Pacific Continental Corporation Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2011 Results

EUGENE, Ore., Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Continental Corporation (Nasdaq: PCBK), the holding company of Pacific Continental Bank, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2011.

Recent highlights:

• Fiscal year 2011 net income up 4.9% over prior year.
• Reductions in nonperforming and classified assets continue.
• Commercial loans expand 12.2% year-to-date.
• Announced increase in fourth quarter 2011 cash dividend to shareholders.
• Total risk-based capital ratio of 19.22%, significantly above the 10.0% minimum for "well-capitalized" designation.
• Recognized once again as one of Oregon's most admired companies in the Portland Business Journal's annual Most Admired Companies Survey.
• Funded a $5 million SBA guaranteed loan in the Portland market, the highest-dollar loan guaranteed and approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Portland District.

Net Income
For the full year 2011, net income was $5.3 million, up 4.9% over 2010. Earnings per diluted share for 2011 were $0.29 compared to $0.28 in 2010. Return on average assets and return on average tangible equity for 2011 were 0.44% and 3.45% and were similar to 2010 results of 0.43% and 3.44%, respectively.

For the fourth quarter 2011, the Company recorded a net loss of $852 thousand or $0.05 per share that compares unfavorably with 2010 fourth quarter net income of $1.2 million or $0.06 per diluted share. The fourth-quarter loss results primarily from increased loan loss provisioning and other real estate owned valuation impairments required upon receipt of appraisals on two isolated properties described more fully in the December 12, 2011, press release.

"We have achieved two consecutive years of profitability, and we are beginning to see increased lending activities as evidenced by the more than 12 percent growth in commercial loans," said Hal Brown, chief executive officer. "Despite the fourth quarter earnings setback, I am encouraged by the improvement in balance sheet fundamentals in what is still a very difficult economic environment," added Brown.

Classified assets, provisioning and loan statistics
Classified assets continued a six-quarter trend of decline, and at December 31, 2011, totaled $68.5 million, a decrease of $12.5 million from the end of the prior quarter and down $41.3 million, or 38% from December 31, 2010. Nonperforming assets, a subcategory of classified assets, totaled $37.1 million at December 31, 2011, or 2.92% of total assets, a decrease from 2010 year-end and 2011 third-quarter-end ratios of 3.82% and 3.56%, respectively.

Loans past-due 30-89 days (excluding nonaccrual loans) were 0.41% of total loans at December 31, 2011, down from 0.59% at the end of the third quarter 2011 and 0.77% at the end of 2010. This is the tenth consecutive quarter in which this ratio was near or below one percent, a trend that suggests stabilization in the migration of problem loans.

"Concerted efforts to significantly reduce classified and problem assets were successful in 2011 and will continue into 2012," said Roger Busse, president and chief operating officer. "This success now allows for talented bankers to shift more attention to additional business development and growth initiatives while we continue driving problem loan reductions," added Busse.

The Company's 2011 provision for loan losses totaled $12.9 million down from $15.0 million in 2010. During the fourth quarter 2011, the provision totaled $7.0 million, compared to $3.3 million of a year ago and $1.8 million for the third quarter 2011. The significant increase in the fourth quarter 2011 provision for loan losses is primarily related to a single loan secured by industrial zoned bare land. Previous appraisals of the subject land indicated sufficient collateral value; however, a December appraisal noted significant deterioration in value when compared to the prior appraisal performed in late 2010. As a result of the new appraised value, the Company recorded a charge-off of $5.2 million on the collateral-dependent loan during the fourth quarter 2011.

The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of outstanding loans at December 31, 2011, was 1.82%, compared to 1.93% at December 31, 2010.

Commercial loan activity strengthens
Outstanding gross loans at December 31, 2011, were $820.8 million, down $7.7 million from the end of third quarter 2011 and down $36.1 million from one year ago, reflecting contraction in the construction and real estate portfolios. For the year, construction loans contracted $19.8 million and real estate loans contracted an additional $44.4 million. During the fourth quarter, the bank received a payoff of $10.1 million on a single non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan which otherwise masked fourth quarter growth in outstanding loans.

Commercial loans increased $14.7 million during the fourth quarter 2011 and were up $29.6 million or 12.2% over December 31, 2010, outstanding loans. This growth continues to validate the Company's business model and focused strategy on meeting the credit needs of community-based businesses, nonprofit organizations, health care and professional service providers. Loans to health care professionals and dentists, in particular, have continued to grow. Dental practice loans now represent 25.4% of the total loan portfolio and continue to perform very well.

Core deposit growth slows
Company-defined core deposits continue to grow but at a slower pace than in previous quarters. Period-end core deposits grew by $5.1 million from the end of third quarter 2011 while average core deposits for the quarter declined by $14.6 million. For the full year 2011, core deposits averaged $879.8 million, an increase of $52.7 million or 6.4% from the average core deposits for 2010. At period-end, noninterest-bearing demand deposits totaled $278.6 million and represent 31.4% of core deposits.

"We are beginning to see increased activity and subsequent volatility in larger depositor balances," said Hal Brown. "This would seem consistent with increased economic activity as commercial customers gain confidence and begin to employ otherwise idle funds," added Brown.

