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8-K - 8-K - WASHINGTON FEDERAL INCwafd8-k_apr152014.htm
EX-99.2 - EXHIBIT 99.2 - WASHINGTON FEDERAL INCexhibit992_mar2014factsheet.htm


Exhibit 99.1

Tuesday April 15, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Washington Federal Announces
Quarterly Earnings per Share Increase of 12%


SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - Washington Federal, Inc. (Nasdaq: WAFD), parent company of Washington Federal, today announced earnings of $38,657,000 or $.38 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, compared to $35,978,000 or $.34 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, an increase of 11.8%.
Chairman, President & CEO Roy M. Whitehead commented, “Loan growth, fewer problem assets, improved deposit mix and increased fee income were important measures of progress this quarter.  We are quite encouraged by evidence of increasing loan demand, although we expect expenses to remain elevated for a few quarters due to investments in growth.  Costs related to acquired branches will be managed lower over time as we complete consolidations and refine operations.  Likewise, investments to bring our technology backbone to state-of-the-art require spending today for future efficiencies.  Management strongly believes that the opportunities to rationalize growth-related expenses, invest recently acquired cash, and serve 230,000 new clients make our franchise more valuable."
Net interest income for the quarter was $101 million, an $8 million or 8.2% increase from the quarter ended March 31, 2013. Net interest income is higher due to increased investment income and reduced interest expense on customer accounts, a function of both the improved deposit mix and the continued low rate environment. Net interest margin was 3.03% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, down from 3.12% for the prior quarter and 3.10% for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The margin declined primarily as a result of increased cash and investment balances invested at lower yields. Average earning assets increased $1.3 billion or 10.6% compared to the same quarter of the prior year.

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The provision for loan losses was a reversal of $4 million and zero for the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, as a result of the improvement in asset quality. The Company maintains an allowance for loan losses that totals $115 million or 1.40% of total gross loans. This compares to $117 million or 1.46% of total gross loans as of September 30, 2013.
Net gain on real estate acquired through foreclosure amounted to $1 million during the quarter, as compared to a net loss of $2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2013 and a net loss of $4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The Company expects the amount of gain or loss on real estate acquired to continue to fluctuate in future quarters based primarily on the timing of sales and the amount, if any, of gains or losses related to those sales. Net gain or loss on real estate acquired through foreclosure includes gains and losses on sales, ongoing maintenance expenses and any additional write-downs from lower valuations.
The Company’s efficiency ratio was 48.5% for the quarter and remains among the best in the industry. Total operating expenses increased by $11 million or 26.5% for the quarter as compared to the same quarter of the prior year, driven by an increase in employees and branch locations provided by the branch acquisitions during the prior quarter and the related costs to service the acquired transaction accounts. Minimum balance fees on the acquired deposit accounts were waived for three months after the closing of the transaction, and charges resumed with the February billing cycle. Deposit related service fees increased by $1.6 million from the prior quarter to $3.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The quarter produced a return on average assets of 1.07% and a return on average equity of 7.85%.
Total assets increased by $1.3 billion or 10% to $14.4 billion at March 31, 2014 from $13.1 billion at September 30, 2013 due primarily to branch acquisitions.
Available for sale investments increased $750 million or 32% from the prior year end as a result of investments made with a portion of the proceeds from the acquisitions. During the quarter, the Company had an average balance of cash and cash equivalents of $684 million invested overnight at a yield of approximately 0.25%.
Loans receivable grew by $86 million during the quarter or 1.1% to $7.7 billion as of March 31, 2014. The fiscal year increase is $209 million or 2.8%. Loan originations for the quarter totaled $435 million, a $78 million or 22% increase over the same quarter of the prior

