Renasant Corporation Announces 2008 First Quarter Earnings


TUPELO, Miss., April 15, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Renasant Corporation (Nasdaq:RNST) (the "Company") today announced results for the first quarter of 2008. Net income for the first quarter of 2008 was $8,277,000, up 18.9%, from $6,962,000 for the first quarter of 2007. Basic earnings per share were $0.40, down 11.1%, and diluted earnings per share were $0.39, down 11.4%, compared to basic earnings per share of $0.45 and diluted earnings per share of $0.44 for the first quarter of 2007. The decrease in basic and diluted earnings per share was, in part, attributable to the shares issued in connection with the Capital Bancorp, Inc. acquisition, which was completed on July 1, 2007, and the related equity offering in the second quarter of 2007.

"Our first quarter 2008 financial results reflect our ability to meet the challenges offered in the current economic environment," commented Renasant Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, E. Robinson McGraw. "Although the Federal Reserve reduced the federal funds target rate 200 basis points during the first quarter of 2008, we experienced only a slight compression in our core net interest margin. Additionally, our mortgage lending division grew noninterest income on record mortgage loan volume even while mortgage loan originations declined nationally."

Total assets as of March 31, 2008 were $3.7 billion, representing a 2.4% increase from December 31, 2007 and a 34.3% increase since March 31, 2007. Total loans were approximately $2.58 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2008, a slight decrease from $2.59 billion at December 31, 2007 and an increase of 36.6% from $1.89 billion at March 31, 2007. Total deposits grew to $2.63 billion at March 31, 2008, representing a 3.1% increase from December 31, 2007 and a 15.9% increase since March 31, 2007.

Net interest income grew to $27,157,000 for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $20,661,000 for the same period in 2007. Net interest margin was 3.52% for the first quarter of 2008 compared to 3.48% for the fourth quarter of 2007 and 3.67% for the first quarter of 2007. Net interest income for the first quarter of 2008 included approximately $531,000 in interest income from loans accounted for in accordance with AICPA Statement of Position 03-3 which increased net interest margin by 0.07%. Additional interest income from similar loans increased fourth quarter 2007 net interest margin by 0.02% and had no impact on net interest margin in the first quarter of 2007.

Noninterest income increased 9.3% to $13,857,000 for the first quarter of 2008 from $12,677,000 for the first quarter of 2007. Growth in noninterest income occurred primarily in deposit fees and mortgage lending. The Company's mortgage division achieved record income on mortgage production of approximately $191 million for the first quarter of 2008 as compared to approximately $141 million for the first quarter of 2007. Other noninterest income for the first quarter of 2008 included a $409,000 gain related to the redemption of shares as a result of the Visa initial public offering.

Noninterest expense was $26,798,000 for the first quarter of 2008, up 19.1%, compared to $22,501,000 for the first quarter of 2007.

"The increase in noninterest expense during the first quarter of 2008 can be primarily attributed to expenses associated with the addition of Capital's employees and other costs resulting from the integration of Capital's operations," said McGraw.

"We, as with most financial institutions, experienced an increase in nonperforming loans and net charge-offs in the first quarter of 2008. In response, we increased our provision for loan losses during the first quarter of 2008 as compared to previous quarters. Our senior credit officers are closely monitoring all credit relationships so that we can promptly identify problematic loans and mitigate any foreseeable credit issues," said McGraw.

Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans were .26% for the first quarter of 2008, down from 0.36% for the fourth quarter of 2007 and up from 0.04% for the first quarter of 2007. Non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans were 0.85% at March 31, 2008, as compared to 0.63% at December 31, 2007 and 0.54% at March 31, 2007. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans was 1.06% at March 31, 2008, as compared to 1.02% at December 31, 2007 and 1.06% at March 31, 2007. The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $2,625,000 for the first quarter of 2008 as compared to $1,975,000 for the fourth quarter of 2007 and $750,000 for the first quarter of 2007.

"We have implemented strategies to proactively manage the challenges presented by the current economic conditions. Through active and responsive asset and liability management, continued inspection of each construction and land development loan, and by carrying out measures to control noninterest expense, we believe we are positioned to react to today's ever-challenging economic environment," stated McGraw.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION:

A live audio webcast of a conference call with analysts will be available beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, through the Company's website: www.renasant.com, and through Thompson/CCBN's individual investor center at www.fulldisclosure.com, or any of Thompson/CCBN's Investor Distribution Network websites. The event will be archived on the Company's website for 90 days. If Internet access is unavailable, the conference may also be heard live (listen-only) via telephone by dialing 888-873-4896 in the United States and entering the participant passcode 55383206. International participants should dial 617-213-8850 and enter the participant passcode 55383206.

