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8-K - FORM 8-K - FIRSTBANK CORPfbic_8k-072611.htm
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
     
Date Submitted:
July 26, 2011
Contact: Samuel G. Stone
NASDAQ Symbol:
FBMI
Executive Vice President and
   
Chief Financial Officer
   
(989) 466-7325
 
FIRSTBANK CORPORATION ANNOUNCES
SECOND QUARTER AND YEAR-TO-DATE 2011 RESULTS
 
Highlights Include:
 
Net income of $1,843,000 in the first half of 2011 increased $247,000 compared to $1,596,000 in the first half of 2010, and net income available to common shareholders increased to $1,003,000 from $756,000
Earnings per share equaled $0.13 for the first half of 2011, up from $0.10 per share in the first half of 2010
For the second quarter of 2011, earnings per share were $0.03, down from $0.07 in the second quarter or 2010 as net income and net income available to common shareholders also declined from the year-ago second quarter
Provision expense of $4.3 million in the second quarter of 2011 increased $1.2 million from the first quarter of 2011 and also was $1.2 million higher than a year ago
Ratio of the allowance for loan losses to loans strengthened to 2.12% at June 30, 2011, compared to 1.90% a year ago
Gain on sale of mortgages slowed, declining 27% from the first quarter of 2011 and was 43% below the year-ago second quarter level
Loan portfolio continued to shrink due to economic conditions and lack of demand
Equity ratios remained strong and all affiliate banks continue to exceed all regulatory well-capitalized requirements
 
Alma, Michigan (FBMI) ---- Thomas R. Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Firstbank Corporation, announced net income of $628,000 for the second quarter of 2011, compared to $937,000 for the second quarter of 2010, with net income available to common shareholders of $208,000 in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $517,000 in the second quarter of 2010. Earnings per share were $0.03 in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $0.07 in the second quarter of 2010. Returns on average assets and average equity for the second quarter of 2011 were 0.18% and 1.8%, respectively, compared to 0.26% and 2.7% respectively in the second quarter of 2010.

For the first half of 2011, net income of $1,843,000 increased 15.5% from the $1,596,000 earned in the first half of 2010. Net income available to common shareholders of $1,003,000 in the first half of 2011 increased 32.7% compared to the $756,000 in the first half of 2010. Earnings per share were $0.13 in the first half of 2011 compared to $0.10 in the first half of 2010. Returns on average assets and average equity for the first half of 2011 were 0.27% and 2.7%, respectively, compared to 0.24% and 2.4% respectively in the first half of 2010.

 
 

 
 
The provision for loan losses, at $4,256,000 in the second quarter of 2011, was 41% more than the amount required in the first quarter of 2011, and was 39% more than the amount in the year-ago second quarter. The level of provision expense, and other expenses related to management and collection of the loan portfolio, continues to be the major restraint to higher levels of profitability. The provision expense of $4,256,000 in the second quarter of 2011 approximately matched net charge-offs in the quarter of $4,277,000. Although the dollar level of reserves for loan losses shows a slight decline, the allowance as a percentage of loans increased due to the continued shrinkage of the loan portfolio.

Net interest income, at $13,741,000 in the second quarter of 2011, increased 3.4% compared to the first quarter of 2011 and increased 8.5% over the second quarter of 2010. Reduced funding costs, offset to some degree by shrinkage in the loan portfolio caused by lagging loan demand, improved the net interest margin.

Firstbank’s net interest margin was 4.08% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to 4.05% in the first quarter of 2011 and 3.82% in the second quarter of 2010. FHLB advances and notes payable declined by $4.1 million in the second quarter of 2011 and were $64 million lower than the year-ago balance. Core deposits were nearly flat (decreasing 0.2%) in the second quarter of 2011 and were 4.9% above the year-ago level, providing a lower cost source of funding. Also, strategies employed during 2010 and throughout 2011 aimed at incorporating floors on variable rate loans and re-pricing deposits upon renewal at currently competitive rates, have resulted in improvement in net interest margin.

Total non-interest income, at $2,011,000 in the second quarter of 2011, was 15% lower than in the second quarter of 2010. Gain on sale of mortgages, at $413,000 in the second quarter of 2011, declined 27% compared to the first quarter of 2011 and was 43% below the year-ago level, reflecting the rapidly declining volumes of mortgage refinance activity driven by changes in mortgage interest rates and more stringent and costly secondary market requirements. The category of “other” non-interest income, at $340,000 in the second quarter of 2011, was within $19,000 of the amount in the first quarter of 2011 but $102,000 lower than in the second quarter of 2010. The comparison to the year-ago second quarter was mostly due to a $45,000 lower gain on sale of other real estate, smaller miscellaneous loan fees, and the elimination of a small investment brokerage business that was marginally unprofitable.

Total non-interest expense, at $10,810,000 in the second quarter of 2011, was 0.4% higher than the level in the first quarter of 2011 and was 0.8% higher than the level in the second quarter of 2010, as expense control efforts continued. Salaries and employee benefits and occupancy and equipment costs declined by 1.5% and 6.2%, respectively, in comparison to the year-ago period. The category of “other” non-interest expense, totaling $3,672,000 in the second quarter of 2011, increased 9.9% compared to the first quarter of 2011 and 7.8% compared to the second quarter of 2010. Both comparisons resulted mostly from increased write-downs of valuations of other real estate owned. These write-downs were $642,000 in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $359,000 in the first quarter of 2011 and $345,000 in the second quarter of 2010. The comparison of the second quarter of 2011 with the first quarter of 2011 was also affected by certain higher marketing expenses in the second quarter of 2011.

Mr. Sullivan stated, “We experienced yet another quarter, in the second quarter of 2011, where loan charge-offs and charge-downs and the corresponding need for provision expense continue well above historical norms. These and other expenses related to managing the loan portfolio offset positive developments within our earnings profile. Our net interest margin is improving and our operating costs are continuing to be managed tightly. Higher than normal costs of managing credits and other real estate owned will stay with us for some time, but eventually should reduce.

 
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“As we have stated previously, our capital, funding, and human resources are ample to support increased lending, although our loan portfolios continue to shrink. We maintain good relationships and communications with customers who will eventually want to expand their businesses and activities and provide an increased demand for loans. We have oriented our marketing messages to communicate that we have money to lend and are willing to do so. We believe our banks are well positioned to participate in and help support a better Michigan economy as one of the major community banking organizations in the state.

“We continually evaluate our unique structure of maintaining separately chartered community banks within our holding company. The holding company structure brings many operating cost efficiencies to the back-room support functions for all of the banks while the separate bank charters with separate legal boards of directors give us an advantage in terms of customer service and community support. There is some added cost of maintaining this structure, and we must always consider the cost versus the benefit. In the last two or three years, the burden of the regulatory process has increased throughout the industry as regulatory agencies are responding to the financial crises and major Wall Street bankruptcies of 2008 and 2009. It has become more difficult to profitably manage our smallest bank, Firstbank – St. Johns, in this environment, and we can identify geographic, market, balance sheet, and growth synergies between Firstbank – St. Johns and Firstbank - Alma. Therefore, the boards of these two banks and the board of our holding company recently have determined to combine these two banks, subject to regulatory approval. We believe we have gained experience and success in markets like Cadillac, Clare, and Lakeview, which are all served by our Mt. Pleasant bank, and which will provide a model for successful operation and growth of the Alma bank while also serving and growing the St. Johns market.

“Another recent development in the second quarter of 2011 is the opening of our second office in the Cadillac market. The Cadillac market, while not a huge metropolitan area in any sense, is showing growth in employment and has some important manufacturers experiencing upturns in business. Cadillac is also a vibrant tourism area with two very nice lakes and close access to skiing and snow mobile trails for winter recreation. Our decision to open this second office reflects our belief in Cadillac’s future economic prosperity.”

