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8-K - Clifton Bancorp Inc.clifton8kmay10-16.htm

Clifton Bancorp Inc. Announces Financial Results for the Fourth
Quarter Ended and Year Ended March 31, 2016; Declares Cash Dividend

Clifton, New Jersey – May 10, 2016 -- Clifton Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: CSBK) (the “Company”), the holding company for Clifton Savings Bank, today announced results for the quarter  and year ended March 31, 2016.  Net income for the quarter was $878,000 ($0.04 per share, basic and diluted) as compared to net income of $3.51 million ($0.14 per share, basic, $0.13 per share, diluted) for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.  Net income for the year ended March 31, 2016 was $5.40 million ($0.22 per share, basic and diluted) as compared to $8.55 million ($0.33 per share, basic and diluted) for fiscal 2015.

The Board of Directors also announced today that the Company will pay a cash dividend of $0.06 per common share for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. The dividend will be paid on June 10, 2016 to stockholders of record on May 27, 2016.

The results of operations for the three months and year ended March 31, 2016 were most significantly affected by:
 
·
Gains on sale of securities, which decreased $1.9 million for both the three months and year ended March 31, 2016;
·
Increases in provision for loan losses of $603,000 and $348,000, for the three months and year ended March 31, 2016, respectively, mainly due to loan growth;
·
Increases in salaries and employee benefits and directors’ compensation expenses related to the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, which, in total, amounted to $439,000 and $1.02 million, respectively, for the three months and year ended March 31, 2016;
·
Decreases in income from bank owned life insurance of $788,000 and $536,000, for the three months and year ended March 31, 2016, respectively, due to the prior year including proceeds from a death benefit.

Other Notable Items

·
Net loans increased 11.4% and 21.7%, or $79.9 million and $139.1 million, during the three months and year ended March 31, 2016, respectively;
·
One-to-four family real estate loans increased 3.0% and 10.8%, or $18.0 million and $60.4 million, during the three months and year ended March 31, 2016, respectively;
·
Multi-family and commercial real estate loans increased 69.9% and 106.9%, or $63.2 million and $79.4 million, during the three months and year ended March 31, 2016, respectively;
·
Loan mix between one-to-four family real estate, and multi-family and commercial real estate loans to total loans shifted from 86.7% and 11.6%, respectively, at March 31, 2015 to 79.0% and 19.7%, respectively, at March 31, 2016;
·
Nonperforming loans to total gross loans decreased to 0.47% at March 31, 2016 from 0.88% at March 31, 2015;
·
1,387,029 and 4,007,753 shares of common stock were repurchased during the three months and year ended March 31, 2016, respectively, at a weighted average price of $14.28 and $14.02 per share.

Paul M. Aguggia, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Our fiscal year 2016 results demonstrate that our strategic plan is being implemented effectively. We generated a significant increase in our multi-family and commercial real estate portfolios and continued to shift our deposit base to transactional accounts. Much of this was accomplished in our fourth quarter.  In addition, our investment in talented professionals, initiatives to generate business, innovative products, and our new Hoboken location are taking root. We look forward to building upon the momentum created during the quarter and the year.”
 
 
 
 

 

 
Balance Sheet and Credit Quality Review

Total assets increased $66.2 million, or 5.6%, to $1.25 billion at March 31, 2016, from $1.19 billion at March 31, 2015. The increase in total assets was primarily due to an increase in loans.

Net loans increased $139.1 million, or 21.7%, to $780.2 million at March 31, 2016 from $641.1 million at March 31, 2015.  One-to-four family real estate loans increased $60.4 million, or 10.8%, while multi-family and commercial real estate loans increased $79.4 million, or 106.9%, during fiscal 2016. The increase included $38.5 million in participations in commercial real estate loans purchased from in-market financial institutions. Securities, including both available for sale and held to maturity issues, decreased $61.4 million, or 14.7%, to $357.5 million at March 31, 2016 from $418.9 million at March 31, 2015, mainly as a result of calls, maturities and repayments on securities. Securities totaling $1.9 million were sold during the year ended March 31, 2016, resulting in a gain of $72,000. Cash and cash equivalents decreased $18.2 million, or 37.0%, to $31.1 million at March 31, 2016 from $49.3 million at March 31, 2015.

