Southern First Promotes Wes Wilbanks to Chief Credit Officer
Promotion Announcement: Wes Wilbanks has been promoted to Chief Credit Officer and Executive Vice President of Southern First Bancshares, after serving as Senior Credit Risk Officer since 2021.
Company Overview: Southern First Bancshares, based in Greenville, South Carolina, operates Southern First Bank, the second largest bank in the state, with consolidated assets of approximately $4.1 billion and multiple locations across South Carolina and North Carolina.
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Southern First Bancshares Reports Q4 2025 Net Income of $9.9 Million
- Net Income Growth: Southern First Bancshares reported a net income of $9.9 million for Q4 2025, reflecting a $1.2 million increase from Q3 2025, demonstrating strong momentum in loan and deposit growth that solidifies its competitive position in the Southeast market.
- Interest Income Increase: The net interest income for Q4 reached $28.7 million, up $1.2 million from Q3, primarily driven by increased loan interest income and decreased deposit interest expenses, showcasing effective interest rate management strategies.
- Stable Asset Quality: As of December 31, 2025, nonperforming assets represented 0.32% of total assets, up from 0.27% in Q3, yet still indicating robust asset quality management, which enhances investor confidence.
- Improved Capital Ratios: The total risk-based capital ratio stood at 12.89%, a 10 basis point increase from the previous quarter, indicating ongoing improvements in capital management that provide a stronger financial foundation for future business expansion.
Daily Upgrade Report for Validea Martin Zweig Strategy - December 16, 2025
Validea's Growth Investor Model: Today's upgrades for Validea's Growth Investor model, based on Martin Zweig's strategy, highlight several stocks with improved ratings, indicating strong interest due to their accelerating earnings, sales growth, and reasonable valuations.
Hingham Institution for Savings (HIFS): This small-cap value stock in the Regional Banks industry saw its rating increase from 46% to 85%, reflecting strong fundamentals and valuation metrics.
Bank of Hawaii Corp (BOH): A mid-cap growth stock in the Money Center Banks industry, BOH's rating also improved from 46% to 85%, suggesting favorable underlying fundamentals and valuation.
Muncy Columbia Financial Corp (CCFN): Another small-cap value stock, CCFN's rating rose from 46% to 89%, indicating strong interest based on its financial performance and valuation criteria.
Daily Upgrade Report for Validea Martin Zweig Strategy - October 30, 2025
Validea's Growth Investor Model: Today's upgrades for Validea's Growth Investor model highlight Morningstar Inc. (MORN) and Southern First Bancshares Inc. (SFST), both receiving ratings of 85% based on their fundamentals and valuations, indicating strong interest from the strategy.
Morningstar Inc. Overview: Morningstar, Inc. provides independent investment insights across various segments, including data analytics and retirement products, aimed at empowering investment decision-making for clients globally.
Southern First Bancshares Inc. Overview: Southern First Bancshares, Inc. operates as a bank holding company, offering a range of financial services including deposits, loans, and banking services primarily in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
About Martin Zweig and Validea: Martin Zweig's investment strategies have historically yielded high returns, and Validea utilizes these strategies to provide stock analysis and model portfolios based on successful investment legends.
Southern First Announces Third Quarter Results for 2025
Financial Performance Overview: Southern First Bancshares reported a net income of $8.7 million for Q3 2025, marking a 32% increase from Q2 2025 and a 98% increase from Q3 2024, driven by strong loan growth and improved net interest income.
Key Financial Metrics: The bank's diluted earnings per share rose to $1.07, with a net interest margin of 2.62%, and total loans increased to $3.8 billion, reflecting a 4% annualized growth from the previous quarter.
Asset Quality and Credit Losses: Nonperforming assets remained stable at 0.27% of total assets, while the allowance for credit losses was $41.8 million, representing 1.10% of total loans, indicating a cautious approach to credit risk management.
Market Position and Outlook: The CEO expressed optimism about the bank's growth potential in the Southeastern markets, emphasizing a commitment to client service and community support amid ongoing industry consolidation.
All You Need to Know About Southern First (SFST) Rating Upgrade to Strong Buy
Zacks Rank Upgrade: Southern First (SFST) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, indicating a positive outlook for its stock price.
Earnings Estimate Revisions: The Zacks rating system highlights the correlation between earnings estimate revisions and stock movements, with SFST's estimates increasing by 14% over the past three months, suggesting potential for higher stock performance.
Southern First Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results
Financial Performance: Southern First Bancshares reported a strong second quarter for 2025, with net income of $6.6 million and earnings per share of $0.81, reflecting a significant increase from both the previous quarter and the same quarter last year. Total revenue grew by 24% year-over-year, driven by solid loan growth and improved net interest margins.
