Community West Bancshares Earns $1.1 Million in Second Quarter 2016; Fueled by Loan and Deposit Growth, Strong Net Interest Margin and Improving Asset Quality; Book Value Per Common Share Increases to $7.81; Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.035 Per Common Share


GOLETA, Calif, July 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Community West Bancshares (Community West or the Company), (NASDAQ:CWBC), parent company of Community West Bank (Bank), today reported net income of $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2016 (2Q16) compared to net income of $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2016 (1Q16) and a net loss of $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2015 (2Q15).

In the first six months of the year, Community West reported net income of $2.4 million compared to a net loss of $572,000 in the first six months of 2015.  Excluding the net loan litigation settlement, Community West’s net income for the second quarter and the six-month period in 2015 would have been $1.9 million and $3.6 million, respectively. (See “NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION”)

“Our momentum during the first half of the year has been fueled by robust loan and deposit growth, and continued improvements in credit quality,” stated Martin E. Plourd, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our results reflect the investment in our future, with new branches in San Luis Obispo and Oxnard scheduled to open later this year, as well as the relocation of our Santa Maria branch. With the consolidation among banks in our market areas in recent years, we continue to offer responsive and flexible service from a locally-owned and operated bank.”

2Q16 Financial Highlights

  • Nonaccrual loans, net, decreased 49.4% to $4.0 million, or 0.70% of net loans at June 30, 2016, compared to $7.9 million, or 1.53% of net loans, a year ago, representing the lowest level since 3Q07.
  • Net income available to common stockholders for 2Q16 was $1.1 million, or $0.13 per diluted share. 
  • Annualized return on average assets was 0.72%.
  • Annualized return on average common equity was 7.15%.
  • Net interest margin was 4.47%.
  • Net loans increased 10.3% to $564.8 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $511.9 million a year ago.
  • Non-interest-bearing deposits increased 15.5% to $83.5 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $72.3 million a year ago.
  • Book value per common share was $7.81 at June 30, 2016, compared to $7.19 a year ago. 
  • The Bank continues to be well-capitalized per banking regulations with its total risk-based capital ratio at 13.53% and Tier 1 leverage ratio at 10.53% at June 30, 2016.
  • Received approval to open a full-service branch office in Oxnard.

Income Statement

“Higher than industry average loan yields and periodic loan interest recoveries continue to contribute to our net interest margin remaining in the mid-4% range,” said Charles G. Baltuskonis, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Second quarter net interest margin was 4.47% compared to 4.45% in 1Q16 and 5.08% in 2Q15.  In 2Q15, 51 basis points of the asset yields were attributable to two large past due loan relationships which were paid in full.  In the first six months of 2016, the net interest margin was 4.46%.  In the first six months of 2015, the same two loans contributed 26 basis points to the asset yields.

Net interest income for 2Q16 was $6.9 million, a 3.0% increase compared to $6.7 million in the preceding quarter and a 2.8% decrease compared to $7.1 million in 2Q15.  Year-to-date, net interest income increased to $13.6 million compared to $13.5 million in the same period a year ago.  Non-interest income was $577,000 in 2Q16, a slight decrease compared to $579,000 in 1Q16 and a 21.7% decrease compared to $737,000 in 2Q15.  In the first six months of 2016, non-interest income was $1.2 million, which was relatively unchanged compared to the first six months of 2015.

Non-interest expenses totaled $5.5 million in 2Q16, compared to $5.3 million in 1Q16.  The increase compared to the preceding quarter is largely due to the business development of the Bank’s Northern region, consisting of San Luis Obispo and north Santa Barbara counties.  In the second quarter of 2015, we settled a claim for $7.2 million, net, and, primarily as a result of this settlement, Community West’s 2Q15 non-interest expenses totaled $12.4 million and non-interest expenses for the first six months of 2015 totaled $17.2 million.  Excluding this one-time settlement, non-interest expenses would have been approximately $5.2 million in 2Q15 and would have been approximately $10.0 million for the first six months of 2015.  (See “NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION”)  Year-to-date non-interest expenses were $10.8 million compared to $17.2 million in the like period a year ago.

Balance Sheet

Total assets were $642.6 million at June 30, 2016, a 3.2% increase compared to three months earlier and a 9.4% increase compared to one year ago.  Net loans increased 4.6% to $564.8 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $540.2 million at March 31, 2016, and increased 10.3% compared to $511.9 million a year ago.  Commercial real estate loans outstanding were up 21.2% from year ago levels to $207.7 million at June 30, 2016, and comprise 36.3% of the total loan portfolio.  Manufactured housing loans were up 10.2% from year ago levels to $188.3 million and represent 32.9% of total loans.  Commercial loans increased 14.0% from year ago levels to $106.7 million and represent 18.7% of the total loan portfolio and SBA loans decreased 22.8% from a year ago to $41.2 million and represent 7.2% of the total loan portfolio.

