First Citizens BancShares Reports Earnings for Third Quarter 2019


RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Citizens BancShares Inc. (BancShares) (Nasdaq: FCNCA) reported strong earnings for the third quarter of 2019, according to Frank B. Holding, Jr., Chairman of the Board. Key results for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, are presented below:

THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
           
Q3 2019Q3 2018 Q3 2019Q3 2018 Q3 2019Q3 2018 Q3 2019Q3 2018
$124.8$117.3 $11.27$9.80 1.32%1.33% 13.83%13.41%
Net income (in millions) Net income per share Return on average assets Return on average equity
           
YEAR-TO-DATE (YTD) RESULTS
           
YTD 2019YTD 2018 YTD 2019YTD 2018 YTD 2019YTD 2018 YTD 2019YTD 2018
$355.5$310.8 $31.50$25.91 1.29%1.20% 13.41%12.22%
Net income (in millions) Net income per share Return on average assets Return on average equity
       


THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
   
Net income Net income for the third quarter of 2019 totaled $124.8 million, an increase of $7.5 million, or 6.4% compared to the same quarter in 2018. Net income per share increased $1.47, or 15.0%, to $11.27 in the third quarter of 2019, from $9.80 per share during the same quarter in 2018.
   
Return on average assets and equity Return on average assets for the third quarter of 2019 was 1.32%, essentially unchanged from the same quarter in 2018. Return on average equity for the third quarter of 2019 was 13.83%, an improvement of 42 basis points over the same period of 2018.
   
Net interest income and net interest margin BancShares reported total net interest income of $336.4 million for the third quarter of 2019, an increase of $29.1 million, or 9.5% compared to the same quarter in 2018. The taxable-equivalent net interest margin (NIM) was 3.80% for the third quarter of 2019, up 7 basis points from 3.73% during the same quarter in 2018.
   
Operating performance Noninterest income totaled $100.9 million for the third quarter of 2019, compared to $94.5 million for the same quarter of 2018. Noninterest expense was $270.4 million for the third quarter of 2019, compared to $267.5 million during the same quarter of 2018.
   
Loans and credit quality Total loans grew to $27.20 billion, an increase of $0.47 billion, or an annualized increase of 7.0% since June 30, 2019. Total loans grew by $2.31 billion, or 9.3% since September 30, 2018. The net charge-off ratio was 0.10% for the third quarter of 2019, consistent with the same quarter in 2018.
   
Deposits Total deposits grew to $32.74 billion, an increase of $0.02 billion, or by 0.3% since June 30, 2019.  Total deposits grew by $2.58 billion, or 8.6% since September 30, 2018.
   
Capital BancShares repurchased 295,900 shares of its Class A common stock during the third quarter of 2019 totaling approximately $135.4 million. At September 30, 2019, BancShares remained well capitalized with a total risk-based capital ratio of 13.1%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and common equity Tier 1 ratio of 11.8%, and a leverage ratio of 9.2%.
   

RECENT MERGER ACTIVITY

On September 24, 2019, BancShares’ bank subsidiary, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (First Citizens Bank), entered into a definitive merger agreement for the acquisition of Duluth, Georgia-based Community Financial and its bank subsidiary, Gwinnett Community Bank. The agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Under the terms of the agreement, cash consideration of $2.3 million will be paid to the shareholders of Community Financial. The transaction is anticipated to close during the first quarter of 2020, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals, approval of the Community Financial shareholders and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. As of June 30, 2019, Community Financial reported $223 million in consolidated assets, $146 million in loans and $206 million in deposits.

NET INTEREST INCOME

Net interest income for third quarter of 2019 totaled $336.4 million, an increase of $29.1 million, or 9.5%, compared to the third quarter of 2018. The taxable-equivalent NIM was 3.80% in the third quarter of 2019, an increase of 7 basis points from 3.73% for the same quarter in the prior year. The primary drivers of the income and margin growth were a $42.8 million increase in interest and fees on loans due to a rise in average loans outstanding, along with a 26 basis point increase in the loan yield. This growth was partially offset by an increase of $16.6 million in deposit interest expense, driven by a 33 basis point increase in deposit rates, primarily due to time deposits and money markets as well as an increase in the average deposits outstanding.

Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, totaled $984.2 million, an increase of $96.2 million, or 10.8%, compared to the same period of 2018. The taxable-equivalent NIM was 3.83% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, an increase of 18 basis points from 3.65% for the same period in the prior year. Similar to the discussion above, the primary driver of the growth was an increase in interest income on loans, partially offset by increased interest expense on deposits. Interest and fees on loans grew $123.8 million due to a rise in average loans outstanding and a 27 basis point increase in the loan yield. This growth was partially offset by a $40.4 million increase in interest expense on deposits due to interest-bearing deposit balance growth coupled with a 27 basis point increase in deposit rates, largely due to time deposits and money markets.

Although net interest margin has expanded in recent periods, management does not believe this trend will continue as new loan yields are declining due to changes in forward rate expectations and increased competition. This trend will likely result in margin compression for the remainder of 2019 and 2020.

PROVISION FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES

BancShares recorded net provision expense of $6.8 million and $23.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, as compared to $0.8 million and $16.9 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2018. The fluctuations in provision expense are primarily due to methodology enhancements made to the allowance calculation in the third quarter of 2018 which resulted in reductions to provision expense for 2018, as well as differences in loan growth and portfolio credit quality. The net charge-off ratio was 0.10% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to 0.10% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, and 0.11% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

NONINTEREST INCOME

Noninterest income for the third quarter of 2019 totaled $100.9 million, an increase of $6.4 million compared to the third quarter of 2018. Noninterest income, excluding gains on extinguishment of debt, realized gains on debt securities sales and fair value adjustments on marketable equity securities, was $100.8 million for three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $90.0 million for the same period in 2018. The $10.8 million increase was primarily driven by an increase in other income of $3.6 million due largely to recoveries on acquired loans, a $3.3 million increase in mortgage income, and modest increases in cardholder services income and service charges on deposit accounts.

Noninterest income for the first nine months of 2019 totaled $311.5 million, a decrease of $6.7 million compared to the same period of 2018. Noninterest income, excluding gains on extinguishment of debt, realized gains on debt securities sales and fair value adjustments on marketable equity securities, totaled $291.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $282.4 million for the same period in 2018. This increase was driven primarily by a $6.7 million increase in cardholder services largely as a result of increased transaction volume, along with a $3.1 million increase in mortgage income.

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

Noninterest expense totaled $270.4 million for the third quarter of 2019, a $2.9 million increase compared to the same period in 2018. The increase was largely driven by a $4.0 million increase in personnel-related expenses primarily due to increased salaries and wages as a result of merit increases and personnel additions from acquisitions, a $2.9 million increase in equipment expenses and a $2.8 million increase in merger-related expenses due to recent acquisition activity. Offsetting these increases were a $2.7 million reduction in FDIC insurance expense as the large bank surcharge was eliminated in the fourth quarter of 2018 and a $3.8 million decline in other expenses driven primarily by recoveries of previously recorded legal fees.

Noninterest expense totaled $811.5 million for the first nine months of 2019, a $9.9 million increase compared to the same period of 2018. The increase was largely driven by a $13.9 million increase in salaries and wages as a result of merit increases and increased headcount from acquisitions, a $8.0 million increase in equipment expenses and a $5.6 million increase in merger-related expenses due to recent acquisition activity. Offsetting these increases were a $8.6 million reduction in FDIC insurance expense, a $6.5 million decline in other expenses driven by legal fees, and a $2.7 million decrease in collection and foreclosure-related expenses.

INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense totaled $35.4 million and $16.2 million for the third quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively, representing effective tax rates of 22.1% and 12.1% for the respective periods. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2019 was impacted by the 2018 tax return true-ups, while the effective rate decrease for the third quarter of the prior year was primarily due to the recognition of a tax benefit resulting from the Tax Act.

Income tax expense totaled $105.0 million and $76.8 million for the first nine months of 2019 and 2018, respectively, representing effective tax rates of 22.8% and 19.8% for the respective nine month periods. Factors impacting the year-to-date effective tax rate are the same as those noted above.

LOANS AND DEPOSITS

At September 30, 2019, loans totaled $27.20 billion, an increase of $0.47 billion, or an annualized increase of 7.0% since June 30, 2019. The loan growth was primarily focused in the commercial portfolios. Total loans have increased $1.67 billion since December 31, 2018, largely due to acquisitions in the second quarter of 2019. Excluding acquired loans of $1.02 billion, total loans increased $0.66 billion since December 31, 2018, or by 3.4% on an annualized basis.

