First Palmetto Bank: how it compares with its peers
Against 17 SC banks with half to twice its assets, First Palmetto Bank's strongest measure in Q2 2026 is efficiency ratio (54.77% vs. a 59.17% peer median). Its weakest relative measure is assets per employee ($6.2M vs. $8.1M).
| Measure | First Palmetto Bank | Peer median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on assets Annualized net income over average assets. | 1.36% | 1.14% | Middle third Ahead of 65% of peers |
| Net interest margin Annualized net interest income over earning assets. | 3.59% | 3.47% | Middle third Ahead of 53% of peers |
| Efficiency ratio Noninterest expense per dollar of revenue. Lower is better. | 54.77% | 59.17% | Top third Ahead of 76% of peers |
| Assets per employee Total assets over full-time-equivalent staff. | $6.2M | $8.1M | Bottom third Ahead of 24% of peers |
| Loans to deposits Net loans and leases over total deposits. | 78.93% | 79.88% | Context |
What it means for lending operations
Its efficiency ratio of 54.77% is better than the 59.17% peer median. Banks that already run lean usually find their next gains in loan growth: faster digital applications and fewer borrowers abandoning a slow document chase.
Banks closest in size
- First Reliance Bank Florence, SC · $1.13B
- The Citizens Bank Olanta, SC · $1.14B
- First Capital Bank Charleston, SC · $1.32B
- Coastal Carolina National Bank Myrtle Beach, SC · $1.35B
- Carolina Bank & Trust Co. Lamar, SC · $845M
Questions about First Palmetto Bank
How big is First Palmetto Bank?
First Palmetto Bank, established in 1904, is headquartered in Camden, SC. It reported $1.10B in total assets in its Q2 2026 FDIC call report and operates 22 offices.
What is First Palmetto Bank's return on assets?
1.36% annualized in Q2 2026, against a 1.14% median for 17 SC banks with half to twice its assets, ahead of 65% of them.
What is First Palmetto Bank's efficiency ratio?
54.77% in Q2 2026: it spent about 55 cents in noninterest expense for each dollar of revenue. The peer median is 59.17%, and lower is better.
Is First Palmetto Bank growing its loans?
Net loans grew 4.4% over the year to Q2 2026, while deposits grew 7.0%.
Sources and method
Figures are from the FDIC’s public call report data for the quarter ending 06/30/2026, via FDIC BankFind. Return on assets and net interest margin are annualized year to date. Peers are SC banks with half to twice its assets in the same quarter, excluding this bank. The page refreshes daily, so new quarters appear as banks file. Compare another bank or see every South Carolina bank ranked.