MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc. Announces Net Income of $2.7 Million for Fourth Quarter 2011, an Increase of 54% From Fourth Quarter 2010 and EPS of $0.16 per Diluted Common Share Compared With $0.09 in 2010

HOUSTON, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: MCBI), a Texas corporation, which provides community banking services through its subsidiaries, MetroBank, N.A., serving Texas, and Metro United Bank, serving California, today announced the operating results for the fourth quarter of 2011.

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Financial Highlights

• Net income was $2.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2011 improved 54.0%, compared with $1.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2010 and $2.3 million for the third quarter of 2011.
• Net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $9.4 million, an improvement from the net loss of $927,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010. 
• Total nonperforming assets at December 31, 2011 declined $28.9 million or 31.2% to $63.9 million compared with $92.8 million at December 31, 2010, and declined $8.3 million or 11.5% compared with $72.2 million at September 30, 2011. 
• Nonperforming assets to total assets declined to 4.27% at December 31, 2011 compared with 5.95% at December 31, 2010.
• Provision for loan losses was $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, a decrease of $13.9 million or 78.8% compared with the year ended December 31, 2010.
• Allowance for loan losses was 2.71% of total loans at December 31, 2011 compared with 2.95% at December 31, 2010.
• Net interest margin was 3.87% for the fourth quarter of 2011 compared with 3.84% for the fourth quarter of 2010.
• Total risk-based capital ratio increased to 17.29% at December 31, 2011 compared with 15.13% at December 31, 2010.

George M. Lee, Executive Vice Chairman, President and CEO of MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc. stated, "The Company's 2011 performance was marked by consistent quarterly improvements in net income and credit quality.  Net income for the twelve months of 2011 was $9.4 million, a significant improvement over the net loss of $927,000 for the same period of 2010.  Net income improved steadily from $1.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, $2.1 million for the first quarter of 2011, and $2.4 million and $2.3 million for the second and third quarters of 2011 and completing the year with $2.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.  Likewise, nonperforming assets were reduced from $92.8 million at December 31, 2010 to $63.9 million at December 31, 2011.  Although the net reduction of $8.3 million in nonperforming assets between the third and fourth quarters of 2011 was meaningful, the overall reduction was partially offset by a $7.1 million addition to nonperforming assets as a result of a downgrade by the lead bank on a commercial real estate loan participation. 

Other key financial metrics in terms of net interest margin and noninterest expense remained stable and management was encouraged with the Company's overall performance for the year.  We begin the year 2012 with solid earnings, improved asset quality and an improved total risk-based capital ratio at 17.29%, which we believe will afford the Company the opportunity to develop a TARP repayment strategy."

Interest income and expense 

Net interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was $13.6 million, a decrease of $488,000 or 3.5% compared with $14.1 million for the same period in 2010. Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $54.0 million, a decrease of $3.0 million or 5.2% compared with $57.0 million for the same period in 2010.  The decrease for the three months and year ended December 31, 2011 was due primarily to a decline in average total loans and yields, partially offset by lower volume and cost of deposits.  On a linked-quarter basis, net interest income remained relatively stable compared with $13.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. 

The net interest margin for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was 3.87%, an increase of three basis points compared with 3.84% for the same period in 2010. The yield on average earning assets decreased 30 basis points, and the cost of average earning assets decreased 33 basis points for the same periods.  On a linked-quarter basis, the net interest margin for the three months ended December 31, 2011 increased four basis points compared with 3.83% for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The yield on average earning assets decreased four basis points, and the cost of average earning assets decreased eight basis points compared with the yields at September 30, 2011.

The net interest margin for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was 3.83%. The yield on average earning assets decreased 42 basis points, and the cost of average earning assets decreased 42 basis points for the same periods. 

Interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was $16.5 million, down $1.8 million or 9.9% compared with $18.3 million for the same period in 2010, primarily due to lower loan volume and loan yield, partially offset by an increase in the volume of taxable securities and federal funds sold.  Average earning assets decreased $62.0 million or 4.3% to $1.39 billion for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared with $1.45 billion for the same period in 2010.  Average total loans decreased $101.6 million or 8.8% to $1.06 billion for the fourth quarter of 2011 compared with $1.16 billion for the fourth quarter of 2010. The yield on average earning assets for the fourth quarter of 2011 was 4.70% compared with 5.00% for the fourth quarter of 2010.

Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $67.4 million, down $10.1 million or 12.9% compared with $77.5 million for the same period in 2010, primarily due to lower loan volume and loan yield, partially offset by an increase in the volume of taxable securities and federal funds sold.   Average earning assets decreased $77.4 million or 5.2% to $1.41 billion for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared with $1.49 billion the same period in 2010.  Average total loans decreased $139.3 million or 11.4% to $1.08 billion for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared with $1.22 billion for the same period in 2010. The yield on average earning assets for the year ended December 31, 2011 was 4.78% compared with 5.20% for the same period of 2010.

Interest expense for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was $2.9 million, down $1.4 million or 31.4% compared with $4.3 million for the same period in 2010, primarily due to lower deposit volume and deposit cost and lower interest cost on the junior subordinated debentures. Average interest-bearing deposits were $995.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, a decrease of $80.4 million or 7.5% compared with $1.08 billion for the same period of 2010. The cost of interest-bearing deposits for the fourth quarter of 2011 was 0.93% compared with 1.28% for the fourth quarter of 2010.  Interest cost of junior subordinated debentures declined from 5.42% for the fourth quarter of 2010 to 3.59% for the fourth quarter of 2011 as a result of the unhedged portion of the debt converting from fixed rate to variable rate. Average other borrowings, excluding junior subordinated debentures, were $29.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, a decrease of $27.4 million or 48.5% compared with $56.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2010.  The cost of other borrowings for the fourth quarter of 2011 was 3.39% compared with 2.00% for the fourth quarter of 2010.

Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $13.4 million, down $7.0 million or 34.4% compared with $20.4 million for the same period in 2010, primarily due to lower deposit volume and lower cost of funds. Average interest-bearing deposits were $1.02 billion for the year ended December 31, 2011, a decrease of $117.3 million or 10.3% compared with $1.14 billion for the same period of 2010. The cost of interest-bearing deposits for the year ended December 31, 2011 was 1.08% compared with 1.52% for the same period of 2010. Interest cost of junior subordinated debentures declined from 5.67% for the year ended December 31, 2010 to 3.62% for the year ended December 31, 2011 as a result of the unhedged portion of the debt converting from fixed rate to variable rate. Average other borrowings, excluding junior subordinated debentures, were $41.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, a decrease of $6.0 million or 12.8% compared with $47.0 million for the same period of 2010.  The cost of other borrowings for the year ended December 31, 2011 was 2.56% compared with 2.31% for the same period of 2010.

Noninterest income and expense

Noninterest income for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was $2.2 million a decrease of $247,000 or 10.2% compared with $2.4 million for the same period in 2010. The decline for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was primarily due to a decrease in gains on securities transactions, partially offset by an increase in other noninterest income and a decline in securities impairments.

Noninterest income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $7.2 million, a decrease of $349,000 or 4.6% compared with the same period in 2010. The decline for the year ended December 31, 2011 was primarily due to a decrease in gains on securities transactions and service fees, partially offset by a decline in securities impairments and an increase in other noninterest income.

Noninterest expense for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was $10.5 million, a decrease of $705,000 or 6.3% compared with $11.2 million for the same period in 2010.  The decrease was mainly the result of decreases in FDIC assessments, expenses related to ORE, and salaries and employee benefits.

Noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $43.7 million, a decrease of $4.6 million or 9.4% compared with $48.3 million for the same period in 2010.  The decrease was primarily the result of lower expenses related to ORE, a $2.0 million goodwill impairment charge that was recorded in the first quarter of 2010, and lower FDIC assessments, partially offset by an increase in other noninterest expense.  Other noninterest expense increased primarily as a result of a higher provision for unfunded commitments and increased loan administration expenses and online banking fees.

Salaries and employee benefits expense for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was $5.0 million, a decrease of $139,000 or 2.7% compared with $5.2 million for the same period in 2010. The decrease was primarily due to lower employee healthcare expenses.  Salaries and employee benefits expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $20.7 million, an increase of $133,000 or 0.6% compared with $20.6 million for the same period in 2010.  The increase was primarily due to higher salaries and higher bonus accrual, partially offset by a decrease in employee healthcare expenses.

Provision for loan losses

The following table summarizes the provision for loan losses and net charge-offs as of and for the quarters indicated:

The provision for loan losses for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was $1.3 million, a decrease of $1.3 million compared with $2.6 million for the same period in 2010.  The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $3.7 million, a decrease of $13.9 million or 78.8% compared with $17.6 million for the same period in 2010.  The decrease for the three months and year ended December 31, 2011 was primarily due to a decrease in nonperforming assets, as well as a reduction in total loans. On a linked-quarter basis, the provision for loan losses in the fourth quarter of 2011 increased $400,000 to $1.3 million compared with $875,000 for the third quarter of 2011, primarily as a result of higher charge-offs.

Net charge-offs for the three months ended December 31, 2011 were $2.9 million or 0.28% of total loans compared with net charge-offs of $3.4 million or 0.30% of total loans for the three months ended December 31, 2010. The net charge-offs primarily consisted of $2.9 million in loans from Texas and $50,000 in loans from California.  Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2011 were $9.2 million or 0.88% of total loans compared with net charge-offs of $13.2 million or 1.16% of total loans for the year ended December 31, 2010.  

