Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - STEWARDSHIP FINANCIAL CORPform8k-135637_ssfn.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

 

  For Immediate Release
     
  Contact: Claire M. Chadwick
    SVP and Chief Financial Officer
    630 Godwin Avenue
    Midland Park, NJ 07432
    201-444-7100

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Stewardship Financial Corporation Announces

Year Ended December 31, 2013 Earnings

 

Midland Park, NJ – February 25, 2014 – Stewardship Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:SSFN), parent of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, reported net income for the year ended December 31, 2013 of $2.5 million compared to $520,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012. For the three months ended December 31, 2013, the Corporation reported net income of $665,000 compared to a net loss of $260,000 for the corresponding three month period in 2012. After dividends on preferred stock and accretion, net income available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $1.8 million, or $0.31 per diluted common share, compared to $168,000, or $0.03 per diluted common share, for the prior year. For the three months ended December 31, 2013, after dividends on preferred stock and accretion, the Corporation reported net income available to common shareholders of $495,000, or $0.08 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $387,000, or a loss of $0.07 per diluted common share, for the three months ended December 31, 2012.

Reflecting on the annual results, Paul Van Ostenbridge, Stewardship Financial Corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are very pleased to announce significantly stronger earnings linked with substantial improvement in asset quality.”

 
Press Release – Midland Park, NJ
Stewardship Financial Corporation, continued
February 25, 2014

Net interest income was $5.6 million and $22.8 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $5.7 million and $23.5 million for the equivalent prior year periods. The net interest margin for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013 of 3.54% and 3.59%, respectively, compared to 3.57% and 3.66% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2012, respectively. “In this prolonged, low interest rate environment, compression in margins remains primarily attributable to reduced asset yields,” Van Ostenbridge commented.

For the three months and year ended December 31, 2013 the Corporation recorded a $425,000 and $3.8 million provision for loan losses, respectively. For the prior year, a provision for loan losses of $3.3 million and $10.0 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2012, respectively, was recorded. Van Ostenbridge stated, “The decline in our provision is reflective of an improvement in credit quality and a reduction in nonperforming assets.”

At December 31, 2013, nonperforming assets totaled $10.7 million, or 1.58% of total assets, representing an $8.6 million decline from $19.3 million, or 2.80% of total assets, at December 31, 2012. Van Ostenbridge noted, “We have spent the last few years focused on addressing nonperforming loans and Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) acquired as a result of foreclosure and the 2013 year end balances reflect the results of such efforts.” During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Corporation categorized a small group of nonperforming loans as available for sale at the lower of cost or fair value of the underlying collateral, less cost to sell. After charge-offs previously recorded on these loans recognized against the allowance for loan losses, the decrease in nonperforming assets is partially attributed to the sale of these loans which had a carrying value of $3.6 million. The loans were sold prior to December 31, 2013 and resulted in a net loss to the Corporation of $372,000, reflecting further declines in fair value.

5
Press Release – Midland Park, NJ
Stewardship Financial Corporation, continued
February 25, 2014

 

The Corporation reported noninterest income of $525,000 and $4.0 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, respectively, compared to $1.8 million and $6.4 million for the equivalent prior year periods. The current year periods include the previously mentioned loss of $372,000 from the sale of nonperforming loans as well as reduced gains on sales of mortgage loans reflective of the impact of rising mortgage rates and corresponding reduction in refinance activity. In addition, the full year period for 2013 included $537,000 as a result of a death benefit insurance payment received. The 2012 periods included significant gains realized from the sale of securities, primarily reflecting transactions executed to lower the Company’s risk exposure to rising interest rates and deleverage the balance sheet through the partial prepayment of a higher costing wholesale repurchase agreement. The resulting prior year gain on sale of securities was partially offset by a prepayment premium on a wholesale repurchase agreement, which is included as a component of other noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Noninterest expenses for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013 were $4.9 million and $19.8 million as compared to $4.8 million and $19.7 million in the comparable prior year periods. While the Corporation remains dedicated to controlling expenses, higher salary and employee benefits expense is reflective of staffing necessary to address both increasing regulatory compliance as well the increase in staffing required to focus on commercial lending opportunities and an enhanced credit review function. As noted above, included in noninterest expenses in the year ended December 31, 2012 is a $691,000 prepayment premium incurred with the $7.0 million repayment of a wholesale repurchase agreement.

6
Press Release – Midland Park, NJ
Stewardship Financial Corporation, continued
February 25, 2014

Total assets of $673.5 million at December 31, 2013 showed a slight decline when compared to $688.4 million of assets at December 31, 2012. Since December 31, 2012, gross loans receivable have decreased $6.4 million as a result of the new loan production being offset by loan workouts as well as payoffs and normal principal amortization. The decline includes the impact of the above discussed $3.6 million nonperforming loan sale. In addition, $2.8 million of other nonperforming loans, representing the lower of cost or estimated fair value of the underlying collateral less costs to sell, have been categorized as available for sale at December 31, 2013.

Deposit balances totaled $577.6 million at December 31, 2013 compared to $590.3 million a year earlier. Core deposit balances (checking, money market and savings accounts) continue to see growth and comprise 76.4% of total deposits at December 31, 2013. In addition, noninterest-bearing deposits continued to grow reaching $133.6 million, or 23.1% of deposits, at December 31, 2013 compared to $124.3 million, or 21.1%, at December 31, 2012.

The Corporation’s capital levels remain strong. Tier 1 leverage ratio of 9.04% and total risk based capital ratio of 14.78%, remained relatively stable year over year and still far exceed the regulatory requirements of 4% and 8%, respectively, for a “well capitalized” institution.

