OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California BanCorp (OTCQX:CALB) (formerly CABC), the Holding Company for California Bank of Commerce, a San Francisco Bay Area business bank, today reported that profitability continues to accelerate, fueled by strong loan and deposit growth, a healthy net interest margin and growing operating efficiencies. All financial results are unaudited and past periods have been adjusted to reflect the 5% stock dividend paid in August 2017.
Fourth quarter and annual earnings were reduced by $1.7 million, or $0.27 per share, due to the impact of an increase in the income tax expense for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, as the Bank revalued its deferred tax assets to align with the lowered U.S. corporate tax rate.
President and CEO, Terry A. Peterson commented, “We had another exceptional year with continued strong growth in earnings, loans and deposits. While our earnings for the quarter and entire year reflect the substantial one-time downward revaluation of our deferred tax asset, our pretax and after tax income for 2017 set another earnings record. Our balance sheet and earnings velocity continues to perform in line with our expectations. We are postured for continued balance sheet and earnings growth.”
Including the $1.7 million, or $0.27 per share charge from the non-operating revaluation of its deferred tax asset, earnings decreased to $5,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $1.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Year-to-date, earnings grew 12% to $5.6 million, or $0.89 per common share, from $5.0 million, or $0.84 per common share, in 2016. Without the one-time deferred tax asset adjustment of $1.7 million, earnings for 2017 would have accelerated by 45% to $7.3 million over the prior year.
“We posted solid profits in the fourth quarter of 2017 excluding the one-time deferred tax asset adjustment, while making investments in our franchise to expand into new markets in the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Stephen A. Cortese, Chairman of the Board. “During the year, we formed a Bank Holding Company, opened a loan production office in Walnut Creek, and hired several of the best bankers in the region to expand our leadership team.”
Financial Highlights
Fourth Quarter 2017 vs. Third Quarter 2017 and Fourth Quarter of 2016
- Net income was $5,000, compared to $1.8 million, or $0.29 per share, in the fourth quarter a year ago and $2.1 million, or $0.33 per share, earned in the preceding quarter.
- Net interest margin contracted 20 basis points to 3.95%, from 4.15% in the preceding quarter, primarily due to the $49 million, or 87% increase in interest-bearing cash balances during the period, while expanding by one basis point from 3.94% in the fourth quarter a year ago. While overall borrowings were down, compared to the prior year, as a long-term lower-cost FHLB advance was paid-off during the first quarter of 2017, their cost increased. Deposit costs rose during the fourth quarter, bringing total cost of funds to 0.82% from 0.80% in the third quarter of 2017 and 0.57% a year ago.
- The efficiency ratio, which measures operating expenses as a percent of revenue, increased to 64.27% from 58.33% in the fourth quarter a year ago, and was also slightly higher than the 58.93% achieved in the preceding quarter.
- Net operating expense to average assets increased to 2.25% from 1.94% a year ago.
- Total assets increased 13%, to $866.7 million at quarter-end compared to $764.7 million a year ago.
- Total loans, net of deferred costs, grew 17% to $732.8 million from $627.5 million a year ago, an increase of $105.3 million. Of the loan growth, 66% were commercial and industrial loans.
- Total deposits grew 17%, to $760.6 million as of December 31, 2017, compared to $650.0 million a year ago.
- Non-interest-bearing deposits increased to $314.7 million, up 11% from a year ago, an increase of $30.1 million.
- Tangible book value per common share increased 3% to $12.10 as of December 31, 2017, compared to $11.72 a year ago.
- Issued a 5% stock dividend on August 31, 2017. All financial results including past periods have been adjusted to reflect the dividend.
Twelve Months 2017 vs. Twelve Months 2016
- Net income grew 12% to $5.6 million, or $0.89 per share, compared to $5.0 million, or $0.84 per share, in 2016. Excluding the deferred tax asset revaluation, net income increased 45% to $7.3 million or $1.16 per share in 2017.
- ROAA at 0.69% and ROTCE was 7.38% for the twelve months of 2017. Excluding the deferred tax asset revaluation, ROAA was 0.90% and ROTCE was 9.87% for 2017
- The efficiency ratio improved significantly to 59.71% from 64.61% in the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, compared to same period a year ago.
- The ratio of net operating expense to average assets improved to 2.15% in 2017 from 2.34% during the prior year period.
Peer Comparisons
“Our performance metrics continue to improve and compare favorably with the 470 banks included in the SNL Micro Cap Bank Index on almost every measurable value,” said Peterson.
| PERFORMANCE RATIOS: | CALB | SNL US Micro Cap Bank Index** | ||||||
| 4Q17 | 3Q17 | |||||||
| Return on average assets* | 0.76 | % | 0.88 | % | ||||
| Return on average equity* | 8.64 | % | 8.74 | % | ||||
| Net interest margin | 3.95 | % | 3.71 | % | ||||
| Efficiency ratio | 64.27 | % | 66.69 | % | ||||
| Net operating expense/average assets | 2.25 | % | 2.06 | % | ||||
| Non-performing loans/loans | 0.30 | % | 1.27 | % | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses/loans | 1.27 | % | 1.20 | % | ||||
| Allowance for loan losses/NPAs | 423 | % | 72.84 | % | ||||
* Q4 2017 ROA and ROE have been adjusted to reflect the $1.7 million Deferred Tax Asset revaluation.
** SNL Micro Cap U.S. Bank: Includes all publicly traded (NYSE, NYSE MKT, NASDAQ, OTC) Banks in SNL's coverage universe with less than $250M Total Common Market Capitalization as of most recent pricing data.
The effective tax rate for 2017 was 50.1% compared to 38.3% for 2016. The higher tax rate for the year was primarily the result of the one-time deferred tax asset adjustment related to the deferred tax asset valuation, partially offset by tax benefits following the exercise of stock options during the year. In 2018, we expect our tax rate will be between 25% and 30%, significantly contributing to bottom line results.
Credit Quality
Credit quality remains strong, with non-performing assets (“NPAs”) to total assets at 0.25% at December 31, 2017, compared to 0.28% at December 31, 2016. Non-performing loans increased to $2.2 million at the end of the fourth quarter, up from $1.0 million at September 30, 2017, and $2.1 million a year ago.
“The loan loss reserve increased by $284,000 for the quarter and by $1.8 million from a year ago, to $9.3 million at December 31, 2017. The ratio of reserves to total loans was 1.27% on December 31, 2017, up from 1.20% at December 31, 2016,” said Chief Credit Officer Doug Stoveland.
Please see our detailed Fourth Quarter 2017 Unaudited Summary Financial Statements for more information.
About California BanCorp
California BanCorp, the parent company for California Bank of Commerce, offers a broad range of commercial banking services to closely held businesses and professionals located throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The stock trades on the OTCQX marketplace under the symbol CALB (formerly CABC). For more information on California BanCorp, call us at (510) 457-3751, or visit us at www.californiabankofcommerce.com.
| California BanCorp | Randall D. Greenfield, (510) 457-3769 | ||
| Terry A. Peterson, (510) 457-3751 | EVP and Chief Financial Officer | ||
| President and CEO | rgreenfield@bankcbc.com | ||
| tpeterson@bankcbc.com | |||
| Source: California BanCorp | |||
| CALIFORNIA BANCORP | ||||||||||||||||||||
| UNAUDITED SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||||||||||||||||
| INCOME STATEMENT | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ Thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Year Over Year Change | |||||||||||||||||||
| 31-Dec-17 | 30-Sep-17 | 31-Dec-16 | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | $ | 9,266 | $ | 8,995 | $ | 7,784 | $ | 1,482 | 19 | % | ||||||||||
| Interest Expense | (990 | ) | (923 | ) | (601 | ) | (389 | ) | 65 | % | ||||||||||
| Net Interest Income Before Provision | 8,276 | 8,072 | 7,183 | 1,093 | 15 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Provision to the Loan Loss Reserve | (284 | ) | (296 | ) | (412 | ) | 128 | -31 | % | |||||||||||
| Net Interest Income After Provision | $ | 7,992 | $ | 7,776 | $ | 6,771 | $ | 1,221 | 18 | % | ||||||||||
| Non-interest Income | 766 | 786 | 974 | (208 | ) | -21 | % | |||||||||||||
| Non-interest Expense | (5,848 | ) | (5,345 | ) | (4,824 | ) | (1,024 | ) | 21 | % | ||||||||||
| Income Before Tax Provision | 2,910 | 3,217 | 2,921 | (11 | ) | 0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | (2,905 | ) | (1,121 | ) | (1,135 | ) | (1,770 | ) | 156 | % | ||||||||||
| Net Income | $ | 5 | $ | 2,096 | $ | 1,786 | $ | (1,781 | ) | -100 | % | |||||||||
| Preferred Dividends | - | - | - | - | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Income to Common Shareholders | $ | 5 | $ | 2,096 | $ | 1,786 | $ | (1,781 | ) | -100 | % | |||||||||
| Basic Earnings per Common share | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.33 | $ | 0.29 | $ | (0.289 | ) | -100 | % | |||||||||
| Weighted Average Shares Outstanding | 6,412,054 | 6,384,149 | 6,165,340 | |||||||||||||||||
| Return on Average Assets | 0.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 0.91 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Return on Average Tangible Common Equity | 0.03 | % | 10.93 | % | 10.35 | % | ||||||||||||||
| HC Formation-2017 & Merger Related Expenses-2016 | $ | 37 | $ | 125 | $ | 66 | ||||||||||||||
| Non-interest Expense to Average Total Assets* | 2.60 | % | 2.50 | % | 2.44 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Net Operating Expense to Average Total Assets** | 2.25 | % | 2.12 | % | 1.94 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Efficiency Ratio* | 64.27 | % | 58.93 | % | 58.33 | % | ||||||||||||||
| *Excludes one-time HC Formation-2017 & Merger Related Expenses-2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| **Excludes one-time HC Formation-2017 & Merger Related Expenses-2016 and includes non-interest income | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CALIFORNIA BANCORP | |||||||||||||||
| UNAUDITED SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | |||||||||||||||
| INCOME STATEMENT | |||||||||||||||
| ($ Thousands) | |||||||||||||||
| Twelve Months Ended | Year Over Year Change | ||||||||||||||
| 31-Dec-17 | 31-Dec-16 | $ | % | ||||||||||||
| Interest Income | $ | 34,692 | $ | 29,249 | $ | 5,443 | 19 | % | |||||||
| Interest Expense | (3,159 | ) | (2,099 | ) | (1,060 | ) | 51 | % | |||||||
| Net Interest Income Before Provision | 31,533 | 27,150 | 4,383 | 16 | % | ||||||||||
| Provision to the Loan Loss Reserve | (2,393 | ) | (1,403 | ) | (990 | ) | 71 | % | |||||||
| Net Interest Income After Provision | $ | 29,140 | $ | 25,747 | $ | 3,393 | 13 | % | |||||||
| Non-interest Income | 3,091 | 3,058 | 33 | 1 | % | ||||||||||
| Non-interest Expense | (20,945 | ) | (20,389 | ) | (556 | ) | 3 | % | |||||||
| Income Before Tax Provision | 11,286 | 8,416 | 2,870 | 34 | % | ||||||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | (5,659 | ) | (3,223 | ) | (2,436 | ) | 76 | % | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 5,627 | $ | 5,193 | $ | 434 | 8 | % | |||||||
| Preferred Dividends | - | (152 | ) | 152 | -100 | % | |||||||||
| Income to Common Shareholders | $ | 5,627 | $ | 5,041 | $ | 586 | 12 | % | |||||||
| Basic Earnings per Common Share | $ | 0.89 | $ | 0.84 | $ | 0.06 | 7 | % | |||||||
| Weighted Average Shares Outstanding | 6,298,971 | 6,023,563 | |||||||||||||
| Return on Average Assets | 0.69 | % | 0.74 | % | |||||||||||
| Return on Avgerage Tangible Common Equity | 7.58 | % | 8.03 | % | |||||||||||
| HC Formation-2017 & Merger Related Expenses-2016 | $ | 270 | $ | 873 | |||||||||||
| Net Operating Expense to Average Total Assets** | 2.15 | % | 2.34 | % | |||||||||||
| Efficiency Ratio* | 59.71 | % | 64.61 | % | |||||||||||
| Annual | Annual | Year Over Year Change | |||||||||||||
| Average Balances - Period | 2017 | 2016 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 817,126 | $ | 704,189 | $ | 112,937 | 16 | % | |||||||
| Total Loans | $ | 691,520 | $ | 565,236 | $ | 126,284 | 22 | % | |||||||
| Total Investments | $ | 14,333 | $ | 19,292 | $ | (4,959 | ) | -26 | % | ||||||
| Total Interest Bearing Deposits in Other Banks | $ | 54,290 | $ | 65,301 | $ | (11,011 | ) | -17 | % | ||||||
| Total Earning Assets | $ | 760,142 | $ | 649,828 | $ | 110,314 | 17 | % | |||||||
| Total Non-Interest Bearing Deposits | $ | 282,385 | $ | 233,747 | $ | 48,638 | 21 | % | |||||||
| Total Deposits | $ | 704,990 | $ | 592,347 | $ | 112,643 | 19 | % | |||||||
| Total Borrowings | $ | 24,134 | $ | 32,566 | $ | (8,432 | ) | -26 | % | ||||||
| Tangible Common Equity | $ | 74,237 | $ | 64,637 | $ | 9,600 | 15 | % | |||||||
| Annual | Annual | ||||||||||||||
| Average Yields and Cost | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
| Net Interest Margin | 4.15 | % | 4.18 | % | |||||||||||
| Yield on Earning Assets | 4.56 | % | 4.50 | % | |||||||||||
| Cost of Interest Bearing Liabilities | 0.71 | % | 0.54 | % | |||||||||||
| *Excludes one-time HC Formation-2017 & Merger Related Expenses-2016 | |||||||||||||||
| **Excludes one-time HC Formation-2017 & Merger Related Expenses-2016 and includes non-interest income | |||||||||||||||
| CALIFORNIA BANCORP | |||||||||||||||||||
| UNAUDITED SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | |||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE SHEET | |||||||||||||||||||
| ($ Thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year Over Year Change | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | 31-Dec-17 | 30-Sep-17 | 31-Dec-16 | $ | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total Cash and Investments | $ | 86,172 | $ | 84,009 | $ | 105,818 | $ | (19,646 | ) | -19 | % | ||||||||
| Loans, net of Deferred Costs/Fees | 732,765 | 719,162 | 627,509 | 105,256 | 17 | % | |||||||||||||
| Loan Loss Reserve | (9,300 | ) | (9,000 | ) | (7,525 | ) | (1,775 | ) | 24 | % | |||||||||
| Other | 57,053 | 59,009 | 38,943 | 18,110 | 47 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 866,690 | $ | 853,180 | $ | 764,745 | $ | 101,945 | 13 | % | |||||||||
| Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity | |||||||||||||||||||
| Non-interest Bearing Deposits | $ | 314,736 | $ | 292,047 | $ | 284,674 | $ | 30,062 | 11 | % | |||||||||
| Interest Bearing Deposits | 445,857 | 456,576 | 365,373 | 80,484 | 22 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total Deposits | $ | 760,593 | $ | 748,623 | $ | 650,047 | $ | 110,546 | 17 | % | |||||||||
| Total Borrowings and Other Liabilities | 21,354 | 20,110 | 38,226 | (16,872 | ) | -44 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 781,947 | $ | 768,733 | $ | 688,273 | $ | 93,674 | 14 | % | |||||||||
| Shareholder's Equity | 84,743 | 84,447 | 76,472 | 8,271 | 11 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity | $ | 866,690 | $ | 853,180 | $ | 764,745 | $ | 101,945 | 13 | % | |||||||||
| Common Shares Outstanding | 6,416,295 | 6,394,963 | 6,165,340 | 250,955 | 4 | % | |||||||||||||
| Tangible Book Value per Common Share | $ | 12.10 | $ | 12.04 | $ | 11.72 | $ | 0.38 | 3 | % | |||||||||
| Year Over Year Change | |||||||||||||||||||
| Average Balances - Period | 4Q 2017 | 3Q 2017 | 4Q 2016 | $ | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 888,403 | $ | 828,476 | $ | 776,724 | $ | 111,679 | 14 | % | |||||||||
| Total Loans | $ | 714,695 | $ | 702,326 | $ | 612,474 | $ | 102,221 | 17 | % | |||||||||
| Total Investments | $ | 13,377 | $ | 14,018 | $ | 16,030 | $ | (2,653 | ) | -17 | % | ||||||||
| Total Interest Bearing Deposits in Other Banks | $ | 104,254 | $ | 55,674 | $ | 94,444 | $ | 9,810 | 10 | % | |||||||||
| Total Earning Assets | $ | 832,326 | $ | 772,019 | $ | 722,948 | $ | 109,378 | 15 | % | |||||||||
| Total Non-Interest Bearing Deposits | $ | 318,955 | $ | 284,174 | $ | 277,080 | $ | 41,875 | 15 | % | |||||||||
| Total Deposits | $ | 781,715 | $ | 725,141 | $ | 662,912 | $ | 118,803 | 18 | % | |||||||||
| Total Borrowings | $ | 16,009 | $ | 16,000 | $ | 34,000 | $ | (17,991 | ) | -53 | % | ||||||||
| Tangible Common Equity | $ | 78,287 | $ | 76,094 | $ | 68,448 | $ | 9,839 | 14 | % | |||||||||
| Average Yields and Cost | 4Q 2017 | 3Q 2017 | 4Q 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net Interest Margin | 3.95 | % | 4.15 | % | 3.94 | % | |||||||||||||
| Yield on Earning Assets | 4.42 | % | 4.62 | % | 4.27 | % | |||||||||||||
| Cost of Interest Bearing Liabilities | 0.82 | % | 0.80 | % | 0.57 | % | |||||||||||||
| End of Period | 31-Dec-17 | 30-Sep-17 | 31-Dec-16 | ||||||||||||||||
| Loan Loss Reserve to Total Loans | 1.27 | % | 1.25 | % | 1.20 | % | |||||||||||||
| Non-performing Loans/Loans | 0.30 | % | 0.14 | % | 0.34 | % | |||||||||||||
| NPAs (including accruing TDRs) to Total Assets | 0.25 | % | 0.12 | % | 0.28 | % | |||||||||||||
| Accruing TDRs to Total Assets | 0.20 | % | 0.12 | % | 0.19 | % | |||||||||||||