-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, VsDuyJlHqpK7oa4EO+5/0ouPGrUgw+nNHd1tMvcx+eh9MkqKw3FzbvG+trA0is0W ocfgjbjkssYFngvHzQJ0dw== 0001086715-04-000046.txt : 20040420 0001086715-04-000046.hdr.sgml : 20040420 20040420142342 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001086715-04-000046 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20040414 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: Other events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits ITEM INFORMATION: Regulation FD Disclosure FILED AS OF DATE: 20040420 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SEACOAST BANKING CORP OF FLORIDA CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000730708 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022] IRS NUMBER: 592260678 STATE OF INCORPORATION: FL FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-13660 FILM NUMBER: 04742533 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 815 COLORADO AVE STREET 2: P O BOX 9012 CITY: STUART STATE: FL ZIP: 34994 BUSINESS PHONE: 5612874000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 815 COLORADO AVE STREET 2: P O BOX 9012 CITY: STUART STATE: FL ZIP: 34995 8-K 1 firstquarter.htm REPORT ON FORM 8K RE 1ST QUARTER EARNINGS SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

8-K – page # of 4





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) April 14, 2004


    SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA


(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



Florida

1-13660

59-2260678

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

(Commission

File Number

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)



815 Colorado Avenue, Stuart, FL

34994

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)


(772) 287-4000

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code  


Not Applicable

Former Name or Former Address, if changed since last report






8-K – page # of 4






SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA



Item 5.

Other Events and Required FD Disclosure


On April 14, 2004, the Registrant announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004.  A copy of the press release announcing the Registrant’s results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7.

Financial Statements and Exhibits



Exhibit Number

 

Description

99.1

 

Press Release dated April 14, 2004 with respect to Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida’s financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004.

99.2

 

Transcript of Registrant’s investor conference call held on April 15, 2004 to discuss the Registrant’s financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004.

99.3

 

Data of charts referenced in the conference call held on April 15, 2004 to discuss the Registrant’s financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004.


Item 9.

Regulation FD Disclosure


On April 15, 2004, the Registrant held an investor conference call to discuss its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004.  A transcript of this conference call is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated herein by reference.  Also attached as Exhibit 99.3 are three charts (available on the Registrant’s website) referenced in the conference call and incorporated herein by reference.  All information included in the transcript and the charts is presented as of March 31, 2004, and the Registrant does not assume any obligation to correct or update said information in the future.


The information in the preceding paragraph, as well as Exhibits 99.2 and 99.3 referenced therein, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in filing under the Securities Act of 1933.


Item 12.

Results of Operations and Financial Condition


On April 14, 2004, the Registrant announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004.  A copy of the press release announcing the Registrant’s results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.







8-K – page # of 4






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.


SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA

(Registrant)



Dated:   

April 19, 2004

By:    /s/ William R. Hahl


Name:  William R. Hahl

Title:  EVP & CFO






EX-1 3 ex991.htm NEWS RELEASE RE FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS Converted by FileMerlin

EXHIBIT 99.1



NEWS RELEASE


Dennis S. Hudson, III

President and Chief Executive Officer

Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida

(772) 288-6086


William R. Hahl

Executive Vice President/

Chief Financial Officer

 (772) 221-2825




SEACOAST REPORTS A 12.5% INCREASE IN EARNINGS

FOR THE FIRST QUARTER



STUART, FL., April 14, 2004 – Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ-NMS:  SBCF), a bank holding company whose principal subsidiary is First National Bank and Trust Company of the Treasure Coast, today reported net income totaling $3,625,000, up 12.5 percent from the first quarter of 2003.  Net income of $0.23 diluted earnings per share (“DEPS”) was earned for the first quarter of 2004, compared to $0.21 DEPS for the first quarter a year ago and $0.24 DEPS for the fourth quarter of 2003.  


“The improvement in key revenue trends which began in the fourth quarter, notably renewed net interest income growth combined with continued growth in fees, indicate that we are now on track to resume strong long term quality growth.” commented Dennis S. Hudson, III, Chief Executive Officer of Seacoast.  “During the second half of 2003, we indicated the Company was poised for better performance as we implemented our strategy to improve net interest margins and decrease interest rate risk by increasing the size of our commercial and consumer loan portfolios and reducing the relative size of our residential portfolio.  This indeed began to occur in late 2003 and has continued with double digit loan growth this quarter.  We also continued to produce solid core deposit growth while maintaining our favorable low fu nding cost.”


First quarter revenue trends included the following:


Total revenues (net interest income and noninterest income combined) were up 29.5 percent on an annualized basis from the fourth quarter;

Net interest margin expanded by 16 basis points during the quarter;

Net interest income gained 22.2 percent on an annualized basis over the fourth quarter and was up $1.298 million or 11.2 percent over prior year’s first quarter; and

Noninterest income less securities gains (losses) increased $506,000 from the fourth quarter as fees from investment management services, marine finance, and mortgage banking all increased during the quarter.


Other highlights for the quarter included:


Average total deposits increased $26.3 million or 9.6 percent annualized during the quarter with average noninterest bearing and low cost savings deposits improving by 18.4 percent and 5.4 percent annualized, respectively;

Loan balances rose 17.5 percent on an annualized basis from fourth quarter 2003;

Average equity to average assets remained strong at 7.91 percent compared to 7.81 percent one year earlier; and

Asset quality improved with a nonperforming assets ratio of 0.31 percent compared to 0.43 percent at year-end and 0.29 percent in the first quarter 2003.


The net interest margin, on a fully taxable equivalent basis, for the quarter was 3.98 percent, representing an increase from the 3.89 percent achieved in last year’s first quarter and the 3.82 percent in the fourth quarter of 2003.  The net interest margin has steadily improved since the third quarter 2003 as a result of a steeper yield curve, an improved loan mix and growth in loans outstanding.  In addition, as mentioned above, the favorable deposit growth in the first quarter and over the past year resulted in an overall lower cost of funds.


Net interest income (on a tax equivalent basis) increased to $12,932,000 or $679,000 from fourth quarter 2003’s total of $12,253,000, which had increased by $1.4 million from the third quarter 2003.  The gain in interest income comes from the growth in the balance sheet and the favorable overall change in earning asset mix as the intended transformation of the loan portfolio begins to develop.  Average earning assets have increased $81.6 million or 6.7 percent over the last twelve months and average loans are up $40.3 million or 5.8 percent.


The cost for interest bearing liabilities declined to 1.34 percent from 1.83 percent in the first quarter 2003 and 1.46 percent in the fourth quarter.  Interest expense as a percent of earning assets for the three months ended March 31, 2004, declined 10 basis points to 1.05 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2003.  Lower cost savings, NOW and money market balances increased $14.0 million, or an annualized growth of 10.6 percent in the first three months of 2004.


The expansion into Palm Beach County has been accretive to overall loan growth over the past twelve months.  Total loans in the new market grew to $66.7 million with a total of $58 million funded during the past year.  The addition of two full service branches in Palm Beach County in late 2004 will further assist in expanding the Company’s loan origination capabilities.  At March 31, 2004, lenders in this market have originated a total of $95.7 million in loans (including unfunded commitments) and a pipeline of over $119 million.  The acquisition of Palm Beach County’s two largest community banks by large out-of-market competitors has resulted in strong customer demand for the Company’s brand of banking, particularly commercial and commercial real estate loans and services.  Deposit balances in Palm Beach now total over $39 million, of which 20.7 percent are noninterest bearing.  In addition, the cost of interest bearing deposits in the new market is comparable to the total bank with an average cost of 1.53 percent.


Noninterest income, excluding securities gains and losses, increased 13.2 percent when compared to the fourth quarter of 2003, reflecting growing revenues from investment management services, up over 26 percent from the fourth quarter, and solid growth in revenues from mortgage banking and marine finance activities.  Revenues from investment management began improving in the fourth quarter 2003, and with an improving economy, the performance for investment management and Seacoast Marine Finance division could conceivably continue to improve.  In addition, the future for increased residential mortgage loan production looks favorable as the housing market on the Treasure Coast continues to outpace the southeastern region and the nation.


Core deposit growth continued to enhance fees by increasing the customer base and usage of check cards.  During the first quarter of 2004, a total of $298,000 in interchange income was earned compared to $289,000 for the same period in 2003.  The growth rate of these fees was negatively impacted in 2003 as a result of VISA and MasterCard agreeing to reduce check card interchange income fees beginning in August 2003.  The negative impacts have been offset with the growth in the cardholder base and transaction volumes.


Net loan charge offs were $35,000 for the first quarter of 2004, compared to net charge-offs of $280,000 for the same quarter in 2003.  Nonperforming assets to loans and other real estate owned declined to 0.31 percent at March 31, 2004, compared to 0.43 percent for the fourth quarter 2003.  Nonperforming assets totaled $2,325,000, up slightly from the $1,901,000 for the same quarter a year ago.  


              Consistent credit quality and historically low net charge-offs in all of the Company’s loan portfolios support an allowance for loan losses of 0.85 percent of total loans at March 31, 2004, a level lower than that found in many other banks.  Over the past two years, the Company has intentionally reduced the relative size of its residential loan portfolio while continuing to grow its commercial (primarily real estate secured) and consumer portfolios and as a result, until recently, overall loan growth has been negative.  This, combined with the aforementioned stable asset quality, negated the need for any additional provisioning for loan losses until the current quarter.  During the quarter the Company provided $150,000 for loan losses due to loan growth.< /P>


              Noninterest expenses totaled $11.5 million, an increase of 6.0 percent from the prior year’s first quarter and a 14.0 percent increase over the fourth quarter 2004.  A portion of the growth is a result of increased wages, benefits, occupancy, marketing and other overhead due to the addition of branches and personnel in the Palm Beach County market, and from higher commissions, stock awards and other incentive compensation related to the Company’s improved performance.


              Seacoast will host a conference call on April 15 at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern time) to discuss the earnings results and business trends.  Investors may call in by dialing 888-639-6218 (passcode: 440873; leader: Dennis S. Hudson, III).  A replay of the call will be available beginning 1:00 p.m. by dialing 866-219-1444 (domestic), using the passcode 440873.


  Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida has approximately $1.4 billion in assets.  It is one of the largest independent commercial banking organizations in Florida, headquartered on Florida’s Treasure Coast, one of the wealthiest and fastest growing areas in the nation.




- continued -







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.


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 Banking Corporation of Florida ("Seacoast" or the "Company") 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", “indicate”, "would", "believe", "contemplate", "expect", "estimate", "continue", “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 conditions; governmental monetary and fiscal policies, as well as legislative and regulatory changes; the risks of changes in interest rates on the level and composition of deposits, loan demand, and the values of loan collateral, securities, an d interest sensitive assets and liabilities; interest rate risks and sensitivities; 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 the Company's market area 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; the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for possible loan losses, and the risks of mergers and acquisitions, including, without limitation, the related costs, including integrating operations as part of these transactions, and the failure to achieve the expected gains, revenue growth and/or expense savings from such transactions.  


All written or oral forward looking statements attributable to the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by this Cautionary Notice including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties, described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 under “Special Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements”, and otherwise in the Company's SEC reports and filings.  Such reports are available upon request from Seacoast, or from the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.











FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Unaudited)

      

SEACOAST  BANKING  CORPORATION  OF  FLORIDA  AND  SUBSIDIARIES

 
         
  

Three Months Ended

(Dollars in thousands,

  

March 31,

   except per share data)

    

 2004

 

 2003

 

Summary of Earnings

        

Net income

    

 $    3,625

 

 $    3,223

 

Net interest income  (1)

    

12,932

 

11,639

 
         

Performance Ratios

        

Return on average assets  (2), (3)

    

1.05

%

1.02

%

Return on average

        

    shareholders' equity  (2), (3)

    

13.31

 

13.07

 

Net interest margin  (1), (2)

    

3.98

 

3.89

 
         

Per Share Data (A)

        

Net income diluted

    

 $      0.23

 

 $      0.21

 

Net income basic

    

         0.23

 

         0.21

 

Cash dividends declared

    

0.13

 

0.10

 
         
   

                   March 31,

 

Increase/

   

 2004

 

 2003

 

 (Decrease)

Credit Analysis

        

Net charge-offs year-to-date

  

 $             35

 

 $          280

 

(87.5

)%

Net charge-offs to average loans

  

0.02

%

0.16

%

 (87.5

)

Loan loss provision year-to-date

  

150

 

--

 

n/m

 

Allowance to loans at end of period

 

0.85

%

0.99

%

(14.1

)

Nonperforming assets

  

 $        2,325

 

 $       1,901

 

22.3

 

Nonperforming assets to loans and other

        

   real estate owned at end of period

  

0.31

%

0.29

%

6.9

 
         

Selected Financial Data

        

Total assets

  

 $  1,401,399

 

 $ 1,297,826

 

8.0

 

Securities – Trading (at fair value)

  

6,079

 

43,719

 

(86.1

)

Securities – Available for sale (at fair value)

 

440,696

 

440,185

 

0.1

 

Securities – Held for Investment (at amortized cost)

 

97,705

 

19,998

 

388.6

 

Net loans

  

733,528

 

654,990

 

12.0

 

Deposits

  

1,164,971

 

1,060,591

 

9.8

 

Shareholders' equity  

  

106,970

 

100,526

 

6.4

 

Book value per share  (A)

  

6.90

 

6.56

 

5.2

 

Tangible book value per share  (A)

  

6.72

 

6.35

 

5.8

 

Average shareholders' equity

        

    to average assets

  

7.91

%

7.81

%

1.3

 
         
         

(A)

Reflects 10% stock dividend paid as a stock split effective August 1, 2003.


(1)  Calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using amortized cost.

(2)  These ratios are stated on an annualized basis and are not necessarily indicative of future periods.