ABOUT RENASANT CORPORATION:

Renasant Corporation is the parent of Renasant Bank and Renasant Insurance. Renasant has assets of approximately $3.7 billion and operates 67 banking, mortgage and insurance offices in 41 cities in Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama.

The Renasant Corporation logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2567

NOTE TO INVESTORS:

This news release may contain, or incorporate by reference, statements which may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward looking statements usually include words such as "expects," "projects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "strategy," "plan," "potential," "possible" and other similar expressions.

Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees for future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include significant fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, economic recession, significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment, significant underperformance in our portfolio of outstanding loans, and competition in our markets. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results over time.


 RENASANT CORPORATION
 --------------------
 (Unaudited)
 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

             2008                            2007
          ----------- ------------------------------------------------
            First       Fourth       Third      Second       First
           Quarter      Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter
          ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------- -----------

 Statement
  of
  earnings
 ---------

 Interest
  income
  - tax-
  able
  equiv-
  alent
  basis   $    54,324 $    57,339 $    57,571 $    44,399 $    42,534

 Interest
  income  $    53,383 $    56,316 $    56,636 $    43,541 $    41,710
 Interest
  expense      26,226      29,373      29,938      22,022      21,049
          ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------- -----------
  Net
   int-
   erest
   income      27,157      26,943      26,698      21,519      20,661

 Pro-
  vision
  for
  loan
  losses        2,625       1,975       1,313         800         750
          ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------- -----------
  Net
   int-
   erest
   income
   after
   pro-
   vision      24,532      24,968      25,385      20,719      19,911

 Service
  charges
  on
  deposit
  accounts      5,433       5,526       5,239       4,919       4,844
 Fees and
  commi-
  ssions
  on loans
  and
  deposits      3,765       3,834       4,104       4,060       3,728
 Insurance
  commi-
  ssions
  and
  fees            857         891         930         918         810
 Trust
  revenue         626         806         806         680         567
 Gain
  (loss)
  on sale
  of
  secur-
  ities            --          --          --          (1)         79
 Gain on
  sale of
  mortgage
  loans         1,521       1,291       1,201       1,225       1,146
 Other          1,655         849       1,166       1,066       1,503
          ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------- -----------
  Total
   non-
   int-
   erest
   income      13,857      13,197      13,446      12,867      12,677

 Salaries
  and
  emp-
  loyee
  bene-
  fits         14,718      13,970      15,010      13,083      12,927
 Occu-
  pancy
  and
  equip-
  ment          3,373       3,371       3,269       2,836       2,731
 Data
  pro-
  cessing       1,307         993       1,425       1,265       1,202
 Amort-
  ization
  of
  intang-
  ibles           584         596         610         391         394
 Other          6,816       6,513       6,375       5,792       5,247
          ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------- -----------
  Total
   non-
   int-
   erest
   expense     26,798      25,443      26,689      23,367      22,501

 Income
  before
  income
  taxes        11,591      12,722      12,142      10,219      10,087
 Income
  taxes         3,314       3,967       3,845       3,132       3,125
          ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------- -----------
  Net
   in-
   come   $     8,277 $     8,755 $     8,297 $     7,087 $     6,962
          =========== ============ =========== =========== ===========

 Basic
  earn-
  ings
  per
  share   $      0.40 $      0.42 $      0.39 $      0.42 $      0.45
 Diluted
  earn-
  ings
  per
  share          0.39        0.41        0.39        0.41        0.44

 Average
  basic
  shares
  out-
  stand-
  ing      20,878,478  20,953,099  21,096,156  17,029,781  15,554,515
 Average
  diluted
  shares
  out-
  stand-
  ing      21,133,235  21,297,082  21,437,848  17,292,914  15,865,906

 Common
  shares
  out-
  stand-
  ing      20,930,871  20,841,365  20,983,501  18,356,974  15,560,006
 Cash
  div-
  idend
  per
  common
  share   $     0.170 $     0.170 $     0.170 $     0.160 $     0.160

 Perform-
  ance
  ratios
 --------
 Return
  on
  average
  share-
  holders'
  equity         8.21%       8.74%       8.45%       9.77%      11.05%
 Return
  on
  average
  share-
  holders'
  equity,
  exclud-
  ing
  amort-
  ization
  expense        8.57%       9.10%       8.83%      10.07%      11.44%
 Return
  on
  average
  assets         0.92%       0.96%       0.94%       1.04%       1.06%
 Return
  on
  average
  assets,
  exclud-
  ing
  amort-
  ization
  expense        0.96%       1.00%       0.98%       1.07%       1.10%