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year. The Company views organic loan growth as the highest and best use of its capital. The weighted average interest rate on loans as of March 31, 2014 was 4.86%, which is a decrease from 5.26% as of the prior year. Actual yield earned on loans will be greater than the weighted average rate due to net deferred loan fees and discounts on acquired loans, which are accreted into income over the term of the loans.
Total non-performing assets, including real estate owned as a result of foreclosure, amounted to $175 million or 1.22% of total assets at quarter-end, a $39 million or 18.2% decrease from September 30, 2013. Non-performing loans decreased from $131 million at September 30, 2013 to $100 million as of March 31, 2014, a 24.0% decrease. Net loan charge-offs decreased from $4 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2013 to a net recovery of $2 million in the most recent quarter. Total loan delinquencies were 1.57% as of March 31, 2014, a decrease from 1.97% at September 30, 2013. Delinquencies on single family mortgage loans, the largest component of the loan portfolio, declined during the fiscal year to 1.89% from 2.21% at September 30, 2013.
During the prior quarter, Washington Federal completed the acquisition of 51 branches from Bank of America in New Mexico and the Pacific Northwest. The acquired deposits totaled $1.3 billion and loans were $8.3 million. The Company has grown the deposits acquired since the closing dates. As previously announced, the Company expects to acquire an additional 23 branches from Bank of America, representing an estimated $610 million of deposits and $4 million of loans during the quarter ended June 30, 2014.
Transaction accounts have increased by $1.3 billion or 38% from September 30, 2013 and now represent 47% of total deposits. Over the last several years, the Company has focused on growing transaction accounts to lessen sensitivity to rising interest rates.
On April 18, 2014, the Company will pay a cash dividend of $.10 per share to common stockholders of record on April 4, 2014. This will be the Company’s 125th consecutive quarterly cash dividend. During the quarter, the Company has repurchased 593,300 shares of stock at a weighted average price of $21.63. For the fiscal year 2014, the Company has repurchased 1,448,200 shares of stock at a weighted average price of $21.94 and has further authorization to

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repurchase an additional 8.0 million shares. The ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets was 11.95% as of March 31, 2014.
Washington Federal, a national bank with headquarters in Seattle, Washington, has 231 branches in eight western states. The bank gathers deposits from the general public and invests these funds in loans of various types, including first lien mortgage loans, home equity loans, construction loans, land acquisition and development loans, multi-family dwelling loans, other income producing property loans, and business loans. It also invests funds in government and agency obligations and certain other investments.
To find out more about Washington Federal, please visit our website. Washington Federal uses its website to distribute financial and other material information about the Company, which is routinely posted on and accessible at www.washingtonfederal.com.
Important Cautionary Statements
The foregoing information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements, notes and other information contained in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
This press release contains statements about the Company’s future that are not statements of historical fact. These statements are “forward looking statements” for purposes of applicable securities laws, and are based on current information and/or management's good faith belief as to future events. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” and similar expressions signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risk and uncertainties, which change over time; and actual performance could differ materially from those anticipated by any forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.
# # #






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Contact:
Washington Federal, Inc.
425 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101
Cathy Cooper, SVP Marketing Communications
206-777-8246
cathy.cooper@wafd.com



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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(UNAUDITED)
 
March 31, 2014
 
September 30, 2013
 
(In thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
608,236

 
$
203,563

Available-for-sale securities, at fair value
3,110,575

 
2,360,948

Held-to-maturity securities, at amortized cost
1,611,303

 
1,654,666

Loans receivable, net
7,737,109

 
7,528,030

Covered loans, net
229,605

 
295,947

Interest receivable
51,284

 
49,218

Premises and equipment, net
228,663

 
206,172

Real estate held for sale
60,995

 
72,925

Real estate held for investment
13,596

 
9,392

Covered real estate held for sale
23,005

 
30,980

FDIC indemnification asset
53,289

 
64,615

FHLB and FRB stock
167,174

 
173,009

Intangible assets, net
300,215

 
264,318

Federal and state income tax assets, net
36,568

 
44,000

Other assets
132,982

 
125,076

 
$
14,364,599

 
$
13,082,859

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
Customer accounts
 
 
 
