First Northwest Bancorp Reports Results of Operations for the Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2015

PORT ANGELES, Wash., July 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Northwest Bancorp (NASDAQ:FNWB) ("Company"), the holding company for First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Port Angeles ("Bank"), announced its operating results for the quarter and year ended June 30, 2015. On January 29, 2015, the Company completed its stock offering in connection with the Bank's conversion from the mutual to stock form of organization. Accordingly, the results prior to that time relate solely to the operations of the Bank. In connection with the conversion, and as contemplated by our Plan of Conversion, the Bank established and funded the First Federal Community Foundation ("Foundation") contributing $400,000 in cash and $9.3 million in stock for a total pre-tax contribution of $9.7 million. As a result of this contribution, the Company reported a net loss of $5.1 million, or $(0.39) per share, for the year ended June 30, 2015 compared to net income of $2.7 million for the year ended June 30, 2014. The contribution to the Foundation, on a net tax basis of $8.3 million, contributed $(0.64) to the net loss per share for the year ended June 30, 2015, and accordingly, net income before the contribution to the Foundation would have been $0.25 per share, or $3.3 million, an increase over the prior year of $583,000, or 21.9%. Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, was $758,000, or $0.06 per share, a 12.8% increase over the same period last year of $672,000. The reconciliation of net income eliminating the non-recurring charitable contribution associated with our conversion and stock offering, which we believe facilitates an assessment of our banking operations and peer comparability, is included at the end of this release.

Commenting on the quarter and year end, Larry Hueth, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said, "We are pleased with the improvement in earnings, before the contribution to the Foundation, for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, as compared to the same quarter last year and our year over year results. We are also pleased with the increase in construction loans on a linked quarter basis. Management continues to focus on maintaining exemplary customer service, geographic diversification, changing the mix of our loan portfolio while maintaining sound asset quality, and improving net income and return on equity."

Fourth Quarter highlights (at or for the quarter ended June 30, 2015)

• Net interest income increased $313,000 primarily due to increased balances of investment securities purchased with proceeds received from the stock offering.
• There were no provisions for loan losses as asset quality continued to improve.
• Total investment securities increased $7.0 million as additional cash was used to fund investment purchases.
• Net loans including loans held for sale decreased $5.6 million as prepayments exceeded new originations and purchases.
• Customer deposits increased $2.5 million due to normal fluctuations in account balances.

Balance Sheet Review

During the year ended June 30, 2015, total assets increased $142.3 million, or 17.9%, to $937.5 million from $795.3 million at June 30, 2014, primarily due to a $128.4 million, or 55.3% increase in investment securities, and a $29.7 million, or 627.8%, increase in interest-bearing deposits in banks. The increase in investment securities and interest bearing deposits during the year were the result of the closing of our initial stock offering, which provided net proceeds of approximately $117.6 million, and an increase in deposits of $46.8 million. Net loans, excluding loans held for sale, decreased $8.3 million, or 1.7%, during the year to $487.9 million at June 30, 2015 from $496.2 million at June 30, 2014, primarily as a result of normal amortization and prepayment activity outpacing loan originations and purchases.

Loans receivable consisted of the following at the dates indicated:

During the year ended June 30, 2015, the Company originated $104.5 million of loans, of which $76.2 million, or 72.9%, were originated in the North Olympic Peninsula, $26.1 million, or 25.0%, in the Puget Sound region of Washington, and $2.2 million, or 2.1%, in other areas in Washington. In addition to loans originated during the year, the Company purchased $10.2 million and $15.4 million pools of one- to four-family residential loans located in the Puget Sound region of Washington.

The securities portfolio increased $128.4 million to $360.6 million at June 30, 2015 compared to the prior year. Mortgage-backed securities represented the largest portion of the investment portfolio and were $230.3 million at June 30, 2015, an increase during the year of $61.6 million, or 36.5%, and other investment securities, including municipal bonds, were $130.2 million at June 30, 2015, an increase of $66.7 million, or 105.0%, during the year.

Total liabilities increased $32.6 million, or 4.6%, to $746.9 million at June 30, 2015 from $714.3 million at June 30, 2014. The increase during the year was primarily the result of deposit account balances increasing $46.8 million, or 7.8%, to $647.2 million at June 30, 2015, from $600.4 million at June 30, 2014. Transaction and savings account deposits increased $32.5 million, or 7.0%, to $499.2 million at June 30, 2015 from $466.7 million at June 30, 2014. During the year, certificates of deposit increased $14.2 million, or 10.6%, to $147.9 million at June 30, 2015 from $133.7 million at June 30, 2014. Increases in deposits were primarily the result of targeted promotional efforts on money market and certificates of deposit in new and existing market areas. Borrowings, consisting primarily of long term advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank, decreased $15.1 million, or 14.4%, to $90.0 million at June 30, 2015 from $105.1 million at June 30, 2014 as Federal Home Loan Bank cash management advances were repaid.

Total equity increased $109.7 million, or 135.4%, during the year ended June 30, 2015 from $81.0 million at June 30, 2014. The increase during the year was the result of an increase to capital from the stock offering of $126.9 million, partially offset by the net loss of $5.1 million and $11.6 million used to purchase shares of the Company's common stock in the open market to fund our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). As of June 30, 2015, there were 95,230 shares remaining to be purchased to fulfill our ESOP commitment.

Capital Ratios

At June 30, 2015, the Bank exceeded all regulatory capital requirements with Tier 1 Leverage-Based Capital, Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital, Common Equity Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital (CET1), and Total Risk-Based Capital ratios of 14.53%, 23.76%, 23.76%, and 25.01%, respectively. The CET1 ratio is a new regulatory capital ratio required beginning for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. Tier 1 Leverage-Based Capital, Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital, and Total Risk-Based Capital ratios were 9.92%, 18.32%, and 19.58%, respectively, at June 30, 2014.

Credit Quality

During the year ended June 30, 2015, nonperforming loans decreased $1.1 million, or 18.3%, to $4.9 million at June 30, 2015 from $6.0 million at June 30, 2014. Nonperforming commercial real estate loans decreased $1.8 million, and nonperforming home equity loans decreased $159,000, partially offset by increases of $689,000 in one- to four-family residential mortgages, $32,000 in construction and land loans, and $123,000 in consumer loans. Nonperforming loans to total loans decreased to 1.0% at June 30, 2015 from 1.2% at June 30, 2014. During the year, real estate owned and repossessed assets increased $1.1 million, or 136.3%, to $1.9 million at June 30, 2015 from $810,000 at June 30, 2014. The transfer of a $1.4 million nonperforming commercial real estate loan located in Spokane Valley, Washington was the primary reason for the decrease in nonperforming commercial real estate loans and the increase in real estate owned during the year ended June 30, 2015. Classified loans decreased $4.0 million, or 28.8%, to $9.9 million at June 30, 2015 from $13.9 million at June 30, 2014. Our allowance for loan losses was $7.1 million and $8.1 million, or 1.4%, and 1.6% of total loans receivable, at June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively.The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans increased 7.6%, to 145.6% at June 30, 2015 from 135.3% at June 30, 2014.

Operating Results

Net interest income increased $302,000 to $6.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, from $5.7 million for the same period the prior year. Net interest income increased $1.1 million to $22.9 million for the year ended June 30, 2015, from $21.8 million for the year ended June 30, 2014. Total interest income increased $395,000, or 5.8%, to $7.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 from $6.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 and increased $928,000, or 3.5%, to $27.5 million for the year ended June 30, 2015 from $26.6 million for the prior year. The increase in interest income was primarily related to the increased asset base which generated increased income on investment and mortgage-backed securities. The increase in interest income during the year ended June 30, 2015 was partially offset by a $320,000, or 1.4%, decline in interest earned on loans compared to the prior year due to a combination of rate and volume decreases.

Total interest expense increased $93,000 to $1.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 compared to $1.1 million in the same quarter last year, and decreased $137,000, or 2.9%, to $4.6 million for the year ended June 30, 2015, compared to $4.7 million for the year ended June 30, 2014. During each period, interest expense on deposits increased due to higher average deposit balances, while interest expense on borrowings decreased. Interest expense on borrowings decreased due to lower outstanding average balances and a decline in the average rate paid on borrowings during the current quarter and fiscal year.

The net interest margin decreased 31 basis points to 2.69% for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, from 3.00% for the same period in 2014. Net interest margin declined for the quarter compared to the same quarter last year due primarily to cash received in connection with the stock offering that was initially invested at nominal interest rates and subsequently deployed into investment securities at lower average yields compared to the loan portfolio. Net interest margin decreased 23 basis points to 2.66% for the year ended June 30, 2015, from 2.89% for the same period in 2014, primarily due to a 24 basis point decline in the average yield on the loan portfolio.

There was no provision for loan losses during the quarter and year ended June 30, 2015, compared to provisions for loan losses of $508,000 and $1.3 million for the quarter and year ended June 30, 2014, respectively. The decline in the provision for loan losses reflects improving asset quality as evidenced by the decline in classified loans.

