Peoples Bancorp Announces Third Quarter Earnings Results

October 28, 2009 9:02 AM EDT

NEWTON, N.C., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (Nasdaq: PEBK), the parent company of Peoples Bank, reported net earnings of $300,000, or $0.05 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to $1.7 million, or $0.31 basic and diluted net earnings per share, for the same period one year ago. After adjusting for $348,000 in dividends and accretion on preferred stock, net loss available to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $48,000, or $0.01 basic and diluted net loss per common share. Net earnings from recurring operations for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $670,000, or $0.12 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to third quarter 2008 net earnings from recurring operations of $2.0 million, or $0.35 basic and diluted net earnings per share. Tony W. Wolfe, President and Chief Executive Officer, attributed the decrease in third quarter earnings to an increase in provision for loan losses and a decrease in net interest income. Mr. Wolfe noted that the decline in earnings for the third quarter reflects the continuing impact of the current financial crisis in the increase in non-performing assets when compared to the same quarter in 2008. Mr. Wolfe stated that the recessionary environment continues to have an adverse impact on real estate values, new home sales and construction, necessitating an increase in the provision for loan losses as the risk of loss in the loan portfolio increases.

Year-to-date net earnings as of September 30, 2009 was $2.3 million, or $0.41 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to $6.0 million, or $1.07 basic net earnings per share and $1.06 diluted net earnings per share, for the same period one year ago. After adjusting for $898,000 in dividends and accretion on preferred stock, net earnings available to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $1.4 million, or $0.25 basic and diluted net earnings per common share. Net earnings from recurring operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $1.9 million, or $0.35 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to net earnings from recurring operations of $6.2 million, or $1.10 basic net earnings per share and $1.09 diluted net earnings per share, for the same period one year ago. The decrease in year-to-date earnings is primarily attributable to an increase in provision for loan losses and an increase in non-interest expense, which were partially offset by an increase in non-interest income as discussed below.

Shareholders' equity increased to $99.5 million, or 9.56% of total assets, at September 30, 2009 as compared to $73.2 million, or 7.60% of total assets, at September 30, 2008, primarily due to the issuance on December 23, 2008 of $24.4 million in Series A preferred stock and a warrant for shares of common stock with a value of $704,000 associated with the Company's participation in the U.S. Treasury Department's Capital Purchase Program ("CPP") under the Troubled Asset Relief Program. The CPP, created by the U.S. Treasury, is a voluntary program in which selected, healthy financial institutions were encouraged to participate. Approved use of the funds includes, among other things, providing credit to qualified borrowers, either as companies or individuals. Such participation is intended to support the economic development of the community and thereby restore the health of the local and national economy.

Net interest income was $8.3 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2009 compared to $8.5 million for the same period one year ago. This decease in interest income is primarily due to a 175 basis point reduction in the Bank's prime commercial lending rate from September 30, 2008 to September 30, 2009, which was partially offset by a decrease in the cost of funds and an increase in interest earning assets. Net income from derivative instruments was $662,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $907,000 for the same period in 2008. Net interest income after the provision for loan losses decreased 31% to $5.1 million during the third quarter of 2009, compared to $7.5 million for the same period one year ago. The provision for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $3.1 million as compared to $1.0 million for the same period one year ago, primarily attributable to a $16.5 million increase in non-performing assets from September 30, 2008 to September 30, 2009 and growth in the loan portfolio.

Recurring non-interest income amounted to $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to $2.8 million for the same period one year ago. Non-recurring losses of $360,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 included a $281,000 loss on the disposition of assets and a $79,000 write-down on an investment. Management determined the market value of this investment had decreased significantly and was not considered temporary, therefore a write-down was appropriate during the third quarter of 2009. Non-recurring losses of $316,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 were due to a $176,000 loss on the disposition of assets and a $140,000 loss on the sale of securities.

Year-to-date net interest income as of September 30, 2009 decreased 2% to $24.3 million compared to $24.7 million for the same period one year ago. This decrease is primarily attributable to a reduction in the Bank's prime commercial lending rate. The decrease in loan interest income resulting from a decline in prime rate was partially offset by an increase in income from derivative instruments. Net income from derivative instruments was $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to $2.2 million for the same period in 2008. Net interest income after the provision for loan losses decreased 24% to $17.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to $22.6 million for the same period one year ago. The provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $7.2 million as compared to $2.1 million for the same period one year ago, primarily attributable to an increase in non-performing assets, a $1.3 million increase in net charge-offs during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to the same period last year and growth in the loan portfolio. Net charge-offs during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 included $752,000 on construction and acquisition and development loans, $1.1 million on mortgage loans and $856,000 on non-real estate loans, which included $409,000 on commercial loans.

Recurring non-interest income increased 2% to $8.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to $8.2 million for the same period one year ago. The increase in recurring non-interest income is primarily due to a $107,000 increase in mortgage banking income resulting from increased mortgage loan demand. Net non-recurring gains of $552,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 included a $1.8 million gain on sale of securities, which was partially offset by write-downs of three securities totaling $723,000. This $1.1 million net gain on the sale and write-down of securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was partially offset by a $521,000 loss on the disposition of assets. Net non-recurring losses of $276,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were due to a $140,000 loss on the sale of securities and a $136,000 loss on the disposition of assets.

Non-interest expense increased 6% to $22.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to $21.3 million for the same period last year. The increase in non-interest expense included an increase of $338,000 or 9% in occupancy expense due to an increase in furniture and equipment expense and a net increase of $1.2 million or 19% in non-interest expenses other than salary, benefits and occupancy expenses. The increase in non-interest expenses other than salary, benefits and occupancy expenses is primarily attributable to an increase of $376,000 in debit card expense and an increase of $1.0 million in

FDIC insurance expense due to an increase in 2009 FDIC insurance assessment rates combined with a $453,000 FDIC insurance special assessment paid in September 2009.

Total assets as of September 30, 2009 amounted to $1.0 billion, an increase of 8% compared to total assets of $964.0 million at September 30, 2008. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in investment securities available for sale combined with an increase in loans. Available for sale securities increased 63% to $188.4 million as of September 30, 2009 compared to $115.8 million as of September 30, 2008 primarily due to $77.3 million in securities purchased in a leverage transaction used to offset the cost of the Company's CPP dividend. Loans increased 2% to $782.3 million as of September 30, 2009 compared to $765.1 million as of September 30, 2008.

Non-performing assets increased 14% to $29.1 million or 2.79% of total assets at September 30, 2009, compared to $25.4 million or 2.50% of total assets at June 30, 2009 primarily due to a $2.0 million increase in non-performing loans combined with a $1.7 million increase in Other Real Estate Owned. Non-performing assets amounted to $12.6 million or 1.30% of total assets at September 30, 2008. Non-performing loans include $5.7 million in construction and acquisition and development loans, $18.6 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $1.1 million in other loans at September 30, 2009 as compared to $5.0 million in construction and acquisition and development loans, $16.9 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $1.6 million in other loans as of June 30, 2009. The allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2009 amounted to $15.5 million or 1.98% of total loans compared to $9.8 million or 1.28% of total loans at September 30, 2008.

Deposits amounted to $794.3 million as of September 30, 2009, representing an increase of 5% over deposits of $753.9 million at September 30, 2008. Core deposits, which include non-interest bearing demand deposits, NOW, MMDA, savings and non-brokered certificates of deposits of denominations less than $100,000, increased $25.0 million to $548.0 million at September 30, 2009 as compared to $523.0 million at September 30, 2008. Certificates of deposit in amounts greater than $100,000 or more totaled $240.4 million at September 30, 2009 as compared to $230.9 million at September 30, 2008.

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase amounted to $31.9 million at September 30, 2009 as compared to $32.2 million at September 30, 2008. Short-term Federal Reserve Bank borrowings amounted to $12.5 million as of September 30, 2009.

Peoples Bank operates 22 offices entirely in North Carolina, with offices in Catawba, Alexander, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Union, Iredell and Wake Counties. The Company's common stock is publicly traded and is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "PEBK."

Statements made in this press release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management and on the information available to management at the time that this release was prepared. These statements can be identified by the use of words like "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," and "believe," variations of these words and other similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, (1) competition in the markets served by Peoples Bank, (2) changes in the interest rate environment, (3) general national, regional or local economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and the possible impairment of collectibility of loans, (4) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, (5) significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment and tax laws, (6) the impact of changes in monetary and fiscal policies, laws, rules and regulations and (7) other risks and factors identified in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to those described in Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.'s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.


    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    September 30, 2009, December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008
    (Dollars in thousands)

                                   September 30,  December 31,  September 30,
                                        2009          2008           2008
                                   -------------  ------------  -------------
                                    (Unaudited)                  (Unaudited)
    ASSETS:
    Cash and due from banks              $35,775       $19,743        $24,929
    Interest bearing deposits              1,412         1,453         18,822
    Federal funds sold                         -         6,733          2,463
                                             ---         -----          -----
        Cash and cash equivalents         37,187        27,929         46,214
                                          ------        ------         ------

    Investment securities
     available for sale                  188,352       124,916        115,846
    Other investments                      6,117         6,303          6,303
                                           -----         -----          -----
        Total securities                 194,469       131,219        122,149
                                         -------       -------        -------

    Mortgage loans held for sale           1,577             -              -

    Loans                                782,272       781,188        765,104
      Less: Allowance for loan losses    (15,474)      (11,025)        (9,763)
                                         -------       -------         ------
        Net loans                        766,798       770,163        755,341
                                         -------       -------        -------

    Premises and equipment, net           17,539        18,297         18,531
    Cash surrender value of life
     insurance                             7,216         7,019          6,959
    Accrued interest receivable
     and other assets                     16,445        14,135         14,828
                                          ------        ------         ------
        Total assets                  $1,041,231      $968,762       $964,022
                                      ==========      ========       ========


    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
    Deposits:
      Non-interest bearing demand       $111,578      $104,448       $115,078
      NOW, MMDA & Savings                272,865       210,058        213,593
      Time, $100,000 or more             240,440       220,374        230,885
      Other time                         169,435       186,182        194,311
                                         -------       -------        -------
        Total deposits                   794,318       721,062        753,867

    Demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury    444         1,600          1,600
    Securities sold under
     agreement to repurchase              31,911        37,501         32,231
    Short-term Federal Reserve
     Bank borrowings                      12,500         5,000              -
    FHLB borrowings                       77,000        77,000         77,000
    Junior subordinated debentures        20,619        20,619         20,619
    Accrued interest payable and
     other liabilities                     4,940         4,852          5,479
                                           -----         -----          -----
        Total liabilities                941,732       867,634        890,796

    Shareholders' equity:
      Series A preferred stock,
       $1,000 stated value; authorized
       5,000,000 shares; issued and
       outstanding 25,054 shares in
       2009 and 2008                      24,441        24,350              -
      Common stock, no par value;
       authorized 20,000,000 shares;
       issued and outstanding 5,539,056
       shares in 2009 and 2008            48,269        48,269         48,142
      Retained earnings                   23,043        22,985         23,252
      Accumulated other
         comprehensive income              3,746         5,524          1,832
                                           -----         -----          -----
        Total shareholders' equity        99,499       101,128         73,226
                                          ------       -------         ------

        Total liabilities and
         shareholders' equity         $1,041,231      $968,762       $964,022
                                      ==========      ========       ========


    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                  Three months ended       Nine months ended
                                      September 30,           September 30,
                                    2009        2008        2009        2008
                                    ----        ----        ----        ----
                               (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
    INTEREST INCOME:
      Interest and fees on loans  $10,662     $12,734     $32,603     $38,407
      Interest on federal funds
       sold                             -          17           1          52
      Interest on investment
       securities:
        U.S. Government sponsored
         enterprises                1,385       1,065       3,947       3,305
        States and political
         subdivisions                 325         225         866         668
        Other                          31          80          90         315
                                       --          --          --         ---
          Total interest income    12,403      14,121      37,507      42,747
                                   ------      ------      ------      ------

    INTEREST EXPENSE:
      NOW, MMDA & savings deposits    789         807       2,066       2,514
      Time deposits                 2,213       3,536       7,669      11,467
      FHLB borrowings                 911         891       2,666       2,722
      Junior subordinated
       debentures                     116         233         445         790
      Other                           103         159         312         513
                                      ---         ---         ---         ---
        Total interest expense      4,132       5,626      13,158      18,006
                                    -----       -----      ------      ------

    NET INTEREST INCOME             8,271       8,495      24,349      24,741
    PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES       3,139       1,035       7,156       2,107
                                    -----       -----       -----       -----
    NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER
     PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES      5,132       7,460      17,193      22,634
                                    -----       -----      ------      ------

    NON-INTEREST INCOME:
      Service charges               1,511       1,411       4,094       3,814
      Other service charges and
       fees                           472         575       1,568       1,842
      Gain (loss) on sale and
       write-down of securities       (79)       (140)      1,072        (140)
      Mortgage banking income         129         165         633         526
      Insurance and brokerage
       commission                      87         104         286         330
      Miscellaneous                   383         391       1,287       1,542
                                      ---         ---       -----       -----
        Total non-interest income   2,503       2,506       8,940       7,914
                                    -----       -----       -----       -----

    NON-INTEREST EXPENSES:
      Salaries and employee
       benefits                     3,596       3,890      11,231      11,435
      Occupancy                     1,357       1,228       3,990       3,652
      Other                         2,391       2,160       7,421       6,234
                                    -----       -----       -----       -----
        Total non-interest
         expense                    7,344       7,278      22,642      21,321
                                    -----       -----      ------      ------

    EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES      291       2,688       3,491       9,227
    INCOME TAXES                       (9)        942       1,206       3,234
                                       --         ---       -----       -----

    NET EARNINGS                      300       1,746       2,285       5,993
                                      ---       -----       -----       -----

      Dividends and accretion on
       preferred stock                348           -         898           -
                                      ---         ---         ---         ---

    NET EARNINGS (LOSS) AVAILABLE
     TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS          $(48)     $1,746      $1,387      $5,993
                                     ====      ======      ======      ======

    PER COMMON SHARE AMOUNTS
    Basic net earnings (loss)      $(0.01)      $0.31       $0.25       $1.07
    Diluted net earnings (loss)    $(0.01)      $0.31       $0.25       $1.06
    Cash dividends                  $0.07       $0.12       $0.24       $0.36
    Book value                     $13.42      $13.10      $13.42      $13.10



    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
    For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008
    (Dollars in thousands)

                                 Three months ended        Nine months ended
                                     September 30,           September 30,
                                    2009        2008        2009        2008
                                    ----        ----        ----        ----
                               (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
    SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES:
      Available for sale
       securities               $172,027    $113,459    $151,647    $115,898
      Loans                      788,435     757,423     782,786     738,040
      Earning assets             968,805     885,428     948,378     866,513
      Assets                   1,025,113     938,729   1,003,717     920,419
      Deposits                   776,680     729,485     758,804     712,835
      Shareholders' equity        99,007      73,943     100,917      75,837

    SELECTED KEY DATA:
      Net interest margin
       (tax equivalent)             3.48%       3.90%       3.53%       3.91%
      Return of average assets      0.12%       0.74%       0.30%       0.87%
      Return on average
       shareholders' equity         1.20%       9.40%       3.03%      10.56%
      Shareholders' equity to
       total assets (period end)    9.56%       7.60%       9.56%       7.60%

    ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES:
      Balance, beginning of
       period                    $13,290      $9,642     $11,026      $9,103
      Provision for loan losses    3,139       1,035       7,156       2,107
      Charge-offs                 (1,110)       (980)     (3,166)     (1,667)
      Recoveries                     155          66         458         220
                                     ---          --         ---         ---
      Balance, end of period     $15,474      $9,763     $15,474      $9,763
                                 =======      ======     =======      ======

    ASSET QUALITY:
      Non-accrual loans                                  $23,990      $9,002
      90 days past due and
       still accruing                                      1,411         522
      Other real estate owned                              3,662       3,026
      Repossessed assets                                       -           1
                                                             ---         ---
      Total non-performing assets                        $29,063     $12,551
                                                         =======     =======
      Non-performing assets to
       total assets                                         2.79%       1.30%
      Allowance for loan losses
       to non-performing assets                            53.24%      77.78%
      Allowance for loan losses
       to total loans                                       1.98%       1.28%

    LOAN RISK GRADE ANALYSIS:                            Percentage of Loans
                                                            By Risk Grade*
                                                            --------------
                                                        9/30/2009    9/30/2008
                                                        ---------    ---------
      Risk 1 (excellent quality)                            3.56%       7.03%
      Risk 2 (high quality)                                16.13%      16.15%
      Risk 3 (good quality)                                53.09%      65.14%
      Risk 4 (management attention)                        17.39%       8.49%
      Risk 5 (watch)                                        5.24%       1.30%
      Risk 6 (substandard)                                  1.51%       0.70%
      Risk 7 (low substandard)                              0.00%       0.00%
      Risk 8 (doubtful)                                     0.00%       0.00%
      Risk 9 (loss)                                         0.00%       0.00%

    *Excludes non-accrual loans

    At September 30, 2009 there were eight relationships exceeding $1.0
    million (which totaled $19.5 million) in the Watch risk grade, three
    relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Substandard risk grade  (which
    totaled $8.6 million) and no relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the
    Low Substandard risk grade.  These customers continue to meet payment
    requirements and these relationships would not become non-performing
    assets unless they are unable to meet those requirements.



SOURCE Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.


Related Categories

Press Releases

Stocks Mentioned

PEBK 4.85

+0.00 +0.00%
Volume: 3,517
Track PEBK


Related Entities


Add Your Comment