SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Jan. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Preliminary Financial Results and Other Matters for the Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2016:


    --  Significant Unusual Income or Expense Items: During the three months
        ended December 31, 2016, the Company recorded the following unusual
        items. The Company incurred expenses totaling $566,000 in the fourth
        quarter of 2016 in connection with debit card and check fraud losses.
        These losses were $457,000 higher than those incurred in the 2015 fourth
        quarter. A portion of the increase related to debit card fraud resulting
        from a data security breach at a national retail merchant which operates
        stores in many of our markets. Several of our debit card customers who
        transacted business with the merchant were affected. The losses incurred
        by the Company resulted from regulatory requirements that banks
        reimburse debit card customers for unauthorized transactions. The
        Company received an annual fee income bonus of $270,000 for increased
        usage through its point-of-sale and debit card transaction networks.
        Insurance expense decreased approximately $425,000 in the quarter
        compared to the September 30, 2016 quarter primarily due to a reduction
        in FDIC insurance premiums resulting from a change in the FDIC insurance
        assessment rates during the quarter. Because the FDIC's deposit
        insurance fund hit a predetermined threshold, deposit insurance rates
        for many banks, including ours, will now be reduced. The ongoing benefit
        of this will be a decrease in our deposit insurance premiums of about
        $200,000 per quarter compared to previous quarters. The Company incurred
        various gains, losses and charge-downs on foreclosed and repossessed
        assets resulting in $340,000 of net losses.
    --  Total Loans: Total gross loans, excluding previously acquired covered
        and non-covered loans and mortgage loans held for sale, but including
        the loans acquired from Fifth Third Bank, increased $499.7 million, or
        16.6%, from December 31, 2015, to December 31, 2016. The increases
        occurred across several loan types, primarily other residential
        (multi-family) loans, commercial real estate loans, one- to four-family
        residential loans, consumer loans and home equity lines of credit. Total
        gross loans increased $74.2 million, or 2.0%, in the three months ended
        December 31, 2016. Net decreases in the FDIC-acquired loan portfolios
        totaled $79.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2016.
    --  Asset Quality: Non-performing assets and potential problem loans,
        excluding those currently or previously covered by FDIC loss sharing
        agreements and those acquired in the FDIC-assisted transaction with
        Valley Bank, which are not covered by a loss sharing agreement but are
        accounted for and analyzed as loan pools rather than individual loans,
        totaled $46.3 million at December 31, 2016, a decrease of $10.5 million
        from $56.8 million at December 31, 2015, and an increase of $2.5 million
        from $43.8 million at September 30, 2016. Non-performing assets at
        December 31, 2016 were $39.3 million (0.86% of total assets), down $4.7
        million from $44.0 million (1.07% of total assets) at December 31, 2015
        and up $2.7 million, or 7.6%, from $36.6 million (0.82% of total assets)
        at September 30, 2016.
    --  Capital: The capital position of the Company continues to be strong,
        significantly exceeding the thresholds established by regulators. On a
        preliminary basis, as of December 31, 2016, the Company's Tier 1
        Leverage Ratio was 11.6%, Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 10.2%,
        Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 12.6%, and Total Capital Ratio was 13.5%.
    --  Net Interest Income:  Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2016
        decreased $0.5 million to $40.2 million compared to $40.7 million for
        the fourth quarter of 2015.  Net interest income was $41.0 million for
        the third quarter of 2016.  Net interest margin was 3.87% for the
        quarter ended December 31, 2016, compared to 4.34% for the fourth
        quarter of 2015 and 3.98% for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.  The
        decrease in the margin from the prior year fourth quarter was primarily
        the result of decreases in average loan yields and a reduction in the
        additional yield accretion recognized in conjunction with updated
        estimates of the fair value of the acquired loan pools compared to the
        prior year quarter, partially offset by increased total average loans. 
        Increased average interest rates on deposits and other borrowings also
        contributed to lower net interest margin.  The positive impact on net
        interest margin from the additional yield accretion on acquired loan
        pools that was recorded during the period was 30, 60 and 38 basis points
        for the quarters ended December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015, and
        September 30, 2016, respectively.  For further discussion of the
        additional yield accretion of the discount on acquired loan pools, see
        "Net Interest Income."

Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:GSBC), the holding company for Great Southern Bank, today reported that preliminary earnings for the three months ended December 31, 2016, were $0.83 per diluted common share ($11.8 million available to common shareholders) compared to $0.81 per diluted common share ($11.5 million available to common shareholders) for the three months ended December 31, 2015.

Preliminary earnings for the year ended December 31, 2016, were $3.21 per diluted common share ($45.3 million available to common shareholders) compared to $3.28 per diluted common share ($45.9 million available to common shareholders) for the year ended December 31, 2015.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2016, annualized return on average common equity was 10.98%, annualized return on average assets was 1.05%, and annualized net interest margin was 3.87%, compared to 11.74%, 1.15% and 4.34%, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, return on average common equity was 10.93%, return on average assets was 1.04%, and net interest margin was 4.05%, compared to 12.13%, 1.14% and 4.53%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2015.

President and CEO Joseph W. Turner commented, "We are pleased with our overall performance in the fourth quarter of 2016. We had a few unusual items during the quarter, but in total these items did not significantly impact our results. Once again, we maintained strong company-wide loan production, which was somewhat offset by repayment headwinds, resulting in net loan growth of $74 million. Outstanding loan balances increased in several loan types with construction, multi-family and commercial real estate loan segments increasing by $64 million, $28 million and $20 million, respectively. Loan commitments and the unfunded portion of loans remained strong during the fourth quarter. For the full year, we achieved a significant milestone of generating more than $1 billion in commercial loans with good production coming from all of our commercial lending offices.

"Credit quality of the loan portfolio continues to be good; however, fluctuations in non-performing assets, loan loss provision and net charge-offs may occur from period to period. During the quarter, non-performing assets and potential problem loans, excluding FDIC-acquired loans, totaled $46.3 million at December 31, 2016, a decrease of $10.5 million from December 31, 2015, and an increase of $2.5 million from September 30, 2016. The increase in the fourth quarter was primarily related to the addition of one non-performing commercial real estate loan. This project dates back to 2005. Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets were 0.86% at December 31, 2016, as compared to 1.07% at the end of 2015 and 0.82% at the end of the third quarter of 2016."

Turner continued, "As anticipated, we experienced a slight reduction in the core net interest margin during the quarter, as compared to the third quarter 2016. The core net interest margin, which excludes the effects of additional yield accretion on loan pools from FDIC-assisted transactions, decreased by approximately three basis points. Most of the decrease in the margin was due to the interest expense and deferred issuance costs (expected to be approximately 10 basis points annualized) on the $75 million subordinated debt offering completed in August 2016. Additionally, the low interest rate environment and competition for deposits in our markets continue to put some pressure on the net interest margin because of slightly higher deposit and borrowing costs. The recent increases in the prime rate and LIBOR rates should moderately benefit our core net interest margin."

Selected Financial Data:



    (In thousands, except per       Three Months
     share data)                       Ended            Year Ended

                                   December 31,        December 31,

                                   2016        2015     2016         2015
                                   ----        ----     ----         ----

    Net interest income         $40,248     $40,695 $163,056     $168,354

    Provision for loan losses     2,380       1,216    9,281        5,519

    Non-interest income           7,528       5,060   28,510       13,581

    Non-interest expense         29,041      29,145  120,427      114,350

    Provision for income taxes    4,560       3,744   16,516       15,564
                                  -----       -----   ------       ------

    Net income                  $11,795     $11,650  $45,342      $46,502
                                -------     -------  -------      -------


    Net income available to
     common shareholders        $11,795     $11,531  $45,342      $45,948
                                -------     -------  -------      -------

    Earnings per diluted common
     share                        $0.83       $0.81    $3.21        $3.28
                                  -----       -----    -----        -----

NET INTEREST INCOME

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2016 decreased $447,000 to $40.2 million compared to $40.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. Net interest margin was 3.87% in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to 4.34% in the same period of 2015, a decrease of 47 basis points. Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased $5.3 million to $163.1 million compared to $168.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Net interest margin was 4.05% in the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to 4.53% in the year ended December 31, 2015, a decrease of 48 basis points. For the three months ended December 31, 2016, the net interest margin decreased 11 basis points compared to the net interest margin of 3.98% in the three months ended September 30, 2016. The average interest rate spread was 3.74% and 3.93% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2016, respectively, compared to 4.24% and 4.44% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2015, respectively. For the three months ended December 31, 2016, the average interest rate spread decreased 12 basis points compared to the average interest rate spread of 3.86% in the three months ended September 30, 2016.

