Sturgis Bancorp Reports Earnings for 2017


STURGIS, Mich., Jan. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sturgis Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX:STBI) announced net income of $3.2 million for 2017, and net income of $828,000 for the fourth quarter of 2017, Eric L. Eishen, President and CEO, announced today. 

Sturgis Bancorp is the holding company for Sturgis Bank & Trust Company (Bank), and its subsidiaries Oakleaf Financial Services, Inc., Oak Mortgage, LLC, Oak Insurance Services, LLC, and Oak Title Services, LLC.  Sturgis Bancorp provides a full array of trust, commercial and consumer banking services from 12 banking centers in Sturgis, Bangor, Bronson, Centreville, Climax, Colon, South Haven, Three Rivers and White Pigeon, MI. Oakleaf Financial Services offers a complete range of investment and financial-advisory services.  Oak Mortgage offers residential mortgages in all markets of the Bank. Oak Insurance Services offers various competitive commercial and consumer insurance products.  Oak Title Services offers commercial and consumer title insurance.

Key Highlights for 2017:

  • Net income for 2017 was $3.2 million, or $1.52 per share, compared to net income of $2.7 million, or $1.28 per share, in 2016.
  • The Bank capital ratios exceeded “well-capitalized” requirements and ended 2017 with Tier 1 capital at 8.35% of average assets and 12.55% of risk-weighted assets.  Total capital at December 31, 2017 was 13.69% of risk-weighted assets. 
  • The allowance for loan losses decreased to 1.09% of total (gross) loans from 1.20% at the end of 2016, primarily due to improvements in asset quality and loss experience.  Net charge offs in 2017 were ($43,000), compared to $329,000 in 2016.

Year 2017 vs. 2016 - Net income for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased to $3.2 million, or $1.52 per share from net income of $2.7 million, or $1.28 per share, for 2016. Net interest income increased 5.1% to $12.9 million, from $12.3 million for 2016. The increase in net interest income is primarily due to growth in loans. 

The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased to 0.70% in 2017 from 0.65% in 2016.  Average interest-earning assets increased to $361.3 million in 2017 from $342.7 million in 2016.  The tax equivalent net interest margin was 3.76% in both 2017 and 2016. 

The provision for loan losses was ($213,000) for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $357,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016.  The provision for loan losses was based upon management’s assessment of relevant factors, including types and amounts of non-performing loans, historical and anticipated loss experience on such types of loans, and economic conditions.  Loans charged off during 2017, net of recoveries, were ($43,000), compared to $329,000 in 2016.

Noninterest income was $5.5 million in 2017, compared to $5.2 million in 2016.  The Bank increased service charges on deposit accounts to $1.4 million in 2017 from $1.0 million in 2016.  The Bank also realized $258,000 net gain on cash flow hedges in 2017, compared to $99,000 in 2016.

Noninterest expense was $15.3 million in 2017, compared to $13.8 million in 2016. Salaries and employee benefits increased $726,000.  This increase is primarily due to wages, health insurance benefits and pension expense increases.  The Bank realized $441,000 losses on sales of available-for-sale securities in 2017, compared to net gain of ($1,000) in 2016.  The additional pension expense and loss on sale of securities were realized to manage the tax rate change enacted in December 2017.  Management actively minimizes noninterest expense, although certain noninterest expenses are outside of Management’s direct control. 

Total assets increased to $414.4 million at December 31, 2017 from $398.6 million at December 31, 2016, primarily in loans.  Net loans increased $13.7 million, to $280.6 million at December 31, 2017.  Most of the net loan growth was in home equity lines of credit, commercial real estate loans, and nonresidential construction loans.

Deposits were $337.1 million at December 31, 2017 compared to $297.8 million at December 31, 2016, an increase of $39.3 million.  Interest-bearing deposits increased to $255.5 million at December 31, 2017 from $232.3 million at December 31, 2016.  Brokered certificates of deposit increased to $43.5 million at December 31, 2017 from $9.6 million at December 31, 2016, as the Bank replaced borrowed funds with brokered deposits.   Non-brokered jumbo certificates reduced slightly to $12.9 million at December 31, 2017 from $13.0 million at December 31, 2016.  The Bank uses brokered and jumbo certificates as sources of liquidity.  Bank management is actively attempting to increase core deposit account relationships. Transaction savings accounts and checking accounts provide relatively inexpensive funding for future growth, compared to alternative certificates of deposit and borrowed funds at higher interest rates.  The Bank offers competitive rates on its time deposits and uses brokered certificates or borrowed funds, when that strategy is expected to enhance net interest income.

Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowings decreased $26.7 million.  Matured advances were refinanced with new brokered deposits.

