During the quarter ended September 30, 2006, the Company realized a net gain of $8,000 from the sale of various parcels of residential real estate owned and from the sale of $98,000 in equity securities. During the quarter ended September 30, 2005, the Company recognized a net gain of $19,000 on the sale of assets. These net gains were generated from the sale of $1.6 million in mortgage-backed securities and the sale of various foreclosed residential properties and other fixed assets.
In addition, during the comparable quarters, the amortization of intangible assets increased by $108,000, or 138.5%, to $186,000 and other noninterest expenses increased by $239,000, or 28.0%, to $1.1 million. The increase in the amortization of intangible assets was due to the amortization of the core deposit intangible that resulted from the acquisition of Trinity Bank. This core deposit intangible, which amounted to $1.8 million at September 30, 2006, is being amortized over an eight-year period on an accelerated basis. Other noninterest expenses primarily increased due to the operation of a larger organization as a result of the acquisition of Trinity. These increases were partly offset by a $16,000, or 12.1%, decrease in professional expenses to $116,000.
Comparison of Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005
General. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, amounted to $4.0 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, as compared to $2.8 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This represented an increase of $1.2 million, or 43.5%, in net income and an increase of $0.10, or 25.6%, in diluted earnings per share.
Net interest income. Net interest income increased by $4.5 million, or 41.0%, to $15.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Interest income increased by $13.1 million, or 70.9%, to $31.5 million primarily as a result of the acquisition of Trinity Bank in October 2005, continued organic loan growth, and higher interest rates. Average interest-earning assets increased by $165.7 million, or 36.8%, to $616.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The increase in average interest-earning assets was primarily the result of a $160.4 million, or 49.4%, increase in average outstanding loans to $487.9 million. The Company’s average yield on earning assets increased by 134 basis points to 6.82% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. During the comparable periods, interest expense increased by $8.5 million, or 115.4%, to $16.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. This increase in interest expense was largely due to the acquisition of Trinity Bank, increased deposits and borrowed money, and higher interest rates. The average cost of funds increased by 125 basis points to 3.66% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. In addition, the Company experienced a $172.2 million, or 41.9%, increase in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities to $582.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased primarily as a result of a $143.6 million, or 40.9%, increase in average interest-bearing deposits, coupled with a $28.6 million, or 48.0%, increase in borrowed money. The net interest margin improved 10 basis points, or 3.1%, to 3.36% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to 3.26% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This increase in the net interest margin was primarily the result of increased yields on prime-based consumer and commercial loans due to steady 25 basis point increases in the prime-lending rate during the first half of 2006, coupled with a restructuring of the Company’s balance sheet from lower-yielding investment and mortgage-backed securities to higher-yielding loans. Approximately 53.0% of the Company’s loans have interest rates that are tied to short-term rate indexes such as the prime-lending rate. However, if short-term interest rates decline, or the interest rate yield curve remains flat or inverted for a prolonged period of time, the Company’s net interest margin may experience compression.
Provision for loan losses. The provision for loan losses amounted to $865,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $410,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The increase in the provision for loan losses was primarily attributable to the increased loan portfolio resulting from the acquisition of Trinity Bank and the continuing growth in the commercial real estate portfolio. The allowance for loan losses was $5.6 million, or 1.07% of total loans, as of September 30, 2006, compared to $3.4 million, or 0.98% of total loans, as of September 30, 2005. While the Company continues to emphasize commercial loans and consumer loans that are generally secured by real estate, the Company’s ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans remains below our peer group average, at 0.37% of total loans on September 30, 2006, compared to 0.44% of total loans on September 30, 2005. A substantial portion of the Company’s nonperforming loans at September 30, 2006, were secured by real estate.
Noninterest income. Noninterest income increased by $1.2 million, or 38.6%, to $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $3.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This increase was largely attributable to the expanded customer base developed during the year and acquired through the Trinity acquisition. As a result, during the comparable periods, fee income on deposit accounts increased by $368,000, or 20.6%, to $2.2 million and fee income on mortgage banking and lending activities increased by $464,000, or 116.0%, to $864,000. Management expects that these fees from loans and deposits will continue to increase in the near future as new accounts are opened at the full-service Belmont, North Carolina, office that was opened in the fourth quarter of 2005 and as new loans are originated from the loan production office that was opened in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in the first quarter of 2006. However, fees on loans and deposits could be negatively impacted if residential loan originations decrease due to continued rising interest rates and if fewer charges are generated from overdrawn checking accounts. In addition, fee income increased in the amount of $60,000 from dividends on Federal Home Loan Bank stock, $122,000 from bank-owned life insurance, and $254,000 from other noninterest income partly due to the acquisition of Trinity Bank. The fair value adjustment on deferred compensation assets increased by $86,000, or 150.9%, to $143,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. However, this item is directly offset by corresponding charges to noninterest expense.
15
During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company recognized a net loss of $40,000 from the sale of various parcels of residential properties acquired through foreclosure and from the sale of $98,000 in investment securities. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company recognized a net gain of $82,000 on the sale of $5.5 million in investment securities, $4.4 million of mortgage-backed securities, several parcels of residential foreclosed properties, and other miscellaneous fixed assets.
Noninterest expense. Noninterest expense increased $3.4 million, or 34.4%, to $13.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $9.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The increase in noninterest expenses was largely associated with the staffing and operations of four additional full-service offices and one additional loan production office. Three of the full-service offices were obtained from the acquisition of Trinity Bank. As a result, during the comparable periods, compensation and benefits increased by $1.7 million, or 34.2%, to $6.9 million and office occupancy and equipment expense increased by $524,000, or 35.7%, to $2.0 million. The Company completed the integration and consolidation of the back-office functions of the recently acquired Trinity Bank, including the core processing and items processing systems, during the first quarter of 2006. As a result, the financial benefits of the consolidation of these back-office functions were more fully realized beginning in the second quarter of 2006.
In addition, during the comparable periods, the amortization of intangible assets increased by $309,000, or 124.1%, to $558,000 and other noninterest expenses increased by $676,000, or 26.9%, to $3.2 million. The increase in the amortization of intangible assets was due to the amortization of the core deposit intangible that resulted from the acquisition of Trinity Bank. This core deposit intangible, which amounted to $1.8 million at September 30, 2006, is being amortized over an eight-year period on an accelerated basis. Other noninterest expenses primarily increased due to the operation of a larger organization as a result of the acquisition of Trinity. These increases were partly offset by a $23,000, or 5.1%, decrease in professional expenses to $420,000. In addition, during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006, the Company realized expenses associated with the merger and integration of Trinity Bank in the amount of $57,000. No additional merger and integration expenses are expected for future periods.
Income taxes. Income taxes amounted to $1.8 million, or 32.2% of taxable income, for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $1.2 million, or 30.0% of taxable income, for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This increase in income taxes was primarily due to a $1.9 million increase in net income before taxes. The effective tax rate increased from 2005 to 2006 due to a decreased portion of income generated from tax-advantaged sources in 2006 as a percentage of total pretax income. The Company invests in tax-advantaged sources of income to reduce its overall tax burden. These tax-advantaged sources include investments such as municipal securities and bank-owned life insurance. As the Company continues to increase the amount of income derived from interest income on loans and fee income on deposits, the effective tax rate is expected to increase.
Liquidity, Market Risk, and Capital Resources
The objectives of the Company’s liquidity management policy include providing adequate funds to meet the cash needs of both borrowers and depositors, to provide for the on-going operations of the Company, and to capitalize on opportunities for expansion. Liquidity management addresses the Company’s ability to meet deposit withdrawals on demand or at contractual maturity, to repay borrowings as they mature, and to fund new loans and investments as opportunities arise. The primary sources of internally generated funds are principal and interest payments on loans receivable, increases in local deposits, cash flows generated from operations, and cash flows generated by investments. If the Company requires funds beyond its internal funding capabilities, it may rely upon external sources of funds such as brokered deposits, repurchase agreements, and advances. The Company has $94.0 million available to drawn from its line of credit from the FHLB. The FHLB functions as a central reserve bank providing credit for member financial institutions.
16
As a member of the FHLB, we are required to own capital stock in the FHLB and we are authorized to apply for advances on the security of such stock and certain of our mortgage loans and other assets (principally securities that are obligations of, or guaranteed by, U.S. Government Agencies) provided certain creditworthiness standards have been met. Advances are made pursuant to several different credit programs. Each credit program has its own interest rate and range of maturities. Depending on the program, limitations on the amount of advances are based on the financial condition of the member institution and the adequacy of collateral pledged to secure the credit. The Company also has $20.0 million available from an unsecured federal funds accommodation with The Bankers Bank (“TBB”). TBB is the Company’s primary correspondent bank. The federal funds accommodation is for a term of 12 months and is used for the purpose of providing daily liquidity as needed by the Company. Outstanding advances made under this accommodation are generally repaid on a daily basis at a rate determined by TBB based on their marginal cost of funds. Advances are limited to not more than 14 days in any calendar month. Interest on any advances made over the established line or beyond the 14-day limit will be at a higher rate. The Company may also solicit brokered deposits for providing funds for asset growth. As of September 30, 2006, the Company had outstanding brokered deposits of $11.1 million, or 2.0% of total deposits. The Company believes that it has sufficient sources of liquidity to fund the cash needs of both borrowers and depositors, to provide for the on-going operations of the Company, and to capitalize on opportunities for expansion.
In the normal course of business, various commitments are outstanding that are not reflected in the consolidated financial statements. Commitments to extend credit and undisbursed advances on customer lines of credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. The funding of these commitments and previously approved undisbursed lines of credit could affect the Company’s liquidity position. At September 30, 2006, the Company had loan commitments of $48.0 million, unused lines of credit of $104.4 million, and undisbursed construction loan commitments of $16.6 million. The Company believes that it has adequate resources to fund loan commitments and lines of credit as they arise. The Company does not have any special purpose entities or other similar forms of off-balance sheet financing.
The Company’s most significant form of market risk is interest rate risk, as the Company’s assets and liabilities are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The Company’s Asset / Liability Committee is responsible for monitoring its level of interest rate risk and ensuring compliance with Board-adopted limits. There were no changes in the Company’s asset or liability composition that could result in a material change in the Company’s analysis of interest rate sensitivity as discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the banking regulatory agencies. As of September 30, 2006, the Bank’s capital exceeded all applicable regulatory requirements. The Bank’s Tier I capital was $64.7 million, or 9.3% of adjusted total assets. The minimum Tier I capital ratio is 4.00%. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly discretionary actions by the regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Bank’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and classifications are subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk-weightings, and other factors.
17
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The information required by this item is included above in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, under the caption “Liquidity, Market Risk, and Capital Resources.”
ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (or its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be filed in its periodic SEC filings.
There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the quarterly evaluation that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
There are various claims and lawsuits in which the Bank is periodically involved incidental to the Company’s business. In the opinion of management, no material loss is expected from any of such pending claims or lawsuits.
No material changes in the risk factors that were identified in the December 31, 2005, Form 10-K.
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
During the three-month period ended September 30, 2006, the Company repurchased 52,825 shares of common stock for $679,805, at an average cost of $12.87 per share as detailed in the following table:
Period | | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | Average Price Paid per Share | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan | | Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Publicly Announced Plan | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
July | | | 23,600 | | $ | 12.70 | | | 23,600 | | | 132,214 | |
August | | | 825 | | $ | 12.61 | | | 825 | | | 131,389 | |
September | | | 28,400 | | $ | 13.01 | | | 28,400 | | | 102,989 | |
Total | | | 52,825 | | $ | 12.87 | | | 52,825 | | | 102,989 | |
18
On January 23, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the repurchase of up to 200,000 shares, or approximately 5%, of the Company’s then-outstanding shares of common stock. These repurchases may be carried out through open market purchases, block trades, and negotiated private transactions. The stock may be repurchased on an ongoing basis and will be subject to the availability of stock, general market conditions, the trading price of the stock, alternative uses for capital, and the Company’s financial performance. As of September 30, 2006, management had repurchased a total of 97,011 shares at an average price of $12.66 per share and had 102,989 shares remaining to be repurchased under this plan. Management will consider repurchasing additional shares of common stock of the Company at prices management considers to be attractive and in the best interests of both the Company and its stockholders. Any repurchased shares will be held as treasury stock and will be available for general corporate purposes.
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
Not applicable.
Item 4. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
There were no meetings of stockholders during the quarter ended September 30, 2006.
Not applicable.
Exhibits |
| |
| 31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
| 31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
| 32.1 Written statement of Chief Executive Officer furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| |
| 32.2 Written statement of Chief Financial Officer furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
19
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| Citizens South Banking Corporation |
| |
| |
Date: November 7, 2006 | By: | /s/ Kim S. Price |
| |
|
| | Kim S. Price |
| | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | |
| | |
Date: November 7, 2006 | By: | /s/ Gary F. Hoskins |
| |
|
| | Gary F. Hoskins |
| | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
20