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8-K - FORM 8-K FOR JAN 30, 2012 - PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA INCform8kforjan302012.htm
EXHIBIT (99)(a)
       
       
NEWS RELEASE
   
       
   
January 30, 2012
Contact:
Tony W. Wolfe
   
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
   
       
 
A. Joseph Lampron, Jr.
   
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
       
 
828-464-5620, Fax 828-465-6780
   
       
For Immediate Release
   
 
PEOPLES BANCORP ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS RESULTS AND SPECIAL DIVIDEND
 
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEBK), the parent company of Peoples Bank, reported net income of $1.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011, resulting in $0.32 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to a net loss of $439,000 or $0.08 basic and diluted net loss per share, for the same period one year ago.  After adjusting for dividends and accretion on preferred stock, net earnings available to common shareholders for the three months ended December 31, 2011, were $1.4 million or $0.26 basic and diluted net earnings per common share as compared to a $787,000 net loss available to common shareholders or $0.14 basic and diluted net loss per common share, for the same period one year ago.  Tony W. Wolfe, President and Chief Executive Officer, attributed the increase in fourth quarter earnings to a decrease in the provision for loan losses and an increase in non-interest income, which were partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense.
 
Year-to-date net earnings as of December 31, 2011 were $5.2 million, or $0.93 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to $1.8 million, or $0.33 basic and diluted net earnings per share, for the same period one year ago.  After adjusting for dividends and accretion on preferred stock, net earnings available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2011 were $3.8 million or $0.68 basic and diluted net earnings per common share as compared to $447,000, or $0.08 basic and diluted net earnings per common share, for the same period one year ago.  The increase in year-to-date earnings is primarily attributable to aggregate increases in net interest income and non-interest income and a decrease in the provision for loan losses, which were partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense, as discussed below.
 
As a result of the increase in annual earnings, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a $0.05 per share special cash dividend.  This cash dividend will be distributed on February 17, 2012 to shareholders of record on February 6, 2012.
 
Net interest income was $8.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.  Net interest income after the provision for loan losses increased to $5.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $2.3 million for the same period one year ago.  The provision for loan losses for the three months ended December 31, 2011, was $2.9 million as compared to $6.2 million for the same period one year ago.  The decrease in the provision for loan losses is primarily attributable to a $18.3 million reduction in non-accrual loans from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011 and a $5.8 million decrease in net charge-offs during fourth quarter 2011 compared to fourth quarter 2010.
 
Non-interest income increased 5% to $4.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011, as compared to $4.3 million for the same period last year.  This increase is primarily attributable to a $402,000 increase in the gains on sale of securities.
 
 
 
5

 
 
Non-interest expense increased 1% to $7.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011, as compared to $7.5 million for the same period last year.  This increase is primarily due a $277,000 increase in salaries and benefits expense, which was partially offset by a $141,000 decrease in occupancy expense.
 
Year-to-date net interest income as of December 31, 2011 increased 3% to $34.3 million compared to $33.3 million for the same period one year ago.   This increase is primarily attributable to a reduction in interest expense due to a decrease in the cost of funds for deposits.   Net interest income after the provision for loan losses increased 28% to $21.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $16.9 million for the same period one year ago.  The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $12.6 million as compared to $16.4 million for the same period one year ago.  The decrease in the provision for loan losses is primarily attributable to a $18.3 million reduction in non-accrual loans from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011 and a $4.8 million decrease in net charge-offs during the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the same period last year.
 
Non-interest income increased 5% to $14.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to $13.9 million for the same period one year ago.  This increase is primarily attributable to a $1.2 million increase in gains on the sale of securities, which was partially offset by a $625,000 reduction in service charges and fees.
 
Non-interest expense increased 2% to $29.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared to $28.9 million for the same period last year.  This increase is primarily due a $642,000 increase in salaries and benefits expense, which was partially offset by a $97,000 decrease in occupancy expense.
 
Total assets amounted to $1.1 billion as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.  Available for sale securities increased 18% to $321.4 million as of December 31, 2011, compared to $272.4 million as of December 31, 2010.  This increase reflects the investment of funds received from the decrease in loans.  Total loans amounted to $670.5 million as of December 31, 2011, compared to $726.2 million as of December 31, 2010.  The decrease is primarily due to the anticipated reduction in existing loans as the Bank continues to work through problem loans and the continuing decline in loan originations.
 
Non-performing assets decreased 32% to $32.1 million or 3.01% of total assets at December 31, 2011, compared to $46.9 million or 4.40% of total assets at December 31, 2010 primarily due to a decrease in non-accrual loans.  Non-performing loans include $13.2 million in AD&C loans, $10.7 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $554,000 in other loans at December 31, 2011, as compared to $23.1 million in AD&C loans, $16.2 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $1.0 million in other loans as of December 31, 2010.  The allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2011, amounted to $16.6 million or 2.48% of total loans compared to $15.5 million or 2.13% of total loans at December 31, 2010.  According to Mr. Wolfe, management believes the current level of the allowance for loan losses is adequate; however, there is no assurance that additional adjustments to the allowance will not be required because of changes in economic conditions, regulatory requirements or other factors.
 
Deposits amounted to $827.1 million as of December 31, 2011, compared to $838.7 million at December 31, 2010.  Core deposits, which include non-interest bearing demand deposits, NOW, MMDA, savings and non-brokered certificates of deposit of denominations less than $100,000, increased $40.3 million or 7% to $633.0 million at December 31, 2011, as compared to $592.7 million at December 31, 2010.  Certificates of deposit in amounts greater than $100,000 or more totaled $193.0 million at December 31, 2011, as compared to $241.4 million at December 31, 2010.  This decrease is primarily due to a $24.5 million decrease in certificates of deposit issued through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS) and a $12.7 million decrease in brokered certificates of deposit as of December 31, 2011, compared to December 31, 2010.
 
 
 
6

 
 
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase amounted to $39.6 million at December 31, 2011, as compared to $34.1 million at December 31, 2010.
 
Shareholders’ equity was $103.0 million, or 9.66% of total assets, at December 31, 2011, as compared to $96.9 million, or 9.07% of total assets, at December 31, 2010.
 
Peoples Bank operates 22 offices entirely in North Carolina, with offices in Catawba, Alexander, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Union, Iredell and Wake Counties.  The Company’s common stock is publicly traded and is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “PEBK.”
 

Statements made in this press release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management and on the information available to management at the time that this release was prepared.  These statements can be identified by the use of words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and “believe,” variations of these words and other similar expressions.  Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, (1) competition in the markets served by Peoples Bank, (2) changes in the interest rate environment, (3) general national, regional or local economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and the possible impairment of collectibility of loans, (4) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, (5) significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment and tax laws, (6) the impact of changes in monetary and fiscal policies, laws, rules and regulations and (7) other risks and factors identified in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  including but not limited to those described in Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
 
 

 

 
7

 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
         
         
         
 
December 31, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Audited)
 
ASSETS:
       
Cash and due from banks
$ 28,467   $ 22,521  
Interest bearing deposits
  769     1,456  
Cash and cash equivalents
  29,236     23,977  
             
Certificates of deposits
  -       735  
             
Investment securities available for sale
  321,388     272,449  
Other investments
  5,712     5,761  
Total securities
  327,100     278,210  
             
Mortgage loans held for sale
  5,146     3,814  
             
Loans
  670,497     726,160  
Less:  Allowance for loan losses
  (16,604 )   (15,493 )
Net loans
  653,893     710,667  
             
Premises and equipment, net
  16,896     17,334  
Cash surrender value of life insurance
  12,835     7,539  
Accrued interest receivable and other assets
  21,957     25,376  
Total assets
$ 1,067,063   $ 1,067,652  
             
             
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
           
Deposits:
           
Non-interest bearing demand
$ 136,878   $ 114,792  
NOW, MMDA & Savings
  366,133     332,511  
Time, $100,000 or more
  193,045     241,366  
Other time
  131,055     150,043  
Total deposits
  827,111     838,712  
             
Demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury
  -       1,600  
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
  39,600     34,094  
FHLB borrowings
  70,000     70,000  
Junior subordinated debentures
  20,619     20,619  
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities
  6,706     5,769  
Total liabilities
  964,036     970,794  
             
Shareholders' equity:
           
Series A preferred stock, $1,000 stated value; authorized
       
5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
           
25,054 shares in 2011 and 2010
  24,758     24,617  
Common stock, no par value; authorized
           
20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
           
5,544,160 shares in 2011 and 5,541,413 in 2010
  48,298     48,281  
Retained earnings
  26,895     23,573  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  3,076     387  
Total shareholders' equity
  103,027     96,858  
             
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$ 1,067,063   $ 1,067,652  
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
For the three months and years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                 
                 
                 
 
Three months ended
 
Years ended
 
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Audited)
 
INTEREST INCOME:
               
Interest and fees on loans
$ 8,712   $ 10,031   $ 36,407   $ 40,267  
Interest on investment securities:
                       
U.S. Government sponsored enterprises
  1,416     1,068     5,414     5,035  
States and political subdivisions
  793     725     3,180     2,173  
Other
  68     51     258     205  
Total interest income
  10,989     11,875     45,259     47,680  
                         
INTEREST EXPENSE:
                       
NOW, MMDA & savings deposits
  428     829     2,263     3,472  
Time deposits
  1,134     1,527     5,035     6,786  
FHLB borrowings
  698     780     2,956     3,285  
Junior subordinated debentures
  106     101     407     411  
Other
  54     88     285     394  
Total interest expense
  2,420     3,325     10,946     14,348  
                         
NET INTEREST INCOME
  8,569     8,550     34,313     33,332  
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
  2,936     6,221     12,632     16,438  
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER
                       
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
  5,633     2,329     21,681     16,894  
                         
NON-INTEREST INCOME:
                       
Service charges
  1,261     1,433     5,106     5,626  
Other service charges and fees
  488     511     2,090     2,195  
Gain on sale of securities
  1,767     1,365     4,262     3,057  
Mortgage banking income
  226     160     757     532  
Insurance and brokerage commission
  120     114     471     390  
Miscellaneous
  620     704     1,827     2,084  
Total non-interest income
  4,482     4,287     14,513     13,884  
                         
NON-INTEREST EXPENSES:
                       
Salaries and employee benefits
  3,937     3,660     14,766     14,124  
Occupancy
  1,309     1,450     5,339     5,436  
Other
  2,384     2,410     9,467     9,388  
Total non-interest expense
  7,630     7,520     29,572     28,948  
                         
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  2,485     (904 )   6,622     1,830  
INCOME TAXES
  708     (465 )   1,463     (11 )
                         
NET EARNINGS (LOSS)
  1,777     (439 )   5,159     1,841  
                         
Dividends and accretion on preferred stock
  348     348     1,393     1,394  
                         
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO
                       
COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
$ 1,429   $ (787 ) $ 3,766   $ 447  
                         
PER COMMON SHARE AMOUNTS
                       
Basic net earnings
$ 0.26   $ (0.14 ) $ 0.68   $ 0.08  
Diluted net earnings
$ 0.26   $ (0.14 ) $ 0.68   $ 0.08  
Cash dividends
$ 0.02   $ 0.02   $ 0.08   $ 0.08  
Book value
$ 14.06   $ 12.96   $ 14.06   $ 12.96  
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
For the three months and years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                   
                   
                   
 
Three months ended
   
Years ended
 
 
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
   
2011
 
2010
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
(Audited)
 
SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES:
                 
Available for sale securities
$ 312,699   $ 242,793     $ 295,413   $ 219,797  
Loans
  677,539     740,249       697,527     757,532  
Earning assets
  1,022,341     1,016,888       1,015,451     999,054  
Assets
  1,084,473     1,088,333       1,074,248     1,078,140  
Deposits
  838,566     854,745       835,549     840,343  
Shareholders' equity
  103,169     100,187       102,568     101,529  
                           
                           
SELECTED KEY DATA:
                         
Net interest margin (tax equivalent)
  3.48%     3.49%       3.55%     3.46%  
Return of average assets
  0.65%     -0.16%       0.48%     0.17%  
Return on average shareholders' equity
  6.83%     -1.71%       5.03%     1.81%  
Shareholders' equity to total assets (period end)
  9.66%     9.07%       9.66%     9.07%  
                           
                           
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES:
                         
Balance, beginning of period
$ 16,348   $ 17,718     $ 15,493   $ 15,413  
Provision for loan losses
  2,936     6,221       12,632     16,438  
Charge-offs
  (2,726 )   (8,548 )     (12,260 )   (16,910 )
Recoveries
  46     102       739     552  
Balance, end of period
$ 16,604   $ 15,493     $ 16,604   $ 15,493  
                           
                           
ASSET QUALITY:
                         
Non-accrual loans
              $ 21,785   $ 40,062  
90 days past due and still accruing
                2,709     210  
Other real estate owned
                7,576     6,673  
Total non-performing assets
              $ 32,070   $ 46,945  
Non-performing assets to total assets
                3.01%     4.40%  
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing assets
            51.77%     33.00%  
Allowance for loan losses to total loans
                2.48%     2.13%  
 
LOAN RISK GRADE ANALYSIS:
Percentage of Loans
 
By Risk Grade*
 
12/31/2011
12/31/2010
Risk Grade 1 (excellent quality)
3.12%
3.36%
Risk Grade 2 (high quality)
16.58%
16.60%
Risk Grade 3 (good quality)
49.30%
47.00%
Risk Grade 4 (management attention)
19.65%
21.36%
Risk Grade 5 (watch)
4.76%
2.84%
Risk Grade 6 (substandard)
6.21%
8.12%
Risk Grade 7 (low substandard)
0.00%
0.37%
Risk Grade 8 (doubtful)
0.00%
0.07%
Risk Grade 9 (loss)
0.00%
0.00%
     
At December 31, 2011, including non-accrual loans, there were eight relationships exceeding $1.0 million (which totaled $14.3 million) in the Watch risk grade, seven relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Substandard risk grade (which totaled $17.8 million) and no relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Low Substandard risk grade. There were two relationships with loans in the Watch risk grade and the Substandard risk grade exceeding $1.0 million total (which totaled $6.7 million).
     
(END)