RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 24, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Citizens BancShares Inc. (Nasdaq:FCNCA) reports earnings for the quarter ending December 31, 2010, of $30.1 million, compared to $19.0 million for the corresponding period of 2009, according to Frank B. Holding Jr., chairman of the board. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2010 increased $11.1 million, or 58.3 percent, from the same quarter of 2009.
Per share income for the fourth quarter 2010 totaled $2.88, compared to $1.82 for the same period a year ago. First Citizens' current quarter results generated an annualized return on average assets of 0.56 percent and an annualized return on average equity of 6.91 percent, compared to respective returns of 0.41 percent and 4.92 percent for the same period of 2009. The increase in net income as well as return on average assets and equity during 2010 reflects the favorable impact of the four FDIC-assisted transactions completed during 2010 and 2009.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, net income equaled $193.0 million, or $18.50 per share, compared to $116.3 million, or $11.15 per share, earned during 2009. Net income as a percentage of average assets was 0.93 percent during 2010, compared to 0.66 percent during 2009. The return on average equity was 11.54 percent for 2010, compared to 7.94 percent for 2009. The $76.7 million, or 65.9 percent, increase in net income reflects improved net interest income and larger acquisition gains, partially offset by higher provision for loan and lease losses and noninterest expense and reduced noninterest income.
The comparability of BancShares' results of operations for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010, are affected by the FDIC-assisted transactions. Bargain purchase gains are recorded at the date of the transaction and result from the difference between the estimated fair values of acquired assets and assumed liabilities. Various post-acquisition adjustments to the carrying value of acquired assets may have a significant impact on net interest income, provision for loan and lease losses and noninterest income. Accretable fair value discounts recorded on acquired loans are accreted into income over the estimated life of the loans, with accelerated accretion recognized if repayments occur sooner than originally estimated. In cases where post-acquisition deterioration of credit quality is identified for acquired loans, allowances are established through the provision for loan and lease losses. When credit quality improves post-acquisition, fair value discounts that were initially identified as nonaccretable are reclassified as accretable and are recognized over the remaining life of the loan. For loans covered under FDIC loss share agreements, the net increase or decrease in the estimated recoverable amount resulting from deterioration or improvement is recognized as an adjustment to the FDIC receivable with an offset to noninterest income.
FOURTH QUARTER 2010 HIGHLIGHTS
- Fourth quarter net interest income equaled $228.4 million, up 60.4 percent from the fourth quarter of 2009.
- Average loans and leases, including those acquired in FDIC-assisted transactions, increased $763.9 million, or 5.9 percent.
- Average deposits, including those assumed in FDIC-assisted transactions, increased $2.6 billion, or 16.9 percent.
- Fourth quarter 2010 earnings were influenced by several significant items arising from the FDIC-assisted transactions, including $24.4 million of provision for loan and lease losses, $70.5 million in interest income from accretion of fair value discounts primarily related to large unscheduled payments and $29.1 million of charges to noninterest income arising from adjustments to the FDIC receivable.
- Net charge-offs on noncovered loans equaled $9.0 million, or 0.31 percent of average noncovered loans.
- Fourth quarter 2010 noninterest expenses were up $28.4 million, or 16.4 percent, primarily from costs related to the FDIC-assisted transactions.
- Regulatory authorities granted approval to merge IronStone Bank into First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company.
2010 YEAR-TO-DATE HIGHLIGHTS
- Net interest income for 2010 equaled $774.2 million, up 51.7 percent from 2009.
- Average loans and leases, including loans acquired in FDIC-assisted transactions, increased $1.8 billion, or 14.9 percent.
- Average deposits, including those assumed in FDIC-assisted transactions, increased $3.0 billion, or 20.3 percent.
- Earnings for 2010 and 2009 were influenced by significant items arising from FDIC-assisted transactions, including $136.0 million and $104.4 million in acquisition gains respectively, $86.9 million and $3.5 million in provision for loan and lease losses respectively, $145.4 million in 2010 in interest income from accretion of fair value discounts primarily related to large unscheduled payments and $42.1 million in 2010 of charges to noninterest income for adjustments to the FDIC receivable.
- Net charge-offs on noncovered loans equaled $49.6 million, or 0.43 percent of average noncovered loans.
- Noninterest expenses increased $81.9 million, or 12.6 percent, due primarily to FDIC-assisted transactions.
NET INTEREST INCOME
Fourth quarter net interest income increased $86.0 million, or 60.4 percent, from the same period of 2009, due to an increase in interest-earning assets and the accretion of fair value discounts. Average interest-earning assets increased $2.4 billion, or 14.8 percent, due primarily to assets acquired through the 2010 FDIC-assisted transactions. Large unscheduled loan payments and other adjustments recorded during the fourth quarter 2010 resulted in $66.2 million of fair value discount accretion, which increased interest income. The favorable interest income adjustments were partially offset by a corresponding $56.6 million reduction in the FDIC receivable, recorded as a reduction in noninterest income. The taxable-equivalent net yield on interest-earning assets increased 137 basis points when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. The increase in the net yield was primarily due to reduced deposit costs and the favorable impact of acquired loans and assumed deposits, including the impact of fair value discounts accreted into income during the fourth quarter of 2010.
Interest-earning assets averaged $18.7 billion during the fourth quarter of 2010. Average loans increased $763.9 million, or 5.9 percent, since the fourth quarter of 2009, due to acquisition activity. Average investment securities grew $815.2 million, or 26.0 percent, principally resulting from strong deposit growth within the legacy branch network well in excess of loan demand.
Average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $1.8 billion, or 13.6 percent, during the fourth quarter of 2010, due to higher levels of deposits. The rate on interest-bearing liabilities decreased 31 basis points to 1.15 percent during the fourth quarter of 2010 as market interest rates continued to contract.
Net interest income increased $263.7 million, or 51.7 percent, during 2010, due to balance sheet growth resulting primarily from the FDIC-assisted transactions and $145.4 million of accretion of fair value discounts recorded in 2010, primarily related to large unscheduled loan payments.
Average interest-earning assets for 2010 increased $2.5 billion, or 15.8 percent, due primarily to the FDIC-assisted transactions. Average loans and leases grew $1.8 billion, or 14.9 percent, during 2010. The taxable-equivalent net yield on interest-earning assets increased 97 basis points to 4.22 percent during 2010, versus 3.25 percent recorded during 2009 primarily due to acquired loan fair value discount accretion recognized during 2010.
Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $2.2 billion, or 17.1 percent, due to robust deposit growth in the legacy branches as well as the impact of the FDIC-assisted transactions.
PROVISION FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES
The provision for loan and lease losses equaled $34.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2010, a $13.3 million increase from the same period of 2009, due to a $20.9 million increase in the amount recognized for post-acquisition deterioration of acquired loans covered by FDIC loss share agreements. The unfavorable provision for loan and lease losses for acquired loans was partially offset by a $16.6 million increase in the FDIC receivable, recorded as an increase in noninterest income. Net charge-offs on noncovered loans during the fourth quarter 2010 equaled $9.0 million, compared to $14.6 million during the fourth quarter 2009. On an annualized basis, noncovered net charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2010 represented 0.31 percent of average noncovered loans and leases, compared to 0.50 percent for the same period of 2009. Net charge-offs resulting from post-acquisition deterioration of covered loans equaled $16.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2010, which, on an annualized basis, represented 3.06 percent of average covered loans. No covered loan charge-offs were recorded during the fourth quarter of 2009.
The provision for loan and lease losses totaled $143.5 million for 2010, compared to $79.4 million during 2009, a $64.1 million increase. The provision for acquired loans increased $83.4 million in 2010 resulting from post-acquisition deterioration of acquired loans covered by FDIC loss share agreements, partially offset by a corresponding increase in the indemnification asset and noninterest income of $66.7 million. Net charge-offs on noncovered loans totaled $49.6 million in 2010, down $15.1 million from the $64.7 million of net charge-offs recorded during 2009. Net charge-offs on noncovered loans for 2010 represent 0.43 percent of average noncovered loans and leases compared to 0.56 percent for 2009. Net charge-offs on covered loans during 2010 equaled $39.1 million, or 1.76 percent of average covered loans. No covered loan losses were incurred during 2009.
NONINTEREST INCOME
Total noninterest income declined $29.8 million, or 36.5 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2009, due primarily to $29.1 million of net charges resulting from adjustments to the FDIC receivable for assets covered by loss share agreements. The adjustment to the FDIC receivable represents the impact of reductions to the receivable resulting from large unscheduled acquired loan payments and other acquired loan adjustments, partially offset by increases to the receivable resulting from post-acquisition deterioration of acquired loans. Cardholder and merchant services income increased $2.8 million, or 11.6 percent, during the fourth quarter of 2010 due to higher transaction volume. Due to changes in regulations governing deposit account overdrafts that became effective in mid-August, deposit service charges declined $3.3 million, or 16.1 percent, during the fourth quarter versus the fourth quarter of 2009.
Acquisition gains recorded during 2010 totaled $136.0 million, compared to $104.4 million during 2009, all of which resulted from FDIC-assisted transactions. Exclusive of acquisition gains, noninterest income declined $28.8 million, or 9.6 percent, principally due to $42.1 million of net charges resulting from adjustments to the FDIC receivable for covered assets. Cardholder and merchant services income increased $12.2 million, due to higher transaction volume, while income from wealth management services increased $5.3 million. Deposit service charges declined $4.3 million, or 5.5 percent, the net impact of lower fees from overdrafts and commercial service charges offset by incremental service charges for deposit accounts resulting from FDIC-assisted transactions.
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
Noninterest expense equaled $201.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2010, up $28.4 million, or 16.4 percent, $13.0 million of which resulted from the FDIC-assisted transactions. Salary expense increased $7.6 million, or 11.1 percent, due to higher head count and merit increases. Occupancy expense and collection expenses increased due to the FDIC-assisted transactions, while equipment costs increased as a result of higher hardware and software expenses. Growth in transaction volume caused cardholder and merchant processing expense to increase. These increases were partially offset by reduced foreclosure-related costs and employee benefits expense.
Noninterest expense increased $81.9 million, or 12.6 percent, during 2010. Of the increase in total noninterest expenses, $61.9 million relates to costs incurred in the new locations resulting from the FDIC-assisted transactions. Exclusive of the increase directly resulting from the new branches, salary expense increased $12.1 million during 2010 resulting from staff increases and merit increases. Equipment expenses increased $6.6 million, or 10.9 percent, due principally to higher hardware and software costs. Collection expenses increased $18.4 million due to costs incurred for loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions.
NONPERFORMING ASSETS
Nonperforming assets covered by FDIC loss share agreements totaled $363.5 million as of December 31, 2010, compared to $220.2 million at December 31, 2009, due to nonperforming assets resulting from the 2010 FDIC-assisted transactions and changes in nonperforming assets related to the 2009 FDIC-assisted transactions. Nonperforming assets not covered by FDIC loss share agreements totaled $196.7 million at December 31, 2010, compared to $154.0 million at December 31, 2009. Nonperforming assets not covered by FDIC loss share agreements represent 1.71 percent of non-covered loans, leases and OREO as of December 31, 2010, compared to 1.32 percent of December 31, 2009.
CAPITAL
First Citizens BancShares remains well-capitalized with a leverage capital ratio of 9.18 percent at December 31, 2010, down slightly from 9.54 percent at December 31, 2009, due to strong growth in total assets. Both the total risk-based capital and tier 1 risk-based capital ratios increased from December 31, 2009, to levels of 16.95 percent and 14.86 percent at December 31, 2010, respectively.
ABOUT FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES
BancShares is the financial holding company for subsidiary First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Bank and its IronStone Bank division provide a broad range of financial services to individuals, businesses, professionals and the medical community through a network of 443 branch offices, telephone banking, online banking and ATMs. For more information, visit First Citizens' Web site at firstcitizens.com.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. A discussion of factors that could cause First Citizens' actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements is included in First Citizens' filings with the SEC.
CONTACT: Barbara Thompson First Citizens BancShares (919) 716-2716