NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Heritage Bankshares, Inc. ("Heritage"; the "Company") (OTCQB: HBKS), the parent of Heritage Bank (the "Bank"), today announced unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2014.

The Company's net income for the full year of 2014 was a record $2,872,000, an increase of $351,000 from net income of $2,521,000 for the full year of 2013.  For the full year of 2014, the Company's earnings per diluted common share were $1.19 compared to $1.04 per diluted common share for the full year of 2013.

The Company's net income was $593,000 for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to net income of $677,000 for the fourth quarter of 2013, a decrease of $84,000.  For the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company's earnings available to common shareholders were $574,000 compared to earnings available to common shareholders of $658,000 for the fourth quarter of 2013, or $0.24 and $0.28 per diluted common share, respectively.  Net income for the fourth quarter of 2013 included a pre-tax gain of $349,000 from the sale of a former branch facility.  Excluding this gain, net income for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $146,000, or 32.7%, higher than the net income for the fourth quarter of 2013.

Michael S. Ives, President and CEO of the Company and the Bank, commented:

As we enter 2015, we are quite optimistic about what the new year holds for us. Our restructuring of our deposit banking operations is complete, and our deposit bankers are unsurpassed in their professionalism and knowledge of deposit products and operations.

During 2014, we added Trent Dudley as our new Chief Lending Officer in June and completed our restructuring of our lending operations by the end of the year. Even in the midst of change, we grew our net outstanding loan balance from $207.6 million at January 31, 2014 to $224.7 million as of December 31, 2014, an increase of eight percent over the past twelve months. In addition, we sold to other banks participation interests in some of the largest loans that we originated in 2014 with total outstanding balances for these participations of approximately $15.6 million at December 31, 2014.  We expect that we will continue to improve our loan production in 2015 with the benefit of Trent's leadership and his personal calling efforts for the entire year.

Comparison of Operating Results for the Full Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

Overview.   The Company's pretax income was $3,750,000 for the full year of 2014, compared to pretax income of $3,491,000 for the full year of 2013, an increase of $259,000, primarily attributable to decreases in noninterest expenses.

Net Interest Income.  The Company's net interest income before provision for loan losses decreased by $24,000, comparing the full year of 2014 and 2013.  Our average loan portfolio increased $2.5 million to $221.1 million for the full year 2014, compared to $218.6 million for the full year 2013.  Our average certificates of deposit ("CDs") in other financial institutions increased by $9.4 million and our average investment in securities and other interest-earning assets (excluding loans and CDs) increased by $3.3 million, for a net increase in interest-earning assets of $15.2 million comparing the two twelve-month periods.  Average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $13.7 million from $174.4 million in the full year of 2013 to $188.1 million in the full year of 2014.  Comparing the two twelve-month periods, our net interest rate spread decreased 15 basis points from 2.97% for the full year of 2013 to 2.82% for the full year of 2014.  Our net interest margin decreased from 3.18% for the full year of 2013 to 3.01% for the full year of 2014, a difference of 17 basis points. 

Provision for Loan Losses.  There was no provision for loan losses in either year ending December 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013.  There were net recoveries of $13,000 in the full year of 2014 and net charge-offs of $145,000 in the full year of 2013.

Noninterest Income.  Total noninterest income increased by $24,000, from $1,518,000 in the full year of 2013 to $1,542,000 in the full year of 2014.  Decreases in gain on sale of other real estate owned, late charges and other fees on loans and gain on sale of other assets of $349,000, $242,000 and $189,000, respectively, were offset by a $672,000 increase in income from bank-owned life insurance and a $205,000 increase in gain on sale of investment securities.

Noninterest Expense.  Total noninterest expense was $7,060,000 for the full year of 2014, a $259,000 decrease from $7,319,000 in the full year of 2013.  A $169,000 decrease in compensation expense and a $120,000 decrease in loss on disposal of fixed assets were partially offset by a $66,000 increase in taxes and licenses.

Income Taxes.  The Company's income tax expense for the full year of 2014 was $878,000, reflecting an effective tax rate of 23.4%, compared to income tax expense of $970,000 and an effective tax rate of 27.8%, for the full year of 2013, a rate decrease that is attributable to non-taxable life insurance proceeds.

Net Income Available to Common Stockholders.  Net income available to common stockholders was $2,794,000 for the full year of 2014, compared to $2,416,000 for the full year of 2013, an increase of $378,000, or $0.15 per diluted common share.

Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

Overview.   The Company's pretax income was $838,000 for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to pretax income of $938,000 for the fourth quarter of 2013.  A $115,000 increase in net interest income after provision for loan losses and a $97,000 decrease in noninterest expense were offset by a $312,000 decrease in noninterest income from a $349,000 non-recurring gain on the sale of real estate owned in December 2013.

Net Interest Income.  The Company's net interest income before provision for loan losses increased by $115,000, comparing the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2013.  The average loan balance for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $226.2 million, a $9.2 million increase from $217.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Our average certificates of deposit ("CDs") in other financial institutions increased by $9.2 million and our average investment in securities and other interest-earning assets (excluding loans and CDs) increased by $10.4 million for a net increase in interest-earning assets of $28.8 million.  Average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $19.2 million from $171.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 to $191.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, attributable to increased interest-bearing deposits and short-term borrowings at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.  Comparing the two quarters ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, our net interest rate spread decreased from 2.92% for the fourth quarter 2013 to 2.81% for the fourth quarter of 2014.  Our net interest margin decreased from 3.12% for the fourth quarter of 2013 to 2.98% for the fourth quarter of 2014.

