in loans, deposits and branch network.  Expense associated with the Company’s stock option plan amounted to $156,000 and $167,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $244,000 and $291,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, respectively.

The provision for income taxes was $3,284,000 in the second quarter of 2007, an effective tax rate of 37.7%, compared to $3,029,000 in the second quarter of 2006, an effective tax rate of 38.7%.  The provision for income taxes was $6,249,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007, an effective tax rate of 37.7%, compared to $6,101,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2006, an effective tax rate of 38.4%.  The Company expects its effective tax rate to remain at approximately 38-39% for the foreseeable future.

The Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income reflect “Other Comprehensive Loss” of $916,000 during the second quarter of 2007 and “Other Comprehensive Loss” of $698,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared to “Other Comprehensive Loss” of $1,114,000 for the second quarter of 2006 and “Other Comprehensive Loss” of $1,163,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2006.  The primary component of other comprehensive loss for the periods presented relates to changes in unrealized holding losses of the Company’s available for sale securities.  The Company’s available for sale securities portfolio is predominantly comprised of fixed rate bonds that increase in value when market yields for fixed rate bonds decrease and decline in value when market yields for fixed rate bonds increase.

Page 23



FINANCIAL CONDITION

Total assets at June 30, 2007 amounted to $2.21 billion, 10.7% higher than a year earlier.  Total loans at June 30, 2007 amounted to $1.80 billion, a 10.2% increase from a year earlier, and total deposits amounted to $1.80 billion at June 30, 2007, a 13.2% increase from a year earlier.

The following tables present information regarding the nature of the Company’s growth since June 30, 2006.

 
 
 
July 1, 2006 to
June 30, 2007
 
Balance at
beginning of
period
   
Internal
Growth
   
Growth from
Acquisitions
   
Balance at
end of
period
   
Total
percentage
growth 
 
Percentage growth,
excluding
acquisitions 
   
($ in thousands)
 
       
Loans
  $
1,635,899
     
160,660
     
5,749
     
1,802,308
      10.2 %     9.8 %
                                                 
Deposits - Noninterest bearing
  $
209,062
     
25,604
     
4,974
     
239,640
      14.6 %     12.2 %
Deposits - NOW
   
184,166
     
3,707
     
6,034
     
193,907
      5.3 %     2.0 %
Deposits - Money market
   
182,439
     
55,342
     
3,679
     
241,460
      32.4 %     30.3 %
Deposits - Savings
   
113,917
      (11,170 )    
2,178
     
104,925
      -7.9 %     -9.8 %
Deposits - Time>$100,000
   
390,589
     
54,485
     
4,799
     
449,873
      15.2 %     13.9 %
Deposits - Time<$100,000
   
510,495
     
37,948
     
22,313
     
570,756
      11.8 %     7.4 %
   Total deposits
  $
1,590,668
     
165,916
     
43,977
     
1,800,561
      13.2 %     10.4 %

January 1, 2007 to
June 30, 2007
                                               
Loans
  $
1,740,396
     
61,912
     
     
1,802,308
      3.6 %     3.6 %
                                                 
Deposits - Noninterest bearing
  $
217,291
     
22,349
     
     
239,640
      10.3 %     10.3 %
Deposits - NOW
   
193,435
     
472
     
     
193,907
      0.2 %     0.2 %
Deposits - Money market
   
205,994
     
35,466
     
     
241,460
      17.2 %     17.2 %
Deposits - Savings
   
103,346
     
1,579
     
     
104,925
      1.5 %     1.5 %
Deposits - Time>$100,000
   
422,772
     
27,101
     
     
449,873
      6.4 %     6.4 %
Deposits - Time<$100,000
   
552,841
     
17,915
     
     
570,756
      3.2 %     3.2 %
   Total deposits
  $
1,695,679
     
104,882
     
     
1,800,561
      6.2 %     6.2 %


As shown in the table above, for the twelve months preceding June 30, 2007, the Company’s loans increased by $166 million, or 10.2%, of which $161 million was internal growth and $6 million was from two branch purchases that occurred in the third quarter of 2006.  Over that same period, deposits increased $210 million, or 13.2%, of which $166 million was internal growth and $44 million was from the two branch purchases.  For the first half of 2007, loans increased by $62 million, or 7.2% on an annualized basis, and deposits increased by $105 million, or 12.5% on an annualized basis.  For both of the time periods in the table, money market accounts experienced the highest growth among the deposit categories.  The growth in this type of account was driven by a premium money market account that was introduced by the Company in 2005 that pays a high interest rate, which was necessary in order to compete in the marketplace.

