Monarch Financial Reports Higher Income, Strong Loan Growth, and Declares Cash Dividend

CHESAPEAKE, Va., Jan. 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:MNRK), the bank holding company for Monarch Bank, reported improved fourth quarter and annual financial performance. The Board of Directors also announced a quarterly common stock cash dividend of $0.08 per common share, payable on February 27, 2015, to shareholders of record on February 10, 2015.

Annual 2014 highlights are:

• Net income of $11,211,850, for Return on Equity of 10.95%
• Diluted earnings per share of $1.05
• Cash dividends of $0.31 paid per share, up 29% from 2013
• Loans held for investment grew $59.9 million, up 8.4%
• Non-performing assets at 0.28% of total assets
• Net Interest Margin was 4.25%
• $1.6 billion in mortgage loans closed, with 80% home purchases

Fourth quarter 2014 highlights are:

• Quarterly net income of $2,683,163, up 24%
• Return on equity of 10.03%
• Diluted earnings per share of $0.25
• Loans held for investment grew $58.9 million
• $446 million in mortgage loans closed with 69% home purchase

"We are pleased with our quarterly and annual financial performance, with very strong organic loan growth finally taking hold in the fourth quarter. Unlike many of our peers we have grown loans with our bankers, in our markets, and have not purchased loans to drive this growth. Mortgage production was in line with the previous year with our best year ever for purchase mortgage loan closings. We improved our performance in all three lines of business to include banking, mortgage, and wealth management," stated Brad E. Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer. "Non-performing assets remained low, our margin improved due to asset mix and pricing discipline, and our capital grew stronger with our retention of earnings. The market has responded to our performance with price appreciation in our common stock that, when combined with the increase in our common stock dividends, produced a 14% total shareholder return for 2014."

For 2014 net income was $11,211,850 compared to $11,091,007 for the same period in 2013, a 1% increase. The 2014 return on average equity (ROE) was 10.95%, and the return on average assets (ROA) was 1.13%. Annual diluted earnings per share were $1.05 compared to $1.08 in 2013, as our higher earnings were more than offset by the number of additional outstanding shares.

Net income was $2,683,163 for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to $2,156,566 for the same period in 2013, a 24% increase. The quarterly annualized return on average equity (ROE) was 10.03%, and the annualized quarterly return on average assets (ROA) was 1.04 %, both metrics up from the same period a year ago. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter were $0.25, up 25% from the previous year.

Total assets at December 31, 2014 were $1.07 billion, up 5% from the prior year. In 2014 loans held for investment grew 8% to $773 million and mortgage loans held for sale grew 48% to $148 million. The vast majority of the net loan growth occurred in the fourth quarter. Total deposits grew 3% to $919 million, with demand deposits growing $40 million or 15% for the year. Demand deposits now represent 33% of total deposits, an achievement driven by our dedicated cash management and banking office teams. While the current rate environment does not appropriately reward banks for a transaction-focused funding strategy, this strategy should deliver net interest margin protection when rates eventually rise.

"We are pleased to deliver over 8% quarterly and year over year loan growth. We are equally proud that we produced each and every loan and have not been tempted by participation loans or other loan purchase programs we see in the marketplace," stated E. Neal Crawford Jr., President of Monarch Bank. "We continue to hire talented bankers and expect to continue expanding the banking team into 2015. Our Richmond and Peninsula expansion is driving quality loan growth and deposit growth while our cash management and private banking teams continue to focus on growing core deposits."

Non-performing assets were 0.28% as of December 31, 2014 compared to 0.25% one year prior, and non-performing loans to loans held for investment were 0.37% compared to 0.31% one year prior. Non-performing assets were $3.0 million, comprised of $175 thousand 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest, $2.7 million in non-accrual loans and $144,000 in one parcel of other real estate owned that is already under contract for sale. The allowance for loan losses represents 1.16% of total loans held for investment and 311% of non-performing loans.

Average equity to average assets rose to 10.39% at year-end 2014, an increase from 9.73% one year prior. Cash dividends of $0.08 per share were paid in the fourth quarter of 2014, and a total of $0.31 per share was paid during the year, an increase of 29% over 2013. Total risk-based capital to risk weighted assets at Monarch Bank equaled 13.79%, significantly higher than the required level to meet the highest rating of "Well Capitalized" by federal banking regulators. We also already meet the new Basel III capital standards for a well-capitalized bank. Monarch was again awarded the highest 5-Star "Superior" rating by Bauer Financial, an independent third-party bank rating agency that rates banks on safety and soundness.

Net interest income, our number one driver of profitability, was flat for the year driven by the large volume of mortgage loans held for sale in the first six months of 2013 compared to the balances carried in 2014. These balances are driven by mortgage loan closings. Excluding the mortgage loans held for sale volatility, the net interest income from core banking operations increased 5.9% or $1.9 million. Our net interest margin for 2014 was 4.25%, up from 4.10% due to asset mix, loan and deposit pricing, mortgage loans held for sale pricing, fee income capture, and the additional income from loans previously on non-accrual status. Loan growth that occurred late in the year had minimal impact on net interest income even though it should contribute to net interest income on a going forward basis.

Non-interest income decreased $2.8 million in 2014 over the previous year driven by lower mortgage revenues, which was more than offset by a reduction of $3.6 million in commissions and incentives. Net overhead, or the difference between non-interest income and non-interest expenses, increased only $372 thousand or 1.7% due to increased spending for facilities, technology, technology risk management, compliance and marketing. Salaries and benefits were held flat for the year, a significant accomplishment with our increased benefits costs. Investment revenues related to Monarch Bank Private Wealth totaled $1.6 million for the year compared to $1.1 million the previous year, a noteworthy increase. The Company is recognized by Raymond James Financial Services as a top performing bank investment program, with $235 million in assets under management accumulated since the formation of Monarch Bank Private Wealth in the third quarter of 2012.

Mortgage revenue remains the number one driver of non-interest income. $446 million in mortgage loans were closed during the fourth quarter of 2014 (69% purchase) compared to $350 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 (80% purchase). Monarch closed $1.6 billion in mortgage loans during 2014 compared to $2.0 billion in 2012. While volumes year over year declined approximately 20%, revenues from mortgage lending declined only 5% due to a strong focus on loan product mix, secondary market pricing, and fee income.

"Our focus on the purchase market paid off in 2014 when we had the best year of purchase mortgage business in our history. We closed $1.3 billion in home purchase loans and $0.3 billion in refinances, and altogether closed over 6,000 loans during the year," stated William T. Morrison, CEO of Monarch Mortgage. "The year 2015 is beginning with an attractive rate environment and a much stronger pipeline of activity, and we expect it to be a great year for our mortgage operations."

Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc. is the one-bank holding company for Monarch Bank. Monarch Bank is a community bank with ten banking offices in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Williamsburg, Virginia. Monarch Bank also has loan production offices in Newport News and Richmond, Virginia. OBX Bank, a division of Monarch Bank, operates offices in Kitty Hawk and Nags Head, North Carolina. Monarch Mortgage and our affiliated mortgage companies have over thirty offices with locations in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and South Carolina. Our subsidiaries/ divisions include Monarch Bank, OBX Bank, Monarch Mortgage (secondary mortgage origination), OBX Bank Mortgage (secondary mortgage origination), Coastal Home Mortgage, LLC (secondary mortgage origination), Monarch Bank Private Wealth (investment, trust, planning and private banking), Monarch Investments (investment and insurance solutions), Real Estate Security Agency, LLC (title agency) and Monarch Capital, LLC (commercial mortgage brokerage). The shares of common stock of Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc. are publicly traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "MNRK". 

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of federal securities laws that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Statements herein are based on certain assumptions and analyses by the Company and are factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such statements for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: changes in interest rates; changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines; significant changes in the economic scenario: significant changes in regulatory requirements; and significant changes in securities markets. Consequently, all forward-looking statements made herein are qualified by these cautionary statements and the cautionary language in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and 10-Q reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.