Capital levels
The Company's capital ratios continue to be well above the minimum FDIC well-capitalized designated levels. At December 31, 2011, the Company's Tier 1 leverage ratio, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, and Total risk-based capital ratio were 13.09%, 17.97% and 19.22% as compared to 13.38%, 15.86% and 17.10% at December 31, 2010. The FDIC's minimum well-capitalized designation ratios are 5.00%, 6.00% and 10.00%, respectively.

Net interest margin
For the full year 2011, the net interest margin averaged 4.61%, a decline of 12 basis points from the 4.73% reported for 2010. The contraction in the loan portfolio and concurrent growth in the lower yielding securities portfolio contributed to the year-over-year decline in the net interest margin. For 2011 the securities portfolio grew by $92.6 million and at year-end represents 27% of total assets versus 21% of total assets one year ago.

The net interest margin for the fourth quarter 2011 was 4.59%, up 3 basis points from the 4.56% margin reported for third quarter 2011, and down 4 basis points from the 4.63% margin reported for fourth quarter 2010. The linked-quarter improvement in the net interest margin was primarily attributable to a lower cost of funds. The cost of interest-bearing funds fell 22 basis points during the quarter while the yield on average earning assets declined 11 basis points. The net interest margin for the current period and all prior periods has been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis using a 35% tax rate.

Noninterest income and expense
Full-year noninterest income was $5.9 million up from $4.6 million in 2010. Excluding gains on sales of securities and impairment charges on investment securities, 2011 noninterest income was flat with 2010, with increases in merchant bankcard activity offset by declines in mortgage revenues. Noninterest income for the fourth quarter 2011 was down $173 thousand from the same quarter last year. Most of this difference is attributable to one-time revenues recorded during the fourth quarter 2010. On a linked-quarter basis, and excluding gains on the sale of securities in both quarters and a $140 thousand rental income benefit recorded in the third quarter, fourth quarter 2011 noninterest income was relatively flat compared with third quarter 2011. During the fourth quarter 2011, the Company made an investment of $15 million in bank-owned life insurance ("BOLI") that is expected to add $125 to $150 thousand per quarter to noninterest income in 2012.

Noninterest expense in fourth quarter 2011 was up $996 thousand over fourth quarter 2010, and up $860 thousand on a linked-quarter basis. The linked-quarter increase was primarily attributable to foreclosed property expense that totaled $1.2 million in the fourth quarter 2011. Approximately $977 thousand of the other real estate expense was valuation write downs on various properties the largest of which was $640 thousand and related to a single undeveloped commercial property previously announced in the December 12, 2011, press release. For the full year 2011, noninterest expense was up $4.0 million or 12.0%. Expenses related to problem assets, specifically, legal fees, repossession and collection expense, and other real estate expense accounted for $2.3 million of the total increase in expenses for the year.

Conference call and audio webcast:
Management will conduct a live conference call and audio webcast for interested parties relating to the Company's results for the fourth quarter 2011 on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time / 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the conference call, interested parties should call (866) 292-1418. The webcast will be available via Pacific Continental's website (http://www.therightbank.com/). To listen to the live audio webcast, click on the webcast presentation link on the Company's home page a few minutes before the presentation is scheduled to begin. An audio webcast replay is typically available within twenty-four hours following the live webcast and will be archived for one year on the Pacific Continental website. Any questions regarding the conference call presentation or webcast should be directed to Maecey Castle, vice president and director of corporate communications, at (541) 686-8685.

About Pacific Continental Bank
Pacific Continental Bank, the operating subsidiary of Pacific Continental Corporation, delivers highly personalized services through fourteen banking offices in Oregon and Washington. The Bank also operates a loan production office in Tacoma, Washington. Pacific Continental, with $1.3 billion in assets, has established one of the most unique and attractive metropolitan branch networks in the Pacific Northwest with offices in three of the region's largest markets including Seattle, Portland and Eugene. Pacific Continental targets the banking needs of community-based businesses, health care professionals, professional service providers and nonprofit organizations.

Since its founding in 1972, Pacific Continental Bank has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions from highly regarded third-party organizations including The Seattle Times, the Portland Business Journal and Oregon Business magazine. A complete list of the company's awards and recognitions – as well as supplementary information about Pacific Continental Bank – can be found online at www.therightbank.com. Pacific Continental Corporation's shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "PCBK" and are a component of the Russell 2000 Index.

Forward-Looking Statement Safe Harbor
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"). Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements about future suggested problem loan migration, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including but not limited to the following: the high concentration of loans of the company's banking subsidiary in commercial and residential real estate lending; adverse economic trends in the United States and the markets we serve affecting the Bank's borrower base; a continued decline in the housing and real estate market; a continued increase in unemployment or sustained high levels of unemployment; continued erosion or sustained low levels of consumer confidence; changes in the regulatory environment and increases in associated costs, particularly ongoing compliance expenses and resource allocation needs; vendor quality and efficiency; the company's ability to control risks associated with rapidly changing technology both from an internal perspective as well as for external providers; increased competition among financial institutions; fluctuating interest rate environments; a tightening of available credit and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the sections titled "Risk Factors", "Business" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", as applicable, from Pacific Continental's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. Pacific Continental Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update the forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release. This statement is included for the express purpose of invoking PSLRA's safe harbor provisions.