SUFFOLK, Va., Jan. 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hampton Roads based TowneBank (Nasdaq:TOWN) reported double digit growth in net income for the fourth quarter and the full year ended December 31, 2009.
Fourth quarter earnings increased 23.21% reaching $6.71 million compared to $5.45 million from the comparable period of 2008.
Full year earnings achieved a new level of $26.76 million, an 11.99% increase or $2.87 million over the $23.89 million reported for 2008.
Net income available to common shareholders for 2009 was $16.72 million after accretion and preferred dividend payments of $10.04 million on the Bank's preferred equity issued during the third and fourth quarters of 2008. Accordingly, fully diluted earnings per share were reduced to $0.66 per share as compared to $0.89 for 2008 due to the additional preferred equity issued in 2008 of $136.31 million coupled with the new issuance of 2.90 million shares of common stock during 2009. The Bank's common dividend remained at $0.32 per share with the common dividend totaling $8.21 million.
Earnings growth was enhanced by a 15.17% increase in net interest income representing a $13.22 million improvement from 2008. This was primarily driven by 26.26% increase in average earning assets and reduced expense on certificates of deposits. While net interest margin declined on a full year basis from 3.61% to 3.29%, margin has been trending up over the past few months reaching 3.53% for the fourth quarter.
Non-interest income was also a major contributor to the Bank's financial performance for 2009. Residential mortgage income was $11.91 million up 123.91% from $5.32 million last year. A surge in refinance activities coupled with increased volume from the Bank's real estate brokerage group led to nearly $1 billion in loan originations for the year.
Real estate brokerage and property management revenues increased 50.75% to a record $11.73 million compared to $7.78 million in 2008. This increase is attributable to the formation of Prudential Towne Realty, which was created by the merger of Prudential Decker Realty, Prudential McCardle Realty and GSH Residential. The new company sold over 3100 homes in 2009. TowneBank owns 65% of the new entity. The Bank also earned $11.15 million from gains on securities sold during the year, an increase of $8.19 million over 2008.
Non-interest expense for the company increased 22.50% from $91.26 million in 2008 to $111.79 million in 2009. Included in the increase are the expenses of the new Prudential Towne Realty, including acquisition costs and one time charges from the merger of the real estate companies and the purchase of Taylor Johnson Insurance Group. Non-recurring charges were $2.04 million. FDIC and other insurance increased $3.72 million to $5.34 million for the year, a 229.10% increase from last year. The Bank's franchise tax also increased by $1.06 million, a 90.80% over 2008, due to the additional capital raised by the Bank in 2008 and 2009.
Balance Sheet
Total Bank assets grew to a record level of $3.61 billion, an increase of $472.87 million over 2008. Towne continues to meet the credit needs of the community with total loans reaching $2.57 billion, an increase of 9.18% over the prior year. Total deposits climbed to $2.56 billion, representing a 14.43% increase over 2008. The Bank's risk-based and tangible capital ratios remain well above regulatory standards for well-capitalized banks.
Asset Quality
"The Bank's loan portfolio continues to perform well compared to the overall banking industry," said G. Robert Aston, Jr., Chairman and CEO. "However, like all banks, we have some members who are struggling, particularly with the weak residential real estate market." Non-performing assets at December 31, 2009 were $44.19 million or 1.23% of assets, up from a negligible 0.12% last year. Net losses for the year were $6.60 million or 0.27% of average loans. The loan loss provision was $12.89 million for 2009 as compared to $7.02 million for the prior year. The Bank's loan loss reserve ended the year at 1.32% of period end loans, up from 1.17% last year and for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. During the fourth quarter, the Bank increased the loan loss provision $2.24 million over the same period last year in light of the loan growth, the increase in non-performing assets and macro-economic conditions.
"Given the current challenges in the banking industry, we are pleased to be able to report our tenth consecutive year of increased earnings," stated Aston. "We attribute our success in managing through this difficult period to the dedication and hard work of our hometown bankers and most importantly, the warm, caring relationship they enjoy with their members. It is what distinguishes TowneBank from the 'big boys.'"