Total assets of Firstbank Corporation at June 30, 2011, were $1.481 billion, an increase of 0.3% from the year-ago period. Total portfolio loans of $1.006 billion were 7.1% below the year-ago level. Commercial and commercial real estate loans decreased 6.3% over this twelve month period, and real estate construction loans decreased 7.2%. Residential mortgage loans decreased 8.0% and consumer loans decreased 8.5%. The strong mortgage refinance activity in 2010 resulted in mortgage loans being financed in the secondary market rather than on the balance sheet of the company. While Firstbank has ample capital and funding resources to increase loans on its balance sheet, demand for funds for new ventures by quality borrowers remains weak due to uncertainty regarding the economy. Total deposits as of June 30, 2011, were $1.218 billion, compared to $1.162 billion at June 30, 2010, an increase of 4.8%. Core deposits increased $56 million or 4.9% over the year-ago level.

At June 30, 2011, provision expense was increased so that the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to loans increased to 2.12%, compared to 2.10% at March 31, 2011, and 1.90% at June 30, 2010. More stringent definitional requirements are being applied by regulators in determining what loans are to be reported on call reports as “troubled debt restructurings” (TDRs). These loans result from mutual efforts between the bank and the borrower to adjust cash flow requirements and other terms of loans to reflect new economic reality and to protect the financial interest of the bank at the same time as allowing the customer to continue to meet financial obligations while dealing with the protracted slow economy and particularly weak real estate sales. Loans in this category continue to perform according to the agreed upon terms, for if they do not continue to perform, they are moved to either the past-due-more- than-90-days category or to the non-accrual category as circumstances indicate. Mostly as a result of the more stringent definitional requirements, our performing adjusted loans (TDRs) increased to $17,989,000 at June 30, 2011, compared to $11,813,000 at March 31, 2011, and compared to $2,056,000 at June 30, 2010. Loans past due over 90 days were $1,787,000 at June 30, 2011, increased from the $544,000 at March 31, 2011, but $538,000, or 23%, lower than the $2,326,000 at June 30, 2010. Non-accrual loans were $20,205,000 at June 30, 2011, a decrease of 17.8% from the level at March 31, 2011, and a decrease of 38.4% from the level at June 30, 2010.

 
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Net charge-offs were $4,277,000 in the second quarter of 2011, compared to $3,095,000 in the first quarter of 2011 and $2,599,000 in the second quarter of 2010. In the second quarter of 2011, net charge-offs annualized represented 1.69% of average loans, compared to 1.21% in the first quarter of 2011 and 0.95% in the second quarter of 2010.

Total shareholders’ equity was 2.3% higher at June 30, 2011, compared to the level at June 30, 2010. The ratio of average equity to average assets was 10.0% in the second quarter of 2011, compared to 9.8% in the second quarter of 2010. All of Firstbank Corporation’s affiliate banks continue to meet regulatory well-capitalized requirements.

Firstbank Corporation, headquartered in Alma, Michigan, is a bank holding company using a multi-bank-charter format with assets of $1.5 billion and 52 banking offices serving Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Bank subsidiaries include: Firstbank – Alma; Firstbank (Mt. Pleasant); Firstbank – West Branch; Firstbank – St. Johns; Keystone Community Bank; and Firstbank – West Michigan.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this press release the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “hopeful,” “potential,” “should,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future business growth, changes in interest rates, loan charge-off rates, demand for new loans, the performance of loans with provisions, and the resolution of problem loans. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting the Company's operations, markets, products, services, interest rates and fees for services. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

 
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FIRSTBANK CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
UNAUDITED
 
   
Three Months Ended:
   
Six Months Ended:
 
 
 
Jun 30
   
Mar 31
   
Jun 30
   
Jun 30
   
Jun 30
 
   
2011
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Interest income:
                             
  Interest and fees on loans
  $ 15,571     $ 15,646     $ 16,993     $ 31,217     $ 34,014  
  Investment securities
                                       
    Taxable
    1,319       1,011       910       2,330       1,626  
    Exempt from federal income tax
    280       293       272       573       581  
    Short term investments
    45       39       50       84       103  
Total interest income
    17,215       16,989       18,225       34,204       36,324  
                                         
Interest expense:
                                       
  Deposits
    2,945       3,049       4,198       5,994       8,476  
  Notes payable and other borrowing
    529       648       1,359       1,177       2,856  
Total interest expense
    3,474       3,697       5,557       7,171       11,332  
                                         
Net interest income
    13,741       13,292       12,668       27,033       24,992  
Provision for loan losses
    4,256       3,011       3,066       7,267       5,557  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    9,485       10,281       9,602       19,766       19,435  
                                         
Noninterest income:
                                       
  Gain on sale of mortgage loans
    413       568       726       981       1,096  
  Service charges on deposit accounts
    1,182       1,092       1,180       2,274       2,277  
  Gain (loss) on trading account securities
    2       6       0       8       23  
  Gain (loss) on sale of AFS securities
    (2 )     (8 )     (46 )     (10 )     9  
  Mortgage servicing
    76       28       63       104       189  
  Other
    340       359       442       699       1,035  
Total noninterest income
    2,011       2,045       2,365       4,056       4,629  
                                         
Noninterest expense:
                                       
  Salaries and employee benefits
    5,170       5,270       5,249       10,440       10,709  
  Occupancy and equipment
    1,284       1,424       1,369       2,708       2,859  
  Amortization of intangibles
    185       185       210       370       420  
  FDIC insurance premium
    499       543       485       1,042       1,030  
  Other
    3,672       3,340       3,406       7,012       7,128  
Total noninterest expense
    10,810       10,762       10,719       21,572       22,146  
                                         
Income before federal income taxes
    686       1,564       1,248       2,250       1,918  
Federal income taxes
    58       349       311       407       322  
Net Income
    628       1,215       937       1,843       1,596  
Preferred Stock Dividends
    420       420       420       840       840  
Net Income available to Common Shareholders
  $ 208     $ 795     $ 517     $ 1,003     $ 756  
                                         
Fully Tax Equivalent Net Interest Income
  $ 13,915     $ 13,464     $ 12,860     $ 27,379     $ 25,403  
                                         
Per Share Data:
                                       
  Basic Earnings
  $ 0.03     $ 0.10     $ 0.07     $ 0.13     $ 0.10  
  Diluted Earnings
  $ 0.03     $ 0.10     $ 0.07     $ 0.13     $ 0.10  
  Dividends Paid
  $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.02     $ 0.06  
                                         
Performance Ratios:
                                       
  Return on Average Assets (a)
    0.18 %     0.37 %     0.26 %     0.27 %     0.24 %
  Return on Average Equity (a)
    1.8 %     3.7 %     2.7 %     2.7 %     2.4 %
  Net Interest Margin (FTE) (a)
    4.08 %     4.05 %     3.82 %     4.07 %     3.80 %
  Book Value Per Share (b)
  $ 15.14     $ 14.95     $ 14.86     $ 15.14     $ 14.86  
  Average Equity/Average Assets
    10.0 %     10.1 %     9.8 %     10.1 %     9.8 %
  Net Charge-offs
  $ 4,277     $ 3,095     $ 2,599     $ 7,372     $ 4,083  
  Net Charge-offs as a % of Average Loans (c)(a)
    1.69 %     1.21 %     0.95 %     1.45 %     0.74 %
                                         
(a)  Annualized
                                       
(b)  Period End
                                       
(c)  Total loans less loans held for sale
                                       

 
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FIRSTBANK CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
UNAUDITED
 
   
Jun 30
   
Mar 31
   
Dec 31
   
Jun 30
 
 
 
2011
   
2011
   
2010
   
2010
 
ASSETS
                       
                         
Cash and cash equivalents:
                       
  Cash and due from banks
  $ 28,124     $ 23,707     $ 25,322     $ 25,752  
  Short term investments
    68,594       74,074       48,216       49,154  
Total cash and cash equivalents
    96,718       97,781       73,538       74,906  
                                 
