CIZN Citizens Holding Company

Citizens Holding Company (NASDAQ:CIZN) announced today results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $1.608 million, or $0.33 per share-basic and diluted, down from $1.752 million, or $0.36 per share-basic and diluted for the same quarter in 2016. Net interest income for the third quarter of 2017, after the provision for loan losses, was $6.793 million, approximately 2.4% higher than the same period in 2016. The provision for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was negative $74 thousand compared to $183 thousand for the same period in 2016. The decrease in the provision reflects management’s estimate of inherent losses in the loan portfolio including the impact of current local and national economic conditions and a decrease in total loans outstanding. The net interest margin decreased to 2.98% in the third quarter of 2017 from 3.10% in the same period in 2016. This was due primarily to the decrease in yields on earning assets coupled with a small increase in rates paid on interest bearing deposits.

Non-interest income increased in the third quarter of 2017 by $48 thousand, or 2.3%, while non-interest expenses increased $330 thousand, or 5.0%, compared to the same period in 2016. The increase in non-interest income was mainly the result of an increase in service charges on checking accounts and other service charges and fees. Non-interest expense increased due to an increase in salary and benefit expense of $285 thousand, occupancy expense of $6 thousand and a $39 thousand increase in other operating expenses. The increase in other non-interest expense was due mainly to office supply costs for the quarter.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 decreased 4.5% to $4.828 million, or $0.99 per share-basic and diluted, from $5.057 million, or $1.04 per share-basic and diluted, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, after the provision for loan losses, increased 1.2% to $20.648 million from $20.404 million for the same period in 2016. Net interest margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, decreased to 3.03% in 2017 from 3.11% in the same period in 2016. The provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was a negative $255 thousand compared to $97 thousand in 2016. The decrease in the provision reflects management’s assessment of inherent losses in the loan portfolio including the impact caused by current local and national economic conditions and a decrease in loans outstanding.

Non-interest income increased by $381 thousand, or 6.6%, and non-interest expense increased by $1.05 million, or 5.3%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016. The increase in non-interest income was the result of increases in service charges on deposit accounts and other service charges and fees. Non-interest expense increased primarily due to an increase in salary and benefits costs.

Total assets as of September 30, 2017 increased to $1.026 billion, up $910 thousand, or 0.1%, when compared to December 31, 2016. Deposits decreased by $5.387 million, or 0.7%, and loans, net of unearned income, decreased by $972 million, or 0.2%, when compared to December 31, 2016. The decrease in loans, net of unearned income, was due to payments on loans in excess of current loan demand. Non-performing assets decreased by $1.223 million to $12.305 million at September 30, 2017 as compared to $13.528 million at December 31, 2016, due in large part to decreases in other real estate owned and in non-accrual loans partially offset by a slight increase in loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest.

During the nine months of 2017, the Company paid dividends totaling $0.72 per share.

Citizens Holding Company (the “Company”) is a one-bank holding company and the parent company of The Citizens Bank of Philadelphia (the “Bank”), both headquartered in Philadelphia, Mississippi. The Bank currently has twenty-four banking locations in fourteen counties in East Central and South Mississippi. In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Bank added a Loan Production Office in Oxford, Mississippi to offer loan services to north Mississippi. In addition to full service commercial banking, the Bank offers mortgage loans, title insurance services through its subsidiary, Title Services, LLC, and a full range of Internet banking services including online banking, bill pay and cash management services for businesses. Internet services are available at the Bank’s website, www.thecitizensbankphila.com. Citizens Holding Company stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market and is traded under the symbol CIZN. The Company’s transfer agent is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Information about Citizens Holding Company may be obtained by accessing its corporate website at www.citizensholdingcompany.com.

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release regarding the Company’s financial position, results of operations, business strategies, plans, objectives and expectations for future operations, are forward looking statements. The Company can give no assurances that the assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not undertake a duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operation, performance, development and results of the Company’s and the Bank’s business include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) the risk of adverse changes in business conditions in the banking industry generally and in the specific markets in which the Company operates; (b) changes in the legislative and regulatory environment that negatively impact the Company and Bank through increased operating expenses; (c) increased competition from other financial institutions; (d) the impact of technological advances; (e) expectations about the movement of interest rates, including actions that may be taken by the Federal Reserve Board in response to changing economic conditions; (f) changes in asset quality and loan demand; (g) expectations about overall economic strength and the performance of the economics in the Company’s market area; and (h) other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should any such underlying assumptions prove to be significantly different, actual results may vary significantly from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected.

        Citizens Holding Company Financial Highlights (amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)   For the Three Months Ending For the Nine Months Ending September 30,   June 30,   September 30, September 30,   September 30, 2017   2017   2016     2017   2016   INTEREST INCOME Loans, including fees $4,585 $4,864 $4,825 $14,017 $14,344 Investment Securities 2,893 2,919 2,720 8,644 8,287 Other Interest 66   59   29       194     148   7,544 7,842 7,574 22,855 22,779   INTEREST EXPENSE Deposits 472 486 448 1,435 1,367 Other borrowed funds 353   344   306       1,027     911   825 830 754 2,462 2,278   NET INTEREST INCOME 6,719 7,012 6,820 20,393 20,501   PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES -74   -30   183       -255     97    

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES

6,793 7,042 6,637 20,648 20,404   NON-INTEREST INCOME Service charges on deposit accounts 1,116 1,019 1,010 3,177 2,795 Other service charges and fees 703 673 658 1,993 1,852 Other non-interest income 308   431   411       1,014     1,156   2,127 2,123 2,079 6,184 5,803   NON-INTEREST EXPENSE Salaries and employee benefits 3,745 3,745 3,460 11,154 10,341 Occupancy expense 1,336 1,339 1,330 3,985 3,867 Other non-interest expense 1,806   1,827   1,767       5,768     5,649   6,887 6,911 6,557 20,907 19,857   NET INCOME BEFORE TAXES 2,033 2,254 2,159 5,925 6,350   INCOME TAXES 425   471   407       1,097     1,293     NET INCOME $1,608   $1,783   $1,752       $4,828     $5,057     Earnings per share - basic $0.33   $0.37   $0.36       $0.99     $1.04     Earnings per share - diluted $0.33   $0.36   $0.36       $0.99     $1.04     Dividends Paid $0.24   $0.24   $0.24       $0.72     $0.72     Average shares outstanding-basic 4,882,705 4,883,679 4,869,079 4,877,338 4,864,924   Average shares outstanding-diluted 4,893,148 4,897,893 4,877,693 4,894,750 4,873,240         For the Period Ended, September 30, June 30, December 31, 2017     2017   2016 Period End Balance Sheet Data: Total assets $1,026,124 $1,017,564 $1,025,214 Total earning assets 939,295 930,708 935,957 Loans, net of unearned income 393,079 389,410 394,051 Allowance for loan losses 3,404 3,506 3,093 Total deposits 754,768 779,926 760,155 Long-term borrowings 20,000 20,000 20,000 Shareholders' equity 91,942 92,795 85,059 Book value per share $18.86 $19.03 $17.42   Period End Average Balance Sheet Data: Total assets $1,009,781 $1,008,111 $996,266 Total earning assets 926,107 924,144 928,861 Loans, net of unearned income 393,796 394,855 409,367 Total deposits 767,634 768,494 766,264 Long-term borrowings 20,000 20,928 20,000 Shareholders' equity 89,693 88,159 91,766   Period End Non-performing Assets: Non-accrual loans $7,833 $7,724 $8,879 Loans 90+ days past due and accruing 298 128 206 Other real estate owned 4,174 4,174 4,443   As of September 30, June 30, December 31, 2017     2017   2016  

Year to Date Net charge-offs as a percentage of average net loans

0.06 % 0.05 % 0.61 %   Year to Date Performance Ratios: Return on average assets(1) 0.64 % 0.64 % 0.68 % Return on average equity(1) 7.18 % 7.31 % 7.34 %  

Year to Date Net Interest Margin (tax equivalent)(1)

3.03 % 3.06 % 3.07 %   (1) Annualized

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Citizens Holding CompanyRobert T. Smith, 601-656-4692rsmith@tcbphila.com