Eagle Bancorp Montana Earns a Record $1.8 Million, or $0.46 per Diluted Share, in 3Q16; Declares Regular Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.08 per Share

Eagle Bancorp Montana Earns a Record $1.8 Million, or $0.46 per Diluted Share, in 3Q16; Declares Regular Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.08 per Share

HELENA, Mont., Oct. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (NASDAQ:EBMT), (the “Company,” “Eagle”), the holding company of Opportunity Bank of Montana, today reported net income increased 240% to $1.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $521,000, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the third quarter a year ago.  In the preceding quarter, Eagle earned $1.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted share.  In the first nine months of 2016, net income increased 117% to $3.7 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, compared to $1.7 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2015.

Eagle’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share.  The dividend will be payable December 2, 2016 to shareholders of record November 11, 2016.  The current annualized yield is 2.20% at recent market prices.

“We produced record operating results during the quarter, with strong revenue growth, robust mortgage production, double digit annualized loan growth and an improved net interest margin,” said Peter J. Johnson, President and CEO.  “Our focus on gathering core deposits, growing the loan portfolio and expanding our customer base throughout Montana continues to gain momentum.  We continue to improve upon our performance metrics with a return on average assets of 1.07%, a return on average equity of 11.82% and an improved efficiency ratio of 69.70%, for the third quarter of 2016. This solid financial performance is a reflection of the hard work of our employees and their commitment to our customers.”

Third Quarter 2016 Highlights (at or for the three month period ended September 30, 2016, except where noted)

  • Net income grew 240% to $1.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted share in the third quarter, compared to $521,000, or $0.14 per diluted share in the third quarter a year ago.
  • Revenues (net interest income before the provision for loan losses, plus non-interest income) increased 37.6% to $10.1 million compared to $7.3 million in the same period a year ago. 
  • Net interest margin improved 27 basis points compared to a year ago to 3.55%.
  • Total loans increased 4.0% to $461.5 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $443.9 million three months earlier and increased 17.9% compared to $391.5 million a year earlier. 
  • Commercial real estate loans increased 31.7% to $205.8 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $156.3 million a year earlier.
  • Total deposits increased 7.1% to $515.3 million at September 30, 2016, from $481.1 million a year earlier.
  • Capital ratios remain strong with a tangible shareholders equity ratio of 10.10% at September 30, 2016.
  • Declared quarterly cash dividend to $0.08 per share, providing a 2.20% current yield at recent market prices.

Balance Sheet Results

“Loan production remained solid, as did the regional economy, and we continue to see significant potential for growth in our loan origination pipelines, particularly with commercial real estate and C&I loan segments,” said Johnson.  Total loans increased 4.0% to $461.5 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $443.9 million three months earlier and increased 17.9% compared to $391.5 million a year earlier. 

Eagle originated $101.2 million in new residential mortgages during the quarter, excluding construction loans, and sold $95.6 million in residential mortgages, with an average gross margin on sale of mortgage loans of approximately 3.30%.  This production compares to residential mortgage originations of $80.5 million in the preceding quarter with sales of $68.7 million.

Commercial real estate loans increased 31.7% to $205.8 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $156.3 million a year earlier, while residential mortgage loans decreased 3.4% to $113.3 million compared to $117.3 million a year earlier.  Commercial loans increased 77.4% to $60.1 million, home equity loans increased 2.3% to $47.7 million and construction loans decreased 11.0% to $20.6 million, compared to a year ago.  

Eagle’s total deposits increased 7.1% to $515.3 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $481.1 million a year earlier and were up 1.3% compared to $508.9 million at June 30, 2016.  As of September 30, 2016, checking and money market accounts represent 51.5%, savings accounts represent 15.6%, and CDs comprise 32.9% of the total deposit portfolio.

Total assets increased 10.3% to $674.5 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $611.4 million a year earlier and increased 1.7% compared to $663.3 million three months earlier.  Shareholders’ equity improved to $60.0 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $59.0 million three months earlier and $54.4 million one year earlier.  Tangible book value improved to $13.91 per share at September 30, 2016, compared to $13.63 per share at June 30, 2016 and $12.40 per share a year earlier. 