At September 30, 2019, deposits totaled $32.74 billion, an increase of $0.02 billion, or an annualized increase of 0.3% since June 30, 2019. Total deposits have increased $2.07 billion since December 31, 2018. Excluding acquired deposits of $1.02 billion, total deposits increased $1.05 billion since December 31, 2018, or by 4.6% on an annualized basis.

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES

The allowance for loan and lease losses was $226.8 million at September 30, 2019, compared to $226.6 million at June 30, 2019. The allowance as a percentage of total loans was 0.83% at September 30, 2019, compared to 0.85% at June 30, 2019 and 0.88% at December 31, 2018.

NONPERFORMING ASSETS

BancShares’ nonperforming assets, including nonaccrual loans and other real estate owned, were $155.9 million or 0.57% of total loans at September 30, 2019, compared to $151.2 million or 0.57% of total loans at June 30, 2019.

SHARES REPURCHASED

During the third quarter of 2019, BancShares repurchased 295,900 shares for $135.4 million at an average cost per share of $457.65. During the first nine months of 2019, BancShares repurchased a total of 744,400 shares of Class A common stock for $325.9 million at an average cost per share of $437.84. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, BancShares repurchased a total of 125,000 shares of Class A common stock for $58.1 million at an average cost per share of $464.68. All Class A common stock repurchases completed in 2019 and 2018 were consummated under previously approved authorizations.

On October 29, 2019, the Board authorized share repurchases of up to 500,000 of BancShares' Class A common stock for the period November 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020. This authority will supersede all previously approved authorities.

ABOUT FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES

BancShares is the financial holding company for Raleigh, North Carolina-headquartered First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Bank provides a broad range of financial services to individuals, businesses, professionals and the medical community through branch offices in 19 states, including digital banking, mobile banking, ATMs and telephone banking. As of September 30, 2019, BancShares had total assets of $37.75 billion.

For more information, visit First Citizens’ website at firstcitizens.com. First Citizens Bank. Forever First®.

DISCLOSURES ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

The discussions included in this Press Release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995, including Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. For the purposes of these discussions, any statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualifying words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “plans,” “projects,” or other statements concerning opinions or judgments of the Registrant and its management about future events. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the statements. The accuracy of such forward-looking statements could be affected by factors beyond the Registrant’s control, including, but not limited to, the financial success or changing conditions or strategies of the Registrant’s customers or vendors, fluctuations in interest rates, actions of government regulators, the availability of capital and personnel, the delay in closing (or failure to close) one or more of our previously announced acquisition transaction(s), the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of our previously announced acquisition transaction(s), or general competitive, economic, political, and market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this Press Release, and the Registrant undertakes no obligation to revise or update these statements following the date of this Press Release, except as may be required by law.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Dollars in thousands, except share data; unaudited)For the three months ended Nine months ended September 30
September 30, 2019 June 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 2019 2018
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS         
Interest income$362,318  $350,721  $315,706  $1,049,963  $912,184 
Interest expense25,893  23,373  8,344  65,718  24,166 
Net interest income336,425  327,348  307,362  984,245  888,018 
Provision for loan and lease losses6,766  5,198  840  23,714  16,883 
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses329,659  322,150  306,522  960,531  871,135 
Noninterest income100,930  106,875  94,531  311,468  318,142 
Noninterest expense270,425  273,397  267,537  811,479  801,593 
Income before income taxes160,164  155,628  133,516  460,520  387,684 
Income taxes35,385  36,269  16,198  105,023  76,844 
Net income$124,779  $119,359  $117,318  $355,497  $310,840 
Taxable-equivalent net interest income$337,322  $328,201  $308,207  $986,896  $890,476 
PER SHARE DATA         
Net income per share$11.27  $10.56  $9.80  $31.50  $25.91 
Cash dividends per share0.40  0.40  0.35  1.20  1.05 
Book value at period-end327.86  319.74  294.40  327.86  294.40 
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET         
Cash and due from banks$288,933  $284,147  $262,525  $288,933  $262,525 
Overnight investments949,899  1,640,264  943,025  949,899  943,025 
Investment securities7,167,680  6,695,578  7,040,674  7,167,680  7,040,674 
Loans and leases27,196,511  26,728,237  24,886,347  27,196,511  24,886,347 
Less allowance for loan and lease losses(226,825) (226,583) (219,197) (226,825) (219,197)
Other assets2,372,126  2,533,451  2,041,285  2,372,126  2,041,285 
Total assets$37,748,324  $37,655,094  $34,954,659  $37,748,324  $34,954,659 
Deposits$32,743,277  $32,719,671  $30,163,537  $32,743,277  $30,163,537 
Other liabilities1,436,565  1,360,810  1,292,109  1,436,565  1,292,109 
Shareholders’ equity3,568,482  3,574,613  3,499,013  3,568,482  3,499,013 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$37,748,324  $37,655,094  $34,954,659  $37,748,324  $34,954,659 
SELECTED PERIOD AVERAGE BALANCES        
Total assets$37,618,836  $37,049,030  $34,937,175  $36,770,191  $34,628,652 
Investment securities6,956,981  6,803,570  7,129,089  6,851,348  7,091,456 
Loans and leases26,977,476  26,597,242  24,698,799  26,368,922  24,193,870 
Interest-earning assets35,293,979  34,674,842  32,886,276  34,473,814  32,627,578 
Deposits32,647,264  32,100,210  30,237,329  31,856,771  29,939,492 
Interest-bearing liabilities20,551,393  20,397,445  18,783,160  20,204,705  18,899,001 
Shareholders’ equity3,580,235  3,546,041  3,470,368  3,545,418  3,401,450 
Shares outstanding11,060,462  11,286,520  11,971,460  11,286,984  11,997,281 
SELECTED RATIOS         
Annualized return on average assets1.32% 1.29% 1.33% 1.29% 1.20%
Annualized return on average equity13.83  13.50  13.41  13.41  12.22 
Taxable-equivalent net interest margin3.80  3.79  3.73  3.83  3.65 
Efficiency ratio (1)61.9  64.3  67.3  63.6  68.5 
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio11.8  12.0  13.2  11.8  13.2 
Common equity Tier 1 ratio11.8  12.0  13.2  11.8  13.2 
Total risk-based capital ratio13.1  13.3  14.6  13.1  14.6 
Leverage capital ratio9.2  9.4  10.1  9.2  10.1 
(1) The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure which measures productivity and is generally calculated as noninterest expense divided by total revenue (net interest income and noninterest income). The efficiency ratio removes the impact of BancShares’ securities gains, acquisition gains, one-time gains on extinguishment of debt, and fair market value adjustment on marketable equity securities from the calculation. Management uses this ratio to monitor performance and believes this measure provides meaningful information to investors.
 

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES AND ASSET QUALITY DISCLOSURES

 Three months ended Nine months ended September 30
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)September 30, 2019 June 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 2019 2018
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES (ALLL)      
ALLL at beginning of period$226,583  $228,775  $224,865  $223,712  $221,893 
Provision (credit) expense for loan and lease losses:         
PCI loans (1)(1,476) (637) (1,514) (2,277) 1,000 
Non-PCI loans (1)8,242  5,835  2,354  25,991  15,883 
Net charge-offs of loans and leases:         
Charge-offs(9,647) (10,602) (9,447) (30,403) (28,856)
Recoveries3,123  3,212  2,939  9,802  9,277 
Net charge-offs of loans and leases(6,524) (7,390) (6,508) (20,601) (19,579)
ALLL at end of period$226,825  $226,583  $219,197  $226,825  $219,197 
ALLL at end of period allocated to loans and leases:         
PCI$6,867  $8,343  $10,909  $6,867  $10,909 
Non-PCI219,958  218,240  208,288  219,958  208,288 
ALLL at end of period$226,825  $226,583  $219,197  $226,825  $219,197 
Reserve for unfunded commitments$1,097  $1,149  $1,089  $1,097  $1,089 
SELECTED LOAN DATA         
Average loans and leases:         
PCI$530,390  $544,250  $652,983  $551,065  $689,482 
Non-PCI26,379,156  25,995,212  24,045,816  25,762,098  23,504,388 
Loans and leases at period-end:         
PCI513,589  551,447  638,018  513,589  638,018 
Non-PCI26,682,922  26,176,790  24,248,329  26,682,922  24,248,329 
RISK ELEMENTS         
Nonaccrual loans and leases$109,645  $104,975  $86,949  $109,645  $86,949 
Other real estate46,253  46,236  43,601  46,253  43,601 
Total nonperforming assets$155,898  $151,211  $130,550  $155,898  $130,550 
Accruing loans and leases 90 days or more past due$27,534  $32,787  $40,713  $27,534  $40,713 
RATIOS         
Net charge-offs (annualized) to average loans and leases0.10  0.11  0.10  0.10  0.11 
ALLL to total loans and leases:         
PCI1.34  1.51  1.71  1.34  1.71 
Non-PCI0.82  0.83  0.86  0.82  0.86 
Total0.83  0.85  0.88  0.83  0.88 
Ratio of total nonperforming assets to total loans, leases and other real estate owned0.57  0.57  0.52  0.57  0.52 
               

