LEXINGTON, S.C., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Highlights


    --  Record Yearly and Quarterly Earnings for the company
    --  Net income of $6.7 million in 2016, a 9.1% increase over 2015 earnings,
        highest ever annual earnings reported for the company
    --  Net income of $1.8 million in the Q4 2016, an 11.9% increase over 2015
        Q4 earnings, highest ever quarterly earnings reported for the company
    --  Diluted EPS of $0.98 per common share in 2016, an increase of 7.7% over
        2015
    --  Increase in cash dividend to $0.09 per common share, the 60(th)
        consecutive quarter of cash dividends paid to common shareholders,
        highest dividend ever paid by the company
    --  Total revenue growth of $1.2 million, a 3.5% increase to $35.4 million
        in total revenue in 2016
    --  Exceptional loan growth of $57.5 million in 2016, an increase of 11.8%
    --  Strong pure deposit growth (including customer cash management accounts)
        of $47.2 million during the year, an 8.1% increase.
    --  Key credit quality metrics continue to be excellent with net loan
        charge-offs of 0.02% and non-performing assets of 0.58% at year end.
    --  Regulatory capital ratios of 10.23% (Tier 1 Leverage) and 15.28% (Total
        Capital) along with Tangible Common Equity / Tangible Assets (TCE/TA)
        ratio of 8.33%

Today, First Community Corporation (Nasdaq: FCCO), the holding company for First Community Bank, reported net income available to common shareholders for the fourth quarter and year end of 2016. For the year ended December 31, 2016 net income available to common shareholders was $6.7 million compared to $6.1 million during year ended December 31, 2015, an increase of 9.8%. Diluted earnings per share for 2016 were $0.98 an increase of 7.7% over $0.91 in 2015. Net income available to common shareholders for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $1.8 million, compared to $1.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Diluted earnings per common share were $0.26 for the fourth quarter of 2016 an increase of 8.3% year-over-year and 4.0% on a linked quarter basis.

First Community President and CEO Michael Crapps commented, "We are extremely pleased with our company's financial results during 2016 led by very strong organic growth in both loans and pure deposits."

Cash Dividend and Capital

The Board of Directors has approved an increase in the cash dividend for the fourth quarter of 2016 to $0.09. This dividend is payable on February 13, 2017 to shareholders of record of the company's common stock as of January 30, 2017. Mr. Crapps commented, "The entire board is pleased that our company's strong financial performance enables us to increase the cash dividend to the highest level ever paid by the company. We are also proud that dividend payments have continued uninterrupted for 60 consecutive quarters."

Each of the regulatory capital ratios (Leverage, Tier I Risk Based and Total Risk Based) exceeds the well capitalized minimum levels currently required by regulatory statute. At December 31, 2016, the company's regulatory capital ratios (Leverage, Tier I Risk Based and Total Risk Based) were 10.23%, 14.46%, and 15.28%, respectively. This compares to the same ratios as of December 31, 2015 of 10.19%, 15.40%, and 16.21%, respectively. Additionally, the regulatory capital ratios for the company's wholly owned subsidiary, First Community Bank, were 9.77%, 13.83%, and 14.65% respectively as of December 31, 2016. Further, the company's ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets indicates a high quality of capital with a ratio of 8.33% as of December 31, 2016. The common equity tier one ratio for the company and the bank was 12.18% and 13.83%, respectively, at December 31, 2016.

Asset Quality

The company's asset quality remains strong and showed continued improvement on a linked quarter and year-over-year comparison. The non-performing assets ratio remained relatively flat on a linked quarter basis at 0.58% of total assets at December 31, 2016, as compared to the ratio of 0.57% at the end of the third quarter of 2016 and down significantly from 0.85% at December 31, 2015. The nominal level of non-performing assets was $5.25 million at year end 2016 up slightly from $5.20 million at the end of the third quarter of 2016 and down significantly from $7.3 million at the end of 2015. The past due ratio for all loans was 0.35% at year-end 2016 down from 0.53% at the end of third quarter 2016. The $1.7 million increase in loans in the Special Mention Category is primarily attributable to a line of credit that was advanced during the quarter. Trouble debt restructurings, that are still accruing interest, declined slightly during the quarter to $1.77 million from $1.82 million at the end of the third quarter of 2016 and $1.63 million at year end 2015.