In summary, Van Ostenbridge stated, “Over the last few years the Corporation has been committed to improving asset quality. The significant progress seen in the past year represents the results of our commitment. We are encouraged and confident that our current level of loan loss reserves, coupled with strong liquidity and a sound capital base, enable us to move forward.”

Stewardship Financial Corporation’s subsidiary, Atlantic Stewardship Bank, has 13 banking offices in Midland Park, Hawthorne (2), Montville, North Haledon, Pequannock, Ridgewood, Waldwick, Wayne (3), Westwood and Wyckoff, New Jersey. The Bank is known for tithing 10% of its pre-tax profits to Christian and local charities. To date, the Bank’s tithe donations total $7.9 million.

7
Press Release – Midland Park, NJ
Stewardship Financial Corporation, continued
February 25, 2014

We invite you to visit our website at www.asbnow.com for additional information.

The information disclosed in this document contains certain “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and may be identified by the use of such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “plan,” “estimate,” and “potential.” Examples of forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, estimates with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Corporation that are subject to various factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these estimates. These factors include: changes in general, economic and market conditions, legislative and regulatory conditions, or the development of an interest rate environment that adversely affects the Corporation’s interest rate spread or other income anticipated from operations and investments.

8
  

Stewardship Financial Corporation

Selected Consolidated Financial Information

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   December 31,   September 30,   December 31, 
   2013   2013   2012 
             
Selected Financial Condition Data:               
     Cash and cash equivalents  $17,405   $15,400   $21,016 
     Securities available for sale   168,411    183,411    174,700 
     Securities held to maturity   25,964    26,161    29,718 
     FHLB Stock   2,133    2,813    2,213 
     Loans receivable:               
          Loans receivable, gross   434,009    439,339    440,423 
          Allowance for loan losses   (9,915)   (10,704)   (10,641)
          Other, net   168    164    50 
     Loans receivable, net   424,262    428,799    429,832 
                
     Loans held for sale   2,800    910    784 
     Other assets   32,533    31,734    30,125 
     Total assets  $673,508   $689,228   $688,388 
                
                
     Noninterest-bearing deposits  $133,565   $139,918   $124,286 
     Interest-bearing deposits   444,026    437,238    465,968 
     Total deposits   577,591    577,156    590,254 
     Other borrowings   25,000    40,100    25,000 
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   7,300    8,044    7,343 
     Subordinated debentures   7,217    7,217    7,217 
     Other liabilities   2,621    2,433    2,228 
     Shareholders' equity   53,779    54,278    56,346 
     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $673,508   $689,228   $688,388 
                
     Equity to assets   7.98%    7.88%    8.19% 
                
Asset Quality Data:               
     Nonaccrual loans  $10,219   $15,269   $18,011 
     Loans past due 90 days or more and accruing           237 
     Total nonperforming loans   10,219    15,269    18,248 
     Other real estate owned   451    470    1,058 
     Total nonperforming assets  $10,670   $15,739   $19,306 
                
                
     Nonperforming loans to total loans   2.34%    3.48%    4.14% 
     Nonperforming assets to total assets   1.58%    2.28%    2.80% 
     Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans   97.03%    70.10%    58.31% 
     Allowance for loan losses to total gross loans   2.28%    2.44%    2.42% 

 

9
  

Stewardship Financial Corporation

Selected Consolidated Financial Information

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   For the three months ended   For the year ended 
   December 31,   December 31, 
   2013   2012   2013   2012 
Selected Operating Data:                    
Interest income  $6,529   $6,754   $26,571   $28,707 
Interest expense   911    1,094    3,813    5,175 
Net interest and dividend income   5,618    5,660    22,758    23,532 
Provision for loan losses   425    3,330    3,775    9,995 
Net interest and dividend income                    
after provision for loan losses   5,193    2,330    18,983    13,537 
Noninterest income:                    
Fees and service charges   458    456    1,865    1,998 
Bank owned life insurance   100    81    351    325 
Gain on calls and sales of securities   151    1,004    153    2,340 
Gain on sales of mortgage loans   39    160    649    887 
Loss on sales of loans   (372)       (372)    
Gain on sales of other real estate owned   44    (3)   326    429 
Gain on life insurance proceeds           537     
Other   105    79    456    410 
Total noninterest income   525    1,777    3,965    6,389 
Noninterest expenses:                    
Salaries and employee benefits   2,524    2,433    10,501    9,470 
Occupancy, net   507    515    2,045    1,967 
Equipment   214    240    794    971 
Data processing   438    317    1,425    1,291 
FDIC insurance premium   230    155    876    612 
Other   988    1,147    4,197    5,342 
Total noninterest expenses   4,901    4,807    19,838    19,653 
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)   817    (700)   3,110    273 
Income tax expense (benefit)   152    (440)   640    (247)
Net income (loss)   665    (260)   2,470    520 
Dividends on preferred stock and accretion   170    127    633    352 
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders  $495   $(387)  $1,837   $168 
                     
Weighted avg. no. of diluted common shares   5,942,585    5,923,113    5,937,058    5,908,503 
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share  $0.08   $(0.07)  $0.31   $0.03 
                     
Return on average common equity   4.95%    -3.56%    4.54%    0.39% 
                     
Return on average assets   0.39%    -0.15%    0.36%    0.07% 
                     
Yield on average interest-earning assets   4.10%    4.24%    4.17%    4.44% 
Cost of average interest-bearing liabilities   0.74%    0.86%    0.78%    1.00% 
Net interest rate spread   3.36%    3.38%    3.39%    3.44% 
                     
Net interest margin   3.54%    3.57%    3.59%    3.66% 

  

10