EXHIBIT 99.1
| For Immediate Release | ||
| Contact: | Claire M. Chadwick | |
| SVP and Chief Financial Officer | ||
| 630 Godwin Avenue | ||
| Midland Park, NJ 07432 | ||
| 201-444-7100 | ||
PRESS RELEASE
Stewardship Financial Corporation Announces
Year Ended December 31, 2013 Earnings
Midland Park, NJ – February 25, 2014– Stewardship Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:SSFN), parent of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, reported net income for the year ended December 31, 2013 of $2.5 million compared to $520,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012. For the three months ended December 31, 2013, the Corporation reported net income of $665,000 compared to a net loss of $260,000 for the corresponding three month period in 2012. After dividends on preferred stock and accretion, net income available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $1.8 million, or $0.31 per diluted common share, compared to $168,000, or $0.03 per diluted common share, for the prior year. For the three months ended December 31, 2013, after dividends on preferred stock and accretion, the Corporation reported net income available to common shareholders of $495,000, or $0.08 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $387,000, or a loss of $0.07 per diluted common share, for the three months ended December 31, 2012.
Reflecting on the annual results, Paul Van Ostenbridge, Stewardship Financial Corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are very pleased to announce significantly stronger earnings linked with substantial improvement in asset quality.”
| Press Release – Midland Park, NJ Stewardship Financial Corporation, continued | February 25, 2014 |
Net interest income was $5.6 million and $22.8 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $5.7 million and $23.5 million for the equivalent prior year periods. The net interest margin for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013 of 3.54% and 3.59%, respectively, compared to 3.57% and 3.66% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2012, respectively. “In this prolonged, low interest rate environment, compression in margins remains primarily attributable to reduced asset yields,” Van Ostenbridge commented.
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2013 the Corporation recorded a $425,000 and $3.8 million provision for loan losses, respectively. For the prior year, a provision for loan losses of $3.3 million and $10.0 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2012, respectively, was recorded. Van Ostenbridge stated, “The decline in our provision is reflective of an improvement in credit quality and a reduction in nonperforming assets.”
At December 31, 2013, nonperforming assets totaled $10.7 million, or 1.58% of total assets, representing an $8.6 million decline from $19.3 million, or 2.80% of total assets, at December 31, 2012. Van Ostenbridge noted, “We have spent the last few years focused on addressing nonperforming loans and Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) acquired as a result of foreclosure and the 2013 year end balances reflect the results of such efforts.” During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Corporation categorized a small group of nonperforming loans as available for sale at the lower of cost or fair value of the underlying collateral, less cost to sell. After charge-offs previously recorded on these loans recognized against the allowance for loan losses, the decrease in nonperforming assets is partially attributed to the sale of these loans which had a carrying value of $3.6 million. The loans were sold prior to December 31, 2013 and resulted in a net loss to the Corporation of $372,000, reflecting further declines in fair value.
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| Press Release – Midland Park, NJ Stewardship Financial Corporation, continued | February 25, 2014 |
The Corporation reported noninterest income of $525,000 and $4.0 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, respectively, compared to $1.8 million and $6.4 million for the equivalent prior year periods. The current year periods include the previously mentioned loss of $372,000 from the sale of nonperforming loans as well as reduced gains on sales of mortgage loans reflective of the impact of rising mortgage rates and corresponding reduction in refinance activity. In addition, the full year period for 2013 included $537,000 as a result of a death benefit insurance payment received. The 2012 periods included significant gains realized from the sale of securities, primarily reflecting transactions executed to lower the Company’s risk exposure to rising interest rates and deleverage the balance sheet through the partial prepayment of a higher costing wholesale repurchase agreement. The resulting prior year gain on sale of securities was partially offset by a prepayment premium on a wholesale repurchase agreement, which is included as a component of other noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Noninterest expenses for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013 were $4.9 million and $19.8 million as compared to $4.8 million and $19.7 million in the comparable prior year periods. While the Corporation remains dedicated to controlling expenses, higher salary and employee benefits expense is reflective of staffing necessary to address both increasing regulatory compliance as well the increase in staffing required to focus on commercial lending opportunities and an enhanced credit review function. As noted above, included in noninterest expenses in the year ended December 31, 2012 is a $691,000 prepayment premium incurred with the $7.0 million repayment of a wholesale repurchase agreement.
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| Press Release – Midland Park, NJ Stewardship Financial Corporation, continued | February 25, 2014 |
Total assets of $673.5 million at December 31, 2013 showed a slight decline when compared to $688.4 million of assets at December 31, 2012. Since December 31, 2012, gross loans receivable have decreased $6.4 million as a result of the new loan production being offset by loan workouts as well as payoffs and normal principal amortization. The decline includes the impact of the above discussed $3.6 million nonperforming loan sale. In addition, $2.8 million of other nonperforming loans, representing the lower of cost or estimated fair value of the underlying collateral less costs to sell, have been categorized as available for sale at December 31, 2013.
Deposit balances totaled $577.6 million at December 31, 2013 compared to $590.3 million a year earlier. Core deposit balances (checking, money market and savings accounts) continue to see growth and comprise 76.4% of total deposits at December 31, 2013. In addition, noninterest-bearing deposits continued to grow reaching $133.6 million, or 23.1% of deposits, at December 31, 2013 compared to $124.3 million, or 21.1%, at December 31, 2012.
The Corporation’s capital levels remain strong. Tier 1 leverage ratio of 9.04% and total risk based capital ratio of 14.78%, remained relatively stable year over year and still far exceed the regulatory requirements of 4% and 8%, respectively, for a “well capitalized” institution.
In summary, Van Ostenbridge stated, “Over the last few years the Corporation has been committed to improving asset quality. The significant progress seen in the past year represents the results of our commitment. We are encouraged and confident that our current level of loan loss reserves, coupled with strong liquidity and a sound capital base, enable us to move forward.”
Stewardship Financial Corporation’s subsidiary, Atlantic Stewardship Bank, has 13 banking offices in Midland Park, Hawthorne (2), Montville, North Haledon, Pequannock, Ridgewood, Waldwick, Wayne (3), Westwood and Wyckoff, New Jersey. The Bank is known for tithing 10% of its pre-tax profits to Christian and local charities. To date, the Bank’s tithe donations total $7.9 million.
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| Press Release – Midland Park, NJ Stewardship Financial Corporation, continued | February 25, 2014 |
We invite you to visit our website at www.asbnow.com for additional information.
The information disclosed in this document contains certain “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and may be identified by the use of such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “plan,” “estimate,” and “potential.” Examples of forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, estimates with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Corporation that are subject to various factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these estimates. These factors include: changes in general, economic and market conditions, legislative and regulatory conditions, or the development of an interest rate environment that adversely affects the Corporation’s interest rate spread or other income anticipated from operations and investments.
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Stewardship Financial Corporation
Selected Consolidated Financial Information
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
| December 31, | September 30, | December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2013 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
| Selected Financial Condition Data: | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 17,405 | $ | 15,400 | $ | 21,016 | ||||||
| Securities available for sale | 168,411 | 183,411 | 174,700 | |||||||||
| Securities held to maturity | 25,964 | 26,161 | 29,718 | |||||||||
| FHLB Stock | 2,133 | 2,813 | 2,213 | |||||||||
| Loans receivable: | ||||||||||||
| Loans receivable, gross | 434,009 | 439,339 | 440,423 | |||||||||
| Allowance for loan losses | (9,915 | ) | (10,704 | ) | (10,641 | ) | ||||||
| Other, net | 168 | 164 | 50 | |||||||||
| Loans receivable, net | 424,262 | 428,799 | 429,832 | |||||||||
| Loans held for sale | 2,800 | 910 | 784 | |||||||||
| Other assets | 32,533 | 31,734 | 30,125 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 673,508 | $ | 689,228 | $ | 688,388 | ||||||
| Noninterest-bearing deposits | $ | 133,565 | $ | 139,918 | $ | 124,286 | ||||||
| Interest-bearing deposits | 444,026 | 437,238 | 465,968 | |||||||||
| Total deposits | 577,591 | 577,156 | 590,254 | |||||||||
| Other borrowings | 25,000 | 40,100 | 25,000 | |||||||||
| Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 7,300 | 8,044 | 7,343 | |||||||||
| Subordinated debentures | 7,217 | 7,217 | 7,217 | |||||||||
| Other liabilities | 2,621 | 2,433 | 2,228 | |||||||||
| Shareholders' equity | 53,779 | 54,278 | 56,346 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 673,508 | $ | 689,228 | $ | 688,388 | ||||||
| Equity to assets | 7.98% | 7.88% | 8.19% | |||||||||
| Asset Quality Data: | ||||||||||||
| Nonaccrual loans | $ | 10,219 | $ | 15,269 | $ | 18,011 | ||||||
| Loans past due 90 days or more and accruing | — | — | 237 | |||||||||
| Total nonperforming loans | 10,219 | 15,269 | 18,248 | |||||||||
| Other real estate owned | 451 | 470 | 1,058 | |||||||||
| Total nonperforming assets | $ | 10,670 | $ | 15,739 | $ | 19,306 | ||||||
| Nonperforming loans to total loans | 2.34% | 3.48% | 4.14% | |||||||||
| Nonperforming assets to total assets | 1.58% | 2.28% | 2.80% | |||||||||
| Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans | 97.03% | 70.10% | 58.31% | |||||||||
| Allowance for loan losses to total gross loans | 2.28% | 2.44% | 2.42% | |||||||||
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Stewardship Financial Corporation
Selected Consolidated Financial Information
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
| For the three months ended | For the year ended | |||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||
| Selected Operating Data: | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | $ | 6,529 | $ | 6,754 | $ | 26,571 | $ | 28,707 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 911 | 1,094 | 3,813 | 5,175 | ||||||||||||
| Net interest and dividend income | 5,618 | 5,660 | 22,758 | 23,532 | ||||||||||||
| Provision for loan losses | 425 | 3,330 | 3,775 | 9,995 | ||||||||||||
| Net interest and dividend income | ||||||||||||||||
| after provision for loan losses | 5,193 | 2,330 | 18,983 | 13,537 | ||||||||||||
| Noninterest income: | ||||||||||||||||
| Fees and service charges | 458 | 456 | 1,865 | 1,998 | ||||||||||||
| Bank owned life insurance | 100 | 81 | 351 | 325 | ||||||||||||
| Gain on calls and sales of securities | 151 | 1,004 | 153 | 2,340 | ||||||||||||
| Gain on sales of mortgage loans | 39 | 160 | 649 | 887 | ||||||||||||
| Loss on sales of loans | (372 | ) | — | (372 | ) | — | ||||||||||
| Gain on sales of other real estate owned | 44 | (3 | ) | 326 | 429 | |||||||||||
| Gain on life insurance proceeds | — | — | 537 | — | ||||||||||||
| Other | 105 | 79 | 456 | 410 | ||||||||||||
| Total noninterest income | 525 | 1,777 | 3,965 | 6,389 | ||||||||||||
| Noninterest expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Salaries and employee benefits | 2,524 | 2,433 | 10,501 | 9,470 | ||||||||||||
| Occupancy, net | 507 | 515 | 2,045 | 1,967 | ||||||||||||
| Equipment | 214 | 240 | 794 | 971 | ||||||||||||
| Data processing | 438 | 317 | 1,425 | 1,291 | ||||||||||||
| FDIC insurance premium | 230 | 155 | 876 | 612 | ||||||||||||
| Other | 988 | 1,147 | 4,197 | 5,342 | ||||||||||||
| Total noninterest expenses | 4,901 | 4,807 | 19,838 | 19,653 | ||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) | 817 | (700 | ) | 3,110 | 273 | |||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 152 | (440 | ) | 640 | (247 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | 665 | (260 | ) | 2,470 | 520 | |||||||||||
| Dividends on preferred stock and accretion | 170 | 127 | 633 | 352 | ||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) available to common stockholders | $ | 495 | $ | (387 | ) | $ | 1,837 | $ | 168 | |||||||
| Weighted avg. no. of diluted common shares | 5,942,585 | 5,923,113 | 5,937,058 | 5,908,503 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted (loss) earnings per common share | $ | 0.08 | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.03 | |||||||
| Return on average common equity | 4.95% | -3.56% | 4.54% | 0.39% | ||||||||||||
| Return on average assets | 0.39% | -0.15% | 0.36% | 0.07% | ||||||||||||
| Yield on average interest-earning assets | 4.10% | 4.24% | 4.17% | 4.44% | ||||||||||||
| Cost of average interest-bearing liabilities | 0.74% | 0.86% | 0.78% | 1.00% | ||||||||||||
| Net interest rate spread | 3.36% | 3.38% | 3.39% | 3.44% | ||||||||||||
| Net interest margin | 3.54% | 3.57% | 3.59% | 3.66% | ||||||||||||
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