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8-K - FORM 8-K FOR OCT 22, 2012 - PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA INCform8kforoct222012.htm
EXHIBIT (99)(a)
       
       
NEWS RELEASE
   
       
   
October 22, 2012
 
Contact:
Tony W. Wolfe
   
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
   
       
 
A. Joseph Lampron, Jr.
   
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
       
 
828-464-5620, Fax 828-465-6780
   
       
For Immediate Release
   
 
PEOPLES BANCORP ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS RESULTS
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEBK), the parent company of Peoples Bank, reported third quarter earnings results with highlights as follows:

Third Quarter Highlights:

·    
Net earnings were $1.4 million or $0.25 basic and diluted net earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2012, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to $1.4 million or $0.25 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, for the same period one year ago.
·    
Net earnings available to common shareholders were $1.3 million or $0.23 basic and diluted net earnings per common share for the three months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to $1.0 million or $0.19 basic and diluted net earnings per common share, for the same period one year ago.
·    
Earnings before securities gains and income taxes were $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $559,000 for the same period one year ago.
·    
Core deposits were $624.5 million, or 81.27% of total deposits at September 30, 2012, compared to $623.8 million, or 74.17% of total deposits at September 30, 2011.
 
Tony W. Wolfe, President and Chief Executive Officer, attributed the increase in third quarter earnings to a decrease in the provision for loan losses, which was partially offset by a decrease in net interest income, a decrease in non-interest income and an increase in non-interest expense.
 
Year-to-date net earnings as of September 30, 2012 were $4.6 million, or $0.83 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to $3.4 million, or $0.61 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, for the same period one year ago.  After adjusting for dividends and accretion on preferred stock, net earnings available to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $3.7 million or $0.67 basic and diluted net earnings per common share as compared to $2.3 million, or $0.42 basic and diluted net earnings per common share, for the same period one year ago.  The increase in year-to-date earnings is primarily attributable to aggregate decreases in the provision for loan losses, which were partially offset by aggregate decreases in net interest income and non-interest income and aggregate increases in non-interest expense, as discussed below.
 
Net interest income was $7.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared to $8.6 million for the same period one year ago.  This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in interest income resulting from decreases in loans and investment securities, which were partially offset by a decrease in interest expense due to a reduction in the cost of funds and a reduction in interest bearing liabilities.  Net interest income after the provision for loan losses increased to $7.1 million during the third quarter of 2012, compared to $5.2 million for the same period one year ago.  The provision for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2012, was $761,000 as compared to $3.4 million for the same period one year ago.  The decrease in the provision for loan losses is primarily attributable to a $2.2 million decrease in net charge-offs during the third quarter of 2012 compared to the third quarter of 2011 and an $8.7 million reduction in non-accrual loans from September 30, 2011 to September 30, 2012.
 
 
 
5

 
 
Non-interest income was $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to $3.7 million for the same period one year ago.  This decrease is primarily attributable to a $1.2 million decrease in the gains on sale of securities, which was partially offset by a $169,000 increase in mortgage banking income and a $93,000 increase in income from the Company’s subsidiary, Community Bank Real Estate Solutions (“CBRES”), for the three months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the same period one year ago.
 
Non-interest expense was $8.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to $7.2 million for the same period one year ago.  This increase is primarily due to a $698,000 increase in salaries and benefits expense and a $337,000 increase in non-interest expenses other than salary, employee benefits and occupancy expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the same period one year ago.  The increase in salaries and benefits expense was primarily due to salary increases in 2012 and bonuses accrued in third quarter 2012, along with an increase in commissions on mortgage and real estate appraisal sales.  The increase in non-interest expenses other than salary, employee benefits and occupancy expenses included $62,000 in expenses associated with the Company’s purchase of preferred stock and a common stock warrant from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“UST”), which was issued to the UST in connection with the Company’s participation in the Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”) under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) in 2008.
 