The mix of the Company’s loan portfolio remained substantially the same at June 30, 2007 compared to December 31, 2006, with approximately 86% of the Company’s loans being real estate loans, 9% being commercial, financial, and agricultural loans, and the remaining 5% being consumer installment loans.  The majority of the Company’s real estate loans are personal and commercial loans where real estate provides additional security for the loan.

Page 24


Nonperforming Assets

Nonperforming assets are defined as nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 or more days and still accruing interest, restructured loans and other real estate.  Nonperforming assets are summarized as follows:

 
($ in thousands)
 
June 30,
2007
   
December 31,
2006
   
June 30,
2006
 
                   
Nonperforming loans:
                 
   Nonaccrual loans
  $
6,457
     
6,852
     
3,973
 
   Restructured loans
   
7
     
10
     
12
 
   Accruing loans> 90 days past due
   
     
     
 
Total nonperforming loans
   
6,464
     
6,862
     
3,985
 
Other real estate
   
1,830
     
1,539
     
2,024
 
Total nonperforming assets
  $
8,294
     
8,401
     
6,009
 
                         
Nonperforming loans to total loans
    0.36%       0.39%       0.24%  
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of loans and other real estate
    0.46%       0.48%       0.37%  
Nonperforming assets to total assets
    0.38%       0.39%       0.30%  
Allowance for loan losses to total loans
    1.12%       1.09%       1.08%  


Management has reviewed the collateral for the nonperforming assets, including nonaccrual loans, and has included this review among the factors considered in the evaluation of the allowance for loan losses discussed below.

The variances in nonperforming loans among the periods presented has been primarily due to changes in nonaccrual loans, as restructured loans have not changed significantly.  At June 30, 2006, nonperforming loans were at an unusually low level due to the collection and/or charge-offs of several large nonaccrual relationships in the fourth quarter of 2005.  Since then, the Company has experienced more typical activity within its nonaccrual loan category, and the level of nonaccrual loans has increased to more normal levels as a percentage of the total loan portfolio.  In the first half of 2007, the Company foreclosed on several loans secured by real estate, which is largely responsible for the $395,000 decrease in nonaccrual loans and the $291,000 increase in other real estate since December 31, 2006.  At June 30, 2007, the Company’s largest nonaccrual loan relationship amounted to $590,000 and the largest carrying amount of any single piece of other real estate amounted to $330,000.

At June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006, and June 30, 2006, the recorded investments in loans considered to be impaired were $2,884,000, $2,864,000, and $1,225,000, respectively, all of which were on nonaccrual status.  At June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006, and June 30, 2006, the related allowance for loan losses for all impaired loans were $856,000, $511,000, and $311,000, respectively.  At June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006, and June 30, 2006, there was $627,000, $842,000, and $618,000 in impaired loans for which there was no related allowance.  The average recorded investments in impaired loans during the six month period ended June 30, 2007, the year ended December 31, 2006, and the six months ended June 30, 2006 were approximately $2,810,000, $1,445,000, and $782,000, respectively.  For the same periods, the Company recognized no interest income on those impaired loans during the period that they were considered to be impaired.

Summary of Loan Loss Experience

The allowance for loan losses is created by direct charges to operations.  Losses on loans are charged against the allowance in the period in which such loans, in management's opinion, become uncollectible.  The recoveries realized during the period are credited to this allowance.

The Company has no foreign loans, few agricultural loans and does not engage in significant lease financing or highly leveraged transactions.  Commercial loans are diversified among a variety of industries.  The majority of the

Page 25


Company’s real estate loans are primarily personal and commercial loans where real estate provides additional security for the loan.  Collateral for virtually all of these loans is located within the Company’s principal market area.

