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First Financial Bankshares Announces Student Loan Sale (PR Newswire)

Mon, 12 May 2008 20:05:00 Etc/GM

ABILENE, Texas, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: FFIN - News) today reported the sale of approximately $50 million in student loans in April and May 2008, recognizing a before income tax premium of approximately $1.5 million, similar to amounts recorded in the second quarter of 2007.

At the same time, due to recent legislative changes and turmoil in the liquidity markets, the Company noted uncertainty in future student loan sales and premiums. The Company was notified by the higher education authority, which has historically purchased its student loans, that effective July 1, 2008, the authority will no longer offer premiums for the student loans or enhanced borrower benefits and that it would suspend acquisitions of student loans should the authority be unable to obtain needed funds.

"We have closely monitored the student loan legislation and liquidity markets for the past eighteen months and now have doubt that we will be able to recognize the sales and premiums we have experienced in the past," said F. Scott Dueser, Chairman, President and CEO. "We will work closely with the students, universities and the authority to minimize the negative impact from this situation, but we realize that this line of business has an uncertain future."

Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that operates ten separately chartered banks with 47 locations in Texas. The bank subsidiaries are First Financial Bank, N.A., Abilene, Albany, Clyde and Moran; First Financial Bank, N.A., Eastland, Ranger and Rising Star; First Financial Bank, N.A., Cleburne, Burleson, Alvarado and Midlothian; Hereford State Bank, Hereford; First Financial Bank, N.A., Mineral Wells; San Angelo National Bank, San Angelo; First Financial Bank, N.A., Southlake, Bridgeport, Boyd, Decatur, Keller and Trophy Club; First Financial Bank, N.A., Stephenville, Granbury, Glen Rose and Acton; First Financial Bank, N.A., Sweetwater, Roby and Trent; and Weatherford National Bank, Weatherford, Willow Park, Aledo and Brock. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with five locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company.

The Company is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol FFIN. For more information about First Financial Bankshares, please visit our Web site at http://www.ffin.com.

Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the belief of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made beyond information currently available to the Company's management, and may be, but not necessarily are, identified by such words as "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "target," "forecast" and "goal." Because such "forward-looking statements" are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include competition from other financial institutions and financial holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses, and similar variables. Other key risks are described in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be obtained under "Investor Relations-Documents/Filings" on the Company's Web site or by writing or calling the Company at 325.627.7155. Except as otherwise stated in this news announcement, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.


source: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080512/lam090.html?.v=101

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