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JEFFERSON BANCSHARES ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER RESULTS
Morristown, Tennessee -- (October 22, 2004) - Jefferson Bancshares, Inc.
(Nasdaq: JFBI), the holding company for Jefferson Federal Bank, today reported
net earnings of $952,000, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the quarter ended
September 30, 2004 compared to a net loss of $1.6 million, or $(0.19) per
diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2003. The net loss for the
first quarter of 2003 was due to the nonrecurring expense associated with the
$4.0 million contribution to the Jefferson Federal Charitable Foundation. On
July 1, 2003, Jefferson Federal Bank completed its conversion from the mutual
holding company structure to the stock holding company structure. As part of the
conversion, Jefferson Bancshares also formed the Jefferson Federal Charitable
Foundation, which was funded with $250,000 and 375,000 shares of Jefferson
Bancshares common stock.
"We are pleased with our financial results for the quarter and our progress
in implementing our strategic plan", stated Jefferson Bancshares President and
CEO Anderson L. Smith. Our emphasis on commercial lending has resulted in a
13.1% increase in the commercial portfolio for the quarter ended September 30,
2004. In addition, in July 2004 we announced a Stock Repurchase Program under
which to date 313,176 shares have been repurchased. A cash dividend of five
cents per share of common stock was also declared during the quarter. Capital
management will continue to be an emphasis in our strategic initiatives.
Net interest income remained unchanged at $2.8 million for the three months
ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the same period in 2003. The net
interest margin increased 11 basis points to 3.78% for the quarter ended
September 30, 2004. The interest rate spread improved to 3.17% for the September
2004 quarter compared to 2.94% for the September 2003 quarter. The increase in
net interest margin and the interest rate spread reflects a decrease in the
level of interest-bearing liabilities combined with a decrease in the average
rate paid. Interest income decreased $254,000, or 6.1%, to $3.9 million for the
current three month period. The average balance of interest earning assets
decreased $10.4 million to $295.9 million while the average yield on interest
earning assets declined 15 basis points to 5.26%. Interest expense decreased
$234,000, or 17.6%, to $1.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 as
the average balance of interest bearing liabilities declined 2.6% to $210.0
million, and the average rate paid declined 38 basis points to 2.09%.
Total assets at September 30, 2004 were $308.4 million compared to $305.5
million at June 30, 2004. Net loans increased $11.7 million, or 6.3%, to $198.3
million at September 30, 2004, due to growth in the commercial loan portfolio.
Total deposits of $204.2 million at September 30, 2004 remained consistent with
the deposit total at June 30, 2004.
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Non-performing assets increased $1.2 million to $2.8 million at September
30, 2004 due to an increase in nonaccrual loans. The increase in nonaccrual
loans has resulted from a weakening condition with one borrowing relationship.
Net charge-offs for the three months ended September 30, 2004 were $7,000
compared to $150,000 for the same period in 2003. There were no additions to the
allowance for loan losses for either period.
Jefferson Federal Bank is a federally chartered stock thrift institution
headquartered in Morristown, Tennessee. Jefferson Federal is a community
oriented financial institution offering traditional financial services within
its local communities through its main office and two drive through facilities
in Morristown.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which can be
identified by the use of words such as "believes", "expects", "anticipates",
"estimates", or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements and all
other statements that are not historic facts, are subject to risks and
uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those
currently anticipated due to a number of factors. These factors include, but are
not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in the interest rate
environment, legislative or regulatory changes that may adversely affect our
business, changes in accounting policies and practices, changes in competition
and demand for financial services, adverse changes in the securities markets,
and changes in the quality or composition of the Company's loan or investment
portfolios. Should one or more of these risks materialize, actual results may
vary from those anticipated, estimated, or projected. Readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date of this press release.
Specific factors that could cause future results to vary from current
management expectations may be detailed, from time to time in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available through
the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
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Contacts:
Jefferson Bancshares, Inc.
Anderson L. Smith 423-586-8421
Jane P. Hutton 423-586-8421
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JEFFERSON BANCSHARES, INC.
At At
Sept. 30, 2004 June 30, 2004
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FINANCIAL CONDITION DATA:
Total assets $ 308,448 $ 305,474
Loans receivable, net 198,316 186,601
Cash and cash equivalents, and
interest-bearing deposits 16,516 6,411
Investment securities 77,345 95,005
Deposits 204,235 204,933
Borrowings 12,000 6,000
Stockholders' equity $ 90,884 $ 93,383
Three Months Ended September 30,
2004 2003
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OPERATING DATA:
Interest income $ 3,888 $ 4,142
Interest expense 1,095 1,329
Net interest income 2,793 2,813
Provision for loan losses - -
Net interest income after
provision for loan losses 2,793 2,813
Noninterest income 264 234
Noninterest expense 1,597 5,548
Earnings before income taxes 1,460 (2,501)
Total income taxes 508 (910)
Net earnings $ 952 $ (1,591)
PER SHARE DATA:
Earnings per share, basic $ 0.12 $ (0.19)
Earnings per share, diluted $ 0.12 $ (0.19)
Dividends per share $ 0.05 $ 0.04
Three Months Ended September 30,
2004 2003
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ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES:
Allowance at beginning of period $ 2,479 $ 2,841
Provision for loan losses - -
Recoveries 112 73
Charge-offs (119) (223)
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Net Charge-offs (7) (150)
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Allowance at end of period $ 2,472 $ 2,691
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Net charge-offs to average outstanding
loans during the period, annualized 0.01% 0.33%
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AT AT AT
SEPT. 30, 2004 JUNE 30, 2004 SEPT. 30, 2003
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NONPERFORMING ASSETS:
Nonaccrual loans:
Real estate $ 2,280 $ 1,047 $ 1,373
Commercial business 33 15 30
Consumer 23 21 55
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Total 2,336 1,083 1,458
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Real estate owned 503 552 1,581
Other nonperforming assets - - 13
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Total nonperforming assets $ 2,839 $ 1,635 $ 3,052
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THREE
MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED
SEPT. 30, 2004 JUNE 30, 2004
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PERFORMANCE RATIOS:
Return on average assets 1.22% 0.44%
Return on average equity 4.09% 1.46%
Interest rate spread 3.17% 3.08%
Net interest margin 3.78% 3.76%
Efficiency ratio 51.83% 83.21% (1)
Average interest-earning assets to
average interest-bearing liabilities 140.89% 143.13%
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS:
Allowance for loan losses as a
percent of total gross loans 1.23% 1.31%
Allowance for loan losses as a
percent of nonperforming loans 105.82% 228.90%
Nonperforming loans as a percent
of total loans 1.18% 0.58%
Nonperforming assets as as percent
of total assets 0.92% 0.54%
(1) Excluding the $4.0 million contribution to the Charitable Foundation, the
efficiency ratio for the year ended June 30, 2004 would be 50.78%.