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News Release

For Immediate Release:For More Information, Contact:
April 27, 2021Elaine Pozarycki
919-834-3090

First Bancorp Reports First Quarter Results

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. - First Bancorp (NASDAQ - FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, announced today net income of $28.2 million, or $0.99 per diluted common share, for the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of 59.7% on a per share basis, compared to $18.2 million, or $0.62 per diluted common share, recorded in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in earnings was driven by lower credit costs and higher noninterest income.

The Company continued to experience high balance sheet growth during the first quarter of 2021, with total assets increasing by $447 million, or 24.8% annualized. This growth was driven by a $460 million, or 29.7% annualized, increase in deposits from December 31, 2020.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income for the first quarter of 2021 was $55.2 million, a 0.9% increase from the $54.8 million recorded in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in net interest income was due to higher levels of interest-earning assets and the recognition of PPP loan fees, the effects of which were mostly offset by a lower net interest margin.

The Company’s net interest margin (a non-GAAP measure calculated by dividing tax-equivalent net interest income by average earning assets) for the first quarter of 2021 was 3.27%, which was 69 basis points lower than the 3.96% realized in the first quarter of 2020. The decline was primarily due to the impact of lower interest rates and the lower incremental reinvestment rates realized from funds provided by the high deposit growth.

Driven by high deposit growth, average interest-earning assets increased by 23.3% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020. The funds provided by the in-flow of deposits were used primarily to either purchase investment securities or were held in the Company's account at the Federal Reserve Bank, each of which increased net interest income but negatively impacted the Company's net interest margin. Additionally, in March 2020, the Federal Reserve Bank decreased interest rates by 150 basis points, which negatively impacted the Company's net interest margin beginning in the second quarter of 2020.

In the first quarter of 2021, the Company processed $111 million in PPP loan forgiveness payments related to 2020 originations and also originated approximately $111 million in new PPP loans, which resulted in an unchanged balance of total PPP loans of $241 million from December 31, 2020. Including accelerated amortization of deferred PPP loan fees, the Company recorded a total of $3.0 million in PPP fee-related interest income during the first quarter of 2021, which, when combined with the note rate of 1.00%, resulted in a total yield on PPP loans of 6.16% for the quarter. The Company has $9.0 million in remaining deferred PPP loan fees, of which $3.1 million relates to 2020 originations and $5.9 million relates to 2021 originations.




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Allowance for Loan Losses, Provision for Loan Losses and Asset Quality

On January 1, 2021, the Company adopted the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) methodology for estimating credit losses, which resulted in an increase of $14.6 million in the Company's allowance for loan losses and an increase of $7.5 million in the Company's reserve for unfunded commitments. The tax-effected impact of those two items amounted to $17.1 million and was recorded as an adjustment to the Company's retained earnings as of January 1, 2021.

The Company recorded no provision for loan losses in the first quarter of 2021 compared to $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. The higher provision in 2020 was primarily related to estimated incurred losses associated with the pandemic that was emerging at the time. Under the CECL methodology for recording expected credit losses adopted at January 1, 2021, which resulted in the increase to the allowance for loan losses noted above, the Company determined that no further adjustment was necessary for the first quarter of 2021.

Total net loan charge-offs for the first quarters of 2021 and 2020 amounted to $1.1 million and $2.5 million, respectively, or 0.10% and 0.22% of average loans on an annualized basis, respectively.

Total nonperforming assets amounted to $50 million at March 31, 2021, or 0.65% of total assets, compared to $38.3 million a year earlier, or 0.60% of total assets. At March 31, 2021, loans on deferral status associated with the pandemic amounted to $5.9 million.

Noninterest Income

Total noninterest income for the first quarter of 2021 was $20.7 million, a 50.8% increase from the $13.7 million recorded for the first quarter of 2020.

Service charges on deposit accounts amounted to $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2021, an 18.1% decrease compared to $3.3 million in the first quarter of 2020. The decline was primarily due to fewer instances of customer overdrafts.

Other service charges, commissions and fees amounted to $5.5 million for the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 35.7% from the $4.1 million for the first quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily due to a $0.9 million increase in bankcard revenue. Additionally, the first quarter of 2020 included a $0.5 million charge related to impairment of the Company's SBA servicing asset.

Fees from presold mortgages amounted to $4.5 million for the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 146.8%, compared to $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in 2021 was primarily due to higher mortgage loan origination volume arising from low mortgage loan interest rates.

SBA consulting fees amounted to $2.8 million for the first quarter, an increase of 169.1%, compared to $1.0 million for the first quarter of 2020. The increase was due to fees earned by the Company's SBA subsidiary, SBA Complete, related to assisting its third-party client banks with the PPP loan program. SBA Complete recorded approximately $1.6 million in PPP-related fees for the three months ended March 31, 2021. At March 31, 2021, SBA Complete had $0.6 million in remaining deferred PPP revenue that will be recorded as income upon completing the forgiveness process for its client banks.

SBA loan sale gains amounted to $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2021 compared to $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. The first quarter of 2020 was significantly impacted by temporary pandemic-related market conditions. The first quarter of 2021 was favorably impacted by the SBA increasing the guarantee percentage on most loans from 75% to 90% as part of the economic relief package.

Noninterest Expenses

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Noninterest expenses amounted to $40.1 million in each of the first quarters of 2021 and 2020 with no significant variances in individual line items.

Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate was 21.3% and 20.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, with the 2021 increase being due to a higher proportion of fully-taxable income.

Balance Sheet and Capital

Total assets at March 31, 2021 amounted to $7.7 billion, a 21.3% increase from a year earlier. The growth was driven by an increase in deposits.

Total deposits amounted to $6.7 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of $1.7 billion, or 33.5%, from March 31, 2020. The high deposit growth is believed to be due to a combination of stimulus funds and changes in customer behaviors during the pandemic, as well as ongoing growth initiatives by the Company.

Total loans amounted to $4.6 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of $71 million, or 1.6% from March 31, 2020. Excluding PPP loans, the Company's level of outstanding loans has been impacted by high mortgage loan refinancing activity, commercial loan payoffs, and soft demand arising from the pandemic.

With high levels of liquidity, the Company reduced its level of borrowings to $61.3 million at March 31, 2021, a decrease of $341 million, or 84.8%, from a year earlier. The Company has also increased its holdings of investment securities to $2.0 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of $1.2 billion, or 132.8%, compared to a year earlier.

The Company remains well-capitalized by all regulatory standards, with an estimated Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio at March 31, 2021 of 15.58%, an increase from the 14.51% reported at March 31, 2020. The Company’s tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio was 8.33% at March 31, 2021, a decrease of 167 basis points from a year earlier, which was impacted by the high balance sheet growth.

Comments of the CEO and Other Business Matters

Richard H. Moore, CEO of First Bancorp, commented, “We are very pleased with our first quarter performance. We achieved a high level of profitability, and our balance sheet and capital levels remain strong. With signs that the country is emerging from the pandemic, we expect to see an increase in economic activity that should benefit both our Company and our communities." Mr. Moore also stated, "We were also pleased to be able to recently report an 11% increase in our quarterly dividend rate to $0.20 per share."

The following is additional discussion of business development and other miscellaneous matters affecting the Company during the first quarter of 2021:

On March 15, 2021, the Company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share payable on April 25, 2021 to shareholders of record on March 31, 2021. This dividend rate represents an 11.1% increase over the dividend rate declared in the first quarter of 2020.

During the first quarter of 2021, the Company repurchased 106,744 shares of its common stock at an average stock price of $37.81, which totaled $4.0 million.


* * *

First Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $7.7 billion. Its principal activity is the ownership and operation of First Bank, a state-chartered community bank
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that operates 101 branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. First Bank Insurance Services is a subsidiary of First Bank and provides insurance products and services to individuals and businesses throughout First Bank’s market area. First Bank also provides SBA loans to customers through its nationwide network of lenders - for more information on First Bank’s SBA lending capabilities, please visit www.firstbanksba.com. First Bancorp’s common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “FBNC.”

Please visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that include projections, predictions, expectations or beliefs about future events or results or otherwise are not statements of historical fact. Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualifying words (and their derivatives) such as “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “anticipate,” or other words or phrases concerning opinions or judgments of the Company and its management about future events. Factors that could influence the accuracy of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the financial success or changing strategies of the Company’s customers, the Company’s level of success in integrating acquisitions, actions of government regulators, the level of market interest rates, and general economic conditions. For additional information about the factors that could affect the matters discussed in this paragraph, see the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K available at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements. The Company is also not responsible for changes made to this press release by wire services, internet services or other media.
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First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Financial Summary - Page 1
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Percent
($ in thousands except per share data - unaudited)20212020Change
INCOME STATEMENT
Interest income
   Interest and fees on loans$51,073 55,297 
   Interest on investment securities6,236 5,638 
   Other interest income700 1,098 
      Total interest income58,009 62,033 (6.5)%
Interest expense
   Interest on deposits2,388 5,773 
   Interest on borrowings383 1,501 
      Total interest expense2,771 7,274 (61.9)%
        Net interest income55,238 54,759 0.9%
Total provision for loan losses— 5,590 (100.0)%
Net interest income after provision for loan losses55,238 49,169 12.3%
Noninterest income
   Service charges on deposit accounts2,733 3,337 
   Other service charges, commissions, and fees5,522 4,069 
   Fees from presold mortgage loans4,544 1,841 
   Commissions from sales of insurance and financial products2,190 2,068 
   SBA consulting fees2,764 1,027 
   SBA loan sale gains2,330 647 
   Bank-owned life insurance income620 642 
   Other gains (losses), net(34)74 
      Total noninterest income20,669 13,705 50.8%
Noninterest expenses
   Salaries expense20,131 20,110 
   Employee benefit expense4,574 4,547 
   Occupancy and equipment related expense3,949 4,103 
   Intangibles amortization expense897 1,055 
   Foreclosed property losses (gains), net157 159 
   Other operating expenses10,357 10,102 
      Total noninterest expenses40,065 40,076 —%
Income before income taxes35,842 22,798 57.2%
Income tax expense7,648 4,618 65.6%
Net income$28,194 18,180 55.1%
Earnings per common share - diluted$0.99 0.62 59.7%
ADDITIONAL INCOME STATEMENT INFORMATION
   Net interest income, as reported$55,238 54,759 
   Tax-equivalent adjustment (1)443 334 
   Net interest income, tax-equivalent$55,681 55,093 1.1%
(1)This amount reflects the tax benefit that the Company receives related to its tax-exempt loans and securities, which carry interest rates lower than similar taxable investments due to their tax-exempt status. This amount has been computed assuming a 23% tax rate and is reduced by the related nondeductible portion of interest expense.




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First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Financial Summary - Page 2
Three Months Ended
March 31,
PERFORMANCE RATIOS (annualized)
20212020
Return on average assets (1)1.53 %1.18 %
Return on average common equity (2)12.92 %8.52 %
Net interest margin - tax-equivalent (3)3.27 %3.96 %
Net (recoveries) charge-offs to average loans0.10 %0.22 %
COMMON SHARE DATA
Cash dividends declared - common$0.20 0.18 
Stated book value - common30.78 29.69 
Tangible book value - common (non-GAAP)21.87 21.09 
Common shares outstanding at end of period28,489,474 29,040,827 
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted28,537,853 29,399,114 
CAPITAL RATIOS
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP)8.33 %10.00 %
Common equity tier I capital ratio - estimated13.25 %12.86 %
Tier I leverage ratio - estimated9.60 %11.05 %
Tier I risk-based capital ratio - estimated14.33 %13.98 %
Total risk-based capital ratio - estimated15.58 %14.51 %
AVERAGE BALANCES ($ in thousands)
Total assets$7,477,826 6,183,098 
Loans4,684,143 4,512,893 
Earning assets6,898,406 5,595,734 
Deposits6,474,115 4,950,199 
Interest-bearing liabilities4,233,740 3,739,467 
Shareholders’ equity885,190 858,592 
(1) Calculated by dividing annualized net income by average assets.
(2) Calculated by dividing annualized net income by average common equity.
(3) See note 1 on the first page of the Financial Summary for discussion of tax-equivalent adjustments.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
TREND INFORMATION
($ in thousands except per share data)For the Three Months Ended
INCOME STATEMENTMar. 31, 2021Dec. 31, 2020Sept. 30, 2020June 30, 2020Mar. 31, 2020
Net interest income - tax-equivalent (1)$55,681 56,463 55,080 52,954 55,093 
Taxable equivalent adjustment (1)443 457 347 330 334 
Net interest income55,238 56,006 54,733 52,624 54,759 
Provision for loan losses— 4,031 6,120 19,298 5,590 
Noninterest income20,669 19,996 21,452 26,193 13,705 
Noninterest expense40,065 41,882 40,439 38,901 40,076 
Income before income taxes35,842 30,089 29,626 20,618 22,798 
Income tax expense7,648 6,441 6,329 4,266 4,618 
Net income 28,194 23,648 23,297 16,352 18,180 
Earnings per common share - diluted0.99 0.83 0.81 0.56 0.62 
Cash dividends declared per share0.20 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18 
(1) See note 1 on the first page of this Financial Summary for discussion of tax-equivalent adjustments.

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First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Financial Summary - Page 3
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ in thousands - unaudited)
At Mar. 31,
2021
At Dec. 31,
2020
At Mar. 31,
2020
One Year
Change
Assets
Cash and due from banks$71,206 93,724 93,666 (24.0)%
Interest-bearing deposits with banks458,860 273,566 282,683 62.3 %
     Total cash and cash equivalents530,066 367,290 376,349 40.8 %
Investment securities2,020,540 1,620,683 867,773 132.8 %
Presold mortgages31,869 42,271 14,861 114.4 %
SBA loans held for sale7,002 6,077 18,449 (62.0)%
Total loans4,624,054 4,731,315 4,552,708 1.6 %
Allowance for loan losses(65,849)(52,388)(24,498)168.8 %
Net loans4,558,205 4,678,927 4,528,210 0.7 %
Premises and equipment123,271 120,502 113,669 8.4 %
Operating right-of-use lease assets16,899 17,514 19,347 (12.7)%
Intangible assets253,878 254,638 249,829 1.6 %
Foreclosed real estate 1,811 2,424 3,487 (48.1)%
Bank-owned life insurance107,594 106,974 105,083 2.4 %
Other assets85,259 72,451 79,001 7.9 %
     Total assets$7,736,394 7,289,751 6,376,058 21.3 %
Liabilities
Deposits:
     Noninterest-bearing checking accounts$2,430,198 2,210,012 1,580,849 53.7 %
     Interest-bearing checking accounts1,258,500 1,172,022 922,985 36.4 %
     Money market accounts1,721,230 1,581,364 1,224,414 40.6 %
     Savings accounts567,715 519,266 431,377 31.6 %
     Brokered deposits9,461 20,222 85,642 (89.0)%
     Internet time deposits249 249 698 (64.3)%
     Other time deposits > $100,000525,809 543,894 553,422 (5.0)%
     Other time deposits220,325 226,567 245,601 (10.3)%
          Total deposits6,733,487 6,273,596 5,044,988 33.5 %
Borrowings61,342 61,829 402,185 (84.7)%
Operating lease liabilities17,354 17,868 19,578 (11.4)%
Other liabilities47,358 43,037 47,109 0.5 %
     Total liabilities6,859,541 6,396,330 5,513,860 24.4 %
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock 397,094 400,582 410,236 (3.2)%
Retained earnings483,944 478,489 430,709 12.4 %
Stock in rabbi trust assumed in acquisition(2,256)(2,243)(2,602)(13.3)%
Rabbi trust obligation2,256 2,243 2,602 (13.3)%
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)(4,185)14,350 21,253 (119.7)%
     Total shareholders’ equity876,853 893,421 862,198 1.7 %
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$7,736,394 7,289,751 6,376,058 21.3 %



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First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Financial Summary - Page 4
For the Three Months Ended
YIELD INFORMATIONMar. 31, 2021Dec. 31, 2020Sept. 30, 2020June 30, 2020Mar. 31, 2020
Yield on loans4.42 %4.42 %4.38 %4.41 %4.93 %
Yield on securities1.47 %1.62 %2.02 %2.49 %2.65 %
Yield on other earning assets0.57 %0.57 %0.64 %0.55 %1.95 %
   Yield on all interest-earning assets3.41 %3.55 %3.71 %3.80 %4.46 %
Rate on interest bearing deposits0.23 %0.29 %0.37 %0.46 %0.68 %
Rate on other interest-bearing liabilities2.53 %2.55 %2.06 %1.31 %1.91 %
   Rate on all interest-bearing liabilities0.27 %0.32 %0.41 %0.52 %0.78 %
     Total cost of funds0.17 %0.21 %0.26 %0.35 %0.56 %
        Net interest margin (1)3.25 %3.35 %3.46 %3.47 %3.94 %
        Net interest margin - tax-equivalent (2)3.27 %3.38 %3.48 %3.49 %3.96 %
        Average prime rate3.25 %3.25 %3.25 %3.25 %4.42 %

(1) Calculated by dividing annualized net interest income by average earning assets for the period.
(2) Calculated by dividing annualized tax-equivalent net interest income by average earning assets for the period. See note 1 on the first page of this Financial Summary for discussion of tax-equivalent adjustments.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
For the Three Months Ended
NET INTEREST INCOME PURCHASE ACCOUNTING ADJUSTMENTS
($ in thousands)
Mar. 31, 2021Dec. 31, 2020Sept. 30, 2020June 30, 2020Mar. 31, 2020
Interest income - increased by accretion of loan discount on acquired loans$752 802 972 802 1,241 
Interest income - increased by accretion of loan discount on retained portions of SBA loans589 737 583 591 600 
Interest expense - reduced by premium amortization of deposits15 19 23 26 31 
Interest expense - increased by discount accretion of borrowings(44)(45)(45)(45)(45)
     Impact on net interest income$1,312 1,513 1,533 1,374 1,827 



