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• For additional information, see the investor presentation filed and available under presentations and press releases included in the investor relations section of the Company's website: www.thefirstbank.com.

M. Ray "Hoppy" Cole, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased with the results of the second quarter. Strong loan growth and improvement in our net interest margin combined to produce a 2.9% increase in pre- tax pre- provision income. Credit quality continued to be solid and operating expenses were well controlled. Our markets continue to do well and we are optimistic about our performance for the second half of 2024."

Quarterly Earnings

Net income available to common shareholders totaled $19.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, a decrease of $0.9 million, or 4.5%, when compared to $20.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Excluding one-time items detailed in the tables included with this press release, net earnings available to common shareholders, operating (non-GAAP) decreased $0.7 million, or 3.3%, to $20.0 million for quarter ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $20.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The decrease in net earnings is largely attributable to an increase in provision for credit losses of $1.7 million, which was due primarily to loan growth.

The Company recorded $1.7 million provision for credit losses for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and no provision for credit losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Earnings Per Share

For the second quarter of 2024, diluted earnings per share were $0.62 compared to $0.65 for the first quarter of 2024 and $0.75 for the second quarter of 2023.

Diluted earnings per share, operating (non-GAAP) were $0.63 for the second quarter of 2024 compared to $0.65 for the first quarter of 2024 and $0.85 for the second quarter of 2023.

Balance Sheet

Consolidated assets increased $2.0 million to $7.966 billion at June 30, 2024 from $7.964 billion at March 31, 2024. Loans increased $110.9 million, or 2.2%, for the quarterly comparison and deposits decreased $84.2 million for the quarterly comparison.

Total loans were $5.251 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $5.140 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, and $5.011 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, representing an increase of $110.9 million, or 2.2%, for the sequential quarter comparison, and an increase of $240.0 million, or 4.8%, for the prior year quarterly comparison.

Total deposits were $6.626 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $6.710 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, and $6.492 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, representing a decrease of $84.2 million, or 1.3%, for the sequential quarter comparison, and an increase of $133.9 million, or 2.1%, for the prior year quarterly comparison. Excluding a decrease in public funds of $38.3 million, deposits decreased $45.9 million, or 0.7% for the sequential quarter comparison. Non-interest bearing deposits as a percentage of total deposits increased to 28.2% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets totaled $21.1 million at June 30, 2024, an increase of $2.7 million compared to $18.4 million at March 31, 2024 and a decrease of $0.5 million compared to $21.6 million at June 30, 2023.

Nonaccrual loans totaled $13.6 million, an increase of $2.6 million as compared to March 31, 2024 and a decrease of $2.5 million as compared to June 30, 2023.

The ratio of the allowance for credit losses (ACL) to total loans was 1.05% at June 30, 2024, 1.05% at March 31, 2024 and 1.05% at June 30, 2023. The ratio of annualized net charge-offs to total loans was 0.04% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 compared to 0.01% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 and 0.07% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Second Quarter 2024 vs First Quarter 2024 Earnings Comparison

Net income available to common shareholders for the second quarter of 2024 decreased $0.9 million to $19.7 million compared to $20.6 million for the first quarter of 2024. The Company recorded a $1.7 million provision for credit losses for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and none for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Excluding one-time items detailed in the tables included with this press release, net earnings available to common shareholders, operating (non-GAAP) decreased $0.7 million, or 3.3%, to $20.0 million for quarter ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $20.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The decrease in net earnings is largely attributable to an increase in provision for credit losses of $1.7 million.

Net interest income for the second quarter of 2024 was $57.8 million as compared to $57.3 million for the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $0.5 million. The increase was largely due to the decrease in interest expense on borrowings of $1.1 million offset by a decrease in interest income of $0.6 million.

Second quarter 2024 net interest margin of 3.26% included 12 basis points related to purchase accounting adjustments compared to 3.20% for the first quarter in 2024, which included 15 basis points related to purchase accounting adjustments.

Core net interest margin increased 9 basis points to 3.19% for the second quarter of 2024 from 3.10% for the first quarter of 2024.

Investment securities increased $26.0 million to $1.771 billion, or 22.2% of total assets at June 30, 2024, compared to $1.745 billion, or 21.9% of total assets at March 31, 2024. The average balance of investment securities decreased $23.5 million in sequential-quarter comparison. The average tax equivalent yield on investment securities (non-GAAP) increased 17 basis points to 2.65% from 2.48% in sequential-quarter comparison. The investment portfolio had a net unrealized loss of $129.0 million at June 30, 2024 as compared to a net unrealized loss of $127.6 million at March 31, 2024.

