County Bancorp, Inc. Announces Net Income of $2.1 Million for the Fourth Quarter 2017 and Net Income of $10.4 Million for the Year 2017


Highlights

  • Net income of $2.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 and $10.4 million for the year 2017
  • Diluted earnings per share of $0.30 for the fourth quarter of 2017 and $1.49 for the year 2017
  • Book value per share of $19.93 as of December 31, 2017, an increase of $1.21, or 6.5%, since December 31, 2016
  • Tangible book value per share of $19.04 as of December 31, 2017, an increase of $1.30, or 7.3%, since December 31, 2016
  • Loan growth of $22.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2017, an increase of 2.0%, and $118.5 million during the year of 2017, an increase of 11.5%
  • Deposit growth of $44.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2017, an increase of 4.1%, and $132.6 million during the year 2017, an increase of 13.6%

MANITOWOC, Wis., Jan. 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- County Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:ICBK), the holding company of Investors Community Bank, a commercial bank headquartered in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, reported net income of $2.1 million, or $0.30 diluted earnings per share, for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to net income of $3.5 million, or $0.50 diluted earnings per share, for the fourth quarter of 2016.  Net income for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $10.4 million compared to $10.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of 2.8%.  This represents a return on average assets of 0.80% for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to 0.98% for the year ended December 31, 2016.  Net income for the fourth quarter of 2017 was negatively impacted by a writedown of other real estate owned, as well as a revaluation of the deferred tax asset as a result of the recently enacted tax reform.

“We continued to see strong loan growth for the quarter and for the year, both on the commercial and agricultural side,” stated Timothy J. Schneider, President of County Bancorp, Inc. and CEO of Investors Community Bank.  “In the fourth quarter, we implemented additional deposit strategies and new promotions that lead to more core funding, which we are hopeful will continue into 2018.  The core funding strategy is vitally important as we continue to see strong pipelines for both commercial and agricultural relationships.”

“Non-performing assets continue to improve; however, the agricultural market continues to show stress from a lower than expected milk price environment,” continued Schneider.  “The Chicago Mercantile Exchange milk price futures are also indicating a lower milk price for most of 2018.  We continue to be diligent in monitoring our agricultural relationships and work closely with our borrowers to help them manage through these more challenging times.”

Loans and Total Assets

Total assets at December 31, 2017 were $1.4 billion, an increase of $37.7 million, or 2.8%, and $154.4 million, or 12.4%, over total assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  Total loans were $1.1 billion at December 31, 2017, which represents a $22.4 million, or 2.0%, and $118.5 million, or 11.5%, increase over total loans at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.   Throughout 2017, we saw increased loan demand in all of our market areas.  In particular, agricultural loans have increased $61.8 million and commercial loans have increased $46.6 million in 2017.

Deposits

Total deposits at December 31, 2017 were $1.1 billion, an increase of $44.0 million, or 4.1%, and $132.6 million, or 13.6%, over total deposits as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.  While core deposit (demand deposits, money markets, and certificates of deposit) generation remains challenging, we generated $45.8 million of core deposits in new and existing products during the fourth quarter of 2017.   We have also supplemented our deposit needs with wholesale deposits.  Brokered deposits and national certificates of deposit at December 31, 2017 were $425.0 million, which was a decrease of $2.5 million, or 0.6%, from September 30, 2017, and an increase of $90.4 million, or 27.0%, from December 31, 2016.

Net Interest Income and Margin

Net interest income remained stable at $10.2 million for both the three months ended December 31, 2017 and to the three months ended December 31, 2016, in part due to the accretion of a fair value discount in the fourth quarter of 2016 which was offset by increased income on loans in the fourth quarter.  For the year ended December 31, 2017, net interest income increased to $38.9 million from $35.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to overall loan growth in 2017.

Net interest margin decreased to 3.06% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared to 3.45% for the three months ended December 31, 2016.  The decrease was primarily the result of the accretion of a fair value discount of $1.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2016, which positively impacted net interest margin by 48 basis points.  This was related to our acquisition of The Business Bank in May 2016.  The fourth quarter 2017 net interest margin was also negatively impacted by a 0.31% increase in funding costs compared to fourth quarter 2016.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, net interest margin decreased to 3.11%, compared to 3.35% for the year ended December 31, 2016.  The decrease in margin was primarily the result of the accretion of fair value discount of $1.9 million in 2016 which positively impacted net interest margin by 18 basis points, as well as increased funding costs of 0.20% during 2017 compared to 2016.  The accretion adjustment for 2017 is immaterial.

Non-Interest Income and Expense

Non-interest income for the year ended December 31, 2017 decreased $1.0 million to $7.7 million compared to $8.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.   The year-over-year decrease is directly related to a $1.1 million decrease in loan servicing rights during 2017 which was the result of lower volumes of secondary market sales and participations due to changes in Farm Service Agency regulations.

Non-interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased $1.9 million to $26.0 million from $24.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.  The increase is primarily related to a $2.3 million increase in employee compensation and benefits related to a 6.7% increase in headcount during 2017 and a 32.2% increase in benefit costs between 2016 and 2017.  This increase was partially offset by a $0.8 million reduction in information processing expenses for 2017 compared to 2016 due to the additional information processing expense in 2016 in connection with the acquisition of The Business Bank.

Non-interest expense for the three months ended December 31, 2017 increased by $1.2 million to $7.2 million compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016.  Non-interest expense in the fourth quarter of 2017 was negatively impacted by $0.4 million of business development expenses which were accelerated from future periods to maximize the tax advantage of the higher corporate tax rate in 2017.  The writedown of one OREO property of $0.8 million also occurred during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Income Taxes

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was signed into law.  Among other changes is a permanent reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018.  As a result of the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, the Company revalued its net deferred tax asset as of December 31, 2017.  This resulted in a reduction in the value of our net deferred tax asset of $0.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, which was recorded as additional income tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2017.  Income tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $2.9 million compared to $2.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2016.

The Company will continue to analyze the Tax Act to determine the full effects the new law, including the new lower corporate tax rate, has on its financial statements. 

Asset Quality

Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets continued to improve and decreased to 1.15% at December 31, 2017 from 1.84% at December 31, 2016.  At December 31, 2017, non-performing assets were $16.1 million, down from $22.9 million at December 31, 2016.

Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $1.7 million which was an increase of $1.0 million from the year ended December 31, 2016.  $1.5 million of the net charge-offs for 2017 consisted of a commercial real estate relationship that was fully reserved for in the allowance for loan losses; there is no further exposure to this customer.

Provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $2.3 million compared to $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.  The decreased provision is primarily the result of improved qualitative factors related to unemployment levels being at near historic lows, which was partially offset by an increase in agricultural loan impairments.

About County Bancorp, Inc.

County Bancorp, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation and registered bank holding company founded in May 1996, and our wholly-owned subsidiary Investors Community Bank, a Wisconsin-chartered bank, are headquartered in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  The state of Wisconsin is often referred to as “America’s Dairyland,” and one of the niches we have developed is providing financial services to agricultural businesses statewide, with a primary focus on dairy-related lending.  We also serve business and retail customers throughout Wisconsin, with a focus on northeastern and central Wisconsin.  Our customers are served from our full-service locations in Manitowoc, Appleton, Green Bay, and Stevens Point and our loan production offices in Darlington, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan. 

Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release includes "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of such term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond our control. We caution you that the forward-looking statements presented in this press release are not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release.  Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "plan," "seek," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those made or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release include those identified in County Bancorp, Inc.’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

Investor Relations Contact
Timothy J. Schneider
CEO, Investors Community Bank
Phone: (920) 686-5604
Email: tschneider@investorscommunitybank.com

 
County Bancorp, Inc.
Consolidated Financial Summary (Unaudited)
 
  December 31,  December 31,  December 31,  December 31, 
  2017  2016  2015  2014 
   (dollars in thousands, except per share data) 
Selected Balance Sheet Data:                
Total assets $1,397,045  $1,242,670  $884,889  $771,756 
Total loans  1,148,951   1,030,486   748,189   648,122 
Allowance for loan losses  (13,247)   (12,645)   (10,405)   (10,603) 
Securities available for sale, at fair value  126,030   123,437   83,281   81,282 
Goodwill  5,038   5,038   -   - 
Core deposit intangible, net of amortization  919   1,441   -   - 
Deposits  1,110,077   977,518   672,226   605,469 
Shareholders' equity  140,986   131,288   107,024   80,043 
Common equity  132,986   123,288   99,024   72,043 
                 
Stock Price Information:                
High - Year-to-date $35.89  $26.97  $24.20   N/A 
Low - Year-to-date $22.73  $18.25  $15.20   N/A 
Market price per common share $29.76  $26.97  $19.50   N/A 
Book value per share $19.93  $18.72  $17.16  $16.01 
Tangible book value per share (1) $19.04  $17.74  $17.16  $16.01 
Average diluted shares of common stock year-to-date  6,746,846   6,415,204   5,778,584   4,580,917 
Common shares outstanding  6,673,381   6,586,335   5,771,001   4,498,790 
                 
