Beach First Announces Earnings for First Quarter 2008


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., April 28, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Beach First National Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:BFNB) announced first quarter net income of $883,713, along with record growth in loans and deposits.

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2008, totaled $883,713 or $0.18 per diluted share, an 18.8 percent increase over the previous quarter, but down significantly from figures reported for the first quarter 2007. The decrease is primarily a result of rate changes that impact our floating rate loans and an increase in the reserve for loan losses.

Total assets grew to $638.8 million, which represents an increase of 15.6 percent from March 31, 2007. Total deposits grew to $493.9 million, an increase of 11.0 percent from March 31, 2007. Total loans grew to $538.9 million, a 20.3 percent increase over the March 31, 2007 figure.

"The economic factors that impacted the banking industry's performance in the latter half of 2007 have continued into 2008," said Walt Standish, Beach First president and chief executive officer. "Declining real estate values, unsettled credit markets, and pressure on the net interest margin are issues that banks across the country must continue to manage in 2008. While our earnings increased over the fourth quarter, the real estate markets in Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island remain unsettled. We believe that we have a manageable level of problem assets, yet we have increased our loan loss reserve to protect against any further deterioration in real estate values or credit quality."

Standish added, "The overall growth in our balance sheet indicates that Beach First remains strong and focused on its core banking strengths. During the first quarter, we opened our newest office at 73rd Avenue North in Myrtle Beach. Response to the new location has been extremely positive as we bring our easy way of doing business to consumers and businesses alike. We are confident that Beach First is well positioned to weather these current economic conditions and to achieve continued growth," he said.

Additional First Quarter Highlights



 * Annualized return on average equity was 6.64 percent for the three
   months ended March 31, 2008, compared to 14.04 percent for the
   three months ended March 31, 2007.
 * Annualized return on average assets was 0.56 percent for the three
   months ended March 31, 2007 compared to 1.21 percent for the same
   period a year ago.
 * The net interest margin was 3.45 percent for the quarter ended
   March 31, 2008, compared to 4.39 percent for the same period a year
   ago.
 * Book value per share stood at $11.11 per share at March 31, 2008
   compared to $9.89 per share at March 31, 2007.

Beach First operates seven banking locations in Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and offers a full line of banking products and services, including NetTeller internet banking. The bank's mortgage lending division operates six mortgage offices in the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic states. The company's stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol BFNB and the website is beachfirst.com.

The Beach First National Bank logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=703

Certain statements in this news release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to future plans and expectations, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, such as a downturn in the economy, greater than expected noninterest expenses, excessive loan losses, regulatory actions or changes and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more detailed description of factors that could cause or contribute to such differences, please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, we can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by our company or any person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by our company will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.



       Beach First National Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                    Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
                     Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                       March 31,          December 31,
                                  2008          2007          2007
                                  ----          ----          -----
                               (unaudited)   (unaudited)    (audited)

  Assets
 Cash and due from banks      $  5,544,916  $  7,654,093  $  4,992,634
 Federal funds sold and
  short-term investments         2,091,864     4,655,718       566,044
 Investment securities          66,305,216    69,191,574    65,677,993

 Portfolio loans, net of
  unearned                     531,546,872   434,129,341   503,432,516
  Allowance for loan losses
   (ALL)                        (7,519,960)   (6,172,091)   (6,935,616)
                              ------------  ------------  ------------
 Portfolio loans, net of ALL   524,026,912   427,957,250   496,496,900

 Mortgage loans held for sale    7,356,399    13,865,389     6,475,619
 Federal Reserve Bank stock        984,000       984,000       984,000
 Federal Home Loan Bank stock    3,545,100     2,607,800     3,395,300
 Premises and equipment, net    16,188,434    14,967,965    15,746,143
 Cash value of life insurance    3,582,672     3,456,029     3,554,807
 Investment in BFNB Trusts         310,000       310,000       310,000
 Other assets                    8,871,724     7,157,396     7,788,978
                              ------------  ------------  ------------
   Total assets               $638,807,237  $552,807,214  $605,988,418
                              ============  ============  ============

 Liabilities and shareholders'
  equity
 Liabilities:
 Deposits
  Noninterest bearing
   deposits                   $ 35,925,681  $ 35,863,807  $ 33,138,936
  Interest bearing deposits    458,007,313   409,193,216   431,059,409
                              ------------  ------------  ------------
   Total deposits              493,932,994   445,057,023   464,198,345
 Advances from Federal Home
  Loan Bank                     55,000,000    37,500,000    55,000,000
 Federal funds purchased and
  other borrowings              21,153,488     7,133,561    18,288,148
 Junior subordinated
  debentures                    10,310,000    10,310,000    10,310,000
 Other liabilities               4,595,991     5,526,823     5,613,875
                              ------------  ------------  ------------
   Total liabilities           584,992,473   505,527,407   553,410,368
                              ------------  ------------  ------------

 Shareholders' equity:
 Common stock, $1 par value;
  10,000,000 shares
  authorized; 4,845,018
   issued and outstanding at
   March 31, 2008, 4,779,241
   at March 31, 2007, and
   4,845,018 at December 31,
   2007                          4,845,018     4,779,241     4,845,018
 Paid-in capital                29,499,043    28,695,185    29,494,912
 Retained earnings              19,467,137    14,319,179    18,583,425
 Accumulated other
  comprehensive loss                 3,566      (513,798)     (345,305)
                              ------------  ------------  ------------
   Total shareholders' equity   53,814,764    47,279,807    52,578,050
                              ------------  ------------  ------------
   Total liabilities and
    shareholders' equity      $638,807,237  $552,807,214  $605,988,418
                              ============  ============  ============


       Beach First National Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                    Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
                  Consolidated Statements of Income

                                                          For the Year
                                  Three Months Ended         Ended
                                       March 31,          December 31,
                                       ---------          ------------
                                  2008          2007          2007
                                  ----          ----          ----
                               (unaudited)   (unaudited)    (audited)
 Interest income
  Interest and fees on loans  $ 10,159,454  $  9,700,238  $ 41,064,557
  Investment securities            998,444       904,843     3,698,507
  Federal funds sold and
   short term investments           71,602        72,477       319,985
  Other                              5,312         5,899        23,970
                              ------------  ------------  ------------
   Total interest income        11,234,812    10,683,457    45,107,019
 Interest expense
  Deposits                       5,097,125     4,467,284    18,802,056
  Advances from the FHLB,
   federal funds purchased
   and other borrowings            742,935       536,958     2,877,462
  Junior subordinated
   debentures                      174,378       197,468       802,455
                              ------------  ------------  ------------
   Total interest expense        6,014,438     5,201,710    22,481,973

   Net interest income           5,220,374     5,481,747    22,625,046
 Provision for loan losses         746,000       351,200     2,045,600
                              ------------  ------------  ------------
   Net interest income after
    provision for loan losses    4,474,374     5,130,547    20,579,446
                              ------------  ------------  ------------

 Noninterest income
  Service fees on deposit
   accounts                        154,044       135,488       568,760
  Mortgage production related
   income                          740,001     1,772,672     4,911,705
  Merchant income                  153,687        96,565       665,811
  Gain on sale of investment
   securities                           --            --         7,904
  Income from cash value life
   insurance                        33,527        36,759       152,086
  Gain on sale of fixed assets         220         3,850         6,324
  Other income                     298,544       241,289     1,265,194
                              ------------  ------------  ------------
   Total noninterest income      1,380,023     2,286,623     7,577,784
                              ------------  ------------  ------------

 Noninterest expense
  Salaries and wages             1,697,881     2,332,432     7,760,272
  Employee benefits                401,208       400,906     1,646,093
  Supplies and printing             52,267        51,182       199,977
  Advertising and public
   relations                       182,400       143,606       615,552
  Professional fees                142,436       127,989       725,122
  Depreciation and
   amortization                    268,937       252,598     1,060,255
  Occupancy                        410,615       464,283     1,719,491
  Data processing fees             186,300       171,457       748,446
  Mortgage production related
   expense                         169,667       380,697     1,153,246
  Merchant processing              157,677       111,829       623,947
  Other operating expenses         809,364       474,198     2,680,943
                              ------------  ------------  ------------
   Total noninterest expenses    4,478,752     4,911,177    18,933,344
                              ------------  ------------  ------------

   Income before income taxes    1,375,645     2,505,993     9,223,886
 Income tax expense                491,932       893,609     3,347,256
                              ------------  ------------  ------------

   Net income                 $    883,713  $  1,612,384  $  5,876,630
                              ============  ============  ============

 Basic net income per common
  share                       $       0.18  $       0.34  $       1.22
                              ============  ============  ============
 Diluted net income per
  common share                $       0.18  $       0.33  $       1.18
                              ============  ============  ============
   Weighted average common
    shares outstanding - basic   4,845,018     4,769,102     4,817,911
   Weighted average common
    shares outstanding -
    diluted                      4,925,485     4,926,803     4,977,067


       Beach First National Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                    Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
                        Summary Financial Data
                              (Unaudited)

                              Three months  Three months   Full year
                                March 31,     March 31,   December 31,
                                ---------     --------    ------------
                                  2008          2007          2007
                                  ----          ----          ----

 Net Income                   $    883,713  $  1,612,384  $  5,876,630

 Average assets                634,628,092   533,374,207   564,196,922

 Average equity                 53,201,254    45,926,801    48,932,435

 Average loans                 526,467,333   428,506,579   458,703,105

 End of period loans           538,903,271   447,994,730   509,908,135

 Return on average assets             0.56%         1.21%         1.04%

 Return on average equity             6.64%        14.04%        12.01%

 Allowance for loan losses    $  7,519,960  $  6,172,091     6,935,616

 Net charge-offs                   161,656        17,161       948,036

 Allowance for loan losses to
  total loans                         1.40%         1.38%         1.36%

 Net charge-offs to average
  total loans (annualized)            0.12%         0.02%         0.21%

 Total nonperforming loans    $  5,119,312  $  1,088,422     2,902,888

 Total other real estate owned   1,545,647       670,310        15,000
                              ------------  ------------  ------------

 Total nonperforming assets      6,664,959     1,758,732     2,917,888
 Nonperforming loans as a
  percent of total loans              1.24%         0.24%         0.57%

 Total nonperforming assets
  as a percent of total assets        1.04%         0.32%         0.48%

 Allowance for loan losses to
  nonperforming loans
  (coverage)                        146.89%       567.07%       238.92%

 Interest rate spread                 2.96%         3.84%         3.63%

 Net interest margin                  3.45%         4.39%         4.20%


            

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