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8-K - FORM 8K - STEWARDSHIP FINANCIAL CORPform8k-117571_ssfn.htm
 

 
EXHIBIT 99.1

     
 
For Immediate Release
     
 
Contact:
Claire M. Chadwick
   
SVP and Chief Financial Officer
   
630 Godwin Avenue
   
Midland Park, NJ 07432
   
201- 444-7100


PRESS RELEASE

Stewardship Financial Corporation Reports
Second Quarter of 2011 Earnings

Midland Park, NJ – August 15, 2011 – Stewardship Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:SSFN), parent of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, reported net income for the three months ended June 30, 2011 of $585,000, or $0.08 per diluted common share, as compared to a net loss of $1,065,000, or $0.21 per diluted common share, for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Corporation reported net income of $1,068,000 compared to a net loss of $194,000 for the corresponding six month period in 2010.  After dividends on preferred stock and accretion, net income available to common shareholders was $792,000 for the first six months of 2011, or $0.14 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $469,000, or $0.08 per diluted common share, during the same period in 2010.
Commenting on results, Paul Van Ostenbridge, Stewardship Financial Corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer stated, “The improved earnings in the current year periods is primarily related to a lower provision for loan losses than that recorded in the prior year periods.  The 2011 provision for loan losses remains elevated as a result of continued economic instability.”
For the three months ended June 30, 2011 the Corporation recorded a $1.9 million
 
 

 
 
 

 


Press Release - Midland Park NJ
 
Stewardship Financial Corporation continued
August 15, 2011


provision for loan losses and $3.6 million on a year to date basis.  At June 30, 2011, the allowance for loan losses increased to 2.40% of total loans compared to a ratio of 1.91% at June 30, 2010 and 1.88% as of December 31, 2010.  Furthermore, the ratio of allowance for loans losses to nonperforming loans was 37.81% at June 30, 2011, providing improved allowance coverage as compared to 32.48% at June 30, 2010.
Nonperforming loans totaled $29.7 million or 6.34% of total loans, at June 30, 2011 compared to $24.1 million, or 5.25% of total loans, at March 31, 2011 and $22.6 million, or 5.01% at December 31, 2010.  Included in nonperforming loans at June 30, 2011 is one loan for $2.3 million that is past due 90 days or more and accruing and another $2.3 million restructured loan, both of which have pending contracts for the sale of the underlying collateral.
Van Ostenbridge stated, “We are aggressively pursuing work out strategies to improve asset quality and maximize loan repayments.  We are operating today in an environment where foreclosures are prolonged and which contributes to our nonaccrual and delinquent loans remaining at elevated levels.  We remain diligent in directing our resources toward the workout of the problem assets.  We have engaged workout consultants and attorneys to assist us in navigating through the workout process.”
Net interest income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 reflected increases of $298,000 and $68,000, respectively, when compared to the prior year periods.  For the three months ended June 30, 2011, the net interest spread and margin of 3.62% and 3.89%, respectively, improved from 3.48% and 3.84%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  The net interest spread and margin for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were 3.61% and 3.86%, respectively, compared to a net interest spread and margin of 3.61% and 3.96%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  Earning asset yields have
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Press Release - Midland Park NJ
 
Stewardship Financial Corporation continued
August 15, 2011


declined as a result of the effect of a prolonged low interest rate environment as well as the impact of nonaccrual loans.  The impact of a declining yield on earning assets has been largely offset by a reduction in funding costs.  The decrease in funding costs reflects the ongoing reduction in interest rates paid on deposits as a result of the repricing of deposits in the present environment.
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Corporation reported noninterest income of $943,000 and $2.0 million compared to $1.2 million and $2.3 million for the equivalent prior year periods.  For the current three and six month periods noninterest income reflects $186,000 and $590,000, respectively, of gains on sales of mortgage loans compared to $66,000 and $121,000 of such gains for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively.  With a more recent decline in mortgage interest rates, there has been an increase in residential mortgage loan application volume, which are targeted to provide future gains.  Included in the prior year were $474,000 and $802,000 of gains on calls and sales of securities realized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively.
Noninterest expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 were $4.5 million and $9.2 million as compared to $4.2 million and $8.6 million in the comparable prior year periods.  A higher level of expense associated with charitable contributions reflects the increased level of net income for the current year periods.  Results for current year periods reflect continued increased costs, such as legal and other collection related expenses, incurred in the management of nonperforming assets.  A decline in FDIC insurance expense in 2011 reflects a recent change by the FDIC in the calculation of the quarterly assessment base.
Total assets of $700.4 million at June 30, 2011, while relatively unchanged from the March 2011 level, show an increase when compared to $688.1 million of assets at December 31, 2010.  The Corporation is actively lending and, since year end, has experienced a positive
 