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First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Financial Summary - Page 5

ASSET QUALITY DATA ($ in thousands)
Mar. 31, 2021Dec. 31, 2020Sept. 30, 2020June 30, 2020Mar. 31, 2020
Nonperforming assets
Nonaccrual loans$39,566 35,076 31,656 34,922 25,066 
Troubled debt restructurings - accruing8,601 9,497 9,896 9,867 9,747 
Accruing loans > 90 days past due— — — — — 
Total nonperforming loans48,167 44,573 41,552 44,789 34,813 
Foreclosed real estate1,811 2,424 2,741 2,987 3,487 
Total nonperforming assets$49,978 46,997 44,293 47,776 38,300 
Purchased credit deteriorated loans (1)$8,437 8,591 9,616 9,742 9,839 
Asset Quality Ratios
Net quarterly (recoveries) charge-offs to average loans - annualized0.10 %0.07 %(0.06)%0.12 %0.22 %
Nonperforming loans to total loans1.04 %0.94 %0.86 %0.94 %0.76 %
Nonperforming assets to total assets0.65 %0.64 %0.63 %0.69 %0.60 %
Allowance for loan losses to total loans1.42 %1.11 %1.02 %0.89 %0.54 %
(1) In the March 3, 2017 acquisition of Carolina Bank and the October 1, 2017 acquisition of Asheville Savings Bank, the Company acquired $19.3 million and $9.9 million, respectively, in purchased credit deteriorated loans in accordance with ASC 310-30 accounting guidance. Prior to the Company's January 1, 2021 adoption of ASC 326 (CECL), these loans were appropriately excluded from the nonperforming loan amounts presented, regardless of nonperforming status. At March 31, 2021, approximately $0.8 million of purchased credit deteriorated loans are included in the nonaccrual loan amount.

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First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
Financial Summary - Page 6
For the Three Months Ended
NET INTEREST MARGIN, EXCLUDING LOAN DISCOUNT ACCRETION - RECONCILIATION
($ in thousands)
Mar. 31, 2021Dec. 31, 2020Sept. 30, 2020June 30, 2020Mar. 31, 2020
Net interest income, as reported$55,238 56,006 54,733 52,624 54,759 
Tax-equivalent adjustment443 457 347 330 334 
Net interest income, tax-equivalent (A)$55,681 56,463 55,080 52,954 55,093 
Average earning assets (B)$6,898,406 6,640,732 6,294,556 6,102,012 5,595,734 
Tax-equivalent net interest margin, annualized - as reported - (A)/(B)3.27 %3.38 %3.48 %3.49 %3.96 %
Net interest income, tax-equivalent$55,681 56,463 55,080 52,954 55,093 
Loan discount accretion1,341 1,539 1,555 1,393 1,841 
Net interest income, tax-equivalent, excluding loan discount accretion (A)$54,340 54,924 53,525 51,561 53,252 
Average earnings assets (B) $6,898,406 6,640,732 6,294,556 6,102,012 5,595,734 
Tax-equivalent net interest margin, excluding impact of loan discount accretion, annualized - (A) / (B)3.19 %3.29 %3.38 %3.40 %3.83 %

Note: The measure “tax-equivalent net interest margin, excluding impact of loan discount accretion” is a non-GAAP performance measure. Management of the Company believes that it is useful to calculate and present the Company’s net interest margin without the impact of loan discount accretion for the reasons explained in the remainder of this Note. Loan discount accretion is a non-cash interest income adjustment that is related to 1) the Company’s acquisition of loans and represents the portion of the fair value discount that was initially recorded on the acquired loans, and 2) the Company’s origination of SBA loans and the subsequent sale of the guaranteed portions of the loans that results in a discount being recorded on the retained portion of the loans. These discounts are recognized into income over the lives of the loans. At March 31, 2021, the Company had a remaining loan discount balance on acquired loans of $8.2 million compared to $11.5 million at March 31, 2020. At March 31, 2021, the Company had a remaining loan discount balance on SBA loans of $7.3 million compared to $6.8 million at March 31, 2020. For the related loans that perform and pay down over time, the loan discount will also be reduced, with a corresponding increase to interest income. Therefore, management of the Company believes it is useful to also present this ratio to reflect the Company’s net interest margin excluding this non-cash, temporary loan discount accretion adjustment to aid investors in comparing financial results between periods. The Company cautions that non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the Company’s reported GAAP results.


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