The Company's net interest margin has been positively impacted by significant additional yield accretion recognized in conjunction with updated estimates of the fair value of the loan pools acquired in the 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014 FDIC-assisted transactions. On an on-going basis, the Company estimates the cash flows expected to be collected from the acquired loan pools. For each of the loan portfolios acquired, the cash flow estimates have increased, based on payment histories and reduced loss expectations of the loan pools. This resulted in increased income that was spread on a level-yield basis over the remaining expected lives of the loan pools (and, therefore, has decreased over time). The increases in expected cash flows also reduced the amount of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC (to the extent such an agreement was in place), which were recorded as indemnification assets. Therefore, the expected indemnification assets had also been reduced each quarter since the fourth quarter of 2010, resulting in adjustments to be amortized on a comparable basis over the remainder of the loss sharing agreements or the remaining expected lives of the loan pools, whichever is shorter. Since the early terminations of all other loss sharing agreements on April 26, 2016, only the loans and other real estate owned acquired in the InterBank transaction have been covered by a loss sharing agreement and have indemnification assets remaining. Additional estimated cash flows totaling approximately $1.7 million and $10.6 million were recorded in the three months and year ended December 31, 2016, respectively, related to these loan pools, with a corresponding reduction in expected reimbursement from the FDIC (solely related to the InterBank transaction) of approximately $305,000 and $2.7 million in the three months and year ended December 31, 2016, respectively.

The impact of adjustments on all portfolios acquired in FDIC-assisted transactions for the reporting periods presented is shown below:


              Three Months Ended

                 December 31,                     December 31,
                     2016                              2015
                -------------                     -------------

               (In thousands, except basis points
                              data)

     Impact
     on
     net
     interest
     income/
                           $3,142       30 bps                    $5,649 60 bps
    net
     interest
     margin
     (in
     basis
     points)


     Non-
     interest
     income               (1,014)                               (3,343)
                           ------                                 ------

    Net
     impact
     to
     pre-
     tax
     income                $2,128                                 $2,306
                           ------                                 ------


                Year Ended

                December 31,                     December 31,
                    2016                              2015
               -------------                     -------------

              (In thousands, except basis points
                            data)

     Impact
     on
     net
     interest
     income/
                         $16,393       41 bps                    $28,531 77 bps
    net
     interest
     margin
     (in
     basis
     points)


     Non-
     interest
     income              (7,033)                               (19,534)
                          ------                                 -------

    Net
     impact
     to
     pre-
     tax
     income               $9,360                                  $8,997
                          ------                                  ------

Because these adjustments will be recognized over the remaining lives of the loan pools and the remainder of the loss sharing agreement, respectively, they will impact future periods as well. The remaining accretable yield adjustment that will affect interest income is $6.3 million and the remaining adjustment to the indemnification assets related to InterBank, including the effects of the clawback liability, that will affect non-interest income (expense) is $(2.5) million. The $6.3 million of accretable yield adjustment relates to Team Bank, Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank, InterBank and Valley Bank. The expense, as noted, is only related to InterBank, as there is no longer, nor will there be in the future, indemnification asset amortization expense related to Team Bank, Vantus Bank, or Sun Security Bank due to the early termination of the remaining related loss sharing agreements for those transactions in April 2016. Of the remaining adjustments, we expect to recognize $4.3 million of interest income and $(1.7) million of non-interest income (expense) during 2017. Additional adjustments may be recorded in future periods from the FDIC-assisted transactions, as the Company continues to estimate expected cash flows from the acquired loan pools.

Excluding the impact of the additional yield accretion, net interest margin for the three months ended December 31, 2016 decreased 17 basis points when compared to the year-ago quarter. The decrease in net interest margin is primarily due to an increase in the average interest rate on deposits and the interest expense associated with the issuance of $75.0 million of subordinated notes in the third quarter of 2016.

For additional information on net interest income components, see the "Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields" tables in this release.

NON-INTEREST INCOME

For the quarter ended December 31, 2016, non-interest income increased $2.4 million to $7.5 million when compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of the following items:


    --  Amortization of income related to business acquisitions: The net
        amortization expense related to business acquisitions was $848,000 for
        the quarter ended December 31, 2016, compared to $3.0 million for the
        quarter ended December 31, 2015. The amortization expense for the
        quarter ended December 31, 2016, consisted of the following items:
        $767,000 of amortization expense related to the changes in cash flows
        expected to be collected from the FDIC-covered loan portfolio acquired
        from InterBank and $262,000 of amortization of the clawback liability.
        Partially offsetting the expense was income from the accretion of the
        discount related to the indemnification asset for the InterBank
        acquisition of $181,000.
    --  Service charges and ATM fees: Service charges and ATM fees increased
        $457,000 compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to the
        additional accounts acquired in the Fifth Third Bank transaction in
        January 2016, which have had high levels of debit card activity, and
        overall higher levels of point-of-sale card activity.
    --  Other income: Other income decreased $305,000 compared to the prior year
        period. During the 2015 period, the Company recognized a $300,000 gain
        on the sale of a non-marketable investment.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, non-interest income increased $14.9 million to $28.5 million when compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of the following items:


    --  Amortization of income related to business acquisitions: The net
        amortization expense related to business acquisitions was $6.9 million
        for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $18.3 million for the
        year ended December 31, 2015. The amortization expense for the year
        ended December 31, 2016, consisted of the following items: $5.8 million
        of amortization expense related to the changes in cash flows expected to
        be collected from the FDIC-covered loan portfolios, $584,000 of
        impairment to certain indemnification assets and $1.4 million of
        amortization of the clawback liability. The impairment of the
        indemnification asset was recorded in the three months ended March 31,
        2016, due to the expected loss on the FDIC loss share termination
        agreements that occurred in April 2016, as discussed in the Company's
        March 31, 2016 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Partially offsetting the
        expense was income from the accretion of the discount related to the
        indemnification asset for the InterBank acquisition of $896,000.
    --  Net realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities: During
        2016, the Company sold an investment held at the holding company level
        for a gain of $2.7 million. This investment, the original amount of
        which was $1.0 million, was made in a managed equity fund. The Company
        was required to divest this investment as a result of recent regulations
        enacted by the Federal Reserve Board. There were no material gains on
        sales of investments in 2015.
    --  Service charges and ATM fees: Service charges and ATM fees increased
        $1.8 million compared to the prior year, primarily due to the additional
        accounts acquired in the Fifth Third Bank transaction in January 2016,
        which have had high levels of debit card activity, and overall higher
        levels of point-of-sale card activity.
    --  Other income: Other income decreased $918,000 compared to the prior
        year. During 2015, the Company recorded a $1.1 million gain when it
        redeemed the trust preferred securities previously issued by Great
        Southern Capital Trust III at a discount. Also in 2015, the Company sold
        a banking center building in Nebraska at a net gain of $671,000. In
        addition, during 2015, the Company recognized a $300,000 gain on the
        sale of a non-marketable investment. The Company recognized a $257,000
        gain on the sale of the Thayer, Mo., branch and deposits during the
        first quarter of 2016 and a $110,000 gain was recognized on the sale of
        the Buffalo, Mo., branch and deposits during the first quarter of 2016.
        In addition in 2016, a gain of $238,000 was recognized on sales of fixed
        assets unrelated to the branch sales.

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

For the quarter ended December 31, 2016, non-interest expense decreased $103,000 to $29.0 million when compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of the following items:


    --  Salaries and employee benefits: Salaries and employee benefits increased
        $285,000 over the prior year quarter. Salaries increased due to
        additional employee costs related to the branches acquired from Fifth
        Third Bank during the first quarter of 2016 ($642,000 during the current
        quarter), which was partially offset by the reduction in expenses
        related to the 16 banking centers which were closed or sold during the
        first quarter of 2016 ($401,000 during the prior year quarter). The
        remaining increase was due to increased staffing due to growth in
        lending and other operational areas.
    --  Net occupancy and equipment expense: Net occupancy expense increased
        $251,000 in the quarter ended December 31, 2016 compared to the same
        quarter in 2015. The majority of the increase was due to additional
        costs related to the branches acquired from Fifth Third Bank during the
        first quarter of 2016 ($412,000 during the current quarter), which was
        partially offset by the reduction in expenses related to the 16 banking
        centers which were closed or sold during the first quarter of 2016
        ($248,000 during the prior year quarter).
    --  Other operating expenses: Other operating expenses increased $212,000 in
        the quarter ended December 31, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.
        This increase was primarily due to higher levels of debit card and check
        fraud losses in the 2016 period. These losses totaled $566,000 in the
        2016 period compared to $109,000 in the 2015 period. The increase in
        this expense category was partially offset by larger charitable
        contribution expenses in the 2015 period.
    --  Insurance expense: Insurance expense decreased $355,000 compared to the
        prior year quarter primarily due to a reduction in FDIC insurance
        premiums resulting from a change in the FDIC insurance assessment rates
        during the quarter. Because the FDIC's deposit insurance fund hit a
        predetermined threshold, deposit insurance rates for many banks,
        including ours, will now be reduced.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, non-interest expense increased $6.0 million to $120.4 million when compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily as a result of the following items:


    --  Fifth Third Bank branch acquisition expenses: The Company incurred
        approximately $1.4 million of expenses during 2016 related to the
        acquisition of certain branches of Fifth Third Bank, versus
        approximately $482,000 in acquisition related expenses in the prior
        year. Those expenses for 2016 (net of prior year expense, if
        applicable), included approximately $317,000 of legal, audit and other
        professional fees expense, approximately $294,000 of computer license
        and support expense, approximately $436,000 in charges to replace former
        Fifth Third Bank customer checks with Great Southern Bank checks, and
        approximately $54,000 of travel, meals and other expenses related to the
        transaction and similar costs incurred during the year.
    --  Salaries and employee benefits: Salaries and employee benefits increased
        $1.7 million over the prior year period. Salaries increased due to
        additional employee costs related to the branches acquired from Fifth
        Third Bank during the first quarter of 2016 ($2.3 million during 2016),
        which was partially offset by the reduction in expenses related to the
        16 banking centers which were closed or sold during the first quarter of
        2016 ($1.7 million during the prior year). The remaining increase was
        due to increased staffing due to growth in lending and other operational
        areas.
    --  Expense on foreclosed assets: Expense on foreclosed assets increased
        $1.6 million compared to the prior year due to expenses and valuation
        write-downs of foreclosed assets, and the loss on final disposition of
        certain assets during the current year. In the three months ended
        September 30, 2016, expenses and loss on final disposition of two
        related properties totaling $320,000 were incurred. In addition,
        approximately $912,000 in valuation write-downs, primarily related to
        these two properties, were taken during the year. Collection expenses
        and losses on sales of non-real estate assets (primarily automobiles)
        increased $652,000 in 2016 compared to 2015. The Company has increased
        its consumer lending, primarily in indirect automobile lending,
        significantly in the past few years.
    --  Other operating expenses: Other operating expenses increased $1.6
        million in the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to 2015. Of this
        amount, $436,000 relates to check charges to replace Fifth Third
        customer checks as part of the acquisition in the first quarter of 2016.
        There was also increased expense due to higher levels of debit card and
        check fraud losses in 2016. These losses totaled $1.9 million in 2016
        compared to $619,000 in 2015. A large portion of the increase related to
        debit card fraud that resulted from a data security breach at a national
        retail merchant which operates stores in many of our markets, affecting
        some of our debit card customers who transacted business with the
        merchant. The losses incurred by the Company resulted from regulatory
        requirements that banks reimburse debit card customers for unauthorized
        transactions. In regard to this particular merchant breach, we currently
        believe that further loss exposure will not be significant.
    --  Legal, audit and other professional fees: Legal, audit and other
        professional fees increased $478,000 from the prior year due to legal
        and professional fees related to the Fifth Third transaction, legal fees
        related to the resolution of two large non-performing loan
        relationships, and increased audit and accounting fees.
    --  Supplies expense: Supplies expense increased $375,000 compared to the
        prior year primarily due to approximately $318,000 of one-time costs
        incurred to stock a supply of chip-enabled debit cards. In October 2016,
        the Company began mass issuing chip-enabled debit cards to its deposit
        customer base.

The Company's efficiency ratio for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, was 60.78% compared to 63.70% for the same quarter in 2015. The efficiency ratio for the year ended December 31, 2016, was 62.86% compared to 62.85% for 2015. The improvement in the ratio in the 2016 three month period was primarily due to the increase in non-interest income and the decrease in non-interest expense, partially offset by the decrease in net interest income. The Company's ratio of non-interest expense to average assets was 2.87% and 2.81% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2015, respectively, compared to 2.59% and 2.76% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2016, respectively. The decrease in the current three month period ratio was due to the increase in average assets in the 2016 period compared to the 2015 period. The decrease in the current annual period ratio was due to the increase in average assets in 2016 compared to 2015, partially offset by the increase in non-interest expense. Average assets for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, increased $420.5 million, or 10.4%, from the quarter ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to assets acquired in the Fifth Third Bank transaction in the first quarter of 2016 and organic loan growth, partially offset by decreases in investment securities and other interest-earning assets. Average assets for the year ended December 31, 2016, increased $303.4 million, or 7.5%, from the year ended December 31, 2015, due to the same reasons noted for the three month period.

INCOME TAXES

For the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company's effective tax rate was 27.9% and 24.3%, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company's effective tax rate was 26.7% and 25.1%, respectively. These effective rates were lower than the statutory federal tax rate of 35%, due primarily to the utilization of certain investment tax credits and to tax-exempt investments and tax-exempt loans which reduced the Company's effective tax rate. In future periods, the Company expects its effective tax rate typically will be 26-28% of pre-tax net income, assuming it continues to maintain or increase its use of investment tax credits and maintain or increase its pre-tax net income. The Company's effective tax rate may fluctuate as it is impacted by the level and timing of the Company's utilization of tax credits and the level of tax-exempt investments and loans and the overall level of pre-tax income.

CAPITAL

As of December 31, 2016, total stockholders' equity and common stockholders' equity were $429.8 million (9.4% of total assets), equivalent to a book value of $30.77 per common share. Total stockholders' equity and common stockholders' equity at December 31, 2015, were $398.2 million (9.7% of total assets), equivalent to a book value of $28.67 per common share. At December 31, 2016, the Company's tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio was 9.2%, compared to 9.6% at December 31, 2015.

On a preliminary basis, as of December 31, 2016, the Company's Tier 1 Leverage Ratio was 11.6%, Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 10.2%, Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 12.6%, and Total Capital Ratio was 13.5%. On December 31, 2016, and on a preliminary basis, the Bank's Tier 1 Leverage Ratio was 10.8%, Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 11.8%, Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 11.8%, and Total Capital Ratio was 12.7%.

LOANS

Total gross loans, excluding previously acquired covered and non-covered loans and mortgage loans held for sale, but including the loans acquired from Fifth Third Bank, increased $499.7 million, or 16.6%, from December 31, 2015, to December 31, 2016. This increase occurred across several loan types, primarily other residential (multi-family) loans, commercial real estate loans, one- to four-family residential loans, consumer loans and home equity lines of credit. Total gross loans, excluding previously acquired covered and non-covered loans and mortgage loans held for sale, but including the loans acquired from Fifth Third Bank, increased $96.4 million during the three months ended December 31, 2016. Loan growth has come from most of Great Southern's primary lending locations, including Springfield, St. Louis, Kansas City, Des Moines and Minneapolis, as well as the loan production offices in Dallas and Tulsa. Since the end of 2015, outstanding balances in multi-family residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, one-to four-family residential loans and consumer loans have increased $232.4 million, $136.8 million, $77.3 million and $49.3 million, respectively. The FDIC-acquired loan portfolios had net decreases totaling $79.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, and $22.1 million during the three months ended December 31, 2016.

Loan commitments and the unfunded portion of loans at the dates indicated were as follows (in thousands):


                                                        December 31,          September 30,          June 30,          March 31,          December 31,          December 31,

                                                                         2016                   2016              2016               2016                  2015                  2014
                                                                         ----                   ----              ----               ----                  ----                  ----

    Closed loans with unused available lines

       Secured by real estate (one- to four-family)                  $123,433               $123,083          $123,172           $121,956              $105,390               $92,286

       Secured by real estate (not one- to four-family)                26,062                 23,279            21,258             25,576                21,857                23,909

       Not secured by real estate - commercial business                79,937                 80,771            74,498             67,726                63,865                63,381


    Closed construction loans with unused

         available lines

       Secured by real estate (one-to four-family)                     10,047                 13,675            14,594             12,283                14,242                17,564

       Secured by real estate (not one-to four-family)                542,326                546,104           500,013            368,718               385,969               356,913


    Loan Commitments not closed

       Secured by real estate (one-to four-family)                     15,884                 25,660            30,465             26,793                13,411                12,700

       Secured by real estate (not one-to four-family)                119,126                129,603           144,450            211,728               120,817                54,643

       Not secured by real estate - commercial business                 7,022                 10,432             9,177              3,614                     -                    -
                                                                        -----                 ------             -----              -----                   ---                  ---


                                                                     $923,837               $952,607          $917,627           $838,394              $725,551              $621,396
                                                                     --------               --------          --------           --------              --------              --------

For further information about the Company's loan portfolio, please see the quarterly loan portfolio presentation available on the Company's Investor Relations website under "Presentations".

PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

Management records a provision for loan losses in an amount it believes sufficient to result in an allowance for loan losses that will cover current net charge-offs as well as risks believed to be inherent in the loan portfolio of the Bank. The amount of provision charged against current income is based on several factors, including, but not limited to, past loss experience, current portfolio mix, actual and potential losses identified in the loan portfolio, economic conditions, and internal as well as external reviews. However, the levels of non-performing assets, potential problem loans, loan loss provisions and net charge-offs fluctuate from period to period and are difficult to predict.

Weak economic conditions, higher inflation or interest rates, or other factors may lead to increased losses in the portfolio and/or requirements for an increase in loan loss provision expense. Management maintains various controls in an attempt to limit future losses, such as a watch list of possible problem loans, documented loan administration policies and a loan review staff to review the quality and anticipated collectability of the portfolio. Additional procedures provide for frequent management review of the loan portfolio based on loan size, loan type, delinquencies, financial analysis, on-going correspondence with borrowers and problem loan work-outs. Management determines which loans are potentially uncollectible, or represent a greater risk of loss, and makes additional provisions to expense, if necessary, to maintain the allowance at a satisfactory level.

