Exhibit 99.1
Greene County Bancshares Announces Higher First Quarter Earnings
GREENEVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2005--Greene County
Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ/NM:GCBS) today announced financial results
for the quarter ended March 31, 2005. First quarter highlights, in
addition to higher net income versus the same period last year,
included ongoing growth in total assets, net loans, deposits and
shareholders' equity.
For the first quarter of 2005, net income increased 3% to
$2,935,000 or $0.38 per diluted share from $2,852,000 or $0.37 per
diluted share in the same period last year. Net interest income after
provision for loan losses rose 13% to $11,705,000 in the first quarter
of 2005 versus $10,357,000 in the same period last year.
The provision for loan losses increased in the first quarter to
$1,622,000 from $1,523,000 in the first quarter of last year,
reflecting primarily growth in the Company's loan portfolio. Loan
quality continued to improve as non-performing assets declined to
0.67% of total assets at March 31, 2005, compared with 0.69% of total
assets at December 31, 2004, and 0.78% at March 31, 2004. The
allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.49% at
March 31, 2005, versus 1.50% at December 31, 2004, and 1.52% at March
31, 2004. Annualized net charge-offs for Greene County Bank in the
first quarter totaled $1,740,000, or 0.16% of average loans, the
lowest level in several years.
Commenting on the first quarter results, Stan Puckett, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Strong loan growth, at an
annualized rate of 26%, continued to highlight our performance in the
first quarter of 2005. This indicates that our expansions in the
Knoxville region and Middle Tennessee are making strong contributions
to our loan portfolio and that we are positioned to be a high-growth
bank.
"GCB Acceptance (GCBA) and Superior Financial Services (SFS), two
of our subsidiary operations, also continued to register strong
performance in the first quarter," Puckett continued. "Both
subsidiaries have produced excellent returns for the last several
years. In the bank, we began our High Performance Checking Program on
February 22, and in March, we opened personal checking accounts at 2.8
times our historical monthly average. We expect this program to be a
long-term generator of low-cost funds to help support our strong loan
growth objectives."
Concluding, Puckett added: "Although we were pleased with many
aspects of our performance in the first quarter, we recognize the need
to improve our growth in earnings per share and returns on equity and
assets. Each was challenged by the loan-loss provisions related to
accelerating loan growth, as well as the up-front expenses associated
with our High Performance Checking Program, but these growth areas are
expected to enhance earnings going forward. We also believe that we
have not completely realized our potential for growing non-interest
income, and while we expect improvement in the second quarter, more
work remains. Lastly, despite our asset-sensitive balance sheet, net
interest margin in the first quarter fell 17 basis points to 4.64%
versus 4.81% in the fourth quarter of 2004 and was four basis points
below the 4.68% margin in the year-earlier quarter. Our strong loan
growth has necessitated aggressive deposit rates, and that pricing
pressure is not expected to abate."
During the first quarter of 2005, the Company's total assets
increased 7% to $1,320,363,000 from $1,233,403,000 at December 31,
2004, and were 17% ahead of $1,130,869,000 in total assets reported as
of March 31, 2004. Net loans, including loans held for sale, increased
7% to $1,100,119,000 at March 31, 2005, from $1,032,297,000 at
December 31, 2004, and were 13% higher than net loans, including loans
held for sale, of $973,338,000 a year ago. Deposits increased 8% to
$1,074,313,000 at March 31, 2005, from $998,022,000 at December 31,
2004, and 15% from $932,347,000 at the end of the first quarter of
2004. Total shareholders' equity increased 2% to $110,669,000 at March
31, 2005, from $108,718,000 at December 31, 2004, and was 6% higher
than total shareholders' equity of $103,924,000 at March 31, 2004.
Annualized return on average shareholders' equity was 10.58% for
the first quarter of 2005 versus 10.99% in the year-earlier period.
Return on average total assets was 0.93% for the first quarter of 2005
compared with 1.01% in the prior-year period.
Greene County Bancshares, Inc., with total assets of approximately
$1.3 billion, is the holding company for Greene County Bank,
headquartered in Greeneville, Tennessee. Greene County Bank, founded
in 1890, now has 40 branches throughout East and Middle Tennessee, one
branch in Bristol, Virginia, one branch in western North Carolina, and
a trust services office in Lebanon, Tennessee. Greene County Bank does
business in Washington County, Tennessee as Washington County Bank; in
Blount County and Knox County, Tennessee as American Fidelity Bank; in
Sumner County, Tennessee as First Independent Bank; in Rutherford
County, Tennessee as Rutherford Bank and Trust; in Sullivan County,
Tennessee as Sullivan County Bank and First Bristol Bank; in Hamblen
County, Tennessee as Hamblen County Bank; in McMinn County, Tennessee
as Bank of Athens and Bank of Niota; in Hawkins County, Tennessee as
Hawkins County Bank and Bank of Bulls Gap; in Lawrence County,
Tennessee as Bank of Lawrence County; in Cocke County, Tennessee as
Cocke County Bank; in Loudon County, Tennessee as Community Bank of
Loudon County; in Monroe County, Tennessee as Community Trust Bank; in
the City of Bristol, Virginia as First Bristol Bank; in Davidson
County, Tennessee as Middle Tennessee Bank & Trust; and in Wilson
County, Tennessee as President's Trust. In addition, Greene County
Bank also conducts separate businesses through three wholly owned
subsidiaries: Superior Financial Services, Inc., a consumer finance
company; GCB Acceptance Corporation, a consumer finance company
specializing in subprime automobile lending; and Fairway Title Co., a
title insurance company.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements regarding
Greene County Bancshares, Inc., as defined in Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All forward-looking statements
involve risk and uncertainty and actual results could differ
materially from the anticipated results or other expectations
expressed in the forward-looking statements. A discussion of factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements is included in the Greene
County Bancshares, Inc. filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Unaudited Financial Highlights
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
-----------------------
2005 2004
---------- ----------
Interest income $ 18,735 $ 15,930
Interest expense 5,408 4,050
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Net interest income 13,327 11,880
Provision for loan losses 1,622 1,523
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Net interest income after provision
for loan losses 11,705 10,357
Noninterest income 3,176 3,094
Noninterest expense 10,275 8,951
---------- ----------
Income before income taxes 4,606 4,500
Income taxes 1,671 1,648
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Net income $ 2,935 $ 2,852
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Comprehensive income $ 2,822 $ 2,873
========== ==========
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 0.38 $ 0.37
========== ==========
Diluted $ 0.38 $ 0.37
========== ==========
Weighted average shares:
Basic 7,649 7,661
========== ==========
Diluted 7,744 7,731
========== ==========
Dividends declared per share $ 0.12 $ 0.12
========== ==========
March 31, Dec. 31, March 31,
2005 2004 2004
---------- ---------- ----------
Total assets $1,320,363 $1,233,403 $1,130,869
Cash and cash equivalents 72,067 70,648 37,795
Investment securities 59,741 45,910 40,127
Loans, net(1) 1,100,119 1,032,297 973,338
Deposits 1,074,313 998,022 932,347
Shareholders' equity 110,669 108,718 103,924
Tangible shareholders' equity(2) 87,162 85,023 83,108
Book value per share 14.47 14.22 13.56
Tangible book value per share(2) 11.39 11.12 10.85
(1) Includes loans held for sale.
(2) Tangible shareholders' equity is shareholders' equity less
goodwill and intangible assets.
For unaudited quarterly financial statements for the first
quarters ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, along with related
information, click here: http://www.irinfo.com/gcbs/1q05fsz.pdf or
http://www.irinfo.com/gcbs/1q04fs.pdf.
CONTACT: Greene County Bancshares, Inc.
William F. Richmond, 423-278-3050