First Community Financial Partners, Inc. Announces Year End 2015 Financial Results

2015 Highlights:

• Diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) of $0.57 for the year; $0.25 or 78.13% per diluted share increase over prior year
• Tangible book value growth of $0.53, or 9.60%, year-over-year to $6.05
• Asset growth of $116.6 million, or 12.62%, year-over-year to $1.0 billion
• Loan growth of $83.1 million, or 12.06%, year-over-year to $772.3 million
• Noninterest bearing deposit growth of $37.7 million, or 23.83%, year-over-year
• Pre-tax, pre-provision core income growth year-to-date in 2015 of $1.7 million or 15.80% year-over-year
• Net interest income growth year to date in 2015 of $1.9 million, or 6.53%,  due to increased income from loan growth and reduction in interest expense
• Noninterest expense was stable and decreased by $31,000, or 0.15%, year-over-year, and $372,000, or 6.87%, from the fourth quarter of 2014 to the fourth quarter of 2015
• Negative loan loss provision of $2.1 million year to date in 2015 reflecting overall improvement in asset quality
• Improved capital flexibility as bank subsidiary reached positive retained earnings during the fourth quarter allowing it to provide cash dividends to the parent company
  
  

JOLIET, Ill., Jan. 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Community Financial Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCFP) (“First Community” or the “Company”), the parent company of First Community Financial Bank (the “Bank”), today reported financial results as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Net income applicable to common shareholders for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 was $2.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared with $1.8 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. Earnings in the fourth quarter of 2015 reflected year-over-year growth in net interest income and a negative loan loss provision of $515,000, compared with a loan loss provision of $333,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014.  The negative loan loss provision was primarily the result of continued improvement in asset quality. 

Net income applicable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $9.8 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, compared with $5.4 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2014.  Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2015 reflected year-over-year growth in net interest income and a negative loan loss provision of $2.1 million compared with a $3.0 million loan loss provision for the year ended December 31, 2014. Income for the year was offset by the related income taxes of $5.0 million for the year December 31, 2015, up from $2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Roy Thygesen, CEO said, “Our core businesses appear to be firing on all cylinders, and the Company is positioned for continued growth in 2016 and beyond. The key theme at First Community continues to be high quality commercial customer expansion, with a focus on promoting business lines which we believe add to our franchise and shareholder value.  Loan and profitability growth was substantial in 2015, yet we are most proud of the 24% growth in noninterest bearing deposits achieved by our Bank year-over-year.”

“Consistent with prior periods, the Bank remains focused on growing core deposits, including noninterest bearing deposits predominately procured through small business customer relationships.  We build lasting relationships with businesses in the Greater Chicagoland market, and this begins and ends with high-touch service.  The Bank provides a full-suite of treasury management services to its business customers, and is utilizing sophisticated technology along with old-fashioned service to regularly win new customers.”

“We recently expanded into equipment leasing, led by an experienced team which joined the Bank recently.  Management and the Board will continue to be opportunistic, yet prudent, as we continue executing our efficient and growth-oriented business model.”

Fourth Quarter 2015 Highlights

• Return on average assets (“ROAA”) improved to 1.11% in the fourth quarter of 2015 from 0.78% in the fourth quarter of 2014, while return on average equity (“ROAE”) rose sharply to 11.48% in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with 7.57% in the fourth quarter of 2014.
• Tangible book value per share rose to $6.05 at December 31, 2015, from $5.88 at September 30, 2015, and $5.52 at December 31, 2014.
• Pre-tax pre-provision core income, a non-GAAP measure, rose $1.2 million, or 48.26%, to $3.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with $2.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.
• Net interest income before provision for loan losses increased to $8.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, up 7.64% compared with $7.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, reflecting higher interest income and lower year-over-year interest expense.
• Noninterest expense decreased 6.87% or $372,000, from $5.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $5.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. 
• Total assets increased 1.68% or $17.2 million to $1.0 billion at December 31, 2015 from September 30, 2015.
• Total loans increased 3.79%, or $29.3 million, to $772.3 million at December 31, 2015 from September 30, 2015.
• Loan growth in the fourth quarter was over all loan categories led by commercial real estate, commercial, and residential 1-4 family real estate.
• Total deposits increased 2.28%, or $19.3 million, to $866.0 million at December 31, 2015 from September 30, 2015.
• Noninterest bearing demand deposits grew 12.13%, or $21.2 million, during the fourth quarter of 2015.

Full Year 2015 Highlights

• ROAA improved to 0.99% for the year ended December 31, 2015, from 0.60% for the year ended December 31, 2014, while ROAE rose sharply to 10.08% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with 5.68% for the year ended December 31, 2014.
• Pre-tax pre-provision core income, a non-GAAP measure, rose 11.5%, or $1.3 million, to $12.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with $10.9 million for the same period in 2014.
• Net interest income before provision for loan losses increased 6.53% or $1.9 million to $30.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with $28.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.  This was the result of higher interest income from current year loan growth, and lower year-over-year interest expense.  Interest expense was lower in 2015 due to a decrease in debt related expenses, in addition to improved deposit funding including noninterest bearing deposit growth. 
• Noninterest expense was stable with a decrease of $31,000, or 0.15%, from the year ended December 31, 2014 to the year ended December 31, 2015. 
• Total assets increased $116.6 million, or 12.62%, and reached a Company-record $1.0 billion at December 31, 2015 from $924.1 million at December 31, 2014.
• Total loans increased 12.06%, or $83.1 million, to $772.3 million at December 31, 2015 from $689.1 million at December 31, 2014, with year-over-year growth in almost all loan categories led by commercial, commercial real estate, and residential 1-4 family.
• Total deposits increased 12.55%, or $96.6 million, to $866.0 million at December 31, 2015 from $769.4 million at December 31, 2014. Core demand deposits comprised 65.6% of total deposits at the end of 2015 compared with 59.59% of total deposits at the end of 2014. Noninterest bearing deposit accounts, an important source of lower-cost funding to support loan activity, increased $37.7 million, or 23.83%, to $196.1 million at the end of 2015 from $158.3 million at the end of 2014.
• Asset quality measures improved dramatically, including a decline in the ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets to 0.67% at December 31, 2015 from 1.03% a year earlier.  Nonperforming assets decreased $2.5 million, or 26.89%, from $9.5 million to $7.0 million at December 31, 2015.

Results of Operations

Net interest income was $8.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to $7.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, an increase of $580,000 or 7.64%.  The Company’s net interest margin was 3.29% in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to 3.46% in the fourth quarter of 2014, while the net interest spread was 3.10% compared to 3.23% in the prior year’s fourth quarter.

Interest income on loans was $8.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, compared to $8.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, reflecting contributions from $83.1 million in loan growth, partially offset by newer loans booked at lower average yields due to the ongoing low interest rate environment and competitive market conditions.  There were approximately $204.0 million in new loans and renewals during 2015, at a weighted average yield of 4.14%.

Interest income on securities was $1.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, compared to $844,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. The increase in interest income on securities was the result of growth in the portfolio, along with improvement in the overall yield of the government sponsored enterprises and state and political subdivision portfolios.

Interest expense on deposits was $986,000 in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, which primarily reflected a decline in time deposits that were replaced by growth in noninterest bearing deposits, along with an increase in lower cost NOW, money market and savings accounts. In addition, after the refinancing of outstanding subordinated debt with a lower interest senior credit facility the reduced borrowing costs at the parent company helped to lower interest expense, subordinated debt interest expense was 47.24% or $266,000 lower in the fourth quarter of 2015 versus 2014.

Noninterest income was $759,000 in the fourth quarter of 2015, a decrease of $102,000, or 11.85% from the same quarter in 2014.  The decrease was partially due to lower gains on sales of securities offset by small increases in service charges on deposit accounts and slightly higher mortgage fee income of $96,000, compared to $66,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014, which was offset by lower gains on sales of securities.  Noninterest income in the fourth quarter of 2014 was $861,000, which included $466,000 in gains on the sale of securities, compared to $212,000 in gains on sales of securities in 2015.

Noninterest expense was $5.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared to $5.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. Salaries and benefits were slightly higher and occupancy expenses were stable for the quarter.  The fourth quarter of 2015 included a net loss on foreclosed assets of $109,000 compared to a gain of $13,000 in the same period in 2014.  Losses were related to changes in property values, as appraisals are updated annually or based on offers on properties held by the Bank.

Financial Condition

Total assets were $1.0 billion at December 31, 2015, an increase of 12.62% or $116.6 million, from $924.1 million at December 31, 2014.  Total assets increased 1.68% or $17.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2015.

Total loans were $772.3 million at December 31, 2015, a 12.06%, or $83.1 million, increase from $689.2 million at December 31, 2014, and a 3.94% or $29.3 million, increase during the fourth quarter of 2015, reflecting balanced growth in all lending categories.

Investment securities grew to $207.0 million at December 31, 2015, compared with $217.2 million at September 30, 2015 and $170.1 million at December 31, 2014.  Strong gains in low-cost deposits facilitated this growth.

Total deposits increased $96.6 million from December 31, 2014, or 12.6%, to $866.0 million at December 31, 2015, compared with $846.7 million at September 30, 2015.  The growth in deposits has been focused on growth in lower cost transactional accounts.  Noninterest bearing demand deposits increased 23.8%, or $37.0 million, year-over-year, 12.13%, or $21.2 million, took place in the fourth quarter of 2015. Our focus on relationship banking and growth in transactional accounts has resulted in a decline in time deposits of $13.4 million or 4.30%, to $297.5 million at December 31, 2015 from $310.9 million at December 31, 2014. $5.4 million, or 1.77%, of run off occurred during the fourth quarter of 2015.

Asset Quality

Total nonperforming assets declined by 26.9%, or $2.5 million, to $7.0 million at December 31, 2015 from $9.5 million at December 31, 2014, and declined by $261,000, or 3.61%, from $7.2 million at September 30, 2015. The improvement reflected a decline in total nonperforming loans to $1.5 million from $9.1 million a year earlier, and from $3.2 million at September 30, 2015.  Foreclosed assets were $5.5 million at December 31, 2015, which were up from $2.5 million at December 31, 2014 and $4.1 million at September 30, 2015. Two properties totaling $1.8 million and one property totaling $1.5 million were transferred from nonperforming loans to foreclosed assets during the second and fourth quarters, respectively.

The Company had net recoveries of $503,000 in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to net charge-offs of $299,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014.  Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2015 were $87,000 as compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2014.

The Company’s allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans remained strong at 794.38% at December 31, 2015, compared to 198.73% at December 31, 2014 and 370.52% at September 30, 2015.

Because of the continued improvements in asset quality during 2015, the Company had a negative provision for loan losses of $515,000 in the fourth quarter of 2015 and $2.1 million for the year to date December 31, 2015 compared to a provision for loan losses of $333,000 in the fourth quarter of 2014 and $3.0 million for the year to date December 31, 2014.

About First Community Financial Partners, Inc.: First Community Financial Partners, Inc., headquartered in Joliet, Illinois, is a bank holding company whose common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market (NASDAQ:FCFP). First Community Financial Partners has one bank subsidiary, First Community Financial Bank. First Community Financial Bank, based in Plainfield, Illinois, is a wholly owned banking subsidiary of First Community Financial Partners, with locations in Joliet, Plainfield, Homer Glen, Channahon, Naperville and Burr Ridge, Illinois. The Bank is dedicated to its founding principles by being actively involved in the communities it serves and providing exceptional personal service delivered by experienced local professionals.

Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

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Any statements in this release other than statements of historical facts, including statements about management’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance. Words such as “estimate,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “target,” “project,” “should,” “may,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements (including oral representations) involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties involve a number of factors related to the businesses of First Community and its wholly owned bank subsidiary, including: risks associated with First Community’s possible pursuit of acquisitions; economic conditions in First Community’s, and its wholly owned bank subsidiary’s; service areas; system failures; losses of large customers; disruptions in relationships with third party vendors; losses of key management personnel and the inability to attract and retain highly qualified management personnel in the future; the impact of legislation and regulatory changes on the banking industry, including the implementation of the Basel III capital reforms; losses related to cyber-attacks; and liability and compliance costs regarding banking regulations. These and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in more detail in First Community’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including First Community’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2015.

Many of these risks are beyond management’s ability to control or predict. All forward-looking statements attributable to First Community, and its wholly owned bank subsidiary, or persons acting on behalf of each of them are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements and risk factors contained in this communication. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required under the federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, First Community does not undertake any obligation to update or review any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.