Timberland Bancorp Fiscal Year Net Income Increases 22% to $10.15 Million

• Fiscal Year Earnings per Share Increases 22% to $1.43
• Fiscal Year Return on Equity Increases to 11.0%
• Fiscal Year Return on Assets Increases to 1.19%
• $15 Million FHLB Borrowing Prepaid to Reduce Future Interest Expense

HOQUIAM, Wash., Nov. 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Timberland Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSBK) (“Timberland” or “the Company”) today reported that net income increased 22% to $10.15 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 from $8.29 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.  Earnings per diluted common share (“EPS”) increased 22% to $1.43 for fiscal year 2016 from $1.17 for the prior fiscal year.

Timberland also reported net income of $2.70 million, or $0.38 per diluted common share, for its fourth fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016.  This compares to net income of $2.55 million, or $0.36 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, and net income of $2.96 million, or $0.42 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, which quarter received the benefit of a $1.53 million (pre-tax) loan loss provision recapture.

Timberland’s Board of Directors declared a $0.09 per common share quarterly cash dividend payable on November 30, 2016, to shareholders of record on November 16, 2016.

“Fiscal year 2016 marked the 6^th consecutive year the Company increased net income, earnings per share, return on equity and return on assets,” stated Michael R. Sand, President and CEO.  “We have continued to prudently grow the balance sheet and, during the current quarter, for the first time exceeded $900 million in total assets.  We elected to prepay a $15 million FHLB borrowing on the last day of the fiscal year which reduced year end assets to $891 million, but more importantly reduced interest expense by $54,000 per month.  We have two additional high-cost $15 million FHLB borrowings maturing within the next 12 months.  The first borrowing matures on August 1^st and the second on September 1, 2017.  We look forward to their impending maturities since the interest on these two borrowings, and the borrowing that was prepaid at fiscal year end, accounted for slightly less than 50% of our 2016 fiscal year total interest expense.”

2016 Fiscal Year Earnings and Balance Sheet Highlights (at or for the period ended September 30, 2016, compared to September 30, 2015, or June 30, 2016):

Earnings Highlights:

• Net income increased 22% to $10.15 million from $8.29 million for fiscal year 2015;
• EPS increased 22% to $1.43 from $1.17 for the prior fiscal year;
• Return on equity and return on assets increased to 11.00% and 1.19%, respectively, for the 2016 fiscal year;
• Return on equity and return on assets for the current quarter were 11.34% and 1.22%, respectively;
• Fiscal year operating revenue increased 14% from fiscal year 2015; and
• Non-interest income increased 14% and net interest income increased 13% year-over-year.

Balance Sheet Highlights:

• Net loans receivable increased 10% year-over-year and 2% from the prior quarter;
• Total deposits increased 12% year-over-year and 6% from the prior quarter;
• Other real estate owned (“OREO”) and other repossessed assets decreased 48% year-over-year and decreased 14% from the prior quarter;
• Non-performing assets decreased 48% year-over-year and decreased 9% from the prior quarter to 0.88% of total assets;
• Prepaid a $15.0 million FHLB borrowing on September 30, 2016 to immediately reduce future interest expense by approximately $54,000 per month; and
• Book and tangible book values per common share increased to $13.95 and $13.13, respectively, at September 30, 2016.

Net Interest Margin

• Net interest margin (“NIM”) increased to 3.88% for the 2016 fiscal year from 3.80% for the prior fiscal year; and
• NIM remained strong at 3.77% for the current quarter (NIM would have been 3.82% without the $138,000 pre-payment penalty on our $15.00 million FHLB borrowing, which was partially offset by the collection of $38,000 of non-accrual interest during the quarter.)

Operating Results

Operating revenue (net interest income before provision for loan losses, plus non-interest income excluding gains or losses on the sale of investment securities and other than temporary impairment (“OTTI”) charges on investment securities) increased 14% for the 2016 fiscal year to $41.86 million from $36.77 million for Timberland’s 2015 fiscal year.  For the current quarter operating revenue increased 14% to $11.06 million from $9.70 million for the comparable quarter one year ago and increased 7% from $10.37 million for the preceding quarter.

Net interest income increased 13% to $30.80 million for the 2016 fiscal year from $27.28 million for the prior fiscal year.  Net interest income for the current quarter increased 11% to $7.81 million from $7.03 million for the comparable quarter one year ago and increased 2% from $7.62 million for the preceding quarter.  During the current quarter, net interest income was reduced by a $138,000 pre-payment penalty incurred due to Timberland’s prepayment of a $15.00 million FHLB borrowing.  The borrowing was prepaid on September 30, 2016, and eliminated future interest expense of approximately $54,000 per month.  Two additional high-cost $15.00 million borrowings mature during Timberland’s 2017 fiscal year.

Timberland’s net interest margin for the year ended September 30, 2016, increased to 3.88% from 3.80% for the year ended September 30, 2015.  The net interest margin for the current quarter was 3.77% compared to 3.83% for the preceding quarter and 3.76% for the comparable quarter one year ago.  The net interest margin for the current quarter was reduced by approximately seven basis points due to the pre-payment penalty associated with prepaying an FHLB borrowing.  Also impacting the net interest margin was the collection of $38,000 of non-accrual interest, which increased the net interest margin by approximately two basis points during the current quarter.

Non-interest income for fiscal year 2016 increased 14% to $10.89 million from $9.52 million for the prior fiscal year.  Non-interest income increased 13% to $3.11 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, from $2.75 million for the preceding quarter, and increased 17% from $2.66 million for the comparable quarter one year ago.  The increase in non-interest income for the current quarter compared to the preceding quarter was primarily due to increased ATM and debit card interchange transaction fees, increased service charges on deposits and an increase in the gain on sale of loans, which was partially offset by an increase in OTTI charges on investment securities.  The increase in ATM and debit card interchange transaction fees was primarily due to a one-time $262,000 incentive payment received from Timberland’s debit card issuer for meeting certain sales and retention targets since the 2014 conversion to the new card issuer.  The increase in gain on sale of loans was primarily due to an increase in the dollar volume of fixed-rate one- to- four family loans and U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans sold during the current quarter.  Increased fee income from commercial checking accounts was the primary reason for the quarter’s increased service charges on deposits.  The increase in OTTI expense was primarily due to the recognition of additional credit loss on three private label residential mortgage-backed securities.

For fiscal year 2016, total (non-interest) operating expense increased 3% to $26.64 million from $25.84 million for the prior fiscal year.  Total operating expenses for the current quarter increased 6% to $6.96 million from $6.57 million for the preceding quarter and increased 4% from $6.69 million for the comparable quarter one year ago.  The increased expenses for the current quarter compared to the preceding quarter were primarily due to a $192,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits expense, a $57,000 increase in premises and equipment expense, a $50,000 increase in ATM and debit card processing expense, and smaller increases in several other categories.  The increase in salaries and employee benefits expense was primarily due to the hiring of additional lending and operations personnel.  Also contributing to the increase in salaries and employee benefits expense was a decrease in loan originations during the current quarter compared to the prior quarter and a corresponding reduction in the amount of loan origination fees collected.  Under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the portion of a loan origination fee that is attributable to the estimated employee costs to generate the loan is recorded as a reduction of salaries and employee benefits expense.  The increase in premises and equipment expense was primarily due to an increase in building and equipment related maintenance costs.  The increase in ATM and debit card expenses was primarily related to the recognition of costs associated with the Bank’s upcoming conversion to EMV chip cards.  The efficiency ratio for the current quarter was 63.77% compared to 63.37% for the preceding quarter and 69.09% for the comparable quarter one year ago.  The efficiency ratio for fiscal year 2016 improved to 63.89% from 70.22% for fiscal year 2015.

The provision for income taxes for fiscal year 2016 increased $709,000 to $4.90 million from $4.19 million for fiscal year 2015, primarily due to higher pre-tax income. The effective tax rate was 32.6% for fiscal year 2016 compared to 33.6% for fiscal year 2015.  The provision for income taxes for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 increased to $1.26 million from $1.25 million for the preceding quarter, primarily due to higher pre-tax income.  Also affecting the comparison between the current and immediately preceding quarter was a deferred tax adjustment, which reduced income tax expense by $58,000 for the current quarter.  The effective tax rate was 31.7% for the current quarter compared to 32.9% for the quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Balance Sheet Management

Total assets increased 9% to $891.39 million at September 30, 2016 from $815.82 million at September 30, 2015.  The increase was primarily due to a $58.87 million increase in net loans receivable and a $16.65 million increase in cash and cash equivalents.  These increases, as well as the prepayment of a $15.00 million FHLB borrowing on September 30, 2016, were primarily funded by an $82.62 million increase in deposits during the fiscal year.  For the current quarter, total assets increased 4%, or $33.25 million, from $858.14 million at June 30, 2016.  The increase in assets for the current quarter was primarily due to a $19.77 million increase in cash and cash equivalents and a $15.78 million increase in net loans receivable.  These increases, as well as the prepayment of the $15.00 million FHLB advance, were primarily funded by a $46.15 million increase in deposits. 

Liquidity, as measured by cash and cash equivalents, CDs held for investment and available for sale investments securities, was 20.6% of total liabilities at September 30, 2016, compared to 18.7% at June 30, 2016, and 19.6% one year ago. 

Net loans receivable increased $15.78 million, or 2%, to $663.15 million at September 30, 2016, from $647.37 million at June 30, 2016. The increase was primarily due to a $17.64 million increase in commercial real estate loans, a $10.63 million increase in multi-family loans, a $4.46 million increase in custom and owner/builder one- to four-family construction loans, a $2.54 million decrease in the undisbursed portion of construction loans in progress, and a $1.51 million increase in one- to four-family mortgage loans.  These increases were partially offset by a $12.06 million decrease in commercial construction loans, a $5.50 million decrease in multi-family construction loans, a $2.45 million decrease in land loans, and a $1.73 million decrease in commercial business loans.

LOAN PORTFOLIO

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(a) Does not include one- to four family loans held for sale totaling $3,604, $4,885 and $3,051 at September 30, 2016, June 30, 2016, and September 30, 2015, respectively.

Timberland originated $69.71 million in loans during the quarter ended September 30, 2016, compared to $65.97 million for the comparable quarter one year ago and $88.81 million for the preceding quarter.  Timberland continues to sell fixed rate one- to four-family mortgage loans into the secondary market for asset-liability management purposes and to generate non-interest income.  Timberland also began selling SBA loans during the current quarter.  During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, fixed-rate one- to four-family mortgage loans and SBA loans totaling $17.83 million were sold compared to $16.49 million for the comparable quarter one year ago and $14.19 million for the preceding quarter.

Timberland’s investment securities decreased slightly during the quarter to $8.85 million at September 30, 2016, from $8.98 million at June 30, 2016, primarily due to scheduled amortization.

Total deposits increased $82.62 million, or 12%, to $761.53 million at September 30, 2016, from $678.91 million at September 30, 2015.  The increase was primarily due to a $30.90 million increase in non-interest bearing checking account balances, a $23.18 million increase in N.O.W. checking account balances, a $21.52 million increase in money market account balances and a $13.16 million increase in savings account balances.  These increases were partially offset by a $6.13 million decrease in certificates of deposit account balances.

Total deposits increased $46.15 million, or 6%, during the current quarter to $761.53 million at September 30, 2016, from $715.38 million at June 30, 2016.  The current quarter’s increase was primarily due to a $22.71 million increase in non-interest bearing checking account balances, a $14.34 million increase in N.O.W. checking account balances, a $6.05 million increase in money market account balances and a $3.90 million increase in savings account balances.  These increases were partially offset by an $835,000 decrease in certificates of deposit account balances.  

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders’ equity increased $2.38 million to $96.83 million at September 30, 2016, from $94.45 million at June 30, 2016.  The increase in shareholders’ equity was primarily due to net income of $2.70 million for the quarter, which was partially offset by dividend payments of $625,000 to shareholders.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2016, book value per share increased $0.34 to $13.95 and tangible book value per share increased $0.33 to $13.13.  Timberland did not repurchase shares of its common stock during the quarter and, at September 30, 2016, had 221,893 shares authorized to be purchased in accordance with the terms of its existing stock repurchase plan.

Capital Ratios and Asset Quality

Timberland remains well capitalized with a total risk-based capital ratio of 16.01% and a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 10.55%.

There was no provision for loan losses made for the quarters ended September 30, 2016, and June 30, 2016.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2015, Timberland recorded a $1.53 million loan loss reserve recapture.  Net charge-offs totaled $15,000 for the current quarter compared to net charge-offs of $201,000 for the preceding quarter and a net recovery of $982,000 for the comparable quarter one year ago.  The non-performing assets to total assets ratio improved to 0.88% at September 30, 2016, from 1.01% three months earlier and 1.84% one year ago.  The allowance for loan losses was 1.46% of loans receivable at September 30, 2016.

Total delinquent loans (past due 30 days or more) and non-accrual loans decreased 52% to $3.47 million at September 30, 2016, from $7.20 million one year ago and decreased 13% from $4.01 million at June 30, 2016.  Non-accrual loans decreased 52% to $2.87 million at September 30, 2016, from $6.04 million one year ago and decreased 3% from $2.96 million at June 30, 2016.

OREO and other repossessed assets decreased 48% to $4.12 million at September 30, 2016, from $7.85 million at September 30, 2015, and decreased 14% from $4.76 million at June 30, 2016.  At September 30, 2016, the OREO and other repossessed asset portfolio consisted of 22 individual real estate properties and one mobile home.  During the quarter ended September 30, 2016, four OREO properties totaling $605,000 were sold.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures.  Timberland believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with information useful in understanding the Company’s financial performance; however, readers of this report are urged to review these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with GAAP results as reported.

Financial measures that exclude intangible assets are non-GAAP measures.  To provide investors with a broader understanding of capital adequacy, Timberland provides non-GAAP financial measures for tangible common equity, along with the GAAP measure.  Tangible common equity is calculated as shareholders’ equity less goodwill.  In addition, tangible assets are total assets less goodwill.

The following table provides a reconciliation of ending shareholders’ equity (GAAP) to ending tangible shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP), and ending total assets (GAAP) to ending tangible assets (non-GAAP).

About Timberland Bancorp, Inc. 
Timberland Bancorp, Inc., a Washington corporation, is the holding company for Timberland Bank (“Bank”).  The Bank opened for business in 1915 and serves consumers and businesses across Grays Harbor, Thurston, Pierce, King, Kitsap and Lewis counties, Washington with a full range of lending and deposit services through its 22 branches (including its main office in Hoquiam).  

Disclaimer
Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and often include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook” or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could.”  Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, assumptions and statements about future performance.  These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated, including, but not limited to: the credit risks of lending activities, including changes in the level and trend of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in our allowance for loan losses and provision for loan losses that may be impacted by deterioration in the housing and commercial real estate markets and may lead to increased losses and non-performing assets in our loan portfolio, and may result in our allowance for loan losses not being adequate to cover actual losses, and require us to materially increase our loan loss reserves; changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas; changes in the levels of general interest rates, and the relative differences between short and long term interest rates, deposit interest rates, our net interest margin and funding sources; fluctuations in the demand for loans, the number of unsold homes, land and other properties and fluctuations in real estate values in our market areas; secondary market conditions for loans and our ability to sell loans in the secondary market; results of examinations of us by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and our bank subsidiary by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks or other regulatory authorities, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, institute a formal or informal enforcement action or require us to increase our allowance for loan losses, write-down assets, change our regulatory capital position or affect our ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits or impose additional requirements or restrictions, which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business including changes in regulatory policies and principles, or the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules including as a result of Basel III; the impact of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the implementation of related rules and regulations; our ability to attract and retain deposits;  increases in premiums for deposit insurance; our ability to control operating costs and expenses; the use of estimates in determining fair value of certain of our assets, which estimates may prove to be incorrect and result in significant declines in valuation; difficulties in reducing risk associated with the loans on our consolidated balance sheet; staffing fluctuations in response to product demand or the implementation of corporate strategies that affect our workforce and potential associated charges; computer systems on which we depend could fail or experience a security breach; our ability to retain key members of our senior management team; costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments; our ability to successfully integrate any assets, liabilities, customers, systems, and management personnel we may in the future acquire into our operations and our ability to realize related revenue synergies and cost savings within expected time frames and any goodwill charges related thereto; our ability to manage loan delinquency rates;  increased competitive pressures among financial services companies; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; the availability of resources to address changes in laws, rules, or regulations or to respond to regulatory actions; our ability to pay dividends on our common and stock; adverse changes in the securities markets; inability of key third-party providers to perform their obligations to us; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the financial institution regulatory agencies or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, including additional guidance and interpretation on accounting issues and details of the implementation of new accounting methods; the economic impact of war or any terrorist activities; other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting our operations; pricing, products and services; and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Any of the forward-looking statements that we make in this press release and in the other public statements we make are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this report or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.  We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.  These risks could cause our actual results for fiscal 2017 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of us, and could negatively affect the Company’s operations and stock price performance.

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(a)  Annualized
(b)  Non-performing assets include non-accrual loans, loans past due 90 days and still accruing, non-performing investment securities and OREO and other repossessed assets.  Troubled debt restructured loans on accrual status are not included.
(c)  Does not include loans held for sale and is before the allowance for loan losses.
(d)  Does not include troubled debt restructured loans totaling $530, $530 and $1,233 reported as non-accrual loans at September 30, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively.
(e)  Tangible common equity divided by common shares outstanding (non-GAAP).                                                                            

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(1)Net interest margin = annualized net interest income /
average interest-bearing assets

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(1)Net interest margin = annualized net interest income /
average interest-bearing assets

Contact:  Michael R. Sand,  President & CEO Dean J. Brydon, CFO (360) 533-4747 www.timberlandbank.com