The Company’s provisions for loan losses did not vary significantly when comparing the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 to the comparable periods of 2006. The provision for loan losses amounted to $1,322,000 in the second quarter of 2007 compared to $1,400,000 in the second quarter of 2006, and the provision for loan losses for the first six months of 2007 was $2,443,000 compared to $2,415,000 for the first six months of 2006.  Factors that played an offsetting role in this comparison were i) lower 2007 loan growth, which generally results in a lower provision for loan losses, and ii) higher levels of nonperforming assets and net charge-offs in 2007, which generally increase the provision for loan losses.  Loan growth was $26 million in the second quarter of 2007 compared to $83 million in the second quarter of 2006, while loan growth was $62 million for the first half of 2007 compared to $153 million for the first half of 2006.  The Company’s ratios of annualized net charge-offs to average loans were 16 basis points and 15 basis points for the three and six month periods in 2007, respectively, compared to 9 basis points and 6 basis points for the three and six month periods in 2006, respectively.  The Company’s level of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.38% at June 30, 2007 compared to 0.30% a year earlier.

At June 30, 2007, the allowance for loan losses amounted to $20,104,000, compared to $18,947,000 at December 31, 2006 and $17,642,000 at June 30, 2006.  The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans did not vary significantly among the periods presented, amounting to 1.12% at June 30, 2007, 1.09% at December 31, 2006, and 1.08% at June 30, 2006.

Management believes the Company’s reserve levels are adequate to cover probable loan losses on the loans outstanding as of each reporting date.  It must be emphasized, however, that the determination of the reserve using the Company's procedures and methods depends upon various judgments and assumptions about economic conditions and other factors affecting loans.  No assurance can be given that the Company will not in any particular period sustain loan losses that are sizable in relation to the amounts reserved or that subsequent evaluations of the loan portfolio, in light of conditions and factors then prevailing, will not require significant changes in the allowance for loan losses or future charges to earnings.  See “Critical Accounting Policies – Allowance for Loan Losses” above.

In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company's allowance for loan losses and value of other real estate.  Such agencies may require the Company to recognize adjustments to the allowance or the carrying value of other real estate based on their judgments about information available at the time of their examinations.

Page 26




For the periods indicated, the following table summarizes the Company's balances of loans outstanding, average loans outstanding, changes in the allowance for loan losses arising from charge-offs and recoveries, additions to the allowance for loan losses that have been charged to expense, and additions that were recorded related to acquisitions.

   
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
   
Twelve Months
Ended
December 31,
   
Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2007
   
2006
   
2006
 
                   
Loans outstanding at end of period
  $
1,802,308
     
1,740,396
     
1,635,899
 
Average amount of loans outstanding
  $
1,770,320
     
1,623,188
     
1,554,763
 
                         
Allowance for loan losses, at beginning of period
  $
18,947
     
15,716
     
15,716
 
                         
       Total charge-offs
    (1,473 )     (2,017 )     (613 )
       Total recoveries
   
187
     
273
     
124
 
            Net charge-offs
    (1,286 )     (1,744 )     (489 )
                         
Additions to the allowance charged to expense
   
2,443
     
4,923
     
2,415
 
Additions related to loans assumed in corporate acquisitions
   
     
52
     
 
                         
Allowance for loan losses, at end of period
  $
20,104
     
18,947
     
17,642
 
                         
Ratios:
                       
   Net charge-offs (annualized) as a percent of average loans
    0.15%       0.11%       0.06%  
   Allowance for loan losses as a percent of  loans at end of period
    1.12%       1.09%       1.08%  

Based on the results of the Company’s loan analysis and grading program and management’s evaluation of the allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2007, there have been no material changes to the allocation of the allowance for loan losses among the various categories of loans since December 31, 2006.


Liquidity, Commitments, and Contingencies

The Company’s liquidity is determined by its ability to convert assets to cash or acquire alternative sources of funds to meet the needs of its customers who are withdrawing or borrowing funds, and to maintain required reserve levels, pay expenses and operate the Company on an ongoing basis.  The Company’s primary liquidity sources are net income from operations, cash and due from banks, federal funds sold and other short-term investments.  The Company’s securities portfolio is comprised almost entirely of readily marketable securities, which could also be sold to provide cash.

