“Despite poor economic conditions and a volatile rate environment, I am happy to report that our third quarter earnings demonstrate solid performance, primarily due to the continued focus of our people on our customers,” said Walter Kaczmarek, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Balance Sheet and Capital Management
Heritage’s assets totaled $1.51 billion at September 30, 2008, compared to $1.33 billion a year ago, and $1.49 billion at June 30, 2008. Total loans were $1.25 billion at September 30, 2008, compared to $0.95 billion at September 30, 2007, and $1.21 billion at June 30, 2008. Deposits totaled $1.19 billion at September 30, 2008, compared to $1.10 billion at September 30, 2007, and $1.16 billion at June 30, 2008.
The securities portfolio of $107.6 million at September 30, 2008 consisted primarily of short term U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government sponsored entities’ debt securities, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and municipal bonds.
The Company’s loan portfolio at September 30, 2008 consisted of 43% commercial loans, 32% commercial real estate mortgage loans, 20% land and construction, and 5% consumer and other loans.
The Company’s deposits increased by 8% in the past year.
The Company’s loan growth in the nine months ended September 30, 2008 outpaced deposit growth, resulting in an increase in brokered deposits of $145 million for the first nine months of 2008, and $76 million for the third quarter of 2008. The Company’s noncore funding (which consists of time deposits, $100,000 and over, brokered deposits, securities sold under agreement to repurchase, and other short-term borrowings) to total assets ratio was 32% at September 30, 2008, compared to 15% a year ago. The Company’s loan to deposit ratio was 105% at September 30, 2008, compared to 87% a year ago.
Shareholders’ equity decreased to $144.3 million, or $8.18 tangible book value per share, at September 30, 2008, compared to $168.4 million, or $9.18 tangible book value per share, a year ago, and increased from $141.7 million, or $7.96 tangible book value per share, at June 30, 2008. Shareholders’ equity and regulatory capital ratios were lower at September 30, 2008, compared to the prior year because of the buyback of 1.4 million common shares during the period for $23.9 million. Capital ratios continue to be above the well-capitalized guidelines established by regulatory agencies. The leverage ratio at September 30, 2008 was 8.27%, compared to 11.19% at September 30, 2007, and 8.36% at June 30, 2008.
Credit Quality
Primarily due to a softening in the real estate market, which is expected to continue well into 2009, nonperforming assets (“NPAs”) increased by $10.8 million from June 30, 2008 to September 30, 2008. Nonperforming assets totaled $25.1 million, or 1.66% of total assets, at September 30, 2008, compared to $3.4 million, or 0.25% of total assets at September 30, 2007, and $14.3 million, or 0.96% of total assets at June 30, 2008.
Net charge-offs in the third quarter of 2008 were $129,000 or 0.04% of average loans, compared to net recoveries of $868,000 or (0.37%) of average loans in the third quarter of 2007. Net charge-offs in the second quarter of 2008 were $370,000 or 0.13% of average loans.
The Company’s provision for loan losses in the third quarter of 2008 was $1.6 million, which is primarily due to the $41 million in loan growth for the quarter, and additional risk in the loan portfolio reflected in the increase in nonperforming loans. The Company had a reverse provision of $500,000 in the third quarter of 2007. The provision for loan losses was $7.8 million in the second quarter of 2008. The total allowance for loan losses was $22.3 million at September 30, 2008, compared to $11.5 million at September 30, 2007, and $20.9 million at June 30, 2008.
Operating Results
Net income during 2008 has been impacted by net interest margin compression, a higher provision for loan losses, and lower noninterest income resulting from the Company’s strategic decision to retain, rather than sell, SBA loan production.
Net interest income decreased to $13.0 million for the third quarter of 2008 from $13.8 million for the third quarter of 2007 and increased by $78,000 from the second quarter of 2008. The third quarter of 2008 net interest margin was 3.83%, down 17 basis points, compared to 4.00% for the second quarter this year, and 82 basis points from 4.65% in the third quarter a year ago. For 2008 year-to-date, the net interest margin decreased 88 basis points to 4.04% from 4.92% for the first nine months of 2007. Decreases in the net interest margin are primarily the result of the 325 basis points decline in short-term interest rates from September 1, 2007 through April 30, 2008. On October 8, 2008, the Federal Reserve lowered the targeted federal funds rate by another 50 basis points, to 1.50%.
Noninterest income was $1.7 million for the third quarter of 2008, compared to $1.6 million for the third quarter of 2007, and $1.8 million for the prior quarter. In the first nine months of 2008, noninterest income was $5.0 million, compared to $6.4 million in the first nine months a year ago. Gains on sales of SBA loans were $1.8 million in the first nine months of 2007, with no corresponding income in 2008. Noninterest income was primarily comprised of loan servicing income, the increase in cash surrender value of Company owned life insurance, and service charges on deposit accounts.
Noninterest expense was $10.4 million for the third quarter of 2008, compared to $10.5 million for the third quarter of 2007, and $11.0 million for the second quarter of 2008. In the first nine months of 2008, noninterest expense increased to $32.0 million from $27.3 million for the first nine months a year ago. Operating expenses increased in 2008 due to the acquisition of Diablo Valley Bank on June 20, 2007, the new office in Walnut Creek, the addition of experienced banking professionals, and the write-off of leasehold improvements in the third quarter of 2008 due to the consolidation of our two offices in Los Altos.
Income tax expense for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $309,000 and $39,000, respectively, as compared to income tax expense of $2.2 million and $6.5 million for the same periods in 2007. The effective income tax rate for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008 was 11.2% and 3.5%, respectively, as compared to an effective income tax rate of 40.0% and 36.4% for the same periods in 2007. For the quarter ended June 30, 2008, there was an income tax benefit of $955,000, due to the pre-tax loss of $4.0 million. The difference in the effective tax rate compared to the combined federal and state statutory tax rate of 42% is primarily the result of the Company’s investment in life insurance policies whose earnings are not subject to taxes, tax credits related to investments in low income housing limited partnerships and investments in tax-free municipal securities. The effective tax rates in 2008 are lower compared to 2007 because pre-tax income decreased substantially while benefits from tax advantaged investments did not.
The efficiency ratio was 70.56% in the third quarter of 2008, compared to 74.51% in the second quarter of 2008, and 68.21% in the third quarter of 2007. The efficiency ratio for the first nine months of 2008 increased to 72.48% from 61.64% a year ago. The efficiency ratio increased in 2008 primarily due to compression of the net interest margin, a decrease in noninterest income, and an increase in expenses, as discussed above.
The annualized returns on average assets (ROAA) and average equity (ROAE) for the third quarter of 2008 were 0.65% and 6.78%, compared to 0.96% and 7.56% for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, respectively. ROAA and ROAE for the first nine months of 2008 were 0.10% and 0.95%, compared to 1.31% and 10.60% for the first nine months of 2007, respectively. The annualized returns on average tangible assets (ROATA) and average tangible equity (ROATE) for the third quarter of 2008 were 0.67% and 10.15%, compared to 1.00% and 10.55% for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, respectively. ROATA and ROATE for the first nine months of 2008 were 0.10% and 1.39%, compared to 1.33% and 12.12% for the first nine months of 2007, respectively.