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EXHIBIT 99.1
[FOX CHASE BANCORP, INC. LETTERHEAD]
NEWS RELEASE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: January 20, 2009
CONTACT: Roger Deacon
Chief Financial Officer
PHONE: (215) 682-4116
FOX CHASE BANCORP REPORTS INCREASED LOAN LOSS PROVISION;
ANTICIPATES A LOSS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER.
HATBORO, PA, JANUARY 20, 2009 - Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ
GM: FXCB), the holding company for Fox Chase Bank (the "Bank"), reported today
that the Company expects to record a fourth quarter provision for loan losses of
approximately $2.0 million, increasing the allowance for loan losses to
approximately 1.05% of outstanding loans at December 31, 2008 from 0.74% of
outstanding loans at September 30, 2008. The provision for loan losses is
expected to be $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Nonperforming
loans increased to approximately $5.9 million at December 31, 2008 from $1.9
million at September 30, 2008 and the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to
nonperforming loans was 107% at December 31, 2008. Additionally, the Bank
recorded an incremental valuation allowance of $102,000 on its mortgage
servicing rights, which was a result of assumed higher mortgage prepayments due
to a significant decrease in interest rates in the fourth quarter.
The increase in the provision was a result of: (1) downgrades to existing
credits, primarily in the residential real estate development portfolio; (2)
increases to loss factors for classified loans and the construction loan
portfolio, which were a result of the significant deterioration in economic
environment during the fourth quarter; and (3) the establishment of a specific
reserve of
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$624,000 related to a $3.5 million construction loan collateralized by a
residential housing development located in the southern New Jersey shore area.
The $4.0 million increase in nonperforming loans was primarily related to this
loan being placed on nonaccrual status in the fourth quarter. Specific reserves
were $769,000 at December 31, 2008. The Company recognized no commercial or
commercial real estate loan charge-offs during the quarter ended December 31,
2008.
The allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2008 of approximately $6.3 million
represents a $2.9 million increase as compared to an allowance for loan losses
of $3.4 million at December 31, 2007. This increase was substantially related to
deterioration in the residential housing market.
The Company anticipates it will report a net loss for the fourth quarter ranging
from $100,000 to $300,000 and net income for the year ranging from $1.0 to $1.2
million. The Company anticipates its stockholders' equity to total assets ratio
will be approximately 13.0% and the Bank will continue to be well capitalized
under all regulatory measures.
"Even though the Bank remains well-capitalized and has experienced only minimal
charge-offs, the deteriorating economic conditions and erosion of residential
real estate values are adversely impacting our loan portfolio," said Thomas M.
Petro, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We do not expect residential real
estate market conditions to improve in the near term and anticipate continuing
pressures in this segment of our business. We believe that our current level of
reserves for troubled loans is appropriate given this adverse economic
environment."
The Company anticipates that it will release fourth quarter and full year 2008
results during the week of February 2, 2009.
Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. is the mid-tier stock holding company of Fox Chase Bank.
The Bank is a federally chartered savings bank established in 1867. The Bank
offers traditional banking services and products from its main office in
Hatboro, Pennsylvania and ten branch offices in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester,
Delaware and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania and Atlantic and Cape May
Counties in New Jersey. For more information, please visit the Bank's website at
www.foxchasebank.com.
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This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified
by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.
They often include words like "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate" and
"intend" or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should,"
"could" or "may." Statements in this release that are not strictly historical
are forward-looking and are based upon current expectations that may differ
materially from actual results. These forward-looking statements involve risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those anticipated by the statements made herein. These risks and uncertainties
involve general economic trends, changes in interest rates, loss of deposits and
loan demand to other financial institutions, substantial changes in financial
markets; changes in real estate value and the real estate market, regulatory
changes, possibility of unforeseen events affecting the industry generally, the
uncertainties associated with newly developed or acquired operations, the
outcome of pending litigation, and market disruptions and other effects of
terrorist activities. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unforeseen events, except as required
under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.