WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Community Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: SCMF) (NASDAQ: SCMFO), announced today that it earned $446 thousand in the second quarter of 2012, or $0.03 per common share, as capital levels and asset quality continued to show marked improvement.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110721/CL38548LOGO )

The reporting period marked the fifth consecutive quarter in which the Company has posted a profit. Excluding expenses related to the pending merger with Capital Bank Financial, the Company earned $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2012, or $0.07 per diluted share.

"It's evident we have stabilized many of the negative trends brought on by the financial crisis," said Jim Hastings, Chief Financial Officer and, subject to regulatory approval, interim President and Chief Executive Officer. "The Bank is at a point now where it is consistently earning a profit and effectively managing its risks."

The Company's second quarter results compare to a net income available to common shareholders of $170 thousand for the first quarter of 2012 and a net income available to common shareholders of $511 thousand a year ago. Net income per diluted common share of $0.03 in the second quarter remained flat compared with the $0.03 for the second quarter 2011.

Most credit measures continued to trend favorably as nonperforming assets decreased 8% to $75.0 million, or 5.18% of total assets, at June 30, 2012 from $81.9 million, or 5.46% of total assets, at March 31, 2012. Nonperforming loans declined by 5% in the second quarter.

"It's taken time and a lot of hard work to turn our organization around," Hastings said. "I'm extremely proud of our employees and eternally grateful to the shareholders and customers who have supported us from the very beginning."

Financial Highlights:


    --  Net income available to common shareholders of $446 thousand, or $0.03
        per diluted share;
    --  Excluding merger expenses of $673 thousand, net income available to
        common shareholders of $1.1 million, or $0.07 per diluted share;
    --  Year-to-date earnings of $616 thousand, or $0.04 per diluted share;
    --  Provision for loan losses of $2.3 million decreased $600 thousand
        compared to first quarter of 2012;
    --  Nonperforming loans decreased 5% to $55.1 million, or 6.01% of loans, at
        June 30, 2012 from $57.9 million, or 6.19% of loans, at March 31, 2012;
    --  Nonperforming assets decreased 8% to $75.0 million, or 5.18% of total
        assets, from $81.9 million, or 5.46% of total assets, at March 31, 2012;
        and
    --  Allowance for loan losses decreased $1.2 million to $23.0 million, or
        2.50% of total loans.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming loans decreased $2.8 million to $55.1 million, or 6.01% of total loans, at June 30, 2012 from $57.9 million, or 6.19% of total loans, at March 31, 2012 as a result of $4.5 million in gross charge-offs, $3.0 million in foreclosures and $5.5 million in loan payoffs and pay downs outpacing $10.2 million of new additions to nonperforming loans in the second quarter of 2012. On a year-over-year basis, nonperforming loans were down $11.7 million, or 18%. Loans delinquent 30-89 days sequentially increased by $1.7 million to $6.2 million at June 30, 2012; however, this sequential increase was driven by one loan for $2.9 million for which the borrower is expected to pay it current in the near term. Absent this loan, the Company's 30-89 day delinquency would be $3.3 million, or 0.36% of total loans, a $2.2 million improvement from the March 31, 2012 metric. Foreclosed assets decreased $4.2 million, or 17%, on a linked quarter basis. $6.4 million in sales of foreclosed properties and $831 thousand in valuation writedowns more than offset $3.0 million in new foreclosed asset additions during the second quarter of 2012. Nonperforming assets showed significant improvement of $7.0 million, or 8% on a linked quarter basis, decreasing to $75.0 million or 5.18% of total assets from $81.9 million, or 5.46% of total assets, at March 31, 2012.

The provision for loan losses of $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2012 decreased $600 thousand from $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2012. The allowance for loan losses (ALLL) decreased $1.2 million to $23.0 million, or 2.50% of total loans, from $24.2 million, or 2.58% of total loans, at March 31, 2012. Net charge-offs increased sequentially to $3.5 million, or 1.52% of average loans on an annualized basis, from $2.9 million, or 1.22% of average loans on an annualized basis, for the first quarter of 2012.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income of $10.7 million in the second quarter of 2012 decreased $248 thousand, or 2%, compared to $10.9 million in the first quarter of 2012 as the average balance of interest earning assets declined $24.0 million, or 2%, on a linked quarter basis. This decline in earning assets was driven by a $15.5 million sequential decrease in average loan balances, resulting from continued customer deleveraging, soft new loan demand and problem loan remediation. The second quarter 2012 net interest margin of 3.15% decreased by two basis points on a linked quarter basis as earning asset yields decreased by four basis points due to the shift in earning asset mix caused by the decrease in loan balances.

