First Reliance Bancshares Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

In This Article:

FLORENCE, S.C., July 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 second quarter of 2024.

First Reliance Bancshares
First Reliance Bancshares

Second Quarter 2024 Highlights

  • Net income increased 91.8% for the second quarter of 2024 to $1.9 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, compared to $1.0 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2023.

  • Net interest income for the quarter was $7.7 million, which represents an increase of $444,800, or 6.2%, compared to the same quarter one year ago. On a linked quarter basis, the increase was $458,100, or 6.4%.

  • Net interest margin increased during the quarter to 3.20% at June 30, 2024, compared to 3.11% at March 31, 2024, and increased 4 basis points compared to the same period in 2023.

  • Total loans held for investment increased $14.2 million, or 7.9% annualized, to $739.4 million at June 30, 2024, from $725.2 million at March 31, 2024.

  • Total deposits increased $18.5 million, or 8.4% annualized, to $899.8 million at June 30, 2024, from $881.3 million at March 31, 2024.

  • Asset quality remained strong with nonperforming assets totaling $310 thousand, or 0.03% of total assets at June 30, 2024, compared to $282 thousand, or 0.03% of total assets at March 31, 2024.

  • Cost of funds for the second quarter of 2024 increased to 2.28% from 2.25% on a linked quarter basis and from 1.67% for the same period in 2023.

  • Book value per share increased $1.05, or 12.9%, from $8.17 per share at June 30, 2023, to $9.22 per share at June 30, 2024. Tangible book value per share increased $1.05, or 13.0%, from $8.08 per share at June 30, 2023, to $9.13 per share at June 30, 2024.

  • In May 2024, the Company's Board approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the purchase of up to $2.0 million of outstanding common stock through expiration of the program on June 30, 2025. In determining stock repurchases, management will consider the following factors: the Company's stock price, expected growth, capital position, alternative uses of capital, liquidity, financial performance, current and expected macroeconomic environment, regulatory requirements and any other relevant factors.

Rick Saunders, Chief Executive Officer, remarked: "We continue to achieve disciplined growth while also emphasizing expense control and sound asset quality.  We're pleased with our slowing deposit betas which helped produce a nine basis point improvement in NIM during the quarter and a 10.69% ROAE.  We also increased our tangible book value per share by $0.36 during the quarter.  We are blessed to operate in some of the most vibrant markets in the country which are still producing quality opportunities for our commercial and mortgage bankers, additionally, our associates remain highly engaged in providing quality customer service across the markets we serve in North and South Carolina."