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8-K - CURRENT REPORT - ALLIANCE FINANCIAL CORP /NY/d8k.htm
EX-3.2 - AMENDMENT TO THE BYLAWS OF THE COMPANY - ALLIANCE FINANCIAL CORP /NY/dex32.htm
EX-99.2 - PRESS RELEASE, DATED JANUARY 26, 2011 - ALLIANCE FINANCIAL CORP /NY/dex992.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

NEWS RELEASE    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

Alliance Financial Announces Fourth Quarter and Record Full Year Earnings

Syracuse, NY, January 26, 2011 - Alliance Financial Corporation (“Alliance” or the “Company”) (NasdaqGM: ALNC), the holding company for Alliance Bank, N.A., announced today its net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 was $2.8 million or $0.59 per diluted common share, compared with $3.5 million or $0.75 per diluted common share in the year-ago quarter. Securities gains, net of non-recurring expenses, positively impacted the fourth quarter of 2009 by $0.09 per diluted share.

Net income was $11.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with $11.4 million in 2009. Net income available to common shareholders was $11.6 million or $2.48 per diluted share in 2010, compared with $10.4 million or $2.24 per diluted share in 2009. Preferred dividends and the accretion of the discount on preferred stock issued under the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program was $1.1 million or $0.24 per diluted share in 2009. The Company redeemed the preferred stock in May 2009.

Jack H. Webb, President and CEO of Alliance said, “For the fourth consecutive year we set a record for net income while also achieving substantial increases in deposits and commercial loan originations in a difficult operating environment for financial institutions. Our community banking business model, which focuses on delivering responsive customer service and local decision making, has clearly established Alliance as an alternative to the larger financial institutions.”

Webb added, “The investment we made to enhance our commercial banking team contributed to a 55 percent increase in commercial loan originations in 2010 over 2009. Our commercial lending business finished the year strongly, with originations in the fourth quarter up 104 percent over the fourth quarter of 2009 and up 97 percent over the third quarter of 2010. Deposit levels were up strongly in 2010 as well, placing Alliance fourth by total deposits in the Syracuse MSA. Local customer deposit growth of $114 million in 2010 provided the funding for us to continue lending to credit worthy borrowers throughout Central New York.”

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets were $1.5 billion at December 31, 2010, an increase of $7.8 million or 0.5% from September 30, 2010. Securities available-for-sale increased $18.7 million in the fourth quarter to $414.4 million at the end of 2010. Total loans and leases (net of unearned income) decreased $3.4 million to $898.5 million at December 31, 2010. This decrease in loan balances resulted from the continued amortization of our lease portfolio combined with the sale of most residential mortgage originations in the fourth quarter, the effects of which were substantially offset by strong commercial loan growth in the fourth


quarter. Loan origination volumes in the fourth quarter increased $33.3 million or 56.2% compared with the year-ago quarter and increased $14.2 million or 18.1% compared with the third quarter of 2010, with commercial loan originations driving much of the increase in originations.

Commercial loans and mortgages increased $23.1 million or 10.2% in the fourth quarter and totaled $249.9 million at December 31, 2010. Originations of commercial loans and mortgages in the fourth quarter (excluding lines of credit) totaled $38.5 million, compared with $19.6 million in the third quarter of 2010 and $18.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Commercial originations increased 55.4% in 2010 compared to 2009 and totaled $80.4 million.

Residential mortgages outstanding decreased $13.5 million in the fourth quarter primarily as a result of our plan to sell most of our residential originations on the secondary market to manage our overall portfolio balance. Originations of residential mortgages totaled $38.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared with $34.7 million in the third quarter of 2010 and $25.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Residential originations decreased 24.8% in 2010 and totaled $119.7 million, as modestly higher interest rates in 2010 reduced mortgage refinancing demand.

Indirect auto loan balances were $176.1 million at the end of the fourth quarter, which was a decrease of $7.5 million from the end of the third quarter. The Company originated $14.5 million of indirect auto loans in the fourth quarter, compared with $22.5 million in the third quarter of 2010 and $11.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Indirect originations decreased 12.5% to $79.5 million in 2010 compared with 2009 due to competitive pressures. Alliance originates auto loans through a network of reputable, well established automobile dealers located in Central and Western New York. Applications received through the Company’s indirect lending program are subject to the same comprehensive underwriting criteria and procedures as employed in its direct lending programs.

Leases (net of unearned income) decreased $5.0 million in the fourth quarter and $25.8 million for the year to $42.5 million as a result of the Company’s previously announced decision to cease new lease originations.

The Company’s investment securities portfolio totaled $414.4 million at December 31, 2010, compared with $395.8 million at September 30, 2010. The Company’s portfolio is comprised entirely of investment grade securities, the majority of which are rated “AAA” by one or more of the nationally recognized rating agencies. The breakdown of the securities portfolio at December 31, 2010 was 79% government-sponsored entity guaranteed mortgage-backed securities, 19% municipal securities and 1% obligations of U.S. Government-sponsored corporations. Mortgage-backed securities, which totaled $329.0 million at December 31, 2010, are comprised primarily of pass-through securities backed by conventional residential mortgages and guaranteed by Fannie-Mae, Freddie-Mac or Ginnie Mae, which in turn are backed by the United States government. The Company’s municipal securities portfolio, which totaled $78.2 million at the end of 2010, is primarily comprised of highly rated general obligation bonds issued by local municipalities in New York State.


Deposits increased $9.5 million in the fourth quarter, and were $1.1 billion at December 31, 2010. Since the end of 2009 deposits increased $58.9 million, with transaction accounts (checking, savings, and money market) up $91.7 million as a result of growth in each of our retail, commercial and municipal lines of business. Time accounts decreased $32.8 million in 2010 as growth in transaction accounts allowed for the reduction of wholesale brokered deposits by $54.8 million in 2010. Deposits, net of wholesale brokered accounts, increased $113.8 million in 2010. Low cost transaction accounts comprised 69.9% of total deposits at the end of 2010, compared with 69.7% at September 30, 2010 and 65.2% at December 31, 2009.

Shareholders’ equity was $133.1 million at December 31, 2010, compared with $134.5 million at September 30, 2010 and $123.9 million at December 31, 2009. Net income for the quarter increased shareholders’ equity by $2.8 million and was partially offset by common stock dividends declared of $1.4 million or $0.30 per common share. Unrealized gains on securities available for sale, net of taxes, decreased $3.5 million in the fourth quarter due to changes in market interest rates and other market conditions.

The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio was 8.28% and its total risk-based capital ratio was 14.63% at the end of the fourth quarter, both of which comfortably exceeded the regulatory thresholds required to be classified as a well-capitalized institution, which are 5.0% and 10.0%, respectively. The Company’s tangible common equity capital ratio (a non-GAAP financial measure) was 6.62% at December 31, 2010.

Asset Quality and the Provision for Credit Losses

Delinquent loans and leases (including non-performing) decreased to $16.3 million at December 31, 2010, compared to $17.6 million at September 30, 2010 and $18.7 million at the end of 2009. The severity of the Company’s delinquencies as measured by the number of days past due on all delinquent loans and leases has remained relatively stable throughout 2010. Approximately 41% of all delinquent loans and leases at the end of the fourth quarter were past due less than sixty days, compared with 39% at September 30, 2010 and 42% at the end of 2009.

Nonperforming assets were $9.1 million or 0.63% of total assets at December 31, 2010, compared with $8.5 million or 0.59% of total assets at September 30, 2010 and $9.0 million or 0.64% of total assets at December 31, 2009. Included in nonperforming assets at the end of the fourth quarter are nonperforming loans and leases totaling $8.5 million, compared with $7.8 million and $8.6 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

Conventional residential mortgages comprised $3.5 million (47 loans) or 41.7% of nonperforming loans and leases at December 31, 2010. Nonperforming commercial loans totaled $3.3 million (29 loans) or 38.8% of nonperforming loans and leases and leases on nonperforming status totaled $697,000 (22 leases) or 8.2% of nonperforming loans and leases at the end of the fourth quarter.

The provision for credit losses in the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010 was down sharply from the year-ago periods on the Company’s strong asset quality and lower charge-offs. The provision


expense was $800,000 and $4.1 million in the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010, respectively, compared with $1.4 million and $6.1 million in the year-ago periods. Net charge-offs were $583,000 and $2.8 million in the three months and year ended December 31, 2010, respectively, compared with $2.0 million and $5.8 million in the year-ago periods. Charge-offs in the Company’s lease portfolio dropped sharply in 2010 as the losses in 2009 were generally isolated to four segments of the lease portfolio which stabilized in 2010. The aggregate remaining balance of these four lease segments is $2.4 million at the end of 2010. Charge-offs in the lease portfolio totaled $1.3 million or 37.3% of gross charge-offs in 2010, down from $4.0 million or 56.7% of gross charge-offs in 2009.

Net charge-offs, annualized, equaled 0.26% and 0.31%, respectively, of average loans and leases during the three months and year ended December 31, 2010, compared with 0.88% and 0.63%, respectively, in the year-ago periods. The provision for credit losses as a percentage of net charge-offs was 137% and 145%, respectively, in the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010, compared with 71% and 104%, respectively, in the comparable 2009 time periods.

The allowance for credit losses was $10.7 million at December 31, 2010, compared with $10.5 million at September 30, 2010 and $9.4 million at December 31, 2009. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to total loans and leases was 1.19% at December 31, 2010, compared with 1.17% at September 30, 2010 and 1.03% at December 31, 2009. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans and leases was 126% at December 31, 2010, compared with 134% at September 30, 2010 and 110% at December 31, 2009.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income totaled $10.8 million in the three months ended December 31, 2010, which was a decrease of $666,000 or 5.8% compared with the fourth quarter of 2009. Net interest income decreased $342,000 or 3.1% compared with the third quarter of 2010. The tax-equivalent net interest margin decreased 23 basis points in the fourth quarter compared with the year-ago quarter, and was 12 basis points lower than the third quarter of 2010 due to the effect of persistently low interest rates on the Company’s interest-earning assets.

The net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis was 3.45% in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared with 3.68% in the fourth quarter of 2009 and 3.57% in the third quarter of 2010. The decrease in the net interest margin was the result of a decrease in the tax-equivalent earning asset yield of 54 basis points in the fourth quarter compared with the year-ago quarter, which was partially offset by a decrease in its cost of funds of 34 basis points over the same period. The Company’s yield on earning assets decreased 24 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with the third quarter of 2010, which was partially offset by a decrease in its cost of funds of 13 basis points during the same period.

Average interest-earning assets were $1.3 billion in the fourth quarter, which was relatively unchanged compared to the year-ago quarter and compared to the third quarter of 2010.


Net interest income for 2010 totaled $44.3 million, which was an increase of $908,000 or 2.1% compared with $43.4 million in the year-ago period. Average earning assets increased $18.1 million in 2010 compared with 2009, with a $45.2 million increase in securities offsetting a $22.8 million decrease in loans and leases. The tax-equivalent net interest margin was 3.55% in 2010 and 2009. A decrease of 37 basis points in the Company’s tax-equivalent earning assets yield in 2010 compared with 2009 was offset by a 43 basis point decrease in its cost of funds over the same period.

The Company’s net interest margin is expected to compress further in coming quarters as the persistently low interest rate environment continues to negatively affect the return on the Company’s loans and investments.

Non-Interest Income and Non-Interest Expenses

Non-interest income was $5.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, which was unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2009. Gains on the sale of loans increased $414,000 or 170.4% in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to the year-ago period on an increased volume of residential mortgage sales. The Company did not sell securities in the fourth quarter and therefore gains on sales of investment securities decreased $1.2 million compared with the fourth quarter of 2009. In December 2010, the Company sold substantially all of the assets of its insurance agency subsidiary, Ladd’s Inc. and discontinued its operations, which resulted in a decrease in insurance agency income of $170,000 or 47.2% in the fourth quarter compared to the year-ago period. The discontinuation of Ladd’s operations will have no net effect on the Company’s future financial results. A gain of $815,000 was recognized on the sale of Ladd’s and is included in other non-interest income. The gain was nearly entirely offset by taxes of $806,000 resulting from a difference in the tax basis of such assets versus the book value.

Non-interest income (excluding gains on sales of securities and gain on Ladd’s sale) comprised 32.2% of total revenue in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with 29.4% in the year-ago quarter and 30.2% in the third quarter of 2010. The increase in this ratio was driven largely by higher gains on the sale of loans in 2010.

Non-interest income totaled $20.5 million in 2010, which is a decrease of $306,000 from $20.8 million in 2009. Service charges on deposit accounts decreased $528,000 or 10.5% primarily due to the impact of a new regulation covering overdraft protection programs, which took effect in the third quarter. Gains on sales of loans increased $646,000 or 86.4% as a result of a higher volume of residential mortgage sales in 2010. Gains on sales of investment securities decreased $1.9 million or 85.8% on a sharply lower volume of sales in 2010. Other non-interest income increased $1.0 million in 2010 due primarily to the sale of substantially all of the assets of Ladd’s. Non-interest income (excluding securities gains and gain on Ladd’s sale) comprised 30.4% of total revenue in 2010 compared with 30.1% in 2009.

Non-interest expenses were $11.3 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2010, which was unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2009. Professional fees increased $192,000 or 26.4% due primarily to outside consulting services related to various Company projects. Other non-interest expenses decreased $259,000 or 15.6% due largely to recoveries of write offs which were recorded in previous quarters.


Non-interest expenses were $44.5 million in 2010, compared with $43.2 million in 2009. Salaries and benefits expense increased $1.9 million or 9.3% compared with 2009. Approximately $1.3 million or 67% of this increase represents incremental recurring expense from a combination of new customer service and business development positions and normal salary increases. As required under generally accepted accounting principles, the deferral of salaries and benefits expense in connection with successfully originated loans comprised approximately $317,000 or 17% of the increase in salaries and benefits in 2010 compared with the same period in 2009, due to the substantially higher residential mortgage origination volume in 2009. Professional fees increased $357,000 or 12.3% in 2010 due primarily to outside consulting services related to various Company projects. The FDIC insurance premium decreased $683,000 or 29.9% in 2010 due to a special assessment required of all FDIC-insured banks in 2009. The assessment for Alliance was $676,000 in the second quarter of 2009.

The Company’s efficiency ratio was 71.1% in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with 69.8% in the year-ago quarter and 70.1% in the third quarter of 2010. The Company’s efficiency ratio was 69.9% in 2010 compared with 69.7% in 2009.

The Company’s effective tax rate (excluding the gain and related tax on the Ladd’s transaction) was 26.7% and 24.6% for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010 compared with 24.6% and 23.1% in the year-ago periods.

About Alliance Financial Corporation

Alliance Financial Corporation is an independent financial holding company with Alliance Bank, N.A. as its principal subsidiary that provides retail, commercial and municipal banking, and trust and investment services through 29 offices in Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego counties. Alliance also operates an investment management administration center in Buffalo, N.Y. and an equipment lease financing company, Alliance Leasing, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Alliance Financial Corporation. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, among others, the following possibilities: an increase in competitive pressure in the banking industry; changes in the interest rate environment which may affect the net interest margin; changes in the regulatory environment; general economic conditions, either nationally or regionally, resulting, among other things, in a deterioration in credit quality; changes in business conditions and inflation; changes in the securities markets; changes in technology used in the banking business; our ability to maintain and increase market share and control expenses; increases in FDIC insurance premiums may cause earnings to decrease; and other risks set forth under

the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Contact: Alliance Financial Corporation

J. Daniel Mohr, Executive Vice President and CFO

(315) 475-4478


Alliance Financial Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
December 31,
     Twelve months ended
December 31,
 
     2010      2009      2010      2009  
     (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Interest income:

           

Loans, including fees

   $ 11,165       $ 12,227       $ 46,168       $ 49,832   

Federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits

     5         —           8         15   

Securities

     3,236         3,842         14,166         14,115   
                                   

Total interest income

     14,406         16,069         60,342         63,962   

Interest expense:

           

Deposits:

           

Savings accounts

     78         115         377         454   

Money market accounts

     528         774         2,675         3,347   

Time accounts

     1,584         2,099         7,216         9,622   

NOW accounts

     91         127         490         531   
                                   

Total

     2,281         3,115         10,758         13,954   

Borrowings:

           

Repurchase agreements

     212         232         833         955   

FHLB advances

     934         1,077         3,817         4,864   

Junior subordinated obligations

     161         161         645         808   
                                   

Total interest expense

     3,588         4,585         16,053         20,581   

Net interest income

     10,818         11,484         44,289         43,381   

Provision for credit losses

     800         1,425         4,085         6,100   
                                   

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

     10,018         10,059         40,204         37,281   

Non-interest income:

           

Investment management income

     1,876         1,845         7,316         7,134   

Service charges on deposit accounts

     1,135         1,279         4,509         5,037   

Card-related fees

     670         594         2,563         2,248   

Insurance agency income

     190         360         1,283         1,387   

Income from bank-owned life insurance

     262         261         1,058         1,014   

Gain on the sale of loans

     657         243         1,394         748   

Gain on sale of securities available-for-sale

     —           1,153         308         2,168   

Other non-interest income

     1,156         188         2,074         1,075   
                                   

Total non-interest income

     5,946         5,923         20,505         20,811   

Non-interest expense:

           

