UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(MARK ONE)

For the Transition Period from                 to                

Commission File No. 000-28344

FIRST COMMUNITY CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

5455 Sunset Boulevard, Lexington, South Carolina 29072

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(803) 951-2265

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  o    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common equity, as of the latest practicable date:  On April 30, 2008, 3,196,854 shares of the issuer’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share, were issued and outstanding.

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PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

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FIRST COMMUNITY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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FIRST COMMUNITY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

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FIRST COMMUNITY CORPORATION

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income

Three Months ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007

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FIRST COMMUNITY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1     -  Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheets, the consolidated statements of income, the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and the consolidated statements of cash flows of First Community Corporation (“the Company”), present fairly in all material respects the Company’s financial position at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, and the Company’s cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2008.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to fairly present the consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations have been made. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto are presented in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q.  The information included in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K should be referred to in connection with these unaudited interim financial statements.

Note 2 – Earnings Per Share

The following reconciles the numerator and denominator of the basic and diluted earnings per share computation:

Note 3 –SFAS No. 159 (“SFAS 159”) “The Fair Value Option for Financial assets and Financial Liabilities”

The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 159 effective January 1, 2007 which became effective in February 2007.  SFAS 159 generally permits the measurement of selected eligible financial instruments at fair value at specified election dates.  This election can generally be applied on an instrument by instrument basis.  Following the initial measurement date, ongoing unrealized gains or losses on these securities as well as other financial instruments for which fair value reporting is elected are reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date.

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The following tables reflect the changes in fair values for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 and where these changes are included in the income statement:

March 31, 2008

March 31, 2007

In connection with the adoption of SFAS 159, the Company was required to adopt SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurement” (“SFAS 157”).  SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  The following table summarizes quantitative disclosures about  the fair value measurement for each category of assets carried at fair value as of March 31, 2008.

The Company has a large percentage of loans with real estate serving as collateral. Loans which are deemed to be impaired are primarily valued nonrecurring basis at the fair values of the underlying real estate collateral. Such fair values are obtained using independent appraisals, which the Company considers to be level 2 inputs. The aggregate carrying amount of impaired loans at March 31, 2008 and 2007 was $642,000 and $791,000, respectively.

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The following table reconciles the changes in Level 3 financial instruments for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

Note 4 - Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The following is a summary of recent authoritative pronouncements that could impact the accounting, reporting, and or disclosure of financial information by the Company.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations,” (“SFAS 141(R)”) which replaces SFAS 141. SFAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any controlling interest; recognizes and measures goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. FAS 141(R) is effective for acquisitions by the Company taking place on or after January 1, 2009. Early adoption is prohibited. Accordingly, a calendar year-end company is required to record and disclose business combinations following existing accounting guidance until January 1, 2009. The Company will assess the impact of SFAS 141(R) if and when a future acquisition occurs.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Before this statement, limited guidance existed for reporting noncontrolling interests (minority interest). As a result, diversity in practice exists. In some cases minority interest is reported as a liability and in others it is reported in the mezzanine section between liabilities and equity. Specifically, SFAS 160 requires the recognition of a noncontrolling interest (minority interest) as equity in the consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent’s equity. The amount of net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest will be included in consolidated net income on the face of the income statement. SFAS 160 clarifies that changes in a parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in deconsolidation are equity transactions if the parent retains its controlling financial interest. In addition, this statement requires that a parent recognize gain or loss in net income when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. Such gain or loss will be measured using the fair value of the noncontrolling equity investment on the deconsolidation date. SFAS 160 also includes expanded disclosure requirements regarding the interests of the parent and its noncontrolling interests. SFAS 160 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2009.   Earlier adoption is prohibited. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of SFAS 160 will have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 161”).  SFAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures about an entity’s derivative and hedging activities and thereby improving the transparency of financial reporting.  It is intended to enhance the current disclosure framework in SFAS 133 by requiring that objectives for using derivative instruments be disclosed in terms of underlying risk and accounting designation. This disclosure better conveys the purpose of derivative use in terms of the risks that the entity is intending to manage. SFAS 161 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2009. This pronouncement does not impact accounting measurements but will result in additional disclosures if the Company is involved in material derivative and hedging activities at that time.

