First Financial Bankshares Announces First Quarter Earnings Results

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Apr 21, 2011, 04:19 ET

ABILENE, Texas, April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIN) today reported earnings for the first quarter of 2011 of $16.30 million, up 18.79 percent compared with earnings of $13.72 million in the same quarter last year. Basic earnings per share were $0.78 for the first quarter of 2011 compared with $0.66 in the same quarter of 2010.

Net interest income increased 14.3 percent to $37.3 million compared with $32.6 million in 2010, primarily due to a 14.0 percent increase in interest-earning assets of which $269.2 million of the increase was internally generated and $158.8 million resulted from the acquisition in November 2010 of The First State Bank in Huntsville, Texas, which now operates under the First Financial Bank name. The net interest margin, on a taxable equivalent basis, improved slightly in the first quarter of 2011 to 4.72 percent compared with 4.69 percent in both the same period a year ago and in the fourth quarter of 2010. The provision for loan losses was $2.13 million in the first quarter of 2011, compared with $2.01 million in the same quarter last year and $1.99 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of loans and foreclosed assets totaled 1.44 percent at March 31, 2011, compared with 1.53 percent at December 31, 2010, and 1.50 percent at March 31, 2010.

Noninterest income in the first quarter of 2011 was $12.84 million compared with $11.11 million in the same quarter a year earlier. Trust fees increased to $3.04 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared with $2.53 million in the same quarter last year. Real estate mortgage fees increased to $933,000 in the first quarter of 2011, compared with $560,000 a year ago. Service charges on deposit accounts decreased to $4.37 million during the first quarter of 2011 compared with $4.86 million for the same quarter a year ago, due primarily to decreased customer use of overdraft services. ATM and credit card fees increased to $3.08 million from $2.51 million in the first quarter last year.

Noninterest expense increased in the first quarter of 2011 to $26.16 million from $23.34 million in the same quarter last year. The increase in noninterest expense included $232,000 in technology conversion expenses and other expenses related to the Huntsville acquisition. The Company's efficiency ratio in the first quarter of 2011 was 49.07 percent compared with 50.36 percent in the same quarter last year.

As of March 31, 2011, consolidated assets for the Company totaled $3.83 billion compared with $3.35 billion a year ago. Loans totaled $1.68 billion at quarter end compared with loans of $1.50 billion a year ago. Total deposits were $3.13 billion as of March 31, 2011, compared with $2.69 billion a year earlier. Shareholders' equity rose to $456.22 million as of March 31, 2011, compared with $423.82 million the prior year.

"We are pleased to start the new year with an excellent first-quarter performance, especially given the continued challenges faced by the economy and the banking industry," said F. Scott Dueser, Chairman, President and CEO. "Even though the economy is showing some signs of improvement, we continue to take a cautious stance until we experience sustained improvement over a longer period of time."

About First Financial Bankshares

Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that operates 11 separately chartered banks with 52 locations in Texas. The bank subsidiaries are First Financial Bank, N.A., Abilene, Albany, Clyde, Moran and Odessa; First Financial Bank, N.A., Eastland, Ranger and Rising Star; First Financial Bank, N.A., Cleburne, Burleson, Alvarado, Midlothian and Crowley; First Financial Bank, Hereford; First Financial Bank, Huntsville; First Financial Bank, N.A., Mineral Wells; First Financial Bank, N.A., San Angelo; First Financial Bank, N.A., Southlake, Bridgeport, Boyd, Decatur, Keller and Trophy Club; First Financial Bank, N.A., Stephenville, Granbury, Glen Rose and Acton; First Financial Bank, N.A., Sweetwater, Roby, Trent and Merkel; and First Financial Bank, N.A., Weatherford, Willow Park, Aledo, Brock and Fort Worth. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with six locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company.

The Company is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol FFIN. For more information about First Financial Bankshares, please visit our website at http://www.ffin.com.

Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the belief of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made beyond information currently available to the Company's management, and may be, but not necessarily are, identified by such words as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "target", "forecast" and "goal". Because such "forward-looking statements" are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include competition from other financial institutions and financial holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses, and similar variables. Other key risks are described in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be obtained under "Investor Relations-Documents/Filings" on the Company's Web site or by writing or calling the Company at 325.627.7155. Except as otherwise stated in this news announcement, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

FIRST FINANCIAL BANKSHARES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL SUMMARY (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)


			March 31,
			2011		2010
ASSETS:
Cash and due from banks		$	105,969	$	95,234
Interest-bearing deposits in banks			203,018		192,848
Fed funds sold			4,945		-
Investment securities			1,662,792		1,407,708
Loans			1,681,812		1,499,001
	Allowance for loan losses		(32,501)		(28,750)
Net loans			1,649,311		1,470,251
Premises and equipment			70,301		65,652
Goodwill			71,865		62,113
Other intangible assets			547		880
Other assets			59,455		58,269
	Total assets	$	3,828,203	$	3,352,955

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Noninterest-bearing deposits		$	969,416	$	804,556
Interest-bearing deposits			2,162,474		1,885,558
	Total deposits		3,131,890		2,690,114
Short-term borrowings			192,171		189,095
Other liabilities			47,927		49,925
Shareholders' equity			456,215		423,821
	Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	3,828,203	$	3,352,955


			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
INCOME STATEMENTS			2011			2010
Interest income		$	39,727		$	36,345
Interest expense			2,400			3,699
Net interest income			37,327			32,646
Provision for loan losses			2,127			2,010
Net interest income after provision for loan losses			35,200			30,636
Noninterest income			12,842			11,110
Noninterest expense			26,161			23,338
	Net income before income taxes		21,881			18,408
Income tax expense			5,586			4,691
	Net income	$	16,295		$	13,717


PER COMMON SHARE DATA
Net income - basic		$	0.78		$	0.66
Net income - diluted			0.78			0.66
Cash dividends			0.34			0.34
Book value			21.77			20.33
Market value			51.37			51.56
Shares outstanding - end of period			20,957,505			20,845,424
Average outstanding shares - basic			20,950,389			20,834,972
Average outstanding shares - diluted			20,963,057			20,867,778

PERFORMANCE RATIOS
Return on average assets			1.76	%		1.68	%
Return on average equity			14.86			13.30
Net interest margin (tax equivalent)			4.72			4.69
Efficiency ratio			49.07			50.36

FIRST FINANCIAL BANKSHARES, INC.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)

					Quarter Ended
		2011			2010
		March 31,			Dec. 31,			Sept. 30,			June 30,			March 31,

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Balance at beginning of period	$	31,106		$	30,013		$	28,954		$	28,750		$	27,612
Loans charged off		(1,010)			(1,240)			(1,178)			(2,970)			(1,059)
Loan recoveries		278			341			249			201			187
Net charge-offs		(732)			(899)			(929)			(2,769)			(872)
Provision for loan losses		2,127			1,992			1,988			2,973			2,010
Balance at end of period	$	32,501		$	31,106		$	30,013		$	28,954		$	28,750

Allowance for loan losses /
period-end loans		1.93	%		1.84	%		1.95	%		1.91	%		1.92	%
Allowance for loan losses /
nonperforming loans		210.6			176.3			211.7			203.3			159.1
Net charge-offs / average loans
(annualized)		0.18			0.22			0.24			0.73			0.24


NONPERFORMING ASSETS
Nonaccrual loans	$	15,411		$	15,445		$	14,110		$	14,240		$	17,775
Accruing loans 90 days past due		23			2,196	*		69			1			290
Total nonperforming loans		15,434			17,641			14,179			14,241			18,065
Foreclosed assets		8,872			8,309			8,217			8,306			4,444
Total nonperforming assets	$	24,306		$	25,950		$	22,396		$	22,547		$	22,509

As a % of loans and foreclosed assets		1.44	%		1.53	%		1.45	%		1.48	%		1.50	%
As a % of end of period total assets		0.63			0.69			0.65			0.68			0.67
* In January 2011, a loan totaling $2.1 million accruing past due 90 days paid off.

CAPITAL RATIOS
Tier 1 Risk-based		17.60	%		17.01	%		18.19	%		18.22	%		18.02	%
Total Risk-based		18.86			18.26			19.45			19.48			19.28
Tier 1 Leverage		10.03			10.28			10.89			10.63			10.50
Equity to assets		11.92			11.70			13.08			12.92			12.64


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
NONINTEREST INCOME		2011		2010
Gain on securities transactions, net		219		1
Trust fees		3,044		2,526
Service charges on deposits		4,373		4,858
Real estate mortgage fees		933		560
Net gain (loss) on sale of foreclosed assets		(63)		11
ATM and credit card fees		3,077		2,511
Other noninterest income		1,259		643
Total Noninterest Income	$	12,842	$	11,110




NONINTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries and employee benefits, excluding profit sharing	$	13,110	$	11,917
Profit sharing expense		1,125		740
Net occupancy expense		1,647		1,578
Equipment expense		1,871		1,838
Printing, stationery and supplies		428		429
ATM and credit card expenses		1,148		884
Audit fees		272		276
Legal, tax and professional fees		1,221		881
FDIC Insurance premiums		970		988
Correspondent bank service charges		200		191
Advertising and public relations		808		700
Amortization of intangible assets		111		159
Other noninterest expense		3,250		2,757
Total Noninterest Expense	$	26,161	$	23,338



TAX EQUIVALENT YIELD ADJUSTMENT	$	3,148	$	2,590

FIRST FINANCIAL BANKSHARES, INC.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)

		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2011
		Average		Tax Equivalent	Yield /
		Balance		Interest	Rate

Interest-earning assets:
Fed funds sold	$	4,689	$	1	0.10	%
Interest-bearing deposits in nonaffiliated banks		200,748		366	0.74	%
Taxable securities		1,050,477		9,592	3.65	%
Tax exempt securities		542,941		8,327	6.13	%
Loans		1,677,188		24,589	5.95	%
Total interest-earning assets		3,476,043		42,875	5.00	%
Noninterest-earning assets		278,702
Total assets	$	3,754,745

Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits	$	2,169,097	$	2,349	0.44	%
Fed funds purchased and other short term borrowings		189,963		51	0.11	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		2,359,060		2,400	0.41	%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities		950,975
Shareholders' equity		444,710
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	3,754,745

Net interest income and margin (tax equivalent)			$	40,475	4.72	%