Transaction deposit accounts
$
4,874,321

 
$
3,540,842

Time deposit accounts
5,470,570

 
5,549,429

 
10,344,891

 
9,090,271

FHLB advances
1,930,000

 
1,930,000

Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance
17,251

 
42,443

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
91,774

 
82,510

 
12,383,916

 
11,145,224

Stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
Common stock, $1.00 par value, 300,000,000 shares authorized;
133,299,419 and 132,572,475 shares issued; 101,763,415 and 102,484,671 shares outstanding
133,300

 
132,573

Paid-in capital
1,636,515

 
1,625,051

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes
10,490

 
6,378

Treasury stock, at cost; 31,536,004 and 30,087,804 shares
(452,593
)
 
(420,817
)
Retained earnings
652,971

 
594,450

 
1,980,683

 
1,937,635

 
$
14,364,599

 
$
13,082,859

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
 
 
Common stockholders' equity per share
$
19.46

 
$
18.91

Tangible common stockholders' equity per share
16.51

 
16.33

Stockholders' equity to total assets
13.79
%
 
14.81
%
Tangible common stockholders' equity to tangible assets
11.95

 
13.05

Weighted average rates at period end
 
 
 

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   Loans and mortgage-backed securities
4.22
%
 
4.34
%
   Combined loans, mortgage-backed securities and investments
3.70

 
3.92

   Customer accounts
0.56

 
0.69

   Borrowings
3.52

 
3.52

   Combined cost of customer accounts and borrowings
1.03

 
1.19

   Interest rate spread
2.67

 
2.73






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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)

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Quarter Ended March 31,
 
Six Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
INTEREST INCOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans & covered assets
$
106,334

 
$
112,879

 
$
213,561

 
$
229,722

Mortgage-backed securities
21,072

 
10,642

 
40,440

 
22,374

Investment securities and cash equivalents
4,945

 
2,984

 
9,608

 
5,717

 
132,351

 
126,505

 
263,609

 
257,813

INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Customer accounts
14,780

 
16,695

 
30,279

 
35,466

FHLB advances and other borrowings
16,935

 
16,787

 
34,383

 
33,890

 
31,715

 
33,482

 
64,662

 
69,356

Net interest income
100,636

 
93,023

 
198,947

 
188,457

Provision for loan losses
(4,336
)
 

 
(8,936
)
 
3,600

Net interest income after provision for loan losses
104,972

 
93,023

 
207,883

 
184,857

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTHER INCOME
6,702

 
6,046

 
12,490

 
11,003

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTHER EXPENSE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
27,836

 
23,077

 
52,962

 
44,149

Occupancy
5,990

 
4,825

 
11,607

 
9,272

FDIC insurance premiums
2,767

 
3,107

 
5,701

 
6,450

Information Technology
3,931

 
2,852

 
6,860

 
5,290

Amortization of intangible assets
728

 
371

 
1,549

 
726

Other
10,807

 
6,932

 
17,500

 
13,575

 
52,059

 
41,164

 
96,179

 
79,462

Gain (loss) on real estate acquired through foreclosure, net
553

 
(4,003
)
 
(1,398
)
 
(7,322
)
Income before income taxes
60,168

 
53,902

 
122,796

 
109,076

Income tax provision
21,511

 
17,924

 
43,903

 
37,816

NET INCOME
$
38,657

 
$
35,978

 
$
78,893

 
$
71,260

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PER SHARE DATA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings
$
0.38

 
$
0.34

 
$
0.77

 
$
0.67

Diluted earnings
0.38

 
0.34

 
0.77

 
0.67

Cash dividends per share
0.10

 
0.09

 
0.20

 
0.17

Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding
102,013,857

 
105,206,491

 
102,173,829

 
105,606,688

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding, including dilutive stock options
102,488,844

 
105,258,240

 
102,652,984

 
105,655,770

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return on average assets
1.07
%
 
1.10
%
 
1.13
%
 
1.10
%
Return on average common equity
7.85

 
7.49

 
8.05

 
7.45


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