Fauquier Bankshares Announces Third Quarter 2010 Earnings

WARRENTON, Va., Nov. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fauquier Bankshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: FBSS) the parent holding company of The Fauquier Bank, today announced financial results for the quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  Net income for the quarter was $982,000, and diluted earnings per share were $0.27, representing an increase of 2.8% in comparison to net income of $956,000 and diluted earnings per share of $0.26 in the third quarter 2009.  Net income for the third quarter included a $465,000 gain on the sale of several investments and an increase of $123,000, or 9.2%, in other income, primarily service fees on deposits and wealth management income, compared with September 30, 2009.  These increases were offset by a $502,000 impairment loss on two corporate preferred trust investments.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, net income was $2.8 million or $0.77 per diluted share, compared with $2.6 million or $0.72 per diluted share for the first nine months of 2009, an increase of 7.5%. The increase in net income for the first nine months of 2010 compared with the first nine months of 2009 was primarily related to the $1.0 million increase, or 6.6%, in net interest income; partially offset by increased pension benefit expenses.

Loans, net of reserve, totaling $459.8 million at September 30, 2010, increased 1.0% when compared with $455.4 million at September 30, 2009. Deposits, totaling $545.3 million at September 30, 2010, increased 25.2% when compared with $435.6 million at September 30, 2009. 

The net interest margin for the third quarter 2010 was 4.14% compared with 4.38% for the same quarter in 2009.  Return on average assets (ROAA) was 0.66% and return on average equity (ROAE) was 8.77% for the third quarter of 2010, a decrease from 0.70% and 8.87%, respectively, from the third quarter of 2009.  For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, Fauquier Bankshares' return on average assets was 0.64% and return on average equity was 8.52%, compared with 0.66% and 8.26%, respectively, for the nine month period ended September 30, 2009.

Randy Ferrell, President & CEO said, "The reduction in the net interest margin reflects our significant deposit growth, particularly coming from customers of our new View Tree, Haymarket and Bristow locations.  We continue to look for opportunities to use our increased deposit strength to drive growth in lending to individuals and businesses." (Refer to Deposit Market Share Charts after Selected Financials.)

The provision for loan losses was $1.5 million for the first nine months of 2010 compared with $920,000 for the first nine months of 2009. Loan charge offs, net of recoveries, totaled $1.2 million or 0.26% of total average loans for the first nine months of 2010, compared with $479,000 or 0.11% of total average loans for the first nine months of 2009. Total allowance for loan losses was $5.7 million or 1.23% of total loans at September 30, 2010 compared with $5.2 million or 1.13% of loans at September 30, 2009 and $5.4 million or 1.15% of loans at June 30, 2010.

Non-performing loans decreased to $2.1 million or 0.44% of total loans as of September 30, 2010 compared with $4.3 million or 0.94% at September 30, 2009.  The Company's $5.7 million loan loss reserve provides over 276% coverage of non-performing loans.  The Company's nonperforming assets totaled $6.2 million or 1.00% of period end total assets at September 30, 2010, as compared with $7.1 million or 1.29% of period end total assets at September 30, 2009.  Included in non-performing assets at September 30, 2010 were $2.1 million of non-performing loans, $2.8 million of other real estate owned and $1.3 million of non-performing pooled trust preferred investments.  

"Even with the Company's non-performing asset ratio improving to one percent at September 30, 2010, managing credit risk will continue to be one of our main focal points.  According to second-quarter FDIC data, our ratio is less than half of the state average of almost three percent for insured institutions in Virginia," Ferrell said. "This is a very positive indicator of our ability to make good loans in a tough environment while we lower the absolute dollar amount of non-performing loans."

Fauquier Bankshares and The Fauquier Bank had combined assets of $624.4 million and total shareholders' equity of $44.1 million at September 30, 2010.  Fauquier Bankshares' regulatory capital ratios continue to be deemed "Well Capitalized," the highest category assigned by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.   At September 30, 2010, the Company's leverage ratio, an important indicator of financial health, was 8.51%, compared with 9.00% one year earlier. The Company's tier 1 and total risk-based ratios were 11.09% and 12.34%, respectively, at September 30, 2010, compared with 10.80% and 11.97% at September 30, 2009. The minimum capital ratios to be considered "Well Capitalized" by the Federal Reserve are 5.00% for the leverage ratio, 6.00% for the tier 1 risk-based ratio, and 10.00% for the total risk-based ratio.

The Fauquier Bank is an independent, locally-owned, community bank offering a full range of financial services, including internet banking, commercial, retail, insurance, wealth management, and financial planning services through ten banking offices throughout Fauquier and Prince William counties in Virginia. Fauquier Bankshares' stock price closed at $13.00 per share on November 1, 2010. Additional information, including a more extensive investor presentation, is available at www.fauquierbank.com or by calling (800) 638-3798.

This news release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The Company's management uses these "non-GAAP" measures in their analysis of the Corporation's performance.  The Company's management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide a greater understanding of ongoing operations and enhance comparability of results with prior periods as well as demonstrating the effects of significant gains and charges in the current period.  The Company believes that a meaningful analysis of its financial performance requires an understanding of the factors underlying that performance.  The Company's management believes that investors may use these non-GAAP financial measures to analyze financial performance without the impact of unusual items that may obscure trends in the Company's underlying performance.  Where incorporated into our disclosures, these non-GAAP measures will be clearly identified as such. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.  

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" as defined by federal securities laws. These statements address issues that involve risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management, and actual results could differ materially from the results contemplated by these forward-looking statements.  Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to, changes in: interest rates and the shape of the interest rate yield curve, general economic conditions, legislative/regulatory policies, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury, the FDIC and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the quality or composition of the loan and/or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows, competition, demand for financial services in our market area, our plans to expand our branch network and increase our market share, and accounting principles, policies and guidelines. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Readers should consider these risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements and should not place undue reliance on such statements. We undertake no obligation to update these statements following the date of this news release.

(1) Net interest margin is calculated as fully taxable equivalent net interest income divided by average earning assets and represents the Company’s net yield on its earning assets.

(2) Efficiency ratio is computed by dividing non-interest expense by the sum of fully taxable equivalent net interest income and non-interest income.

SOURCE Fauquier Bankshares, Inc.