Salaries and employee benefits

     5,804         5,700         22,319         20,428   

Occupancy and equipment expense

     1,924         1,768         7,375         7,047   

Communication expense

     172         162         664         756   

Office supplies and postage expense

     284         366         1,158         1,337   

Marketing expense

     177         205         1,068         932   

Amortization of intangible asset

     258         290         1,127         1,453   

Professional fees

     920         728         3,250         2,893   

FDIC insurance premium

     407         464         1,601         2,284   

Other operating expense

     1,400         1,659         5,918         6,078   
                                   

Total non-interest expense

     11,346         11,342         44,480         43,208   

Income before income tax expense

     4,618         4,640         16,229         14,884   

Income tax expense

     1,825         1,143         4,605         3,436   
                                   

Net income

   $ 2,793       $ 3,497       $ 11,624       $ 11,448   
                                   

Dividend and accretion of discount on preferred stock

     —           —           —           (1,084
                                   

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 2,793       $ 3,497       $ 11,624       $ 10,364   

Share and Per Share Data

           

Basic average common shares outstanding

     4,646,934         4,546,819         4,619,718         4,514,268   

Diluted average common shares outstanding

     4,660,463         4,585,800         4,640,097         4,543,069   

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.59       $ 0.76       $ 2.49       $ 2.25   

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.59       $ 0.75       $ 2.48       $ 2.24   

Cash dividends declared

   $ 0.30       $ 0.28       $ 1.16       $ 1.08   


Alliance Financial Corporation

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

 

     December 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
     (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Assets

  

Cash and due from banks

   $ 32,501      $ 26,696   

Securities available-for-sale

     414,410        362,158   

Federal Home Loan Bank of NY (“FHLB”) Stock and Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) Stock

     8,652        10,074   

Loans and leases held for sale

     2,940        1,023   

Total loans and leases, net of unearned income

     898,537        914,162   

Less allowance for credit losses

     10,683        9,414   
                

Net loans and leases

     887,854        904,748   

Premises and equipment, net

     18,975        20,086   

Accrued interest receivable

     4,149        4,167   

Bank-owned life insurance

     28,412        27,354   

Goodwill

     30,844        32,073   

Intangible assets, net

     8,638        10,075   

Other assets

     17,247        18,790   
                

Total assets

   $ 1,454,622      $ 1,417,244   
                

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

    

Liabilities:

    

Deposits:

    

Non-interest bearing

     179,918        159,149   

Interest bearing

     954,680        916,522   
                

Total deposits

     1,134,598        1,075,671   

Borrowings

     142,792        172,707   

Accrued interest payable

     1,391        1,745   

Other liabilities

     16,936        17,412   

Junior subordinated obligations issued to unconsolidated subsidiary trusts

     25,774        25,774   
                

Total liabilities

     1,321,491        1,293,309   

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Common stock

     5,051        4,937   

Surplus

     45,620        43,013   

Undivided profits

     92,380        86,194   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     1,713        946   

Directors’ stock-based deferred compensation plan

     (2,977     (2,499

Treasury stock

     (8,656     (8,656
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     133,131        123,935   
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,454,622      $ 1,417,244   
                

Common shares outstanding

     4,729,035        4,614,921   

Book value per common share

   $ 28.15      $ 26.86   

Tangible book value per common share

   $ 19.80      $ 17.72   


Alliance Financial Corporation

Consolidated Average Balances (Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
December 31,
     Twelve months ended
December 31,
 
     2010      2009      2010      2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Earning assets:

           

Federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits

   $ 19,101       $ 940       $ 8,823       $ 13,084   

Securities(1)

     401,250         391,342         397,732         352,542   

Loans and leases receivable:

           

Residential real estate loans(2)

     343,312         356,798         351,922         344,707   

Commercial loans

     231,151         206,698         218,213         211,469   

Leases, net of unearned income(2)

     44,347         71,433         53,886         84,806   

Indirect loans

     180,136         189,415         182,085         187,919   

Other consumer loans

     92,404         92,718         91,389         91,387   
                                   

Loans and leases receivable, net of unearned income

     891,350         917,062         897,495         920,288   
                                   

Total earning assets

     1,311,701         1,309,344         1,304,050         1,285,914   

Non-earning assets

     139,606         135,003         137,043         133,434   
                                   

Total assets

   $ 1,451,307       $ 1,444,347       $ 1,441,093       $ 1,419,348   
                                   

Interest bearing liabilities:

           

Interest bearing checking accounts

   $ 151,770       $ 120,128       $ 141,124       $ 117,113   

Savings accounts

     101,433         93,429         99,799         92,114   

Money market accounts

     367, 999         326,470         357,572         303,344   

Time deposits

     335,452         384,955         359,532         382,420   

Borrowings

     144,423         189,781         146,296         193,648   

Junior subordinated obligations issued to unconsolidated trusts

     25,774         25,774         25,774         25,774   
                                   

Total interest bearing liabilities

     1,126,851         1,140,537         1,130,097         1,114,413   

Non-interest bearing deposits

     178,342         161,841         167,912         156,396   

Other non-interest bearing liabilities

     16,059         16,246         16,383         16,685   
                                   

Total liabilities

     1,321,252         1,318,624         1,314,392         1,287,494   

Shareholders’ equity

     130,055         125,723         126,701         131,854   
                                   

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,451,307       $ 1,444,347       $ 1,441,093       $ 1,419,348   
                                   

