AmeriServ Financial Reports Earnings For The Second Quarter And First Six Months Of 2013

JOHNSTOWN, Pa., July 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASRV) reported second quarter 2013 net income available to common shareholders of $1,018,000 or $0.05 per diluted common share.  This represented a decrease of $152,000, or $0.01 per diluted common share, from the second quarter 2012.  For the six month period ended June 30, 2013, the Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $2,022,000 or $0.11 per diluted share.  When compared to the first six months of 2012, net income available to common shareholders was down by $450,000 or 18.2% while diluted earnings per share declined by a lesser amount of $0.01 or 8.3% due to the success of the Company's common stock repurchase program.  The following table highlights the Company's financial performance for both the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012: 

Glenn L. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the second quarter 2013 financial results: "One of the highlights of the second quarter of 2013 was our ability to return capital to our shareholders through the reinstatement of a $0.01 per share quarterly common stock cash dividend and the completion of another common stock repurchase program.  We repurchased 384,000 shares or 2% of our common stock at an average price per share of $3.05 which is below tangible book value.  Additionally, I was also pleased that our loan portfolio grew by $34 million or 4.7% during the second quarter of 2013 with much of this growth occurring later in the quarter.  We also continued to report strong asset quality metrics consistent with our continued conservative credit discipline.  Finally, I was pleased with our good growth in non-interest income particularly within our wealth management businesses." 

The Company's net interest income in the second quarter of 2013 increased by $100,000 or 1.3% from the prior year's second quarter and for the first six months of 2013 increased by $84,000 when compared to the first six months of 2012.  The Company's 2013 net interest margin of 3.54% was 10 basis points lower than the net interest margin of 3.64% for the first half of 2012.  The lower net interest margin demonstrates the impact of Federal Reserve low interest rate policies which have pressured interest revenue. The Company has been able to mitigate this net interest margin pressure and modestly increase net interest income by reducing its cost of funds and growing its earning assets, particularly loans.  Specifically, total loans have averaged $728 million in the first half of 2013, which is $60 million or 9.0% higher than the $668 million average in the first half of 2012.  This loan growth reflects the successful results of the Company's more intensive sales calling efforts with an emphasis on generating commercial loans and owner occupied commercial real estate loans which qualify as Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF) loans, particularly through its loan production offices.  As a result of this growth in SBLF qualified loans, the Company  continues to pay the lowest preferred share dividend rate of 1% available under the SBLF program.  This lower rate has saved the Company $421,000 in preferred stock dividend payments so far in 2013.  Despite this solid growth in loans, total interest revenue dropped by $680,000 between years and reflects the lower interest rate environment.  However, careful management of funding costs has allowed the Company to mitigate this drop in interest revenue during the past year.  Specifically, total interest expense for the first six months of 2013 declined by $764,000 from the same prior year period due to the Company's proactive efforts to reduce deposit costs.  Even with this reduction in deposit costs, the Company still experienced growth in deposits which reflects the loyalty of its core deposit base.  Specifically, total deposits have averaged $839 million in the first half of 2013, which is $17 million or 2.1% higher than the $822 million average in the first half of 2012.      

The Company recorded a $150,000 provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2013 compared to a $500,000 negative provision recorded in the second quarter of 2012.  For the six month period in 2013, the Company recorded a negative loan loss provision of $100,000 compared to a $1,125,000 negative provision in the first six months of 2012.  There has been $1,025,000 less earnings benefit from negative loan loss provisions in 2013.  Overall, sustained improvements in asset quality evidenced by low levels of non-performing assets and classified loans has allowed the Company to continue to benefit from negative or modest loan loss provisions in 2013 while still maintaining strong coverage ratios.  At June 30, 2013, non-performing assets totaled $5.0 million or 0.67% of total loans which is comparable with the level they have operated at in five of the last six quarters.  The Company experienced modest net loan recoveries in both the second quarter of 2013 and 2012.  For the first six months of 2013, net charge-offs totaled $1.3 million or 0.37% of total loans which represents an increase from the first six months of 2012 when net charge-offs totaled $181,000 or 0.05% of total loans.  The higher net charge-offs in 2013 reflect the resolution of a $2 million problem commercial real estate loan for which the Company had previously established reserves for in 2012.  When determining the provision for loan losses, the Company considers a number of factors some of which include periodic credit reviews, non-performing assets, loan delinquency and charge-off trends, concentrations of credit, loan volume trends and broader local and national economic trends.  In summary, the allowance for loan losses provided 329% coverage of non-performing loans, and was 1.48% of total loans, at June 30, 2013, compared to 210% of non-performing loans, and 1.74% of total loans, at December 31, 2012.

The Company's growth in non-interest revenue has also been a financial performance highlight in 2013.  Total non-interest income in the second quarter of 2013 increased by $342,000 or 9.2% from the prior year's second quarter and for the first six months of 2013 increased by $484,000 or 6.5% when compared to the first six months of 2012.  The second quarter 2013 non-interest income increase was driven by increased revenue from our wealth management businesses and bank owned life insurance.  Specifically, trust and investment advisory fees increased by $194,000 or 10.7% due to increased assets under management which reflects both successful new business development activities and market appreciation of existing assets. Income from bank owned life insurance increased by $176,000 due to the receipt of a death claim payment. For the six month period in 2013, non-interest income also benefitted from increased revenue from residential mortgage banking activities.  Specifically, gains realized on residential mortgage loan sales into the secondary market increased by $100,000 due to increased mortgage loan production in the first half of 2013.  The higher residential mortgage loan production reflected both increased refinance and purchase activity.                

Total non-interest expense in the second quarter of 2013 increased by $375,000 or 3.7% from the prior year's second quarter and for the first six months of 2013 increased by $883,000 or 4.4% when compared to the first six months of 2012.  Salaries and employee benefits increased by $200,000 or 3.3% for the second quarter and $545,000 or 4.6% for the six month period due to higher salaries expense, incentive compensation, and pension expense.  The higher incentive compensation relates to incentives earned on the increased levels of both residential mortgage and commercial loan production.  The higher pension expense relates to the Company's defined benefit pension plan and reflects the negative impact that the low interest rate environment is having on the discount rate used to calculate the plan liabilities.  This increasing pension cost was a key factor causing the Company to implement a soft freeze of its defined benefit pension plan to provide that non-union employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 are not eligible to participate.  Instead, such employees are eligible to participate in a qualified 401(k) plan.  Professional fees also increased by $213,000 in the second quarter and $325,000 for the six month period due largely to higher legal costs, recruitment fees, and increases in several other professional fee categories.  Finally, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $864,000 or an effective tax rate of 28.9% for the first six months of 2013 compared to an income tax expense of $1,333,000 or an effective tax rate of 30.8% for the first half of 2012. The lower income tax expense and effective rate in 2013 reflects the Company's reduced pre-tax earnings combined with an increased amount of tax free earnings from bank owned life insurance.

ASRV had total assets of $1.025 billion, shareholders' equity of $109 million, a book value of $4.70 per common share and a tangible book value of $4.03 per common share at June 30, 2013.  The Company continued to maintain strong capital ratios that considerably exceed the regulatory defined well capitalized status with a risk based capital ratio of 15.48%, an asset leverage ratio of 11.52% and a tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio of 7.47% at June 30, 2013. 

This news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report and Form 10-K to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Actual results may differ materially. 

SOURCE AmeriServ Financial, Inc.