Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Net Earnings


Second Quarter 2013 Highlights:

  • Continued profitability – annualized return on average assets of 1.00%
  • Declining credit costs – provision for loan losses down $0.6 million compared to Q2 2012
  • Improving asset quality – nonperforming assets to total assets declined to 1.08% from 1.24% at 3/31/13
  • Strong capital position – Tier 1 common equity to total assets of 8.73%

AUBURN, Ala., July 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auburn National Bancorporation (Nasdaq:AUBN) reported net earnings of approximately $1.9 million, or $0.52 per share, for the second quarter of 2013, compared to a record $2.0 million, or $0.56 per share, for the second quarter of 2012. Net earnings for the first six months of 2013 were $3.6 million, or $0.99 per share, compared to $3.5 million, or $0.96 per share, for the first six months of 2012.

Excluding the effects of non-operating items (specifically securities gains, gain on sale of affordable housing investments, and prepayment penalties on long-term debt), second quarter 2013 operating net earnings were $2.2 million, or $0.61 per share, for the second quarter of 2013, compared to $1.9 million, or $0.52 per share, for the second quarter of 2012. Operating net earnings for the first six months of 2013 were $4.1 million, or $1.12 per share, compared to $3.5 million, or $0.96 per share, for the first six months of 2012.

"The Company's second quarter results reflect improving asset quality. While we did not match the record earnings reported in the second quarter of 2012, we are pleased to report that our earnings remain strong," said E.L. Spencer, Jr., President, CEO and Chairman of the Board.

Net interest income (tax-equivalent) was $5.6 million for the second quarter of 2013, a decrease of 2% compared to the second quarter of 2012. Although net interest income (tax-equivalent) declined slightly, management continues to seek to increase earnings by growing the Company's loan portfolio (in total and as a percentage of our earning assets), focusing on deposit pricing, and repaying higher-cost wholesale funding sources. These efforts to increase earnings were offset by declining yields on earning assets, as well as management's decision to reduce its securities portfolio as a percentage of total interest earning assets and carry higher levels of short-term interest earning assets (e.g. federal funds sold). As a result, the Company's net interest margin (tax-equivalent) declined to 3.16% in the second quarter of 2013, compared to 3.26% for the second quarter of 2012. Average loans were $389.4 million in the second quarter of 2013, a decrease of $5.9 million, or 2%, from second quarter of 2012. This decline in average loans primarily reflects the resolution of nonperforming loans as average performing loans were largely unchanged. Average deposits were $653.0 million in the second quarter of 2013, an increase of $13.8 million, or 2%, from the second quarter of 2012.

Nonperforming assets were $8.3 million, or 1.08% of total assets at June 30, 2013, compared to $9.6 million, or 1.24% of total assets at March 31, 2013. The decrease was primarily due to the sale of the Company's second largest OREO property during the second quarter of 2013, which had a carrying balance of $1.0 million at March 31, 2013.

The Company made no provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2013, compared to $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2012. The decrease in the provision for loan losses was primarily due to a decline in net charge-offs and improvement in the overall credit quality of the loan portfolio, including lower levels of adversely classified and nonperforming loans.     

Total noninterest income was approximately $2.1 million in the second quarter of 2013, compared to $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2012. The increase was primarily due to gains realized on the sale of securities. Net gains on the sale of securities were $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2013, compared to $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Total noninterest expense was approximately $4.7 million in the second quarter of 2013, compared to $4.0 million in the second quarter of 2012. The increase was primarily due to an increase in prepayment penalties on long-term debt of $1.0 million, which was partially offset by decreases in other noninterest expense of $0.3 million. During the second quarter of 2013, the Company repaid $10.0 million of FHLB advances with a weighted average interest rate of 3.59% and incurred prepayment penalties of $1.0 million.

Income tax expense was approximately $0.7 million for the second quarter of 2013, compared to $0.4 million in the second quarter of 2012. The Company's effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2013 was 26.06%, compared to 18.12% in the second quarter of 2012. The Company's effective tax rate increased during the second quarter of 2013 when compared to the second quarter of 2012 primarily because the Company's annualized effective tax rate for 2012 was reduced by the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance related to capital loss carry-forwards. 

The Company paid cash dividends of $0.21 per share in the second quarter of 2013. At June 30, 2013, the Bank's regulatory capital was well above the minimum amounts required to be "well capitalized" under current regulatory standards.

About Auburn National Bancorporation

Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. (the "Company") is the parent company of AuburnBank (the "Bank"), with total assets of approximately $767.7 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 Auburn and Opelika Kroger stores, as well as in the Wal-Mart SuperCenter stores in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama. The Bank also operates commercial loan production offices in Montgomery and 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, net interest margin, yields on earning assets, securities valuations and performance, interest rates, generally and 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 or achievements of the Company or the Bank to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements 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, 2012 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 provide reconciliations between GAAP net earnings and operating net earnings, which exclude gains or losses on items deemed not to reflect core operations, as well as tax-equivalent net interest income and net interest margin, including the presentation of total revenue and the calculation of the efficiency ratio. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in its analysis of the Company's performance and believes presentations of "operating" and tax-equivalent financial measures provide useful supplemental information regarding the Company's performance, and that operating net earnings better reflect the Company's core operating activities. Management utilizes these non-GAAP measures in the calculation of certain of the Company's ratios, in particular, to analyze on a consistent basis over time the performance of what it considers to be its core operations. The Company believes the non-GAAP measures enhance investors' understanding of the Company's business and performance. These measures are also useful in understanding performance trends and facilitate comparisons with the performance of other financial institutions. The limitations associated with these measures are the risk that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items comprising these measures and that different companies might calculate these measures differently. The Company provides reconciliations between GAAP and these non-GAAP measures. These disclosures should not be considered an alternative to GAAP.

Financial Highlights (unaudited)        
  Quarter ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 2013 2012 2013 2012
Results of Operations        
Net interest income (a)  $ 5,597  $ 5,728  $ 11,120  $ 11,143
Less: tax-equivalent adjustment  365  416  747  830
Net interest income (GAAP)  5,232  5,312  10,373  10,313
Noninterest income   2,071  1,814  3,726  6,678
Total revenue  7,303  7,126  14,099  16,991
Provision for loan losses —   600  400  1,200
Noninterest expense  4,724  4,048  8,950  11,590
Income tax expense  672  449  1,153  707
Net earnings   $ 1,907  $ 2,029  $ 3,596  $ 3,494
         
Per share data:        
Basic and diluted net earnings:        
GAAP   $ 0.52  $ 0.56  $ 0.99  $ 0.96
Operating (b)  0.61  0.52  1.12  0.96
Cash dividends declared  $ 0.21  $ 0.205  $ 0.42  $ 0.41
Weighted average shares outstanding:        
Basic and diluted  3,642,955  3,642,826  3,642,936  3,642,782
Shares outstanding, at period end  3,642,993  3,642,843  3,642,993  3,642,843
Book value  $ 17.90 $ 18.75 $ 17.90 $ 18.75
Common stock price:        
High  $ 22.33  $ 26.65  $ 22.60  $ 26.65
Low  21.54  21.50  20.80  18.23
Period-end:  22.00  21.50  22.00  21.50
To earnings ratio  11.70x 12.95x  11.70x  12.95x
To book value  123%  115%  123%  115%
Performance ratios:        
Return on average equity:        
GAAP 10.74% 12.06% 10.11% 10.48%
Operating (b) 12.62% 11.17% 11.51% 10.52%
Return on average assets:        
GAAP 1.00% 1.07% 0.93% 0.92%
Operating (b) 1.18% 0.99% 1.06% 0.92%
Dividend payout ratio 40.38% 36.61% 42.42% 42.71%
Other financial data:        
Net interest margin (a) 3.16% 3.26% 3.12% 3.19%
Effective income tax rate 26.06% 18.12% 24.28% 16.83%
Efficiency ratio (c) 51.44% 55.36% 52.79% 55.72%
Asset Quality:        
Nonperforming assets:        
Nonperforming (nonaccrual) loans  $ 4,664  $ 8,228  $ 4,664  $ 8,228
Other real estate owned 3,609 5,157 3,609 5,157
Total nonperforming assets  $ 8,273  $ 13,385  $ 8,273  $ 13,385
         
Net charge-offs  $ 312  $ 1,593  $ 666  $ 1,616
         
Allowance for loan losses as a % of:        
Loans 1.65% 1.63% 1.65% 1.63%
Nonperforming loans  138%  79%  138%  79%
Nonperforming assets as a % of:         
Loans and other real estate owned  2.10% 3.31%  2.10% 3.31%
Total assets  1.08% 1.75%  1.08%  1.75%
Nonperforming loans as a % of total loans  1.19% 2.06%  1.19%  2.06%
Net charge-offs (annualized) as a % of average loans 0.32%  1.61% 0.34%  0.84%
Selected average balances:        
Securities  $ 266,056  $ 293,072  $ 264,574  $ 294,955
Loans, net of unearned income  389,402  395,261  392,899  386,212
Total assets  761,534  760,413  769,602  758,623
Total deposits  652,952  639,182  653,375  634,418
Long-term debt  31,613  47,241  39,095  51,033
Total stockholders' equity  71,006  67,296  71,162  66,707
Selected period end balances:        
Securities  $ 270,794  $ 277,246  $ 270,794  $ 277,246
Loans, net of unearned income  390,726  399,370  390,726  399,370
Allowance for loan losses  6,457  6,503  6,457  6,503
Total assets  767,747  766,161  767,747  766,161
Total deposits  666,490  644,246  666,490  644,246
Long-term debt  27,217  47,217  27,217  47,217
Total stockholders' equity  65,211  68,292  65,211  68,292
 
(a) Tax equivalent. See "Explanation of Certain Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures (unaudited)."
(b) Operating measures. See "Explanation of Certain Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures (unaudited)." 
(c) Efficiency ratio is the result of operating noninterest expense divided by the sum of operating noninterest income and tax-equivalent net interest income.
NM - not meaningful
         
Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures (unaudited):        
         
         
  Quarter ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 2013 2012 2013 2012
Net earnings, as reported (GAAP)  $ 1,907  $ 2,029  $ 3,596  $ 3,494
Non-operating items (net of 37% statutory tax rate):        
Securities gains, net   (326)  (158)  (428)  (271)
Gain on sale of affordable housing investments —  —  —   (2,059)
Prepayment penalties on long-term debt 659 8 927 2,344
Operating net earnings  $ 2,240  $ 1,879  $ 4,095  $ 3,508
         
Basic and diluted earnings per share, as reported (GAAP)  $ 0.52  $ 0.56  $ 0.99  $ 0.96
Non-operating items (net of 37% statutory tax rate):        
Securities gains, net   (0.09)  (0.04)  (0.12)  (0.07)
Gain on sale of affordable housing investments —  —  —   (0.57)
Prepayment penalties on long-term debt  0.18 —   0.25  0.64
Operating net earnings per share  $ 0.61  $ 0.52  $ 1.12  $ 0.96
         
Net interest income, as reported (GAAP)  $ 5,232  $ 5,312  $ 10,373  $ 10,313
Tax-equivalent adjustment 365 416 747 830
Net interest income (tax-equivalent)  $ 5,597  $ 5,728  $ 11,120  $ 11,143
         
Noninterest income, as reported (GAAP)  $ 2,071  $ 1,814  $ 3,726  $ 6,678
Non-operating items:        
Securities gains, net  (518)  (251)  (679)  (430)
Gain on sale of affordable housing investments —  —  —   (3,268)
Operating noninterest income  $ 1,553  $ 1,563  $ 3,047  $ 2,980
         
Total Revenue, as reported (GAAP)  $ 7,303  $ 7,126  $ 14,099  $ 16,991
Tax-equivalent adjustment 365 416 747 830
Non-operating items:        
Securities gains, net  (518)  (251)  (679)  (430)
Gain on sale of affordable housing investments —  —  —   (3,268)
Total Operating Revenue (tax-equivalent)  $ 7,150  $ 7,291  $ 14,167  $ 14,123
         
Noninterest expense, as reported (GAAP)  $ 4,724  $ 4,048  $ 8,950  $ 11,590
Non-operating items:        
Prepayment penalties on long-term debt  (1,046)  (12)  (1,471)  (3,720)
Operating noninterest expense  $ 3,678  $ 4,036  $ 7,479  $ 7,870
         
Total stockholders' equity (GAAP)  $ 65,211  $ 68,292  $ 65,211  $ 68,292
Unrealized losses (gains) on available for sale securities, net of tax 1,831  (5,096) 1,831  (5,096)
Other deductions  —   (83) —   (83)
Tier 1 Common Equity (1)  $ 67,042  $ 63,113  $ 67,042  $ 63,113
         
(1) June 30, 2013 total is preliminary.


            

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