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8-K - 2014 8K 4TH QTR - COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.cbna8k2014q4.htm

 
Exhibit 99
   
   
 
 
News Release
5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, N.Y. 13214 For further information, please contact:
Scott A. Kingsley,
EVP & Chief Financial Officer
Office: (315) 445-3121

Community Bank System Reports Strong Fourth Quarter
and Record Full Year 2014 Operating Results
 
  - Record full year GAAP earnings of $2.22 per share  
  - Achieved 9% year-over-year growth in noninterest income  
  - Quarterly cash dividend increased for the 22nd consecutive year  
 
 
                        SYRACUSE, N.Y. — January 21, 2015 — Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) reported fourth  quarter 2014 net income of $23.1 million, an increase of 49.5% compared with $15.5 million earned for the fourth quarter of 2013.  Diluted earnings per share totaled $0.56 for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with $0.38 per share reported in the fourth quarter of 2013, which included $0.15 per share of acquisition expenses and net losses on sales of investment securities and debt extinguishments.  Full year net income increased by $12.5 million, or 15.9%, and earnings per share of $2.22 were $0.28 or 14.4% higher than 2013.

“Our fourth quarter results mirrored a strong 2014 operating performance characterized by solid revenue growth, organic expansion of the loan portfolio, a continuation of our stable and favorable asset quality profile and improved operating leverage,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Mark E. Tryniski.  “We continue to focus on building additional value into our enterprise through selective acquisitions, disciplined lending and a consistent approach to business regardless of economic conditions.  In July we increased our quarterly dividend by 7.1% to $0.30 per share, marking the twenty-second consecutive year of dividend increases for the Company.  We believe that this demonstrates the Company’s commitment to the payment of a meaningful and growing dividend as an important component of providing consistent and favorable long-term returns to our shareholders.”

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $91.7 million, an increase of $2.8 million, or 3.2%, over the prior year quarter (excluding the $6.9 million of net losses on sales of investment securities and debt extinguishments recorded in the fourth quarter of 2013).  Higher revenue was generated as a result of a 1.6% increase in average earning assets along with continued strong noninterest income generation, as well as a one basis point improvement in the net interest margin from the prior year quarter.  Continued organic growth drove a $1.3 million, or 9.0% increase in the Company’s revenue from its wealth management and employee benefit services businesses.  Revenue from deposit and other banking services, and mortgage banking increased year-over-year by $0.4 million, or 2.9%.  The year-over-year revenue growth was supported by an increased core deposit account base resulting from solid organic growth in addition to the successful integration of eight branch locations acquired in Pennsylvania from Bank of America in late 2013.  The quarterly provision for loan losses of $2.5 million was $0.7 million lower than the fourth quarter of 2013, reflective of lower levels of net charge-offs and improved non-performing asset and delinquent loan ratios.  Total operating expenses of $56.7 million for the quarter were $1.5 million higher, or 2.7%, than the fourth quarter of 2013, excluding $2.1 million of acquisition expenses incurred in the fourth quarter of 2013.  The additional $1.5 million of recurring operating expenses in the current quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2013 were driven primarily by the additional operating costs associated with the branch acquisition completed in December 2013.
 
Fourth quarter 2014 net interest income was $61.8 million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 1.8%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2013.  In addition to the $0.4 million benefit to interest expense from an improved deposit funding mix, growth in net interest income was driven by a $2.1 million decrease in borrowing interest expense resulting from the balance sheet repositioning actions completed in 2013.  These actions contributed significantly to the lowering of the cost of borrowed funds by 98 basis points, year-over-year.  Improved funding costs were offset by a 14-basis point decline in earning asset yields, driven by lower blended interest rates on loans and investment securities.  While average loan balances grew $154.4 million, or 3.8%, average loan yields declined 18 basis points year-over-year, resulting in a $0.2 million reduction in quarterly loan income.  Investment income was $1.2 million lower than the fourth quarter of 2013 as average investment securities balance (including cash equivalents) declined by $47.5 million, and the yield fell 12 basis points.
 
 
 
 

 
 
Fourth quarter noninterest income increased $1.7 million to $29.9 million, representing an increase of 6.0% compared to last year’s fourth quarter, excluding the $6.9 million of net losses incurred on sales of investment securities and debt extinguishments in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Income expanded across virtually all banking and financial services categories, with the lone exceptions being a $0.4 million decline in other banking services and mortgage banking-related revenues.  Financial services revenue continued to grow as wealth management revenues increased $0.4 million or 9.0% over fourth quarter 2013, while employee benefit services revenue grew 9.1% to $10.9 million.  Strong customer expansion and market momentum from 2013 continued in 2014 and drove the improved performance.  Deposit service revenues grew $0.8 million, or 6.2%, to $13.5 million, reflecting solid core deposit account growth as a result of the branch acquisition and organic growth initiatives across the franchise.

Fourth quarter 2014 operating expenses of $56.7 million increased $1.5 million, or 2.7% over the fourth quarter of 2013, excluding $2.1 million of acquisition expenses incurred in the prior year quarter.  Salaries and employee benefits increased $0.6 million, or 1.9%, and included the additional personnel from the branch acquisition, as well as planned merit increases.  These increases were partially offset by lower retirement plan expenses related to favorable plan asset performance and discount rate changes.  All other expenses, excluding acquisition expenses, increased 3.8% and reflected the increased costs of operating an expanded franchise as well as continued investment in the Company’s technology infrastructure.

The fourth quarter 2014 effective income tax rate of 28.8% was higher than the 28.2% in last year’s fourth quarter, reflecting a higher proportion of income being generated from fully taxable sources.

Financial Position

Average earning assets of $6.69 billion for the fourth quarter of 2014 were up $22.4 million from the third quarter of 2014, and were $107.0 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2013.  Compared to the prior year, overall average earning asset balances included growth of $154.4 million in average loan balances, while average investment securities and interest-earning  cash balances declined by $47.5 million.  Average deposit balances grew $30.7 million compared to the third quarter of 2014, and were $287.1 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2013, principally due to the branch acquisition.  Average borrowings in the fourth quarter of 2014 of $406.6 million were $227.9 million, or 35.9% lower than the prior year quarter.

Ending loans at December 31, 2014 increased $127.1 million, or 3.1%, year-over-year, reflecting solid organic growth in the Company’s consumer lending portfolios, which was generally consistent with market demand characteristics.  Ending loans increased $19.0 million from September 30, 2014, driven by growth in business lending and consumer mortgages.  Investment securities totaled $2.51 billion at December 31, 2014, a level consistent with the end of the third quarter of 2014, and up $294.2 million from the end of 2013.

Shareholders’ equity of $987.9 million at December 31, 2014 was $112.1 million, or 12.8% higher than the prior year quarter-end, primarily due to strong earnings generation and capital retention over the last four quarters, as well as the impact in AOCI of a higher level of unrealized gains from investment securities at the end of 2014.  The Company’s net tangible equity to net tangible assets ratio was 8.92% at December 31, 2014, up from 7.68% at December 31, 2013.  The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio grew to 9.96% for the current quarter, up 67 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2013.

Asset Quality

The Company’s asset quality metrics continue to be favorable relative to comparative peer and industry averages and illustrate the long-term effectiveness of the Company’s disciplined risk management and underwriting standards.  Net charge-offs were $2.5 million for the fourth quarter, compared to $2.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2013 and $1.1 million for the third quarter of 2014.  Net charge-offs as an annualized percentage of average loans measured 0.23% in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to 0.29% in the prior year fourth quarter and 0.10% in the third quarter of 2014.  Full year net charge-offs were 0.15% of average loans compared to 0.17% in 2013.  Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans at December 31, 2014 were 0.56%, consistent with 0.57% at September 30, 2014 and 0.54% of total loans at December 31, 2013.  The total loan delinquency ratio of 1.46% at the end of the fourth quarter was down three basis points from the end of the fourth quarter of 2013.  The fourth quarter provision for loan losses of $2.5 million was $0.8 million, or 44.9% higher than the third quarter of 2014, and $0.7 million, or 20.5%, lower than the fourth quarter of 2013 due primarily to lower net charge-off levels than the previous year’s fourth quarter.  The allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans was 190% at December 31, 2014, comparable with the 189% and 201% levels at the end of the third quarter of 2014 and the end of the fourth quarter of 2013, respectively.


 
 

 
 
Increased Cash Dividend Declared
 
In July and November of 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.30 per share on its’ common stock.  The $0.30 quarterly dividend was a $0.02 per share or 7.1% increase over the $0.28 per share paid in the prior four quarters.  This marked the Company’s 22nd consecutive year of increased dividend payouts to shareholders.  Using the closing price of $34.85 a share on the Company’s common stock as of Tuesday, January 20th, the $0.30 quarterly dividend provides an annualized yield of 3.44%.
 
Also, as previously announced, in December the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock during a twelve-month period starting January 1, 2015.  Such repurchases may be made at the discretion of senior management depending on market conditions and other relevant factors and will be acquired through open market or privately negotiated transactions as permitted under Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and other applicable legal requirements.  The Company repurchased 123,000 shares of its common stock in 2014.
 
Conference Call Scheduled

Company management will conduct an investor call at 11:00 a.m. (ET) tomorrow (Thursday, January 22nd) to discuss fourth quarter and full year results.  The conference call can be accessed at 888-430-8691 (1-719-325-2177 if outside United States and Canada) using the conference ID code 9818037.  Investors may also listen live via the Internet at: http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=101346.

This earnings release, including supporting financial tables, is available within the press releases section of the Company's investor relations website at: http://ir.communitybanksystem.com.  An archived webcast of the earnings call will be available on this site for one full year.

Community Bank System, Inc. operates more than 190 customer facilities across Upstate New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania through its banking subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A. With assets of approximately $7.5 billion, the DeWitt, N.Y. headquartered company is among the country's 150 largest financial institutions. In addition to a full range of retail and business banking services, the Company offers comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services and operates a full service insurance agency providing personal and business insurance products. The Company's Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. subsidiary is a leading provider of employee benefits administration and trust services, actuarial and consulting services to customers on a national scale. Community Bank System, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Company's stock trades under the symbol CBU. For more information about Community Bank visit www.communitybankna.com or http://ir.communitybanksystem.com.

# # #

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The following factors, among others, could cause the actual results of CBU’s operations to differ materially from CBU’s expectations: the successful integration of operations of its acquisitions; competition; changes in economic conditions, interest rates and financial markets; and changes in legislation or regulatory requirements.  These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of CBU’s management and CBU does not assume any duty to update forward-looking statements.
 

 
 

 


 
Summary of Financial Data
       
(Dollars in thousands, expect per share data)
       
 
Quarter Ended
Year Ended
 
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
Earnings
2014
2013
2014
2013
Loan income
$46,878
$47,061
$185,527
$188,197
Investment income
17,707
18,901
70,693
75,962
Total interest income
64,585
65,962
256,220
264,159
Interest expense
2,829
5,326
11,792
26,065
Net interest income
61,756
60,636
244,428
238,094
Provision for loan losses
2,531
3,185
7,178
7,992
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
59,225
57,451
237,250
230,102
Deposit service fees
13,496
12,714
52,756
49,357
Revenues from mortgage banking and other banking services
1,149
1,516
5,814
5,245
Wealth management services
4,341
3,984
17,870
15,550
Employee benefit services
10,942
10,032
42,580
38,596
Gain on sales of investment securities
0
16,969
0
80,768
Loss on debt extinguishments
0
 (23,836)
0
 (87,336)
Total noninterest income
29,928
21,379
119,020
102,180
Salaries and employee benefits
30,987
30,412
123,077
121,629
Occupancy and equipment
6,724
6,782
27,948
27,045
Amortization of intangible assets
994
1,061
4,287
4,469
Litigation settlement
0
0
2,800
0
Acquisition expenses
0
2,105
123
2,181
Other
17,979
16,923
68,345
65,931
Total operating expenses
56,684
57,283
226,580
221,255
Income before income taxes
32,469
21,547
129,690
111,027
Income taxes
9,336
6,070
38,337
32,198
Net income
$23,133
$15,477
$91,353
$78,829
Basic earnings per share
$0.57
$0.38
$2.24
$1.96
Diluted earnings per share
$0.56
$0.38
$2.22
$1.94

 

 
 

 


 
Summary of Financial Data
         
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
         
 
2014
2013
 
4th Qtr
3rd Qtr
2nd Qtr
1st Qtr
4th Qtr
Earnings
         
Loan income
$46,878
$46,883
$46,073
$45,693
$47,061
Investment income
17,707
17,404
18,036
17,546
18,901
Total interest income
64,585
64,287
64,109
63,239
65,962
Interest expense
2,829
2,893
2,939
3,131
5,326
Net interest income
61,756
61,394
61,170
60,108
60,636
Provision for loan losses
2,531
1,747
1,900
1,000
3,185
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
59,225
59,647
59,270
59,108
57,451
Deposit service fees
13,496
13,833
13,172
12,255
12,714
Revenues from mortgage banking and other banking services
1,149
1,867
1,608
1,190
1,516
Wealth management services
4,341
4,617
4,438
4,474
3,984
Employee benefit services
10,942
10,755
10,448
10,435
10,032
Gain on sales of investment securities
0
0
0
0
16,969
Loss on debt extinguishments
0
0
0
0
 (23,836)
Total noninterest income
29,928
31,072
29,666
28,354
21,379
Salaries and employee benefits
30,987
30,941
30,409
30,740
30,412
Occupancy and equipment
6,724
6,617
6,916
7,691
6,782
Amortization of intangible assets
994
1,051
1,101
1,141
1,061
Litigation settlement
0
2,800
0
0
0
Acquisition expenses
0
0
0
123
2,105
Other
17,979
17,402
16,738
16,226
16,923
Total operating expenses
56,684
58,811
55,164
55,921
57,283
Income before income taxes
32,469
31,908
33,772
31,541
21,547
Income taxes
9,336
9,537
10,096
9,368
6,070
Net income
23,133
22,371
23,676
22,173
15,477
Basic earnings per share
$0.57
$0.55
$0.58
$0.55
$0.38
Diluted earnings per share
$0.56
$0.54
$0.57
$0.54
$0.38
Profitability
         
Return on assets
1.22%
1.19%
1.28%
1.23%
0.84%
Return on equity
9.35%
9.25%
10.13%
9.92%
7.04%
Return on tangible equity(3)
14.57%
14.66%
16.34%
16.37%
11.78%
Noninterest income/operating income (FTE) (1)
31.3%
32.2%
31.3%
30.7%
30.5%
Efficiency ratio (2)
58.3%
57.0%
57.0%
59.2%
58.5%
Components of Net Interest Margin (FTE)
         
Loan yield
4.43%
4.48%
4.51%
4.55%
4.61%
Cash equivalents yield
0.19%
0.17%
0.23%
0.25%
0.22%
Investment yield
3.43%
3.37%
3.48%
3.46%
3.54%
Earning asset yield
4.06%
4.06%
4.12%
4.13%
4.20%
Interest-bearing deposit rate
0.16%
0.17%
0.17%
0.19%
0.21%
Borrowing rate
0.88%
0.87%
0.91%
0.90%
1.86%
Cost of all interest-bearing funds
0.22%
0.23%
0.23%
0.25%
0.41%
Cost of funds (includes DDA)
0.18%
0.18%
0.19%
0.20%
0.33%
Net interest margin (FTE)
3.89%
3.89%
3.94%
3.94%
3.88%
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment
$3,804
$3,923
$3,972
$3,834
$3,666

 

 
 

 


 
Summary of Financial Data
         
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
         
 
2014
2013
 
4th Qtr
3rd Qtr
2nd Qtr
1st Qtr
4th Qtr
Average Balances
         
Loans
$4,223,653
$4,180,283
$4,121,976
$4,099,827
$4,069,204
Cash equivalents
11,260
8,225
9,535
9,782
11,085
Taxable investment securities
1,830,375
1,834,590
1,839,488
1,833,296
1,861,206
Nontaxable investment securities
622,365
642,114
659,662
638,975
639,199
Total interest-earning assets
6,687,653
6,665,212
6,630,661
6,581,880
6,580,694
Total assets
7,495,814
7,457,409
7,407,151
7,333,082
7,278,167
Interest-bearing deposits
4,689,788
4,671,216
4,754,636
4,736,746
4,546,591
Borrowings
406,610
427,051
385,150
402,549
634,472
Total interest-bearing liabilities
5,096,398
5,098,267
5,139,786
5,139,295
5,181,063
Noninterest-bearing deposits
1,293,760
1,281,626
1,224,515
1,197,922
1,149,873
Shareholders' equity
981,737
959,484
937,532
906,787
872,567
Balance Sheet Data
         
Cash and cash equivalents
$138,396
$157,500
$161,903
$153,417
$149,647
Investment securities
2,512,974
2,506,242
2,534,419
2,506,221
2,218,725
Loans:
         
Business lending
1,262,484
1,251,178
1,247,129
1,246,070
1,260,364
Consumer mortgage
1,613,384
1,598,298
1,580,584
1,579,322
1,582,058
Consumer indirect
833,968
841,975
797,297
755,849
740,002
Home equity
342,342
339,121
339,345
340,760
346,520
Consumer direct
184,028
186,672
183,448
174,357
180,139
Total loans
4,236,206
4,217,244
4,147,803
4,096,358
4,109,083
Allowance for loan losses
45,341
45,273
44,615
44,197
44,319
Intangible assets, net
386,973
387,966
389,018
390,119
390,499
Other assets
260,232
278,964
272,815
295,310
272,229
Total assets
7,489,440
7,502,643
7,461,343
7,397,228
7,095,864
Deposits:
         
   Noninterest-bearing
1,324,661
1,279,052
1,257,223
1,225,977
1,203,346
   Non-maturity interest-bearing
3,837,603
3,881,249
3,872,262
3,928,230
3,766,145
   Time
773,000
807,030
841,810
884,681
926,553
Total deposits
5,935,264
5,967,331
5,971,295
6,038,888
5,896,044
Borrowings
338,000
343,805
319,408
217,110
141,913
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts
102,122
102,115
102,109
102,103
102,097
Accrued interest and other liabilities
126,150
123,868
113,516
120,991
79,998
Total liabilities
6,501,536
6,537,119
6,506,328
6,479,092
6,220,052
Shareholders' equity
987,904
965,524
955,015
918,136
875,812
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
7,489,440
7,502,643
7,461,343
7,397,228
7,095,864
Capital
         
Tier 1 leverage ratio
9.96%
9.79%
9.64%
9.48%
9.29%
Tangible equity/net tangible assets (3)
8.92%
8.57%
8.44%
7.97%
7.68%
Diluted weighted average common shares O/S
41,248
41,260
41,269
41,152
41,061
Period end common shares outstanding
40,748
40,707
40,688
40,658
40,431
Cash dividends declared per common share
$0.30
$0.30
$0.28
$0.28
$0.28
Book value
$24.24
$23.72
$23.47
$22.58
$21.66
Tangible book value(3)
$15.63
$15.04
$14.74
$13.79
$12.80
Common stock price (end of period)
$38.13
$33.59
$36.20
$39.02
$39.68

 
 

 


Summary of Financial Data
         
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
         
 
2014
2013
 
4th Qtr
3rd Qtr
2nd Qtr
1st Qtr
4th Qtr
Asset Quality
         
Nonaccrual loans
$20,731
$21,323
$21,991
$21,669
$19,473
Accruing loans 90+ days delinquent
3,105
2,690
1,930
1,977
2,555
Total nonperforming loans
23,836
24,013
23,921
23,646
22,028
Other real estate owned (OREO)
1,855
3,619
4,281
4,914
5,060
Total nonperforming assets
25,691
27,632
28,202
28,560
27,088
Net charge-offs
2,461
1,090
1,482
1,122
2,949
Allowance for loan losses/loans outstanding
1.07%
1.07%
1.08%
1.08%
1.08%
Nonperforming loans/loans outstanding
0.56%
0.57%
0.58%
0.58%
0.54%
Allowance for loan losses/nonperforming loans
190%
189%
187%
187%
201%
Net charge-offs/average loans
0.23%
0.10%
0.14%
0.11%
0.29%
Delinquent loans/ending loans
1.46%
1.32%
1.24%
1.25%
1.49%
Loan loss provision/net charge-offs
103%
160%
128%
89%
108%
Nonperforming assets/total assets
0.34%
0.37%
0.38%
0.39%
0.38%
Asset Quality (excluding loans acquired since 1/1/09)
         
Nonaccrual loans
$17,676
$17,313
$18,147
$17,755
$16,065
Accruing loans 90+ days delinquent
2,827
2,545
1,813
1,826
2,418
Total nonperforming loans
20,503
19,858
19,960
19,581
18,483
Other real estate owned (OREO)
1,469
1,794
2,303
2,645
2,832
Total nonperforming assets
21,972
21,652
22,263
22,226
21,315
Net charge-offs
2,098
1,088
1,204
1,086
1,956
Allowance for loan losses/loans outstanding
1.14%
1.14%
1.15%
1.15%
1.15%
Nonperforming loans/loans outstanding
0.52%
0.51%
0.52%
0.52%
0.49%
Allowance for loan losses/nonperforming loans
221%
226%
221%
222%
234%
Net charge-offs/average loans
0.21%
0.11%
0.13%
0.12%
0.21%
Delinquent loans/ending loans
1.39%
1.23%
1.19%
1.17%
1.44%
Loan loss provision/net charge-offs
122%
160%
155%
121%
130%
Nonperforming assets/total assets
0.30%
0.30%
0.31%
0.31%
0.32%
           
(1) Excludes gains and losses on sales of investment securities and debt prepayments.
(2) Excludes intangible amortization, acquisition expenses, litigation settlement charge, gains and losses on sales of investment securities and losses on debt extinguishments.
(3) Includes deferred tax liabilities (of approximately $35.8 million at 12/31/14) generated from tax deductible goodwill.
 

 

 
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This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The following factors, among others, could cause the actual results of CBU’s operations to differ materially from CBU’s expectations: the successful integration of operations of its acquisitions; competition; changes in economic conditions, interest rates and financial markets; and changes in legislation or regulatory requirements.  CBU does not assume any duty to update forward-looking statements.