EASTON, Md., July 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Shore Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ - SHBI) reported net income of $1.627 million or $0.13 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2015, compared to net income of $1.409 million or $0.11 per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2015, and net income of $1.305 million or $0.13 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2014. The Company reported net income of $3.0 million or $0.24 per diluted common share for the first half of 2015, compared to net income of $2.6 million or $0.28 per diluted common share for the first half of 2014.

When comparing the second quarter of 2015 to the first quarter of 2015, the primary reasons for the improved results were an increase in net interest income of $144 thousand, coupled with decreases in the provision for credit losses of $110 thousand and noninterest expense of $404 thousand. When comparing the second quarter of 2015 to the second quarter of 2014, improved results were due to an increase in net interest income of $236 thousand, followed by decreases in both the provision for credit losses and noninterest expense of $410 thousand and $617 thousand, respectively. These improvements were offset by a reduction in both noninterest income and noninterest expense due to the sale of Tri-State General Insurance Agency, LTD ("Tri-State") late in the second quarter of 2014. When comparing the first half of 2015 to the first half of 2014, improved earnings were due to an increase in net interest income of $452 thousand and a decline in the provision of credit losses of $735 thousand. Noninterest expense decreased $1.0 million, which was entirely offset by a decline in noninterest income of $1.4 million primarily due to the sale of Tri-State.

"We are excited to report another quarter of improved earnings as well as the second consecutive quarter of loan growth," said Lloyd L. "Scott" Beatty, Jr., president and chief executive officer. "As we continue to execute on our strategic initiatives for the calendar year, we are committed to growing earnings, enhancing customer service and improving returns for our shareholders. With the consent order behind us, we are able to concentrate on growth and greater overall performance."

Balance Sheet Review

Total assets were $1.084 billion at June 30, 2015, a $16.1 million, or 1.5%, decrease when compared to $1.100 billion at the end of 2014. The decrease in total assets included a decline in interest-bearing deposits with other banks of $28.8 million and investment securities available for sale of $7.9 million which was almost entirely offset by an increase in gross loans of $30.3 million, or a 8% annualized loan growth rate for the period.

Total deposits decreased $20.1 million, or 2.1%, when compared to December 31, 2014. The decrease in total deposits was mainly due to declines in time deposits of $16.3 million and interest-bearing demand deposits of $25.7 million, which were offset by an increase in money market and savings deposits of $12.0 million and non-interest bearing deposits of $9.9 million. Total stockholders' equity increased $2.9 million, or 2.1%, when compared to the end of 2014. At June 30, 2015, the ratio of total equity to total assets was 13.22% and the ratio of total tangible equity to total tangible assets was 12.16%, higher than the 12.77% and 11.70%, respectively, at December 31, 2014.

Total assets at June 30, 2015 increased $19.5 million, or 1.8%, when compared to total assets at June 30, 2014. The increases in total assets were primarily due to an increase in loans of $31.4 million, or 4.4%, as well as an increase in investment securities of $25.4 million, or 12.5%, due to leveraging the proceeds generated from the capital raise at the end of the second quarter of 2014. These increases were offset by a decrease in interest-bearing deposits with other banks of $30.0 million used to fund loan growth. Total deposits increased $15.4 million, or 1.7%, when compared to June 30, 2014. The increase in total deposits was mainly due to an increase in non-interest bearing deposits of $29.8 million and money market and savings deposits of $22.6 million, offset by a decrease in time deposits of $34.1 million and interest-bearing deposits of 3.0 million. Total stockholders' equity increased $5.9 million, or 4.3%, when compared to June 30, 2014.

Review of Quarterly Financial Results

Net interest income was $8.7 million for the second quarter of 2015, compared to $8.5 million for the first quarter of 2015 and $8.4 million for the second quarter of 2014. The increase in net interest income when compared to the first quarter of 2015 was primarily due to lower volumes of and rates paid on interest bearing deposits. The increase in net interest income for the second quarter of 2015 when compared to the second quarter of 2014 was primarily due to lower volumes of and rates paid on time deposits. Volume on loans showed a positive trend upward but was offset by continued downward repricing on loan renewals which had a negative impact on yields. The Company's net interest margin was 3.43% for both the second and first quarter of 2015, compared to 3.49% for the second quarter of 2014.

The provision for credit losses was $540 thousand for the three months ended June 30, 2015. The comparable amounts were $650 thousand and $950 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively. The lower level of provision for credit losses when comparing the second quarter of 2015 to the first quarter of 2015 was primarily due to declines in net charge-offs. The lower level of provision for credit losses when comparing the second quarter of 2015 to the second quarter of 2014 was primarily due to decreases in both loan net charge-offs and nonaccrual loans. Net charge-offs were $421 thousand for the second quarter of 2015, $547 thousand for the first quarter of 2015 and $1.9 million for the second quarter of 2014. The ratio of annualized net charge-offs to average loans was 0.23% for the second quarter of 2015, 0.31% for the first quarter of 2015 and 1.10% for the second quarter of 2014. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to period-end loans was 1.07% at June 30, 2015, lower than the 1.08% at March 31, 2015 and 1.28% at June 30, 2014, which reflects improved credit quality in the loan portfolio.

