Press Release

STUART, Fla., Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

• Revenue growth improved 6.3 percent (annualized, linked-quarter) through low cost deposit growth initiatives and improved fee income through an expanding customer base

• Capital remains at record levels with estimated total risk-based capital ratio at year-end of 17.8 percent up from 15.2 percent a year ago

• Credit risk continues to decline with nonperforming loans falling 30.2 percent for the year and other real estate owned declining 20.7 percent from the third quarter

Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (Nasdaq: SBCF), today reported a significantly reduced net loss for the fourth quarter of 2010 totaling $10.2 million, compared to $38.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2009. In addition, the net loss was lower for the year 2010 totaling $33.2 million, compared to $146.7 million for 2009. For the year 2009, the net loss was impacted by a $49.8 million goodwill impairment, as well as, much higher provisioning for loan losses. The net loss that is available to Common shareholders for the fourth quarter and the year 2010 totaled, respectively, $11.1 million or $0.12 diluted earnings per share (DEPS), and $37.0 million or $0.48 DEPS. These figures compare to a loss of $0.73 DEPS and $4.74 DEPS a year ago for the same periods, respectively.

"The new strategies we implemented in 2010 are gaining traction and driving improved results; the revenue generation of our core business and continued strength of the balance sheet are very positive," said Dennis S. Hudson, III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida. "While the decrease in nonperforming assets and credit costs are certainly welcome, we are even more encouraged by the improvement in our operating results, driven by several of our business lines." Mr. Hudson also noted an improving net interest margin, a result of increasing loan production and continued favorable deposit trends which, together with lower credit costs, are expected to lead to profitability in 2011.

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During 2010 we achieved a number of important objectives:

• Completed and began implementation of a Board-driven strategic plan that features strong organic growth, attractive profitability, and a low risk posture intended to enhance future shareholder value;
• Strengthened our capital position following our successful capital raise with gross proceeds of approximately $50 million;
• Completed a planned reduction in the size of our residential construction and land development loan portfolio which now totals $14 million, or 1.1 percent of loans outstanding at December 31, 2010; and
• Aggressive liquidation plan, which commenced in 2007, has now reduced our loan exposure well below regulatory targets for institutions with concentrations in commercial real estate loans and construction and development loans.

Seacoast strengthened its capital ratios with the completion of a successful public common stock offering with gross proceeds totaling $50 million in April 2010.  The estimated total risk-based capital ratio at year-end increased to 17.8 percent, up from 15.2 percent a year ago.  The estimated tangible common equity ratio increased to 5.81 percent at year-end 2010 from 4.79 percent for year-end 2009.  

As predicted, Seacoast's focused plan to address the slumping housing market in Florida -- which the Company implemented well ahead of the industry as a whole -- has positioned the Bank to be among the first in the state to emerge from the market's negative effects.  As a result of loan sales and other aggressive liquidation efforts, aggregate commercial real estate exposure (construction loans and commercial real estate mortgages) has now been reduced to 218 percent of total risk-based capital, which is well below the regulatory threshold of 300 percent for institutions with commercial real estate loan concentrations.

As the plan to strengthen the balance sheet and reduce aggregate credit risk started to produce results upon implementation, the board and executive management began to proactively develop a five year strategic plan, which was completed in the first half of 2010. The Company implemented various components of the plan throughout the year designed to increase profitability and ultimately position Seacoast as a top-tier community bank as measured by low risk, strong organic growth and increased shareholder value.

Revenue achievements for the year and fourth quarter 2010 include:

• Total revenues (excluding securities gains, net) increased $342,000 linked-quarter to $21.6 million, an increase of 6.3 percent annualized;
• Net interest margin of 3.42 percent, up 5 basis points from the fourth quarter 2009 and 7 basis points higher than the third quarter of 2010;
• Service charges on deposit accounts increased 20.9 percent linked-quarter annualized;
• Debit card income for the year totaled $3.2 million, up $550,000 or 21.0 percent compared to the prior year's results, reflecting the growth in new deposit accounts;
• Mortgage banking revenues grew as a result of expanded capacity and focused growth initiatives, and increased year-over-year by $158,000 or 37.4 percent for the fourth quarter;
• Seacoast was the largest producer of residential mortgage purchase loans in its largest market, the Treasure Coast, for 2010;
• Noninterest bearing checking balances totaled 17.7 percent of deposits at year-end compared with 15.1 percent the prior year;
• Core deposits (total deposits, excluding time deposits over $100,000 and brokered deposits) comprise 84.5 percent of deposits, versus 80.5 percent a year ago; and
• Average cost of deposits totaled 0.76 percent, down 8 basis points from the third quarter of 2010 and 39 basis points lower compared to the prior year.  

Revenue growth improved throughout 2010 as a result of the Company's retail and small business deposit growth initiatives, and improvements in loan production. The impact of these initiatives on fee based revenue was evident throughout the year as noted in the table below.

During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company completed the sale of its merchant service business and recorded a $600,000 gain on the sale. Seacoast will now continue to provide these services to its customers on an outsourced basis. This sale reduced total revenues for the year and quarter by approximately $200,000, and also reduced outsourced data processing expenses by nearly the same amount due to the thin margin earned on this business.  

Revenue earned from service charges on deposits, wealth management services, debit card interchange, and marine finance fees all improved linked quarter as a result of seasonal benefits and increased households. For the year, the retail bank added 7,495 new core deposit households, up 1,125 or 17.7 percent from 2009. Retail household growth for the entire year has improved as a result of the Company's retail deposit program and, more recently, expanded efforts to attract new commercial deposit accounts.  New household acquisition was particularly strong for the fourth quarter; new personal retail checking relationships opened during the quarter rose 42.1 percent from the same quarter of 2009 and 18.8 percent from the third quarter of 2010. Likewise, new commercial business checking deposit relationships increased by 71.6 percent compared with the same quarter one year ago. Along with the new relationships, our programs have improved market share, increased average services per household and decreased customer attrition.  

Nonperforming loans declined by $29.6 million, or 30.2 percent during the year and totaled 5.50 percent of loans outstanding at year-end. Nonperforming loans, which peaked at $154.0 million in the third quarter of 2009, have consistently declined to $68.3 million at year-end 2010, a level last achieved in the first quarter of 2008. The improvement is the result of aggressive liquidation activities and a significant slowing of new problem loan inflows during 2010. Early stage delinquencies (accruing loans 30 – 89 days past due) remain nominal at 0.41 percent of loans outstanding. The allowance for loan losses remains strong at 3.04 percent, the same as the prior quarter and compared to 3.23 percent at year-end 2009.  Other real estate owned ("OREO") balances declined by $6.7 million or 20.7 percent from the third quarter as the result of sales and fewer loans foreclosed.

Accruing loans declined by approximately $127.3 million, or 9.8 percent to $1.172 billion for the year which negatively impacted net interest income, but were down only 1.80 percent compared to the third quarter 2010. This is the second consecutive quarter of modest negative loan growth as a result of improving loan production, a slowing of loans moving to nonaccrual status and our tactical focus on growing market share in lower risk customer segments. Should recent trends continue, we expect to see improvements in net interest income in the year ahead.  

Core operating expenses (total noninterest expenses less losses on other real estate owned and other asset disposition expenses) were reduced throughout the year as noted in the table below. Noninterest expenses for the quarter totaled $27.8 million and increased $7.0 million from the prior year's fourth quarter, entirely due to higher expenses for OREO and other asset dispositions which totaled $9.9 million in the fourth quarter 2010 compared to $2.3 million the prior year. Noninterest expenses for 2010 totaled $90.7 million compared to $81.9 million (excluding goodwill impairment) a year ago, an increase of $8.8 million, all of which was attributable to higher legal and professional fees (including non-recurring consulting fees totaling approximately $2.3 million for development and implementation assistance related to our strategic plan and enterprise risk management projects) and higher expense for OREO and other asset dispositions which totaled $15.8 million for the year 2010, compared to $6.3 million in 2009.  Core operating expense was $17.9 million in the fourth quarter, down $859,000 or 4.6% from the third quarter.  

Core operating expense trends are presented in the table below:

The Company expects to implement further cost saving measures during 2011 that result from an enterprise-wide review of operating efficiencies commencing in the first quarter.  

The net interest margin increased by 7 basis points to 3.42 percent in the fourth quarter 2010 compared to the third quarter of 2010 primarily a result of lower nonperforming assets and lower costs for interest bearing liabilities. The net interest margin continues to be negatively impacted by higher levels of overnight liquidity and short-term investments. Interest bearing deposit costs decreased 9 basis points to 0.92 percent during the fourth quarter 2010, and total interest bearing liabilities decreased from 1.09 percent for the third quarter to 1.01 percent in the fourth quarter. The mix in deposits continues to improve, which strengthens the net interest margin, and is a result of our tactical activities designed to attract, on-board and retain new household relationships.  

The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss its earnings results and business trends. Investors may call in (toll-free) by dialing (888) 517-2464 (access code: 5785075; leader: Dennis S. Hudson).  Charts will be used during the conference call and may be accessed at Seacoast's website at www.seacoastbanking.net by selecting "Presentations" under the heading "Investor Services".  A replay of the conference call will be available beginning the afternoon of January 27 by dialing (877) 213-9653 (domestic), using the passcode 5785075.

Alternatively, individuals may listen to the live webcast of the presentation by visiting the Company's website at www.seacoastbanking.net.  The link to the live audio webcast is located in the subsection "Presentations" under the heading "Investor Services". Beginning the afternoon of January 27, 2011, an archived version of the webcast can be accessed from this same subsection of the website.  This webcast will be archived and available for one year.  

Seacoast, with approximately $2.0 billion in assets, is one of the largest independent commercial banking organizations in Florida. Seacoast has 39 offices in South and Central Florida and is headquartered on Florida's Treasure Coast, which is one of the wealthiest areas in the nation.

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements about future financial and operating results, ability to realized deferred tax assets, cost savings, enhanced revenues, economic and seasonal conditions in our markets, and improvements to reported earnings that may be realized from cost controls and for integration of banks that we have acquired, as well as statements with respect to Seacoast's objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts.  Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control, and which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Seacoast to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You should not expect us to update any forward-looking statements.  

You can identify these forward-looking statements through our use of words such as "may," "will," "anticipate," "assume," "should," "support", "indicate," "would," "believe," "contemplate," "expect," "estimate," "continue," "further", "point to," "project," "could," "intend" or other similar words and expressions of the future.  These forward-looking statements may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: the effects of future economic and market conditions, including seasonality; economic impacts of value declines for collateral that secures our loans, governmental monetary and fiscal policies, as well as legislative, tax and regulatory changes; changes in accounting policies, rules and practices; the risks of changes in interest rates on the level and composition of deposits, loan demand, liquidity and the values of loan collateral, securities, and interest sensitive assets and liabilities; interest rate risks, sensitivities and the shape of the yield curve; the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds and other financial institutions operating in our market areas and elsewhere, including institutions operating regionally, nationally and internationally, together with such competitors offering banking products and services by mail, telephone, computer and the Internet; and the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for possible loan losses.  The risks of mergers and acquisitions, include, without limitation: unexpected transaction costs, including the costs of integrating operations; the risks that the businesses will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; the potential failure to fully or timely realize expected revenues and revenue synergies, including as the result of revenues following the merger being lower than expected; the risk of deposit and customer attrition; any changes in deposit mix; unexpected operating and other costs, which may differ or change from expectations; the risks of customer and employee loss and business disruption, including, without limitation, as the result of difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees; increased competitive pressures and solicitations of customers by competitors; as well as the difficulties and risks inherent with entering new markets.

All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 under "Special Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors", and otherwise in our SEC reports and filings.  Such reports are available upon request from the Company, or from the Securities and Exchange Commission, including through the SEC's Internet website at http://www.sec.gov.