 

(1) The amounts shown are amortized cost and include FHLB and FRB stock
(2) Includes loans and leases held for sale


Alliance Financial Corporation

Investments, Loans and Leases, and Deposits (Unaudited)

The following table sets forth the amortized cost and fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale securities portfolio:

 

     December 31, 2010      September 30, 2010      December 31, 2009  
     Amortized
Cost
     Fair
Value
     Amortized
Cost
     Fair
Value
     Amortized
Cost
     Fair
Value
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Securities available-for-sale

  

Debt securities:

                 

U.S. Treasury obligations

   $ —         $ —         $ 3,350       $ 3,350       $ 100       $ 101   

Obligations of U.S. government- sponsored corporations

     4,020         4,186         4,765         5,008         5,864         6,129   

Obligations of states and political subdivisions

     77,246         78,212         73,612         77,106         75,104         77,147   

Mortgage-backed securities(1)

     324,294         329,010         299,458         307,216         273,499         275,680   
                                                     

Total debt securities

     405,560         411,408         381,185         392,680         354,567         359,057   

Stock investments:

                 

Equity securities

     1,852         1,995         1,932         2,046         1,958         2,104   

Mutual funds

     1,000         1,007         1,000         1,030         1,000         997   
                                                     

Total stock investments

     2,852         3,002         2,932         3,076         2,958         3,101   

Total available-for-sale

   $ 408,412       $ 414,410       $ 384,117       $ 395,756       $ 357,525       $ 362,158   
                                                     

 

(1) Comprised of pass-through debt securities collateralized by conventional residential mortgages and guaranteed by either Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae, which are, in turn, backed by the United States government.

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company’s loan and lease portfolio at the dates indicated:

 

     December 31, 2010     September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Loan portfolio composition

  

Residential real estate loans

   $ 334,967        37.4   $ 348,443        38.8   $ 356,906        39.2

Commercial loans

     133,787        14.9     116,887        13.0     111,243        12.2

Commercial real estate

     116,066        13.0     109,876        12.2     96,753        10.7

Leases, net of unearned income

     42,466        4.8     47,451        5.3     68,224        7.5

Indirect loans

     176,125        19.7     183,594        20.4     184,947        20.3

Other consumer loans

     91,619        10.2     91,885        10.3     92,022        10.1
                                                

Total loans and leases

     895,030        100.0     898,136        100.0     910,095        100.0
                              

Net deferred loan costs

     3,507          3,755          4,067     

Allowance for credit losses

     (10,683       (10,466       (9,414  
                              

Net loans and leases

   $ 887,854        $ 891,425        $ 904,748     
                              
The following table sets forth the composition of the Company’s deposits at the dates indicated:   
     December 31, 2010     September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent  

Deposit composition

            

Non-interest bearing checking

   $ 179,918        15.9   $ 175,272        15.6   $ 159,149        14.8

Interest bearing checking

     151,894        13.3     143,976        12.8     130,368        12.1
                                                

Total checking

     331,812        29.2     319,248        28.4     289,517        26.9

Savings

     103,099        9.1     101,356        9.0     94,524        8.8

Money market

     357,885        31.5     363,847        32.3     317,051        29.5

Time deposits

     341,802        30.2     340,672        30.3     374,579        34.8
                                                

Total deposits

   $ 1,134,598        100.0   $ 1,125,123        100.0   $ 1,075,671        100.0
                                                


Alliance Financial Corporation

Asset Quality (Unaudited)

The following table represents a summary of delinquent loans and leases grouped by the number of days delinquent at the dates indicated:

 

Delinquent loans and leases

   December 31, 2010     September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
     $      %(1)     $      %(1)     $      %(1)  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

30 days past due

   $ 6,711         0.75   $ 6,922         0.78   $ 7,883         0.87

60 days past due

     1,083         0.12     2,894         0.32     2,271         0.25

90 days past due and still accruing

     19         —       43         —       —           —  

Non-accrual

     8,474         0.95     7,749         0.86     8,582         0.94
                                                   

Total

   $ 16,287         1.82   $ 17,608         1.96   $ 18,736         2.06
                                                   

 

