NEWTON, N.C., Jan. 31, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (Nasdaq:PEBK), the parent company of Peoples Bank, reported net income of $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, resulting in $0.33 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to $2.9 million, or $0.53 basic and diluted net earnings per share, for the same period one year ago. After adjusting for dividends and accretion on preferred stock, net earnings available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2010, were $448,000 or $0.08 basic and diluted net earnings per common share as compared to $1.7 million, or $0.30 basic and diluted net earnings per common share, for the same period one year ago. Tony W. Wolfe, President and Chief Executive Officer, attributed the decrease in year-to-date earnings to an increase in provision for loan losses, which was partially offset by an increase in net interest income, an increase in non-interest income and a decrease in non-interest expense. Mr. Wolfe stated that the current economic conditions continue to stress both our borrowers and the collateral supporting our loans. The Bank strives to proactively work with its customers to identify potential problems. If found, the Bank works to quickly recognize identifiable losses and to establish a plan, with the borrower, if possible, to have the loans paid off. This process has increased the levels of charge-offs and provision for loan losses in each quarter of 2010. Mr. Wolfe noted that he was pleased to report that the Company remained profitable for the year ended December 31, 2010, during these challenging economic conditions.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, the Company incurred a net loss of $439,000 or $0.08 basic and diluted net loss per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to net earnings of $632,000, or $0.11 basic and diluted net earnings per share, for the same period one year ago. After adjusting for dividends and accretion on preferred stock, the Company reported a $787,000 net loss available to common shareholders for the three months ended December 31, 2010, or $0.14 basic and diluted net loss per common share as compared to $284,000 net earnings available to common shareholders, or $0.05 basic and diluted net earnings per common share, for the same period one year ago. Mr. Wolfe attributed the decrease in fourth quarter earnings to an increase in provision for loan losses as discussed below.
Year-to-date net interest income as of December 31, 2010, increased to $33.3 million compared to $32.9 million for the same period one year ago. This increase is primarily attributable to a reduction in interest expense due to a decrease in the cost of funds for time deposits. Net interest income after the provision for loan losses decreased 24% to $16.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $22.3 million for the same period one year ago. The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2010, was $16.4 million as compared to $10.5 million for the same period one year ago, primarily attributable to an increase in non-performing assets and a $10.2 million increase in net charge-offs during the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to the same period last year. Net charge-offs during the year ended December 31, 2010, included $10.2 million on acquisition, development and construction ("AD&C") loans, $4.0 million on mortgage loans and $2.2 million on non-real estate loans, which included $1.7 million on commercial loans.
Non-interest income increased 17% to $13.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, as compared to $11.8 million for the same period one year ago primarily due to a $2.0 million increase in gains on the sale of securities for the year ended December 31, 2010, as compared to the same period one year ago.
Non-interest expense decreased 3% to $28.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, as compared to $29.9 million for the same period last year. The decrease in non-interest expense included: (1) a decrease of $634,000 or 4% in salaries and benefits expense primarily due to a $322,000 decrease in supplemental retirement plan expense, a $275,000 decrease in 401-K plan expense and a $122,000 decrease in salary expense and (2) a decrease of $328,000 or 3% in non-interest expenses other than salary, employee benefits and occupancy expenses primarily due to a decrease of $458,000 in debit card expense.
Net interest income was $8.6 million for the three-month period ended December 31, 2010, compared to $8.5 million for the same period one year ago. Net interest income after the provision for loan losses decreased 55% to $2.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to $5.1 million for the same period one year ago. The provision for loan losses for the three months ended December 31, 2010, was $6.2 million as compared to $3.4 million for the same period one year ago, primarily attributable to a $5.0 million increase in net charge-offs during fourth quarter 2010, compared to fourth quarter 2009.
Non-interest income amounted to $4.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2010, as compared to $2.9 million for the same period last year. This increase is primarily attributable to a $1.4 million increase in gains on the sale of securities for the three months ended December 31, 2010, as compared to the same period one year ago.
Non-interest expense increased 4% to $7.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2010, as compared to $7.2 million for the same period last year. The increase in non-interest expense included: (1) an increase of $132,000 or 4% in salaries and benefits expense, (2) an increase of $31,000 or 2% in occupancy expense and (3) an increase of $116,000 or 5% in non-interest expenses other than salary, employee benefits and occupancy expenses.
Total assets as of December 31, 2010, amounted to $1.1 billion, an increase of 2% compared to total assets of $1.0 billion at December 31, 2009. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in investment securities available for sale. Available for sale securities increased 40% to $272.4 million as of December 31, 2010, compared to $195.1 million as of December 31, 2009. This increase reflects the investment of additional funds received from growth in deposits and a decrease in loans. Total loans amounted to $726.2 million as of December 31, 2010, compared to $778.1 million as of December 31, 2009. This decrease reflects a decline in loan originations combined with continuing payments on existing loans.
Non-performing assets increased 63% to $46.9 million or 4.40% of total assets at December 31, 2010, compared to $28.8 million or 2.74% of total assets at December 31, 2009 primarily due to a $17.3 million increase in non-accrual loans. Non-performing loans include $23.1 million in AD&C loans, $16.2 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $1.0 million in other loans at December 31, 2010, as compared to $4.8 million in AD&C loans, $18.3 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $1.7 million in other loans as of December 31, 2009. Included in AD&C non-accrual loans at December 31, 2010, is $10.9 million in loans to the largest AD&C relationship in the Bank that are current but whose repayment is dependent upon the underlying collateral and whose terms are interest only. The allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2010, amounted to $15.5 million or 2.13% of total loans compared to $15.4 million or 1.98% of total loans at December 31, 2009. According to Mr. Wolfe, management believes the current level of the allowance for loan losses is adequate; however, there is no assurance that additional adjustments to the allowance will not be required because of changes in economic conditions, regulatory requirements or other factors.
Deposits amounted to $838.7 million as of December 31, 2010, representing an increase of 4% over deposits of $809.3 million at December 31, 2009. Core deposits, which include non-interest bearing demand deposits, NOW, MMDA, savings and non-brokered certificates of deposits of denominations less than $100,000, increased $23.7 million or 4% to $592.7 million at December 31, 2010, as compared to $569.0 million at December 31, 2009. Certificates of deposit in amounts greater than $100,000 or more totaled $241.4 million at December 31, 2010, as compared to $233.1 million at December 31, 2009. This increase is partially due to a $3.7 million increase in certificates of deposit issued through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS) as of December 31, 2010, compared to December 31, 2009.
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase amounted to $34.1 million at December 31, 2010, as compared to $36.9 million at December 31, 2009.
Shareholders' equity was $96.9 million, or 9.07% of total assets, at December 31, 2010, as compared to $99.2 million, or 9.46% of total assets, at December 31, 2009. The Company's total risk-based capital ratio was 15.52% at December 31, 2010, which exceeds the regulatory "well-capitalized" threshold of 10.00%.
Peoples Bank operates 22 offices entirely in North Carolina, with offices in Catawba, Alexander, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Union, Iredell and Wake Counties. The Company's common stock is publicly traded and is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "PEBK."
Statements made in this press release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management and on the information available to management at the time that this release was prepared. These statements can be identified by the use of words like "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," and "believe," variations of these words and other similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, (1) competition in the markets served by Peoples Bank, (2) changes in the interest rate environment, (3) general national, regional or local economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and the possible impairment of collectibility of loans, (4) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, (5) significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment and tax laws, (6) the impact of changes in monetary and fiscal policies, laws, rules and regulations and (7) other risks and factors identified in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to those described in Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.'s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
CONTACT: Tony W. Wolfe President and Chief Executive Officer A. Joseph Lampron Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 828-464-5620, Fax 828-465-6780