Net loan charge-offs for the fourth quarter were $37 thousand and $109 thousand for the year of 2016. The ratio of classified loans plus OREO now stands at 9.77% of total bank regulatory risk-based capital as of December 31, 2016.



    Balance Sheet
    -------------

    (Numbers in millions)

                                  Quarter ending          Quarter ending           Quarter ending           12 Month               12 Month

                                                 12/31/16                12/31/15                 9/30/16           $ Variance    % Variance
                                                 --------                --------                 -------           ----------    ----------

    Assets
    ------

    Investments                                    $272.4                   $283.8                   $288.2               ($11.4)               ( 4.0%)

    Loans                                           546.7                    489.2                    523.4                  57.5                  11.8%


    Liabilities

    Total Pure Deposits                            $611.9                   $563.1                   $606.5                 $48.8                   8.7%

    Certificates of Deposit                         154.7                    153.0                    159.4                   1.7                   1.1%
                                                    -----                    -----                    -----                   ---                    ---

    Total Deposits                                 $766.6                   $716.1                   $765.9                 $50.5                   7.1%


    Customer Cash Management                         19.5                     21.0                     22.2                 (1.5)                (7.1%)

    FHLB Advances                                    24.0                     24.8                     21.0                 (0.8)                (3.2%)


    Total Funding                                  $810.1                   $761.9                    809.1                  48.2                   6.3%

    Cost of Funds*                                  0.35%                   0.44%                   0.37%

                                                                                                                                             (9 bps)

     (*including demand deposits)

    Cost of Deposits                                0.24%                   0.25%                   0.25%

                                                                                                                                              (1 bp)

Mr. Crapps commented, "Deposit and loan growth during 2016 were both strong and we are encouraged as that momentum continues into 2017. During 2016, our company saw the benefit of a number of previously discussed initiatives focused on increasing loan growth, including the addition of a loan production office in the Greenville market, resulting in loan production of $164.6 million and net loan growth of $57.5 million. The fourth quarter was exceptional with net loan growth of $23.3 million, which is an annualized growth rate of 17.8%. This loan growth is especially impressive given our commitment to credit quality. With our current level of liquidity and continued success in pure deposit growth, we have the funding available to support significant additional loan growth."

Revenue

Net Interest Income/Net Interest Margin

Net interest income increased on a linked quarter basis to $6.8 million for the fourth quarter up from $6.7 million in the third quarter of 2016 and year-over-year increased 4.7% to $26.5 million at December 31, 2016 from $25.3 million at December 31, 2015. The net interest margin, on a taxable equivalent basis, increased to 3.35% for the fourth quarter of 2016 from 3.29% in the third quarter of the year.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income for the year, adjusted for securities gains and loss on the early extinguishment of debt, was down slightly year-over-year at $8.8 million in 2016 compared to $8.9 million in 2015. Fourth quarter non-interest income was $2.2 million, up year-over-year from $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, but down on a linked quarter basis from $2.4 million in the third quarter.

Revenues in the mortgage line of business were relatively flat year-over-year at $3.4 million in 2016 and on a linked quarter basis declined as anticipated due to seasonal factors from $937.3 thousand in the third quarter to $866.5 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2016. Mortgage production year-over-year decreased $8.9 million or 7.9%, but a 22 basis point improvement in yields help offset this decline to keep revenue stable. Revenue in the investment advisory line of business was down year-over-year at $1.1 million in 2016 compared to $1.3 million in 2015, and was down slightly on a linked quarter basis at $239 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to $249 thousand in the third quarter. Mr. Crapps noted, "Our strategy of generating revenue streams from multiple lines of business continues to serve us well and we are focused on continuing to leverage each of our lines of business."

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expenses were $6.518 million in the fourth quarter, relatively flat on a linked quarter basis.

Other

The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2016 was lower than the prior quarter due to a $200 thousand South Carolina income tax credit related to an investment in a South Carolina Community Development program. The effective tax rate for the quarter would have been approximately 26% without this tax credit.

The company recently began work on the conversion to a new core system processor, moving from an in-house solution to an out-sourced environment. This move will be mostly transparent to customers and will position the company well for future growth by providing the technological support needed to provide competitive and innovative bank technology-based products and services. The company has committed significant administrative resources to this project which is expected to be completed in several phases during the year.

First Community Corporation stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "FCCO" and is the holding company for First Community Bank, a local community bank based in the Midlands of South Carolina. First Community Bank operates fifteen banking offices located in Lexington, Richland, Newberry, Kershaw, and Aiken counties in South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia, a loan production office in Greenville, South Carolina, in addition to two other lines of business, First Community Bank Mortgage and First Community Financial Consultants, a financial planning/investment advisory division.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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, goals, projections and expectations, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors, include, among others, the following: (1) competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly and have an effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; (2) the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations may be different than expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in the credit quality or a reduced demand for credit, including the resultant effect on the company's loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses; (3) the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs, the level of allowance for loan loss, the rates of loan growth, or adverse changes in asset quality in our loan portfolio, which may result in increased credit risk-related losses and expenses; (4) changes in the U.S. legal and regulatory framework; (5) adverse conditions in the stock market, the public debt markets and other capital markets (including changes in interest rate conditions) could have a negative impact on the company; (6) technology and cybersercurity risks, including potential business disruptions, reputational risks, and financial losses, associated with potential attacks on or failures by our computer systems and computer systems of our vendors and other third parties; and (7) risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, or in any of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC since the end of the fiscal year covered by our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. 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.


    FIRST COMMUNITY CORPORATION


    BALANCE SHEET DATA;

    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)


                                                                                                                                               At December 31,

                                                                                                                                                                    2016                    2015
                                                                                                                                                                    ----                    ----


      Total Assets                                                                                                                                              $914,793                $862,734

      Other short-term investments (1)                                                                                                                          10,074                  11,968

      Investment Securities                                                                                                                                      272,396                 283,841

      Loans held for sale                                                                                                                                          5,707                   2,962

      Loans                                                                                                                                                      546,709                 489,191

      Allowance for Loan Losses                                                                                                                                  5,214                   4,596

      Total Deposits                                                                                                                                             766,622                 716,151

      Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase                                                                                                            19,527                  21,033

      Federal Home Loan Bank Advances                                                                                                                           24,035                  24,788

      Junior Subordinated Debt                                                                                                                                    14,964                  14,964

      Shareholders' Equity                                                                                                                                        81,861                  79,038


      Book Value Per Common Share                                                                                                                               $12.20                  $11.81

      Tangible Book Value Per Common Share                                                                                                                      $11.28                  $10.84

      Equity to Assets                                                                                                                                             8.95%                  9.16%

      Tangible common equity to tangible assets                                                                                                                  8.33%                  8.47%

      Loan (incl loans held for sale) to Deposit Ratio                                                                                                          72.06%                 68.72%

      Allowance for Loan Losses/Loans                                                                                                                            0.95%                  0.94%

      Allowance for Loan Losses plus credit mark/Loans                                                                                                           1.01%                  1.15%


      Regulatory Ratios:

       Leverage Ratio                                                                                                                                             10.23%                 10.19%

       Tier 1 Capital Ratio                                                                                                                                       14.46%                 15.40%

       Total Capital Ratio                                                                                                                                        15.28%                 16.21%

       Common Equity Tier 1                                                                                                                                       12.18%                 12.87%

     Tier 1 Regulatory Capital                                                                                                                                 $91,973                 $86,682

     Total Regulatory Capital                                                                                                                                  $97,187                 $91,278

     Common Equity Tier 1 Capital                                                                                                                              $77,473                 $72,444

    (1) Includes federal funds sold, securities purchased under agreements to resell and interest-bearing deposits


    Average Balances:

                                                                                                                   Three months ended                                      Year ended

                                                                                                                      December 31,                                        December 31,

                                                                                                                                          2016                       2015                                       2016                   2015
                                                                                                                                          ----                       ----                                       ----                   ----


      Average Total Assets                                                                                                            $905,882                   $858,413                                   $888,240               $835,604

      Average Loans (incl loans held for sale)                                                                                         536,925                    487,203                                    514,766                473,367

      Average Earning Assets                                                                                                           832,192                    790,288                                    815,863                769,604

      Average Deposits                                                                                                                 760,512                    708,583                                    739,355                688,573

      Average Other Borrowings                                                                                                          54,709                     64,639                                     59,569                 64,072

      Average Shareholders' Equity                                                                                                      83,518                     78,797                                     82,653                 77,124



    Asset Quality:                                                                                                     December 31,             September 30,               June 30,              March 31,           December 31,

                                                                                                                                          2016                       2016                    2016                2016                   2015
                                                                                                                                          ----                       ----                    ----                ----                   ----

    Loan Risk Rating by Category (End of Period)

           Special Mention                                                                                                              $6,799                     $5,109                 $13,297              $8,581                 $9,869

           Substandard                                                                                                                   7,930                      8,460                   8,552              10,445                 10,327

           Doubtful                                                                                                                          -                         -                      -                  -                     -

           Pass (includes held for sale)                                                                                               537,687                    509,872                 489,454             474,995                468,995

                                                                                                                                      $552,416                   $523,441                $511,303            $494,021               $489,191
                                                                                                                                      ========                   ========                ========            ========               ========


      Nonperforming Assets:

       Non-accrual loans                                                                                                                $4,049                     $3,904                  $4,502               6,013                 $4,839

       Other real estate owned                                                                                                           1,146                      1,198                   1,355               1,484                  2,458

       Accruing loans past due 90 days or more                                                                                              53                         99                      38                  32                      -
                                                                                                                                           ---                        ---                     ---                 ---                    ---

                Total nonperforming assets                                                                                              $5,248                     $5,201                  $5,895              $7,529                 $7,297
                                                                                                                                        ======                     ======                  ======              ======                 ======

    Accruing troubled debt restructurings                                                                                               $1,770                     $1,815                  $1,600              $1,634                 $1,632


                                                                                                                   Three months ended                                      Year ended

                                                                                                                      December 31,                                        December 31,

                                                                                                                                          2016                       2015                                       2016                   2015
                                                                                                                                          ----                       ----                                       ----                   ----

    Loans charged-off:                                                                                                                     $69                        $29                                       $180                   $756

    Overdrafts charged-off                                                                                                                  13                         13                                         59                     50

    Loan recoveries                                                                                                                       (10)                      (20)                                      (72)                 (114)

    Overdraft recoveries                                                                                                                   (8)                       (2)                                      (16)                  (18)

      Net Charge-offs                                                                                                                      $64                        $20                                       $151                   $674
                                                                                                                                           ===                        ===                                       ====                   ====


    Net charge-offs to average loans                                                                                                     0.01%                     0.00%                                     0.03%                 0.14%
    --------------------------------                                                                                                      ----                       ----                                       ----                   ----


    FIRST COMMUNITY CORPORATION

    INCOME STATEMENT DATA

    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

                                                               Three months ended       Three months ended        Three months ended          Three months ended                Year ended

                                                                  December 31,             September 30,               June 30,                    March 31,                   December 31,

                                                                  2016            2015      2016            2015       2016            2015         2016            2015           2016            2015
                                                                  ----            ----      ----            ----       ----            ----         ----            ----           ----            ----

      Interest Income                                           $7,510          $7,203    $7,400          $7,114     $7,459          $7,049       $7,137          $7,283        $29,506         $28,649

      Interest Expense                                             716             855       749             861        782             845          800             835          3,047           3,396
                                                                   ---             ---       ---             ---        ---             ---          ---             ---          -----           -----

      Net Interest Income                                        6,794           6,348     6,651           6,253      6,677           6,204        6,337           6,448         26,459          25,253

      Provision for Loan Losses                                    238             148       179             193        217             391          140             406            774           1,138
                                                                   ---             ---       ---             ---        ---             ---          ---             ---            ---           -----

      Net Interest Income After Provision                        6,556           6,200     6,472           6,060      6,460           5,813        6,197           6,042         25,685          24,115
                                                                 -----           -----     -----           -----      -----           -----        -----           -----         ------          ------

      Non-Interest Income:

        Deposit service charges                                    341             386       377             390        340             346          347             347          1,405           1,469

