STATEN ISLAND, NY--(Marketwire - April 14, 2010) - VSB Bancorp, Inc. (
The $59,171 increase in net income was due to a decrease in the provision for loan loss of $185,000, partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense of $50,913, a decrease in net interest income of $18,708 and a decrease in non-interest income of $11,495.
The $18,708 decrease in net interest income for the first quarter of 2010 occurred primarily because our interest income decreased by $156,341, while our cost of funds decreased by $137,633. The decline in interest income resulted from a $220,397 decrease in income from investment securities, due to a 52 basis point decrease in yield, coupled with a $6.4 million decrease in average balance between the periods. The decrease in interest income from investment securities was partially offset by a $59,590 increase in interest income from loans. The increase in interest income on loans was due to an $11.8 million increase in the average balance of loans, partially offset by a 47 basis point decrease in yield from the first quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010. A major contributor to the 47 basis point drop in our loan yield was the $5.2 million increase in our non-performing loans. This month, we entered into modified repayment arrangements with the two borrowers whose loans comprise 90% of the increase in the non-performing loan balance. We have already collected most of their arrears and they have agreed to pay all remaining arrears over the upcoming year.
Interest income from other interest earning assets (principally overnight investments) increased by $4,466 due to a $13.5 million increase in average balance and a 2 basis point increase in yield. Overall, average interest-earning assets increased by $18.8 million from the first quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010.
The most significant component of the decrease in interest expense was a $150,435 decrease in interest on time deposits as the average cost declined by 67 basis points due to lower market interest rates. Average demand deposits, an interest free source of funds for us to invest, increased by $8.7 million from the first quarter of 2009, representing approximately 32% of average total deposits for the first quarter of 2010. Average interest-bearing deposits increased by $11.4 million, resulting in an overall $20.2 million increase in average total deposits from the first quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010.
The average yield on earning assets declined by 59 basis points while the average cost of funds declined by 49 basis points. The reduction in the yield on assets was principally due to the 52 basis point drop in the yield on investment securities, as new securities were purchased at market rates significantly below the rates on securities repaid or matured. The decline in the cost of funds was driven principally by the 67 basis point drop in the cost of time deposits. Our interest rate margin decreased by 28 basis points from 4.37% to 4.09% when comparing the first quarter of 2010 to the same quarter in 2009, while our interest rate spread decreased by 10 basis points from 3.89% to 3.79%. These declines resulted when we were required to reinvest the proceeds from payments on investment securities at lower rates because of the dramatic decline in market interest rates. In addition, our lowest yielding assets, overnight investments, were a larger percentage of the earning asset mix in 2010. The margin decreased more than the spread because it reflects the effect of non-interest bearing funding sources such as checking accounts and capital, which are less valuable in lower interest rate environments because they fund interest-earning assets with lower average yields. The interest rate floors on our loans have helped to stabilize interest income from the loan portfolio, but these floors also have the effect of limiting increases in our income as market rates increase until the prime rate rises above 6%. Non-interest income decreased by $11,495 to $601,674 in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the same quarter in 2009.
Comparing the first quarter of 2010 with the same quarter in 2009, non-interest expense increased by $50,913, totaling $2.0 million for the first quarter of 2010. Non-interest expense increased for various business reasons including higher employee benefit costs and increased salary due to normal raises, an $18,500 increase in FDIC and NYSBD assessments due higher FDIC regular assessment rates and larger reported legal expenses because of increased collection costs in the first quarter of 2010.
Total assets increased to $239.8 million at March 31, 2010, an increase of $2.8 million, or 1.2%, from December 31, 2009. The significant components of this increase were a $4.9 million increase in cash and other liquid assets, partially offset by a $934,686 decrease in loans, net and a $923,254 decline in investment securities. Total deposits, including escrow deposits, increased to $212.7 million, an increase of $1.7 million, or 0.8%. We had increases of $1.0 million in money market deposits and $882,528 in NOW accounts, partially offset by a decrease in demand and checking deposits of $550,158 from year end 2009. The Bancorp's Tier 1 capital ratio was 9.83% at March 31, 2010.
Raffaele (Ralph) M. Branca, VSB Bancorp, Inc.'s President and CEO, stated, "The first quarter of 2010 has shown little relief from the current economic crisis. We continue to aggressively collect and seek positive resolutions on our delinquent loans. Once interest rates begin to rise, we expect to face additional interest rate margin pressure as the rates on our prime based loan portfolio probably will not rise until the prime rate exceeds 6%, which would represent a 275 basis point increase from today." Joseph J. LiBassi, VSB Bancorp, Inc.'s Chairman, stated, "While we are not immune from the current economic stresses, we continue to generate earnings and capital, allowing us to pay our tenth consecutive dividend to our stockholders. Our ROA of 0.74% and our ROE of 7.01% for the first quarter of 2010 compares favorably to our peers. Our book value per share is $14.22, an increase of $1.14 per share, from March 31, 2009. Our strategy and our philosophy of delivering the highest quality personal service to the professionals and business owners on Staten Island is a major driving force in our sustained profitability."
VSB Bancorp, Inc. is the one-bank holding company for Victory State Bank. Victory State Bank, a Staten Island based commercial bank, which commenced operations on November 17, 1997. The Bank's initial capitalization of $7.0 million was primarily raised in the Staten Island community. The Bancorp's total equity has increased to $25.1 million primarily through the retention of earnings. The Bank operates five full service locations in Staten Island: the main office in Great Kills, and branches on Forest Avenue (West Brighton), Hyatt Street (St. George), Hylan Boulevard (Dongan Hills) and on Bay Street (Rosebank).
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to adverse changes in local, regional or national economic conditions, fluctuations in market interest rates, changes in laws or government regulations, weaknesses of other financial institutions, changes in customer preferences, and changes in competition within our market area. When used in this release or in any other written or oral statements by the Company or its directors, officers or employees, words or phrases such as "will result in," "management expects that," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "projected," or similar expressions, and other terms used to describe future events, are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"). Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date of the statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. This statement is included for the express purpose of protecting the Company under the PSLRA's safe harbor provisions.
VSB Bancorp, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition March 31, 2010 (unaudited) March 31, December 31, 2010 2009 ------------- ------------- Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 44,640,167 $ 39,716,919 Investment securities, available for sale 112,989,150 113,912,404 Loans receivable 77,997,578 78,834,156 Allowance for loan loss (1,161,562) (1,063,454) ------------- ------------- Loans receivable, net 76,836,016 77,770,702 Bank premises and equipment, net 3,073,451 3,204,063 Accrued interest receivable 658,764 722,228 Other assets 1,568,403 1,673,556 ------------- ------------- Total assets $ 239,765,951 $ 236,999,872 ============= ============= Liabilities and stockholders' equity: Liabilities: Deposits: Demand and checking $ 69,822,290 $ 70,372,448 NOW 33,384,458 32,501,930 Money market 29,156,607 28,124,315 Savings 15,041,529 15,001,936 Time 64,862,522 64,669,128 ------------- ------------- Total Deposits 212,267,406 210,669,757 Escrow deposits 383,412 316,329 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 2,052,126 1,529,837 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities 214,702,944 212,515,923 ------------- ------------- Stockholders' equity: Common stock, ($.0001 par value, 3,000,000 shares authorized, 1,945,134 issued, 1,762,191 outstanding at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009) 195 195 Additional paid in capital 9,303,081 9,317,719 Retained earnings 16,441,421 16,112,741 Treasury stock, at cost (182,943 shares at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009) (1,840,249) (1,840,249) Unearned ESOP shares (690,402) (732,672) Accumulated other comprehensive gain, net of taxes of $1,559,262 and $1,371,416, respectively 1,848,961 1,626,215 ------------- ------------- Total stockholders' equity 25,063,007 24,483,949 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 239,765,951 $ 236,999,872 ============= ============= VSB Bancorp, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations March 31, 2010 (unaudited) Three months Three months ended ended March 31, March 31, 2010 2009 ------------- ------------- Interest and dividend income: Loans receivable $ 1,390,296 $ 1,330,706 Investment securities 1,162,222 1,382,619 Other interest earning assets 9,207 4,741 ------------- ------------- Total interest income 2,561,725 2,718,066 Interest expense: NOW 39,252 26,783 Money market 62,486 60,511 Savings 11,460 13,102 Time 160,117 310,552 ------------- ------------- Total interest expense 273,315 410,948 Net interest income 2,288,410 2,307,118 Provision for loan loss 90,000 275,000 ------------- ------------- Net interest income after provision for loan loss 2,198,410 2,032,118 Non-interest income: Loan fees 2,304 25,751 Service charges on deposits 540,701 545,862 Net rental income 11,983 11,517 Other income 46,686 30,039 ------------- ------------- Total non-interest income 601,674 613,169 Non-interest expenses: Salaries and benefits 963,616 911,983 Occupancy expenses 363,790 379,081 Legal expense 89,521 74,649 Professional fees 66,200 77,000 Computer expense 66,955 66,800 Director fees 58,950 51,100 FDIC and NYSBD assessments 94,000 75,500 Other expenses 300,344 316,350 ------------- ------------- Total non-interest expenses 2,003,376 1,952,463 Income before income taxes 796,708 692,824 ------------- ------------- Provision (benefit) for income taxes: Current 442,310 425,850 Deferred (77,824) (106,077) ------------- ------------- Total provision for income taxes 364,486 319,773 Net income $ 432,222 $ 373,051 ============= ============= Basic income per common share $ 0.25 $ 0.21 ============= ============= Diluted net income per share $ 0.25 $ 0.20 ============= ============= Book value per common share $ 14.22 $ 13.08 ============= =============
Contact Information: Contact Name: Ralph M. Branca President & CEO (718) 979-1100