8-K
SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC (SFST)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
DC 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT PURSUANT
TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) October 28, 2025
SouthernFirst Bancshares, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
South Carolina
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
| 000-27719 | 58-2459561 |
|---|---|
| (Commission<br> File Number) | (IRS<br> Employer Identification No.) |
| 6 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville, SC | 29607 |
| (Address<br> of principal executive offices) | (Zip<br> Code) |
(864) 679-9000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
100Verdae Boulevard, Suite 100, Greenville, SC
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
|---|---|---|
| Common Stock | SFST | The Nasdaq Global Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
ITEM2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On October 28, 2025, Southern First Bancshares, Inc., holding company for Southern First Bank, issued a press release announcing its financial results for the period ended September 30, 2025. The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
ITEM7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
A copy of a slide presentation also highlighting Southern First Bancshares, Inc. financial results for the period ended September 30, 2025 is furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The slide presentation also will be available on our website, www.southernfirst.com, under the “Investor Relations” section.
ITEM 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| (d) Exhibits | The<br>following exhibit index lists the exhibits that are either filed or furnished with the Current Report on Form 8-K. |
|---|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
| Exhibit<br> No. | Description |
|---|---|
| 99.1 | Earnings Press Release for the period ended September 30, 2025. |
| 99.2 | Slide<br>Presentation. |
| 104 | Cover<br>Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Christian<br> J. Zych |
| Name: | Christian J. Zych |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
October 28, 2025
Exhibit 99.1
Southern First Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results
Greenville, South Carolina, October 28, 2025 – Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFST), holding company for Southern First Bank, today announced its financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2025.
“Our third quarter financial performance clearly shows the steady momentum that continued this quarter, in line with our expectations. Our team remains highly focused on executing our plans for increased profitability and high-quality loan growth, funded by client retail deposits, which is core to our full relationship banking strategy. Superior asset quality metrics and margin expansion are the result of our intentional and disciplined approach. We have again achieved historically high revenue growth over the same quarter last year, at a rate which was two and a half times our expense growth. This expanded profitability further strengthened capital levels, providing ample support for our strong business pipelines. Although we maintain a cautious outlook and actively monitor for emerging risks, our markets have continued to exhibit vibrant and sustainable growth momentum,” stated Art Seaver, Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to attract and retain experienced bankers who share our commitment to outstanding client service, delivered with a personal touch, and to supporting our local communities. Our Southeastern markets remain healthy and resilient, and we are well positioned to benefit from the opportunities created by ongoing banking industry consolidation. This quarter’s results reinforce our optimism in the financial outlook for the remainder of the year.”
