MARIETTA, Ohio, April 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Peoples Bancorp Inc. ("Peoples") (NASDAQ: PEBO) today announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.  Net income totaled $8.0 million for the first quarter of 2016, representing earnings per diluted common share of $0.44.  In comparison, earnings per diluted common share were $0.14 for the fourth quarter of 2015 and a loss per diluted common share of $0.04 was reported for the first quarter of 2015.

"We had a good start to the year.  Our annualized loan growth for the quarter was in line with our expectations and our reported efficiency ratio was slightly better than our previously reported guidance.  On the loan front, our consumer lending group had another strong quarter, especially the indirect business," said Chuck Sulerzyski, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "We were able to generate positive operating leverage during the quarter compared to the first quarter of 2015, and expect to continue to do so as we proceed throughout 2016."

Statement of Operations Highlights:

• Total revenue grew 2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. 
  • Net interest income was relatively flat as compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. 
  • Net interest margin, excluding net accretion income from acquisitions, was up slightly compared to the fourth quarter of 2015.
  • Non-interest income grew 8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2015, due largely to the annual performance-based insurance income recognized each year during the first quarter.
• Provision for loan losses was $1.0 million for the quarter, due to the loan growth during the quarter and net charge-offs.
• Total non-interest expenses were $26.3 million, which was up slightly compared to the linked quarter's core non-interest expenses. 
  • The efficiency ratio for the first quarter of 2016 was 64.26%, compared to the first quarter of 2015 efficiency ratio of 68.78% when adjusted for non-core charges.
  • Positive operating leverage of 7% compared to the first quarter of 2015 as revenue grew 18%, and core non-interest expenses grew 11%.

Balance Sheet Highlights:

• Period-end total loan balances grew at a 6% annualized rate compared to December 31, 2015. 
  • Consumer loans grew at an 8% annualized rate for the quarter, led by 40% annualized growth in indirect lending.
  • Commercial loans grew at a 5% annualized rate for the quarter.
• Investment securities increased $16.6 million compared to December 31, 2015 due primarily to an increase in the fair market value of available-for-sale securities.
• Asset quality was relatively stable during the quarter.
  • Net charge-offs for the quarter were consistent with the fourth quarter of 2015, excluding the charge-off recorded late last year for one large commercial relationship.
  • Nonperforming assets increased $0.8 million, or 1.00% of total loans and OREO, during the quarter driven mainly by one loan going 90+ days past due.
  • Criticized loans, which are those categorized as watch, substandard or doubtful, decreased $2.8 million, or 2%, during the quarter.
  • Classified loans, which are those categorized as substandard or doubtful, decreased $2.9 million, or 5%, during the quarter.
  • Allowance for loan losses was 1.17% of originated loans, net of deferred fees and costs, at March 31, 2016, compared to 1.19% at December 31, 2015.
• Period-end deposit balances increased 2% compared to December 31, 2015.
  • Growth during the quarter was due primarily to seasonal growth in governmental deposits and savings accounts.
  • Non-interest bearing deposits, as a percent of total deposits, were 28% at March 31, 2016.
• Purchased 279,770 common shares for $5.3 million under the share repurchase program during the first quarter of 2016 .

Note: The comparison of quarterly income statement and average balance sheet results between the first quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016 was affected by the NB&T Financial Group, Inc. ("NB&T") acquisition, which closed March 6, 2015.

Net Interest Income:
Net interest income for the first quarter of 2016 was $25.8 million, relatively flat compared to the fourth quarter of 2015 and 20% higher than the first quarter of 2015, while the net interest margin for these periods was 3.53%, 3.56% and 3.46%, respectively.  The growth in net interest income for the first quarter of 2016, compared to the first quarter of 2015, was due largely to the impact of the NB&T acquisition.  The accretion income, net of amortization expense, from the acquisitions was $1.0 million for the first quarter of 2016, compared to $1.2 million for both the fourth and first quarters of 2015, which added 12 basis points, 16 basis points and 18 basis points, respectively, to the net interest margin.  Net interest margin, excluding net accretion income from acquisitions, improved 1 basis point compared to the fourth quarter of 2015 and 13 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2015.  The improvement compared to the first quarter of 2015 was due to the continued shift in the mix of deposits from high cost funding, such as certificates of deposit, to core deposits, and the resulting reduction in funding costs.

Provision for Loan Losses:
For the first quarter of 2016, provision for loan losses was $1.0 million, which included a provision for loan losses of $0.9 million and a provision for checking account overdrafts of $0.1 million.  The loan growth experienced during the quarter, coupled with the net charge-offs recorded, accounted for the provision for loan losses during the quarter.  Provision for loan losses was $7.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 and $0.4 million for the first quarter of 2015.  The provision for loan losses recorded for the fourth quarter of 2015 was due primarily to the charge-off associated with one large commercial loan relationship.

Non-interest Income:
Total non-interest income grew $1.0 million, or 8%, compared to the linked quarter, and grew $1.5 million, or 13%,  compared to the first quarter of 2015.  The growth for the quarter compared to the linked quarter was due largely to the annual performance-based insurance income, which, for the most part, is recognized in the first quarter of each year.  The growth in total non-interest income compared to the first quarter of 2015 was due to growth in almost all categories, most notably electronic banking income, trust and investment income, and deposit account service charges, with growth of 28%, 16% and 13% for the quarter, respectively.  The growth compared to the first quarter of 2015 was due largely to the impact of the NB&T acquisition.

Non-interest Expense:
Total non-interest expense, on an as reported basis, for the first quarter of 2016 was $26.3 million, compared to $27.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 and $32.9 million for the first quarter of 2015.  Total non-interest expense, adjusted for non-core charges, was $26.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 and $23.6 million for the first quarter of 2015, with total non-interest expense for the first quarter of 2016 representing an increase of 1% and 11%, respectively, over these amounts.  The non-core acquisition-related costs recorded in the first quarter of 2015 of $9.0 million were made up of $4.0 million of salaries and employee benefits costs, $3.6 million of other non-interest expense, and $1.4 million of professional fees.  The increase in core non-interest expenses compared to the linked quarter was due largely to the increase in salaries and employee benefits costs.  Compared to the first quarter of 2015, the increase in core-non-interest expenses was due to growth in almost all categories, most notably salaries and employee benefits costs, net occupancy and equipment expenses, professional fees and amortization of intangible assets.  The growth compared to the first quarter of 2015 was due largely to the NB&T acquisition. 

The efficiency ratio for the first quarter of 2016 was 64.26%, compared to 67.94% for the linked quarter and 96.72% for the first quarter of 2015.  The efficiency ratio, when adjusted for non-core charges was 64.69% for the linked quarter and 68.78% for the first quarter of 2015.  The improvement in the efficiency ratio for the quarter compared to both the linked quarter and the first quarter of 2015 was the result of the revenue growth exceeding the increase in expenses.  For the quarter, revenue grew 2%, compared to expenses increasing only 1%, and compared to the first quarter of 2015, revenue grew 18% compared to expenses increasing 11%.

Loans:
Period-end total loan balances increased $32.7 million, or 6% annualized, compared to the December 31, 2015 balances.  The growth was driven primarily by growth of $19.1 million, or 8% annualized, in consumer loan balances.  Indirect lending was the main contributor to the consumer loan growth during the quarter as balances grew $16.7 million, or 40% annualized.  Commercial loans grew $13.5 million, or 5% annualized, with commercial and industrial loan growth of $16.1 million more than offsetting a decrease in commercial real estate loans for the quarter.  Compared to March 31, 2015, period-end loan balances increased $113.9 million, or 6%, with the growth almost equally divided between consumer and commercial loan balances.  The growth in consumer loans was driven by indirect lending, which grew $60.2 million, or 49%.  The growth in commercial loans was due to commercial and industrial loan growth of $41.9 million, or 13%.

The mix of the loan portfolio has continually changed, with indirect lending accounting for 20% of the consumer loan  portfolio at March 31, 2016, compared to 18% at December 31, 2015 and 14% at March 31, 2015.  Similarly, within the commercial loan portfolio, commercial and industrial loans comprised 31% of the commercial portfolio at March 31, 2016, compared to 30% at December 31, 2015 and 29% at March 31, 2015. 

Average gross loan balances for the quarter compared to the linked quarter increased $31.5 million, or 2%, and increased $375.0 million, or 22%, compared to the first quarter of 2015.  The increase compared to the linked quarter was due mainly to an increase in commercial real estate and non-mortgage consumer loans.  The increase compared to the prior year first quarter was due to the impact of the NB&T acquisition.

Asset Quality:
Overall, Peoples' asset quality trends during the quarter remained relatively stable.  Net charge-offs were flat compared to the fourth quarter of 2015, excluding the impact of the $13.1 million charge-off late last year related to one large commercial relationship.  Compared to the first quarter of 2015, net charge-offs increased $331,000.  The annualized net charge-off rate for the first quarter of 2016 was 0.09%, compared to 2.64% for the fourth quarter of 2015 (excluding the $13.1 million charge-off noted above, the rate was 0.11%) and 0.02% for the first quarter of 2015.  The increase in the net charge-offs compared to the first quarter of 2015 was due largely to the growth experienced in the consumer loan portfolio. 

Nonperforming assets increased $0.8 million during the first quarter of 2016 driven mainly by one small loan going 90+ days past due.  Compared to the first quarter of 2015, nonperforming assets increased $7.4 million, due primarily to an increase in nonaccrual loans.  The increase in nonaccrual loans was due to one large commercial real estate loan being placed on non-accrual status during the fourth quarter of 2015.

Criticized loans, which are those categorized as watch, substandard or doubtful, decreased $2.8 million during the quarter and increased $2.5 million compared to the first quarter of 2015.  Classified loans, which are those categorized as substandard or doubtful, decreased $2.9 million during the quarter and $13.2 million compared to the first quarter of 2015.  The decrease in classified loans compared to the first quarter of 2015 was due to the charge-off of one large commercial relationship during the fourth quarter of 2015. 

At March 31, 2016, the allowance for loan losses was $17.3 million, compared to $16.8 million at December 31, 2015, with the increase of $0.5 million due largely to loan growth.  At quarter-end, the ratio of the allowance for loan losses as a percent of originated loans (which does not include acquired loan balances), net of deferred fees and costs, was 1.17%, down slightly from 1.19% reported for December 31, 2015 and 1.48% reported for March 31, 2015.  The decrease compared to the ratio reported for March 31, 2015 was due to the build-up of reserves on the one commercial loan relationship noted above that was fully charged-off in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Deposits:
Period-end deposits increased $51.1 million during the quarter, with the growth largely due to increases of $37.3 million in governmental deposits and $20.0 million in savings accounts.  Balances in each of these account types normally are higher in the first quarter of each year compared to the other quarters.  Compared to the first quarter of 2015, period-end deposits increased $5.9 million, with the growth in non-interest-bearing deposits more than offsetting the slight decline in interest-bearing deposit balances.  The increase in non-interest-bearing deposits was mainly due to growth of $22.0 million in business demand accounts.  The decline in interest-bearing deposit balances was due primarily to the $59.7 million decrease in certificates of deposit, both retail and brokered, which was partially offset by growth of $28.1 million in savings accounts and $25.9 million in interest-bearing demand accounts.

Non-interest bearing deposits, as a percent of total deposits, remained consistent with December 31, 2015 at 28%, and increased from 27% at March 31, 2015. 

Average deposits for the quarter compared to the linked quarter increased $35.3 million, and increased $465.6 million compared to first quarter of 2015.  The increase compared to the linked quarter was due mainly to growth in governmental deposits, savings accounts and interest-bearing demand accounts.  The increase compared to the prior year first quarter was due to the NB&T acquisition not occurring until late in the quarter.

Peoples Bancorp Inc. is a diversified financial services holding company with $3.3 billion in total assets, 82 locations, including 74 full-service bank branches, and 81 ATMs in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky.  Peoples makes available a complete line of banking, investment, insurance and trust solutions through its subsidiaries - Peoples Bank and Peoples Insurance Agency, LLC.  Peoples' common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market® under the symbol "PEBO", and Peoples is a member of the Russell 3000 index of U.S. publicly-traded companies.  Learn more about Peoples at www.peoplesbancorp.com.   

Conference Call to Discuss Earnings:
Peoples will conduct a facilitated conference call to discuss first quarter 2016 results of operations today at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, with members of Peoples' executive management participating.  Analysts, media and individual investors are invited to participate in the conference call by calling (866) 890-9285.  A simultaneous webcast of the conference call audio will be available online via the "Investor Relations" section of Peoples' website, www.peoplesbancorp.com.  Participants are encouraged to call or sign in at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time to ensure participation and, if required, to download and install the necessary software.  A replay of the call will be available on Peoples' website in the "Investor Relations" section for one year.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This news release contains financial information and performance measures determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").  Management uses these "non-GAAP" financial measures in its analysis of Peoples' performance and the efficiency of its operations. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide a greater understanding of ongoing operations and enhance comparability of results with prior periods and peers. These disclosures should not be viewed as substitutes for financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP financial measures that may be presented by other companies. Below is a listing of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this news release:

• Core non-interest expenses are non-GAAP since they exclude the impact of acquisition-related costs, pension settlement charges, severance charges, search firm fees and legal settlement charges.
• Efficiency ratio is calculated as non-interest expense (less intangible amortization) as a percentage of fully tax-equivalent net interest income plus non-interest income. This measure is non-GAAP since it excludes amortization of other intangible assets and all gains and/or losses included in earnings, and uses fully tax-equivalent net interest income.
• Tangible assets, tangible equity and tangible book value per common share measures are non-GAAP since they exclude the impact of intangible assets acquired through acquisitions on both total stockholders' equity and total assets and the related amortization from earnings.
• Pre-provision net revenue is defined as net interest income plus non-interest income minus non-interest expense. This measure is non-GAAP since it excludes provision for loan losses and all gains and/or losses included in earnings.

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of this news release under the caption of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures".

Safe Harbor Statement:
Certain statements made in this news release regarding Peoples' financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are identified by the fact they are not historical facts and include words such as "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "feel", "expect", "believe", "plan", "will", "would", "should", "could" and similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations based on all information available to management and its knowledge of Peoples' business and operations.  Additionally, Peoples' financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially.  These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the success, impact, and timing of the implementation of Peoples' business strategies, including the successful integration of recently-completed acquisitions and the expansion of consumer lending activity; (2) Peoples' ability to integrate any future acquisitions may be unsuccessful, or may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (3) Peoples may issue equity securities in connection with future acquisitions, which could cause ownership and economic dilution to Peoples' current shareholders; (4) local, regional, national and international economic conditions and the impact they may have on Peoples, its customers and its counterparties, and Peoples' assessment of the impact, which may be different than anticipated; (5) competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions may increase significantly, including product and pricing pressures, third-party relationships and revenues, and Peoples' ability to attract, develop and retain qualified professionals; (6) changes in the interest rate environment due to economic conditions and/or the fiscal policies of the United States ("U.S.") government and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board"), which may adversely impact interest rates, interest margins and interest rate sensitivity; (7) changes in prepayment speeds, loan originations, levels of nonperforming assets, delinquent loans and charge-offs, which may be less favorable than expected and adversely impact the amount of interest income generated; (8) adverse changes in the economic conditions and/or activities, including, but not limited to, continued economic uncertainty in the U.S., the European Union, Asia, and other areas, which could decrease sales volumes and increase loan delinquencies and defaults; (9) legislative or regulatory changes or actions, promulgated and to be promulgated thereunder by governmental and regulatory agencies in the State of Ohio, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which may subject Peoples, its subsidiaries, or one or more acquired companies to a variety of new and more stringent legal and regulatory requirements which adversely affect their respective businesses, including in particular the rules and regulations promulgated and to be promulgated under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010; (10) deterioration in the credit quality of Peoples' loan portfolio, which may adversely impact the provision for loan losses; (11) changes in accounting standards, policies, estimates or procedures which may adversely affect Peoples' reported financial condition or results of operations; (12) Peoples' assumptions and estimates used in applying critical accounting policies, which may prove unreliable, inaccurate or not predictive of actual results; (13) adverse changes in the conditions and trends in the financial markets, including political developments, which may adversely affect the fair value of securities within Peoples' investment portfolio, the interest rate sensitivity of Peoples' consolidated balance sheet, and the income generated by Peoples' trust and investment activities; (14) Peoples' ability to receive dividends from its subsidiaries; (15) Peoples' ability to maintain required capital levels and adequate sources of funding and liquidity; (16) the impact of new minimum capital thresholds established as a part of the implementation of Basel III; (17) the impact of larger or similar sized financial institutions encountering problems, which may adversely affect the banking industry and/or Peoples' business generation and retention, funding and liquidity; (18) the costs and effects of regulatory and legal developments, including the outcome of potential regulatory or other governmental inquiries and legal proceedings and results of regulatory examinations; (19) Peoples' ability to secure confidential information through the use of computer systems and telecommunications networks, including those of Peoples' third-party vendors and other service providers, may prove inadequate, which could adversely affect customer confidence in Peoples and/or result in Peoples incurring a financial loss; (20) the overall adequacy of Peoples' risk management program; (21) the impact on Peoples' businesses, as well as on the risks described above, of various domestic or international military or terrorist activities or conflicts; and (22) other risk factors relating to the banking industry or Peoples as detailed from time to time in Peoples' reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including those risk factors included in the disclosures under the heading "ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS" of Peoples' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

Peoples encourages readers of this news release to understand forward-looking statements to be strategic objectives rather than absolute targets of future performance.  Peoples undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable legal requirements.  Copies of documents filed with the SEC are available free of charge at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov and/or from Peoples' website.

As required by U.S. GAAP, Peoples is required to evaluate the impact of subsequent events through the issuance date of its March 31, 2016 consolidated financial statements as part of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be filed with the SEC.  Accordingly, subsequent events could occur that may cause Peoples to update its critical accounting estimates and to revise its financial information from that which is contained in this news release.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Peoples Bancorp Inc.