In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 140-3, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets and Repurchase Financing Transactions” (“FSP 140-3”).  This FSP provides guidance on accounting for a transfer of a financial asset and the transferor’s repurchase financing of the asset.  This FSP presumes that an initial transfer of a financial asset and a repurchase financing are considered part of the same arrangement (linked transaction) under SFAS No. 140. However, if certain criteria are met, the initial transfer and repurchase financing are not evaluated as a linked transaction and are evaluated separately under Statement 140.  FSP 140-3 will be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years and earlier application is not permitted. Accordingly, this FSP is effective for the Company on January 1, 2009.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of FSP 140-3 will have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” (“FSP 142-3”).  This FSP amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”.  The intent of this FSP is to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations,” and other U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  This FSP is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years and early adoption is prohibited.  Accordingly, this FSP is effective for the Company on  January 1, 2009.  The Company does not believe the adoption of FSP 142-3 will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company early adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”) which provides a framework for measuring and disclosing fair value under generally accepted accounting principles. SFAS 157 requires disclosures about the fair value of assets and liabilities recognized in the balance sheet in periods subsequent to initial recognition, whether the measurements are made on a recurring basis (for example, available-for-sale investment securities) or on a nonrecurring basis (for example, impaired loans).

SFAS 157 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. SFAS 157 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

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See Note 3 for the disclosures related to SFAS 157.

FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-2 delays the implementation of SFAS 157 until the first quarter of 2009 with respect to goodwill, other intangible assets, real estate and other assets acquired through foreclosure and other non-financial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis

This Report contains statements which constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on many assumptions and estimates and are not guarantees of future performance.  Our actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements, as they will depend on many factors about which we are unsure, including many factors, which are beyond our control.  The words “may,”  “would,” “could,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” and “estimate,” as well as similar expressions, are meant to identify such forward-looking statements.  Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

·                  increases in competitive pressure in the banking and financial services industries;

·                  changes in the interest rate environment which could reduce anticipated or actual margins;

·                  changes in political conditions or the legislative or regulatory environment;

·                  general economic conditions, either nationally or regionally and especially in our primary service area, becoming less favorable than expected resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality;

·                  changes occurring in business conditions and inflation;

·                  changes in technology;

·                  changes in deposit flows;

·                  the adequacy of our level of allowance for loan loss;

·                  the rate of delinquencies and amounts of charge-offs;

·                  the rates of loan growth;

·                  adverse changes in asset quality and resulting credit risk-related losses and expenses;

·                  changes in monetary and tax policies;

·                  loss of consumer confidence and economic disruptions resulting from terrorist activities;

·                  changes in the securities markets; and

·                  other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Overview

The following discussion describes our results of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2007, and also analyzes our financial condition as of March 31, 2008 as compared to December 31, 2007.  Like most community banks, we derive most of our income from interest we receive on our loans and investments.  Our primary source of funds for making these loans and investments is our deposits, on which we pay interest. Consequently, one of the key measures of our success is our amount of net interest income, or the difference between the income on our interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and the expense on our interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits.  Another key measure is the spread between the yield we earn on these interest-earning assets and the rate we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities.

Of course, there are risks inherent in all loans, so we maintain an allowance for loan losses to absorb probable losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible.  We establish and maintain this allowance by charging a provision for loan losses against our operating earnings.  In the following section, we have included a detailed discussion of this process.

In addition to earning interest on our loans and investments, we earn income through fees and other expenses we charge to our customers.  We describe the various components of this non-interest income, as well as our non-interest expense, in the following discussion.

The following discussion and analysis also identifies significant factors that have affected our financial position and operating results during the periods included in the accompanying financial statements.  We encourage you to read this discussion and analysis in conjunction with the financial statements and the related notes and the other statistical information also included in this report.

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Critical Accounting Policies

We have adopted various accounting policies that govern the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and with general practices within the banking industry in the preparation of our financial statements. Our significant accounting policies are described in the footnotes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2008 and our notes included in the consolidated financial statements in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Certain accounting policies involve significant judgments and assumptions by us that have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities. We consider these accounting policies to be critical accounting policies. The judgment and assumptions we use are based on historical experience and other factors, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because of the nature of the judgment and assumptions we make, actual results could differ from these judgments and estimates that could have a material impact on the carrying values of our assets and liabilities and our results of operations.

We believe the allowance for loan losses is the critical accounting policy that requires the most significant judgment and estimates used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Some of the more critical judgments supporting the amount of our allowance for loan losses include judgments about the credit worthiness of borrowers, the estimated value of the underlying collateral, the assumptions about cash flow, determination of loss factors for estimating credit losses, the impact of current events, and conditions, and other factors impacting the level of probable inherent losses. Under different conditions or using different assumptions, the actual amount of credit losses incurred by us may be different from management’s estimates provided in our consolidated financial statements. Refer to the portion of this discussion that addresses our allowance for loan losses for a more complete discussion of our processes and methodology for determining our allowance for loan losses.

Results of Operations

Net Income

Our net income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $1.1 million, or $.35 diluted earnings per share, as compared to $726,000, or $.22 diluted earnings per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The increase in net income is primarily due to an increase in net interest income resulting primarily from an increase in the level of average earning assets for the three months ended March 31, 2008, as compared to the same period in 2007, reflecting the continued growth of our bank.  Average earning assets were $498.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2008, as compared to $459.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2007, an increase of $39.4 million.  This increase in average earning assets was the primary factor responsible for the increase in net interest income of $379,000 in the first three months of 2008 as compared to the first three months of 2007.  An increase in non-interest income of $313,000, or 28.2%, also contributed to the increase in net income in the first three months of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007.   Non-interest expense only increased by $21,000, or 0.6%, in the first quarter of 2008, as compared to the same period in 2007.  We made some significant investments that we knew would negatively impact earnings in the first two quarters of 2007, but which we felt would position our bank well for future success.  These investments included hiring additional retail bankers and engaging a consulting firm to assist with identifying non-interest income enhancement and operational efficiency opportunities.  We believe these initiatives helped us to increase earning asset levels, increase non-interest income and significantly reduce the percentage growth of non-interest expense.

Please refer to the table at the end of this Item 2 for the yield and rate data for interest-bearing balance sheet components during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, along with average balances and the related interest income and interest expense amounts.

Net interest income was $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, as compared to $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  As described above, this increase was primarily due to an increase in the level of earning assets.  The net interest margin on a taxable equivalent basis increased by 3 basis points from 3.27% at March 31, 2007 to 3.30% at March 31, 2008.   Yields on earning assets decreased by 11 basis points in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007. The yield on earning assets for the three months ended

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March 31, 2008 and 2007 was 6.33% and 6.44%, respectively.  The cost of interest-bearing liabilities during the first three months of 2008 was 3.60% as compared to 3.74% in the same period of 2007, resulting in a 14 basis points decrease.  Interest rates have decreased significantly during the last quarter of 2007 and into the first quarter of 2008, .  The larger decline in our funding cost as compared to our earning asset yields results from our balance sheet mix currently being slightly liability sensitive.

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses

At March 31, 2008, the allowance for loan losses was $3.7 million, or 1.17% of total loans, as compared to $3.5 million, or 1.14% of total  loans, at December 31, 2007.  Our provision for loan losses was $155,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2008, as compared to $114,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  This provision is made based on our assessment of general loan loss risk and asset quality.  The allowance for loan losses represents an amount which we believe will be adequate to absorb probable losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible.  Our judgment as to the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is based on a number of assumptions about future events, which we believe to be reasonable, but which may or may not prove to be accurate.  Our determination of the allowance for loan losses is based on evaluations of the collectibility of loans, including consideration of factors such as the balance of impaired loans, the quality, mix, and size of our overall loan portfolio, the experience ability and depth of lending personnel, economic conditions (local and national) that may affect the borrower’s ability to repay, the amount and quality of collateral securing the loans, our historical loan loss experience, and a review of specific problem loans.  We also consider subjective issues such as changes in the lending policies and procedures, changes in the local/national economy, changes in volume or type of credits, changes in volume/severity of problem loans, quality of loan review and board of director oversight, and concentrations of credit.  Periodically, we adjust the amount of the allowance based on changing circumstances.  We charge recognized losses to the allowance and add subsequent recoveries back to the allowance for loan losses.