(3) The calculation of ROA and ROE do not include the mark-to-market unrealized gains (losses) because the unrealized gains (losses) are not included in net income.


n/m = not meaningful










CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME  (Unaudited)

SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA AND SUBSIDIARIES



         

Three Months Ended March 31,

   

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

       

2004

  

2003

 
             

Interest on securities:

            

Taxable

      

$

4,514

 

$

4,033

 

Nontaxable

       

28

  

41

 

Interest and fees on loans

       

11,703

  

11,982

 

Interest on federal funds sold

       

36

  

21

 

Total Interest Income

       

16,281

  

16,077

 
             

Interest on deposits

       

768

  

903

 

Interest on time certificates

       

2,143

  

2,701

 

Interest on borrowed money

       

472

  

873

 

Total Interest Expense

       

3,383

  

4,477

 
             

Net Interest Income

       

12,898

  

11,600

 

Provision for loan losses

       

150

  

--

 

Net Interest Income After Provision for Loan Losses

       

12,748

  

11,600

 
             

Noninterest income:

            

Service charges on deposit accounts

       

1,107

  

1,217

 

Trust income

       

538

  

524

 

Mortgage banking fees

       

482

  

1,638

 

Brokerage commissions and fees

       

715

  

420

 

Marine finance fees

       

763

  

807

 

Debit card income

       

298

  

289

 

Other deposit based EFT fees

       

128

  

116

 

Other income

       

309

  

360

 
        

4,340

  

5,371

 

Securities gains (losses)

       

56

  

(1,157

)

Total Noninterest Income

       

4,396

  

4,214

 
             

Noninterest expenses:

            

Salaries and wages

       

4,499

  

4,159

 

Employee benefits

       

1,447

  

1,216

 

Outsourced data processing

       

1,401

  

1,286

 

Occupancy expense

       

1,076

  

994

 

Furniture and equipment expense

       

483

  

499

 

Marketing expense

       

650

  

550

 

Legal and professional fees

       

290

  

408

 

FDIC assessments

       

41

  

41

 

Other expense

       

1,640

  

1,722

 

Total Noninterest Expenses

       

11,527

  

10,875

 
             

Income Before Income Taxes

       

5,617

  

4,939

 

Provision for income taxes

       

1,992

  

1,716

 
             

Net Income

      

$

3,625

 

$

3,223

 


Per share common stock (A):

      
       

Net income diluted

 

$

0.23

$

0.21

 

Net income basic

  

0.23

 

0.21

 

Cash dividends declared

  

0.13

 

0.10

 
       

Average diluted shares outstanding

  

15,842,523

 

15,673,632

 

Average basic shares outstanding

  

15,431,149

 

15,316,176

 
       


(A)

Reflects 10% stock dividend paid as a stock split effective August 1, 2003.





CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  (Unaudited)

SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA AND SUBSIDIARIES


       
  

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

March 31,

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2004

 

2003

 

2003

       

Assets

     


   Cash and due from banks

$

40,588

$

 44,928

$

 63,534

    


  

   Federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits

 

27,756

 

255

 

30,990

    


  

   Securities:

   

 

  

Trading (at fair value)

 

6,079

 

--

 

43,719

Available for sale (at fair value)

 

440,696

 

484,223

 

440,185

Held for sale (at amortized cost)

 

97,705

 

80,866

 

19,998

           Total Securities

 

544,480

 

565,089

 

503,902

    


  

   Loans sold and available for sale

 

5,015

 

5,403

 

11,696

    


  

   Loans

 

739,803

 

708,792

 

661,536

   Less: Allowance for loan losses

 

(6,275

)

(6,160)

 

(6,546)

           Net Loans

 

733,528

 

702,632

 

654,990

    


  

   Bank premises and equipment

 

17,015

 

16,847

 

16,036

   Other real estate owned

 

1,913

 

1,954

 

0

   Other assets

 

31,104

 

16,715

 

16,678

 

$

1,401,399

$

 1,353,823

$

 1,297,826

    


  

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   


  

Liabilities

   


  

   Deposits

   


  

        Demand deposits (noninterest bearing)

$

259,639

$

233,087

$

 195,989

        Savings deposits

 

541,402

 

527,400

 

490,976

        Other time deposits

 

259,948

 

262,904

 

276,777

        Time certificates of $100,000 or more

 

103,982

 

 106,251

 

96,849

            Total Deposits

 

1,164,971

 

1,129,642

 

1,060,591

    


  

   Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase, maturing within 30 days

 

81,849

 

74,158

 

65,241

   Other borrowings

 

40,392

 

40,000

 

65,000

   Other liabilities

 

7,217

 

5,939

 

6,468

  

1,294,429

 

1,249,739

 

1,197,300

    


  

Shareholders' Equity

   


  

   Preferred stock

 

--

 

--

 

--

   Common stock

 

1,710

 

1,710

 

1,555

   Additional paid in capital

 

26,911

 

26,911

 

26,994

   Retained earnings

 

96,516

 

95,336

 

90,533

   Restricted stock awards

 

(1,947

)

(1,947)

 

--

   Treasury stock

 

(15,490

)

(15,350)

 

(17,916)

  

107,700

 

106,660

 

101,166

   Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

(730

)

(2,576)

 

(640)

             Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

106,970

 

104,084

 

100,526

 

$

1,401,399

$

 1,353,823

$

 1,297,826

    


  

Common Shares Outstanding

 

15,503,756

 

15,503,626

 

15,321,846

    


 



Note:  The balance sheet at December 31, 2003 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date.










CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA   (Unaudited)

     

SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA AND SUBSIDIARIES

 
           
 

Quarters

   
 

2004

 

2003

 

Last 12

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

First

Fourth

Third

Second

Months

           

Operating Ratios

          

   Return on average assets (2),(3)

1.05

%

1.14

 %

1.04

 %

1.09

%

1.09

%

   Return on average shareholders' equity (2),(3)

13.31

 

14.46

 

13.27

 

14.08

 

13.88

 

   Net interest margin (1),(2)

3.98

 

3.82

 

3.44

 

3.63

 

3.74

 

   Average equity to average assets

7.91

 

7.87

 

7.84

 

7.74

 

7.84

 
           

Credit Analysis

          

   Net charge-offs

 $      35

 

 $     (20

)

$     (29

)

 $    435

 

 $    421

 

   Net charge-offs to average loans

0.02

%

(0.01

)%

(0.02

)%

0.26

%

0.06

%

   Loan loss provision

 $    150  

 

 $        --

 

 $        --

 

 $        --

 

 $    150

 

   Allowance to loans at end of period

0.85

%

0.87

 %

0.92

 %

0.94

%

  

   Nonperforming assets

 $ 2,325

 

 $ 3,045

 

 $ 3,225

 

 $ 3,238

   

   Nonperforming assets to loans and other

         

        real estate owned at end of period

0.31

%

0.43

 %

0.48

 %

0.50

%

  

    Nonaccrual loans and accruing loans 90 days or more past due to loans outstanding at end of period



0.09

 



0.16

 



0.18

 



0.49

   
           

Per Share Common Stock (A)

          

   Net income diluted

 $   0.23

 

 $   0.24

 

 $   0.22

 

 $   0.23

 

 $   0.92

 

   Net income basic

     0.23

 

     0.25

 

      0.22

 

      0.23

 

     0.93

 

   Cash dividends declared

0.13

 

0.13

 

0.13

 

0.10

 

0.49

 

   Book value per share

 6.90

 

 6.71

 

6.75

 

 6.63

   
           


(A)

Reflects 10% stock dividend paid as a stock split effective August 1, 2003.