Provision for Loan Losses.  There was no provision for loan losses in either quarter ending December 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013.  There were net recoveries of $4,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014.  In the fourth quarter of 2013, there were net charge-offs of $145,000 which included a $148,000 charge-off from one consumer home equity line of credit.

Noninterest Income.  Total noninterest income decreased by $312,000, from $526,000 in the fourth quarter of 2013 to $214,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014, primarily as the result of a $349,000 non-recurring gain on sale of other real estate owned in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Noninterest Expense.  Total noninterest expense was $1,760,000 for the fourth quarter of 2014, a $97,000 decrease from $1,857,000 in the fourth quarter of 2013, primarily because of a $143,000 decrease in compensation expense partially offset by a $43,000 increase in other expenses.

Income Taxes.  The Company's income tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $245,000, an effective tax rate of 29.2%, compared to income tax expense of $261,000 for the fourth quarter of 2013, an effective tax rate of 27.8%.

Net Income Available to Common Stockholders.  Net income available to common stockholders was $574,000 for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $658,000 for the fourth quarter of 2013, a decrease of $84,000, or $0.04 per diluted common share.

Financial Condition of the Company

Total Assets.  The Company's total assets at December 31, 2014 were $343.5 million, a $34.5 million increase from $309.0 million at December 31, 2013.

Investments.  Overall investments, including overnight interest-earning deposits in other banks, federal funds sold, CDs in other banks, and investments in securities, increased by a net of $27.0 million from $68.4 million at December 31, 2013 to $95.4 million at December 31, 2014.  The Company increased its investments in securities available for sale by $17.6 million and its CDs in other banks by $9.2 million because this type of investment offered higher yields than comparable maturities of securities and, in the event of substantial increases in intermediate-term interest rates, CDs do not require valuation adjustments on our balance sheet and may be redeemed at par with only early withdrawal penalties impacting our income statement.

Loans.  Loans held for investment, net, increased by $8.2 million, or 3.8%, from $216.4 million at December 31, 2013 to $224.6 million at December 31, 2014.

Asset Quality.  Nonperforming assets were $931,000, or 0.27% of total assets, at December 31, 2014, compared to $743,000 in nonperforming assets, or 0.24% of total assets, at December 31, 2013.  At December 31, 2014, there were no nonaccrual loans and one consumer mortgage loan accruing interest but past due 90 days.  Other real estate owned consisted only of one bank branch facility that closed in July 2013.

Deposits.  Total deposits at December 31, 2014 were $266.9 million compared to $263.6 million at December 31, 2013, an increase of $3.3 million.  Core deposits, which are comprised of noninterest-bearing, money market, NOW and savings deposits, increased by $3.2 million from $246.9 million at December 31, 2013 to $250.1 million at December 31, 2014.  Noninterest bearing deposits increased by $2.3 million to $101.6 million at December 31, 2014 and increased from 37.7% of total deposits at December 31, 2013 to 38.1% at December 31, 2014.

Average total deposits decreased by $3.9 million from $278.7 million for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2013 to $274.8 million for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2014.  Average core deposits remained stable comparing the two twelve-month periods while average CDs decreased by $3.7 million during that same time period.  Average noninterest-bearing deposits decreased by $1.3 million, from $107.0 million in the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2013 to $105.7 million in the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2014.  As a percentage of average total deposits, average noninterest-bearing deposits increased from 38.4% at December 31, 2013 to 38.5% at December 31, 2014.

Borrowed Funds.  Borrowed funds, which consist of Federal Home Loan Bank advances, customer repurchase agreements, and other borrowings, increased by $29.2 million, from $4.6 million at December 31, 2013 to $33.8 million at December 31, 2014, primarily from increased short-term advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.  These advances at an average cost of 26 basis points replaced interest-bearing deposits at an average cost of 49 basis points, lowering our overall cost of funds by 3 basis points during the full year of 2014 compared to the full year of 2013.

Capital.  Stockholders' equity increased by $1.9 million, from $38.9 million at December 31, 2013 to $40.8 million at December 31, 2014, primarily due to a $1.5 million increase in retained earnings.

The tables attached to and incorporated within this release present in greater detail certain of the unaudited financial information described above.

Dividends

On January 28, 2015, our Board of Directors declared the Company's regular quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share on our common stock.  The dividend will be paid on February 20, 2015 to common shareholders of record on February 9, 2015.

The Company will pay dividends of $19,500 on the preferred stock issued in connection with our participation in the SBLF program.  This dividend shall be paid on April 1, 2015 to the holders of the SBLF preferred stock of record on March 20, 2015.  Currently the sole shareholder of record of the SBLF preferred stock is the Secretary of the Treasury.

About Heritage

Heritage is the parent company of Heritage Bank (www.heritagebankva.com).  Heritage Bank has two full-service branches in the city of Norfolk, two full-service branches in the city of Virginia Beach, and one full-service branch in the city of Chesapeake.

Forward Looking Statements

The press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements".  Forward-looking statements address future events, developments or results and typically use words such as believe, anticipate, expect, intend, plan, forecast, outlook, or estimate.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Heritage's actual results, performance, achievements, and business strategy to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or business strategy expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements  Heritage disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Heritage Bankshares, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.heritagebankva.com