(1) As a percentage of total loans and leases, excluding deferred costs

The following table represents information concerning the aggregate amount of non-performing assets:

 

Non-performing assets

   December 31, 2010      September 30, 2010      December 31, 2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Non-accruing loans and leases

        

Residential real estate loans

   $ 3,543       $ 3,116       $ 2,843   

Commercial loans

     1,212         1,225         2,167   

Commercial real estate

     2,084         1,888         1,846   

Leases

     697         802         1,418   

Indirect loans

     212         157         109   

Other consumer loans

     726         561         199   
                          

Total non-accruing loans and leases

     8,474         7,749         8,582   

Accruing loans and leases delinquent 90 days or more

     19         43         —     
                          

Total non-performing loans and leases

     8,493         7,792         8,582   

Other real estate and repossessed assets

     652         694         445   
                          

Total non-performing assets

   $ 9,145       $ 8,486       $ 9,027   
                          

The following table summarizes changes in the allowance for credit losses arising from loans and leases charged off, recoveries on loans and leases previously charged off and additions to the allowance which have been charged to expense:

 

Allowance for credit losses

   Three months ended
December 31,
    Twelve months  ended
December 31,
 
     2010     2009     2010     2009  
     (Dollars in thousands)  
  

Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period

   $ 10,466      $ 10,006      $ 9,414      $ 9,161   

Loans and leases charged-off

     (772     (2,281     (3,607     (7,272

Recoveries of loans and leases previously charged-off

     189        264        791        1,425   
                                

Net loans and leases charged-off

     (583     (2,017     (2,816     (5,847

Provision for credit losses

     800        1,425        4,085        6,100   
                                

Allowance for credit losses, end of period

   $ 10,683      $ 9,414      $ 10,683      $ 9,414   
                                


Alliance Financial Corporation

Consolidated Financial Information (Unaudited)

 

Key Ratios

   At or for the three months
ended December 31,
    At or for the twelve months
ended December 31,
 
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Return on average assets

     0.77     0.97     0.81     0.81

Return on average equity

     8.59     11.13     9.17     8.68

Return on average common equity

     8.59     11.13     9.17     8.46

Return on average tangible common equity

     12.51     16.76     13.64     13.02

Yield on earning assets

     4.54     5.08     4.78     5.15

Cost of funds

     1.27     1.61     1.42     1.85

Net interest margin (tax equivalent) (1)

     3.45     3.68     3.55     3.55

Non-interest income to total income (2)

     32.17     29.35     30.44     30.06

Efficiency ratio (3)

     71.14     69.77     69.86     69.66

Common dividend payout ratio (4)

     50.85     37.33     46.77     48.21

Net loans and leases charged-off to average loans and leases, annualized

     0.26     0.88     0.31     0.63

Provision for credit losses to average loans and leases, annualized

     0.36     0.62     0.46     0.66

Allowance for credit losses to total loans and leases

     1.19     1.03     1.19     1.03

Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans and leases

     125.8     109.7     125.8     109.7

Non-performing loans and leases to total loans and leases

     0.95     0.94     0.95     0.94

Non-performing assets to total assets

     0.63     0.64     0.63     0.64

 

(1) Tax equivalent net interest income divided by average earning assets
(2) Non-interest income (excluding net realized gains and losses on securities and other non-recurring items) divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income (as adjusted)
(3) Non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income (as adjusted)
(4) Cash dividends declared per share divided by diluted earnings per share


Alliance Financial Corporation

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

     2010     2009  
     Fourth     Third     Second     First     Fourth  
     (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Interest income

   $ 14,406      $ 15,102      $ 15,378      $ 15,456      $ 16,069   

Interest expense

     3,588        3,942        4,188        4,335        4,585   
                                        

Net interest income

     10,818        11,160        11,190        11,121        11,484   

Provision for credit losses

     800        1,095        1,095        1,095        1,425   
                                        

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

     10,018        10,065        10,095        10,026        10,059   

Other non-interest income

     5,946        5,139        4,859        4,561        5,923   

Other non-interest expense

     11,346        11,210        10,963        10,961        11,342   
                                        

Income before income tax expense

     4,618        3,994        3,991        3,626        4,640   

Income tax expense

     1,825        904        999        877        1,143   
                                        

Net income

   $ 2,793      $ 3,090      $ 2,992      $ 2,749      $ 3,497   
                                        

Stock and related per share data

          

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.59      $ 0.66      $ 0.64      $ 0.59      $ 0.76   

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.59      $ 0.66      $ 0.64      $ 0.59      $ 0.75   

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

     4,646,934        4,624,819        4,622,660        4,583,617        4,546,819   

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

     4,660,463        4,646,889        4,643,679        4,614,060        4,585,800   

Cash dividends paid per common share

   $ 0.30      $ 0.30      $ 0.28      $ 0.28      $ 0.28   

Common dividend payout ratio (1)

     50.85     45.45     43.75     47.46     37.33

Common book value

   $ 28.15      $ 28.63      $ 28.46      $ 27.38      $ 26.86   

Tangible common book value (2)

   $ 19.80      $ 19.84      $ 19.55      $ 18.39      $ 17.72   

Capital Ratios

          

Holding Company

          

Tier 1 leverage ratio

     8.28     8.07     7.87     7.86     7.55

Tier 1 risk based capital

     13.41     13.06     12.69     12.56     12.06

Tier 1 risk based common capital (3)

     10.54     10.17     9.84     9.68     9.22

Total risk based capital

     14.63     14.27     13.88     13.69     13.13

Tangible common equity to tangible assets(4)

     6.62     6.63     6.44     6.10     5.95

Bank

          

Tier 1 leverage ratio

     7.72     7.67     7.48     7.38     7.14

Tier 1 risk based capital

     12.54     12.47     12.12     11.85     11.47

Total risk based capital

     13.78     13.70     13.32     12.99     12.55

Selected ratios

          

Return on average assets

     0.77     0.86     0.83     0.77     0.97

Return on average equity

     8.59     9.57     9.62     8.93     11.13

Return on average tangible common equity

     12.51     14.09     14.48     13.55     16.76

Yield on earning assets

     4.54     4.78     4.83     4.96     5.08

Cost of funds

     1.27     1.40     1.46     1.54     1.61

Net interest margin (tax equivalent) (5)

     3.45     3.57     3.56     3.61     3.68

Non-interest income to total income (6)

     32.17     30.21     30.28     29.08     29.35

Efficiency ratio (7)

     71.14     70.10     68.31     69.90     69.77

Asset quality ratios

          

Net loans and leases charged off to average loans and leases, annualized

     0.26     0.41     0.23     0.35     0.88

Provision for credit losses to average loans and leases, annualized

     0.36     0.49     0.49     0.49     0.62

Allowance for credit losses to total loans and leases

     1.19     1.17     1.12     1.07     1.03

Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans and leases

     125.8     134.3     106.3     101.3     109.7

Non-performing loans and leases to total loans and leases

     0.95     0.87     1.06     1.06     0.94

Non-performing assets to total assets

     0.63     0.59     0.71     0.69     0.64

 

(1) Cash dividends declared per common share divided by diluted earnings per common share
(2) Common shareholders’ equity less goodwill and intangible assets divided by common shares outstanding
(3) Tier 1 capital excluding junior subordinated obligations issued to unconsolidated trusts divided by total risk-adjusted assets
(4) The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as the Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets ratio (TCE), to provide information for investors to effectively analyze financial trends of ongoing business activities, and to enhance comparability with peers across the financial sector. The Company believes TCE is useful because it is a measure utilized by regulators, market analysts and investors in evaluating a company’s financial condition and capital strength. TCE, as defined by the Company, represents common equity less goodwill and intangible assets. A reconciliation from the Company’s GAAP Total Equity to Total Assets ratio to the Non-GAAP Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets ratio is presented below:


(in thousands)    December 31,
2010
    September 30,
2010
    June 30,
2010
    March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 

Total assets

   $ 1,454,622      $ 1,446,839      $ 1,456,731      $ 1,445,326      $ 1,417,244   

Less: Goodwill and intangible assets, net

     39,482        41,279        41,568        41,858        42,148   
                                        

Tangible assets (non-GAAP)

   $ 1,415,140      $ 1,405,560      $ 1,415,163      $ 1,403,468      $ 1,375,096   

Total Common Equity

     133,131        134,503        132,712        127,487        123,935   

Less: Goodwill and intangible assets, net

     39,482        41,279        41,568        41,858        42,148   
                                        

Tangible Common Equity (non-GAAP)

     93,649        93,224        91,144        85,629        81,787   

Total Equity/Total Assets

     9.15     9.30     9.11     8.82     8.74

Tangible Common Equity/Tangible Assets (non-GAAP)

     6.62     6.63     6.44     6.10     5.95

 

(5) Tax equivalent net interest income divided by average earning assets
(6) Non-interest income (net of realized gains and losses on securities and other non-recurring items) divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income (as adjusted)
(7) Non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income (as adjusted)