Zions Bancorporation Reports 2009 Fourth Quarter Results Showing Improvement of Credit Measures

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zions Bancorporation (Nasdaq: ZION) ("Zions" or "the Company") today reported a fourth quarter net loss applicable to common shareholders of $176.5 million or $1.26 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $181.9 million or $1.43 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2009.

As discussed subsequently, the Company has included in this press release expected revisions for certain second and third quarter 2009 amounts as a result of changes in the accounting for its June 2009 subordinated debt modification. The Company believes these changes will increase tangible common equity by $173 million at June 30, 2009 and by $166 million at September 30, 2009, increasing the tangible common equity ratio at those dates by 0.34% and 0.33%, respectively, compared to the ratios previously disclosed.

Fourth Quarter 2009 Highlights

Positives:

• Tangible common equity ratio of 6.12% compared to 5.76% (revised from 5.43%) in third quarter.
• Net loan charge-offs of $292.1 million, which included a $39 million recovery, compared to $381.3 million in third quarter.
• Loan loss provision of $390.7 million compared to $565.9 million in third quarter.
• Ratio of allowance for loan losses to net loans and leases of 3.95% compared to 3.61% in third quarter; ratio of total allowance and reserve for credit losses to net loans and leases of 4.25% compared to 3.86% in third quarter.
• Average noninterest-bearing demand deposits of $12.1 billion compared to $11.4 billion in third quarter, an increase of $0.7 billion or 25.3% annualized.

Challenges:

• Nonperforming lending related assets of $2.3 billion compared to $2.2 billion in third quarter (excluding FDIC-supported assets); ratio to net loans and other real estate owned of 5.93% compared to 5.40% in third quarter.
• Credit-related impairment losses on CDO securities of $99.3 million compared to $56.5 million in third quarter; approximately 95% of the fourth quarter losses had been previously recognized in OCI.
• In spite of originating and renewing approximately $1.7 billion of new credit during the fourth quarter, loan balances declined 2.6% from the third quarter due to continued weakness in loan demand.

"We enter into 2010 feeling increasingly confident that peak levels of loan losses are behind us, and that economic conditions in the majority of our markets have begun to stabilize," said Harris H. Simmons, chairman and chief executive officer. Mr. Simmons continued, "Various measures of credit quality have steadied or improved compared to prior quarters, which is likely to lead to lower loan losses and provision expenses. While the economic, political, and regulatory environment remains in flux, our capital ratios remain significantly above regulatory benchmarks for a "well capitalized" banking institution, and we are encouraged with the recent improvement in our tangible common equity ratio."  

Amended Financial Statements

As described in a separate Form 8-K filed on this date, the Company has reevaluated its accounting for the June 2009 subordinated debt modification in connection with responding to regular inquiries received from the Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2010. As a result, the Company has incorporated into these results expected revisions to its financial statements for the second and third quarters of 2009. The primary expected change is an increase to tangible common equity resulting from the Company's recalculation of the amount of gain recognized in earnings and the value of the conversion feature granted to noteholders. Amounts for the second and third quarters of 2009 in this press release (including the attached financial exhibits) reflect these expected changes. The Company anticipates filing amended Forms 10-Q for the periods ending June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2009.

Asset Quality

Net loan and lease charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2009 were $292.1 million or 2.98% annualized of average loans excluding FDIC-supported assets. This compares with $381.3 million or 3.79% annualized of average loans excluding FDIC-supported assets for the third quarter of 2009 and $179.7 million or 1.72% annualized of average loans for the fourth quarter of 2008. The 2009 fourth quarter net charge-offs included a $39.3 million recovery on a commercial credit charged-off during the second quarter of 2009. Net charge-offs on construction development loans subsided during the quarter.

The provision for loan losses was $390.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to $565.9 million for the third quarter of 2009 and $285.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. When combined with the provision for unfunded lending commitments, the total provision for credit losses was $117.8 million in excess of net loan and lease charge-offs.

The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of net loans and leases excluding FDIC-supported assets was 3.95% at December 31, 2009 compared to 3.61% at September 30, 2009 and 1.65% at December 31, 2008. The combined allowance for loan losses and reserve for unfunded lending commitments was $1,647.8 million, or 4.25% of net loans and leases excluding FDIC-supported assets at December 31, 2009, compared to 3.86% at September 30, 2009 and 1.77% at December 31, 2008.

Nonperforming lending related assets were $2,330.0 million at December 31, 2009 ($2,740.1 million including FDIC-supported assets) compared to $2,171.0 million at September 30, 2009 and $1,138.4 million at December 31, 2008. The ratio of nonperforming lending related assets excluding FDIC-supported assets to net loans, leases and other real estate owned was 5.93% at December 31, 2009 compared to 5.40% at September 30, 2009 and 2.71% at December 31, 2008.

Capital and Financing Actions

During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company sold 11,237,500 shares of common stock for $155.5 million (average price of $13.84) under a common equity distribution program. These shares were sold in connection with the announced sale of $250 million of common stock that commenced on September 17, 2009. Net of commissions and fees, this sale added $152.9 million to tangible common equity during the quarter, or 0.31% to the tangible common equity ratio. The amount of common stock at December 31, 2009 that remained available for issuance under the program was approximately $27.3 million.

During the fourth quarter of 2009, $35.7 million of subordinated debt was converted into shares of the Company's Series C preferred stock under the previously announced debt modification program. The tangible common equity ratio decreased by 0.04% primarily from the acceleration of discount amortization on the converted debt, which increased interest expense by approximately $20.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2009.

On December 22, 2009, the Company completed the exchange of approximately $71.5 million liquidation amount of its Series A preferred stock into 2,816,834 shares of common stock. Tangible common equity was increased by the same amount. The exchange represented 51% of the liquidation amount of the Series A preferred stock outstanding at the time of the exchange.

On December 30, 2009, the Company executed an agreement to modify $40 million of certain subordinated debt held by one institutional investor in a manner similar to the previous subordinated debt modification, resulting in a $15.2 million pretax gain.

For the year 2009, the Company raised Tier 1 capital of approximately $997 million from the net issuance of $464 million of common stock and from the net effects of the debt modification and the preferred stock redemptions, which totaled $533 million.

The tangible common equity ratio was 6.12% at December 31, 2009 compared to 5.76% (revised from 5.43%) at September 30, 2009 and 5.89% at December 31, 2008. The change from the third quarter was primarily due to the impact of the equity transactions and secondarily to reductions in the balance sheet. The estimated Tier 1 common to risk-weighted assets ratio was 6.50% at December 31, 2009 compared to 6.59% at September 30, 2009.

Loans

Net loans and leases of $40.2 billion at December 31, 2009 decreased approximately $1.1 billion or 10.3% annualized from $41.3 billion at September 30, 2009, and decreased $1.5 billion or 3.5% from $41.7 billion at December 31, 2008. Excluding FDIC-supported assets, net loans and leases decreased approximately $0.9 billion or 9.1% annualized to $38.7 billion from $39.6 billion at September 30, 2009 and decreased $2.9 billion, or 7.0% from the balance one year ago. The net decrease from September 30, 2009 was primarily in the construction and land development portfolio.

Deposits

Average noninterest-bearing demand deposits for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased $0.7 billion or 25.3% annualized to $12.1 billion compared to $11.4 billion for the third quarter of 2009. Average total deposits for the fourth quarter of 2009 decreased $0.4 billion or 3.8% annualized to $42.9 billion compared to $43.3 billion for the third quarter of 2009, and increased $3.4 billion or 8.5% compared to $39.6 billion for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Net Interest Income

The net interest margin was 3.81% for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to 3.91% for the third quarter of 2009 and 4.20% for the fourth quarter of 2008. The net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2009 was unfavorably impacted primarily by 0.11% for the discount amortization on the modified subordinated debt, and an additional 0.17% for the accelerated discount amortization due to the previously discussed conversion of $35.7 million of modified subordinated debt. The net interest margin was favorably impacted during the fourth quarter by the previously mentioned growth of noninterest-bearing demand deposits, reduced rates on interest-bearing deposits, and strong pricing on new loans.

Investment Securities

During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company recognized credit-related net impairment losses on CDOs of $99.3 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, compared to $56.5 million during the third quarter of 2009. Approximately $94.7 million of the impairment losses during the fourth quarter had been previously recognized in OCI.

CDOs for which the underlying collateral is predominantly bank trust preferred securities comprise $2.2 billion of the $2.7 billion par amount of the bank and insurance CDO portfolio. Below is a table showing the Company's current predominantly bank CDO distribution by original rating (e.g. 52% of the current $2.2 billion was originally rated AAA). Most (86%) of the $99.3 million of securities impairment charges taken during the fourth quarter came from the original single A and BBB rated, predominantly bank CDOs.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $65.9 million compared to $270.7 million for the third quarter of 2009 and a loss of $82.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. The decline for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter was primarily due to higher security impairment losses and lower fair value and nonhedge derivative income in the fourth quarter, and to acquisition related gains of $146.2 million in the third quarter. These declines were offset in part by the $15.2 million gain from the $40 million debt modification previously discussed.

The sequential quarter decline in fair value and nonhedge derivative income during the fourth quarter was mainly due to a lower amount of hedge ineffectiveness recognized primarily on cash flow hedges of floating rate loans.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $441.1 million compared to $434.7 million for the third quarter of 2009 and $398.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. Primary changes in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter included a decrease in the provision for unfunded lending commitments to $19.2 million from $36.5 million, offset primarily by increases in other real estate expense, FDIC premiums, and other noninterest expense.

Conference Call

Zions will host a conference call to discuss these fourth quarter results at 5:30 p.m. ET this afternoon (January 25, 2010). Media representatives, analysts and the public are invited to listen to this discussion by calling 1-888-500-6974 (international: 719-325-2327) and entering the passcode 4744324, or via on-demand webcast. A link to the webcast will be available on the Zions Bancorporation Web site at www.zionsbancorporation.com. A replay of the call will be available from 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday, January 25, 2010, until midnight ET on Monday, February 1, 2010, by dialing 1-888-203-1112 (international: 719-457-0820) and entering the passcode 4744324. The webcast of the conference call will also be archived and available for 30 days.

About Zions Bancorporation

Zions Bancorporation is one of the nation's premier financial services companies, consisting of a collection of great banks in select high growth markets. Zions operates its banking businesses under local management teams and community identities through approximately 500 offices in ten Western and Southwestern states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington. The Company is a national leader in Small Business Administration lending and public finance advisory services. In addition, Zions is included in the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Financial 100 indices. Investor information and links to subsidiary banks can be accessed at www.zionsbancorporation.com.

Forward-Looking Information

Statements in this press release that are based on other than historical data or that express the Company's expectations regarding future events or determinations are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events or determinations. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or determinations, nor should they be relied upon as representing management's views as of any subsequent date. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those presented, either expressed or implied, in this news release. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the Company's ability to successfully execute its business plans and achieve its objectives; changes in general economic and financial market conditions, either internationally, nationally or locally in areas in which the Company conducts its operations, including changes in securities markets and valuations in structured securities and other assets; changes in governmental policies and programs resulting from general economic and financial market conditions; changes in interest and funding rates; continuing consolidation in the financial services industry; new litigation or changes in existing litigation; increased competitive challenges and expanding product and pricing pressures among financial institutions; legislation or regulatory changes which adversely affect the Company's operations or business; and changes in accounting policies, procedures or determinations as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other regulatory agencies, including determinations relating to the Company's accounting treatment of its subordinated debt modification.

Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in Zions Bancorporation's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

Except as required by law, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to publicly announce the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.