On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law. As a result of the CARES Act, the full balance of the AMT credit will be refunded in 2020.
At March 31, 2020, total equity was $340.7 million compared to $332.6 million at December 31, 2019. The Company’s equity increased primarily as a result of earnings, offset somewhat by dividends paid.
The Company’s leverage ratio stood at 7.26% at March 31, 2020, compared to 7.25% at December 31, 2019. The increase in the leverage ratio was due to an increase in stockholders’ equity, offset somewhat by an increase in quarterly average assets. Book value as of March 31, 2020 was $61.19 per share compared to $59.73 at December 31, 2019.
The Company’s allowance for loan losses was $30.8 million or 1.23% of loans outstanding at March 31, 2020 compared to $29.6 million or 1.22% of loans outstanding at December 31, 2019, and $28.8 million or 1.25% of loans outstanding at March 31, 2019. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to loans outstanding has increased from the December 31, 2019, primarily from increased allocations for economic factors associated with theCOVID-19 pandemic.Non-performing assets totaled $1.7 million at March 31, 2020, compared to $2.0 million at December 31, 2019, and $3.7 million at March 31, 2019. Nonperforming assets decreased from the same period last year, mainly as a result of the resolution of one residential real estate property during the third quarter of 2019.
The CARES Act also allows companies to delay Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU)2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (CECL), including the current expected credit losses methodology for estimating allowances for credit losses. The Company has elected to delay FASB ASU2016-13. This ASU will be delayed until the date on which the national emergency concerning the COVID–19 outbreak declared by the President on March 15, 2020 terminates or December 31, 2020, with an effective retrospective implementation date of January 1, 2020.
The Company’s Board of Directors voted a regular quarterly dividend of 12.00 cents ($0.12) per share on the Company’s Class A common stock, and 6.00 cents ($0.06) per share on the Company’s Class B common stock. The dividends were declared payable May 15, 2020 to stockholders of record on May 1, 2020.
The Company, through its subsidiary bank, Century Bank and Trust Company, a state chartered full service commercial bank, operating twenty-seven full-service branches in the Greater Boston area, offers a full range of Business, Personal and Institutional Services.
Century Bank and Trust Company is a member of the FDIC and is an Equal Housing Lender.
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company. Actual results may differ from those contemplated by these statements. The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise.