EAU CLAIRE, WI--(Marketwired - Nov 3, 2015) - Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. (
Edward H. Schaefer, President and CEO, stated: "We are pleased with our steady year-over-year improvement in earnings. Non-interest income, comprised of loan fees and service charges, continues to improve and we have made progress in reducing our non-interest expense. We're excited for our customers to see us at our new location in Mankato, MN. Our new branch office has the same experienced bankers who are able to provide products that satisfy personal, mortgage and business needs in the community. As previously announced, we are excited to be expanding our footprint in Rice Lake and Barron with our recent branch purchase that is scheduled to close during our second fiscal quarter of 2016, pending regulatory approval."
Fourth Quarter Highlights
- Controlled loan growth. Total loans decreased $19.9 million, to $450.5 million as of September 30, 2015, from $470.4 million at September 30, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to sales of fixed rate longer term residential mortgage loans during fiscal 2015 and a further reduction in consumer real estate and indirect loans due to normal pay downs and payoffs. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in commercial and agricultural loans in the amount of $28.1 million as of September 30, 2015, from their September 30, 2014 balances. Mark C. Oldenberg, Executive Vice President and CFO, stated: "During our fiscal 2015 first and fourth quarters, fixed rate residential mortgage loans were sold in the amount of $8.1 million and $8.7 million, respectively. These sales were conducted as part of our balance sheet restructuring to help manage our interest rate risk. We continue to monitor and assess our interest rate risk position and take the applicable actions to reasonably manage our interest rate risk."
- Strong Asset Quality. As of September 30, 2015, nonperforming assets were $2.1 million or 0.37% of total assets, compared to nonperforming assets of $2.6 million or 0.46% of total assets as of September 30, 2014. Net loans charged-off during the twelve months ended September 30, 2015 were $666,000, or 0.14% of total average loans, compared to $1.6 million, or 0.35% of total average loans, during the same period in the previous year.
- Stable net interest income. Net interest income was approximately $4.6 million for the third consecutive quarter despite continued net interest margin pressure. The net interest margin was 3.36% for the year ended September 30, 2015 and 3.63% for the year ended September 30, 2014. The net interest margin remained at 3.31% for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2015.
- Disciplined expense management. Non-interest expense was $4.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to $4.7 million for the same period in the previous year, primarily reflecting reduced salaries and related benefit costs.
- Strong capital levels. As of September 30, 2015, the Company and the Bank exceeded all regulatory standards to be considered "well-capitalized". Book value increased to $11.57 at September 30, 2015 from $11.09 at September 30, 2014.
As previously announced, the Bank closed three in-store branch offices in January 2015 and two limited service branch offices in September 2015. As part of our branch consolidation and efficiency strategy, we will be closing an in-store branch office located in Menomonie, Wisconsin in December 2015 and two in-store branch offices located in Brooklyn Park and Winona, Minnesota in January 2016.
During the twelve months ended September 30, 2015, we incurred accelerated depreciation expense which totaled $562,000 as well as additional fees in the amount of $52,000 related to these branch closures. Excluding these branch closure costs, net income during the twelve months ended September 30, 2015 was $3,006,960 or $0.57 per diluted share (non-GAAP) calculated (and reconciled to the nearest GAAP measurement) as follows:
| Fiscal 2015, Twelve months ended September 30, 2015 | |||||||||||
| Net income after tax | $ | 2,614,000 | $ | 2,614,000 | |||||||
| Branch closure costs after tax ($614,000*0.64) (1) | 392,960 | ||||||||||
| Net income excluding branch closure costs | $ | 3,006,960 | |||||||||
| Fiscal 2015, Twelve months ended September 30, 2015 | |||||||||||
| Average fully diluted shares of common stock outstanding | 5,239,943 | 5,239,943 | |||||||||
| Earnings per diluted share of common stock | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.57 | |||||||
| (1) | Branch closure costs after tax, assuming a marginal tax rate of 0.36%. |
"As part of our Strategic Plan, the board of directors and management continues to rationalize our branch network which has resulted in branch closures. Our goal is to reinvest into markets we believe we can profitably grow. This has included new traditional branches in Rice Lake and Mankato and our recent announced acquisition in Rice Lake and Barron," explained Schaefer.
Income Statement and Balance Sheet Overview
Total interest and dividend income declined to $5.7 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2015, compared to $6.1 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2014, as a result of lower loan volume and lower yields on interest earning assets. Total interest expense increased $33,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2015, compared with the quarter ended September 30, 2014, due to an increase in interest bearing deposits.
Net interest income after provision for loan losses was $4.5 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2015, compared to $4.6 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2014.
Non-interest income increased to $1,024,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2015, compared with $987,000 during the same period of the prior fiscal year, mainly due to increases in loan fees and service charges from secondary market and commercial loan origination fees.
Total non-interest expense decreased $228,000 during the quarter ended September 30, 2015 compared with the quarter ended September 30, 2014, as we continue to reduce these expenses through operational efficiencies. Total non-interest expense decreased $715,000 during the twelve months ended September 30, 2015, compared to the same period in the previous year.
Total assets increased $10.3 million to $580.1 million as of September 30, 2015 from $569.8 million at September 30, 2014.
Total loans decreased 4.2% to $450.5 million as of September 30, 2015, from $470.4 million at September 30, 2014.
Total deposits at September 30, 2015 increased to $456.3 million, compared with $449.8 million at September 30, 2014. Oldenberg stated: "We are pleased with our deposit growth in fiscal 2015 as we continue to focus on core deposits and customer relationships. We believe our commercial loan department has contributed to our deposit growth by matching commercial loan customers with deposit products that fit their needs. Consumer checking balances increased also, as well as municipal deposits, helping to offset the loss in deposits from our closed branches."
As of September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company's allowance for loan losses was $6.5 million. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans increased to 1.44% as of September 30, 2015 from 1.38% at September 30, 2014. Non-accruing loans declined to $748,000 at September 30, 2015, compared with $1.2 million at September 30, 2014. Non-performing loan balances decreased $364,000 or 23.0% during the twelve months ended September 30, 2015 from their balances at September 30, 2014. Foreclosed and repossessed assets decreased $148,000 or 14.1% from their balances at September 30, 2014. Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets decreased to 0.37% as of September 30, 2015 from 0.46% at September 30, 2014. Due to strong asset quality, our provision for loan losses was reduced by $1.3 million year-over-year.
Loans 30 days or more past due were $2.6 million as of September 30, 2015, compared with $2.8 million as of September 30, 2014. As of September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, loans 90 days or more past due were $699,000 and $1.2 million, respectively. Net loans charged-off during the twelve months ended September 30, 2015 were $666,000 compared to $1.6 million during the same period in the previous year.
At September 30, 2015, the Bank's total capital to risk weighted assets was 16.5%, tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets was 15.3% and the tier 1 leverage capital ratio to adjusted total assets was 10.4%. All ratios exceeded regulatory standards as of the quarter ended September 30, 2015 for a well-capitalized institution. Our effective tax rate declined from 37% at September 30, 2014 to 36% at September 30, 2015, due to additional purchases of nontaxable investments. The Company's book value per share was $11.57 per common share as of September 30, 2015, compared to $11.09 per common share as of September 30, 2014.
Schaefer concluded: "We look forward to the future and feel the Company is well positioned as we begin fiscal 2016. We are committed to presenting a strong presence in the community and remaining a strong, stable independent bank. We continue to make what we believe to be long-term value enhancing decisions that increase shareholder value."
About the Company
Citizens Community Federal N.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc., is a full-service national bank based in Altoona, Wisconsin, serving more than 50,000 customers in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan through 18 branch locations. The Company's stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "CZWI."
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this release are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "intend," "may," "planned," "potential," "should," "will," "would" or the negative of those terms or other words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements in this release are inherently subject to many uncertainties arising in the Company's operations and business environment. These uncertainties include general economic conditions, in particular, relating to consumer demand for the Bank's products and services; the Bank's ability to maintain current deposit and loan levels at current interest rates; competitive and technological developments; deteriorating credit quality, including changes in the interest rate environment reducing interest margins; prepayment speeds, loan origination and sale volumes, charge-offs and loan loss provisions; the Bank's ability to maintain required capital levels and adequate sources of funding and liquidity; maintaining capital requirements may limit the Bank's operations and potential growth; changes and trends in capital markets; competitive pressures among depository institutions; effects of critical accounting estimates and judgments; changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) or other regulatory agencies overseeing the Bank; the Bank's ability to implement its cost-savings and revenue enhancement initiatives, including costs associated with its branch consolidation and new market branch growth initiatives; legislative or regulatory changes or actions or significant litigation adversely affecting the Bank; fluctuation of the Company's stock price; the Bank's ability to attract and retain key personnel; the Bank's ability to secure confidential information through the use of computer systems and telecommunications networks; and the impact of reputational risk created by these developments on such matters as business generation and retention, funding and liquidity. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and other risks that may affect the Company's performance are discussed further in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in the Company's Form 10-K, for the year ended September 30, 2014 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2014. The Company undertakes no obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this news release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.
Non-GAAP
This press release contains both financial measures based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) and non-GAAP based financial measures, which are used where management believes it to be helpful in understanding the Company's results of operations or financial position and in comparing the Company's results of operations and financial position over different periods. Where non-GAAP financial measures are used, the comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as the reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure, can be found in this press release. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other banks and financial institutions.
| CITIZENS COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. | ||||||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||||||
| September 30, 2015 (unaudited) and September 30, 2014 (derived from audited financial statements) | ||||||||||
| (in thousands, except share data) | ||||||||||
| September 30, 2015 | September 30, 2014 | |||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 23,872 | $ | 11,434 | ||||||
| Other interest-bearing deposits | 2,992 | 245 | ||||||||
| Investment securities (available for sale securities at fair value of $79,921 and $62,189, and held to maturity securities at cost of $8,012 and $8,785 at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively) | 87,933 | 70,974 | ||||||||
| Non-marketable equity securities, at cost | 4,626 | 5,515 | ||||||||
| Loans receivable | 450,510 | 470,366 | ||||||||
| Allowance for loan losses | (6,496 | ) | (6,506 | ) | ||||||
| Loans receivable, net | 444,014 | 463,860 | ||||||||
| Office properties and equipment, net | 2,669 | 3,725 | ||||||||
| Accrued interest receivable | 1,574 | 1,478 | ||||||||
| Intangible assets | 104 | 161 | ||||||||
| Foreclosed and repossessed assets, net | 902 | 1,050 | ||||||||
| Other assets | 11,462 | 11,373 | ||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 580,148 | $ | 569,815 | ||||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||||||
| Deposits | $ | 456,298 | 449,767 | |||||||
| Federal Home Loan Bank advances | 58,891 | 58,891 | ||||||||
| Other liabilities | 4,424 | 3,864 | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | 519,613 | 512,522 | ||||||||
| Stockholders' equity: | ||||||||||
| Common stock - $0.01 par value, authorized 30,000,000; 5,232,579 and 5,167,061 shares issued and outstanding, respectively | 52 | 52 | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 54,740 | 54,257 | ||||||||
| Retained earnings | 6,245 | 4,049 | ||||||||
| Unearned deferred compensation | (288 | ) | (223 | ) | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (214 | ) | (842 | ) | ||||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 60,535 | 57,293 | ||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | $ | 580,148 | $ | 569,815 | ||||||
| CITIZENS COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC. | ||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
| Three and Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 | ||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| September 30, 2015 |
September 30, 2014 |
September 30, 2015 |
September 30, 2014 |
|||||||||||||
| Interest and dividend income: | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest and fees on loans | $ | 5,366 | $ | 5,782 | $ | 21,641 | $ | 22,612 | ||||||||
| Interest on investments | 365 | 324 | 1,363 | 1,421 | ||||||||||||
| Total interest and dividend income | 5,731 | 6,106 | 23,004 | 24,033 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense: | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest on deposits | 963 | 910 | 3,808 | 3,615 | ||||||||||||
| Interest on borrowed funds | 154 | 174 | 630 | 660 | ||||||||||||
| Total interest expense | 1,117 | 1,084 | 4,438 | 4,275 | ||||||||||||
| Net interest income | 4,614 | 5,022 | 18,566 | 19,758 | ||||||||||||
| Provision for loan losses | 121 | 375 | 656 | 1,910 | ||||||||||||
| Net interest income after provision for loan losses | 4,493 | 4,647 | 17,910 | 17,848 | ||||||||||||
| Non-interest income: | ||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value adjustments and other-than-temporary impairment | -- | -- | -- | (78 | ) | |||||||||||
| Net gains (losses) on sale of available for sale securities | -- | (19 | ) | 60 | (168 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net gains (losses) on available for sale securities | -- | (19 | ) | 60 | (246 | ) | ||||||||||
| Service charges on deposit accounts | 442 | 467 | 1,715 | 1,964 | ||||||||||||
| Loan fees and service charges | 368 | 327 | 1,291 | 904 | ||||||||||||
| Other | 214 | 212 | 847 | 794 | ||||||||||||
| Total non-interest income | 1,024 | 987 | 3,913 | 3,416 | ||||||||||||
| Non-interest expense: | ||||||||||||||||
| Salaries and related benefits | 2,095 | 2,208 | 8,643 | 9,287 | ||||||||||||
| Occupancy | 799 | 750 | 2,872 | 2,631 | ||||||||||||
| Office | 280 | 397 | 1,105 | 1,499 | ||||||||||||
| Data processing | 413 | 406 | 1,590 | 1,531 | ||||||||||||
| Amortization of core deposit intangible | 15 | 14 | 57 | 57 | ||||||||||||
| Advertising, marketing and public relations | 160 | 131 | 570 | 370 | ||||||||||||
| FDIC premium assessment | 84 | 96 | 390 | 409 | ||||||||||||
| Professional services | 248 | 276 | 1,088 | 552 | ||||||||||||
| Other | 354 | 398 | 1,404 | 2,098 | ||||||||||||
| Total non-interest expense | 4,448 | 4,676 | 17,719 | 18,434 | ||||||||||||
| Income before provision for income taxes | 1,069 | 958 | 4,104 | 2,830 | ||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 378 | 357 | 1,490 | 1,047 | ||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders | $ | 691 | $ | 601 | $ | 2,614 | $ | 1,783 | ||||||||
| Per share information: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic earnings | $ | 0.13 | $ | 0.12 | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.35 | ||||||||
| Diluted earnings | $ | 0.13 | $ | 0.11 | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.34 | ||||||||
| Cash dividends paid | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 0.08 | $ | 0.04 | ||||||||
Contact Information:
Contact:
Mark Oldenberg
CFO
715-836-9994