Independent Bank Corporation Reports 2015 First Quarter Results

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Apr. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) reported first quarter 2015 net income of $3.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, versus net income of $3.1 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the prior-year period.

2015 highlights include:

• Net income increased $0.6 million, or 20.5%, over 2014;
• A sequential quarterly increase in net interest income;
• Strong mortgage-banking activity with quarterly year-over-year gains on mortgage loans up $1.0 million, or 87.0%;
• First quarter net growth in commercial loans of $19.4 million, or 11.4% annualized;
• Continued improvement in asset quality metrics with a $1.2 million, or 5.7%, decline in non-performing assets during the first quarter;
• Growth in tangible book value per share to $10.94 at March 31, 2015 compared to $10.79 at December 31, 2014.

William B. ("Brad") Kessel, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Independent Bank Corporation, commented: "We are very pleased to report a solid start to 2015.  Strong commercial loan growth, increased mortgage loan originations and sales, and improved asset quality metrics led to a 20.5% increase in our net income.  Further, despite continued pressure from the low interest rate environment, we did achieve modest growth in both net interest income and our net interest margin on a sequential quarterly basis.  As to two previously announced initiatives, we remain on track to complete the consolidation of six branch offices by Apr. 30, 2015, and we acquired approximately 71,000 shares of our common stock under our share repurchase plan.  As we look ahead to the remainder of 2015, we remain focused on loan growth, stable to improving asset quality, building core deposits and seeking further reductions in non-interest expenses."

Operating Results

The Company's net interest income totaled $18.1 million during the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of $0.4 million, or 2.1%, from the year-ago period, and an increase of $0.03 million, or 0.2% from the fourth quarter of 2014.  The Company's tax equivalent net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets (the "net interest margin") was 3.57% during the first quarter of 2015 compared to 3.79% in the year ago period, and 3.56% in the fourth quarter of 2014.  The year-over-year quarterly decrease in net interest income is due to the decline in the net interest margin that was only partially offset by an increase in average interest-earning assets.  The decrease in the net interest margin is primarily due to the prolonged low interest rate environment that has resulted in declining average yields on the Company's loan portfolio.  Average interest-earning assets were $2.06 billion in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $1.99 billion in the year ago quarter and $2.03 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014.  

Non-interest income totaled $9.0 million in both the first quarter of 2015 and 2014.  Service charges on deposit accounts declined $0.2 million, or 6.7%, in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the year ago period due principally to a decrease in non-sufficient funds ("NSF") occurrences and related NSF fees. Interchange income increased by $0.2 million, or 10.4%, in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the year ago period.  The increase in interchange income in 2015 as compared to 2014 primarily results from a new Debit Brand Agreement with MasterCard (which replaced our former agreement with VISA) that was executed in January 2014.  The Company began converting its debit card base to MasterCard in June 2014 and completed the conversion in September 2014.

Gains on mortgage loans increased $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the year ago period due primarily to increases in mortgage loan originations and sales.  The increase in mortgage lending and sales volumes principally reflects a rise in refinance volume resulting from a year-over-year decrease in mortgage loan interest rates. Mortgage loan servicing generated a loss of $0.4 million and income of $0.3 million in the first quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively.  This quarterly comparative variance is primarily due to changes in the valuation allowance on and the amortization of capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights.  The first quarter of 2015 included a $0.7 million impairment charge on capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights.   

Non-interest expense totaled $22.2 million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $22.4 million in the year-ago period, representing a decrease of $0.2 million, or 1.1%.  Several categories of expenses declined in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to the year ago period, including:  occupancy, data processing, loan and collection, furniture, fixtures and equipment, communications, legal and professional fees, FDIC deposit insurance, interchange expense and credit card and bank service fees.  First quarter 2015 compensation expense includes $0.2 million of severance costs related to the Company's branch consolidation and other personnel reductions. 

The Company recorded an income tax expense of $1.8 million and $1.5 million in the first quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Asset Quality

Commenting on asset quality, President and CEO Kessel added:  "We continue to make progress in further improving asset quality, as evidenced by declines in non-performing assets, loan net charge-offs, and credit related expenses.  In addition, thirty- to eighty-nine day delinquency rates at Mar. 31, 2015 were 0.07% for commercial loans and 0.82% for mortgage and consumer loans.  These early stage delinquency rates continue to be well-managed."

A breakdown of non-performing loans⁽¹⁾ by loan type is as follows:

Non-performing loans decreased by $0.5 million, or 3.0%, since year-end 2014, and have declined by $6.0 million, or 29.0%, since Mar. 31, 2014.  The decline in non-performing loans primarily reflects loan charge-offs, pay-offs, negotiated transactions and the migration of loans into ORE.  ORE and repossessed assets totaled $5.7 million at Mar. 31, 2015, compared to $6.5 million at Dec. 31, 2014.

The provision for loan losses was a credit of $0.7 million and an expense of $0.4 million in the first quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively.  The level of the provision for loan losses in each period reflects the Company's overall assessment of the allowance for loan losses, taking into consideration factors such as loan mix, levels of non-performing and classified loans and loan net charge-offs.  Loan net charge-offs were $0.7 million (0.19% annualized of average loans) in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $2.3 million (0.69% annualized of average loans) in the first quarter of 2014.  The decline in first quarter 2015 loan net charge-offs compared to year ago levels is primarily due to a $1.7 million decline in commercial loan net charge-offs that was partially offset by a $0.1 million increase in mortgage and consumer/installment loan net charge-offs.  At Mar. 31, 2015, the allowance for loan losses totaled $24.7 million, or 1.73% of portfolio loans, compared to $26.0 million, or 1.84% of portfolio loans, at Dec. 31, 2014.

Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Capital

Total assets were $2.33 billion at Mar. 31, 2015, an increase of $80.6 million from Dec. 31, 2014.  Loans, excluding loans held for sale, were $1.42 billion at Mar. 31, 2015, compared to $1.41 billion at Dec. 31, 2014.  Deposits totaled $2.00 billion at Mar. 31, 2015, an increase of $76.2 million from Dec. 31, 2014.  The increase in deposits is primarily due to growth in checking and savings account balances. 

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $101.6 million at Mar. 31, 2015, versus $74.0 million at Dec. 31, 2014. Securities available for sale totaled $571.8 million at Mar. 31, 2015, versus $533.2 million at Dec. 31, 2014.  This $38.6 million increase is primarily due to the purchase of residential mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and municipal securities during the first quarter of 2015.

Total shareholders' equity was $253.6 million at Mar. 31, 2015, or 10.89% of total assets.  Tangible common equity totaled $251.1 million at Mar. 31, 2015, or $10.94 per share.  The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Independent Bank, remains significantly above "well capitalized" for regulatory purposes with the following ratios:

Share Repurchase Plan

As previously announced, on Jan. 21, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a share repurchase plan.  Under the terms of the share repurchase plan, the Company is authorized to buy back up to 5% of its outstanding common stock.    The repurchase plan is authorized to last through Dec. 31, 2015.  On Feb. 13, 2015 the Company received approval from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services for an $18.5 million return of capital request from the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Independent Bank.  This return of capital transaction was completed on Feb. 17, 2015.

Thus far in 2015 (through Apr. 17, 2015), the Company had repurchased 70,643 shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of $12.77 per share.

Earnings Conference Call

Brad Kessel, President and CEO, and Rob Shuster, CFO, will review the Company's first quarter 2015 results in a conference call for investors and analysts beginning at 11:00 am ET on Monday, Apr. 20, 2015.

To participate in the live conference call, please dial 1-866-200-8394. Also the conference call will be accessible through an audio webcast with user-controlled slides via the following event site/URL:  http://services.choruscall.com/links/ibcp150420.html.

A playback of the call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (Conference ID # 10062166). The replay will be available through May 4, 2015.

Annual Shareholders Meeting

The Company's 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is being held at 3:00 pm ET on Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2015.  For the first time, the Company will be conducting its Annual Meeting of Shareholders by means of remote communication via the Internet.  To attend the meeting, please log on to the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IBCP2015.  At this site a shareholder will be able to vote electronically and submit questions during the meeting.

About Independent Bank Corporation

Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) is a Michigan-based bank holding company with total assets of approximately $2.33 billion.  Founded as First National Bank of Ionia in 1864, Independent Bank Corporation operates a branch network across Michigan's Lower Peninsula through one state-chartered bank subsidiary.  This subsidiary (Independent Bank) provides a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage lending, investments and title services.  Independent Bank Corporation is committed to providing exceptional personal service and value to its customers, stockholders and the communities it serves. 

For more information, please visit our Web site at: www.IndependentBank.com.

Any statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "contemplates," "feels," "expects," "estimates," "seeks," "strives," "plans," "intends," "outlook," "forecast," "position," "target," "mission," "assume," "achievable," "potential," "strategy," "goal," "aspiration," "opportunity," "initiative," "outcome," "continue," "remain," "maintain," "on course," "trend," "objective," "looks forward" and variations of such words and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," "might," "can," "may" or similar expressions, as they relate to Independent Bank Corporation or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are predicated on the beliefs and assumptions of Independent Bank Corporation's management based on information known to Independent Bank Corporation's management as of the date of this news release and do not purport to speak as of any other date. Forward looking statements may include descriptions of plans and objectives of Independent Bank Corporation's management for future or past operations, products or services, and forecasts of Independent Bank Corporation's revenue, earnings or other measures of economic performance, including statements of profitability, business segments and subsidiaries, and estimates of credit trends. Such statements reflect the view of Independent Bank Corporation's management as of this date with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks materialize or should underlying beliefs or assumptions prove incorrect, Independent Bank Corporation's actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences are changes in general economic, political or industry conditions; changes in monetary and fiscal policies, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; volatility and disruptions in capital and credit markets; the interdependence of financial service companies; changes in regulation or oversight; unfavorable developments concerning credit quality; any future acquisitions or divestitures; the effects of more stringent capital or liquidity requirements; declines or other changes in the businesses or industries of Independent Bank Corporation's customers; the implementation of Independent Bank Corporation's strategies and business models; Independent Bank Corporation's ability to utilize technology to efficiently and effectively develop, market and deliver new products and services; operational difficulties, failure of technology infrastructure or information security incidents; changes in the financial markets, including fluctuations in interest rates and their impact on deposit pricing; competitive product and pricing pressures among financial institutions within Independent Bank Corporation's markets; changes in customer behavior; management's ability to maintain and expand customer relationships; management's ability to retain key officers and employees; the impact of legal and regulatory proceedings or determinations; the effectiveness of methods of reducing risk exposures; the effects of terrorist activities and other hostilities; the effects of catastrophic events; changes in accounting standards and the critical nature of Independent Bank Corporation's accounting policies. Independent Bank Corporation cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. For discussion of factors that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, please refer to "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Independent Bank Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Independent Bank Corporation does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect facts, circumstances, assumptions or events that occur after the date the forward looking statements are made. For any forward-looking statements made in this news release or in any documents, Independent Bank Corporation claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

SOURCE Independent Bank Corporation

Related Links

http://www.independentbank.com

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