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8-K - PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. FORM 8-K, MAY 1, 2012 - PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP INCpfbi8k05012012.htm
Exhibit 99.1
 
 
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
BRIEN M. CHASE, CFO
MAY 1, 2012
 
304-525-1600
 
PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2012 EARNINGS

PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. (PREMIER), HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA (NASDAQ/NMS-PFBI), a $1.1 billion bank holding company with four bank subsidiaries, announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2012.  Premier realized income of $2,830,000 (31 cents per share) during the quarter ending March 31, 2012, a 69.4% increase from the $1,671,000 of net income reported for the first quarter of 2011.  The increase in income in 2012 is largely due to an increase in interest income, a decrease in interest expense and a decrease in non-interest expense exceeding an increase in the provision for loan losses.  On a diluted per share basis, Premier earned $0.31 during the first quarter 2012 compared to $0.17 per share earned during the first quarter of 2011.

President and CEO Robert W. Walker commented, “We are very pleased with our first quarter earnings and per share results.  Our operating expenses are down because our data conversion is behind us and we are realizing cost savings on the new system.  Interest expense continues to decrease due to the extended low interest rate environment.  And interest income is up, largely due to the recognition of deferred interest and discounts on the successful resolution of a few of our non-performing assets.  The timing of these successful resolutions is difficult to predict, which creates fluctuations in our reported loan interest income.  Repeating what I have stated in the past, the pace of economic recovery is painfully slow, and the opportunities to liquidate troubled assets for reasonable values are also painfully slow to materialize.  We continue to conservatively evaluate our credit risk, and increased our provision for loan losses accordingly during the quarter.”

Net interest income for the quarter ending March 31, 2012 totaled $12.418 million, compared to $10.749 million of net interest income earned in the first quarter of 2011.  When compared to the first quarter of 2011, net interest income increased by $1.7 million, or 15.5%, largely due to a $1.4 million increase in interest income on loans.  The increase in interest income on loans is largely due to deferred interest and discounts recognized on two non-accrual loans that paid off during the first quarter of 2012.  Otherwise, a $172,000, or 8.4%, decrease in interest income from investments and interest-bearing bank balances was more than offset by $444,000, of interest expense savings.  When compared to the first quarter of 2011, interest expense on deposits decreased by $397,000, or 20.5%, during the first quarter of 2012, while interest expense on short- and long-term borrowings decreased by $47,000, or 15.2%, during the first quarter of 2012.

During the quarter ending March 31, 2012, Premier recorded $950,000 of provisions for loan losses compared to $520,000 of provisions for loan losses during the same period of 2011.  The increase in the level of provision expense was largely to provide for loans identified during the quarter as impaired under Premier’s internal analyses of evaluating credit risk. The increased risk is largely associated with the extended decline in economic conditions and the related impact on borrowers’ repayment abilities.  While total non-accrual loans decreased by $13.2 million during the first quarter of 2012, most of these loans were discounted at the time of purchase and therefore a significant level of additional specific reserves on these loans was deemed not to be necessary.  Evidence of the increased credit risk includes higher levels of loan charge-offs and other real estate owned as a result of foreclosures.  The amount of future provisions for loan losses will depend on any future improvement or further deterioration in the estimated credit risk in the loan portfolio as well as whether additional payments are received on loans previously identified as having significant credit risk.  Net charge-offs increased by $330,000 in the first quarter of 2012 when compared to the same quarter of 2011, largely due to the foreclosure on a West Virginia based loan that was identified in 2011 as a non-performing loan.

Net overhead costs (non-interest expenses less non-interest income) for the quarter ending March 31, 2012 totaled $7.077 million compared to $7.696 million in the first quarter of 2011.  The $619,000 decrease in net overhead when compared to the first quarter of 2011 is largely due to reductions in 2012 data processing costs and FDIC insurance expense plus expenses recorded in 2011 related to Premier’s conversion to a new operating system.  Non-interest income decreased by $94,000, or 5.8%, in the first quarter of 2012 when compared to the first quarter of 2011 as a $39,000, or 8.7%, increase in electronic banking income was more than offset by a $58,000, or 6.5%, decrease in service charges and fees on deposit accounts, a $63,000, or 71.6%, decrease in secondary market mortgage income and a $12,000, or 6.5%, decrease in income from other banking services.  Non-interest expenses decreased by $713,000, or 7.7%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011, more than offsetting the decrease in non-interest income.  Decreases in non-interest expenses include a $335,000, or 27.8%, decrease in data processing expenses, a $266,000, or 52.4%, decrease in FDIC insurance expense, a $68,000, or 1.7%, decrease in staff costs, a $55,000, or 4.5%, decrease in occupancy and equipment expense, a $38,000, or 19.7%, decrease in non-income based taxes and $379,000 of conversion expenses recorded in 2011.  These expense reductions more than offset a $130,000 increase in expenses and writedowns of other real estate owned, OREO expenses, and a $462,000 increase in loan collection expenses.

Total assets as of March 31, 2012 were up $14.1 million, or 1.3%, from the $1.1 billion of total assets at year-end 2011.  The increase in total assets since year-end is largely due to a $22.6 million, or 8.1%, increase in securities available for sale and a $9.2 million increase in interest bearing bank balances.  These increases were partially offset by a $17.4 million decrease in net loans outstanding.  Other real estate owned increased by $1.9 million largely due to one significant loan foreclosure.  The proceeds to fund the growth in total assets came from a $19.1 million, or 2.6%, increase in interest bearing deposits and a $4.0 million, or 2.1%, increase in non-interest bearing deposits.  A portion of these proceeds were used to reduce outstanding FHLB advances by $10.1 million, or 99.8%, reduce other borrowings by $517,000, or 2.9%, and satisfy $1.6 million of withdrawals from customer repurchase agreements.  Shareholders’ equity of $147.3 million equaled 12.9% of total assets at March 31, 2012, which compares to shareholders’ equity of $144.0 million or 12.8% of total assets at December 31, 2011.  The increase in shareholders’ equity was largely due to the $2.8 million of first quarter net income partially offset by dividends declared on Premier’s Series A Preferred Stock, plus a $664,000, net of tax, increase in the market value of the investment portfolio available for sale.

Certain Statements contained in this news release, including without limitation statements including the word "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "expects" or words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Premier to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of Premier expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, general economic and business conditions, changes in business strategy or development plans and other factors referenced in this press release. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Premier disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.


 
 

 

Following is a summary of the financial highlights for Premier as of and for the period ending March 31, 2012


PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
Financial Highlights
Dollars in Thousands (except per share data)

   
For the
Quarter Ended
 
   
March 31
   
March 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Interest Income
    14,216       12,991  
Interest Expense
    1,798       2,242  
Net Interest Income
    12,418       10,749  
Provision for Loan Losses
    950       520  
Net Interest Income after Provision
    11,468       10,229  
Non-Interest Income
    1,517       1,611  
Non-Interest Expenses
    8,594       9,307  
Income Before Taxes
    4,391       2,533  
Income Taxes
    1,561       862  
NET INCOME
    2,830       1,671  
Preferred Stock Dividends and Accretion
    305       305  
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders
    2,525       1,366  
                 
EARNINGS PER SHARE
    0.32       0.17  
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
    0.31       0.17  
DIVIDENDS PER SHARE
    0.00       0.00  
                 
Charge-offs
    521       181  
Recoveries
    87       77  
Net charge-offs (recoveries)
    434       104  
                 


 
 

 

PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
Financial Highlights (continued)
Dollars in Thousands (except per share data)

   
Balances as of
 
   
March 31
   
December 31
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
ASSETS
           
Cash and Due From Banks
    29,256       29,380  
Interest Bearing Bank Balances
    51,894       42,676  
Federal Funds Sold
    10,295       10,832  
Securities Available for Sale
    301,112       278,479  
Loans (net)
    663,688       681,128  
Other Real Estate Owned
    16,551       14,642  
Other Assets
    32,309       33,682  
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
    33,095       33,268  
TOTAL ASSETS
    1,138,200       1,124,087  
                 
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
               
Deposits
    948,215       925,078  
Fed Funds/Repurchase Agreements
    21,634       23,205  
FHLB Advances
    24       10,083  
Other Borrowings
    17,613       18,130  
Other Liabilities
    3,462       3,584  
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    990,948       980,080  
Preferred Stockholder’s Equity
    21,977       21,949  
Common Stockholders’ Equity
    125,277       122,058  
TOTAL LIABILITIES &
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
    1,138,200       1,124,087  
                 
TOTAL BOOK VALUE PER COMMON SHARE
    15.78       15.38  
Tangible Book Value per Common Share
    11.61       11.19  
                 
Non-Accrual Loans
    29,190       42,354  
Loans 90 Days Past Due and Still Accruing
    5,546       4,527