SOUTHERN MISSOURI BANCORP REPORTS PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL 2017; DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND OF $0.10 PER COMMON SHARE; SCHEDULES CONFERENCE CALL TO DISCUSS RESULTS FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, AT 3:30PM CENTRAL TIME


Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Oct. 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --


Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. (“Company”) (NASDAQ: SMBC), the parent corporation of Southern Bank (“Bank”), today announced preliminary net income available to common stockholders for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 of $3.7 million, an increase of $124,000, or 3.5%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable to increased net interest income and noninterest income, a reduction in provision for income taxes, and the elimination of preferred dividends as a result of the October 2015 preferred share repurchase, partially offset by higher noninterest expenses and higher provision for loan losses. Preliminary net income available to common stockholders was $.50 per fully diluted common share for the first quarter of fiscal 2017, an increase of $0.02, or 4.2%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Highlights for the first quarter of fiscal 2017:

  • Earnings per common share (diluted) were $.50, up $.02, or 4.2%, as compared to $.48 earned in the same quarter a year ago, and up $.01, or 2.0%, as compared to the $.49 earned in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter.
     
  • Annualized return on average assets was 1.03%, while annualized return on average common equity was 11.6%, as compared to 1.12% and 12.6%, respectively, in the same quarter a year ago, and 1.07% and 11.9%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter.
     
  • Net loan growth for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 was $68.3 million, or 6.0%. Deposits were up $46.7 million, or 4.2%. Loan growth in the first quarter of the fiscal year is typically stronger for the Company as our agricultural loan portfolio nears its seasonal peak; to meet loan demand and accomplish other objectives discussed below, the Company utilized brokered funding to provide most of the deposit growth during the quarter.
     
  • Net interest margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 was 3.81%, down from the 3.87% reported for the year ago period, and up from 3.73% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter. Discount accretion on acquired loans increased over the year ago period and linked quarter as a result of the resolution of a purchased credit-impaired loan with a carrying value less than the payoff realized.
     
  • Noninterest income (excluding available-for-sale securities gains) was up 16.9% for the first quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to the year ago period, and down 0.3% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter. The linked quarter included a non-recurring benefit of approximately $138,000, with no comparable benefits in the current period.
     
  • Noninterest expense was up 14.7% for the first quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to the year ago period, and up 10.7% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the linked quarter. Noninterest expense increased in part due to a nonrecurring charge of $335,000 attributable to the prepayment of Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) term advances, discussed in further detail below.
     
  • Nonperforming assets were $8.3 million, or 0.56% of total assets, at September 30, 2016, as compared to $9.0 million, or 0.64% of total assets, at June 30, 2016, and as compared to $8.6 million, or 0.65% of total assets, at September 30, 2015.

Dividend Declared:

As the Company noted in a report on Form 8-k filed October 19, 2016, the Board of Directors, on October 18, 2016, declared a quarterly cash dividend on common stock of $0.10, payable November 30, 2016, to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 15, 2016, marking the 90th consecutive quarterly dividend since the inception of the Company. The Board of Directors and management believe the payment of a quarterly cash dividend enhances stockholder value and demonstrates our commitment to and confidence in our future prospects.

Conference Call:

The Company will host a conference call to review the information provided in this press release on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. central time (4:30 p.m. eastern). The call will be available live to interested parties by calling 1-888-339-0709 in the United States (Canada: 1-855-669-9657, international: 1-412-902-4189). Telephone playback will be available beginning one hour following the conclusion of the call through November 8, 2016. The playback may be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (Canada: 1-855-669-9658, international: 1-412-317-0088), and using the conference passcode 10095646. Participants should ask to be joined into the Southern Missouri Bancorp (SMBC) call.

Balance Sheet Summary:

The Company experienced balance sheet growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, with total assets of $1.5 billion at September 30, 2016, reflecting an increase of $65.9 million, or 4.7%, as compared to June 30, 2016. Balance sheet growth was funded through deposit growth and FHLB advances.

Available-for-sale (AFS) securities were $124.2 million at September 30, 2016, a decrease of $5.0 million, or 3.8%, as compared to June 30, 2016. The decrease was attributable to reductions in mortgage-backed securities and municipal securities, as the Company did not reinvest some principal repayments given strong loan demand. Cash equivalents and time deposits were $22.0 million, a decrease of $1.3 million, or 5.6%, as compared to June 30, 2016.

Loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, were $1.2 billion at September 30, 2016, an increase of $68.3 million, or 6.0%, as compared to June 30, 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to growth in commercial real estate, commercial, residential real estate, and construction loan balances. The increase in commercial real estate loans was attributable primarily to nonresidential loan originations, the increase in commercial balances was attributable primarily to agricultural loan funding, and the increase in residential loan balances was attributable to multifamily real estate loan originations. Loans anticipated to fund in the next 90 days stood at $55.4 million at September 30, 2016, as compared to $55.9 million at June 30, 2016, and $37.6 million at September 30, 2015.