The provision for loan losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, increased $1.2 million to $2.4 million when compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2015. The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2016, increased $3.8 million to $9.3 million when compared with the year ended December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the allowance for loan losses was $37.4 million and $38.1 million, respectively. Total net charge-offs were $2.0 million and $2.9 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. During the quarter ended December 31, 2016, $1.3 million of the $2.0 million of net charge-offs were in the consumer auto category. Total net charge-offs were $10.0 million and $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Six relationships made up $5.5 million of the net charge-offs total for the year ended December 31, 2016. Gross charge-offs for the year were partially offset by recoveries, including recoveries on two separate relationships totaling $1.1 million, which had previously been charged-off. During the year ended December 31, 2016, $3.8 million of the $10.0 million of net charge-offs were in the consumer auto category. General market conditions and unique circumstances related to individual borrowers and projects contributed to the level of provisions and charge-offs. As properties were categorized as potential problem loans, non-performing loans or foreclosed assets, evaluations were made of the values of these assets with corresponding charge-offs as appropriate.

The Bank's allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans, excluding acquired loans that are covered or were previously covered by the FDIC loss sharing agreements, was 1.04%, 1.20% and 1.05% at December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016, respectively. Management considers the allowance for loan losses adequate to cover losses inherent in the Bank's loan portfolio at December 31, 2016, based on recent reviews of the Bank's loan portfolio and current economic conditions. If economic conditions were to deteriorate or management's assessment of the loan portfolio were to change, it is possible that additional loan loss provisions would be required, thereby adversely affecting future results of operations and financial condition.

ASSET QUALITY

Former TeamBank, Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank and InterBank non-performing assets, including foreclosed assets, and potential problem loans are not included in the totals or in the discussion of non-performing loans, potential problem loans and foreclosed assets below as they are, or were, subject to loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, which cover at least 80% of principal losses that may be incurred in these portfolios for the applicable terms under the agreements. In addition, these assets were initially recorded at their estimated fair values as of their acquisition dates. The overall performance of the loan pools acquired in 2009, 2011 and 2012 in FDIC transactions has been better than original expectations as of the acquisition dates. Former Valley Bank loans are also excluded from the totals and the discussion of non-performing loans, potential problem loans and foreclosed assets below, although they were never subject to a loss sharing agreement. Former Valley Bank loans are accounted for in pools and were recorded at their fair value at the time of the acquisition as of June 20, 2014; therefore, these loan pools are analyzed rather than the individual loans. The overall performance of the Valley Bank loan pools has been better than original expectations as of the acquisition dates. At this time, the Company does not expect any material losses from the Valley Bank loan pools.

As noted above, the remaining loss sharing agreements for Team Bank, Vantus Bank and Sun Security Bank were terminated in April 2016.

As a result of changes in balances and composition of the loan portfolio, changes in economic and market conditions that occur from time to time and other factors specific to a borrower's circumstances, the level of non-performing assets will fluctuate.

Non-performing assets, excluding FDIC-covered and formerly covered non-performing assets and other FDIC-assisted acquired assets, at December 31, 2016, were $39.3 million, a decrease of $4.7 million from $44.0 million at December 31, 2015, and an increase of $2.7 million from $36.6 million at September 30, 2016. Non-performing assets, excluding FDIC-acquired covered and non-covered non-performing assets and other FDIC-assisted acquired assets, as a percentage of total assets were 0.86% at December 31, 2016, compared to 1.07% at December 31, 2015 and 0.82% at September 30, 2016.

Compared to December 31, 2015, non-performing loans decreased $2.5 million to $14.1 million at December 31, 2016, and foreclosed assets decreased $2.1 million to $25.2 million at December 31, 2016. Compared to September 30, 2016, non-performing loans increased $908,000 and foreclosed assets increased $1.9 million at December 31, 2016. Non-performing commercial real estate loans comprised $4.4 million, or 31.3%, of the total of $14.1 million of non-performing loans at December 31, 2016, a decrease of $2.7 million from September 30, 2016. The decrease in this category was primarily due to the transfer of two relationships to foreclosed assets, which is discussed below. Non-performing commercial business loans increased $2.6 million in the three months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to the addition of one relationship which is discussed below, and were $3.1 million, or 21.9%, of total non-performing loans at December 31, 2016. Non-performing consumer loans increased $436,000 in the three months ended December 31, 2016, and were $2.6 million, or 18.7%, of total non-performing loans at December 31, 2016. Non-performing one-to four-family residential loans comprised $2.0 million, or 13.9%, of the total non-performing loans at December 31, 2016, an increase of $326,000 from September 30, 2016. Non-performing land development loans comprised $1.7 million, or 12.2%, of the total non-performing loans at December 31, 2016, an increase of $3,000 from September 30, 2016.

Compared to December 31, 2015, potential problem loans decreased $5.9 million to $7.0 million at December 31, 2016. Compared to September 30, 2016, potential problem loans decreased $301,000. The decrease during the quarter was due to $259,000 in loans transferred to non-performing loans, $162,000 in loans removed from potential problem loans and $27,000 in payments, offset by the addition of $147,000 of loans to potential problem loans.

Activity in the non-performing loans category during the quarter ended December 31, 2016, was as follows:


                                     Beginning         Additions to           Removed           Transfers                  Transfers to           Charge-Offs          Payments             Ending

                                     Balance,              Non-              from Non-         to Potential                 Foreclosed                                                     Balance,
                                                                                                                                                                                          December 31
                                     October 1          Performing           Performing          Problem                      Assets

                                                                                                  Loans
                                                                                                  -----

                                                       (In thousands)


    One- to four-family construction     $           -       $            -      $         -       $                  -          $           -            $      -         $       -             $        -

    Subdivision construction                       111                     -                -                          -                      -                   -               (2)                    109

    Land development                             1,715                     3                 -                          -                      -                   -                 -                  1,718

    Commercial construction                          -                    -                -                          -                      -                   -                 -                      -

    One- to four-family residential              1,636                   469              (66)                          -                   (41)                 (3)              (33)                  1,962

    Other residential                                -                  178                 -                          -                      -                (16)                 -                    162

    Commercial real estate                       7,054                   295                 -                          -                (2,802)               (107)              (36)                  4,404

    Commercial business                            455                 2,952                 -                          -                      -                (43)             (276)                  3,088

    Consumer                                     2,202                 1,624             (209)                          -                  (256)               (358)             (365)                  2,638
                                                 -----                 -----              ----                         ---                   ----                 ----               ----                   -----


    Total                                      $13,173                $5,521            $(275)        $                 -               $(3,099)              $(527)            $(712)                $14,081
                                               -------                ------             -----         -------------------                -------                -----              -----                 -------

At December 31, 2016, the non-performing commercial real estate category included 10 loans, three of which were added in the current period. The largest relationship in this category, which was added prior to 2016, totaled $1.7 million, or 38.5% of the total category, and is collateralized by a theatre property in Branson, Mo. Two large relationships in the commercial real estate category were transferred to foreclosed assets during the fourth quarter of 2016. The first relationship totaled $1.5 million and was collateralized by commercial retail projects in Texas and Georgia. The second relationship totaled $1.3 million and was collateralized by a hotel property in the western United States. The non-performing commercial business category included six loans, one of which was added during the current quarter. The largest loan in this category, which was added during the current quarter, totaled $3.0 million, or 95.6% of the total category, and is secured by the borrower's interest in a condo project in Branson, Mo. The Bank's lending involvement with this project dates back to 2005. This project had experienced some performance difficulties in the past and a new borrower became involved in this project during 2013. The non-performing one- to four-family residential category included 38 loans, 8 of which were added during the current quarter. The non-performing land development category included two loans. The largest loan in this category, which was originated in 2007, totaled $1.6 million, or 95.1% of the total category, and was collateralized by land in the St. Louis, Mo. area. The non-performing consumer category included 188 loans, 128 of which were added during the current quarter.

Activity in the potential problem loans category during the quarter ended December 31, 2016, was as follows:


                                     Beginning         Additions to        Removed         Transfers to         Transfers to                Charge-Offs                Payments           Ending

                                      Balance,           Potential           from              Non-              Foreclosed                                                              Balance,
                                                                                                                                                                                        December 31
                                     October 1            Problem         Potential         Performing             Assets

                                                                           Problem
                                                                           -------

                                                      (In thousands)


    One- to four-family construction     $          -        $         -      $        -         $         -          $               -          $               -        $       -   $             -

    Subdivision construction                        -                  -               -                   -                          -                          -                -                 -

    Land development                            4,130                   5                -                   -                          -                          -                -             4,135

    Commercial construction                         -                  -               -                   -                          -                          -                -                 -

    One- to four-family residential               483                   -               -                (37)                          -                          -              (7)               439

    Other residential                             178                   -               -               (178)                          -                          -                -                 -

    Commercial real estate                      2,223                   5            (162)                   -                          -                          -              (4)             2,062

    Commercial business                            72                 137                -                   -                          -                          -              (5)               204

    Consumer                                      177                   -               -                (44)                          -                          -             (11)               122
                                                  ---                 ---             ---                 ---                         ---                        ---              ---                ---


    Total                                      $7,263                $147           $(162)              $(259)          $               -          $               -            $(27)            $6,962
                                               ------                ----            -----                -----           -----------------          -----------------             ----             ------

At December 31, 2016, the land development category of potential problem loans included three loans. The largest loan in this category, which was added prior to 2016 and is collateralized by property in the Branson, Mo., area, totaled $3.8 million, or 92.9% of the category. The commercial real estate category of potential problem loans included four loans. The largest relationship in this category contains two loans, both of which were added prior to 2016, with a total balance of $1.3 million, or 63.4% of the commercial real estate category. This relationship is collateralized by commercial entertainment property and other property in Branson, Mo.

Activity in foreclosed assets during the quarter ended December 31, 2016, excluding $1.4 million in foreclosed assets covered by FDIC loss sharing agreements, $316,000 in foreclosed assets previously covered by FDIC loss sharing agreements, $2.0 million in foreclosed assets related to Valley Bank and not covered by loss sharing agreements, and $3.7 million in properties which were not acquired through foreclosure, was as follows:


                                    Beginning                  Additions        ORE Sales          Capitalized      ORE Write-            Ending

                                     Balance,                                                         Costs           Downs              Balance,
                                                                                                                                        December 31
                                    October 1
                                    ---------

                                                (In thousands)


    One-to four-family construction     $           -              $         -      $          -         $     -        $         -           $         -

    Subdivision construction                    6,685                         -              (31)               -              (294)                 6,360

    Land development                           10,886                         -                 -               -                  -                10,886

    Commercial construction                         -                        -                 -               -                  -                     -

    One- to four-family residential             1,539                        41              (198)               -              (165)                 1,217

    Other residential                           1,094                         -             (200)              60                   -                   954

    Commercial real estate                      1,184                     2,802              (145)               -                  -                 3,841

    Commercial business                             -                        -                 -               -                  -                     -

    Consumer                                    1,993                     4,834            (4,836)               -                  -                 1,991
                                                -----                     -----             ------              ---                ---                 -----


    Total                                     $23,381                    $7,677           $(5,410)             $60              $(459)               $25,249
                                              -------                    ------            -------              ---               -----                -------

At December 31, 2016, the land development category of foreclosed assets included 22 properties, the largest of which was located in northwest Arkansas and had a balance of $1.4 million, or 12.6% of the total category. Of the total dollar amount in the land development category of foreclosed assets, 39.1% and 33.1% was located in the Branson, Mo. and the northwest Arkansas areas, respectively, including the largest property previously mentioned. The subdivision construction category of foreclosed assets included 27 properties, the largest of which was located in the Springfield, Mo. metropolitan area and had a balance of $1.2 million, or 19.4% of the total category. Of the total dollar amount in the subdivision construction category of foreclosed assets, 29.4% and 19.4% is located in Branson, Mo. and Springfield, Mo., respectively, including the largest property previously mentioned. The commercial real estate category of foreclosed assets included six properties. The largest relationship in the commercial real estate category, which includes two properties which were added during the current quarter, totaled $1.5 million, or 39.6% of the total category, and is made up of commercial retail property in Texas and Georgia, which was previously in non-performing loans. The second largest relationship in the commercial real estate category, which was added during the quarter, totaled $1.3 million, or 33.3% of the total category, and is a hotel located in the western United States, which was previously in non-performing loans. The one-to four-family residential category of foreclosed assets included nine properties, of which the largest relationship, with one property in the southwest Missouri area, had a balance of $421,000, or 37.7% of the total category. Of the total dollar amount in the one-to four-family category of foreclosed assets, 48.4% is located in the Branson, Mo, area. The other residential category of foreclosed assets included five properties, four of which are part of the same condominium community, located in Branson, Mo. and had a balance of $694,000, or 72.7% of the total category. One additional property which was part of the same condominium community and had a balance of $200,000 was sold during the quarter. The larger amount of additions and sales under consumer loans are due to a higher volume of repossessions of automobiles, which generally are subject to a shorter repossession process.

BUSINESS INITIATIVES

At the close of business on January 20, 2017, two leased banking centers were replaced by two new owned offices in the Omaha, Neb., metropolitan market area. A leased office at 1902 Harlan Drive in Bellevue, Neb., was replaced by a newly constructed banking center at Cornhusker and US 75 Highway in Bellevue. The leased office at 7001 S. 36th Street in Bellevue was replaced by a former bank building purchased in 2015, located at 9775 Q Street in Omaha. Both new locations offer better convenience and access to area customers and these changes should not result in any significant increase in operating costs. Great Southern operates four offices in the Omaha market area.

In the first quarter of 2017, the Company expects to open a commercial loan production office in downtown Chicago. A local and highly experienced commercial lender has been hired to manage that office. The Company also operates commercial loan production offices in Tulsa, Okla., and Dallas.

In October 2016, the Company began mass issuing chip-enabled debit cards to its deposit customer base. Chip debit cards offer customers an added layer of security, providing enhanced protection against fraud. Chip debit cards are also available instantly at all Great Southern banking centers.

A person-to-person (P2P) electronic payment service is expected to be available in early February 2017 for retail customers through the Company's smartphone mobile banking applications. The P2P service will allow Great Southern debit card customers to send one-time transfers to recipients at any financial institution.

The Company's chief lending officer, Steve Mitchem, is expected to retire from the Company in April 2017. Mitchem joined Great Southern in 1990. During his tenure, the Company's loan portfolio grew from $360 million, with lending operations primarily in the southwest Missouri region, to $3.8 billion with lending operations in eight states. Mitchem and the Company began planning for his pending retirement more than a year ago to ensure a smooth management transition. At that time, the Company restructured the lending division to better reflect the Company's size and scope. The lending division now has two separate areas of responsibility - loan production led by John Bugh and credit administration led by Kevin Baker. Bugh and Baker are long-term Great Southern lenders, who each have more than 27 years of banking experience.

Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. will hold its 28th Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 10:00 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at the Great Southern Operations Center, 218 S. Glenstone, Springfield, Mo. Holders of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. common stock at the close of business on the record date, February 28, 2017, can vote at the annual meeting, either in person or by proxy.

Headquartered in Springfield, Mo., Great Southern offers a broad range of banking services to customers. The Company operates 104 retail banking centers and more than 200 ATMs in Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota and Nebraska and commercial lending offices in Tulsa, Okla., and Dallas, Texas. The common stock of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "GSBC."

www.GreatSouthernBank.com

Forward-Looking Statements

When used in this press release and documents filed or furnished by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in the Company's other press releases or other public or stockholder communications, and in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, (i) non-interest expense reductions from Great Southern's banking center consolidations might be less than anticipated and the costs of the consolidation and impairment of the value of the affected premises might be greater than expected; (ii) expected revenues, cost savings, earnings accretion, synergies and other benefits from the Fifth Third Bank branch acquisition and the Company's other merger and acquisition activities might not be realized within the anticipated time frames or at all, and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected; (iii) changes in economic conditions, either nationally or in the Company's market areas; (iv) fluctuations in interest rates; (v) the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses; (vi) the possibility of other-than-temporary impairments of securities held in the Company's securities portfolio; (vii) the Company's ability to access cost-effective funding; (viii) fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; (ix) demand for loans and deposits in the Company's market areas; (x) the ability to adapt successfully to technological changes to meet customers' needs and developments in the marketplace; (xi) the possibility that security measures implemented might not be sufficient to mitigate the risk of a cyber attack or cyber theft, and that such security measures might not protect against systems failures or interruptions; (xii) legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect the Company's business, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and its implementing regulations, and the overdraft protection regulations and customers' responses thereto; (xiii) changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; (xiv) monetary and fiscal policies of the Federal Reserve Board and the U.S. Government and other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry; (xv) results of examinations of the Company and the Bank by their regulators, including the possibility that the regulators may, among other things, require the Company to increase its allowance for loan losses or to write-down assets; (xvi) costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments; and (xvii) competition. The Company wishes to advise readers that the factors listed above and other risks described from time to time in documents filed or furnished by the Company with the SEC could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements.

The Company does not undertake-and specifically declines any obligation- to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

The following tables set forth certain selected consolidated financial information of the Company at and for the periods indicated. Financial data for all periods is unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, which consist only of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for and at such unaudited periods have been included. The results of operations and other data for the three months and year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the three months ended September 30, 2016, are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations which may be expected for any future period.


                              December 31,          December 31,

                                               2016                   2015
                                               ----                   ----

     Selected Financial
      Condition Data:        (In thousands)


       Total assets                      $4,550,663             $4,104,189

       Loans receivable,
        gross                             3,802,235              3,382,213

       Allowance for loan
        losses                               37,400                 38,149

       Other real estate
        owned, net                           32,658                 31,893

       Available-for-sale
        securities, at fair
        value                               213,872                262,856

       Deposits                           3,677,230              3,268,626

       Total borrowings                     416,786                406,797

       Total common
        stockholders' equity                429,806                398,227

       Non-performing assets
        (excluding FDIC-
        assisted                             39,339                 43,960

         transaction assets)


                                  Three Months Ended                   Year Ended            Three Months Ended

                                     December 31,                     December 31,              September 30,

                                     2016             2015             2016             2015                 2016
                                     ----             ----             ----             ----                 ----

    Selected Operating Data:               (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)


       Interest income            $46,936          $44,956         $185,175         $184,351              $46,856

       Interest expense             6,688            4,261           22,119           15,997                5,828
                                    -----            -----           ------           ------                -----

       Net interest income         40,248           40,695          163,056          168,354               41,028

       Provision for loan losses    2,380            1,216            9,281            5,519                2,500

       Non-interest income          7,528            5,060           28,510           13,581                7,090

       Non-interest expense        29,041           29,145          120,427          114,350               30,657

       Provision for income taxes   4,560            3,744           16,516           15,564                3,740
                                    -----            -----           ------           ------                -----

         Net income               $11,795          $11,650          $45,342          $46,502              $11,221
                                  -------          -------          -------          -------              -------

         Net income available to  $11,795          $11,531          $45,342          $45,948              $11,221

         common shareholders


                                                     At or For the Three                 At or For the          At or For the

                                                        Months Ended                      Year Ended            Three Months

                                                                                                                   Ended

                                                        December 31,                     December 31,           September 30,

                                                        2016             2015             2016             2015             2016
                                                        ----             ----             ----             ----             ----

    Per Common Share:                                        (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)


       Net income (fully diluted)                      $0.83            $0.81            $3.21            $3.28            $0.80
                                                       -----            -----            -----            -----            -----

       Book value                                     $30.77           $28.67           $30.77           $28.67           $30.32
                                                      ------           ------           ------           ------           ------


    Earnings Performance Ratios:

       Annualized return on average assets             1.05%           1.15%           1.04%           1.14%           1.01%

       Annualized return on average                   10.98%          11.74%          10.93%          12.13%          10.92%

         common stockholders' equity

       Net interest margin                             3.87%           4.34%           4.05%           4.53%           3.98%

       Average interest rate spread                    3.74%           4.24%           3.93%           4.44%           3.86%

       Efficiency ratio                               60.78%          63.70%          62.86%          62.85%          63.71%

       Non-interest expense to average total assets    2.59%           2.87%           2.76%           2.81%           2.76%


    Asset Quality Ratios:

       Allowance for loan losses to period-end loans   1.04%           1.20%           1.04%           1.20%           1.05%

        (excluding covered/previously covered loans)

       Non-performing assets to period-end assets      0.86%           1.07%           0.86%           1.07%           0.82%

       Non-performing loans to period-end loans        0.37%           0.49%           0.37%           0.49%           0.35%

       Annualized net charge-offs to average loans     0.22%           0.38%           0.29%           0.20%           0.42%


                                                                                                                           Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                                                                                                          Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
                                                                                                                              (In thousands, except number of shares)


                                                                                                                                                                         December 31,            December 31,            September 30,

                                                                                                                                                                                            2016                    2015                     2016
                                                                                                                                                                                            ----                    ----                     ----

    Assets

       Cash                                                                                                                                                                             $120,203                $115,198                 $117,684

       Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions                                                                                                                         159,566                  83,985                  136,885
                                                                                                                                                                                         -------                  ------                  -------

                     Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                           279,769                 199,183                  254,569


       Available-for-sale securities                                                                                                                                                     213,872                 262,856                  204,621

       Held-to-maturity securities                                                                                                                                                           247                     353                      247

       Mortgage loans held for sale                                                                                                                                                       16,445                  12,261                   12,796

       Loans receivable (1), net of allowance for loan losses of $37,400  -                                                                                                            3,759,966               3,340,536                3,686,507

         December 2016; $38,149 -  December 2015; $37,002 - September 2016

       FDIC indemnification asset                                                                                                                                                         13,145                  24,082                   14,576

       Interest receivable                                                                                                                                                                11,875                  10,930                   10,675

       Prepaid expenses and other assets                                                                                                                                                  45,649                  59,322                   50,864

       Other real estate owned (2), net                                                                                                                                                   32,658                  31,893                   31,249

       Premises and equipment, net                                                                                                                                                       140,596                 129,655                  141,049

       Goodwill and other intangible assets                                                                                                                                               12,500                   5,758                   12,913

       Federal Home Loan Bank stock                                                                                                                                                       13,034                  15,303                   12,275

       Current and deferred income taxes                                                                                                                                                  10,907                  12,057                    9,645
                                                                                                                                                                                          ------                  ------                    -----


                      Total Assets                                                                                                                                                    $4,550,663              $4,104,189               $4,441,986
                                                                                                                                                                                      ----------              ----------               ----------


    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

       Liabilities

       Deposits                                                                                                                                                                       $3,677,230              $3,268,626               $3,561,784

       Federal Home Loan Bank advances                                                                                                                                                    31,452                 263,546                   31,476

       Securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements with customers                                                                                                                113,700                 116,182                  139,044

       Short-term borrowings                                                                                                                                                             172,323                   1,295                  153,060

       Subordinated debentures issued to capital trust                                                                                                                                    25,774                  25,774                   25,774

       Subordinated notes                                                                                                                                                                 73,537                       -                  73,499

       Accrued interest payable                                                                                                                                                            2,723                   1,080                    1,500

       Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance                                                                                                                                     4,643                   4,681                    9,153

       Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                                                                                                                              19,475                  24,778                   24,567
                                                                                                                                                                                          ------                  ------                   ------

                     Total Liabilities                                                                                                                                                 4,120,857               3,705,962                4,019,857
                                                                                                                                                                                       ---------               ---------                ---------


    Stockholders' Equity

       Capital stock

    Preferred stock, $.01 par value; authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding December 2016, December 2015 and September 2016 - -0-
     shares                                                                                                                                                                                    -                      -                       -

    Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized 20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding December 2016 - 13,968,386 shares; December 2015 -
     13,887,932 shares; September 2016 - 13,921,355 shares                                                                                                                                   140                     139                      139

       Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                                                                         25,942                  24,371                   25,263

       Retained earnings                                                                                                                                                                 402,166                 368,053                  392,826

       Accumulated other comprehensive gain                                                                                                                                                1,558                   5,664                    3,901
                                                                                                                                                                                           -----                   -----                    -----

                     Total Stockholders' Equity                                                                                                                                          429,806                 398,227                  422,129
                                                                                                                                                                                         -------                 -------                  -------


                     Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                                                                                                                       $4,550,663              $4,104,189               $4,441,986
                                                                                                                                                                                      ----------              ----------               ----------




             (1)    At December 31, 2016, December
                     31, 2015 and September 30, 2016
                     includes loans, net of
                     discounts, totaling $134.4
                     million, $236.1 million and
                     $144.4 million, respectively,
                     which are subject to FDIC
                     support through loss sharing
                     agreements.  At December 31,
                     2016 and September 30, 2016,
                     respectively, also includes
                     $72.6 million and $78.9 million
                     of loans, net of discounts,
                     acquired in the Team Bank,
                     Vantus Bank and Sun Security
                     Bank transactions, for which
                     the loss sharing agreements
                     were terminated in April 2016,
                     or loss sharing agreements had
                     already expired.  In addition,
                     as of December 31, 2016,
                     December 31, 2015 and September
                     30, 2016, includes $76.2
                     million, $93.4 million and
                     $82.0 million, respectively, of
                     loans, net of discounts,
                     acquired in the Valley Bank
                     transaction which are not
                     covered by an FDIC loss sharing
                     agreement.


             (2)    At December 31, 2016, December
                     31, 2015 and September 30,
                     2016, includes foreclosed
                     assets, net of discounts,
                     totaling $1.4 million, $1.8
                     million and $795,000,
                     respectively, which are subject
                     to FDIC support through loss
                     sharing agreements. At December
                     31, 2016 and September 30,
                     2016, respectively, also
                     includes $316,000 and $432,000
                     of foreclosed assets, net of
                     discounts, acquired in the Team
                     Bank, Vantus Bank and Sun
                     Security Bank transactions, for
                     which the loss sharing
                     agreements were terminated in
                     April 2016.  At December 31,
                     2015, included $460,000, net of
                     discounts, of non- single-
                     family foreclosed assets
                     related to the Vantus Bank
                     transaction, which were no
                     longer covered by the FDIC loss
                     sharing agreement for that
                     transaction.  At December 31,
                     2016, December 31, 2015 and
                     September 30, 2016, includes
                     $2.0 million, $995,000 and $1.9
                     million respectively, net of
                     discounts, of foreclosed assets
                     related to the Valley Bank
                     transaction, which are not
                     covered by FDIC loss sharing
                     agreements.  In addition, at
                     December 31, 2016, December 31,
                     2015 and September 30, 2016,
                     includes $3.7 million, $1.2
                     million and $4.8 million,
                     respectively, of properties
                     which were not acquired through
                     foreclosure, but are held for
                     sale.




