Colony Bankcorp, Inc. Announces First Quarter Results

FITZGERALD, Ga., April 19, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:CBAN), today reported net income available to shareholders of $567,000, or $0.07 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2013 compared to net income available to shareholders of $189,000, or $0.02 per diluted share for the comparable 2012 period. This reflects an increase of 200 percent for the comparable periods and was primarily driven by an increase in net interest income and noninterest income - along with a reduction in provision for loan losses. "First quarter was another positive quarter and reflected solid results in building on the momentum carrying over from 2012. In addition to improved earnings, we achieved significant improvement in asset quality. Non-performing assets decreased to $39.58 million at March 31, 2013 from $46.16 million at December 31, 2012, or a decrease of 14.25 percent, while the substandard assets to tier one capital plus loan loss allowance ratio improved to 45.85 percent at March 31, 2013 from 55.60 percent at December 31, 2012. Though improvement was once again realized this quarter, we still have much work ahead to meet our goals of reducing our problem assets to an acceptable level and returning to acceptable earnings. Our board, management and staff remain committed to making incremental progress toward these goals during 2013," said Ed Loomis, President and Chief Executive Officer. "This will be an interesting and challenging year in the banking industry as we continue to address a less than robust economy and interest rates at historically low levels. Continued efforts to strengthen our balance sheet by reducing the level of problem assets along with loan growth, margin improvement and revenue enhancement initiatives will further position our company for sustained profitability and long-term success."

Capital

Colony continues to maintain a strong capital position to be categorized as "well-capitalized" by regulatory benchmarks. At March 31, 2013, the Company's tier one leverage ratio, tier one and total risk-based capital ratios were 10.18 percent, 15.60 percent and 16.86 percent, respectively, compared to the previous quarter end of 10.22 percent, 15.22 percent and 16.47 percent, respectively, at December 31, 2012 and to 9.38 percent, 15.73 percent and 16.99 percent, respectively, at March 31, 2012. Regulatory benchmarks to be categorized as "well-capitalized" for tier one leverage ratio, tier one and total risk-based capital ratios are 5.00 percent, 6.00 percent and 10.00 percent, respectively.

Net Interest Margin

During the first quarter of 2013, the Company reported net interest income of $9.05 million and a net interest margin of 3.45 percent, compared to $8.88 million and 3.23 percent, respectively, for first quarter 2012. The improvement is indicative of the Company's focus on maximizing its net interest margin through deposit and loan pricing guidance and balance sheet restructuring. Anticipated loan growth along with pricing discipline should result in stable to slight net interest margin improvement in 2013.

Asset Quality

The Company continues to closely monitor our substandard and non-performing assets and focus on problem asset resolution. Substandard assets that include non-performing assets totaled $61.91 million at March 31, 2013 compared to $74.57 million and $92.99 million, respectively, at December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012. Substandard assets adjusted for SBA guarantees to tier one capital plus loan loss reserve ratio was 45.85%, 55.60% and 72.25%, respectively, at March 31, 2013, December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012. Though much work remains to reduce substandard assets, improvement in these ratios reflects solid work in addressing and bringing resolution to substandard assets. Non-performing assets decreased from the previous quarter end to $39.58 million or 5.24 percent of total loans and other real estate owned as of March 31, 2013. This compares to $46.16 million or 6.05 percent and $60.72 million or 8.35 percent, respectively, as of December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012. Loan loss reserve methodology resulted in three months ended March 31, 2013 provision for loan losses of $1.50 million compared to $1.94 million for the comparable 2012 period. As we begin to see stabilization in the economy and the housing and real estate market, we expect continued improvement in our substandard assets.

Other real estate ("OREO") totaled $18.77 million at March 31, 2013 compared to $15.94 million at December 31, 2012. During this period, $5.28 million has been added to OREO, thus a reduction from sales and/or write-downs of $2.45 million. One large loan approximating $3 million tied up in bankruptcy for a number of months finally worked through the court system and triggered the increase in OREO property in the first quarter. An auction conducted in late March will result in a reduction of approximately $1.3 million of the OREO balance upon consummation of the sales contracts. Colony has established a target of twelve months to liquidate improved properties due to the high carrying cost of taxes, insurance, maintenance and repairs associated with holding these properties on our books.

In the first quarter of 2013 net charge-offs were $1.31 million, or 0.18 percent of average loans as compared to net charge-offs of $1.68 million, or 0.24 percent of average loans in first quarter 2012. The loan loss reserve was $12.93 million on March 31, 2013, or 1.76 percent of total loans compared to $12.74 million, or 1.70 percent on December 31, 2012 and to $15.91 million, or 2.25 percent on March 31, 2012. Management believes that the 2013 contributions to Allowance for Loan Losses address the level of non-performing assets and the related level of substandard assets to be adequately reserved at March 31, 2013.

Noninterest Income

Total noninterest income increased in the comparable periods as noninterest income for three months ended March 31, 2013 was $2.22 million compared to $1.81 million in the comparable 2012 period, or an increase of 22.27 percent. Service charge fee income on deposit accounts increased $305 thousand, or 38.32 percent. Mortgage fee income increased $38 thousand, or 46.91 percent and gains on the sale of SBA/USDA loans increased $247 thousand, or 235.24 percent. The company continues to explore revenue enhancement products and services to improve fee income.

Noninterest Expense

Total noninterest expense increased to $8.40 million in three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to $7.98 million in the comparable 2012 period, or an increase of 5.26 percent. Credit-related expenses continue to be a strain on earnings as write down and losses on OREO property and repossessed assets along with repossession and foreclosure expenses totaled $700 thousand in three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to $763 thousand in the comparable 2012 period. Salaries and employee benefit expenses increased to $4.17 million in three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to $3.82 million in the comparable 2012 period, or an increase of 9.14 percent. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in headcount related to additional "back-office" regulatory compliance demands along with merit pay increases. Occupancy expenses remained flat in the comparable periods. Other noninterest expense increased to $3.29 million compared to $3.23 million, or an increase of 2.02 percent.

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Fitzgerald, Georgia that consists of one operating subsidiary, Colony Bank. The Company conducts a general full service commercial, consumer and mortgage banking business through twenty eight offices located in the central, southern and coastal Georgia cities of Albany, Ashburn, Broxton, Centerville, Chester, Columbus, Cordele, Douglas, Eastman, Fitzgerald, Leesburg, Moultrie, Pitts, Quitman, Rochelle, Savannah, Soperton, Sylvester, Thomaston, Tifton, Valdosta and Warner Robins, Georgia.

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "CBAN."

Certain statements contained in the preceding release that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"), notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified. In addition, certain statements may be contained in the Company's future filings with the SEC, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by or with the approval of the Company that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenues, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statement of plans and objectives of Colony Bankcorp, Inc. or its management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "targeted" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.