Deposits decreased $4.8 million, or 0.7%, to $694.7 million at March 31, 2016 from $699.5 million at March 31, 2015.  The Company’s emphasis on transaction account generation resulted in a 3.1% increase in the final quarter of 2016. Borrowed funds increased $124.0 million, or 115.4%, to $231.5 million at March 31, 2016 from $107.5 million at March 31, 2015. The Company’s outstanding borrowings as of March 31, 2016 have a weighted average rate of 1.53% and a weighted average term of 16 months. All outstanding borrowings are with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York.

Total stockholders’ equity decreased $52.7 million, or 14.3%, to $315.3 million at March 31, 2016 from $368.0 million at March 31, 2015, primarily as a result of $56.3 million in repurchases of common stock, and the payment of $7.3 million in cash dividends, partially offset by net income of $5.4 million.

Non-accrual loans decreased $1.9 million, or 35.2%, to $3.7 million at March 31, 2016 from $5.6 million at March 31, 2015.  Included in non-accrual loans at March 31, 2016 were six loans totaling $606,000 that were current or less than 90 days delinquent, but which were previously 90 days or more delinquent and on a non-accrual status pending a sustained period of repayment performance (generally six months). The percentage of nonperforming loans to total gross loans decreased to 0.47% at March 31, 2016 from 0.88% at March 31, 2015.  The allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans increased to 119.19% at March 31, 2016 from 61.53% at March 31, 2015, as nonperforming loans decreased, while the allowance balance increased mainly as a result of a significant increase in the loan balance.

Income Statement Review

Net interest income increased by $289,000, or 4.5%, to $6.69 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to $6.40 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase in net interest income was primarily the result of an increase of 7 basis points in net interest margin partially offset by a decrease of $38.2 million in average net interest-earning assets.

Net interest income increased $115,000, or 0.4%, to $26.24 million for the year ended March 31, 2016 as compared to $26.13 million for the year ended March 31, 2015, driven by an increase of $12.5 million in average net interest-earning assets and an increase of 3 basis points in net interest margin.

The provision for loan losses increased $603,000, or 603.0%, to $703,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $100,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and $348,000, or 48.5%, to $1.07 million for the year ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $717,000 for the year ended March 31, 2015. The increase in the provision for the year ended March 31, 2016 was mainly the result of the significant increase in the balance of outstanding loans, partially offset by more favorable trends in qualitative factors related to delinquencies considered in the periodic review of the general valuation allowance.
 
 
 
 

 

 
Non-interest income decreased $2.65 million, or 85.8%, to $440,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 from $3.09 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and $2.44 million, or 56.7%, to $1.87 million for the year ended March 31, 2016 from $4.31 million for the year ended March 31, 2015. The decrease in both periods was mainly attributable to a decrease in income from bank owned life insurance and a significant decrease in gain on sales of securities. In 2015, income from bank owned life insurance for both periods included proceeds from a death benefit.  Gains on sale of securities totaled $1.9 million and $2.0 million, respectively, during the three months and year ended March 31, 2015, as compared to no gains and $72,000 in gains recorded during the three months and year ended March 31, 2016, respectively.

Non-interest expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 increased $811,000, or 18.6%, to $5.17 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $4.36 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase consisted primarily of increases in salaries and employee benefits of $532,000, or 20.6%, directors’ compensation of $144,000, or 71.2%, and equipment expense of $95,000, or 27.2%. The increase in equipment expense was mainly related to the development and implementation of new customer products and services, as well as additional costs related to our new Hoboken location.  Non-interest expenses for the year ended March 31, 2016 increased $2.0 million, or 11.7%, to $19.1 million as compared to $17.1 million for the year ended March 31, 2015. The increase consisted primarily of an increase in salaries and employee benefits of $1.68 million, or 17.3%, and directors’ compensation of $156,000, or 15.7%.
The increases in salaries and employee benefits during both periods includes the addition of business development, compliance and Hoboken location staff, typical annual increases in compensation and benefits expenses, an increase in employee stock ownership plan expense due an increase in the price of the Company’s common stock, and the expense related to the granting of equity awards under the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
 
About Clifton Bancorp Inc.
Clifton Bancorp Inc. is the holding company of Clifton Savings Bank (CSBK), a federally chartered savings bank headquartered in Clifton, New Jersey. CSBK is a metropolitan, community-focused bank serving residents and small businesses in its market area through 12 full-service banking centers. For additional investor relations information, including subscribing to email alerts, visit cliftonbancorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Clifton Bancorp makes forward-looking statements in this news release. These forward-looking statements may include: statements of goals, intentions, earnings expectations, and other expectations; estimates of risks and of future costs and benefits; assessments of probable loan and lease losses; assessments of market risk; and statements of the ability to achieve financial and other goals.

 Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project” and other similar words and expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Clifton Bancorp does not assume any duty and does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements. Because forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those that Clifton Bancorp anticipated in its forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance.

Clifton Bancorp’s forward-looking statements are subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties: general economic conditions and trends, either nationally or locally; conditions in the securities markets; changes in interest rates; changes in deposit flows, and in the demand for deposit, loan, and investment products and other financial services; changes in real estate values; changes in the quality or composition of the  loan or investment portfolios; changes in competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions; the ability to retain key members of management; changes in legislation, regulations, and policies; and a variety of other matters which, by their nature, are subject to significant uncertainties. Clifton Bancorp provides greater detail regarding some of these factors in the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed on June 5, 2015. Clifton Bancorp’s forward-looking statements may also be subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those that it may discuss elsewhere in this news release or in its filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Contact:                 Bart D’Ambra
(973) 473-2200


 
 

 

Selected Consolidated Financial Condition Data
 
   
At March 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Financial Condition Data:
           
Total assets
  $ 1,253,127     $ 1,186,924  
Loans receivable, net
    780,229       641,084  
Cash and cash equivalents
    31,069       49,308  
Securities
    357,462       418,875  
Deposits
    694,662       699,476  
FHLB advances
    231,500       107,500  
Total stockholders' equity
    315,277       368,001  

 
Selected Consolidated Operating Data
 
   
Three Months Ended
             
   
March 31,
   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
   
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Operating Data:
                       
Interest income
  $ 9,158     $ 8,558     $ 35,345     $ 35,162  
Interest expense
    2,468       2,157       9,102       9,034  
Net interest income
    6,690       6,401       26,243       26,128  
Provision for loan losses
    703       100       1,065       717  
Net interest income after provision for
                               
  loan losses
    5,987       6,301       25,178       25,411  
Non-interest income
    440       3,094       1,866       4,313  
Non-interest expenses
    5,173       4,362       19,101       17,106  
Income before income taxes
    1,254       5,033       7,943       12,618  
Income taxes
    376       1,520       2,542       4,064  
Net income
  $ 878     $ 3,513     $ 5,401     $ 8,554  
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.04     $ 0.14     $ 0.22     $ 0.33  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.04     $ 0.13     $ 0.22     $ 0.33  
                                 
Average shares outstanding - basic
    23,434       25,979       24,477       25,538  
Average shares outstanding - diluted
    23,479       26,073       24,533       25,698  

 
 

 

Average Balance Table

 
   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
 
       
Interest
           
Interest
     
   
Average
 
and
 
Yield/
   
Average
 
and
 
Yield/
 
   
Balance
 
Dividends
 
Cost
   
Balance
 
Dividends
 
Cost
 
Assets:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                           
   Loans receivable
  $ 739,496   $ 6,713   3.63 %   $ 636,175   $ 5,756   3.62 %
   Mortgage-backed securities
    275,526     1,851   2.69 %     283,461     2,013   2.84 %
   Investment securities
    81,566     495   2.43 %     143,308     697   1.95 %
   Other interest-earning assets
    28,521     99   1.39 %     45,633     92   0.81 %
      Total interest-earning assets
    1,125,109     9,158   3.25 %     1,108,577     8,558   3.09 %
                                     
Non-interest-earning assets
    84,339                 81,989            
      Total assets
  $ 1,209,448               $ 1,190,566            
                                     
Liabilities and stockholders' equity:
                                   