Non-Performing Assets:                
Nonaccrual loans $11,559  $20,107  $24,579  $11,555 
Other real estate owned  4,565   2,763   2,872   7,137 
Total non-performing assets $16,124  $22,870  $27,451  $18,692 
                 
Restructured loans not on nonaccrual $9,019  $4,300  $610  $846 
                 
Non-performing assets as a % of total assets  1.15%  1.84%  3.10%  2.42%
Allowance for loan losses as a % of nonaccrual loans  114.60%  62.89%  42.33%  91.76%
Allowance for loan losses as a % of total loans  1.15%  1.23%  1.39%  1.64%
Net charge-offs (recoveries) year-to-date $1,728  $719  $(821)  $481 
Provision for loan loss year-to-date $2,330  $2,959  $(1,019)  $589 
                 
(1)  This is a non-GAAP financial measure.  A reconciliation to GAAP is included below.
                 


  For the Three Months Ended
  For the Year Ended
 
  December 31,  December 31,  December 31,  December 31, 
  2017  2016  2017  2016 
  (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
Selected Income Statement Data:                
Net interest income $10,169  $10,150  $38,885  $35,567 
Provision for loan losses  12   543   2,330   2,959 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses  10,157   9,607   36,555   32,608 
Non-interest income  1,994   2,006   7,653   8,715 
Non-interest expense  7,165   5,996   25,992   24,146 
Income tax expense  2,855   2,145   7,791   6,483 
Net income $2,131  $3,472  $10,425  $10,694 
                 
Return on average assets  0.62%  1.12%  0.80%  0.98%
Return on average shareholders' equity  6.05%  10.54%  7.58%  8.99%
Return on average common shareholders' equity (1)  6.12%  10.96%  7.77%  9.51%
Efficiency ratio (1)  52.11%  48.14%  54.63%  53.72%
                 
Per Common Share Data:                
Basic $0.31  $0.51  $1.52  $1.65 
Diluted $0.30  $0.50  $1.49  $1.61 
Dividends declared $0.06  $0.05  $0.24  $0.20 
 
Non-Interest Income:                
Service charges $332  $364  $1,406  $1,341 
Gain on sale of loans  22   2   118   242 
Loan servicing fees  1,483   1,434   5,799   5,451 
Loan servicing rights  (37)  100   (315)  1,120 
Income on OREO  16   17   73   50 
Other  178   89   572   511 
Total $1,994  $2,006  $7,653  $8,715 
                 
Non-Interest Expense:                
Employee compensation and benefits $3,702  $3,547  $15,437  $13,101 
Occupancy  135   148   654   512 
Information processing  423   401   1,632   2,446 
Professional fees  406   494   1,657   1,831 
Business development  210   262   941   794 
FDIC assessment  99   26   386   450 
OREO expenses  17   38   174   191 
Writedown of OREO  820   146   905   480 
Net loss (gain) on OREO  10   (2)  (353)  (122)
Depreciation and amortization  319   380   1,307   1,087 
Other  1,024   556   3,252   3,376 
Total $7,165  $5,996  $25,992  $24,146 
                 
(1)   This is a non-GAAP financial measure.  A reconciliation to GAAP is included below.
                 


Non-GAAP Financial Measures: 
              
   For the Three Months Ended
   For the Year Ended
 
   December 31,   December 31,   December 31,   December 31, 
   2017   2016   2017   2016 
   (dollars in thousands)
 
Return on average common shareholders' equity reconciliation:                
Return on average shareholders' equity  6.05%  10.54%  7.58%  8.99%
Effect of excluding average preferred shareholders' equity  0.07%  0.42%  0.19%  0.52%
Return on average common shareholders' equity  6.12%  10.96%  7.77%  9.51%
                 
Efficiency ratio GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation:                
Non-interest expense $7,165  $5,996  $25,992  $24,146 
Less: net loss on sales and write-downs of OREO  (830)  (144)  (552)  (358)
Adjusted non-interest expense (non-GAAP) $6,335  $5,852  $25,440  $23,788 
                 
Net interest income $10,169  $10,150  $38,885  $35,567 
Non-interest income  1,994   2,006   7,653   8,715 
Less: net loss (gain) on sales of securities  (6)  -   31   - 
Operating revenue $12,157  $12,156  $46,569  $44,282 
Efficiency ratio  52.11%  48.14%  54.63%  53.72%
                 
   December 31,   December 31,   December 31,   December 31, 
   2017
   2016
   2015
   2014
 
   (dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Tangible book value per share reconciliation:                
Common equity $132,986  $123,288  $99,024  $72,043 
Less: Goodwill  5,038   5,038   -   - 
Less: Core deposit intangible, net of amortization  919   1,441   -   - 
Tangible common equity (non-GAAP) $127,029  $116,809  $99,024  $72,043 
Common shares outstanding  6,673,381   6,586,335   5,771,001   4,498,790 
Tangible book value per share $19.04  $17.74  $17.16  $16.01 
 


