Third Quarter 2015 Highlights:
- Earnings per share increased 2% compared to third quarter 2014
- Net interest income (tax-equivalent) increased 4% compared to third quarter 2014
- Average loans increased $26.8 million or 7% compared to third quarter 2014
- Nonperforming assets were 0.48% of total assets at September 30, 2015 compared to 0.37% a year earlier
AUBURN, Ala., Oct. 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. (Nasdaq:AUBN) reported net earnings of $1.9 million, or $0.52 per share, for the third quarter of 2015, compared to $1.9 million, or $0.51 per share, for the third quarter of 2014. Net earnings for the first nine months of 2015 were $5.9 million, or $1.63 per share, compared to $5.6 million, or $1.52 per share, for the first nine months of 2014.
“The Company’s third quarter results reflect solid loan growth and continued improvements in our cost of funds,” said E.L. Spencer, Jr., President, CEO and Chairman of the Board.
Net interest income (tax-equivalent) was $6.0 million for the third quarter of 2015, an increase of 4% compared to the third quarter of 2014. This increase reflects management’s efforts to increase earnings by shifting the Company’s asset mix through loan growth, focusing on deposit pricing, and reducing higher-cost wholesale funding. Average loans were $416.2 million in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of $26.8 million or 7%, from the third quarter of 2014. Average deposits were $715.0 million in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of $36.2 million or 5%, from the first nine months of 2014.
Nonperforming assets were $3.9 million, or 0.48% of total assets, at September 30, 2015, compared to $2.9 million, or 0.37% of total assets, at September 30, 2014. Annualized net recoveries were 0.04% of average loans for the third quarter of 2015, compared to annualized net charge-offs of 0.28% of average loans for the third quarter of 2014. The Company recorded $0.2 million in provision for loan losses in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2014. Provision expense reflects the absolute level of loans, loan growth, the credit quality of the loan portfolio, and the amount of net charge-offs. Our allowance for loan losses was 1.21% of total loans at September 30, 2015, compared to 1.20% of total loans at September 30, 2014.
Noninterest income was $1.1 million for the third quarter of 2015, compared to $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2014. Mortgage lending income decreased by $0.2 million due to a decrease in origination income of $0.1 million and a decrease of $0.1 million in servicing fees, net of related amortization expense. Although servicing fees were unchanged, amortization expense increased due to faster prepayment speeds. The decrease in mortgage lending income was largely offset by an increase in securities gains and (losses), net of $0.2 million. The Company had no realized losses on the sale of securities in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2014. Losses realized on the sale of securities in the third quarter of 2014 were solely due to changes in interest rates and not the credit quality of the securities.
Noninterest expense was $3.9 million in the third quarter of 2015, compared to $3.6 million in the third quarter of 2014. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net expenses related to OREO of $0.2 million. Net expenses related to OREO increased compared to the third quarter of 2014 primarily due to gains realized on the sale of certain OREO properties in the third quarter of 2014.
Income tax expense was $0.7 million for the third quarter of 2015 and 2014. The Company's income tax expense for the third quarter of 2015 reflects an effective income tax rate of 27.49%, compared to 27.47% for the third quarter of 2014. The Company’s income tax expense is principally affected by tax-exempt earnings on municipal securities investments and bank-owned life insurance.
The Company paid cash dividends of $0.22 per share in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of 2.3% from the same period in 2014. At September 30, 2015, the Bank’s regulatory capital was well above the minimum amounts required to be “well capitalized” under current regulatory standards.
About Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc.
Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. (the “Company”) is the parent company of AuburnBank (the “Bank”), with total assets of approximately $818 million. The Bank is an Alabama state-chartered bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System and has operated continuously since 1907. Both the Company and the Bank are headquartered in Auburn, Alabama. The Bank conducts its business in East Alabama, including Lee County and surrounding areas. The Bank operates full-service branches in Auburn, Opelika, Valley, Hurtsboro and Notasulga, Alabama. In-store branches are located in the Kroger and Wal-Mart SuperCenter stores in Opelika. The Bank also operates a commercial loan production office in Phenix City, Alabama. Additional information about the Company and the Bank may be found by visiting www.auburnbank.com.
Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements about future financial and operating results, costs and revenues, economic conditions in our markets, loan demand, mortgage lending activity, changes in the mix of our earning assets (including those generating tax exempt income) and our deposit and wholesale liabilities, net interest margin, yields on earning assets, securities valuations and performance, interest rates (generally and those applicable to our assets and liabilities), loan performance, nonperforming assets, other real estate owned, loan losses, charge-offs, other-than-temporary impairments, collateral values, credit quality, asset sales, and market trends, as well as statements with respect to our objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements, with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control, and which may cause the actual results, performance, achievements, or financial condition of the Company or the Bank to be materially different from future results, performance, achievements, or financial condition expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You should not expect us to update any forward-looking statements.
All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice, together with those risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and otherwise in our other SEC reports and filings.
Explanation of Certain Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The attached financial highlights include certain designated net interest income amounts presented on a tax-equivalent basis, a non-GAAP financial measure, including the presentation and calculation of the efficiency ratio. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in its analysis of the Company’s performance and believes the presentation of net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis provides comparability of net interest income from both taxable and tax-exempt sources and facilitates comparability within the industry. Although the Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures enhance investors’ understanding of its business and performance, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered an alternative to GAAP. Along with the attached financial highlights, the Company provides reconciliations between the GAAP financial measures and these non-GAAP financial measures.
| Reports Third Quarter Net Earnings | |||||||||||||||||||
| Financial Highlights (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Quarter ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
| Results of Operations | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net interest income (a) | $ | 6,011 | $ | 5,769 | $ | 17,995 | $ | 16,928 | |||||||||||
| Less: tax-equivalent adjustment | 341 | 321 | 1,014 | 957 | |||||||||||||||
| Net interest income (GAAP) | 5,670 | 5,448 | 16,981 | 15,971 | |||||||||||||||
| Noninterest income | 1,056 | 1,017 | 3,544 | 2,854 | |||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | 6,726 | 6,465 | 20,525 | 18,825 | |||||||||||||||
| Provision for loan losses | 200 | 300 | 200 | (100 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Noninterest expense | 3,892 | 3,584 | 12,235 | 11,324 | |||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 724 | 709 | 2,168 | 2,049 | |||||||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 1,910 | $ | 1,872 | $ | 5,922 | $ | 5,552 | |||||||||||
| Per share data: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net earnings: | $ | 0.52 | $ | 0.51 | $ | 1.63 | $ | 1.52 | |||||||||||
| Cash dividends declared | $ | 0.22 | $ | 0.215 | $ | 0.66 | $ | 0.645 | |||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | 3,643,416 | 3,643,328 | 3,643,392 | 3,643,262 | |||||||||||||||
| Shares outstanding, at period end | 3,643,465 | 3,643,328 | 3,643,465 | 3,643,328 | |||||||||||||||
| Book value | $ | 21.85 | $ | 20.09 | $ | 21.85 | $ | 20.09 | |||||||||||
| Common stock price: | |||||||||||||||||||
| High | $ | 27.80 | $ | 24.92 | $ | 27.80 | $ | 25.80 | |||||||||||
| Low | 25.78 | 23.17 | 23.15 | 22.90 | |||||||||||||||
| Period-end: | 26.47 | 24.64 | 26.47 | 24.64 | |||||||||||||||