At June 30, 2015, nonperforming assets were $16.5 million, an increase of $100 thousand, or less than 1.0%, when compared to March 31, 2015. Additionally, accruing troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs") increased $1.7 million, or 10.2% compared to March 31, 2015. When comparing June 30, 2015 to June 30, 2014, nonperforming assets decreased $2.9 million, or 14.8%, and accruing TDRs decreased $7.1 million, or 27.7%. The positive trend in nonperforming assets and TDRs when comparing June 30, 2015 to June 30, 2014 resulted from the Company's continued workout efforts. The ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 1.52%, 1.50% and 1.82% at June 30, 2015, March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively. In addition, the ratio of accruing TDRs to total assets at June 30, 2015 was 1.69%, compared to 1.52% at March 31, 2015 and 2.39% at June 30, 2014.

Total noninterest income for the second quarter of 2015 decreased $297 thousand, or 7.3%, when compared to the first quarter of 2015 and decreased $740 thousand, or 16.3 %, when compared to the second quarter of 2014. The decrease from the first quarter of 2015 was primarily due to a decline in insurance agency commissions of $543 thousand that was partially offset by an increase in other noninterest income of $241 thousand. Insurance agency commissions for the second quarter of 2015 were lower when compared to the first quarter of 2015 due to the fact that contingency commission payments are typically received in the first quarter of the year. Included in other noninterest income for the second quarter of 2015 was income from an insurance investment which resulted in a $147 thousand increase over the linked quarter. The decrease from the second quarter of 2014 was due to the loss of wholesale commission fees of $728 thousand resulting from the sale of Tri-State previously mentioned above. The sale also generated a gain of $114 thousand in the second quarter of 2014, which was offset by an increase in retail commissions of $124 thousand for the second quarter of 2015. Service charges on deposits increased $24 thousand for the second quarter when compared to the first quarter of 2015 and $56 thousand when compared to the second quarter of 2014.

Total noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2015 decreased $404 thousand, or 4.2%, when compared to the first quarter of 2015 and decreased $617 thousand, or 6.2%, when compared to the second quarter of 2014. The declines in noninterest expenses from the first quarter of 2015 were primarily due to decreases in FDIC insurance, professional fees and credit costs. In addition, noninterest expenses for employee benefits were higher in the first quarter of 2015 due to payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, and 401(k) contributions. The decreases compared to the second quarter of 2014 were primarily the result of the sale of Tri-State which reduced insurance agency expenses $835 thousand, offset by an increase in insurance retail commission expense of $159 thousand.

Review of Six-Month Financial Results

Net interest income for the first six months of 2015 was $17.2 million, an increase of 2.7% when compared to the first six months of 2014. The increases were primarily due to modest growth of average loans of approximately $12 million and the decline in average interest-bearing deposits of $20 million. The increases were offset by lower yields on loans which resulted in the net interest margin of 3.43% for the first six months of 2015 compared to 3.50% for the first six months of 2014.

The provisions for credit losses for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 were $1.2 million and $1.9 million, respectively, while net charge-offs were $968 thousand and $3.6 million, respectively. The ratio of year-to-date annualized net charge-offs to average loans was 0.27% for the first half of 2015 and 1.02% for the first half of 2014.

Total noninterest income for the six months ended June 30, 2015 decreased $1.4 million, or 15.5%, when compared to the same period in 2014. Included in total noninterest income for the first half of 2014 was Tri-State which was sold late in the second quarter of 2014. Tri-State attributed $2.1 million in insurance agency commissions and fees in 2014, along with a $114 thousand gain on sale. Offsetting the loss of income from Tri-State were increases in retail insurance commissions of $501 thousand and service charges on deposit accounts and trust and investment fee income of $165 thousand in the aggregate.

Total noninterest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2015 decreased $1.0 million, or 5.1%, when compared to the same period in 2014. The decrease was primarily due to wholesale insurance agency expenses related to Tri-State of $1.9 million, which was offset by increases in retail insurance expenses of $345 thousand, mostly in the salary and wages expense. In addition, FDIC insurance premiums declined $145 thousand and write-downs of other real estate owned decreased $95 thousand.

Shore Bancshares Information

Shore Bancshares, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Easton, Maryland and is the largest independent bank holding company located on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It is the parent company of two Maryland chartered commercial banks, The Talbot Bank of Easton, Maryland, and CNB; three insurance producer firms, The Avon-Dixon Agency, LLC, Elliott Wilson Insurance, LLC and Jack Martin and Associates, Inc.; and an insurance premium finance company, Mubell Finance, LLC. Shore Bancshares, Inc. engages in the trust services business through the trust department at CNB under the name "Wye Financial & Trust". Additional information is available at www.shorebancshares.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be the same as those anticipated by management. These statements are evidenced by terms such as "anticipate," "estimate," "should," "expect," "believe," "intend," and similar expressions. Although these statements reflect management's good faith beliefs and projections, they are not guarantees of future performance and they may not prove true. These projections involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the section of the periodic reports filed by Shore Bancshares, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission entitled "Risk Factors".

The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to publicly announce the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.