PORTERVILLE, Calif.,
April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Sierra Bancorp (Nasdaq: BSRR), parent of Bank of the Sierra,
today announced its financial results for the quarter ended
March 31, 2011. Sierra Bancorp
recognized net income of $1.5 million
and diluted earnings per share of $0.11 for the quarter, while our annualized
return on average equity was 3.86% and return on average assets was
0.48%. The financial results for the first quarter of 2011
are similar to the fourth quarter of 2010, but represent a decline
relative to the $2.3 million in net
income and $0.20 earnings per share
in the first quarter of 2010. The decline relative to the
prior year is primarily the result of a drop in net interest income
and a lower level of non-interest income, partially offset by
expense reductions.
Notable balance sheet changes in the first quarter of 2011
include the following: Loan balances declined by $29 million, or 4%; investments and fed funds
sold increased by $43 million, or
13%; cash and due from banks increased by $15 million, or 36%; core non-maturity deposits
grew $21 million, or 3%; we added
$15 million in longer-term
wholesale-sourced brokered deposits; and non-deposit borrowings
dropped by $15 million, or 49%.
Furthermore, we experienced a net increase of $6 million, or 9%, in nonperforming assets.
Our allowance for loan and lease losses was 2.76% of total
loans at March 31, 2011, up from
2.62% at the end of 2010.
"A highlight of the first quarter of 2011 was a very successful
branch opening in the city of Selma," commented James C. Holly, President and CEO.
"Another positive development was our success in controlling
overhead expenses, although credit-related expenses remain at
elevated levels," he noted further. "Internal simulations
indicate that we still have a strong level of core earnings if we
assume pre-recession levels for credit expenses, including our loan
loss provision, and we continue to work diligently to reduce
nonperforming assets in a rational manner in order to get expenses
back to normal levels," Holly explained. "Also of critical
importance to future income growth is enhancing our ability to
generate loan volume, in light of current weak demand in our
markets," he added. "We've made selective personnel changes
over the past year or so in an effort to increase lending activity
in our branches, and we've been reviewing a larger number of
potential deals in the past few months. However, it will
likely take a few more months for potential loans in the 'pipeline'
to be approved and funded and help stem the downward trend in loan
balances," he concluded.
Financial Highlights
Net interest income declined by $1.3
million, or 9%, for the first quarter of 2011 relative to
the first quarter of 2010. The drop is the result of a
decline in average interest-earning assets of $38 million, or 3%, and a 29 basis point drop in
our net interest margin. Negative factors impacting our net
interest margin in 2011 include lower real estate loan yields
resulting from increased competition for quality loans, a shift
from average loan balances into lower-yielding investment balances,
and higher average balances for non-interest earning cash and due
from banks and other non-earning assets (primarily our net deferred
tax asset). Net interest reversals totaled only $27,000 in the first quarter of 2011 relative to
$285,000 in the first quarter of
2010, partially offsetting the negative factors for the quarterly
comparison. Also having a favorable impact on our net
interest margin were a shift in average balances from non-deposit
borrowings, brokered CD's, and jumbo time deposits into lower-cost
core deposits, and a reduced reliance on interest-bearing
liabilities resulting from increases in the average balances of
non-interest bearing demand deposits and equity. Our net
interest margin could continue to experience slight contraction due
to heightened competitive pressures on loan yields, and that effect
will be exacerbated if we are unable to reverse the negative trend
in loan balances.
The Company's loan loss provision increased by $200,000, or 6%, in the first quarter of 2011
relative to the first quarter of 2010. Thus far in 2011, our
loan loss provision has been utilized to provide specific reserves
for impaired loans and to replenish reserves subsequent to loan
charge-offs. Net loans charged off totaled $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2011
relative to $3.0 million in the first
quarter of 2010.
Income derived from service charges on deposits declined by
$448,000, or 17%, in the first
quarter of 2011 relative to the first quarter of 2010, with the
drop centered in overdraft income. Procedural changes made
pursuant to recent regulatory guidance on overdrafts had a larger
impact than originally anticipated, with returned item and
overdraft charges falling by $495,000
relative to the first quarter of 2010 and by $390,000 relative to the fourth quarter of 2010.
There were no material changes in loan sale and servicing
income for the comparative quarters, and no gains or losses on
investments. However, other non-interest income increased by
$147,000, or 13%, primarily due to a
higher level of debit card interchange fees.
With regard to non-interest expense, salaries and benefits fell
slightly for the quarter despite the addition of staff for newer
branches, due primarily to our efforts to improve operating
efficiencies. Occupancy expense declined by $165,000, or 9%, due mainly to a drop in
depreciation expense and lower maintenance/repair costs, although
the January 2011 closure of a branch
with a relatively costly lease also contributed to the decline.
Other non-interest expenses fell by $237,000, or 5%, for the first quarter of 2011
relative to the first quarter of 2010. The largest changes in
this category were in marketing expense, which declined
$100,000 due mainly to the timing of
payments, and data processing expense, which was down $107,000. Data processing costs declined
due to vendor credits for overcharges on processing software in
previous years.
A negative income tax provision helped boost net income for the
first quarter of 2011. The negative provision is the result
of a high level of tax credits relative to our tax liability, which
is favorably impacted by tax-exempt interest income and BOLI
income. Our tax credits include those related to investments
in low-income housing tax credit funds, as well as hiring tax
credits.
Balance sheet changes during the quarter ended March 31, 2011 include an increase in total
assets of $26 million, or 2%, due to
growth in investment securities and an increase in cash and
balances due from banks, partially offset by lower loan balances.
Surplus liquidity was generated during the quarter from
growth in deposits and loan runoff, and much of that liquidity was
deployed into longer-term, higher-yielding agency-issued
mortgage-backed securities and municipal bonds, hence the
$43 million increase in investment
balances. The $15 million
increase in cash and balances due from banks was primarily from an
$11 million increase in
interest-bearing balances at the Federal Reserve Bank, due again to
excess liquidity, but we also experienced an increase in vault cash
due to a higher level of cash activity in our branches.
Gross loan and lease balances declined $29 million, or 4%, in the first quarter of 2011.
Runoff in the normal course of business, prepayments,
transfers to OREO, and charge-offs have reduced loan balances, and
weak loan demand from quality borrowers and aggressive competition
have hindered our ability to counteract this contraction. The
only loan categories shown on the summary balance sheet which grew
during the quarter were agricultural production loans, which
increased by $1 million, or 8%, due
to seasonal considerations, and SBA loans, which were also up by
$1 million, or 8%.
The $73 million balance of
nonperforming assets at March 31,
2011 reflects an increase of $6
million, or 9%, since year-end 2010, but is still below its
peak of $78 million reached a year
earlier. Much of the increase for the first quarter consists
of a $3.6 million participation
purchased in a commercial real estate loan, which was placed on
non-accrual status but for which no reserve is currently required
based on the appraised value of the collateral. All of the
Company's impaired assets have been reviewed recently, and are
either well-reserved based on current loss expectations or are
carried at the fair value of the underlying collateral, net of
expected disposition costs. In addition to nonperforming
assets, we had $12.6 million in
performing restructured troubled debt (TDR's) as of March 31, 2011, an increase of only $86,000 relative to year-end 2010.
Our allowance for loan and lease losses was $21.5 million as of March
31, 2011, which represents a slight increase relative to the
balance at December 31, 2010.
Even though the allowance for loan and lease losses did not
change significantly, our allowance as a percentage of total loans
increased by 14 basis points, to 2.76% at March 31, 2011 from 2.62% at December 31, 2010, because loan balances fell
during the first quarter. Our detailed analysis indicates
that the Company's allowance for loan and lease losses should be
sufficient to cover credit losses inherent in loan and lease
balances outstanding as of March 31,
2011, although no assurance can be given that we will not
experience substantial future losses relative to the size of the
allowance.
Total deposits increased by $39
million, or 4%, during the first quarter of 2011.
Non-maturity deposits, in particular, experienced significant
growth due in part to our aggressive deposit acquisition programs,
with non-interest bearing demand deposits up $14 million, or 6%, savings deposits rising
$8 million, or 11%, and money market
deposits up $9 million, or 6%.
NOW deposits, however, dropped by $10
million, or 5%, due to runoff in our online-only accounts
subsequent to interest rate adjustments. While we reduced
non-deposit borrowings by $15
million, we added $15 million
in longer-term wholesale-sourced brokered deposits in the first
quarter of 2011 to position the Bank to better benefit from the
eventuality of rising interest rates.
Total capital increased by $2
million during the first quarter, to $162 million at March 31,
2011. Because capital increased while risk-adjusted
assets declined, our capital ratios continued their upward trend
during the first quarter of 2011.
About Sierra Bancorp
Sierra Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of the Sierra
(www.bankofthesierra.com), which is in its 34th year of
operations and is the largest independent bank headquartered in the
South San Joaquin Valley.
The Company has 25 branch offices, an agricultural credit
center, an SBA center, and an online "virtual" branch, with 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, including
the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the
Company's most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.
CONSOLIDATED INCOME
STATEMENT
|
3-Month
Period Ended:
|
|
(in $000's,
unaudited)
|
3/31/2011
|
3/31/2010
|
%
Change
|
|
Interest Income
|
$
14,422
|
$
16,347
|
-11.8%
|
|
Interest Expense
|
1,446
|
2,047
|
-29.4%
|
|
Net Interest
Income
|
12,976
|
14,300
|
-9.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for Loan & Lease
Losses
|
3,600
|
3,400
|
5.9%
|
|
Net Int after
Provision
|
9,376
|
10,900
|
-14.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service Charges
|
2,255
|
2,703
|
-16.6%
|
|
Loan Sale & Servicing
Income
|
49
|
33
|
48.5%
|
|
Other Non-Interest
Income
|
1,272
|
1,125
|
13.1%
|
|
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
|
-
|
-
|
0.0%
|
|
Total Non-Interest
Income
|
3,576
|
3,861
|
-7.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries &
Benefits
|
5,710
|
5,779
|
-1.2%
|
|
Occupancy Expense
|
1,575
|
1,740
|
-9.5%
|
|
Other Non-Interest
Expenses
|
4,417
|
4,654
|
-5.1%
|
|
Total Non-Interest
Expense
|
11,702
|
12,173
|
-3.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income Before
Taxes
|
1,250
|
2,588
|
-51.7%
|
|
Provision for Income
Taxes
|
(279)
|
249
|
-212.0%
|
|
Net
Income
|
$
1,529
|
$
2,339
|
-34.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TAX DATA
|
|
|
|
|
Tax-Exempt Muni
Income
|
$
716
|
$
644
|
11.2%
|
|
Tax-Exempt BOLI
Income
|
$
374
|
$
370
|
1.1%
|
|
Interest Income - Fully Tax
Equiv
|
$
14,808
|
$
16,694
|
-11.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
CHARGE-OFFS
|
$
3,274
|
$
3,019
|
8.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PER SHARE DATA
|
3-Month
Period Ended:
|
|
(unaudited)
|
3/31/2011
|
3/31/2010
|
%
Change
|
|
Basic Earnings per
Share
|
$0.11
|
$0.20
|
-45.0%
|
|
Diluted Earnings per
Share
|
$0.11
|
$0.20
|
-45.0%
|
|
Common Dividends
|
$0.06
|
$0.06
|
0.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wtd. Avg. Shares
Outstanding
|
13,981,780
|
11,630,773
|
|
|
Wtd. Avg. Diluted
Shares
|
14,060,661
|
11,693,589
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Book Value per Basic Share
(EOP)
|
$11.55
|
$11.77
|
-1.9%
|
|
Tangible Book Value per Share
(EOP)
|
$11.15
|
$11.29
|
-1.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Shares Outstndg.
(EOP)
|
13,985,761
|
11,633,046
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KEY FINANCIAL
RATIOS
|
3-Month Period
Ended:
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
3/31/2011
|
3/31/2010
|
|
|
Return on Average
Equity
|
3.86%
|
6.97%
|
|
|
Return on Average
Assets
|
0.48%
|
0.72%
|
|
|
Net Interest Margin
(Tax-Equiv.)
|
4.73%
|
5.02%
|
|
|
Efficiency Ratio
(Tax-Equiv.)
|
68.13%
|
64.66%
|
|
|
Net C/O's to Avg Loans (not
annualized)
|
0.42%
|
0.35%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AVERAGE BALANCES
|
3-Month
Period Ended:
|
|
(in $000's,
unaudited)
|
3/31/2011
|
3/31/2010
|
%
Change
|
|
Average Assets
|
$ 1,293,175
|
$ 1,320,965
|
-2.1%
|
|
Average Interest-Earning
Assets
|
$ 1,146,134
|
$ 1,184,020
|
-3.2%
|
|
Average Gross Loans &
Leases
|
$
785,705
|
$
874,230
|
-10.1%
|
|
Average Deposits
|
$ 1,065,846
|
$ 1,112,927
|
-4.2%
|
|
Average Equity
|
$
160,806
|
$
136,035
|
18.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
STATEMENT OF
CONDITION
|
End of
Period:
|
|
|
(in $000's,
unaudited)
|
3/31/2011
|
12/31/2010
|
3/31/2010
|
Annual
Chg
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and Due from
Banks
|
$
57,522
|
$
42,435
|
$
42,012
|
36.9%
|
|
Securities and Fed Funds
Sold
|
375,027
|
331,940
|
295,450
|
26.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
|
14,518
|
13,457
|
9,819
|
47.9%
|
|
Commercial &
Industrial
|
97,864
|
105,002
|
123,817
|
-21.0%
|
|
Real Estate
|
601,397
|
622,880
|
668,474
|
-10.0%
|
|
SBA Loans
|
20,061
|
18,616
|
18,030
|
11.3%
|
|
Consumer Loans
|
42,552
|
45,585
|
52,071
|
-18.3%
|
|
Gross Loans &
Leases
|
776,392
|
805,540
|
872,211
|
-11.0%
|
|
Deferred Loan & Lease
Fees
|
188
|
113
|
(572)
|
-132.9%
|
|
Loans & Leases
Net of Deferred Fees
|
776,580
|
805,653
|
871,639
|
-10.9%
|
|
Allowance for Loan & Lease
Losses
|
(21,464)
|
(21,138)
|
(24,096)
|
-10.9%
|
|
Net Loans &
Leases
|
755,116
|
784,515
|
847,543
|
-10.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bank Premises &
Equipment
|
20,608
|
20,190
|
19,905
|
3.5%
|
|
Other Assets
|
104,676
|
107,491
|
110,340
|
-5.1%
|
|
Total
Assets
|
$
1,312,949
|
$
1,286,571
|
$
1,315,250
|
-0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES &
CAPITAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
Demand Deposits
|
$
266,209
|
$
251,908
|
$
247,551
|
7.5%
|
|
NOW Deposits
|
174,773
|
184,360
|
176,417
|
-0.9%
|
|
Savings Deposits
|
82,547
|
74,682
|
67,888
|
21.6%
|
|
Money Market Deposits
|
164,810
|
156,170
|
171,816
|
-4.1%
|
|
Customer Time
Deposits
|
388,366
|
385,154
|
429,328
|
-9.5%
|
|
Wholesale Brokered
Deposits
|
15,000
|
-
|
15,000
|
0.0%
|
|
Total
Deposits
|
1,091,705
|
1,052,274
|
1,108,000
|
-1.5%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Junior Subordinated
Debentures
|
30,928
|
30,928
|
30,928
|
0.0%
|
|
Other Interest-Bearing
Liabilities
|
15,035
|
29,650
|
26,150
|
-42.5%
|
|
Total Deposits
& Int.-Bearing Liab.
|
1,137,668
|
1,112,852
|
1,165,078
|
-2.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Liabilities
|
13,758
|
14,122
|
13,247
|
3.9%
|
|
Total Capital
|
161,523
|
159,597
|
136,925
|
18.0%
|
|
Total Liabilities
& Capital
|
$
1,312,949
|
$
1,286,571
|
$
1,315,250
|
-0.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CREDIT QUALITY
DATA
|
End of
Period:
|
|
|
(in $000's,
unaudited)
|
3/31/2011
|
12/31/2010
|
3/31/2010
|
Annual
Chg
|
|
Non-Accruing Loans
|
$
53,632
|
$
45,954
|
$
51,647
|
3.8%
|
|
Over 90 Days PD and Still
Accruing
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.0%
|
|
Foreclosed Assets
|
19,214
|
20,691
|
26,305
|
-27.0%
|
|
Total
Non-Performing Assets
|
$
72,846
|
$
66,645
|
$
77,952
|
-6.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performing TDR's (not incl. in
NPA's)
|
$
12,551
|
$
12,465
|
$
17,602
|
-28.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Perf Loans to Total
Loans
|
6.91%
|
5.70%
|
5.92%
|
|
|
NPA's to Loans plus Foreclosed
Assets
|
9.16%
|
8.07%
|
8.68%
|
|
|
Allowance for Ln Losses to
Loans
|
2.76%
|
2.62%
|
2.76%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER PERIOD-END
STATISTICS
|
End of
Period:
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
3/31/2011
|
12/31/2010
|
3/31/2010
|
|
|
Shareholders Equity / Total
Assets
|
12.3%
|
12.4%
|
10.4%
|
|
|
Loans / Deposits
|
71.1%
|
76.6%
|
78.7%
|
|
|
Non-Int. Bearing Dep. / Total
Dep.
|
24.4%
|
23.9%
|
22.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SOURCE Sierra Bancorp