| To earnings ratio | 12.37 | x | 12.38 | x | 12.37 | x | 12.38 | x | |||||||||||
| To book value | 121 | % | 123 | % | 121 | % | 123 | % | |||||||||||
| Performance ratios: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Return on average equity (annualized) | 9.75 | % | 10.19 | % | 10.12 | % | 10.65 | % | |||||||||||
| Return on average assets (annualized) | 0.95 | % | 0.97 | % | 0.99 | % | 0.96 | % | |||||||||||
| Dividend payout ratio | 42.31 | % | 42.16 | % | 40.49 | % | 42.43 | % | |||||||||||
| Other financial data: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net interest margin (a) | 3.13 | % | 3.16 | % | 3.19 | % | 3.15 | % | |||||||||||
| Effective income tax rate | 27.49 | % | 27.47 | % | 26.80 | % | 26.96 | % | |||||||||||
| Efficiency ratio (b) | 55.07 | % | 52.81 | % | 56.80 | % | 57.24 | % | |||||||||||
| Asset Quality: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nonperforming assets: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nonperforming (nonaccrual) loans | $ | 3,650 | $ | 1,690 | $ | 3,650 | $ | 1,690 | |||||||||||
| Other real estate owned | 278 | 1,215 | 278 | 1,215 | |||||||||||||||
| Total nonperforming assets | $ | 3,928 | $ | 2,905 | $ | 3,928 | $ | 2,905 | |||||||||||
| Net (recoveries) charge-offs | $ | (41 | ) | $ | 274 | $ | (91 | ) | $ | 414 | |||||||||
| Allowance for loan losses as a % of: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Loans | 1.21 | % | 1.20 | % | 1.21 | % | 1.20 | % | |||||||||||
| Nonperforming loans | 140 | % | 281 | % | 140 | % | 281 | % | |||||||||||
| Nonperforming assets as a % of: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Loans and other real estate owned | 0.93 | % | 0.73 | % | 0.93 | % | 0.73 | % | |||||||||||
| Total assets | 0.48 | % | 0.37 | % | 0.48 | % | 0.37 | % | |||||||||||
| Nonperforming loans as a % of total loans | 0.86 | % | 0.43 | % | 0.86 | % | 0.43 | % | |||||||||||
| Net (recoveries) charge-offs as % of avg. loans (c) | (0.04 | ) | % | 0.28 | % | (0.03 | ) | % | 0.14 | % | |||||||||
| Selected average balances: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Securities | $ | 251,393 | $ | 274,155 | $ | 258,299 | $ | 272,180 | |||||||||||
| Loans, net of unearned income | 416,210 | 389,392 | 406,343 | 381,947 | |||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 806,764 | 771,685 | 800,255 | 768,756 | |||||||||||||||
| Total deposits | 714,960 | 678,738 | 706,754 | 680,560 | |||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | 7,217 | 12,217 | 8,646 | 12,217 | |||||||||||||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 78,387 | 73,499 | 78,037 | 69,503 | |||||||||||||||
| Selected period end balances: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Securities | $ | 250,142 | $ | 264,827 | $ | 250,142 | $ | 264,827 | |||||||||||
| Loans, net of unearned income | 422,572 | 394,602 | 422,572 | 394,602 | |||||||||||||||
| Allowance for loan losses | 5,127 | 4,754 | 5,127 | 4,754 | |||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 817,994 | 781,136 | 817,994 | 781,136 | |||||||||||||||
| Total deposits | 724,311 | 680,763 | 724,311 | 680,763 | |||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | 7,217 | 12,217 | 7,217 | 12,217 | |||||||||||||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 79,599 | 73,193 | 79,599 | 73,193 | |||||||||||||||
| (a) Tax equivalent. See “Explanation of Certain Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures (unaudited).” | |||||||||||||||||||
| (b) Efficiency ratio is the result of noninterest expense divided by the sum of noninterest income and tax-equivalent net interest income. | |||||||||||||||||||
| (c) Net (recoveries) charge-offs are annualized. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reports Third Quarter Net Earnings | ||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures (unaudited): | ||||||||||||
| Quarter ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||
| Net interest income, as reported (GAAP) | $ | 5,670 | $ | 5,448 | $ | 16,981 | $ | 15,971 | ||||
| Tax-equivalent adjustment | 341 | 321 | 1,014 | 957 | ||||||||
| Net interest income (tax-equivalent) | $ | 6,011 | $ | 5,769 | $ | 17,995 | $ | 16,928 | ||||