(1) Calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using amortized cost.

(2) These ratios are stated on an annualized basis and are not necessarily indicative of ratios which may be expected for the entire year.

(3) The calculation of ROA and ROE do not include the mark-to-market unrealized gains (losses), because the unrealized gains (losses) are not included in net income.










- 30 -





CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA   (Unaudited) (continued)

SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA AND SUBSIDIARIES



(Dollars in thousands)

SECURITIES

 

March 31, 2004

December 31,

2003

March 31,

2003

       

Mortgage-backed

$

6,079

$

--

$

43,719

    Securities Trading

 

6,079

 

--

 

43,719

       

U.S. Treasury and U. S. Government Agencies

 

1,596

 

1,002

 

2,501

Mortgage-backed

 

433, 576

 

477,018

 

431,289

Other securities

 

5,524

 

6,203

 

6,395

    Securities Available for Sale

 

440,696

 

484,223

 

440,185

       

U.S. Treasury and U. S. Government Agencies

 

4,998

 

4,998

 

--

Mortgage-backed

 

90,425

 

73,585

 

16,828

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

 

2,282

 

2,283

 

3,170

    Securities Held for Investment

 

97,705

 

80,866

 

19,998

        Total Securities

$

544,480

$

565,089

$

503,902

       
       
       

LOANS

 

March 31, 2004

December 31, 2003

March 31,

2003

       

Real estate construction

$

129,177

$

107,315

$

84,821

Real estate mortgage

 

485,972

 

470,391

 

452,465

Installment loans to individuals

 

79,209

 

84,512

 

82,011

Commercial and financial

 

45,241

 

46,310

 

41,809

Other loans

 

204

 

264

 

430

        Total Loans

$

739,803

$

708,792

$

661,536

       














AVERAGE BALANCES, YIELDS AND RATES  (Unaudited)

SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA AND SUBSIDIARIES

 


  

2004

  

2003

 
  

First Quarter

 

Fourth Quarter

 

First Quarter

  

Average

Yield/

 

Average

Yield/

 

Average

Yield/

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Balance

Rate

 

Balance

Rate

 

Balance

Rate

 
           

Assets

          

Earning assets:

          

    Securities:

  


  


  


 

Taxable

$

546,639

3.30

% $

576,859

3.21

% $

512,781

3.15

%

Nontaxable

 

2,182

7.88

 

2,183

7.88

 

3,193

7.77

 

       Total Securities

 

548,821

3.32

 

579,042

3.22

 

515,974

3.17

 
   


  


  


 

    Federal funds sold and other

  


  


  


 

         short-term investments

 

15,150

0.96

 

4,649

0.94

 

6,723

1.27

 
   


  


  


 

    Loans, net

 

730,308

6.37

 

689,353

6.49

 

690,022

7.05

 

          

  


  


  


 

        Total Earning Assets

 

1,294,279

5.02

 

1,273,044

4.97

 

1,212,719

5.39

 
   


  


  


 

Allowance for loan losses

 

(6,200

)

 

(6,177

)

 

(6,795

)

 

Cash and due from banks

 

36,985


 

36,116


 

47,048


 

Premises and equipment

 

16,969


 

16,781


 

16,122


 

Other assets

 

14,324


 

14,056


 

12,105


 
   


  


  


 
 

$

1,356,357


$

1,333,820


$

1,281,199


 
   


  


  


 

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

  


  


  


 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

  


  


  


 

      NOW (including Super NOW)

$

74,402

0.46

% $

70,682

0.47

%  $

67,373

0.66

%

      Savings deposits

 

159,594

0.51

 

157,089

0.51

 

148,857

0.62

 

      Money market accounts

 

293,111

0.66

 

292,293

0.66

 

265,843

0.86

 

      Time deposits

 

368,584

2.34

 

359,342

2.45

 

372,273

2.94

 

      Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

 

79,989

0.85

 

68,718

0.77

 

78,495

0.96

 

      Other borrowings

 

39,962

3.04

 

56,576

4.11

 

56,944

4.90

 
   


  


  


 

       Total Interest-Bearing Liabilities

 

1,015,642

1.34

 

1,004,700

1.46

 

989,785

1.83

 
   


  


  


 

Demand deposits (noninterest-bearing)

 

228,526


 

218,489


 

186,613


 

Other liabilities

 

4,839


 

5,633


 

4,787


 

       Total Liabilities

 

1,249,007


 

1,228,822


 

1,181,185


 
   


  


  


 

Shareholders' equity

 

107,350


 

104,998


 

100,014


 
   


  


  


 
 

$

 1,356,357


$

 1,333,820


$

1,281,199


 
   


  


  


 

Interest expense as a % of earning assets  

  

1.05

%

 

1.15

%

 

1.50

%

Net interest income as a % of earning assets  

  

3.98

  

3.82

  

3.89

 
   


       


(1) On a fully taxable equivalent basis.  All yields and rates have been computed on an annualized basis using amortized cost.  Fees on loans have been included in interest on loans.  Nonaccrual loans are included in loan balances.


- ## -


EX-2 4 ex992.htm CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT Female Speaker:_So this time we are going to have 50 minutes of Q&A.  On the line with us we have Teresa (indiscernible), Nicki Gronega and (indiscernible).  To ask a question over the phone press one and Lyoll will attend to your call in the order receiv

EXHIBIT 99.2





First Quarter Earnings

Seacoast Banking Corporation

April 15, 2004

9:30 a.m. ET

Host:  Dennis S. Hudson, III



Operator:

Good day ladies and gentleman and welcome to the Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida’s first quarter earnings conference call.  At this time all participants are in a listen only mode.  Later we will conduct a question and answer session and instructions will follow at that time.  If any one should require assistance during the conference please press “*” then “0” on your telephone key pad.  As a reminder, this conference is being recorded.  Introducing your host for today’s conference:  Seacoast President and CEO Dennis Hudson.  Sir, you may begin.


Dennis Hudson:

Thank you very much and welcome to our first quarter conference call.  Before we begin I would like to direct your attention to the statement contained at the end of our press release regarding forward statements.  During this call we may be discussing certain issues that constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.  Accordingly, our comments are intended to be covered within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act.  With me today is Bill Hahl, our Chief Financial Officer, and both of us will be available to answer questions following our prepared remarks.  


Seacoast reported earnings for the quarter of 23 cents per share (diluted), up over the 21 cents per share one year earlier and down a penny from the fourth quarter of last year.  A careful review of the quarter will clearly demonstrate that our efforts discussed in the last couple of calls, to improve margins and to reduce long term interest rates risk, continue to progress nicely.  Total revenues for the quarter, defined as net interest income and non interest income excluding securities gains, were up to a 15.2 percent over the prior year and up in astounding 29.5 percent annualized over the last quarter of 2003.  Our margin improvement, which began last quarter with a 38 point basis point expansion, continued this quarter with an expansion of another 16 basis points and now stands a 3.98 percent.  Provided we continue to produce the loan growth that we exp ect, we believe our margin will continue to expand over the balance of the year.  Our goal is to produce a more competitive net interest margin over the long term as we continue our work.  In addition, we believe our longer term interest rate risk profile will continue to improve in the process, which will place us in a stronger competitive position as interest rates inevitably increase.  


Performance for the first quarter was also impacted by increases in overhead do both to our expansion and the higher compensation expense related to our anticipated performance for the year.  We also took a provision for loan losses for the first time in many quarters due to healthy loan growth.  These factors are not expected to be as impactful to quarterly growth rates over the balance of the year.  Bill will be sharing additional color with us regarding our progress.  


But first let me turn to an update on our market expansion and market growth generally.  As most of you know, we operate in some of the fastest growing and wealthiest markets in Florida.  Our home market, located just north of Palm Beach, is home to Florida’s wealthiest residents, with the Martin County being the county with the highest per capita income from investment sources.  And the Northern end of our market, Vero Beach, has the distinction of having the second highest per capita income of any county in Florida from investment sources.  St. Lucie County, in between, is home to the fastest growing municipality in Florida:  the city of port St. Lucie, which incidentally is now larger in population than the city of West Palm Beach.  Building permits in this fast growing city are now more than double last year’s figure.  So the Treas ure Coast’s close proximity to South Florida is increasingly becoming the choice of many who want to escape from the densely populated, over developed markets to the South.  Loan growth and core deposit growth for us in these markets continue to be outstanding and we continue to hit very high numbers for both production and pipe lines in the Treasure Coast.


Our expansion into Palm Beach County that began last year continues to build strong momentum.  With three offices open today and two more coming late this year, we have seen terrific new business results so far.  Thanks to a dedicated team of professional bankers lead by Jean Strickland, our Palm Beach County President, we have already closed almost $100 million in loans in the market, of which approximately $66 million has funded.  Our Palm Beach county pipeline of new loans is strong too with over $119 million in loans currently in process.  Our deposit portfolio is growing nicely as well, with balances at the end of the quarter totaling $39 million with over 20 percent of that number consisting of non-interest bearing deposits.  Clearly selling our SuperCommunity brand in Palm Beach County is working.  While these numbers are extremely small relat ive to the size of the Palm Beach County market, they have incrementally added to our success on the fast growing Treasure Coast with more dramatic impact as demonstrated in the revenue growth we reported this quarter.


Now I would like to turn the call over to Bill Hahl our Chief Financial Officer who will further report on the results for the quarter -- Bill?


William Hahl:

Good morning.  I will begin today's discussion with some comments about earning assets, deposit growth and mix, net interest margin increases, highlights related to increases in fee-based businesses, overhead and conclude with the provision and allowance for loan losses.


We have posted three charts that can be accessed from our website under the heading presentations for this conference call, and I will refer to these during my comments.  I will start by reminding everyone that over the last two years we have had a commitment to change our mix of earning assets, as well as our loan portfolio mix, to improve our net interest margin from median performance compared to peer that we have produced in the past.  A key component of this strategy was to ramp up our commercial and consumer lending capabilities and expand these components to around 65 to 70 percent of total loans, and reduce the size of the 1-4 family residential loan portfolio from 60 percent to 30 to 35 percent, while maintaining our historically low and favorable cost of funds.  Over the last two years, interest rates declined to a 45 year low and our 1-4 family residenti al portfolio ran-off much faster than anticipated.  This produced negative loan growth until the third quarter of 2003.  We have worked very hard over the past two years to improve our consumer and commercial lending capabilities and have had some nice results that were hidden by the unprecedented refinance activity during 2002 and 2003.  Total loans have increased sequentially to $739 million at March 31, 2004 from $709 million in the fourth quarter and $664 million in the third quarter.  For the last three quarters commercial lending originations, primarily commercial real estate, continued to improve and prospects for continued annualized loan growth in the mid to high teens appears likely over the remainder of 2004.


The results of our expansion in the Palm Beach County have exceeded expectations in both actual loan fundings, which now total over 66 million, and the strength in the customer demand for our brand of banking.  As Dennis mentioned earlier this market has produced over $200 million of commercial real estate lending opportunities with approximately $100 million of actual new funded and unfunded balances at March 31, 2004.  The quality of the commercial real estate lending opportunities is high and the closing ratio for the product line in this market has been strong.  


Please refer to the chart titled “Growth in Earning Assets” posted on our website.  Average loan outstanding for the first quarter improved to approximately 56 percent of earning assets, up from the lowest point in the second quarter of 2003 of 53 percent, but still well below the 75 to 80 percent level the company maintained prior to 2002.  The yield on earning assets has increased 33 basis points from the third quarter 2003.  The current spread between new loan add-on rates in comparable duration investment is in the range of 250 to 300 basis points.  We believe earning assets yield should improve going forward as a natural result of a shift from investment securities into loan balances outstanding over the next 12 months.  


My comments now will be about the positive growth over the past 12 months and the positive change in mix that has occurred.  Please refer the chart titled “Growth in Average Deposits” included on our website.  A positive result of the long term SuperCommunity Bank strategy is the company’s success at maintaining and growing low cost funding relationships.  Our SuperCommunity Banking brand – what we call a third alternative to banking — all of the sophisticated products and services of large competitors delivered with the quality customer service of small community bank — has provided us with ample low cost deposits on the Treasure Coast.  Our percentile rank versus peers has always been in the lowest quartile, a result of a very favorable deposit mix.  Although short term interest rates have remained unchanged over the last 1 2 months, interest expense as a percent of earning assets has declined 45 basis points to 1.05 at March 31, 2004.  Average deposits for the first quarter 2004 have increased $83 million or 8.1 percent when compared to first quarter 2003, with $42 million or an increase of 22.5 percent in non-interest bearing deposits, and an increase of $45 million or 9.3 percent in low-cost NOW and savings deposits.  


Given the positive changes in deposit mix, and the growth in loans and deposits, it is not surprising that the margin for the first quarter increased 16 basis points over the fourth quarter and total 3.98 percent compared to 3.89 percent for the same quarter last year.  This was in-line with our expectations and it is what we communicated during last quarter’s conference call.  Margin expansion is likely to continue in the near term, and is dependent, as Dennis said, on continued loan growth and economic improvement.  When simulated on our ALCO model, the expansion of the company’s net interest margin for the remainder of 2004 could be in the range of 10 to 15 basis points, if interest rates remained unchanged.  With the recent 50 to 60 basis points steepening of the yield curve, there is potential for added margin expansion this year.


Now, let’s move on to some highlights for noninterest items.  The improved non-interest income growth over the fourth quarter was aided by increases in fee-based businesses.  Non-interest income, excluding security gains and losses, increased 13.2 percent when compared to fourth quarter of 2003, with nice growth in fees from our investment management services, which increased over 26 percent from the fourth quarter, as well as growth and revenues from mortgage banking and refinance activity.  Revenues from investment management began improving in the fourth quarter 2003; and with the economy coming around, the performance for investment management could conceivably continue to improve.  In addition, the future for increased residential loan production looks favorable as the local housing market continues to grow.  


