FRANKLIN, Tenn., Oct. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Franklin Financial Network, Inc. (NYSE: FSB), the parent company (the "Company") of Franklin Synergy Bank (the "Bank"), today announced record financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016.  For the third quarter, net income available for common shareholders increased 37.2% to $7.0 million from $5.1 million for the third quarter of 2015. Earnings per diluted share were $0.62 for the third quarter of 2016, up 34.8% from $0.46 for the third quarter of 2015.

For the first nine months of 2016, net income available for common shareholders increased 78.5% to $20.2 million from $11.3 million for the first nine months of 2015. Earnings per diluted share grew 60.7% for the first nine months of 2016 to $1.80 from $1.12 for the same period in 2015.

Highlights for the third quarter of 2016 include:

• Profitability measures remained strong, with return on average assets of 1.06% for the quarter and return on average tangible common equity of 14.33%.
• Net interest income plus noninterest income increased 24.4% to $25.6 million from $20.5 million for the same period in 2015.
• The efficiency ratio remained low at 53.65% compared with 52.85% in 2015.
• Total loans, including loans held for sale, increased 47.6% or $542.4 million to $1.68 billion at the quarter's end from $1.14 billion at September 30, 2015.
• Credit quality remained strong for the quarter, with nonperforming loans at 0.10% of total loans, excluding loans held for sale; the allowance for loan losses increasing to 0.94% of total loans, excluding loans held for sale; and net charge-offs for the quarter of 0.01% of average loans.
• Tangible book value per share increased 17.0% to $18.49 at the end of the quarter compared with $15.80 at the end of the third quarter of 2015.

"The Company produced substantial growth in earnings per diluted share for the third quarter," said Richard Herrington, the Company's Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. "Historically, from an earnings perspective, the third quarter is our weakest quarter due to seasonal trends in deposits and construction lending, contributing, in part, to a lower net interest margin. Further, comparison to the third quarter last year is distorted because of a $1.2 million increase in net interest income in the third quarter of 2015 resulting from the pay-off of a purchased credit-impaired loan.

"The earnings growth in the third quarter this year, compared to last year, was driven by a combination of loan growth, record mortgage banking levels, and continued strong asset quality performance. Compared to second quarter 2016, net income growth was slowed by the narrower net interest margin discussed above, as well as the Company's investment in people and technology infrastructure to build a stronger foundation for future growth. As our infrastructure upgrades are completed and implemented in the first half of 2017, we expected the level of new investment to moderate. 

"The Company's performance for the third quarter and year-to-date continued to reflect favorable economic trends in our core middle Tennessee market, comprised primarily of the three-county metro area including Davidson (Nashville), Williamson (Franklin) and Rutherford (Murfreesboro) counties.  Recent economic reports indicate that the Nashville metro area had the second-highest rate of wage growth in the country for 2015, consistent with a report from the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program that found the Nashville area ranked first in the nation in the growth of high-tech manufacturing and other 'advanced industries' jobs. These reports complement earlier statistics that rank this market in the top tier of national metro areas for job growth, business startups, entrepreneurship and even as a great place to retire. We believe the Company is well-positioned to leverage these trends to produce further profitable growth."

Strong Asset Quality

• At September 30, 2016, nonperforming loans were 0.10% of total loans, excluding loans held for sale, compared with 0.10% and 0.07% at June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015.
• Nonperforming assets were 0.10% of total loans, excluding loans held for sale, plus foreclosed assets, compared with 0.12% and 0.09% at June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015.
• The allowance for loan losses increased to 0.94% of total loans, excluding loans held for sale, compared with 0.92% and 0.87% at June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015.
• There were net charge-offs for the third quarter of 2016 of 0.01% of average loans compared with negligible net recoveries for the second quarter of 2016 and third quarter of 2015.

Attractive, Growing, Local Markets Support Expansion of Balance Sheet

• Total assets were $2.70 billion at September 30, 2016, an increase of 35.0% from September 30, 2015.
• Total loans, including loans held for sale, increased to $1.68 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2016, up 47.6% or $542.4 million from 2015, primarily due to an increase of $153.7 million in business loans, which included $84.2 million in healthcare loans; and growth in real estate loans, with increases of $140.0 million in construction loans; $122.4 million in 1-4 family real estate loans; and $116.2 million in commercial real estate loans.
• The mix of total loans at the end of the third quarter was consistent with the mix at the end of the prior quarter, with total real estate lending at 77.5% and business loans at 22.3% of total gross loans.
• Deposits were $2.22 billion at September 30, 2016, an increase of 29.4% from September 30, 2015. Non-interest bearing deposits increased 30.8% compared with the third quarter of 2015 and interest bearing deposits increased 29.2%.

Strong Growth in the Loan Portfolio and Noninterest Revenue Drive Earnings per Share

• Net interest income for the third quarter of 2016 increased 23.5% to $20.7 million from $16.7 million for the third quarter of 2015. The growth in net interest income reflected strong growth in interest earning assets, somewhat offset by reduced yield, as well as the growth, change in mix and increased average rate of interest bearing liabilities, which included the issuance of $40 million of subordinated notes on March 31, 2016 and $20 million of subordinated notes on June 30, 2016.
• The average yield on total interest earning assets was 4.12% for the third quarter of 2016, down 17 basis points from 4.29% for the third quarter of 2015. The average rate on total interest bearing liabilities was 0.91% for the third quarter of 2016, up 25 basis points from 0.66% for the third quarter of 2015. Net interest margin, adjusted for tax equivalent yield, was 3.34% for the third quarter of 2016, compared with 3.73% for the third quarter last year, which included the impact of a $1.2 million increase in net interest income for the third quarter of 2015 due to the pay-off of a purchased credit-impaired loan.
• Noninterest income for the third quarter of 2016 was $4.9 million, up 28.4% from the third quarter of 2015. The increase primarily reflected net gains on the sales of loans and securities, as well as significant growth in other service charges and fees and wealth management income. 
• Noninterest expense increased 26.3% to $13.7 million for the third quarter of 2016 from $10.9 million for the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to increased salaries and employee benefits related to both the Company's growth and stronger mortgage banking performance, increased professional fees and a growth-related increase in occupancy and equipment expense. The Company's efficiency ratio increased to 53.65% for the third quarter of 2016, compared with 52.85% for the third quarter of 2015.
• The Company's effective income tax rate improved to 32.7% for the third quarter of 2016 compared with 35.3% for the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to an increase in municipal debt in the securities portfolio and other tax strategies.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

The Company will host a webcast and conference call at 9:00 a.m. (CT) on Wednesday, October 19, 2016, to discuss operating and financial results for the third quarter of 2016. To access the call for audio only, please call 1-844-378-6480. For the presentation materials and streaming audio, please access the webcast on the Investor Relations page of Franklin Synergy Bank's website at www.FranklinSynergyBank.com. For those unable to participate in the webcast, it will be archived for one year, with audio available for 90 days.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

This media release contains forward-looking statements.  Such statements include, but are not limited to, projected sales, gross margin and net income figures, the availability of capital resources, and plans concerning products and market acceptance.  Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated.  Future events and actual results, financial and otherwise, could differ materially from those set forth in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements herein.

Future operating results of the corporation are impossible to predict, and no representation or warranty of any kind can be made respecting the present or future accuracy of such forward-looking statements or the ability of the corporation to meet its obligations, and no such representation or warranty is to be inferred.

About the Company

Franklin Financial Network, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee. The Company's wholly owned bank subsidiary, Franklin Synergy Bank, a Tennessee-chartered commercial bank founded in November 2007 and a member of the Federal Reserve System, provides a full range of banking and related financial services with a focus on service to small businesses, corporate entities, local governments and individuals. With consolidated total assets of $2.70 billion at September 30, 2016, the Bank currently operates through 12 branches and one loan production office in the demographically attractive and growing Williamson, Rutherford and Davidson Counties, all within the Nashville metropolitan statistical area. Additional information about the Company, which is included in the NYSE Financial-100 Index, and the FTSE Russell 2000 Index, is available at www.FranklinSynergyBank.com.

GAAP Reconciliation and Management Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Some of the financial data included in our selected historical consolidated financial information are not measures of financial performance recognized by GAAP. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in its analysis of our performance:

• "Common shareholders' equity" is defined as total shareholders' equity at end of period less the liquidation preference value of the preferred stock;
• "Tangible common shareholders' equity" is common shareholders' equity less goodwill and other intangible assets;
• "Total tangible assets" is defined as total assets less goodwill and other intangible assets;
• "Other intangible assets" is defined as the sum of core deposit intangible and SBA servicing rights;
• "Tangible book value per share" is defined as tangible common shareholders' equity divided by total common shares outstanding. This measure is important to investors interested in changes from period-to-period in book value per share exclusive of changes in intangible assets;
• "Tangible common shareholders' equity ratio" is defined as the ratio of tangible common shareholders' equity divided by total tangible assets. We believe that this measure is important to many investors in the marketplace who are interested in relative changes from period-to period in common equity and total assets, each exclusive of changes in intangible assets;
• "Return on Average Tangible Common Equity" is defined as annualized net income available to common shareholders divided by average tangible common shareholders' equity; and
• "Efficiency ratio" is defined as noninterest expenses divided by our operating revenue, which is equal to net interest income plus noninterest income.

We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to management and investors that is supplementary to our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows computed in accordance with GAAP; however, we acknowledge that our non-GAAP financial measures have a number of limitations. As such, you should not view these disclosures as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP, and they are not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP financial measures that other companies use. The following reconciliation table provides a more detailed analysis of these non-GAAP financial measures:

Investor Relations Contact:
Sarah Meyerrose
EVP, Chief Financial Officer
(615) 236-8344
[email protected]

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SOURCE Franklin Financial Network, Inc.