Nonperforming loans were $5.0 million, or 0.42% of gross loans, at September 30, 2016, as compared to $5.7 million, or 0.50% of gross loans, at June 30, 2016. The decline was attributed primarily to a number of relatively small relationships which were resolved or improved in classification during the quarter. Nonperforming assets were $8.3 million, or 0.56% of total assets, at September 30, 2016, as compared to $9.0 million, or 0.64% of total assets, at June 30, 2016, primarily reflecting the dollar decrease in nonperforming loans. Our allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2016, totaled $14.5 million, representing 1.19% of gross loans and 288% of nonperforming loans, as compared to $13.8 million, or 1.20% of gross loans, and 244% of nonperforming loans, at June 30, 2016. For all impaired loans, the Company has measured impairment under ASC 310-10-35, and management believes the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2016, is adequate, based on that measurement.

Total liabilities were $1.3 billion at September 30, 2016, an increase of $63.0 million, or 4.9%, as compared to June 30, 2016.

Deposits were $1.2 billion at September 30, 2016, an increase of $46.7 million, or 4.2%, as compared to June 30, 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to growth in certificates of deposit. Specifically, the Company originated $38.2 million in brokered certificates of deposit for the purpose of funding FHLB term advance repayments and loan growth. Other deposit account types also grew, including interest-bearing transaction accounts, noninterest-bearing transaction accounts, savings accounts, and money market deposit accounts. The average loan-to-deposit ratio for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 was 104.4%, as compared to 100.8% for the same period of the prior fiscal year.

FHLB advances were $129.2 million at September 30, 2016, an increase of $19.0 million, or 17.2%, as compared to June 30, 2016, as overnight funding increased by $35.5 million, partially offset by the prepayment of $16.5 million in term advances (see discussion under “Income Statement Summary”). The increase was attributable to continued strong loan demand in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, some of which is seasonal, partially offset by the increase in deposit balances, including brokered certificates of deposit. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase totaled $25.5 million at September 30, 2016, a decrease of $1.6 million, or 6.0%, as compared to June 30, 2016. At both dates, the full balance of repurchase agreements was due to local small business and government counterparties.

The Company’s stockholders’ equity was $128.9 million at September 30, 2016, an increase of $2.9 million, or 2.3%, as compared to June 30, 2016. The increase was attributable to retention of net income, partially offset by payment of dividends on common stock and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Income Statement Summary:

The Company’s net interest income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, was $12.6 million, an increase of $872,000, or 7.5%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable to a 9.3% increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets, partially offset by a decrease in net interest margin to 3.81% in the current three-month period, as compared to 3.87% in the three-month period ended September 30, 2015.

Accretion of fair value discount on acquired loans and amortization of fair value premiums on assumed time deposits related to the Company’s acquisition of Peoples Service Company and its subsidiary, Peoples Bank of the Ozarks in August 2014 (the “Peoples Acquisition”), increased to $601,000 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, as compared to $412,000 in the same period of the prior fiscal year. This component of net interest income contributed 18 basis points to net interest margin in the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, as compared to a contribution of 14 basis points for the same period of the prior fiscal year, and 13 basis points for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016, the linked quarter. The dollar impact of this component of net interest income has generally been declining each sequential quarter as assets from the Peoples Acquisition mature or prepay; however, the increases noted in the three-month periods ended September 30, 2016; June 30, 2016; and December 31, 2015, were the result of inclusion in those quarters’ results of principal payments received on purchased credit-impaired loans which exceeded the carrying value of such loans.

The provision for loan losses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, was $925,000, as compared to $618,000 in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Increased provisioning was attributed primarily to increased balances within the loan portfolio. As a percentage of average loans outstanding, provision for loan losses in the current three-month period represented a charge of .31% (annualized), while the Company recorded net charge offs during the period of .09% (annualized). During the same period of the prior fiscal year, provision for loan losses as a percentage of average loans outstanding represented a charge of .23% (annualized), while the Company recorded net charge offs of .04% (annualized).

The Company’s noninterest income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, was $2.6 million, an increase of $373,000, or 16.9%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable primarily to gains realized on the sale of residential loans originated for that purpose; increased loan origination fees; increased earnings on bank-owned life insurance resulting from additional investments made in that asset; and increased bank card interchange income.

Noninterest expense for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, was $9.2 million, an increase of $1.2 million, or 14.7%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable in part to $335,000 in prepayment penalties incurred due to early repayment of $16.5 million in term FHLB advances. The prepaid advances carried a weighted average rate of 3.95% and would have had a weighted average maturity of 8.8 months at September 30, 2016, while new brokered funding utilized to prepay those advances and also fund loan growth carried a weighted average rate of 0.92% with a weighted average maturity of 13.2 months at September 30, 2016. Other items contributing to the increase include higher compensation expenses, occupancy expenses, and legal expenses, partially offset by a reduction in charges to amortize core deposit and other intangibles. The efficiency ratio for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016, was 60.5%, as compared to 57.4% in the same period of the prior fiscal year.

The income tax provision for the three-month period ended September 30, 2016, was $1.4 million, a decrease of $307,000, or 18.4%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year, attributable primarily to a decrease in the effective tax rate, to 26.8% from 31.4%, combined with a decrease in pre-tax income. The lower effective tax rate was attributed primarily to formation by the Company’s bank subsidiary of a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) to hold certain qualified assets in order to minimize state tax liability.

Forward-Looking Information:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including: the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations; fluctuations in interest rates and in real estate values; monetary and fiscal policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the U.S. Government and other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry; the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses; our ability to access cost-effective funding; the timely development of and acceptance of our new products and services and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users, including the features, pricing and quality compared to competitors' products and services; expected cost savings, synergies and other benefits from the Company’s merger and acquisition activities might not be realized to the extent anticipated or within the anticipated time frames, if at all, and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected; fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; demand for loans and deposits in our market area; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business; results of examinations of us by our regulators, including the possibility that our regulators may, among other things, require us to increase our reserve for loan losses or to write-down assets; the impact of technological changes; and our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing. Any forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed might not occur, and you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.



Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
      
Summary Balance Sheet Data as of: September 30,  June 30,  March 31,  December 31,  September 30,
  (dollars in thousands, except per share data)   2016    2016    2016    2015    2015  
      
Cash equivalents and time deposits$  21,978 $  23,277 $  18,517 $  25,794 $  20,250 
Available for sale securities   124,249    129,224    128,735    129,085     127,485 
FHLB/FRB membership stock   9,121    8,352    5,886    6,238    7,162 
Loans receivable, gross   1,218,228     1,149,244    1,108,452    1,092,599    1,081,899 
  Allowance for loan losses   14,456    13,791    13,693    13,172     12,812 
Loans receivable, net   1,203,772    1,135,453    1,094,759    1,079,427    1,069,087 
Bank-owned life insurance   30,282    30,071     19,897    19,754    19,836 
Intangible assets   7,657    7,851    8,027    8,238    8,470 
Premises and equipment   46,615    46,943    46,670    45,505    42,788 
Other assets   26,138     22,739     21,981     23,631     24,715  
  Total assets$  1,469,812  $  1,403,910  $  1,344,472  $  1,337,672  $  1,319,793  
      
Interest-bearing deposits$  1,032,810 $  988,696 $  997,110 $  990,103 $  935,375 
Noninterest-bearing deposits   134,540    131,997    125,033    127,118     122,341 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   25,450    27,085    31,575    23,066    24,429 
FHLB advances   129,184    110,216    48,647    58,929    82,110 
Other liabilities   4,156    5,197    5,131    4,543    4,981 
Subordinated debt   14,776     14,753     14,729     14,705     14,682  
  Total liabilities   1,340,916      1,277,944     1,222,225     1,218,464     1,183,918  
      
Preferred stock   -     -     -     -     20,000 
Common stockholders' equity   128,896     125,966     122,247     119,208     115,875  
  Total stockholders' equity   128,896      125,966     122,247     119,208     135,875  
      
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$  1,469,812  $  1,403,910  $  1,344,472  $  1,337,672  $  1,319,793  
      
Equity to assets ratio 8.77% 8.97% 9.09% 8.91% 10.30%
Common shares outstanding   7,436,866    7,437,616    7,437,616    7,428,416    7,424,666 
  Less: Restricted common shares not vested   36,000     36,800     52,750     53,150     54,800  
Common shares for book value determination   7,400,866    7,400,816    7,384,866    7,375,266    7,369,866 
      
Book value per common share$  17.42 $  17.02 $  16.55 $  16.16 $  15.72 
Closing market price   24.90    23.53    24.02    23.90    20.72 
      
Nonperforming asset data as of: September 30,  June 30,  March 31,  December 31,  September 30,
  (dollars in thousands)   2016    2016    2016    2015    2015  
      
Nonaccrual loans$  4,969 $  5,624 $  4,890 $   3,803 $  4,021 
Accruing loans 90 days or more past due   54    36    70    79    50 
Nonperforming troubled debt restructurings (1)   -      -      -      -      -   
  Total nonperforming loans    5,023    5,660    4,960    3,882    4,071 
Other real estate owned (OREO)   3,182    3,305     3,244    3,617    4,392 
Personal property repossessed   45     61     90     118      109  
  Total nonperforming assets$  8,250  $  9,026  $  8,294  $  7,617  $  8,572  
      
Total nonperforming assets to total assets 0.56% 0.64% 0.62% 0.57% 0.65%
Total nonperforming loans to gross loans 0.42% 0.50% 0.45% 0.36% 0.38%
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans 287.80% 243.66% 276.07% 339.31% 314.71%
Allowance for loan losses to gross loans 1.19% 1.20% 1.24% 1.21% 1.18%
      
Performing troubled debt restructurings$  7,853 $  6,078 $  5,871 $  5,548 $  6,949 
      
  (1) reported here only if not otherwise listed as nonperforming (i.e., nonaccrual or 90+ days past due)  



      
  For the three-month period ended
Quarterly Average Balance Sheet Data: September 30,  June 30,  March 31,  December 31,  September 30,
  (dollars in thousands)   2016    2016    2016    2015    2015  
      
Interest-bearing cash equivalents$  7,730 $  8,883 $  14,475 $  10,352 $  9,488 
Available for sale securities and membership stock   135,188    134,823    132,913    135,044    135,706 
Loans receivable, gross   1,178,067     1,126,630     1,088,833     1,080,526     1,063,851  
  Total interest-earning assets   1,320,985    1,270,336    1,236,221    1,225,922    1,209,045 
Other assets   115,277     109,506     100,507     96,411     91,437  
  Total assets$  1,436,262  $  1,379,842  $  1,336,728  $  1,322,333  $  1,300,482  
      
Interest-bearing deposits$  994,518 $  996,760 $  995,555 $  963,510 $  935,089 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   26,723     29,305    29,496    24,861    25,885 
FHLB advances   132,107    80,155    41,987    70,107    68,844 
Subordinated debt   14,765     14,741     14,717     14,694     14,670  
  Total interest-bearing liabilities   1,168,113    1,120,961    1,081,755    1,073,172    1,044,488 
Noninterest-bearing deposits   133,601    127,687    128,284    125,759    120,283 
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities   7,082     7,091     5,765     755     1,472  
  Total liabilities   1,308,796     1,255,739     1,215,804     1,199,686     1,166,243  
      
Preferred stock    -      -      -     3,261     20,000 
Common stockholders' equity   127,466     124,103     120,924     119,386     114,239  
  Total stockholders' equity   127,466     124,103     120,924     122,647     134,239  
      
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$  1,436,262  $  1,379,842  $  1,336,728  $  1,322,333  $   1,300,482  
      
  For the three-month period ended
Quarterly Summary Income Statement Data: September 30,  June 30,  March 31,  December 31,  September 30,
  (dollars in thousands, except per share data)   2016    2016    2016    2015    2015  
      
Interest income:     
  Cash equivalents$  4 $  7 $  12 $  9 $  7 
  Available for sale securities
  and membership stock
   851    849    853    864    865 
  Loans receivable   14,250     13,405     12,984     13,362     13,098  
  Total interest income   15,105     14,261     13,849     14,235     13,970  
Interest expense:     
  Deposits   1,932    1,903    1,872    1,847    1,785 
  Securities sold under agreements
  to repurchase
   27    30    32    29    29 
  FHLB advances   418     341    293    320    317 
  Subordinated debt   152     149     144      139     135  
  Total interest expense   2,529     2,423     2,341     2,335     2,266  
Net interest income    12,576    11,838    11,508    11,900    11,704 
Provision for loan losses   925    817    563    496    618 
Securities gains    -     5     -      -      -  
Other noninterest income   2,575    2,582    2,178    2,791    2,202 
Noninterest expense   9,159    8,273     8,257    8,168    7,988 
Income taxes   1,358     1,653     1,544     1,820     1,665  
Net income   3,709    3,682    3,322    4,207    3,635 
  Less: effective dividend on preferred shares    -       -       -      35     50  
  Net income available to
  common stockholders
$  3,709  $  3,682  $   3,322  $  4,172  $  3,585  
      
Basic earnings per common share$  0.50 $  0.50 $  0.45 $  0.56 $   0.48 
Diluted earnings per common share   0.50    0.49    0.45    0.56    0.48 
Dividends per common share   0.10    0.09    0.09    0.09    0.09 
Average common shares outstanding:     
  Basic   7,437,000    7,438,000    7,435,000    7,425,000    7,422,000 
  Diluted   7,466,000    7,468,000    7,464,000    7,460,000    7,454,000 
      
Return on average assets 1.03% 1.07% 0.99% 1.27% 1.12%
Return on average common stockholders' equity 11.6% 11.9% 11.0% 14.0% 12.6%
      
Net interest margin 3.81% 3.73% 3.72% 3.88% 3.87%
Net interest spread 3.70% 3.63% 3.61% 3.77% 3.75%
      
Efficiency ratio 60.5% 57.4% 60.3% 55.6% 57.4%


            

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