The stockholders’ equity of Bancorp was $37.3 million at December 31, 2017 compared to $34.7 million at December 31, 2016, an increase of $2.5 million, or 7.3%.  The primary component of this increase was retained earnings.  Cash dividends of $873,000, or $0.42 per share, were paid in 2016.  The stockholders’ equity was 8.99% of total assets at December 31, 2017.  Book value per share increased to $17.78 at December 31, 2016 from $16.65 at December 31, 2016.

The regular quarterly dividend for Bancorp was maintained at $0.12 per share in 2017, for $0.48 per share total dividends, compared to $0.42 per share in 2016.  The increases was well supported with core earnings improvements and credit quality improvements in recent years, and remains in line with the Company's historical payout ratio.

Fourth Quarter of 2017 vs. 2016 - Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 increased to $828,000, or $0.40 per share, from $695,000, or $0.33 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2016. The primary component of the increase was fourth quarter 2017 benefit from federal income taxes of ($548,000), compared to provision of $157,000 in the fourth quarter of 2016.  The Bank revalued its net deferred tax positions in the fourth quarter of 2017, using the lower corporate tax rate.  Because the Bank has greater deferred tax liabilities than deferred tax assets, the net of revaluations were a benefit to the Bank.

Net interest income increased $202,000, to $3.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase is primarily due to growth in average interest-earning assets.  The tax-equivalent net interest margin increased to 3.79 in the fourth quarter of 2017 from 3.68% in the last quarter of 2016, primarily due to growth in loans and market rate increases.

Net charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2017 were $5,000, compared to $107,000 a year ago.  The Company recorded ($31,000) provision for loan losses in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $73,000 for the same quarter of 2016.

Noninterest income increased $32,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017 to $1.3 million.  The primarily component of noninterest income was commission income, which increased $63,000.  The company recorded $99,000 net gain on cash flow hedges in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Noninterest expense increased $855,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017, primarily due to losses on sale of available-for-sale securities and tax strategies implemented in response to the reduction in corporate tax rates for 2018. 

This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements appear in several places in this release and include statements regarding intent, belief, outlook, objectives, efforts, estimates or expectations of Bancorp, primarily with respect to future events and the future financial performance of the Bancorp.  Any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statement.  Factors that could cause a difference between an ultimate actual outcome and a preceding forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates and interest rate relationships; demand for products and services; the degree of competition by traditional and non-traditional competitors; changes in banking laws and regulations; changes in tax laws; changes in prices, levies, and assessments; the impact of technological advances; government and regulatory policy changes; the outcome of any pending and future litigation and contingencies; trends in consumer behavior and ability to repay loans; and changes of the world, national and local economies.  Bancorp undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.  The numbers presented herein are unaudited.

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, 2017 and 2016
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
      
      
   2017  2016
ASSETS     
 Cash and due from banks $14,219 $8,150
 Other short-term investments  10,293  4,963
 Total cash and cash equivalents 24,512  13,113
      
 Interest-earning deposits in banks 11,058  16,068
 Securities - available for sale   25,313  32,387
 Securities - held to maturity  35,578  33,769
 Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost 3,393  3,117
 Loans held for sale, at fair value 1,117  1,089
 Loans, net of allowance of $3,072 and $3,242 280,586  266,871
 Premises and equipment, net  8,985  8,360
 Goodwill   5,834  5,834
 Core deposit intangibles  203  259
 Originated mortgage servicing rights  1,160  1,216
 Real estate owned  453  687
 Bank-owned life insurance  10,261  9,998
 Accrued interest receivable  1,536  1,407
 Other assets   4,443  4,454
      
 Total assets$414,432 $398,629
      
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY     
Liabilities     
 Deposits    
 Noninterest-bearing$81,641 $65,455
 Interest-bearing 255,473  232,312
 Total deposits 337,114  297,767
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowings 34,447  61,180
 Accrued interest payable  239  243
 Other liabilities  5,378  4,712
 Total liabilities 377,178  363,902
      
Stockholders' equity     
 Preferred stock - $1 par value: authorized - 1,000,000 shares    
  issued and outstanding – 0 shares -  -
 Common stock – $1 par value:  authorized – 9,000,000 shares    
  issued and outstanding 2,094,991 shares at December 31, 2017   
  and 2,085,991 at December 31, 2016 2,095  2,086
 Additional paid-in capital  7,514  7,367
 Retained earnings  27,351  25,234
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss 294  40
 Total stockholders' equity 37,254  34,727
      
 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$414,432 $398,629
      

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME 
Years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) 
       
       
   2017   2016  
Interest income      
 Loans $12,953  $12,458  
 Investment securities:     
 Taxable  804   661  
 Tax-exempt  1,100   909  
 Dividends  125   104  
 Total interest income  14,982   14,132  
       
Interest expense      
 Deposits  777   676  
 Borrowed funds  1,261   1,140  
 Total interest expense  2,038   1,816  
       
Net interest income   12,944   12,316  
       
Provision for loan losses   (213)  357  
       
Net interest income after provision for loan losses   13,157   11,959  
       
Noninterest income:      
 Service charges and other fees 1,356   1,003  
 Interchange income  770   728  
 Investment brokerage commission income 1,545   1,603  
 Mortgage banking activities  679   686  
 Trust fee income  446   462  
 Increase in cash value of bank owned life insurance 263   263  
 Gain on sale of real estate owned 34   196  
 Net gain on cash flow hedges  258   99  
 Other income  100   160  
 Total noninterest income 5,451   5,200  
       
Noninterest expenses:      
 Salaries and employee benefits 8,736   8,010  
 Occupancy and equipment  1,811   1,698  
 Interchange expenses  379   424  
 Data processing  669   772  
 Professional services  401   268  
 Real estate owned expense  152   224  
 Advertising  296   232  
 FDIC premiums  191   235  
 Loss (gain) on sale of securities 441   (1) 
 Other  2,262   1,977  
 Total noninterest expenses 15,338   13,839  
       
Income before income tax expense   3,270   3,320  
       
Income tax expense   102   658  
       
Net income  $3,168  $2,662  
       
Earnings per share  $1.52  $1.28  
Dividends declared per share  $0.48  $0.42  

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME 
Three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) 
       
       
   2017   2016 
Interest income      
 Loans $3,387  $3,152 
 Investment securities:     
 Taxable 185   190 
 Tax-exempt 280   251 
 Dividends  34   20 
 Total interest income 3,886   3,613 
       
Interest expense      
 Deposits  272   166 
 Borrowed funds  271   306 
 Total interest expense 543   472 
       
Net interest income   3,343   3,141 
       
Provision for loan losses   (31)  73 
       
Net interest income after provision for loan losses  3,374   3,068 
       
Noninterest income:      
 Service charges and other fees  355   244 
 Interchange income  193   184 
 Investment brokerage commission income  444   381 
 Mortgage banking activities  101   153 
 Trust fee income  97   111 
 Increase in cash value of bank owned life insurance  64   67 
 Gain on sale of real estate owned  11   - 
 Net gain on cash flow hedges  -   99 
 Other income  23   17 
 Total noninterest income 1,288   1,256 
       
Noninterest expenses:      
 Salaries and employee benefits  2,310   2,181 
 Occupancy and equipment  467   396 
 Interchange expenses  95   108 
 Data processing  174   168 
 Professional services  89   70 
 Real estate owned expense  51   14 
 Advertising  103   51 
 FDIC premiums  53   43 
 Loss on sale of securities  421   - 
 Other  564   440 
 Total noninterest expenses 4,327   3,471 
       
Income before income tax expense   335   853 
       
Income tax expense   (493)  158 
       
Net income  $828  $695 
       
Earnings per share  $0.40  $0.33 
Dividends declared per share  $0.12  $0.12 

 

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Amounts in thousands)
    
    Three Months Ended Dec. 31,
   2017  2016 
    
Sturgis Bank & Trust Company:  
 Average noninterest-bearing deposits$  78,740 $  72,457 
 Average interest-bearing deposits 240,899  230,370 
 Average total assets 408,187  394,295 
 Total risk-weighted assets, end of period 268,526  252,725 
Sturgis Bancorp:   
 Average equity 36,769  34,280 
 Average total assets 408,375  394,470 
 Total risk-weighted assets, end of period 268,801  252,950 
    
Financial ratios for Sturgis Bancorp:  
 Return on average assets 0.81% 0.70%
 Return on average equity 8.94% 8.34%
 Net interest margin 3.61% 3.51%
 Tax equivalent net interest margin 3.79% 3.68%
    
    Year Ended December 31,
   2017  2016 
    
Sturgis Bank & Trust Company:  
 Average noninterest-bearing deposits$  73,693 $  67,590 
 Average interest-bearing deposits 235,440  230,216 
 Average total assets 404,215  383,653 
Sturgis Bancorp:   
 Average equity 35,592  33,443 
 Average total assets 404,387  383,779 
    
Financial ratios for Sturgis Bancorp:  
 Return on average assets 0.78% 0.69%
 Return on average equity 8.83% 8.09%
 Net interest margin 3.58% 3.59%
 Tax equivalent net interest margin 3.76% 3.76%

Contacts:
Sturgis Bancorp -- Eric Eishen, President & CEO, or Brian P. Hoggatt, CFO -- P: 269 651-9345