Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana Reports Results of Operations for the Quarter and Year Ended June 30, 2014

SHREVEPORT, La., July 30, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana (the "Company") (Nasdaq:HFBL), the holding company of Home Federal Bank, reported net income for the three months ended June 30, 2014 of $748,000, an increase of $112,000 compared to net income of $636,000 reported for the three months ended June 30, 2013. The Company's basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.37 and $0.36, respectively for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.30 and $0.29, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2013.

The Company reported net income of $2.7 million for the year ended June 30, 2014, a decrease of $386,000 compared to $3.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2013. The Company's basic and diluted earnings per share were $1.33 and $1.29, respectively, for the year ended June 30, 2014, compared to $1.34 and $1.31, respectively, for the year ended June 30, 2013.

The increase in net income for the three months ended June 30, 2014, resulted primarily from an increase of $229,000, or 8.7%, in net interest income, a $59,000, or 2.6%, decrease in non-interest expense, a $19,000, or 4.8%, decrease in income tax expense and $67,000, or 57.3%, decrease in the provision for loan losses, partially offset by a $262,000, or 32.6%, decrease in non-interest income. The increase in net interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2014, was primarily due to a $154,000, or 4.7%, increase in total interest income, and a decrease of $75,000, or 12.1%, in aggregate interest expense on borrowings and deposits primarily due to an overall decrease in rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The Company's average interest rate spread was 3.72% for the three months ended June 30, 2014, compared to 3.76% for the three months ended June 30, 2013. The Company's net interest margin was 3.93% for the three months ended June 30, 2014, compared to 4.00% for the quarter ended June 30, 2013. The decrease in the average interest rate spread on a comparative quarterly basis was primarily the result of a decrease of 27 basis points in average yield on interest-earning assets. The decrease in net interest margin was primarily the result of a higher average volume of interest earning assets for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 compared to the prior year quarterly period.

The decrease in net income for the year ended June 30, 2014, resulted primarily from a $1.1 million, or 31.7%, decrease in non-interest income, and an increase of $250,000, or 2.9%, in non-interest expense partially offset by a $262,000, or 2.5%, increase in net interest income, a $390,000, or 69.9% decrease in the provision for loan losses, and a $296,000, or 18.2%, decrease in income tax expense. The increase in net interest income for the twelve month period was primarily due to a $243,000, or 9.4% decrease in interest expense on borrowings and deposits due to an overall decline in the average cost of funds, and a $19,000, or 0.1%, increase in total interest income. The decrease in non-interest income was primarily the result of a $1.0 million decrease in the gain on sale of loans. The Company's average interest rate spread was 3.69% for the year ended June 30, 2014, compared to 3.80% for the year ended June 30, 2013. The Company's net interest margin was 3.92% for the year ended June 30, 2014, compared to 4.06% for the year ended June 30, 2013. The decrease in net interest margin and average interest rate spread on a comparative twelve month basis is attributable primarily to a decrease of 29 basis points in average yield on interest earning assets for the year ended June 30, 2014 compared to the prior year twelve month period.

The following tables set forth the Company's average balances and average yields earned and rates paid on its interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated.

The $262,000 decrease in non-interest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, compared to the prior year quarterly period was due to decreases of $284,000 in gain on sale of loans held for sale, $3,000 in income on bank owned life insurance and $1,000 in gain on sale of loans held for sale, partially offset by an increase of $26,000 in other non-interest income. The $1.1 million decrease in non-interest income for the year ended June 30, 2014, compared to the prior year period was primarily due to decreases of $1.0 million in gain on sale of loans held for sale, $181,000 in gain on sale of securities, and $13,000 in income on bank owned life insurance partially offset by $129,000 in gain on sale of real estate and an $18,000 increase in other non-interest income. The $129,000 gain on sale of real estate arose from the disposition of a lot in Bossier City, Louisiana that had been held for a possible branch location site.  

The $59,000 decrease in non-interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013, is primarily attributable to decreases of $35,000 in compensation and benefits expense, $29,000 in occupancy and equipment expense, $30,000 in legal fees, $12,000 in audit and examination fees and $4,000 in other non-interest expenses.  These decreases were partially offset by increases of $18,000 in data processing, $17,000 in advertising, $13,000 in deposit insurance premiums and $2,000 in loan and collection expense.

The $250,000 increase in non-interest expense for the year ended June 30, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013, is primarily attributable to increases of $100,000 in compensation and benefits, $63,000 in occupancy and equipment expense, $58,000 in data processing expense, $40,000 in franchise and bank shares tax, $40,000 in other non-interest expenses, $31,000 in advertising and $24,000 in deposit insurance premiums. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $108,000 in legal fees and $6,000 in audit and examination fees.