Deposits totaled $565.2 million at June 30, 2016, up 3.5% compared to $546.1 million at March 31, 2016 and grew 12.9% compared to $500.6 million a year earlier.  Core deposits, defined as non-interest-bearing checking, interest-bearing checking, money market accounts, savings accounts and retail certificates of deposit totaled $424.5 million at June 30, 2016 and comprise 75.1% of total deposits, compared to $392.8 million, or 78.5% of total deposits, a year ago. 

Stockholders’ equity was $63.2 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $62.4 million at March 31, 2016, and $64.5 million a year ago.  Book value per common share improved to $7.81 at June 30, 2016 compared to $7.71 at March 31, 2016, and $7.19 a year ago. 

Credit Quality

“Asset quality continues to improve and is now better than the average for both national banks and banks of our size.  Due to robust loan growth, especially during the end of the quarter, we recorded a provision for loan losses during the second quarter,” said Plourd.  The loan loss provision was $61,000 in 2Q16, compared to a negative loan loss provision of $247,000 in 1Q16, and a negative provision of $584,000 in 2Q15.  Net loan recoveries were $148,000 in 2Q16 compared to $150,000 in 1Q16 and $552,000 in 2Q15.

The allowance for loan losses was $7.0 million at June 30, 2016, or 1.37% of total loans held for investment, compared to 1.41% at March 31, 2016, and 1.60% a year ago.  Net nonaccrual loans decreased 16.7% to $4.0 million, or 0.70% of total loans at June 30, 2016, compared to $4.8 million, or 0.88% of total loans, three months earlier, and decreased 49.4% compared to $7.9 million, or 1.53% of total loans, a year ago. 

Of the $4.0 million in net nonaccrual loans, $1.2 million were manufactured housing loans, $966,000 were SBA 504 1st loans, $852,000 were commercial real estate loans, $541,000 were home equity loans, $224,000 were SBA loans and $199,000 were single family real estate loans.

Other assets acquired through foreclosure totaled $129,000 at June 30, 2016, compared to $176,000 three months earlier and $267,000 a year earlier.  Nonaccrual loans plus other assets acquired through foreclosure, net of SBA/USDA guarantees, totaled $4.1 million, or 0.64% of total assets, at June 30, 2016, compared to $5.0 million, or 0.80% of total assets, three months earlier and $8.2 million, or 1.40% of total assets, a year ago. 

Cash Dividend Declared

The Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.035 per common share, payable August 31, 2016 to common shareholders of record on August 12, 2016.

Stock Repurchase Program
On August 31, 2015, the Company announced that the Board of Directors authorized a common stock repurchase program of up to $3 million.  During 2Q16, the Company bought back 30,530 shares.  As of June 30, 2016, 141,783 shares had been repurchased at an average price of $7.08 per share.

Company Overview

Community West Bancshares is a financial services company with headquarters in Goleta, California. The Company is the holding company for Community West Bank, which has five full-service California branch banking offices, in Goleta, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura and Westlake Village and one loan production office in San Luis Obispo. The principal business activities of the Company are Relationship business banking, Manufactured Housing lending and SBA lending.

Safe Harbor Disclosure

This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current views of future events and operations.  These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company as of the date of this release.  It is important to note that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the ability of the Company to implement its strategy and expand its lending operations.

          
COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES         
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS         
(unaudited)         
(in 000's, except per share data)         
          
  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
  June 30, March 31, June 30, June 30,June 30,
   2016   2016   2015   2016  2015 
          
Interest income         
Loans, including fees $  7,414  $  7,175  $  7,410  $  14,589 $  14,122 
Investment securities and other    260     269     285     529    590 
Total interest income    7,674     7,444     7,695     15,118    14,712 
Interest expense         
Deposits    704     651     569     1,355    1,174 
Other borrowings and convertible debt    73     72     15     145    76 
Total interest expense    777     723     584     1,500    1,250 
Net interest income    6,897     6,721     7,111     13,618    13,462 
Provision for loan losses    61     (247)    (584)    (186)   (1,552)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses    6,836     6,968     7,695     13,804    15,014 
Non-interest income         
Other loan fees    282     275     370     557    545 
Document processing fees    136     115     131     251    223 
Service charges    102     90     87     192    160 
Other    57     99     149     156    289 
Total non-interest income    577     579     737     1,156    1,217 
Non-interest expenses         
Salaries and employee benefits     3,494     3,452     3,202     6,946    6,317 
Occupancy, net    581     486     487     1,067    932 
Professional services    278     179     276     457    524 
Advertising and marketing    212     81     152     293    232 
Depreciation     175     149     96     324    187 
Data processing    169     171     134     340    253 
FDIC assessment    99     97     82     196    153 
Stock-based compensation    84     80     218     164    260 
Loan servicing and collection    (89)    179     182     90    271 
Loan litigation settlement, net    -     -     7,153     -    7,153 
Other     503     462     399     965    870 
Total non-interest expenses    5,506     5,336     12,381     10,842    17,152 
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes    1,907     2,211     (3,949)    4,118    (921)
Provision for income taxes    782     928     (1,607)    1,710    (349)
Net income (loss)    1,125     1,283     (2,342)    2,408    (572)
Dividends and accretion on preferred stock     -     -     136     -    276 
Discount on partial redemption of preferred stock    -     -     (110)    -    (129)
Net income (loss) available (attributable) to common stockholders $  1,125  $  1,283  $  (2,368) $  2,408 $  (719)
Earnings per share:         
Basic $  0.14  $  0.16  $  (0.29) $  0.30 $  (0.09)
Diluted $  0.13  $  0.16  $  (0.29) $  0.29 $  (0.09)
          

 

COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES          
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS          
(unaudited)          
(in 000's, except per share data)          
           
  June 30, March 31, June 30, December 31,  
   2016   2016   2015   2015   
           
Cash and cash equivalents $  2,665  $  2,499  $  1,379  $  2,789   
Time and interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions    24,604     26,538     22,008     32,829   
Investment securities    30,782     35,633     31,940     30,466   
Loans:          
Commercial    106,650     107,386     93,582     107,510   
Commercial real estate    207,664     185,458     171,258     179,491   
SBA    41,176     42,890     53,381     47,880   
Manufactured housing    188,315     182,018     170,860     177,891   
Single family real estate    17,203     17,919     18,215     19,073   
HELOC    10,803     10,885     11,226     10,934   
Other    43     425     595     683   
Total loans    571,854     546,981     519,117     543,462   
           
Loans, net          
Held for sale    60,086     61,897     65,484     64,488   
Held for investment    511,768     485,084     453,633     478,974   
Less: Allowance for loan losses    (7,028)    (6,819)    (7,243)    (6,916)  
Net held for investment    504,740     478,265     446,390     472,058   
NET LOANS    564,826     540,162     511,874     536,546   
           
Other assets    19,747     17,923     20,073     18,583   
           
TOTAL ASSETS $  642,624  $  622,755  $  587,274  $  621,213   
           
Deposits          
Non-interest-bearing demand $  83,524  $  70,587  $  72,256  $  76,469   
Interest-bearing demand    250,036     250,404     251,238     250,509   
Savings    14,173     14,294     14,312     13,690   
Certificates of deposit ($250,000 or more)    74,622     67,995     44,694     66,722   
Other certificates of deposit    142,829     142,795     118,097     136,948   
Total deposits    565,184     546,075     500,597     544,338   
Other borrowings    10,500     10,500     20,000     10,500   
Other liabilities    3,702     3,741     2,129     4,431   
TOTAL LIABILITIES    579,386     560,316     522,726     559,269   
           
Stockholders' equity    63,238     62,439     64,548     61,944   
           
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY          
 $  642,624  $  622,755  $  587,274  $  621,213   
           
Shares outstanding    8,098     8,103     8,204     8,206   
           
Book value per common share $  7.81  $  7.71  $  7.19  $  7.55   
           

 

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION        
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)(Unaudited)        
 Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND RATIOSJun. 30, 2016 Mar. 31, 2016 Jun. 30, 2015 Jun. 30, 2016Jun. 30, 2015
Return on average common equity  7.15%  8.23%  -15.07%  7.69% -1.87%
Return on average assets  0.72%  0.83%  -1.64%  0.78% -0.20%
Efficiency ratio 73.67%  73.10%  157.64%  73.39% 116.83%
Net interest margin 4.47%  4.45%  5.08%  4.46% 4.87%
         
 Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
AVERAGE BALANCESJun. 30, 2016 Mar. 31, 2016 Jun. 30, 2015 Jun. 30, 2016Jun. 30, 2015
Average assets$  631,318  $  618,283  $  572,077  $  624,808 $  568,198 
Average earning assets   620,125     607,872     561,447     613,999    557,714 
Average total loans   558,841     543,555     496,691     551,198    495,333 
Average deposits   553,943     540,539     493,414     547,241    487,506 
Average equity (including preferred stock)   63,277     62,678     68,322     62,958    67,773 
Average common equity (excluding preferred stock)   63,277     62,678     62,336     62,958    61,639 
         
EQUITY ANALYSISJun. 30, 2016 Mar. 31, 2016 Jun. 30, 2015   
Total equity$  63,238  $  62,439  $  64,548    
Less: senior preferred stock   -      -      (5,574)   
Total common equity$  63,238  $  62,439  $  58,974    
         
Common stock outstanding   8,098     8,103     8,204    
Book value per common share$  7.81  $  7.71  $  7.19    
         
ASSET QUALITYJun. 30, 2016 Mar. 31, 2016 Jun. 30, 2015   
Nonaccrual loans, net$  3,988  $  4,807  $  7,949    
Nonaccrual loans, net/total loans 0.70%  0.88%  1.53%   
Other assets acquired through foreclosure, net$  129  $  176  $  267    
         
Nonaccrual loans plus other assets acquired through foreclosure, net$  4,117  $  4,983  $  8,216    
Nonaccrual loans plus other assets acquired through foreclosure, net/total assets 0.64%  0.80%  1.40%   
Net loan (recoveries)/charge-offs in the quarter$  (148) $  (150) $  (552)   
Net (recoveries)/charge-offs in the quarter/total loans  -0.03%  -0.30%  -0.11%   
         
Allowance for loan losses$  7,028  $  6,819  $  7,243    
Plus: Reserve for undisbursed loan commitments   89     74     40    
Total allowance for credit losses$  7,117  $  6,893  $  7,283    
Allowance for loan losses/total loans held for investment 1.37%  1.41%  1.60%   
Allowance for loan losses/nonaccrual loans, net 176.23%  141.86%  91.12%   
         
Community West Bank *        
Tier 1 leverage ratio 10.53%  10.55%  11.06%   
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio 12.28%  12.59%  13.14%   
Total risk-based capital ratio 13.53%  13.84%  14.40%   
         
INTEREST SPREAD ANALYSISJun. 30, 2016 Mar. 31, 2016 Jun. 30, 2015   
Yield on total loans 5.34%  5.31%  5.98%   
Yield on investments 2.57%  2.58%  2.98%   
Yield on interest earning deposits 0.46%  0.57%  0.32%   
Yield on earning assets 4.98%  4.93%  5.50%   
         
Cost of interest-bearing deposits 0.59%  0.56%  0.54%   
Cost of total deposits 0.51%  0.48%  0.46%   
Cost of borrowings 2.80%  2.76%  0.94%   
Cost of interest-bearing liabilities 0.64%  0.61%  0.55%   
         
* Capital ratios are preliminary until the Call Report is filed.        

 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
(Unaudited)    
 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 
NON-GAAP PERFORMANCE MEASURESJun. 30, 2015 Jun. 30, 2015 
Return on average common equity, excluding loan litigation settlement, net (1) 12.02%  11.90% 
Return on average assets, excluding loan litigation settlement, net (1) 1.31%  1.29% 
Efficiency ratio, excluding loan litigation settlement, net (2) 66.62%  68.12% 
     
     
NON-GAAP EARNINGS PER SHARE    
Basic (3)$  0.22  $  0.43  
Diluted (3)$  0.22  $  0.41  
     
     
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES    
(Unaudited)    
 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 
 Jun. 30, 2015 Jun. 30, 2015 
 (in thousands) 
Net income$  (2,342) $  (572) 
Loan litigation settlement, net   7,153     7,153  
Tax effect on loan litigation settlement, net   (2,943)    (2,943) 
Net income, excluding loan litigation settlement, net (3)$  1,868  $  3,638  
     
     
 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 
 Jun. 30, 2015 Jun. 30, 2015 
 (in thousands) 
Total non-interest expenses$  12,381  $  17,152  
Loan litigation settlement, net   (7,153)    (7,153) 
Total non-interest expenses, excluding loan litigation settlement, net (3)$  5,228  $  9,999  
     
(1) The Company believes these non-GAAP ratios provide a useful metric with which to analyze and evaluate the financial condition of the Company
(2) The Company believes this non-GAAP ratio provides a useful metric to measure the operating efficiency of the Company 
(3) The Company believes these non-GAAP measurements are a key indicator of the ongoing earnings power of the Company 

 


            

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