WILMINGTON, N.C., April 25, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Cape Fear Bank Corporation (the "Company") (Nasdaq:CAPE) today reported a net loss of ($441,000), or ($0.12) per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2008 compared with net income of $435,000, or $0.11 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2007. Current quarter performance reflects a continuation of factors experienced by the Company in 2007, including a deteriorating real estate economy, expenses associated with branch expansion, elevated problem assets, and compression of net interest margin.
Cameron Coburn, Chairman, President and CEO of Cape Fear Bank Corporation, stated, "In rapid succession, we have seen our housing market decline and our revenue impacted by margin compression and deteriorating credit quality. We continue to be challenged by a difficult interest rate environment, but we are actively pursuing lower-cost deposits as we build relationships through our newly expanded branch network. We also recently hired an experienced credit administrator to manage our problem assets expeditiously."
Total revenue, comprised of net interest income and noninterest income, was $3.1 million for the first quarter of 2008, a decline of $379,000, or 10.8 percent, from the first quarter of 2007. Net interest income declined 16.0 percent to $2.7 million, reflecting 7.6 percent growth in average earning assets, offset by a 70 basis point decline in the net interest margin to 2.41 percent. Mr. Coburn added, "We've restructured our balance sheet to make it less asset-sensitive in the current declining interest rate environment." Variable-rate loans, which reprice immediately, now comprise 51.1 percent of our loan portfolio compared with 64.4 percent twelve months ago. Mr. Coburn continued, "Total time deposits, which comprise 72.9 percent of our deposit portfolio, have fixed maturities and therefore take longer to reprice downward."
Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2008 was $446,000, an increase of $136,000 or 43.9 percent from the first quarter of 2007. Service fees and charges accounted for the majority of the increase, up $99,000 or 60.0 percent from the prior-year first quarter.
Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $3.4 million, an increase of $497,000 or 17.3 percent from noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2007. Expenses associated with branch expansion accounted for the majority of the increase; three de novo branches were opened after first quarter 2007, generating additional expenses in virtually every category. Occupancy and equipment expenses were $553,000 for the current quarter, up $130,000 or 30.7 percent. Salaries and benefits, which represent nearly 50 percent of noninterest expense, increased $70,000 or 4.5 percent, partially due to the addition of seven full-time equivalent (FTE) employees over the past twelve months, from 95 to 102. The majority of the increased expense for the quarter was in Other Expense, up $297,000 or 33.1 percent, to $1.2 million; this includes increased FDIC premiums, accounting and audit fees, and branch-related expenses such as data processing. For the first quarter, the efficiency ratio increased to 107.06 percent from 81.44 percent for the prior-year first quarter.
Total assets were $469.6 million at March 31, 2008, up $21.3 million or 4.7 percent from twelve months ago, and $5.3 million from the linked quarter. Loans outstanding totaled $375.3 million, an increase of $30.5 million or 8.9 percent over the past twelve months; since year-end 2007, loans increased by $4.6 million. Approximately 95 percent of the loan portfolio is collateralized by real estate, with construction and land development (C&D) loans accounting for 39.5 percent of the portfolio, followed by commercial real estate (CRE), with 32.1 percent. In terms of the $4.6 million loan growth year-to-date, CRE led with an increase of $3.6 million, followed by pre-sold and owner-occupied residential construction, up $3.0 million. These gains were partially offset by a decline of $2.4 million in 1-4 family real estate loans.
Nonperforming assets were $8.5 million or 1.8 percent of assets at March 31, 2008; this compares with $8.3 million or 1.8 percent of assets for the previous quarter and $2.0 million or 0.44 percent of assets twelve months ago. The majority of first quarter nonperforming loans were C&D loans totaling $4.9 million (which includes $3.3 million in restructured loans), followed by $951,000 of Other Real Estate Loans. Nonperforming loans consist primarily of two large land development and residential construction relationships located in the coastal market. During first quarter 2008, $1.8 million of nonperforming loans were transferred through foreclosure to Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) compared to none in the linked quarter and $616,000 in the prior year quarter. Net charge-offs were $348,000 or 0.37 percent of average loans (annualized) for the period ended March 31, 2008 compared with net recoveries for both the linked and first quarters of 2007. The loan loss provision for first quarter 2008 was $793,000 compared with $75,000 for the year-ago quarter and $970,000 for the fourth quarter of 2007. The reserve for loan losses totaled $6.2 million or 1.66 percent of total loans at March 31, 2008.
Deposits totaled $398.2 million at March 31, 2008, an increase of $18.2 million or 4.8 percent over the last twelve months, and an increase of $11.5 million since year-end 2007. Core deposits, which exclude time deposits greater than $100,000 and brokered deposits, accounted for 53.4 percent of total deposits; they declined by $18.4 million or 8.0 percent from twelve months ago, and increased by $8.0 million from the linked quarter. The year-over-year decline in core deposits is tied to lower deposits from real estate attorney trust account relationships in response to the slowdown in real estate market conditions. To fund the shortfall resulting from the lower level of core deposits, non-core deposits, namely, wholesale and brokered deposits, increased $36.6 million or 24.6 percent over the last twelve months, and $3.5 million or an annualized 7.7 percent higher than the linked quarter. Mr. Coburn commented, "We remain focused on improving our deposit mix by obtaining lower cost deposits through our recently expanded branch network."
Shareholders' equity at March 31, 2008 was $28.3 million, a twelve-month increase of $799,000 or 2.9 percent. As of March 31, 2008, the Company remained at well-capitalized levels with a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.99 percent. Shares outstanding at year-end were 3,841,785.
Mr. Coburn added, "We are sorry to report that one of our founding directors, Windell Daniels, passed away unexpectedly on April 22, 2008. He had served as a director of Cape Fear Bank since 1998 and was a member of our Audit Committee. We appreciate his guidance through the years and he will be greatly missed."
About the Company
Cape Fear Bank (the "Bank"), formerly known as Bank of Wilmington, was established in 1998 as a community bank, developed and managed by local residents of the communities it serves, who are committed to improving the quality of their local banking experience. Cape Fear Bank Corporation, the parent company, was formed in June 2005. The Bank serves the southeastern North Carolina market area with eight full-service banking offices, including three in New Hanover County, two in Pender County, and three in Brunswick County. The Company's stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol 'CAPE'. The Company currently anticipates scheduling its 2008 annual meeting of stockholders to be held in August 2008.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Report and its exhibits contain statements relating to Cape Fear Bank Corporation (the Company) and its financial condition, results of operations, plans, strategies, branch expansion plans, trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments, expectations or beliefs about future events or results, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts. Those statements may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expects," "plans," "intends," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "forecasts," "potential" or "continue," or similar terms or the negative of these terms, or other statements concerning opinions or judgments of management about future events. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Copies of those reports are available directly through the Commission's website at www.sec.gov. Other factors that could influence the accuracy of those forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (a) the financial success or changing strategies of the Company's customers; (b) customer acceptance of services, products and fee structure; (c) changes in competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions or in its ability to compete effectively against larger financial institutions in its banking market; (d) actions of government regulators, or changes in laws, regulations or accounting standards, that adversely affect its business; (e) its ability to manage growth and to underwrite increasing volumes of loans; (f) the impact on profits of increased staffing and expenses resulting from expansion; (g) changes in the interest rate environment and the level of market interest rates that reduce net interest margin and/or the volumes and values of loans made and securities held; (h) weather and similar conditions, particularly the effect of hurricanes on banking and operations facilities and on its customers and the coastal communities in which it conducts business; (i) changes in general economic or business conditions and the real estate market in its banking market (particularly changes that affect its loan portfolio, the abilities of borrowers to repay their loans, and the values of loan collateral; and (j) other developments or changes in the Company's business that it does not expect. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph. The Company has no obligation, and does not intend, to update these forward-looking statements.
Cape Fear Bank Corporation Five-Quarter Performance Summary For the Quarter Ended ----------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands, except per share data) 3/31/2008 12/31/2007 9/30/2007 6/30/2007 3/31/2007 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Performance Highlights Earnings: Total revenue (Net int. income + nonint. income) $ 3,144 $ 3,518 $ 3,676 $ 3,617 $ 3,523 Net interest income $ 2,698 $ 3,029 $ 3,348 $ 3,276 $ 3,213 Provision for loan losses $ 793 $ 970 $ 50 $ -- $ 75 Non- interest income $ 446 $ 489 $ 328 $ 341 $ 310 Non- interest expense $ 3,366 $ 2,635 $ 3,193 $ 2,976 $ 2,869 Net (loss) income $ (441) $ 53 $ 359 $ 499 $ 435 Per Share Data: *Basic earnings per share $ (0.12) $ 0.01 $ 0.10 $ 0.13 $ 0.12 *Diluted earnings per share $ (0.12) $ 0.01 $ 0.09 $ 0.13 $ 0.11 *Book value per share $ 7.38 $ 7.56 $ 7.49 $ 7.28 $ 7.31 Performance Ratios: Return on average assets -0.38% 0.05% 0.32% 0.45% 0.40% Return on average equity -6.19% 0.74% 5.17% 7.22% 6.33% Net interest margin, taxable equivalent 2.41% 2.72% 3.11% 3.08% 3.11% Efficiency ratio 107.06% 74.90% 86.86% 82.28% 81.44% Non- interest income to total revenue 14.19% 13.90% 8.92% 9.43% 8.80% Capital & Liquidity: Total equity to total assets 6.03% 6.14% 6.22% 6.21% 6.14% Total loans to total deposits 94.24% 95.85% 93.78% 91.94% 90.71% Regulatory leverage ratio 8.04% 8.58% 8.64% 8.58% 8.50% Tier 1 capital ratio 9.60% 9.87% 10.07% 10.40% 9.99% Total risk- based capital ratio 10.99% 11.21% 11.43% 11.80% 11.43% Asset Quality: Net loan charge- offs (recov- eries) $ 348 $ (5) $ -- $ (8) $ (127) Net loan charge- offs (recov- eries) to average loans 0.37% -0.01% 0.00% -0.01% -0.15% Nonper- forming loans +90 days past due $ 6,677 $ 8,309 $ 177 $ 1,320 $ 1,343 Other real estate and repo- ssessed assets $ 1,846 $ -- $ 2 $ -- $ 616 Nonper- forming assets +90 days past due $ 8,523 $ 8,309 $ 179 $ 1,320 $ 1,959 NPAs + loans 90 days past due to total assets 1.82% 1.79% 0.04% 0.30% 0.44% Allowance for loan losses $ 6,216 $ 5,771 $ 4,795 $ 4,746 $ 4,738 Allowance for loan losses to total loans 1.66% 1.56% 1.34% 1.39% 1.37% Allowance for loan losses to NPAs 72.93% 69.45% 2678.77% 359.55% 241.86% Period End Balances: Assets $ 469,570 $ 464,313 $ 453,478 $ 441,342 $ 448,318 Total earning assets (before allow- ance) $ 449,580 $ 444,926 $ 434,163 $ 420,102 $ 426,359 Total Loans (before res- erves) $ 375,284 $ 370,678 $ 357,962 $ 341,030 $ 344,743 Deposits $ 398,217 $ 386,738 $ 381,697 $ 370,915 $ 380,054 Stock- holders' equity $ 28,338 $ 28,491 $ 28,199 $ 27,427 $ 27,539 Full-time equiv- alent employees 102 105 101 99 95 *Shares out- stand- ing 3,841,785 3,766,295 3,766,295 3,766,020 3,766,257 Average Balances: Assets $ 470,222 $ 461,122 $ 447,870 $ 446,653 $ 437,009 Earning assets $ 450,732 $ 441,581 $ 427,670 $ 426,682 $ 419,059 Total Loans (before res- erves) $ 373,546 $ 365,068 $ 349,568 $ 344,742 $ 339,563 Deposits $ 391,492 $ 384,041 $ 375,058 $ 374,978 $ 364,986 Stock- holders' equity $ 28,500 $ 28,592 $ 27,771 $ 27,633 $ 27,487 *Shares out- stand- ing, basic - wtd 3,806,971 3,766,295 3,766,224 3,765,955 3,766,191 *Shares out- stand- ing, diluted - wtd 3,806,971 3,855,925 3,833,457 3,844,366 3,860,982 For the Years Ended ----------------------- (In thousands, except per share data) 12/31/2007 12/31/2006 ------------------------------------- ----------------------- Performance Highlights Earnings: Total revenue (Net int. income + nonint. income) $ 14,334 $ 13,987 Net interest income $ 12,864 $ 12,894 Provision for loan losses $ 1,095 $ 1,340 Noninterest income $ 1,470 $ 1,093 Noninterest expense $ 11,673 $ 9,324 Net (loss) income $ 1,345 $ 2,272 Per Share Data: *Basic earnings per share $ 0.36 $ 0.60 *Diluted earnings per share $ 0.35 $ 0.58 *Book value per share $ 7.56 $ 7.18 Performance Ratios: Return on average assets 0.30% 0.57% Return on average equity 4.85% 8.86% Net interest margin, taxable equivalent 3.00% 3.34% Efficiency ratio 81.44% 66.66% Non-interest income to total revenue 10.26% 7.81% Capital & Liquidity: Total equity to total assets 6.14% 6.37% Total loans to total deposits 95.85% 94.57% Regulatory leverage ratio 8.58% 9.22% Tier 1 capital ratio 9.87% 10.31% Total risk-based capital ratio 11.21% 11.80% Asset Quality: Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) $ (140) $ 314 Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans -0.04% 0.10% Nonperforming loans +90 days past due $ 8,309 $ 350 Other real estate and repossessed assets $ -- $ 616 Nonperforming assets +90 days past due $ 8,309 $ 966 NPAs + loans 90 days past due to total assets 1.79% 0.23% Allowance for loan losses $ 5,771 $ 4,536 Allowance for loan losses to total loans 1.56% 1.36% Allowance for loan losses to NPAs 69.45% 469.57% Period End Balances: Assets $ 464,313 $ 424,885 Total earning assets (before allowance) $ 444,926 $ 407,992 Total Loans (before reserves) $ 370,678 $ 334,409 Deposits $ 386,738 $ 353,617 Stockholders' equity $ 28,491 $ 27,052 Full-time equivalent employees 105 90 *Shares outstanding 3,766,295 3,766,119 Average Balances: Assets $ 448,229 $ 396,272 Earning assets $ 428,806 $ 386,323 Total Loans (before reserves) $ 349,805 $ 311,226 Deposits $ 374,818 $ 334,373 Stockholders' equity $ 27,757 $ 25,643 *Shares outstanding, basic - wtd 3,766,082 3,765,973 *Shares outstanding, diluted - wtd 3,846,910 3,894,697 *Restated for 5% stock dividend for shareholders of record 6/22/07, distributed effective 6/29/07 CAPE FEAR BANK CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Months Ended Years End March 31, December 31, ----------------------- ----------------------- 2008 2007 2007 2006 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- (In thousands, except share and per share data) INTEREST INCOME Loans $ 6,475 $ 6,912 $ 28,301 $ 24,857 Investment securities available for sale 819 809 3,313 2,716 FHLB Stock 35 30 130 100 Other interest -earning assets 34 97 289 523 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- TOTAL INTEREST INCOME 7,363 7,848 32,033 28,196 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- INTEREST EXPENSE Money market, NOW and savings deposits 478 548 2,519 1,681 Time deposits 3,635 3,546 14,480 11,800 Short-term borrowings 52 42 106 115 Long-term borrowings 500 499 2,064 1,706 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE 4,665 4,635 19,169 15,302 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NET INTEREST INCOME 2,698 3,213 12,864 12,894 PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES 793 75 1,095 1,340 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES 1,905 3,138 11,769 11,554 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NON-INTEREST INCOME Service fees and charges 264 165 812 713 Gain/(loss) on sale of investments 8 3 15 (60) Income from bank owned life insurance 98 82 385 195 Other 76 60 258 245 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NON-INTEREST INCOME 446 310 1,470 1,093 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NON INTEREST EXPENSE Salaries and employee benefits 1,619 1,549 6,097 4,949 Occupancy and equipment 553 423 1,997 1,533 Other 1,194 897 3,579 2,842 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE 3,366 2,869 11,673 9,324 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- (LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES (1,015) 579 1,566 3,323 (BENEFIT) INCOME TAXES (574) 144 221 1,051 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NET (LOSS) INCOME $ (441) $ 435 $ 1,345 $ 2,272 =========== =========== =========== =========== NET (LOSS) INCOME PER COMMON SHARE* Basic $ (0.12) $ 0.12 $ 0.36 $ 0.60 =========== =========== =========== =========== Diluted $ (0.12) $ 0.11 $ 0.35 $ 0.58 =========== =========== =========== =========== WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING* Basic 3,806,971 3,766,191 3,766,082 3,765,973 Effect of dilutive stock options -- 94,791 80,828 128,724 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Diluted 3,806,971 3,860,982 3,846,910 3,894,697 =========== =========== =========== =========== * All per share and outstanding share data has been restated for the 5% stock dividend distributed 6/29/07 CAPE FEAR BANK CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS --------------------------------------------------------------------- March 31, December 31, 2008 2007* (Unaudited) ----------- ----------- (In thousands, except share data) ASSETS Cash and due from banks $ 5,403 $ 6,257 Interest earning deposits in other banks 3,683 1,413 Fed funds sold 25 25 Investment securities available for sale, at fair value 68,204 70,227 Time deposits in other banks 199 199 Loans 375,284 370,678 Allowance for loan losses (6,216) (5,771) ----------- ----------- NET LOANS 369,068 364,907 Accrued interest receivable 2,103 2,343 Premises and equipment, net 3,635 3,580 Stock in Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, at cost 2,185 2,384 Foreclosed real estate and repossessions 1,846 -- Bank owned life insurance 9,974 9,876 Other assets 3,245 3,102 ----------- ----------- TOTAL ASSETS $ 469,570 $ 464,313 =========== =========== LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Deposits Demand $ 29,202 $ 28,042 Savings 5,008 5,276 Money market and NOW 73,694 62,249 Time 290,313 291,171 ----------- ----------- TOTAL DEPOSITS 398,217 386,738 Short-term borrowings 11,000 17,000 Long-term borrowings 29,310 29,310 Accrued interest payable 734 772 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 1,971 2,002 ----------- ----------- TOTAL LIABILITIES 441,232 435,822 ----------- ----------- Shareholders' Equity Common stock, $3.50 par value, 12,500,000 shares authorized; 3,841,785 and 3,766,295 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively 13,446 13,182 Additional paid-in capital 14,333 14,048 Accumulated retained earnings 551 1,609 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 8 (348) ----------- ----------- TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 28,338 28,491 ----------- ----------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 469,570 $ 464,313 =========== =========== *Derived from audited financial statements Cape Fear Bank Corporation Deposit and Loan Mix For the Quarter Ended ------------------------------------------------- Dollars in thousands 3/31/2008 12/31/2007 9/30/2007 6/30/2007 3/31/2007 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Deposit and Loan Mix Deposit Breakout Non interest bearing demand $ 29,202 $ 28,042 $ 29,483 $ 34,497 $ 34,277 Interest bearing NOW 16,453 13,490 10,087 11,405 12,265 Savings 5,008 5,276 6,187 6,890 7,378 Money market 57,241 48,759 57,695 54,058 47,208 Time deposits less than $100K 104,822 109,174 114,334 120,290 130,032 Time deposits greater than $100K 76,594 81,711 78,666 74,132 75,420 Brokered deposits 108,897 100,286 85,245 69,643 73,474 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total deposits $398,217 $386,738 $381,697 $370,915 $380,054 Fixed/Variable Rate Loans Fixed rate loans $183,334 $164,921 $148,864 $135,223 $122,645 Variable rate loans 191,807 205,662 209,065 205,812 222,126 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Net deferred fees/costs 143 95 33 (5) (28) --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total loans $375,284 $370,678 $357,962 $341,030 $344,743 Loan Breakout Real estate Commercial real estate Commercial real estate - owner occupied $ 59,273 $ 58,704 $ 52,585 $ 51,253 $ 48,871 Commercial real estate - non owner occupied 54,107 50,962 49,410 41,540 45,495 Multifamily 6,951 7,073 7,248 7,250 4,863 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total CRE $120,331 $116,739 $109,243 $100,043 $99,229 Construction & land Residential construction Presold & owner - occupied $ 18,325 $ 15,370 $ 14,296 $ 15,796 $ 23,003 Speculative 31,781 32,199 37,015 35,844 42,971 Commercial construction Presold & owner-occupied 278 216 150 150 610 Speculative 1,595 1,957 1,739 5,625 674 Land 96,162 96,683 96,984 94,753 97,015 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total construction & land $148,141 $146,425 $150,184 $152,168 $164,273 Other real estate 1-4 family 46,550 48,972 41,628 39,723 33,845 Home equity 39,888 39,066 36,288 32,436 31,016 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total other real estate $ 86,438 $ 88,038 $ 77,916 $ 72,159 $ 64,861 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total real estate $354,910 $351,202 $337,343 $324,370 $328,363 Commercial and industrial $ 15,938 $ 15,496 $ 16,046 $ 13,858 $ 13,822 Consumer 4,436 3,981 4,573 2,802 2,558 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total loans net of unearned fees and interest $375,284 $370,679 $357,962 $341,030 $344,743 Less allowance for loan losses 6,216 5,771 4,795 4,746 4,738 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Loans, net $369,068 $364,908 $353,167 $336,284 $340,005 Nonperforming Loans Commercial real estate $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 1,100 $ 1,100 Construction & land 1,625 3,771 -- -- -- Other real estate 951 963 -- 17 36 Commercial and industrial 43 90 14 22 22 Home equity 742 154 154 167 172 Consumer 8 9 9 14 13 Restructured loans 3,308 3,322 -- -- -- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total nonperforming loans $ 6,677 $ 8,309 $ 177 $ 1,320 $ 1,343