Jimmy Tallent Fee Quotations

Loan and deposit growth was strong across all markets. Total assets at year-end were $5.9 billion, a 15% increase from a year ago. Loans increased $144 million during the fourth quarter, or 14% on an annualized basis, and helped drive the increase in net interest revenue. Our net interest margin rose to 4.20%, up 15 basis points from a year ago and up three basis points from last quarter, as increasing short-term interest rates continued to positively affect our slightly asset-sensitive balance sheet. Fee revenue, excluding securities losses taken in the fourth quarter of 2005, was up 12%, reflecting increases in nearly every category.

Excluding securities losses in the fourth quarter of 2005, core fee revenue growth from a year ago was $1.3 million, or 12%, with steady growth achieved in nearly every category. Service charges and fees on deposit accounts increased $970,000 to $6.6 million, primarily due to growth in transactions and new accounts resulting from core deposit program and the cross-selling of other products and services. Brokerage fees increased 85% to $789,000 due to strong market activity. Consulting fees of $1.7 million were down slightly, due to the timing of work completed last year for the documentation and testing of internal controls in our risk management practice.