MUNCIE, Ind., July 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- MutualFirst Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: MFSF), the holding company of MutualBank (the "Bank"), announced today net income available to common shareholders for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 increased to $3.2 million, or $0.43 diluted earnings per common share. This compared to net income available to common shareholders for the same period in 2014 of $2.6 million, or $0.36 diluted earnings per common share. Annualized return on average assets was 0.90% and return on average tangible common equity was 10.04% for the second quarter of 2015 compared to 0.75% and 9.00%, respectively, for the same period of last year.

Net income available to common shareholders for the six months ended June 30, 2015 increased to $5.7 million, or $0.76 diluted earnings per common share compared to net income available to common shareholders of $4.6 million, or $0.63 diluted earnings per common share for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Annualized return on average assets was 0.80% and return on average tangible common equity was 8.98% for the first half of 2015 compared to 0.67% and 8.10%, respectively, for the same period of last year.

Other financial highlights for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 included:

• Gross loan balances increased by $16.0 million, or 6.3% on an annualized basis in the second quarter of 2015.
• Asset quality improved as non-performing loans to total loans were 0.63% as of June 30, 2015 compared to 0.73% as of March 31, 2015 and non-performing assets to total assets were 0.60% as of June 30, 2015 compared to 0.72% as of March 31, 2015.
• Core deposits increased $15.0 million in the second quarter of 2015 while term deposits declined by $22.9 million.
• Tangible common equity to total assets is 8.89% and tangible book value per common share is $17.36 as of June 30, 2015 compared to tangible common equity to total assets of 8.95% and tangible book value per common share of $17.33 as of March 31, 2015.
• Net interest income for the second quarter of 2015 increased by $22,000 on a linked quarter basis and decreased by $18,000 compared to the second quarter of 2014.
• Asset quality improvement led to no provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2015.
• Net interest margin was 3.18% for the second quarter 2015 compared to 3.28% in the second quarter 2014.
• Non-interest income in the second quarter of 2015 increased by $349,000 on a linked quarter basis and by $824,000 when compared to the second quarter of 2014.
• Non-interest expense decreased in the second quarter of 2015 by $645,000 on a linked quarter basis and increased by $520,000 when compared to the second quarter of 2014.

"We are pleased with the continued momentum in our core earnings and the loan growth achieved in the first half of 2015," said David W. Heeter, President and CEO. "We believe this momentum is sustainable as we execute on our new strategic plan."

In the first quarter of 2015, the Bank elected an accounting change to better align the recognition of low income housing tax credits and the corresponding amortization of the low income housing investments from the equity method of accounting to a proportional method of amortization. This change has been made retrospectively and all comparisons in this release are as if this change was made at the beginning of 2014.

Balance Sheet

Assets increased $22.0 million as of June 30, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014, primarily due to the increase in gross loans of $22.9 million. The increase in the gross loan portfolio was primarily due to an increase in commercial loans of $15.8 million and in non-real estate consumer loans of $18.1 million. Heeter commented, "Over the last twelve months we have increased our non-residential consumer lending by approximately 22% and our commercial portfolio by 10%. The growth complements our new strategic plan initiatives to change our mix of earning assets." The increase in gross loans was partially offset by a decline in the consumer residential loan portfolio of $11.0 million. Mortgage loans held for sale increased by $6.3 million, since December 31, 2014, as the Bank has been selling longer term fixed rate loans originated in the first half of 2015 to mitigate interest rate risk. Mortgage loans sold during the first half of 2015 totaled $65.8 million compared to $15.3 million in the first half of 2014 as mortgage production increased in the first half of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 due to declines in mortgage rates, increased purchase activity and the acquisition of Summit Mortgage in the third quarter of 2014.

Deposits decreased by $1.0 million in the first half of 2015. The decrease in deposits has been primarily in certificates of deposit, which decreased $34.1 million, while core deposits increased $33.1 million in the first half of 2015. Core deposits increased to 66% of the Bank's total deposits as of June 30, 2015 compared to 63% as of December 31, 2014.

Allowance for loan losses was $12.9 million as of June 30, 2015 compared to $13.2 million as of December 31, 2014. Net charge-offs in the first half of 2015 were $262,000, or 0.05% of total loans on an annualized basis, compared to $1.0 million, or 0.21% of total loans on an annualized basis in the first half of 2014. The allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans as of June 30, 2015 was 197.9% compared to 177.0% as of December 31, 2014. The allowance for loan losses to total loans as of June 30, 2015 was 1.24% compared to 1.30% as of December 31, 2014. Non-performing loans to total loans at June 30, 2015 were 0.63% compared to 0.73% at December 31, 2014. Non-performing assets to total assets were 0.60% at June 30, 2015 compared to 0.75% at December 31, 2014.

