HF Financial Corp. Reports Fiscal Third Quarter Profit, Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend of $0.1125 per Share

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- HF Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: HFFC) today reported it earned $459,000, or $0.07 per diluted share in the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2011, down from $1.7 million, or $0.25 per diluted share in the fiscal second quarter of 2011.  Net income for the fiscal third quarter a year ago was $1.8 million, or $0.26 per diluted share.  In the first nine months of fiscal 2011, net income totaled $2.7 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to $4.6 million, or $0.86 per diluted share in the first nine months of fiscal 2010 when it had 1.6 million fewer diluted weighted average shares than it did at March 31, 2011.

"We have grown our capital, maintained our uninterrupted payment of dividends and continue our efforts to build shareholder value and leverage our platform as we expand into the Twin Cities," said Curt Hage, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Our dairy portfolio continues to experience stress, though we believe we are moving efficiently towards resolution of the non-performing loans in that category.  Our reserves remain strong and the non-dairy portion of our loan portfolio is performing well.  Loan diversification has been an important part of our success and has enabled us to weather the economic downturn better than many of our peers."

Fiscal Third Quarter Financial Highlights (at or for the period ended March 31, 2011)

• Capital levels well exceeded the regulatory required levels of 10%, 6% and 5%, respectively, to meet the well-capitalized requirement established by regulators:
  •  Total risk-based capital to risk weighted assets was 12.60%
  •  Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets was 11.71%
  •  Tier 1 capital to total adjusted assets was 9.39%.
• Cash dividends, paid for over 18 years, are an important part of building shareholder value.  The most recent dividend of $0.1125 per share generates a current annualized yield of 4.10% at recent market prices.
• Nonperforming assets (NPAs) increased to $34.4 million, or 2.85% of total assets in the third fiscal quarter, from $31.7 million, or 2.58% of total assets in the previous quarter, with the majority of NPAs linked to the dairy industry.  Classified assets declined to $74.5 million at March 31, 2011 from $81.8 million at December 31, 2010.
• Total adjusted revenue for the three quarters ended March 31, 2011, which excludes other-than-temporary impairment credit loss and net gains on the sale of securities, increased 7.5% compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year due to the combination of increases in net interest income and noninterest income.  Adjusted revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure.  
• The net interest margin expressed on a fully taxable equivalent basis ("NIM, TE") maintained its stability at 3.31% in the fiscal third quarter compared to 3.32% in the previous quarter.  For the nine months ended March 31, 2011, the NIM, TE remained steady at 3.32%.  NIM, TE is a non-GAAP financial measure.
• Due largely to the seasonal outflow of public funds, total deposits decreased $21.9 million compared to the previous quarter.  In-market deposits excluding public funds increased $3.9 million from December 31, 2010.  
• Borrowings declined as loan repayments were deployed to reduce external borrowings.
• Tangible common equity ratio increased from the previous quarter to 7.58% and tangible book value increased to $13.06 per share.

Economic Update

In March, South Dakota's unemployment rate was 4.9%, down from 5.1% in March 2010.  "This year there were 2,900 more employed workers in the state than a year ago, whereas a year ago South Dakota saw a year-over-year loss of 5,200 workers," according to Pam Roberts, State Labor and Regulation Secretary.  

"Our economy is picking up as many major companies have call centers here and we have not been dependent on the depressed construction market," said Hage.  "We remain focused on providing banking services to the greater Sioux Falls market and meeting the borrowing needs of our community.  Additionally, we see opportunities in the Twin Cities market where many banks have been weakened by the economic recession and borrowers are looking for strong financial institutions like HF Financial."  

Expansion into the Twin Cities

HF Financial Corp. will be opening a new branch at 3601 Minnesota Drive in Bloomington, MN in the spring of 2011.  The branch will operate under the identity of Infinia Bank, a Division of Home Federal Bank of South Dakota.  The name change is for the purpose of distinguishing the branch operations from other financial institutions in the Twin Cities market with a similar name as Home Federal.  Stephen Bianchi, President-Twin Cities, who has extensive experience in Minnesota banking, will lead the Twin Cities initiative.  "The Twin Cities provides considerable opportunities for a strong bank franchise.  The large metropolitan area will allow us to leverage our strong platform established in South Dakota where personnel and franchise costs are less expensive," said Bianchi.  "Our focus will be on business banking until we identify additional opportunities that could help us build out the full-service community bank presence."

Asset Quality and Balance Sheet Review

"Loans and leases declined primarily from pay down activity within the commercial and ag real estate loan categories, which contributed to the decline in total assets since December 31, 2010," noted Darrel Posegate, President of Home Federal Bank.  Also impacting the balance sheet were the increases in lower cost funding sources and the repayment of external borrowings.  Loans and leases receivable, net declined by $22.3 million to $825.3 million at March 31, 2011 from the preceding quarter, while loans held for sale declined by $10.3 million from the preceding quarter.  Liquidity continues to remain high, both on balance sheet and through off-balance sheet access to funds.

Largely because of the outflow of seasonal public funds, deposits decreased to $888.4 million from $910.3 million at December 31, 2010.  Noninterest-bearing demand deposits totaled $108.9 million at March 31, 2011, or 12.3% of the deposit portfolio.  Total low-cost deposits (excluding all time deposits) were $500.5 million or 56.3% of the deposit portfolio compared to $444.2 million or 52.9% of total deposits a year ago when certificates of deposits were a higher percentage of total deposits.  "We continue transitioning from a thrift balance sheet -- where a large amount of deposits consisted of certificates of deposit -- to a bank balance sheet with a greater portion of our deposits in transaction accounts," said Hage.

Nonperforming assets (NPAs) increased to $34.4 million at March 31, 2011, from $31.7 million the previous quarter.  Total NPAs were 2.85% of total assets at the end of March, compared to 2.58% at December 31, 2010.  As noted in the previous quarter, the problem credits are primarily related to the deterioration in dairy farming.  Dairy loans totaled approximately $44.5 million at March 31, 2011, with $17.3 million in nonperforming status.  "We are beginning to see some resolution in the non-performing status of our dairy loans through foreclosures and improved dairy prices which we expect will support our current valuations," Hage said.   Nonperforming assets consist of non-accruing loans, accruing loans 90 days or more past due and foreclosed assets.  

The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2011 totaled $13.5 million, representing 1.61% of total loans outstanding and 40.1% of nonperforming loans, compared to $13.1 million, or 1.52% of total loans and 41.4% of nonperforming loans at December 31, 2010.  Non-accruing loans and leases totaled $27.1 million, compared to $26.9 million in the preceding quarter.  Net charge-offs in the quarter totaled $1.5 million, or 0.71%, annualized, of average loans outstanding, compared to $538,000, or 0.24%, annualized, of average loans outstanding the fiscal second quarter.  At March 31, 2011, the total amount of restructured loans that are performing is $4.3 million while restructured loans in nonaccrual status was $12.0 million.  Restructured loans consist primarily of agricultural loans.

The investment securities portfolio held six trust preferred pools at an adjusted cost basis of $8.8 million and a fair value of $3.4 million.  The Company recorded a $549,000 net impairment credit loss on these investments for the quarter, compared to no adjustments for the previous quarter.  

Tangible common shareholders' equity to tangible assets increased to 7.58% at March 31, 2011 compared to 7.37% at December 31, 2010.  Tangible book value per common share increased to $13.06, compared to $12.90 in the previous quarter.  

Capital ratios continued to strengthen and as a result, HF Financial remains well-capitalized with Tier 1 Capital to Risk Weighted Assets of 11.71% at March 31, 2011, while its Tier 1 Capital to Adjusted Total Assets was 9.39%.  These regulatory ratios were much higher than the required minimum levels of 6.00% and 5.00%, respectively.

Review of Operations  

The provision for loan losses increased from the preceding quarter by $681,000, gain on sale of loans decreased by $479,000, net impairment credit losses increased $549,000, and noninterest expense decreased $552,000.  These were the primary factors which resulted in a decreased net income, before income taxes, of $2.0 million when compared to the linked-quarter ended December 31, 2010.

Third quarter fiscal 2011 net interest income, before the provision for loan losses, decreased by $595,000 on a linked-quarter basis and decreased $307,000 from the same period in fiscal 2010.  Net interest income totaled $9.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to $9.6 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2011, and $9.4 million in the year ago quarter.  

The NIM, TE, as a percentage of average earning assets was 3.31% for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to 3.32% for the previous quarter.  Year-to-date, the NIM, TE remained at 3.32% and the same as in the first nine months of fiscal 2010.  

Fiscal third quarter noninterest income was $2.6 million, or a $1.3 million decrease from the preceding quarter. This reduction was due primarily to a decrease in single-family mortgage activity from the record levels experienced in the second quarter of fiscal 2011, while a seasonal reduction in interchange income also affected fees on deposits.  The Company also recorded a $549,000 net impairment credit loss on investments for the quarter, compared to no adjustments for the previous quarter.  On a fiscal year-to-date basis, noninterest income has increased by $2.4 million to $10.2 million when compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Noninterest, or operating, expenses decreased to $9.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 from $9.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011, primarily reflecting lower compensation expenses, marketing fees and professional fees.  On a fiscal year-to-date basis, noninterest expense has increased by $1.9 million to $28.2 million when compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Quarterly Dividend Declared

The board of directors has declared another regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.1125 per common share for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  The dividend is payable May 13, 2011 to stockholders of record May 6, 2011.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). "Adjusted Revenue," which excludes other-than-temporary impairment charges and net gain on the sale of securities, and "Net Interest Margin, TE" are non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes Adjusted Revenue is useful to investors because it allows for greater transparency, facilitates comparison to prior periods and peer results and assists in forecasting performance for future periods.  Further information regarding the usefulness of Net Interest Margin, TE appears in the notes to the attached financial statements.  The Company believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures will permit investors to assess the Company's core operating results on the same basis as management. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental to, not a substitute for or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. As other companies may use different calculations for these measures, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Reconciliation of the Non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are set forth in the notes to the attached financial statements.

About HF Financial Corp.

HF Financial Corp., based in Sioux Falls, SD, is the parent company for financial services companies, including Home Federal Bank, Mid America Capital Services, Inc., dba Mid America Leasing Company, Hometown Investment Services, Inc. and HF Financial Group, Inc.  The largest publicly traded savings association headquartered in South Dakota, HF Financial Corp. operates with 33 offices in 19 communities, throughout Eastern South Dakota and one location in Marshall, Minnesota.  The Company has secured a location in the Twin Cities market to establish a new branch bank to be operated as Infinia Bank, a Division of Home Federal Bank of South Dakota.  Internet banking is also available at www.homefederal.com.

This news release and other reports issued by the Company, including reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, contain "forward-looking statements" that deal with future results, expectations, plans and performance.  In addition, the Company's management may make forward-looking statements orally to the media, securities analysts, investors or others.  These forward-looking statements might include one or more of the following:

• Projections of income, loss, revenues, earnings or losses per share, dividends, capital expenditures, capital structure, adequacy of loan loss reserves, tax benefit or other financial items.
• Descriptions of plans or objectives of management for future operations, products or services, transactions, investments and use of subordinated debentures payable to trusts.
• Forecasts of future economic performance.
• Use and descriptions of assumptions and estimates underlying or relating to such matters.

Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  They often include words such as "optimism," "look-forward," "bright," "pleased," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could" or "may".

Forward-looking statements about the Company's expected financial results and other plans are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  These include, but are not limited to the following: possible legislative changes and adverse economic, business and competitive conditions and developments (such as shrinking interest margins and continued short-term environments); additional other-than-temporary impairment credit loss incurred in the Company's trust preferred securities portfolio; deposit outflows, reduced demand for financial services and loan products; changes in accounting policies or guidelines, or in monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government; changes in credit and other risks posed by the Company's loan and lease portfolios; the ability or inability of the Company to manage interest rate and other risks; unexpected or continuing claims against the Company's self-insured health plan; the ability or inability of the Company to successfully enter into a definitive agreement for and close anticipated transactions; technological, computer-related or operational difficulties; adverse changes in securities markets; results of litigation; and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, and its subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.  The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.  Although the Company believes its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.  Based upon changing conditions, should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in any forward-looking statements.