Sierra Bancorp Reports First Quarter Earnings

PORTERVILLE, Calif., April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sierra Bancorp (Nasdaq: BSRR), parent of Bank of the Sierra, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.  Sierra Bancorp recognized net income of $1.879 million for the quarter, an improvement of $350,000, or 23%, relative to net income in the first quarter of 2011.  The increase is primarily the result of a reduced loan loss provision and higher non-interest income, partially offset by a drop in net interest income and higher non-interest expense (mainly OREO write-downs).  The Company had an annualized return on average equity of 4.44% and a return on average assets of 0.57% for the first quarter of 2012, both of which are higher than in the first quarter of 2011 due to the increase in net income.

Notable balance sheet changes in the first quarter of 2012 include the following:  Gross loan balances declined by $7 million, or 1%, but the decline was due in large part to a $6 million decline in nonperforming loans; investment securities and fed funds sold increased by $10 million, or 3%; cash and due from banks increased by $9 million, or 14%; core non-maturity deposits grew $44 million, or 6%; customer time deposits show a decline of $7 million, or 2%; and junior subordinated debentures remained the same, but other non-deposit borrowings were reduced by $24 million, or 69%.  The Company's allowance for loan and lease losses was 2.31% of total loans at March 31, 2012, a slight increase from the 2.28% ratio at the end of 2011.

"We've encountered a few bumps on the road to restoring earnings and asset quality, but we're generally happy with our first quarter 2012 performance which reflects an improvement in net income relative to the same period in the prior year, a reduction in nonperforming loans, and continued strong growth in core customer deposits," reported James C. Holly, President and CEO.  "That said, our nonperforming asset levels remain stubbornly high, due in part to our strategy of addressing loan issues individually rather than implementing a wholesale disposition plan, and our commitment to work with borrowers when possible to enable them continue to service their debt," he continued.  "In most instances we have concluded that this approach has worked in the best interest of the Company's stakeholders, and has resulted in a lower level of loan losses than might otherwise have been experienced.  We've recently adjusted our strategy, however, and plan to take more aggressive action on certain loans where the Bank's willingness to work with the borrowers has not been accompanied by a corresponding degree of urgency on the part of those borrowers to implement essential changes.  While this revised approach has the potential to increase our nonperforming assets and charge-offs in the short term, we feel that it will ultimately help accelerate the resolution of problem loans," Holly concluded.

Financial Highlights
Net interest income fell by $488,000, or 4%, for the first quarter of 2012 relative to the first quarter of 2011.  The decline is the result of a 37 basis point drop in the Company's net interest margin, partially offset by a $39 million increase in average interest-earning assets.  Negative factors impacting the Company's net interest margin include a shift from average loan balances into lower-yielding investment balances, and lower loan yields resulting from increased competition for quality loans.  However, these negatives were partially offset by a reduced reliance on interest-bearing liabilities resulting from increases in the average balances of non-interest bearing demand deposits and equity, a shift in average interest-bearing deposit balances from higher-cost time deposits into lower-cost non-maturity deposits, and a slight drop in deposit rates due to a general lack of competitive pressures.  Also impacting the variances in the Company's net interest margin were interest reversals on loans placed on non-accrual, and interest recoveries resulting from the favorable resolution of loans that were removed from non-accrual status.  Net interest recoveries totaled $143,000 in the first quarter of 2012, as opposed to net interest reversals of $27,000 in the first quarter of 2011.

The Company's loan loss provision was reduced by $850,000, or 24%, in the first quarter of 2012 relative to the first quarter of 2011.  Net loans charged off totaled $2.625 million in the first quarter of 2012, a decline of 20% in comparison to net charge-offs of $3.274 million in the first quarter of 2011.

Income derived from service charges on deposits increased slightly in the first quarter of 2012 relative to the first quarter of the prior year, due mainly to fees for higher risk deposit accounts instituted in the fourth quarter of 2011, which were partially offset by a drop in returned item and overdraft charges.  There were no material changes in loan sale and servicing income for the comparative periods.  However, during the first quarter of 2012 we realized a $70,000 investment gain pursuant to a "clean-up" sale of a large number of odd-lot mortgage-backed securities totaling $3.1 million in book value.  The sale had virtually no impact on the yield or duration of our investment portfolio.

Other non-interest income also increased by $361,000, or 28%, for the first quarter of 2012.  This increase was due in large part to a $212,000 increase in bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) income, resulting from a $310,000 gain on BOLI associated with deferred compensation plans in the first quarter of 2012 relative to a gain of only $124,000 in the first quarter of 2011, as well as income from the $5 million BOLI investment consummated at the end of the third quarter of 2011.  Adding to this were favorable variances in various other non-interest income categories and lower costs associated with tax-credit investments (which are accounted for as a reduction in non-interest income).  Partially offsetting these favorable variances were lower income on operating leases, which was down $37,000 for the quarter over quarter comparison, and a $126,000 loss on the sale of OREO in the first quarter of 2012 relative to an $18,000 gain in the first quarter of 2011.

With regard to non-interest expense, salaries and benefits declined by $45,000, or 1%, for the first quarter of 2012 relative to the first quarter of 2011.  The primary variances in salaries and benefits for the quarterly comparison were lower salaries and payroll taxes, partially offset by higher deferred compensation expense due to an increase in gains on deferred compensation plans in 2012 (related to the increase in BOLI income discussed above).  Occupancy expense reflects a decline of $86,000, or close to 6%, for the first quarter of 2012, due to lower costs resulting from the purchase of our headquarters office building in the fourth quarter of 2011, as well as lower property taxes stemming from updated valuations on Bank-owned branch buildings. 

Other non-interest expenses increased by $412,000, or 9%, for the first quarter of 2012 relative to the first quarter of 2011.  A primary reason for the unfavorable variance is OREO costs; OREO write-downs were $393,000 higher, and OREO operating expense increased by $54,000 for the quarter over quarter comparison.  Deferred compensation accruals for the Company's directors also increased by $115,000 for the first quarter of 2012, since the gain on directors' deferred compensation plans was higher than the gain in the first quarter of 2011.  Various other non-interest expenses increased for 2012, as well, due in part to $181,000 in non-recurring vendor credits for prior-year overcharges which were received in the first quarter of 2011.  These expense increases were partly offset by certain expense reductions, including a $342,000 drop in our FDIC assessment accrual due to the FDIC's implementation of a new rate structure during 2011 and the Company's reduced risk profile.

The Company had a negative provision for income taxes in both the first quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2011.  This tax benefit is the result of a high level of tax credits relative to our pre-credit tax liability, as calculated for book purposes.  Tax credits include those related to investments in low-income housing tax credit funds, as well as hiring tax credits.

Balance sheet changes during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 include an increase in total assets of $13 million, or 1%, due to growth in investment securities and an increase in cash and balances due from banks, partially offset by lower loan balances.  Surplus liquidity was generated during the period from strong growth in deposits and loan runoff, and much of that liquidity was deployed into agency-issued mortgage-backed securities and municipal bonds, hence the $10 million increase in investment balances.  The $9 million increase in cash and balances due from banks was primarily from an increase in interest-bearing balances at the Federal Reserve Bank, due again to excess liquidity.

Gross loan and lease balances declined $7 million, or 1%, during the first quarter of 2012, with $6 million of the decline coming in nonperforming loans.  Foreclosed assets increased slightly during the first quarter of 2012, ending the period with a balance of close to $16 million.  All of the Company's impaired assets have been reviewed recently, and are either well-reserved based on current loss expectations or are carried at the fair value of the underlying collateral, net of expected disposition costs.  In addition to nonperforming assets, the Company had $38 million in performing restructured troubled debt (TDR's) as of March 31, 2012.

The Company's allowance for loan and lease losses was $17.4 million as of March 31, 2012, slightly larger than at year-end 2011.  The allowance increased to 2.31% of total loans at March 31, 2012 from 2.28% at December 31, 2011.  Management's detailed analysis indicates that the Company's allowance for loan and lease losses should be sufficient to cover credit losses inherent in loan and lease balances outstanding as of March 31, 2012, although no assurance can be given that the Company will not experience substantial future losses relative to the size of the allowance. 

Total deposits increased by $37 million, or 3%, during the first quarter of 2012.  Non-maturity deposits were up $44 million, or 6%, due in part to aggressive deposit acquisition programs and an intensified focus on business relationships, and included in that increase were increases of $12 million, or 4%, in non-interest bearing demand deposits, $12 million, or 5%, in interest-bearing transaction accounts, $15 million, or 16%, in savings deposits, and $4 million, or 6%, in money market deposits.  Customer time deposits declined by $7 million, or 2%, due to the non-renewal of time deposits managed by the Company's Treasury Department.  Other interest-bearing liabilities also fell by $24 million, or 69%, due to a $17 million reduction in overnight borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank and the maturity of $10 million in term FHLB advances, partially offset by a $3 million increase in securities sold under agreement to repurchase.  Repurchase agreements represent customer "sweep accounts", where deposit balances above a specified threshold are transferred at the close of every business day into non-deposit accounts secured by investment securities. 

Total capital increased by close to $2 million, or 1%, during the first quarter of 2012, to $170 million at March 31, 2012, and risk-based capital ratios continue to strengthen.

About Sierra Bancorp
Sierra Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of the Sierra (www.bankofthesierra.com), which is in its 35th year of operations and is the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley.  The Company has over 400 employees and conducts business through 25 branch offices, an online branch, an agricultural credit center, and an SBA center. 

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future de­velopments and their potential effects on the Company.  Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on forward looking statements.  Actual results may differ from those projected.  These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including but not limited to the health of the national and California economies, the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled employees, customers' service expectations, the Company's ability to successfully de­ploy new technology, the success of branch expansion, changes in interest rates, loan portfolio performance, the Company's ability to secure buyers for foreclosed properties, and other factors detailed in the Company's SEC filings, including the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Company's most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.

SOURCE Sierra Bancorp