        Mortgage banking income                                    867             753       937             964        913             980          665             735          3,382           3,432

        Investment advisory fees and non-deposit commissions       264             294       283             290        297             407          291             296          1,135           1,287

        Gain on sale of securities                                   -             84       478               -        64             167           59             104            601             355

        Gain (loss) on sale other assets                             3            (16)       45              19       (84)              3            3               4           (33)              8

        Gain on redemption of subordinated debt (TRUPS)              -            130         -              -         -              -           -              -             -            130

        Loss on early extinguishment of debt                         -          (226)    (459)              -         -              -           -          (103)         (459)          (329)

        Other                                                      725             686       726             666        734             662          724             598          2,909           2,614
                                                                   ---             ---       ---             ---        ---             ---          ---             ---          -----           -----

      Total non-interest income                                  2,200           2,091     2,387           2,329      2,264           2,565        2,089           1,981          8,940           8,966
                                                                 -----           -----     -----           -----      -----           -----        -----           -----          -----           -----

      Non-interest Expense:

        Salaries and employee benefits                           3,851           3,610     3,888           3,595      3,833           3,658        3,751           3,565         15,323          14,428

        Occupancy                                                  566             578       531             513        511             500          559             485          2,167           2,076

        Equipment                                                  420             416       442             437        437             394          429             402          1,728           1,649

        Marketing and public relations                             336             165       240             129        195             328           94             226            865             848

        FDIC assessment                                             76             138        60             113        138             138          138             138            412             527

        Other real estate expense                                   14              90       115             126         21             154           51             154            201             524

        Amortization of intangibles                                 75              88        80              98         80              98           83             103            318             387

        Other                                                    1,180           1,037     1,227           1,056      1,118           1,119        1,237           1,027          4,762           4,239
                                                                 -----           -----     -----           -----      -----           -----        -----           -----          -----           -----

      Total non-interest expense                                 6,518           6,122     6,583           6,067      6,333           6,389        6,342           6,100         25,776          24,678
                                                                 -----           -----     -----           -----      -----           -----        -----           -----         ------          ------

      Income before taxes                                        2,238           2,169     2,276           2,322      2,391           1,989        1,944           1,923          8,849           8,403

      Income tax expense                                           446             568       599             643        646             546          476             519          2,167           2,276
                                                                   ---             ---       ---             ---        ---             ---          ---             ---          -----           -----

      Net Income                                                $1,792          $1,601    $1,677          $1,679     $1,745          $1,443       $1,468          $1,404         $6,682          $6,127
                                                                ------          ------    ======          ======     ======          ======       ------          ------         ------          ------


      Per share data:

         Net income, basic                                       $0.27           $0.24     $0.26           $0.26      $0.27           $0.22        $0.22           $0.22          $1.01           $0.93

         Net income, diluted                                     $0.26           $0.24     $0.25           $0.25      $0.26           $0.22        $0.22           $0.21          $0.98           $0.91


      Average number of shares outstanding - basic           6,630,951       6,569,379 6,572,614       6,559,844  6,553,752       6,539,154    6,572,969       6,522,420      6,616,741       6,558,386

      Average number of shares outstanding - diluted         6,805,447       6,736,615 6,762,074       6,712,026  6,732,574       6,697,620    6,751,074       6,664,654      6,787,132       6,718,553

      Shares outstanding period end                          6,708,393       6,690,551 6,703,317       6,684,563  6,699,030       6,679,938    6,893,042       6,683,960      6,708,393       6,690,551

      Return on average assets                                   0.78%          0.74%    0.74%          0.81%     0.80%          0.70%       0.68%          0.70%         0.75%          0.73%

      Return on average common equity                            8.51%          8.06%    7.90%          8.73%     8.53%          7.53%       7.35%          7.54%         8.08%          7.94%

      Return on average common tangible equity                   9.20%          8.79%    8.54%          9.55%     9.24%          8.25%       7.99%          8.23%         8.76%          8.68%

      Net Interest Margin (non taxable equivalent)               3.25%          3.19%    3.19%          3.22%     3.32%          3.25%       3.22%          3.51%         3.24%          3.28%

      Net Interest Margin (taxable equivalent)                   3.35%          3.29%    3.29%          3.32%     3.43%          3.34%       3.33%          3.62%         3.35%          3.38%

      Efficiency Ratio                                          72.47%         71.47%   72.99%         70.53%    71.34%         74.27%      73.86%         73.27%        73.11%         71.25%
      ----------------                                           -----           -----     -----           -----      -----           -----        -----           -----          -----           -----


                                                                                   FIRST COMMUNITY CORPORATION

                                                                            Yields on Average Earning Assets and Rates

                                                                             on Average Interest-Bearing Liabilities





                                                   Three Months ended December 31,                                      Three Months ended December 31,
                                                                2016                                                                   2015
                                                  --------------------------------                                      --------------------------------

                                                              Average                              Interest                   Yield/                     Average             Interest             Yield/

                                                              Balance                            Earned/Paid                   Rate                      Balance            Earned/Paid            Rate
                                                              -------                            -----------                   ----                      -------            -----------            ----

    Assets

    Earning assets

      Loans                                                                 $536,925                             $6,095                 4.52%                     $487,203                $5,846              4.76%

      Securities:                                                            281,631                              1,393                 1.97%                      280,804                 1,324              1.87%

      Other funds                                                             13,636                                 22                 0.64%                       22,281                    33              0.59%

            Total earning assets                                             832,192                              7,510                 3.59%                      790,288                 7,203              3.62%
                                                                             -------                              -----                  ----                       -------                 -----               ----

    Cash and due from banks                                                   11,374                                                                               10,002

    Premises and equipment                                                    29,927                                                                               31,128

    Intangible assets                                                          6,217                                                                                6,545

    Other assets                                                              31,273                                                                               24,999

    Allowance for loan losses                                                (5,101)                                                                             (4,549)

           Total assets                                                     $905,882                                                                             $858,413
                                                                            ========                                                                             ========


    Liabilities

    Interest-bearing liabilities

      Interest-bearing transaction accounts                                  155,757                                 41                 0.10%                      144,177                    42              0.12%

      Money market accounts                                                  163,598                                103                 0.25%                      163,314                   108              0.26%

      Savings deposits                                                        75,518                                 23                 0.12%                       60,458                    18              0.12%

      Time deposits                                                          183,401                                293                 0.64%                      182,382                   278              0.60%

      Other borrowings                                                        54,709                                256                 1.86%                       64,639                   409              2.51%

         Total interest-bearing liabilities                                  632,983                                716                 0.45%                      614,970                   855              0.55%
                                                                             -------                                ---                  ----                       -------                   ---               ----

    Demand deposits                                                          182,238                                                                              158,252

    Other liabilities                                                          7,143                                                                                6,394

    Shareholders' equity                                                      83,518                                                                               78,797

       Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                           $905,882                                                                             $858,413
                                                                            ========                                                                             ========


    Cost of funds including demand deposits                                                                                         0.35%                                                               0.44%

    Net interest spread                                                                                                               3.14%                                                               3.06%

    Net interest income/margin                                                                                  $6,794                 3.25%                                            $6,348              3.19%
                                                                                                                ======                                                                  ======


    Tax equivalent                                                                                              $7,013                 3.35%                                            $6,559              3.29%
                                                                                                                ======                                                                  ======


                                                                                    FIRST COMMUNITY CORPORATION

                                                                            Yields on Average Earning Assets and Rates

                                                                              on Average Interest-Bearing Liabilities




                                                  Year ended December 31, 2016                                            Year ended December 31, 2015
                                                  ----------------------------                                         ----------------------------

                                                            Average                             Interest                      Yield/                   Average              Interest               Yield/

                                                            Balance                           Earned/Paid                      Rate                    Balance            Earned/Paid               Rate
                                                            -------                           -----------                      ----                    -------            -----------               ----

    Assets

    Earning assets

      Loans                                                             $514,766                              $23,677                  4.60%                    $473,367                  $23,219             4.91%

      Securities:                                                        283,585                                5,724                  2.02%                     275,944                    5,311             1.92%

      Other funds                                                         17,512                                  105                  0.60%                      20,293                      119             0.59%

