Fidelity D & D Bancorp, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2014 Financial Results

DUNMORE, Pa., April 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --  Fidelity D & D Bancorp, Inc., (OTC Bulletin Board: FDBC), parent company of The Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank, announced net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 of $1.5 million, an improvement of $62 thousand, or 4%, compared to $1.4 million for the first quarter of 2013.  Net interest income growth along with a lower provision for loan losses and fewer non-interest expenses more than offset the reduction in other income, when compared to the prior year quarter.  Earnings per share on a diluted basis for the quarter were $0.61 and $0.60 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

"We are very pleased with the financial results for the first quarter of 2014.  The positive results are reflective of the Bank's commitment to build relationships, maintaining sound business practices, and seeking continuous improvement," stated Daniel J. Santaniello, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "We continue to attract new customer deposits and loans, while having a modest increase in net overhead expenses.  The Company's strong capital position has enabled us to invest strategically back into the future growth of the Company."

Net interest income increased $62 thousand, or 1%, to $5.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, from $5.2 million recorded during the first quarter of 2013.  Net interest income earned was higher in first quarter 2014 over the same period in 2013, despite the decline in yield on interest earning assets outpacing the savings on rates of interest-bearing liabilities.  The Company experienced lower interest costs from a smaller average certificates-of-deposit total that continues to reprice downward, which was replaced by growth of non-interest bearing deposits.  This interest cost reduction along with additional interest income from a $30 million larger average balance loan portfolio helped to moderate the decline of net interest margin by 5 basis points to 3.79% for the first quarter of 2014, compared to 3.84% for the same 2013 quarter.

A provision for loan losses of $300 thousand was recorded during the first quarter of 2014 compared to $550 thousand required for the same 2013 period. The provision for loan losses funded the allowance for loan losses for the experienced loan growth, but also reinforced it for the potential credit risks that still exist from an uncertain local economic environment.  The allowance for loan losses was maintained at 1.84% of total loans at March 31, 2014 compared to the 1.83% of total loans at March 31, 2013.

Total other income recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was $1.7 million compared to $2.1 million for the same quarter in 2013.  The decrease was primarily from $376 thousand less in gains from fewer mortgage loans sold, $116 thousand less loan service charges and $29 thousand lower deposit services charges realized during 2014.  These were offset by growth attributed to the $87 thousand increase in gains from securities sold and increases of $35 thousand from net loan servicing fees, $32 thousand interchange fees and $26 thousand rental income recorded during the first quarter of 2014.

Total other operating expense decreased by $95 thousand, or 2%, to $4.8 million from $4.9 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  The other operating expenses primarily decreased from $206 thousand less collection and foreclosed asset expenses, partly offset by increases of $69 thousand in professional services and $62 thousand from additional occupancy and equipment costs incurred during 2014.

The Company's assets increased $30.6 million to total $654.4 million at March 31, 2014 compared to $623.8 million of total assets at December 31, 2013.  This asset growth resulted from $18.9 million more held in cash, $5.5 million additional loans and leases and $4.8 million in added securities; funded from the $15.9 million increase in interest-bearing deposits, $9.2 million additional non-interest-bearing deposits and $3.7 million more short-term borrowings with repurchase customers, plus a $1.8 million increase in shareholders' equity.

Fidelity D & D Bancorp, Inc. serves Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties through The Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank's 11 community banking office locations, including wealth management assistance through providing fiduciary activities with the Bank's full trust powers; as well as offering a full array of asset management services.  The Bank's deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to the full extent permitted by law.

Forward-looking statements

Certain of the matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as such may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The words "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

The Company's actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:

• the effects of economic deterioration on current customers, specifically the effect of the economy on loan customers' ability to repay loans;
• the costs and effects of litigation and of unexpected or adverse outcomes in such litigation;
• the impact of new laws and regulations, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the regulations promulgated there under;
• impacts of the new capital and liquidity requirements of the Basel III standards and other regulatory pronouncements, regulations and rules;
• governmental monetary and fiscal policies, as well as legislative and regulatory changes;
• effects of short- and long-term federal budget and tax negotiations and their effect on economic and business conditions;
• the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by banking regulatory agencies, as well as the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters;
• the risks of changes in interest rates on the level and composition of deposits, loan demand, and the values of loan collateral, securities and interest rate protection agreements, as well as interest rate risks;
• the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds and other financial institutions operating in our market area and elsewhere, including institutions operating locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, together with such competitors offering banking products and services by mail, telephone, and the internet;
• technological changes;
• acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses;
• the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for loan and lease losses and estimations of values of collateral and various financial assets and liabilities;
• volatility in the securities markets;
• deteriorating economic conditions;
• acts of war or terrorism; and
• disruption of credit and equity markets.

For more information please visit our investor relations web site located through www.bankatfidelity.com.

SOURCE Fidelity D & D Bancorp, Inc.