News Details

TYLER, Texas, Jan. 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southside Bancshares, Inc. ("Southside" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:SBSI) today reported its financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2011.

Southside reported net income of $10.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011, an increase of $3.2 million, or 42.0%, when compared to the same period in 2010. The gain on sale of available for sale securities increased $295,000, or $192,000, net of income tax expense, to $3.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011 from $2.8 million for the same period in 2010. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased $1.1 million, or 2.8%, to $40.6 million when compared to $39.5 million for the same period in 2010. The gain on sale of available for sale securities decreased $13.1 million, or $8.5 million, net of income tax expense, to $12.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 when compared to $25.8 million for the same period in 2010.

Diluted earnings per common share increased $0.19, or 41.3%, to $0.65 for the three months ended December 31, 2011 when compared to $0.46 for the same period in 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2011, diluted earnings per common share increased $0.08, or 3.3%, to $2.47 when compared to $2.39 for the same period in 2010.

The return on average shareholders' equity for the year ended December 31, 2011, was 16.93%, a decrease when compared to 18.16% for the same period in 2010. The annual return on average assets decreased to 1.29% for the year ended December 31, 2011 from 1.32% for the same period in 2010.

"We are extraordinarily pleased to report that Southside's net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased $1.1 million, or 2.8%, when compared to 2010," said B. G. Hartley, Chairman of the Board of Southside Bancshares, Inc. "Our 2011 results were driven by an increase in net interest income due to a strategic increase in earning assets and an increase in our net interest margin. In addition to favorable net interest income, earnings were positively impacted by a decrease in our credit costs as nonperforming assets continued to decrease. These positive factors were offset in part by a decrease in gain on sale of securities, due to less strategic restructuring of the investment portfolio during 2011."

"Our net income for 2011 represents the second highest level of earnings in the history of Southside. Net income in 2011 of $40.6 million was exceeded only by net income in 2009 of $44.4 million. Earnings in 2009 were driven by $33.4 million in gain on sale of securities, $20.7 million more than in 2011. Our 2011 income was driven by an increase in net interest income as well as the decrease in our credit costs. Therefore, we consider 2011 to be one of our best years ever."

"Our business model has produced exceptional financial results for several years. As the economic crisis unfolded in 2008, we began that year with what we believed would prove to be a fortress balance sheet. That balance sheet served us well as we did not participate significantly in the global recession. Our return on average shareholders equity has exceeded 16.9% during each of the last four years and our financial results have enabled us to increase our cash dividend at an annualized rate of 21.7%. Total shareholders' equity has increased from $132.3 million at December 31, 2007 to $261.9 million at December 31, 2011. This represents an increase of $129.6, or 97.9%. We are exceptionally pleased to have organically almost doubled our shareholders' equity over the past four years. We believe very few banks have achieved these benchmarks during the last four years."

"During the fourth quarter we began to experience meaningful loan growth as loans increased $46.8 million from September 30, 2011. We anticipate loan growth will continue during 2012 as we are experiencing increased demand in many of our market areas. We believe credit conditions have improved and are encouraging our loan officers to evaluate credit decisions in light of this current outlook. The fourth quarter also saw a continued increase in deposits to fund our earning assets."

"Effective execution of our business model was the driving force behind our successful 2011 financial results. Proactive management of our franchise is built on four cornerstones; first, providing our customers with a high touch, convenient banking experience with superior products while also maintaining a competitive cost structure. Second, providing prudent credit to our customers in the markets we serve. Third, managing our balance sheet, investments and funding, in a manner to complement and assist with the overall business model objectives. And last, but certainly not least, providing our stakeholders an attractive value proposition."

"We begin 2012 under new leadership, as Sam Dawson was elected Chief Executive Officer earlier this month. The Board and I have full confidence in Sam's leadership. Sam has been an integral part of the design and execution of our dynamic business model. As a result, we anticipate continued proactive management of our model as well as continued financial success."

Loans and Deposits

For the three months ended December 31, 2011, total loans increased by $46.8 million, or 4.5% when compared to September 30, 2011. During the three months ended December 31, 2011, real estate 1-4 family increased $19.2 million, municipal loans increased $8.1 million, real estate construction loans increased $7.5 million, loans to individuals increased $4.5 million, real estate other increased 3.9 million, and commercial loans increased $3.4 million. For the year ended December 31, 2011, total loans increased by $9.3 million, or 0.9% when compared to December 31, 2010.

Nonperforming assets increased $28,000, or 0.2% to $13.2 million, or 0.40% of total assets at December 31, 2011, when compared to September 30, 2011. Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets were 0.41% at September 30, 2011. Nonperforming assets decreased by $4.5 million, or 25.5%, to $13.2 million, or 0.40% of total assets, at December 31, 2011, when compared to December 31, 2010. This decrease is primarily a result of a decrease in nonaccrual and restructured loans.

During the three months ended December 31, 2011, deposits net of brokered deposits, increased $30.3 million, or 1.4%, compared to September 30, 2011. During the year ended December 31, 2011, deposits, net of brokered deposits, increased $184.8 million, or 9.4%, compared to December 31, 2010. 

Net Interest Income

Net interest income increased $2.2 million, or 10.0%, to $24.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011, when compared to $22.3 million for the same period in 2010. For the three months ended December 31, 2011, our net interest spread increased to 3.24% from 3.10% for the same period in 2010. The net interest margin increased to 3.48% for the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to 3.40% for the same period in 2010. The increase in our net interest margin and net interest spread for the three months ended December 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 is primarily a result of a decrease in the cost of our interest bearing liabilities of 45 basis points that exceeded the decrease in the yield on our earnings assets of 31 basis points. The net interest margin and net interest spread for the three months ended December 31, 2011 decreased to 3.48% and 3.24%, respectively, from 3.61% and 3.35% for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease in the net interest margin and net interest spread for the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2011 is a result of an increase in the average securities portfolio of $140.5 million, which generally have lower yields which more than offset the increase in average loans of $38.2 million, which generally have higher yields. 

Net interest income increased $9.3 million, or 10.9%, to $95.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, when compared to $86.1 million for the same period in 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2011, our net interest spread increased to 3.34% from 3.07% for the same period in 2010. The net interest margin increased to 3.61% for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to 3.39% for the same period in 2010. The increase in our net interest margin and spread for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 is primarily a result of slower prepayments on our mortgage-backed securities during 2011. During the first six months of 2010 prepayments increased significantly due to announcements by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that they would repurchase delinquent loans that had not been repurchased for several months and that they would begin repurchasing these delinquent loans in a more timely manner. In addition the cost of our interest bearing liabilities decreased 46 basis points during the year ended December 31, 2011 when compared to the same period in 2010, while the yield on our earning assets only decreased 19 basis points during the same period.

Net Income for the Three Months

The increase in net income for the three months ended December 31, 2011, when compared to the same period in 2010, was a result of an increase in net interest income and a decrease in the provision for loan losses.

Noninterest expense decreased $424,000, or 2.3%, for the three months ended December 31, 2011, compared to the same period in 2010. 

Net Income for the Year

The increase in net income for the year ended December 31, 2011, when compared to the same period in 2010, was a result of an increase in net interest income and a decrease in the provision for loan losses which was partially offset by a decrease in noninterest income that was driven by a decrease in security gains.

Noninterest expense increased $1.0 million, or 1.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to the same period in 2010. The increase in noninterest expense was a result of increases in personnel expense associated with our overall growth and expansion, occupancy expense due to added facilities, and professional fees due to legal fees and consulting fees associated with the acquisition of Southside Financial Group, LLC which were partially offset by a decrease in FDIC insurance premium expense.

About Southside Bancshares, Inc.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company with approximately $3.31 billion in assets that owns 100% of Southside Bank. Southside Bank currently has 48 banking centers in Texas and operates a network of 50 ATMs. 

To learn more about Southside Bancshares, Inc., please visit our investor relations website at www.southside.com/investor. Our investor relations site provides a detailed overview of our activities, financial information and historical stock price data. To receive e-mail notification of company news, events and stock activity, please register on the E-mail Notification portion of the website. Questions or comments may be directed to Susan Hill at (903) 531-7220, or susan.hill@southside.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements of other than historical fact that are contained in this document and in other written material, press releases and oral statements issued by or on behalf of the Company, a bank holding company, may be considered to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of and subject to the protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management's views as of any subsequent date. These statements may include words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "anticipate," "appear," "believe," "could," "should," "may," "intend," "probability," "risk," "target," "objective," "plans," "potential," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are statements with respect to the Company's beliefs, plans, expectations, objectives, goals, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions and future performance and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For example, discussions about trends in asset quality and earnings and certain market risk disclosures, including the impact of interest rate uncertainty, are based upon information presently available to management and are dependent on choices about key model characteristics and assumptions and are subject to various limitations. By their nature, certain of the market risk disclosures are only estimates and could be materially different from what actually occurs in the future. As a result, actual income gains and losses could materially differ from those that have been estimated. 

Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect the Company's financial results, is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 under "Forward-Looking Information" and Item 1A. "Risk Factors," and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to announce publicly the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments. 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The analysis below shows average interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities together with the average yield on the interest earning assets and the average cost of the interest bearing liabilities.

CONTACT:  Susan Hill
          (903) 531-7220
          susan.hill@southside.com