On a year-over-year basis, net interest income decreased $1.9 million, or 15%, and the net interest margin of 3.15% decreased by 28 basis points from 3.43% in the second quarter of 2011. This decrease in net interest income was due to a $108.6 million decrease in the average balance of earning assets and a 31 basis point decrease in the net interest spread. The decrease in earning assets was driven by a $127.7 million decrease in the average balance of loans. This decrease was partially offset by a $19.1 million net increase in the average balance of investments and other earning assets. The year-over-year decrease in the net interest spread was attributable both to the impact of the earning asset mix shift and the decrease in year-over-year average loan yield of 14 basis points partially mitigated by the eight basis points in cost savings from the downward repricing of deposits.

Non-interest Income

Non-interest income increased by $466 thousand, or 14%, to $3.9 million during the second quarter of 2012 compared with the first quarter of 2012. The sequential increase in non-interest income was attributable primarily to the $601 thousand increase in gains on sales of investment securities, $126 thousand increase in wealth management income, $93 thousand increase in fair value of derivatives and $19 thousand increase in mortgage banking income. These linked quarter increases were partially offset by a $370 thousand decrease in SBIC income.

Compared to the second quarter of 2011, non-interest income increased by $364 thousand, or 10%. The comparative quarter increase was primarily related to a $340 thousand increase in gains on investment security sales, a $177 thousand improvement in SBIC income, $36 thousand in wealth management income and $33 thousand increase in mortgage banking income. These comparative quarter increases were partially offset by a $218 thousand decrease in service charge income.

Non-interest Expenses

Non-interest expenses of $11.2 million during the second quarter of 2012 increased $542 million, or 5%, on a linked quarter basis. Excluding merger expenses of $673 thousand, non-interest expenses decreased sequentially by $131 thousand or 1%. In addition to these merger expenses, the sequential increase was primarily attributable to a $225 thousand increase in foreclosed asset related expenses which consisted of a $371 thousand, or 81%, increase in writedowns on carrying values of foreclosed properties partially offset by a $146 thousand, or 43%, decrease in other holding expenses on foreclosed properties. These second quarter 2012 writedowns of $831 thousand resulted from declining real estate valuations.

Compared to the second quarter of 2011, non-interest expenses decreased $78 thousand or 1%. Excluding the above mentioned $673 thousand in merger expenses, non-interest expenses decreased $751 thousand, or 7%. This year-over-year decrease was due to a $198 thousand decrease in occupancy expenses, a $161 thousand decrease in FDIC insurance expense and a $185 thousand decrease in other expenses (which is net of the $673 thousand increase in merger expenses). These decreases were partially offset by a $387 thousand increase in foreclosure related expenses and a $79 thousand increase in personnel expenses.

Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2012, total assets amounted to $1.45 billion, representing a decrease of $54.4 million, or 4%, compared to March 31, 2012. Total assets decreased $115.0 million, or 7.36%, on a year-over-year basis. The loan portfolio, excluding loans held for sale, decreased by $17.8 million, or 2%, sequentially, and decreased by $124.8 million, or 12%, since June 30, 2011 due to loan remediation activities and weak loan demand resulting from the prolonged economic downturn. Total deposits of $1.13 billion at June 30, 2012 decreased $55.1 million, or 5%, sequentially due to net deposit outflows of $44.5 million, or 8%, in time deposits and net outflows of $13.8 million, or 3%, in other interest bearing deposits. Demand deposits increased $3.2 million, or 2%, sequentially to 13.1% of total deposits as of June 30, 2012. All interest bearing deposits were impacted by the Bank's reductions in deposit offering rates. The decrease in time deposits of $44.5 million, or 8%, was affected by the $24.4 million outflow of matured brokered deposits during the second quarter of 2012.

At June 30, 2012, stockholders' equity of $100.3 million represented 6.93% of total assets. Stockholders' equity increased $1.5 million, or 1%, on a linked quarter basis due primarily to net income (before preferred dividends) of $1.1 million. The regulatory capital ratios for the Bank at June 30, 2012 were in excess of required levels. The Bank's Tier 1 leverage ratio and total risk-based capital ratio increased to 9.66% and 14.62%, respectively, at June 30, 2012 from 9.36% and 14.16%, respectively, at March 31, 2012.

About Southern Community Financial Corporation

Southern Community Financial Corporation is headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and is the holding company of Southern Community Bank and Trust, a community bank with twenty-two banking offices throughout North Carolina.

Southern Community Financial Corporation's common stock and trust preferred securities are listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbols SCMF and SCMFO, respectively. Additional information about Southern Community is available on our website at www.smallenoughtocare.com or by email at investor.relations@smallenoughtocare.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to future plans and expectations, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to (1) statements regarding potential future economic recovery, (2) statements with respect to our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and other statements that are not historical facts, and (3) other statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets" and "projects," as well as similar expressions. Such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, we can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by our Company or any person that the future events, plans or expectations contemplated by our Company will be achieved.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: (1) the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs, the level of allowance for loan losses, the rates of loan growth or shrinkage, or adverse changes in asset quality in our loan portfolio, which may result in increased credit risk-related losses and expenses; (2) competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect on pricing, spending, third party relationships and revenues; (3) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations may be different than expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in the credit quality or a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on the Company's loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses; (4) the risk that the preliminary financial information reported herein and our current preliminary analysis will be different when our review is finalized; (5) changes in deposit rates, the net interest margin and funding sources; (6) changes in the U.S. legal and regulatory framework, including the effect of recent financial reform legislation on the banking industry; and (7) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions) could have a negative impact on the Company. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our reports (such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company or any person acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements above. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.


    Southern Community Financial Corporation
    (Dollars in thousands except per share data)
    (Unaudited)
                                                                            For the three months ended                     Years Ended
                                                               Jun 30,                                 Mar 31,             Dec 31,                Sep 30,             Jun 30,             Jun 30,         Jun 30,
    Income Statement                                                         2012                                    2012                   2011                2011                2011             2012                  2011
                                                                             ----                                    ----                   ----                ----                ----             ----                  ----


    Interest Income                                                       $15,442                                 $15,845                $16,602             $17,287             $18,148          $31,287               $36,847
    Interest Expense                                                        4,772                                   4,927                  5,111               5,335               5,578            9,699                11,446
                                                                            -----                                   -----                  -----               -----               -----            -----                ------
      Net Interest Income                                                  10,670                                  10,918                 11,491              11,952              12,570           21,588                25,401

    Provision for Loan Losses                                               2,300                                   2,900                  3,400               3,950               3,700            5,200                 7,800

    Net Interest Income (Loss) after Provision for Loan Losses              8,370                                   8,018                  8,091               8,002               8,870           16,388                17,601

    Non-Interest Income
    Service charges and fees on deposit accounts                            1,363                                   1,362                  1,417               1,453               1,581            2,725                 3,069
    Income from mortgage banking activities                                   324                                     305                    377                 343                 291              629                   554
    Investment brokerage and trust fees                                       356                                     230                    276                 224                 320              586                   508
    SBIC income (loss) and management fees                                    300                                     670                     (5)               (328)                123              970                   245
    Gain (Loss) on sale of investment securities                              864                                     263                  1,781                 740                 524            1,127                 1,468
    Gain (Loss) and net cash settlement on economic hedges                    178                                      85                     87                 208                 181              263                  (424)
    Other Income                                                              513                                     517                    470                 560                 514            1,030                 1,017
                                                                              ---                                     ---                    ---                 ---                 ---            -----                 -----
      Total Non-Interest Income                                             3,898                                   3,432                  4,403               3,200               3,534            7,330                 6,437

    Non-Interest Expense
    Salaries and employee benefits                                          4,647                                   4,686                  4,512               4,482               4,568            9,333                 9,314
    Occupancy and equipment                                                 1,662                                   1,640                  1,696               1,828               1,860            3,302                 3,644
    Debit card expense                                                        218                                     253                    238                 237                 243              471                   459
    FDIC deposit insurance                                                    771                                     751                    847                 891                 932            1,522                 2,065
    Foreclosed asset related                                                1,023                                     798                  1,786                 531                 636            1,821                 1,515
    Other                                                                   2,856                                   2,507                  2,418               2,456               3,016            5,363                 5,741
                                                                            -----                                   -----                  -----               -----               -----            -----                 -----
      Total Non-Interest Expense                                           11,177                                  10,635                 11,497              10,425              11,255           21,812                22,738

    Income (Loss) Before Taxes                                              1,091                                     815                    997                 777               1,149            1,906                 1,300
    Provision for Income Taxes                                                  -                                       -                      -                   -                   -                -                     -
                                                                              ---                                     ---                    ---                 ---                 ---              ---                   ---

    Net Income (Loss)                                                      $1,091                                    $815                   $997                $777              $1,149           $1,906                $1,300
                                                                           ======                                    ====                   ====                ====              ======           ======                ======

    Effective dividend on preferred stock                                     645                                     645                    638                 639                 638            1,290                 1,277
                                                                              ---                                     ---                    ---                 ---                 ---            -----                 -----

    Net Income (loss) available to common shareholders                       $446                                    $170                   $359                $138                $511             $616                   $23
                                                                             ====                                    ====                   ====                ====                ====             ====                   ===

    Net Income (Loss) per Common Share
    Basic                                                                   $0.03                                   $0.01                  $0.02               $0.01               $0.03            $0.04  $                  -
    Diluted                                                                 $0.03                                   $0.01                  $0.02               $0.01               $0.03            $0.04  $                  -
                                                                            =====                                   =====                  =====               =====               =====            =====  ====================



    Balance Sheet                                              Jun 30,                                 Mar 31,             Dec 31,                Sep 30,             Jun 30,
                                                                             2012                                    2012                   2011                2011                2011
                                                                             ----                                    ----                   ----                ----                ----

    Assets
    Cash and due from Banks                                               $25,144                                 $22,206                $23,356             $23,062             $18,590
    Federal Funds Sold and Overnight Deposits                             101,784                                  46,050                 23,198              33,862              46,380
    Investment Securities                                                 312,953                                 402,837                406,701             404,340             357,428
    Federal Home Loan Bank Stock                                            5,957                                   6,842                  6,842               7,381               7,879

    Loans Held for Sale                                                     4,032                                   4,383                  4,459               5,750               1,624

    Loans                                                                 913,591                                 931,345                950,022             986,533           1,038,349
    Allowance for Loan Losses                                             (22,954)                                (24,181)               (24,165)            (26,409)            (27,511)
                                                                          -------                                 -------                -------             -------             -------
      Net Loans                                                           890,637                                 907,164                925,857             960,124           1,010,838

    Bank Premises and Equipment                                            37,501                                  37,952                 38,315              38,878              39,360
    Foreclosed Assets                                                      19,873                                  24,032                 19,812              19,114              23,022
    Other Assets                                                           49,080                                  49,929                 54,038              53,482              56,865
                                                                           ------                                  ------                 ------              ------              ------

    Total Assets                                                       $1,446,961                              $1,501,395             $1,502,578          $1,545,993          $1,561,986
                                                                       ==========                              ==========             ==========          ==========          ==========

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Deposits
      Non-Interest Bearing                                               $148,048                                $144,852               $135,434            $137,599            $127,485
      Money market, savings and NOW                                       485,569                                 499,308                475,900             487,393             490,382
      Time                                                                493,084                                 537,598                571,838             604,188             630,021
                                                                          -------                                 -------                -------             -------             -------
      Total Deposits                                                    1,126,701                               1,181,758              1,183,172           1,229,180           1,247,888

    Borrowings                                                            206,694                                 209,615                211,143             208,668             209,954
    Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities                                 13,227                                  11,143                 10,628               9,857               9,404
                                                                           ------                                  ------                 ------               -----               -----
      Total Liabilities                                                 1,346,622                               1,402,516              1,404,943           1,447,705           1,467,246

    Total Stockholders' Equity                                            100,339                                  98,879                 97,635              98,288              94,740
                                                                          -------                                  ------                 ------              ------              ------

    Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                         $1,446,961                              $1,501,395             $1,502,578          $1,545,993          $1,561,986
                                                                       ==========                              ==========             ==========          ==========          ==========

    Tangible Book Value per Common Share                                    $3.44                                   $3.35                  $3.29               $3.33               $3.12
                                                                            =====                                   =====                  =====               =====               =====


                                                                                                                                                For the three months ended Years Ended
                                                                                                                               Jun 30,                              Mar 31,       Dec 31,            Sep 30,               Jun 30,               Jun 30,               Jun 30,
                                                                                                                                                 2012                             2012          2011               2011                  2011                  2012                  2011
                                                                                                                                                 ----                             ----          ----               ----                  ----                  ----                  ----

    Per Common Share Data:
    Basic Earnings (loss) per Share                                                                                                             $0.03                            $0.01         $0.02              $0.01                 $0.03                 $0.04      $              -
    Diluted Earnings (loss) per Share                                                                                                           $0.03                            $0.01         $0.02              $0.01                 $0.03                 $0.04      $              -
    Tangible Book Value per Share                                                                                                               $3.44                            $3.35         $3.29              $3.33                 $3.12                 $3.44                 $3.12

