Highlands Bankshares, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2018 Results

ABINGDON, Va., May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlands Bankshares, Inc. (OTCQX: HLND) today reported net income of $610,000 or $0.06 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, compared with a net loss of $3.1 million or ($0.38) per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 and net income of $1.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Fourth quarter 2017 net loss includes additional income tax expense of $4.0 million resulting from the revaluation of the Company's net deferred tax asset related to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017. Excluding the one-time tax impact, fourth quarter 2017 net income was $835,000 or $0.08 per diluted share.

"I am pleased to report that Highlands improved results continued into the first quarter of 2018," said Timothy K. Schools, President and Chief Executive Officer. "This quarter marks the seventh consecutive quarter of profitability, excluding the negative impact of the fourth quarter 2017 tax legislation, with the last five quarters being the highest for many years. Building on the previous improvements in asset quality and capital ratios, our net interest margin continued to improve during the quarter to a level of 3.87 percent in March. This improvement has been the result of strong noninterest bearing deposit growth, disciplined loan pricing, and the payoff of high cost FHLB funding with lower yielding cash and securities. The quarter included approximately $350,000 of one-time or project related expenses that are not expected to recur beyond the next quarter or two in addition to approximately $150,000 of mortgage-related expenses that similarly should cease by the third quarter of 2018. Excitingly, while our loan growth for the quarter was relatively flat, our pipeline remains strong and a significant amount of loans and lines of credit were approved during the quarter and are awaiting closure or draw. Further, approximately $15 million of HELOC balances under a 1 percent promotional rate will reprice to prime during the remainder of 2018."

Revenue Growth

First quarter 2018 total revenue (net interest income plus noninterest income) declined $153,000 to $6.1 million from $6.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. Net interest income was $5.0 million in the first quarter of 2018, an increase of $154,000 from $4.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. During the first quarter, the net interest margin increased eight basis points offsetting a decline in average interest earning assets of $5.2 million from fourth quarter 2017. Average interest earning assets principally declined due to the payoff of FHLB funding using lower yielding cash and securities. First quarter 2018 noninterest income declined $307,000 to $1.1 million from the fourth quarter of 2018. Mortgage income was lower during the first quarter of 2018, resulting from a decision to modify the Company's mortgage origination strategy. As a result of this change, gross mortgage revenue declined, but the Company anticipates realizing a larger reduction in operating expenses by the third quarter of 2018.

Noninterest Expense and Operating Efficiency

Noninterest expenses increased $200,000 from the fourth quarter of 2017 and increased $717,000 from the first quarter of 2017 to $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2018. First quarter 2017 noninterest expense included a one-time benefit of approximately $250,000 relating to FAS 91 adjustments. For the first quarter of 2018, the efficiency ratio was 84.44 percent, an increase from 79.19 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 and an increase from 74.94 percent in the first quarter of 2017. Noninterest expense as a percentage of assets increased in the first quarter of 2018 to 3.47 percent from 3.35 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 and an increase from 2.87 percent in the first quarter of 2017. Assets per employee improved to $4.3 million at March 31, 2018 from $3.8 million at December 31, 2017 and $3.5 million at March 31, 2017. First quarter 2018 other operating expenses included approximately $350,000 of one-time items and short-term project costs that are not anticipated to be part of the Company's ongoing expense base. First quarter 2018 other operating expenses also include mortgage-related costs of $150,000 that are anticipated to be eliminated by the end of the third quarter of 2018.

Asset Quality

The provision for credit losses for first quarter 2018 was $172,000, an increase from $49,000 in fourth quarter 2017. Net charge-offs in the first quarter of 2018 were $127,000, or 0.12 percent annualized of average loans held for investment.  

Total past due loans as a percentage of total loans held for investment were 1.47 percent at March 31, 2018. As of March 31, 2018, loans greater than 90 days past due totaled $1.4 million, or 0.33 percent of loans held for investment, compared to 0.38 percent at December 31, 2017. Loans 30-89 days past due were $4.9 million, or 1.14 percent of loans held for investment. This increase was due primarily to three large relationships having gone past due at quarter end. Nonperforming assets were $3.7 million, or 0.86 percent of loans held for investment and OREO, at March 31, 2018. 

As of March 31, 2018, the allowance for credit losses totaled $4.0 million, or 0.93 percent of loans held for investment. First quarter 2018 allowance coverage was 2.58 times nonperforming loans.

Capital and Liquidity

At March 31, 2018, the regulatory capital ratios for the Company's subsidiary bank, Highlands Union Bank, were: tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.51 percent, tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 12.13 percent, and total risk-based capital ratio of 13.10 percent. Fourth quarter capital ratios were negatively impacted as a result of the revaluation of the Company's net deferred tax asset related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 

The Company's loans held for investment to deposit ratio was 84.6 percent and the loans held for investment to asset ratio was 72.4 percent at March 31, 2018. The Company maintained cash and investment securities totaling 19.79 percent of assets as of this date. Further, the Company's deposit mix is weighted heavily towards customer deposits which funded 85.6 percent of assets at March 31, 2018 of which 63.9 percent is represented by core deposits, an increase from 62.1 percent at December 31, 2017, to include 25.5 percent in noninterest bearing deposits. Time deposits funded 20.6 percent of assets at March 31, 2018, but very few of these deposits are in accounts that have balances of more than $250,000, reflecting the granularity and strength of the Company's funding.

About Highlands Bankshares, Inc.

Highlands provides a relationship-based and highly personal banking experience to small to mid-sized private businesses, professionals, and related individuals. Focused on providing value to each and every customer, Highlands delivers banking services through highly skilled employees, digital channels, as well as 16 offices located in North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements relating to financial and operational performance and certain plans, expectations, goals and projections. Although the Company believes that its expectations with respect to the forward-looking statements are based upon reliable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, these statements are inherently subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurances that actual results, performance or achievements will not differ materially from those set forth or implied in the forward-looking statements. For an explanation of the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, see the risk factors and other cautionary language included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available at the time of the release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

SOURCE Highlands Bankshares, Inc.