First Republic Reports Strong Third Quarter 2016 Results

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- First Republic Bank (NYSE: FRC) today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

"We're pleased with third quarter results. Our client-centric business model continues to perform very well," said Chairman and CEO Jim Herbert.  "Revenue and earnings per share grew nicely, as did wealth management assets, which now exceed $80 billion."

Quarterly Highlights

Financial Results

• Compared to last year's third quarter:
  • Revenues were $557.9 million, up 19.0%.
  • Net income was $171.8 million, up 27.4%.
  • Diluted earnings per share of $1.00, up 22.0%.
• Loan originations totaled $6.5 billion.
• Loans sold totaled $948.0 million.
• Net interest margin was 3.16%, compared to 3.21% for the prior quarter.
• Core net interest margin was 3.11%, compared to 3.16% for the prior quarter. ⁽¹⁾
• Efficiency ratio was 60.5%.

Continued Capital and Credit Strength

• Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 10.52%.
• Total regulatory capital has grown 25.1% from a year ago (21.5% ⁽²⁾  excluding the anticipated redemption of Series A Preferred Stock).
• Tangible book value per share was $33.41, up 13.5% from a year ago.
• Nonperforming assets remained very low at 8 basis points of total assets.
• Net charge-offs were $627,000 for the quarter, only 1 basis point of average loans.

Continued Franchise Development

• Loans outstanding, excluding loans held for sale, totaled $49.9 billion, up 17.6% from a year ago.
• Deposits were $55.1 billion, up 24.2% from a year ago.
• Wealth management assets were $80.2 billion, up 14.6%, annualized, for the first nine months of 2016.
• Wealth management revenues were $71.9 million, up 27.0% from a year ago.

"Revenues grew 19.0% year-over-year. This reflects the high level of satisfaction of our clients," said Mike Roffler, Chief Financial Officer. "We continue to deliver exceptional client service, which has always been the key to the success of our franchise." 

Quarterly Cash Dividend Declared

The Bank declared a cash dividend for the third quarter of $0.16 per share of common stock, which is payable on November 10, 2016 to shareholders of record as of October 27, 2016. 

Continued Strong Asset Quality

Credit quality remains very strong.  Nonperforming assets were 8 basis points of total assets at September 30, 2016. 

The Bank had net charge-offs for the quarter of $627,000, while adding $18.0 million to its allowance for loan losses due to continued loan growth.

Continued Capital Strength

Total regulatory capital has grown 25.1% from a year ago (21.5% ⁽²⁾ excluding the anticipated redemption of Series A Preferred Stock).

The Bank's Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 10.52% at September 30, 2016, compared to 10.74% last quarter. 

On August 1, 2016, the Bank completed a public offering of $400 million of 30-year term, 4.375% fixed rate, unsecured subordinated notes.  These subordinated notes qualify as Tier 2 capital.

Tangible Book Value Growth

Tangible book value per common share at September 30, 2016 was $33.41, up 13.5% from a year ago.

Continued Franchise Development

Loan Originations

Loan originations totaled $6.5 billion for the quarter, our second best quarter ever, compared to $4.9 billion for the third quarter a year ago, up 33.1%.

Loans outstanding, excluding loans held for sale, totaled $49.9 billion at September 30, 2016, up 17.6% compared to a year ago.

Deposit Growth

Total deposits increased to $55.1 billion, up 24.2% compared to a year ago. 

At September 30, 2016, checking accounts totaled 61.2% of deposits.

The average rate paid on deposits was 15 basis points for the third quarter, compared to 13 basis points for the prior quarter.

Investments

Total investment securities at September 30, 2016 were $12.8 billion, up 57.0% compared to a year ago. 

High-quality liquid assets totaled $6.7 billion at September 30, 2016, up 41.8% compared to a year ago.  Such assets represented 10.0% of average total assets for the third quarter.

Mortgage Banking Activity

During the third quarter, the Bank sold $948.0 million of loans and recorded a gain on sale of $1.8 million.

Loans serviced for investors at quarter-end totaled $11.5 billion, up 8.9% from a year ago.  Net loan servicing fees for the quarter were $3.2 million, up 1.5% from a year ago.

Continued Expansion of Wealth Management

Wealth management revenues totaled $71.9 million for the quarter, up 27.0% compared to last year's third quarter.  Such revenues represented 13% of total revenues for the quarter.

Total wealth management assets were $80.2 billion at September 30, 2016, up 14.6%, annualized, for the first nine months of 2016.  The growth in wealth management assets was primarily due to net new assets from both existing and new clients.  Wealth management assets included investment management assets of $40.1 billion, brokerage assets and money market mutual funds of $33.0 billion, and trust and custody assets of $7.1 billion.

Income Statement and Key Ratios

Highlights

Strong Revenue Growth

Total revenues were $557.9 million for the quarter, up 19.0% compared to last year's third quarter.

Continued Net Interest Income Growth

Net interest income was $460.6 million for the quarter, up 18.4% compared to last year's third quarter, resulting primarily from growth in average earning assets.

Net Interest Margin

The Bank's net interest margin was 3.16% for the third quarter, compared to 3.21% for the prior quarter.

The core net interest margin was 3.11% for the quarter, compared to 3.16% for the prior quarter. ⁽¹⁾ The decrease from the prior quarter was largely due to higher average cash balances and interest costs from the new subordinated notes issuance.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income was $97.3 million for the quarter, up 22.0% compared to the third quarter a year ago, which was primarily from increased wealth management revenues.

Efficiency Ratio

The Bank's efficiency ratio was 60.5% for the quarter, compared to 59.8% for the prior quarter and 58.9% for the third quarter a year ago.  Higher costs related to new FDIC assessment rules and interest expense for new subordinated notes issued during the quarter contributed to the increase in the third quarter.

Noninterest expense was $337.7 million for the quarter, up 22.4% from the third quarter of last year.  The increase was primarily due to increased salaries and benefits from the continued investments in the expansion of the franchise and regulatory compliance activities, along with growth across all areas of the Bank.

Income Tax Rate

The Bank's effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2016 was 15.0%, compared to 17.8% for the prior quarter.  The decrease in the effective tax rate resulted from increased tax benefits from exercised stock options and from low income housing tax credit investments.  The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2016 was 17.5%.

^{______________
(1)} Core net interest margin is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes the positive impact of purchase accounting.  See non-GAAP reconciliation under section "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
⁽²⁾ Regulatory capital growth excluding the $199.5 million 6.70% Series A Preferred Stock, currently expected to be redeemed on January 30, 2017.

Conference Call Details

First Republic Bank's third quarter 2016 earnings conference call is scheduled for October 13, 2016 at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. ET.  To access the event by telephone, please dial (855) 224-3902 approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time (to allow time for registration) and use conference ID #87759387.  International callers should dial (734) 823-3244 and enter the same conference ID number. 

The call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed in the Investor Relations section of First Republic's website at www.firstrepublic.com.  To listen to the live webcast, please visit the site at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

For those unable to join the live presentation, a replay of the call will be available beginning October 13, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET, through October 20, 2016, at 8:59 p.m. PT / 11:59 p.m. ET.  To access the replay, dial (855) 859-2056 and use conference ID #87759387.  International callers should dial (404) 537-3406 and enter the same conference ID number.  A replay of the webcast also will be available for 90 days following, accessible in the Investor Relations section of First Republic Bank's website at www.firstrepublic.com.

The Bank's press releases are available after release in the Investor Relations section of First Republic Bank's website at www.firstrepublic.com.

About First Republic Bank

Founded in 1985, First Republic and its subsidiaries offer private banking, private business banking and private wealth management, including investment, trust and brokerage services.  First Republic specializes in delivering exceptional, relationship-based service, with a solid commitment to responsiveness and action.  Services are offered through preferred banking or wealth management offices primarily in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, San Diego, Portland, Boston, Palm Beach, Greenwich and New York City.  First Republic offers a complete line of banking products for individuals and businesses, including deposit services, as well as residential, commercial and personal loans.  For more information, visit www.firstrepublic.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements" for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Any statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking.  These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipates," "believes," "can," "could," "may," "predicts," "potential," "should," "will," "estimates," "plans," "projects," "continuing," "ongoing," "expects," "intends" and similar words or phrases and include statements about economic performance in our markets, growth in our loan originations and wealth management assets, our progress in preparing for, and our compliance with, any enhanced regulatory requirements, and our projected tax rate.  Accordingly, these statements are only predictions and involve estimates, known and unknown risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in them.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our ability to deal with significant competition for banking and wealth management customers; our projections for certain financial items; expectations concerning the bank and wealth management industries; our ability to recruit and retain key managers, employees and board members; earthquakes and other natural disasters in our markets; interest rate and credit risk; our plans or objectives for future operations, products or services; our ability to maintain and follow high underwriting standards; economic conditions generally and in our markets; economic and market conditions affecting the valuation of our investment securities portfolio; real estate prices generally and in our markets; our geographic and product concentrations; our opportunities for growth; expectations about the performance of any new offices; demand for our products and services; projections about loan premiums and discounts; our future provisions for loan losses; projections about future levels of loan originations or loan repayments; projections regarding costs; our regulatory compliance and future regulatory requirements; the phase-in of the Basel III Capital Rules; legislative and regulatory actions affecting us and the financial services industry; our ability to avoid litigation and its associated costs and liabilities; new accounting standards; future FDIC special assessments or changes to regular assessments; fraud, cybersecurity and privacy risks; and our ability to successfully execute on initiatives relating to enhancements of our technology.  For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see First Republic's FDIC filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in First Republic's Annual Report on Form 10-K.  These filings are available in the Investor Relations section of our website.

All forward-looking statements are necessarily only estimates of future results, and there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations, and, therefore, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements.  Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") and the prevailing practices in the banking industry.  Due to the application of purchase accounting from the Bank's re-establishment as an independent institution, management has historically used certain non-GAAP (i.e., core) measures and ratios that excluded the impact of these net positive purchase accounting items to evaluate our performance, including net income, earnings per share, revenues, yield on average loans, cost of average deposits, net interest margin and the efficiency ratio.  However, because of the diminishing impact of these positive purchase accounting items, beginning in 2016, only the yield on average loans and net interest margin continue to be presented on a non-GAAP, or core, basis.  

The accretion and amortization of the fair value adjustments recorded in purchase accounting from the Bank's re-establishment as an independent institution affect our net interest margin and yield on average loans as we accrete loan discounts to interest income and amortize premiums on CDs to interest expense.  

In addition, in the second quarter of 2015, the Bank received a one-time special dividend of $9.1 million from the FHLB.  Management has also excluded the positive impact of this item from the non-GAAP net interest margin.

We believe these two non-GAAP measures, when taken together with the corresponding GAAP measures, provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance.  Our management uses, and believes that investors benefit from referring to, these non-GAAP measures and ratios in assessing our operating results and related trends.  However, these non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or preferable to, the measurements prepared in accordance with GAAP.  In the tables below, we have provided a reconciliation of, where applicable, the most comparable GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures, or a reconciliation of the non-GAAP calculation of the financial measure:

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SOURCE First Republic Bank

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