FRBK Republic First Bancorp Inc

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic First Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRBK), the holding company for Republic Bank, today announced its financial results for the period ended September 30, 2015.

"During the third quarter we opened new stores in Marlton and Berlin, NJ which feature our distinctive glass building," said Harry D. Madonna, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "These locations are welcoming new fans on a daily basis and producing tremendous results.  Our balance sheet continues to demonstrate positive results associated with our expansion strategy."

"Our expansion strategy effectively has us building a 'new' bank on top of an 'old' bank," added Madonna. "We are very pleased with our ability to maintain consistent, profitable results while absorbing the costs required to move forward with our growth plan."

The Company is in the midst of an aggressive expansion plan referred to as "The Power of Red is Back" with the goal of increasing its store footprint while providing legendary customer service. There are currently seventeen stores serving customers in the Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey region.  Additional stores are planned for Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, Medford, Moorestown, Washington Township and Wynnewood.

Highlights for the Period Ended September 30, 2015

• Republic opened its 16^th and 17^th stores in Marlton and Berlin, NJ during the third quarter of 2015. The Company currently has six additional sites in various stages of construction and development for future store locations.
• New stores opened within the last 2 years are currently growing deposits at an average rate of $47 million per year.  While the average deposit growth for all stores over the last twelve months was $16 million per store. 
• Total deposits increased by $247 million, or 25%, to $1.2 billion as of September 30, 2015 compared to $990 million as of September 30, 2014.
• Non-interest bearing demand deposits increased by 13% to $244 million as of September 30, 2015 compared to $217 million as of September 30, 2014.
• Total assets increased by $250 million, or 22%, to $1.4 billion as of September 30, 2015 compared to $1.1 billion as of September 30, 2014.
• Total loans grew $93 million, or 12%, to $845 million as of September 30, 2015 compared to $752 million at September 30, 2014.
• SBA lending continued to be a focal point of the Company's lending strategy. More than $8 million in new SBA loans were originated during the three month period ended September 30, 2015. Our team is currently ranked as the #1 SBA lender in the tri-state market of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware based on the dollar volume of loan originations.
• Shareholders' equity increased by 3% to $114 million as of September 30, 2015 compared to $112 million as of September 30, 2014.
• The Company's Total Risk-Based Capital ratio was 13.80% and Tier I Leverage Ratio was 10.24% at September 30, 2015.
• Tangible book value per share was $3.03 as of September 30, 2015. This amount excludes approximately $0.38 per share attributable to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance.

Income Statement

The major components of the income statement are as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

The Company reported net income of $582 thousand, or $0.02 per share, for the three month period ended September 30, 2015, compared to net income of $297 thousand, or $0.01 per share, for the three month period ended September 30, 2014.  Net income for the nine month period ended September 30, 2015 was $1.6 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to net income of $1.6 million, or $0.05 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

Net interest income increased by $0.8 million, or 9%, to $10.0 million for the three month period ended September 30, 2015 compared to $9.2 million for the three month period ended September 30, 2014.  This increase was driven by strong growth in interest-earning assets over the last twelve months.

Non-interest income increased to $1.6 million for the three month period ended September 30, 2015 compared to $1.4 million for the three month period ended September 30, 2014.  This increase was primarily driven by higher gains on the sale of SBA loans.

Non-interest expenses increased by $1.0 million to $11.0 million during the three month period ended September 30, 2015 compared to $10.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2014. This increase was primarily driven by higher salaries, employee benefits, occupancy and equipment expenses associated with the addition of new stores related to the Company's expansion strategy over the last twelve months.

Balance Sheet

The major components of the balance sheet are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Total assets increased by $250.1 million, or 22%, as of September 30, 2015 when compared to September 30, 2014.  Deposits grew by $247.4 million to $1.2 billion as of September 30, 2015 compared to $990.1 million as of September 30, 2014. The number of deposit accounts has grown by 39% during the past twelve months. The strong growth in assets, loans and deposits has been driven by the Company's successful execution of its aggressive growth strategy referred to as "The Power of Red is Back."

Core Deposits

Core deposits by type of account are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Core deposits increased to $1.2 billion at September 30, 2015 compared to $979.8 million at September 30, 2014 as the Company moves forward with its expansion strategy to increase the number of brick and mortar stores which drives the gathering of low-cost core deposits. The Company recognized strong growth in demand, money market and savings account balances on a year to year basis.

Lending

Loans by type are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Gross loans increased by $93.3 million, or 12%, to $845.4 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $752.0 million at September 30, 2014 as a result of an increase in quality loan demand over the last twelve months and continued success with the relationship banking model.  The Company experienced strongest growth in the commercial and industrial and owner occupied real estate categories.

Asset Quality

The Company's non-performing asset balances and asset quality ratios are highlighted below:

The percentage of non-performing assets to total assets decreased to 2.10% at September 30, 2015, compared to 2.38% as of September 30, 2014. Non-performing loans to total loans decreased significantly to 1.80% at September 30, 2015 compared to 3.08% at September 30, 2014 as a result of the successful migration of certain assets to the other real estate owned category through the work-out process.

Capital

The Company's capital ratios at September 30, 2015 were as follows:

Total shareholders' equity increased to $114.5 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $111.6 million at September 30, 2014.  Tangible book value per share increased to $3.03 at September 30, 2015 compared to $2.95 per share at September 30, 2014. 

About Republic Bank

Republic Bank, a subsidiary of Republic First Bancorp, Inc., is a full-service, state-chartered commercial bank, whose deposits are insured up to the applicable limits by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Bank provides diversified financial products through its seventeen stores located in Abington, Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, Plymouth Meeting, Media and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Haddonfield, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Glassboro, Marlton and Berlin, New Jersey.  Republic Bank stores are open 7 days a week, 361 days a year, with extended lobby and drive-thru hours providing customers with the most convenient hours compared to any bank in its market.  The Bank also offers free checking, free coin counting, ATM/Debit cards issued on the spot and access to more than 55,000 surcharge free ATMs worldwide via the Allpoint Network.  For more information about Republic Bank, visit www.myrepublicbank.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The Company may from time to time make written or oral "forward-looking statements", including statements contained in this release and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.  For example, risks and uncertainties can arise with changes in: general economic conditions, including turmoil in the financial markets and related efforts of government agencies to stabilize the financial system; the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses and our methodology for determining such allowance; adverse changes in our loan portfolio and credit risk-related losses and expenses; concentrations within our loan portfolio, including our exposure to commercial real estate loans, and to our primary service area; changes in interest rates; business conditions in the financial services industry, including competitive pressure among financial services companies, new service and product offerings by competitors, price pressures and similar items; deposit flows; loan demand; the regulatory environment, including evolving banking industry standards, changes in legislation or regulation; impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; our securities portfolio and the valuation of our securities; accounting principles, policies and guidelines as well as estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our financial statements; rapidly changing technology; litigation liabilities, including costs, expenses, settlements and judgments; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technological factors affecting our operations, pricing, products and services.  You should carefully review the risk factors described in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and other documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The words "would be," "could be," "should be," "probability," "risk," "target," "objective," "may," "will," "estimate," "project," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "plan," "seek," "expect" and similar expressions or variations on such expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All such statements are made in good faith by the Company pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company, except as may be required by applicable law or regulations.