Exhibit 99.1
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October 15, 2007 | | CONFIDENTIAL |
Park National Corporation reports third quarter 2007 earnings
NEWARK, Ohio- Park National Corporation (Park) (AMEX:PRK) today reported net income for the third quarter of 2007 totaled $21.3 million, 10.5 percent less than the $23.8 million reported for the same period in 2006. Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of 2007 were $1.50, a 12.3 percent decrease from 2006’s third quarter diluted earnings per share of $1.71. Park’s third quarter 2007 earnings include results of operations from Vision Bank, a Florida-based affiliate that joined Park on March 9, 2007.
Operating results from the first three quarters of 2007 (ended September 30, 2007) reflected net income of $65.9 million, a 7.9 percent decrease compared to $71.5 million for the first nine months of 2006. Diluted earnings per share for the first three quarters of 2007 were $4.61, 9.8 percent less than diluted earnings per share of $5.11 for the first nine months in 2006. The figures for 2007 included results from the Vision Bank operations since March 9, 2007.
According to its normal annual schedule, Park’s board of directors will meet in November to consider the next quarterly dividend.
The provision for loan losses was $5.8 million for the third quarter of 2007 and $10.9 million for the first nine months of 2007 compared to $935,000 for the third quarter of 2006 and $2.4 million for the first nine months of 2006. Park’s annualized net charge-off to loans ratio was 0.56 percent for the third quarter of 2007 and was 0.37 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007. Both ratios are above Park’s past five-year annual average of 0.30 percent. The increase in charge-offs and the corresponding increase in loan loss provision for both the third quarter and the nine-month period of 2007 were due in large part to the recent difficult real estate market conditions in both Ohio and Florida.
On July 30, 2007, Park announced that it would create a single operating system for its 12 Ohio-based banking subsidiaries and divisions, resulting in a merger of its eight Ohio banking charters into one charter. “Our associates have made steady progress on our initiative to improve efficiency by standardizing and simplifying our operations in Ohio,” Park Chairman C. Daniel DeLawder said. A single charter and common operating system will help each bank save valuable resources and concentrate on serving customers. The 12 Ohio banks will operate as divisions of Park subsidiary The Park National Bank. Each community bank will retain its local leadership, local decision-making and unique local identity. Park expects to begin merging its Ohio-based subsidiary banks and converting individual bank systems in the second half of 2008, subject to obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals.
Headquartered in Newark, Ohio, Park holds $6.511 billion in assets (based on asset totals as of September 30, 2007). Park and its subsidiaries consist of 14 community banking divisions, 12 of which are based in Ohio, 1 in Alabama and 1 in Florida, and 2 specialty finance companies. Park operates 154 offices through the following organizations: The Park National Bank, The Park National Bank of Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky Division, Fairfield National Division, The Richland Trust Company, Century National Bank, The First-Knox National Bank of Mount Vernon, Farmers and Savings Division, United Bank, N.A., Second National Bank, The Security National Bank and Trust Co., Unity National Division, The Citizens National Bank of Urbana, Vision Bank of Panama City, Florida, Vision Bank Division of Gulf Shores, Alabama, Scope Leasing, Inc. (d.b.a. Scope Aircraft Finance), and Guardian Financial Services Company.
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Media contacts: | | Bethany White, Communication Specialist, 740.349.3754 John Kozak, Chief Financial Officer, 740.349.3792 |
Complete financial tables are listed below...
Park National Corporation
50 N. Third Street, Newark, Ohio 43055
www.parknationalcorp.com