Evans Bancorp Reports Net Income Growth of 15% to $2.4 Million in the Third Quarter of 2013

HAMBURG, N.Y., Oct. 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evans Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or "Evans") (NYSE MKT:EVBN), a community financial services company serving Western New York since 1920, today reported its results of operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2013.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2013 THIRD QUARTER

• Third quarter net income increased 14.7% to $2.4 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, from $2.1 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2012.
• Third quarter net interest income of $7.2 million increased 3.3% over the prior-year period.
• Loans increased 4.9% over the prior-year period and 3.0% from the trailing second quarter to $625.6 million; Annualized loan growth rate was 12.0%.
• Total non-interest expense of $7.3 million in the quarter was down slightly from the prior-year period as a result of continued emphasis on expense management.
• Total deposits increased $29.9 million, or 4.4%, over the 2012 third quarter, driven by growth in savings and transactional deposits.

Net income was $2.4 million in the third quarter of 2013, a 14.7% increase from $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2012. The improvement in net income reflects a combination of higher net interest income, lower non-interest expense and increased fee income, partially offset by an increase in the provision for loan and lease losses. Return on average equity increased to 12.50% for the third quarter of 2013, compared with 11.60% in the third quarter of 2012.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, Evans recorded net income of $6.2 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, a 3.0% increase from net income of $6.0 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, in the same period in 2012. The return on average equity was 10.65% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013, compared with 11.15% for the same period in 2012.

"The Company delivered strong operational results reflecting ongoing success in expanding our client base, deepening relationships with existing customers, and disciplined expense management. Loan balances are up almost five percent from the prior year, while we maintain strong attention to credit quality, and recurring fee income increased significantly. We are leveraging this growth into increased bottom line performance as we posted robust net income expansion of nearly 15 percent," commented David J. Nasca, Evans Bancorp President and & CEO.  "Despite uneven loan demand, intense competition, and expanding regulatory requirements, the Company remains committed to driving organic growth by delivering enhanced products and tailored solutions that meet client needs and strengthen the customer experience. We believe this approach will provide a platform for long term profitability and performance."

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $7.2 million for the 2013 third quarter, up 3.3% from the 2012 third quarter and up 2.5% from the trailing second quarter of 2013. Growth in interest-earning assets drove the increase from the prior-year period, while growing loans and non-interest bearing demand deposits impacted the increase over the trailing quarter.

Net interest margin improved 11 basis points in the 2013 third quarter to 3.79% compared with 3.68% in the trailing second quarter. Net interest margin was also up from the 2012 third quarter rate of 3.76%.  The increase in net interest margin from the prior-year period was due to a 27 basis point decrease in pricing on Evans' interest bearing liabilities, partially offset by a 19 basis point decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets.

The provision for loan and lease losses increased in the 2013 third quarter by $0.7 million from the trailing second quarter to $0.8 million, largely due to the termination of the FDIC loss share agreement during the quarter.  In the third quarter of 2009, the Company engaged in a FDIC-assisted acquisition of Waterford Village Bank subject to FDIC indemnification for 80% of future losses relating to the acquired, or covered, loan portfolio. In the current quarter, the Company accepted an offer from the FDIC to settle the indemnification on the remaining covered loans. As a result of the termination of the loss share agreement, a $0.6 million loan loss provision was realized related to the 80% FDIC guarantee of estimated losses on covered loans, and a corresponding gain of $0.7 million with the settlement of the indemnification asset.  The prior-year period had a provision of $9 thousand and the trailing second quarter of 2013 had a provision of $80 thousand.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income of $2.6 million was 26.7% of total revenue in the third quarter of 2013, down $0.6 million, or 18.6%, from the prior-year period. Other income decreased by $0.8 million due mainly to a $1.6 million loss on a tax credit investment in a community-based project in the current quarter, partially offset by a $0.7 million gain realized from the termination of the FDIC loss sharing agreement, as discussed above. The loss on the tax credit investment represents a write-off of an investment, with the recognition of an offsetting tax credit benefit realized in the quarter, included in current income tax provision.  Insurance agency revenue of $1.9 million was up $132 thousand, or 7.4%, from the 2012 third quarter, due mostly to increases in profit sharing. Service charges on deposits increased 10.9% to $540 thousand from the prior-year period as a result of growing commercial deposit transactional relationships which have historically higher fees. Compared with the trailing second quarter of 2013, total non-interest income decreased by 18.5% mostly due to the loss on tax credit investment. 

Non-Interest Expense

Total non-interest expense was $7.3 million in the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of 0.1% from the third quarter of 2012. Overall strong expense control drove these results. Personnel expenses, the largest expense item for the Company, were down 3.0% from the prior-year period. Also helping to reduce expenses were lower maintenance and technology expenses. Maintenance was down $41 thousand, or 19.5%, compared with the third quarter of 2012 and technology expenses were $21 thousand, or 6.6%, lower than the prior-year period.

As a result, the Company's third quarter efficiency ratio improved to 68.59% compared with 71.64% during the prior-year period.  The efficiency ratio excludes the one-time $0.7 million gain on termination of the FDIC loss share agreement and the $1.6 million loss on tax credit investment.

An income tax benefit of $779 thousand was recognized for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, compared to an income tax expense of $660 thousand in the prior-year period. The difference is driven by a $1.8 million tax credit benefit realized in the third quarter of 2013 relating to a historic tax credit investment in a community project, as discussed above. Excluding the impact of the historic tax credit and the write-off of the tax credit investment recognized in non-interest income, the current quarter effective tax rate was 31.8%, compared with an effective tax rate of 23.6% in the third quarter of 2012. The tax rate variance from the prior-year period was due to the release of a reserve previously recorded for the 2008 tax year and resolved in the third quarter of 2012. 

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets grew 3.5% to $827.0 million at September 30, 2013 from $799.3 million on September 30, 2012, and up 1.3% from $816.3 million at the end of the 2013 second quarter. Loans were $625.6 million at September 30, 2013, an increase of 4.9% from $596.2 million at September 30, 2012, and up 3.0% from $607.4 million at June 30, 2013.

Investment securities were $99.2 million at the end of the recent quarter, down 0.2% from the 2013 second quarter and up 3.4% as of the end of third quarter of 2012. 

Total deposits increased $29.9 million, or 4.4%, to $702.6 million at September 30, 2013, from $672.7 million at September 30, 2012, and increased $10.2 million, or 1.5%, from the 2013 second quarter-end. The year-over-year growth was attributable to deposit increases in commercial demand deposits and consumer savings deposits. The Company's Better Checking product (included in the NOW category), along with its complementary Better Savings product, continues to be successful in acquiring new customers, deepening existing relationships and increasing fee income. The increase from the 2013 second quarter was the result of demand deposit growth.

Asset Quality

Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average total loans and leases ratio was 0.09% for the third quarter of 2013, down from 0.31% in the third quarter of 2012 and up from (0.02%) in the second quarter of 2013. 

The ratio of non-performing loans and leases to total loans and leases increased to 2.29% at September 30, 2013, from 2.21% and 1.53% at June 30, 2013, and September 30, 2012, respectively. During the third quarter of 2013, there was a $0.9 million increase in non-performing loans and leases. Of the $14.3 million in non-performing loans and leases as of September 30, 2013, approximately
$8 million was due to one well-collateralized commercial real estate loan, which has been successfully restructured with a new borrower.  

The ratio of the allowance for loan and lease losses to total loans and leases was 1.74% at September 30, 2013, compared with 1.69% at June 30, 2013, and 1.71% at the end of 2012 third quarter. Both the allowance and level of non-performing loans and leases increased, resulting in a coverage ratio of 76.1% at September 30, 2013, compared with 76.2% at June 30, 2013 and 108.4% at September 30, 2012.

Gary A. Kajtoch, Executive Vice President and CFO commented, "We have been successful in growing our loan portfolio and, importantly, have maintained strong credit fundamentals during our growth. Our charge-off percentage remains below industry standards.  We are also being prudent with expenses and believe our productivity efforts are on track. In the face of a growing set of regulatory and compliance requirements, we are particularly proud of the achievements to date."

Capital Management

The Company consistently maintains regulatory capital ratios measurably above the federal "well capitalized" standard, including a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 10.27% at September 30, 2013. Book value per share was $18.72 at September 30, 2013, compared with $18.41 at June 30, 2013, and $17.82 at September 30, 2012. Tangible book value per share at September 30, 2013 was $16.76, up 6.2% from the end of the third quarter of 2012 and up 2.0% from the second quarter of 2013.

About Evans Bancorp, Inc.

Evans Bancorp, Inc. is a financial holding company and the parent company of Evans Bank, N.A., a commercial bank with $827 million in assets and $703 million in deposits at September 30, 2013. Evans is a full-service community bank, with 13 branches, providing comprehensive financial services to consumer, business and municipal customers throughout Western New York. Evans Bancorp's wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, The Evans Agency, LLC, provides property and casualty insurance through seven insurance offices in the Western New York region. Evans Investment Services provides non-deposit investment products, such as annuities and mutual funds.

Evans Bancorp, Inc. and Evans Bank routinely post news and other important information on their Web sites, at www.evansbancorp.com and www.evansbank.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future business, revenue and earnings. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance, events or results. There are risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results of Evans Bancorp to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, include competitive pressures among financial services companies, interest rate trends, general economic conditions, changes in legislation or regulatory requirements, effectiveness at achieving stated goals and strategies, and difficulties in achieving operating efficiencies. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Evans Bancorp's Annual and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Evans Bancorp undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new, updated information, future events or otherwise.

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