We perform a quarterly analysis to assess the risk within the loan portfolio. The portfolio is segregated into similar risk components for which historical loss ratios are calculated and adjusted for identified changes in current portfolio characteristics.  Historical loss ratios are calculated by product type and by regulatory credit risk classification.  The allowance consists of an allocated and unallocated allowance.  The allocated portion is determined by types and ratings of loans within the portfolio.  The unallocated portion of the allowance is established for losses that exist in the remainder of the portfolio and compensates for uncertainty in estimating the loan losses.  There can be no assurance that charge-offs of loans in future periods will not exceed the allowance for loan losses as estimated at any point in time or that provisions for loan losses will not be significant to a particular accounting period.  The allowance is also subject to examination and testing for adequacy by regulatory agencies, which may consider such factors as the methodology used to determine adequacy and the size of the allowance relative to that of peer institutions.  Such regulatory agencies could require us to adjust our allowance based on information available to them at the time of their examination.

At March 31, 2008, we had $158,000 in loans delinquent more than 90 days and still accruing interest, and loans totaling $950,000 that were delinquent 30 to 89 days.  Given the current loan-to-collateral values and other factors, we currently anticipate that we will collect all of the principal and interest on those loans greater than 90 days or more delinquent and still accruing interest, but of course we can provide no assurances that this will be the case.  We had 13 loans in a nonaccrual status in the amount of $642,000 at March 31, 2008.  Our management continuously monitors non-performing, classified and past due loans, to identify deterioration regarding the condition of these loans. We identified 9 loans in the amount of $977,000 that are current as to principal and interest and not included in non-performing assets that could be potential problem loans.

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Allowance for Loan Losses

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The following allocation of the allowance to specific components is not necessarily indicative of future losses or future allocations.  The entire allowance is available to absorb losses in the portfolio.

Composition of the Allowance for Loan Losses

Accrual of interest is discontinued on loans when management believes, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that a borrower’s financial condition is such that the collection of interest is doubtful.  A delinquent loan is generally placed in nonaccrual status when it becomes 90 days or more past due.  At the time a loan is placed in nonaccrual status, all interest, which has been accrued on the loan but remains unpaid, is reversed and deducted from earnings as a reduction of reported interest income.  No additional interest is accrued on the loan balance until the collection of both principal and interest becomes reasonably certain.

Non-interest Income and Non-interest Expense

Non-interest income during the first quarter of 2008 was $1.4 million as compared to $1.1 million during the same period in 2007.  During the first quarter of 2008, deposit service charges increased $51,000 while mortgage origination fees and commissions on the sale of non-deposit investment products increased $82,000 and $11,000, respectively.  The increase in deposit service charges resulted from an increase in certain fees in the second quarter of 2007 as well as an increase in deposit balances and number of accounts between the two periods.  The increase in mortgage origination fees is a result of continued emphasis on this source of non-interest income as well as a continued favorable mortgage interest rate environment.  During the first quarter of 2008, we recognized gains on financial instruments and derivatives carried at fair value in the amount of $149,000, as compared to a loss of $20,000 in the first quarter of 2007.

Total non-interest expense increased by $22,000 to $3.6 million during the first quarter of 2008, as compared to the same quarter in 2007.  During the fourth quarter of 2006 and first quarter 2007, we introduced two initiatives that impacted the first quarter 2007 results.  We began to hire additional personnel, specifically retail bankers, in many of our offices to increase our lending capacity and to continue to focus on core deposit growth.   In addition, in December of 2006 we engaged a consulting firm to assist in identifying process efficiency improvements, expense control opportunities and non-interest income enhancements.  Most of the expense related to the consulting engagement was incurred in the first quarter of 2007.  Throughout 2007 and continuing into 2008, a focus on controlling non-interest expense growth enabled us to achieve the low level of expense growth.   Salaries and employee benefits increased $69,000 to $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007.  In 2007, we added only one new position to the bank staff.  Although our 2008 budget reflects a higher number of new positions, we will continue our efforts to identify efficiencies that will assist in controlling salary and employee benefit expense.  Marketing and public relations expense increased to $203,000 in the first quarter of 2008, as compared to $174,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2007.  This increase relates to planned increases in various marketing and advertising programs as well as commencing a new television advertising campaign during the

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first quarter of 2008.  Telephone expense decreased by $29,000 in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007.  In the first quarter of 2007, we upgraded the system in several of our offices which accounted for the higher expense during that period.  Throughout 2007 we received a credit against our FDIC insurance assessments as a result of the acquisition of Newberry Federal Savings Bank in 2004.  This credit was used up in the first quarter of 2008.  It is expected that we will be assessed FDIC insurance premiums of approximately $200,000 for the balance of 2008.   The decrease in professional fees from $262,000 in the first quarter of 2007 to $199,000 in the first quarter of 2008 is primarily a result of the consulting firm fees expensed in the first quarter of 2007.

The following is a summary of the components of other non-interest expense:

Income Tax Expense

Our effective tax rate increased to 30.1% in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to 25.8% in the first quarter of 2007.  The increase in the effective tax rate is primarily a result of an increase in pre-tax income and a lower percentage of the average balance of tax exempt securities in the investment portfolio between the two periods.   Our effective tax rate is currently expected to remain 30.0% to 32.0% throughout the remainder of 2008.

Financial Position

Assets totaled $590.3 million at March 31, 2008 as compared to $565.6 million at December 31, 2007, an increase of $24.7 million.  Loans grew by $4.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2008 from $310.0 million at December 31, 2007 to $314.2 million at March 31, 2008.  At March 31, 2008, loans accounted for 60.9% of earning assets, as compared to 63.3% at December 31, 2007.  The loan to deposit ratio at March 31, 2008 was 75.8%, as compared to 76.4% at December 31, 2007.  Several anticipated larger loan payoffs in the first quarter of 2008 resulted in lower net loan growth during the period.  This lower net loan growth along with improved deposit growth resulted in the lower loan to deposit ratio at March 31, 2008 as compared to December 31, 2007.  Investment securities increased from $175.3 million at December 31, 2007 to $180.0 million at March 31, 2008.  Short-term federal funds sold and interest–bearing bank balances increased from $4.2 million at December 31, 2007 to $20.8 million at March 31, 2008.  The increase in loans, investment securities and short-term overnight investments were funded through growth in deposits of $8.4 million, securities sold under agreements to repurchase of $5.6 million, and Federal Home Loan Bank Advances of $11.5 million.  With an overall decline in deposits in 2007 we have refocused on core deposit growth both through our marketing and officer calling efforts in the first quarter of 2008 and beyond.

Due to falling interest rates during the first quarter of 2008 we had a large dollar amount of government sponsored enterprise (“GSE”) securities with call features redeemed.  These funds were reinvested in other GSE securities including certain GSE mortgage-backed securities. All of these purchased securities were placed in the available-for-sale portfolio.   In addition, we purchased approximately $6.0 million private label whole loan pools and collateralized mortgage obligations.  We believe an opportunity exists in this sector as a result of current volatility in this market and, as a result, we believe the economic value of these securities is not reflected in current pricing levels.  Due to the current volatility in this market sector and our intent to hold these securities to maturity we placed these securities in the held-to-maturity portfolio.  With our current capital and liquidity levels we will continue to evaluate

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this sector of the market and may increase our investment in these type products after an ongoing analysis of the related interest rate, liquidity, and credit risk, if the spreads relative to other alternatives continues to exist.

As of January 1, 2007, we elected early adoption of  Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 (“SFAS 159”) “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. “  We reclassified certain corporate structured securities, which did not contain an interest rate floor, from the “available-for-sale” category to the “trading” category.  Changes in the “fair value” of assets or liabilities classified under the fair value option in accordance with SFAS 159 are recognized in earnings on a going forward basis.  The change in the fair value during the first quarter of 2007 was a decrease of approximately $7,600.  Prior to adoption of SFAS 159 we had not maintained any investment securities in a trading account.  Subsequent to the adoption of SFAS 159 we have also classified certain Federal Home Loan Bank advances under the fair value option.  With the ability to classify both financial assets and liabilities under the fair value option on an instrument by instrument basis, we believe this standard can provide an opportunity to assist us in managing the impact of interest rate volatility in the future.  See Note 3 under Part I, Item 1 above for related disclosures required under SFAS 159.

The following table shows the composition of the loan portfolio by category: