PORTERVILLE, Calif.,
April 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Sierra Bancorp (Nasdaq: BSRR), parent of Bank of the Sierra,
today announced its financial results for the quarter ended
March 31, 2010. Net income for
the first quarter of 2010 was $2.3
million, and diluted earnings per share were $0.20. In comparison, the Company recorded
net income of $2.7 million and
earnings per share of $0.28 in the
first quarter of 2009. Our net interest income and
non-interest income were higher and our loan loss provision was
lower, but net income declined in the first quarter of 2010
relative to the first quarter of 2009 due to a large increase in
non-interest expense. Most of that increase was in personnel
expense, FDIC assessments, and credit-related costs. Sierra
Bancorp generated a return on average equity of 6.97% and a return
on average assets of 0.72% for the first quarter of 2010.
Notable balance sheet changes in the first quarter of 2010
include the following: Core non-maturity deposits grew
$51 million, or 8%; customer time
deposits were managed down by $56
million, or 11%; wholesale-sourced brokered deposits
declined by $13 million, or 46%; and
Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) borrowings were reduced by
$4 million, or 13%.
Furthermore, investment securities increased $17 million, or 6%, while gross loan and lease
balances dropped $12 million, or 1%.
Also of note, cash and balances due from banks dropped by
$24 million due primarily to a lower
interest-earning balance maintained at the Federal Reserve Bank,
and nonperforming assets were up by $5
million, or 7%. Our allowance for loan and lease
losses increased to 2.76% of total loans at March 31, 2010, from 2.68% at the end of 2009.
"Our ability to remain profitable in 2009 and the first quarter
of 2010 is evidence of our strong core earnings, and indicative of
our future income potential once we return to more stable economic
conditions," commented James C.
Holly, President and CEO. "Our first quarter net
income was on target with internal projections, which allowed for
expenses associated with our new branch in Farmersville that opened in March and higher
FDIC costs, among other things," explained Holly. "As
expected, credit issues also continue to have a negative impact on
us, causing net interest margin compression due to an elevated
level of nonperforming assets, relatively high loan loss
provisions, OREO write-downs, and higher legal expenses and
personnel costs associated with resolving problem loans and
foreclosed assets," he added. "While economic improvement
will probably not occur in as dramatic a fashion as did the slide
into the recession, we expect to continue to add branches, improve
operating efficiencies, and strengthen our credit culture in order
to position ourselves for a brighter future when negative external
forces eventually abate," Holly concluded.
Financial Highlights
Net interest income increased by $499,000, or 4%, for the first quarter of 2010
relative to the first quarter of 2009. The increase can be
explained by a 22 basis point improvement in our net interest
margin, the impact of which was partially offset by a $10 million drop in average interest-earning
assets. Our net interest margin increased for the comparative
periods largely because our weighted average cost of
interest-bearing liabilities dropped by 75 basis points, while our
yield on interest-earning assets was only 40 basis points lower.
A large volume of net interest reversals had a negative
impact on our net interest margin in both periods: Net
interest reversals were $285,000 in
the first quarter of 2010 and $265,000 in the first quarter of 2009.
Nonperforming assets have also had an unfavorable impact on
our net interest margin, averaging $78
million for the first quarter of 2010 and $46 million for the first quarter of 2009.
Our current interest rate risk profile indicates that, all
else being equal, we will experience slight net interest margin
compression if interest rates increase by 100 basis points, since a
large volume of variable rate loans that are currently at rate
floors will not likely re-price immediately. If rates
increase by more than 100 basis points, however, rates on most of
those loans will lift off of their floors and we will become more
asset-sensitive.
The Company's loan loss provision was down $201,000, or 6%, in the first quarter of 2010
relative to the first quarter of 2009. The loan loss
provision for both periods includes reserve replenishment
subsequent to loan charge-offs, as well as the enhancement of
specific reserves for impaired loans. Net loans charged off
in the first quarter of 2010 were $3.0
million versus a total of $3.5
million in the first quarter of 2009, while nonperforming
loans increased by $5 million in the
first quarter of 2010 relative to an increase of $15 million in the first quarter of 2009.
Our detailed analysis indicates that as of March 31, 2010, the Company's $24.1 million allowance for loan and lease losses
should be sufficient to cover credit losses inherent in loan and
lease balances outstanding as of that date. However, no
assurance can be given that we will not experience substantial
future losses relative to the size of the allowance. Our
allowance for loan and lease losses was 2.76% of total loans at
March 31, 2010, up from 2.68% at
December 31, 2009 and 1.60% at
March 31, 2009.
Service charge income on deposits increased by $74,000, or 3%, in the first quarter of 2010
relative to the first quarter of 2009, although service charges
continue to decline as a percentage of average transaction account
balance since consumers appear to be increasingly careful in
managing their account balances. There were no material
changes in investment gains/losses or loan sale and servicing
income for the comparative quarters, but other non-interest income
increased by $397,000, or 55%,
primarily due to a $156,000 drop in
costs associated with low-income housing tax credit investments
(which are accounted for as a reduction in income), and a
$264,000 increase in income from
bank-owned life insurance (BOLI). BOLI income increased
mainly because of first quarter 2010 gains on BOLI associated with
deferred compensation plans relative to losses in the first quarter
of 2009, although associated deferred compensation plan expense
accruals were also higher, as noted below.
With regard to non-interest expense, salaries and benefits
increased by $719,000, or 14%, for
the first quarter of 2010 relative to the first quarter of 2009.
The increase in salaries and benefits can be attributed in
part to participant gains on deferred compensation plans in the
first quarter of 2010 relative to losses in the first quarter of
2009, which caused deferred compensation expense accruals to
increase by $162,000, although as
noted above deferred compensation expense accruals are offset by
non-taxable gains on BOLI. Also impacting compensation costs
were normal annual salary adjustments, the addition of staff for
branches opened in October 2009 and
March 2010, and strategic staff
additions to help address credit issues and position the Company
for future growth opportunities. Occupancy expense also
increased, rising by $85,000, or 5%,
due primarily to costs associated with our newer branches and
annual rent increases.
Other non-interest expenses rose by $1.2
million, or 33%, for the first quarter of 2010 relative to
the first quarter of 2009. The largest increase in this
category was in FDIC costs, which were up $482,000. Other significant changes in
non-interest expenses for the comparative quarters include the
following: Deposit-related costs were up $127,000, due mainly to expenses associated with
our online checking product; OREO write-downs increased by
$42,000, to a total of $267,000 in the first quarter of 2010; foreclosed
asset operating expenses increased by $280,000, to a total of $371,000 in the first quarter of 2010; gains on
directors deferred compensation plans in the first quarter of 2010
relative to losses in the first quarter of 2009 resulted in a
$108,000 increase in expense accruals
for deferred directors' fees; and, we realized a loss of
$105,000 upon the disposition of
equipment subsequent to the termination of certain operating
leases.
The Company's income tax accrual rate in the first quarter of
2010 was 10%, relative to 21% in the first quarter of 2009.
The tax accrual rate in 2010 is relatively low in comparison
to prior years due to lower taxable income, higher levels of
tax-exempt interest income and BOLI income, and a high level of tax
credits relative to taxable income. Our tax credits stem from
investments in low-income housing tax credit funds, as well as
hiring tax credits.
Balance sheet changes during the first quarter of 2010 include a
drop in total assets of $20 million,
or 2%, due to a reduction in cash and balances due from banks and
lower loan and lease balances, partially offset by growth in
investment securities. The drop in cash and balances due from
banks was the result of a $32 million
reduction in interest-bearing balances at the Federal Reserve Bank,
due to a drop in surplus liquidity as wholesale borrowings have
been managed down and the deployment of cash into longer-term,
higher-yielding investments. The reduction in
interest-earning bank balances was partially offset by a
$7 million increase in non-earning
cash and balances due from banks resulting from timing differences
related to cash items (checks) in process of collection.
Investment portfolio balances increased by $17 million, or 6%, due to growth in
agency-issued mortgage-backed securities and municipal bonds.
Gross loans and lease balances were down $12 million, or 1%, in the first quarter of 2010.
Real estate loans were the only category to grow during the
quarter, increasing by about $1
million due to growth in agricultural mortgage loans.
Commercial loans and leases were down $9 million, or 7%, and consumer loans declined
$4 million, or 7%, because of runoff
and a relatively high level of charge-offs. Weak loan demand
from quality borrowers and heightened selectivity on the part of
the Company in a difficult credit environment contributed to
overall loan runoff.
The $78 million balance of
nonperforming assets at March 31,
2010 reflects an increase of $5
million, or 7%, since year-end 2009, and an increase of
$26 million, or 50%, relative to
March 31, 2009. The increase
for the first quarter is primarily due to a higher level of
nonperforming loans, which came from the net addition of
$3 million in loans secured by real
estate, $925,000 in commercial loans,
$203,000 in SBA loans, and
$428,000 in consumer loans. All
impaired assets at March 31, 2010 are
carried at the lower of cost or fair market value, and are
well-reserved based on current loss expectations. Our
allowance for loan and lease losses increased to $24.1 million at March 31,
2010, from $23.7 million at
the end of 2009.
Total deposits declined by $17
million, or 2%, during the first quarter of 2010.
Non-maturity deposits, however, experienced significant
growth due in part to our aggressive deposit acquisition programs,
with non-interest bearing demand deposits up $14 million, or 6%, NOW deposits up $25 million, or 16%, savings deposits up
$6 million, or 9%, and money market
deposits up $7 million, or 4%.
Customer-sourced time deposits declined by a total of
$56 million, or 11%, due primarily to
the fact that we have managed down balances from larger depositors
to reduce our exposure to potential single-customer withdrawals.
We were also able to let $13
million in wholesale-sourced brokered deposits and
$4 million in FHLB borrowings roll
off as the result of the increase in total deposits and the overall
decline in funding needs. Additionally, due to an increase in
capital and reduction in assets, our capital ratios continued to
strengthen in the first quarter of 2010.
About Sierra Bancorp
Sierra Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of the Sierra
(www.bankofthesierra.com), which is in its 33rd year of operations
and is the largest independent bank headquartered in the
South San Joaquin Valley.
The Company conducts business from 25 branch offices, an
agricultural credit center, an SBA center, and an online "virtual"
branch, and has over 400 employees.
The statements contained in this release that are not
historical facts are forward-looking statements based on
management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future
developments and their potential effects on the Company.
Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on forward looking
statements. Actual results may differ from those projected.
These forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties including but not limited to the health of the
national and California economies,
the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled employees,
customers' service expectations, the Company's ability to
successfully deploy new technology, the success of branch
expansion, changes in interest rates, loan portfolio performance,
the Company's ability to secure buyers for foreclosed properties,
and other factors detailed in the Company's SEC filings.
CONSOLIDATED INCOME
STATEMENT
|
3-Month Period
Ended:
|
|
(in $000's, unaudited)
|
3/31/2010
|
3/31/2009
|
%
Change
|
|
Interest Income
|
$
16,347
|
$
17,701
|
-7.6%
|
|
Interest Expense
|
2,047
|
3,900
|
-47.5%
|
|
Net Interest
Income
|
14,300
|
13,801
|
3.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for Loan & Lease
Losses
|
3,400
|
3,601
|
-5.6%
|
|
Net Int after
Provision
|
10,900
|
10,200
|
6.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service Charges
|
2,703
|
2,629
|
2.8%
|
|
Loan Sale & Servicing
Income
|
33
|
17
|
94.1%
|
|
Other Non-Interest Income
|
1,125
|
728
|
54.5%
|
|
Gain (Loss) on Investments
|
-
|
66
|
-100.0%
|
|
Total Non-Interest
Income
|
3,861
|
3,440
|
12.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries & Benefits
|
5,779
|
5,060
|
14.2%
|
|
Occupancy Expense
|
1,740
|
1,655
|
5.1%
|
|
Other Non-Interest Expenses
|
4,654
|
3,498
|
33.0%
|
|
Total Non-Interest
Expense
|
12,173
|
10,213
|
19.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income Before
Taxes
|
2,588
|
3,427
|
-24.5%
|
|
Provision for Income Taxes
|
249
|
732
|
-66.0%
|
|
Net
Income
|
$
2,339
|
$
2,695
|
-13.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TAX DATA
|
|
|
|
|
Tax-Exempt Muni Income
|
$
644
|
$
588
|
9.5%
|
|
Tax-Exempt BOLI Income
|
$
370
|
$
106
|
249.1%
|
|
Interest Income - Fully Tax
Equiv
|
$
16,694
|
$
18,018
|
-7.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET CHARGE-OFFS
|
$
3,019
|
$
3,513
|
-14.1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PER SHARE DATA
|
3-Month Period
Ended:
|
|
(unaudited)
|
3/31/2010
|
3/31/2009
|
%
Change
|
|
Basic Earnings per Share
|
$0.20
|
$0.28
|
-28.6%
|
|
Diluted Earnings per Share
|
$0.20
|
$0.28
|
-28.6%
|
|
Common Dividends
|
$0.06
|
$0.10
|
-40.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wtd. Avg. Shares
Outstanding
|
11,630,773
|
9,675,846
|
|
|
Wtd. Avg. Diluted Shares
|
11,693,589
|
9,752,425
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Book Value per Basic Share
(EOP)
|
$11.77
|
$11.29
|
4.3%
|
|
Tangible Book Value per Share
(EOP)
|
$11.29
|
$10.72
|
5.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Shares Outstndg.
(EOP)
|
11,633,046
|
9,678,791
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS
|
3-Month Period Ended:
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
3/31/2010
|
3/31/2009
|
|
|
Return on Average Equity
|
6.97%
|
10.03%
|
|
|
Return on Average Assets
|
0.72%
|
0.83%
|
|
|
Net Interest Margin
(Tax-Equiv.)
|
5.02%
|
4.80%
|
|
|
Efficiency Ratio
(Tax-Equiv.)
|
64.66%
|
58.09%
|
|
|
Net C/O's to Avg Loans (not
annualized)
|
0.35%
|
0.37%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AVERAGE BALANCES
|
3-Month Period
Ended:
|
|
(in $000's, unaudited)
|
3/31/2010
|
3/31/2009
|
%
Change
|
|
Average Assets
|
$
1,320,965
|
$
1,312,422
|
0.7%
|
|
Average Interest-Earning
Assets
|
$
1,184,020
|
$
1,193,894
|
-0.8%
|
|
Average Gross Loans &
Leases
|
$
874,230
|
$
939,934
|
-7.0%
|
|
Average Deposits
|
$
1,112,927
|
$
1,081,891
|
2.9%
|
|
Average Equity
|
$
136,035
|
$
109,008
|
24.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
STATEMENT OF CONDITION
|
End of
Period:
|
|
|
(in $000's, unaudited)
|
3/31/2010
|
12/31/2009
|
3/31/2009
|
Annual
Chg
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and Due from Banks
|
$
42,012
|
$
66,234
|
$
29,261
|
43.6%
|
|
Securities and Fed Funds
Sold
|
295,450
|
278,168
|
247,979
|
19.1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
|
9,819
|
10,136
|
11,316
|
-13.2%
|
|
Commercial & Industrial
|
123,817
|
132,817
|
147,037
|
-15.8%
|
|
Real Estate
|
668,474
|
667,228
|
705,012
|
-5.2%
|
|
SBA Loans
|
18,030
|
18,626
|
19,629
|
-8.1%
|
|
Consumer Loans
|
52,071
|
55,799
|
64,104
|
-18.8%
|
|
Gross Loans &
Leases
|
872,211
|
884,606
|
947,098
|
-7.9%
|
|
Deferred Loan & Lease
Fees
|
(572)
|
(640)
|
(1,151)
|
-50.3%
|
|
Loans & Leases Net of
Deferred Fees
|
871,639
|
883,966
|
945,947
|
-7.9%
|
|
Allowance for Loan & Lease
Losses
|
(24,096)
|
(23,715)
|
(15,181)
|
58.7%
|
|
Net Loans &
Leases
|
847,543
|
860,251
|
930,766
|
-8.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bank Premises &
Equipment
|
19,905
|
20,069
|
18,993
|
4.8%
|
|
Other Assets
|
110,340
|
110,827
|
80,873
|
36.4%
|
|
Total
Assets
|
$
1,315,250
|
$
1,335,549
|
$
1,307,872
|
0.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES &
CAPITAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
Demand Deposits
|
$
247,551
|
$
233,204
|
$
221,150
|
11.9%
|
|
NOW Deposits
|
176,417
|
151,821
|
106,240
|
66.1%
|
|
Savings Deposits
|
67,888
|
62,279
|
59,416
|
14.3%
|
|
Money Market Deposits
|
171,816
|
165,097
|
149,769
|
14.7%
|
|
Customer Time Deposits
|
429,328
|
485,031
|
467,134
|
-8.1%
|
|
Wholesale Brokered Deposits
|
15,000
|
28,000
|
91,300
|
-83.6%
|
|
Total Deposits
|
1,108,000
|
1,125,432
|
1,095,009
|
1.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Junior Subordinated
Debentures
|
30,928
|
30,928
|
30,928
|
0.0%
|
|
Other Interest-Bearing
Liabilities
|
26,150
|
30,000
|
59,799
|
-56.3%
|
|
Total Deposits &
Int.-Bearing Liab.
|
1,165,078
|
1,186,360
|
1,185,736
|
-1.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Liabilities
|
13,249
|
14,709
|
12,847
|
3.1%
|
|
Total Capital
|
136,923
|
134,480
|
109,289
|
25.3%
|
|
Total Liabilities &
Capital
|
$
1,315,250
|
$
1,335,549
|
$
1,307,872
|
0.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CREDIT QUALITY DATA
|
End of
Period:
|
|
|
(in $000's, unaudited)
|
3/31/2010
|
12/31/2009
|
3/31/2009
|
Annual
Chg
|
|
Non-Accruing Loans
|
$
51,647
|
$
46,974
|
$
44,691
|
15.6%
|
|
Over 90 Days PD and Still
Accruing
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.0%
|
|
Foreclosed Assets
|
26,305
|
25,654
|
7,440
|
253.6%
|
|
Total Non-Performing
Assets
|
$
77,952
|
$
72,628
|
$
52,131
|
49.5%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Perf Loans to Total
Loans
|
5.92%
|
5.31%
|
4.72%
|
|
|
Non-Perf Assets to Total
Assets
|
5.93%
|
5.44%
|
3.99%
|
|
|
Allowance for Ln Losses to
Loans
|
2.76%
|
2.68%
|
1.60%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER PERIOD-END
STATISTICS
|
End of
Period:
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
3/31/2010
|
12/31/2009
|
3/31/2009
|
|
|
Shareholders Equity / Total
Assets
|
10.4%
|
10.1%
|
8.4%
|
|
|
Loans / Deposits
|
78.7%
|
78.6%
|
86.5%
|
|
|
Non-Int. Bearing Dep. / Total
Dep.
|
22.3%
|
20.7%
|
20.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SOURCE Sierra Bancorp