Astoria Financial Corporation Reports 2015 Fourth Quarter And Full Year Earnings Per Common Share Of $0.16 And $0.79, Respectively

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF) ("Astoria", or the "Company"), the holding company for Astoria Bank (the "Bank") today reported net income available to common shareholders of $16.2 million, or $0.16 diluted earnings per common share ("diluted EPS"), for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, compared to $21.1 million, or $0.21 diluted EPS, for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. Included in the 2014 fourth quarter results is $4.2 million ($0.04 per common share) of tax benefits recognized primarily related to the resolution of a tax matter with New York State and the related impact of changes in New York State tax legislation which was signed into law on March 31, 2014 and became effective January 1, 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2015, net income available to common shareholders totaled $79.3 million, or $0.79 diluted EPS compared to $87.1 million, or $0.88 diluted EPS, for 2014.  Included in the 2015 full year results is a reduction in income tax expense of $11.4 million ($0.12 per common share) related to the impact of income tax legislation enacted in the second quarter of 2015, primarily applicable to New York City.  Included in the 2014 full year results was a reduction in income tax expense of $11.5 million ($0.12 per common share) related to the impact of the previously discussed New York State income tax legislation as well as the previously discussed $4.2 million of tax benefits.

Monte N. Redman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Astoria, commenting on the 2015 results stated, "While we are disappointed by the lack of net growth in our loan portfolio, we are pleased with the continued growth that we have seen in core deposits and business deposits, as well as the further expansion we have experienced in our net interest margin."

"For the full year 2015, core deposits grew by approximately $302 million, $163 million of that growth coming in the fourth quarter, and now represent 78% of total deposits, up from 72% at year end 2014.  Contributing to this improvement was the growth that we experienced in business deposits, growing by approximately $35 million in the fourth quarter and approximately $120 million, or 13% for the year.  At December 31, 2015, business deposits totaled $1.05 billion."

"In addition, we continue to be encouraged with the expansion of our net interest margin in a less than ideal interest rate environment. In the fourth quarter of 2015 our margin was up 2 basis points to 2.39% from 2.37% in the prior quarter and up 4 basis points for the year to 2.36% from 2.32% in 2014." 

Board Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.04 Per Share
The Board of Directors of the Company, at its January 27, 2016 meeting, declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per common share.  The dividend is payable on March 1, 2016 to shareholders of record as of February 12, 2016.  This is the eighty-third consecutive quarterly cash dividend declared by the Company.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year Earnings Summary
Net interest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 totaled $84.7 million unchanged from the previous quarter and up from $83.9 million for the 2014 fourth quarter.  The net interest margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 was 2.39%, compared to 2.37% for the previous quarter and 2.30% for the 2014 fourth quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2015, net interest income totaled $340.3 million, compared to $342.3 million for 2014, and the net interest margin was 2.36% for the year ended December 31, 2015, up from 2.32% for the year ended December 31, 2014.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2015, a $4.3 million loan loss release was recorded compared to a $4.4 million release in the prior quarter and a $2.3 million release in the 2014 fourth quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we recorded a loan loss release of $12.1 million compared to a $9.5 million loan loss release for 2014.  Mr. Redman stated, "The loan loss release recorded in the fourth quarter is a reflection of our overall strong credit metrics and the continued contraction in the overall portfolio."

Non-interest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 totaled $13.5 million, compared to $12.9 million for the previous quarter and $13.6 million for the 2014 fourth quarter. The increase from the prior quarter was primarily due to an increase in mortgage banking income, net and more specifically, a recovery of MSR valuation in the most recent period compared to a provision for MSR valuation in the previous quarter. Non-interest income for the year ended December 31, 2015 totaled $54.6 million compared to $54.8 million for 2014. 

General and administrative ("G&A") expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 totaled $74.5 million compared to $72.6 million for the previous quarter and $70.2 million for the 2014 fourth quarter.  For the year ended December 31, 2015, G&A expense totaled $289.1 million, up from $284.4 million for the 2014 comparable period. Mr. Redman commented, "Our G&A in the fourth quarter was impacted by approximately $4 million of merger related expenses."    

Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets at December 31, 2015 were $15.1 billion, a decrease of $563.8 million from December 31, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in the loan portfolio which decreased $804.4 million from December 31, 2014, and totaled $11.2 billion at December 31, 2015, partially offset by an increase in the securities portfolio of $195.4 million over the same period. 

The MF/CRE mortgage loan portfolio totaled $4.8 billion at December 31, 2015, an increase of $56.8 million from December 31, 2014 and represents 44% of the total loan portfolio.  For the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015, MF/CRE loan originations totaled $300.4 million and $890.7 million, respectively, compared to $388.0 million and $1.2 billion, for the 2014 comparable periods. The MF/CRE loan production for the 2015 fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 were originated with weighted average loan-to-value ratios of approximately 38% and 45%, respectively, and weighted average debt coverage ratios of approximately 1.42 and 1.49, respectively. MF/CRE loan prepayments for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 totaled $156.8 million and $689.4 million, respectively, compared to $105.9 million and $375.7 million for the comparable 2014 periods. The pipeline at December 31, 2015 was $392.5 million.

The residential mortgage loan portfolio totaled $6.0 billion at December 31, 2015, compared to $6.9 billion at December 31, 2014.  For the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015, residential loan originations for portfolio totaled $102.9 million and $616.9 million, respectively, compared to $129.1 million and $455.9 million for the 2014 comparable periods.  The weighted average loan-to-value ratio of the residential loan production for portfolio at origination was approximately 60% and 61% for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015, respectively.  Residential loan prepayments for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 totaled $243.9 million and $1.2 billion, respectively, compared to $265.1 million and $1.1 billion for the comparable 2014 periods. At December 31, 2015, the residential mortgage pipeline totaled approximately $161.3 million.

Deposits totaled $9.1 billion at December 31, 2015, a decrease of $398.9 million from December 31, 2014.  This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in higher cost certificates of deposit, partially offset by net increases in lower cost core deposits, particularly consumer and business checking deposits. At December 31, 2015, core deposits totaled $7.1 billion with a weighted average rate of 12 basis points, and represent 78% of total deposits.    

Stockholders' equity totaled $1.66 billion, or 11.03% of total assets at December 31, 2015, an increase of $83.4 million from December 31, 2014.  Astoria's capital levels continue to exceed the minimum levels required to be designated as "well-capitalized" for bank regulatory purposes. At December 31, 2015, Tier 1 leverage, Common Equity Tier 1 risk based, Tier 1 risk-based and Total risk-based capital ratios were 11.29%, 19.12%, 19.12% and 20.25%, respectively for Astoria Bank, and 10.21%, 16.00%, 17.37% and 18.51%, respectively for Astoria Financial Corporation.  At December 31, 2015, Astoria Financial Corporation's tangible common equity ratio was 9.06%.

Asset Quality
Non-performing loans ("NPLs"), totaled $138.2 million, or 1.24% of total loans, at December 31, 2015, compared to $127.8 million, or 1.07% of total loans, at December 31, 2014. Included in the NPLs at December 31, 2015 is $54.3 million of loans which are current or less than 90 days past due compared to $65.0 million at December 31, 2014. Total delinquent loans and NPLs at December 31, 2015 were $243.7 million compared to $227.7 million at December 31, 2014. Net charge-offs for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 totaled $1.2 million compared to net recoveries of $439,000 in the previous quarter and net recoveries of $316,000 in the 2014 fourth quarter.  Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2015 totaled $1.5 million compared to net charge-offs of $17.9 million for the 2014 full year. Other real estate owned declined to $19.8 million at December 31, 2015, compared to $35.7 million at December 31, 2014.

Future Outlook 
Commenting on the Company's future outlook, Mr. Redman stated, "As was previously announced on October 29, 2015, we entered into a definitive agreement to merge with New York Community Bancorp ("NYCB"). We are very pleased that we are planning to merge with such a strong partner and, once the deal is closed, look forward to working with NYCB to continue to serve the communities which have come to rely on us for the past 127 years."

About Astoria Financial Corporation
Astoria Financial Corporation, with assets of $15.1 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Bank.  Established in 1888, Astoria Bank, with deposits in New York totaling $9.1 billion, is the second largest thrift depository in New York and provides its retail and business customers and local communities it serves with quality financial products and services through 88 convenient banking branch locations, a business banking office in Manhattan, and multiple delivery channels, including its flexible mobile banking app.  Astoria Bank commands a significant deposit market share in the attractive Long Island market, which includes Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties with a population exceeding that of 38 individual states.  Astoria Bank originates multi-family and commercial real estate loans, primarily on rent controlled and rent stabilized apartment buildings, located in New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area and originates residential mortgage loans through its banking and loan production offices in New York, a broker network in four states, primarily along the East Coast, and correspondent relationships covering 13 states and the District of Columbia.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may be identified by the use of such words as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would," and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions.

Forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors (many of which are beyond our control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These factors include, without limitation, the following: the timing and occurrence or non-occurrence of events that may be subject to circumstances beyond our control; increases in competitive pressure among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions; changes in the interest rate environment; changes in deposit flows, loan demand or collateral values; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or locally in some or all areas in which we do business, or conditions in the real estate or securities markets or the banking industry; legislative or regulatory changes, including the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, and any actions regarding foreclosures; enhanced supervision and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; effects of changes in existing U.S. government or government-sponsored mortgage programs; our ability to successfully implement technological changes; our ability to successfully  consummate new business initiatives;  litigation or other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future; or our ability to implement enhanced risk management policies, procedures and controls commensurate with shifts in our business strategies and regulatory expectations. We have no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.   

This communication contains certain forward-looking information about NYCB, Astoria, and the combined company after the close of the transaction that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of NYCB, Astoria and the combined company.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and we assume no duty to update such statements. We caution readers that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, such forward-looking statements.  In addition to factors previously disclosed in reports filed by NYCB and Astoria with the SEC, risks and uncertainties for each institution and the combined institution include, but are not limited to: lower than expected revenues; credit quality deterioration or a reduction in real estate values could cause an increase in the allowance for credit losses and a reduction in net earnings; enhanced supervision and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; increases in competitive pressure among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions; effects of changes in existing U.S. government or government-sponsored mortgage programs; the ability to complete the proposed transaction, including obtaining regulatory approvals and approval by the stockholders of Astoria or NYCB, or any future transaction, successfully integrate NYCB's and Astoria's integration plan, or achieve expected beneficial synergies and/or operating efficiencies, in each case within expected time-frames or at all; regulatory approvals may not be received on expected timeframes or at all; the possibility that personnel changes will not proceed as planned; the possibility that the cost of additional capital may be more than expected; the possibility that a change in the interest rate environment may reduce net interest margins; asset/liability re-pricing risks and liquidity risks; pending legal matters may take longer or cost more to resolve or may be resolved adversely; general economic conditions, either nationally or in the market areas in which the entities operate or anticipate doing business, are less favorable than expected; and environmental conditions, including natural disasters, may disrupt business, impede operations, or negatively affect the values of collateral securing loans.

Additional Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed merger transaction involving NYCB and Astoria. NYCB has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which will include a joint proxy statement of Astoria and NYCB and a prospectus of NYCB, and each party will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC.  A definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will also be sent to the Astoria and NYCB stockholders seeking any required stockholder approvals.  Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders of Astoria and NYCB are urged to carefully read the entire registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus, when they become available, as well as any amendments or supplements to these documents, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction.  The documents filed by NYCB and Astoria with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.  In addition, the documents filed by NYCB may be obtained free of charge at NYCB's website at http://ir.mynycb.com/ and the documents filed by Astoria may be obtained free of charge at Astoria's website at http://ir.astoriabank.com/.  Alternatively, these documents, when available, can be obtained free of charge from NYCB upon written request to New York Community Bancorp, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 615 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590 or by calling (516) 683-4100 or from Astoria upon written request to Astoria Financial Corporation, Attn: Investor Relations, One Astoria Bank Plaza, Lake Success, New York 11042 or by calling (516) 327-3000.

NYCB, Astoria, their directors, executive officers and certain other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from NYCB's and Astoria's stockholders in favor of the approval of the merger.  Information about the directors and executive officers of NYCB and their ownership of NYCB common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for NYCB's 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, as previously filed with the SEC on April 24, 2015.  Information about the directors and executive officers of Astoria and their ownership of Astoria common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Astoria's 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, as previously filed with the SEC on April 17, 2015.  Stockholders may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such participants by reading the registration statement and the proxy statement/prospectus when they become available.

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