Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - STEWARDSHIP FINANCIAL CORPform8k-13995_ssfn.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Stewardship Financial Corporation Announces Improved Earnings

For First Quarter of 2015

 

Midland Park, NJ – May 7, 2015 – Stewardship Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:SSFN), parent of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced net income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 of $917,000 as compared to net income of $506,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014. After dividends on preferred stock, net income available to common shareholders was $746,000, or $0.12 per common share, for the current 2015 period compared to $335,000, or $0.06 per common share, for the equivalent period of 2014.

 

Paul Van Ostenbridge, Stewardship Financial Corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are very pleased to report significant year-over-year improvement in the Corporation’s earnings. In addition, we are pleased to show strong loan growth of $12.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, which equates to an 11% annual rate of growth. The Corporation continues to demonstrate the ability to produce increasing results.”

 

Operating Results

Net interest income was $5.4 million for the first quarter of 2015 compared to $5.3 million a year earlier. Interest income from loans increased $286,000 when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2014 due to the $53.1 million of growth in the average loan portfolio. The Corporation reported a net

4
 

 

Press Release - Midland Park NJ  
Stewardship Financial Corporation continued May 7, 2015

 

 

interest margin of 3.41% for the three months ended March 31, 2015, showing slight contraction when compared to 3.44% for the comparable period in 2014. “Like all financial institutions, the Corporation’s net interest margin is reflective of lower yields on assets due to the low interest rate environment in which we continue to operate,” said Van Ostenbridge.

 

The Corporation reported noninterest income of $918,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to $399,000 for the equivalent prior year period. The current year reflects a $58,000 increase in fees and service charges as well as gains of $152,000 from the sale of available for sale securities and $53,000 from the sale of other real estate owned. The prior year period included a loss of $241,000 from the sale of nonperforming loans.

 

Total noninterest expenses were $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 – comparable to $5.1 million incurred in the prior year period. The Corporation remains committed to controlling expenses even with significant costs associated with regulatory compliance and expense incurred that supports the offering of today’s required electronic services to customers.

 

Asset Quality

Results for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were positively impacted by the Corporation recording a negative provision for loan losses of $100,000 as compared to no provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2014. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Corporation recorded a $98,000 net recovery of previously charged off loan balances. In addition, nonperforming loans continue to decline and were $2.8 million, or 0.57% of total loans at March 31, 2015 compared to $3.6 million, or 0.76%, at December 31, 2014 and $5.1 million, or 1.20%, a year earlier. Total nonperforming assets of $3.1 million, which includes other real estate owned, also showed continued improvement and represented just 0.45% of total assets at March 31, 2015 compared to 0.71% and 1.02% at December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014, respectively.

5
 

Press Release - Midland Park NJ  
Stewardship Financial Corporation continued May 7, 2015

 

 

Balance Sheet / Financial Condition

Total assets at March 31, 2015 were $685.8 million, which reflected a slight decrease from assets of $693.6 million at December 31, 2014. A $12.8 million increase in gross loans during the first three months of 2015 was the result of new loan originations, partially offset by normal principal amortization. Van Ostenbridge noted, “We continue to make progress on our strategy to shift the balance sheet from investment securities into higher-yielding loans.” During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Corporation identified and sold approximately $27.8 million of available for sale securities with higher price volatility thus providing a portion of the funding for the loan growth while still continuing to manage overall asset growth.

 

Total deposits were $566.3 million at March 31, 2015, reflecting $9.8 million of growth when compared to deposits of $556.5 million at December 31, 2014. At March 31, 2015 noninterest bearing deposits now represent one-fourth of total deposits – a very strong percentage which benefits the Corporation as these core deposits represent a consistent and lower cost source of funding.

 

Other borrowings decreased $16.7 million to $50.0 million at March 31, 2015. The decrease in other borrowings was partially the result of above discussed increase in deposits. In general, other borrowings enable the Corporation to deal with temporary deposit outflows and can assist in managing against rising interest rates through the extension of liabilities.