Stockholders' equity was $131.0 million at June 30, 2015, an increase of $4.2 million from December 31, 2014. The increase was primarily due to net income available to common shareholders of $5.7 million and an increase of $1.6 million due to exercises of stock options. These increases were partially offset by common stock dividends of $1.8 million and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income of $1.6 million. The Company's tangible book value per common share as of June 30, 2015 increased to $17.36 compared to $17.12 as of December 31, 2014 and the tangible common equity ratio increased to 8.89% as of June 30, 2015 compared to 8.68% as of December 31, 2014. MFSF and the Bank's risk-based capital ratios were well in excess of "well-capitalized" levels as defined by all regulatory standards as of June 30, 2015.

Income Statement

Net interest income before the provision for loan losses decreased $18,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. The decrease in net interest income was primarily a result of a 10 basis point decrease in net interest margin to 3.18%. The decrease in the margin was the result of interest earning assets, primarily loans, repricing downward faster than interest bearing liabilities. Average earning assets increased $37.3 million primarily due to an increase of $47.5 million in the loan portfolio. On a linked quarter basis, net interest income before the provision for loan losses increased $22,000 as net interest margin decreased by 2 basis points, offset by an increase in average earning assets of $12.7 million primarily due to increases in the loan portfolio.

Net interest income before the provision for loan losses increased $80,000 for the first half of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. The increase was a result of an increase of $36.4 million in average earning assets due to an increase in the average loan portfolio of $46.1 million. This increase was partially offset by the net interest margin decreasing to 3.19% in the first half of 2015 compared to 3.27% in the first half of 2014.

There was no provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2015 compared to $500,000 during last year's comparable period. The decrease was due to management's ongoing evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, which was partially attributable to net charge offs of $311,000, or 0.12% of loans on an annualized basis in the second quarter of 2015 compared to net charge offs of $627,000, or 0.25% of loans on an annualized basis in the second quarter of 2014. Non-performing loans to total loans at June 30, 2015 was 0.63% compared to 0.61% at June 30, 2014. Non-performing assets to total assets were 0.60% at June 30, 2015 compared to 0.94% at June 30, 2014.

The provision for loan losses for the first half of 2015 was zero compared to $850,000 during last year's comparable period. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in net charge offs and improving asset quality. Net charge-offs for the first half of 2015 equaled $262,000, or 0.05% of loans on an annualized basis compared to $1.0 million, or 0.21% in the same period of 2014.

Non-interest income for the second quarter of 2015 was $4.4 million, an increase of $824,000 compared to the second quarter of 2014. Increases in non-interest income included an increase of $739,000 in net gain on sale of loans due to increased production and the acquisition of Summit Mortgage in the third quarter of 2014. Another increase was $210,000 on net gain on sale of other real estate and repossessed assets. On a linked quarter basis, non-interest income increased $349,000 due to increases in net gain on sale of mortgage loans primarily due to an increase in mortgage activity, increases in fees and service charges on deposit accounts primarily due to seasonality in fee income, and increases in net gain on sale of other real estate and repossessed assets.

Non-interest income for the first half of 2015 was $8.4 million, an increase of $1.8 million compared to the first half of 2014. The increase was primarily due to a $1.5 million increase in net gain on sale of loans due to the same reasons as stated above and a decline in net loss on sale of real estate and repossessed assets of $190,000.

Non-interest expense increased $520,000 when comparing the second quarter of 2015 with the same period in 2014. The increase was primarily due to the acquisition of Summit Mortgage in the third quarter of 2014. On a linked quarter basis, non-interest expense decreased $645,000 primarily due to decreases in salaries and benefit expenses of $446,000 as a result of lower health insurance expenses and a decrease in professional fees of $147,000.

Non-interest expense increased $1.3 million when comparing the first half of 2015 with the same period in 2014. The increase was primarily a result of the acquisition of Summit Mortgage in the third quarter of 2014, which increased expense by $1.2 million in the first half of 2015.

Heeter concluded, "We continue to be encouraged by the increases in our core businesses and continue to seek ways to enhance shareholder value."

MutualFirst Financial, Inc. is the parent company of MutualBank, an Indiana-based financial institution since 1889. MutualBank has thirty full-service retail financial centers in Delaware, Elkhart, Grant, Kosciusko, Randolph, St. Joseph and Wabash Counties in Indiana. MutualBank has two offices located in Carmel and Crawfordsville, Indiana specializing in wealth management and trust services and a loan origination office in New Buffalo, Michigan. MutualBank also operates a wholly owned subsidiary named Summit Mortgage which operates out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. MutualBank provides a full range of financial services including commercial and business banking, personal banking, wealth management, trust services, investments and internet banking services. The Company's stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "MFSF". Additional information can be found online at www.bankwithmutual.com.

Statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

CONTACT: Chris Cook, Senior Vice President, Treasurer and CFO of MutualFirst Financial, Inc. (765) 747-2945