Strategic Developments: The company announced the addition of three new board members to enhance leadership and continues to attract skilled bankers to support its growth strategy. Despite potential challenges in the broader economic environment, the management expresses confidence in maintaining strong financial performance moving forward.
Southern First Bancshares Reports Q4 2025 Net Income of $9.9 Million
- Net Income Growth: Southern First Bancshares reported a net income of $9.9 million for Q4 2025, reflecting a $1.2 million increase from Q3 2025, demonstrating strong momentum in loan and deposit growth that solidifies its competitive position in the Southeast market.
- Interest Income Increase: The net interest income for Q4 reached $28.7 million, up $1.2 million from Q3, primarily driven by increased loan interest income and decreased deposit interest expenses, showcasing effective interest rate management strategies.
- Stable Asset Quality: As of December 31, 2025, nonperforming assets represented 0.32% of total assets, up from 0.27% in Q3, yet still indicating robust asset quality management, which enhances investor confidence.
- Improved Capital Ratios: The total risk-based capital ratio stood at 12.89%, a 10 basis point increase from the previous quarter, indicating ongoing improvements in capital management that provide a stronger financial foundation for future business expansion.
Daily Upgrade Report for Validea Martin Zweig Strategy - December 16, 2025
Validea's Growth Investor Model: Today's upgrades for Validea's Growth Investor model, based on Martin Zweig's strategy, highlight several stocks with improved ratings, indicating strong interest due to their accelerating earnings, sales growth, and reasonable valuations.
Hingham Institution for Savings (HIFS): This small-cap value stock in the Regional Banks industry saw its rating increase from 46% to 85%, reflecting strong fundamentals and valuation metrics.
Bank of Hawaii Corp (BOH): A mid-cap growth stock in the Money Center Banks industry, BOH's rating also improved from 46% to 85%, suggesting favorable underlying fundamentals and valuation.
Muncy Columbia Financial Corp (CCFN): Another small-cap value stock, CCFN's rating rose from 46% to 89%, indicating strong interest based on its financial performance and valuation criteria.
Daily Upgrade Report for Validea Martin Zweig Strategy - October 30, 2025
Validea's Growth Investor Model: Today's upgrades for Validea's Growth Investor model highlight Morningstar Inc. (MORN) and Southern First Bancshares Inc. (SFST), both receiving ratings of 85% based on their fundamentals and valuations, indicating strong interest from the strategy.
Morningstar Inc. Overview: Morningstar, Inc. provides independent investment insights across various segments, including data analytics and retirement products, aimed at empowering investment decision-making for clients globally.
Southern First Bancshares Inc. Overview: Southern First Bancshares, Inc. operates as a bank holding company, offering a range of financial services including deposits, loans, and banking services primarily in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
About Martin Zweig and Validea: Martin Zweig's investment strategies have historically yielded high returns, and Validea utilizes these strategies to provide stock analysis and model portfolios based on successful investment legends.
Southern First Announces Third Quarter Results for 2025
Financial Performance Overview: Southern First Bancshares reported a net income of $8.7 million for Q3 2025, marking a 32% increase from Q2 2025 and a 98% increase from Q3 2024, driven by strong loan growth and improved net interest income.
Key Financial Metrics: The bank's diluted earnings per share rose to $1.07, with a net interest margin of 2.62%, and total loans increased to $3.8 billion, reflecting a 4% annualized growth from the previous quarter.
Asset Quality and Credit Losses: Nonperforming assets remained stable at 0.27% of total assets, while the allowance for credit losses was $41.8 million, representing 1.10% of total loans, indicating a cautious approach to credit risk management.
Market Position and Outlook: The CEO expressed optimism about the bank's growth potential in the Southeastern markets, emphasizing a commitment to client service and community support amid ongoing industry consolidation.
All You Need to Know About Southern First (SFST) Rating Upgrade to Strong Buy
Zacks Rank Upgrade: Southern First (SFST) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, indicating a positive outlook for its stock price.
Earnings Estimate Revisions: The Zacks rating system highlights the correlation between earnings estimate revisions and stock movements, with SFST's estimates increasing by 14% over the past three months, suggesting potential for higher stock performance.
Southern First Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results
Financial Performance: Southern First Bancshares reported a strong second quarter for 2025, with net income of $6.6 million and earnings per share of $0.81, reflecting a significant increase from both the previous quarter and the same quarter last year. Total revenue grew by 24% year-over-year, driven by solid loan growth and improved net interest margins.
Strategic Developments: The company announced the addition of three new board members to enhance leadership and continues to attract skilled bankers to support its growth strategy. Despite potential challenges in the broader economic environment, the management expresses confidence in maintaining strong financial performance moving forward.