 Net
  int-
  erest
  margin
  (FTE)          3.52%       3.48%       3.52%       3.66%       3.67%
 Yield on
  earning
  assets
  (FTE)          6.81%       7.14%       7.32%       7.25%       7.27%
 Average
  earning
  assets
  to
  average
  assets        88.44%      88.41%      88.71%      89.74%      89.13%
 Average
  loans
  to
  average
  deposits      99.90%      99.91%      94.02%      87.00%      86.12%

 Non-
  int-
  erest
  income
  (less
  secur-
  ities
  gains/
  losses)
  to
  average
  assets         1.54%       1.45%       1.52%       1.89%       1.92%
 Non-
  int-
  erest
  expense
  to
  average
  assets         2.97%       2.80%       3.01%       3.43%       3.43%
 Net
  over-
  head
  ratio          1.43%       1.35%       1.49%       1.54%       1.51%
 Effic-
  iency
  ratio
  (FTE)         63.87%      61.81%      64.97%      66.30%      65.87%


              2008                          2007
          ----------- -----------------------------------------------
             First       Fourth      Third       Second      First
            Quarter     Quarter     Quarter      Quarter    Quarter
          ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
 Average
  balances
 ---------
 Total
  assets  $ 3,629,623 $ 3,605,684 $ 3,515,669 $ 2,735,556 $ 2,663,515
 Earning
  assets    3,210,112   3,187,663   3,118,727   2,454,953   2,373,908
 Secur-
  ities       555,174     542,235     548,612     476,742     444,420
 Loans,
  net of
  un-
  earned    2,631,101   2,630,255   2,557,185   1,954,517   1,885,122
 Intang-
  ibles       197,036     196,718     194,743      97,697      98,094

 Non-
  int-
  erest
  bearing
  dep-
  osits       293,528     300,782     298,278     257,273     258,071
 Interest
  bearing
  dep-
  osits     2,301,291   2,302,862   2,389,220   1,951,730   1,899,474
  Total
   dep-
   osits    2,594,819   2,603,644   2,687,498   2,209,003   2,157,545
 Other
  borrow-
  ings        587,957     547,946     385,589     201,743     212,762
 Share-
  holders'
  equity      405,355     397,516     389,621     291,864     255,470

 Asset
  quality
  data
 --------
 Non-
  accrual
  loans   $    16,090 $    14,231 $    12,657 $     5,905 $     6,368
 Loans 90
  past
  due or
  more          5,888       2,046       2,125       1,648       3,913
          ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
 Non-
  per-
  forming
  loans        21,978      16,277      14,782       7,553      10,281
 Other
  real
  estate
  owned
  and
  repo-
  ssess-
  ions         12,802       8,584       3,168       2,309       2,897
          ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
 Non-
  per-
  forming
  assets  $    34,780 $    24,861 $    17,950 $     9,862 $    13,178
          =========== =========== =========== =========== ===========

 Net loan
  charge-
  offs
  (recov-
  eries)  $     1,726 $     2,397 $       377 $       277 $       202
 Allow-
  ance
  for
  loan
  losses       27,271      26,372      26,926      20,605      20,082

 Non-
  per-
  forming
  loans /
  total
  loans          0.85%       0.63%       0.57%       0.38%       0.54%
 Non-
  per-
  forming
  assets /
  total
  assets         0.94%       0.69%       0.50%       0.35%       0.48%
 Allowance
  for
  loan
  losses /
  total
  loans          1.06%       1.02%       1.04%       1.04%       1.06%
 Allowance
  for
  loan
  losses /
  non-
  per-
  forming
  loans        124.08%     162.02%     182.15%     272.81%     195.33%
 Annualized
  net loan
  charge
  -offs /
  average
  loans          0.26%       0.36%       0.06%       0.06%       0.04%

 Balances
  at
  period
  end
 --------
 Total
  assets  $ 3,699,276 $ 3,612,287 $ 3,584,519 $ 2,791,295 $ 2,754,930
 Earning
  assets    3,267,329   3,179,153   3,168,182   2,494,569   2,460,185
 Secur-
  ities       636,338     539,590     543,017     460,606     462,588
 Mortgage
  loans
  held
  for
  sale         33,062      37,468      25,911      38,048      29,098
 Loans,
  net of
  un-
  earned    2,580,911   2,586,693   2,588,563   1,977,941   1,889,799
 Intang-
  ibles       196,264     197,314     196,643      97,286      97,902

 Non-
  int-
  erest
  bearing
  dep-
  osits   $   304,171 $   299,394 $   315,813 $   274,336 $   273,726
 Interest
  bearing
  dep-
  osits     2,322,471   2,248,427   2,348,064   1,949,018   1,991,620
  Total
   dep-
   osits    2,626,642   2,547,821   2,663,877   2,223,354   2,265,346
 Other
  borrow-
  ings        623,906     624,388     483,988     218,045     200,764
 Share-
  holders'
  equity      409,827     399,073     392,312     316,634     258,566

 Market
  value
  per
  common
  share   $     22.50 $     21.57 $     21.63 $     22.74 $     24.68
 Book
  value
  per
  common
  share         19.58       19.15       18.70       17.25       16.62
 Tangible
  book
  value
  per
  common
  share         10.20        9.68        9.32       11.95       10.33
 Share-
  holders'
  equity
  to
  assets
  (actual)      11.08%      11.05%      10.94%      11.34%       9.39%
 Tangible
  capital
  ratio          6.10%       5.91%       5.78%       8.14%       6.05%
 Leverage
  ratio          8.23%       8.09%       8.26%      11.02%       8.85%

 Detail
  of Loans
  by
  Category
 ---------
 Commer-
  cial,
  finan-
  cial,
  agri-
  cult-
  ural    $   310,497 $   317,866 $   336,157 $   265,062 $   243,274
 Lease
  finan-
  cing          2,304       2,557       2,906       3,409       3,833
 Real
  estate
   - con-
  struc-
  tion        385,957     386,184     401,652     247,241     231,311
 Real
  estate
  - 1-4
  family
  mort-
  gages       846,626     850,658     841,266     669,557     654,604
 Real
  estate
  - com-
  mercial
  mort-
  gages       954,131     948,322     925,001     715,408     676,015
 Install-
  ment
  loans
  to ind-
  ividuals     81,396      81,006      81,581      77,264      80,762
          ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Loans,
   net of
   un-
   earn-
   ed     $ 2,580,911 $ 2,586,593 $ 2,588,563 $ 1,977,941 $ 1,889,799
          =========== =========== =========== =========== ===========

 *Percent variance not meaningful

 RENASANT CORPORATION
 --------------------
 (Unaudited)
 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

                                       For the Three Months
                     Q1 2008 -            Ended March 31,
                     Q1 2007    -------------------------------------
                     Percent                               Percent
                     Variance       2008         2007      Variance
                   ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------

 Statement of 
  earnings
 ------------

 Interest income -
  taxable equivalent
  basis                   27.72 $     54,324 $    42,534        27.72

 Interest income          27.99 $     53,383 $    41,710        27.99
 Interest expense         24.59       26,226      21,049        24.59
                   ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------
  Net interest
   income                 31.44       27,157      20,661        31.44

 Provision for
  loan losses            250.00        2,625         750       250.00
                   ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------
  Net interest
   income after
   provision              23.21       24,532      19,911        23.21

 Service charges on
  deposit accounts        12.16        5,433       4,844        12.16
 Fees and
  commissions on
  loans and deposits       0.99        3,765       3,728         0.99
 Insurance
  commissions
  and fees                 5.80          857         810         5.80
 Trust revenue            10.41          626         567        10.41
 Gain (loss)
  on sale of
  securities            (100.00)          --          79      (100.00)
 Gain on sale of
  mortgage loans          32.72        1,521       1,146        32.72
 Other                    10.11        1,655       1,503        10.11
                   ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------
  Total
   non-interest
   income                  9.31       13,857      12,677         9.31

 Salaries and
  employee benefits       13.85       14,718      12,927        13.85
 Occupancy and
  equipment               23.51        3,373       2,731        23.51
 Data processing           8.74        1,307       1,202         8.74
 Amortization of
  intangibles             48.22          584         394        48.22
 Other                    29.90        6,816       5,247        29.90
                   ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------
  Total
   non-interest
   expense                19.10       26,798      22,501        19.10

 Income before
  income taxes            14.91       11,591      10,087        14.91
 Income taxes              6.05        3,314       3,125         6.05
                   ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------
  Net income              18.89 $      8,277 $     6,962        18.89
                   ============ ============ =========== ============

 Basic earnings
  per share              (11.11)$       0.40 $      0.45       (11.11)
 Diluted earnings
  per share              (11.36)        0.39        0.44       (11.36)

 Average basic
  shares
  outstanding             34.23   20,878,478  15,554,515        34.23
 Average diluted
  shares
  outstanding             33.20   21,133,235  15,865,906        33.20

 Common shares
  outstanding             34.52   20,930,871  15,560,006        34.52
 Cash dividend
  per common share         6.25 $      0.170 $     0.160         6.25

