United Security Bancshares reports 2018 net income of $14.0 million

FRESNO, Calif., Jan. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- United Security Bancshares (Nasdaq: UBFO), today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2018. The Company reported consolidated net income of $3,948,000, or $0.23 per basic and diluted common share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, as compared to $1,637,000, or $0.10 per basic and diluted common share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.  The Company recognized net income of $14,017,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of 62% compared to the net income of $8,640,000 recognized for the year ended December 31, 2017. Basic and diluted earnings per share increased to $0.83 for the year ended December 31, 2018, as compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.51 for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Fourth Quarter 2018 Highlights (at or for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, except where noted)

• Net interest income after provision for credit losses increased to $9,010,000 compared to $8,096,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, and decreased from $9,236,000 in the preceding quarter.
• Net interest margin decreased to 4.13% from 4.38% for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.
• Net charge-offs totaled $338,000, compared to net recoveries of $61,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.
• Capital positions remain strong with a 12.15% Tier 1 Leverage Ratio, a 15.15% Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio; a 16.55% Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio; and a 17.8% Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio.
• Annualized return on average assets ("ROAA") was 1.66%, compared to 0.79% for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.
• Annualized return on average equity ("ROAE") was 14.28%, compared to 6.34% for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.
• Total loans, net of unearned fees, decreased to $587,814,000, compared to $602,390,000 at December 31, 2017. However total loans increased $10,216,000 during the quarter when compared to $577,598,000 reported at September 30, 2018.
• Other real estate owned balances remained at $5,745,000 at December 31, 2018 when compared to $5,745,000, at December 31, 2017.
• The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of gross loans decreased to 1.43%, compared to 1.54% at December 31, 2017.
• Total deposits increased to $805,643,000, compared to $687,693,000 at December 31, 2017.
• Book value per share increased to $6.45, compared to $6.00 at December 31, 2017.

Dennis Woods, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "We are pleased to report record earnings for the year ended December 31, 2018. As a result of this success, the Board of Directors of the Company increased its cash dividend again during the fourth quarter. Credit quality remains strong and we look to continue our growth and momentum into 2019."

Results of Operations

ROAE for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 13.23%, compared to 8.63% for the year ended December 31, 2017.  ROAA was 1.61% for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to 1.07% for the year ended December 31, 2017. Annualized ROAE for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 was 14.28% compared to 6.34% for the same period in 2017. Annualized ROAA was 1.66% for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, compared to 0.79% for the same period in 2017. The annualized average cost of deposits was 0.37% for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, and 0.21% for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. The increase in the cost of deposits is attributed to increases in rates paid on time deposits and money market accounts.

Net interest income after the provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2018 totaled $35,676,000, an increase of $4,500,000, or 14.43%, from $31,176,000 for the same period ended December 31, 2017. The Company's net interest margin increased from 4.27% for the year ended December 31, 2017 to 4.28% for the year ended December 31, 2018.  The increase in net interest margin in the period-to-period comparison was the result of higher rates on overnight funds and higher loan yields, partially offset by increasing costs of deposits.  The yield on loans increased from 5.42% for the year ended December 31, 2017 to 5.57% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in net interest income on a year-over-year comparison is the result of higher interest rates on loans and an increase in overnight funds and investment securities, partially offset by increasing cost of deposits. Net interest income after the provision for credit losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 totaled $9,010,000, an increase of $914,000 or 11.29% from the net interest income of $8,096,000 for the same period ended December 31, 2017.

Non-interest income for the year ended December 31, 2018 totaled $4,605,000, reflecting an increase of $299,000 from $4,306,000 in non-interest income reported for the year ended December 31, 2017.  Customer service fees, which represent the largest portion of the Company's non-interest income, totaled $3,544,000 and $3,851,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  The decrease in customer service fees was partially the result of the closure of the Financial Services department and resultant decrease in non-interest income.  On a year-over-year comparative basis, non-interest income increased primarily due to a $424,000 loss on the fair value of junior subordinated debentures ("TRUPs") for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to a $882,000 loss for the same period ended December 31, 2017, offset by the decrease in customer service fees.  The change in the fair value of TRUPs reflected in non-interest income was caused by fluctuations in the LIBOR yield curve.  Non-interest income for the year ended December 31, 2018 also includes a $171,000 gain recorded on the death benefit proceeds of bank-owned life insurance.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01, requiring the Company to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of change in fair value of the TRUPs resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk. In contrast, for the year ended December 31, 2017, the entire change in the fair value of TRUPs of $882,000 was recorded in earnings. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company has recognized a change of $392,000 on the fair value of TRUPs, of which a $424,000 loss was attributed to fluctuations in the LIBOR yield curve, and recorded in earnings, and a $32,000 gain was attributed to changes in credit risk and presented in other comprehensive income.

Non-interest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 totaled $1,665,000, reflecting an increase of $510,000 from the $1,155,000 in non-interest income reported for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.  The increase during the period was primarily due to recording a $499,000 gain on the fair value of TRUPs for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, as compared to a $194,000 loss for the same period ended 2017. The change in the fair value of TRUPs reflected in non-interest income was primarily caused by fluctuations in the LIBOR yield curve. Customer service fees totaled $757,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, as compared to $954,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.  The decrease is partially attributed to the closing of the Financial Services department.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, non-interest expense totaled $20,932,000, an increase of $1,129,000 compared to $19,803,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017.  On a year-over-year comparative basis, non-interest expense increased primarily due to increases of $900,000 in salary and employee benefits, $295,000 in OREO expenses, and $184,000 in professional fees, partially offset by a decrease of $61,000 in regulatory fees and a decrease of $84,000 in the loss on a tax credit partnership. The increase in salary and employee benefits is attributed to additional compensation expense related to equity awards. OREO expense for the year ended December 31, 2017 includes a $336,000 gain related to the sale of OREO. The decrease in other non-interest expenses of $299,000 includes a $121,000 recovery of workman's compensation insurance expense.

Non-interest expense totaled $5,473,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $213,000 as compared to $5,260,000 reported for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. On a quarter-over-quarter comparative basis, non-interest expense increased primarily due to increases in salary and employee benefits, partially offset by decreases in the net cost of OREO and professional fees. The increase in salary and employee benefits was primarily due to increases in employee salaries and additional compensation expense related to equity awards, partially offset by a reduction in employee incentives.

The Company recorded an income tax provision of $5,332,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to $7,039,000 for the same period in 2017. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 27.56%, compared to 44.89% for the year ended December 31, 2017. For the quarter ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded a tax provision of $1,254,000, compared to a provision of $2,354,000 for the same period in 2017.  Included in the income tax provision for 2017 is $986,000 related to the DTA revaluation as a result of the change in the corporate tax rate. The signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017, reduced the Company's federal income tax rate from 34% to 21% effective January 2018.

In an attempt to remain consistent with prior periods, provided at the end of this Press Release is a reconciliation of Core Net Income, as a non-GAAP measure, to Net Income. This reconciliation continues to exclude Non-Core items such as the Fair Value Adjustment for TRUPs, recovery of provision for credit loss, and gain on sale of other real estate owned (OREO). As such core net income would have been $13,171,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of approximately 32% compared to net income of $9,948,000 for the same period in 2017. Management believes that financial results are more comparative excluding the impact of such non-core items.

Balance Sheet Review

Total assets increased $127,222,000, or 15.79%, for the year ended December 31, 2018, due primarily to increases of $118,691,000 in overnight funds held at the Federal Reserve. This increase is reflective of the increase of $117,950,000 in deposits during 2018.  Loan balances decreased by $13,418,000 during 2018 and investment securities increased by $24,363,000.  The Company continues to review multiple loan purchase opportunities, on a flow basis, and executed a $30,000,000 letter of intent to purchase SBA loans during the year.

Total deposits increased $117,950,000, or 17.15%, to $805,643,000 during the year ended December 31, 2018.  This increase was due to an increase of $114,929,000 in NOW, money market, and savings accounts and an increase of $17,600,000 in time deposits, partially offset by a decrease of  $14,579,000 in noninterest bearing deposits.  Total money market and savings accounts increased 36.42% to $430,491,000 at December 31, 2018, compared to $315,562,000 at December 31, 2017.  Noninterest bearing deposits decreased 4.74% to $292,720,000 at December 31, 2018, compared to $307,299,000 at December 31, 2017. As a result of the net increase, core deposits, which is made up of the balance of noninterest bearing deposits, NOW, money market, savings, and time deposits accounts less than $250,000, increased $100,350,000.

Shareholders' equity at December 31, 2018 was $109,240,000, up $7,888,000 from shareholders' equity of $101,352,000 at December 31, 2017. The increase in equity was a result of net earnings for the period, partially offset by cash dividends.

The Board of Directors of United Security Bancshares declared a cash dividend on common stock of $0.11 per share on December 18, 2018.  The dividend is payable on January 15, 2019, to shareholders of record as of January 3, 2019. The Board of Directors of United Security Bancshares declared a cash dividend on common stock of $0.10 per share on September 25, 2018.  The dividend was payable on October 19, 2018, to shareholders of record as of October 9, 2018.  The Board of Directors of United Security Bancshares declared a cash dividend on common stock of $0.09 per share on June 26, 2018.  The dividend was payable on July 19, 2018, to shareholders of record as of July 9, 2018.  The Board of Directors of United Security Bancshares declared a cash dividend on common stock of $0.09 per share on March 27, 2018.  The dividend was payable on April 19, 2018, to shareholders of record as of April 9, 2018. No assurances can be provided that future dividends will be declared and/or as to the timing of such future dividends, if any.

Credit Quality

The Company has recorded a recovery of provision for credit losses of $1,764,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to a provision of $24,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017.  Net loan recoveries totaled $892,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, as compared to net recoveries of $341,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company recorded a recovery of provision for credit loss of $65,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, compared to a provision for credit losses of $48,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. The recovery of provision for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 is the result of improvement in historical loss factors, partially offset by loan charge-offs. Net loan charge-offs totaled $338,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, as compared to net loan recoveries of $61,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.

The Company's allowance for loan loss totaled 1.43% of the loan portfolio at December 31, 2018, compared to 1.54% at December 31, 2017. In determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, the judgment of the Company's management is a significant factor. Management considers the allowance for credit losses at December 31, 2018 to be adequate.

Non-performing assets, comprised of nonaccrual loans, troubled debt restructures (TDR), other real estate owned through foreclosure (OREO), and loans more than 90 days past due and still accruing interest, increased approximately $4,019,000 between December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018 to $21,629,000.  Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets increased from 2.19% at December 31, 2017 to 2.32% at December 31, 2018.  The increase in nonperforming assets is mainly attributed to increases in nonaccrual loans, partially offset by paydowns on restructured loans.  Nonaccrual loans increased $6,756,000 between December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018 to $12,052,000. The increase in nonaccrual loans is isolated to one borrower, which is well-secured by real estate collateral. OREO totaled $5,745,000 at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

About United Security Bancshares

United Security Bancshares (NASDAQ: UBFO) is the holding company for United Security Bank, which was founded in 1987. United Security Bank is headquartered in Fresno and operates 11 full-service branch offices in Fresno, Bakersfield, Campbell, Caruthers, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Oakhurst, San Joaquin, and Taft.  Additionally, United Security Bank operates Commercial Real Estate Construction, Commercial Lending, and Consumer Lending departments.  For more information, please visit www.unitedsecuritybank.com.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release and the accompanying financial tables contain a non-GAAP financial measure (Net Income before Non-Core) within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation G. In the accompanying financial tables, the Company has provided a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The Company's management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information about the Company's results of operations and/or financial position to both investors and management. The Company provides this non-GAAP financial measure to investors to assist them in performing their analysis of its historical operating results. The non-GAAP financial measure shows the Company's operating results before consideration of certain adjustments and, consequently, this non-GAAP financial measure should not be construed as an alternative to net income (loss) as an indicator of the Company's operating performance, as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company may calculate this non-GAAP financial measure differently than other companies.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Company intends such statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and often include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Forward-looking statements are based on management's knowledge and belief as of today and are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management's views as of any subsequent date. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those presented.   Factors that might cause such differences, some of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, include, but are not limited to: (1) changes in general economic and financial market conditions, either nationally or locally, (2) changes in interest rates, (3) changes in banking laws or regulations, (4) increased competition in the Company's market, impacting the ability to execute its business plans, (5) loss of key personnel, (6) unanticipated credit losses, (7) earthquakes or other natural disasters impacting the local economy and/or the condition of real estate collateral, (8) the impact of technological changes and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems, and (9) changes in accounting policies or procedures.

The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.  For a more complete discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2017, and particularly the section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."  Readers should carefully review all disclosures the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE United Security Bancshares

Related Links

http://www.unitedsecuritybank.com