Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. Announces Quarterly Earnings

HARVARD, Ill., May 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (OTC: HARI), the holding company for Harvard Savings Bank (the "Bank"), announced today its unaudited results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Results of operations. The Company reported unaudited net income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 of $136,000, compared to unaudited net income of $234,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Net income decreased $98,000, or 41.9%, during the first quarter of 2015, compared to the first quarter of 2014. The decrease in net income was due to an increase in noninterest expense of $151,000 and a decrease in interest and dividend income of $175,000, partially offset by an increase in noninterest income of $28,000 and decreases in interest expense, provision for loan losses, and the provision for income taxes of $41,000, $45,000 and $114,000, respectively. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily due to an increase in legal and professional fees of $275,000 related to the recently announced transaction with The State Bank Group, ongoing regulatory issues, and recovery efforts with respect to the defaulted repurchase agreement purchased through Pennant Management, Inc. The decrease in interest and dividend income was primarily due to a decrease of $7.7 million in average interest-earning assets, and a decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets of 24 basis points  to 4.00%. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to deposits and borrowings re-pricing at current lower rates as the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 14 basis points to 0.85%, partially offset by an increase in average interest-bearing liabilities of $3.3 million. The decrease in the provision for income taxes to zero reflected the impact of the non-recurring decrease in valuation allowances recorded for deferred tax assets.

Stockholders' equity. Total stockholders' equity increased $183,000 to $10.3 million at March 31, 2015 from $10.1 million at December 31, 2014, primarily as a result of the net income of $136,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015. 

Non-performing assets.  Non-performing assets increased $16.8 million to $19.7 million or 12.21% as a percent of total assets at March 31, 2015, compared to $2.9 million or 1.72% as a percent of total assets at March 31, 2014. Included in non-performing assets were non-performing loans which increased $8.7 million to $11.5 million or 9.48% as a percent of loans at March 31, 2015, compared to $2.9 million or 2.47% as a percent of loans at March 31, 2014.  Non-performing assets at March 31, 2015 included $13.4 million related to the Bank's investment in the defaulted repurchase agreement purchased through Pennant Management, Inc., $6.0 million of which was included in non-performing loans. At March 31, 2015, the net recognized receivable for the defaulted repurchase agreement totaled $7.5 million, net of a valuation allowance of $5.9 million recognized.

Selected Consolidated Financial and Other Data

The financial condition data at March 31, 2015 and the operating data for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 is derived in part derived in part from the consolidated financial statements of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. and is unaudited. The financial condition data at December 31, 2014 is derived in part from the audited consolidated financial statements of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the unaudited periods have been made.  The selected operating data presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for future periods.

Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. is a Maryland chartered stock holding company.  The Company is headquartered at 58 North Ayer Street, Harvard, Illinois.  The Company's operations are limited to its ownership of Harvard Savings Bank, an Illinois chartered savings bank, which operates three offices located in McHenry and Grundy Counties in Illinois.  All information at and for the periods ended March 31, 2015, has been derived from unaudited financial information.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, and is including this statement for purposes of these safe harbor provisions.  Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and experiences of the Company, are generally identified by use of the words "believe", "expect", "intend", "anticipate", "estimate", "project", or similar expressions.  The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain.  Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and the subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, changes in: interest rates, general economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board, the quality or composition of the loan or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows, competition, demand for financial services in the Company's market area and accounting principles and guidelines.  These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.

SOURCE Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc.