United Financial Bancorp Reports First Quarter 2011 Earnings of $2.4 Million, or $0.16 Per Diluted Share; Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.08 Per Share

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- United Financial Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ Global Select Market: UBNK), the holding company for United Bank (the "Bank"), reported net income of $2.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2011 compared to net income of $1.8 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the corresponding period in 2010. Excluding expenses totaling $979,000 ($808,000 net of tax benefit) related to the acquisition of Commonwealth National Bank ("CNB"), net income would have been $2.6 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2010.  The Company also announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share, payable on June 07, 2011 to shareholders of record as of May 16, 2011.

"We are pleased with the results of our efforts to expand our franchise," commented Richard B. Collins, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "We believe that consistent growth in our loan, deposit and wealth management customer base will ultimately result in improved profitability.  However, our current operating results reflect the challenges of a slowly improving economy and a very competitive local market."  Mr. Collins also remarked:  "We are well positioned for the future given our healthy balance sheet, substantial capital base and strong liquidity level."  

Q1 2011 Earnings Summary

• Net interest income decreased $705,000, or 5%, to $12.8 million for the first quarter of 2011 as a result of net interest margin compression, partially offset by higher average interest-earning assets.  Net interest margin declined 34 basis points to 3.42% for the three months ended March 31, 2011 due to lower amortization of certain acquisition accounting adjustments ($402,000 in the first quarter of 2011 compared to $732,000 in the first quarter of 2010), the downward repricing of certain fixed rate loans and investments as a result of the lower interest rate environment and an increase in funds held in lower-yielding cash equivalents.  These items were partially offset by lower funding costs.  Total average interest-earning assets increased $59.7 million, or 4%, to $1.5 billion, mainly due to growth in investment securities and excess cash balances held at the Federal Reserve Bank.  

• Non-interest income increased $112,000, or 5%, to $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 mainly driven by an increase of $102,000 or 74% in wealth management income as a result of growth in assets under management and annuity sales.  The results were also impacted by lower gains from sales of loans and fee income on depositors' accounts.    

• Non-interest expense decreased $1.1 million, or 9%, to $10.9 million for the first quarter of 2011 from $12.0 million in the same period last year.  Excluding acquisition-related expenses totaling $979,000 in the first quarter of 2010, non-interest expense would have decreased $99,000, or 1%.  Marketing expenses decreased $113,000, or 20%, reflecting the cost of promotional activities in 2010 to support the Bank's entry into the Worcester market. FDIC premium expense decreased $85,000, or 20%, driven by a one-time adjustment in the first quarter of 2010 related to the CNB acquisition.  Occupancy expenses decreased $83,000, or 9%, mainly due to the closing of the Bank's Worcester operations center in 2010.  Data processing expenses decreased $79,000, or 7%, largely attributable to one-time software setup expenses incurred during the first quarter of 2010. Other expenses decreased $50,000, or 3%, reflecting lower costs to operate the Worcester franchise as a result of integration efforts during the first quarter of 2010 and a one-time depreciation expense adjustment related to the CNB fixed assets conversion in 2010, partially offset by an operating loss from an investment in a low income housing tax credit fund.  These favorable variances were partially offset by increases in salaries and benefits and professional services.  Salaries and benefits expense increased $191,000, or 3%, mainly reflecting annual wage adjustments and new employees hired to support and facilitate the growth of the Company. Professional services expenses increased $120,000, or 22%, in connection with expanded consulting and legal costs primarily driven by the timing of loan review and annual meeting activities.

• Income taxes decreased $268,000, or 26%, to $763,000 for the first quarter of 2011 from $1.0 million in the same period last year primarily due to a lower effective tax rate.  The effective tax rate decreased from 37% in the first quarter of 2010 to 24% for the first quarter of 2011 largely as a result of tax credits from an investment in a low income housing fund and an increase in tax exempt municipal investment income in 2011.

Balance Sheet Activity

• Total assets increased $14.8 million, or 1%, to $1.6 billion at March 31, 2011 reflecting solid loan growth partially offset by the declining cash balances.

• Cash and cash equivalents decreased $10.5 million, or 13%, to $72.5 million at March 31, 2011 reflecting the use of excess cash to paydown maturing FHLB advances in the first quarter of 2011.

• Total loans increased by $22.9 million, or 2%, to $1.1 billion at March 31, 2011 primarily due to increased residential mortgage origination activity in the first quarter of 2011.

• Total deposits increased $30.6 million, or 3%, to $1.2 billion at March 31, 2011 reflecting growth of $43.3 million, or 6%, in core account balances, partially offset by a decrease of $12.7 million, or 3%, in certificates of deposit.  The growth in core account balances was driven by strong demand in all categories, particularly savings accounts.  Core deposit balances were $723.9 million, or 62% of total deposits, at March 31, 2011 compared to $680.7 million, or 60% of total deposits, at December 31, 2010.

• Short- term borrowings and long-term debt decreased $2.1 million and $11.8 million, respectively, mainly due to the use of excess cash balances to pay down FHLB advances.

Credit Quality & Reserve Coverage

• Non-performing assets totaled $9.8 million, or 0.62% of total assets, at March 31, 2011 compared to $11.0 million, or 0.69% of total assets, at December 31, 2010.  Total non-performing assets at March 31, 2011 no longer include a $3.5 million troubled debt restructure loan as the customer has been current on new payments for more than one year.    

• At March 31, 2011, the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans was 0.95% compared to 0.93% at December 31, 2010.  Excluding the impact of loans acquired from CNB and other financial institutions totaling $199.8 million at March 31, 2011 and $231.2 million at December 31, 2010, the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans would have been 1.17% at March 31, 2011 and 1.18% at December 31, 2010.  Net charge-offs totaled $327,000, or 0.12% of average loans outstanding, for the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared to net charge-offs of $304,000, or 0.11% of average loans outstanding, for the same period in 2010.  

Capital and Liquidity

The Company remains well capitalized with a tangible equity-to-tangible assets ratio of 13.51% at March 31, 2011.  At March 31, 2011 the Company continued to have considerable liquidity including significant unused borrowing capacity at the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank as well as access to funding through the repurchase agreement and brokered deposit markets.

United Financial Bancorp, Inc. is a publicly owned corporation and the holding company for United Bank, a federally chartered bank headquartered at 95 Elm Street, West Springfield, MA 01090.  The Company's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol UBNK.  As of March 31, 2011, the Company had total consolidated assets of $1.6 billion.  United Bank provides an array of financial products and services through its 16 branch offices and two express drive-up branches in the Springfield region of Western Massachusetts and six branches in the Worcester region of Central Massachusetts.  The bank also operates a loan production office located in Beverly, Massachusetts.  Through its Wealth Management Group, the Bank offers access to a wide range of investment and insurance products and services, as well as financial, estate and retirement strategies and products.  For more information regarding the Bank's products and services and for United Financial Bancorp, Inc. investor relations information please visit www.bankatunited.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/bankatunited.

Except for the historical information contained in this press release, the matters discussed may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties, including changes in economic conditions in the Company's market area, changes in policies by regulatory agencies, fluctuations in interest rates, demand for loans in the Company's market area, competition, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports.  Actual strategies and results in future periods may differ materially from those currently expected.   These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release.  The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.  

For More Information Contact:
Mark A. Roberts
Executive Vice President & CFO
(413) 787-1700

SOURCE United Financial Bancorp, Inc.