As one of Virginia's top community banks, TowneBank now operates 18 banking offices in Chesapeake, Hampton, Portsmouth, Newport News, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Williamsburg and York County. Towne also offers a full range of financial services through its controlled divisions and subsidiaries that include Towne Investment Group, Towne Insurance Agency, TFA Benefits, TowneBank Mortgage, TowneBank Commercial Mortgage, Prudential Towne Realty, Towne 1031 Exchange, LLC, Corolla Classic Vacations and Corolla Real Estate. Through its strategic partnership with William E. Wood and Associates, the bank also offers mortgage services in all of their offices in Hampton Roads and Northeastern North Carolina. Local decision-making is a hallmark of its hometown banking strategy that is delivered through the leadership of each group's President and Board of Directors. With total assets of $3.61 billion as of December 31, 2009, TowneBank is one of the largest banks headquartered in Virginia.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include competitive pressures in the banking industry that may increase significantly; changes in the interest rate environment may reduce margins and/or the volumes and values of loans made or held as well as the value of other financial assets held; general economic conditions, either nationally or regionally, may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and/or a reduced demand for credit or other services; changes in the legislative or regulatory environment, including changes in accounting standards, may adversely affect our business; costs or difficulties; related to the integration of the business and the businesses we have acquired may be greater than expected; expected cost savings associated with pending or recently completed acquisitions may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame; our competitors may have greater financial resources and develop products that enable them to compete more successfully; changes in business conditions, changes in the securities market and changes in our local economy with regards to our market area and its heavy concentration of U. S. military bases and related personnel. We assume no obligation to update information contained in this release.
Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)
TOWNEBANK
December 31, 2009
(dollars in thousands)
==============================================================================
%
Increase/ Increase/
Three Months Ended December
31, 2009 2008 (Decrease) (Decrease)
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Results of Operations:
Net interest income $28,092 $22,313 $5,779 25.90%
Noninterest income 14,906 9,196 5,710 62.09%
Noninterest expenses 28,111 22,315 5,796 25.97%
Provision for loan losses 4,727 2,491 2,236 89.76%
Pretax Income 10,103 6,686 3,417 51.11%
Provision for income tax
expense 3,394 1,242 2,152 173.27%
Net income 6,709 5,445 1,264 23.21%
Preferred stock dividends and
accretion 2,342 1,396 946 67.77%
Net income available to
common shareholders 4,367 4,049 318 7.85%
Net income per common share -
basic 0.17 0.17 -- --
Net income per common share -
diluted 0.17 0.16 0.01 6.25%
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Period End Data:
Total assets $3,606,451 $3,133,578 $472,873 15.09%
Total assets - tangible 3,506,514 3,061,545 444,969 14.53%
Earning assets 3,240,497 2,860,820 379,677 13.27%
Loans (net of unearned
income) 2,565,910 2,350,186 215,724 9.18%
Allowance for loan losses 33,793 27,503 6,290 22.87%
Goodwill and other
intangibles 99,937 72,033 27,904 38.74%
Nonperforming assets 44,193 3,797 40,396 1063.89%
Noninterest bearing deposits 572,228 475,290 96,938 20.40%
Interest bearing deposits 1,989,474 1,763,378 226,096 12.82%
Total deposits 2,561,702 2,238,668 323,034 14.43%
Total equity 464,321 419,671 44,650 10.64%
Total equity - tangible 364,384 347,637 16,747 4.82%
Common equity 325,842 288,298 37,544 13.02%
Common equity - tangible 225,905 216,265 9,640 4.46%
Book value per common share 11.87 11.74 0.13 1.11%
Book value per common share -
tangible 8.23 8.81 (0.58) (6.58%)
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Daily Average Balances:
Total assets $3,602,124 $3,037,140 $564,984 18.60%
Total assets - tangible 3,518,639 2,964,412 554,227 18.70%
Earning assets 3,285,296 2,669,026 616,270 23.09%
Loans (net of unearned
income), excluding
nonaccrual loans 2,493,679 2,257,680 235,999 10.45%
Allowance for loan losses 29,771 25,903 3,868 14.93%
Goodwill and other
intangibles 83,485 72,728 10,757 14.79%
Noninterest bearing deposits 625,954 502,152 123,802 24.65%
Interest bearing deposits 2,023,217 1,703,484 319,733 18.77%
Total deposits 2,649,170 2,205,636 443,534 20.11%
Total equity 459,722 352,353 107,369 30.47%
Total equity - tangible 376,237 279,625 96,612 34.55%
Common equity 321,394 277,101 44,293 15.98%
Common equity - tangible 237,909 204,373 33,536 16.41%
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Key Ratios:
Return on average assets 0.75% 0.71% 0.04% 5.63%
Return on average assets -
tangible 0.75% 0.73% 0.02% 2.74%
Return on average equity 5.79% 6.15% (0.36%) (5.85%)
Return on average equity -
tangible 7.06% 7.75% (0.69%) (8.90%)
Return on average common
equity 5.40% 5.83% (0.43%) (7.38%)
Return on average common
equity - tangible 7.30% 7.92% (0.62%) (7.83%)
Net interest margin (1)(2) 3.53% 3.18% 0.35% 11.01%
Average earning assets/total
average assets 91.20% 87.88% 3.32% 3.78%
Average loans/average
deposits 94.13% 102.36% (8.23%) (8.04%)
Average noninterest
deposits/total average
deposits 23.63% 22.77% 0.86% 3.78%
Allowance for loan
losses/period end loans 1.32% 1.17% 0.15% 12.82%
Nonperforming assets to
period end assets 1.23% 0.12% 1.11% 925.00%
Period end equity/period end
total assets 12.87% 13.39% (0.52%) (3.88%)
Efficiency ratio 70.04% 70.82% (0.78%) (1.10%)
------------------------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(1) Presented on a tax-equivalent basis
(2) Includes bank-owned life insurance
Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)
TOWNEBANK
December 31, 2009
(dollars in thousands)
=============================================================================
%
Increase/ Increase/
Twelve Months Ended December
31, 2009 2008 (Decrease) (Decrease)
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Results of Operations:
Net interest income $100,343 $87,127 $13,216 15.17%
Noninterest income 62,738 43,867 18,871 43.02%
Noninterest expenses 111,791 91,257 20,534 22.50%
Provision for loan losses 12,891 7,022 5,869 83.58%
Pretax Income 38,406 32,645 5,761 17.65%
Provision for income tax
expense 11,647 8,751 2,896 33.09%
Net income 26,759 23,894 2,865 11.99%
Preferred stock dividends
and accretion 10,044 1,396 8,648 619.48%
Net income available to
common shareholders 16,715 22,498 (5,783) (25.70%)
Net income per common share
- basic 0.67 0.93 (0.26) (27.96%)
Net income per common share
- diluted 0.66 0.89 (0.23) (25.84%)
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Period End Data:
Total assets $3,606,451 $3,133,578 $472,873 15.09%
Total assets - tangible 3,506,514 3,061,545 444,969 14.53%
Earning assets 3,240,497 2,860,820 379,677 13.27%
Loans (net of unearned
income) 2,565,910 2,350,186 215,724 9.18%
Allowance for loan losses 33,793 27,503 6,290 22.87%
Goodwill and other
intangibles 99,937 72,033 27,904 38.74%
Nonperforming assets 44,193 3,797 40,396 1063.89%
Noninterest bearing deposits 572,228 475,290 96,938 20.40%
Interest bearing deposits 1,989,474 1,763,378 226,096 12.82%
Total deposits 2,561,702 2,238,668 323,034 14.43%
Total equity 464,321 419,671 44,650 10.64%
Total equity - tangible 364,384 347,637 16,747 4.82%
Common equity 325,842 288,298 37,544 13.02%
Common equity - tangible 225,905 216,265 9,640 4.46%
Book value per share 11.87 11.74 0.13 1.11%
Book value per share -
tangible 8.23 8.81 (0.58) (6.58%)
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Daily Average Balances:
Total assets $3,432,368 $2,778,722 $653,646 23.52%
Total assets - tangible 3,350,603 2,706,140 644,463 23.81%
Earning assets 3,145,322 2,491,049 654,273 26.26%
Loans (net of unearned
income), excluding
nonaccrual loans 2,440,060 2,059,351 380,709 18.49%
Allowance for loan losses 28,841 23,745 5,096 21.46%
Goodwill and other
intangibles 81,764 72,582 9,182 12.65%
Noninterest bearing deposits 566,434 484,735 81,699 16.85%
Interest bearing deposits 1,953,497 1,537,759 415,738 27.04%
Total deposits 2,519,930 2,022,494 497,436 24.60%
Total equity 437,556 296,749 140,807 47.45%
Total equity - tangible 355,792 224,167 131,625 58.72%
Common equity 301,218 274,415 26,803 9.77%
Common equity - tangible 219,454 201,833 17,621 8.73%
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Key Ratios:
Return on average assets 0.78% 0.86% (0.08%) (9.30%)
Return on average assets -
tangible 0.80% 0.88% (0.08%) (9.09%)
Return on average equity 6.12% 8.05% (1.93%) (23.98%)
Return on average equity -
tangible 7.52% 10.66% (3.14%) (29.46%)
Return on average common
equity 5.55% 8.21% (2.66%) (32.40%)
Return on average common
equity - tangible 7.62% 11.16% (3.54%) (31.72%)
Net interest margin (1)(2) 3.29% 3.61% (0.32%) (8.86%)
Average earning assets/total
average assets 91.64% 89.65% 1.99% 2.22%
Average loans/average
deposits 96.83% 101.82% (4.99%) (4.90%)
Average noninterest
deposits/total average
deposits 22.48% 23.97% (1.49%) (6.22%)
Allowance for loan
losses/period end loans 1.32% 1.17% 0.15% 12.82%
Nonperforming assets to
period end assets 1.23% 0.12% 1.11% 925.00%
Period end equity/period end
total assets 12.87% 13.39% (0.52%) (3.88%)
Efficiency ratio 73.58% 71.28% 2.30% 3.23%
----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(1) Presented on a
tax-equivalent basis
(2) Includes bank-owned life
insurance
CONTACT: TowneBank
G. Robert Aston, Chairman and CEO
757-638-6780
Clyde E. McFarland, Jr., Senior Executive Vice President
and CFO
757-638-6801