Securities available for sale
    296,003       281,714       266,121       231,204  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    7,266       8,203       8,203       9,084  
Loans:
                               
  Loans held for sale
    434       27       1,355       108  
  Portfolio loans:
                               
    Commercial
    162,685       162,088       164,413       182,773  
    Commercial real estate
    365,803       373,376       373,996       381,216  
    Residential mortgage
    344,853       346,521       352,652       374,901  
    Real estate construction
    73,019       75,399       81,016       78,694  
    Consumer
    59,601       58,156       59,543       65,127  
Total portfolio loans
    1,005,961       1,015,540       1,031,620       1,082,711  
  Less allowance for loan losses
    (21,327 )     (21,347 )     (21,431 )     (20,588 )
Net portfolio loans
    984,634       994,193       1,010,189       1,062,123  
                                 
Premises and equipment, net
    25,557       25,461       25,431       24,662  
Goodwill
    35,513       35,513       35,513       35,513  
Other intangibles
    1,775       1,960       2,145       2,520  
Other assets
    33,493       34,647       35,848       36,491  
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 1,481,393     $ 1,479,499     $ 1,458,343     $ 1,476,611  
                                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                               
                                 
LIABILITIES
                               
                                 
Deposits:
                               
  Noninterest bearing accounts
  $ 194,795     $ 187,349     $ 185,191     $ 164,475  
  Interest bearing accounts:
                               
  Demand
    310,250       308,236       293,900       261,888  
  Savings
    237,008       236,137       210,239       197,208  
  Time
    459,489       471,700       486,506       522,205  
  Wholesale CD's
    16,778       14,297       7,947       16,452  
Total deposits
    1,218,320       1,217,719       1,183,783       1,162,228  
                                 
Securities sold under agreements to
                               
  repurchase and overnight borrowings
    46,304       42,623       41,328       36,601  
FHLB Advances and notes payable
    21,543       25,628       40,658       85,110  
Subordinated Debt
    36,084       36,084       36,084       36,084  
Accrued interest and other liabilities
    7,480       7,879       8,062       8,382  
Total liabilities
    1,329,731       1,329,933       1,309,915       1,328,405  
                                 
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                               
Preferred stock; no par value, 300,000
                               
  shares authorized, 33,000 outstanding
    32,778       32,770       32,763       32,748  
Common stock; 20,000,000 shares authorized
    115,571       115,320       115,224       115,034  
Retained earnings
    1,157       1,020       295       (891 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
    2,156       456       146       1,315  
Total shareholders' equity
    151,662       149,566       148,428       148,206  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
  $ 1,481,393     $ 1,479,499     $ 1,458,343     $ 1,476,611  
                                 
Common stock shares issued and outstanding
    7,853,295       7,814,097       7,803,816       7,771,105  
Principal Balance of Loans Serviced for Others ($mil)
  $ 604.4     $ 612.0     $ 616.9     $ 599.0  
                                 
Asset Quality Information:
                               
  Performing Adjusted Loans (TDRs) (b)
    17,989       11,813       10,056       2,056  
  Loans Past Due over 90 Days
    1,787       544       606       2,326  
  Non-Accrual Loans
    20,205       24,581       26,362       32,793  
  Other Real Estate Owned
    8,469       7,922       8,315       9,780  
  Allowance for Loan Loss as a % of Loans (a)
    2.12 %     2.10 %     2.08 %     1.90 %
                                 
Quarterly Average Balances:
                               
  Total Portfolio Loans (a)
  $ 1,009,646     $ 1,024,733     $ 1,041,986     $ 1,090,129  
  Total Earning Assets
    1,367,013       1,342,877       1,355,226       1,349,637  
  Total Shareholders' Equity
    149,599       148,149       148,043       146,437  
  Total Assets
    1,490,020       1,473,199       1,484,854       1,487,801  
  Diluted Shares Outstanding
    7,835,123       7,809,838       7,796,168       7,757,387  
                                 
(a) Total Loans less loans held for sale
                               
(b) Troubled Debt Restructurings in Call Reports
                         
 
 
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