Renasant Corporation Announces 2010 Fourth Quarter and Year End Results

TUPELO, Miss., Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Renasant Corporation (Nasdaq: RNST) (the “Company”) today announced its earnings results for the 2010 fourth quarter and year end.  For the fourth quarter of 2010, net income was $4,721,000 as compared to $4,031,000 for the fourth quarter of 2009.  Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.19 for the fourth quarter of 2010 and for the fourth quarter of 2009.  

Net income for 2010 was $31,675,000 as compared to $18,518,000 for 2009.  Basic and diluted earnings per share were $1.39 and $1.38, respectively, for 2010 compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.88 and $0.87, respectively, for 2009.  

Renasant Corporation highlights for the fourth quarter of 2010:

• Grew net interest margin to 3.43% from 3.22% as compared to same period in 2009
• Decreased non-performing loans, past due loans, charge-offs and non-performing assets on a linked quarter basis in our legacy markets (that is, those markets excluding the Company’s North Georgia markets)
• Grew core deposits (non-time deposits) on a year over year and a linked quarter basis
• Decreased noninterest expense on a linked quarter basis
• Continued to decrease our exposure to residential construction and land development loans
• Opened a new full service banking location in the Golden Triangle market of Columbus, Mississippi.

“Renasant found much success during the fourth quarter of 2010 as we experienced positive results from our strategic efforts to grow core deposits and increase margin while at the same time continuing to realize improving trends in our credit quality metrics,” commented Renasant Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, E. Robinson McGraw.  

Total deposits grew to $3.47 billion at December 31, 2010 as compared to $3.42 billion at September 30, 2010 and $2.58 billion at December 31, 2009.  The Company experienced strong core deposit growth in its legacy markets as evidenced by an increase of 28%.  The Company’s cost of legacy deposits for the fourth quarter of 2010 was 1.25% as compared to 1.43% for the third quarter of 2010, and 1.67% for the fourth quarter of 2009.

“The increase in core deposits enhanced our ability to reduce our cost of funds as we were able to replace higher costing borrowings, public funds and certificates of deposit,” said McGraw.

Total loans were $2.52 billion at the end of 2010 as compared to $2.58 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2010 and $2.35 billion at December 31, 2009.  Loans from the Company’s legacy markets were $2.18 billion at December 31, 2010 as compared to $2.22 billion at September 30, 2010.  The decrease in total loans in our legacy markets during the fourth quarter of 2010 is a result of the Company’s continued efforts to reduce its exposure to construction and land development loans, which decreased by $144.4 million, or 34.8%, at December 31, 2010 as compared to the balance at December 31, 2009.  Loans related to the Company’s acquisition of Crescent Bank & Trust covered under the FDIC loss share agreement were approximately $334 million.

Total assets as of December 31, 2010 were approximately $4.30 billion as compared to approximately $4.26 billion at September 30, 2010 and $3.64 billion for December 31, 2009.

Shareholders’ equity was $469.5 million at December 31, 2010 as compared to $410.1 million at December 31, 2009.  The change in shareholders’ equity includes approximately $51.4 million in net proceeds related to the Company’s sale of its common stock in July, 2010.  

As of December 31, 2010, the Company’s regulatory capital ratios were in excess of regulatory minimums required to be classified as “well-capitalized.”  The Company’s Tier I leverage capital ratio was 8.97%, its Tier I risk-based capital ratio was 13.58%, and its total risk-based capital ratio was 14.83%.  

Net interest income was $29,855,000 for the fourth quarter of 2010 as compared to $24,802,000 for the same period in 2009 and $27,117,000 on a linked quarter basis.  Net interest income was $105,062,000 for 2010 as compared to $99,466,000 for 2009.  

Net interest margin was 3.43% for the fourth quarter of 2010 as compared to 3.22% for the fourth quarter of 2009 and 3.12% on a linked quarter basis.  For 2010, net interest margin was 3.26% as compared to 3.16% for 2009.

“In following management’s previously announced strategic plans of reducing deposit costs by changing our deposit mix to more core deposits,  deploying excess cash, and paying off higher costing liabilities, we were able to increase margin by 31 basis points on a linked quarter basis,” said McGraw.

For the fourth quarter of 2010, noninterest income was $14,553,000 as compared to $13,419,000 for the fourth quarter of 2009 and $54,534,000 for the third quarter of 2010. Excluding the one time gain of $42,211,000 related to the acquisition of certain assets of Crescent Bank & Trust in the third quarter of 2010, noninterest income was $12,323,000 for the third quarter of 2010 and $53,704,000 for the year 2010.  The Company experienced a linked quarter increase in noninterest income related to insurance, trust and mortgage operations and continues to focus on growing these key sources of revenue.  Noninterest income was $95,915,000 for 2010 as compared to $57,558,000 for 2009.  

Noninterest expense was $32,226,000 for the fourth quarter of 2010 as compared to $25,583,000 for the fourth quarter of 2009 and $39,571,000 on a linked quarter basis.  Noninterest expense for 2010 was $123,619,000 as compared to $105,753,000 for 2009.  The quarter over quarter and year over year increase in noninterest expense is primarily due to the Crescent acquisition.  Excluding the one time items of $1,955,000 in merger expenses related to the Crescent acquisition and $2,785,000 related to a prepayment penalty on Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings incurred during the third quarter of 2010, noninterest expense was $34,831,000 for the third quarter of 2010 and $118,879,000 for the year ending 2010.  

During the fourth quarter of 2010, net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans were 0.80% as compared to 0.83% for the same period in 2009 and 1.18% on a linked quarter basis.  Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans for the year ending December 31, 2010, were 1.00% as compared to 0.91% for 2009.  

The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $30,665,000 and $5,500,000 for the year and quarter ending December 31, 2010, respectively, as compared to $26,890,000 and $7,800,000 for the year and quarter ending December 31, 2009, respectively.  The provision for loan losses for the third quarter of 2010 was $11,500,000.

The loans acquired in the Crescent acquisition were recorded at fair value which have been written-down to reflect estimated credit deterioration.  Therefore, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company did not assign any further allowance for loan losses to these acquired loans.  Excluding the Crescent loans, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans not covered under the FDIC loss sharing agreement was 2.07% at December 31, 2010, as compared to 1.67% for December 31, 2009 and 2.02% on a linked quarter basis.

Within our legacy markets, non-performing loans (loans 90 days or more past due and nonaccrual loans) were $53.9 million at December 31, 2010, as compared to $65.6 million at September 30, 2010 and $50.0 million at December 31, 2009.  Excluding the Crescent loans, non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans were 2.46% at December 31, 2010, as compared to 2.94% at September 30, 2010 and 2.13% as of December 31, 2009.   Loans 30-to-89 days past due as a percentage of total loans in the Company’s legacy markets decreased to .99% at December 31, 2010 from 1.06% at September 30, 2010 and 1.02% at December 31, 2009.  Non-performing loans covered under the loss share agreement with the FDIC in our North Georgia markets were $82.4 million at December 31, 2010.

“Our credit administration team continues to reduce our exposure to construction and land development loans.  Through these efforts, we reduced our charge-offs and provision for loan losses on a linked quarter basis,” stated McGraw.  “In addition, it is worth noting that our non-performing loans are at their lowest level in a year.”  

Also within our legacy markets, other real estate owned was $71.8 million at December 31, 2010 as compared to $62.9 million at September 30, 2010 and $58.6 million at December 31, 2009.  The increase in other real estate owned continues to reflect the Company’s efforts to resolve problem loans by taking possession and managing the disposal of the underlying properties.  The Company continues to aggressively market the property held in our other real estate owned as evidenced by the fact we sold approximately $28 million of other real estate owned during 2010 and $9.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2010.  Other real estate owned covered under the loss share agreement with the FDIC was $54.72 million at December 31, 2010.

“This past year we added a total of 14 new locations through a combination of acquisition and de novo activity, grew our core deposit base, continued to decrease our exposure to construction and land development loans, and completed an equity raise,” commented McGraw.  “Throughout 2010 we were able to continue to pay dividends to our shareholders and maintain our capital ratios in excess of regulatory “well capitalized” thresholds.   In total, we believe these accomplishments, along with the integration of our North Georgia markets, our increase in net interest margin and our improving credit quality metrics have positioned us for a strong year going forward into 2011.”

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION:

A live audio webcast of a conference call with analysts will be available beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, January 19, 2011, through the Company's website: www.renasant.com.  The event will be archived on the Company’s website for one year.  If Internet access is unavailable, the conference may also be heard live (listen-only) via telephone by dialing 1-877-317-6789 in the United States and requesting the Renasant Corporation earnings call.  International participants should dial 1-412-317-6789.

ABOUT RENASANT CORPORATION:

Renasant Corporation is the parent of Renasant Bank and Renasant Insurance. As of December 31, 2010, Renasant had assets of approximately $4.3 billion and operates over 75 banking, mortgage, financial services and insurance offices in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.

NOTE TO INVESTORS:

This news release may contain, or incorporate by reference, statements which may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Such forward looking statements usually include words such as “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “strategy,” “plan,” “potential,” “possible” and other similar expressions.  

Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees for future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements.  Important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include significant fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, economic recession, significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment, significant underperformance in our portfolio of outstanding loans, and competition in our markets. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results over time.