At June 30, 2014, the Company reported total assets of $329.5 million, an increase of $52.4 million, or 18.9%, compared to total assets of $277.2 million at June 30, 2013. The increase in assets was comprised primarily of increases in loans receivable, net of $33.5 million, or 16.2%, from $206.1 million at June 30, 2013, to $239.6 million at June 30, 2014, loans held-for-sale of $5.9 million, or 170.6%, from $3.5 million at June 30, 2013, to $9.4 million at June 30, 2014, cash and cash equivalents of $9.9 million, or 270.0%, from $3.7 million at June 30, 2013 to $13.6 million at June 30, 2014, other assets of $2.3 million, or 15.6%, from $14.5 million at June 30, 2013 to $16.8 million at June 30, 2014, and an increase in investment securities of $773,000, or 1.6%, from $49.4 million at June 30, 2013, to $50.2 million at June 30, 2014.  The increase in loans held-for-sale results primarily from an increase at June 30, 2014 in receivables from financial institutions purchasing the Company's loans held-for-sale. 

The following table shows total loans originated and sold during the periods indicated. 

Included in the $27.9 million and $29.9 million of construction loan originations for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, are approximately $18.6 million and $26.5 million, respectively, of one- to four-family residential construction loans and $9.3 million and $3.4 million, respectively, of commercial and multi-family construction loans, all of which are primarily located in the Company's market area. 

Total liabilities increased $51.6 million, or 21.9%, from $235.2 million at June 30, 2013, to $286.8 million at June 30, 2014, primarily due to an increase in total deposits of $60.4 million, or 28.5%, to $272.3 million at June 30, 2014, compared to $211.9 million at June 30, 2013.  The increase in deposits was primarily due to increases in money market deposits of $32.8 million, or 83.0%, from $39.5 million at June 30, 2013 to $72.2 million at June 30, 2014, non-interest bearing demand deposits of $17.4 million, or 66.9%, from $26.0 million at June 30, 2013 to $43.4 million at June 30, 2014, certificates of deposit of $8.2 million, or 7.3%, from $112.3 million at June 30, 2013 to $120.4 million at June 30, 2014 and passbook savings accounts of $2.6 million, or 27.7%, from $9.5 million at June 30, 2013 to $12.2 million at June 30, 2014. The increase in money market deposits was primarily due to a non-recurring deposit in the fourth quarter which had a balance of approximately $34.6 million at June 30, 2014. The deposit was short-term in nature and has been fully withdrawn as of the date hereof. At both June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the Company had $12.7 million in brokered deposits. The Company utilizes brokered certificates of deposit as a component of its strategy for lowering Home Federal Bank's overall cost of funds. The brokered certificates of deposit which have maturity dates greater than twelve months are callable by Home Federal Bank after twelve months pursuant to early redemption provisions. Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas decreased $8.8 million, or 40.5%, to $12.9 million at June 30, 2014, from $21.7 million at June 30, 2013. The decrease in advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas was funded by the non-recurring deposit described above.

At June 30, 2014, the Company had $178,000 of non-performing assets compared to $649,000 of non-performing assets at June 30, 2013, consisting of one single-family residential loan and one non-performing line of credit at June 30, 2014, compared to four single family residential loans and one non-performing line of credit at June 30, 2013. At June 30, 2014, the Company had no loans classified as substandard compared to three commercial loans and one residential mortgage loan in the aggregate amount of $5.3 million at June 30, 2013. The Company had one single-family residential loan classified as doubtful in the amount of $151,000 at June 30, 2014 and one line of credit classified as doubtful in the amount of $27,000 at both June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013.

Shareholders' equity increased $797,000 or 1.9%, to $42.8 million at June 30, 2014 from $42.0 million at June 30, 2013. The primary reasons for the increase in shareholders' equity from June 30, 2013, were net income of $2.7 million, an increase in the Company's accumulated other comprehensive income of $129,000, proceeds from the issuance of common stock from the exercise of stock options of $384,000, and the vesting of restricted stock awards, stock options and the release of employee stock ownership plan shares totaling $621,000. These increases were partially offset by dividends paid of $551,000 and the acquisition of treasury stock in the amount of $2.5 million. 

The Company repurchased 11,337 shares of its common stock under its stock repurchase programs during the quarter ended June 30, 2014 at an average price per share of $18.70. On January 8, 2014, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a fourth stock repurchase program for the repurchase of up to 115,000 shares. As of June 30, 2014, there were a total of 105,772 shares remaining for repurchase under the program. 

Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana is the holding company for Home Federal Bank which conducts business from its four full-service banking offices and one agency in northwest Louisiana.

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