Non-interest income, the leading contributor to the Company’s core business growth period over period, improved by $2.0 million, or 39.3%, and by $5.1 million, or 30.9%, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003. Deposit service charge revenue increased by $0.4 million, or 15.2%, and $1.1 million, or 15.0%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, reflecting growth in core deposits and lower earnings credit rates. Investment Management revenue decreased $0.1 million, or (7.1)%, and $0.8 million, or (19.7)%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, due to the general performance of the equities market over the past few years shifting customers’ bias towards fixed income products which generate lower fees, as well as higher estate and trust distribution fees in the quarter ending March 31, 2002. The increase of $1.2 million and $1.8 million, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, in Mortgage Banking Income is attributable to a strong refinance market. The balance of the mortgage servicing asset is $3.1 million and loans serviced amounted to $405.5 million as of September 30, 2003. Security gains were $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2003 and $2.3 million for the nine months ended 2003. In an effort to improve the Company’s overall interest rate risk position as well as to improve the net interest margin, the Company prepaid $31.5 million of fixed, high rate borrowings and sold $20.0 million of investment securities during the second quarter of 2003. The prepayment penalty on the borrowings totaled $1.9 million and is recorded in non-interest expense, while the gain on the sale of the securities was $2.0 million. Other non-interest income increased $0.3 million and $0.6 million for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2003, respectively, mainly due to prepayment penalties received on loan payoffs. Non-interest expense increased by $0.4 million, or 2.2%, and decreased $0.7 million, or (1.3)% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Salaries and employee benefits increased by $0.3 million, or 2.6%, and $2.5 million, or 8.5%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, as compared to the same period last year, due to additions to staff needed to support continued growth, merit increases, pension expense and incentive compensation, offset by lower executive retirement cost. As previously disclosed, Rockland Trust is a member of the Financial Institutions Retirement Fund, a defined benefit pension plan. Management has been notified by the administrator that, primarily due to the poor performance of the equities markets in the last several years, a contribution will be required for the plan year beginning July 1, 2003 and ending June 30, 2004. The contribution calculation has not been finalized, but is expected to be approximately $1.5 million pre-tax. The Company has therefore accrued $0.4 million for pension expense during the third quarter of 2003. No pension expense was recorded in the comparative periods. Occupancy and equipment related expense decreased by $0.1 million, or (5.2%), for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and increased $0.2 million or 3.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. During the nine months ending September 30, 2002, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $4.4 million, pre-tax, on an investment in corporate bonds issued by WorldCom, which is a significant factor in the decrease in non-interest expense when comparing this period to the nine months ending September 30, 2003. As mentioned above the Company incurred a prepayment penalty on borrowings of $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2003 and is recorded in non-interest expense. Other non-interest expenses increased by $0.1 million, or 1.7%, and decreased $1.2 million or (8.5)%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, mainly due to decreases in costs associated with information technology consulting, executive recruitment, office supplies and telephone expenses. 2
|