Exhibit 99
First Banks, Inc.
St. Louis, Missouri
Contacts: Allen H. Blake Terrance M. McCarthy
President and Senior Executive Vice President and
Chief Executive Officer Chief Operating Officer
First Banks, Inc. First Banks, Inc.
(314) 592-5000 (314) 592-5000
Traded: NYSE
Symbol: FBSPrA - (First Preferred Capital Trust IV, an affiliated trust of
First Banks, Inc.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
First Banks, Inc. Announces Record Fourth Quarter 2006 Earnings
St. Louis, Missouri, January 24, 2007. First Banks, Inc. ("First Banks"
or the "Company") reported record earnings of $30.9 million for the three months
ended December 31, 2006, compared to $20.4 million for the comparable period in
2005. Return on average assets and return on average stockholders' equity for
the fourth quarter of 2006 were 1.23% and 15.76%, respectively, compared to
0.89% and 11.94% for the comparable period in 2005. First Banks reported
earnings for the year ended December 31, 2006 of $111.7 million, a 15% increase
over earnings of $96.9 million for 2005. The Company's return on average assets
and return on average stockholders' equity for the year ended December 31, 2006
were 1.16% and 15.26%, respectively, compared to 1.10% and 15.11% in 2005. Net
income for the three months and year ended December 31, 2006 reflects increased
net interest income and noninterest income, partially offset by higher
noninterest expense. The provision for loan losses increased for the year ended
December 31, 2006, compared to 2005, but remained at the same level for the
fourth quarter of 2006 and 2005.
Allen H. Blake, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Banks,
said, "Our financial performance for the fourth quarter of 2006 marks several
key milestones in the history of First Banks. We realized record quarterly
earnings of $30.9 million, an increase of nearly 52% over earnings for the
fourth quarter of 2005, and record annual earnings of $111.7 million,
successfully crossing over the $100.0 million earnings threshold. Our total
assets surpassed the $10.0 billion level during the quarter, and we ended the
year with $10.16 billion in assets. This reflects growth of nearly 11% over 2005
that was generated by organic growth and expansion through acquisitions of banks
and other financial service companies in our target markets." Mr. Blake added,
"Furthermore, we achieved a substantial reduction in nonperforming assets of
over 44% during 2006, reflecting the culmination of our efforts to improve asset
quality though a combination of sales of certain nonperforming loans, loan
payoffs and the diligent efforts of our commercial credit team."
In November 2006, First Banks announced plans to significantly expand
its Texas banking franchise with the upcoming acquisition of Royal Oaks
Bancshares, Inc. ("Royal Oaks") and its wholly owned banking subsidiary, Royal
Oaks Bank, ssb. Royal Oaks, headquartered in Houston, Texas, reported assets of
approximately $206.5 million at December 31, 2006 and currently operates five
banking offices in the Houston area. This transaction, which is subject to
regulatory and shareholder approvals, is scheduled to close in the first quarter
of 2007. Additionally, in November 2006, First Banks completed its acquisition
of three branch offices of MidAmerica National Bank in central Illinois,
expanding its presence in Peoria and adding one branch office in Bloomington,
and acquired one branch office of First Bank of Beverly Hills, in Beverly Hills,
California.
Total assets increased $988.4 million to $10.16 billion at December 31,
2006, from $9.17 billion at December 31, 2005, attributable to growth through
acquisitions in the Company's target markets and internal growth. Loans, net of
unearned discount, increased $645.7 million to $7.67 billion at December 31,
2006, from $7.02 billion at December 31, 2005, reflecting internal growth and
the addition of $545.0 million of loans associated with acquisition activity in
2006. This increase was partially offset by the securitization of $138.9 million
of residential mortgage loans held in the Company's loan portfolio that were
transferred to the investment portfolio earlier in the year, the sale of $127.8
million of residential mortgage loans held in portfolio during the third and
fourth quarters of 2006, and the sale of approximately $65.1 million of
commercial loans, including $47.3 million of nonperforming loans, during the
fourth quarter of 2006. The investment portfolio increased $124.2 million during
the year to $1.46 billion at December 31, 2006, reflecting the increase
associated with the loan securitization previously discussed, an increase in the
trading portfolio, and a decrease of securities associated with a net reduction
in the Company's term repurchase agreements to better position the Company's
overall interest rate risk profile. Intangible assets, comprised of goodwill,
core deposit intangibles and customer list intangibles, increased $103.5
million, reflecting completion of ten acquisition transactions in 2006.
Deposits increased $901.3 million to $8.44 billion at December 31, 2006,
from $7.54 billion at December 31, 2005, reflecting internal growth through
enhanced product and service offerings and marketing campaigns, as well as
growth from acquisition activity in 2006, which added $475.6 million of
deposits. Other borrowings declined $165.3 million to $373.9 million at December
31, 2006, primarily attributable to the repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank
advances assumed with bank acquisitions and a net reduction of $100.0 million of
term repurchase agreements during 2006. The Company also reduced its notes
payable by $35.0 million during 2006 through principal repayments. Additionally,
in order to provide supplementary capital resources for continued growth, the
Company issued an aggregate of $139.2 million of subordinated debentures in
private placements through four newly formed statutory trusts during 2006. First
Banks also repaid in full $56.9 million of subordinated debentures in
conjunction with the redemption of $55.2 million of trust preferred securities
on December 31, 2006.
Net interest income increased to $98.7 million and $384.4 million for
the three months and year ended December 31, 2006, respectively, compared to
$87.1 million and $325.7 million for the comparable periods in 2005,
representing increases of $11.6 million and $58.8 million, respectively. Net
interest margin was 4.27% and 4.36% for the three months and year ended December
31, 2006, respectively, compared to 4.12% and 4.01% for the same periods in
2005. The increased net interest income and net interest margin for 2006 was
primarily attributable to an increase in average interest-earning assets and
higher yields on those assets stemming from internal growth, growth through
acquisitions and higher interest rates. The increase in interest income was
partially offset by increased interest expense related to increasing deposit
balances with a trend towards increased time deposits over transactional
accounts, coupled with higher interest rates paid on deposits and on short-term
and long-term borrowings. Average interest-earning assets increased to $9.20
billion and $8.86 billion for the three months and year ended December 31, 2006,
respectively, from $8.42 billion and $8.15 billion for the comparable periods in
2005, reflecting increases in average loans of $861.4 million and $1.04 billion,
respectively, partially offset by decreases in average investment securities of
$224.5 million and $376.1 million, respectively. Average deposits increased
$885.1 million and $809.9 million for the three months and year ended December
31, 2006, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2005. Average other
borrowings and notes payable, in aggregate, decreased $208.6 million and $139.2
million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2006, respectively.
Average subordinated debentures increased $98.7 million and $22.3 million for
the three months and year ended December 31, 2006, respectively, compared to the
same periods in 2005. The decrease in net interest margin during the fourth
quarter of 2006 primarily resulted from increased deposits and higher rates paid
on those deposits.
The Company reduced its nonperforming assets to $55.2 million at
December 31, 2006, from $86.0 million at September 30, 2006 and $99.2 million at
December 31, 2005, representing reductions in nonperforming assets of 36% and
44%, respectively. Nonperforming loans were $48.7 million, or 0.64% of loans,
net of unearned discount, at December 31, 2006, compared to $79.1 million, or
1.02% of loans, net of unearned discount, at September 30, 2006, and $97.2
million, or 1.38% of loans, net of unearned discount, at December 31, 2005. The
decrease in nonperforming loans resulted from the sale of approximately $14.8
million of nonperforming loans in December 2006, the sale in the first and
second quarters of 2006 of approximately $32.5 million of nonperforming loans
held for sale, and loan payoffs of various credits, including the payoff of two
significant nonperforming loans totaling $27.3 million in aggregate. The
majority of nonperforming loans sold during 2006 represented nonperforming loans
that were acquired through bank acquisitions. The overall decrease in
nonperforming loans was partially offset by the deterioration of certain credit
relationships throughout 2006, as discussed below.
The allowance for loan losses was $145.7 million at December 31, 2006,
compared to $149.3 million at September 30, 2006 and $135.3 million at December
31, 2005, representing 1.90%, 1.93% and 1.93% of loans, respectively, and
299.05%, 188.79% and 139.23% of nonperforming loans, respectively. The Company
recorded a provision for loan losses of $4.0 million and $12.0 million for the
three months and year ended December 31, 2006, respectively. The Company
recorded a provision for loan losses of $4.0 million for the fourth quarter of
2005, and a negative provision for loan losses of $4.0 million for the year
ended December 31, 2005 commensurate with the decreasing credit risk that
existed in the loan portfolio during 2005. The increase in the provision for
loan losses in 2006 primarily reflects loan portfolio growth, coupled with
increased loan charge-offs, predominantly in the fourth quarter of 2006, and the
deterioration of certain large relationships within the residential development
and construction portfolio during the later part of 2006 that were primarily
driven by current market conditions, including slowdowns in unit sales. The
Company recorded net loan charge-offs of $7.6 million and $6.8 million for the
three months and year ended December 31, 2006, compared to $8.6 million and
$13.4 million for the comparable periods in 2005. Net loan charge-offs for the
fourth quarter of 2006 include approximately $3.3 million of loan charge-offs
associated with two significant residential development project relationships
that were placed on nonaccrual status during 2006, as well as an additional $2.3
million recorded in conjunction with the transfer of certain commercial loans to
the loans held for sale portfolio prior to their sale in December 2006. Net loan
charge-offs also include a $5.0 million recovery recorded in the first quarter
of 2006 on the payoff of a single nonperforming loan.
Noninterest income was $31.6 million and $112.9 million for the three
months and year ended December 31, 2006, respectively, compared to $23.7 million
and $96.1 million for the comparable periods in 2005, representing increases of
33% and 18%, respectively. Noninterest income for 2006 reflects increased gains
on loans sold and held for sale, commission fee income of $4.8 million
associated with the Company's insurance brokerage agency acquired in March 2006,
and increased service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees
related to higher deposit balances. Gains on loans sold and held for sale
increased $5.6 million and $5.2 million for the three months and year ended
December 31, 2006, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2005, and is
primarily attributable to the loan sales previously discussed. Noninterest
income for 2006 also includes $3.8 million of gains on the sale of other assets.
The increases in noninterest income were partially offset by a decrease in
recoveries of certain loan balances that had been previously charged-off by
financial institutions acquired by First Banks, specifically, recoveries of $1.1
million for 2006, which were recorded during the first nine months of 2006, in
comparison to recoveries of $1.2 million and $3.6 million for the three months
and year ended December 31, 2005.
Noninterest expense was $82.9 million and $319.2 million for the three
months and year ended December 31, 2006, respectively, compared to $75.8 million
and $277.6 million for the comparable periods in 2005. The Company's efficiency
ratio was 63.61% and 64.18% for the three months and year ended December 31,
2006, respectively, compared to 68.33% and 65.83% for the same periods in 2005.
The increase in noninterest expense for the three months and year ended December
31, 2006, compared to the comparable periods in 2005, was primarily attributable
to: salaries and employee benefits expense, which increased $5.7 million and
$27.1 million, respectively; occupancy expenses, which increased $1.0 million
and $4.9 million, respectively; and amortization of intangible assets, which
increased $1.4 million and $3.3 million, respectively. The increased expense
levels for 2006 are commensurate with the Company's significant expansion in
several key dynamic market areas of its branch office network and employee base
resulting from the acquisition of an insurance premium finance company and an
insurance brokerage agency in 2006, the addition of 20 branch offices associated
with acquisitions in 2005 and 2006, and a 15% increase in the full-time
equivalent employee base during 2006.
The effective tax rate was 29.0% and 33.1% for the three months and year
ended December 31, 2006, respectively, in comparison to 35.2% and 35.4% for the
comparable periods in 2005. The effective tax rates for 2006 reflect a $2.5
million reduction in the provision for federal and state income taxes in the
fourth quarter of 2006 related to tax credits associated with a partnership
investment, and reductions of the provision for federal and state income taxes
of $3.2 million and $930,000 in the first and fourth quarters of 2006,
respectively, resulting from the reversal of certain tax reserves no longer
deemed necessary. The effective tax rates for 2005 reflect a reversal of a $3.1
million state tax reserve in the third quarter of 2005 that was no longer deemed
necessary as a result of the resolution of a potential tax liability and a tax
benefit of $3.1 million relating to the utilization of certain federal and state
tax credits.
First Banks had assets of $10.16 billion at December 31, 2006 and
currently operates 188 branch banking offices in California, Illinois, Missouri
and Texas.
# # #
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but
are not limited to, statements about First Banks' plans, objectives, estimates
or projections with respect to our future financial condition, expected or
anticipated revenues with respect to our results of operations and our business,
expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts.
Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of First
Banks' management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties which
may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the
forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause
actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements:
increased competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party
relationships and revenues; and the risk of new and changing regulation.
Additional factors which may cause First Banks' results to differ materially
from those described in the forward-looking statements may be found in First
Banks' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and available
at the SEC's internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The forward-looking statements
------------------
in this press release speak only as of the date of the press release, and First
Banks does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements or
to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in
the forward-looking statements.
FIRST BANKS, INC.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Selected Operating Data
Three Months Ended Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
---------------------- --------------------
2006 2005 2006 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Interest income.......................................... $ 173,046 136,723 646,304 493,940
Interest expense......................................... 74,334 49,588 261,862 168,259
--------- -------- -------- --------
Net interest income.................................. 98,712 87,135 384,442 325,681
Provision for loan losses................................ 4,000 4,000 12,000 (4,000)
--------- -------- -------- --------
Net interest income after provision for loan losses.. 94,712 83,135 372,442 329,681
--------- -------- -------- --------
Noninterest income....................................... 31,573 23,731 112,943 96,085
Noninterest expense...................................... 82,877 75,756 319,216 277,638
--------- -------- -------- --------
Income before provision for income taxes and
minority interest in loss of subsidiary.......... 43,408 31,110 166,169 148,128
Provision for income taxes............................... 12,610 10,941 55,062 52,509
--------- -------- -------- --------
Income before minority interest in loss
of subsidiary.................................... 30,798 20,169 111,107 95,619
Minority interest in loss of subsidiary.................. (147) (251) (587) (1,287)
--------- -------- -------- --------
Net income........................................... $ 30,945 20,420 111,694 96,906
========= ======== ======== ========
Basic earnings per common share.......................... $1,296.75 851.91 4,687.38 4,062.36
========= ======== ======== ========
Diluted earnings per common share........................ $1,285.63 846.12 4,630.72 4,007.46
========= ======== ======== ========
Selected Financial Data
December 31, December 31,
2006 2005
---- ----
Total assets........................................................ $10,158,714 9,170,333
Investment securities............................................... 1,464,946 1,340,783
Loans, net of unearned discount..................................... 7,666,481 7,020,771
Allowance for loan losses........................................... 145,729 135,330
Deposits............................................................ 8,443,086 7,541,831
Other borrowings.................................................... 373,899 539,174
Notes payable....................................................... 65,000 100,000
Subordinated debentures............................................. 297,966 215,461
Stockholders' equity................................................ 800,435 678,938
Nonperforming assets................................................ 55,163 99,221
Selected Financial Ratios
Three Months Ended Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
------------------ -----------------
2006 2005 2006 2005
---- ---- ---- ----
Return on average assets................................. 1.23% 0.89% 1.16% 1.10%
Return on average equity................................. 15.76 11.94 15.26 15.11
Net interest margin...................................... 4.27 4.12 4.36 4.01
Efficiency ratio......................................... 63.61 68.33 64.18 65.83