TrustCo Announces Third Quarter 2016 Earnings

Executive Snapshot:

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Continued solid financial results:

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Key metrics for third quarter of 2016 results:

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Net income of $10.9 million in the third quarter of 2016 compared to $10.5 million in the second quarter of 2016 and $10.6 million in the third quarter of 2015

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Operating expenses decreased $415 thousand in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2015

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Return on average assets (ROA) of 0.90%

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Return on average equity (ROE) of 10.05%

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Efficiency ratio of 54.11% (Non-GAAP measure; see P. 13 for definition)

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Asset quality remains solid:

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Asset quality measures improved compared to the third quarter of 2015

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Nonperforming assets (NPAs) fell by $7.1 million compared to September 30, 2015

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NPAs to total assets improved from 0.80% to 0.64% compared to September 30, 2015

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Quarterly net chargeoffs decreased to 0.10% of average loans on an annualized basis, compared to 0.15% for the third quarter of 2015, the lowest level since 2008

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Continued expansion of customer base:

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Focus on capitalizing on opportunities presented by expanded branch network

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Average deposits per branch grew $455 thousand from September 30, 2015 to September 30, 2016 on a same store basis

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Average deposits per branch were $28.9 million at September 30, 2016

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Average core deposits were $51 million higher in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2015

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Loan portfolio reaches all-time high:

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Average loans were up $109 million for the third quarter of 2016 compared to third quarter of 2015

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At $3.39 billion as of September 30, 2016, loans reached an all-time high

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TrustCo Announces Third Quarter 2016 Earnings

Glenville, New York – October 21, 2016

TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TrustCo, Nasdaq: TRST) today announced third quarter of 2016 net income of $10.9 million compared to $10.5 million  for the second quarter of 2016 and $10.6 million for the third quarter of 2015.

Robert J. McCormick, President and Chief Executive Officer noted, “We are pleased to be able to report an increase in earnings in the third quarter of 2016 as compared to the third quarter of 2015.  We are encouraged by the combination of revenue growth and expense decline in the quarter, despite a difficult operating environment and continued higher costs related to regulatory issues.  Our continued focus on traditional lending criteria and conservative balance sheet management has enabled us to produce consistent earnings, maintain strong liquidity and capital and allowed us to continue to grow our business and take advantage of changes in market and competitive conditions.  In terms of our core business, we continue to add customer relationships which ultimately drive future growth.  We will continue to take advantage of opportunities as they are presented during the balance of 2016.  Recent merger activity between our competitors, including the Key – First Niagara merger, may provide us with additional opportunities to add customers.”

TrustCo saw continued solid loan growth in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the prior year.  Loan portfolio expansion was funded primarily by our strong liquidity reserves.  The continued shift toward loans helped offset the margin impact from continued comparatively low yields on cash and investments.  The growth in average deposits in the third quarter of 2016 versus the prior year was led by lower cost core deposits.  TrustCo’s strong liquidity position continues to allow the Company to take advantage of opportunities when interest rate conditions change.

For the third quarter of 2016, return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.90% and 10.05%, respectively, compared to 0.88% and 10.35% for the third quarter of 2015.  The decline in return on average equity was due to continued growth of TrustCo’s capital position.  Diluted earnings per share were $0.114 for the third quarter of 2016, compared to $0.111 for the third quarter of 2015.  As discussed in recent quarters, increased operating costs in response to regulatory concerns have hampered earnings.  Higher expenses were anticipated in order to fulfill operating and regulatory requirements.  We took aggressive action to meet these requirements during 2015 and costs related to those actions have continued into 2016.  While some of these costs will be recurring, others will diminish over time. During the third quarter of 2016 we experienced a reduction in FDIC deposit insurance premiums and were also able to reduce expenses in a number of other categories.

For the first nine months of 2016, diluted net income per share was $0.333, compared to $0.337 for the first nine months of 2015.  Return on average assets and equity were 0.89% and 9.97% for the first nine months of 2016, compared to 0.91% and 10.64% for the first nine months of 2015.

 

Average loans were up $108.7 million or 3.3% in the third quarter of 2016, over the same period in 2015.  Loan growth was constrained by a $13.4 million decline in commercial loans, which have become less attractive on a risk adjusted basis.  Average residential loans, our primary lending focus, were up $130.3 million or 4.8% in the third quarter of 2016, over the same period in 2015.  Average deposits were up $37.5 million or 0.9% for the third quarter of 2016 over the same period a year earlier.  The increase in deposits came from core deposit accounts, which consist of checking, savings and money market deposits.  Average core deposits increased $51.2 million from the third quarter of 2015 to the third quarter of 2016, while average time deposit balances declined $13.6 million.  Core deposits typically represent longer term customer relationships and are generally lower cost than time deposits.  Mr. McCormick noted that, “The year-over-year growth of our loans and core deposit base reflect the long term strategic focus of the Company.”

“While some banks have backed away from branches, a customer friendly branch franchise continues to be the key to our long term plans.  We continue to make good progress expanding loans and deposits throughout our entire branch network.  We expect that trend to continue as the newer branches continue to mature.”

“At September 30, 2016, our average branch size was $28.9 million.  We have always designed our branches to be smaller and more cost effective than those built by many of our competitors.  We use open floor plans that help maximize the value of our branches.  We remain mindful that fully achieving our goals for newer branches will take time and continued work.  We believe success in growing customer relationships provides basic building blocks that will help drive profit growth for the coming years.”

Asset quality and loan loss reserve measures mostly improved versus both September 30, 2015 and as compared to December 31, 2015.  Nonperforming loans (NPLs) were $26.0 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $31.9 million at September 30, 2015 and $28.3 million at December 31, 2015.  NPLs were equal to 0.77% of total loans at September 30, 2016, compared to 0.97% a year earlier and 0.86% at December 31, 2015.  The coverage ratio, or allowance for loan losses to NPLs, was 169.0% at September 30, 2016, compared to 141.4% at September 30, 2015 and 158.4% at December 31, 2015.  Nonperforming assets (NPAs) were at $30.8 million at September 30, 2016 compared to $37.8 million at September 30, 2015 and $34.7 million at December 31, 2015.  The ratio of loan loss allowance to total loans was 1.30% as of September 30, 2016, compared to 1.38% at September 30, 2015 and to 1.36% at December 31, 2015 and reflects both the improvement in asset quality and economic conditions in our lending areas.  The allowance for loan losses was $44.0 million at September 30, 2016 compared to $45.2 million at September 30, 2015 and $44.8 million at December 31, 2015.  Net chargeoffs for the third quarter of 2016 decreased versus both the third quarter of 2015 and the second quarter of 2016, to $0.9 million.  The net chargeoff ratio was 0.10% for the third quarter of 2016, compared to 0.15% in the third quarter of 2015 and was at the lowest level since the first quarter of 2008.  The provision for loan losses was $750 thousand, compared to $800 thousand in the third quarter of 2015.

The net interest margin for the third quarter of 2016 was 3.09%, the same as in the second quarter and a basis point higher than in the third quarter of 2015.

At September 30, 2016 the equity to asset ratio was 9.05%, compared to 8.91% at June 30, 2016 and 8.72% at September 30, 2015.  The tangible equity ratio was 9.04% compared to 8.90% at June 30, 2016 and 8.71% at September 30, 2015.  GAAP book value per share at September 30, 2016 was $4.56 compared to $4.33 a year earlier and tangible book value per share was $4.55 and $4.33, respectively.  Tangible equity and book value are non-GAAP measures and are discussed on page 13.

 

TrustCo Bank Corp NY is a $4.8 billion savings and loan holding company and through its subsidiary, Trustco Bank, operated 145 offices in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Florida at September 30, 2016.

In addition, the Bank’s Financial Services Department offers a full range of investment services, retirement planning and trust and estate administration services. The common shares of TrustCo are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TRST.

 

A conference call to discuss Third Quarter 2016 results will be held at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 24, 2016.  Those wishing to participate in the call may dial toll-free 1-888-339-0764.  International callers must dial 1-412-902-4195.  Please ask to be joined into the TrustCo Bank Corp NY / TRST call.  A replay of the call will be available for thirty days by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (1-412-317-0088 for international callers), Conference Number 10094705. The call will also be audio webcast at: http://services.choruscall.com/links/trst161024.html, and will be available for one year.

Safe Harbor Statement

All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our expectations for our performance during 2016 and for the growth of loans and deposits throughout our branch network, our ability to capitalize on economic changes in the areas in which we operate and the extent to which higher expenses to fulfill operating and regulatory requirements recur or diminish over time.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially for TrustCo from those discussed. TrustCo wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The following important factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect TrustCo’s actual results and could cause TrustCo’s actual financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in any forward-looking statement:  our ability to continue to originate a significant volume of one-to-four family mortgage loans in our market areas; our ability to continue to maintain noninterest expense and other overhead costs at reasonable levels relative to income; our ability to comply with the supervisory agreement entered into with Trustco Bank’s regulator and potential regulatory actions if we fail to comply; restrictions or conditions imposed by our regulators on our operations that may make it more difficult for us to achieve our goals; the future earnings and capital levels of Trustco Bank and the continued ability of Trustco Bank under regulatory rules and the supervisory agreement to distribute capital to TrustCo, which could affect our ability to pay dividends; results of examinations of Trustco Bank and TrustCo by our respective regulators; our ability to make accurate assumptions and judgments regarding the credit risks associated with lending and investing activities; the effect of changes in financial services laws and regulations and the impact of other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry; the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board, inflation, interest rates, market and monetary fluctuations; the perceived overall value of our products and services by users, including in comparison to competitors’ products and services and the willingness of current and prospective customers to substitute competitors’ products and services for our products and services; real estate and collateral values; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the bank regulatory agencies, the FASB or PCAOB; changes in local market areas and general business and economic trends, as well as changes in consumer spending and saving habits; our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing and managing our business; and other risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or other securities filings.

 

TRUSTCO BANK CORP NY

GLENVILLE, NY

(1)	Calculated as noninterest expense (excluding ORE income/expense) divided by taxable equivalent net interest income plus noninterest income (excluding net securities transactions and gain on sale of building and nonperforming loans).

(2)	The tangible equity ratio excludes $553 of intangibles from both equity and assets.

(3)	Calculated as allowance for loan losses divided by total nonperforming loans.

TE = Taxable equivalent.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS, Continued

(1)	Calculated as noninterest expense (excluding ORE income/expense) divided by taxable equivalent net interest income plus noninterest income (excluding net securities transactions and gain on sale of building and nonperforming loans).

TE = Taxable equivalent.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

NONPERFORMING ASSETS

 

* Includes New York, New Jersey, Vermont and Massachusetts.

(1)	At period-end

(2)	For the period ended

 

DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY-

INTEREST RATES AND INTEREST DIFFERENTIAL