United Bankshares, Inc. Announces...
October 25, 2018
Page Four
decline in the associated merger-related expenses of the acquisition. In particular, employee benefits increased $1.8 million, employee compensation increased $323 thousand, equipment expense increased $2.8 million, and data processing expense increased $2.8 million. In addition, FDIC insurance expense increased $3.2 million due to United Bank now being considered a large institution as previously mentioned. Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease in net occupancy expense of $2.3 million due to the expense for the termination of leases and the reduction in value of leasehold improvements for closed offices in the Cardinal acquisition being included in the first nine months of 2017. In addition, OREO expense decreased $2.2 million and other expense decreased $943 thousand due to a decrease in merger-related expenses.
On a linked-quarter basis, noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2018 was flat from the second quarter of 2018, decreasing $95 thousand or less than 1%. In particular, employee compensation and employee benefits decreased $1.8 million and $653 thousand, respectively, as a result of lower commissions expense and fewer employees related to a decrease in production and sales of mortgage loans at George Mason. Mostly offsetting these decreases in noninterest expense was an increase in FDIC insurance expense of $688 thousand due to United Bank now being considered a large institution as previously mentioned. In addition, equipment expense increased $613 thousand, data processing expense increased $251 thousand, OREO expense increased $365 thousand, and net occupancy expense increased $197 thousand.
For the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, income tax expense was $17.9 million and $55.1 million, respectively, as compared to $27.8 million and $67.4 million, respectively, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017. The decreases in 2018 were mainly due to a decline in the effective tax rate as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the Tax Act). On a linked-quarter basis, income tax expense for the third quarter of 2018 decreased $1.3 million from the second quarter of 2018 due to a combination of lower earnings and a lower effective tax rate. United’s effective tax rate was 21.77% for the third quarter of 2018, 22.50% for the second quarter of 2018 and 32.91% for the third quarter of 2017. For the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, United’s effective tax rate was 22.25% and 33.68%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the time periods in 2018 was due to the impact of the Tax Act.
United’s asset quality continues to be sound. At September 30, 2018, nonperforming loans were $146.1 million, or 1.10% of loans, net of unearned income, down from nonperforming loans of $168.7 million, or 1.30% of loans, net of unearned income, at December 31, 2017. As of September 30, 2018, the allowance for loan losses was $76.9 million or 0.58% of loans, net of unearned income, as compared to $76.6 million or 0.59% of loans, net of unearned income, at December 31, 2017. Total nonperforming assets of $164.9 million, including OREO of $18.8 million at September 30, 2018, represented 0.86% of total assets as compared to nonperforming assets of $193.1 million or 1.01%, including OREO of $24.3 million at December 31, 2017.
United continues to be well-capitalized based upon regulatory guidelines. United’s estimated risk-based capital ratio is 14.6% at September 30, 2018 while its estimated Common Equity Tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital and leverage ratios are 12.4%, 12.4% and 10.3%, respectively. The regulatory requirements for a well-capitalized financial institution are a risk-based capital ratio of 10.0%, a Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.5%, a Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.0% and a leverage ratio of 5.0%.
As of September 30, 2018, United had consolidated assets of approximately $19.2 billion with 140 full service offices in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. United Bankshares stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the quotation symbol “UBSI”.
4