The average yield on all earning assets (non-GAAP) increased in sequential-quarter comparison from 5.12% to 5.14%. Interest expense on average interest bearing liabilities decreased 3 basis points from 2.65% for the first quarter of 2024 to 2.62% for the second quarter of 2024.

Cost of all deposits averaged 178 basis points for the second and first quarter of 2024.

Non-interest income increased $0.6 million from $12.7 million in the first quarter of 2024 to $13.3 million in the second quarter of 2024, primarily attributable to an increase in interchange fee income of $0.7 million.

Non-interest expense for the second quarter of 2024 was $44.1 million compared to $43.4 million for the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $0.7 million.

Second Quarter 2024 vs. Second Quarter 2023 Earnings Comparison

Net income available to common shareholders for the second quarter of 2024 totaled $19.7 million compared to $23.8 million for the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of $4.1 million or 17.2%. This decrease is largely attributable to a decrease in net interest income of $8.2 million.

Excluding one-time items detailed in the tables included with this press release, net earnings available to common shareholders, operating (non-GAAP) decreased $6.9 million, or 25.6%, to $20.0 million for quarter ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $26.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. This decrease is attributable to a decrease in net interest income of $8.2 million offset by a decrease in other expenses of $2.0 million.

Net interest income for the second quarter of 2024 was $57.8 million, a decrease of $8.2 million or 12.5% when compared to the second quarter of 2023. Fully tax equivalent ("FTE") net interest income (non-GAAP) totaled $58.8 million and $67.0 million for the second quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively. Purchase accounting adjustments decreased $4.5 million for the second quarter comparisons. The decrease was largely due to increased interest expense due to increased competition for deposits offset by an increase in interest income of $4.8 million.

Second quarter of 2024 net interest margin was 3.26%, which included 12 basis points related to purchase accounting adjustments compared to 3.76% for the same quarter in 2023, which included 37 basis points related to purchase accounting adjustments. Excluding the purchase accounting adjustments, the core net interest margin (non-GAAP) decreased 25 basis points in prior year quarterly comparison primarily due to an increase in rates on interest bearing liabilities.

Non-interest income increased $0.9 million for the second quarter of 2024 as compared to the second quarter of 2023.

Second quarter 2024 non-interest expense was $44.1 million, a decrease of $2.8 million, or 6.0% as compared to the second quarter of 2023. Excluding acquisition charges, non-interest expense increased $0.9 million of which salaries and employee benefits, occupancy and professional service increased $ 2.6 million offset by a decrease in other expenses of $2.0 million.

Investment securities totaled $1.771 billion, or 22.2% of total assets at June 30, 2024, compared to $1.898 billion, or 24.1% of total assets at June 30, 2023. For the second quarter of 2024 compared to the second quarter of 2023, the average balance of investment securities decreased $156.4 million. The average tax equivalent yield on investment securities (non-GAAP) increased 42 basis points to 2.65% from 2.23% in the prior year quarterly comparison. The investment portfolio had a net unrealized loss of $129.0 million at June 30, 2024 as compared to a net unrealized loss of $157.6 million at June 30, 2023.

The average yield on all earning assets increased 23 basis points in prior year quarterly comparison, from 4.91% for the second quarter of 2023 to 5.14% for the second quarter of 2024. Interest expense on average interest bearing liabilities increased 97 basis points from 1.65% for the second quarter of 2023 to 2.62% for the second quarter of 2024.

Cost of all deposits averaged 178 basis points for the second quarter of 2024 compared to 91 basis points for the second quarter of 2023.

Year-to-Date Earnings Comparison

In the year-over-year comparison, net income available to common shareholders increased $0.3 million, or 0.7%, from $40.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, to $40.3 million for the same period ended June 30, 2024.

Net interest income was $115.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, a decrease of $15.8 million as compared to the same period ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to an increase in interest expense on deposits offset by an increase in loan interest income.

Non-interest income was $26.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, an increase of $1.0 million as compared to the same period ended June 30, 2023. An increase in other charges and fees accounted for the change.

Non-interest expense was $87.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, a decrease of $5.1 million as compared to the same period ended June 30, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to decreased acquisition charges of $7.5 million offset by an increase in salaries and employee benefits of $2.7 million.

Declaration of Cash Dividend

The Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share to be paid on its common stock on August 23, 2024 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 8, 2024.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss the Company’s financial results at 10:00 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Investors and analysts may participate by clicking on the Participant Conference Link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI543394697ff8411dad8a7bcdd9804108. An audio archive of the conference call along with the transcript will be available within 24-48 hours after the call and placed in the Investor Relations section of our website.

About The First Bancshares, Inc.

The First Bancshares, Inc., headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is the parent company of The First Bank ("The First"). Founded in 1996, The First has operations in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The Company’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FBMS. Information is available on the Company’s website: www.thefirstbank.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP measures are used by management to supplement the evaluation of our performance. This press release includes pre-tax, pre-provision operating earnings, FTE net interest income, FTE net interest margin, core net interest margin, FTE average yield on investment securities, FTE average yield on all earning assets, total tangible common equity, tangible book value per common share, net earnings available to common shareholders, operating, diluted earnings per share, operating, efficiency ratio, operating and certain ratios derived from these non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release allow management and investors to understand and compare results in a more consistent manner for the periods presented in this press release. Fully-tax equivalent, or "FTE", financial metrics are measures used by management to evaluate the corresponding GAAP financial metrics in a manner that takes into account the tax benefits associated with income sources that are exempt from state or federal taxes. Core net interest margin is used by management to measure the net return on earnings assets, which includes investment securities, loans, and leases but excludes certain income and expense items that the Company's management considers to be non-core/adjusted in nature. Similarly, "operating" financial metrics, including operating efficiency ratio and operating earnings per share, are used by management to evaluate operating results exclusive of items that are not indicative of ongoing operations and impact period-to-period comparisons. Management uses "tangible" financial metrics, including tangible common equity and tangible book value, to measure the value of the Company's assets net of intangible assets, such as goodwill. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental and not a substitute for the Company’s results reported in accordance with GAAP for the periods presented, and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these measures differently. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation and do not purport to be an alternative to net income, earnings per share, net interest income, book value, net interest margin, common equity, net earnings available to common shareholders, diluted earnings per share, efficiency ratio, average yield on investment securities, average yield on all earning assets, or other GAAP financial measures as a measure of operating performance. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measure is provided in this press release following the Condensed Consolidated Financial Information (unaudited).

Forward Looking Statements

This news release and certain of our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission contain statements that constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of, and subject to the protections of, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Such statements can generally be identified by such words as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "may," "will," "assumes," "should," "predicts," "could," "would," "intends," "targets," "estimates," "projects," "plans," "potential," "positioned" and other similar words and expressions of the future or otherwise regarding the outlook for the Company’s future business and financial performance and/or the performance of the banking industry and economy in general. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risk and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the information known to, and current beliefs and expectations of, the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) competitive pressures among financial institutions increasing significantly; (2) prevailing, or changes in, economic or political conditions, either nationally or locally, particularly in areas in which the Company conducts operations, including the effects of declines in the real estate market, high unemployment rates, inflationary pressure, elevated interest rates and slowdowns in economic growth, as well as the financial stress on borrowers as a result of the foregoing; (3) interest rate risk, including the effects of rising interest rates; (4) developments in our mortgage banking business, including loan modifications, general demand, and the effects of judicial or regulatory requirements or guidance; (5) changes in applicable laws, rules, or regulations; (6) risks related to the Company’s recently completed acquisitions, including that the anticipated benefits from the recently completed acquisitions are not realized in the time frame anticipated or at all as a result of changes in general economic and market conditions or other unexpected factors or events; (7) changes in management’s plans for the future; (8) credit risk associated with our lending activities; (9) changes in loan demand, real estate values, or competition; (10) changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines; (11) adverse results from current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other legal and/or regulatory actions, including as a result of the Company's participation in and execution of government programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic and related variants; (12) higher inflation and its impacts; (13) significant turbulence or disruption in the capital or financial markets and the effect of a fall in stock market prices on our investment securities; (14) potential impacts of the adverse developments in the banking industry highlighted by high-profile bank failures, including impacts on customer confidence, deposit outflows, liquidity and the regulatory response thereto; (15) the effects of war or other conflicts including the impacts relating to or resulting from Russia's military action in Ukraine or the conflict in Israel and surrounding areas, and (16) other general competitive, economic, political, and market factors, including those affecting our business, operations, pricing, products, or services.

These and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, as well as a discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may affect our business, can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other filings we make with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.