Noninterest income decreased $236,000 to $1.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 from $1.5 million for the quarter June 30, 2014, primarily due to a decrease in the gain on sale of investment securities of $174,000 and a $93,000 decline in mortgage servicing fees, net of amortization, partially offset by an increase of $70,000 for loan and deposit service fees. Noninterest income decreased $283,000 to $4.7 million for the year ended June 30, 2015 from $5.0 million for the year ended June 30, 2014. This decrease was due primarily to a decrease in the gain on sale of loans of $214,000 and a decrease in the gain on sale of investment securities of $112,000, partially offset by an increase in other income of $57,000.

Noninterest expense increased $357,000, or 6.0%, to $6.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, compared to $6.0 million for the same period in 2014. The increase to noninterest expense was primarily the result of increased professional fees as we transitioned to being a public company as well as increased compensation expense related to the establishment of the ESOP. In addition, expenses related to real estate owned and repossessed assets increased as we continue to maintain and manage foreclosed properties for resale. Compared to the prior fiscal year, noninterest expense increased $10.9 million, or 49.5%, to $33.0 million. The increase in noninterest expense for the year was primarily the result of the establishment of the Foundation in connection with the conversion, which was funded by contributions of $400,000 in cash and $9.3 million in stock for a total contribution of $9.7 million. We also experienced increases in compensation and benefits for the fiscal year of $1.1 million as a result of certain staffing and management changes as well as market rate and merit increase adjustments for employees and management during the year. We also had additional expenses related to the ESOP. Expenses related to real estate owned and repossessed assets declined during the year ended June 30, 2015 by $233,000 compared to 2014 as the number of properties held by the Bank continued to decline.

About the Company

On January 29, 2015, First Northwest Bancorp became the holding company for First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Port Angeles in connection with the completion of the Bank's conversion from the mutual to the stock form of organization and the Company's related stock offering. In the offering, the Company sold 12,167,000 shares of common stock at a price of $10 per share and received net offering proceeds of approximately $117.6 million. Following the offering and the contribution to the Foundation the Company has 13,100,360 shares of common stock outstanding. From the proceeds, the Company made a capital contribution of approximately $58.4 million to the Bank. The Company's stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "FNWB."

First Federal is a Washington-chartered, community-based savings bank primarily serving the North Olympic Peninsula (Clallam and Jefferson counties) region of Washington through nine full-service banking offices, eight of which are located within Clallam and Jefferson counties, Washington, and one that is located in Kitsap County. First Federal also has one loan production office located in Bellingham, Washington.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations of the business environment in which we operate, projections of future performance, perceived opportunities in the market, potential future credit experience, and statements regarding our mission and vision. These forward-looking statements are based upon current management expectations and may, therefore, involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from those suggested, expressed, or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of a wide variety or range of factors including, but not limited to: increased competitive pressures; changes in the interest rate environment; the credit risks of lending activities, including changes in the level and trend of loan delinquencies and write-offs that may be impacted by deterioration in the housing and commercial real estate markets and may lead to increased losses and nonperforming assets in our loan portfolio, and may result in our allowance for loan losses not being adequate to cover actual losses, and require us to materially increase our reserves; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities markets; legislative and regulatory changes; results of examinations of us by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and our bank subsidiary by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks ("Washington DFI") or other regulatory authorities, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, require us to increase our reserve for loan losses, write-down assets, change our regulatory capital position or affect our ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits, which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings; and other factors described in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC Registration No. 33-185101) and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission-which are available on our website at www.ourfirstfed.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Any of the forward-looking statements that we make in this Press Release and in the other public statements we make may turn out to be incorrect because of the inaccurate assumptions we might make, because of the factors illustrated above or because of other factors that we cannot foresee. Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by or on our behalf and the Company's operating and stock price performance may be negatively affected. Therefore, these factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. These risks could cause our actual results for fiscal 2016 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of us, and could negatively affect the Company's operations and stock price performance.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with information useful in understanding the Company's financial performance; however, readers of this document are urged to review these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with the GAAP results as reported.

The following table provides the reconciliation of net (loss) income (GAAP) to net (loss) income before expenses related to the estimated tax benefit of the charitable donation to the Foundation (non-GAAP), and basic loss per share (GAAP) to basic net income per share before expenses related to estimated tax benefit of the charitable donation to the Foundation (non-GAAP) for the periods presented: