SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

SEACOAST FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.              ý Yes  o No

 

Indicate by check mark whether registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934).          ý Yes  o No

 

At August 14, 2003, the Company had 26,241,630 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 

SEACOAST FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION

INDEX

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited)
		Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002
		Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002
		Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings
Item 2.	Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 3.	Defaults upon Senior Securities
Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 5.	Other Information
Item 6.	Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
SIGNATURES

 

 

 

SEACOAST FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

 

		June 30, 2003			December 31, 2002
ASSETS:
Cash and due from banks		$	137,930		$	109,223
Federal funds sold		73,166			11,056
Total cash and cash equivalents		211,096			120,279
Investment securities —
Available-for-sale, at fair value		364,240			426,791
Held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $18,646 and $19,448)		17,827			18,721
Restricted equity securities		55,623			44,243
Loans held-for-sale		8,528			6,183
Loans		3,626,988			2,991,171
Allowance for loan losses		(41,797		)	(34,354		)
Net loans		3,585,191			2,956,817
Accrued interest receivable		20,010			16,055
Banking premises and equipment, net		59,442			53,945
Other real estate owned and repossessed autos		366			1,350
Net deferred tax asset		10,062			9,645
Goodwill (Note 3)		115,519			33,903
Intangible assets (Note 3)		8,040			1,564
Other assets		20,871			11,549
Total assets		$	4,476,815		$	3,701,045
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Deposits		$	2,896,842		$	2,403,875
Short-term borrowings		38,713			36,128
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		1,041,593			858,804
Other borrowings		1,735			1,772
Mortgagors’ escrow payments		7,215			4,489
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		28,948			21,626
Total liabilities		4,015,046			3,326,694
Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in Seacoast Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (Note 6)		69,359			54,863
Stockholders’ equity (Notes 7, and 8):
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized 10,000,000 shares; none issued		—			—
Common stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized 100,000,000 shares; 30,227,555 shares issued in 2003; 26,758,136 issued in 2002		302			268
Additional paid-in capital		226,437			154,361
Retained earnings		221,567			216,632
Treasury stock, at cost, 3,745,925 shares in 2003 and 3,387,562 shares in 2002		(55,677		)	(49,033		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		9,953			8,330
Unearned compensation - ESOP and restricted stock		(9,862		)	(10,766		)
Shares held in employee trust		(310		)	(304		)
Total stockholders’ equity		392,410			319,488
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	4,476,815		$	3,701,045

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

2

 

SEACOAST FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2003			2002			2003			2002
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME
Interest on loans		$	50,535		$	47,180		$	98,783		$	94,103
Interest and dividends on investment securities		4,651			6,551			9,883			12,398
Interest on federal funds sold and short-term investments		158			305			212			735
Total interest and dividend income		55,344			54,036			108,878			107,236
INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest on deposits		11,352			13,057			22,313			26,781
Interest on borrowed funds		10,476			10,738			20,795			21,419
Total interest expense		21,828			23,795			43,108			48,200
Net interest income		33,516			30,241			65,770			59,036
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES		2,087			2,000			4,174			3,535
Net interest income after provision for loan losses		31,429			28,241			61,596			55,501
NONINTEREST INCOME
Deposit and other banking fees		3,053			2,534			5,551			4,802
Loan servicing fees, net		169			235			342			432
Merchant card fee income, net		211			261			261			332
Other loan fees		532			334			882			568
Gain (loss) on investment securities, net		61			(233		)	321			(92		)
Gain on sales of loans, net		127			99			172			182
Other income		313			391			522			602
Total noninterest income		4,466			3,621			8,051			6,826
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries and employee benefits		10,960			9,283			20,934			18,696
Occupancy and equipment expenses		2,803			2,276			5,519			4,447
Data processing expenses		2,107			1,800			4,196			3,500
Marketing expenses		769			770			1,491			1,243
Professional services expenses		1,209			623			1,761			1,231
Amortization of intangibles (Note 3)		275			206			439			414
Other operating expenses		2,147			2,130			6,291			4,446
Total noninterest expense		20,270			17,088			40,631			33,977
Minority interest expense (Notes 6, and 10)		1,471			407			2,704			407
Income before provision for income taxes		14,154			14,367			26,312			27,943
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES		838			5,083			16,025			9,785
Net income		$	13,316		$	9,284		$	10,287		$	18,158
EARNINGS PER SHARE  (Note 5)
Basic		$	0.57		$	0.40		$	0.46		$	0.79
Diluted		$	0.56		$	0.39		$	0.45		$	0.77
Weighted average common shares outstanding		24,257,066			24,176,594			23,583,687			24,278,149
Weighted average unallocated ESOP shares and unvested restricted stock		(1,094,158		)	(1,262,600		)	(1,115,709		)	(1,281,330		)
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic		23,162,908			22,913,994			22,467,978			22,996,819
Diluted effect of common stock equivalents		497,384			631,431			496,316			580,320
Weighted average common and common stock equivalent shares outstanding – diluted		23,660,292			23,545,425			22,964,294			23,577,139

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

3

 

SEACOAST FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2003 AND 2002

(In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)

 

		Common Stock			Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings			Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Unearned Compensation ESOP /Restricted Stock			Shares-Held In Employee Trust			Total
Balance, December 31, 2001		$	268		$	153,216		$	189,743		$	(28,185	)	$	3,531		$	(12,575	)	$	(274	)	$	305,724
Exercise of stock options		—			139			—			242			—			—			—			381
Repurchase of common stock (Note 7)		—			—			—			(7,550		)	—			—			—			(7,550		)
Net income					—			18,158			—			—			—			—			18,158
Other comprehensive income — Change in unrealized gain on securities available for sale, net of taxes		—			—			—			—			1,855			—			—			1,855
Comprehensive income (Note 4)		—			—			—			—			—			—			—			20,013
Cash dividends - $.20 per share		—			—			(4,668		)	—			—			—			—			(4,668		)
Amortization of unearned compensation		—			285			—			—			—			904			—			1,189
Other		—			(7		)	—			—			—			—			(16		)	(23		)
Balance, June 30, 2002		$	268		$	153,633		$	203,233		$	(35,493	)	$	5,386		$	(11,671	)	$	(290	)	$	315,066
Balance, December 31, 2002		$	268		$	154,361		$	216,632		$	(49,033	)	$	8,330		$	(10,766	)	$	(304	)	$	319,488
Common stock issued: 3,469,419 shares at $20.72		34			71,852			—			—			—			—			—			71,886
Exercise of stock options		—			3			—			44			—			—			—			47
Repurchase of common stock (Note 7)		—			—			—			(6,688		)	—			—			—			(6,688		)
Net income		—			—			10,287			—			—			—			—			10,287
Other comprehensive income — Change in unrealized gain on securities available for sale, net of taxes		—			—			—			—			1,623			—			—			1,623
Comprehensive income (Note 4)		—			—			—			—			—			—			—			11,910
Cash dividends - $.24 per share		—			—			(5,352		)	—			—			—			—			(5,352		)
Amortization of unearned compensation		—			265			—			—			—			904			—			1,169
Amortization of underwriting costs		—			(44		)	—			—			—			—			—			(44		)
Other		—			—			—			—			—			—			(6		)	(6		)
Balance, June 30, 2003		$	302		$	226,437		$	221,567		$	(55,677	)	$	9,953		$	(9,862	)	$	(310	)	$	392,410