Year-to-date net interest income as of September 30, 2012 decreased 9% to $23.8 million compared to $25.7 million for the same period one year ago.   This decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in interest income resulting from decreases in loans and investment securities, which were partially offset by a decrease in interest expense due to a reduction in the cost of funds and a reduction in interest bearing liabilities.  Net interest income after the provision for loan losses increased 21% to $19.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared to $16.0 million for the same period one year ago.  The provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $4.4 million as compared to $9.7 million for the same period one year ago.  The decrease in the provision for loan losses is primarily attributable to a $4.4 million decrease in net charge-offs during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to the same period one year ago and an $8.7 million reduction in non-accrual loans from September 30, 2011 to September 30, 2012.
 
Non-interest income was $9.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to $10.0 million for the same period one year ago.  This decrease is primarily attributable to $1.3 million decrease in the gains on sale of securities, which was partially offset by a $316,000 reduction in losses and write-downs on foreclosed properties, a $282,000 increase in income from the Company’s subsidiary, CBRES, and a $262,000 increase in mortgage banking income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the same period one year ago.
 
Non-interest expense was $23.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to $21.9 million for the same period one year ago.  This increase is primarily due to a $1.1 million increase in salaries and benefits expense and a $337,000 increase in non-interest expenses other than salary, employee benefits and occupancy expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the same period one year ago.  The increase in salaries and benefits expense was primarily due to salary increases in 2012 and bonuses accrued in third quarter 2012, along with an increase in commissions on mortgage and real estate appraisal sales.  The increase in non-interest expenses other than salary, employee benefits and occupancy expenses included $230,000 in expenses associated with the Company’s purchase of preferred stock and a common stock warrant from the UST, which was issued to the UST in connection with the Company’s participation in the CPP under TARP in 2008.
 
Total assets amounted to $1.0 billion as of September 30, 2012, as compared to $1.1 billion as of September 30, 2011.  Available for sale securities decreased 13.49% to $281.8 million as of September 30, 2012, compared to $325.7 million as of September 30, 2011.  This decrease reflects investment securities sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2012, totaling
 
 
 
6

 
 
$47.0 million, which were partially offset by purchases of investment securities.  Total loans amounted to $625.8 million as of September 30, 2012, compared to $677.7 million as of September 30, 2011.  This decrease is primarily due to the anticipated reduction in existing loans through the work-through of problem loans and normal principal repayments, which have exceeded the diminished level of loan originations, due primarily to the current level of slow economic growth.
 
Non-performing assets declined to $27.8 million or 2.77% of total assets at September 30, 2012, compared to $34.9 million or 3.20% of total assets at September 30, 2011 primarily due to a decrease in non-accrual loans.  Non-performing loans include $10.9 million in acquisition, development and construction (“AD&C”) loans, $9.9 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $481,000 in other loans at September 30, 2012, as compared to $17.1 million in AD&C loans, $11.2 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $563,000 in other loans at September 30, 2011.  The allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2012, was $16.6 million or 2.64% of total loans compared to $16.3 million or 2.41% of total loans at September 30, 2011.  According to Mr. Wolfe, management believes the current level of the allowance for loan losses is adequate; however, there is no assurance that additional adjustments to the allowance will not be required because of changes in economic conditions, regulatory requirements or other factors.
 
Deposits amounted to $768.5 million as of September 30, 2012, compared to $841.0 million at September 30, 2011.  Core deposits, which include non-interest bearing demand deposits, NOW, MMDA, savings and non-brokered certificates of deposit of denominations less than $100,000, increased $752,000 to $624.5 million at September 30, 2012, as compared to $623.8 million at September 30, 2011.  Certificates of deposit in amounts greater than $100,000 or more totaled $143.2 million at September 30, 2012, as compared to $215.6 million at September 30, 2011.  This decrease is primarily due to a $44.5 million decrease in brokered certificates of deposit, which included a $27.0 million decrease in certificates of deposit issued through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS).
 
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase were $43.1 million at September 30, 2012, as compared to $47.7 million at September 30, 2011.
 
Shareholders’ equity was $96.8 million, or 9.62% of total assets, as of September 30, 2012, compared to $103.0 million, or 9.44% of total assets, as of September 30, 2011.  This decrease reflects the Company’s repurchase and retirement of a portion of its preferred shares in the second quarter of 2012.  The Company purchased 12,530 shares of the Company’s 25,054 outstanding shares of preferred stock from the UST, which was issued to the UST in connection with the Company’s participation in the CPP under TARP in 2008.
 
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 the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 

 
7

 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2012, December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011
(Dollars in thousands)
             
             
             
 
September 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
September 30, 2011
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Audited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
ASSETS:
           
Cash and due from banks
$ 24,323   $ 22,532   $ 44,077  
Interest bearing deposits
  31,581     6,704     796  
Cash and cash equivalents
  55,904     29,236     44,873  
                   
Certificates of deposits
  -       -       -    
                   
Investment securities available for sale
  281,785     321,388     325,730  
Other investments
  5,599     5,712     5,779  
Total securities
  287,384     327,100     331,509  
                   
Mortgage loans held for sale
  5,984     5,146     2,148  
                   
Loans
  625,782     670,497     677,665  
Less:  Allowance for loan losses
  (16,551 )   (16,604 )   (16,348 )
Net loans
  609,231     653,893     661,317  
                   
Premises and equipment, net
  16,091     16,896     17,074  
Cash surrender value of life insurance
  13,142     12,835     12,721  
Accrued interest receivable and other assets
  18,872     21,957     19,977  
Total assets
$ 1,006,608   $ 1,067,063   $ 1,089,619  
                   
                   
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
                 
Deposits:
                 
Non-interest bearing demand
$ 152,281   $ 136,878   $ 136,154  
NOW, MMDA & Savings
  354,386     366,133     354,048  
Time, $100,000 or more
  143,189     193,045     215,573  
Other time
  118,614     131,055     135,266  
Total deposits
  768,470     827,111     841,041  
                   
Demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury
  -       -       1,096  
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
  43,136     39,600     47,701  
FHLB borrowings
  70,000     70,000     70,000  
Junior subordinated debentures
  20,619     20,619     20,619  
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities
  7,549     6,706     6,212  
Total liabilities
  909,774     964,036     986,669  
                   
Shareholders' equity:
                 
Series A preferred stock, $1,000 stated value; authorized
             
5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
                 
12,524 shares in 2012 and 25,054 shares in 2011
  12,524     24,758     24,722  
Common stock, no par value; authorized
                 
20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
                 
5,596,978 shares in 2012 and
                 
5,544,160 shares in 2011
  48,004     48,298     48,289  
Retained earnings
  30,815     26,895     25,577  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  5,491     3,076     4,362  
Total shareholders' equity
  96,834     103,027     102,950  
                   
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$ 1,006,608   $ 1,067,063   $ 1,089,619  
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
               
               
               
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
INTEREST INCOME:
             
Interest and fees on loans
$ 8,170   $ 8,921   $ 24,822   $ 27,695
Interest on due from banks
  15     4     34     19
Interest on investment securities:
                     
U.S. Government sponsored enterprises
  519     1,504     2,327     3,998
State and political subdivisions
  877     792     2,463     2,387
Other
  74     70     206     171
Total interest income
  9,655     11,291     29,852     34,270
                       
INTEREST EXPENSE:
                     
NOW, MMDA & savings deposits
  274     517     913     1,836
Time deposits
  737     1,221     2,632     3,901
FHLB borrowings
  689     761     2,064     2,258
Junior subordinated debentures
  110     100     332     300
Other
  32     74     105     231
Total interest expense
  1,842     2,673     6,046     8,526
                       
NET INTEREST INCOME
  7,813     8,618     23,806     25,744
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
  761     3,378     4,413     9,696
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER
                     
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
  7,052     5,240     19,393     16,048
                       
NON-INTEREST INCOME:
                     
Service charges
  1,222     1,273     3,601     3,845
Other service charges and fees
  417     493     1,532     1,603
Gain on sale of securities
  12     1,239     1,203     2,495
Mortgage banking income
  296     127     793     531
Insurance and brokerage commissions
  150     121     404     350
Miscellaneous
  789     469     2,325     1,207
Total non-interest income
  2,886     3,722     9,858     10,031
                       
NON-INTEREST EXPENSES:
                     
Salaries and employee benefits
  4,187     3,489     11,960     10,829
Occupancy
  1,291     1,334     3,891     4,030
Other
  2,678     2,341     7,420     7,083
Total non-interest expense
  8,156     7,164     23,271     21,942
                       
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  1,782     1,798     5,980     4,137
INCOME TAXES
  369     406     1,400     755
                       
NET EARNINGS
  1,413     1,392     4,580     3,382
                       
Dividends and accretion on preferred stock
  157     348     853     1,045
                       
NET EARNINGS AVAILABLE TO
                     
COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
$ 1,256   $ 1,044   $ 3,727   $ 2,337
                       
PER COMMON SHARE AMOUNTS
                     
Basic net earnings
$ 0.23   $ 0.19   $ 0.67   $ 0.42
Diluted net earnings
$ 0.23   $ 0.19   $ 0.67   $ 0.42
Cash dividends
$ 0.02   $ 0.02   $ 0.11   $ 0.04
Book value
$ 15.06   $ 14.05   $ 15.06   $ 14.05
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011
(Dollars in thousands)
                 
                 
                 
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES:
               
Available for sale securities
$ 278,872   $ 313,800   $ 292,102   $ 289,588  
Loans
  639,402     687,086     655,051     704,263  
Earning assets
  950,536     1,016,061     973,697     1,013,129  
Assets
  1,014,334     1,075,073     1,036,686     1,070,802  
Deposits
  772,483     830,300     791,663     834,533  
Shareholders' equity
  96,940     101,937     104,355     100,587  
                         
                         
SELECTED KEY DATA:
                       
Net interest margin (tax equivalent)
  3.45%     3.53%     3.43%     3.57%  
Return on average assets
  0.55%     0.51%     0.59%     0.46%  
Return on average shareholders' equity
  5.80%     5.31%     5.86%     4.49%  
Shareholders' equity to total assets (period end)
  9.62%     9.44%     9.62%     9.44%  
                         
                         
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES:
                       
Balance, beginning of period
$ 16,640   $ 15,984   $ 16,604   $ 15,493  
Provision for loan losses
  761     3,378     4,413     9,696  
Charge-offs
  (1,266 )   (3,223 )   (5,642 )   (9,534 )
Recoveries
  416     209     1,176     693  
Balance, end of period
$ 16,551   $ 16,348   $ 16,551   $ 16,348  
                         
                         
ASSET QUALITY:
                       
Non-accrual loans
            $ 18,839   $ 27,491  
90 days past due and still accruing
              2,398     1,411  
Other real estate owned
              6,595     5,985  
Repossessed assets
              5     -    
Total non-performing assets
            $ 27,837   $ 34,887  
Non-performing assets to total assets
              2.77%     3.20%  
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing assets
          59.46%     46.86%  
Allowance for loan losses to total loans
              2.64%     2.41%  
 
 
LOAN RISK GRADE ANALYSIS:
Percentage of Loans
 
By Risk Grade
 
09/30/2012
 
09/30/2011
Risk Grade 1 (excellent quality)
2.94%
 
3.24%
Risk Grade 2 (high quality)
16.69%
 
16.30%
Risk Grade 3 (good quality)
46.65%
 
49.29%
Risk Grade 4 (management attention)
21.75%
 
21.42%
Risk Grade 5 (watch)
4.66%
 
2.80%
Risk Grade 6 (substandard)
6.90%
 
6.37%
Risk Grade 7 (low substandard)
0.00%
 
0.00%
Risk Grade 8 (doubtful)
0.00%
 
0.00%
Risk Grade 9 (loss)
0.00%
 
0.00%
       
At September 30, 2012, including non-accrual loans, there were nine relationships exceeding $1.0 million (which totaled $16.4 million) in the Watch risk grade, six relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Substandard risk grade (which totaled $14.5 million) and no relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Low Substandard risk grade. There were three relationships with loans in the Watch risk grade and the Substandard risk grade exceeding $1.0 million total (which totaled $5.1 million).
       
(END)