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8-K - 8-K - STEWARDSHIP FINANCIAL CORPform8k-138434_ssfn.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

 

 

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

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Stewardship Financial Corporation Announces

First Quarter of 2014 Earnings

 

Midland Park, NJ – May 7, 2014 – Stewardship Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:SSFN), parent of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced net income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 of $506,000 as compared to net income of $822,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2013. After dividends on preferred stock, the net income available to the common stockholders was $335,000, or $0.06 per common share, for the current 2014 period compared to $656,000, or $0.11 per common share, for the equivalent period of 2013. Items affecting comparisons between the periods are explained below.

Of significant importance for the quarter, the Corporation did not record a provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2014 in contrast to a provision for loan losses of $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Paul Van Ostenbridge, Stewardship Financial Corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer commented, “Based on our continued improvement in asset quality and the reserves established over the past few years, no increase in the allowance for loan losses was necessary at March 31, 2014.”

Continuing on the Corporation’s improvement in the level of problem assets, Van Ostenbridge stated, “We are seeing the results of our committed focus for the last several years on reducing our level of nonperforming loans.” Nonperforming loans decreased to $5.1 million, or 1.20% of total loans at March 31, 2014, representing an approximate 50% reduction when compared to $10.2 million, or 2.34%, at December 31, 2013 and over a 70% decline when compared to $17.5 million, or 3.97%, a year earlier.

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Press Release - Midland Park NJ  
Stewardship Financial Corporation continued May 7, 2014

 

 

Total nonperforming assets, which includes other real estate owned, represented just 1.02% of total assets at March 31, 2014, signifying meaningful progress when compared to 1.58% and 2.65% at December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2013, respectively.

The decrease in nonperforming assets is partially attributable to the sale of a small group of nonperforming loans that, at December 31, 2013, the Corporation had categorized as held 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, these loans had a carrying value of $2.8 million. The loans were sold during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and resulted in a net loss to the Corporation of $241,000, reflecting further declines in fair value.

When comparing the current year quarter results with the prior year quarter, components of noninterest income also had a substantial impact. The Corporation reported noninterest income of $399,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to $1.5 million for the equivalent prior year period. The current year period includes the previously mentioned loss of $241,000 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 prior year period included $537,000 as a result of a death benefit insurance payment received.

Net interest income was $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to $5.9 million a year earlier. “While the Corporation continues to monitor and manage all expenses, the low interest rate environment in which we have been operating has put pressure on asset yields,” said Van Ostenbridge.

Total noninterest expenses were $5.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 – comparable to $4.9 million incurred in the prior year period.

Total assets at March 31, 2014 were $672.6 million, which were comparatively unchanged from assets of $673.5 million at December 31, 2013. Additional liquidity was provided by an increase in cash and cash equivalents. Gross loans receivable decreased $10.5 million from December 31, 2013, reflecting normal payoffs and principal amortization as well as the competitive environment for new loans due to lack

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Press Release - Midland Park NJ  
Stewardship Financial Corporation continued  May 7, 2014

 

 

of demand. Van Ostenbridge noted, “Our lending efforts are dedicated to building and maintaining a pipeline of loan applications, with underwriting that adheres to our strict guidelines.”

Total deposits were $575.4 million at March 31, 2014, reflecting a relatively insignificant decline when compared to deposits of $577.6 million at December 31, 2013. At March 31, 2014 noninterest bearing deposits represented 23.9% of total deposits.

Capital levels continue to significantly exceed the regulatory requirements for a “well capitalized” institution with a tier 1 leverage ratio of 9.22% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 15.13% compared to the regulatory requirements of 4% and 8%, respectively.

Van Ostenbridge concluded, “While the last several years have seen substantial attention and resources devoted to addressing problem loans, the results of those labors are now clearly evident. With asset quality issues now considered to be at a manageable level, our efforts can now be fully directed on our core banking business.”

Stewardship Financial Corporation’s subsidiary, the Atlantic Stewardship Bank, has 12 banking offices in Midland Park, Hawthorne (2), Montville, North Haledon, Pequannock, Ridgewood, Waldwick, Wayne (2), 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 $8.1 million.

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.

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Stewardship Financial Corporation

Selected Consolidated Financial Information

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   March 31,   December 31,   March 31, 
   2014   2013   2013 
             
Selected Financial Condition Data:               
     Cash and cash equivalents  $27,176   $17,405   $26,144 
     Securities available for sale   171,692    168,411    175,493 
     Securities held to maturity   24,685    25,964    28,548 
     FHLB Stock   2,133    2,133    2,213 
     Loans receivable:               
          Loans receivable, gross   423,471    434,009    441,533 
          Allowance for loan losses   (9,792)   (9,915)   (11,512)
          Other, net   105    168    62 
     Loans receivable, net   413,784    424,262    430,083 
                
     Loans held for sale   186    2,800    2,101 
     Other assets   32,947    32,533    29,344 
     Total assets  $672,603   $673,508   $693,926 
                
                
     Noninterest-bearing deposits  $137,687   $133,565   $132,960 
     Interest-bearing deposits   437,729    444,026    462,578 
     Total deposits   575,416    577,591    595,538 
     Other borrowings   25,000    25,000    25,000 
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   7,601    7,300    7,344 
     Subordinated debentures   7,217    7,217    7,217 
     Other liabilities   2,209    2,621    2,152 
     Total liabilities   617,443    619,729    637,251 
     Shareholders' equity   55,160    53,779    56,675 
     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $672,603   $673,508   $693,926 
                
     Equity to assets   8.20%    7.98%    8.17% 
                
Asset Quality Data:               
     Nonaccrual loans  $5,073   $10,219   $17,479 
     Loans past due 90 days or more and accruing           50 
     Total nonperforming loans   5,073    10,219    17,529 
     Other real estate owned   1,789    451    876 
     Total nonperforming assets  $6,862   $10,670   $18,405 
                
                
     Nonperforming loans to total loans   1.20%    2.34%    3.97% 
     Nonperforming assets to total assets   1.02%    1.58%    2.65% 
     Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans   193.02%    97.03%    65.67% 
     Allowance for loan losses to total gross loans   2.31%    2.28%    2.61% 

 

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Stewardship Financial Corporation

Selected Consolidated Financial Information

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   For the three months ended 
   March 31, 
   2014   2013 
Selected Operating Data:          
Interest income  $6,145   $6,870 
Interest expense   839    1,004 
Net interest and dividend income   5,306    5,866 
Provision for loan losses       1,600 
Net interest and dividend income          
after provision for loan losses   5,306    4,266 
Noninterest income:          
Fees and service charges   421    456 
Bank owned life insurance   96    76 
Gain on calls and sales of securities       2 
Gain on sales of mortgage loans   12    162 
Loss on sales of loans   (241)    
Gain on sales of other real estate owned       126 
Gain on life insurance proceeds       537 
Other   111    115 
Total noninterest income   399    1,474 
Noninterest expenses:          
Salaries and employee benefits   2,678    2,696 
Occupancy, net   555    517 
Equipment   188    184 
Data processing   387    328 
FDIC insurance premium   211    150 
Other   1,075    1,057 
Total noninterest expenses   5,094    4,932 
Income before income tax expense (benefit)   611    808 
Income tax expense (benefit)   105    (14)
Net income   506    822 
Dividends on preferred stock and accretion   171    166 
Net income available to common stockholders  $335   $656 
           
Weighted avg. no. of diluted common shares   5,956,887    5,930,981 
Diluted earnings per common share  $0.06   $0.11 
           
Return on average common equity   3.41%    6.39% 
           
Return on average assets   0.31%    0.49% 
           
Yield on average interest-earning assets   3.97%    4.34% 
Cost of average interest-bearing liabilities   0.71%    0.82% 
Net interest rate spread   3.26%    3.52% 
           
Net interest margin   3.44%    3.72% 

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