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IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Evans Bancorp Reports 59% Increase in Net Income for the 2012 Fourth Quarter and Record
Results for the Year

HAMBURG, NY, February 7, 2013– Evans Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company” or “Evans”) (NYSE MKT: EVBN), a community financial services company serving Western New York since 1920, today reported its results of operations for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2012.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2012 FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR-END

    Fourth quarter net income increased sharply to $2.1 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, from

$1.3 million, or $0.33 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2011.

    Achieved record annual net income of $8.1 million in 2012, an increase of 33% from $6.1 million in 2011. On a per diluted share basis, net income was $1.95 compared with $1.49 in the prior year period.

    Net interest income increased 6.9% in 2012 over 2011.

    Return on average equity improved to 11.20% in 2012 compared with 9.17% in 2011.

    Credit quality continued to improve as the ratio of non-performing loans and leases to total loans and leases decreased from 2.60% to 1.41% year over year.

Net income grew to $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 58.5% from net income of $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The improvement in net income reflects higher net interest income, due to growth in interest earning assets and lower interest expense, stronger non-interest income performance, and a reduction in the provision for loan and lease losses as credit quality trends strengthened. Return on average equity was 11.33% for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with 7.77% in the fourth quarter of 2011.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, Evans recorded net income of $8.1 million, or $1.95 per diluted share, a 33% increase over net income of $6.1 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, in the same period in 2011. The return on average equity was 11.20% for the twelve-month period ended
December 31, 2012, compared with 9.17% in the same period in 2011.

Our annual results reflect the steady growth we have achieved in a number of key areas including loans, deposits and customer relationships and is a reflection of the hard work of our employees,” stated David J. Nasca, President and CEO of Evans Bancorp. “2012 is the second consecutive year of record earnings which is impressive given the challenging economy and current regulatory environment. The favorable earnings trends clearly indicate that our community-based, customer centric banking model is valued and successful.”

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $7.1 million for the 2012 fourth quarter, up 3.0% when compared with the fourth quarter of 2011 and up 2.2% from the trailing third quarter of 2012.

The Company’s net interest margin stabilized in the fourth quarter at 3.78%, reflecting a higher yield on loans and continued re-pricing of interest bearing liabilities. The third quarter net interest margin rate was 3.76%, while the 2012 fourth quarter rate was 4.03%. When compared with last year’s fourth quarter, the Company has been able to partially off-set the 51 basis point decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets through re-pricing its interest bearing liabilities by 31 basis points and improving its deposit mix.

Evans released $129 thousand in provision for loan and lease losses in the fourth quarter of 2012 as it benefited from a release of $190 thousand in leasing reserve after continued improvement in the portfolio’s performance. The prior-year period had a provision of $0.8 million, while the trailing third quarter of 2012 had a provision of $9 thousand.

Non-Interest Income Strengthens

Non-interest income increased to $3.3 million, or 31.6% of total revenue, in the fourth quarter of 2012, from $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Insurance agency revenue of $1.6 million was up $241 thousand, or 17.7%, from the 2011 fourth quarter, due mostly to increases in profit sharing and commercial lines revenue. Other income was up $166 thousand from fourth quarter of 2011, mostly due to premiums on residential mortgages sold to Fannie Mae (servicing retained). Service charges on deposits increased 3.3% to $498 thousand from the prior-year period. Compared with the third quarter of 2012, total non-interest income was up 2.1%, due mainly to premiums on residential mortgages sold to Fannie Mae.

Non-Interest Expense Increases to Support Growth

Total non-interest expense was $7.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, an increase of 1.9% from
$7.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The largest component of the increase was salaries and employee benefits, which were up $0.2 million, or 3.9%, compared with the fourth quarter of 2011. This was due mainly to merit increases, higher health care costs and increased staff to support the Company’s growth.

The Company’s fourth quarter efficiency ratio improved to 68.78% from 71.35% during the prior-year period on stronger revenue growth coupled with expense control.

Income tax expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2012, was $1.2 million, representing an effective tax rate of 35.8% compared with an effective tax rate of 27.8% in the fourth quarter of 2011. The change in tax rate reflects a decrease in tax exempt income as a percentage of total income.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets grew to $809.7 million at December 31, 2012, up 9.3% from $740.9 million December 31, 2011 and up 1.3% from $799.3 million at the end of the third quarter of 2012. Core loans, which are defined as total loans and leases less national direct financing leases, were $581.3 million at December 31, 2012, an increase of 0.7% from $577.4 million at December 31, 2011, and down 2.5% from $596.2 million at September 30, 2012. The decrease in loans during the fourth quarter was due mainly to the prepayment of several large commercial loans despite origination activity remaining strong throughout 2012. The annual average outstanding balance of the loan portfolio increased $44.0 million or 8.2% in 2012 compared to 2011.

Investment securities were $95.8 million at December 31, 2012, down 0.1% from $95.9 million at the end of the third quarter of 2012 and down 7.7% from $103.8 million as of the end of fourth quarter of 2011. Other assets increased $75.8 million over last year’s fourth quarter. The majority of this increase was in Fed Funds sold balances due to deposit growth outpacing loan growth.

Total deposits were $679.0 million at December 31, 2012, up $62.8 million, or 10.2%, from $616.2 million at December 31, 2011, and up $6.3 million, or 0.9%, from $672.7 million at September 30, 2012. The sequential quarter and year-over-year growth was attributable to strong core deposit increases in both commercial and consumer products. The Company’s Better Checking product (included in the NOW category), along with its complementary Better Savings product, have been successful in acquiring new customers, deepening existing relationships, and increasing fee income.

Asset Quality Continues to Improve

Net charge-offs to average total loans and leases ratio were 0.24% for the fourth quarter of 2012, down from 0.31% in the third quarter of 2012 and up from 0.03% in the fourth quarter of 2011. The charge-off percentage remains below industry standards and reflects the Bank’s focus on strong credit standards and thresholds.

The ratio of non-performing loans and leases to total loans and leases improved to 1.41% at
December 31, 2012, from 1.57% and 2.60% at September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2012, there was a $1.2 million decrease in non-performing loans and leases, due mainly to commercial loan charge-offs ($0.4 million), the continued run-off of the leasing portfolio ($0.1 million) and commercial loan pay downs ($0.5 million).

As a result of growth in loans and charge-offs during the fourth quarter of 2012, the ratio for the allowance for loan and lease losses to total loans and leases decreased to 1.67% at December 31, 2012, compared with 1.71% at September 30, 2012, and 1.97% at December 31, 2011. While the ratio decreased, the level of non-performing loans and leases decreased to a greater extent, resulting in an improved coverage ratio of 118.3% at December 31, 2012, compared with 108.4% at September 30, 2012 and 75.7 % at December 31, 2011.

Gary J. Kajtoch, Executive Vice President and CFO, commented, “We want to grow in a prudent and profitable manner by fostering relationships with our customers and taking market share from our competitors. While we have grown earnings significantly, and realized continued decline in non-performing assets, the credit quality of our portfolios remains a priority. We believe that a sound credit culture along with a concerted effort to improve efficiency will result in a solid platform for future growth.”

Record Earnings Highlight Strong 2012

Net interest income for 2012 was $27.8 million, an increase of $1.8 million, or 6.9%, over 2011, primarily due to strong growth in the Company’s commercial loan portfolio. Although still strong by industry standards, the falling interest rate environment has resulted in a compression of the net interest margin to 3.84% in 2012 from 3.99% in 2011.

The Company released $68 thousand in provision in 2012, a measurable improvement from a provision for loan and lease losses of $2.5 million in 2011. The year-over-year change was mainly attributable to improved credit quality trends within the commercial loan and leasing portfolios resulting in lower provision levels during 2012. Non-performing loans and leases decreased by 45.8% to $8.2 million in 2012, from $15.2 million in 2011.

Non-interest income was $12.8 million for 2012, up $0.4 million from 2011. Positively impacting non-interest income were year over year increases in bank service charges ($0.1 million), insurance revenue ($0.1 million), and residential mortgages sold to Fannie Mae ($0.3 million).

Non-interest expense increased $1.6 million, or 5.7%, to $28.8 million in 2012. The increase reflects higher salaries and employee benefits of $1.5 million due to severance costs incurred as a result of the departure of an executive from the Company, merit increases, and the addition of new employees as part of the Company’s planned growth strategy. Also contributing to the increase were professional services expenses related to the workout of criticized loans and the technology and communications line which was due mostly to an increase in customer electronic transactions. Those increases were partially offset by lower amortization expense related to intangible assets acquired in the 2007 purchase of an insurance agency, a reduction in FDIC insurance expense and a decrease in occupancy expense driven by consolidation of retail insurance locations.

Capital Management

The Company consistently maintains regulatory capital ratios measurably above the federal “well capitalized” standard, including a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 9.69% at December 31, 2012. Book value per share was $17.94 at December 31, 2012, compared with $17.82 at September 30, 2012, and $16.72 at December 31, 2011. Tangible book value per share at December 31, 2012 was $15.92, up 0.9% from the end of the third quarter of 2012 and up 9.0% from the fourth quarter 2011.

The Company increased its annual dividend, which was paid out semi-annually, by 10% from $0.40 per share in 2011 to $0.44 per share in 2012. Evans then accelerated payment of its semi-annual dividend scheduled to be paid in April 2013 to December 2012. The December dividend of $0.24 per share was a 9% increase from the previous $0.22 per share dividend paid on October 9, 2012.

Outlook

Mr. Nasca concluded, “We believe our full-service community banking approach coupled with our commitment to exceeding customers’ expectations is a competitive advantage and enables us to win new business and deepen relationships with our customers. As we enter 2013, current headwinds, including intense competition, historically low interest rates, an uneven economy and an onerous regulatory environment, are expected to persist. We believe maintaining our focus on customers by providing superior service and a comprehensive suite of personal and business products, as well as upholding conservative credit standards, will translate into our continued success.

About Evans Bancorp, Inc.

Evans Bancorp, Inc. is a financial holding company and the parent company of Evans Bank, N.A., a commercial bank with $810 million in assets, 13 branches and $679 million in deposits at December 31, 2012. Evans is a full-service community bank, providing comprehensive financial services to consumer, business and municipal customers throughout Western New York. Evans Bancorp’s wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, The Evans Agency, LLC, provides property and casualty insurance through 7 insurance offices in the Western New York region. Evans Investment Services, provides non-deposit investment products, such as annuities and mutual funds.

Evans Bancorp, Inc. and Evans Bank routinely post news and other important information on their Web sites, at www.evansbancorp.com and www.evansbank.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future business, revenue and earnings. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance, events or results. There are risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results of Evans Bancorp to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, include competitive pressures among financial services companies, interest rate trends, general economic conditions, changes in legislation or regulatory requirements, effectiveness at achieving stated goals and strategies, and difficulties in achieving operating efficiencies. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Evans Bancorp’s Annual and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Evans Bancorp undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new, updated information, future events or otherwise.

     
For more information contact:   -OR-
Gary A. Kajtoch
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  Deborah K. Pawlowski
Kei Advisors LLC
Phone: (716) 926-2000
Email: gkajtoch@evansbank.com
  Phone: (716) 843-3908
Email: dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com
 
   

TABLES FOLLOW

1

                                                                         
EVANS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                   
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
                                   
(in thousands except shares and per share data)
                                   
 
                                   
 
  12/31/2012       9/30/2012       6/30/2012       3/31/2012       12/31/2011
ASSETS
                                   
Investment Securities
  $ 95,807       $ 95,912       $ 96,802       $ 112,492       $ 103,783
Loans
  581,283       596,176       594,569       575,188       577,383
Leases
  1,612       2,440       3,355       4,512       6,022
Allowance for loan and lease losses
  (9,732 )       (10,208 )       (10,658 )       (10,790 )       (11,495 )
Goodwill and intangible assets
  8,429       8,492       8,569       8,675       8,779
All other assets
  132,277       106,496       85,486       85,716       56,430
Total assets
  809,676       799,308       778,122       775,793       740,902
 
                                   
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                                   
Demand deposits
  123,405       126,251       116,231       114,423       118,037
NOW deposits
  65,753       62,946       63,535       62,077       50,761
Regular savings deposits
  380,924       375,859       365,875       363,552       333,938
Time deposits
  108,910       107,674       108,279       109,629       113,467
Total deposits
  678,992       672,730       653,920       649,681       616,203
Borrowings
  42,441       39,411       40,185       42,010       42,340
Other liabilities
  13,416       13,185       11,736       13,647       13,371
Total stockholders’ equity
  $ 74,827       $ 73,982       $ 72,281       $ 70,455       $ 68,988
 
                                   
SHARES AND CAPITAL RATIOS
                                   
Common shares outstanding
  4,171,473       4,151,985       4,153,332       4,128,905       4,124,892
Book value per share
  $ 17.94       $ 17.82       $ 17.40       $ 17.06       $ 16.72
Tangible book value per share
  $ 15.92       $ 15.77       $ 15.34       $ 14.96       $ 14.60
Tier 1 leverage ratio
  9.69 %       9.71 %       9.77 %       9.74 %       9.71 %
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
  13.41 %       12.96 %       12.92 %       12.96 %       12.77 %
Total risk-based capital ratio
  14.67 %       14.22 %       14.18 %       14.22 %       14.03 %
 
                                   
ASSET QUALITY DATA
                                   
Non-performing loans
  $ 8,058       $ 9,160       $ 10,578       $ 12,091       $ 14,016
Non-performing leases
  171       255       430       950       1,160
Total non-performing loans and leases
  8,229       9,415       11,008       13,041       15,176
Net loan charge-offs
  346       459       433       456       41
Net lease charge-offs
                         
Total net loan and lease charge-offs
  346       459       433       456       41
 
                                   
Non-performing loans/Total loans and leases
  1.38 %       1.53 %       1.77 %       2.09 %       2.40 %
Non-performing leases/Total loans and leases
  0.03 %       0.04 %       0.07 %       0.16 %       0.20 %
Non-performing loans and leases/Total loans and leases
  1.41 %       1.57 %       1.84 %       2.25 %       2.60 %
Net loan and lease charge-offs/Average loans and leases
  0.24 %       0.31 %       0.30 %       0.32 %       0.03 %
Allowance for loans and leases to total loans and leases
  1.67 %       1.71 %       1.78 %       1.86 %       1.97 %

EVANS BANCORP, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED OPERATIONS DATA (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands except share and per share data)

                                                                         
    2012       2012       2012       2012       2011
 
  Fourth Quarter           Third Quarter           Second Quarter           First Quarter           Fourth Quarter
Interest income
    8,409               8,309               8,289             $ 8,369             $ 8,518  
Interest expense
    1,309               1,364               1,408               1,516               1,627  
Net interest income
    7,100               6,945               6,881               6,853               6,891  
Provision for loan and lease losses
    (129 )             9               301               (249 )             828  
Net interest income after provision
    7,229               6,936               6,580               7,102               6,063  
 
                                                                       
Deposit service charges
    498               487               437               436               482  
Insurance service and fee revenue
    1,604               1774               1,643               1,945               1,363  
Bank-owned life insurance
    120               118               134               117               123  
Other income
    1,060               837               824               790               894  
Total non-interest income
    3,282               3,216               3,038               3,288               2,862  
 
                                                                       
Salaries and employee benefits
    4,083               4,778               4,229               4,214               3,931  
Occupancy
    776               679               645               685               750  
Repairs and maintenance
    213               210               177               169               191  
Advertising and public relations
    214               119               336               145               247  
Professional services
    463               356               567               539               456  
Technology and communications
    337               320               276               263               273  
Amortization of intangibles
    63               77               105               104               114  
FDIC insurance
    130               118               139               134               153  
Other expenses
    926               699               848               656               958  
Total non-interest expenses
    7,204               7,356               7,323               6,909               7,073  
 
                                                                       
Income before income taxes
    3,307               2,796               2,295               3,481               1,852  
Income tax provision
    1,185               660               800               1,102               514  
Net income
    2,122             $ 2,136             $ 1,495             $ 2,379             $ 1,338  
 
                                                                       
PER SHARE DATA
                                                                       
Net income per common share-diluted
  $ 0.51             $ 0.51             $ 0.36             $ 0.58             $ 0.33  
Cash dividends per common share
  $ 0.24             $ 0.22             $ 0.00             $ 0.22             $ 0.00  
Weighted average number of diluted shares
    4,180,578               4,177,567               4,156,868               4,131,330               4,115,061  
 
                                                                       
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
                                                                       
Return on average total assets
    1.05 %             1.07 %             0.77 %             1.26 %             0.72 %
Return on average stockholders’ equity
    11.33 %             11.60 %             8.33 %             13.59 %             7.77 %
Efficiency ratio
    68.78 %             71.64 %             72.75 %             67.10 %             71.35 %
                                                         
EVANS BANCORP, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES                                    
SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES AND                                        
YIELDS/RATES (UNAUDITED)                                        
(in thousands)                                    
    2012       2012       2012       2012       2011
 
  Fourth Quarter       Third Quarter       Second Quarter       First Quarter       Fourth Quarter
 
                                                       
Loans and leases, net
  $ 585,453         $ 590,200         $ 574,639         $ 568,863         $ 557,875  
Investment securities
    101,135           99,347           101,053           105,339           102,676  
Interest bearing deposits at banks
    63,797           48,619           39,198           23,271           22,928  
Total interest-earning assets
    750,385           738,166           714,890           697,473           683,479  
Non interest-earning assets
    58,617           57,776           58,261           58,607           58,078  
Total Assets
    809,002           795,942           773,151           756,080           741,557  
 
                                                       
NOW
    62,245           62,283           60,472           55,116           49,665  
Regular savings
    355,327           352,378           336,798           326,090           307,164  
Muni-Vest savings
    28,991           21,792           26,821           22,076           29,808  
Time deposits
    108,447           108,179           109,170           112,079           117,074  
Total interest-bearing deposits
    555,010           544,632           533,261           515,361           503,711  
Other borrowings
    41,948           39,883           40,619           42,512           41,425  
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    596,958           584,515           573,880           557,873           545,136  
 
                                                       
Demand deposits
    124,741           124,590           115,033           114,783           115,342  
Other non-interest bearing liabilities
    12,408           13,186           12,471           13,418           12,219  
Stockholders’ equity
    74,895           73,651           71,766           70,006           68,860  
Total interest-free funds
    212,044           211,427           199,271           198,207           196,421  
 
                                                       
Total Liabilities and Equity
  $ 809,002         $ 795,942         $ 773,151         $ 756,080         $ 741,557  
 
                                                       
YIELD/RATE
                                                       
 
                                                       
Loans and leases, net
    5.26 %         5.13 %         5.23 %         5.28 %         5.49 %
Investment securities
    2.74 %         2.93 %         2.98 %         3.23 %         3.33 %
Interest bearing deposits at banks
    0.09 %         0.12 %         0.15 %         0.15 %         0.14 %
Total interest-earning assets
    4.48 %         4.50 %         4.64 %         4.80 %         4.99 %
 
                                                       
NOW
    1.05 %         1.03 %         0.99 %         1.01 %         1.29 %
Regular savings
    0.46 %         0.54 %         0.57 %         0.69 %         0.77 %
Muni-Vest savings
    0.30 %         0.29 %         0.30 %         0.38 %         0.46 %
Time deposits
    1.70 %         1.67 %         1.80 %         1.85 %         1.94 %
Total interest-bearing deposits
    0.76 %         0.81 %         0.86 %         0.96 %         1.07 %
Other borrowings
    2.45 %         2.59 %         2.58 %         2.58 %         2.65 %
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    0.88 %         0.93 %         0.98 %         1.09 %         1.19 %
 
                                                       
Interest rate spread
    3.60 %         3.57 %         3.66 %         3.71 %         3.80 %
Contribution of interest-free funds
    0.18 %         0.19 %         0.19 %         0.22 %         0.23 %
Net interest margin
    3.78 %         3.76 %         3.85 %         3.93 %         4.03 %
                         
EVANS BANCORP, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES                
SELECTED OPERATIONS DATA (Unaudited)            
(in thousands except share and per share data)            
    2012   2011    
 
  Year to Date   Year to Date   Change
 
                       
Interest income
  $ 33,376   $ 32,715   2.0 %
Interest expense
  5,597   6,727   -16.8 %
Net interest income
  27,779   25,988   6.9 %
Provision for loan and lease losses
  (68 )   2,484   -102.7 %
Net interest income after provision
  27,847   23,504   18.5 %
 
           
Deposit service charges
  1,858   1,783   4.2 %
Insurance service and fee revenue
  6,966   6,902   0.9 %
Bank-owned life insurance
  489   454   7.7 %
Other income
  3,511   3,293   6.6 %
Total non-interest income
  12,824   12,432   3.2 %
 
           
Salaries and employee benefits
  17,304   15,820   9.4 %
Occupancy
  2,785   3,119   -10.7 %
Repairs and maintenance
  769   689   11.6 %
Advertising and public relations
  814   812   0.2 %
Professional services
  1,925   1,776   8.4 %
Technology and communications
  1,196   982   21.8 %
Amortization of intangibles
  349   490   -28.8 %
FDIC insurance
  521   652   -20.1 %
Other expense
  3,129   2,901   7.9 %
Total non-interest expense
  28,792   27,241   5.7 %
 
           
Income before income taxes
  11,879   8,695   36.6 %
Income tax provision (benefit)
  3,747   2,583   45.1 %
Net income
  $ 8,132   $ 6,112   33.0 %
 
           
PER SHARE DATA
           
Net income per common share-diluted
  $ 1.95   $ 1.49   30.9 %
Cash dividends per common share
  $ 0.68   $ 0.40    
Weighted average number of diluted shares
  4,159,690   4,104,533    
 
           
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
           
Return on average total assets
  1.04 %   0.86 %    
Return on average stockholders’ equity
  11.20 %   9.17 %    
Efficiency ratio
  70.05 %   69.68 %    

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