Financial Institutions, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Results

WARSAW, N.Y., Jan. 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:FISI), today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016. Financial Institutions, Inc. (the “Company”) is the parent company of Five Star Bank (the “Bank”), Scott Danahy Naylon, LLC (“Scott Danahy Naylon” or “SDN”) and Courier Capital, LLC (“Courier Capital”). The Company’s financial results since January 5, 2016, include the results of operations of Courier Capital, a wealth management subsidiary acquired on that date.

Net income for the quarter was $8.7 million compared to $8.5 million for the third quarter of 2016 and $6.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. After preferred dividends, net income available to common shareholders was $8.3 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, compared to $8.1 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2016 and $6.3 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Net income for the full year 2016 was $31.9 million compared to $28.3 million for 2015. Net income available to common shareholders was $30.5 million, or $2.10 per diluted share, compared to $26.9 million, or $1.90 per diluted share, for the full year 2015.

The Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer Martin K. Birmingham stated, “2016 was an eventful year for our Company and I am pleased with our performance, as we delivered double digit growth in net income for the full year.

“We also made great progress in our efforts to increase market share in Rochester and Buffalo. In December, we opened our third financial solution center and 52^nd branch in downtown Rochester in the recently renamed Five Star Bank Plaza, and over the course of the next two months we will be relocating our regional administrative center and approximately 150 employees to this building. As part of this relocation, we successfully obtained naming and signage rights for the building, resulting in valuable branding for Five Star Bank. Our fourth financial solution center will open in mid-February in the City of Buffalo. We look forward to bringing our style of banking and lending to downtown Buffalo so that we may serve the needs of nearby residents and businesses.

“We invested in talent across all business segments in 2016, fueling organic growth which we believe will drive future revenue. Recent hires have strengthened our commercial lending and mortgage banking business, as well as our regulatory compliance and enterprise risk management areas. During the fourth quarter of 2016, we welcomed Craig Burton as Senior Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Executive for the Bank. Craig’s knowledge and experience in commercial real estate across Upstate New York, from Buffalo to Albany, position him to successfully lead our commercial real estate platform.

“Our positive momentum is expected to continue into 2017 and we remain focused on our long-term strategic plan to drive strong shareholder returns.”

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Highlights:

• Diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for the quarter of $0.57 was $0.13 higher than the fourth quarter of 2015   
  • Diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for the year of $2.10 was $0.20 higher than 2015
• Net interest income for the quarter of $26.7 million increased $2.1 million, or 8.5%, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2015
  • Net interest income for the year of $102.7 million increased $7.4 million, or 7.7%, as compared to 2015
• Noninterest income for the quarter of $9.1 million was $508 thousand, or 5.9%, higher than the fourth quarter of 2015
  • Noninterest income for the year of $35.8 million was $5.4 million, or 17.9%, higher than 2015
• Return on average common equity was 10.81% for the quarter and 10.10% for the year
  • Return on average tangible common equity was 14.37% for the quarter and 13.51% for the year (computation of this non-GAAP measure provided in Appendix A)
     
• Net interest margin was 3.22% for the quarter and 3.24% for the year
• Total interest-earning assets, assets, loans and deposits reached record-high year-end levels:
  • Total interest-earning assets increased $314.0 million in 2016 to $3.4 billion
  • Total assets increased $329.3 million in 2016 to $3.7 billion
  • Total loans increased $256.4 million in 2016 to $2.3 billion
  • Total deposits increased $264.7 million in 2016 to $3.0 billion
• Quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per common share represented a 2.44% dividend yield as of December 31, 2016, and a return of 36% of fourth quarter net income to common shareholders

The Company’s credit quality remains strong with total non-performing loans to total loans of 0.27% at year-end, compared to 0.41% at year-end 2015.

Kevin B. Klotzbach, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer added, “Our strategy is to grow loans and deposits and operate with expense discipline and a strong credit culture. We successfully executed this strategy in 2016 as illustrated by loan portfolio growth of 12.3%, total deposit growth of 9.7%, an efficiency ratio of 60.92% for the year, and improvement in portfolio credit quality with non-performing assets to total assets of 0.17% at year-end compared to 0.25% in the prior year.

“We continue to have ample liquidity to execute our growth strategies and take advantage of the current disruption in our markets. This growth will occur through thoughtful, disciplined decisions as we continue to manage capital effectively for the benefit of our shareholders.”

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

• Net interest income was $26.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, $672 thousand higher than the third quarter of 2016 and $2.1 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2015.
  • Average interest-earning assets for the quarter were $3.4 billion, $90.4 million higher than the third quarter of 2016 and $309.7 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2015.
  • The primary driver of the increase was loans, which were $66.3 million higher in the fourth quarter of 2016 than the third quarter of 2016 and $265.9 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2015.
  • Fourth quarter 2016 net interest margin was 3.22%, one basis point lower than the third quarter of 2016 and five basis points lower than the fourth quarter of 2015. 
• Net interest income was $102.7 million for the year 2016, $7.4 million higher than 2015, primarily as a result of a $270.6 million, or 9.0%, increase in average interest-earning assets.  These increases were partially offset by a four-basis-point narrowing of the net interest margin, to 3.24% in 2016 from 3.28% in 2015.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income was $9.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to $8.5 million in the third quarter of 2016 and $8.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. 

