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STUART, FL., April 28, 2008 ¿ Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ-NMS: SBCF) (the ¿Company¿), a bank holding company whose principal subsidiary is Seacoast National Bank, today reported net income totaling $1,763,000 for the first quarter of 2008, compared with net income of $1,903,000 in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $2,769,000 in the first quarter of 2007. Diluted earnings per share totaled $0.09 for the first quarter of 2008, compared with $0.10 in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $0.14 in the first quarter of 2007. Earning results for the first quarter of 2008 continued to reflect elevated credit costs.

Excluding the impact of credit costs, core earnings (net income less provision for loan losses after taxes) for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $5.2 million, or approximately $0.27 per share, up from $4.3 million or $0.23 per share for the fourth quarter of 2007. The Company¿s net interest margin increased slightly on a linked quarter basis at 3.74 percent, compared with 3.71 percent for the fourth quarter of 2007, and expense reductions previously communicated are on target with a $1,108,000 or 5.6 percent reduction in noninterest expenses compared to the fourth quarter of 2007.

¿Our core earnings (before credit costs) remained stable despite very challenging market conditions. These results reflect our relationship-based growth strategy that has for many years produced what has become a valuable core deposit franchise, including increased fee-based revenues and diverse, locally-based small business and consumer loan growth. This strategy continues to serve us well in the current environment, as it has allowed us to avoid the impacts of costly wholesale funding and maintain a strong liquidity position,¿ said Dennis S. Hudson, III, Chairman and CEO. The fundamentals of our business model remain very much in place and should continue to produce solid underlying earnings support as we proceed through the current credit cycle¿.

The Company¿s capital position remains strong with a total risk-based capital ratio of 12.3 percent at March 31, 2008, compared to 11.7 percent one year earlier. This ratio is expected to increase due to an anticipated decline in risk-based asset levels in 2008. In 2005, in connection with higher asset growth rates (including acquisitions), the Company raised an aggregate of $41 million of new capital through two offerings of trust preferred securities and, as conditions in residential real estate markets began to deteriorate, in mid-2007 raised an additional $12 million in new capital through a third issue of trust preferred securities. This new capital was raised at favorable rates and the proceeds were contributed to the Company¿s banking subsidiary, Seacoast National Bank, which continues to maintain strong capital levels. Although we do not presently plan to raise additional capital, the Company anticipates filing a shelf registration statement relating to a variety of debt and equity instruments to provide future flexibility in raising capital in order to take advantage of opportunities that become available or should the need arise.

Nonperforming assets were approximately $3 million lower at the end of the first quarter of 2008, compared with year-end 2007, but were up $62 million year-over-year. The majority of the nonperforming assets are land and acquisition and development loans related to residential real estate, which loans are being monitored monthly and are in the process of collection through foreclosure, refinancing or sale. The Company believes it was among the first banks to recognize the change in market conditions in mid-2006 and has benefited from the early identification of deteriorating loans and potential problems. This early monitoring resulted in a smaller exposure to residential housing development loans as a result of additional equity added by developers, guarantor performance, and obtaining of additional collateral.

Nonaccrual loans and loans past due 90 days or more as a percent of loans outstanding at March 31, 2008 was 3.46 percent, 11 basis points lower than year-end 2007, but higher than the 0.27 percent at March 31, 2007. The Company has never originated sub-prime, Alt A, Option ARM or any negative amortizing residential loans. Past due loans in the Company¿s residential, home equity, and consumer portfolios as a percent of loans outstanding remain lower than the national and state averages. The Company has a total of $3.6 million in residential loans included in nonaccrual loans that are in the process of foreclosure.

The Company increased loan loss reserves as a result of the continued weakness in loans related to residential development and, during the first quarter of 2008, added $5.5 million to the allowance for loan losses, which now totals 1.22 percent of total loans outstanding. Net loan charge-offs totaled $4.4 million, or 0.93 percent of average loans for the first quarter of 2008, compared with 0.92 percent for the fourth quarter of 2007.

The net interest margin for the first quarter of 2008 of 3.74 percent was up 3 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2007, although lower by 18 basis points year-over-year. Net interest income declined modestly, totaling $20.6 million in the first quarter of 2008, compared to $20.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. The improvement in net interest margin is a result of lower costs for interest bearing liabilities, improved deposit mix and reduced nonaccrual loans. Offsetting these positives was weaker loan demand, with total loans at the end of the first quarter 2008 down approximately $20 million compared to year-end 2007.

Noninterest expenses were positively impacted in the first quarter of 2008 by expense reductions related to consolidation of branch offices, reductions in staff, and reductions in marketing costs and other professional fees. Expenses were down $1.1 million on a linked quarter basis, or 5.6 percent. Part of the reduction was caused by the accrual of $130,000 during the fourth quarter of 2007 for the Company¿s portion of certain Visa¿ litigation and settlement costs, which was reversed in the first quarter of 2008 as a result of Visa¿s successful initial public offering. Year-over-year quarterly expenses were nearly unchanged; however, legal expenses year-over-year were up $94,000, an 11.3 percent increase related to legal costs for nonperforming assets. Employee benefits were up $338,000 year-over-year as a result of lower health care claims experience in the Company¿s self-funded plan during the first quarter of 2007. Health care claims for the entire year of 2008 are not expected to increase significantly compared to 2007. Management believes that total noninterest expenses for 2008 will not vary significantly from the prior year.

In the first quarter of 2008, loan growth slowed, with total loans outstanding increasing year-over-year by $134.7 million, or 7.7 percent, compared with an increase of $165.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2007, up 9.5 percent over the prior year. Loan growth is expected to continue to slow over the next six months, or until market conditions begin to improve. Total deposits year-over-year increased by $56.2 million, or 3.0 percent. Average deposits for the first quarter of 2008 increased by $12.3 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. It is expected that average deposits will decline in the next few months as a result of normal seasonality, which causes increased average customer deposit balances during the fourth and first quarters, which then typically decline beginning in March. The Company instituted a focused retail deposit growth plan in February 2008, which improved retail customer deposit account growth over the past two months, and has focused its commercial lenders on growing low cost commercial deposits as well. This combined deposit growth is expected to offset seasonal deposit declines in customer average account balances which normally occur during the second and third quarters.

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2008, excluding securities gains and losses, increased 3.4 percent when compared to the fourth quarter of 2007, reflecting increased revenues from wealth management services, mortgage banking, merchant fee income and marine finance fees, offset by lower revenues from service charges on deposits. Year-over-year noninterest income, excluding securities gains and losses, was down a modest $54,000 or 0.9 percent. Mortgage banking fees have improved recently due to an increase in loan applications and closings during the first quarter of 2008 compared with the fourth quarter of 2007 as interest rates declined. The favorable conditions have resulted in improved market share. Should conditions remain favorable, the Company may experience further growth in mortgage banking fees in 2008. In addition, $305,000 was recognized in noninterest income in the first quarter of 2008 related to the redemption of Visa, Inc. shares as a result of their initial public offering.

The Company will host a conference call on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss its earnings results and business trends. Investors may call in (toll-free) by dialing (800) 559-9370 (access code: 21289181; leader: Dennis S. Hudson). Charts will be used during the conference call and may be accessed at the Company¿s website at www.seacoastbanking.net by selecting Presentations under the heading Investor Services. A replay of the conference call will be available beginning the afternoon of April 29 by dialing (877) 213-9653 (domestic), using the passcode 21289181.

Alternatively, individuals may listen to the live webcast of the presentation by visiting the Company¿s website at www.seacoastbanking.net. The link to the live audio webcast is located in the subsection Presentations under the heading Investor Relations. Beginning the afternoon of April 29, 2008, an archived version of the webcast can be accessed from this same subsection of the website. This webcast will be archived and available for one year.

Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida has approximately $2.4 billion in assets. It is one of the largest independent commercial banking organizations in Florida, headquartered on Florida¿s Treasure Coast, one of the wealthiest and fastest growing areas in the nation.

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains ¿forward-looking statements¿ within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements about future financial and operating results, cost savings, enhanced revenues, economic and seasonal conditions in our markets, and improvements to reported earnings that may be realized from cost controls and for integration of banks that we have acquired, as well as statements with respect to Seacoast¿s objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control, and which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Seacoast to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You should not expect us to update any forward-looking statements.

You can identify these forward-looking statements through our use of words such as ¿may,¿ ¿will,¿ ¿anticipate,¿ ¿assume,¿ ¿should,¿ ¿support¿, ¿indicate,¿ ¿would,¿ ¿believe,¿ ¿contemplate,¿ ¿expect,¿ ¿estimate,¿ ¿continue,¿ ¿further¿, ¿point to,¿ ¿project,¿ ¿could,¿ ¿intend¿ or other similar words and expressions of the future. These forward-looking statements may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: the effects of future economic and market conditions, including seasonality; governmental monetary and fiscal policies, as well as legislative and regulatory changes; the risks of changes in interest rates on the level and composition of deposits, loan demand, and the values of loan collateral, securities, and interest sensitive assets and liabilities; interest rate risks, sensitivities and the shape of the yield curve; the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds and other financial institutions operating in our market areas and elsewhere, including institutions operating regionally, nationally and internationally, together with such competitors offering banking products and services by mail, telephone, computer and the Internet; and the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for possible loan losses. The risks of mergers and acquisitions, include, without limitation: unexpected transaction costs, including the costs of integrating operations; the risks that the businesses will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; the potential failure to fully or timely realize expected revenues and revenue synergies, including as the result of revenues following the merger being lower than expected; the risk of deposit and customer attrition; any changes in deposit mix; unexpected operating and other costs, which may differ or change from expectations; the risks of customer and employee loss and business disruption, including, without limitation, as the result of difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees; increased competitive pressures and solicitations of customers by competitors; as well as the difficulties and risks inherent with entering new markets.

All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 under ¿Special Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements¿ and ¿Risk Factors¿, and otherwise in our SEC reports and filings. Such reports are available upon request from the Company, or from the Securities and Exchange Commission, including through the SEC¿s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov.