FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE
For  More  Information:
Ronald  L.  Thigpen                           John  Marsh
Executive  Vice  President  and  COO          President
Southeastern  Bank  Financial  Corp.          Marsh  Communications  LLC
706-481-1014                                  770-458-7553

                    Southeastern Bank Financial Corp. Reports
                       Record Second Quarter 2006 Earnings

AUGUSTA,  Ga.,  July  21, 2006 - Southeastern Bank Financial Corp. (OTCBB:SBFC),
the  holding  company  for  Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta and Southern
Bank  & Trust of Aiken, S.C., today reported record quarterly net income of $2.9
million  for  the  three months ended June 30, 2006, an increase of 21.6 percent
from  $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2005. Diluted earnings per share for
the  second  quarter  of 2006 were $0.55, a 22.2 percent increase from $0.45 for
the  same  period  last  year.

Total  assets  at  June  30,  2006, were $937.9 million, and total deposits were
$729.6  million.  This represents an increase of 19.3 percent in assets and 18.4
percent  in  deposits  over  June  30, 2005, when total assets and deposits were
$786.3  million  and  $616.1  million, respectively. Net interest income for the
second  quarter  of 2006 totaled $8.4 million, a 17.9 percent increase from $7.2
million for the same period of 2005. Second quarter 2006 noninterest income rose
to  $3.8  million  from  $3.2  million  a year ago, an increase of 19.4 percent,
reflecting  a  broad-based  increase  in  service  charges  and fee income, with
particular  strength  in  retail  investment  income  and  trust  service  fees.

"Robust  loan  growth  across  the  company  helped  spur  our  strong  overall
performance  in  the second quarter," said President and Chief Executive Officer
R. Daniel Blanton. "Both our new Georgia Bank & Trust office in Athens, Ga., and
our new Southern Bank & Trust affiliate in Aiken, S.C., have contributed solidly
to  our  growth.  In  addition,  our healthy increase in noninterest income is a
testament  to  our  ability  to increase fee income to balance continuing margin
pressure  in  this  difficult  rate  environment."

Asset  growth  continued at a strong pace during the second quarter. At June 30,
2006,  loans  outstanding  were $658.7 million, reflecting an increase of $106.4
million,  or  19.3  percent,  compared  to the same period last year. Annualized
return  on average assets (ROA) was 1.27 percent for the second quarter of 2006,
and  annualized  return on average shareholder's equity (ROE) was 17.48 percent.

Net  income for the six months ended June 30, 2006, totaled $5.4 million, a 20.0
percent  increase  over  the  $4.5  million reported in the same period of 2005.
Diluted  earnings  per share for the six months ended June 30, 2006, were $1.01,
versus  $0.84 per share for the same period a year ago, a 20.2 percent increase.

Net  interest income for the first six months of 2006 was $16.4 million, up 18.9
percent  from  the  $13.8  million  in the first six months of 2005. Noninterest
income  was  $7.1  million for the first six months of 2006, an increase of 19.9
percent  from  $5.9  million  in  the  same  period  of  2005.


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"We're  very  pleased  with the quality of growth we have achieved in the second
quarter  and  first  half  of  2006," said Blanton. "Increasing net income, EPS,
loans  and  deposits  at  a double-digit rate through the first half of the year
attest  to the core strength of our company. With the recent charter approval of
our  new  South  Carolina  affiliate, Southern Bank & Trust, we look to continue
delivering  quality  growth  and value to our shareholders as we progress toward
our  immediate  goal  of  reaching  and  exceeding  $1  billion  in  assets."

About  Southeastern  Bank  Financial  Corp.
Southeastern Bank Financial Corp. is the $938 million-asset bank holding company
of  Georgia  Bank  &  Trust  Company of Augusta (GB&T) and Southern Bank & Trust
(SB&T).  GB&T  is  the  largest locally owned and operated community bank in the
Augusta metro market, with eight full-service Augusta-area offices and an office
in  Athens,  Ga.  SB&T is a full-service, federally chartered thrift serving the
Aiken  County, S.C., market. The company also has mortgage operations in Augusta
and  Savannah. The banks focus primarily on real estate, commercial and consumer
loans  to  individuals,  small to medium-sized businesses and professionals, and
also provide wealth management and trust services. The company's common stock is
publicly  traded  on  the  OTC  Bulletin  Board  under the symbol SBFC. For more
information,  please  visit the company's Web site, www.georgiabankandtrust.com.

Safe  Harbor  Statement  -  Forward-Looking  Statements
Statements  made in this release by Southeastern Bank Financial Corporation (The
Company)  other  than  those  concerning  historical  information,  should  be
considered  forward-looking and subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such
forward-looking  statements  are  made based upon management's belief as well as
assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant
to  "safe  harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.  The  Company's  actual  results  may  differ  materially from the results
anticipated  in  forward-looking  statements  due  to  a  variety  of  factors,
including: unanticipated changes in the Bank's local economy and in the national
economy; governmental monetary and fiscal policies; deposit levels, loan demand,
loan collateral values and securities portfolio values; difficulties in interest
rate  risk  management;  difficulties  in  expanding  our  operations  into  new
geographic  areas  and dealing with an additional regulatory agency; the effects
of  competition  in  the  banking  business;  changes in governmental regulation
relating  to  the  banking industry, including regulations relating to branching
and  acquisitions;  failure  of  assumptions  underlying  the  establishment  of
reserves  for  loan  losses,  including  the  value  of  collateral  underlying
delinquent  loans; and other factors. The Company cautions that such factors are
not  exclusive.  The  Company  does  not undertake to update any forward-looking
statement  that  may be made from time to time by, or on behalf of, the Company.


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                       SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
                                    Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                      ASSETS                            June 30,
                                                                          2006        December 31,
                                                                       (Unaudited)        2005
                                                                      -------------  --------------
                                                                               
Cash and due from banks                                               $ 19,572,531   $  18,792,799
Federal funds sold                                                       8,124,000       2,758,000
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks                                   512,406       1,012,257
                                                                      -------------  --------------
        Cash and cash equivalents                                       28,208,937      22,563,056

Investment securities
  Available-for-sale                                                   202,271,023     197,551,996
  Held-to-maturity, at cost (fair values of
    $3,352,195 and $3,897,341, respectively)                             3,275,847       3,776,040

Loans held for sale                                                     20,101,184      22,146,834

Loans                                                                  638,618,458     579,087,791
  Less allowance for loan losses                                        (9,304,146)     (9,124,801)
                                                                      -------------  --------------
        Loans, net                                                     629,314,312     569,962,990

Premises and equipment, net                                             22,038,107      21,376,183
Accrued interest receivable                                              4,775,293       4,624,023
Bank-owned life insurance                                               15,666,519      11,863,276
Restricted equity securities                                             4,936,281       4,287,481
Other assets                                                             7,345,431       6,125,360
                                                                      -------------  --------------

                                                                      $937,932,934   $ 864,277,239
                                                                      =============  ==============

                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Deposits
  Noninterest-bearing                                                 $104,373,028   $  97,083,931
  Interest-bearing:
    NOW accounts                                                       114,281,798     100,692,388
    Savings                                                            254,044,309     265,131,754
    Money management accounts                                           44,951,173      37,719,408
    Time deposits over $100,000                                        153,375,134     122,009,813
    Other time deposits                                                 58,612,194      41,017,555
                                                                      -------------  --------------
                                                                       729,637,636     663,654,849

Federal funds purchased and securities sold
  under repurchase agreements                                           54,404,190      67,013,416
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank                                    60,000,000      52,000,000
Other borrowed funds                                                       400,000       1,000,000
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities                           7,225,394       7,025,767
Subordinated debentures                                                 20,000,000      10,000,000
                                                                      -------------  --------------
        Total liabilities                                              871,667,220     800,694,032
                                                                      -------------  --------------

