PART 1
ITEM 2
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
GENERAL
Republic Bancorp, Inc. (“Republic” or the “Company”), headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, was incorporated on January 2, 1974. Republic Bank & Trust Company (“Bank”) is a commercial banking and trust corporation organized and chartered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Bank is also headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky and provides banking services through 21 banking centers throughout Kentucky. On May 1st, a newly state-chartered commercial bank, Republic Bank & Trust Company of Indiana (RBT-IN), was opened for business in Clarksville, Indiana, replacing the loan production office of the Bank previously operated from that location. RBT-IN is a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Bancorp, Inc. The activities of both banks include the acceptance of deposits for checking, savings and time deposit accounts, making secured and unsecured loans, investing in securities, tax refund processing services, trust and insurance services. The banks’ lending services include the origination of real estate, commercial and consumer loans. Operating revenues are derived primarily from interest and fees on domestic real estate, commercial and consumer loans, and from interest on securities of the United States Government and Agencies, states, municipalities and corporations. Governmental regulators for Republic include the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) and the Kentucky and Indiana Departments of Financial Institutions.
Republic has made, and may continue to make, various forward-looking statements with respect to credit quality (including delinquency trends and the Allowance for Loan Losses), corporate objectives and other financial and business matters. When used in this discussion the words “anticipate,” “project,” “expect,” “believe,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Republic cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, all of which may change over time. Actual results could differ materially from forward-looking statements.
In addition to factors disclosed by Republic, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements: pricing pressures on loan and deposit products; competition; changes in economic conditions both nationally and in the Bank’s markets; the extent and timing of actions of the Federal Reserve Board; customers’ acceptance of the Bank’s products and services; and the extent and timing of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.
OVERVIEW
Net income for the first quarter of 2001 was $4.8 million, up $1.1 million over the same period in 2000. First quarter diluted earnings per share increased 33% over the same period in 2000, to $0.28. Republic’s increased earnings was primarily due to increased gains from the sale of loans into the secondary market, increased gains on the sale of securities available for sale, increased deposit fee income and increased net interest income.
Republic’s total assets remained stable at $1.5 billion at March 31, 2001. Net loans increased $17 million from December 31, 2000 to $1.2 billion at March 31, 2001. Residential real estate loans began to decline during the first quarter of 2001 as declining market interest rates caused an increase in 1-4 family refinancing activity into fixed-rate secondary market loan products. Commercial real estate lending remained strong with originations totaling $53 million for the first three months of 2001. Increased loan volume also resulted in favorable growth of real estate construction portfolio. While overall loan volume remained strong, the percentage of non-performing loans to total loans remained low at 0.46%, as the Bank maintained its underwriting standards and continued its emphasis on secured real estate lending.
To fund its assets, Republic utilized its 21 banking centers and republicbank.com to gather retail deposits. The Company also utilized borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank as an additional alternative funding source. Republic’s cash management department continued to be an important funding source as well, with over $305 million in deposits and repurchase agreements under administration at March 31, 2001.
REFUNDS NOW
Refunds Now is a rapid refund tax processing service for taxpayers receiving both federal and state tax refunds through a nationwide network of tax preparers. Refund anticipation loans (“RALs”) are made to taxpayers filing income tax returns electronically. The RALs are repaid by the taxpayer when the taxpayer’s refunds are electronically received by the Bank from governmental taxing authorities. Refunds Now also provides electronic refund checks (“ERCs”) to taxpayers. After receiving refunds electronically from governmental taxing authorities, checks are issued to taxpayers for the amount of their refund, less fees. During the three months ended March 31, 2001, Refunds Now generated $3.0 million in refund anticipation loan fees, compared to $2.0 million for the same period in 2000. Refunds Now also received $1.8 million in electronic refund check fees in the first quarter of 2001, compared to $955,000 during first quarter 2000. In addition, RAL volume was up over 38% from the first quarter of 2000. The increase in revenues for Refunds Now resulted from a 90% increase in tax offices served and a 58% increase in the tax refunds processed during the first quarter of 2001. Refunds Now expects to continue aggressively marketing its products to additional tax preparers during 2001 for the 2002 tax season. Substantially all of the income realized by the Bank from the activities of Refunds Now is recognized during the first quarter of the year. (For further discussion, see section regarding allowance and provision for loan losses on page 22 of this document.)
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Interest Income. During the first quarter 2001, average interest-earning assets were $1.5 billion, an increase of $104 million over first quarter 2000. Total average interest bearing liabilities increased from $1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2000 to $1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2001. Net interest income was $16.3 million for the first quarter 2001, up 15% over the $14.2 million attained during first quarter 2000. The Company was able to increase its net interest income primarily through growth in the loan portfolio and increased Refund Anticipation Loan fees, which are included as a component of interest income on loans. Overall, the net interest rate spread increased from 3.54% during first quarter 2000 to 3.75% in the comparable quarter of 2001. The Bank’s net interest margin increased from 4.20% in first quarter 2000 to 4.48% in first quarter 2001. Excluding Refund Anticipation Loan fees, Republic’s net interest spread was 2.92% and 2.95% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2001 and 2000, and its net interest margin was 3.65% and 3.61% during the same periods.
Table 1 provides detailed information as to average balance, interest income/expense, and rates by major balance sheet category for the three months ended March 31, 2001 and 2000.