2025 Third Quarter Highlights
| · | Diluted earnings per common share of $1.07, up $0.26, or 32%, from Q2 2025, and $0.53, or 98%, compared to Q3 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | Net interest margin of 2.62%, compared to 2.50% for Q2 2025 and 2.08% for Q3 2024 | ||||
| --- | --- | ||||
| · | Total loans of $3.8 billion, up 4% (annualized) from Q2 2025; core deposits of $2.9 billion, up 2% (annualized) from Q2 2025 | ||||
| --- | --- | ||||
| · | Nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.27% and past due loans to total loans of 0.18% | ||||
| --- | --- | ||||
| · | Book value per common share of $43.51 increased 12% (annualized) from Q2 2025 and 9% compared to Q3 2024; Tangible Common Equity (TCE) ratio of 8.18% | ||||
| --- | --- | ||||
| Quarter Ended | |||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| September 30 | June 30 | March 31 | December 31 | September 30 | |
| 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 | |
| Earnings<br> ( in thousands, except per share data): | |||||
| Net<br> income available to common shareholders | 8,662 | 6,581 | 5,266 | 5,627 | 4,382 |
| Earnings<br> per common share, diluted | 1.07 | 0.81 | 0.65 | 0.70 | 0.54 |
| Total<br> revenue(1) | 31,129 | 28,629 | 26,497 | 25,237 | 23,766 |
| Net<br> interest margin (tax-equivalent)(2) | 2.62% | 2.50% | 2.41% | 2.25% | 2.08% |
| Return<br> on average assets(3) | 0.80% | 0.63% | 0.52% | 0.54% | 0.43% |
| Return<br> on average equity(3) | 9.78% | 7.71% | 6.38% | 6.80% | 5.40% |
| Efficiency<br> ratio(4) | 60.86% | 67.54% | 71.08% | 73.48% | 75.90% |
| Noninterest<br> expense to average assets (3) | 1.74% | 1.86% | 1.87% | 1.78% | 1.75% |
| Balance<br> Sheet ( in thousands): | |||||
| Total<br> loans(5) | 3,789,021 | 3,746,841 | 3,683,919 | 3,631,767 | 3,619,556 |
| Total<br> deposits | 3,676,417 | 3,636,329 | 3,620,886 | 3,435,765 | 3,518,825 |
| Core<br> deposits(6) | 2,884,604 | 2,867,193 | 2,820,194 | 2,661,736 | 2,705,429 |
| Total<br> assets | 4,358,589 | 4,308,067 | 4,284,311 | 4,087,593 | 4,174,631 |
| Book<br> value per common share | 43.51 | 42.23 | 41.33 | 40.47 | 40.04 |
| Loans<br> to deposits | 103.06% | 103.04% | 101.74% | 105.70% | 102.86% |
| Holding<br> Company Capital Ratios(7): | |||||
| Total<br> risk-based capital ratio | 12.79% | 12.63% | 12.69% | 12.70% | 12.61% |
| Tier<br> 1 risk-based capital ratio | 11.26% | 11.11% | 11.15% | 11.16% | 10.99% |
| Leverage<br> ratio | 8.72% | 8.73% | 8.79% | 8.55% | 8.50% |
| Common<br> equity tier 1 ratio(8) | 10.88% | 10.71% | 10.75% | 10.75% | 10.58% |
| Tangible<br> common equity(9) | 8.18% | 8.02% | 7.88% | 8.08% | 7.82% |
| Asset<br> Quality Ratios: | |||||
| Nonperforming<br> assets/total assets | 0.27% | 0.27% | 0.26% | 0.27% | 0.28% |
| Classified<br> assets/tier one capital plus allowance for credit losses | 3.90% | 4.28% | 4.24% | 4.25% | 4.35% |
| Accruing<br> loans 30 days or more past due/loans(5) | 0.18% | 0.14% | 0.27% | 0.18% | 0.09% |
| Net<br> charge-offs (recoveries)/average loans(5) (YTD annualized) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Allowance<br> for credit losses/loans(5) | 1.10% | 1.10% | 1.10% | 1.10% | 1.11% |
| Allowance<br> for credit losses/nonaccrual loans | 364.50% | 362.35% | 378.09% | 366.94% | 346.78% |
All values are in US Dollars.
[Footnotes to table located on page 6]
income statements– Unaudited
| Quarter Ended | Sept 30 2025 - | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 30 | Jun 30 | Mar 31 | Dec 31 | Sept 30 | Sept 30 2024 | ||
| (in<br> thousands, except per share data) | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 | % Change | |
| Interest income | |||||||
| Loans | $ | 50,999 | 48,992 | 47,085 | 47,163 | 47,550 | 7.25% |
| Investment<br> securities | 1,342 | 1,357 | 1,403 | 1,504 | 1,412 | (4.96%) | |
| Federal<br> funds sold | 2,645 | 1,969 | 1,159 | 2,465 | 2,209 | 19.74% | |
| Total<br> interest income | 54,986 | 52,318 | 49,647 | 51,132 | 51,171 | 7.46% | |
| Interest expense | |||||||
| Deposits | 24,703 | 24,300 | 23,569 | 25,901 | 27,725 | (10.90%) | |
| Borrowings | 2,754 | 2,723 | 2,695 | 2,773 | 2,855 | (3.54%) | |
| Total<br> interest expense | 27,457 | 27,023 | 26,264 | 28,674 | 30,580 | (10.21%) | |
| Net<br> interest income | 27,529 | 25,295 | 23,383 | 22,458 | 20,591 | 33.69% | |
| Provision<br> (reversal of) for credit losses | 850 | 700 | 750 | (200) | - | 100% | |
| Net<br> interest income after provision for credit losses | 26,679 | 24,595 | 22,633 | 22,658 | 20,591 | 29.57% | |
| Noninterest income | |||||||
| Mortgage<br> banking income | 1,600 | 1,569 | 1,424 | 1,024 | 1,449 | 10.42% | |
| Service<br> fees on deposit accounts | 625 | 567 | 539 | 499 | 455 | 37.36% | |
| ATM<br> and debit card income | 601 | 586 | 552 | 607 | 599 | 0.33% | |
| Income<br> from bank owned life insurance | 439 | 413 | 403 | 407 | 401 | 9.48% | |
| Other<br> income | 335 | 199 | 196 | 242 | 271 | 23.62% | |
| Total<br> noninterest income | 3,600 | 3,334 | 3,114 | 2,779 | 3,175 | 13.39% | |
| Noninterest expense | |||||||
| Compensation<br> and benefits | 11,299 | 11,674 | 11,304 | 10,610 | 10,789 | 4.73% | |
| Occupancy | 2,447 | 2,523 | 2,548 | 2,587 | 2,595 | (5.70%) | |
| Outside<br> service and data processing costs | 2,158 | 2,189 | 2,037 | 2,003 | 1,930 | 11.81% | |
| Insurance | 961 | 910 | 1,010 | 1,077 | 1,025 | (6.24%) | |
| Professional<br> fees | 605 | 609 | 509 | 656 | 548 | 10.40% | |
| Marketing | 412 | 397 | 374 | 335 | 319 | 29.15% | |
| Other | 1,064 | 1,034 | 1,054 | 1,276 | 833 | 27.73% | |
| Total<br> noninterest expenses | 18,946 | 19,336 | 18,836 | 18,544 | 18,039 | 5.03% | |
| Income<br> before provision for income taxes | 11,333 | 8,593 | 6,911 | 6,893 | 5,727 | 97.89% | |
| Income tax expense | 2,671 | 2,012 | 1,645 | 1,266 | 1,345 | 98.59% | |
| Net income available to common shareholders | $ | 8,662 | 6,581 | 5,266 | 5,627 | 4,382 | 97.67% |
| Earnings<br> per common share – Basic | $ | 1.08 | 0.81 | 0.65 | 0.70 | 0.54 | |
| Earnings<br> per common share – Diluted | 1.07 | 0.81 | 0.65 | 0.70 | 0.54 | ||
| Basic<br> weighted average common shares | 8,031 | 8,036 | 8,078 | 8,023 | 8,064 | ||
| Diluted<br> weighted average common shares | 8,080 | 8,051 | 8,111 | 8,097 | 8,089 |
[Footnotes to table located on page 6]
Net income for the third quarter of 2025 was $8.7 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, a $2.1 million increase from the second quarter of 2025 and a $4.3 million increase from the third quarter of 2024. Net interest income increased $2.2 million during the third quarter of 2025, compared to the second quarter of 2025, and increased $6.9 million, compared to the third quarter of 2024. The increase in net interest income from the prior quarter and prior year was primarily driven by an increase in interest income on loans, combined with a decrease in interest expense on deposits.
The provision for credit losses was $850 thousand for the third quarter of 2025 compared to a provision for credit losses of $700 thousand for the second quarter of 2025 and no provision for credit losses for the third quarter of 2024. The provision during the third quarter of 2025 includes a $500 thousand provision for credit losses and a $350 thousand provision for the reserve for unfunded commitments. The provision for credit losses in the third quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by a change in qualitative factors related to an increase in past due loans and risk migration among our commercial business and non-owner occupied loans.
Noninterest income was $3.6 million for the third quarter of 2025, compared to $3.3 million for the second quarter of 2025, and $3.2 million for the third quarter of 2024. Mortgage banking income continues to be the largest component of noninterest income at $1.6 million in fee revenue for the third and second quarters of 2025, and $1.4 million for the third quarter of 2024. In addition, service fees on deposit accounts increased 10% over the prior quarter and 37% over the prior year.
2
Noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2025 was $18.9 million, a $390 thousand decrease from the second quarter of 2025, and a $907 thousand increase from the third quarter of 2024. The decrease in noninterest expense from the previous quarter was driven by a decrease in compensation and benefits and occupancy expenses, offset in part by an increase in insurance expense. The increase in noninterest expense from the previous year related primarily to increases in compensation and benefits, outside service and data processing costs, and other noninterest expenses, offset in part by a decrease in occupancy.
The effective tax rate was 23.6% for the third quarter of 2025, 23.4% for the second quarter of 2025, and 23.5% for the third quarter of 2024. The changes in the effective tax rate are driven by the effect of equity compensation transactions during the quarter.
Net interest income and margin- Unaudited
| For<br> the Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September<br> 30, 2025 | June<br> 30, 2025 | September<br> 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| (dollars<br> in thousands) | Average<br><br> Balance | Income/<br><br> Expense | Yield/<br><br> Rate^(3)^ | Average<br><br> Balance | Income/<br><br> Expense | Yield/<br><br> Rate^(3)^ | Average<br><br> Balance | Income/<br><br> Expense | Yield/<br><br> Rate^(3)^ | ||||||
| Interest-earning assets | |||||||||||||||
| Federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits | $ | 238,552 | $ | 2,645 | 4.40% | $ | 179,095 | $ | 1,969 | 4.41% | $ | 158,222 | $ | 2,209 | 5.55% |
| Investment securities, taxable | 141,143 | 1,307 | 3.67% | 141,898 | 1,315 | 3.72% | 137,087 | 1,370 | 3.98% | ||||||
| Investment securities, nontaxable^(2)^ | 7,811 | 45 | 2.31% | 7,740 | 55 | 2.83% | 8,047 | 55 | 2.70% | ||||||
| Loans^(10)^ | 3,783,885 | 50,999 | 5.35% | 3,724,064 | 48,992 | 5.28% | 3,629,050 | 47,550 | 5.21% | ||||||
| Total interest-earning assets | 4,171,391 | 54,996 | 5.23% | 4,052,797 | 52,331 | 5.18% | 3,932,406 | 51,184 | 5.18% | ||||||
| Noninterest-earning assets | 150,552 | 154,051 | 158,550 | ||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 4,321,943 | $ | 4,206,848 | $ | 4,090,956 | |||||||||
| Interest-bearing liabilities | |||||||||||||||
| NOW accounts | $ | 329,301 | 746 | 0.90% | $ | 331,811 | 752 | 0.91% | $ | 314,669 | 835 | 1.06% | |||
| Savings & money market | 1,599,710 | 13,509 | 3.35% | 1,566,345 | 13,398 | 3.43% | 1,523,834 | 15,287 | 3.99% | ||||||
| Time deposits | 984,078 | 10,448 | 4.21% | 942,880 | 10,150 | 4.32% | 909,192 | 11,603 | 5.08% | ||||||
| Total interest-bearing deposits | 2,913,089 | 24,703 | 3.36% | 2,841,036 | 24,300 | 3.43% | 2,747,695 | 27,725 | 4.01% | ||||||
| FHLB advances and other borrowings | 240,087 | 2,296 | 3.79% | 240,000 | 2,270 | 3.79% | 240,065 | 2,297 | 3.81% | ||||||
| Subordinated debentures | 24,903 | 458 | 7.30% | 24,903 | 453 | 7.30% | 36,261 | 558 | 6.12% | ||||||
| Total interest-bearing liabilities | 3,178,079 | 27,457 | 3.43% | 3,105,939 | 27,023 | 3.49% | 3,024,021 | 30,580 | 4.02% | ||||||
| Noninterest-bearing liabilities | 792,575 | 758,626 | 744,025 | ||||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity | 351,289 | 342,283 | 322,910 | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 4,321,943 | $ | 4,206,848 | $ | 4,090,956 | |||||||||
| Net interest spread | 1.80% | 1.69% | 1.16% | ||||||||||||
| Net interest income (tax equivalent) / margin | $ | 27,539 | 2.62% | $ | 25,308 | 2.50% | $ | 20,604 | 2.08% | ||||||
| Less: tax-equivalent adjustment^(2)^ | 10 | 13 | 13 | ||||||||||||
| Net interest income | $ | 27,529 | $ | 25,295 | $ | 20,591 |
[Footnotes to table located on page 6]
Net interest income was $27.5 million for the third quarter of 2025, a $2.2 million increase from the second quarter of 2025, driven by a $2.7 million increase in interest income, partially offset by a $434 thousand increase in interest expense. The increase in interest income was driven by an increase in the yield on interest-earning assets, as loan yield increased seven basis points over the previous quarter. In addition, the cost of our interest-bearing deposits decreased seven basis points over the previous quarter. In comparison to the third quarter of 2024, net interest income increased $6.9 million, resulting primarily from a 65 basis point decrease in the cost of interest-bearing deposits. Net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, was 2.62% for the third quarter of 2025, a 12 basis point increase from 2.50% for the second quarter of 2025 and a 54 basis point increase from 2.08% for the third quarter of 2024.
3
Balance sheets - Unaudited
| Ending Balance | Sept 30 2025 - | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 30 | Jun 30 | Mar 31 | Dec 31 | Sept 30 | Sept 30 2024 | |
| (in thousands, except per share data) | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 | % Change |
| Assets | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents: | ||||||
| Cash and due from banks | 24,600 | 25,184 | 24,904 | 22,553 | 25,289 | (2.72%) |
| Federal funds sold | 178,534 | 180,834 | 263,612 | 128,452 | 226,110 | (21.04%) |
| Interest-bearing deposits with banks | 79,769 | 65,014 | 16,541 | 11,858 | 9,176 | 769.32% |
| Total cash and cash equivalents | 282,903 | 271,032 | 305,057 | 162,863 | 260,575 | 8.57% |
| Investment securities: | ||||||
| Investment securities available for sale | 131,040 | 128,867 | 131,290 | 132,127 | 134,597 | (2.64%) |
| Other investments | 20,066 | 19,906 | 19,927 | 19,490 | 19,640 | 2.17% |
| Total investment securities | 151,106 | 148,773 | 151,217 | 151,617 | 154,237 | (2.03%) |
| Mortgage loans held for sale | 6,906 | 10,739 | 11,524 | 4,565 | 8,602 | (19.72%) |
| Loans (5) | 3,789,021 | 3,746,841 | 3,683,919 | 3,631,767 | 3,619,556 | 4.68% |
| Less allowance for credit losses | (41,799) | (41,285) | (40,687) | (39,914) | (40,166) | 4.07% |
| Loans, net | 3,747,222 | 3,705,556 | 3,643,232 | 3,591,853 | 3,579,390 | 4.69% |
| Bank owned life insurance | 55,324 | 54,886 | 54,473 | 54,070 | 53,663 | 3.10% |
| Property and equipment, net | 84,586 | 85,921 | 87,369 | 88,794 | 90,158 | (6.18%) |
| Deferred income taxes | 12,657 | 12,971 | 13,080 | 13,467 | 11,595 | 9.16% |
| Other assets | 17,885 | 18,189 | 18,359 | 20,364 | 16,411 | 8.98% |
| Total assets | 4,358,589 | 4,308,067 | 4,284,311 | 4,087,593 | 4,174,631 | 4.41% |
| Liabilities | ||||||
| Deposits | 3,676,417 | 3,636,329 | 3,620,886 | 3,435,765 | 3,518,825 | 4.48% |
| FHLB Advances | 240,000 | 240,000 | 240,000 | 240,000 | 240,000 | 0.00% |
| Subordinated debentures | 24,903 | 24,903 | 24,903 | 24,903 | 24,903 | 0.00% |
| Other liabilities | 60,921 | 61,373 | 60,924 | 56,481 | 64,365 | (5.35%) |
| Total liabilities | 4,002,241 | 3,962,605 | 3,946,713 | 3,757,149 | 3,848,093 | 4.01% |
| Shareholders’ equity | ||||||
| Preferred stock - .01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Common Stock - .01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 82 | |
| Nonvested restricted stock | (1,929) | (2,774) | (3,372) | (3,884) | (4,219) | (54.28%) |
| Additional paid-in capital | 125,035 | 124,839 | 124,561 | 124,641 | 124,288 | 0.60% |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (8,426) | (9,609) | (10,016) | (11,472) | (9,063) | (7.03%) |
| Retained earnings | 241,586 | 232,924 | 226,343 | 221,077 | 215,450 | 12.13% |
| Total shareholders’ equity | 356,348 | 345,462 | 337,598 | 330,444 | 326,538 | 9.13% |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | 4,358,589 | 4,308,067 | 4,284,311 | 4,087,593 | 4,174,631 | 4.41% |
| Common Stock | ||||||
| Book value per common share | 43.51 | 42.23 | 41.33 | 40.47 | 40.04 | 8.67% |
| Stock price: | ||||||
| High | 45.54 | 38.51 | 38.50 | 44.86 | 36.45 | 24.94% |
| Low | 38.74 | 30.61 | 31.88 | 33.26 | 27.70 | 39.86% |
| Period end | 44.12 | 38.03 | 32.92 | 39.75 | 34.08 | 29.46% |
| Common shares outstanding | 8,189 | 8,181 | 8,169 | 8,165 | 8,156 | 0.40% |
All values are in US Dollars.
[Footnotes to table located on page 6]
4
Asset quality measures - Unaudited
| Quarter Ended | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30 | June 30 | March 31 | December 31 | September 30 | ||
| (dollars<br> in thousands) | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 | |
| Nonperforming Assets | ||||||
| Commercial | ||||||
| Owner<br> occupied RE | $ | 262 | - | - | - | - |
| Non-owner<br> occupied RE | 6,911 | 6,941 | 6,950 | 7,641 | 7,904 | |
| Commercial<br> business | 195 | 717 | 1,087 | 1,016 | 838 | |
| Consumer | ||||||
| Real<br> estate | 3,394 | 3,028 | 2,414 | 1,908 | 2,448 | |
| Home<br> equity | 705 | 708 | 310 | 312 | 393 | |
| Other | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Total<br> nonaccrual loans | 11,467 | 11,394 | 10,761 | 10,877 | 11,583 | |
| Other<br> real estate owned | 275 | 275 | 275 | - | - | |
| Total<br> nonperforming assets | $ | 11,742 | 11,669 | 11,036 | 10,877 | 11,583 |
| Nonperforming<br> assets as a percentage of: | ||||||
| Total<br> assets | 0.27% | 0.27% | 0.26% | 0.27% | 0.28% | |
| Total<br> loans | 0.31% | 0.31% | 0.30% | 0.30% | 0.32% | |
| Classified<br> assets/tier 1 capital plus allowance for credit losses | 3.90% | 4.28% | 4.24% | 4.25% | 4.35% | |
| Quarter Ended | ||||||
| September 30 | June 30 | March 31 | December 31 | September 30 | ||
| (dollars<br> in thousands) | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 | |
| Allowance for Credit Losses | ||||||
| Balance,<br> beginning of period | $ | 41,285 | 40,687 | 39,914 | 40,166 | 40,157 |
| Loans<br> charged-off | (55) | (68) | (78) | (143) | (118) | |
| Recoveries<br> of loans previously charged-off | 69 | 16 | 101 | 141 | 127 | |
| Net<br> loans (charged-off) recovered | 14 | (52) | 23 | (2) | 9 | |
| Provision<br> for (reversal of) credit losses | 500 | 650 | 750 | (250) | - | |
| Balance,<br> end of period | $ | 41,799 | 41,285 | 40,687 | 39,914 | 40,166 |
| Allowance<br> for credit losses to gross loans | 1.10% | 1.10% | 1.10% | 1.10% | 1.11% | |
| Allowance<br> for credit losses to nonaccrual loans | 364.50% | 362.35% | 378.09% | 366.94% | 346.78% | |
| Net<br> charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans QTD (annualized) | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Total nonperforming assets were $11.7 million at September 30, 2025, representing 0.27% of total assets compared to 0.27% for the second quarter of 2025 and 0.28% for the third quarter of 2024. In addition, the classified asset ratio decreased to 3.90% for the third quarter of 2025 from 4.28% in the second quarter of 2025 and 4.35% in the third quarter of 2024.
At September 30, 2025, the allowance for credit losses was $41.8 million, or 1.10% of total loans, compared to $41.3 million, or 1.10% of total loans at June 30, 2025, and $40.2 million, or 1.11% of total loans, at September 30, 2024. We had net recoveries of $14 thousand, for the third quarter of 2025, compared to net charge-offs of $52 thousand for the second quarter of 2025 and net recoveries of $9 thousand for the third quarter of 2024. There was a provision for credit losses of $500 thousand for the third quarter of 2025, compared to a provision for credit losses of $650 thousand for the second quarter of 2025 and no provision for credit losses for the third quarter of 2024. The provision during the third quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by changes in qualitative factors related to an increase in past due loans and risk migration among our commercial business and non-owner occupied loans.
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LOAN COMPOSITION - Unaudited
| Quarter Ended | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30 | June 30 | March 31 | December 31 | September 30 | ||
| (dollars in thousands) | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 | |
| Commercial | ||||||
| Owner<br> occupied RE | $ | 705,383 | 686,424 | 673,865 | 651,597 | 642,608 |
| Non-owner<br> occupied RE | 943,304 | 939,163 | 926,246 | 924,367 | 917,642 | |
| Construction | 71,928 | 68,421 | 90,021 | 103,204 | 144,665 | |
| Business | 604,411 | 589,661 | 561,337 | 556,117 | 521,535 | |
| Total<br> commercial loans | 2,325,026 | 2,283,669 | 2,251,469 | 2,235,285 | 2,226,450 | |
| Consumer | ||||||
| Real<br> estate | 1,159,693 | 1,164,187 | 1,147,357 | 1,128,629 | 1,132,371 | |
| Home<br> equity | 239,996 | 234,608 | 223,061 | 204,897 | 195,383 | |
| Construction | 25,842 | 25,210 | 23,540 | 20,874 | 21,582 | |
| Other | 38,464 | 39,167 | 38,492 | 42,082 | 43,770 | |
| Total<br> consumer loans | 1,463,995 | 1,463,172 | 1,432,450 | 1,396,482 | 1,393,106 | |
| Total<br> gross loans, net of deferred fees | 3,789,021 | 3,746,841 | 3,683,919 | 3,631,767 | 3,619,556 | |
| Less—allowance<br> for credit losses | (41,799) | (41,285) | (40,687) | (39,914) | (40,166) | |
| Total<br> loans, net | $ | 3,747,222 | 3,705,556 | 3,643,232 | 3,591,853 | 3,579,390 |
DEPOSIT COMPOSITION - Unaudited
| Quarter Ended | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30 | June 30 | March 31 | December 31 | September 30 | |
| (dollars in thousands) | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 |
| Non-interest<br> bearing | 736,518 | 761,492 | 671,609 | 683,081 | 689,749 |
| Interest<br> bearing: | |||||
| NOW<br> accounts | 343,615 | 341,903 | 371,052 | 314,588 | 339,412 |
| Money<br> market accounts | 1,572,738 | 1,537,400 | 1,563,181 | 1,438,530 | 1,423,403 |
| Savings | 29,381 | 32,334 | 32,945 | 31,976 | 29,283 |
| Time,<br> less than 250,000 | 202,353 | 194,064 | 181,407 | 193,562 | 223,582 |
| Time<br> and out-of-market deposits, 250,000 and over | 791,812 | 769,136 | 800,692 | 774,028 | 813,396 |
| Total<br> deposits | 3,676,417 | 3,636,329 | 3,620,886 | 3,435,765 | 3,518,825 |
All values are in US Dollars.
Footnotesto tables:
(1) Total revenue is the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.
(2) The tax-equivalent adjustment to net interest income adjusts the yield for assets earning tax-exempt income to a comparable yield on a taxable basis.
(3) Annualized for the respective three-month period.
(4) Noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.
(5) Excludes mortgage loans held for sale.
(6) Excludes out of market deposits and time deposits greater than $250,000 totaling $791,812,000.
(7) September 30, 2025 ratios are preliminary.
(8) The common equity tier 1 ratio is calculated as the sum of common equity divided by risk-weighted assets.
(9) The tangible common equity ratio is calculated as total equity less preferred stock divided by total assets.
(10) Includes mortgage loans held for sale.
About Southern First Bancshares
Southern First Bancshares, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina is a registered bank holding company incorporated under the laws of South Carolina. The company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Southern First Bank, is the second largest bank headquartered in South Carolina. Southern First Bank has been providing financial services since 1999 and now operates in 12 locations in the Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston markets of South Carolina as well as the Charlotte, Triangle and Triad regions of North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. Southern First Bancshares has consolidated assets of approximately $4.4 billion and its common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “SFST.” More information can be found at www.southernfirst.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 are identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “preliminary”, “intend,” “plan,” “target,” “continue,” “lasting,” and “project,” 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.
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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) competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (2) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which the company conducts operations may be different than expected; (3) the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs, the level of allowance for credit loss, the rates of loan and deposit growth as well as pricing of each product, or adverse changes in asset quality in our loan portfolio, which may result in increased credit risk-related losses and expenses; (4) changes in legislation, regulation, policies, or administrative practices, whether by judicial, governmental, or legislative action, including, but not limited to, changes affecting oversight of the financial services industry or consumer protection; (5) the impact of changes to Congress and the office of the President on the regulatory landscape and capital markets; (6) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt market and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions) could continue to have a negative impact on the company; (7) changes in interest rates, which may continue to affect the company’s net income, interest expense, prepayment penalty income, mortgage banking income, and other future cash flows, or the market value of the company’s assets, including its investment securities; (8) trade wars, government shutdowns, or a potential recession which may cause adverse risk to the overall economy, and could indirectly pose challenges to our clients and to our business; (9) any increase in FDIC assessments which have increased and may continue to increase our cost of doing business; and (10) changes in accounting principles, policies, practices, or guidelines. 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 Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the company or any person acting on its behalf are 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, except as required by law.
FINANCIAL & MEDIA CONTACT:
ART SEAVER 864-679-9010
WEB SITE: www.southernfirst.com
SOURCE: Southern First Bancshares, Inc.
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Exhibit 99.2