   For the Three Months Ended 
   December 31, 2017
   December 31, 2016 
   Average   Income/ Yields/   Average   Income/ Yields/ 
   Balance (1)   Expense Rates   Balance (1)   Expense Rates 
   (dollars in thousands) 
Assets                    
Investment securities $106,173  $550 2.07% $122,111  $497 1.63%
Loans (2)  1,134,822   13,443 4.74%  1,010,825   12,372 4.90%
Interest bearing deposits due from other banks  88,742   256 1.15%  42,633   91 0.85%
Total interest-earning assets $1,329,737  $14,249 4.29% $1,175,569  $12,960 4.41%
                     
Allowance for loan losses  (13,474)        (11,825)      
Other assets  61,741         73,763       
Total assets $1,378,004        $1,237,507       
                     
Liabilities                    
Savings, NOW, money market, interest checking $265,309   531 0.80% $246,628   292 0.47%
Time deposits  713,718   2,933 1.64%  597,488   1,996 1.34%
Total interest-bearing deposits $979,027  $3,464 1.42% $844,116  $2,288 1.08%
Other borrowings  1,328   18 5.53%  2,187   33 6.03%
FHLB advances  126,261   463 1.47%  123,928   369 1.19%
Junior subordinated debentures  15,523   135 3.48%  15,451   120 3.11%
Total interest-bearing liabilities $1,122,139  $4,080 1.45% $985,682  $2,810 1.14%
                     
Non-interest-bearing deposits  104,718         110,062       
Other liabilities  10,242         9,997       
Total liabilities $1,237,099        $1,105,741       
                     
Shareholders' equity  140,905         131,766       
Total liabilities and equity $1,378,004        $1,237,507       
                     
Net interest income     $10,169        $10,150   
Interest rate spread (3)        2.84%        3.27%
Net interest margin (4)        3.06%        3.45%
Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities  1.19         1.19       
 
(1)   Average balances are calculated on amortized cost.
(2)   Includes loan fee income, nonaccruing loan balances, and interest received on such loans.
(3)   Interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.
(4)   Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.
 


   For the Year Ended  
   December 31, 2017
   December 31, 2016
 
   Average   Income/ Yields/   Average   Income/ Yields/ 
   Balance (1)   Expense Rates   Balance (1)   Expense Rates 
   (dollars in thousands) 
Assets                    
Investment securities $112,439  $2,158 1.92% $108,549  $1,801 1.66%
Loans (2)  1,086,836   50,395 4.64%  913,887   43,552 4.77%
Interest bearing deposits due from other banks  52,786   499 0.95%  38,153   228 0.60%
Total interest-earning assets $1,252,061  $53,052 4.24% $1,060,589  $45,581 4.30%
                     
Allowance for loan losses  (13,550)        (11,687)      
Other assets  56,615         42,649       
Total assets $1,295,126        $1,091,551       
                     
Liabilities                    
Savings, NOW, money market, interest checking $245,851   1,643 0.67% $214,749   1,066 0.50%
Time deposits  661,784   10,172 1.54%  532,338   7,129 1.34%
Total interest-bearing deposits $907,635  $11,815 1.30% $747,087  $8,195 1.10%
Other borrowings  1,545   89 5.77%  3,047   161 5.28%
FHLB advances  127,635   1,748 1.37%  112,722   1,284 1.14%
Junior subordinated debentures  15,492   515 3.32%  14,628   374 2.56%
Total interest-bearing liabilities $1,052,307  $14,167 1.35% $877,484  $10,014 1.14%
                     
Non-interest-bearing deposits  96,172         84,621       
Other liabilities  9,059         8,276       
Total liabilities $1,157,538        $970,381       
                     
SBLF preferred stock (3)  -         2,184       
Shareholders' equity  137,588         118,986       
Total liabilities and equity $1,295,126        $1,091,551       
                     
Net interest income     $38,885        $35,567   
Interest rate spread (4)        2.89%        3.16%
Net interest margin (5)        3.11%        3.35%
Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities  1.19         1.21       
                     
(1)   Average balances are calculated on amortized cost.
(2)   Includes loan fee income, nonaccruing loan balances, and interest received on such loans.
(3)   The SBLF preferred stock refers to our Noncumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, issued to the U.S. Treasury through the U.S. Treasury’s Small Business Lending Fund program.  This stock was redeemed on February 23, 2016.
(4)   Interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.
(5)   Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.