TFS Financial Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Year Ended September 30, 2011 Financial Results

CLEVELAND, Nov. 16, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TFS Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:TFSL) (the "Company"), the holding company for Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland (the "Association"), today announced quarterly and fiscal year results for the periods ended September 30, 2011.

"Despite high unemployment, a weak economy and a stressed housing market, we remained profitable and continued to grow our business through geographic expansion, as well as competitive home mortgage and savings rates. We look forward to continuing to provide value for our communities, our customers, and our stockholders," said Marc A. Stefanski, chairman and CEO of Third Federal.

The Company reported net income of $8.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to a net loss of $10.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. This change was mainly attributable to an increase in net interest income and a decrease in the provision for loan losses. The Company reported net income of $9.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2011, compared to net income of $11.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2010. This change was mainly attributable to a decrease in non-interest income and an increase in non-interest expense, partially offset by an increase in net interest income and a decrease in the provision for loan losses.

Net interest income increased $8.9 million, or 16%, to $64.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $55.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Net interest income increased $20.1 million, or 9%, to $247.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2011 from $227.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2010. Low interest rates have decreased the yield on interest-earning assets, and to an even greater extent, the rate paid on deposits and borrowed funds, and as a result, the interest rate spread has improved throughout the current fiscal year. The interest rate spread increased 20 basis points to 1.97% for the year ended September 30, 2011, compared to 1.77% for the year ended September 30, 2010.

The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $19.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $35.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The provisions exceeded net charge-offs of $15.3 million and $20.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, respectively. The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $98.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2011 compared to $106.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2010. The provisions recorded exceeded net charge-offs of $74.8 million and $68.0 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, respectively. Of the $74.8 million of net charge-offs for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, $49.5 million occurred in the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio and $17.5 million occurred in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio. The allowance for loan losses was $157.0 million, or 1.58% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2011, compared to $133.2 million, or 1.43% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2010. Included in the individually evaluated portion of the allowance for loan losses is a specific reserve for losses on impaired loans in the amount of $55.5 million at September 30, 2011. As a result of the Association's primary regulator changing from the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") on July 21, 2011, the OCC is requiring all specific reserves maintained by savings institutions to be charged off by March 31, 2012. The Company expects to early adopt the OCC methodology, effective December 31, 2011. As a result, reported loan charge-offs for the quarter ending December 31, 2011 will be affected by the $55.5 million specific reserve maintained at September 30, 2011. This one time charge-off will not impact the provision recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income, but will decrease the future reported balances of the allowance for loan losses and the delinquent/non-performing loans by that same amount.

Non-performing loans decreased $51.3 million to $235.3 million, or 2.37% of total loans, at September 30, 2011 from $286.6 million, or 3.08% of total loans, at September 30, 2010. The $51.3 million decrease in non-performing loans for the year ended September 30, 2011, consisted of a $10.1 million decrease in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio; a $22.4 million decrease in the residential, Home Today portfolio; a $17.6 million decrease in the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio; and a $1.2 million decrease in construction loans. The Home Today portfolio is an affordable housing program targeted toward low and moderate income home buyers, which totaled $264.0 million at September 30, 2011 and $280.5 million at September 30, 2010. Total loan delinquencies were $285.1 million, or 2.86% of total loans receivable at September 30, 2011, compared to $328.8 million, or 3.51% of total loans receivable at September 30, 2010.

Total troubled debt restructurings increased $5.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and increased $32.5 million to $166.2 million, at September 30, 2011 from $133.7 million at September 30, 2010. Of the $166.2 million of troubled debt restructurings recorded at September 30, 2011, $93.8 million was in the Home Today portfolio and $68.1 million was in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio. Of the $133.7 million of troubled debt restructurings recorded at September 30, 2010, $72.1 million was in the Home Today portfolio and $57.2 million was in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio. The portion of total troubled debt restructurings included as part of non-performing loans was $45.0 million at September 30, 2011 and $43.5 million, at September 30, 2010.

Non-interest income decreased $27.7 million, or 47%, to $31.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2011 from $58.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2010. Net gains on the sale of loans of $490 thousand were recorded during the year ended September 30, 2011, compared to gains of $25.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2010, reflecting the significantly lower volume of loan sales in the current fiscal year. Additionally, loan fees and service charges decreased $5.0 million in the current year compared to the prior year. This change is primarily related to servicing fees collected on loans sold and increased mortgage servicing asset amortization. The balance of our sold loan portfolio has decreased 23% from September 30, 2010, due to the current low level of mortgage loan interest rates which prompted a significant increase in refinancing activity, combined with the low volume of loan sales.

Non-interest expense increased $6.1 million, or 4%, to $168.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2011, compared to $161.9 million for the year ended September 30, 2010, due to higher real estate owned expenses, appraisal expenses, marketing services and other operating expenses, partially offset by lower salaries and employee benefits. Appraisal and other loan review expense increases related to the expanded review of our equity loan and lines of credit portfolio. The other operating expenses increase was mainly due to increased professional and administrative fees associated with our home equity lending reduction plan, and enhancements to equity lending account administration and enterprise risk management processes. Marketing expenses have increased due to increased promotion of adjustable rate mortgages. The salaries and benefits reduction was due to decreased bonus and benefit accruals and employee stock ownership costs.

Total assets decreased by $183.1 million, or 2%, to $10.89 billion at September 30, 2011 from $11.08 billion at September 30, 2010. This change was mainly the result of decreases in our cash and cash equivalents and investment securities partially offset by an increase in our loan portfolio.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $448.9 million, or 60%, to $294.8 million at September 30, 2011 from $743.7 million at September 30, 2010, and investment securities decreased $263.1 million, or 39%, to $408.4 million at September 30, 2011 from $671.6 million at September 30, 2010. This change can be attributed to the reinvestment of our most liquid assets into loan products.

Loans held for investment, net increased $569.2 million, or 6%, to $9.75 billion at September 30, 2011 from $9.18 billion at September 30, 2010. Residential mortgage loans increased $965.8 million during the year ended September 30, 2011, while the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio decreased by $357.5 million. A total of $1.18 billion of adjustable rate mortgages (mainly loans with the interest rate fixed for the first five years, and adjustable yearly thereafter) were originated during the year ended September 30, 2011, representing 55% of all residential mortgage originations, compared to $380.2 million and 19% for the year ended September 30, 2010. Adjustable rate mortgages originated under the Smart Rate ARM program since July 2010 have an outstanding principal balance of $1.44 billion at September 30, 2011. These mortgages are intended to offset future interest rate risk exposure. The total principal balance of adjustable rate first mortgage loans was $1.83 billion, or 25% of all first mortgage residential loans, at September 30, 2011, compared to $892.3 million, or 14%, at September 30, 2010.

Deposits decreased $136.0 million, or 2%, to $8.72 billion at September 30, 2011 from $8.85 billion at September 30, 2010. This decrease is largely the result of a $246.3 million decrease in our certificates of deposit and accrued interest, partially offset by an $110.3 million increase in our savings and checking accounts for the year ended September 30, 2011.

Borrowed funds increased $69.7 million, or 99%, to $139.9 million at September 30, 2011 from $70.2 million at September 30, 2010. This increase reflects additional, lower cost, mainly short term FHLB borrowings.

Principal, interest and related escrow owed on loans serviced decreased $132.6 million, or 47%, to $151.9 million at September 30, 2011 from $284.4 million at September 30, 2010. This decrease mainly reflects the settlement of an increased level of prepayments for loans serviced for other investors and to a lesser extent, a lower balance in the sold loan portfolio.

At September 30, 2011, the Association was "well capitalized" for regulatory capital purposes, as its tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 21.04% and its total-risk based capital was 22.29%, both of which substantially exceed the amounts required for the Association to be considered well capitalized.

The Company believes it has responded as required to, and has complied with, all of the timeframes specified by the OTS under previously issued Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). However, our remediation efforts await evaluation by our new primary regulators, the OCC and The Federal Reserve Bank, and accordingly, the requirements of the MOU will remain in effect until the OCC and Federal Reserve decide to terminate, suspend or modify them.

The Company, as previously announced, will host a post-earnings conference call at 9:30 a.m. (ET) on November 17, 2011. The toll-free dial-in number is 800-862-9098, Conference ID TFSLQ411. A telephone replay will be available beginning at 12:00 p.m. (ET) November 17, 2011 by dialing 800-283-4216. The conference call will be simultaneously webcast on the Company's website www.thirdfederal.com under the Investor Relations link under the "About Us" tab, and will be archived for 30 days after the event, beginning November 18, 2011. The slides for the conference call will be filed with the SEC under a separate Form 8-K and will also be available on the Company's website.

The TFS Financial Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3622

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of such words as estimate, project, believe, intend, anticipate, plan, seek, expect and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include:

• statements of our goals, intentions and expectations;
• statements regarding our business plans and prospects and growth and operating strategies;
• statements concerning trends in our provision for loan losses and charge-offs;
• statements regarding the asset quality of our loan and investment portfolios; and
• estimates of our risks and future costs and benefits.

These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, among other things, the following important factors that could affect the actual outcome of future events:

• significantly increased competition among depository and other financial institutions;
• inflation and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our interest margins or reduce the fair value of financial instruments;
• general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas, including employment prospects and conditions that are worse than expected;
• decreased demand for our products and services and lower revenue and earnings in the event of a recession;
• adverse changes and volatility in the securities markets;
• adverse changes and volatility in credit markets;
• legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business, including changes in regulatory costs and capital requirements;
• our ability to enter new markets successfully and take advantage of growth opportunities, and the possible short-term dilutive effect of potential acquisitions or de novo branches, if any;
• changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;
• changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the bank regulatory agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;
• future adverse developments concerning Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac;
• changes in monetary and fiscal policy of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board;
• changes in policy and/or assessment rates of taxing authorities that adversely affect us;
• the timing and the amount of revenue that we may recognize;
• changes in expense trends (including, but not limited to, trends affecting non-performing assets, charge-offs and provisions for loan losses);
• the impact of the current governmental effort to restructure the U.S. financial and regulatory system;
• inability of third-party providers to perform their obligations to us;
• adverse changes and volatility in real estate markets;
• a slowing or failure of the moderate economic recovery that began last year;
• the extensive reforms enacted in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("Dodd-Frank Act"), which will impact us;
• the adoption of implementing regulations by a number of different regulatory bodies under the Dodd-Frank Act, and uncertainty in the exact nature, extent and timing of such regulations and the impact they will have on us, including the impact of coming under the jurisdiction of new federal regulators;
• changes in our organization, or compensation and benefit plans;
• the strength or weakness of the real estate markets and of the consumer and commercial credit sectors and its impact on the credit quality of our loans and other assets; and
• the efficacy of the U.S. Federal government to manage federal debt limits.

Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements.