Peoples Federal Bancshares 8-K Peoples Federal Bancshares, Inc. Announces Fiscal First Quarter 2014 Results

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Maurice H. Sullivan, Jr.

(617) 254-0707

PEOPLES FEDERAL BANCSHARES, INC. ANNOUNCES FISCAL FIRST
QUARTER 2014 RESULTS

Brighton, Massachusetts, January 30, 2014.  Peoples Federal Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PEOP), the holding company for Peoples Federal Savings Bank (the “Bank”), reported financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2013.  For the quarter ended December 31, 2013, the Company reported net income of $554,000 or $0.09 per share, basic and diluted, as compared to net income of $681,000 or $0.11 per share, basic and diluted, for the same period last year, and net income of $461,000, or $0.07 per share, basic and diluted, for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.

For both the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, net interest and dividend income totaled $4.3 million.  The low interest rate environment has continued to impact the Company’s net interest and dividend income as recently originated loans reflect the current low interest rate environment.  Non-interest income totaled $399,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2013, as compared to $492,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2012, as gain on sales of loans decreased $101,000, or 100.0%, during the current quarter.  Non-interest expense totaled $3.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2013 as compared to $3.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2012.

On a linked quarter basis, total interest and dividend income was $4.9 million for the Company’s fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2013 and as compared to $4.8 million for the previous quarter ended September 30, 2013.  Non-interest income for the fiscal first quarter of 2014 decreased to $399,000 from $402,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.  Non-interest expense remained at $3.8 million for both the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013.

Total assets increased $3.2 million, or 0.5%, to $588.4 million at December 31, 2013 from $585.2 million at September 30, 2013.  Loans, net increased $4.4 million, or 0.9% during the quarter, as residential loans and construction loans increased, while commercial real estate, commercial loans and consumer loans decreased.  Cash and cash equivalents decreased $6.0 million to $31.1 million at December 31, 2013 from $37.1 million at September 30, 2013.  Securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity in total increased $4.8 million, or 10.4%, to $51.1 million at December 31, 2013 from $46.3 million at September 30, 2013.  Borrowings increased to $52.0 million at December 31, 2013 from $44.0 million at September 30, 2013.

Deposits decreased $2.6 million to $422.5 million at December 31, 2013 from $425.1 million at September 30, 2013.  NOW accounts increased $4.2 million and money market accounts increased $1.1 million during the December 31, 2013 quarter.  Demand deposits decreased $3.2 million, savings accounts decreased $218,000, and term certificates decreased $4.5 million during the same quarter.   At December 31, 2013, total stockholders’ equity was $105.2 million, a decrease of $1.2 million from $106.4 million at September 30, 2013, resulting primarily from dividends paid of $1.7 million and the repurchase and retirement of 34,607 shares or $607,000, of the Company’s common stock pursuant to

the Company’s stock repurchase plan.  The decline in stockholder’s equity was offset, in part, by net income of $554,000, stock based compensation expense of $525,000 and common stock released by the ESOP of $124,000.

During the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.04 and $0.03 per common share, respectively.  In addition, during both the December 31, 2013 and 2012 quarters, the Company paid special cash dividends of $0.25 per common share.  Dividends paid totaled $1.7 million for each of the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Non-performing assets totaled $2.8 million, or 0.5% of total assets, at December 31, 2013, compared to $2.1 million, or 0.4% of total assets, at September 30, 2013.  Classified assets decreased to $3.6 million at December 31, 2013, as compared to $4.1 million at September 30, 2013.  The Company did not provide to the allowance for loan losses during the quarter ended December 31, 2013 reflecting little change in net loans and improvements in loan delinquencies, non-performing assets and classified assets.

Certain statements herein constitute “forward-looking statements” and actual results may differ from those contemplated by these statements.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  They often include words like “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and “intend” or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may.”  Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include changes in the interest rate environment, changes in general economic conditions, legislative and regulatory changes that adversely affect the businesses in which Peoples Federal Bancshares, Inc. is engaged and changes in the securities market.  The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise.

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PEOPLES FEDERAL BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	December 31,			September 30,
	2013			2013
	(Unaudited)
	(In thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$	4,438		$	4,047
Interest-bearing demand deposits with other banks	24,363			30,906
Federal funds sold	239			79
Federal Home Loan Bank - overnight deposit	2,102			2,102
Total cash and cash equivalents	31,142			37,134
Securities available-for-sale	13,246			14,225
Securities held-to-maturity (fair values of $37,524 and $32,105)	37,871			32,054
Federal Home Loan Bank stock (at cost)	3,775			3,775
Loans	474,438			470,086
Allowance for loan losses	(4,019		)	(4,037		)
Loans, net	470,419			466,049
Premises and equipment, net	3,431			3,465
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	20,175			20,007
Accrued interest receivable	1,327			1,448
Deferred income tax asset, net	5,329			5,432
Other assets	1,636			1,657
Total assets	$	588,351		$	585,246
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing	$	54,703		$	57,891
Interest-bearing	367,764			367,202
Total deposits	422,467			425,093
Short-term borrowings	8,000			6,000
Long-term debt	44,000			38,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	8,701			9,801
Total liabilities	483,168			478,894
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued	—			—
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 6,431,327 and 6,465,934 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, respectively	64			65
Additional paid-in capital	59,619			60,039
Retained earnings	53,923			55,103
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(61		)	(30		)
Unearned restricted shares; 233,387 and 256,894 shares at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, respectively	(3,791		)	(4,183		)
Unearned compensation - ESOP	(4,571		)	(4,642		)
Total stockholders’ equity	105,183			106,352
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	588,351		$	585,246

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PEOPLES FEDERAL BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

	Three Months Ended
	December 31,
	2013		2012
	(Unaudited)
	(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
Interest and dividend income:
Interest and fees on loans	$	4,673	$	4,853
Interest on debt securities:
Taxable	233		150
Other interest	15		18
Dividends on equity securities	4		5
Total interest and dividend income	4,925		5,026
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits	454		612
Interest on Federal Home Loan Bank advances	168		150
Total interest expense	622		762
Net interest and dividend income	4,303		4,264
Provision for loan losses	—		120
Net interest and dividend income, after provision for loan losses	4,303		4,144
Non-interest income:
Customer service fees	196		210
Loan servicing fees, net	13		8
Net gain on sales of mortgage loans	—		101
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance	168		162
Other income	22		11
Total non-interest income	399		492
Non-interest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits	2,610		2,326
Occupancy expense	228		229
Equipment expense	99		106
Professional fees	157		117
Advertising expense	133		129
Data processing expense	219		208
Deposit insurance expense	61		69
Other expense	253		257
Total non-interest expense	3,760		3,441
Income before income taxes	942		1,195
Provision for income taxes	388		514
Net income	$	554	$	681
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic	5,746,458		5,975,422
Diluted	5,810,294		6,031,289
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.09	$	0.11
Diluted	$	0.09	$	0.11

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PEOPLES FEDERAL BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

	Three Months Ended
	December 31,		September 30,
	2013		2013
	(Unaudited)
	(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
Interest and dividend income:
Interest and fees on loans	$	4,673	$	4,574
Interest on debt securities:
Taxable	233		183
Other interest	15		17
Dividends on equity securities	4		4
Total interest and dividend income	4,925		4,778
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits	454		469
Interest on Federal Home Loan Bank advances	168		156
Total interest expense	622		625
Net interest and dividend income	4,303		4,153
Provision for loan losses	—		—
Net interest and dividend income, after provision for loan losses	4,303		4,153
Non-interest income:
Customer service fees	196		209
Loan servicing fees, net	13		13
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance	168		157
Other income	22		23
Total non-interest income	399		402
Non-interest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits	2,610		2,626
Occupancy expense	228		246
Equipment expense	99		96
Professional fees	157		172
Advertising expense	133		118
Data processing expense	219		216
Deposit insurance expense	61		57
Other expense	253		236
Total non-interest expense	3,760		3,767
Income before income taxes	942		788
Provision for income taxes	388		327
Net income	$	554	$	461
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic	5,746,458		5,763,952
Diluted	5,810,294		5,811,421
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.09	$	0.07
Diluted	$	0.09	$	0.07

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The following table sets forth average assets, liability and equity account balances, average yields and costs, and certain other information for the periods indicated.  No tax-equivalent yield adjustments were made, as the effect thereof was not material.  All average balances are daily average balances.  Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances, but have been reflected in the table as loans carrying a zero yield.  The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees, discounts and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or expense.

	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2013							2012
	Average			Interest		Average		Average			Interest		Average
	Outstanding			Earned/		Yield/		Outstanding			Earned/		Yield/
	Balance			Paid		Rate (1)		Balance			Paid		Rate (1)
	(Unaudited)
	(Dollars in thousands)
Interest-earning assets:
Loans (2)	$	467,306		$	4,673	4.00	%	$	452,554		$	4,853	4.29	%
Taxable securities (3)	49,126			233		1.90		42,062			150		1.43
Other interest-earning assets	27,414			15		0.22		35,656			18		0.20
FHLB stock	3,775			4		0.42		4,014			5		0.50
Total interest-earning assets	547,621			4,925		3.60		534,286			5,026		3.76
Non-interest-earning assets	35,806							37,373
Total assets	$	583,427						$	571,659
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Savings	$	56,362		14		0.10		$	50,814		20		0.16
Money market accounts	150,495			155		0.41		153,038			235		0.61
NOW accounts	41,054			7		0.07		37,085			6		0.06
Term certificates	118,657			278		0.94		127,764			351		1.10
Total deposits	366,568			454		0.50		368,701			612		0.66
FHLB advances	44,326			168		1.52		32,457			150		1.85
Total interest-bearing liabilities	410,894			622		0.61		401,158			762		0.76
Demand deposits	56,014							50,643
Other non-interest-bearing liabilities	10,564							9,654
Total non-interest-bearing liabilities	66,578							60,297
Total liabilities	477,472							461,455
Stockholders’ equity	105,955							110,204
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	583,427						$	571,659
Net interest income				$	4,303						$	4,264
Net interest rate spread (4)						2.99	%						3.00	%
Net interest-earning assets (5)	$	136,727						$	133,128
Net interest margin (6)						3.14	%						3.19	%
Ratio of interest-earning assets to total interest-bearing liabilities	1.33		x					1.33		x

(1)	Yields are annualized.
(2)	Average loans include non-accrual loans and are net of average deferred loan fees/costs.
(3)	Average balances are presented at average amortized cost.
(4)	Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(5)	Net interest-earning assets represent total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities.
(6)	Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.

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	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2013							September 30, 2013
	Average			Interest		Average		Average			Interest		Average
	Outstanding			Earned/		Yield/		Outstanding			Earned/		Yield/
	Balance			Paid		Rate (1)		Balance			Paid		Rate (1)
	(Unaudited)
	(Dollars in thousands)
Interest-earning assets:
Loans (2)	$	467,306		$	4,673	4.00	%	$	460,109		$	4,574	3.98	%
Taxable securities (3)	49,126			233		1.90		43,861			183		1.67
Other interest-earning assets	27,414			15		0.22		33,521			17		0.20
FHLB stock	3,775			4		0.42		3,775			4		0.42
Total interest-earning assets	547,621			4,925		3.60		541,266			4,778		3.53
Non-interest-earning assets	35,806							35,540
Total assets	$	583,427						$	576,806
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Savings	$	56,362		14		0.10		$	55,991		14		0.10
Money market accounts	150,495			155		0.41		151,019			158		0.42
NOW accounts	41,054			7		0.07		39,075			6		0.06
Term certificates	118,657			278		0.94		122,769			291		0.95
Total deposits	366,568			454		0.50		368,854			469		0.51
FHLB advances	44,326			168		1.52		35,685			156		1.75
Total interest-bearing liabilities	410,894			622		0.61		404,539			625		0.62
Demand deposits	56,014							55,890
Other non-interest-bearing liabilities	10,564							9,782
Total non-interest-bearing liabilities	66,578							65,672
Total liabilities	477,472							470,211
Stockholders’ equity	105,955						��	106,595
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	583,427						$	576,806
Net interest income				$	4,303						$	4,153
Net interest rate spread (4)						2.99	%						2.91	%
Net interest-earning assets (5)	$	136,727						$	136,727
Net interest margin (6)						3.14	%						3.07	%
Ratio of interest-earning assets to total interest-bearing liabilities	1.33		x					1.34		x

(1)	Yields are annualized.
(2)	Average loans include non-accrual loans and are net of average deferred loan fees/costs.
(3)	Average balances are presented at average amortized cost.
(4)	Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(5)	Net interest-earning assets represent total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities.
(6)	Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.

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