1ST Constitution Bancorp Reports Third Quarter 2016 Results

CRANBURY, N.J., Oct. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 1^ST Constitution Bancorp (NASDAQ:FCCY), the holding company (the “Company”) for 1^ST Constitution Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $2.7 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.33 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company reported net income of $7.2 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.89. 

THIRD QUARTER 2016 HIGHLIGHTS

• Net income increased 9.5% and diluted earnings per share increased 10.0% compared to the third quarter of 2015.
• Return on Average Assets and Return on Average Equity were 1.03% and 10.45%, respectively.
• Book value per share and tangible book value per share were $13.02 and $11.39, respectively.
• Net interest income was $9.5 million and the net interest margin was 3.92% on a tax equivalent basis.
• Non-performing assets were $5.4 million, or 0.51% of assets, at September 30, 2016.
• The Bank did not record a provision for loan losses in the third quarter due to lower historical loan loss factors that reflected the continued improvement in loan credit quality and the current economic and operating environment. Through the first nine months of 2016 net recoveries of loans of $226,000 were recorded.
• On September 16, 2016, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per common share to be paid on October 21, 2016 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 28, 2016.  This action represents the first cash dividend declared by 1^ST Constitution Bancorp on its common shares.

Robert F. Mangano, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated “We are pleased with our financial performance for the third quarter. Net income increased $233,000 and 9.5% compared to the third quarter of last year and return on average assets was 1.03%.” Mr. Mangano added, “I am encouraged by the progress generated by our new residential lending team that joined us in August and the building of our residential mortgage pipeline to $30.0 million by the end of September.”

Discussion of Financial Results

Net income was $2.7 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $2.5 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2015. The increase in net income of $233,000, or 9.5%, was generated primarily by a $333,000 increase in non-interest income and a $283,000 reduction of non-interest expenses in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2015. All share and per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the effect of the five percent common stock dividend paid on February 1, 2016.

Net interest income was $9.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 and declined $175,000 compared to net interest income of $9.7 million for the third quarter of 2015 principally due to an increase in interest expense of $186,000. Interest income was $10.8 million for each of the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. Average earning assets were $987.8 million with a yield of 4.47% for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $938.3 million with a yield of 4.68% for the third quarter of 2015. The lower yield on average earning assets in the third quarter of 2016 reflected primarily the lower yield earned on commercial and commercial real estate loans and investments and the lower percentage of average loans to average earning assets compared to the third quarter of 2015. The yield on loans and investments declined due to the continued low interest rate environment as new loans were originated and investment securities were purchased at yields lower than the average yield on loans and investments, respectively, in the prior year period.

Interest expense on average interest bearing liabilities was $1.4 million, or 0.71%, for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $1.2 million, or 0.63%, for the third quarter of 2015. The $186,000 increase in the interest expense on interest bearing liabilities for the third quarter of 2016 reflected primarily higher short-term market interest rates in 2016 and increased competition for deposits compared to 2015.

The net interest margin declined to 3.92% in the third quarter of 2016 compared to 4.19% in the third quarter of 2015 due primarily to the lower yield on average earning assets and the higher cost of average interest bearing liabilities.

The Company did not record a provision for loan losses in the third quarter of 2016 compared to a provision for loan losses of $100,000 in the third quarter of 2015. A provision for loan losses was not required for the third quarter of 2016 due to lower historical loan loss factors, which reflected the improvement in loan credit quality, the resolution of non-performing loans and the significant reduction of net charge-offs of commercial and commercial real estate loans in 2016 and 2015. Management believes that the current economic and operating conditions are generally positive, which also was considered in management's evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Through the first three quarters of 2016, net recoveries of loans were $226,000 compared to net charge-offs of loans of $393,000 for the first three quarters of 2015. Net charge-offs of loans for all of 2015 were $465,000, or 0.07% of average loans.

Non-interest income was $1.8 million for the third quarter of 2016, an increase of $333,000, or 23.3%, compared to $1.4 million for the third quarter of 2015. Other income increased $272,000 in the third quarter of 2016 and included an insurance recovery of $125,000 and a recovery of $75,000 in excess of the fair value of an acquired non-performing loan. An increase of $93,000 in gains from the sales of loans also contributed to the increase in non-interest income for the third quarter of 2016. In the third quarter of 2016, $3.5 million of SBA loans were sold and gains of $347,000 were recorded compared to $2.2 million of loans sold and gains of $193,000 recorded in the third quarter of 2015. SBA guaranteed commercial lending activity and loan sales vary from period to period.  In the third quarter of 2016, $12.2 million of residential mortgages were sold and $529,000 of gains were recorded compared to $38.0 million of loans sold and $590,000 of gains recorded in the third quarter of 2015. Service charge income was relatively unchanged from the 2015 quarter.

Non-interest expenses were $7.1 million for the third quarter of 2016, a decrease of $283,000, or 3.8%, compared to $7.4 million for the third quarter of 2015. Salaries and employee benefits expense increased $159,000, or 3.6%, due primarily to an increase in full-time equivalent employees. Commissions paid to residential loan officers, which were included in salaries and benefits expense, declined $142,000 due to the lower volume of mortgages originated in the third quarter of 2016. Occupancy costs increased $43,000, or 4.5%, due primarily to the occupancy costs of four residential mortgage loan production offices added in the third quarter of 2016. FDIC insurance expense declined $55,000, or 34.4%, due to a lower assessment rate that reflected the Bank’s improvement in asset quality and financial performance. OREO expense declined due to the significant reduction in OREO assets. Other operating expenses decreased $311,000 due primarily to an $88,000 decrease in expense incurred for the collection and recovery of non-performing loans, lower telephone and communication expense of $63,000 due to the termination of certain services and decreases in various other operating expenses, which were partially offset by a $60,000 increase in internal and external professional audit fees related to management’s required year-end 2016 attestation regarding internal controls (SOX 404).

Income tax expense was $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2016, resulting in an effective tax rate of 35.1% compared to income tax expense of $1.1 million, which resulted in an effective tax rate of 31.8% in the third quarter of 2015. The effective tax rate increased primarily due to the higher pretax income in the third quarter of 2016.

At September 30, 2016, the allowance for loan losses was $7.5 million compared to $7.6 million at December 31, 2015. As a percentage of total loans, the allowance was 1.00% at September 30, 2016 compared to 1.11% at year end 2015. The decline in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans reflected the lower level of non-performing loans and the lower historical loan loss factors at September 30, 2016 compared to December 31, 2015.

Total assets increased to $1.06 billion at September 30, 2016 from $968.0 million at December 31, 2015 due primarily to a $67.3 million increase in total loans, an increase of $9.7 million in investments, and an increase of $4.4 million in loans held for sale, which were funded primarily by increases of $40.3 million in deposits and $38.1 million in short-term borrowings. Total portfolio loans at September 30, 2016 were $749.4 million compared to $682.1 million at December 31, 2015. The increase in loans was due primarily to a $37.6 million increase in mortgage warehouse loans, reflecting the seasonality of residential home buying in our markets, a $25.6 million increase in commercial real estate loans, and a $4.2 million increase in residential mortgage loans. Total investment securities at September 30, 2016 were $224.4 million, an increase of $9.7 million from $214.7 million at December 31, 2015.

Total deposits at September 30, 2016 were $827.1 million compared to $786.8 million at December 31, 2015. Total deposits grew $40.3 million, with savings deposits increasing $15.1 million, non-interest bearing demand deposits increasing $14.0 million and interest-bearing demand deposits increasing $11.0 million.

Regulatory capital ratios continue to reflect a strong capital position. Under the regulatory capital standards (Basel III) that became effective on January 1, 2015, the Company’s common equity Tier 1 to risk based assets (“CET1”), total risk-based capital, Tier I capital, and leverage ratios were 9.91%, 12.68%, 11.87% and 10.57%, respectively, at September 30, 2016. The Bank’s CET1, total risk-based capital, Tier 1 capital and leverage ratios were 11.60%, 12.41%, 11.60% and 10.33%, respectively, at September 30, 2016. The Company and the Bank are considered “well capitalized” under these capital standards.

Asset Quality

Net recoveries of loans were $4,000 during the third quarter of 2016 and were $226,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Non-accrual loans were $5.2 million at September 30, 2016 compared to $6.0 million at December 31, 2015. During the third quarter of 2016, $748,000 of non-performing loans were resolved and $829,000 of loans were placed on non-accrual. The allowance for loan losses was 143% of non-accrual loans at September 30, 2016 compared to 126% of non-accrual loans at December 31, 2015.

Overall, we observed stable trends in loan quality with net recoveries of $4,000 during the third quarter of 2016, non-performing loans to total loans of 0.70% and non-performing assets to total assets of 0.51% at September 30, 2016.

OREO at September 30, 2016 decreased to $166,000 from $1.0 million at December 31, 2015 due to the sale in the second quarter of 2016 of one residential property previously held in OREO.

About 1^ST Constitution Bancorp

1^ST Constitution Bancorp, through its primary subsidiary, 1^ST Constitution Bank, operates 19 branch banking offices in Cranbury (2), Fort Lee, Hamilton, Hightstown, Hillsborough, Hopewell, Jamesburg, Lawrenceville, Perth Amboy, Plainsboro, Rocky Hill, West Windsor, Princeton, Rumson, Fair Haven, Shrewsbury, Little Silver and Asbury Park, New Jersey. 1^ST Constitution Bank also operates four residential mortgage loan production offices in Forked River, Flemington, Jersey City and Somerset, New Jersey.

1^ST Constitution Bancorp is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol “FCCY” and can be accessed through the Internet at www.1STCONSTITUTION.com 

The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management’s confidence and strategies and management’s expectations about new and existing programs and products, relationships, opportunities, taxation, technology and market conditions. These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as “expect,” “look,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may,” “will,” or similar statements or variations of such terms. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in the direction of the economy in New Jersey, the direction of interest rates, effective income tax rates, loan prepayment assumptions, continued levels of loan quality and origination volume, continued relationships with major customers including sources for loans, a higher level of net loan charge-offs and delinquencies than anticipated, bank regulatory rules, regulations or policies that restrict or direct certain actions, the adoption, interpretation and implementation of new or pre-existing accounting pronouncements, a change in legal and regulatory barriers including issues related to compliance with anti-money laundering and bank secrecy act laws, as well as the effects of general economic conditions and legal and regulatory barriers and structure. 1^ST Constitution Bancorp assumes no obligation for updating any such forward-looking statements at any time, except as required by law.