QNB Corp. Reports Record Second Quarter And First Half Earnings

QUAKERTOWN, Pa., July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- QNB Corp. (the "Company" or "QNB") (OTC Bulletin Board: QNBC), the parent company of QNB Bank (the "Bank"), reported net income for the second quarter of 2012 of $2,505,000, or $0.78 per share on a diluted basis. This compares to net income of $2,435,000, or $0.77 per share on a diluted basis, for the same period in 2011.  

For the six month period ended June 30, 2012, QNB reported net income of $4,976,000, or $1.55 per share on a diluted basis. This represents a 7.1% increase in net income compared to the $4,646,000, or $1.47 per share on a diluted basis, reported for the six month period ended June 30, 2011.

The results for both the second quarter and first six months of 2012 represent record profits for QNB and reflect an increase in non-interest income and lower provisions for loan losses.

Net income expressed as an annualized rate of return on average assets and average shareholders' equity was 1.16% and 14.54%, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 compared with 1.18% and 15.62%, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. For the six month periods the annualized rate of return on average assets and average shareholders' equity was 1.15% and 14.62%, respectively, for the period ended June 30, 2012 compared with 1.15% and 15.18%, respectively, for the period ended June 30, 2011.

"Given the protracted economic slowdown and the accompanying historically low interest rate environment, we are pleased with the Company's second quarter and six month financial performance," stated Thomas J. Bisko, Chief Executive Officer. "While the economy continues to provide challenges, loan demand improved at the end of the second quarter, asset quality has stabilized and core deposit growth remains strong."

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 totaled $6,776,000, a decrease of $375,000, or 5.2%, over the same period in 2011. On a linked quarter basis, net interest income decreased by $30,000, or 0.4%. Average earning assets for the second quarter of 2012 were $841,561,000, an increase of $42,053,000, or 5.3%, compared with the same period in 2011, with average investment securities increasing $40,195,000, or 13.2%, to $345,391,000. The yield on earning assets declined 59 basis points from 4.87% for the second quarter of 2011 to 4.28% for the second quarter of 2012 as the prolonged low interest rate environment has continued to exert pressure on asset yields. When comparing the change in the yield on earning assets between the two quarters, loans and investment securities declined from 5.76% and 3.72%, respectively, for the second quarter of 2011 to 5.29% and 3.03%, respectively, for the second quarter of 2012, a decline of 47 basis points and 69 basis points, respectively.

On the funding side, average deposits increased $55,598,000, or 7.8%, with average transaction accounts increasing $61,223,000, or 14.5%. The growth in transaction accounts was broad-based across all product lines and all customer types with the largest increases centered in QNB's Online eSavings product. Offsetting a portion of this growth in funding was a decline in average time deposits of $5,625,000, or 1.9%, and a reduction in average borrowed funds of $17,337,000, or 37.0%, comparing the second quarter 2012 with the same period in 2011. During the second quarter of 2012 the Company paid off $15,000,000 of repurchase agreements with a cost of 4.75%. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities declined by 27 basis points from 1.17% for the second quarter of 2011 to 0.90% for the second quarter of 2012. The interest rate paid on interest-bearing deposits declined by 20 basis points to 0.87% for the second quarter of 2012 compared to the second quarter of 2011.

The net interest margin for the second quarter of 2012 was 3.49% compared to 3.84% for the second quarter of 2011 and 3.53% for the linked quarter. The historically low interest rate environment of the past few years combined with the growth in earning assets, primarily in the investment portfolio which generally earn a lower yield than loans, resulted in a decline in the net interest margin. During the beginning of this interest rate cycle, funding costs declined at a faster pace and to a greater degree than rates on earning assets resulting in an increasing net interest margin. However, since the second quarter of 2011 this trend has reversed as funding costs have approached bottom while yields on earning assets continue to reprice lower resulting in a decline in the net interest margin.

Asset Quality, Provision for Loan Loss and Allowance for Loan Loss

QNB closely monitors the quality of its loan portfolio and considers many factors when calculating the required provision for loan losses each quarter. QNB did not record a provision for loan losses for the second quarter of 2012 as a result of a stabilization in the amount of non-performing loans over the past several quarters, net recoveries for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 and modest growth in outstanding loan balances. A provision for loan losses of $450,000 was recorded in the second quarter of 2011.

QNB recorded a provision for loan losses of $300,000 for the first six months of 2012 and $1,100,000 in the first half of 2011. Net loan recoveries were $12,000 for the second quarter of 2012, or -0.01% annualized of total average loans, compared with charge-offs of $792,000 for the second quarter of 2011, or 0.67% annualized of total average loans. For the six month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 net loan charge-offs were $73,000, or 0.03% annualized, and $1,205,000, or 0.51% annualized, respectively.

QNB's allowance for loan losses of $9,467,000 represents 1.92% of total loans at June 30, 2012 compared to an allowance for loan losses of $9,241,000, or 1.89% of total loans, at December 31, 2011 and $8,850,000, or 1.86% of total loans, at June 30, 2011.

As noted previously, asset quality has stabilized over the past several quarters with the reduction in non-accrual loans being offset by an increase in restructured loans. Total non-performing assets were $23,990,000 at June 30, 2012 compared with $24,145,000 at December 31, 2011 and $13,844,000 at June 30, 2011. Included in this classification are non-performing loans, other real estate owned (OREO) and repossessed assets, and non-accrual pooled trust preferred securities. Total non-performing loans, which represent loans on non-accrual status, loans past due more than 90 days and still accruing interest and troubled debt restructured loans were $20,824,000, or 4.23% of total loans, at June 30, 2012 compared with $21,390,000, or 4.36% of total loans, at December 31, 2011 and $11,882,000, or 2.49% of total loans, at June 30, 2011. The increase in non-performing loans during 2011 was primarily the result of several large commercial loan relationships that showed signs of financial difficulty and collateral values that were below the carrying value of the loan. These loans were placed on non-accrual status because it is possible that all principal and interest payments will not be received as expected. Loans on non-accrual status were $16,270,000 at June 30, 2012 compared with $18,597,000 at December 31, 2011 and $9,455,000 at June 30, 2011. In cases where there is a collateral shortfall on non-accrual loans, specific impairment reserves have been established based on updated collateral values even if the borrower continues to pay in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Of the total amount of non-accrual loans at June 30, 2012, $10,242,000, or more than 66% of the loans classified as non-accrual, are current or past due less than 30 days as of the end of the quarter.

QNB had other real estate owned and other repossessed assets of $1,151,000 as of June 30, 2012 compared with $826,000 at December 31, 2011 and $0 at June 30, 2011. Non-accrual pooled trust preferred securities are carried at fair value which was $2,015,000, $1,929,000, and $1,962,000 at June 30, 2012, December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2011, respectively. The increase in the balance of non-accrual pooled trust preferred securities reflects an improvement in the fair value of these securities.

Non-Interest Income

Total non-interest income was $1,326,000 for the second quarter of 2012, an increase of $256,000 compared with the same period in 2011. Net gains on the sale of investment securities and residential mortgage loans account for $300,000 of this total increase. QNB recorded $141,000 of net gains on the sale of investment securities during the second quarter of 2012 compared to net gains of $54,000 recognized in the second quarter of 2011. As a result of historically low mortgage rates, residential mortgage refinancing activity has increased significantly as has the amount of gains recorded on the sale of these mortgages. QNB recorded gains of $231,000 on the sale of mortgages during the second quarter of 2012 compared with $18,000 in the second quarter of 2011. Another result of the increase in mortgage refinancing activity was a reduction in the value of mortgage servicing assets as well as an increase in the amortization of this asset. As a result mortgage servicing income declined by $40,000 when comparing the two quarters.

Non-Interest Expense

Total non-interest expense was $4,828,000 for the second quarter of 2012, an increase of $244,000, or 5.3% compared to $4,584,000 for the second quarter of 2011. Salaries and benefits expense increased $140,000, or 5.8% when comparing the two quarters. Promotion and merit increases coupled with an additional two full-time equivalent employees, including the addition of a Chief Information and Technology Officer during the third quarter of 2011, contributed to the $96,000 increase in salary expense. The remainder of the increase in salary and benefits expense relates primarily to higher medical and dental benefit premiums and claims.

Net occupancy and furniture and fixtures expense increased $80,000, or 11.6%, with the majority of the increase resulting from higher depreciation expense on new equipment, an increase in branch rent expense primarily resulting from common area maintenance adjustments on some leased properties and equipment maintenance costs. Also contributing to the increase in non-interest expense was a $50,000, or 24.3%, increase in marketing expenses a result of an increase in outdoor and direct mail advertising as well as higher donations costs. Third party information technology expense increased $43,000 primarily related to ongoing costs associated with the new online and mobile banking system introduced in the third quarter of 2011. Partially offsetting these higher costs were reductions in FDIC insurance expense of $114,000, or 41.3%. The decrease in FDIC premium expense reflects a reduction in the rate charged and a change in the method of calculating the basis of the premium effective during 2011.

About the Company

QNB Corp. is the holding company for QNB Bank, which is headquartered in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. QNB Bank currently operates nine branches in Bucks, Montgomery and Lehigh Counties and offers commercial and retail banking services in the communities it serves. In addition, the Company provides retail brokerage services through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and title insurance as a member of Laurel Abstract Company LLC. More information about QNB Corp and QNB Bank is available at www.qnb.com.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various factors. Such factors include the possibility that increased demand or prices for the Company's financial services and products may not occur, changing economic and competitive conditions, technological developments, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including "Item lA. Risk Factors," set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

www.QNB.com

SOURCE QNB Corp.