 

At March 31, 2015, the Corporation’s leverage, common equity tier 1 and total risk based capital ratios were 9.83%, 8.93% and 14.46% percent, respectively. These ratios, calculated under the new Basel III guidelines, are all above the respective 6.5%, 5% and 10% levels required to be considered a “well capitalized” institution under regulatory guidelines.

 

6
 

 

Press Release - Midland Park NJ  
Stewardship Financial Corporation continued May 7, 2015

 

 

About Stewardship Financial Corporation

Stewardship Financial Corporation’s subsidiary, the Atlantic Stewardship Bank, has 12 banking offices in Midland Park, Hawthorne (2), Montville, North Haledon, Pequannock, Ridgewood, Waldwick, Wayne (2),Westwood and Wyckoff, New Jersey. The bank is known for tithing 10% of its pre-tax profits to Christian and local charities. To date, the Bank’s tithe donations total $8.1 million.

 

We invite you to visit our website at www.asbnow.com for additional information.

 

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.

7
 

Stewardship Financial Corporation

Selected Consolidated Financial Information

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,   March 31, 
   2015   2014   2014   2014   2014 
                     
Selected Financial Condition Data:                         
     Cash and cash equivalents  $21,035   $10,086   $10,850   $14,630   $27,176 
     Securities available for sale   94,553    124,918    138,255    144,459    171,692 
     Securities held to maturity   55,811    55,097    54,234    54,225    24,685 
     FHLB Stock   3,026    3,777    2,882    2,429    2,133 
     Loans receivable:                         
          Loans receivable, gross   490,087    477,320    443,006    433,198    423,471 
          Allowance for loan losses   (9,600)   (9,602)   (10,094)   (9,825)   (9,792)
          Other, net   (7)   (19)   (17)   40    105 
     Loans receivable, net   480,480    467,699    432,895    423,413    413,784 
                          
     Loans held for sale   798        364    259    186 
     Other assets   30,114    31,974    33,072    32,107    32,947 
     Total assets  $685,817   $693,551   $672,552   $671,522   $672,603 
                          
                          
     Noninterest-bearing deposits  $141,406   $136,721   $140,345   $143,711   $137,687 
     Interest-bearing deposits   424,916    419,755    416,666    422,669    437,729 
     Total deposits   566,322    556,476    557,011    566,380    575,416 
     Other borrowings   50,000    66,700    46,800    31,000    25,000 
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase           100    7,601    7,601 
     Subordinated debentures   7,217    7,217    7,217    7,217    7,217 
     Other liabilities   2,166    4,189    4,166    2,329    2,209 
     Total liabilities   625,705    634,582    615,294    614,527    617,443 
     Shareholders' equity   60,112    58,969    57,258    56,995    55,160 
     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $685,817   $693,551   $672,552   $671,522   $672,603 
                          
     Book value per common share  $6.98   $6.98   $6.98   $6.98   $6.98 
                          
     Gross loans to deposits   86.54%    85.78%    79.53%    76.49%    73.59% 
                          
     Equity to assets   8.77%    8.50%    8.51%    8.49%    8.20% 
                          
Asset Quality Data:                         
     Nonaccrual loans  $2,798   $3,628   $4,434   $4,875   $5,073 
     Loans past due 90 days or more and accruing                    
     Total nonperforming loans   2,798    3,628    4,434    4,875    5,073 
     Other real estate owned   320    1,308    2,090    1,225    1,789 
     Total nonperforming assets  $3,118   $4,936   $6,524   $6,100   $6,862 
                          
                          
     Nonperforming loans to total loans   0.57%    0.76%    1.00%    1.13%    1.20% 
     Nonperforming assets to total assets   0.45%    0.71%    0.97%    0.91%    1.02% 
     Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans   343.10%    264.66%    227.65%    201.54%    193.02% 
     Allowance for loan losses to total gross loans   1.96%    2.01%    2.28%    2.27%    2.31% 

 