            Total earning assets                                         815,863                               29,506                  3.62%                     769,604                   28,649             3.72%
                                                                         -------                               ------                   ----                      -------                   ------              ----

    Cash and due from banks                                               10,903                                                                                  8,070

    Premises and equipment                                                30,084                                                                                 30,833

    Intangible assets                                                      6,334                                                                                  6,575

    Other assets                                                          29,922                                                                                 24,895

    Allowance for loan losses                                            (4,866)                                                                               (4,373)

           Total assets                                                 $888,240                                                                               $835,604
                                                                        ========                                                                               ========

    Liabilities

    Interest-bearing liabilities

      Interest-bearing transaction accounts                              152,936                                  173                  0.11%                     137,969                      160             0.12%

      Money market accounts                                              164,826                                  426                  0.26%                     158,726                      423             0.27%

      Savings deposits                                                    69,176                                   82                  0.12%                      57,958                       68             0.12%

      Time deposits                                                      180,447                                1,137                  0.63%                     186,911                    1,099             0.59%

      Other borrowings                                                    59,569                                1,229                  2.06%                      64,072                    1,646             2.57%

         Total interest-bearing liabilities                              626,856                                3,047                  0.49%                     605,636                    3,396             0.56%
                                                                         -------                                -----                   ----                      -------                    -----              ----

    Demand deposits                                                      171,968                                                                                147,009

    Other liabilities                                                      6,663                                                                                  5,835

    Shareholders' equity                                                  82,653                                                                                 77,124

       Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                       $888,240                                                                               $835,604
                                                                        ========                                                                               ========


    Net interest spread                                                                                                            3.13%                                                                3.16%

    Net interest income/margin                                                                             $28,459                  3.24%                                             $25,253             3.28%
                                                                                                           =======                                                                    =======


    Tax Equivalent                                                                                           $27,326                  3.35%                                             $26,024             3.38%
                                                                                                             =======                                                                    =======

The tables below provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP for the periods indicated:




                                                         December        December
                                                                     31,             31,

    Tangible book value per common share                            2016            2015
                                                                    ----            ----

    Tangible common equity per common share (non-GAAP)            $11.28          $10.84

    Effect to adjust for intangible assets                          0.92            0.97
                                                                    ----            ----

    Book value per common share (GAAP)                            $12.20          $11.81
                                                                  ======          ======

    Tangible common shareholders' equity to tangible
       assets

    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP)           8.33%          8.47%

    Effect to adjust for intangible assets                         0.62%          0.69%
                                                                    ----            ----

    Common equity to assets (GAAP)                                 8.95%          9.16%
                                                                    ====            ====


                                    Three months ended           Three months ended           Three Months ended Three months ended      Year ended

                                        December 31,               September 30,                   June 30,           March 31,         December 31,
                                        ------------               -------------                   --------           ---------         ------------

    Return on average tangible                     2016     2015                         2016                                      2015                     2016         2015         2016         2015        2016       2015
       common equity
       -------------

    Return on average tangible                    9.50%   8.79%                       8.54%                                    9.55%                   9.24%       8.25%        7.99%        8.23%       8.76%      8.68%
       common equity
       (non-GAAP)

    Effect to adjust for intangible               0.99% (0.73)%                     (0.64)%                                  (0.82)%                 (0.71)%     (0.72)%      (0.64)%      (0.69)%     (0.68)%    (0.74)%
       assets


    Return on average common                      8.51%   8.06%                       7.90%                                    8.73%                   8.53%       7.53%        7.35%        7.54%       8.08%      7.94%
       equity (GAAP)

Certain financial information presented above is determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial measures include "tangible book value at period end," "return on average tangible common equity" and "tangible common shareholders' equity to tangible assets." "Tangible book value at period end" is defined as total equity reduced by recorded intangible assets divided by total common shares outstanding. "Tangible common shareholders' equity to tangible assets" is defined as total common equity reduced by recorded intangible assets divided by total assets reduced by recorded intangible assets. Our management believes that these non-GAAP measures are useful because they enhance the ability of investors and management to evaluate and compare our operating results from period-to-period in a meaningful manner. Non-GAAP measures have limitations as analytical tools, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP.

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SOURCE First Community Corporation