SAN ANTONIO, April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE: CFR) today reported strong first quarter 2015 results, including significant growth in net income, loans and deposits.

Cullen/Frost's net income available to common shareholders for the first quarter of 2015 rose to $70.1 million, an increase of 18.6 percent, or $11.0 million, over first quarter 2014 earnings of $59.2 million. On a per-share basis, net income was $1.10 per diluted common share, compared to $0.96 per diluted common share reported a year earlier. Returns on average assets and common equity were 1.02 percent and 10.34 percent respectively, compared to 1.00 percent and 9.97 percent respectively, for the same period a year earlier.

For the first quarter of 2015, net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis increased 15.4 percent to $216.7 million, compared to the $187.8 million reported for the same quarter of 2014. Average deposits for the quarter were $23.9 billion, an increase of $3.4 billion, or 16.6 percent, over the $20.5 billion reported for last year's first quarter. Average loans for the first quarter of 2015 increased $1.5 billion, or 15.6 percent, to $11.1 billion, from the $9.6 billion reported for the first quarter a year earlier.

Cullen/Frost acquired WNB Bancshares, Inc., with loans of $670.6 million and deposits of $1.6 billion, on May 30, 2014. These loans and deposits, and the results of operations, are included in quarterly comparisons from date of acquisition.

"I am very pleased to report another great quarter, with positive results in all areas of the company," said Cullen/Frost CEO Dick Evans. "We saw strong growth in loans, deposits and revenues.

"Even with a competitive lending environment and the energy sector slowdown in Texas, we recorded solid increases in average loans and deposits," Evans said. "Our calling effort and team-selling approach allowed us to expand our customer base during the economic downturn, and we are now seeing the results of that hard work. Our credit quality remains good, and we saw a 49 percent decline in net charge-offs from the first quarter last year. In this low oil price environment, we continue to stay in close contact with our energy clients.

"Since 2007, before the financial crisis began, year-to-date average deposits at Frost have risen $13.7 billion, or more than 130 percent. This reflects not only the confidence our customers have in Frost's safety and soundness, but also our efforts to build and expand relationships with customers who understand and appreciate our value proposition.

"Our outstanding service culture once again gained attention and recognition. In February, Frost received 21 national and regional Greenwich Excellence awards for satisfaction in small-business and middle-market banking and treasury management. These awards reflect positive comments from our customers, which is always gratifying.

"Operating in Texas remains a strategic advantage for Frost. With the state's resilient and diversified economy, its business-friendly environment and low taxes, Texas is an economic engine for the nation. Even with the anticipated impact of lower oil prices, Texas will have job growth in 2015. Texas unemployment has been below the U.S. for 98 consecutive months. The robust Texas markets we serve are among the strongest in the country and are regularly noted as top cities for business and good jobs," said Evans.

"Capital levels are strong, and we have plenty of liquidity to fund loans. We have consistently paid a shareholder dividend and have increased the dividend annually for the past 21 years.

"Construction on a new operations center, One Frost, has been under way for more than a year on land we own next to the Frost Technology Center in San Antonio, and several hundred employees have already moved into the first building. When the two-building campus is completed this summer, virtually all of our operations support staff will be together in one facility. This move will create more opportunities for collaboration and innovation and will give our employees a great work environment to better serve our customers.

"I am grateful to our outstanding employees across Texas, who work together to bring the Frost culture to life, take great care of our customers, and help our company grow, succeed and innovate."

Noted financial data for the first quarter of 2015 follows:

• Tier 1 and Total Risk-Based Capital Ratios at the end of the first quarter of 2015 were 12.60 percent and 13.93 percent, respectively, and continue to be in excess of well capitalized levels. The Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 11.55 percent at March 31, 2015. The tangible common equity ratio was 7.64 percent at the end of the first quarter of 2015, compared to 7.78 percent for the same quarter last year. The tangible common equity ratio, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, is equal to end of period shareholders' equity less preferred stock, goodwill and intangible assets divided by end-of-period total assets less goodwill and intangible assets. Our current capital ratios exceed Basel III fully-phased in requirements.
• Net-interest income on a taxable equivalent basis for the first quarter of 2015 totaled $216.7 million, an increase of 15.4 percent, compared to $187.8 million for the same period a year ago. Strong growth in deposits has helped to fund the increase in earning assets. The net interest margin was 3.41 percent for the first quarter of 2015, compared to 3.42 percent for the first quarter of 2014, and 3.34 percent for the fourth quarter of 2014. Excess liquidity continues to put pressure on the net interest margin in this low interest rate environment.
• Non-interest income for the first quarter of 2015 totaled $83.2 million, a 7.4 percent increase compared to $77.5 million reported for the first quarter of 2014. Trust and investment management fees were $27.2 million, up $1.8 million, or 6.9 percent, from the first quarter of 2014, with approximately $1.3 million of the increase related to investment fees. Investment management fees are generally assessed based on the market value of trust assets that are managed and held in custody. These investment management fees were favorably impacted by higher market values. Trust and investment management fees also included a $383,000 increase in oil and gas fees. Insurance commissions and fees were $14.6 million, up 11.5 percent, or $1.5 million, compared to the $13.1 million reported in the first quarter a year earlier. Most of this increase was due to higher contingent commission income, up $1.4 million. Other income rose $1.8 million from last year's first quarter and included increases in income from customer derivative activities, up $1.1 million, and gains on the sale of foreclosed and other assets, up $861,000.
• Non-interest expense was $171.5 million for the quarter, up $13.6 million or 8.6 percent compared to the $157.9 million reported for the first quarter a year earlier. Total salaries rose $5.9 million, or 8.3 percent, to $76.1 million, and were impacted by an increase in the number of employees, including employees from the WNB acquisition, combined with normal annual merit and market increases. Employee benefits were up $2.8 million, or 16.3 percent, and were impacted by the higher number of employees. This increase was also significantly impacted by an increase in expense related to our frozen defined benefit retirement plans, up $1.3 million, which was impacted by lower discount rates and changes to actuarial assumptions. Net occupancy expense rose $2.1 million, or 16.4 percent, resulting primarily from higher lease expense, up $1.1 million, combined with property taxes, up $409,000. Furniture and equipment was up $581,000 or 3.9 percent, due mainly to an $828,000 increase in software maintenance. Other expense was $40.1 million, up 3.8 percent, or $1.5 million, from $38.6 million for the first quarter last year. The first quarter of 2014 included acquisition-related expenses of $1.1 million. Excluding this $1.1 million in acquisition-related expenses, other expense increased $2.6 million or 7.0 percent, and was partly related to check card expense, up $792,000, professional services expense, up $676,000, and sundry and other miscellaneous expenses, up $659,000.
• For the first quarter of 2015, the provision for loan losses was $8.2 million, compared to net charge-offs of $2.0 million. For the first quarter of 2014, the provision for loan losses was $6.6 million, compared to net charge-offs of $3.9 million. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 0.94 percent at March 31, 2015, compared to .98 percent at the end of the first quarter 2014. Non-performing assets were $59.6 million at the end of the first quarter 2015, compared to $61.3 million at the end of the first quarter of 2014 and $65.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2014.

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (CT) to discuss the results for the quarter. The media and other interested parties are invited to access the call in a "listen only" mode at 1-800-944-6430. Digital playback of the conference call will be available after 2 p.m. CT until midnight Sunday, May 2, 2015 at 855-859-2056 with Conference ID # of 31329893. The call will also be available by webcast at the URL listed below and available for playback after 2 p.m. CT. After entering the Web site, www.frostbank.com, scroll down to the bottom of the home page. Under Company Information, click on Investor Relations.

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE: CFR) is a financial holding company, headquartered in San Antonio, with $28.2 billion in assets at March 31, 2015. Among the top 50 largest U.S. banks and one of 24 banks included in the KBW Bank Index, Frost provides a wide range of banking, investments and insurance services to businesses and individuals across Texas in the Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Permian Basin, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio regions. Founded in 1868, Frost has helped clients with their financial needs during three centuries. Additional information is available at frostbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements and Factors that Could Affect Future Results

Certain statements contained in this Earnings Release that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"), notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified as such. In addition, certain statements may be contained in our future filings with the SEC, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by us or with our approval that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenues, expenses, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statements of plans, objectives and expectations of Cullen/Frost or its management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "targeted", "continue", "remain", "will", "should", "may" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

• Local, regional, national and international economic conditions and the impact they may have on us and our customers and our assessment of that impact.
• Volatility and disruption in national and international financial markets.
• Government intervention in the U.S. financial system.
• Changes in the mix of loan geographies, sectors and types or the level of non-performing assets and charge-offs.
• Changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory and accounting requirements.
• The effects of and changes in trade and monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board.
• Inflation, interest rate, securities market and monetary fluctuations.
• The effect of changes in laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance) with which we and our subsidiaries must comply.
• The soundness of other financial institutions.
• Political instability.
• Impairment of our goodwill or other intangible assets.
• Acts of God or of war or terrorism.
• The timely development and acceptance of new products and services and perceived overall value of these products and services by users.
• Changes in consumer spending, borrowings and savings habits.
• Changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers.
• Technological changes.
• Acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses.
• The ability to increase market share and control expenses.
• Our ability to attract and retain qualified employees.
• Changes in the competitive environment in our markets and among banking organizations and other financial service providers.
• The effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters.
• Changes in the reliability of our vendors, internal control systems or information systems.
• Changes in our liquidity position.
• Changes in our organization, compensation and benefit plans.
• The costs and effects of legal and regulatory developments, the resolution of legal proceedings or regulatory or other governmental inquiries, the results of regulatory examinations or reviews and the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals.
• Greater than expected costs or difficulties related to the integration of new products and lines of business.
• Our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. We do not undertake obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Greg ParkerInvestor Relations210.220.5632

or

Renee SabelMedia Relations210.220.5416

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SOURCE Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.