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Southern States Bancshares, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

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Southern States Bancshares, Inc
Southern States Bancshares, Inc

Fourth Quarter 2024 Performance and Operational Highlights

  • Net income of $11.2 million, or $1.11 per diluted share

  • Core net income(1) of $10.5 million, or $1.04 per diluted share(1)

  • Pretax pre-provision core net income(1) of $14.0 million

  • Net interest income of $25.1 million, an increase of $804,000 from the prior quarter

  • Net interest margin (“NIM”) of 3.66%, up 1 basis point from the prior quarter

  • Return on average assets (“ROAA”) of 1.55%; return on average stockholders’ equity (“ROAE”) of 16.13%; and return on average tangible common equity (“ROATCE”)(1) of 18.87%

  • Core ROAA(1) of 1.45%; and core ROATCE(1) of 17.67%

  • Efficiency ratio of 46.67%; and core efficiency ratio of 47.78%

  • Linked-quarter loans grew 4.9% annualized

  • Linked-quarter total deposits, excluding brokered deposits, grew 6.2% annualized

  • Linked-quarter brokered deposits declined (22.7)%

ANNISTON, Ala., Jan. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southern States Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSBK) (“Southern States” or the “Company”), the holding company for Southern States Bank, an Alabama state-chartered commercial bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $11.2 million, or $1.11 diluted earnings per share, for the fourth quarter of 2024. This compares to net income of $7.4 million, or $0.76 diluted earnings per share, for the third quarter of 2024, and net income of $8.9 million, or $0.99 diluted earnings per share, for the fourth quarter of 2023. The Company reported core net income of $10.5 million, or $1.04 diluted core earnings per share, for the fourth quarter of 2024. This compares to core net income of $8.7 million, or $0.89 diluted core earnings per share, for the third quarter of 2024, and core net income of $7.3 million, or $0.81 diluted core earnings per share, for the fourth quarter of 2023 (see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures”).

CEO Commentary

Mark Chambers, Chief Executive Officer and President of Southern States Bancshares, Inc., said “We are proud to report record net income of $11.2 million for the fourth quarter and $34.9 million for the full year, a testament to our team's diligent execution and superior customer service. Our strong operating results reflect our continued consistent growth supported by a healthy net interest margin of 3.66% for the fourth quarter, coupled with an efficiency ratio of 46.67%.”

 

 

 

 

 

“We remain firmly committed to prudently managing our franchise for sustainable growth across our dynamic footprint. That starts with maintaining excellent credit quality and strong capital levels.  Disciplined underwriting is critical to our success, and at year end, nonperforming loans accounted for just 0.29% of total loans.’’

 

 

 

 

 

“In August 2024, we completed the acquisition of Century Bank and have now seamlessly integrated its customers and team members into our organization. It enhances our presence in Georgia, especially in the high-growth Atlanta metro market, and elevates our position as a premier Southeastern community bank. With 15 full-service branches and two loan production offices across the vibrant economies in Alabama and Georgia, we have substantially expanded and strengthened Southern States Bank’s community banking platform, which we believe sets us up to deliver resilient growth and shareholder returns in 2025.”


Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

% Change December 31, 2024 vs.

December 31,
2024

 

September 30,
2024

 

December 31,
2023

 

September 30,
2024

 

December 31,
2023

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average interest-earning assets

$

2,722,907

 

 

$

2,645,388

 

 

$

2,195,381

 

 

2.9

%

 

24.0

%

Net interest income

$

25,050

 

 

$

24,246

 

 

$

20,404

 

 

3.3

%

 

22.8

%

Net interest margin

 

3.66

%

 

 

3.65

%

 

 

3.69

%

 

1

bps

 

(3)

bps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $25.1 million, an increase of 3.3% from $24.2 million for the third quarter of 2024. The increase was substantially due to a decrease in higher-cost brokered deposits as a result of calls and repayments at maturity and replaced with less expensive core deposits.