Stockholders' equity:
  Common stock, $3.00 par value; 10,000,000
    shares authorized; 5,279,549 and 5,279,241 shares issued
    In 2006 and 2005, respectively; 5,279,440 and 5,263,144 shares
    outstanding in 2006 and 2005, respectively                          15,838,647      15,837,723
  Additional paid-in capital                                            34,311,955      34,138,876
  Retained earnings                                                     20,113,703      16,099,414
  Treasury stock, at cost 109 and 16,097 shares in
    2006 and 2005, respectively                                             (4,033)       (233,898)
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net                             (3,994,558)     (2,258,908)
                                                                      -------------  --------------
        Total stockholders' equity                                      66,265,714      63,583,207
                                                                      -------------  --------------

                                                                      $937,932,934   $ 864,277,239
                                                                      =============  ==============

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



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                        SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
                                   Consolidated Statements of Income

                                           (Unaudited)

                                                   Three Months Ended          Six Months Ended
                                                        June 30,                   June 30,
                                                -------------------------  -------------------------
                                                   2006          2005         2006          2005
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------
                                                                            
Interest Income:
  Loans, including fees                         $13,018,274  $ 9,271,626   $24,830,362  $17,515,164
  Investment securities                           2,702,309    1,936,599     5,158,381    3,701,141
  Federal funds sold                                 44,036       95,762       194,629      151,369
  Interest-bearing deposits in other banks            5,675        6,766        13,650        9,199
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------
    Total interest income                        15,770,294   11,310,753    30,197,022   21,376,873
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------

Interest expense:
  Deposits                                        5,547,283    3,244,981    10,465,934    5,890,571
  Federal funds purchased and securities sold
    under repurchase agreements                     724,846      350,430     1,408,754      622,400
  Other borrowings                                1,058,303      554,263     1,905,291    1,062,090
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------
    Total interest expense                        7,330,432    4,149,674    13,779,979    7,575,061
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------

    Net interest income                           8,439,862    7,161,079    16,417,043   13,801,812

Provision for loan losses                           456,336      515,269       960,128      986,963
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------

    Net interest income after provision
      for loan losses                             7,983,526    6,645,810    15,456,915   12,814,849
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------

Noninterest income:
  Service charges and fees on deposits            1,539,978    1,354,425     2,892,122    2,565,475
  Gain on sales of loans                          1,270,992    1,298,399     2,525,337    2,340,582
  Investment securities gains (losses), net         283,600      (40,051)      283,600      (39,260)
  Retail investment income                          216,562      121,603       383,973      203,566
  Trust service fees                                198,367      150,024       390,832      306,936
  Increase in cash surrender value of
    bank-owned life insurance                       149,973      102,157       289,243      184,946
  Miscellaneous income                              146,770      202,201       296,395      327,303
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------
    Total noninterest income                      3,806,242    3,188,758     7,061,502    5,889,548
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------

Noninterest expense:
  Salaries                                        3,427,626    3,014,016     6,808,185    5,763,555
  Employee benefits                               1,077,414      775,925     2,136,835    1,585,369
  Occupancy expenses                                685,165      682,433     1,433,901    1,355,526
  Other operating expenses                        2,041,484    1,734,410     4,018,655    3,239,572
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------
    Total noninterest expense                     7,231,689    6,206,784    14,397,576   11,944,022
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------

    Income before income taxes                    4,558,079    3,627,784     8,120,841    6,760,375

Income tax expense                                1,631,675    1,222,052     2,734,462    2,270,654
                                                -----------  ------------  -----------  ------------

    Net income                                  $ 2,926,404  $ 2,405,732   $ 5,386,379  $ 4,489,721


                                                                     (continued)


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                  SOUTHEASTERN BANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
                             Consolidated Statements of Income

                                        (Unaudited)

                                              Three Months Ended       Six Months Ended
                                                   June 30,                June 30,
                                            ----------------------  ----------------------
                                               2006        2005        2006        2005
                                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                    
Basic net income per share                  $     0.55  $     0.46  $     1.02  $     0.85
                                            ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Diluted net income per share                $     0.55  $     0.45  $     1.01  $     0.84
                                            ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Weighted average common shares outstanding   5,279,333   5,256,807   5,276,526   5,255,175
                                            ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Weighted average number of common and
  common equivalent shares outstanding       5,331,090   5,343,086   5,329,474   5,337,433
                                            ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========


See  accompanying  notes  to  consolidated  financial  statements.


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