8
 

Stewardship Financial Corporation

Selected Consolidated Financial Information

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   For the three months ended 
   March 31, 
   2015   2014 
Selected Operating Data:          
Interest income  $6,194   $6,145 
Interest expense   793    839 
Net interest and dividend income   5,401    5,306 
Provision for loan losses   (100)    
Net interest and dividend income          
after provision for loan losses   5,501    5,306 
Noninterest income:          
Fees and service charges   479    421 
Bank owned life insurance   96    96 
Gain on calls and sales of securities   152     
Gain on sales of mortgage loans   10    12 
Loss on sales of loans       (241)
Gain on sales of other real estate owned   53     
Other   128    111 
Total noninterest income   918    399 
Noninterest expenses:          
Salaries and employee benefits   2,708    2,678 
Occupancy, net   467    555 
Equipment   156    188 
Data processing   453    387 
FDIC insurance premium   113    211 
Other   1,152    1,075 
Total noninterest expenses   5,049    5,094 
   Income before income tax expense   1,370    611 
   Income tax expense   453    105 
   Net income   917    506 
   Dividends on preferred stock   171    171 
   Net income available to common shareholders  $746   $335 
           
   Weighted avg. no. of diluted common shares   6,045,683    5,956,887 
   Diluted earnings per common share  $0.12   $0.06 
           
   Return on average common equity   6.77%    3.41% 
           
   Return on average assets   0.54%    0.31% 
           
   Yield on average interest-earning assets   3.90%    3.97% 
   Cost of average interest-bearing liabilities   0.67%    0.71% 
   Net interest rate spread   3.23%    3.26% 

 

9
 

Stewardship Financial Corporation

Selected Consolidated Financial Information

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   For the three months ended 
   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,   March 31, 
   2015   2014   2014   2014   2014 
Selected Operating Data:                         
Interest income  $6,194   $6,534   $6,069   $6,186   $6,145 
Interest expense   793    767    791    810    839 
Net interest and dividend income   5,401    5,767    5,278    5,376    5,306 
Provision for loan losses   (100)   (300)   250         
Net interest and dividend income                         
after provision for loan losses   5,501    6,067    5,028    5,376    5,306 
Noninterest income:                         
Fees and service charges   479    568    510    504    421 
Bank owned life insurance   96    103    100    106    96 
Gain on calls and sales of securities   152    165             
Gain on sales of mortgage loans   10    26    32    2    12 
Loss on sales of loans                   (241)
Gain on sales of other real estate owned   53    9        54     
Other   128    119    122    141    111 
Total noninterest income   918    990    764    807    399 
Noninterest expenses:                         
Salaries and employee benefits   2,708    2,738    2,624    2,557    2,678 
Occupancy, net   467    420    439    520    555 
Equipment   156    157    167    175    188 
Data processing   453    447    433    435    387 
FDIC insurance premium   113    103    133    133    211 
Other   1,152    1,179    1,193    1,286    1,075 
Total noninterest expenses   5,049    5,044    4,989    5,106    5,094 
   Income before income tax expense   1,370    2,013    803    1,077    611 
   Income tax expense   453    712    251    351    105 
   Net income   917    1,301    552    726    506 
   Dividends on preferred stock   171    171    170    171    171 
   Net income available to common shareholders  $746   $1,130   $382   $555   $335 
                          
   Weighted avg. no. of diluted common shares   6,045,683    6,030,561    6,026,848    5,999,897    5,956,887 
   Diluted earnings per common share  $0.12   $0.19   $0.06   $0.09   $0.06 
                          
   Return on average common equity   6.77%    10.41%    3.58%    5.41%    3.41% 
                          
   Return on average assets   0.54%    0.75%    0.33%    0.44%    0.31% 
                          
   Yield on average interest-earning assets   3.90%    4.04%    3.85%    4.03%    3.97% 
   Cost of average interest-bearing liabilities   0.67%    0.64%    0.68%    0.70%    0.71% 
   Net interest rate spread   3.23%    3.40%    3.17%    3.33%    3.26% 
                          
   Net interest margin   3.41%    3.57%    3.36%    3.51%    3.44% 

 

 

10