• Excluding the net gain on investment securities from all periods, noninterest income was $8.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, $706 thousand higher than $8.1 million in the third quarter of 2016, and $879 thousand higher than $7.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. 
• For the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to the third quarter of 2016, the increase was primarily the result of a $1.2 million non-cash fair value adjustment of the contingent consideration liability related to the SDN acquisition.
• Higher noninterest income in the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2015 was primarily the result of a $632 thousand increase in investment advisory income, reflecting the contribution from Courier Capital ($1.33 billion in assets under management at December 31, 2016). 

Noninterest income was $35.8 million for the year 2016 as compared to $30.3 million in 2015.

• Excluding the net gain on investment securities from both periods, noninterest income was $33.0 million in 2016, $4.7 million higher than $28.3 million in 2015.
• The increase was primarily the result of a $3.0 million increase in investment advisory income, reflecting the contribution from Courier Capital, as well as $911 thousand of death benefit proceeds from company owned life insurance and a $603 thousand increase in ATM and debit card income.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense was $20.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to $20.6 million in the third quarter of 2016 and $21.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.

• Lower noninterest expense in the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2015 was primarily the result of $751 thousand of goodwill impairment related to the SDN acquisition and $540 thousand of professional service fees attributable to the acquisition of Courier Capital, both of which were recognized in 2015.

Noninterest expense was $84.7 million for the year, a $5.3 million increase from $79.4 million in 2015.

• Salaries and employee benefits increased $2.8 million year-over-year, reflecting the impact of the addition of Courier Capital employees and increased staffing associated with the Company’s growth initiatives.
• Professional services increased $1.7 million year-over-year, primarily in connection with the Company’s 2016 proxy contest.
• Also contributing to the increase were higher occupancy and equipment expense, computer and data processing expense, and advertising and promotions expense, partially offset by the previously mentioned goodwill impairment charge in 2015.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense was $3.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2016 and $2.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The effective tax rate was 25.9% for the fourth quarter of 2016, 29.5% in the third quarter of 2016, and 24.5% in the fourth quarter of 2015. The lower effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2016 was a result of the $1.2 million non-cash fair value adjustment of the contingent consideration liability related to the SDN acquisition which was a non-taxable adjustment.

Income tax expense for 2016 was $12.2 million, representing an effective tax rate of 27.7% which is comparable to the effective tax rate of 27.1% in 2015. Effective tax rates are impacted by items of income and expense that are not subject to federal or state taxation. Our effective tax rates differ from the statutory rates primarily due to the effect of interest income from tax-exempt securities, earnings on company owned life insurance and the non-cash fair value adjustment of the contingent consideration liability associated with the SDN acquisition.

Balance Sheet and Capital Management

Total assets were $3.7 billion at December 31, 2016, up $23.0 million from $3.7 billion at September 30, 2016, and up $329.3 million from $3.4 billion at December 31, 2015. The increases were largely the result of loan growth funded by deposit growth.

Total loans were $2.3 billion at December 31, 2016, up $56.2 million, or 2.5%, from September 30, 2016, and up $256.4 million, or 12.3%, from December 31, 2015.

• Commercial mortgage loans totaled $670.1 million, up $33.7 million, or 5.3%, from September 30, 2016, and up $104.0 million, or 18.4%, from December 31, 2015.
• Commercial business loans totaled $349.5 million, down $1.0 million, or 0.3%, from September 30, 2016, and up $35.8 million, or 11.4%, from December 31, 2015.
• Residential real estate loans totaled $427.9 million, up $2.1 million, or 0.5%, from September 30, 2016, and up $46.9 million, or 12.3%, from December 31, 2015.
• Consumer indirect loans totaled $752.4 million, up $22.8 million, or 3.1%, from September 30, 2016, and up $75.5 million, or 11.2%, from December 31, 2015.

Total deposits were $3.0 billion at December 31, 2016, a decrease of $68.1 million from September 30, 2016, and an increase of $264.7 million from December 31, 2015. The decrease from September 30, 2016, was primarily due to public deposit seasonality. The increase from December 31, 2015, was primarily the result of successful business development efforts in both municipal and retail banking. Public deposit balances represented 27% of total deposits at December 31, 2016, compared to 29% at September 30, 2016 and 25% at December 30, 2015.

Short-term borrowings were $331.5 million at December 31, 2016, up $101.3 million from September 30, 2016, and up $38.4 million from December 31, 2015. Short-term borrowings are typically utilized to manage the seasonality of public deposits.

Shareholders’ equity was $320.1 million at December 31, 2016, compared to $326.3 million at September 30, 2016, and $293.8 million at December 31, 2015. Common book value per share was $20.82 at December 31, 2016, a decrease of $0.44 or 2.1% from $21.26 at September 30, 2016, and an increase of $1.33 or 6.8% from $19.49 at December 31, 2015. The increases in shareholders’ equity and common book value per share as compared to December 31, 2015, are attributable to net income and stock issued for the acquisition of Courier Capital, with a partial offset by net unrealized losses on securities available for sale, a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss.

