First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2011 Results

ALPENA, Mich., May 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FFNM) (the "Company") reported consolidated net earnings of $161,000, or $0.06 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 compared to consolidated net earnings of $202,000, or $0.07 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.  

Listed below are a few key points relative to the Company's results for the quarter ended March 31, 2011:

• Significant quarter over quarter improvement in the Company's net interest margin (from 3.58% for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 to 3.95% for the quarter ended March 31, 2011) due primarily to a 63 basis point reduction in the cost of funds period over period.
• First Federal of Northern Michigan remains "well-capitalized" for regulatory purposes.

Michael W. Mahler, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "While pleased that we once again generated profits for the quarter, it fell short of our expectations. The costs associated with foreclosure activity and the disposition of bank- owned assets were higher than we anticipated. On a positive note, with the improvement in our Texas ratio from where we were a year ago, we believe these costs have peaked and fully expect that we will continue to see a decline in these expenses both in the near and long term. We are pleased with the continued improvement in our Net Interest Margin to an all time high of 3.95% for the quarter. This is largely attributable to lower funding costs but also supported by the establishment of higher floors on commercial lines of credit. The N.I.M. improvement will favorably affect the bank's profitability on a going forward basis. Our FDIC premiums have also declined as a result of a new lower assessment base along with an upgrade to our risk profile related to improved earnings in 2010 and improvements to our asset quality metrics. In spite of the challenges and uncertainty that remain for the Michigan and Northern Michigan economies, we believe we are well positioned to show further improvement in 2011 and beyond."

Selected Financial Ratios

Financial Condition

Total assets of the Company at March 31, 2011 were $215.4 million, a decrease of $288,000, or 0.1%, from assets of $215.7 million at December 31, 2010. Net loans receivable decreased $5.9 million to $151.3 million at March 31, 2011, due to the continued effect of adjustable-rate or balloon mortgage loans that have paid off or been refinanced and sold into the secondary market, a large purchased mortgage loan which paid off during the quarter, consumer loan balances that have declined due to normal pay-downs, pay-off of an out-of-state commercial loan participation, and in general, limited originations of loans to be held in the Company's portfolio. Investment securities increased $3.5 million from December 31, 2010 to March 31, 2011 due primarily to the purchase of GNMA and municipal securities as opportunities arose.

Deposits increased $766,000 to $156.2 million at March 31, 2011. During the quarter lower-costing accounts such as savings, money market and checking accounts increased by approximately $2.8 million. This was partially offset by a decrease in our certificate of deposit accounts of approximately $2.1 million. FHLB advances decreased $1.0 million as an advance matured and was paid off from available cash from loan pay-offs.

The ratio of total nonperforming assets to total assets was 4.66% at March 31, 2011 compared to 4.37% at December 31, 2010 and 5.37% at March 31, 2010. Non-performing assets increased by $613,000 from December 31, 2010 to March 31, 2011. The Company continues to closely monitor non-performing assets and has taken a variety of steps to reduce the level thereof, such as:

• Timely pursuit of foreclosure and/or repossession options coupled with quick and aggressive marketing efforts of repossessed assets;
• Restructuring loans, where feasible, to assist borrowers in working through this financially challenging time;
• Allowing borrowers to structure short-sales of properties, where appropriate and feasible; and
• Working with borrowers to find a means of reducing outstanding debt (such as through sales of collateral).

Stockholders' equity was $23.5 million at March 31, 2011 compared to $23.2 million at December 31, 2010. The increase was due primarily to net earnings for the three-month period of $161,000 and an increase of $59,000 in the unrealized gain on available-for-sale investment securities. First Federal of Northern Michigan's regulatory capital remains at levels in excess of regulatory requirements, as shown in the table below.

Results of Operations

Interest income decreased to $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $2.9 million for the year earlier period. The decrease in interest income was due to two factors: a decrease of $14.0 million in the average balance of our interest-earning assets and a decrease of 20 basis points in the yield on interest-earning assets due in part to lower market interest rates period over period.

Interest expense decreased to $605,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $956,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The decrease in interest expense for the three-month period was due in part to a $15.0 million decrease in the average balance of our interest-bearing liabilities and a decrease in our overall cost of funds of 63 basis points period over period. Most notably, the average balance of our FHLB advances decreased $14.5 million from the three-month period ended March 31, 2010 to the same period in 2011 and the cost of our FHLB advances decreased 63 basis points period over period. In addition, our certificates of deposit decreased $8.1 million from the three-month period ended March 31, 2010 to the same period in 2011 and the cost of our certificates of deposit decreased 58 basis points period over period.

The Company's net interest margin increased to 3.95% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011 from 3.58% for the same period in 2010. During this time period, the average yield on interest-earning assets decreased 20 basis points to 5.17% from 5.37%, while the average cost of funds decreased 63 basis points to 1.37% from 2.00%, due to reductions of 63 basis points and 58 basis points on our FHLB advances and certificates of deposit, respectively.

The provision for loan losses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011 was $67,000, as compared to $11,000 for the prior year period. During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, we recorded specific  reserves of approximately $80,000 on a previously identified mortgage credit and $79,000 on a commercial credit. We received updated information on both credits which required us to record specific reserves on these credits. Offsetting these additional specific reserves during the quarter ended March 31, 2011, we moved a large commercial loan out of construction status into our general pool of commercial loans, which allowed us to reduce the amount of general reserves we needed to record. Construction loans carry a higher degree of risk and therefore a higher level of reserve. The provision was based on management's review of the components of the overall loan portfolio, the status of non-performing loans and various subjective factors.

Non interest income decreased from $578,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 to $449,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The results reflected a decrease of $40,000 in service charges and other fees, and a decrease of $49,000 in gain on sale of available-for-sale securities as securities were sold at a gain during the three-month period ended March 31, 2010 and no securities were sold during the corresponding period in 2011.

Non interest expense remained relatively unchanged at $2.2 million for both the three-months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010; however there were changes in the composition of our non-interest expense period over period:  other expenses increased by $102,000 period over period, related mostly to expenses on troubled credits and repossessed assets; our FDIC premiums decreased by $23,000, or 24.4% period over period as the Company's assessment rate decreased; occupancy expense decreased by $43,000, or 13.6%, related primarily to lower depreciation expense on equipment that is now fully depreciated, and professional services decreased by $16,000, or 15.1%.

Pre-Tax, Pre-provision Core Operating Earnings

The Company is presenting pre-tax, pre-provision core operating earnings in this release for purposes of additional analysis of operating results. Pre-tax, pre-provision core operating earnings, as defined by management, represents the Company's income (loss) excluding: income tax expense (benefit), the provision for loan losses, and any securities gains or losses.

The following table reconciles consolidated net income (loss) presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") to pre-tax, pre-provision core operating earnings. Pre-tax, pre-provision core operating earnings is not a measurement of the Company's financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) under GAAP. Pre-tax, pre-provision core operating earnings has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP. However, the Company believes presenting pre-tax, pre-provision core operating earnings provides investors with the ability to gain a further understanding of its underlying operating trends separate from the direct effects of certain issues. It displays core operating earnings trends before the impact of these issues.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release and other releases and reports issued by the Company, including reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, may contain "forward-looking statements." The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company is including this statement for purposes of taking advantage of the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

SOURCE First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp, Inc.