TrustCo Announces Increased First Quarter 2017 Earnings

Executive Snapshot:

• Continued solid financial results:

• Key metrics for first quarter of 2017 results:
  -- Net income of $10.9 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to $10.4 million in the first quarter of 2016 and $10.8 in the fourth quarter of 2016
  -- Return on average assets (ROA) of 0.91% compared to 0.89% in the first quarter of 2016
  -- Return on average equity (ROE) of 10.17% compared to 9.98% in the first quarter of 2016
  -- Efficiency ratio of 55.81% compared to 56.22% in the first quarter of 2016 (Non-GAAP measure; see P. 10 for definition)
  

• Asset quality remains solid:

• Asset quality measures improved compared to the first quarter of 2016
• Nonperforming assets (NPAs) fell by $6.4 million compared to March 31, 2016
• NPAs to total assets improved to 0.61%, compared to 0.76% at March 31, 2016
• Quarterly net chargeoffs decreased to 0.05% of average loans on an annualized basis, compared to 0.14% for the first quarter of 2016, reaching the lowest level since 2008
  

• Continued expansion of customer base:

• Focus on capitalizing on opportunities presented by expanded branch network
• Average deposits per branch grew $587 thousand to $29.2 million from March 31, 2016 to March 31, 2017
• Average core (non-maturity) deposits were $75 million higher in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016
  

• Loan portfolio reaches all-time high:

• Average loans were up $142 million for the first quarter of 2017 compared to first quarter of 2016
• At $3.45 billion as of March 31, 2017, loans reached an all-time high

TrustCo Announces Increased First Quarter 2017 Earnings

GLENVILLE, N.Y., April 21, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TrustCo) (Nasdaq:TRST) today announced first quarter of 2017 net income of $10.9 million compared to $10.4 million for the first quarter of 2016, an increase of 5.2%. 

Summary

Robert J. McCormick, President and Chief Executive Officer noted, “We are pleased to be able to report an increase in earnings in the first quarter of 2017 as compared to the first quarter of 2016.  Improved revenue growth provided an encouraging start to 2017.  Our focus on traditional lending criteria and conservative balance sheet management has enabled us to produce consistent earnings, maintain strong liquidity and capital and allowed us to continue to grow our business and take advantage of changes in market and competitive conditions.  In terms of our core business, we continue to add customer relationships, which ultimately drive future growth.  We will continue to take advantage of opportunities as they are presented during the balance of 2017 and beyond.” 

TrustCo saw continued solid loan growth in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year, led by an increase in residential mortgages.  Loan portfolio expansion was funded by a combination of utilizing a portion of our strong cash balances and by the growth of our deposit base.  The continued shift toward loans helped offset the margin impact from continued comparatively low yields on cash and investments, although the recent moves by the Federal Reserve to raise short term interest rates have contributed to our results and will provide a further benefit in the second quarter of 2017 and beyond.  The growth in average deposits in the first quarter of 2017 versus the prior year was led by lower cost checking and savings deposits.  TrustCo’s strong liquidity position continues to allow it to take advantage of opportunities when interest rate conditions change.

Asset quality measures improved versus March 31, 2016, with nonperforming assets (NPAs) declining $6.4 million.

Details

Average loans were up $142.5 million or 4.3% in the first quarter of 2017 over the same period in 2016.  Loan growth in the first quarter is typically slowed by weather conditions in our New York markets. Average residential loans, our primary lending focus, were up $185.2 million or 6.8% in the first quarter of 2017, over the same period in 2016.  Overall loan growth was constrained by a $13.8 million decline in average commercial loans, which have become less attractive on a risk adjusted basis, and a $28.5 million decline in average outstandings on home equity lines of credit, as well as a small decline in installment loans. Average deposits were up $74.3 million or 1.8% for the first quarter of 2017 over the same period a year earlier.  The increase in deposits came from core deposit accounts, which consist of checking, savings and money market deposits, although checking and savings were entirely responsible for the growth within core deposits.  Average core deposits increased $74.8 million from the first quarter of 2016 to the first quarter of 2017, while average time deposit balances were down slightly.  Within core, money market balances were down $23.8 million, while checking was up $86.3 million (including interest bearing and non-interest bearing balances) and savings were up $12.3 million.  Core deposits typically represent longer term customer relationships and are generally lower cost than time deposits.  The cost of interest bearing deposits declined from 0.39% in the first quarter of 2016 to 0.35% in the first quarter of 2017.  The shift out of money market balances was also beneficial, as that category is the most expensive type of core deposit.  Mr. McCormick noted that, “The year-over-year growth of our loans and core deposit base reflect the long term strategic focus of the Company.”

For the first quarter of 2017, return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.91% and 10.17%, respectively, compared to 0.89% and 9.98% for the first quarter of 2016.  Diluted earnings per share were $0.114 for the first quarter of 2017, compared to $0.109 for the first quarter of 2016.  As discussed in recent quarters, increased operating costs in response to regulatory requirements have pushed overall expense levels higher.  However, revenue growth exceeded the increase in costs in the first quarter of 2017 as compared to the first quarter of 2016.  We anticipate being able to control expense growth effectively in 2017.  Some of the costs associated with regulatory issues will be recurring, but others will diminish over time.

“While some banks have backed away from branches, a customer-friendly branch franchise continues to be the key to our long term plans.  We continue to make good progress expanding loans and deposits throughout our entire branch network.  We expect that trend to continue as the newer branches continue to mature.”

“At March 31, 2017, our average deposits per branch were $29.2 million, compared to $28.6 million a year earlier.  We have always designed our branches to be smaller and more cost effective than those built by many of our competitors.  We use open floor plans that help maximize the value of our branches.  We remain mindful that fully achieving our goals for newer branches will take time and continued work.  We believe success in growing customer relationships provides basic building blocks that will help drive profit growth for the coming years.”

Asset quality and loan loss reserve measures improved versus March 31, 2016.  Nonperforming loans (NPLs) were $26.4 million at March 31, 2017, compared to $30.4 million at March 31, 2016.  NPLs were equal to 0.77% of total loans at March 31, 2017, compared to 0.92% at March 31, 2016.  The coverage ratio, or allowance for loan losses to NPLs, was 166.7% at March 31, 2017, compared to 146.3% at March 31, 2016.  Nonperforming assets (NPAs) were $29.6 million at March 31, 2017 compared to $36.0 million at March 31, 2016.  The ratio of loan loss allowance to total loans was 1.28% as of March 31, 2017, compared to 1.34% at March 31, 2016 and reflects both the improvement in asset quality and economic conditions in our lending areas.  The allowance for loan losses was $44.0 million at March 31, 2017 compared to $44.4 million at March 31, 2016.  Net chargeoffs for the first quarter of 2017 decreased versus the first quarter of 2016, falling to $442 thousand from $1.2 million in the year earlier period.  The annualized net chargeoff ratio was 0.05% for the first quarter of 2017, compared to 0.14% in the first quarter of 2016 and was at the lowest level since the first quarter of 2008.  The provision for loan losses was $600 thousand for the first quarter of 2017, compared to $800 thousand in the first quarter of 2016.

The net interest margin for the first quarter of 2017 was 3.14%, up one basis point versus both the fourth quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2016. 

At March 31, 2017 the equity to asset ratio was 8.98%, compared to 8.88% at March 31, 2016.  Book value per share at March 31, 2017 was $4.57 compared to $4.44 a year earlier.

TrustCo Bank Corp NY is a $4.9 billion savings and loan holding company and through its subsidiary, Trustco Bank, operated 144 offices in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Florida at March 31, 2017.

In addition, the Bank’s Financial Services Department offers a full range of investment services, retirement planning and trust and estate administration services. The common shares of TrustCo are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TRST.

A conference call to discuss first quarter 2017 results will be held at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 24, 2017.  Those wishing to participate in the call may dial toll-free 1-888-339-0764.  International callers must dial 1-412-902-4195.   Please ask to be joined into the TrustCo Bank Corp NY / TRST call.  A replay of the call will be available for thirty days by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (1-412-317-0088 for international callers), Conference Number 10105301. The call will also be audio webcast at: http://services.choruscall.com/links/trst170424.html, and will be available for one year. 

Safe Harbor Statement 
All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our expectations for our performance during 2017 and for the growth of loans and deposits throughout our branch network, our ability to capitalize on economic changes in the areas in which we operate and the extent to which higher expenses to fulfill operating and regulatory requirements recur or diminish over time.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially for TrustCo from those discussed. TrustCo wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The following important factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect TrustCo’s actual results and could cause TrustCo’s actual financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in any forward-looking statement:  our ability to continue to originate a significant volume of one-to-four family mortgage loans in our market areas; our ability to continue to maintain noninterest expense and other overhead costs at reasonable levels relative to income; our ability to comply with the supervisory agreement entered into with Trustco Bank’s regulator and potential regulatory actions if we fail to comply; restrictions or conditions imposed by our regulators on our operations that may make it more difficult for us to achieve our goals; the future earnings and capital levels of Trustco Bank and the continued ability of Trustco Bank under regulatory rules and the supervisory agreement to distribute capital to TrustCo, which could affect our ability to pay dividends; results of supervisory monitoring or examinations of Trustco Bank and TrustCo by our respective regulators; our ability to make accurate assumptions and judgments regarding the credit risks associated with lending and investing activities; the effect of changes in financial services laws and regulations and the impact of other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry; the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board, inflation, interest rates, market and monetary fluctuations; adverse conditions on the securities markets that lead to impairment in the value of securities in our investment portfolio; changes in law and policy accompanying the new presidential administration and uncertainty or speculation pending the enactment of such changes; the perceived overall value of our products and services by users, including in comparison to competitors’ products and services and the willingness of current and prospective customers to substitute competitors’ products and services for our products and services; ; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and saving habits; technological changes and electronic, cyber, and physical security breaches; real estate and collateral values; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the bank regulatory agencies, the FASB or PCAOB; changes in local market areas and general business and economic trends, as well as changes in consumer spending and saving habits; our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing and managing our business; and other risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and, if any, in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or other securities filings.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation

Tangible equity as a percentage of tangible assets at period end is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate tangible equity and tangible assets by excluding the balance of intangible assets from shareholders’ equity and total assets, respectively. We calculate tangible equity as a percentage of tangible assets at period end by dividing tangible equity by tangible assets at period end. We believe that this is consistent with the treatment by bank regulatory agencies, which exclude intangible assets from the calculation of risk-based capital ratios. 

The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP measure of expense control relative to revenue from net interest income and fee income.  We calculate the efficiency ratio by dividing total noninterest expenses as determined under GAAP, but excluding other real estate expense, net, by net interest income (fully taxable equivalent) and total noninterest income as determined under GAAP, but excluding net gains on the sale of nonperforming loans and securities from this calculation.  We believe that this provides a reasonable measure of primary banking expenses relative to primary banking revenue. 

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide information that is important to investors and that is useful in understanding our financial results. Our management internally assesses our performance based, in part, on these measures.  However, these non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and not a substitute for an analysis based on GAAP measures. As other companies may use different calculations for these measures, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures of tangible common equity, tangible book value per share, efficiency ratio, net income and net income per share to the underlying GAAP numbers is set forth below.