German American Bancorp, Inc. (GABC) Reports 15% Growth in First Quarter Earnings

JASPER, Ind., April 27, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- German American Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:GABC) today reported that the Company's first quarter earnings increased by 15%, on a earnings per share basis, over earnings reported for the first quarter of the prior year. Net income in the first quarter of 2015 was $7.3 million, or $0.55 per share, as compared to first quarter 2014 net income of $6.3 million, or $0.48 per share.

Driven by a combination of an increased level of net interest income and non-interest income and a reduced level of non-interest operating expenses and provision for loan losses, the current first quarter earnings performance was the third consecutive quarter in which the Company's net income exceeded $7.0 million.

In the first quarter of 2015, as compared with the first quarter of 2014, net interest income increased by $353,000, largely attributable to growth in earning assets and in particular growth of the loan portfolio, while the provision for loan loss expense declined by $100,000. The $861,000 increase in total non-interest income during the current quarter was primarily attributable to a $273,000 increase from net gains on sales of loans, driven by approximately a 50% increase in the level of loan sales, and a $235,000 increase in the net gains from the sale of securities. Other operating income increased by $186,000 as compared to the first quarter of the prior year, largely related to fees and fair value adjustments associated with interest rate swap transactions with loan customers.

Total non-interest expenses, during the first quarter of 2015, decreased by $257,000 relative to the expense levels during the first quarter of 2014. The decreased level of non-interest expenses was primarily attributable to a $120,000 reduced level of occupancy expenses largely associated with weather related expenses and the opening of a full service financial center in Columbus, Indiana in the prior year and a $173,000 reduction in data processing fees in the current quarter generally related to elevated costs in the first quarter of 2014 associated with the implementation of new commercial and retail digital banking platforms. Additionally, other operating expense declined by $186,000 during the current quarter, primarily attributable to a lower level of collection costs, intangible amortization decreased by $103,000, and professional fees declined by $48,000. Somewhat offsetting the previously noted reduced level of operating expenses was a $401,000 increase in Salaries and Employee Benefits in 2015 related to performance-based incentive plan costs.

Commenting on the German American's current quarter performance, Company Chairman & CEO, Mark A. Schroeder, stated, "We're very encouraged that our strong 15% year-over-year earnings growth was attributable to a number of positive factors, including the continuation of solid growth and exceptional asset quality within our loan portfolio along with enhanced non-interest income and reduced non-interest expenses across a number of our revenue sources and operating expense categories. We were very pleased with the continuation, during the quarter, of both existing and prospective clients not only moving more of their banking business to German American but also, in increasing numbers, utilizing the product and services within our insurance, investment, and trust lines of business. We believe these positive factors bode well for our ability to drive continued future growth within German American's client base throughout our market area."

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per share which will be payable on May 20, 2015 to shareholders of record as of May 10, 2015.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets for the Company totaled $2.240 billion at March 31, 2015, an increase of $3.1 million compared with December 31, 2014 and an increase of $93.8 million, or 4%, compared with March 31, 2014.

March 31, 2015 loans outstanding showed a modest decline of $1.1 million or less than 1% on an annualized basis, compared with December 31, 2014, and increased $83.7 million, or 6%, compared to March 31, 2014 total loans outstanding. The modest reduction in loans during the first quarter of 2015 compared with year-end 2014 was largely related to a seasonal decline in agricultural loans.

Non-performing assets totaled $6.4 million at March 31, 2015 compared to $6.5 million of non-performing assets at December 31, 2014 and $12.6 million at March 31, 2014. Non-performing assets represented 0.29% of total assets at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 compared to 0.59% of total assets at March 31, 2014. Non-performing loans totaled $6.1 million at March 31, 2015 compared to $6.1 million at December 31, 2014 and compared to $11.8 million of non-performing loans at March 31, 2014. Non-performing loans represented 0.42% of total loans at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 compared with 0.86% of total loans outstanding at March 31, 2014.

The Company's allowance for loan losses totaled $15.2 million at March 31, 2015 compared to $14.9 million at December 31, 2014 representing an increase of $240,000, or 6%, on an annualized basis compared to year-end 2014 and a decline of $315,000, or 2%, compared with March 31, 2014. The allowance for loan losses represented 1.05% of period-end loans at March 31, 2015 compared with 1.03% of period-end loans at December 31, 2014 and 1.13% of period-end loans at March 31, 2014. Under acquisition accounting treatment, loans acquired are recorded at fair value which includes a credit risk component, and therefore the allowance on loans acquired is not carried over from the seller. The Company held a discount on acquired loans of $3.7 million as of March 31, 2015, $4.1 million at December 31, 2014 and $5.4 million at March 31, 2014.

Total deposits increased $20.6 million, or 5% on an annualized basis, as of March 31, 2015 compared with December 31, 2014 total deposits and increased by $32.6 million, or 2%, compared with March 31, 2014.

Results of Operations Highlights – Quarter ended March 31, 2015

Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 totaled $7,306,000 or $0.55 per share, an increase of $1,001,000, or 15% on a per share basis, from the first quarter of 2014 net income of $6,305,000 or $0.48 per share and a decline of $338,000, or 5% on a per share basis, from the fourth quarter of 2014 net income of $7,644,000 or $0.58 per share.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, net interest income totaled $18,549,000 representing a decline of $482,000, or 3%, from the quarter ended December 31, 2014 net interest income of $19,031,000 and an increase of $353,000, or 2%, compared with the quarter ended March 31, 2014 net interest income of $18,196,000. The tax equivalent net interest margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 was 3.72% compared to 3.78% in the fourth quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2014. The decline in net interest income during the first quarter of 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014 was primarily attributable to lower yields on earning assets and a lesser number of days in the first quarter of 2015 than in the fourth quarter of 2014. The increase in net interest income during the first quarter of 2015 compared with the first quarter of 2014 was largely attributable to growth in earning assets and in particular growth of the loan portfolio.

Accretion of loan discounts on acquired loans contributed approximately 7 basis points on an annualized basis to the net interest margin in first quarter of 2015, 8 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2014, and 5 basis points in the first quarter of 2014.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the provision for loan loss totaled $250,000 representing an increase of $650,000 compared to the negative provision of $400,000 during the fourth quarter of 2014 and was a decline of $100,000, or 29%, from the provision during the first quarter of 2014. During the first quarter of 2015, the provision for loan loss represented approximately 7 basis points of average loans on an annualized basis. During the first quarter of 2015, the Company had net charge-offs of $10,000 representing less than 1 basis point of average loans on an annualized basis.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, non-interest income totaled $7,142,000, an increase of $1,425,000 or 25%, compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2014, and an increase of $861,000, or 14%, compared with the first quarter of 2014.

Insurance revenues increased $1,067,000, or 72%, during the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared with the fourth quarter of 2014 and decreased $11,000, or less than 1%, compared with the first quarter of 2014. The increase during the first quarter of 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014 was due to increased contingency revenue. Contingency revenue during the first quarter of 2015 totaled $949,000 compared with no contingency revenue during the fourth quarter of 2014, and $1,050,000 during the first quarter of 2014. The fluctuation in contingency revenue is a normal course of business type of variance and is reflective of claims and loss experience with insurance carriers that the Company represents through its property and casualty insurance agency. Typically the majority of contingency revenue is recognized during the first quarter of the year.

Other operating income increased $137,000, or 31%, during the first quarter of 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014 and increased $186,000 or 48% compared with the first quarter of 2014. The variance in both comparative periods was largely related to fees and fair value adjustments associated with interest rate swap transactions with loan customers.

Net gains on sales of loans increased $332,000, or 80%, during the first quarter of 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014 and increased $273,000 or 57% compared with the first quarter of 2014. Loan sales totaled $32.7 million during the first quarter of 2015, compared with $27.1 million during the fourth quarter of 2014 and $21.9 million during the first quarter of 2014. 

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company realized a net gain on the sale of securities of $463,000 compared with a net gain of $442,000 during the fourth quarter of 2014 and $228,000 during the first quarter of 2014.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, non-interest expense totaled $14,833,000, an increase of $431,000, or 3%, compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2014, and a decline of $257,000, or 2%, compared with the first quarter of 2014.

Salaries and benefits increased $400,000, or 5%, during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014 and increased $401,000, or 5%, compared with the first quarter of 2014. The increase in salaries and benefits during the first quarter of 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014 was primarily attributable to incentive plan costs and benefits and payroll taxes that are directly attributable to the levels of cash compensation paid. The increase in salaries and benefits during the first quarter of 2015 compared with the first quarter of 2014 was largely attributable to incentive plan costs.

Data processing fees increased $54,000, or 7%, during the first quarter of 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of 2014 and decreased $173,000, or 17%, compared with the first quarter of 2014. The decline in the data processing fees during the first quarter of 2015 compared with the first quarter of 2014 was related to elevated costs associated with the implementation of new commercial and retail digital banking platforms in the first quarter of 2014.

Other operating expenses declined $104,000, or 5%, during the first quarter of 2015 compared with fourth quarter of 2014 and declined $186,000, or 9%, compared with the first quarter of 2014. The decline in both comparative periods was primarily attributable to a lower level of collection costs in the first quarter of 2015.

About German American

German American Bancorp, Inc., is a NASDAQ-traded (symbol: GABC) financial services holding company based in Jasper, Indiana. German American, through its banking subsidiary German American Bancorp, operates 37 retail and commercial banking offices in 13 southern Indiana counties. The Company also owns a trust, brokerage, and financial planning subsidiary (German American Financial Advisors & Trust Company) and a full line property and casualty insurance agency (German American Insurance, Inc.).

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The Company's statements in this press release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, descriptions of the levels of loan and banking service demand and economic strength that management is seeing in its geographical banking footprint.  Readers are cautioned that, by their nature, forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Actual results and experience could differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including but not limited to, those discussed in the press release. Factors that could cause actual experience to differ from the expectations implied in this press release include the unknown future direction of interest rates and the timing and magnitude of any changes in interest rates; changes in competitive conditions; the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of asset/liability management strategies or of mergers and acquisitions and other business initiatives and strategies; changes in customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; changes in fiscal, monetary and tax policies; changes in financial and capital markets; potential deterioration in general economic conditions, either nationally or locally, resulting in, among other things, credit quality deterioration; capital management activities, including possible future sales of new securities, or possible repurchases or redemptions by the Company of outstanding debt or equity securities; risks of expansion through acquisitions and mergers, such as unexpected credit quality problems of the acquired loans or other assets, unexpected attrition of the customer base of the acquired institution or branches, and difficulties in integration of the acquired operations; factors driving impairment charges on investments; the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; potential cyber-attacks, information security breaches and other criminal activities; litigation liabilities, including related costs, expenses, settlements and judgments, or the outcome of matters before regulatory agencies, whether pending or commencing in the future; actions of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in accounting principles and interpretations; potential increases of federal deposit insurance premium expense, and possible future special assessments of FDIC premiums, either industry wide or specific to the Company's banking subsidiary; actions of the regulatory authorities under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and other possible legislative and regulatory actions and reforms; and the continued availability of earnings and excess capital sufficient for the lawful and prudent declaration and payment of cash dividends. Such statements reflect our views with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity of the Company.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. It is intended that these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.