Asset Quality

The following table summarizes nonperforming assets as of the dates indicated:

Total nonperforming assets at December 31, 2011 were $63.9 million ($46.2 million from Texas and $17.7 million from California) compared with $92.8 million at December 31, 2010 ($74.5 million from Texas and $18.3 million from California), a decrease of $28.9 million or 31.2%. The ratio of total nonperforming assets to total assets decreased to 4.27% at December 31, 2011 from 5.95% at December 31, 2010.   

On a linked-quarter basis, total nonperforming assets decreased by $8.3 million, which consisted of a $4.2 million decrease in Texas and a $4.1 million decrease in California. The decrease in nonperforming assets in Texas consisted primarily of declines of $4.5 million in ORE, partially offset by an increase of $1.2 million in nonaccrual loans. In Texas, nonaccrual loans increased primarily due to the addition of five loans totaling $8.9 million, partially offset by $5.2 million in note sales, $2.3 million in charge-offs, and payoffs and pay downs. The decrease in nonperforming assets in California primarily consisted of a decrease of $4.1 million in nonaccrual troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs") resulting from the reclassification of a loan to performing status and a $316,000 reduction in ORE. 

On a linked-quarter basis, ORE decreased by approximately $4.8 million compared with September 30, 2011, which included decreases of $4.5 million in Texas and $316,000 in California.  The decrease in Texas was primarily the result of the sale of six properties.  The $316,000 decrease in California resulted from write downs.

Approximately $42.0 million or 93.6% of nonaccrual loans and nonaccruing TDRs at December 31, 2011, are collateralized by real estate.  Management is closely monitoring the loan portfolio and actively working on problem loan resolutions but uncertain economic conditions could further impact the loan portfolio.

Management conference call.  On Monday, January 23, 2012, the Company will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Central (11:00 a.m. Eastern) to discuss the fourth quarter 2011 results.  A brief management presentation will be followed by a question and answer period.  To participate by phone, U.S. callers may dial 1.877.407.8291 (International callers may dial 1.201.689.8345) and ask for the MetroCorp conference.  The call will be webcast by Shareholder.com  and can be accessed at MetroCorp's web site at www.metrobank-na.com.  An audio archive of the call will be available approximately one hour after the call and will be accessible at www.metrobank-na.com in the Investor Relations section.

MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc., provides a full range of commercial and consumer banking services through its wholly owned subsidiaries, MetroBank, N.A. and Metro United Bank. The Company has thirteen full-service banking locations in the greater Houston and Dallas, Texas metropolitan areas, and six full service banking locations in the greater San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco, California metropolitan areas. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had consolidated assets of $1.5 billion.  For more information, visit the Company's web site at www.metrobank-na.com.

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements describe the Company's future plans, projections, strategies and expectations, are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or projected include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) general business and economic conditions in the markets the Company serves may be less favorable than expected which could decrease the demand for loan, deposit and other financial services and increase loan delinquencies and defaults; (2) changes in the interest rate environment which could reduce the Company's net interest margin; (3) the failure of or changes in management's assumptions regarding the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses; (4) an adverse change in the real estate market in the Company's primary market areas; (5) legislative or regulatory developments including changes in laws concerning taxes, banking, securities, insurance and other aspects of the financial services industry; (6) the effect of compliance, or failure to comply within stated deadlines, with the provisions of the Formal Agreement between MetroBank and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; (7) the effect of compliance, or failure to comply within stated deadlines, with the provisions of the Consent Order between Metro United Bank and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the California Department of Financial Institutions; (8) increases in the level of nonperforming assets; (9) changes in the availability of funds which could increase costs or decrease liquidity; (10) the effects of competition from other financial institutions operating in the Company's market area and elsewhere, including institutions operating locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, together with such competitors offering banking products and services by mail, telephone, computer and the Internet; (11) changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; (12) a deterioration or downgrade in the credit quality and credit agency ratings of the securities in the Company's securities portfolio; (13) the incurrence and possible impairment of goodwill associated with an acquisition; (14) the Company's ability to raise additional capital; (15) the inability to fully realize the Company's net deferred tax asset; and (16) the Company's ability to adapt successfully to technological changes to meet customers' needs and developments in the marketplace. All written or oral forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.  These and other risks and factors are further described from time to time in the Company's 2010 annual report on Form 10-K and other reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information contact:
MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc., Houston
George Lee, Executive Vice Chairman, President & CEO, (713) 776-3876, or
David Choi, Executive Vice President& CFO, (713) 776-3876

SOURCE MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.