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8-K - 8-K - FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES INC /DE/earningscover_8kxq12018.htm

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NEWS RELEASE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Barbara Thompson
April 25, 2018
 
First Citizens BancShares
 
 
919.716.2716
 
FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES REPORTS EARNINGS FOR FIRST QUARTER 2018
RALEIGH, N.C. -- First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (BancShares) (Nasdaq: FCNCA) announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. Net income for the first quarter of 2018 was $100.2 million, or $8.35 per share, compared to $67.6 million, or $5.63 per share, for the corresponding period of 2017, and $54.4 million, or $4.53 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2017, according to Frank B. Holding, Jr., chairman of the board. BancShares’ current quarter results generated an annualized return on average assets of 1.19 percent and an annualized return on average equity of 12.20 percent, compared to respective returns of 0.82 percent and 8.96 percent for the first quarter of 2017, and 0.62 percent and 6.48 percent for the fourth quarter of 2017.
Earnings improvement for the comparative quarters was primarily driven by loan growth and improved loan and investment securities yields contributing to improved interest income and margins. Growth in several noninterest income categories also contributed to this quarter’s strong results. Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2018 included a pre-tax gain of $25.7 million resulting from extinguishment of eight Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) debt obligations totaling $675.0 million. Current quarter earnings also benefited from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Tax Act), which was enacted on December 22, 2017, and reduced the federal tax rate to 21.0 percent effective January 1, 2018. Earnings for the same period in 2017 included a pre-tax acquisition gain of $12.0 million recognized in connection with the January 13, 2017, FDIC-assisted transaction involving certain assets and liabilities assumed of Harvest Community Bank (HCB) of Pennsville, New Jersey.
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Since December 31, 2017, originated loans increased $74.3 million, or by 1.32 percent on an annualized basis, primarily due to growth in the commercial mortgage portfolio.
Deposits increased $703.0 million, or by 9.7 percent on an annualized basis, from December 31, 2017, primarily due to organic growth in demand deposit and interest-bearing savings and checking account balances.
Net interest income increased $9.7 million, or by 3.5 percent, compared to the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily due to higher non-purchased credit impaired (non-PCI) loan balances, higher loan and investment yields and a decline in interest expense.
The taxable-equivalent net interest margin increased 23 basis points to 3.57 percent, compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, primarily due to improved loan and investment yields and higher loan balances.
BancShares’ pending acquisition of HomeBancorp, Inc. (HomeBancorp) as previously announced in the fourth quarter of 2017 received all regulatory approval as well as approval from HomeBancorp’s shareholders. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2018.
BancShares remained well capitalized under Basel III capital requirements with a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and common equity Tier 1 ratio of 13.38 percent, total risk-based capital ratio of 14.70 percent and leverage capital ratio of 10.02 percent at March 31, 2018.
LOANS AND DEPOSITS
Loans at March 31, 2018, were $23.61 billion, a net increase of $15.1 million compared to December 31, 2017, representing growth of 0.2 percent on an annualized basis. Originated loans increased by $74.3 million, primarily





related to growth in the commercial mortgage portfolio. Originated loan growth was offset by a decline in purchased credit impaired (PCI) loans of $59.2 million primarily due to continued PCI loan portfolio run-off.
At March 31, 2018, deposits were $29.97 billion, an increase of $703.0 million since December 31, 2017. The increase was due to organic growth in demand deposit and interest-bearing savings and checking account balances, offset by run-off in time deposits and lower money market account balances.
ALLOWANCE AND PROVISION FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES
The allowance for loan and lease losses was $223.1 million at March 31, 2018, an increase of $1.2 million from December 31, 2017. The allowance as a percentage of total loans at March 31, 2018, was 0.94 percent, unchanged from December 31, 2017.
BancShares recorded a net provision expense of $7.6 million for loan and lease losses during the first quarter of 2018, compared to a net provision credit of $2.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 and a net provision expense of $8.2 million for the first quarter of 2017. The $10.4 million increase in net provision expense compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 was largely driven by an increase in the PCI provision based on updated cash flow estimates. Additionally contributing to the increase was a decline in the magnitude of favorable experiences in certain loan loss factors that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2017, partially offset by lower loan growth in the current quarter. The $626 thousand decrease in net provision expense from the first quarter of 2017 was primarily due to credit quality improvements, qualitative factor rating improvements and lower loan growth in the current quarter, offset by an increase in the PCI provision.
NONPERFORMING ASSETS
At March 31, 2018, BancShares’ nonperforming assets, including nonaccrual loans and other real estate owned (OREO), were $138.9 million, down from $144.3 million at December 31, 2017. The decrease from December 31, 2017, was due to a $3.0 million decline in OREO balances as sales and write-downs outpaced additions and a $2.3 million decrease in nonaccrual loans, primarily in commercial and residential mortgage loans. The ratio of nonperforming assets to total loans, leases and other real estate owned was 0.59 percent and 0.61 percent at March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, respectively.
NET INTEREST INCOME
Net interest income increased $9.7 million, or by 3.5 percent, to $284.4 million from the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily due to higher non-PCI loan interest income of $4.7 million from improved yields and higher loan balances and an increase in investment securities interest income of $3.7 million resulting from higher investment yields. A $3.0 million decrease in interest expense as a result of lower borrowing balances and lower interest bearing deposit costs also contributed to the improvement in net interest income. These favorable impacts were offset by a decrease in interest income earned on overnight investments of $2.0 million primarily due to lower balances.
Net interest income increased $34.1 million, or by 13.6 percent, from the first quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily due to a $26.8 million increase in non-PCI loan interest income resulting from originated loan growth and improved yields as well as the contribution from the Guaranty Bank (Guaranty) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, acquisition in the second quarter of 2017. Also contributing to the improvement in net interest income was an increase in investment securities interest income of $5.3 million due to improved yields, an increase in overnight investments interest income of $1.1 million and a decline in interest expense of $2.4 million. These positive impacts were partially offset by a decline in PCI loan interest income of $1.5 million as a result of continued PCI loan portfolio run-off.
The taxable-equivalent net interest margin was 3.57 percent for the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 23 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2017 and an increase of 32 basis points from the same quarter in the prior year. The margin improvement for both periods was primarily due to improved loan and investment yields and higher loan balances.





NONINTEREST INCOME
Noninterest income was $153.1 million for the first quarter of 2018, an increase of $13.0 million from the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase was driven primarily by the $25.7 million gain on extinguishment of debt and higher wealth management fees of $1.0 million. These increases were partially offset by a fourth quarter 2017 gain of $12.5 million related to the early termination of two forward-starting FHLB advances and a decrease in cardholder income of $1.2 million due to lower sales volume.
Noninterest income, excluding acquisition gains of $12.0 million in the first quarter of 2017, increased by $37.8 million from the same period last year which was primarily due to the $25.7 million gain on extinguishment of debt and an increase in cardholder and merchant income of $5.1 million resulting from higher sales volume. Noninterest income also benefited from a $4.4 million increase in service charges on deposit accounts, primarily related to the Guaranty acquisition and higher wealth management fees of $2.6 million. These increases were partially offset by a $3.3 million decrease in mortgage income resulting from lower hedge income.
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
Noninterest expense increased by $3.9 million to $298.5 million, compared to the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase was a result of higher personnel expenses of $5.8 million, primarily due to increases in wages and benefits as well as increases in processing fees paid to third parties of $1.4 million, largely related to the Guaranty acquisition. There were further increases in occupancy expenses of $679 thousand and equipment expenses of $625 thousand. Offsetting these increases were declines in consultant services expenses of $2.7 million, cardholder reward programs expenses of $919 thousand, collection and foreclosure-related expenses of $679 thousand and advertising expenses of $440 thousand.
Noninterest expense increased by $34.2 million from the same quarter last year. This increase was primarily the result of a $17.8 million increase in personnel expenses largely driven by higher wages and benefits from the Guaranty acquisition, increased headcount, merit and incentive increases and higher benefit costs as well as increased processing fees paid to third parties of $3.9 million primarily related to the Guaranty acquisition. Other factors contributing to the increase in noninterest expense included increases in occupancy expenses of $3.2 million, growth in merchant and cardholder processing expenses of $3.1 million and increased consultant services expenses of $1.1 million. Additionally, other expenses increased $5.4 million, primarily resulting from a $1.5 million reversal of a repurchase reserve on a Small Business Administrative (SBA) guaranteed loan recorded in the first quarter of 2017, higher legal costs and operational loss increases.
INCOME TAXES
Income tax expense was $31.2 million for the first quarter of 2018, $68.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 and $37.4 million for the first quarter of 2017, representing effective tax rates of 23.8 percent, 55.8 percent and 35.6 percent during the respective periods. The income tax expense and effective tax rate increases during the fourth quarter of 2017 and subsequent decreases during the first quarter of 2018 were primarily due to the impact of the Tax Act. The reduction in the federal tax rate to 21.0 percent resulted in additional income tax expense of $25.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 primarily related to the re-measurement of deferred taxes.
ABOUT FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES
BancShares is the financial holding company for Raleigh, North Carolina-headquartered First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (First Citizens Bank). First Citizens Bank provides a broad range of financial services to individuals, businesses, professionals and the medical community through branch offices in 21 states, including digital banking, mobile banking, ATMs and telephone banking. As of March 31, 2018, BancShares had total assets of $34.44 billion.
For more information, visit First Citizens’ website at firstcitizens.com. First Citizens Bank. Forever First®.
###






CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
Three months ended
(Dollars in thousands, except share data; unaudited)
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
$
292,601

 
$
285,958

 
$
260,857

Interest expense
8,164

 
11,189

 
10,514

Net interest income
284,437

 
274,769

 
250,343

Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses
7,605

 
(2,809
)
 
8,231

Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan and lease losses
276,832

 
277,578

 
242,112

Gain on acquisitions

 

 
12,017

Noninterest income excluding gain on acquisitions
153,117

 
140,150

 
115,275

Noninterest expense
298,496

 
294,617

 
264,345

Income before income taxes
131,453

 
123,111

 
105,059

Income taxes
31,222

 
68,704

 
37,438

Net income
$
100,231

 
$
54,407

 
$
67,621

Taxable-equivalent net interest income
$
285,248

 
$
276,002

 
$
251,593

PER SHARE DATA
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
8.35

 
$
4.53

 
$
5.63

Cash dividends
0.35

 
0.35

 
0.30

Book value at period-end
280.77

 
277.60

 
258.17

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
$
248,139

 
$
336,150

 
$
502,273

Overnight investments
1,946,882

 
1,387,927

 
2,736,514

Investment securities
6,967,921

 
7,180,256

 
7,029,944

Loans and leases
23,611,977

 
23,596,825

 
21,906,449

Less allowance for loan and lease losses
(223,116
)
 
(221,893
)
 
(220,943
)
Other assets
1,884,634

 
2,248,247

 
1,974,168

Total assets
$
34,436,437

 
$
34,527,512

 
$
33,928,405

Deposits
$
29,969,245

 
$
29,266,275

 
$
29,002,768

Other liabilities
1,095,078

 
1,927,173

 
1,914,941

Shareholders’ equity
3,372,114

 
3,334,064

 
3,100,696

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
34,436,437

 
$
34,527,512

 
$
34,018,405

SELECTED PERIOD AVERAGE BALANCES
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
34,267,495

 
$
34,864,720

 
$
33,494,500

Investment securities
7,053,001

 
7,044,534

 
7,084,986

Loans and leases
23,666,098

 
23,360,235

 
21,951,444

Interest-earning assets
32,320,431

 
32,874,233

 
31,298,970

Deposits
29,472,125

 
29,525,843

 
28,531,166

Interest-bearing liabilities
19,031,404

 
19,425,404

 
19,669,075

Shareholders’ equity
$
3,333,114

 
$
3,329,562

 
$
3,061,099

Shares outstanding
12,010,405

 
12,010,405

 
12,010,405

SELECTED RATIOS
 
 
 
 
 
Annualized return on average assets
1.19
%
 
0.62
%
 
0.82
%
Annualized return on average equity
12.20

 
6.48

 
8.96

Taxable-equivalent net interest margin
3.57

 
3.34

 
3.25

Efficiency ratio (1)
72.67

 
73.14

 
72.29

Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
13.38

 
12.88

 
12.57

Common equity Tier 1 ratio
13.38

 
12.88

 
12.57

Total risk-based capital ratio
14.70

 
14.21

 
13.99

Leverage capital ratio
10.02

 
9.47

 
9.15

(1) The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure which measures productivity and is generally calculated as noninterest expense divided by total revenue (net interest income and noninterest income). The efficiency ratio removes the impact of BancShares’ securities gains, acquisition gains, one-time gains on extinguishment of debt, fair market value adjustment on marketable equity securities and FDIC shared-loss termination from the calculation. Management uses this ratio to monitor performance and believes this measure provides meaningful information to investors.





ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES AND ASSET QUALITY DISCLOSURES
 
Three months ended
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES (ALLL)
 
 
 
 
 
ALLL at beginning of period
$
221,893

 
$
231,842

 
$
218,795

Provision (credit) for loan and lease losses:
 
 
 
 
 
PCI loans (1)
2,354

 
(2,637
)
 
(2,845
)
Non-PCI loans (1)
5,251

 
(172
)
 
11,076

Net charge-offs of loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
Charge-offs
(9,697
)
 
(9,994
)
 
(8,709
)
Recoveries
3,315

 
2,854

 
2,626

Net charge-offs of loans and leases
(6,382
)
 
(7,140
)
 
(6,083
)
ALLL at end of period
$
223,116

 
$
221,893

 
$
220,943

ALLL at end of period allocated to loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
PCI
$
12,296

 
$
10,026

 
$
10,924

Non-PCI
210,820

 
211,867

 
210,019

ALLL at end of period
$
223,116

 
$
221,893

 
$
220,943

Net charge-offs of loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
PCI
$
84

 
$
296

 
$

Non-PCI
6,298

 
6,844

 
6,083

Total net charge-offs
$
6,382

 
$
7,140

 
$
6,083

Reserve for unfunded commitments
$
1,116

 
$
1,032

 
$
1,198

SELECTED LOAN DATA
 
 
 
 
 
Average loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
PCI
$
733,830

 
$
799,399

 
$
857,501

Non-PCI
22,932,268

 
22,560,836

 
21,093,943

Loans and leases at period-end:
 
 
 
 
 
PCI
703,837

 
762,998

 
848,816

Non-PCI
22,908,140

 
22,833,827

 
21,057,633

RISK ELEMENTS
 
 
 
 
 
Nonaccrual loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
PCI
$
1,580

 
$
624

 
$
1,458

Non-PCI
89,260

 
92,534

 
86,086

Other real estate
48,089

 
51,097

 
56,491

Total nonperforming assets
$
138,929

 
$
144,255

 
$
144,035

Accruing loans and leases 90 days or more past due
$
51,259

 
$
61,718

 
$
78,558

RATIOS
 
 
 
 
 
Net charge-offs (annualized) to average loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
PCI
0.05
%
 
0.15
%
 
%
Non-PCI
0.11

 
0.12

 
0.12

Total
0.11

 
0.12

 
0.11

ALLL to total loans and leases:
 
 
 
 
 
PCI
1.75

 
1.31

 
1.29

Non-PCI
0.92

 
0.93

 
1.00

Total
0.94

 
0.94

 
1.01

Ratio of total nonperforming assets to total loans, leases and other real estate owned
0.59

 
0.61

 
0.66

(1) Loans and leases are evaluated at acquisition and where a discount is noted at least in part due to credit quality, the loans are accounted for under the guidance in ASC Topic 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality. Loans for which it is probable at acquisition that all required payments will not be collected in accordance with the contractual terms are considered purchased credit-impaired (PCI) loans. PCI loans and leases are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. No allowance for loan and lease losses is recorded on the acquisition date as the fair value of the acquired assets incorporates assumptions regarding credit risk. An allowance is recorded if there is additional credit deterioration after the acquisition date. Conversely, Non-PCI loans include originated and purchased non-impaired loans.





AVERAGE BALANCE AND NET INTEREST MARGIN SUMMARY
 
Three months ended
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
Average
 
 
 
 Yield/
 
Average
 
 
 
 Yield/
 
Average
 
 
 
Yield/
 
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Balance
 
Interest
 
 Rate (2)
 
Balance
 
Interest
 
 Rate (2)
 
Balance
 
Interest
 
Rate (2)
 
INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans and leases (1)
$
23,666,098

 
$
252,627

 
4.32

%
$
23,360,235

 
$
248,151

 
4.22

%
$
21,951,444

 
$
227,792

 
4.20

%
Investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U. S. Treasury
1,567,388

 
6,774

 
1.75

 
1,627,968

 
4,784

 
1.17

 
1,644,598

 
4,199

 
1.04

 
Government agency
14,952

 
100

 
2.67

 
9,659

 
69

 
2.85

 
53,545

 
205

 
1.53

 
Mortgage-backed securities
5,295,273

 
27,093

 
2.05

 
5,233,293

 
25,351

 
1.94

 
5,241,296

 
24,322

 
1.86

 
Corporate bonds and other
66,009

 
1,010

 
6.12

 
63,911

 
991

 
6.20

 
57,104

 
980

 
6.87

 
Marketable equity securities
109,379

 
209

 
0.77

 
109,703

 
246

 
0.89

 
88,443

 
133

 
0.61

 
Total investment securities
7,053,001

 
35,186

 
2.00

 
7,044,534

 
31,441

 
1.78

 
7,084,986

 
29,839

 
1.69

 
Overnight investments
1,601,332

 
5,599

 
1.42

 
2,469,464

 
7,599

 
1.22

 
2,262,540

 
4,476

 
0.80

 
Total interest-earning assets
$
32,320,431

 
$
293,412

 
3.67

%
$
32,874,233

 
$
287,191

 
3.47

%
$
31,298,970

 
$
262,107

 
3.39

%
INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing deposits:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Checking with interest
$
5,091,670

 
$
293

 
0.02

%
$
5,028,978

 
$
262

 
0.02

%
$
4,834,779

 
$
252

 
0.02

%
Savings
2,378,499

 
171

 
0.03

 
2,337,993

 
172

 
0.03

 
2,160,689

 
184

 
0.03

 
Money market accounts
8,139,405

 
1,749

 
0.09

 
8,047,691

 
1,732

 
0.09

 
8,343,092

 
1,859

 
0.09

 
Time deposits
2,340,698

 
1,543

 
0.27

 
2,421,749

 
1,623

 
0.27

 
2,815,682

 
2,141

 
0.31

 
Total interest-bearing deposits
17,950,272

 
3,756

 
0.08

 
17,836,411

 
3,789

 
0.08

 
18,154,242

 
4,436

 
0.10

 
Repurchase agreements
585,627

 
548

 
0.37

 
615,244

 
622

 
0.40

 
669,923

 
404

 
0.24

 
Other short-term borrowings
91,440

 
886

 
3.88

 
107,551

 
1,031

 
3.77

 
27,957

 
176

 
2.51

 
Long-term obligations
404,065

 
2,974

 
2.94

 
866,198

 
5,747

 
2.61

 
816,953

 
5,498

 
2.69

 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
$
19,031,404

 
$
8,164

 
0.17

 
$
19,425,404

 
$
11,189

 
0.23

 
$
19,669,075

 
$
10,514

 
0.22

 
Interest rate spread
 
 
 
 
3.50

%
 
 
 
 
3.24

%
 
 
 
 
3.17

%
Net interest income and net yield on interest-earning assets
 
 
$
285,248

 
3.57

%
 
 
$
276,002

 
3.34

%
 
 
$
251,593

 
3.25

%
(1) Loans and leases include PCI and non-PCI loans, nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.
(2) Yields related to loans, leases and securities exempt from both federal and state income taxes, federal income taxes only, or state income taxes only are stated on a taxable-equivalent basis assuming statutory federal income tax rates of 21.0 percent, 35.0 percent and 35.0 percent as well as state income tax rates of 3.4 percent, 3.1 percent and 3.1 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2018, December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively. The taxable-equivalent adjustment was $811, $1,233 and $1,250 for the three months ended March 31, 2018, December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively.