TFS Financial Corporation Announces First Fiscal Quarter Ended December 31, 2011 Financial Results

CLEVELAND, Feb. 1, 2012 (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 results for the quarter ended December 31, 2011.

The Company reported net income of $8.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011, compared to a net loss of $7.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2010. This change was mainly attributable to an increase in net interest income and a decrease in the provision for loan losses.

"Despite the continuing challenges of the housing market, we are pleased with the consistency of our earnings during the past several quarters," said Chairman and CEO Marc A. Stefanski.

Net interest income increased $4.6 million, or 8%, to $64.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011 from $59.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2010. Low interest rates have reduced 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. The interest rate spread increased 25 basis points to 2.07% for the three months ended December 31, 2011, compared to 1.82% for the three months ended December 31, 2010. The net interest margin increased 19 basis points to 2.40% compared to 2.21% in the same quarter last year.

In an October 2011 directive, the Association's primary regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") required all specific valuation allowances ("SVA") maintained by savings institutions to be charged off by March 31, 2012. As permitted, the Company elected to early-adopt this methodology effective December 31, 2011. As a result, reported loan charge-offs for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 were impacted by the charge-off of the SVA, which had a balance of $55.5 million at September 30, 2011. This one time charge-off did not impact the provision for loan losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2011; however, reported loan charge-offs during the current quarter increased and the balance of the allowance for loan losses as of December 31, 2011 decreased, correspondingly. Additionally, the SVA charge-off was a major reason for the decrease in the reported balances of delinquent and nonperforming loans as of December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2011, the balance of the SVA component of the allowance for loan losses is zero.

The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $15.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $34.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2010, reflecting the overall stabilization of credit quality in our loan portfolio. The Company reported $75.1 million of net loan charge-offs for the three months ended December 31, 2011, which included the impact of charging off the SVA, which was $55.5 million at September 30, 2011. Net charge-offs were $19.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2010. Of the $75.1 million of net charge-offs for the three months ended December 31, 2011, $27.5 million occurred in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio, $23.8 million occurred in the Home Today portfolio and $22.7 million occurred in the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio. The Home Today portfolio is an affordable housing program targeted toward low and moderate income home buyers, which totaled $238.0 million at December 31, 2011 and $264.0 million at September 30, 2011. The allowance for loan losses was $96.9 million, or .96% of total loans receivable, at December 31, 2011, compared to $157.0 million, or 1.58% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2011.

Non-accrual loans decreased $61.2 million to $174.1 million, or 1.72% of total loans, at December 31, 2011 from $235.3 million, or 2.37% of total loans, at September 30, 2011. The $61.2 million decrease in non-accrual loans for the three months ended December 31, 2011, consisted of a $24.9 million decrease in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio; an $18.7 million decrease in the residential, Home Today portfolio; a $14.7 million decrease in the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio; and a $2.9 million decrease in construction loans.

Total loan delinquencies decreased $74.4 million to $210.8 million, or 2.08% of total loans receivable at December 31, 2011 from $285.1 million, or 2.86% of total loans receivable at September 30, 2011.

Total troubled debt restructurings decreased $9.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011 from $166.2 million at September 30, 2011. Of the $157.2 million of troubled debt restructurings recorded at December 31, 2011, $84.6 million was in the Home Today portfolio and $68.9 million was in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio. The portion of total troubled debt restructurings included as part of non-performing loans was $39.4 million at December 31, 2011 and $45.0 million, at September 30, 2011.

Non-interest expense decreased $465 thousand, or 1%, to $42.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011 from $42.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2010. Reductions in federal insurance premiums and assessments and appraisal and other loan review expenses were partially offset by an increase in salaries and employee benefits.

Total assets increased by $165.2 million, or 2%, to $11.06 billion at December 31, 2011 from $10.89 billion at September 30, 2011. This change was mainly the result of increases in our loan portfolio offset by decreases in our cash and cash equivalents and investment securities.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $40.7 million, or 14%, to $254.1 million at December 31, 2011 from $294.8 million at September 30, 2011, and investment securities decreased $42.6 million, or 10%, to $365.8 million at December 31, 2011 from $408.4 million at September 30, 2011. This change can be attributed to the reinvestment of our most liquid assets into loan products.

Loans held for investment, net increased $261.9 million, or 3%, to $10.01 billion at December 31, 2011 from $9.75 billion at September 30, 2011, as mortgage loan refinance activity remains strong. Residential mortgage loans increased $301.2 million during the three months ended December 31, 2011, while the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio decreased by $94.6 million. We have currently suspended the acceptance of new equity credit applications with the exception of bridge loans. A total of $434.8 million of adjustable rate mortgages (mainly 15 and 30 year loans with interest rates that reset annually after the initial five year rate) were originated during the three months ended December 31, 2011, representing over 58% of all residential mortgage originations, compared to $582.0 million and 55% for the three months ended December 31, 2010. Adjustable rate mortgages originated under the Smart Rate ARM program since July 2010 are intended to offset future interest rate risk exposure. The total principal balance of adjustable rate first mortgage loans was $2.19 billion, or 29% of all first mortgage residential loans, at December 31, 2011, compared to $1.83 billion, or 25%, at September 30, 2011.

Deposits decreased $57.4 million, or 1%, to $8.66 billion at December 31, 2011 from $8.72 billion at September 30, 2011. This decrease is largely the result of a $150.7 million decrease in our certificates of deposit and accrued interest, partially offset by a $93.3 million increase in our savings and checking accounts for the three months ended December 31, 2011.

Borrowed funds increased $124.6 million, or 89%, to $264.5 million at December 31, 2011 from $139.9 million at September 30, 2011. This increase reflects additional, lower cost, mainly short term FHLB borrowings.

Principal, interest and related escrow owed on loans serviced increased $34.0 million, or 22%, to $185.9 million at December 31, 2011 from $151.9 million at September 30, 2011. This increase is primarily attributable to the increased prepayments related to an increase in refinance activity for loans serviced for other investors.

Accrued expenses and other liabilities increased $38.7 million, or 73%, to $91.8 million at December 31, 2011 from September 30, 2011. This change primarily reflects the in-transit status of $48.7 million of real estate tax payments that have been collected from borrowers and are being remitted to various taxing agencies, partially offset by a $16.4 million decrease in the pension plan accrual mainly as a result of a plan amendment to freeze future pension benefit accruals as of December 31, 2011.

Total shareholder's equity increased $22.0 million, or 1%, to $1.80 billion at December 31, 2011 from $1.77 billion at September 30, 2011. Activity reflects $8.5 million of net income in the current quarter combined with adjustments related to our stock compensation plan and ESOP and a $10.6 million reduction in accumulated other comprehensive loss that resulted primarily from the pension accrual adjustment mentioned above.

At December 31, 2011, the Association was "well capitalized" for regulatory capital purposes, as its tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 20.99% and its total risk-based capital was 22.24%, both of which substantially exceed the amounts required for the Association to be considered well capitalized.

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its operating results for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) on February 2, 2012. The toll-free dial-in number is 800-894-5910, Conference ID TFSLQ112. A telephone replay will be available beginning at 6:00 p.m. (ET) February 2, 2012 by dialing 800-283-8217. 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 February 3, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. (ET). 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 because of a recession or other events;
• 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 and changes related to our ability to pay dividends and the ability of Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland, MHC to waive dividends;
• 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 continuing 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;
• 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;
• 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 ability 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.