    Selected Performance Ratios:
    Return on Average Assets (annualized) ROA                                                                                                    0.30%                            0.22%         0.26%              0.20%                 0.29%                 0.26%                 0.16%
    Return on Average Equity (annualized) ROE                                                                                                    4.44%                            3.35%         4.02%              3.24%                 5.00%                 3.90%                 2.85%
    Return on Tangible Equity (annualized)                                                                                                       4.46%                            3.36%         4.04%              3.26%                 5.03%                 3.91%                 2.87%
    Net Interest Margin                                                                                                                          3.15%                            3.17%         3.22%              3.29%                 3.43%                 3.16%                 3.42%
    Net Interest Spread                                                                                                                          2.98%                            3.01%         3.06%              3.14%                 3.29%                 2.99%                 3.29%
    Non-interest Income as a % of Revenue                                                                                                       26.76%                           23.92%        27.70%             21.12%                21.94%                25.35%                20.22%
    Non-interest Income as a % of Average Assets                                                                                                 1.07%                            0.93%         1.15%              0.82%                 0.90%                 1.00%                 0.81%
    Non-interest Expense to Average Assets                                                                                                       3.06%                            2.87%         3.00%              2.67%                 2.85%                 2.97%                 2.85%
    Efficiency Ratio                                                                                                                            76.72%                           74.11%        72.34%             68.80%                69.89%                75.43%                71.42%

    Asset Quality:
    Nonperforming Loans                                                                                                                       $55,112                          $57,903       $68,048            $72,457               $66,803               $55,112               $66,803
    Nonperforming Assets                                                                                                                      $74,985                          $81,935       $87,860            $91,571               $89,825               $74,985               $89,825
    Nonperforming Loans to Total Loans                                                                                                           6.01%                            6.19%         7.13%              7.30%                 6.42%                 6.01%                 6.42%
    Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets                                                                                                         5.18%                            5.46%         5.85%              5.92%                 5.75%                 5.18%                 5.75%
    Allowance for Loan Losses to Period-end Loans                                                                                                2.50%                            2.58%         2.53%              2.66%                 2.65%                 2.50%                 2.65%
    Allowance for Loan Losses to Nonperforming Loans (X)                                                                                         0.42            X                0.42  X       0.36  X            0.36  X               0.41  X               0.42  X               0.41  X
    Net Charge-offs to Average Loans (annualized)                                                                                                1.52%                            1.22%         2.29%              1.98%                 1.46%                 1.37%                 1.83%

    Capital Ratios:
    Equity to Total Assets                                                                                                                       6.93%                            6.59%         6.50%              6.36%                 6.07%                 6.93%                 6.07%
    Tangible Common Equity to Total Tangible Assets (1)                                                                                          4.00%                            3.76%         3.68%              3.62%                 3.36%                 4.00%                 3.36%

    Average Balances:
    Year to Date
    Interest Earning Assets                                                                                                                $1,374,163                       $1,386,174    $1,462,016         $1,477,405            $1,495,592
    Total Assets                                                                                                                            1,479,376                        1,491,166     1,570,773          1,587,849             1,606,580
    Total Loans                                                                                                                               939,564                          947,319     1,039,531          1,061,036             1,085,468
    Equity                                                                                                                                     98,325                           97,902        94,455             93,122                92,084
    Interest Bearing Liabilities                                                                                                            1,229,044                        1,246,536     1,333,836          1,354,558             1,377,769

    Quarterly
    Interest Earning Assets                                                                                                                $1,362,152                       $1,386,174    $1,416,350         $1,441,624            $1,470,795
    Total Assets                                                                                                                            1,467,586                        1,491,166     1,520,101          1,550,998             1,582,455
    Total Loans                                                                                                                               931,809                          947,319       975,717          1,012,969             1,059,527
    Equity                                                                                                                                     98,748                           97,902        98,411             95,164                92,209
    Interest Bearing Liabilities                                                                                                            1,211,552                        1,246,536     1,272,345          1,308,892             1,347,893

    Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding
    Basic                                                                                                                                  16,858,572                       16,841,111    16,827,684         16,830,099            16,835,724            16,849,841            16,829,898
    Diluted                                                                                                                                16,934,115                       16,907,425    16,891,910         16,896,214            16,906,810            16,921,561            16,897,702
    Period end outstanding shares                                                                                                          16,854,775                       16,859,825    16,827,075         16,828,575            16,831,375            16,854,775            16,831,375




    (1) - Tangible Common Equity to Total Tangible Assets is period-ending common equity less intangibles, divided by period-ending assets less intangibles.

    Management provides the above non-GAAP measure, footnote (1) to provide readers with the impact of purchase accounting on this key financial ratio.

SOURCE Southern Community Financial Corporation