                                                                             Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                                                                   Consolidated Statements of Income
                                                                                 (In thousands, except per share data)


                                                                                                                           Three Months Ended                      Year Ended                      Three Months

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Ended

                                                                                                                              December 31,                        December 31,                     September 30,

                                                                                                                              2016               2015              2016               2015                     2016
                                                                                                                              ----               ----              ----               ----                     ----

    Interest Income

       Loans                                                                                                               $45,423            $43,241          $178,883           $177,240                  $45,335

       Investment securities and other                                                                                       1,513              1,715             6,292              7,111                    1,521
                                                                                                                             -----              -----             -----              -----                    -----

                                                                                                                            46,936             44,956           185,175            184,351                   46,856
                                                                                                                            ------             ------           -------            -------                   ------

    Interest Expense

       Deposits                                                                                                              4,907              3,717            17,387             13,511                    4,423

       Federal Home Loan Bank advances                                                                                         259                376             1,214              1,707                      259

       Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements                                                                         201                 14             1,137                 65                      450

       Subordinated debentures issued to capital trust                                                                         230                154               803                714                      209

       Subordinated notes                                                                                                    1,091                  -            1,578                  -                     487
                                                                                                                             -----                ---            -----                ---                     ---

                                                                                                                             6,688              4,261            22,119             15,997                    5,828
                                                                                                                             -----              -----            ------             ------                    -----


    Net Interest Income                                                                                                     40,248             40,695           163,056            168,354                   41,028

    Provision for Loan Losses                                                                                                2,380              1,216             9,281              5,519                    2,500
                                                                                                                             -----              -----             -----              -----                    -----

    Net Interest Income After Provision for Loan Losses                                                                     37,868             39,479           153,775            162,835                   38,528
                                                                                                                            ------             ------           -------            -------                   ------


    Noninterest Income

       Commissions                                                                                                             334                155             1,097              1,136                      245

       Service charges and ATM fees                                                                                          5,465              5,008            21,666             19,841                    5,548

       Net gains on loan sales                                                                                                 879                810             3,941              3,888                    1,217

       Net realized gains (losses) on sales of available-for-sale securities                                                   (9)                 -            2,873                  2                      144

       Late charges and fees on loans                                                                                          432                647             1,747              2,129                      435

       Net change in interest rate swap fair value                                                                             245                 69                66               (43)                      58

       Accretion (amortization) of income related to business acquisitions                                                   (848)           (2,965)          (6,935)          (18,345)                 (1,215)

       Other income                                                                                                          1,030              1,336             4,055              4,973                      658
                                                                                                                             -----              -----             -----              -----                      ---

                                                                                                                             7,528              5,060            28,510             13,581                    7,090
                                                                                                                             -----              -----            ------             ------                    -----


    Noninterest Expense

       Salaries and employee benefits                                                                                       14,706             14,421            60,377             58,682                   15,062

       Net occupancy and equipment expense                                                                                   6,521              6,270            26,077             25,985                    6,335

       Postage                                                                                                                 910                943             3,791              3,787                      923

       Insurance                                                                                                               539                894             3,482              3,566                      961

       Advertising                                                                                                             461                590             2,228              2,317                      803

       Office supplies and printing                                                                                            273                290             1,708              1,333                      575

       Telephone                                                                                                               834                898             3,483              3,235                      823

       Legal, audit and other professional fees                                                                                791                839             3,191              2,713                      748

       Expense on foreclosed assets                                                                                          1,027              1,207             4,111              2,526                    1,298

       Partnership tax credit investment amortization                                                                          420                420             1,681              1,680                      420

       Acquired deposit intangible asset amortization                                                                          412                437             1,910              1,750                      464

       Other operating expenses                                                                                              2,147              1,936             8,388              6,776                    2,245
                                                                                                                             -----              -----             -----              -----                    -----

                                                                                                                            29,041             29,145           120,427            114,350                   30,657
                                                                                                                            ------             ------           -------            -------                   ------


    Income Before Income Taxes                                                                                              16,355             15,394            61,858             62,066                   14,961

    Provision for Income Taxes                                                                                               4,560              3,744            16,516             15,564                    3,740
                                                                                                                             -----              -----            ------             ------                    -----

    Net Income                                                                                                              11,795             11,650            45,342             46,502                   11,221


    Preferred Stock Dividends                                                                                                    -               119                 -               554                        -
                                                                                                                               ---               ---               ---               ---                      ---


    Net Income Available to Common Shareholders                                                                            $11,531                    $45,342   $45,948                    $11,221

                                                                                                                           $11,795
                                                                                                                           -------




                                        Three Months Ended        Year Ended        Three Months

                                                                                        Ended

                                           December 31,          December 31,       September 30,

                                           2016             2015  2016         2015             2016
                                           ----             ----  ----         ----             ----

    Earnings Per Common Share

       Basic                              $0.85            $0.83 $3.26        $3.33            $0.81
                                          -----            ----- -----        -----            -----

       Diluted                            $0.83            $0.81 $3.21        $3.28            $0.80
                                          -----            ----- -----        -----            -----


    Dividends Declared Per Common Share   $0.22            $0.22 $0.88        $0.86            $0.22
                                          -----            ----- -----        -----            -----

Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the total dollar amounts of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resulting yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates, and the net interest margin. Average balances of loans receivable include the average balances of non-accrual loans for each period. Interest income on loans includes interest received on non-accrual loans on a cash basis. Interest income on loans includes the amortization of net loan fees, which were deferred in accordance with accounting standards. Fees included in interest income were $1.4 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Fees included in interest income were $5.0 million and $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Tax-exempt income was not calculated on a tax equivalent basis. The table does not reflect any effect of income taxes.


                                                                                                                                             December 31, 2016(1)                    Three Months Ended                            Three Months Ended
                                                                                                                                                                                       December 31, 2016                             December 31, 2015
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       -----------------

                                                                                                                                                                                            Average                                Yield/               Average                                     Yield/

                                                                                                                                                  Yield/Rate                               Balance              Interest           Rate                Balance                 Interest              Rate
                                                                                                                                                  ----------                               -------              --------           ----                -------                 --------              ----

                                                                                                                                                              (Dollars in thousands)

    Interest-earning assets:

    Loans receivable:

      One- to four-family residential                                                                                                                                  4.16%                          $516,221             $6,572          5.06%                    $453,446                 $7,482      6.55%

      Other residential                                                                                                                                                 4.07                            664,556              7,459           4.47                      424,152                  5,220       4.88

      Commercial real estate                                                                                                                                            4.19                          1,210,617             14,031           4.61                    1,100,384                 12,751       4.60

      Construction                                                                                                                                                      3.85                            355,167              4,059           4.55                      368,562                  4,185       4.51

      Commercial business                                                                                                                                               4.37                            300,212              4,211           5.58                      317,933                  4,570       5.70

      Other loans                                                                                                                                                       5.83                            710,316              8,651           4.85                      620,660                  8,461       5.41

      Industrial revenue bonds                                                                                                                                          5.21                             28,028                440           6.24                       40,799                    572       5.57
                                                                                                                                                                        ----                             ------                ---           ----                       ------                    ---       ----


         Total loans receivable                                                                                                                                         4.58                          3,785,117             45,423           4.77                    3,325,936                 43,241       5.16


    Investment securities                                                                                                                                               3.13                            219,905              1,379           2.49                      279,562                  1,632       2.32

    Other interest-earning assets                                                                                                                                       0.66                            130,541                134           0.41                      111,673                     83       0.29
                                                                                                                                                                        ----                            -------                ---           ----                      -------                    ---       ----


         Total interest-earning assets                                                                                                                                  4.35                          4,135,563             46,936           4.52                    3,717,171                 44,956       4.80
                                                                                                                                                                        ----                                               ------           ----                                             ------       ----

    Non-interest-earning assets:

      Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                                                      112,530                                                      106,352

      Other non-earning assets                                                                                                                                                                       228,881                                                      232,939
                                                                                                                                                                                                     -------                                                      -------

         Total assets                                                                                                                                                                             $4,476,974                                                   $4,056,462
                                                                                                                                                                                                  ----------                                                   ----------


    Interest-bearing liabilities:

      Interest-bearing demand and

    savings                                                                                                                                                             0.26                         $1,520,053              1,039           0.27                   $1,408,673                    864       0.24

      Time deposits                                                                                                                                                     1.01                          1,500,064              3,868           1.03                    1,308,754                  2,853       0.86
                                                                                                                                                                        ----                          ---------              -----           ----                    ---------                  -----       ----

      Total deposits                                                                                                                                                    0.63                          3,020,117              4,907           0.65                    2,717,427                  3,717       0.54

      Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements                                                                                                                   0.33                            243,925                201           0.33                      142,201                     14       0.04

      Subordinated debentures issued to                                                                                                                                 2.49                             25,774                230           3.55                       25,774                    154       2.37
    capital trust

      Subordinated notes                                                                                                                                                5.45                             73,515              1,091           5.90                            -                     -         -

      FHLB advances                                                                                                                                                     3.30                             31,462                259           3.27                      142,870                    376       1.04
                                                                                                                                                                        ----                             ------                ---           ----                      -------                    ---       ----


         Total interest-bearing liabilities                                                                                                                             0.75                          3,394,793              6,688           0.78                    3,028,272                  4,261       0.56
                                                                                                                                                                        ----                                                -----           ----                                              -----       ----

    Non-interest-bearing liabilities:

      Demand deposits                                                                                                                                                                                622,220                                                      552,531

      Other liabilities                                                                                                                                                                               30,168                                                       31,569
                                                                                                                                                                                                      ------                                                       ------

         Total liabilities                                                                                                                                                                         4,047,181                                                    3,612,372

    Stockholders' equity                                                                                                                                                                             429,793                                                      444,090
                                                                                                                                                                                                     -------                                                      -------

         Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                                                                                                                                               $4,476,974                                                   $4,056,462
                                                                                                                                                                                                  ----------                                                   ----------


    Net interest income:

    Interest rate spread                                                                                                                                               3.60%                                             $40,248          3.74%                                           $40,695      4.24%
                                                                                                                                                                        ----                                              -------           ----                                            -------       ----

    Net interest margin*                                                                                                                                                                                                               3.87%                                                       4.34%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ----                                                         ----

    Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities                                                                                                                           121.8%                                                      122.7%
                                                                                                                                                                                                       -----                                                        -----

    ______________

    *Defined as the Company's net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.