Operating Results

“Third quarter net interest margin improved 24 basis points compared to the preceding quarter and 27 basis points compared to the third quarter a year ago, primarily as a result of our strong loan growth,” Johnson said.  Eagle’s net interest margin was 3.55% in the third quarter, compared to 3.31% in the preceding quarter and 3.28% in the third quarter a year ago.  In the first nine months of the year, Eagle’s net interest margin was 3.40% compared to 3.36% in the same period one year ago.  Funding costs for the quarter were down one basis point while asset yields increased 26 basis points compared to a year ago.  The investment securities portfolio decreased to $133.8 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $147.5 million a year ago, which had a slight positive impact on the average yields on earning assets. 

Eagle’s third quarter revenues increased 15.6% to $10.1 million compared to $8.8 million in the preceding quarter and increased 37.6% compared to $7.3 million in the third quarter a year ago.  In the first nine months of 2016, revenues increased 19.8% to $26.6 million, compared to $22.2 million in the first nine months of 2015.  Net interest income before the provision for loan loss increased 9.7% to $5.4 million in the third quarter compared to $4.9 million in the preceding quarter, and increased 22.3% compared to $4.4 million in the third quarter a year ago.  In the first nine months of the year, net interest income increased 15.9% to $15.2 million, compared to $13.1 million in the first nine months of 2015.

Primarily as a result of the net gain on sale of loans, noninterest income increased 23.2% to $4.7 million in the third quarter, compared to $3.8 million in the preceding quarter, and increased 61.0% compared to $2.9 million in the third quarter a year ago.  Year-to-date, noninterest income increased 25.6% to $11.4 million compared to $9.1 million in the first nine months a year ago.  Third quarter noninterest expenses were $7.2 million, compared to $6.7 million in the preceding quarter and $6.5 million in the year ago quarter.  Year-to-date, noninterest expense was up modestly to $20.4 million compared to $19.3 million in the first nine months of 2015.

Credit Quality

The third quarter provision for loan losses was $472,000, compared to $459,000 in the preceding quarter and $310,000 in the third quarter a year ago.  As of September 30, 2016, the allowance for loan losses represented 263.3% of nonperforming loans compared to 196.0% three months earlier and 216.6% a year earlier.  At September 30, 2016, nonperforming loans (NPLs) were $1.8 million, which was down 18.7% compared to $2.2 million three months earlier, and an increase compared to $1.5 million a year earlier.   

Eagle’s third quarter net charge-offs totaled $82,000, compared to $139,000 in the preceding quarter and $30,000 in the third quarter a year ago.  The allowance for loan losses was $4.7 million, or 1.01% of total loans at September 30, 2016, compared to $4.3 million, or 0.96% of total loans at June 30, 2016, and $3.2 million, or 0.83% of total loans a year ago.

OREO and other repossessed assets was $513,000 at September 30, 2016, down slightly compared to $565,000 at June 30, 2016.  Nonperforming assets (NPAs), consisting of nonperforming loans, OREO and other repossessed assets, loans delinquent 90 days or more, and restructured loans, were $2.3 million at September 30, 2016, or 0.34% of total assets, compared to $2.7 million, or 0.41% of total assets three months earlier and $2.1 million, or 0.35% of total assets a year earlier. 

Capital Management

Eagle Bancorp Montana continues to be well capitalized with the ratio of shareholders’ equity to tangible asset of 10.10% at September 30, 2016.  (Shareholders’ equity, plus trust preferred securities and subordinated debt, less goodwill and core deposit intangible to tangible assets).

About the Company

Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Helena, Montana and is the holding company of Opportunity Bank, a community bank established in 1922 that serves consumers and small businesses in Montana through 13 banking offices. Additional information is available on the bank’s website at www.opportunitybank.com.  The shares of Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “EBMT.”

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and may be identified by the use of such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “estimated,” and “potential.” These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements of our goals, intentions and expectations; statements regarding our business plans, prospects, growth and operating strategies; statements regarding the asset quality of our loan and investment portfolios; and estimates of our risks and future costs and benefits. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in laws or government regulations or policies affecting financial institutions, including changes in regulatory fees and capital requirements; general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas, that are worse than expected; competition among depository and other financial institutions; loan demand or residential and commercial real estate values in Montana; inflation and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our margins or reduce the fair value of financial instruments; adverse changes in the securities markets; and other economic, governmental, competitive, regulatory and technological factors that may affect our operations. Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. All information set forth in this press release is current as of the date of this release and the company undertakes no duty or obligation to update this information.

Balance Sheet              
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)     (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
            September 30, June 30, September 30,
              2016     2016     2015  
                 
Assets:              
  Cash and due from banks       $   6,802   $   5,579   $   6,529  
  Interest-bearing deposits with banks         1,029       844       717  
    Total cash and cash equivalents       7,831       6,423       7,246  
  Securities available-for-sale, at market value         133,754       140,449       147,460  
  FHLB stock, at cost              3,870       3,735       2,853  
  FRB stock             871       871       642  
  Investment in Eagle Bancorp Statutory Trust I         155       155       155  
  Loans held-for-sale             19,415       21,246       14,731  
  Loans:              
    Residential mortgage (1-4 family)       113,287       116,207       117,320  
    Commercial loans         60,102       48,982       33,884  
    Commercial real estate         205,819       200,848       156,293  
    Construction loans         20,649       16,382       23,210  
    Consumer loans         14,867       14,618       14,885  
    Home equity           47,694       47,842       46,632  
    Unearned loan fees         (919 )     (951 )     (750 )
      Total loans         461,499       443,928       391,474  
  Allowance for loan losses           (4,650 )     (4,260 )     (3,230 )
    Net loans           456,849       439,668       388,244  
  Accrued interest and dividends receivable         2,138       2,274       2,332  
  Mortgage servicing rights, net           5,439       5,196       4,808  
  Premises and equipment, net           19,543       17,965       18,290  
  Cash surrender value of life insurance         13,996       14,683       12,429  
  Real estate and other assets acquired in settlement of loans, net     513       565       619  
  Goodwill             7,034       7,034       7,034  
  Core deposit intangible           416       449       550  
  Other assets             2,671       2,623       4,016  
    Total assets       $   674,495   $   663,336   $   611,409  
                 
Liabilities:              
  Deposit accounts:              
  Noninterest bearing             89,242       88,327       82,842  
  Interest bearing             426,035       420,555       398,286  
    Total deposits         515,277       508,882       481,128  
  Accrued expense and other liabilities         5,363       5,000       5,372  
  FHLB advances and other borrowings         78,855       75,491       55,534  
  Subordinated debentures, net           14,965       14,959       14,951  
    Total liabilities         614,460       604,332       556,985  
                 
Shareholders’ Equity:              
  Preferred stock (no par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized;      
    none issued or outstanding)           -        -        –  
  Common stock (par value  $0.01; 8,000,000 shares authorized;       
    4,083,127 shares issued; 3,779,464, 3,779,464, and 3,776,916 shares outstanding    
    at September 30, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively)     41       41       41  
  Additional paid-in capital           22,184       22,168       22,134  
  Unallocated common stock held by employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)     (850 )     (891 )     (1,016 )
  Treasury stock, at cost (303,663, 303,663 and 306,211 shares at       
    September 30, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively)     (3,321 )     (3,321 )     (3,338 )
  Retained earnings             40,096       38,626       36,714  
  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)       1,885       2,381       (111 )
    Total shareholders’ equity        60,035       59,004       54,424  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $   674,495   $   663,336   $   611,409  
                 

 

Income Statement       (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
              September 30, June 30, September 30,   September 30,
                2016     2016     2015       2016     2015  
Interest and dividend Income:                
  Interest and fees on loans     $   5,461   $   4,955   $   4,390     $   15,253   $   12,607  
  Securities available-for-sale         709       740       759         2,196       2,255  
  FRB and FHLB dividends         37       35       5         103       25  
  Interest on deposits with banks         –       1       -          1       1  
  Other interest income         1       -        -          4       5  
    Total interest and dividend income       6,208       5,731       5,154         17,557       14,893  
Interest Expense:                  
  Interest expense on deposits         383       381       400         1,119       1,093  
  Advances and other borrowings       209       212       130         622       401  
  Subordinated debentures         195       195       191         584       254  
    Total interest expense         787       788       721         2,325       1,748  
Net interest income           5,421       4,943       4,433         15,232       13,145  
Loan loss provision       472       459       310         1,381       960  
  Net interest income after loan loss provision       4,949       4,484       4,123         13,851       12,185  
             
Noninterest income:              
  Service charges on deposit accounts       229       211       317         639       783  
  Net gain on sale of loans       3,164       2,438       1,639         7,320       5,126  
  Mortgage loan servicing fees       462       442       523         1,267       1,360  
  Wealth management income         166       159       174         461       470  
  Interchange and ATM fees         227       223       146         652       436  
  Appreciation in cash surrender value of life insurance     133       113       105         358       315  
  Net gain on sale of available-for-sale securities       110       84       -          194       234  
  Net (loss) gain on sale of OREO       (2 )     12       -          10       -   
  Net loss on fair value hedge         –       -        -          -        (93 )
  Other noninterest income       200       124       8         490       438  
  Total noninterest income       4,689       3,806       2,912         11,391       9,069  
             
Noninterest expense:              
  Salaries and employee benefits        4,177       3,916       3,660         11,783       10,678  
  Occupancy and equipment expense       698       671       838         2,158       2,307  
  Data processing       456       463       560         1,467       1,605  
  Advertising       192       150       170         530       563  
  Amortization of mortgage servicing fees       326       285       218         839       640  
  Amortization of core deposit intangible and tax credits     112       111       116         335       317  
  Federal insurance premiums       99       123       83         305       251  
  Postage       60       34       63         148       152  
  Legal, accounting and examination fees       120       61       126         279       415  
  Consulting fees       44       34       72         161       523  
  Other noninterest expense       875       838       586         2,388       1,874  
  Total noninterest expense       7,159       6,686       6,492         20,393       19,325  
             
Income before income taxes          2,479       1,604       543         4,849       1,929  
Income tax provision         707       340       22         1,166       230  
Net income         $   1,772   $   1,264   $   521     $   3,683   $   1,699  
             
Basic earnings per share     $   0.46   $   0.34   $   0.14     $   0.97   $   0.44  
Diluted earnings per share     $   0.46   $   0.32   $   0.14     $   0.95   $   0.44  
Weighted average shares              
  outstanding (basic EPS)       3,779,464       3,779,464       3,804,532         3,779,464       3,823,896  
Weighted average shares              
  outstanding (diluted EPS)       3,873,171       3,873,171       3,841,787         3,873,171       3,861,151  
       

 

Financial Ratios and Other Data      
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)      
(Unaudited)   September 30, June 30, September 30,
        2016     2016     2015  
Asset Quality:        
  Nonaccrual loans   $   1,421   $   2,040   $   556  
  Loans 90 days past due     301       89       888  
  Restructured loans, net     44       44       47  
    Total nonperforming loans     1,766       2,173       1,491  
  Other real estate owned and other repossessed assets     513       565       619  
    Total nonperforming assets $   2,279   $   2,738   $   2,110  
  Nonperforming loans / portfolio loans   0.38 %   0.49 %   0.38 %
  Nonperforming assets / assets   0.34 %   0.41 %   0.35 %
  Allowance for loan losses / portfolio loans   1.01 %   0.96 %   0.83 %
  Allowance / nonperforming loans   263.31 %   196.04 %   216.63 %
  Gross loan charge-offs for the quarter $   83   $   148   $   39  
  Gross loan recoveries for the quarter $   1   $   9   $   9  
  Net loan charge-offs for the quarter $   82   $   139   $   30  
           
Capital Data (At quarter end):      
  Tangible book value per share $   13.91   $   13.63   $   12.40  
  Shares outstanding   3,779,464     3,779,464     3,776,916  
           
           
Profitability Ratios (For the quarter):      
  Efficiency ratio*     69.70 %   75.15 %   86.79 %
  Return on average assets   1.07 %   0.78 %   0.35 %
  Return on average equity   11.82 %   8.76 %   3.87 %
  Net interest margin     3.55 %   3.31 %   3.28 %
           
Profitability Ratios (Year-to-date):      
  Efficiency ratio *     75.34 %   78.79 %   85.57 %
  Return on average assets   0.76 %   0.60 %   0.40 %
  Return on average equity   8.44 %   6.68 %   4.22 %
  Net interest margin     3.40 %   3.33 %   3.36 %
           
Other Information        
  Average total assets for the quarter $   664,580   $   649,585   $   593,947  
  Average total assets year to date $   649,203   $   641,188   $   570,948  
  Average earning assets for the quarter $   611,055   $   596,479   $   540,222  
  Average earning assets year to date $   596,858   $   589,432   $   520,925  
  Average loans for the quarter ** $   471,437   $   448,158   $   384,275  
  Average loans year to date ** $   449,334   $   438,283   $   361,355  
  Average equity for the quarter $   59,958   $   57,746   $   53,894  
  Average equity year to date $   58,157   $   57,257   $   53,701  
  Average deposits for the quarter $   500,381   $   493,879   $   478,635  
  Average deposits year to date $   491,987   $   487,463   $   460,816  
           
* The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP ratio that is calculated by dividing non-interest expense, exclusive of 
intangible asset amortization, by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income.   
** includes loans held for sale      
Peter J. Johnson, President and CEO (406) 457-4006 Laura F. Clark, SVP and CFO (406) 457-4007