DENVER, CO--(Marketwired - January 25, 2017) - Guaranty Bancorp (NASDAQ: GBNK)

• Increased 2016 net income by $2.3 million, or 10.1% compared to the prior year
• Successfully completed integration of the former Home State Bank during the fourth quarter 2016
• Increased loans by $259.1 million, or 14.3%, during 2016, excluding $445.5 million in loans acquired in the merger with Home State Bancorp
• Grew deposits by $127.5 million, or 7.1%, during 2016, excluding $769.7 million in deposits acquired in the merger with Home State Bancorp

Guaranty Bancorp (NASDAQ: GBNK) ("we", "our" or "the Company"), a community bank holding company based in Colorado, today announced fourth quarter 2016 net income of $7.4 million, or $0.27 per basic common share and $0.26 per diluted common share, compared to $5.9 million, or $0.28 per basic and diluted common share in the fourth quarter 2015. Fourth quarter 2016 net income was impacted by $3.0 million in merger-related expenses. Fourth quarter 2016 operating earnings¹ increased 62.0% to $9.4 million, or $0.34 per diluted common share, compared to $5.8 million in the fourth quarter 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, net income was $24.7 million or $1.06 per basic common share and $1.05 per diluted common share compared to $22.5 million, or $1.07 per basic common share and $1.06 per diluted common share in 2015. Net income in 2016 included $6.3 million in merger-related expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2016, operating earnings increased $6.5 million, or 28.9% to $29.0 million; an increase of $0.17 per diluted common share compared to $22.5 million in 2015.

"As we look back on our accomplishments in 2016, we have much to be proud of," said Paul W. Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Bancorp. "Late in the third quarter 2016, we successfully completed our merger with Home State Bancorp, the holding company for Home State Bank based in Loveland, Colorado. On November 7, 2016, we took the final step and fully integrated our systems and changed the name on the buildings to Guaranty Bank. Our employees have done a fantastic job coming together to serve our expanded customer base and we are focused on providing exceptional service to local Colorado businesses and consumers."

Taylor continued, "Even with all the activities surrounding the merger, loans increased by 14.3% in 2016, excluding $445.5 million in loans acquired in the merger with Home State Bancorp. Not only did we successfully grow loans, we did so while simultaneously improving the nonperforming asset ratio to 0.17% at December 31, 2016, compared to 0.64% at December 31, 2015. We are pleased with our momentum going into 2017 and the opportunity to further support the growth of our customers and the local Colorado economy."

¹ This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company's operational performance and to enhance investors' overall understanding of the Company's core financial performance. See the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section later in this press release for a definition of operating earnings and other non-GAAP measures.

Net interest margin was 3.58% for the fourth quarter 2016, compared to 3.66% in the third quarter 2016 and 3.58% in the fourth quarter 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016 net interest margin was 3.60% compared to 3.67% for 2015. Despite compression in the net interest margin, loan yields increased to 4.44% for the fourth quarter 2016, compared to 4.41% for the third quarter 2016 and 4.14% in the fourth quarter 2015, primarily due to the impact of purchase accounting. Average costs of interest-bearing liabilities, including noninterest-bearing deposits decreased to 0.40% for the fourth quarter 2016, compared to 0.44% for the third quarter 2016 and increased compared to 0.30% for the fourth quarter 2015. The decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities in the fourth quarter 2016 compared to the third quarter 2016 was due to a $202.2 million increase in average noninterest-bearing deposits. The increase in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities in the fourth quarter 2016 compared to the same quarter in 2015 was mostly due to the July 2016 issuance of $40.0 million of unsecured fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes to fund the cash consideration paid in the Home State transaction.

The net interest margin and loan yield are impacted by volatility in accretion of acquired loan discounts. The effects of the accretion on net interest margin and loan yield are outlined in the following table for the periods indicated.

Net interest income increased $8.0 million in the fourth quarter 2016, compared to the same quarter in 2015, due to a $9.3 million increase in interest income, partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in interest expense. The increase in interest income was the result of an $892.6 million increase in average earning assets in the fourth quarter 2016, compared to the same quarter in 2015, and $1.0 million related to accretion of the discount applied to loans acquired in the Home State transaction. The increase in interest expense in the fourth quarter 2016, compared to the same quarter in 2015, was due to a $0.6 million increase in subordinated debt expense and a $0.6 million increase in interest expense on deposits. Interest expense on deposits increased in the fourth quarter 2016, compared to the same quarter in 2015, due to a $658.4 million increase in average interest-bearing deposit balances, attributable to both organic growth and the Home State transaction.