    (1) The yield on loans at December 31, 2016, does not include the impact of the adjustments to the accretable yield (income) on loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted

          transactions.  See "Net Interest Income" for a discussion of the effect on results of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2016.


                                                                                                                                                                        December 31, 2016(1)                     Year Ended                           Year Ended
                                                                                                                                                                  December 31, 2016                          December 31, 2015
                                                                                                                                                                         -----------------

                                                                                                                                                                       Average                                    Yield/                               Average                         Yield/

                                                                                                                                                                             Yield/Rate                            Balance            Interest            Rate                         Balance             Interest       Rate
                                                                                                                                                                             ----------                            -------            --------            ----                         -------             --------       ----

                                                                                                                                                                                                (Dollars in thousands)

    Interest-earning assets:

    Loans receivable:

      One- to four-family residential                                                                                                                                             4.16%     $538,776                         $28,674           5.32%                        $459,378              $34,653         7.54%

      Other residential                                                                                                                                                            4.07       535,793                          25,052            4.68                          423,476               21,236          5.01

      Commercial real estate                                                                                                                                                       4.19     1,146,983                          53,516            4.67                        1,071,765               50,952          4.75

      Construction                                                                                                                                                                 3.85       394,051                          18,059            4.58                          340,666               15,538          4.56

      Commercial business                                                                                                                                                          4.37       316,526                          17,389            5.49                          328,319               19,137          5.83

      Other loans                                                                                                                                                                  5.83       693,550                          34,176            4.93                          569,873               33,377          5.86

      Industrial revenue bonds                                                                                                                                                     5.21        33,681                           2,017            5.99                           42,310                2,347          5.55
                                                                                                                                                                                   ----        ------                           -----            ----                           ------                -----          ----


         Total loans receivable                                                                                                                                                    4.58     3,659,360                         178,883            4.89                        3,235,787              177,240          5.48


    Investment securities                                                                                                                                                          3.13       249,484                           5,741            2.30                          330,328                6,797          2.06

    Other interest-earning assets                                                                                                                                                  0.66       116,812                             551            0.47                          152,720                  314          0.21
                                                                                                                                                                                   ----       -------                             ---            ----                          -------                  ---          ----


         Total interest-earning assets                                                                                                                                             4.35     4,025,656                         185,175            4.60                        3,718,835              184,351          4.96
                                                                                                                                                                                   ----                                      -------            ----                                              -------          ----

    Non-interest-earning assets:

      Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                                 108,593                                                                             106,326

      Other non-earning assets                                                                                                                                                  236,544                                                                             242,238
                                                                                                                                                                                -------                                                                             -------

         Total assets                                                                                                                                                        $4,370,793                                                                          $4,067,399
                                                                                                                                                                             ----------                                                                          ----------


    Interest-bearing liabilities:

      Interest-bearing demand and

    savings                                                                                                                                                                        0.26    $1,496,837                           3,888            0.26                       $1,404,489                2,858          0.20

      Time deposits                                                                                                                                                                1.01     1,370,935                          13,499            0.98                        1,257,059               10,653          0.85
                                                                                                                                                                                   ----     ---------                          ------            ----                        ---------               ------          ----

      Total deposits                                                                                                                                                               0.63     2,867,772                          17,387            0.61                        2,661,548               13,511          0.51

      Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements                                                                                                                              0.33       327,658                           1,137            0.35                          192,055                   65          0.03

      Subordinated debentures issued to                                                                                                                                            2.49        25,774                             803            3.12                           28,754                  714          2.48
    capital trust

      Subordinated notes                                                                                                                                                           5.45        28,526                           1,578            5.53                                -                   -            -

      FHLB advances                                                                                                                                                                3.30        68,325                           1,214            1.78                          175,873                1,707          0.97
                                                                                                                                                                                   ----        ------                           -----            ----                          -------                -----          ----


         Total interest-bearing liabilities                                                                                                                                        0.75     3,318,055                          22,119            0.67                        3,058,230               15,997          0.52
                                                                                                                                                                                   ----                                       ------            ----                                               ------          ----

    Non-interest-bearing liabilities:

      Demand deposits                                                                                                                                                           608,115                                                                             541,714

      Other liabilities                                                                                                                                                          29,824                                                                              28,772
                                                                                                                                                                                 ------                                                                              ------

         Total liabilities                                                                                                                                                    3,955,994                                                                           3,628,716

    Stockholders' equity                                                                                                                                                        414,799                                                                             438,683
                                                                                                                                                                                -------                                                                             -------

         Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                                                                                                                          $4,370,793                                                                          $4,067,399
                                                                                                                                                                             ----------                                                                          ----------


    Net interest income:

    Interest rate spread                                                                                                                                                          3.60%                                    $163,056           3.93%                                            $168,354         4.44%
                                                                                                                                                                                   ----                                     --------            ----                                             --------          ----

    Net interest margin*                                                                                                                                                                                                      4.05%                                                              4.53%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ----                                                                ----

    Average interest-earning assets to                                                                                                                                           121.3%                                                                             121.6%

        average interest-bearing liabilities


    ______________

    *Defined as the Company's net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.

    (1) The yield on loans at December 31, 2016, does not include the impact of the adjustments to the accretable yield (income) on loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted

          transactions.  See "Net Interest Income" for a discussion of the effect on results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This document contains certain financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial measures include core net interest income, core net interest margin and tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio.

We calculate core net interest income and core net interest margin by subtracting the impact of adjustments regarding changes in expected cash flows related to our pools of loans we acquired through FDIC-assisted transactions from reported net interest income and net interest margin. Management believes that the core net interest income and core net interest margin are useful in assessing the Company's core performance and trends, in light of the fluctuations that can occur related to updated estimates of the fair value of the loan pools acquired in the 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014 FDIC-assisted transactions.

In calculating the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets, we subtract period end intangible assets from common equity and from total assets. Management believes that the presentation of these measures excluding the impact of intangible assets provides useful supplemental information that is helpful in understanding our financial condition and results of operations, as they provide a method to assess management's success in utilizing our tangible capital as well as our capital strength. Management also believes that providing measures that exclude balances of intangible assets, which are subjective components of valuation, facilitates the comparison of our performance with the performance of our peers. In addition, management believes that these are standard financial measures used in the banking industry to evaluate performance.

These non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and are not a substitute for any analysis based on GAAP financial measures. Because not all companies use the same calculation of non-GAAP measures, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures as calculated by other companies.

Non-GAAP Reconciliation: Core Net Interest Income and Core Net Interest Margin


                                            Three Months Ended                        Year Ended

                                               December 31,                          December 31,

                                                              2016       2015                         2016   2015
                                                              ----       ----                         ----   ----

                                                              (Dollars in thousands)

    Reported net interest income / margin                  $40,248      3.87%                     $40,695  4.34%  $163,056   4.05%   $168,354    4.53%

    Less:  Impact of loss share adjustments                  3,142       0.30                        5,649   0.60     16,393    0.41      28,531     0.77
                                                             -----       ----                        -----   ----     ------    ----      ------     ----

    Core net interest income / margin                      $37,106      3.57%                     $35,046  3.74%  $146,663   3.64%   $139,823    3.76%
                                                           -------       ----                      -------   ----   --------    ----    --------     ----

Non-GAAP Reconciliation: Ratio of Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets


                                         December 31,

                                         2016           2015
                                         ----           ----

                                    (Dollars in thousands)

    Common equity at period
     end                             $429,806       $398,227

    Less:  Intangible assets
     at period end                     12,500          5,758
                                       ------          -----

    Tangible common equity at
     period end  (a)                 $417,306       $392,469
                                     --------       --------


    Total assets at period end     $4,550,663     $4,104,189

    Less:  Intangible assets
     at period end                     12,500          5,758
                                       ------          -----

    Tangible assets at period
     end (b)                       $4,538,163     $4,098,431
                                   ----------     ----------


    Tangible common equity to
     tangible assets (a) /(b)           9.20%         9.58%
                                         ----           ----

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/great-southern-bancorp-inc-reports-preliminary-fourth-quarter-and-annual-earnings-of-083-and-321-per-diluted-common-share-300394518.html

SOURCE Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.