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                   
   Demand accounts
  $ 55,477     15   0.11 %   $ 54,581     18   0.13 %
   Savings and Club accounts
    141,844     75   0.21 %     138,978     53   0.15 %
   Certificates of deposit
    464,519     1,541   1.33 %     500,158     1,523   1.22 %
      Total interest-bearing deposits
    661,840     1,631   0.99 %     693,717     1,594   0.92 %
   FHLB Advances
    195,375     837   1.71 %     108,750     563   2.07 %
      Total interest-bearing liabilities
    857,215     2,468   1.15 %     802,467     2,157   1.08 %
                                     
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                   
    Non-interest-bearing deposits
    17,124                 12,295            
    Other non-interest-bearing liabilities
    12,067                 9,983            
      Total non-interest-bearing liabilities
    29,191                 22,278            
                                     
      Total liabilities
    886,406                 824,745            
      Stockholders' equity
    323,042                 365,821            
      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,209,448               $ 1,190,566            
                                     
Net interest income
        $ 6,690               $ 6,401      
Interest rate spread
              2.10 %               2.01 %
Net interest margin
              2.38 %               2.31 %
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities
    1.31               1.38 x          

 
 

 


   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
 
       
Interest
           
Interest
     
   
Average
 
and
 
Yield/
   
Average
 
and
 
Yield/
 
   
Balance
 
Dividends
 
Cost
   
Balance
 
Dividends
 
Cost
 
Assets:
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                           
   Loans receivable
  $ 687,670   $ 25,107   3.65 %   $ 617,696   $ 23,150   3.75 %
   Mortgage-backed securities
    275,419     7,553   2.74 %     298,251     8,998   3.02 %
   Investment securities
    104,447     2,363   2.26 %     146,327     2,657   1.82 %
   Other interest-earning assets
    28,985     322   1.11 %     46,693     357   0.76 %
      Total interest-earning assets
    1,096,521     35,345   3.22 %     1,108,967     35,162   3.17 %
                                     
Non-interest-earning assets
    79,759                 107,642            
      Total assets
  $ 1,176,280               $ 1,216,609            
                                     
Liabilities and stockholders' equity:
                                   
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                   
   Demand accounts
  $ 54,074     60   0.11 %   $ 55,544     72   0.13 %
   Savings and Club accounts
    141,174     254   0.18 %     140,118     236   0.17 %
   Certificates of deposit
    472,152     6,085   1.29 %     519,183     6,399   1.23 %
      Total interest-bearing deposits
    667,400     6,399   0.96 %     714,845     6,707   0.94 %
   FHLB Advances
    141,885     2,703   1.91 %     119,423     2,327   1.95 %
      Total interest-bearing liabilities
    809,285     9,102   1.12 %     834,268     9,034   1.08 %
                                     
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                   
    Non-interest-bearing deposits
    14,817                 11,676            
    Other non-interest-bearing liabilities
    11,689                 11,182            
      Total non-interest-bearing liabilities
    26,506                 22,858            
                                     
      Total liabilities
    835,791                 857,126            
      Stockholders' equity
    340,489                 359,483            
      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,176,280               $ 1,216,609            
                                     
Net interest income
        $ 26,243               $ 26,128      
Interest rate spread
              2.10 %               2.09 %
Net interest margin
              2.39 %               2.36 %
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities
    1.35 x               1.33 x          

 
 

 

Asset Quality Data

 
   
Year Ended March 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Allowance for loan losses:
           
Allowance at beginning of period
  $ 3,475     $ 3,071  
Provision for loan losses
    1,065       717  
                 
Charge-offs
    (183 )     (313 )
Recoveries
    3       -  
Net charge-offs
    (180 )     (313 )
                 
Allowance at end of period
  $ 4,360     $ 3,475  
                 
Allowance for loan losses to total gross loans
    0.56 %     0.54 %
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans
    119.19 %     61.53 %
 

   
At March 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Nonperforming Assets:
           
Nonaccrual loans:
           
One- to four-family real estate
  $ 3,412     $ 4,555  
Multi-family real estate
    -       581  
Commercial real estate
    186       439  
Consumer real estate
    60       73  
  Total nonaccrual loans
    3,658       5,648  
Real estate owned
    58       -  
  Total nonperforming assets
  $ 3,716     $ 5,648  
                 
Total nonperforming loans to total gross loans
    0.47 %     0.88 %
Total nonperforming assets to total assets
    0.30 %     0.48 %

 
 

 

Selected Consolidated Financial Ratios

 
   
Three Months Ended March 31,
   
Year Ended March 31,
 
Selected Performance Ratios (1):
 
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
Return on average assets
    0.29 %     1.18 %     0.46 %     0.70 %
Return on average equity
    1.09 %     3.84 %     1.59 %     2.38 %
Interest rate spread
    2.10 %     2.01 %     2.10 %     2.09 %
Net interest margin
    2.38 %     2.31 %     2.39 %     2.36 %
Non-interest expenses to average assets
    1.71 %     1.47 %     1.62 %     1.41 %
Efficiency ratio (2)
    72.55 %     45.94 %     67.95 %     56.19 %
Average interest-earning assets to average
                               
interest-bearing liabilities
    1.31 x     1.38 x     1.35 x     1.33 x
Average equity to average assets
    26.71 %     30.73 %     28.95 %     29.55 %
Dividend payout ratio
    159.23 %     44.35 %     135.40 %     89.22 %
Net charge-offs to average outstanding loans during
                               
the period
    0.05 %     0.00 %     0.03 %     0.05 %
                                 
 
(1)  Performance ratios are annualized.
(2)  Represents non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income including gains and losses on the sale of assets.
 
 
 

 
 
Quarterly Data

 
   
Quarter Ended
 
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
June 30,
   
March 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2015
   
2015
   
2015
 
   
(In thousands except shares and per share data)
 
Operating Data
                             
Interest income
  $ 9,158     $ 8,736     $ 8,739     $ 8,712     $ 8,558  
Interest expense
    2,468       2,300       2,199       2,135       2,157  
Net interest income
    6,690       6,436       6,540       6,577       6,401  
Provision for loan losses
    703       189       100       73       100  
Net interest income after provision for
                                       
  loan losses
    5,987       6,247       6,440       6,504       6,301  
Non-interest income
    440       460       452       514       3,094  
Non-interest expenses
    5,173       4,833       4,580       4,515       4,362  
Income before income taxes
    1,254       1,874       2,312       2,503       5,033  
Income taxes
    376       549       772       845       1,520  
Net income
  $ 878     $ 1,325     $ 1,540     $ 1,658     $ 3,513  
                                         
Share Data
                                       
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.04     $ 0.05     $ 0.06     $ 0.07     $ 0.14  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.04     $ 0.05     $ 0.06     $ 0.07     $ 0.13  
Dividends per share
  $ 0.06     $ 0.06     $ 0.06     $ 0.12     $ 0.06  
Average shares outstanding - basic
    23,434       24,475       24,633       25,367       25,979  
Average shares outstanding - diluted
    23,479       24,521       24,687       25,440       26,073  
Shares outstanding at period end
    24,000       25,394       25,745       25,960       27,326  
                                         
Financial Condition Data
                                       
Total assets
  $ 1,253,127     $ 1,167,739     $ 1,153,895     $ 1,152,707     $ 1,186,924  
Loans receivable, net
    780,229       700,283       677,286       654,802       641,084  
Cash and cash equivalents
    31,069       30,493       17,869       23,498       49,308  
Securities
    357,462       356,977       379,582       395,386       418,875  
Deposits
    694,662       674,002       678,624       685,248       699,476  
FHLB advances
    231,500       147,000       124,000       107,500       107,500  
Total stockholders' equity
    315,277       333,956       338,267       347,764       368,001  
                                         
Assets Quality:
                                       
Total nonperforming assets
  $ 3,716     $ 4,387     $ 4,330     $ 5,340     $ 5,648  
Total nonperforming loans to total gross loans
    0.47 %     0.63 %     0.64 %     0.81 %     0.88 %
Total nonperforming assets to total assets
    0.30 %     0.38 %     0.38 %     0.46 %     0.48 %
Allowance for loan losses
  $ 4,360     $ 3,750     $ 3,625     $ 3,525     $ 3,475  
Allowance for loan losses to total gross loans
    0.56 %     0.53 %     0.53 %     0.54 %     0.54 %
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans
    119.19 %     85.48 %     83.72 %     66.01 %     61.53 %