Compared to the third quarter 2016, net interest income increased by $5.1 million in the fourth quarter 2016 due to a $5.5 million increase in interest income, partially offset by a $0.4 million increase in interest expense. The increase in interest income during the fourth quarter 2016, compared to the third quarter 2016, was primarily due to a $620.9 million increase in average earning assets. The $0.4 million increase in interest expense in the fourth quarter 2016, compared to the third quarter 2016, was mostly due to a $453.9 million increase in average interest bearing deposits.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, net interest income increased $13.4 million, compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, due to a $17.5 million increase in interest income, partially offset by a $4.1 million increase in interest expense. The increase in interest income was primarily due to a $411.3 million increase in average earning assets, compared to 2015 and $1.3 million related to accretion of the discount applied to loans acquired in the Home State transaction. The $4.1 million increase in interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, was due to a $1.7 million increase in deposit interest expense, a $1.3 million increase in FHLB borrowing expense and a $1.2 million increase in interest expense on subordinated debt. The increase in interest expense on deposits for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to the same period in 2015, was the result of a five basis point increase in the weighted average cost of deposits and a $299.9 million increase in average deposit balances. The increased expense related to FHLB borrowings was the result of our hedged borrowings, increased borrowing levels required to fund loan growth and an increase in short-term, variable rates resulting from the December 2015 25 basis point federal funds interest rate increase. The increase in interest expense on subordinated debt during 2016, compared to 2015, was due to the $40.0 million of unsecured fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes, discussed above.

Fourth quarter 2016 noninterest income was $6.2 million compared to $4.7 million in the third quarter 2016 and $4.3 million in the fourth quarter 2015.

The $1.5 million increase in noninterest income in the fourth quarter 2016, compared to the third quarter 2016, was primarily due to an $0.8 million increase in deposit service and other fees, primarily generated by deposits acquired in the transaction with Home State, a $0.2 million increase in investment management and trust fees and a $0.2 million increase in the gain on sales of SBA loans.

The $2.0 million increase in noninterest income in the fourth quarter 2016, compared to the fourth quarter 2015, was attributable to a $1.1 million increase in deposit service and other fees primarily generated by deposits acquired in the transaction with Home State, a $0.3 million increase in investment management and trust fees and a $0.3 million increase in the gain on sales of SBA loans.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, noninterest income increased $2.1 million to $19.3 million compared to $17.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The $2.1 million increase in noninterest income for 2016 was attributable to a $1.5 million increase in deposit service and other fees and a $0.3 million increase in investment management and trust fees, primarily due to fees generated by deposits and assets under management acquired in the Home State transaction.

Fourth quarter 2016 noninterest expense was $23.2 million compared to $18.6 million in the third quarter 2016 and $15.2 million in the fourth quarter 2015. The Company's tax equivalent efficiency ratio was 55.13% for the fourth quarter 2016 compared to 56.78% in the third quarter 2016 and 59.55% in the fourth quarter 2015.

Fourth quarter 2016 noninterest expense increased $4.6 million, compared to the third quarter 2016, primarily as a result of a $2.2 million increase in other general and administrative expense, a $1.7 million increase in salaries and employee benefits, a $0.4 million increase in occupancy expense and a $0.3 million increase in amortization of intangible assets. Merger-related expenses incurred in the fourth quarter 2016 were $3.0 million and consisted of $0.5 million in salaries and employee benefit expense related to severance and retention payments and $2.5 million in other general and administrative expense, primarily related to system conversion and integration costs. Salaries and employee benefits include merger-related expenses of $0.5 million in the fourth quarter 2016 and $1.4 million in the third quarter 2016, excluding merger-related expenses, this category of expense increased $2.6 million, mostly due to expenses related to the employees acquired in the Home State transaction. FTEs totaled 510 at December 31, 2016, compared to 547 at September 30, 2016, with the FTE reduction occurring late in the fourth quarter 2016. Similarly, the increases in occupancy expense and amortization of intangible assets were the result of buildings acquired and intangible assets recorded in the Home State transaction.

Noninterest expense increased by $8.0 million in the fourth quarter 2016, compared to the fourth quarter 2015, primarily due to $3.0 million in merger-related expenses incurred in the fourth quarter 2016. These merger-related expenses consisted of $0.5 million in salaries and employee benefit expense related to severance and retention payments and $2.5 million in other general and administrative expense. Excluding the merger-related expenses included in salaries and employee benefits, this category of expense increased $3.5 million, primarily due to an increase of 143 FTEs, due to the employees acquired in the Home State transaction. Other increases in noninterest expense included a $0.3 million increase in occupancy expense, a $0.2 million increase in amortization of intangible assets and a $0.2 million increase in professional fees.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, noninterest expense was $72.8 million, compared to $60.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The $12.4 million increase in noninterest expense during 2016, compared to 2015, was primarily due to $6.3 million in merger-related expenses incurred during 2016. These merger-related expenses consisted of $1.9 million in salaries and employee benefits related to severance and retention payments and $4.4 million in other general and administrative expense, mostly due to system conversion costs and professional fees. Excluding the merger-related expenses, noninterest expense increased $6.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to the year ended December 31, 2015, due to a $5.5 million increase in salaries and employee benefits, a $1.0 million increase in general and administrative expense and a $0.4 million increase in professional fees. These increases in noninterest income were partially offset by a $0.4 million decline in occupancy expense and a $0.4 million decline in amortization of intangible assets. The $5.5 million increase in salaries and employee benefits was mostly due to a $3.5 million increase in base salaries and a $1.4 million increase in employee benefits, mostly due to an increase of 143 FTEs since December 31, 2015. The $1.0 million increase in general and administrative expense during the year, compared to the prior year, was due to a $0.5 million increase in advertising and business development expense and smaller increases in several other categories.

At December 31, 2016, the Company had total assets of $3.4 billion, reflecting an increase of $997.9 million compared to December 31, 2015, and an increase of $20.2 million compared to September 30, 2016. The increase in total assets year-over-year was comprised of a $704.6 million increase in loans, a $166.2 million increase in investments and a $66.5 million increase in goodwill and intangible assets related to the transaction with Home State. During the fourth quarter 2016, management moved approximately $64.3 million in investments from available-for-sale to the held-to-maturity portfolio to mitigate mark-to-market risk and its impact on tangible common equity. The third quarter 2016 acquisition of Home State included the acquisition of $445.5 million in loans and $769.9 million in deposits.

During the fourth quarter 2016, loans net of deferred fees and costs increased $106.1 million despite $272.3 million in net pay-downs and maturities during the quarter. In addition to contractual loan principal payments and maturities, the fourth quarter 2016 included $48.5 million in payoffs due to our strategic decision not to match certain financing terms offered by competitors, $37.9 million in early payoffs related to our borrowers selling their assets, and $25.0 million in loan pay-downs related to fluctuations in loan balances to existing customers.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, loans net of deferred fees and costs increased by $704.6 million. Loans acquired in the transaction with Home State during the third quarter 2016 were $445.5 million. Excluding the loans acquired in the transaction with Home State, loans grew $259.1 million, or 14.3% since December 31, 2015.

At December 31, 2016, non-maturing deposits were $2.3 billion, an increase of $790.6 million compared to December 31, 2015, and a decrease of $41.0 million compared to September 30, 2016. Deposits acquired in the transaction with Home State were $769.7 million, of which $685.6 million were non-maturing deposits. Excluding the deposits acquired in the Home State transaction, total deposits grew $127.5 million, or 7.1% during the year ended December 31, 2016. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, noninterest-bearing deposits as a percentage of total deposits were 34.0%.

At December 31, 2016, securities sold under agreements to repurchase were $36.9 million, an increase of $10.5 million compared to December 31, 2015, and an increase of $1.0 million compared to September 30, 2016. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase acquired in the transaction with Home State were $20.0 million.

Total FHLB borrowings were $197.2 million at December 31, 2016, consisting of $124.7 million in overnight advances and $72.5 million in term advances. At December 31, 2015, total FHLB borrowings consisted of $185.8 million in overnight advances and $95.0 million in term advances.

At December 31, 2016, all of our regulatory capital ratios remained well above minimum requirements for a "well-capitalized" institution. The Company's consolidated Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio decreased relative to December 31, 2015 whereas the Company's total risk-based capital ratios increased compared to December 31, 2015. The transaction with Home State was financed through the issuance of $40.0 million in fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes, which qualified for treatment as Tier 2 capital and by the issuance of common stock valued at $117.5 million, which qualified as Common Equity Tier 1 capital.

During the fourth quarter 2016, nonperforming assets decreased by $0.6 million from September 30, 2016 and $9.3 million from December 31, 2015. The $9.3 million decline in nonperforming assets during 2016 included a return of a $9.4 million out-of-state loan syndication to performing status. As a result of the transaction with Home State, $2.1 million of nonperforming loans were acquired. At December 31, 2016, performing troubled debt restructurings were $25.1 million, compared to $24.4 million at September 30, 2016 and $11.7 million at December 31, 2015. The increase in performing troubled debt restructurings in 2016, compared to the prior year, was primarily due to a return of the $9.4 million out-of-state loan syndication to performing status, described above.

At December 31, 2016, classified assets represented 9.8% of bank-level Tier 1 risk-based capital plus allowance for loan losses, compared to 10.7% at September 30, 2016 and 11.7% at December 31, 2015.

All acquired loans are initially recorded at their estimated fair value which encompasses an estimate of credit losses. The table below presents two alternative views of credit risk coverage ratios for loans, reflecting adjustments for acquired loans and the associated purchase accounting discount:

Net charge-offs were $0.1 million during the fourth quarter 2016, compared to $0.2 million in net recoveries in the third quarter of 2016 and $0.1 million in net recoveries in the fourth quarter 2015. During the fourth quarter 2016, the Bank recorded a $0.1 million provision for loan losses compared to an immaterial provision in the third quarter 2016 and an immaterial credit provision in the fourth quarter 2015. The Bank considered recoveries, historical charge-offs, level of nonperforming loans, loan growth and other factors when determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses and the resulting amount of loan loss provision to be recognized during the quarter.

Shares Outstanding

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had 28,334,004 shares of voting common stock outstanding, of which 513,187 shares were in the form of unvested stock awards.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company discloses certain non-GAAP financial measures related to tangible assets, including tangible book value and tangible common equity, and operating earnings adjusted for merger-related expenses, OREO expenses, debt termination expense, impairments of long-lived assets, securities gains and losses and gains or losses on the sale or disposal of other assets. The Company also discloses the following GAAP profitability metrics alongside the operating earnings equivalent: return on average assets, return on average equity and earnings per share (diluted).

The Company discloses these non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company's operational performance and to enhance investors' overall understanding of the Company's core financial performance. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures allow for additional transparency and are used by some investors, analysts and other users of the Company's financial information as performance measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures presented by the Company may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

About Guaranty Bancorp

Guaranty Bancorp is a $3.4 billion financial services company that operates as the bank holding company for Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, a premier Colorado community bank. The Bank provides comprehensive financial solutions to consumers and small to medium-sized businesses that value local and personalized service. In addition to loans and depository services, the Bank also offers wealth management solutions, including trust and investment management services. More information about Guaranty Bancorp can be found at www.gbnk.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expects," "plans," "intends," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue," or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: failure to maintain adequate levels of capital and liquidity to support the Company's operations; general economic and business conditions in those areas in which the Company operates, including the impact of global and national economic conditions on our local economy; demographic changes; competition; fluctuations in interest rates; continued ability to attract and employ qualified personnel; ability to receive regulatory approval for the bank subsidiary to declare dividends to the Company; adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, changes in credit quality and the effect of credit quality on the provision for credit losses and allowance for loan losses; changes in governmental legislation or regulation, including, but not limited to, any increase in FDIC insurance premiums; changes in accounting policies and practices; changes in business strategy or development plans; failure or inability to complete mergers or other corporate transactions; failure or inability to realize fully the expected benefits of mergers or other corporate transactions; changes in the securities markets; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; the availability of capital from private or government sources; competition for loans and deposits and failure to attract or retain loans and deposits; failure to recognize expected cost savings; changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers and the ability of our borrowers to perform under the terms of their loans and terms of other credit agreements; changes in oil and natural gas prices; political instability, acts of war or terrorism and natural disasters; and additional "Risk Factors" referenced in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as supplemented from time to time. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to the Company, investors and others are cautioned to consider these and other risks and uncertainties. The Company can give no assurance that any goal or plan or expectation set forth in any forward-looking statement can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date made. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, except as may otherwise be required by law, the Company does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.