GADSDEN, Ala., Nov. 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Southern Banc Company, Inc. (OTCBB:SRNN), the holding company for The Southern Bank Company, formerly First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Gadsden, Alabama, announced a net loss of approximately $177,000, or ($0.23) per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, as compared to a net loss of approximately $106,000, or ($0.14) per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. 

Gates Little, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company stated that the Company’s net interest margins improved during the quarter as compared to the same period in 2016. Net interest income before provision for loan losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 was approximately $1.1 million as compared to approximately $858,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $279,000 or 32.6%.  The improvement in the net interest margin before provision for loan losses for the quarter was primarily attributable to an increase in total interest income of approximately $278,000 and a decrease in total interest expense of approximately $1,000.  Provision for loan and lease losses increased approximately $483,000 during the quarter as compared to the same period in 2016.  Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses decreased approximately $204,000, or 26.5% for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same quarter in 2016.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2017, total non-interest income decreased approximately $5,000 or 11.5% while total non-interest expense decreased approximately $96,000 or 9.7% as compared to the same three month period in 2016.  The decrease in non-interest income was primarily attributable to a decrease in the net gain on the sale of securities of approximately $23,000 offset in part by an increase in miscellaneous income and customer service fees of approximately $18,000.  The decrease in non-interest expense was primarily attributable to a decrease in salaries and benefits of approximately $41,000, professional service expenses of approximately $16,000, occupancy expenses of approximately $5,000, data processing expenses of approximately $6,000 and other operating expenses of approximately $28,000. 

The Company’s total assets at September 30, 2017 were $100.5 million, as compared to $96.5 million at June 30, 2017.  Total stockholders’ equity was approximately $11.7 million at September 30, 2017 or 11.6% of total assets as compared to approximately $11.8 million at June 30, 2017 or approximately 12.3% of total assets.

The Bank has four offices located in Gadsden, Albertville, Guntersville, and Centre, Alabama. The stock of The Southern Banc Company, Inc. trades in the over-the-counter market on the OTC Pink Marketplace® under the symbol “SRNN”.

Certain statements in this release contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “target,” “plan,” “project,” “continue,” or the negatives thereof, or other variations thereon or similar terminology, and are made on the basis of management’s plans and current analyses of the Company, its business and the industry as a whole.  These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic conditions, competition, interest rate sensitivity and exposure to regulatory and legislative changes.  The above factors, in some cases, have affected, and in the future could affect the Company’s financial performance and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.

(Selected financial data attached)

THE SOUTHERN BANC COMPANY, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)

		September 30,				June 30,
		2017				2017
ASSETS
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	$	6,779			$	2,910
SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE, at fair value		25,322				28,774
FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK STOCK		510				340
LOANS RECEIVABLE, net of allowance for loan losses   of $1,802 and $1,238, respectively		64,555				61,309
PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT, net		744				755
ACCRUED INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS RECEIVABLE		207				216
PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER ASSETS		2,428				2,238
TOTAL ASSETS	$	100,545			$	96,542
LIABILITIES
DEPOSITS	$	77,231			$	79,383
FHLB ADVANCES		10,000				5,000
OTHER LIABILITIES		1,647				311
TOTAL LIABILITIES		88,878				84,694
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:   Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share    500,000 shares authorized, shares issued    and outstanding-- none		0				0
Common stock, par value $.01 per share,    3,500,000 authorized, 1,454,750 shares issued		15				15
Additional paid-in capital		13,887				13,887
Shares held in trust, 39,260 and 32,643 shares at cost,   respectively		(706	)			(706	)
Retained earnings		7,196				7,374
Treasury stock, at cost,   648,664 shares		(8,825	)			(8,825	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		100				103
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		11,667				11,842
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	100,545			$	96,542

THE SOUTHERN BANC COMPANY, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands, except per share data)

		Three Months Ended
		September 30,
		2017				2016
		(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
INTEREST INCOME:
Interest and fees on loans	$	1,164			$	851
Interest and dividends on securities		162				197
Other interest income		6				6
Total interest income		1,332				1,054
INTEREST EXPENSE:
Interest on deposits		168				187
Interest on borrowings		27				9
Total interest expense		195				196
Net interest income before provision   for loan losses		1,137				858
Provision for loan losses		570				86
Net interest income after provision   for loan losses		567				772
NON-INTEREST INCOME:
Fees and other non-interest income		23				18
Net gain on sale of securities		0				23
Miscellaneous income		17				4
Total non-interest income		40				45
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE:
Salaries and employee benefits		518				558
Office building and equipment expenses		57				63
Professional Services Expense		78				94
Data Processing Expense		112				118
Other operating expense		126				154
Total non-interest expense		891				987
Loss before income tax benefit		(284	)			(170	)
INCOME TAX BENEFIT		(107	)			(64	)
Net Loss	$	(177	)		$	(106	)
LOSS PER SHARE:
Basic	$	(0.23	)		$	(0.14	)
Diluted	$	(0.23	)		$	(0.14	)
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE	$	0.00			$	0.00
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic		766,826				773,443
Diluted		766,826				773,443

Contact: Gates Little
(256) 543-3860