FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For further information contact:
Donald A. Williams, Chairman & CEO
Michael J. Janosco Jr., CFO
413-568-1911
Westfield Financial, Inc. Declares Dividend and Reports Results for the
Quarter Ended June 30, 2006
Westfield, Massachusetts, July 26, 2006: (AMEX:WFD) Westfield Financial, Inc.
(the "Company"), the holding company for Westfield Bank (the "Bank"), reported
net income for the three months ended June 30, 2006 of $1.3 million or $0.13 per
diluted share, versus $1.4 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the
comparable prior year period.
Net interest and dividend income was $5.9 million for both the three months
ended June 30, 2006 and 2005. The net interest margin, on a tax equivalent
basis, for the three months ended June 30, 2006 was 3.19% compared with 3.24%
for the same period in 2005. The decrease in the net interest margin was
primarily the result of higher funding costs resulting from the rising interest
rate environment. As the rates on term deposits have increased over the past
several months, some customers have shifted funds out of core deposits, which
generally pay lower rates, and into term deposits.
Total assets increased $12.8 million to $817.9 million at June 30, 2006 from
$805.1 million at December 31, 2005. Total deposits increased $12.7 million to
$635.7 million at June 30, 2006 from $623.0 million at December 31, 2005. The
increase in deposits was primarily the result of an increase in term deposits of
$36.0 million, which were $371.1 million at June 30, 2006. Customer repurchase
agreements were $14.4 million at both June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005.
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings were $45.0 million at both March 31, 2006 and
December 31, 2005.
Net loans increased by $7.7 million to $386.5 million at June 30, 2006 from
$378.8 million at December 31, 2005. Commercial real estate and commercial and
industrial loans increased $4.3 million to $273.9 million at June 30, 2006 from
$269.6 million at December 31, 2005. Westfield Bank's strategic plan emphasizes
commercial lending.
Donald A. Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We continue to
move forward with our strategy of growing our commercial banking business." Mr.
Williams also stated, "On July 25, 2006, the Board of Directors declared a
regular cash dividend of $0.15 per share to all shareholders of record on August
10, 2006, payable on August 24, 2006."
James C. Hagan, President and COO, said, "In the second quarter, Daniel O'Neill
joined Westfield Bank's commercial lending team and Philip Burns was hired as a
residential loan originator. This expansion of our staff, along with the
addition of William Fleming as a commercial lender in the first quarter,
reinforces our commitment to seek out high quality credit relationships."
Stockholders' equity at June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 was $115.5 million
and $115.8 million, respectively, representing 14.1% and 14.4% of total assets,
respectively. The change is comprised of net income of $2.6 million for the six
months ended June 30, 2006, the net repurchase of 27,745 shares of common stock
for $768,000, and the declaration and payment by the Board of Directors of
regular and special dividends amounting to $1.9 million.
The provision for loan losses for the three months ended June 30, 2006 was
$200,000 compared with $125,000 for the same period in 2005.
Noninterest income for the three months ended June 30, 2006 was $883,000
compared to $811,000 for the same period in 2005. The increase was primarily the
result of increases in checking account processing fee income and income from
Bank Owned Life Insurance.
Noninterest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2006 was $4.9 million
compared to $4.8 million for the same period in 2005. The increase was primarily
the result of increases in expenses related to employee salaries and benefits.
The Bank is headquartered in Westfield, Massachusetts and operates through 10
banking offices in Agawam, East Longmeadow, Holyoke, Southwick, Springfield,
West Springfield and Westfield, Massachusetts. The Bank's deposits are insured
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are made in good faith pursuant to the "safe harbor"
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words
"may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate,"
"expect," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be subject to
significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors,
including, but not limited to, those matters referred to in the preceding
sentence.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from the results
discussed in these forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to republish revised
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
WESTFIELD FINANCIAL, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
Selected Consolidated Statement of Operations and Other Data
($ in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2006 2005 2006 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Interest and dividend income $ 10,613 $ 9,176 $ 20,542 $ 18,053
Interest expense 4,702 3,279 8,852 6,241
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net interest and dividend income 5,911 5,897 11,690 11,812
Provision for loan losses 200 125 275 265
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net interest and dividend income after
provision for loan losses 5,711 5,772 11,415 11,547
Net gains on sales of securities
available for sale 0 18 0 19
Other noninterest income 883 793 1,736 1,540
Other noninterest expense 4,904 4,798 9,698 9,381
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income before income taxes 1,690 1,785 3,453 3,725
Income taxes 430 373 879 802
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net income $ 1,260 $ 1,412 $ 2,574 $ 2,923
========== ========== ========== ==========
Basic earnings per share $ 0.14 $ 0.15 $ 0.28 $ 0.31
Average shares outstanding 9,309,440 9,503,801 9,308,397 9,501,441
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.13 $ 0.15 $ 0.27 $ 0.30
Diluted average shares outstanding 9,478,897 9,720,266 9,478,877 9,719,148
Other Data:
Return on Average Assets (1) 0.62% 0.71% 0.64% 0.74%
Return on Average Equity (1) 4.41% 4.77% 4.52% 4.97%
Net Interest Margin (2) 3.19% 3.24% 3.19% 3.28%
(1) Three and six month results have been annualized.
(2) Net interest margin represents net interest income on a tax equivalent basis divided by average
interest-earning assets
WESTFIELD FINANCIAL, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet and Other Data
($ in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
June 30, December 31
2006 2005
Total assets $817,936 $805,095
Securities held to maturity 227,769 225,450
Securities available for sale 139,166 129,459
Stock in Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston 4,237 4,237
Loans 391,846 384,259
Allowance for loan losses 5,352 5,422
-------- --------
Net loans 386,494 378,837
Total deposits 635,720 623,045
Federal Home Loan Bank advances 45,000 45,000
Customer Repurchase Agreements 14,404 14,441
Stockholders' equity 115,469 115,842
Book value per share 12.35 12.37
Other Data:
Nonperforming loans $ 914 $ 1,919
Nonperforming loans a percentage of total assets 0.11% 0.24%
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans 0.23% 0.50%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans 586% 283%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans 1.37% 1.41%