First Reliance Bancshares Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

In This Article:

FLORENCE, S.C., April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (OTC:FSRL), the holding company for First Reliance Bank (collectively, "First Reliance" or the "Company"), today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2024.

First Reliance Bancshares
First Reliance Bancshares

First Quarter 2024 Highlights

  • Net income decreased 9.7% for the first quarter of 2024 to $1.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared to $1.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2023.

  • Net interest income for the quarter was $7.2 million, which represents a decrease of $64,800, or 0.9%, on a linked quarter basis and a decrease of $66,600, or 0.9% compared to the same period in 2023.

  • Net interest margin decreased during the quarter to 3.11% at March 31, 2024, compared to 3.16% for the fourth quarter of 2023, and decreased 23 basis points compared to the same period in 2023.

  • Total loans increased $19.6 million, or 11.1% annualized, to $725.2 million at March 31, 2024, from $705.7 million at December 31, 2023.

  • Total deposits increased $22.7 million, or 10.6% annualized, to $881.3 million at March 31, 2024, from $858.6 million at December 31, 2023.

  • Asset quality remained strong with nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets of 0.03% at March 31, 2024, down from 0.04% at December 31, 2023. The Company had net charge-offs of $113.0 thousand, or annualized 0.06% of average loans, during the first quarter of 2024, compared to net recoveries of $1.3 thousand, or annualized 0.00% of average loans, for the fourth quarter of 2023.

  • Cost of funds for the first quarter of 2024 increased to 2.25% from 2.03% on a linked quarter basis and from 1.24% for the same period in 2023.

  • Book value per share increased $0.72 from $8.14 per share at March 31, 2023, to $8.86 per share at March 31, 2024.

Rick Saunders, Chief Executive Officer, stated: "The first quarter of 2024 saw our total assets exceed $1.0 billion, which we expect to continue to grow going forward. Loan growth exceeded 11% annualized while deposit growth was 10.6% annualized. The Company's capital ratios remain strong as our total capital ratio equaled 13.46% at the bank level. In addition, tangible book value per share increased by $0.73 per share, or 9.08%, to $8.77 over the past twelve months. Credit quality remains strong with low net charge offs and nonperforming assets. Our team continues to put clients first while establishing strong long-term relationships in the communities we serve."

Financial Summary




Three Months Ended




Mar 31

Dec 31

Sep 30

Jun 30

Mar 31

($ in thousands, except per share data)

2024

2023

2023

2023

2023

Earnings:






Net income available to common shareholders

$     1,238

$          776

$     1,444

$     1,013

$     1,371

Earnings per common share, diluted

0.15

0.10

0.18

0.12

0.17

Total revenue(1)

9,690

8,285

9,219

8,959

9,430

Net interest margin

3.11 %

3.16 %

3.11 %

3.16 %

3.34 %

Return on average assets(2)

0.49 %

0.32 %

0.58 %

0.41 %

0.57 %

Return on average equity(2)

7.01 %

4.70 %

8.68 %

6.13 %

8.53 %

Efficiency ratio(3)

81.04 %

89.83 %

80.35 %

82.50 %

79.20 %