JERICHO, N.Y., Jan. 24, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- State Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq:STBC), parent company of State Bank of Long Island (the "Bank"), today reported fourth quarter 2010 net income of $3.6 million, or $0.18 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $12.7 million, or $0.89 per diluted common share, a year ago. Full year 2010 net income was $11.4 million, or $0.57 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $14.8 million, or $1.16 per diluted common share, in 2009.
The increase in 2010 fourth quarter earnings resulted from several factors; most notably a $20.3 million reduction in the provision for loan losses, a $6.2 million reduction in operating expenses and an $815 thousand increase in non-interest income. Partially offsetting the foregoing improvements was a $385 thousand reduction in net interest income in 2010 versus 2009.
Commenting on the fourth quarter 2010 results, President and CEO Thomas M. O'Brien stated, "The Company's Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 results further support the wisdom of the many strategic repositioning initiatives that we have undertaken over the past few years. In the year just ended, the Company was profitable in each quarter culminating in a $3.6 million net profit for the Fourth Quarter. While there was some anticipated profit turbulence during the course of the year, the progress realized is meaningful and exceeded our expectations in almost every category.
"We have continued to reduce our operating costs, maintain strong net interest margins and kept our aggressive posture on problem credit remediation. Non-accrual loans while higher, at $14.9 million, are within a range as a percentage of total loans that ranks well below our current local peer group average as per the September 30, 2010 FDIC Bank Call Report data, the latest data available. Troubled Debt Restructurings have increased as we work with certain borrowers experiencing cash flow difficulties who, in each case, have substantial equity and/or collateral supporting the Bank's debt and are actively and cooperatively working to navigate through a difficult economy. Each of these credits had been previously classified and appropriate reserves had been calculated in prior periods.
"Despite the increase in non-accrual loans at December 31, 2010, the classified loan portfolio has been reasonably stable throughout most of 2010 and we do not appear to be seeing significant net migration into classified status. That said, we remain cautious as the economy appears to be stabilizing with signs of modest growth re-appearing for the first time in several years. Meaningful loan growth continues to be a struggle but as previously reported, we are seeing better quality relationship opportunities than at any time in the past few years.
"The Allowance for Loan Losses amounted to $33.1 million at December 31, 2010 representing almost 3% of total loans and 223% of total non-performing loans. In these difficult economic periods with uncertainty still high, this loan loss allowance enables us to maintain our aggressive credit remediation posture.
"At State Bancorp, we have tried to be forthright and transparent in addressing problems of the past and ultimately we believe our shareholders, employees and clients have been better served by our strategic initiatives. In the context of a severe recession that job has been more complicated than any of us would have liked but, in my opinion, we have built a management team today that is shareholder aligned and fully capable to deliver long-term growth to our investors. We are supported by a Board of Directors that is both invested in the Company's success and diligent in providing oversight and direction.
"As we look forward to 2011 with a slowly improving economy, we are optimistic about continued and growing profitability for the Company. Inevitably, there will also be accelerated banking consolidation in our markets as the need for scale and the increasing burden of regulatory costs drive M&A activity with renewed vigor. In that context, we remain disciplined in considering various growth opportunities. While we remain in a period of elevated risks and high charge-offs, the opportunities that lie ahead are finally becoming exciting. In my opinion, we are building a banking franchise that is uniquely positioned in our market to provide value to our investors and the superior level of client satisfaction that should continue to burnish our reputation in the metropolitan New York market."
Performance Highlights
- Net Interest Margin: Net interest margin was 4.04% in the fourth quarter of 2010 versus 4.15% in the fourth quarter of 2009 and 4.16% in the third quarter of 2010;
- Capital: The Company's Tier I leverage capital ratio was 9.53% at December 31, 2010 versus 8.68% at December 31, 2009 and 9.33% at September 30, 2010. The Company's tangible common equity ratio (non-GAAP financial measure) was 7.39% at December 31, 2010 versus 6.93% at December 31, 2009 and 7.11% at September 30, 2010;
- Loan Loss Provision: The fourth quarter 2010 provision for loan losses decreased by $20.3 million to $2.7 million versus the fourth quarter of 2009 and increased by $200 thousand versus the third quarter of 2010. The fourth quarter 2010 provision for loan losses exceeded net charge-offs by $590 thousand;
- Asset Quality: Although non-accrual loans increased to $15 million or 1.3% of loans outstanding at December 31, 2010 versus $7 million or 0.6% of loans outstanding at December 31, 2009 and $9 million or 0.8% of loans outstanding at September 30, 2010, total accruing loans delinquent 30 days or more declined to 2.28% of loans outstanding at December 31, 2010 versus 3.84% of loans outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 3.90% at September 30, 2010. Net loan charge-offs of $2.1 million were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2010 versus $23.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 and $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2010. The allowance for loan losses totaled $33 million at December 31, 2010, $29 million at December 31, 2009 and $32 million at September 30, 2010, representing 2.9%, 2.6%, and 2.9% of total loans, respectively, at such dates. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-accrual loans, excluding non-accrual loans categorized as held for sale, was 223%, 474%, and 357% at December 31, 2010, December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2010, respectively. The Company held no other real estate owned during any of these reporting periods;
- Operating Efficiency: Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2010 decreased by 39.9% to $9.3 million from the $15.5 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2009 and decreased by 12.0% versus the third quarter of 2010. The Company's operating efficiency ratio improved to 52.0% in 2010 from 89.4% in the comparable 2009 period. The Company's efficiency ratio was 60.7% in the third quarter of 2010;
- Loans: Loans outstanding at December 31, 2010 increased by 3% to $1.1 billion versus December 31, 2009 and were up 2% versus September 30, 2010;
- Core Deposits: Core deposits totaled $976 million at December 31, 2010 versus $995 million at December 31, 2009 and $979 million at September 30, 2010. Core deposits represented 72% of total deposits in the quarter ended December 2010, 74% of total deposits for the quarter ended December 2009 and 71% for the quarter ended September 2010. Demand deposits decreased by 10% to $343 million at December 31, 2010 versus $381 million at December 31, 2009 and increased by 2% from $336 million at September 30, 2010. Demand deposits represented 25% of total deposits at December 31, 2010, 28% at December 31, 2009 and 24% at September 30, 2010;
- Performance Ratios: Return on average assets and return on average common stockholders' equity were 0.86% and 10.12%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2010 and (3.09)% and (44.48)%, respectively, in the comparable 2009 period. For the third quarter of 2010, return on average assets and return on average common stockholders' equity were 0.78% and 9.09%, respectively.
Earnings Summary for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2010
The Company recorded net income of $3.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2010 versus a net loss of $12.7 million in the comparable 2009 period. The improvement in net income in 2010 versus 2009 resulted from a $20.3 million reduction in the provision for loan losses in 2010, a decline of $6.2 million in operating expenses and an $815 thousand increase in non-interest income. Somewhat offsetting these positive factors was a $385 thousand reduction in net interest income in 2010.
The lower level of net interest income in 2010 when compared to 2009 was the result of an 11 basis point narrowing of the net interest margin in 2010 to 4.04%. The lower margin resulted principally from a reduction in the securities portfolio average yield during the fourth quarter of 2010 versus 2009. Somewhat offsetting the lower securities portfolio yield was a reduction in the average cost of deposits, our primary funding source, in 2010.
The Company's fourth quarter 2010 average interest-earning asset yield was 4.75% versus 5.03% in the comparable 2009 period. The average yield on loans increased by six basis points in the fourth quarter of 2010 to 5.48%. This improvement was offset by a 112 basis point decline in the average yield on the Company's securities portfolio to 3.02% in the fourth quarter of 2010 versus 2009. The securities portfolio (excluding Federal Home Loan Bank and other restricted stock), has an unrealized positive pre-tax mark to fair value of $5 million at December 31, 2010 and an estimated weighted average life of 3.1 years, decreased by $33 million to $383 million at December 31, 2010 versus the comparable 2009 date and also decreased by $43 million from September 30, 2010.
The Company's average cost of interest-bearing liabilities declined 26 basis points to 0.99% in the fourth quarter of 2010 versus 1.25% in the fourth quarter of 2009. The lower cost of funds resulted from growth in average savings account balances in 2010 coupled with the Company's ongoing management of deposit rates during the past year as deposit pricing continues to ease in local markets. Total deposits were unchanged at $1.3 billion at December 31, 2010 versus December 31, 2009 but declined by $37 million when compared to September 30, 2010. Also contributing to the reduction in 2010 funding costs was the Company's December 2009 exchange of its high-cost $10 million, 8.25% subordinated notes for newly issued common stock. The subordinated notes were due to mature in 2013.
The provision for loan losses was $2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, representing a decline of $20.3 million versus the comparable 2009 period. The provision for loan losses recorded during the fourth quarter of 2009 resulted primarily from the strategic execution of several sales of lower-quality higher-risk loans, including a significant portion of the Company's non-accrual loans. The fourth quarter 2010 provision for loan losses exceeded net charge-offs resulting in a $590 thousand increase in the allowance for loan losses primarily due to several additions to the Company's watch list and net risk rating changes that required higher allocated reserves.
Income from bank owned life insurance increased by $641 thousand, including a $701 thousand receivable for an insurance benefit payment at December 31, 2010. Net gains on sales of securities were $5 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to net losses of $174 thousand for the same period last year and net gains of $733 thousand in the third quarter of 2010.
Fourth quarter 2010 total operating expenses decreased by $6.2 million or 39.9% to $9.3 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. This decline was primarily due to a $3.5 million reduction in credit and collection expenses resulting from a $3.0 million charge recorded in 2009 to write-down the carrying value of loans held for sale to their estimated fair value. Salaries and other employee benefits expense declined by $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 when compared to 2009 primarily as the result of a reduction in the Company's pension and incentive compensation costs. Other operating expenses declined by $1.3 million largely due to $740 thousand in costs recorded in 2009 associated with the exchange of the Company's subordinated notes for equity. Also contributing to the lower level of operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2010 was a $416 thousand decline in legal expenses reflecting the lower fourth quarter 2010 accrual and the fourth quarter 2010 reclass of a third party consulting expense to other operating expenses. Partially offsetting the foregoing expense reductions was a $260 thousand increase in marketing and advertising costs in the fourth quarter of 2010 versus 2009 as the result of enhanced corporate branding efforts.
The Company recorded income tax expense of $1.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 versus an $8.7 million income tax benefit in the comparable period a year ago.
Earnings Summary for the Year Ended December 31, 2010
The Company recorded net income of $11.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to a net loss of $14.8 million in 2009. The improvement in net income in 2010 resulted from multiple factors, most notably a $26.6 million decrease in the provision for loan losses, increases in net interest income and non-interest income of $2.6 million and $6.7 million, respectively, and a reduction in operating expenses of $6.5 million.
The decrease in the provision for loan losses in 2010 versus the comparable 2009 period was due to several factors, most notably the disposition of lower-quality and non-accrual loans in the fourth quarter of 2009.
The increase in net interest income was due to an 18 basis point widening of the Company's net interest margin to 4.21% in 2010 from 4.03% a year ago.
The growth in non-interest income in 2010 resulted principally from a $2.5 million increase in net gains on sales of securities, a $4.0 million decrease in other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") charges on securities as the Company had no such charges in 2010 and a $440 thousand increase in income from bank owned life insurance. Deposit service charge income declined by $316 thousand in 2010 principally due to a lower volume of overdraft and other service charges.
Total operating expenses decreased by $6.5 million or 13.4% to $42.0 million in 2010 primarily due to $4.0 million in write-downs of loans held for sale to their estimated fair value in 2009 and a $942 thousand decrease in FDIC and NYS assessment expenses in 2010. The decrease in FDIC and NYS assessment expenses resulted largely from the $730 thousand FDIC special assessment recorded in the second quarter of 2009. In addition, there was $740 thousand in expenses in the fourth quarter of 2009 related to the debt for equity exchange. Partially offsetting these improvements was a $793 thousand increase in marketing and advertising expenses due to an expanded corporate advertising and branding campaign undertaken in 2010.
The Company recorded a $6.6 million income tax expense in 2010 versus a $9.6 million income tax benefit in the comparable 2009 period.
Asset Quality
Non-accrual loans totaled $15 million or 1.3% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2010 versus $7 million or 0.6% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2009 and $9 million or 0.8% of total loans outstanding at September 30, 2010. The $8 million increase in non-accrual loans at December 31, 2010 compared to December 31, 2009 resulted primarily from several previously classified commercial and industrial loans that became 90 days or more delinquent and were placed on non-accrual status largely during the third and fourth quarters of 2010. The $6 million increase in non-accrual loans at December 31, 2010 compared with September 30, 2010 was primarily due to the addition to non-accrual status of the aforementioned commercial and industrial loans. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total non-accrual loans amounted to 223% at December 31, 2010 versus 474% at December 31, 2009 and 357% at September 30, 2010.
Total accruing loans delinquent 30 days or more declined to $26 million or 2.28% of loans outstanding at December 31, 2010 versus $42 million or 3.84% of loans outstanding at December 31, 2009 and $43 million or 3.90% at September 30, 2010.
Watch list loans (consisting of criticized loans, classified loans and those loans requiring special attention but not warranting categorization as either criticized or classified) totaled $167 million at December 31, 2010, $143 million at December 31, 2009 and $164 million at September 30, 2010. Classified loans were $70 million at December 31, 2010, $81 million at December 31, 2009 and $63 million at September 30, 2010. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total classified loans was 47%, 35% and 52%, respectively, at the same dates.
At December 31, 2010, the Company had $27 million in troubled debt restructurings (TDRs), primarily consisting of two $10 million classified partially secured commercial and industrial (C&I) loans and a classified $6.5 million secured, performing land loan in Roslyn, New York. The borrowers requested and were granted interest rate or other concessions. These credits have been on the Company's watch list since 2009 and 2008, respectively, and are fully advanced. The Company had TDRs amounting to $436 thousand at December 31, 2009 and $7.2 million at September 30, 2010.
As of December 31, 2010, the Company's allowance for loan losses amounted to $33 million or 2.9% of period-end loans outstanding. The allowance as a percentage of loans outstanding was 2.6% at December 31, 2009 and 2.9% at September 30, 2010.
The Company recorded net loan charge-offs of $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 versus net charge-offs of $23.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 and $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2010. As a percentage of average total loans outstanding, these net amounts represented, on an annualized basis, 0.8% for the fourth quarter of 2010, 8.5% for the fourth quarter of 2009 and 0.5% for the third quarter of 2010.
The Company has held no other real estate owned since 2005.
Capital
Total stockholders' equity was $155 million at December 31, 2010 compared to $149 million at December 31, 2009 and $154 million at September 30, 2010. The increase in stockholders' equity versus December 31, 2009 is largely reflective of net income earned in 2010 and the equity recorded as a result of the December 2009 exchange of the Company's $10 million 8.25% subordinated notes for an aggregate of 1,656,600 shares of common stock valued at $6.50 each.
Cash dividends of $0.20 per share, totaling $3.3 million, were paid to the Company's stockholders in 2010.
The Company's return on average common stockholders' equity was 8.04% in 2010 versus (14.71%) in 2009.
The Company has $20 million in outstanding trust preferred securities that qualify as Tier I capital. During 2010, the weighted average cost of the Company's trust preferred securities was 3.54% versus 4.12% a year ago.
The Bank's Tier I leverage, Tier I risk-weighted and total risk-weighted capital ratios were 9.50%, 12.23% and 13.49%, respectively, at December 31, 2010. Each of these ratios exceeds the regulatory guidelines for a "well capitalized" institution, the highest regulatory capital category.
The Company's capital ratios exceeded all regulatory requirements at December 31, 2010. The Company's tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio (non-GAAP financial measure) was 7.39% at December 31, 2010 versus 6.93% at December 31, 2009 and 7.11% at September 30, 2010.
The Company did not repurchase any of its common stock during 2010. Under the Board of Directors' existing authorization, up to 512,348 shares may be repurchased from time to time as conditions warrant. The Company does not presently anticipate repurchasing any of its shares in the immediate future.
Corporate Information
State Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for State Bank of Long Island. In addition to its seventeen branches located in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Manhattan, the Bank maintains its corporate headquarters in Jericho. The Bank has built a reputation for providing high-quality personal service to meet the needs of our diverse customer base which includes commercial real estate owners and developers, small to middle market businesses, professional service firms, municipalities and consumers. The Bank maintains a web site at with corporate, investor and branch banking information.
Non-GAAP Disclosure
This press release includes a non-GAAP financial measure of our tangible common equity. A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are required to be disclosed by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide both management and investors a more complete understanding of the underlying operational results and trends and the Company's marketplace performance. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the numbers prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "is confident that," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty and a variety of factors that could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, changes in: market interest rates, general economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, the quality and composition of the loan or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, demand for financial services in the Company's primary trade area, litigation, tax and other regulatory matters, accounting principles and guidelines, other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technological factors affecting the Company's operations, pricing and services and those risks detailed in the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC. Investors are encouraged to access the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC for financial and business information regarding the Company at . The Company undertakes no obligation to publish revised events or circumstances after the date hereof.
Financial Highlights Follow
CONTACT: Brian K. Finneran, Chief Financial Officer 516-465-2251 bfinneran@statebankofli.com Anthony J. Morris, Chief Marketing & Corporate Planning Officer 516-495-5098 amorris@statebankofli.com