Southern Missouri Bancorp Reports Preliminary Results for Second Quarter of Fiscal 2018; Dividend of $0.11 Per Common Share Declared; Conference Call to Discuss Results Scheduled for Tuesday, January 23 at 3:30 P.m. Central Time

Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Jan. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. (“Company”) (NASDAQ: SMBC), the parent corporation of Southern Bank (“Bank”), today announced preliminary net income available to common stockholders for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 of $5.2 million, an increase of $1.0 million, or 23.8%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable to increases in net interest income and noninterest income, as well as a reduction in provision for loan losses, partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense and provision for income taxes. Preliminary net income available to common stockholders was $.60 per fully diluted common share for the second quarter of fiscal 2018, an increase of $.04 as compared to the $.56 per fully diluted common share reported for the same period of the prior fiscal year. The December enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) negatively impacted after-tax earnings by a net $284,000.

Highlights for the second quarter of fiscal 2018:

• Annualized return on average assets was 1.17%, while annualized return on average common equity was 11.6%, as compared to 1.13% and 12.9%, respectively, in the same quarter a year ago, and 1.12% and 11.1%, respectively, in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the linked quarter.
   
• Earnings per common share (diluted) were $.60, up $.04, or 7.1%, as compared both to the same quarter a year ago and the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the linked quarter.
   
• Net loan growth for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 slowed to $3.4 million, while net loans are up $55.2 million, or 4.0%, for the fiscal year to date. Deposit growth was $37.3 million for the second quarter, and $53.4 million, or 3.7%, for the fiscal year to date. Loan growth in the second quarter of the fiscal year is typically slower for the Company, as our agricultural loan portfolio has passed its seasonal peak.
   
• Net interest margin for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 was 3.87%, up from the 3.71% reported for the year ago period, and from 3.79% for the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the linked quarter. Activity in the current period included elevated discount accretion discussed in detail below.
   
• Noninterest income, excluding securities gains, was up 16.1% for the second quarter of fiscal 2018, compared to the year ago period, and down 4.1% from the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the linked quarter.
   
• Noninterest expense was up 20.8% for the second quarter of fiscal 2018, compared to the year ago period, and down 2.2% from the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the linked quarter.
   
• Nonperforming assets were $11.0 million, or 0.62% of total assets, at December 31, 2017, as compared to $6.3 million, or 0.37% of total assets, at June 30, 2017. The increase was attributable primarily to a single classified commercial relationship discussed in detail below.

Dividend Declared:

The Board of Directors, on January 16, 2018, declared a quarterly cash dividend on common stock of $0.11, payable February 28, 2018, to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 15, 2018, marking the 95^th consecutive quarterly dividend since the inception of the Company. The Board of Directors and management believe the payment of a quarterly cash dividend enhances stockholder value and demonstrates our commitment to and confidence in our future prospects.

Conference Call:

The Company will host a conference call to review the information provided in this press release on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. central time (4:30 p.m. eastern). The call will be available live to interested parties by calling 1-888-339-0709 in the United States (Canada: 1-855-669-9657, international: 1-412-902-4189). Participants should ask to be joined into the Southern Missouri Bancorp (SMBC) call. Telephone playback will be available beginning one hour following the conclusion of the call through February 5, 2018. The playback may be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (Canada: 1-855-669-9658, international: 1-412-317-0088), and using the conference passcode 10116392.

Balance Sheet Summary:

The Company experienced balance sheet growth in the first six months of fiscal 2018, with total assets of $1.8 billion at December 31, 2017, reflecting an increase of $69.0 million, or 4.0%, as compared to June 30, 2017. Asset growth was comprised mainly of loan growth.

Available-for-sale (“AFS”) securities were $148.4 million at December 31, 2017, an increase of $3.9 million, or 2.7%, as compared to June 30, 2017. Cash equivalents and time deposits were $35.7 million, an increase of $4.2 million, or 13.3%, as compared to June 30, 2017.

Loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, were $1.5 billion at December 31, 2017, an increase of $55.2 million, or 4.0%, as compared to June 30, 2017. The increase was attributable primarily to growth in ­­­commercial real estate loans, along with smaller increases in residential real estate loans and consumer loans, partially offset by declines in drawn construction loan balances and commercial operating loans. The increase in commercial real estate lending was attributable mostly to loans secured by nonresidential properties. The increase in residential lending was attributable to loans secured by one- to four-family residential properties, partially offset by a decline in loans secured by multifamily properties. The decrease in commercial operating loans was attributable primarily to a seasonal decline in agricultural loan balances, partially offset by an increase in commercial and industrial loan balances. Loans anticipated to fund in the next 90 days stood at $97.3 million at December 31, 2017, as compared to $85.4 million at September 30, 2017, and $40.9 million at December 31, 2016.

Nonperforming loans were $7.3 million, or 0.50% of gross loans, at December 31, 2017, as compared to $3.2 million, or 0.23% of gross loans, at June 30, 2017. Nonperforming assets were $11.0 million, or 0.62% of total assets, at December 31, 2017, as compared to $6.3 million, or 0.37% of total assets, at June 30, 2017. The increase in nonperforming loans and assets was comprised mainly of an increase in loans 90 or more days past due and still accruing interest, which was attributable primarily to a $4.7 million commercial relationship which has been classified for more than five years and with whom the Company was in negotiations for renewal and modification during the quarter ended December 31, 2017. Included in the relationship is a $3.5 million loan secured by commercial real estate and equipment which carries a 90% guaranty from the USDA. The remaining balance is structured as lines of credit which are secured by additional commercial real estate, receivables, and a personal residence. The lines of credit matured as of September 30, 2017, though the borrower has continued to make interest payments since that date. As of the date of this release, the Company continues to work to negotiate a renewal of the entire relationship on terms acceptable to both parties, but there can be no assurance that such an agreement will be reached. Our allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2017, totaled $16.9 million, representing 1.15% of gross loans and 231% of nonperforming loans, as compared to $15.5 million, or 1.10% of gross loans, and 482% of nonperforming loans, at June 30, 2017. For all impaired loans, the Company has measured impairment under ASC 310-10-35. Management believes the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2017, is adequate, based on that measurement.

Total liabilities were $1.6 billion at December 31, 2017, an increase of $61.6 million, or 4.0%, as compared to June 30, 2017.

Deposits were $1.5 billion at December 31, 2017, an increase of $53.4 million, or 3.7%, as compared to June 30, 2017. Deposit growth was comprised primarily of interest-bearing transaction accounts, along with smaller increases in money market deposit accounts and noninterest-bearing transaction accounts, partially offset by declines in certificates of deposit. Since June 30, 2017, the Company’s public unit deposits increased by $44.3 million, brokered certificates of deposit decreased $37.5 million, and brokered nonmaturity deposits increased $3.3 million. Our discussion of brokered deposits excludes those brokered deposits originated through reciprocal arrangements, as our reciprocal brokered deposits are primarily originated by our public unit depositors and utilized as an alternative to pledging securities against those deposits. The average loan-to-deposit ratio for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 was 98.4%, as compared to 103.0% for the same period of the prior fiscal year.

FHLB advances were $59.9 million at December 31, 2017, an increase of $16.3 million, or 37.3%, as compared to June 30, 2017, as the Company utilized overnight and short-term funding to fund loan growth in excess of deposit growth and to allow brokered deposits to decrease. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase totaled $3.7 million at December 31, 2017, a decrease of $6.5 million, or 63.8%, as compared to June 30, 2017, as we continued to encourage larger customers to migrate from this product to a reciprocal brokered deposit arrangement. At both dates, the full balance of repurchase agreements was due to local small business and government counterparties.

The Company’s stockholders’ equity was $180.5 million at December 31, 2017, an increase of $7.4 million, or 4.3%, as compared to June 30, 2017. The increase was attributable to retention of net income, partially offset by payment of dividends on common stock and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Income Statement Summary:

The Company’s net interest income for the three-month period ended December 31, 2017, was $15.7 million, an increase of $3.1 million, or 24.9%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable to a 19.6% increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets, combined with an increase in net interest margin to 3.87% in the current three-month period, from 3.71% three-month period a year ago.

Loan discount accretion and deposit premium amortization related to the Company’s August 2014 acquisition of Peoples Service Company and its subsidiary, Peoples Bank of the Ozarks (the “Peoples Acquisition”), increased to $558,000 for the three-month period ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $267,000 for the same period of the prior fiscal year. Loan discount accretion and deposit premium amortization related to the Company’s June 2017 acquisition of Tammcorp, Inc., and its subsidiary, Capaha Bank (the “Capaha Acquisition”) resulted in an additional $302,000 in net interest income for the three-month period ended December 31, 2017, with no comparable item in the same period a year ago. Combined, these components of net interest income contributed 21 basis points to net interest margin in the three-month period ended December 31, 2017, as compared to a contribution of eight basis points for the same period of the prior fiscal year. For the linked quarter, ended September 30, 2017, when net interest margin was 3.79%, comparable items contributed twelve basis points to the net interest margin. The dollar impact of this component of net interest income has generally been declining each sequential quarter as assets from the Peoples Acquisition mature or prepay, however, the Capaha Acquisition will contribute additional net interest income during fiscal 2018, with no comparable items from fiscal 2017 periods. Also, additional interest income was recognized in the current quarter due to the resolution of specific purchased credit impaired loans from both the Peoples Acquisition and the Capaha Acquisition. 

The provision for loan losses for the three-month period ended December 31, 2017, was $642,000, as compared to $656,000 in the same period of the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of average loans outstanding, the provision for loan losses in the current three-month period represented a charge of 0.18% (annualized), while the Company recorded net charge offs during the period of 0.04% (annualized). During the same period of the prior fiscal year, provision for loan losses as a percentage of average loans outstanding represented a charge of 0.22% (annualized), while the Company recorded net charge offs of 0.04% (annualized).

The Company’s noninterest income, including securities gains, for the three-month period ended December 31, 2017, was $3.2 million, an increase of $474,000, or 17.6%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable primarily to deposit account service charges, bank card interchange income, loan servicing income, and gains on sales of securities, partially offset by declines in loan fees and gains on sales of residential real estate loans originated for that purpose.

Noninterest expense for the three-month period ended December 31, 2017, was $10.5 million, an increase of $1.8 million, or 20.8%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable primarily to increases in compensation and benefits and occupancy expenses, as a result of the Company’s larger staff and number of facilities following the Capaha Acquisition. Expenses related to merger and acquisition activity in the current quarter totaled $84,000, compared to $100,000 in comparable charges in the same quarter a year ago. The efficiency ratio for the three-month period ended December 31, 2017, was 55.8%, as compared to 57.0% in the same period of the prior fiscal year.

The income tax provision for the three-month period ended December 31, 2017, was $2.5 million, an increase of $811,000, or 46.7%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year, attributable primarily to higher pre-tax income, combined with an increase in the effective tax rate, to 33.0%, from 29.4%. The higher effective tax rate was attributed primarily to the December enactment of Tax Act, which negatively impacted after-tax earnings by a net $284,000, the result of a required revaluation of the Company’s deferred tax asset (“DTA”), partially offset by a reduction in the Company’s annual effective tax rate (“AETR”) applied to pre-tax income for the first six months of fiscal 2018. Specifically, the revaluation of the DTA increased provision for income taxes by approximately $1.1 million, while the lower AETR resulted in an $840,000 reduction in the provision for income taxes. After applying the reduction in the AETR to the first half of fiscal 2018, the revaluation of the DTA increased the effective tax rate by approximately 5.9 percentage points, to 30.7% for the fiscal year to date. If the Company maintains a consistent level of tax-advantaged activity and investment relative to its pre-tax income, it would expect an effective tax rate for the second half of fiscal 2018 of 24 to 26 percent, and for the full year fiscal 2018 of 27 to 29 percent, which includes the impact of the DTA revaluation. For fiscal 2019, assuming a consistent level of tax-advantaged activity and investment relative to the Company’s pre-tax income, it would expect an effective tax rate of 18 to 20 percent.

Forward-Looking Information:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including: the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations; fluctuations in interest rates and in real estate values; monetary and fiscal policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the U.S. Government and other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry; the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses; our ability to access cost-effective funding; the timely development of and acceptance of our new products and services and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users, including the features, pricing and quality compared to competitors' products and services; expected cost savings, synergies and other benefits from the Company’s merger and acquisition activities might not be realized to the extent anticipated or within the anticipated time frames, if at all, and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected; fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; demand for loans and deposits in our market area; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business; results of examinations of us by our regulators, including the possibility that our regulators may, among other things, require us to increase our reserve for loan losses or to write-down assets; the impact of technological changes; and our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing. Any forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed might not occur, and you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.