Southern BancShares N C : September 17, 2021 SOUTHERN BANCSHARES (N.C.), INC. SEEKS REGULATORY APPROVALS TO INCREASE ITS INVESTMENT IN OLD POINT FINANCIAL CORPORATION

NEWS RELEASEFor Immediate Release
September 17, 2021

Contact: David L. Sauls, Jr.
Southern BancShares (N.C.), Inc.
919.658.7013

MOUNT OLIVE, N.C.- Southern BancShares (N.C.), Inc. (the "Company" or "Southern") (OTC Pink: SBNC), the holding company for Southern Bank and Trust Company, announced today that it has filed applications with the Federal Reserve Board of Richmond and the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions to increase its ownership interest in the common shares of Old Point Financial Corporation ("Old Point") (NASDAQCM: OPOF). The Company and its affiliates currently own approximately 4.9% of the outstanding common shares of Old Point. The Company is seeking regulatory approval to acquire up to 19.9% of Old Point's common shares.

For several decades Southern has invested in the common stock of other financial institutions and believes its investment in Old Point is a sound allocation of its assets. Old Point, founded in 1923, serves the Hampton Roads and Richmond regions of eastern Virginia. The Company views Old Point's long standing franchise in these growth markets and solid management team as a foundation for an attractive long-term return to its common shareholders.

Southern's investment in Old Point is passive and it has no plans to influence or impede the management, operations, or policies of Old Point. Southern has no current plans to seek representation on Old Point's Board of Directors and has not entered into voting or other agreements with any other party as it relates to the common shares of Old Point.

About Southern BancShares (N.C.), Inc.

The Company, headquartered in Mount Olive, North Carolina and with consolidated assets of $4.3 billion, is the holding company for Southern Bank and Trust Company, which was founded in 1901 and maintains 59 branches located in eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.