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

4

 

SEACOAST FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2003 AND 2002

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

 

		2003			2002
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income		$	10,287		$	18,158
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities —
Depreciation		2,521			2,169
Amortization and accretion, net		725			1,040
Purchase accounting amortization, net		478			485
Stock-based compensation		1,169			1,189
Provision for loan losses		4,174			3,535
(Gain) loss on investment securities, net		(321		)	92
Gain on sale of fixed assets		(1		)	(97		)
Net increase deferred tax asset		(417		)	(1,105		)
Originations of loans held-for-sale		(9,411		)	(4,616		)
Proceeds from sales of loans originated for sale		7,313			19,513
Gain on sales of loans, net		(172		)	(182		)
Net increase in accrued interest receivable		(1,096		)	(2,605		)
Net decrease in other assets		10,999			824
Net increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other liabilities		(10,724		)	4,660
Net cash provided by operating activities		15,524			43,060
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of securities classified as available-for-sale		(30,403		)	(129,993		)
Purchase of securities classified as held-to-maturity		—			(1,098		)
Purchase of restricted equity securities		(2,925		)	(1,885		)
Proceeds from sales, calls, paydowns and maturities of securities classified as available-for-sale		97,559			85,303
Proceeds from calls, paydowns and maturities of securities classified as held -to-maturity		775			2,200
Cash paid for acquisition of Bay State Bancorp, Inc., net of cash acquired		(35,547		)	—
Purchase of loans		(9,327		)	—
Net increase in loans		(113,964		)	(172,847		)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off		783			278
Proceeds from sales of repossessed assets		2,313			18
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets		—			338
Purchase of premises and equipment		(3,211		)	(3,601		)
Net cash used in investing activities		(93,947		)	(221,287		)

 

Statement  continued on next page.

 

5

 

		2003			2002
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in NOW, money market deposit and demand deposit accounts		$	80,662		$	93,567
Increase in passbook and other savings accounts		34,438			30,353
Increase (decrease) in certificates of deposit		(11,224		)	13,145
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank		186,140			139,500
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank advances		(128,488		)	(98,802		)
Increase in short-term and other borrowings		2,527			10,186
(Increase) decrease in mortgagors’ escrow payments		2,726			(1,427		)
Net proceeds issuance of junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures		14,452			55,047
Exercise of stock options		44			381
Tax benefit of stock awards		3			—
Repurchase of common stock		(6,688		)	(7,550		)
Cash dividends		(5,352		)	(4,668		)
Net cash provided by financing activities		169,240			229,732
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		90,817			51,505
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		120,079			190,733
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	210,896		$	242,238
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid on deposits and borrowed funds		$	42,830		$	48,340
Income taxes paid		12,206			6,284
Supplemental disclosure of noncash transactions:
Transfers from loans to other repossessed assets		1,329			82
Financed sales of other real estate owned		—			76
In conjunction with the purchase acquisition detailed in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Assets were acquired and liabilities were assumed as follows:
Fair value of assets acquired		$	683,097		$	—
Less liabilities assumed		548,603			—

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

6

 

SEACOAST FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

JUNE 30, 2003

(In thousands, except per share data and as noted) (Unaudited)

 

(1)   BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Seacoast Financial Services Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Compass Bank for Savings (“Compass”), Nantucket Bank, Lighthouse Securities Corporation, and Seacoast Capital Trust I and II (collectively referred to herein as “the Company”) presented herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2002 included as part of its annual report on Form 10-K.

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) and disclosures necessary for a fair presentation.  Management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements.  Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

 

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  For interim reporting purposes, the Company follows the same significant accounting policies.  Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year balances to conform to the current year presentation.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25 in accounting for stock options which measures compensation cost for stock based compensation plans as the difference between the exercise price of options granted and the fair market value of the Company’s stock at the grant date.  This generally does not result in any compensation charges to earnings.  Below, the Company discloses pro forma net income and earnings per share as if compensation was measured at the date of grant based on the fair value of the award and recognized over the service period.  This is required by SFAS No. 123 for all companies that elect to continue using APB Opinion No. 25 for stock option grants.  As further noted in “Recent Accounting Pronouncements”, the Company is considering adopting SFAS No. 148, which is an amendment to SFAS No. 123 and allows for alternative methods of adopting fair value based compensation on stock option grants.  There were no stock option grants during the three and six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2003.

 

Had the Company applied SFAS No. 123 in accounting for its stock option grants, net income and EPS (basic and diluted) would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

 

		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2003			2002			2003			2002
Net income:
As reported		$	13,316		$	9,284		$	10,287		$	18,158
Pro forma		13,208			9,167			10,068			17,923
Basic EPS:
As reported		0.57			0.40			0.46			0.79
Pro forma		0.57			0.40			0.45			0.78
Diluted EPS:
As reported		0.56			0.39			0.45			0.77
Pro forma		0.56			0.39			0.44			0.76

 

7

 

SEACOAST FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

JUNE 30, 2003

 

(2)   ACQUISITION

 

On May 31, 2003, the Company completed the acquisition of Bay State Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly owned banking subsidiary, Bay State Federal Savings Bank (Bay State).  The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and, as such, was included in our results of operations from the date of acquisition.  The following table summarizes the acquisition:

 

(Dollars and shares in millions)

 

Balance at Acquisition Date						Transaction Related Items
Assets			Equity			Goodwill			Other Identifiable Intangibles			Cash Paid			Shares Issued		Total Purchase Price
$	579.2		$	48.8		$	81.6		$	6.9		$	61.0		3.5		$	134.5

 

The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed for Bay State at the date of acquisition.

 

Assets:
Investments		$	27,415
Loans, net		511,651
Premises and equipment		4,789
Goodwill		81,616
Other Intangible		6,915
Other assets		50,711
Total assets assumed		$	683,097
Liabilities:
Deposits		389,202
Borrowings		138,413
Other liabilities		20,988
Total liabilities assumed		548,603
Net assets acquired		$	134,494

 

The Company expects that some adjustments of the estimated fair values assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date will be recorded after June 30, 2003, although such adjustments are not expected to be significant.

 

The Company accrued $1.0 million of merger-related costs with an offsetting charge to goodwill.  Prior to the acquisition date, Bay State recorded cash and non-cash merger related charges.  Contractual obligations payable to certain executives of Bay State upon a change in control totaling $12.9 million were accrued by Bay State in May 2003.

 

8

 

(3)   GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

The changes in the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets for the six months ended June 30, 2003 are as follows:

 

		Goodwill			Core Deposit Intangibles			Other Identifiable Intangibles			Total Identifiable Intangibles
Balance, December 31, 2002		$	33,903		$	1,539		$	25		$	35,467
Recorded during the period		81,616			4,075			2,840			88,531
Amortization expense		—			(349		)	(90		)	(439		)
Impairment recognized		—			—			—			—
Balance, June 30, 2003		$	115,519		$	5,265		$	2,775		$	123,559
Estimated amortization expense:
2003		—			983			570			1,553
2004		—			960			954			1,914
2005		—			816			947			1,763
2006		—			734			394			1,128
2007		—			653			—			653

 

The components of other intangible assets follows:

 

		Gross Carrying Amount			Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
Core deposit intangibles		$	8,499		$	3,234		$	5,265
Other intangibles		3,060			285			2,775
Total		$	11,559		$	3,519		$	8,040

 

9

 

(4)   COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

The components of comprehensive income for the Company are net income and unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale, net of tax.  The following is a reconciliation of comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002.

 

		Six Months Ended June 30,
		2003			2002
Net income		$	10,287		$	18,158
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Unrealized gains on available for sale securities:
Unrealized holding gains arising during the period net of taxes of $1,150 and $976, respectively		1,832			1,795
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income, net of taxes of $112 and ($32), respectively,		(209		)	60
Other comprehensive income, net		1,623			1,855
Comprehensive income		$	11,910		$	20,013

 

(5)   EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

 

Basic EPS was computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the periods.  Unallocated ESOP shares and unvested restricted stock awards are not considered outstanding for purposes of the computation of basic EPS.  Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if contracts to issue common stock were exercised and has been computed after giving consideration to the dilutive effect of stock options, stock awards and shares held in an employee trust.

 

(6)   CAPITAL TRUST SECURITIES

 

The following is a summary of the capital trust securities outstanding as of June 30, 2003:

 

Name		Issuance Date		Amount			Stated Rate		Maturity Date
Seacoast Capital Trust I		05/28/02		$	54,907		8.50	%	06/30/32
Seacoast Capital Trust II		03/27/03		14,452			6.65	%	04/07/33
				$	69,359

 

(7)   SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAMS

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2003, Seacoast repurchased 63,725 shares of its outstanding common stock at an average price of $20.54.  At June 30, 2003, there were a total of 326,459 shares remaining under existing repurchase authorizations.

 

(8)   QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND

 

On July 24, 2003, the Board of Directors voted for the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $.13 per share.  The dividend is payable on August 22, 2003 to stockholders of record on August 8, 2003.

 

10

 

(9)   STATE TAX ASSESSMENT

 

On March 5, 2003, a retroactive change to Massachusetts tax law was implemented which specifically denies the deduction for dividends received from a real estate investment trust subsidiary (REIT) in determining Massachusetts taxable income.  The law applies retroactively to tax years ending on or after December 31, 1999.  On June 24, 2003, Seacoast announced that it had entered into a settlement with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (“DOR”) to pay $8.5 million ($5.5 million on an after-tax basis) representing approximately 50% of the disputed tax liability for which the Company previously accrued during the first quarter of 2003 approximately $11.2 million, net of taxes.  Included in the second quarter of 2003, is a credit of $5.3 million resulting from the settlement.

 

(10) RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity.”  SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity.  SFAS No. 150 is effective July 1, 2003, and will require the Company to prospectively reclassify “Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in Seacoast Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures” as a liability on its balance sheet and the associated interest cost (currently reported as “Minority Interest Expense”, and amounting to $1.5 million for the quarter) will be classified as interest on borrowed funds.  Restatement of prior periods is not permitted.

 

11

 

Item 2.          Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Form 10-Q contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  When used in this report, the words or phrases, “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “believe,” or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  Actual events could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.  Important factors that might cause such a difference include, among other things, general economic conditions, particularly the real estate market, in the Company’s primary market area, potential increases in the Company’s nonperforming assets (as well as increases in the allowance for loan losses that might be necessary), concentrations of loans in a particular geographic area or with certain large borrowers, changes in government regulation and supervision, including increased deposit insurance premiums or capital or reserve requirements, changes in interest rates, and increased competition and bank consolidations in the Company’s market area.  These and other factors that might cause differences between actual and anticipated results, performance and achievements are discussed in greater detail in this Item 2.

 

Comparison of Operating Results for the Quarters Ended June 30, 2003 and 2002

 

Net income totaled $13.3 million, $.56 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, a 43.4% increase in earnings when compared to net income of $9.3 million, $.39 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2002.  Included in the second quarter 2003 results is a credit of $5.3 million resulting from the Company’s settlement with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR).  (See Note 9).   The Company’s financial statements for 2003 reflect the acquisition of Bay State from the date of acquisition on May 31, 2003.

 

Interest Income.  Interest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 was $55.3 million, compared to $54.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, an increase of $1.3 million, or 2.4%.  The increase in interest income resulted from growth in average interest-earning assets of $468.0 million, or 14.2% partially offset by a decrease in the overall yield on interest-earning assets of 44 basis points in the 2003 period.  The principal areas of growth in average balances were related to real estate loans (up $450.1 million, or 24.1%) and indirect auto loans (up $125.4 million, or 19.2%).  The growth in real estate loans resulted from increased originations during the period and retention in portfolio of those real estate loans and to a lesser extent the purchase of Bay State on May 31, 2003. The increase in indirect auto loans resulted from the favorable interest rate environment during the period and the continued geographic expansion of the network of participating dealers. The funding of loan growth and to a lesser extent the purchase of Bay State during the period resulted in a decrease in the average balance in investment securities of $90.6 million or 15.1%.

 

Interest Expense.  Interest expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 was $21.8 million compared to $23.8 million  for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, a decrease of $2.0 million or 8.6%.  This decrease resulted from a 58 basis points decrease in the cost of all funds from 3.24% in 2002 to 2.66% in 2003, partially offset by a higher average balance of interest-bearing liabilities (up $419.9 million, or 14.3%).  Average interest-bearing deposit balances increased $293.4 million, or 14.1%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. Average-earning deposit balances were increased to a lesser extent due to the acquisition of Bay State on May 31, 2003.  The cost of funds on interest-bearing deposits decreased 51 basis points from 2.51% in 2002 to 2.00% in 2003.

 

Interest expense on borrowed funds decreased $262,000 in the quarter ended June 30, 2003 primarily the result of a decrease of 74 basis points in the average rate paid on borrowed funds to 4.23% in 2003 from 4.97% in 2002, partially offset by an increase in the average balance of such funds of $126.5 million or 14.6% during the period which was primarily the result of the Bay State acquisition and loan growth in the portfolio.

 

The decrease in the cost of funds and the lower yields earned on interest-earning assets are reflective of the interest rate reductions implemented by the Federal Reserve during the period.

 

12

 

The following table presents average balances, interest income and expense and yields earned or rates paid on the major categories of assets and liabilities for the quarters indicated. (unaudited)

 

		(In thousands)
		Three Months Ended June 30,																Six Months Ended June 30
		2003								2002								2003								2002
		Average Balance			Interest			Average Yield/ Cost (1)		Average Balance			Interest			Average Yield/ Cost (1)		Average Balance			Interest			Average Yield/ Cost (1)		Average Balance			Interest			Average Yield/ Cost (1)
Assets:
Interest-earning assets:
Mortgage loans (3)		$	2,320,167		$	36,902		6.72	%	$	1,870,116		$	32,871		7.03	%	$	2,213,173		$	71,464		7.09	%	$	1,860,423		$	66,132		7.11	%
Commercial loans (3)		125,541			1,856			6.14		128,526			2,058			6.40		125,965			3,610			6.10		122,969			4,003			6.51
Indirect auto loans (3)		778,829			11,003			5.65		653,476			11,205			6.86		776,107			22,146			5.71		633,079			21,910			6.92
Other consumer loans (3)		40,077			826			8.58		53,870			1,101			8.18		41,813			1,667			8.51		54,357			2,168			7.98
Total loans		3,264,614			50,587			6.47		2,705,988			47,235			6.98		3,157,058			98,887			6.73		2,670,828			94,213			7.05
Short-term investments		69,183			158			0.91		73,519			305			1.66		45,768			212			0.93		89,750			735			1.64
Debt securities (2)		375,198			4,200			4.48		468,161			6,087			5.20		399,223			8,993			4.51		441,473			11,464			5.19
Equity securities (2)		64,899			480			2.96		58,214			495			3.40		62,277			951			3.05		58,395			996			3.41
Total earning assets		3,773,894			55,425			6.11	%	3,305,882			54,122			6.55	%	3,664,326			109,043			6.35	%	3,260,446			107,408			6.59	%
Allowance for loan losses		(37,173		)						(30,943		)						(35,895		)						(30,487		)
Non-interest earning assets		262,427								216,263								246,286								216,508
Total assets		$	3,999,148							$	3,491,202							$	3,874,717							$	3,446,467
Liabilities and Equity:
Interest-bearing deposits:
NOW accounts		$	306,290		$	216		0.31	%	$	269,621		$	298		0.44	%	$	297,100		$	400		0.32	%	$	264,955		$	583		0.44	%
Savings accounts		361,102			877			1.01		297,573			991			1.33		343,589			1,654			1.02		288,765			2,054			1.42
Money market savings accounts		661,423			2,404			1.62		514,218			2,596			2.02		620,532			4,427			1.72		505,503			5,338			2.11
Certificates of deposit		1,041,428			7,855			3.09		995,430			9,172			3.69		1,024,982			15,833			3.22		993,182			18,805			3.79
Total interest-bearing deposits		2,370,243			11,352			2.00		2,076,842			13,057			2.51		2,286,203			22,314			2.10		2,052,405			26,780			2.61
Borrowed funds:
Short-term borrowings (4)		36,378			102			1.12		45,992			249			2.17		35,223			203			1.15		44,586			501			2.25
FHLB advances		952,323			10,331			4.34		816,128			10,449			5.12		925,229			20,505			4.43		807,012			20,834			5.16
Other borrowings		1,746			43			9.85		1,817			40			8.81		1,755			86			9.80		1,825			85			9.32
Total borrowings		990,447			10,476			4.23		863,937			10,738			4.97		962,207			20,794			4.32		853,423			21,420			5.02
Total interest-bearing liabilities		3,360,690			21,828			2.66	%	2,940,779			23,795			3.24	%	3,248,410			43,108			2.76	%	2,905,828			48,200			3.32	%
Demand deposit accounts		220,545								198,431								215,768								195,977
Other liabilities and capital securities		94,540								36,851								84,857								28,245
Total liabilities		3,675,775								3,176,061								3,549,035								3,130,050
Stockholders’ equity		323,373								315,141								325,682								316,417
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	3,999,148							$	3,491,202							$	3,874,717							$	3,446,467
Net interest income (fully-taxable equivalent)					33,597								30,327								65,935								59,208
Less: full-taxable equivalent adjustments					(81		)						(86		)						(165		)						(172		)
Net interest margin					$	33,516							$	30,241							$	65,770							$	59,036
Net interest spread (5)								3.45								3.31								3.59								3.27
Net interest margin (6)								3.56	%							3.67	%							3.60	%							3.63	%

 

(1)          Annualized

(2)          Average balances include unrealized gains on securities available for sale.  Equity securities include marketable equity securities and restricted equity securities.

(3)          Loans on non-accrual status are included in the average balances.

(4)          Short-term borrowing includes immaterial balances of other borrowings.

(5)          Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the fully taxable yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.

(6)          Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets (fully taxable equivalent) .

 

13

 

 

Rate/Volume Analysis.  The following table presents the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected the Company’s interest income and interest expense during the periods indicated.  Information is provided in each category with respect to: (i) changes attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate); (ii) changes attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume); and (iii) the net change (change in rate times change in volume).  The net change has been allocated proportionately to the changes due to volume and the changes due to rate.

 

		Three months ended June 30, 2003 vs. 2002 Increase (decrease) due to									Six months ended June 30, 2003 vs. 2002 Increase (decrease) due to
		Volume			Rate			Net			Volume			Rate			Net
Interest-earning assets:
Federal funds sold and short-term investments		$	(17	)	$	(130	)	$	(147	)	$	(277	)	$	(246	)	$	(523	)
Debt securities		(1,110		)	(777		)	(1,887		)	(1,036		)	(1,435		)	(2,471		)
Equity securities		53			(68		)	(15		)	64			(109		)	(45		)
Mortgage loans		5,854			(1,823		)	4,031			5,667			(335		)	5,332
Commercial loans		(72		)	(130		)	(202		)	30			(423		)	(393		)
Indirect auto loans		1,952			(2,154		)	(202		)	4,461			(4,225		)	236
Other consumer loans		(322		)	47			(275		)	(613		)	112			(501		)
Total interest-earning assets		$	6,338		$	(5,035	)	$	1,303		$	8,296		$	(6,661	)	$	1,635
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
NOW accounts		$	30		$	(112	)	$	(82	)	$	44		$	(227	)	$	(183	)
Savings accounts		173			(287		)	(114		)	303			(703		)	(400		)
Money market savings accounts		497			(689		)	(192		)	598			(1,509		)	(911		)
Certificates of deposit		363			(1,680		)	(1,317		)	467			(3,439		)	(2,972		)
Total deposits		1,063			(2,768		)	(1,705		)	1,412			(5,878		)	(4,466		)
Borrowed funds:
Short-term borrowings		(46		)	(98		)	(144		)	(93		)	(204		)	(297		)
FHLB advances		1,604			(1,722		)	(118		)	2,830			(3,157		)	(327		)
Total borrowings		1,558			(1,820		)	(262		)	2,737			(3,361		)	(624		)
Total interest-bearing liabilities		2,621			(4,588		)	(1,967		)	4,149			(9,239		)	(5,090		)
Net interest income (fully-taxable equivalent)		$	3,717		$	(447	)	$	3,270		$	4,147		$	2,578		$	6,725

 

Provision for Loan Losses.  The Company provides for loan losses in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level that management estimates is appropriate to absorb losses inherent within the loan portfolio.  In determining the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses, management considers past and anticipated loss experience, evaluations of underlying collateral, prevailing economic conditions, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, risk rating of loans, and the levels of nonperforming and other classified loans.  The amount of the allowance is estimated based on numerous judgments, and ultimate losses may vary from such estimates.  Management assesses the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis and provides for loan losses monthly in order to maintain the adequacy of the allowance.  For a full discussion on the Company’s allowance for loan losses policies see “Allowance for Loan Losses” in the Company’s 2002 annual report on Form 10-K.

 

The Company provided $2.1 million for loan losses in the quarter ended June 30, 2003 compared to $2.0 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2002.  The increase of $87,000 in 2003 was primarily attributable to risks associated with the growth in the loan portfolios. The total allowance of $41.8 million at June 30, 2003 represented 1.15% of total loans compared to a ratio of 1.15% at December 31, 2002.  The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans was 303.0% compared to 244.1% at December 31, 2002.  During the second quarter the allowance for loan losses increased $6.1 million as a result of the acquisition of Bay State.

 

Noninterest Income.  Total noninterest income was $4.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 compared to $3.6 million in the same period of 2002, an increase of $845,000 or 23.3%.  The increase was primarily the result of increases in deposit and other banking fees, other loan fees and gains on the sale of investment securities and loans.  The increases were partially offset with decreases in loan servicing fees, merchant card fee income and other income.  In addition, noninterest income increased $92,000 as a result of the Bay State acquisition in the second quarter of 2003.

 

14

 

Noninterest Expense.   Noninterest expense increased by $3.2 million, or 18.6%, from $17.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 to $20.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2003.  This increase reflected increases in salaries and employee benefits ($1.7 million), occupancy and equipment ($527,000), data processing ($307,000), professional services ($586,000), amortization of goodwill and intangibles ($69,000), and other noninterest expense ($17,000).  The increases in noninterest expenses were partially offset by decreases in marketing ($1,000).

 

Salaries and employee benefits increased $1.7 million, or 18.1%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2003.  This increase was the result of salary increases averaging 4.5%, additions to staff in Retail Banking, the Call Center and the Managed Assets departments and other increases in staffing and overtime related to Company growth, franchise expansion, the Bay State acquisition and data processing conversion, supplemented by increases in employee benefits.

 

Occupancy and equipment expenses increased by $527,000, or 23.2%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2003.   This increase was primarily the result of increases in building, equipment and software depreciation, rent and maintenance expenses related to branch expansion and Bay State acquisition during the period.

 

Data processing expenses increased $307,000, or 17.1%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2003 due primarily to core processing activities that are volume-related and increases in the number of retail deposit and loan accounts, ATM transactions and electronic banking.  Also, core processing expenses, data communication line and software maintenance expenses increased due to the conversion of the core processing functions to another service bureau which was completed in the second quarter.  In addition, overall data processing expenses increased due to the acquisition of Bay State during the second quarter of 2003.  Currently, Bay State is supported by another data processing company and is scheduled to be converted later this year.

 

Marketing expenses decreased $1,000, during the quarter ended June 30, 2003.  This decrease was primarily attributable to overall general increases in marketing and advertising efforts offset by decreases in similar activities.

 

Professional services expenses increased $586,000, or 94.1%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2003.  This increase was primarily the result of outside expenses related to the conversion of data processing functions which was completed in the second quarter.  In addition, there were increases in corporate consulting services and recruitment expense.

 

Amortization of intangibles increased $69,000, or 33.5%, during the quarter ending June 30, 2003.  This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in core deposit and noncompete intangibles as a result of the Bay State acquisition.

 

Other noninterest expense increased $17,000, or 1.0%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2003.  This increase reflects primarily the recording of an interest expense credit of $623,000 as a result of the settlement with the Massachusetts DOR that retroactively disallowed the REIT dividend deduction for the years ended December 31, 1999 through December 31, 2002. (See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).  Excluding this deficiency credit, other noninterest expense increased $640,000, or 30.0% during the period. Most of that increase was related to increases in postage, printing, repossessions, litigations, and security related expenses.

 

Minority Interest Expense.  Interest expense of $1.5 million reflects the issuance of $55.0 million of the 8.50% trust preferred securities in June 2002 and $15.0 million of pooled 6.65% trust preferred stock in March 2003.

 

Income Taxes. During the quarter ended June 30, 2003, the Company recorded a state income tax recovery of $4.7 million, net of the federal income tax benefit, as a result of the settlement with the Massachusetts DOR that retroactively disallowed the REIT dividend deduction for the years ended December 31, 1999 through December 31, 2002.  Due primarily to the impact of this state tax recovery, the effective tax rate was 5.9% for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, as compared with 35.4% for the same period in 2002.  Exclusive of this recovery of taxes and interest deficiency, the effective tax rate for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 would have been 40.8% compared to 35.4% in the same period in 2002. This increase from 2002 primarily reflects the impact of the elimination of the tax benefit attributable to REIT dividends in 2003. (See Note 9).

 

15

 

Comparison of Operating Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2003 and 2002

 

Net income amounted to $10.3 million, $.45 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2003, as compared to net income of $18.2 million, $.77 per diluted share, in the corresponding period of 2002.  The financial performance in the first six months of 2003 was negatively impacted by the recording of a state income tax provision of $4.9 million, net of federal income tax benefit, as well as a charge of $1.0 million representing an interest tax deficiency on a settlement with the DOR.  (See Note 9)

 

Interest Income.  Interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2003 was $108.9 million, compared to $107.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2002, an increase of $1.6 million, or 1.5%.  The increase in interest income resulted from growth in average interest-earning assets of $403.9 million, or 12.4%, offset by a decrease in the overall yield on interest-earning assets of 24 basis points in the 2003 period.  The principal areas of growth in average balances were real estate loans (up $352.8 million, or 19.0%) and indirect auto loans (up $143.0 million, or 22.6%), offset by a decrease in investment securities ($82.4 million, or 14.0%).  Most of the real estate loan growth resulted from home growth originations and retention of those loans in portfolio, and to a lesser extent, loans acquired through the purchase of Bay State.  The increase in indirect auto loans resulted from the prevailing favorable interest rate environment and the continued geographic expansion of the network of participating dealers and regions.  The decrease in investment securities was primarily the result of funding loan growth during the period and cash required to purchase Bay State.

 

Interest Expense.  Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2003 was $43.1 million compared to $48.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2002, a decrease of $5.1 million or 10.6%.  This decrease resulted from a 56 basis points decrease in the cost of funds from 3.32% in 2002 to 2.76% in 2003, partially offset by a higher average balance of interest-bearing deposits (up $233.8 million, or 11.4%).

 

Interest expense on borrowed funds decreased $624,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2003 to $20.8 million due primarily to a decrease of 70 basis points in the average rate paid on borrowed funds, from 5.02% in the same period last year 2002 to 4.32% for six months ended June 2003.  During the 2003 period, the average balance of borrowed funds increased $108.8 million, or 12.7%, as a result of the purchase of Bay State and to fund loan growth.

 

The decrease in the cost of funds in 2003 reflects what we believe is a current consumer bias to preserve principal, remain liquid and deposit funds into non-time deposit accounts.  We believe that the current low interest rate environment and stock market volatility, combined with the slow growth in our economy, have induced consumers to seek insured deposit accounts that provide a safe haven for their investable funds.  Material increases in the average balances of non-time deposits reflect this positioning.   From June 30, 2002 to June 30, 2003 the average balance of non-time deposits increased from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion while the cost associated with these accounts decreased 31 basis points from 1.51% in 2002 to 1.20%  in 2003.  Also, it should be noted that the average balance increase in non-time deposits has been influenced, to a lesser extent, for one month, by the purchase of Bay State on May 31, 2003.    In addition, with the expectation that the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee will not be inclined to immediately initiate a series of interest rate increases, we believe that consumers will continue to invest in non-time deposit accounts.

 

Provision for Loan Losses.  The Company provided $4.2 million for loan losses in the six months ended June 30, 2003 compared to $3.5 million in the comparable prior year period.  The increase of $639,000 in 2003 was primarily attributable to the growth in the loan portfolio.

 

Noninterest Income. Total noninterest income was $8.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 compared to $6.8 million in the same period of 2002, an increase of $1.2 million, or 17.9%.  This increase was principally caused by increases in retail and checking account related income ($517,000), ATM/Debit card usage ($232,000), other loan fees ($314,000) and gains on investment securities ($413,000), offset by decreases on the sale of loans ($10,000), loan servicing fees ($90,000), merchant card fee income ($71,000) and other miscellaneous income ($80,000).

 

Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense increased by $6.7 million, or 19.6%, from $33.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2002 to $40.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003.  This increase reflected increases in salaries and employee benefits ($2.2 million), occupancy and equipment expenses ($1.1 million), data processing ($696,000), marketing expenses ($248,000), professional services ($530,000), amortization of goodwill and intangibles ($25,000), and other noninterest expense ($1.8 million).

 

Salaries and employee benefits increased $2.2 million or 12.0%, during the six months ended June 30, 2003.  This increase was partially the result of salary increases averaging 4.5%, coupled with additions to staff in Lending Departments, Retail Banking and other operational support departments, an increase in commissions paid on loan refinancing activities, an increase in overtime payroll due to the data processing conversion, and other additions to staff related to company growth supplemented by increases in employee benefits.  In addition, salary and benefit expense increased due to the acquisition of Bay State on May 31, 2003.

 

16

 

Occupancy and equipment expenses increased $1.1 million, or 24.1% during the six months ended June 30, 2003. The increase was primarily the result of branch expansion and the related expenses to operate them during the period.  In addition, there were increases in depreciation expense for computer equipment related to the conversion of the data processing function.  Also, to a lesser extent the acquisition of Bay State contributed to the increase.

 

Data processing expenses increased $696,000, or 19.9%, during the six months ended June 30, 2003 due primarily to core processing activities which are volume-related such as item processing, loan and deposit account activity, ATM and electronic bill payment processing, data line communication expenses and to a lesser extent, the acquisition of Bay State which is currently on a different core processing system

 

Marketing expenses increased $248,000, or 20.0%, during the six months ended June 30, 2003.  This increase was attributable to an increase in outside agency fees, newspaper advertising, premium promotions, partially offset by decreases in production costs and direct marketing.

 

Professional services expenses increased $530,000, or 43.1%, during the six months ended June 30, 2002.  This increase primarily reflects increases in corporate and outside professional services associated with the conversion of the data processing function which occurred in the second quarter 2003.  These increases were partially offset by decreases in audit and tax preparation and consulting services for private banking.

 

Amortization of intangibles increased $25,000, or 6.1%, during the six months ended June 30, 2003.  This increase is attributed to an increase in identifiable core deposit and other intangibles as a result of the acquisition of Bay State.

 

Other noninterest expense increased $1.8 million, or 41.5%, during the six months ended June 30, 2003.  This increase reflects primarily the net interest tax deficiency charge related to the REIT settlement with the Massachusetts DOR and increase in postage, building security repossession and litigations.

 

Minority Interest Expense.  Interest expense totaled $2.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003, as compared with $407,000 for the comparable period of 2002.  This increase was due to the issuance of capital securities in May 2002 and March 2003.

 

Income Taxes.  During the six months ended June 30, 2003, the company recorded a state income tax provision of $4.9 million, net of the federal income tax benefit, as a result of the settlement with the Massachusetts DOR that retroactively disallowed the REIT dividend deduction for the years ended December 31, 1999 through December 31, 2002.  Due primarily to the impact of this extra tax provision, the effective tax rate was 60.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2003 compared to 35.0% for the same period in 2002.  Exclusive of this provision and the interest deficiency charge, the effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2003 would have been 40.8% compared to 35.0% in the same period in 2002.  This increase from 2002 primarily reflects the impact of the elimination of the tax benefit attributable to REIT dividends in 2003.

 

17

 

Comparison of Financial Condition at June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002

 

Total assets increased by $775.8 million from $3.7 billion at December 31, 2002 to $4.5 billion at June 30, 2003.  This increase was largely due to the acquisition of Bay State during the second quarter of 2003 which added $683 million to total assets.

 

INVESTMENT SECURITIES

 

Investment securities decreased from $489.8 million as of December 31, 2002, to $437.7 million at June 30, 2003.  This decrease was due to sales, calls, paydowns and maturities exceeding reinvestment.  Cash flows from investments were used in part, to finance the acquisition of Bay State.  The securities portfolio consists primarily of United States Treasury and Agency securities all rated AAA by rating agencies.

 

LOANS

 

The following table shows the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio at:

 

		June 30, 2003			December 31, 2002
		(In thousands)
Real estate loans:
Residential (one-to-four family)		$	1,888,869		$	1,513,388
Commercial		533,068			356,610
Construction		133,239			110,166
Home equity lines of credit		96,614			67,794
Total real estate loans		2,651,790			2,047,958
Commercial loans		142,772			127,822
Consumer loans:
Indirect auto loans		785,475			770,574
Less-unearned discount		44			210
Indirect auto loans, net		785,431			770,364
Other		46,995			45,027
Total consumer loans, net		832,426			815,391
Total loans		$	3,626,988		$	2,991,171

 

Loans serviced for others on a non-recourse basis at June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002 amounted to $214.6 million and $249.0 million, respectively.

 

Total loans increased by $635.8 million during the first six months of 2003.  This increase was primarily attributable to approximately $517 million of loans obtained as a result of the Bay State acquisition.

 

Residential real estate loans (which excludes loans held-for-sale) increased $375.5 million from December 31, 2002 to June 30, 2003.  Excluding the Bay State acquisition, loans increased $66.9 million as the Company continued to hold all loan originations in its portfolio.  It is expected that sales of fixed rate loans will occur during the third quarter of 2003 in order to modestly reposition the portfolio.

 

Commercial real estate loans increased $176.5 million from December 31, 2002.  Excluding Bay State, commercial real estate increased by $17.4 million.

 

Construction loans increased $23.1 million from December 31, 2002.  Excluding Bay State, construction loans increased by $11.5 million.

 

Home equity lines of credit increased by $28.8 million from December 31, 2002.  Excluding Bay State, the increase was $15.2 million. This growth was achieved through a special marketing program that provided a lower fixed rate for the first six months.

 

Indirect auto loans increased by $15.1 million from December 31, 2002 to June 30, 2003.  Bay State did not have any indirect auto loans in its portfolio.  The annualized growth in this business line of approximately 4% is lower than our historical growth rate.  This slowdown is a result of a number of factors including consumers opting for cash out refinances, and manufacturer direct loans as financing sources, as well as increased competition.  Primarily for these reasons, management believes that the rate of growth will continue to be moderate.

 

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RISK MANAGEMENT

 

The primary goal of our risk management program is to identify key areas of risk within the Company, and to effectively measure, control and monitor these risks.  The Board of Directors has established the Risk Management Committee which is comprised of three outside directors, with members of senior management participating in carrying out the committee’s duties.

 

CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT

 

The Risk Management Committee of the Board monitors our credit risk management.  We utilize an internal loan rating system that provides a mechanism to regularly monitor the credit quality of our loan portfolio.  Additionally, as a supplement to our own internal credit review function, the Company has a semiannual review performed by an outside firm specializing in loan analysis.

 

RISK ELEMENTS

 

The following table sets forth information regarding non-performing assets:

 

		6/30/03			12/31/02
		(Dollars in thousands)
Non-accrual loans (1):
Real estate loans:
Residential		$	2,591		$	3,654
Commercial		3,739			3,978
Construction		1,262			—
Home equity		50			77
Commercial loans		4,667			5,028
Indirect auto loans		1,425			1,194
Other consumer loans		59			142
Total non-accrual loans		13,793			14,073
Restructured loans (2)		—			—
Other real estate owned and repossessed autos		366			1,350
Total non-performing assets		$	14,159		$	15,423
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans		1.15		%	1.15		%
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total non-performing loans (3)		303.0		%	244.1		%
Non-performing loans as a percent of total loans		0.38		%	0.47		%
Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets		0.32		%	0.42		%

 

(1)               Non-accrual loans include loans 90 days or more past due and other loans which have been identified as presenting uncertainty  with respect to the collectibility of interest or principal.

(2)               Restructured loans represent performing loans for which concessions have been granted due to borrower’s financial condition.

(3)               Non-performing loans are comprised of non-accrual loans and restructured loans.

 

Loans are considered impaired when it is probable that the Company will not be able to collect principal, interest and fees according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  Total impaired loans at June 30, 2003 and, December 31, 2002, were $10.0 million and $9.5 million, respectively.

 

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The following table sets forth activity in the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated:

 

		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2003			2002			2003			2002
		(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of period		$	34,709		$	30,332		$	34,354		$	29,513
Provision for loan losses		2,087			2,000			4,174			3,535
Acquired allowance		6,147			—			6,147			—
Charge-offs:
Mortgage loans:
Residential		—			(44		)	—			(44		)
Commercial		—			—			(6		)	—
Home equity		—			—			—			—
Construction		—			—			—			—
Commercial loans		(287		)	(166		)	(407		)	(410		)
Indirect auto loans		(1,549		)	(617		)	(3,237		)	(1,222		)
Other consumer loans		(9		)	(15		)	(11		)	(19		)
Total charge-offs		(1,845		)	(842		)	(3,661		)	(1,695		)
Recoveries:
Mortgage loans:
Residential		44			57			44			57
Commercial		8			—			8			31
Home equity		—			—			—			—
Construction		—			—			—			—
Commercial loans		3			28			5			51
Indirect auto loans		616			50			695			133
Other consumer loans		28			6			31			6
Total recoveries		699			141			783			278
Net charge-offs		(1,146		)	(701		)	(2,878		)	(1,417		)
Balance at end of period		$	41,797		$	31,631		$	41,797		$	31,631
Ratio of annualized net charge-offs to average loans		0.14		%	0.10		%	0.18		%	0.11		%

 

The increase in indirect auto loan charge-offs during the three and six months ending June 30 of 2003 versus 2002 is due in part to the significant growth in the portfolio during the past year (average balances increased $143 million or 23%), coupled with rising unemployment and lower values realized from repossessed auto sales.

 

DEPOSITS

 

A summary of deposit balances is as follows:

 

		June 30, 2003			December 31, 2002
		(In thousands)
Demand deposit accounts		$	258,652		$	196,869
NOW and money market deposit accounts		1,125,684			873,019
Passbook and other savings accounts		397,039			320,528
Total non-certificate accounts		1,781,375			1,390,416
Certificates of deposit -
Term certificates of $100,000 and over		325,120			285,664
Term certificates less than $100,000		790,347			727,795
Total certificates of deposit		1,115,467			1,013,459
Total deposits		$	2,896,842		$	2,403,875

 

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Total deposits at June 30, 2003 were $2.9 billion, an increase of $493.0 million, compared to $2.4 billion at December 31, 2002.  This increase was largely due to the Bay State acquisition which added $434.4 million to total deposits. Core deposit account balances (non-certificate) increased by $391.0 million during the quarter.  The increase in core deposits during the quarter was generally attributable to the Bay State acquisition, normal seasonal fluctuations, continued uncertainty in the stock market as consumers seek safety and liquidity, as well as the result of less attractive rates being offered on term deposit products. A slight decrease in certificates of deposits (excluding the effects of the Bay State acquisition) was primarily the result of declining interest rates for this type of product and consumers wanting to maintain a liquid position.

 

OTHER FUNDING SOURCES

 

Total borrowings increased $185.3 million from December 31, 2002 to June 30, 2003.  The majority of this increase in funding represents term debt from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston resulting from the acquisition of Bay State.

 

Capital Trust Securities increased $14.5 million from December 31, 2002 to June 30, 2003.  The Company issued through a subsidiary trust, a capital security in March 2003, which qualifies as Tier 1 capital for regulatory purposes.

 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

The increase in stockholders’ equity of $72.9 million to $392.4 million at June 30, 2003 resulted mainly from common stock issued in conjunction with the acquisition of Bay State of $71.9 million, net comprehensive income of $11.9 million, offset by cash dividends and stock repurchases totaling $12.0 million. There remains 326,459 shares available for repurchase under the Company’s fourth repurchase program announced in September 2002.

 

Liquidity, represented by cash and cash equivalents and debt securities is a product of the Company’s operating, investing, and financing activities.  The Company’s primary sources of funds are deposits, borrowings, principal and interest payments on outstanding loans and mortgage-backed securities, maturities of investment securities and funds provided from operations.  While scheduled payments from the amortization of loans and mortgage related securities and maturing investment securities are relatively predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and loan prepayments are greatly influenced by general interest rates and, in the case of deposits, other instruments available to the public such as mutual funds and annuities.

 

As voluntary members of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLB), Compass and Nantucket Bank are entitled to borrow an amount up to the value of its qualified collateral that has not been pledged to others.  Qualified collateral generally consists of residential first mortgage loans, U.S. Government and agency securities and funds on deposit specifically pledged to the FHLB.  At June, 2003, Compass and Nantucket Bank had approximately $412.7 million and $19.3 million, respectively, in unused borrowing capacity that is contingent upon the purchase of additional FHLB stock.  Use of this borrowing capacity may also be impacted by regulatory capital requirements.

 

Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of business management.  The measure of a Bank’s liquidity is its ability to meet its cash commitments at all times with available cash or by conversion of other assets to cash at a reasonable price.  At June 30, 2003, the Company maintained cash and due from banks, federal funds sold, short-term investments and debt securities maturing within one year of $290.4 million, or 6% of total assets.  The Company invests excess funds, if any, in federal funds sold which provides liquidity to meet lending requirements.

 

At June 30, 2003, the Company had commitments to originate loans, unused outstanding lines of credit, standby letters of credit and undisbursed proceeds of loans totaling $446.4 million. The Company anticipates that it will have sufficient funds available to meet its current commitments.  Certificates of deposit maturing within one year from June 30, 2003 amounted to $617.5 million.  The Company expects that a significant portion of maturing certificate accounts will be retained at maturity.

 

The Company’s and the Banks’ capital ratios at June 30, 2003 were as follows:

 

		Seacoast Financial		Compass Bank		Nantucket
Total Capital (to risk weighted assets)		12.09	%	10.56	%	13.48	%
Tier 1 Capital (to risk weighted assets)		10.79		9.29		12.22
Tier 1 Capital (to average assets)		8.35		7.33		8.71

 

These ratios placed the Company in excess of regulatory standards and the Banks in the “well capitalized” category as set forth by the FDIC.

 

21

 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

The chief market risk factor affecting the financial condition and operating results of the Company is interest rate risk. This risk is managed by periodic evaluation of the interest risk inherent in certain balance sheet accounts, determination of the level of risk considered appropriate given capital and liquidity requirements, business strategy, performance objectives and operating environment and maintenance of such risks within guidelines approved by the Board of Directors.  Through such management, the Company seeks to reduce the vulnerability of its net earnings to changes in interest rates.  Each Bank’s Asset/Liability Committee, comprised of senior management, is responsible for managing interest rate risk and reviewing with its Board of Directors on a quarterly basis its activities and strategies, the effect of those strategies on operating results, the Bank’s interest rate risk position and the effect changes in interest rates would have on net interest income. The extent  of movement of interest rates is an uncertainty that could have a negative impact on earnings.

 

 The principal strategies that the Company generally uses to manage interest rate risk include (i) emphasizing the origination and retention of adjustable-rate loans, origination of indirect auto loans (Compass only) which have relatively short maturities and origination of loans with maturities at least partly matched with those of the deposits and borrowings funding the loans, (ii) investing in debt securities with relatively short maturities and (iii) classifying a significant portion of its investment portfolio as available for sale so as to provide sufficient flexibility in liquidity management.

 

The Company and the Banks quantify their interest rate risk exposure using a sophisticated simulation model.  Simulation analysis is used to measure the exposure of net interest income to changes in interest rates over a specified time horizon.  Simulation analysis involves projecting future interest income and expense under various rate scenarios.  Internal guidelines on interest rate risk specify that for every 100 basis points immediate shift in interest rates, the estimated net interest income over the next 12 months should decline by less than 5%.

 

In utilizing a 300 basis point increase in rates in its simulation model, the full impact of annual rate caps of 200 basis points common to most adjustable rate mortgage loan products is considered.  The rate shocks used assume an instantaneous and parallel change in interest rates and that no strategies are implemented in response to the change in interest rates.  Prepayment speeds for loans are based on published median dealer forecasts for each interest rate scenario.

 

As of June 30, 2003, the Company’s estimated exposure as a percentage of estimated net interest income for the next twelve and twenty-four month periods is as follows:

 

		Percentage Change in Estimated Net Interest Income Over:
		12 months		24 months
300 basis point increase in rates		(10.95	)%	(7.3	)%
50 basis point decrease in rates (Note 1)		0.3	%	(1.2	)%

 

(1)          Due to the low interest rate environment in effect at June 30, 2003 (the average Federal Fund overnight rates were trading below 1.00%) the simulation model could only be rate shocked down 50 basis points.

 

For each one-percentage point change in net interest income, the effect on net income would be $939,000, assuming a 41% tax rate.

 

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Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

 

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  Our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer (the principal accounting officer), and other members of our senior management team have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)).  Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report, were adequate and effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company, including our consolidated subsidiaries, in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.

 

The effectiveness of a system of disclosure controls and procedures is subject to various inherent limitations, including cost limitations, judgments used in decision making, assumptions about the likelihood of future events, the soundness of internal controls, and fraud.  Due to such inherent limitations, there can be no assurance that any system of disclosure controls and procedures will be successful in preventing all errors or fraud, or in making all material information known in a timely manner to the appropriate levels of management.

 

(b)         Changes in Internal Controls.  There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Late in our second fiscal quarter, Compass Bank for Savings converted to a new electronic data processing (EDP) system and made a significant acquisition, both of which are relevant to our internal control over financial reporting.  Following an extensive review of core processing providers, in September 2002 we entered into an agreement with Fiserv, Inc. to provide a custom outsourcing product for comprehensive bank EDP services.  In addition to providing core banking processes, including loan servicing, the Fiserv system is designed to provide relationship management and retail delivery capabilities, as well as branch automation and e-commerce products for retail and commercial customers.  We changed our entire EDP system to the Fiserv platform on May 23, 2003.  Following a successful data processing conversion, we have encountered some processing issues, which we do not consider unexpected for an EDP conversion of this magnitude.  For example, in order to realize the full advantage of the new system, we established approximately one hundred new general ledger accounts.  To date, some of these accounts, primarily suspense and in-process accounts in our residential mortgage servicing area, have not been satisfactorily reconciled under the new EDP system.  We have corrected any and all differences that have been detected.  Based upon our current evaluation, we believe that any further adjustments will affect our balance sheet rather than our income statement.  It is possible, however, that further evaluation of these issues could result in adjustments to our income statement as well.  In order to assess the consistency of accounting across the old and new EDP systems, we have compared accounts for April and early May to those accounts under the new system and found no deviations that raise questions about materiality.  Notwithstanding these measures, we consider the occurrence of unreconciled accounts in the EDP system to be unacceptable.  To address these issues, we have enlisted additional third party  resources, and we are also working closely with Fiserv to resolve these matters as soon as practicable.

 

On May 31, 2003, we completed the acquisition of Bay State Bancorp, Inc.  In the course of our due diligence for that transaction we evaluated Bay State’s system of internal control over financial reporting and concluded that it provided reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, as provided in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f).  The integration of Bay State into the Fiserv EDP platform is scheduled for later this year or early in 2004.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is not involved in any pending legal proceedings other than those involved in the ordinary course of business.  Management believes that the resolution of these matters will not materially affect its business or the consolidated financial condition of the Company.

 

Item 2.  Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to A Vote of Security Holders

 

The Company held its annual meeting of Stockholders on May 20, 2003 at which time the following four nominees for director, as set forth in the proxy for the meeting, were elected with the following votes cast:

 

		For		Withheld
Howard C. Dyer, Jr.		18,448,701		124,802
Thornton P. Klaren, Jr.		18,443,277		130,226
Reale J. Lemieux		18,440,001		133,502
Joseph H. Silverstein		18,440,569		132,934

 

In addition, stockholders cast their votes for the approval of the 2003 stock incentive plan as follows:

 

For		Against		Abstained
16,895,640		1,583,088		94,775

 

Item 5.  Other Information

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.         Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

a.		Exhibits:
2.1		Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 19, 2002 by and between Seacoast Financial Services Corporation, Seacoast Merger Sub. Inc. and Bay State Bancorp, Inc. +++
3.1		Articles of Organization of Seacoast Financial Services Corporation++
3.2		By-Laws of Seacoast Financial Services Corporation++
4		Specimen certificate for the common stock of Seacoast Financial Services Corporation+
11		A statement regarding earnings per share is included in Item 1, Note 5, of this report.
31		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications
32		Section 1350 Certifications
b.		We filed a Current Report on Form 8-K on April 24, 2003, June 5, 2003, June 24, 2003 and July 25, 2003 under Items 5 and 7 of Form 8-K.

 

24

 

+		Incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (333-52889), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Company’s prior name, “The 1855 Bancorp”, on August 14, 1998.
++		Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 1998.
+++		Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 2002.

 

25

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

	Seacoast Financial Services Corporation
	(Registrant)
Date: August 14, 2003	By	/s/ Kevin G. Champagne
		Kevin G. Champagne
		President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: August 14, 2003	By	/s/ Francis S. Mascianica, Jr.
		Francis S. Mascianica, Jr.
		Treasurer, as Principal Financial and
		Accounting Officer

 

26