During the fourth quarter 2016, the Company declared a common stock dividend of $0.21 per common share. The fourth quarter 2016 dividend returned 36% of fourth quarter net income to common shareholders. 

Regulatory capital ratios at December 31, 2016, remained steady with slight downward pressure in comparison to prior year as a result of strong loan growth and higher asset levels:

• Leverage Ratio was 7.36%, compared to 7.39% and 7.41% at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively.
• Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio was 9.59%, compared to 9.58% and 9.77% at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively.
• Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital was 10.26%, compared to 10.27% and 10.50% at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively.
• Total Risk-Based Capital was 12.97%, compared to 12.98% and 13.35% at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively.

Credit Quality

Non-performing loans were $6.3 million at December 31, 2016, compared to $6.1 million at September 30, 2016, and $8.4 million at December 31, 2015. The $2.1 million decrease from December 31, 2015, was due to lower commercial non-performing loans resulting from pay-downs on two relationships totaling $1.8 million during the second quarter of 2016, as well as improvements in the non-performing residential real estate loan portfolio.

• The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.27% at December 31, 2016, compared to 0.27% at September 30, 2016, and 0.41% at December 31, 2015.

The provision for loan losses for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $3.4 million, an increase of $1.4 million from the third quarter of 2016 and an increase of $759 thousand from the fourth quarter of 2015. During the fourth quarter 2016, the Company internally downgraded to substandard status one commercial business credit relationship with unpaid principal balances totaling $3.5 million. The downgrade necessitated a provision and increase in our allowance for losses of approximately $1.1 million. These loans were current with respect to principal and interest payments as of December 31, 2016; however, we continue to monitor this relationship closely.

• Net charge-offs were $1.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2016, a $637 thousand increase compared to the prior quarter and a $195 thousand decrease from the fourth quarter of 2015. 
• The ratio of annualized net charge-offs to total average loans was 0.30% in the current quarter, compared to 0.20% in the prior quarter and 0.38% in the fourth quarter of 2015.
• The ratio of allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.32% at December 31, 2016, 1.29% at September 30, 2016, and 1.30% at December 31, 2015. 
• The ratio of allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans was 489% at December 31, 2016, 481% at September 30, 2016, and 321% at December 31, 2015.

About Financial Institutions, Inc.

Financial Institutions, Inc. provides diversified financial services through its subsidiaries Five Star Bank, Scott Danahy Naylon and Courier Capital. Five Star Bank provides a wide range of consumer and commercial banking and lending services to individuals, municipalities and businesses through a network of more than 50 offices and 60 ATMs throughout Western and Central New York State. Scott Danahy Naylon provides a broad range of insurance services to personal and business clients across 44 states. Courier Capital provides customized investment management, investment consulting and retirement plan services to individuals, businesses, institutions, foundations and retirement plans. Financial Institutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries employ approximately 700 individuals. The Company’s stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol FISI. Additional information is available at www.fiiwarsaw.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This news release contains disclosure regarding tangible common equity, tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible common book value per share, average tangible common equity and return on average tangible common equity, which are determined by methods other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures are useful to our investors as measures of the strength of the Company’s capital and ability to generate earnings on tangible common equity invested by our shareholders. These non-GAAP measures provide supplemental information that may help investors to analyze our capital position without regard to the effects of intangible assets. Non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations and are not uniformly applied by issuers. Therefore, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The comparable GAAP financial measures and reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measures can be found in Appendix A to this document.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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:  the Company’s ability to implement its strategic plan, the Company’s ability to redeploy investment assets into loan assets, whether the Company experiences greater credit losses than expected, whether the Company experiences breaches of its, or third party, information systems, the attitudes and preferences of the Company’s customers, the Company’s ability to successfully integrate and profitably operate Scott Danahy Naylon and Courier Capital, the competitive environment, fluctuations in the fair value of securities in its investment portfolio, changes in the regulatory environment and the Company’s compliance with regulatory requirements, changes in interest rates, general economic and credit market conditions nationally and regionally.  Consequently, all forward-looking statements made herein are qualified by these cautionary statements and the cautionary language in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with the SEC.  Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this press release.

^________
(1)  See Appendix A – Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the computation of this Non-GAAP measure.

^________
(1)  See Appendix A – Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the computation of this Non-GAAP measure.
⁽²⁾  Efficiency ratio equals noninterest expense less other real estate expense and amortization and impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets as a percentage of net revenue, defined as the sum of tax-equivalent net interest income and noninterest income before net gains on investment securities, proceeds from company owned life insurance, adjustments to contingent liabilities and amortizations of tax credit investment.
 

^________
(1)       Includes investment securities at adjusted amortized cost.
⁽²⁾       See Appendix A – Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the computation of this Non-GAAP measure.

^________
(1)  At period end.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.
Appendix A - Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

^________
(1)  Tangible common equity divided by tangible assets.
⁽²⁾   Tangible common equity divided by common shares outstanding.
⁽³⁾   Net income available to common shareholders (annualized) divided by average tangible common equity.