First Citizens Banc Corp Announces Third Quarter Earnings

SANDUSKY, Ohio, Oct. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- First Citizens Banc Corp (NASDAQ: FCZA) ("First Citizens") reported net income attributable to common shares of $1.9 million, or $0.21 per share, diluted, for the third quarter of 2014, an increase of 48.8% compared with $1.3 million, or $0.17 per share, diluted, for the prior year period.  For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014, First Citizens reported net income available to common shareholders of $5.8 million or $0.64 per share, diluted, an increase of 35.7% compared to $4.3 million, or $0.55 per share, diluted, in the same period of 2013.

"During the third quarter, we experienced an increase in net interest income due to continued loan growth.  We continued in our efforts to improve our efficiency ratio with our fourth branch closure. In September we announced the acquisition of TCNB Financial Corp in Dayton which, we believe, should add a platform for continued growth," said James O. Miller, Chairman, President and CEO of First Citizens.  "Loan growth, efficiency improvements and acquisitions continue to be areas of focus for our organization."        

Results of Operations:

Net interest income for the third quarter of 2014 increased $767 thousand, or 7.7%, from the prior year's third quarter and for the nine months ended September 30 increased $1.4 million, or 4.8%, when compared to the same period of 2013.  Compared to the prior year, interest income increased $540 thousand, or 4.9%, for the third quarter and $909 thousand, or 2.7%, nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The increase in interest income was due primarily to an increase in average loans outstanding of $65.4 million, or 8.0% and $52.5 million, or 6.5% for the three- and nine-month periods, respectively.  The increase in average loans was partially offset by decreased yield of 8 basis points and 14 basis points for the respective three- and nine-month periods, compared to the prior year.  Interest expense, compared to 2013, decreased $227 thousand or 18.8% and $522 thousand, or 13.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Net interest margin for the nine months of 2014 was 3.73%, 4 basis points lower than the same period in 2013.  The average balance of interest-bearing deposits relating to tax refund processing was $65.3 million for 2014.  Removing the impact of the First Citizen's tax refund processing cash on deposit, the net interest margin would have been 21 basis points higher for the nine months of 2014.  For the three months ended September 30, net interest margin was 3.94%, 16 basis points higher than the third quarter a year ago. Mr. Miller continued, "We are proud of our continued strong net interest margin.  The interest rate environment continues to be challenging and we work hard to maintain our net interest margin.  The fact that we have been successful at doing so with the loan growth we have had shows our discipline in looking at loan opportunities."

The provision for loan losses was $300 thousand in the third quarter of 2013.  No provision was made for the third quarter 2014.  For the nine months ended 2014, the provision for loan losses increased $400 thousand, or 36.4%, compared to the same period last year.  Net charge-offs totaled $2.6 million for the first nine months of 2014 compared to $3.5 million for the same period in 2013.  A large portion of the 2014 charge-offs related to resolution of specific problem credits for which a specific reserve had been allocated.   

Noninterest income decreased $65 thousand, or 2.1%, compared to the prior year's third quarter but increased $1.9 million, or 20.7%, when compared to the nine months of 2013.  The increase in the nine-month period was primarily due to an increase fee income related to income tax refund processing.  Tax refund processing fees were up $1.9 million, or 441.0% for the nine months of 2014 compared to the same period a year ago, due to increased volume of returns processed.  Wealth management revenue increased $87 thousand, or 11.8%, for the three-month period ended September 30 compared to the same period in 2013 and increased $433 thousand, or 22.1%, for the nine-month period ended September 30 compared to the same period in 2013.  The increase in wealth management revenue is due to both an increase in asset valuations as well as an increase in accounts.  These factors were offset by a $ 46.3 million decrease in assets related to First Citizens' resignation as trustee for out-of-area accounts inherited from a previous acquisition.  The out-of-area accounts were lower yielding accounts and the lost revenue was more than offset by increased revenue related to other assets under management.  At $458.9 million, assets under management decreased by 2.0% from the end of 2013, however, in-market assets increased $37.0 million or 8.8% from the end of 2013.     

Noninterest expense decreased $84 thousand, or 0.8%, when compared to the prior year's third quarter and $229 thousand, or 0.7%, when compared to the nine months of 2013.  For the quarter and nine-month period, the decrease in noninterest expense was primarily attributable to a $496 thousand decrease in pension expense for the third quarter and a decrease of $1.0 million for the nine-month period.  The decreases in pension costs were offset by increases in salaries and commissions for the quarter and nine-month period of $179 thousand and $685 thousand respectively.  As of April 30, 2014, the Company froze its pension plan.  While the plan still exists, no new participants will be added and no additional benefits will accrue going forward.  Mr. Miller continued, "The freezing of our pension plan provides us with an opportunity to better predict expenses, provide a benefit to more employees and reduce costs."

Balance Sheet

Total assets increased $14.5 million, or 1.2%, from December 31, 2013 to September 30, 2014 due primarily to an increase in loans of $25.8 million or 3.0%, during that period, largely offset by a decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $10.0 million.   

Mr. Miller continued, "Loan growth during the third quarter of 2014 shows our continued effort to grow relationships with our customers.  Our loans have grown $67.4 million or 8.2% in the past twelve months.  We remain optimistic regarding our loan pipeline for the fourth quarter of 2014."

Total deposits increased $38.2 million, or 4.0%, from December 31, 2013 to September 30, 2014, largely related to cash on deposit from the tax refund processing program.  As of September 30, 2014 the balance on deposit related to the tax refund processing program was approximately $24.0 million.  Total shareholder's equity decreased $12.5 million, or 9.7%, from December 31, 2013 to September 30, 2014 as a result of the $23.2 million redemption  of Series A Preferred Stock, partially offset by retained earnings of $5.0 million and changes to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. 

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets decreased $5.0 million, or 19.2%, from December 31, 2013 to September 30, 2014 due to the continuing workout of nonperforming loans with delinquent customers.  Total nonaccrual loans decreased $4.6 million, or 22.6%, from December 31, 2013 to September 30, 2014.  

First Citizens Banc Corp is a $1.2 billion financial holding company headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio.  The Company's banking subsidiary, The Citizens Banking Company, operates 24 locations in Central and North Central Ohio.

First Citizens Banc Corp may be accessed at www.fcza.com.  The Company's common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "FCZA".  The Company's depositary shares, each representing a 1/40^th ownership interest in a Series B Preferred Share, are traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "FCZAP".

This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding the financial performance, business prospects, growth and operating strategies of First Citizens. For these statements, First Citizens claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release should be considered in conjunction with the other information available about First Citizens, including the information in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify such statements by using words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will" and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include risk factors relating to the banking industry and the other factors detailed from time to time in First Citizens' reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in "Item 1A Risk Factors" of Part I of First Citizens's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.  Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. First Citizens does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the events or circumstances after the date on which the forward-looking statement is made, or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.

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SOURCE First Citizens Banc Corp

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