NEWTON, N.C., April 25, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (Nasdaq:PEBK), the parent company of Peoples Bank, reported net income of $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, resulting in $0.25 basic and diluted net earnings per share, before adjustment for preferred stock dividends and accretion, as compared to $875,000, or $0.16 basic net 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 three months ended March 31, 2011, were $1.0 million or $0.18 basic and diluted net earnings per common share as compared to $527,000, or $0.10 basic net earnings per share and $0.09 diluted net earnings per common share, for the same period one year ago. Tony W. Wolfe, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated that he was pleased to report the increase in 2011 first quarter earnings as compared to first quarter 2010. He attributed the increase in first quarter earnings to increases in net interest income and non-interest income, which were partially offset by increases in the provision for loan losses and non-interest expense.
Net interest income was $8.5 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2011, compared to $8.1 million for the same period one year ago. Net interest income after the provision for loan losses decreased 3% to $5.6 million during the first quarter of 2011, compared to $5.7 million for the same period one year ago. The provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2011, was $3.0 million as compared to $2.4 million for the same period one year ago, primarily attributable to a $2.0 million increase in net charge-offs during the first quarter 2011, compared to the first quarter 2010. Net charge-offs during the three months ended March 31, 2011, included $1.8 million on acquisition, development and construction ("AD&C") loans, $1.1 million on mortgage loans and $109,000 on non-real estate loans.
Non-interest income amounted to $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared to $2.6 million for the same period last year. This increase is primarily attributable to a $1.1 million increase in gains on the sale of securities for the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared to the same period one year ago.
Non-interest expense increased 3% to $7.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared to $7.2 million for the same period last year. The increase in non-interest expense included: (1) an increase of $147,000 or 4% in salaries and benefits expense, (2) an increase of $14,000 or 1% in occupancy expense and (3) an increase of $50,000 or 2% in non-interest expenses other than salary, employee benefits and occupancy expenses.
Total assets amounted to $1.1 billion as of March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010. Available for sale securities increased 24% to $271.6 million as of March 31, 2011, compared to $218.6 million as of March 31, 2010. This increase reflects the investment of additional funds received from growth in deposits and a decrease in loans. Total loans amounted to $711.2 million as of March 31, 2011, compared to $767.4 million as of March 31, 2010. The decrease is primarily due to the planned reduction in existing loans as the Bank continues to work through problem loans and the continuing decline in loan originations.
Non-performing assets decreased 16% to $39.5 million or 3.68% of total assets at March 31, 2011, compared to $46.9 million or 4.40% of total assets at December 31, 2010 primarily due to a $7.1 million decrease in non-accrual loans. Non-performing assets amounted to $30.8 million or 2.86% of total assets at March 31, 2010. Non-performing loans include $20.9 million in AD&C loans, $11.7 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $550,000 in other loans at March 31, 2011, as compared to $23.1 million in AD&C loans, $16.2 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $1.0 million in other loans as of December 31, 2010. The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2011, amounted to $15.4 million or 2.17% of total loans compared to $16.8 million or 2.18% of total loans at March 31, 2010. 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 $839.0 million as of March 31, 2011, compared to $837.9 million at March 31, 2010. 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 $25.2 million or 4% to $610.3 million at March 31, 2011, as compared to $585.0 million at March 31, 2010. Certificates of deposit in amounts greater than $100,000 or more totaled $224.5 million at March 31, 2011, as compared to $246.3 million at March 31, 2010. This decrease is primarily due to a $15.1 million decrease in certificates of deposit issued through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS) as of March 31, 2011, compared to March 31, 2010.
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase amounted to $38.4 million at March 31, 2011, as compared to $38.5 million at March 31, 2010.
Shareholders' equity was $97.2 million, or 9.07% of total assets, at March 31, 2011, as compared to $96.9 million, or 9.07% of total assets, at December 31, 2010 and $100.1 million, or 9.31% of total assets, at March 31, 2010.
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, 2010.
At March 31, 2011 there were five relationships exceeding $1.0 million (which totaled $8.3 million) in the Watch risk grade, six relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Substandard risk grade (which totaled $11.3 million) and no relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Low Substandard risk grade. These customers continue to meet payment requirements in accordance with the terms of the promissory notes on these loans.
CONTACT: Tony W. Wolfe President and Chief Executive Officer A. Joseph Lampron, Jr. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 828-464-5620, Fax 828-465-6780