In addition to internally generated liquidity sources, the Company has the ability to obtain borrowings from the following three sources - 1) an approximately $344 million line of credit with the Federal Home Loan Bank (of which $111 million was outstanding at June 30, 2007), 2) a $50 million overnight federal funds line of credit with a correspondent bank (none of which was outstanding at June 30, 2007), and 3) an approximately $81 million line of credit through the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s discount window (none of which was outstanding at June 30, 2007).  In addition to the outstanding borrowings from the FHLB that reduce the available borrowing capacity of that line of credit, the borrowing capacity was further reduced by $40 million at June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 as a result of the Company pledging letters of credit for public deposits at each of those dates.  Unused lines of credit amounted to $324 million at June 30, 2007 compared to $303 million at December 31, 2006.

Page 27


The Company’s liquidity did not change significantly during the first half of 2007.  The Company’s loan to deposit ratio was 100.1% at June 30, 2007 compared to 102.6% at December 31, 2006.  The level of the Company’s liquid assets (consisting of cash, due from banks, federal funds sold, presold mortgages in process of settlement and securities) as a percentage of deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and borrowings was 14.9% at June 30, 2007 compared to 15.1% at December 31, 2006.

The Company’s management believes its liquidity sources, including unused lines of credit, are at an acceptable level and remain adequate to meet its operating needs in the foreseeable future.  The Company will continue to monitor its liquidity position carefully and will explore and implement strategies to increase liquidity if deemed appropriate.

The amount and timing of the Company’s contractual obligations and commercial commitments has not changed materially since December 31, 2006, detail of which is presented in Table 18 of the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company is not involved in any legal proceedings that, in management’s opinion, could have a material effect on the consolidated financial position of the Company.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Derivative Financial Instruments

Off-balance sheet arrangements include transactions, agreements, or other contractual arrangements in which the Company has obligations or provides guarantees on behalf of an unconsolidated entity.  The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements of this kind other than repayment guarantees associated with trust preferred securities.

Derivative financial instruments include futures, forwards, interest rate swaps, options contracts, and other financial instruments with similar characteristics.  The Company has not engaged in derivative activities through June 30, 2007, and has no current plans to do so.

Capital Resources

The Company is regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board (FED) and is subject to the securities registration and public reporting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company’s banking subsidiary is regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks.  The Company is not aware of any recommendations of regulatory authorities or otherwise which, if they were to be implemented, would have a material effect on its liquidity, capital resources, or operations.

The Company must comply with regulatory capital requirements established by the FED and FDIC.  Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly additional discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements.  Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices.  The Company’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.  These capital standards require the Company to maintain minimum ratios of “Tier 1” capital to total risk-weighted assets and total capital to risk-weighted assets of 4.00% and 8.00%, respectively.  Tier 1 capital is comprised of total shareholders’ equity calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), less intangible assets, and total capital is comprised of Tier 1 capital plus certain adjustments, the largest of which for the Company is the allowance for loan losses.  Risk-weighted assets refer to the on- and off-balance sheet exposures of the Company, adjusted for their related risk levels using formulas set forth in FED and FDIC regulations.

Page 28


In addition to the risk-based capital requirements described above, the Company is subject to a leverage capital requirement, which calls for a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital (as defined above) to quarterly average total assets of 3.00% to 5.00%, depending upon the institution’s composite ratings as determined by its regulators.  The FED has not advised the Company of any requirement specifically applicable to it.

At June 30, 2007, the Company’s capital ratios exceeded the regulatory minimum ratios discussed above.  The following table presents the Company’s capital ratios and the regulatory minimums discussed above for the periods indicated.

   
June 30,
2007 
 
December 31,
2006 
 
June 30,
2006 
Risk-based capital ratios:
                 
   Tier I capital to Tier I risk adjusted assets
    10.10 %     10.05 %     10.55 %
   Minimum required Tier I capital
    4.00 %     4.00 %     4.00 %
                         
   Total risk-based capital to Tier II risk-adjusted assets
    11.77 %     11.81 %     12.27 %
   Minimum required total risk-based capital
    8.00 %     8.00 %     8.00 %
                         
Leverage capital ratios:
                       
   Tier I leverage capital to adjusted most recent quarter average assets
    8.59 %     8.59 %     9.04 %
   Minimum required Tier I leverage capital
    4.00 %     4.00 %     4.00 %

The Company’s capital ratios decreased from June 30, 2006 to December 31, 2006 primarily as a result of the Company’s strong balance sheet growth and the purchase of two bank branches.  In 2007, the earnings of the Company have supported the balance sheet growth in such a manner that the capital ratios are substantially the same at June 30, 2007 as they were at December 31, 2006.

The Company’s bank subsidiary is also subject to capital requirements similar to those discussed above.  The bank’s capital ratios do not vary materially from the Company’s capital ratios presented above.  At June 30, 2007, the bank exceeded the minimum ratios established by the FED and FDIC.

SHARE REPURCHASES

During the first quarter of 2007, the Company repurchased 348 shares of its common stock at a price of $23.68 per share. The Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock during the second quarter of 2007.  At June 30, 2007, the Company had approximately 262,000 shares available for repurchase under existing authority from its board of directors.  The Company may repurchase these shares in open market and privately negotiated transactions, as market conditions and the Company’s liquidity warrant, subject to compliance with applicable regulations.  See also Part II, Item 2 “Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.”


Page 29


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

INTEREST RATE RISK (INCLUDING QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK)

Net interest income is the Company’s most significant component of earnings.  Notwithstanding changes in volumes of loans and deposits, the Company’s level of net interest income is continually at risk due to the effect that changes in general market interest rate trends have on interest yields earned and paid with respect to the various categories of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  It is the Company’s policy to maintain portfolios of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities with maturities and repricing opportunities that will afford protection, to the extent practical, against wide interest rate fluctuations.  The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk is analyzed on a regular basis by management using standard GAP reports, maturity reports, and an asset/liability software model that simulates future levels of interest income and expense based on current interest rates, expected future interest rates, and various intervals of “shock” interest rates.  Over the years, the Company has been able to maintain a fairly consistent yield on average earning assets (net interest margin).  Over the past five calendar years, the Company’s net interest margin has ranged from a low of 4.18% (realized in 2006) to a high of 4.58% (realized in 2002).  During that five year period, the prime rate of interest ranged from a low of 4.00% to a high of 8.25% (which was the rate at June 30, 2007).

Using stated maturities for all instruments except mortgage-backed securities (which are allocated in the periods of their expected payback) and securities and borrowings with call features that are expected to be called (which are shown in the period of their expected call), at June 30, 2007, the Company had $502 million more in interest-bearing liabilities that are subject to interest rate changes within one year than earning assets.  This generally would indicate that net interest income would experience downward pressure in a rising interest rate environment and would benefit from a declining interest rate environment.  However, this method of analyzing interest sensitivity only measures the magnitude of the timing differences and does not address earnings, market value, or management actions.  Also, interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market interest rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in market rates.  In addition to the effects of “when” various rate-sensitive products reprice, market rate changes may not result in uniform changes in rates among all products.  For example, included in interest-bearing liabilities subject to interest rate changes within one year at June 30, 2007 are deposits totaling $541 million comprised of NOW, savings, and certain types of money market deposits with interest rates set by management.  These types of deposits historically have not repriced with or in the same proportion as general market indicators.

Overall, the Company believes that in the near term (twelve months), net interest income would not likely experience significant downward pressure from rising interest rates.  Similarly, management would not expect a significant increase in near term net interest income from falling interest rates.  Generally, when rates change, the Company’s interest-sensitive assets that are subject to adjustment reprice immediately at the full amount of the change, while the Company’s interest-sensitive liabilities that are subject to adjustment reprice at a lag to the rate change and typically not to the full extent of the rate change.  The net effect is that in the twelve-month horizon, as rates change, the impact of having a higher level of interest-sensitive liabilities is substantially negated by the later and typically lower proportionate change these liabilities experience compared to interest-sensitive assets.  The general discussion in this paragraph applies most directly in a “normal” interest rate environment in which longer term maturity instruments carry higher interest rates than short term maturity instruments, and is less applicable in periods in which there is a “flat” interest rate curve, which is discussed in the following paragraph.

Since the second half of 2004, the Federal Reserve has increased the discount rate 17 times totaling 425 basis points.  However, the impact of these rate increases has not had an equal effect on short-term interest rates and long-term interest rates in the marketplace.  In the marketplace, short-term rates have risen by a significantly higher amount than have longer-term interest rates.  For example, from June 30, 2004 to June 30, 2007, the interest rate on three-month treasury bills rose by 349 basis points, whereas the interest rate for seven-year treasury notes increased by only 71 basis points.  This has resulted in what economists refer to as a “flat yield curve”, which means that short-term interest rates are substantially the same as long-term interest rates.  This is an unfavorable

Page 30


interest rate environment for many banks, including the Company, as short-term interest rates generally drive the Company’s deposit pricing and longer-term interest rates generally drive loan pricing.  When these rates converge, which they have, the profit spread the Company realizes between loan yields and deposit rates narrows, which reduces the Company’s net interest margin.

In addition to the negative impact of the flat yield curve interest rate environment, the Company’s net interest margin has also been negatively impacted by the Company having more of its overall funding occurring in its highest cost funding sources, which is a result of needing to fund high loan growth, as well as customers shifting their funds from low cost deposits to higher cost deposits as interest rates have risen.

The factors discussed above are the primary reasons for the Company experiencing a steady decline in its net interest margin in 2006 and the first quarter of 2007.  The Company’s net interest margin was 4.37% in the fourth quarter of 2005, 4.33% in the first quarter of 2006, 4.22% in the second quarter of 2006, 4.12% in the third quarter of 2006, 4.05% in the fourth quarter of 2006, and 3.97% in the first quarter of 2007.  The Company’s 4.03% net interest margin in the second quarter of 2007 was the first quarterly increase in net interest margin since 2005.  This was primarily due to the repricing of fixed rate loans that matured and renewed at higher interest rates during the quarter and the stabilization of the Company’s funding costs.  The average loan yield realized by the Company increased by 9 basis points from the first quarter of 2007, while the Company’s average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased by only 4 basis points.  The relatively small increase in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities is primarily due to the short-term nature of the Company’s deposit portfolio coupled with the relatively stable interest rate environment that has prevailed since the last Federal Reserve interest rate increase, which occurred in July 2006.  Rate forecasts reviewed by the Company indicate that some economists are expecting no change in interest rates for the remainder of 2007.  Assuming interest rates do not change in 2007, the Company projects that its net interest margin for the remainder of 2007 will not vary significantly from the 4.03% net interest margin realized in the second quarter of 2007.  In addition to the assumption regarding interest rates, the aforementioned modeling is dependent on many other assumptions that could vary significantly from expectations, including, but not limited to:  loan growth, mix of loan growth, deposit growth, mix of deposit growth, the ability of the Company to manage changes in rates earned on loans and paid on deposits, which will depend largely on actions taken by the Company’s competitors.

The Company has no market risk sensitive instruments held for trading purposes, nor does it maintain any foreign currency positions.

See additional discussion regarding net interest income, as well as discussion of the changes in the annual net interest margin in the section entitled “Net Interest Income” above.

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 chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, which are our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our periodic reports with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed is communicated to our management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Based on the evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in allowing timely decisions regarding disclosure to be made about material information required to be included in our periodic reports with the SEC. Except as discussed in the following sentence, there were no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during, or subsequent to, the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. During the three months ended June 30, 2007, we determined that we had not appropriately modified our internal controls over wire transfers after a software change involving our wire transfer system that occurred in January 2007. There were no significant losses that resulted from this situation. During June 2007, we implemented additional internal controls to confirm the accuracy of our wire transfers to address this issue.

Page 31



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Part I of this report contains statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, which statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements are statements that include projections, predictions, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise are not statements of historical fact.  Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualifying words (and their derivatives) such as “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” or other statements concerning opinions or judgment of the Company and its management about future events.  Factors that could influence the accuracy of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the financial success or changing strategies of the Company’s customers, the Company’s level of success in integrating acquisitions, actions of government regulators, the level of market interest rates, and general economic conditions.  For additional information that could affect the matters discussed in this paragraph, see the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Page 32



Part II.  Other Information

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

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
 
 
 
 
Period
 
Total Number of Shares
Purchased
   
Average Price Paid
per Share
   
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced Plans
or Programs
   
Maximum Number of
Shares that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs (1)
 
April 1, 2007 to April 30, 2007
   
     
     
     
261,667
 
May 1, 2007 to May 31, 2007
   
     
     
     
261,667
 
June 1, 2007 to June 30, 2007
   
     
     
     
261,667
 
Total
   
     
     
      261,667 (2)


Footnotes to the Above Table
(1)
All shares available for repurchase are pursuant to publicly announced share repurchase authorizations.  On July 30, 2004, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved the repurchase of 375,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.  The repurchase authorization does not have an expiration date.  There are no plans or programs the Company has determined to terminate prior to expiration, or under which the Company does not intend to make further purchases.

(2)
The above table above does not include shares that were used by option holders to satisfy the exercise price of the call options issued by the Company to its employees and directors pursuant to the Company’s stock option plans. There were no such exercises during the three months ended June 30, 2007.

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

The following proposals were considered and acted upon at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company held on May 2, 2007:

Proposal 1
A proposal to elect fifteen (15) nominees to the Board of Directors to serve until the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders, or until their successors are elected and qualified.

 
Nominee
 
Voted
For
 
Withheld
Authority 
Jack D. Briggs
   
11,792,771
     
205,586
 
R. Walton Brown
   
11,772,446
     
225,910
 
David L. Burns
   
11,771,825
     
226,531
 
John F. Burns
   
11,727,866
     
270,490
 
Mary Clara Capel
   
11,793,802
     
204,554
 
James G. Hudson, Jr.
   
11,772,164
     
226,193
 
Jerry L. Ocheltree
   
11,792,319
     
206,038
 
George R. Perkins, Jr.
   
11,768,137
     
230,220
 
Thomas F. Philips
   
11,731,680
     
266,676
 
Frederick L. Taylor II
   
11,792,962
     
205,395
 
Virginia C. Thomasson
   
11,793,472
     
204,884
 
Goldie Wallace
   
11,767,566
     
230,791
 
A. Jordan Washburn
   
11,760,355
     
238,001
 
Dennis A. Wicker
   
11,774,085
     
224,271
 
John C. Willis
   
11,789,494
     
208,863
 


 
Proposal 2

A proposal to ratify the appointment of Elliott Davis, PLLC as the independent auditors of the Company for 2007.

 
For   11,843,284
Against         112,486
Abstain    40,337 


 
Proposal 3
 
A proposal to adopt a new equity-based incentive plan, entitled the “First Bancorp 2007 Equity Plan.”

 
For   8,408,248
Against          554,930
Abstain    168,814 


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Item 6 - Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed with this report or, as noted, are incorporated by reference.  Management contracts, compensatory plans and arrangements are marked with an asterisk (*).

3.a.
Copy of Articles of Incorporation of the Company and amendments thereto were filed as Exhibits 3.a.i through 3.a.v to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002, and are incorporated herein by reference.

3.b
Copy of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company was filed as Exhibit 3.b to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and is incorporated herein by reference.

4
Form of Common Stock Certificate was filed as Exhibit 4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999, and is incorporated herein by reference.

10
Material Contracts

10.a
First Bancorp 2007 Equity Plan was filed as Appendix B to the Company’s Form Def 14A filed on March 23, 2007 and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)

10.b
Merger Agreement between First Bancorp and Great Pee Dee Bancorp dated July 12, 2007 was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Copies of exhibits are available upon written request to: First Bancorp, Anna G. Hollers, Executive Vice President, P.O. Box 508, Troy, NC 27371


Page 35



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.



   
FIRST BANCORP
       
       
 
August 8, 2007
BY:/s/ Jerry L. Ocheltree            
   
Jerry L. Ocheltree
   
President,  Chief Executive
   
Officer
   
(Principal Executive Officer),
   
Treasurer and Director
       
       
 
August 8, 2007
BY:/s/ Anna G. Hollers            
   
Anna G. Hollers
   
Executive Vice President,
   
Chief Operating Officer
   
and Secretary
       
       
 
August 8, 2007
BY:/s/ Eric P. Credle            
   
Eric P. Credle
   
Senior Vice President
   
and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
Page 36