TFS Financial Corporation Announces Fiscal Quarter Ended June 30, 2012 Financial Results

CLEVELAND, July 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TFS Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:TFSL) (the "Company"), the holding company for Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland (the "Association"), today announced results for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2012.

The Company reported net income of $0.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012, compared to net income of $6.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. This change is mainly attributable to an increase in the provision for loan losses and lower non-interest income, partially offset by an increase in net interest income. Net income of $10.4 million was reported for the nine months ended June 30, 2012, compared to net income of $0.9 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2011. The increase in net income for the nine months is largely the result of a decrease in the provision for loan losses and an increase in net interest income partially offset by lower non-interest income.

Loan growth and lower interest rates on deposits caused net interest income to increase $2.8 million, or 4%, to $65.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 from $63.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. Net interest income increased $12.3 million, or 7%, to $195.9 million in the current nine month period from $183.6 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2011. Low interest rates continue to decrease the yield on interest-earning assets, but to an even greater extent, the rate paid on deposits and borrowed funds, and as a result, the interest rate spread has improved from the prior year. The interest rate spread increased 8 basis points in the current quarter to 2.11% compared to 2.03% in the same quarter last year. The interest rate spread for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 was 2.11% compared to 1.94% in the nine month period last year. The net interest margin increased one basis point in the current quarter to 2.38% compared to 2.37% in the same quarter last year. The net interest margin for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 was 2.40% compared to 2.29% in the nine month period last year.

"We are pleased that our net interest income has increased because of lower costs on deposits and a growing adjustable rate mortgage portfolio," said Chairman and CEO Marc A. Stefanski. "However, the ongoing unpredictability in the housing market continues to impact our loan loss provision."

The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $31 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $22.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The Company reported $24.9 million of net loan charge-offs for the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $19.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. Of the $24.9 million of net charge-offs for the three months ended June 30, 2012, $10.5 million occurred in the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio, $9.1 million occurred in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio and $5.2 million occurred in the Home Today portfolio. The Home Today portfolio is an affordable housing program targeted toward low and moderate income home buyers, which totaled $221.4 million at June 30, 2012 and $264.0 million at September 30, 2011. While the overall credit quality in our loan portfolio appears to be stabilizing, continued lower property valuations in the foreclosure and short sale process and further refinements to our credit evaluation processes led to the increase in the provision and the level of charge-offs in the current quarter. The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $73.0 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $79.5 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2011. The Company reported $122.6 million of net loan charge-offs for the nine months ended June 30, 2012. This included the impact of charging off, during the December, 2011 quarter, the Specific Valuation Allowance (SVA), which was $55.5 million at September 30, 2011. This charge-off was required by regulatory directive. The SVA charge-off was a major reason for the decrease in the reported balances of delinquent and nonperforming loans, non-accrual loans and the allowance for loan losses as of June 30, 2012, from balances at September 30, 2011. Net charge-offs were $59.4 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2011. The allowance for loan losses was $107.4 million, or 1.05% of total loans receivable, at June 30, 2012, compared to $157.0 million, or 1.58% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2011. The decrease in fees and service charges, net of amortization reflected the reduced balance of loans serviced for others.

Non-accrual loans decreased $81.3 million to $154.0 million, or 1.51% of total loans, at June 30, 2012 from $235.3 million, or 2.37% of total loans, at September 30, 2011. The $81.3 million decrease in non-accrual loans for the nine months ended June 30, 2012, consisted of a $36.9 million decrease in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio; a $29.3 million decrease in the residential, Home Today portfolio; a $11.6 million decrease in the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio; and a $3.4 million decrease in construction loans.

Total loan delinquencies decreased $108.6 million to $176.5 million, or 1.72% of total loans receivable, at June 30, 2012 from $285.1 million, or 2.86% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2011.

Total troubled debt restructurings decreased $11.6 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 from $166.2 million at September 30, 2011. Of the $154.6 million of troubled debt restructurings recorded at June 30, 2012, $80.2 million was in the Home Today portfolio and $71.2 million was in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio. The portion of total troubled debt restructurings included as part of non-accrual loans was $32.3 million at June 30, 2012 and $45.1 million at September 30, 2011.

Total assets increased by $602.0 million, or 6%, to $11.49 billion at June 30, 2012 from $10.89 billion at September 30, 2011. This change was mainly the result of increases in our mortgage loans held for sale and in our loan portfolio.

The combination of cash and cash equivalents and investment securities at June 30, 2012 showed little change from September 30, 2011 balances. During the current quarter we transferred all of our investment securities in the held to maturity portfolio, to the available for sale portfolio, in response to regulatory liquidity guidelines.

The combination of Loans held for investment, net and Mortgage loans held for sale increased $602.5 million, or 6%, to $10.35 billion at June 30, 2012 from $9.75 billion at September 30, 2011. Residential mortgage loans, including those held for sale, increased $859.9 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2012, while the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio decreased by $252.2 million. A total of $1.19 billion of adjustable rate mortgages were originated during the nine months ended June 30, 2012, representing approximately 57% of all residential mortgage originations, compared to $956.1 million for the nine month period last year. Under a marketing effort to offset future interest rate risk exposure, adjustable rate mortgages originated under the Smart Rate ARM program since July, 2010 have an outstanding principal balance of $2.43 billion as of June 30, 2012. Loans under the program have mainly either 15 or 30 year terms, with the initial interest rate fixed for either the first three or five years and adjusting annually thereafter, subject to various caps. Most loans originated under the program have been 30 year terms with interest rates fixed for five years. The total principal balance of all adjustable rate first mortgage loans was $2.76 billion, or 33% of all first mortgage residential loans, at June 30, 2012, compared to $1.83 billion, or 25%, at September 30, 2011. To further manage our future interest rate risk, we continue to evaluate potential non-agency, whole loan sales of a pool of our high credit quality, fixed-rate, first mortgage loans held for sale, which had a balance of $233.2 million at June 30, 2012.

Deposits increased $241.2 million, or 3%, to $8.96 billion at June 30, 2012 from $8.72 billion at September 30, 2011. The increase in deposits was the result of a $97.7 million increase in our savings accounts, a $36.3 million increase in our checking accounts, and a $107.7 million increase in our certificates of deposit for the nine month period ended June 30, 2012.

Borrowed funds increased $429.9 million, or 307%, to $569.7 million at June 30, 2012 from $139.9 million at September 30, 2011. This increase reflects additional, lower cost, short term FHLB borrowings used to manage liquidity.

Principal, interest and related escrow on loans serviced decreased $57.3 million, or 37.7%, to $94.5 million at June 30, 2012 from $151.9 million at September 30, 2011. This decrease reflects a combination of the settlement of an increased level of prepayments for loans serviced for other investors and a lower balance in the sold loan portfolio.

Accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased $17.8 million, or 34%, to $35.3 million at June 30, 2012 from $53.2 million at September 30, 2011. This change primarily reflects the $19.7 million decrease in the pension plan accrual mainly as a result of a plan amendment to freeze future pension benefit accruals as of December 31, 2011.

Total shareholders' equity increased $31.5 million, or 2%, to $1.81 billion at June 30, 2012 from $1.77 billion at September 30, 2011. Activity reflects $10.4 million of net income in the current fiscal year to date combined with adjustments related to our stock compensation plan and ESOP and a $12.6 million reduction in accumulated other comprehensive loss that resulted primarily from the pension accrual adjustment and the transfer of investment securities from held to maturity to available for sale.

At June 30, 2012, the Association was "well capitalized" for regulatory capital purposes, as its tier 1 risk based capital ratio was 20.82% and its total risk-based capital was 22.08%, both of which substantially exceed the amounts required for the Association to be considered well capitalized.

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on July 31, 2012. The toll-free dial-in number is 800-894-5910, Conference ID TFSLQ312. A telephone replay will be available beginning at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on July 31, 2012 by dialing 800-723-0549. The conference call will be simultaneously webcast on the Company's website www.thirdfederal.com under the Investor Relations link under the "About Us" tab, and will be archived for 30 days after the event, beginning August 1, 2012. The slides for the conference call will be filed with the SEC under a separate Form 8-K and will also be available on the Company's website.

Forward Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of such words as estimate, project, believe, intend, anticipate, plan, seek, expect and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include:

• statements of our goals, intentions and expectations; 
• statements regarding our business plans and prospects and growth and operating strategies;
• statements concerning trends in our provision for loan losses and charge-offs;
• statements regarding the asset quality of our loan and investment portfolios; and
• estimates of our risks and future costs and benefits.

These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, among other things, the following important factors that could affect the actual outcome of future events:

• significantly increased competition among depository and other financial institutions;
• inflation and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our interest margins or reduce the fair value of financial instruments;
• general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas, including employment prospects and conditions that are worse than expected;
• decreased demand for our products and services and lower revenue and earnings because of a recession or other events;
• adverse changes and volatility in the securities markets;
• adverse changes and volatility in credit markets;
• legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business, including changes in regulatory costs and capital requirements and changes related to our ability to pay dividends and the ability of Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland, MHC to waive dividends;
• our ability to enter new markets successfully and take advantage of growth opportunities, and the possible short-term dilutive effect of potential acquisitions or de novo branches, if any;
• changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;
• changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the bank regulatory agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;
• future adverse developments concerning Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac;
• changes in monetary and fiscal policy of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board;
• changes in policy and/or assessment rates of taxing authorities that adversely affect us;
• the timing and the amount of revenue that we may recognize;
• changes in expense trends (including, but not limited to, trends affecting non-performing assets, charge-offs and provisions for loan losses);
• the impact of the continuing governmental effort to restructure the U.S. financial and regulatory system;
• inability of third-party providers to perform their obligations to us;
• adverse changes and volatility in real estate markets;
• a slowing or failure of the moderate economic recovery;
• the extensive reforms enacted in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("Dodd-Frank Act"), which will impact us;
• the adoption of implementing regulations by a number of different regulatory bodies under the Dodd-Frank Act, and uncertainty in the exact nature, extent and timing of such regulations and the impact they will have on us;
• the impact of coming under the jurisdiction of new federal regulators;
• changes in our organization, or compensation and benefit plans;
• the strength or weakness of the real estate markets and of the consumer and commercial credit sectors and their impact on the credit quality of our loans and other assets; and
• the ability of the U.S. Federal government to manage federal debt limits.

Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements.

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