As Dennis mentioned the company’s non-interest expenses were up in the first quarter and totaled the $11.5 million, a sequential increase from $10.3 million in the fourth quarter and 10.9 million in the first quarter 2003.  A portion of the growth in overhead is a result of increased wages, benefits, occupancy, marketing, and other overhead due to the addition of branches and personnel in the Palm Beach County market, and additionally from higher commissions, stock awards, and other incentive compensation, tied to the company’s improving financial results.  Our brand of SuperCommunity Banking – with the high level of service delivered by professional bankers from convenient branch locations – will never allow us to have an overhead ratio of the large competitors whose idea of quality customer service and convenience are 800 numbers answered by comput ers.  However expense control is important to us, and we believe we can and should operate over the long term with an average overhead ratio in the range of the low 60’s.  However, for the remainder of 2004, the overhead will remain in the mid 60’s, as we add expenses as a result of our market expansion.


Now I will have some comments on the allowance and the provision.  The allowance for loan losses totaled $67.3 million at the end of the quarter, which represented 0.85 percent of total loans compared to 0.87 percent in the fourth quarter.  Our net charge-offs and non-performing asset levels have historically been much better than industry averages and remained very solid in the first quarter.  The consistent credit quality and historically low net charge-offs in all of the company’s loan portfolios results not only in lower overall allowance for loan loss, but also a more modest provision for loan losses.  This quarter we provided a $150,000 provision, which was up from no provision for all of 2003.  The company’s average net charge-off ratio for the last 5 years has been 0.04 percent and for the last 10 years has been 0.06 percent.  It is contemplated that loan loss provisioning will continue over the remainder of 2004, consistent with loan growth.


Dennis Hudson:

Thank you very much, Bill.  That ends our prepared remarks and we will be delighted to take a few questions if there are any.


Operator:

Ladies and gentleman, if you have a question please press the ‘1’ key on your telephone key pad at this time.  If your question has been answered or you wish to remove yourself from the queue, please press the £ key.  If you are using a speaker phone, please lift the hand set before asking your question.  One moment while we queue your question.  Our first question comes from Gary Tenner, of Robinson Humphrey.  Sir, your question?


Gary Tenner:

Good morning.  Just a quick question, Bill, on the tax rate --  it looks to be a little bit higher this quarter versus what it was through most of the last year.  Is that what should be expected going forward or what it -- or over the assumed average close rates of last year’s level?


William Hahl:

No, that should be tax rate going forward this year.


Gary Tenner:

Okay.  Great thank you.


William Hahl:

Okay.


Operator:

Our next question is from the line of John Pandtle with Raymond James & Associates.  Sir, your question.


John Pandtle:

Good morning guys.


Dennis Hudson:

Good morning John.


William Hahl:

Good Morning.


John Pandtle:

I was wondering if we could drill down a little further into the expense issue.  The sequential quarter increase of $1.2 million -- you gave us two broad categories for the increase.  Can you give us a sense of dollar amount allocated to each of those areas of higher expenses?  And what we should expect over the balance of the year on a quarterly run rate basis? – is this $11.5 million should we consider that as a base to use going forward?


Dennis Hudson:

Yeah I think so.  And in my opening comments I try to make the point, John, that while we saw a large sequential growth from fourth to first quarter…


John Pandtle:

Yeah.


Dennis Hudson:

We won't see that kind of growth going forward and I think -- generally speaking -- that will be a fairly normalized quarterly number now as we go forward.  And that assumes that our performance continues to generally accelerate as we go throughout the year.  If it doesn't, we may cut back on some of the numbers that we are accruing in there for the various plans that we have in place on the line side related to volume…


John Pandtle:

Uh-huh.


Dennis Hudson:

 -- and throughout the company based on overall performance of the company. As you know, our performance last year was not what we expected, what we wanted it, to be.  As Bill said earlier, last year’s performance was driven down by some margin contraction which again was due, as we all know, to a very difficult environment for us in the residential areas.  We saw huge liquidation hitting us at the same time we were transforming our loan portfolio.  So performance /earnings were actually down last year and so we had some pretty significant cuts in a lot of our overhead categories as a result of that poorer performance.  So we are kind of getting back up to normal levels now and you are going to -- you saw that jump in the first quarter -- but it won't continue.


John Pandtle:

Okay.


Dennis Hudson:

But, you know…


John Pandtle:

Uh-huh but would you be willing to give us the numbers behind the increase; in other words, what percentage of the $1.2 million would you say was higher wages and overhead for Palm Beach and what of the remainder was related to higher incentive comp and commission expense?


Dennis Hudson:

Some of it's somewhat more broad -- with that which is related to the incentive compensation accruals or salaries -- and the other part that drilled up the first quarter.  Group health insurance increased quite dramatically, in the 20 percent category.  So if we take both salaries/wages and benefits, I would say that out of the $1.2 million we are looking at around $800,000 and the rest was related to the Palm Beach County branches and normal salary increases.  Much of the Palm Beach County impact was felt in the fourth quarter although there was continued impact felt -- growth felt -- in the first quarter.  I think going forward we have got a pretty full staff in Palm Beach County and the next thing to expect will be the staffing of the two new branches.  But it's now looking like those branches are going to be lucky to be open at the tail end of this ye ar—so I am anticipating not a whole lot of impact in this year.  And again we are pushing hard on the revenue side to mitigate any of those impacts as we approach the end of the year.


John Pandtle:

Okay.  And this is a quick follow-up and then I will hop off.  Can you update us on positioning and your securities portfolio?  Did you make any major changes this quarter and where are you from a duration stand point?  What was the unrealized gain or loss in the portfolio at quarter end? And then, the recent move we have seen in rates, how does that impact the unrealized --?


William Hahl:

Good question.  The duration of investment portfolio is about two and a half years -- and it probably hasn’t really changed even with this increase in the yield curve that happened.  The depreciation was just south of a million buck, that was around $900,000 in market value being under historical costs.  So nothing substantial there. And as far as -- you know, it’s anybody’s guess with the 50 basis point movement; but the since the portfolio is relatively short, I think in that part of the curve I looked at it, and it was maybe a 25 basis point shift, so I think you will see probably the portfolio’s depreciation more along the lines as it was in the December financials, which I think was about $3 million -- that is what my recollection is.  I don't have that right here.


Dennis Hudson:

Yeah, I think that is correct.


John Pandtle:

Okay great, thank you.


Dennis Hudson:

All right.


Operator:

Again ladies and gentlemen if there are any further question, please press the “1” key on your telephone key pad at this time.  Our next question it's from David Honold with Keefe Bruyette and Williams.  Sir, your question.


David Honold:

Hey its David Honold, KBW.


Dennis Hudson:

Hi, I thought so.


David Honold:

Just a quick follow up on the end of period loan balances.  You may have mentioned this, but what was the 1-4 family, and then what was commercial real estate at the end of the quarter?


William Hahl:

Let's see, going by memory here, because I don't have this in --well maybe I do -- both the commercial and financial was around $45 million at the end of the…


David Honold:

Yeah, that’s C&I.


William Hahl:

Yeah, the C&I --


David Honold:

CRE?..


Dennis Hudson:

 -- and I think commercial and commercial real estate is about 53 percent of the total portfolio of $739 million.  So if you take off the C&I portion, you will drill down into the commercial real estate.  If you just do the math there -- I am a little slow myself this morning, so I can't do it.


David Honold:

That’s okay.


Dennis Hudson:

And the 1-4 family represents about 28 percent of the $739 million and the reminder is the consumer portfolio.


David Honold:

Got it.


Dennis Hudson:

Okay.


David Honold:

Thanks, and then maybe you could just walk through some of the -- with the yield curve at the current level -- what your thoughts are on the margin.  And then, if you touched on the potential for expansion, would that come more out of better loan yields or securities yields or a combination?


William Hahl:

Yes, you are right.  What we experienced in the first quarter, if you recall, the curve flattened from let's say certainly the fourth quarter and so the add-on rates for loans were down from what we had sort of anticipated, and yet we came in -- as far as the margin expansion -- within the range that we had indicated last conference call.  That was driven by the fact that we actually did better in our funding of loans over the first quarter, so that drove the margin improvement.  With the yield curve where it is and, if it would stay there and we continue to have a loan growth accelerating, there is no doubt on my mind that we will see a higher margin than what we forecasted -- it will be at the higher end of that range, let’s say.  For sure, we are seeing and we have seen that the investment yield has gone up considerably -- not that we plan on putting a lot into the investment portfolio over the remainder of the year based upon our forecast for loan growth.


David Honold:

Thanks.


Dennis Hudson:

Thank you David.


Operator:

Our next question comes from the line of John Pandtle, with Raymond James & Associates.  Your question sir.


John Pandtle:

Okay, one final question -- I just want to clarify the tax rate issue.  I am seeing on a fully tax equivalent basis a rate of about 35.3 percent in the quarter?…


William Hahl:

Correct.


John Pandtle:

 -- and due for 2003, you were at about 34.1?


William Hahl:

Correct.


John Pandtle:

Are you saying 35.3 is the proper number to model for the reminder of year?


William Hahl:

I believe so John, that’s -- I went over that with my controller, so I am unfortunately pretty confident about the 35.  It’s going to be right around that:  35, 35.2.


John Pandtle:

Okay, thanks again.


William Hahl:

All right.


Operator:

The next question comes from the line of Jonathan Ashe at Wellington Management Company.  Your question please.


Jonathan Ashe:

Hi, It looks like revenues exceeded expectations and I guess we could then extrapolate…it looks like ‘04 revenues are going to exceed expectations.  But yet, we have the expense growth in the first quarter kind of mitigating the excitement.  And I guess, if you look at revenue per diluted share was up nicely over the fourth quarter and -- just interested in the expenses on the salaries and benefits--some $900,000 over the fourth quarter off of a lower than desired ‘03 year.  How much of this is accruing for expected ‘04 performance and how much of that is incentive based related to 03?  Thank you.


William Hahl:

Really none of it is related to incentive based compensation for ‘03 and, as Dennis explained, I think in the fourth quarter we actually had, if you look sequentially back to the third quarter, fourth quarter salaries were, I believe, lower as a result of actually reducing in the fourth quarter some of your prior accruals. We had forecast our performance to be better than it was and so we took some accruals down in the fourth quarter.  So the run rate that was there for the third quarter would have been the run rate plus a little bit of increase for the Palm Beach County branches.  So that's the reason why the number is so large -- a $900,000 increase.  But there isn't any of the 2003 incentive in the first quarter, so I think you are absolutely right, we are expecting good revenue growth over 2004 and we are accruing for that higher performance.


Dennis Hudson:

So said another way, we are expecting a continuation of some level of sequential revenue growth, quarter to quarter, but we are not expecting sequential growth nearly as dramatic on the expense side.  So we will see as the year progresses, and if we need to make adjustments to some of these estimates, we certainly will.  But you are looking at probably the least favorable period in which to compare on a sequential basis for the reasons that Bill just stated.


Jonathan Ashe:

Thanks.


Dennis Hudson:

Thanks Jonathan.


Operator:

Our next question is from the line of Peyton Green with FTN Midwest Research.  Your question please.


Peyton Green:

Hi, good morning.  A couple -- and they are all on the revenue side.  With respect to mortgage banking and also on marine finance, what is your outlook for those lines, Dennis, versus where you might have been 90 or 180 days ago?


Dennis Hudson:

Well on the mortgage side, number one, as you know, we have been saying all along that even though we are in a less exciting environment today than we were a year ago, in terms of the right environment, it is still fairly exciting.  I mean rates are still in a fairly good spot.  Number two, our markets, unlike others in the country, continue to expand pretty dramatically in terms of the level of residential growth that is occurring here and the amount of new products that is being delivered every quarter.  So we think that's going to help support our revenues in the residential area. And then thirdly, the market extension into Palm Beach County should begin to kick-in at some point.  I will tell you on the residential side, very little of that residential growth -- hardly any of it -- is coming out of Palm Beach County right now.  As we go forward with th e longer build-out, a more consumer-oriented build-out, we are looking forward optimistically to some pretty decent…


William Hahl:

Sequential…


Dennis Hudson:

 …sequential growth and that’s just based on the volume side.  Due to the market extensions -- due to the markets around -- we have to carry out that and say that our residential portfolio has dipped as low as we want it to go -- in fact it is a little lower than it should be right now.  We have said last year that we were targeting the residential portfolio at about 30 percent of loans, 35 percent of loans, and today it's around 28 percent.  So we are booking more production today than we were a year ago, and that's kind of mitigating the excitement that I talked about. So we are kind of in a transition again here where we will continue to book some residential production, and as a result, we will not have the revenues associated with the gain on sales.  So, having said all of that, we are hoping -- all other things I haven't discussed being eq ual, most notably the right environment -- that we will slug away at it and continue to see some growth and some nice revenues in the mortgage area.


Back on the marine side, I would say that things continue to be very strong.  In those areas, we are moving into a period where we think we will continue to post the same marine growth that we have had recently—although, as you know, revenues have not been nearly as dramatic as they were a year ago.  Again, I just remind you, a year ago or little over a year ago, we did picked up some new markets in California and that really helped dramatically grow our revenues in that area.  At this point that division is operating profitably, and it is making nice contributions to our overall profitability and we expect that to continue on the revenue side, growing at -- what build up?...


William Hahl:

10 percent.


Dennis Hudson:

 …10 percent rate, as we build out throughout the year.


Peyton Green:

Okay. I get the follow up from the mortgage area.  I mean, I know it's a very well aligned, but it’s kind of a minus 50 percent for year over year assumption in ‘04 versus ‘03?


William Hahl:

Oh, gosh -- that's tough to say, Peyton.  We would…


Peyton Green:

Or does it…


William Hahl:

We would like to see, as Dennis indicated, I think some sequential growth in our mortgage banking revenues throughout the next three quarters, half of what we posted in the first quarter.