 
 
 

 
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Press Release - Midland Park NJ
 
Stewardship Financial Corporation continued
August 15, 2011



trend of increasing loan demand.  During the first six months of 2011, net loans have increased $14.1 million, or 3.2%, to $457.3 million at June 30, 2011.
At June 30, 2011, deposits were $588.4 million compared to deposits of $575.6 million at December 31, 2010.  Average core deposit balances continue to grow.  Noninterest-bearing deposits totaled $114.5 million, or 19.5% of total deposits at June 30, 2011, up from $99.7 million, or 17.3% at December 31, 2010.
The Corporation’s capital position is strong and capital ratios continue to far exceed the regulatory standards of being “well capitalized” with a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.53% and total risk-based capital of 13.27% at June 30, 2011.  Maintaining strong capital levels remains a significant objective of our Board.
Van Ostenbridge continued stating “Despite the effect of this extended economic downturn, the Corporation has remained profitable during 2011.  With our strong capital levels and core earnings, we continue to actively address the nonperforming asset issues.  However, the general economic recovery appears to be slow and the pace of problem loan workout in the current economic environment is much slower than we would like.  While we anticipate that the economic environment will remain challenging, we are fully committed to improving asset quality and believe improvement is achievable.”
Stewardship Financial Corporation’s subsidiary, the Atlantic Stewardship Bank, has 13 banking offices in Midland Park, Hawthorne (2), Montville, North Haledon, Pequannock, Ridgewood, Waldwick, Wayne (3), Westwood and Wyckoff, New Jersey.  The bank is known
for tithing 10% of its pre-tax profits to Christian and local charities.  The Bank is currently celebrating its twenty–fifth year of operation.  To date, the Bank’s total tithe donations exceed $7.3 million.
We invite you to visit our website at www.asbnow.com for additional information.

 
 
 

 
 
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Press Release - Midland Park NJ
 
Stewardship Financial Corporation continued
August 15, 2011


The information disclosed in this document contains certain “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and may be identified by the use of such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “plan,” “estimate,” and “potential.”  Examples of forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, estimates with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Corporation that are subject to various factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these estimates.  These factors include: changes in general, economic and market conditions, legislative and regulatory conditions, or the development of an interest rate environment that adversely affects the Corporation’s interest rate spread or other income anticipated from operations and investments.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
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Stewardship Financial Corporation
Selected Consolidated Financial Information
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

   
June 30,
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
   
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2011
   
2010
   
2010
 
                         
Selected Financial Condition Data:
                       
     Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 25,866     $ 29,661     $ 19,983     $ 19,452  
     Securities available for sale
    145,891       148,178       138,628       116,009  
     Securities held to maturity
    41,426       42,460       45,394       56,836  
     FHLB Stock
    2,491       2,361       2,497       2,497  
     Loans receivable:
                               
          Loans receivable, gross
    468,669       459,508       451,867       458,102  
          Allowance for loan losses
    (11,230 )     (9,874 )     (8,490 )     (8,745 )
          Other, net
    (110 )     (86 )     (132 )     (350 )
     Loans receivable, net
    457,329       449,548       443,245       449,007  
                                 
     Loans held for sale
    -       827       9,818       3,059  
     Other assets
    27,386       27,900       28,553       28,050  
     Total assets
  $ 700,389     $ 700,935     $ 688,118     $ 674,910  
                                 
                                 
     Total deposits
  $ 588,418     $ 591,509     $ 575,603     $ 561,183  
     Other borrowings
    33,000       33,000       36,000       36,000  
     Subordinated debentures
    7,217       7,217       7,217       7,217  
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
    15,791       14,643       14,642       15,400  
     Other liabilities
    2,316       2,340       2,524       2,412  
     Stockholders' equity
    53,647       52,226       52,132       52,698  
     Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 700,389     $ 700,935     $ 688,118     $ 674,910  
                                 
     Book value per common share
  $ 7.49     $ 7.25     $ 7.24     $ 7.35  
                                 
     Equity to assets
    7.66 %     7.45 %     7.58 %     7.81 %
                                 
Asset Quality Data:
                               
     Nonaccrual loans
  $ 23,834     $ 24,010     $ 22,500     $ 25,712  
     Loans past due 90 days or more and accruing
    2,342       -       -       -  
     Restructured loans
    3,527       120       130       1,210  
     Total nonperforming loans
    29,703       24,130       22,630       26,922  
      Other real estate owned
    275       313       615       -  
      Total nonperforming assets
  $ 29,978     $ 24,443     $ 23,245     $ 26,922  
                                 
                                 
     Non-performing loans to total loans
    6.34 %     5.25 %     5.01 %     5.88 %
     Non-performing assets to total assets
    4.28 %     3.49 %     3.38 %     3.99 %
     Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans
    37.81 %     40.92 %     37.52 %     32.48 %
     Allowance for loan losses to total gross loans
    2.40 %     2.15 %     1.88 %     1.91 %

 
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Stewardship Financial Corporation
Selected Consolidated Financial Information
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
For the three months ended
   
For the six months ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Selected Operating Data:
                       
Interest income
  $ 8,033     $ 8,201     $ 15,808     $ 16,696  
Interest expense
    1,812       2,278       3,638       4,594  
Net interest and dividend income
    6,221       5,923       12,170       12,102  
Provision for loan losses
    1,915       4,705       3,590       6,255  
Net interest and dividend income
                               
after provision for loan losses
    4,306       1,218       8,580       5,847  
Noninterest income:
                               
Fees and service charges
    538       503       1,049       972  
Bank owned life insurance
    81       81       161       167  
Gain on sales of mortgage loans
    186       66       590       121  
Gain on calls and sales of securities
    21       474       21       802  
Other
    117       123       206       196  
Total noninterest income
    943       1,247       2,027       2,258  
Noninterest expenses:
                               
Salaries and employee benefits
    2,261       1,948       4,497       4,074  
Occupancy, net
    475       481       1,020       970  
Equipment
    238       277       496       586  
Data processing
    338       327       675       652  
FDIC insurance premium
    147       237       401       461  
Charitable contributions
    75       (15 )     175       150  
Other
    1,002       916       1,956       1,702  
Total noninterest expenses
    4,536       4,171       9,220       8,595  
   Income (loss) before income taxes
    713       (1,706 )     1,387       (490 )
   Income tax expense (benefit)
    128       (641 )     319       (296 )
   Net income (loss)
    585       (1,065 )     1,068       (194 )
   Dividends on preferred stock and accretion
    138       138       276       275  
   Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
  $ 447     $ (1,203 )   $ 792     $ (469 )
                                 
   Weighted avg. no. of diluted common shares
    5,850,506       5,842,366       5,850,116       5,841,176  
   Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
  $ 0.08     $ (0.21 )   $ 0.14     $ (0.08 )
                                 
   Return on average common equity
    4.11 %     -10.80 %     3.70 %     -2.12 %
                                 
   Return on average assets
    0.34 %     -0.64 %     0.31 %     -0.06 %
                                 
   Yield on average interest-earning assets
    4.99 %     5.28 %     4.99 %     5.43 %
   Cost of average interest-bearing liabilities
    1.37 %     1.80 %     1.38 %     1.82 %
   Net interest rate spread
    3.62 %     3.48 %     3.61 %     3.61 %
                                 
   Net interest margin
    3.89 %     3.84 %     3.86 %     3.96 %


 
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