Baylake Corp. Reports First Quarter Earnings of $0.15 per share

STURGEON BAY, Wis., April 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Baylake Corp. (OTC BB: BYLK) today released results for the three months ended March 31, 2012.  Baylake reported a 2012 first quarter net profit of $1.3 million, or $0.15 per fully-diluted common share, compared to net profit of $0.6 million or $0.08 per fully-diluted common share for the first quarter of 2011.  The first quarter results represent an increase in net income of $0.7 million, or $.07 per fully-diluted common share.

"The Bank's continued focus on expense control was a key catalyst for the earnings improvement noted in the first quarter of 2012," said Robert J. Cera, Baylake Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer.  

HIGHLIGHTS

• Net income of $1.3 million or $0.15 per share for the three months ending March 31, 2012.
• Net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis increased $0.3 million or 3.6% compared to the first quarter of 2011.
• Non-interest expense was down $0.9 million or 10.1% for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the comparable quarter in the prior year.
• Outstanding loans as of the end of the first quarter of 2012 grew by $18.1 million from the end of the first quarter of 2011.
• The total risk-based capital ratio equaled 13.76% at March 31, 2012 compared to 13.14% at March 31, 2011.
• Book value per common share rose 9.1% to $10.89 at March 31, 2012 from $9.98 per common share at March 31, 2011.

The improved operating results recorded in the first quarter of 2012 largely resulted from a $0.9 million decline in non-interest expense, from $8.7 million for the first quarter of 2011 to $7.8 million for the first quarter of 2012.  Non-interest expense related to valuation adjustments and the operation of foreclosed properties declined $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011. The reduction in non-interest expense was further impacted by a $0.3 million reduction in FDIC insurance assessments, from $0.7 million for the quarter ending March 31, 2011 to $0.4 million for the quarter ending March 31, 2012.  Baylake's non-interest expense to average assets ratio declined from 3.39% in the first quarter of 2011 to 2.94% for the first quarter of 2012.  Operating results were also positively impacted by a $0.4 million increase in non-interest income, primarily the result of an increase of $0.6 million in gains on the sale of securities during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011.

Net interest income (before the provision for loan losses) increased $0.3 million, or 3.6%, from $8.0 million during the first quarter of 2011 to $8.3 million for the first quarter of 2012.  This increase was largely driven by an increase in earning assets.  Compared to a year ago, total loans increased $18.1 million, from $620.7 million at March 31, 2011 to $638.8 million at March 31, 2012.  Total investment securities increased $15.2 million during the same period.  Net interest income was also positively impacted by a 12.1% increase in average non-interest bearing deposits during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011, resulting in part from shifts in customer deposits to take advantage of the FDIC's full guarantee of non-interest bearing transaction accounts. This increase drove deposit balances higher, from $823.9 million at March 31, 2011 to $858.3 million at March 31, 2012.  Interest expense as a percent of average interest-bearing deposits decreased 32 basis points from 1.06% for the first quarter of 2011 to 0.74% for the first quarter of this year.

"We are encouraged by the $18.1 million increase in outstanding loans which reflects a continued strong residential mortgage refinance market," said Robert J. Cera.  "In addition, we are also seeing increasing activity in the commercial and industrial loan landscape, which reflects an improving economic environment and a greater willingness on the part of banks to take on commercial credit risk."

Non-performing assets increased $6.3 million from $30.9 million at March 31, 2011 to $37.2 million at March 31, 2012.  As a percent of total loans, non-performing loans increased from 2.77% at March 31, 2011 to 3.52% at March 31, 2012.  The allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans declined from 1.95% at March 31, 2011 to 1.76% at March 31, 2012.  The allowance for loan losses as a percent of non-performing loans at March 31, 2012 was 50.09%, compared to 70.37% at March 31, 2011. 

"It is important to note that the first quarter results include a $10 million, or 18.6%, reduction in Baylake's combined level of non-performing assets and restructured accruing loans, from $53.7 million at March 31, 2011 to $43.7 million at March 31, 2012," said Cera. "We anticipate that the increase in non-performing loans and non-performing assets during the quarter will be a short-term deviation from what has been a long-term trend of improving credit quality metrics."

Baylake's total assets and stockholders' equity were $1.1 billion and $86.3 million, respectively, at March 31, 2012, compared to $1.0 billion and $79.0 million at March 31, 2011.  Baylake's total risk-based capital ratio increased to 13.76% at March 31, 2012 from 13.14% at March 31, 2011.  At March 31, 2012, both Baylake Corp. and Baylake Bank exceeded "well capitalized" thresholds established under applicable bank and bank holding company regulatory guidelines.

Baylake believes that it has more than adequate resources available to meet its short-term liquidity needs.  As of March 31, 2012, Baylake Bank had $30.0 million in established lines of credit with nonaffiliated banks, none of which had been drawn upon as of that date.  Additionally, Baylake Bank is approved to access, subject to pledging appropriate collateral, the Federal Reserve Discount Window for short term borrowing as necessary.

Baylake Corp., headquartered in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, is the bank holding company for Baylake Bank.  Through Baylake Bank, Baylake Corp. provides a variety of banking and financial services from 27 financial centers located throughout Northeast and Central Wisconsin, in Brown, Door, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Waupaca, and Waushara Counties.

The following appears in accordance with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This news release contains forward-looking statements about the financial condition, results of operations and business of Baylake Corp.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  They often include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as  "would," "should," "could" or "may."

Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties.  A number of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Baylake Corp., could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ significantly from those indicated by the forward-looking statements.  These factors, which are described in this press release and in the annual and quarterly reports filed by Baylake Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011  under "Item 1A. Risk Factors," include certain credit, market, operational, liquidity and interest rate risks associated with the company's business and operations.  Other factors include changes in general business and economic conditions, developments (including collection efforts) relating to the identified non-performing loans and other problem loans and assets, world events (especially those which could affect our customers' tourism-related businesses), competition, fiscal and monetary policies and legislation.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Baylake Corp. does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

Baylake Corp. and Subsidiaries

Summary Financial Data

The following tables set forth selected consolidated financial and other data for Baylake Corp. at the dates and for the period indicated.  The selected financial and other data at March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012 has not been audited, but in the opinion of management of Baylake Corp. reflects all necessary adjustments for a fair presentation of results as of the dates and for the periods covered.

SOURCE Baylake Corp.