Peyton Green:

Okay.


William Hahl:

And I haven't done the math, but I guess I would be surprised if we were to do 50 percent decline.


Peyton Green:

Okay, all right, fair enough. And then on the service charges on deposit accounts, that number was a little bit lower year-over-year for you.  Do you know what is driving that number down a little bit?


William Hahl:

Yeah, we have broken out it, Peyton.  Taking out everything that's growing, which are Internet banking and some of the check card revenues and things of that nature, what's left in that category -- that's a big driver – is overdraft fees.  Those are down, but we were working on that and we were looking at that very closely right now.  We have got some ideas and some things in the works which, over the course of the year, we think will improve that.


Dennis Hudson:

And I would say, a back drop affecting the whole industry is this continued promotion of free checking -- service charge free checking and the like.  That continues to give us challenges, as it does the whole rest of the industry, as well as the other related fees that are not related to overdrafts.  There’s a lot of competition out there these days for free checking and we are right in the middle of it, offering our own free checking products.


Peyton Green:

Okay.  All right, so I guess it's not necessarily a collectiblity issue related to any kind of free checking program in the past.  It's just simply the pressure, the general feeling, because your product situation is different than others.  Is that fair?


Dennis Hudson:

I would say that's true and also you have to look back historically.  We’ve had very large penetration in these markets.


Peyton Green:

Right …


Dennis Hudson:

And we’ve, in general over the last couple of years, had to get a lot more competitive in the fee arena to maintain that position and grow it over time.  So a lot of the growth, virtually all of the growth, imbalance is coming from free checking and service charge free type products, so I think it has been …as Bill mentioned earlier it's important that we examine that closely, and we are examining it and we have some thoughts that hopefully will impact us a little later in the year.


Peyton Green:

Okay, great. Thank you very much.


Dennis Hudson:

Thank you.


Operator:

Our next question from the line of Chris Marinak with Fig Partners, your question please?


Chris Marinak:

Thank you.  Dennis, curious about what you are seeing competition do in terms of extending hours. Do you feel any pressure on the retail side to extend hours yourselves? How well received, or not received, is that in your market?


Dennis Hudson:

Well, first of all, we offer extended hours through our Wal-Mart offices.  Throughout the markets, we have 4, 3, no 4, Wal-Marts – sorry, my mind went blank there for a second -- four Wal-Mart Stores open and they offer extended hours during the week and they are even open on Saturdays and Sundays.  And we have more offices, brick and mortar offices, throughout the markets than anyone else, so we think from our prospective that we offer a competitive value that is really unmatched.  What we see, though, are some of those that have fewer offices and fewer distribution points through out the market offering up extended hours. You are certainly aware of the Bank Atlantic’s effort to do that and that's certainly impacting us, but I would say that we don't feel in these markets that it is significantly impacting our growth rates.  For what it's worth, one of the reasons we believe that to be the case is that most of the markets that we are operating in are non-metro markets, a lot of retirees and a lot of people who really are more ambivalent, I would say, about extended hours.  When you combine that with the fact that we have these alternatives in the Wal-Mart stores, we think that actually we are competing very well with that.  But again, you are right, people are offering extended hours and it seems to be working for them, I guess.


Chris Marinak:

Okay.  And then, a separate question, can you talk to us about what you expect in terms of seasonality or anything of that nature for this year?  Given the strength in the loan portfolio, is there any difference in seasonality this year, either be it on loans or maybe also on the liability side?


Dennis Hudson:

As you know, historically we have seen fairly significant amounts of seasonality in our balance sheet. But in the last few years we have seen a lot less of that. Bill and I was just talking about that in terms of looking ahead to this summer and what sort of equity issues we might face and I guess we are -- Bill, what are your comments there?


William Hahl:

Really over the last couple of years, as Dennis just mentioned, we have not seen that the seasonal deposit clients that we had typically seen -- say certainly 10 years ago, which is going back a ways.  I think there is a couple of reasons.  I think the Palm Beach County expansion and the added deposits coming in -- the increase in deposits as a result of that -- is masking maybe some of the lesser seasonality that actually does occur.  So we have seen growth continue quarter over quarter in our deposits over the last …certainly the last 6 to 8 quarters that I have looked back.  That's the only thing I can think of is that it's not really that much seasonality.


On the loan side, I would say that typically we did see seasonality in the residential production and so forth, but as Dennis mentioned, the markets here that we are operating in are quite strong (housing-wise) and I think we are seeing a lot less of that seasonality happening.  I might even say on the Seacoast Marine side that there is some seasonality there.  Production tends to be stronger in the third, fourth and first quarters and less in the second.


Okay?


Dennis Hudson:

Okay?


Chris Marinak:

Great.  And then one final question -- on the expense side, that's been beaten to the death here, do you have any goals on the efficiency ratio?  I don't know if I missed that or not.


Dennis Hudson:

Can you speak up a little?


Chris Marinak:

Do you have any goals on the efficiency ratio, Dennis?


Dennis Hudson:

As Bill indicated earlier, we are going to see a higher efficiency ratio this year than we would like and it’s primarily due to the market extension and the full year’s impact of that market extension, with a little more extend towards the end of it.  But we think after that we will be bringing that number down and our goal is to have it below 60, if not 60 percent.  Again that's high compared with some of the really large competitors, but we think, given our markets and our strategy in the markets and that with the kinds of businesses that they were operating that typically have higher expense ratios, notably trust, brokerage, marine finance, private banking and so forth, that that's a good target for us.


Chris Marinak:

So the down below 60, Dennis, is that more of an ‘05 event?


Dennis Hudson:

Yes.


Chris Marinak:

Okay, great.  Thanks very much guys.


Dennis Hudson:

Thank you.


Operator:

Sir, there are no further questions in queue, and I will turn the conference back to our moderator for any further comments.


Dennis Hudson:

Well, thank you very much for attending today.  We appreciate your attendance and always welcome your calls and questions at any time.  Thank you very much.  Bye, bye.


Operator:

Thank you ladies and gentlemen.  This does conclude the conference.  You may now disconnect.





EX-3 5 ex993.htm CHART Exhibit 99

Exhibit 99.3



Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida



Growth in Average Deposits

(in millions)


 

Mar-03

Jun-03

Sep-03

Dec-03

Mar-04

NOW & Savings

$482

$501

$507

$520

$527

Time

$372

$375

$365

$359

$369

DDA

$187

$196

$206

$218

$229



Growth in Average Earning Assets

(in millions)


 

Mar-03

Jun-03

Sep-03

Dec-03

Mar-04

Loans

$690

$672

$662

$689

$730

Investment Securities

$516

$558

$579

$579

$549

Fed Funds Sold

$6

$7

$7

$4

$28



Growth in Loan & Investment Yields

(in millions)


 

Mar-03

Jun-03

Sep-03

Dec-03

Mar-04

Loan Yield

7.05

7.00

6.60

6.49

6.37

Investment Securities

3.17

2.71

2.58

3.22

3.32





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