(1) Loans and leases are evaluated at acquisition and where a discount is noted at least in part due to credit quality, the loans are accounted for under the guidance in ASC Topic 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality. Loans for which it is probable at acquisition that all required payments will not be collected in accordance with the contractual terms are considered purchased credit-impaired (PCI) loans. PCI loans and leases are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. No allowance for loan and lease losses is recorded on the acquisition date as the fair value of the acquired assets incorporates assumptions regarding credit risk. An allowance is recorded if there is additional credit deterioration after the acquisition date. Non-PCI loans include originated and purchased non-impaired loans.

AVERAGE BALANCE AND NET INTEREST MARGIN SUMMARY

 Three months ended 
 September 30, 2019 June 30, 2019 September 30, 2018 
 Average    Yield/ Average    Yield/ Average   Yield/ 
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)Balance Interest  Rate (2) Balance Interest  Rate (2) Balance Interest Rate (2) 
INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS                  
Loans and leases (1)$26,977,476  $315,621  4.65% $26,597,242  $303,803  4.58% $24,698,799  $272,868  4.39% 
Investment securities:                  
U. S. Treasury834,577  5,262  2.50  1,150,001  6,770  2.36  1,504,594  7,104  1.87  
Government agency628,322  4,742  3.02  383,700  3,034  3.16  129,634  840  2.59  
Mortgage-backed securities5,195,711  27,891  2.15  4,979,160  28,130  2.26  5,266,282  29,160  2.21  
Corporate bonds149,888  1,912  5.10  147,669  1,931  5.23  121,855  1,609  5.28  
State, county and municipal      334  1  1.81        
Other investments148,483  636  1.70  142,706  625  1.76  106,724  249  0.93  
Total investment securities6,956,981  40,443  2.32  6,803,570  40,491  2.38  7,129,089  38,962  2.18  
Overnight investments1,359,522  7,151  2.09  1,274,030  7,280  2.29  1,058,388  4,721  1.77  
Total interest-earning assets$35,293,979  $363,215  4.09% $34,674,842  $351,574  4.06% $32,886,276  $316,551  3.83% 
INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES                  
Interest-bearing deposits:                  
Checking with interest$5,328,855  $500  0.04% $5,366,731  $445  0.03% $5,177,349  $319  0.02% 
Savings2,636,583  528  0.08  2,658,974  527  0.08  2,506,421  210  0.03  
Money market accounts8,121,643  7,619  0.37  8,031,608  6,624  0.33  7,878,484  2,455  0.12  
Time deposits3,523,658  13,090  1.47  3,371,402  11,561  1.38  2,367,980  2,163  0.36  
Total interest-bearing deposits19,610,739  21,737  0.44  19,428,715  19,157  0.40  17,930,234  5,147  0.11  
Securities sold under customer repurchase agreements533,371  542  0.40  556,374  515  0.37  547,385  398  0.29  
Other short-term borrowings23,236  203  3.50  40,513  278  2.72  43,720  287  2.57  
Long-term borrowings384,047  3,411  3.51  371,843  3,423  3.64  261,821  2,512  3.77  
Total interest-bearing liabilities$20,551,393  $25,893  0.50  $20,397,445  $23,373  0.46  $18,783,160  $8,344  0.18  
Interest rate spread    3.59%     3.60%     3.65% 
Net interest income and net yield on interest-earning assets  $337,322  3.80%   $328,201  3.79%   $308,207  3.73% 
                            

(1) Loans and leases include PCI and non-PCI loans, nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.
(2) Yields related to loans, leases and securities exempt from both federal and state income taxes, federal income taxes only, or state income taxes only are stated on a taxable-equivalent basis assuming statutory federal income tax rates of 21.0%, as well as state income tax rates of 3.4% for all periods presented. The taxable-equivalent adjustment was $897, $853 and $845 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively.

Contact:   Barbara Thompson
First Citizens BancShares
919.716.2716