 Performance ratios
 ------------------

 Return on average
  shareholders'
  equity                                8.21%      11.05%
 Return on average
  shareholders'
  equity, excluding
  amortization
  expense                               8.57%      11.44%
 Return on average
  assets                                0.92%       1.06%
 Return on average
  assets, excluding
  amortization
  expense                               0.96%       1.10%

 Net interest
  margin (FTE)                          3.52%       3.67%
 Yield on earning
  assets (FTE)                          6.81%       7.27%
 Average
  earning assets
  to average assets                    88.44%      89.13%
 Average loans
  to average
  deposits                             99.90%      86.12%

 Noninterest income
  (less securities
  gains/losses) to
  average assets                        1.54%       1.92%
 Noninterest expense
  to average assets                     2.97%       3.43%
 Net overhead ratio                     1.43%       1.51%
 Efficiency ratio
  (FTE)                                63.87%      65.87%


                                        For the Three Months
                     Q1 2008 -             Ended March 31,
                     Q1 2007    -------------------------------------
                     Percent                                Percent
                    Variance        2008         2007       Variance
                   ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------
 Average balances
 ----------------
 Total assets             36.27 $  3,629,623 $ 2,663,515        36.27
 Earning assets           35.22    3,210,112   2,373,908        35.22
 Securities               24.92      555,174     444,420        24.92
 Loans, net
  of unearned             39.57    2,631,101   1,885,122        39.57
 Intangibles             100.86      197,036      98,094       100.86

 Non-interest
  bearing deposits        13.74      293,528     258,071        13.74
 Interest bearing
  deposits                21.15    2,301,291   1,899,474        21.15
  Total deposits          20.27    2,594,819   2,157,545        20.27
 Other borrowings        176.34      587,957     212,762       176.34
 Shareholders'
  equity                  58.67      405,355     255,470        58.67

 Asset quality data
 ------------------
 Nonaccrual loans        152.67 $     16,090 $     6,368       152.67
 Loans 90 past
  due or more             50.47        5,888       3,913        50.47
                                ------------ -----------
 Non-performing
  loans                  113.77       21,978      10,281       113.77
 Other real estate
  owned and
  repossessions          341.91       12,802       2,897       341.91
                                ------------ -----------
 Non-performing
  assets                 163.92 $     34,780 $    13,178       163.92
                                ============ ===========

 Net loan
  charge-offs
  (recoveries)           754.46 $      1,726 $       202       754.46
 Allowance for
  loan losses             35.80       27,271      20,082        35.80

 Non-performing
  loans / total
  loans                                 0.85%       0.54%
 Non-performing
  assets / total
  assets                                0.94%       0.48%
 Allowance for loan
  losses / total
  loans                                 1.06%       1.06%
 Allowance for loan
  losses /
  non-performing
  loans                               124.08%     195.33%
 Annualized net
  loan charge-offs /
  average loans                         0.26%       0.04%

 Balances at
  period end
 -----------
 Total assets                   $  3,699,276 $ 2,754,930        34.28
 Earning assets                    3,267,329   2,460,185        32.81
 Securities                          636,338     462,588        37.56
 Mortgage loans
  held for sale                       33,062      29,098        13.62
 Loans, net of
  unearned                         2,580,911   1,889,799        36.57
 Intangibles                         196,264      97,902       100.47

 Non-interest
  bearing deposits              $    304,171 $   273,726        11.12
 Interest bearing
  deposits                         2,322,471   1,991,620        16.61
  Total deposits                   2,626,642   2,265,346        15.95
 Other borrowings                    623,906     200,764       210.77
 Shareholders'
  equity                             409,827     258,566        58.50

 Market value
  per common share              $      22.50 $     24.68       (8.83)
 Book value
  per common share                     19.58       16.62        17.83
 Tangible book
  value per
  common share                         10.20       10.33       (1.18)
 Shareholders'
  equity to assets
  (actual)                             11.08%       9.39%
 Tangible
  capital ratio                         6.10%       6.05%
 Leverage ratio                         8.23%       8.85%

 Detail of Loans
  by Category
 ---------------
 Commercial,
  financial,
  agricultural                  $    310,497 $   243,274        27.63
 Lease financing                       2,304       3,833      (39.89)
 Real estate -
  construction                       385,957     231,311        66.86
 Real estate -
  1-4 family
  mortgages                          846,626     654,604        29.33
 Real estate -
  commercial
  mortgages                          954,131     676,015        41.14
 Installment loans
  to individuals                      81,396      80,762         0.79
                                ------------ -----------
  Loans, net
   of unearned                  $  2,580,911 $ 1,889,799        36.57
                                ============ ===========

 *Percent variance not meaningful

            

Coordonnées