Peoples Bancorp Inc. Announces First Quarter Results

MARIETTA, Ohio, April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peoples Bancorp Inc. ("Peoples") (Nasdaq: PEBO) today announced net income available to common shareholders of $0.8 million for the first quarter of 2010, representing diluted earnings per common share of $0.08, comparable to the fourth quarter of 2009 (or "linked quarter").  First quarter 2009 net income available to common shareholders was $3.9 million, or $0.37 per diluted common share.  

Summary points regarding first quarter results:

• Nonperforming assets decreased $5 million, or 12%, and comprised 1.79% of total assets at March 31, 2010, versus 2.03% at year-end 2009, due mostly to write-downs on existing nonaccrual commercial loans.  These write-downs produced a moderate increase in net loan charge-offs versus the prior quarter, to $7.2 million.  At March 31, 2010, the allowance for loan losses stood at $26.6 million, or 89% of nonperforming loans compared to 79% at year-end 2009.  First quarter 2010 provision for loan losses was $6.5 million, or 2.49% of average loans on an annualized basis.  
• First quarter 2010 net charge-offs and provision for loan losses included the impact of a $1.5 million write-down on an existing $5.4 million nonaccrual commercial real estate loan.  This write-down resulted from Peoples' negotiating a reduced payoff amount in connection with a sale of the underlying collateral, which is expected to occur during the second quarter of 2010.
• Peoples recognized a non-cash pre-tax other-than-temporary impairment charge of $1.0 million ($0.6 million or $0.06 per common share after-tax) in the first quarter of 2010, which represented the write-off of Peoples' remaining investment in collateralized debt obligation securities.  
• Peoples' capital levels remained strong and substantially higher than the regulatory minimum amount needed to be considered "well capitalized".  Total Risk-Based Capital ratio was 16.83% at quarter-end, while tangible common equity was 7.07% of tangible assets.
• Net interest income and margin were stable at $15.4 million and 3.52%, as proactive efforts to lower funding costs by reducing higher-cost, non-core deposits offset the continued downward pressure on asset yields from historically low market interest rates.
• First quarter non-interest income increased 3% from the linked quarter, to $8.0 million, driven mostly by continued improvement in fiduciary income and recognition of performance based insurance income, which is received annually in the first quarter.  Year-over-year, lower non-interest income reflected reduced secondary market loan production and related gains on sales of loans from decreased mortgage refinancing activity in 2010.        
• Total non-interest expense was $14.6 million, matching the prior quarter and consistent with the first quarter of 2009, as reductions in various operating expenses attributable to ongoing cost control initiatives were offset by costs associated with foreclosed real estate and higher FDIC insurance expense versus a year ago.
• Retail deposit balances grew $43 million, or 3%, during the first quarter of 2010, due mostly to a 13% increase in money market balances.  Non-interest-bearing deposits increased 2%, topping $200 million at quarter-end.  These funds were used to reduce borrowed funds by 10% compared to year-end 2009.
• Total loan balances were essentially unchanged during the first quarter of 2010, as new loan production was matched by charge-offs on impaired commercial loans and normal loan paydowns.

"Overall, we believe first quarter results reflect success in several key areas," said Mark F. Bradley, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "We made good progress towards our goal of reducing problem loans, while maintaining sound capital, liquidity and loan loss reserve positions.  Our core earnings stream remained solid due to cost control efforts and stable revenues.  While investment impairment losses reduced earnings, our exposure to high risk securities within the investment portfolio was significantly reduced."

In the first quarter of 2010, Peoples maintained net interest income and margin at $15.4 million and 3.52%, respectively, comparable to both the linked and prior year quarters, as reduced interest expense was matched by decreased interest income.  First quarter 2010 interest income was down 4% versus the fourth quarter of 2009 and 11% compared to first quarter 2009, reflecting the impact of lower reinvestment rates on earning asset yields in the current interest rate environment.  In comparison, first quarter 2010 interest expense continues to benefit from management's ongoing efforts to decrease funding costs by repaying wholesale funding and more selectively pricing higher-cost non-core deposits.    

"We are pleased with a stable net interest income and margin considering the low interest rate environment," said Edward G. Sloane, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.  "Our near-term balance sheet strategies will include potential modest deleveraging given the lack of attractive long-term investments and prospects of limited loan growth.  Consequently, we will continue to seek opportunities to lower overall funding costs through further reductions in non-core funding sources to minimize the impact on net interest margin."

Non-interest income totaled $8.0 million for the first quarter of 2010, compared to $7.8 million and $8.2 million for the fourth and first quarters of 2009, respectively.  Trust and investment income increased 26% on a linked quarter basis and 47% year-over-year, due to continued improvement in market value of managed assets, coupled with recognition of $255,000 in non-recurring estate management fees.  These gains were offset by decreased mortgage banking income attributable to lower gains on sales of residential real estate loans, as refinancing activity slowed.  Non-interest income also was impacted by recognition of annual performance based insurance revenue received during the first quarter, which totaled $585,000 in 2010 versus $768,000 in 2009.  

First quarter 2010 non-interest expense was $14.6 million, equaling the prior quarter and flat year-over-year. During the first quarter of 2010, Peoples incurred additional expenses for other real estate owned  ("OREO") relating to two large commercial properties added in late fourth quarter 2009, as well as modestly higher FDIC insurance expense compared to the same period a year ago.  The overall impact of these items on total non-interest expense was offset by reductions in other major non-interest expenses in response to various cost control initiatives implemented in the second half of 2009.  

"A key part of our 2010 operating goals involves strategically reducing operating expenses and improving operating efficiencies," said Sloane.  "Although total non-interest expense was impacted by problem loan workout costs, other operating expense categories were in line with our expectations for the first quarter."  

In the first quarter of 2010, Peoples recorded a $1.0 million other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") loss related to two equity tranche collateralized debt obligation ("CDO") investment securities, consisting mostly of bank-issued trust preferred securities.  Management concluded these investments were total losses based upon its updated evaluation of the credit quality of the underlying issuers during the first quarter and resulting estimates of cash flows to be received from the securities.  With the first quarter 2010 OTTI loss, Peoples no longer has any exposure to CDO investments within its portfolio.  Further, these CDO securities were the only securities in Peoples' investment portfolio identified by management as possessing a substantial risk of loss.

Peoples' income tax expense of $111,000 for the first quarter of 2010 included the entire $345,000 tax benefit associated with the OTTI loss recognized during the quarter.  Management anticipates Peoples' effective tax rate to approximate 19% for each of the remaining three quarters of 2010.

At March 31, 2010, gross portfolio loan balances totaled $1.05 billion, basically unchanged since December 31, 2009.  During the first quarter of 2010, Peoples grew commercial loans, which was matched by reductions in consumer and residential real estate loan balances.  Loan balances also were impacted by charge-offs on several existing impaired commercial loans, which were written down to estimated net realizable value of the underlying collateral.  

First quarter 2010 net loan charge-offs were $7.2 million, or 2.76% of average loans on an annualized basis, compared to $5.7 million, or 2.14%, and $2.9 million, or 1.07%, for the fourth and first quarters of 2009, respectively.  Approximately $5.9 million of first quarter 2010 charge-offs reflected additional write-downs on commercial loans considered impaired in prior quarters.  As a result, total nonperforming assets were $35.9 million, or 1.79% of total assets, at March 31, 2010, down from $40.7 million, or 2.03%, at December 31, 2009.    

"Our focused attention on reducing problem loans is producing positive results," commented Sloane.  "While some workout efforts required additional write-downs in the first quarter 2010, we believe Peoples' overall asset quality showed signs of continued stabilization in the first quarter."

The improvement in asset quality during the first quarter of 2010 resulted in Peoples' allowance for loan losses decreasing $0.7 million to $26.6 million, or 2.53% of total loans, from $27.3 million, or 2.59%, at December 31, 2009.  To maintain the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, Peoples recorded a first quarter 2010 provision for loan losses of $6.5 million versus $6.8 million last quarter and $4.1 million in the first quarter of 2009.  

Total retail deposit balances grew $42.8 million, or 13% annualized, during the first quarter of 2010, due mostly to increased interest-bearing balances.  Money market balances increased $32.9 million at quarter-end, totaling $296.2 million versus $263.3 million at year-end 2009.  Much of this growth was a result of a single commercial customer depositing $20 million into a money market account, of which half was transferred from a matured certificate of deposit ("CDs") and the other half from another financial institution.  The remaining growth was attributable to Peoples maintaining a competitive rate on its money market accounts.  Total savings account balances were down $4.1 million since December 31, 2009, as seasonal growth in consumer deposit balances largely offset a $9.6 million decline attributable to Peoples' planned reduction in public fund deposit balances.  Total non-interest-bearing balances increased $3.3 million to $201.3 million at March 31, 2010, compared to year-end 2009.  Peoples used the funds generated from retail deposit growth to repay maturing brokered CDs and other wholesale funding.  As a result, total borrowed funds decreased $33.1 million, or 10%, during the first quarter of 2010.

Peoples Bancorp Inc. is a diversified financial products and services company with $2.0 billion in assets, 47 locations and 39 ATMs in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky.  Peoples makes available a complete line of banking, investment, insurance, and trust solutions through its financial service units – Peoples Bank, National Association; Peoples Financial Advisors (a division of Peoples Bank); and Peoples Insurance Agency, LLC.  Peoples' common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market® under the symbol "PEBO", and Peoples is a member of the Russell 3000 index of US publicly-traded companies.  Learn more about Peoples at www.peoplesbancorp.com.  

Conference Call to Discuss Earnings:

Peoples will conduct a facilitated conference call to discuss first quarter 2010 results of operations today at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Savings Time, with members of Peoples' executive management participating.  Analysts, media and individual investors are invited to participate in the conference call by calling (800) 860-2442.  A simultaneous Webcast of the conference call audio will be available online via the "Investor Relations" section of Peoples' website, www.peoplesbancorp.com.  Participants are encouraged to call or sign in at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time to ensure participation and, if required, to download and install the necessary software.  A replay of the call will be available on Peoples' website in the "Investor Relations" section for one year.

Safe Harbor Statement:

Certain statements made in this news release regarding Peoples' financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are identified by the fact they are not historical facts and include words such as "anticipate", "may", "feel", "expect", "believe", "plan", and similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations based on all information available and its knowledge of Peoples' business and operations.  Additionally, Peoples' financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially.  These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) continued deterioration in the credit quality of Peoples' loan portfolio could occur due to a number of factors, such as adverse changes in economic conditions that impair the ability of borrowers to repay their loans, the underlying value of the collateral could prove less valuable than otherwise assumed and assumed cash flows may be worse than expected, which may adversely impact the provision for loan losses; (2) competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions, which may increase significantly; (3) changes in the interest rate environment, which may adversely impact interest margins; (4) changes in prepayment speeds, loan originations, sale volumes and charge-offs, which may be less favorable than expected and adversely impact the amount of interest income generated; (5) general economic conditions and weakening in the real estate market, either nationally or in the states in which Peoples and its subsidiaries do business, which may be less favorable than expected; (6) political developments, wars or other hostilities, which may disrupt or increase volatility in securities markets or other economic conditions; (7) legislative or regulatory changes or actions, which may adversely affect the business of Peoples and its subsidiaries; (8) changes in accounting standards, policies, estimates or procedures may adversely affect Peoples' reported financial condition or results of operations; (9) adverse changes in the conditions and trends in the financial markets, which may adversely affect the fair value of securities within Peoples' investment portfolio; (10) a delayed or incomplete resolution of regulatory issues that could arise; (11) Peoples' ability to receive dividends from its subsidiaries; (12) Peoples' ability to maintain required capital levels and adequate sources of funding and liquidity; (13) the impact of larger or similar financial institutions encountering problems, which may adversely affect the banking industry and/or Peoples; (14) the impact of reputational risk created by these developments on such matters as business generation and retention, funding and liquidity; (15) the costs and effects of regulatory and legal developments, including the outcome of regulatory or other governmental inquiries and legal proceedings and results of regulatory examinations; and (16) other risk factors relating to the banking industry or Peoples as detailed from time to time in Peoples' reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including those risk factors included in the disclosures under the heading "ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS" of Peoples' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.  

Peoples encourages readers of this news release to understand forward-looking statements to be strategic objectives rather than absolute targets of future performance.  Peoples undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable legal requirements.  Copies of documents filed with the SEC are available free of charge at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov and/or from Peoples' website.

As required by U.S. GAAP, Peoples is required to evaluate the impact of subsequent events through the filing date of its March 31, 2010 consolidated financial statements on Form 10-Q with the SEC.  Accordingly, subsequent events could occur that may cause Peoples to update its critical accounting estimates and to revise its financial information from that which is contained in this release.

SOURCE Peoples Bancorp Inc.