Southwest Georgia Financial Corporation, a full-service community bank holding company, reported results of operations for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017.  Comparisons are to prior-year periods unless otherwise noted.

“2017 was an outstanding year in many respects.  Loan growth was almost 14 percent, deposit growth was over 6 percent, we substantially completed the migration to a new core processing provider, and core earnings growth was strong against last year,” commented DeWitt Drew, President and CEO.  “Fourth quarter and full year results were impacted by the new tax legislation.  We are looking forward to lower tax rates in the future, but needed to revalue our net deferred tax assets.  The result was an impairment charge of $419 thousand negatively impacting the income statement.  The effect was a $0.17 reduction in earnings per share for the quarter and year.”