Southside Bancshares, Inc. Announces Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

TYLER, Texas, May 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southside Bancshares, Inc. (“Southside” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:SBSI) today reported its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Southside reported net income of $16.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $1.3 million, or 8.4%, compared to $15.0 million for the same period in 2017.  Earnings per diluted common share decreased $0.05, or 9.8%, to $0.46 for the three months ended March 31, 2018, from $0.51 for the same period in 2017.

The return on average shareholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was 8.75%, compared to 11.57% for the same period in 2017.  The return on average assets was 1.02% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to 1.08% for the same period in 2017.

“Overall, our credit quality remains good, however during the first quarter we placed two commercial real estate loan relationships totaling approximately $30 million on nonaccrual,” stated Lee R. Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southside.  “One relationship consists of two memory care facilities and the other relationship represents a retail shopping center. The memory care loans are current but the revenue is not sufficient to meet the required debt service.  Both facilities are making progress increasing occupancy and will be reevaluated quarterly. The retail shopping center is losing a tenant that announced during the first quarter the closing or selling of all of its U.S. stores.  This loan is also current but the loss of this tenant, along with the loss of a previous tenant, decreases revenue to a level that is not sufficient to meet the required debt service until the vacant space is leased.  During the first quarter we increased our loan loss reserve by $3.2 million associated with these relationships.”

“During the first quarter we recorded acquisition costs related to the Diboll State Bancshares, Inc. transaction of $832,000, branch closing costs for one Tyler location adjacent to a newly acquired Diboll branch of $249,000 and a loss of $827,000 on the sale of lower-yielding available for sale securities.  In addition, as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December 2017, we decided to share a portion of the resulting positive impact on net income with our employees by paying a one-time $1,000 bonus to every full-time employee with an annual base salary less than $100,000. The total expense during the first quarter associated with this one-time bonus was $744,000.”

“On a linked quarter basis our net interest margin and net interest spread increased seven and four points, respectively. During the first quarter we experienced very little loan growth due to higher than anticipated payoffs.  The economic conditions in Texas and our market areas remain solid and the Austin and DFW markets continue to perform exceptionally well.”

“We expect the integration of Diboll State Bancshares, Inc. will be virtually complete during the second quarter, which will allow us to begin to realize additional efficiencies and the associated cost savings in future quarters.  We are thankful for the support we receive from our customers, shareholders, employees and directors.  We look forward to the remainder of 2018.”

Loans and Deposits

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, total loans increased by $15.3 million, or 0.5%, compared to December 31, 2017.  The net increase in our loans was comprised primarily of increases of $20.4 million of commercial real estate loans and $15.5 million of commercial loans, partially offset by decreases in 1-4 family residential loans, loans to individuals, municipal loans, and construction loans.  Energy loans totaled 1.66% of the loan portfolio at March 31, 2018, compared to 1.50% at December 31, 2017.

Nonperforming assets increased during the three months ended March 31, 2018 by $32.0 million, or 305.3%, to $42.4 million, or 0.67% of total assets, compared to $10.5 million, or 0.16% of total assets at December 31, 2017, primarily due to the addition of two commercial real estate relationships consisting of three loans to nonaccrual status during the first quarter.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the allowance for loan losses increased by $3.4 million, or 16.5%, to $24.2 million, or 0.73% of total loans, compared to 0.63% of total loans at December 31, 2017.  The increase in the allowance was primarily the result of additional provision recorded on the commercial real estate loans placed on nonaccrual status in the first quarter.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, deposits, net of brokered deposits, increased $73.5 million, or 1.7%, compared to December 31, 2017.  Public funds deposits increased $45.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to December 31, 2017.

Net Interest Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

Net interest income increased $8.9 million, or 25.1%, to $44.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $35.3 million for the same period in 2017.  The increase in net interest income was the result of a $12.3 million increase in interest income primarily from our loan portfolio, partially offset by an increase in interest expense of $3.5 million associated primarily with our deposits, compared to the same period in 2017.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, our net interest spread (FTE) increased slightly to 2.95%, compared to 2.93% for the same period in 2017.  Our net interest margin (FTE) increased to 3.19% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to 3.08% for the same period in 2017.  Both the increase in net interest spread (FTE) and net interest margin (FTE) was due to an increase in the average yield on earning assets, partially offset by higher average rates paid on interest bearing liabilities.  The increase in the average yield on earning assets during the three months ended March 31, 2018 was the result of increases in the average yields on most of the earning asset categories partially offset by a decrease in the average yield on tax-exempt investment securities.  The increase in average rates paid on interest bearing liabilities was primarily due to rising interest rates during 2017 and 2018.  The net interest spread (FTE) and net interest margin (FTE) increased on a linked quarter basis from 2.91% and 3.12%, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2017, to 2.95% and 3.19%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Net Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

Net income increased $1.3 million, or 8.4%, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, to $16.3 million compared to the same period in 2017.  The increase was primarily the result of a $12.3 million increase in interest income and a $0.9 million decrease in income tax expense, partially offset by a $5.8 million increase in noninterest expense, a $3.5 million increase in interest expense, and a $2.6 million increase in provision for loan losses.  Noninterest income decreased slightly as a result of losses recorded on the sale of securities in the first quarter of 2018.

Excluding net (loss) gain on sale of securities, noninterest income increased $1.1 million, or 11.6%, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.  Deposit services and trust income increased and were partially offset by a decrease in gain on sale of loans. The increase in both deposit services income and trust income was largely related to our merger with Diboll.  In connection with the adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 revenue recognition guidance effective January 1, 2018, debit card expense and brokerage service expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018, previously reported in ATM and debit card expense and other noninterest expense are now netted with deposit services income and brokerage services income, respectively.  Due to the guidance under the modified retrospective method, prior periods have not been adjusted and therefore, are not comparable.

Noninterest expense increased $5.8 million, or 22.5%, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to the same period in 2017.  The increase in most of our noninterest expense categories is directly attributable to our acquisition of Diboll.  Salaries and employee benefits also increased as a result of one-time bonuses paid as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and normal salary increases.

The decrease in income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 of $0.9 million, or 30.5%, was attributable to the reduced tax rate under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act resulting in a lower effective tax rate of 11.4% compared to 16.7% for the same period in 2017.

Conference Call

Southside's management team will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2018 financial results on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. CDT.  The call can be accessed by dialing 844-775-2540 and by identifying the conference ID number 2096238 or by identifying “Southside Bancshares, Inc., First Quarter 2018 Earnings Call.”  To listen to the call via webcast, register at www.southside.com/about/investor-relations.

For those unable to listen to the conference call live, a recording will be available from approximately 3:00 p.m. CDT May 1, 2018 through May 13, 2018 by accessing the company website, www.southside.com/about/investor-relations.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry.  However, certain non-GAAP measures are used by management to supplement the evaluation of our performance.  These include the following fully taxable-equivalent measures (FTE): (i) Net interest income (FTE), (ii) Net interest margin (FTE), (iii) Net interest spread (FTE), and (iv) Efficiency ratio (FTE), which include the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustments using a federal income tax rate of 21% and 35% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, to increase tax-exempt interest income to a tax-equivalent basis.  Interest income earned on certain assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax.  As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments.

Net interest income (FTE), Net interest margin (FTE) and Net interest spread (FTE).  Net interest income (FTE) is a non-GAAP measure that adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from certain loans and investments.  We believe this measure to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources.  The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest income.  Net interest margin (FTE) is the ratio of net interest income (FTE) to average earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis.  The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest margin.  Net interest spread (FTE) is the difference in the average yield on average earning assets on a tax equivalent basis and the average rate paid on average interest bearing liabilities.   The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest spread.

Efficiency ratio (FTE).  The efficiency ratio (FTE) is a non-GAAP measure that provides a measure of productivity in the banking industry.  This ratio is calculated to measure the cost of generating one dollar of revenue.  The ratio is designed to reflect the percentage of one dollar which must be expended to generate that dollar of revenue.  We calculate this ratio by dividing noninterest expense, excluding amortization of intangibles and certain nonrecurring expense by the sum of net interest income (FTE) and noninterest income, excluding gains (losses) on sales of available for sale securities and certain nonrecurring impairments.  The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our efficiency ratio.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements, and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently.  Whenever we present a non-GAAP financial measure in an SEC filing, we are also required to present the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and reconcile the differences between the non-GAAP financial measure and such comparable GAAP measure.

In the following table we present, for the five quarterly periods ended March 31, 2018, the reconciliation of net interest income to net interest income adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis assuming a 21% marginal tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and a 35% marginal tax rate for the 2017 quarterly periods for interest earned on tax-exempt assets such as municipal loans and investment securities (dollars in thousands), along with the calculation of total revenue, adjusted noninterest expense, efficiency ratio (FTE), net interest margin (FTE) and net interest spread (FTE).

(1)   These amounts are presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and are non-GAAP measures.
(2)   Includes net gains and losses on sale of available for sale securities, impairment of investments and other-than-temporary impairment charges.
(3)   Includes acquisition expenses and foreclosure expenses.

Management believes adjusting net interest income, net interest margin and net interest spread to a fully taxable-equivalent basis is a standard practice in the banking industry as these measures provide useful information to make peer comparisons. Tax-equivalent adjustments are reported in the respective earning asset categories as listed in the  “Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates” tables under Results of Operations.

About Southside Bancshares, Inc.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company with approximately $6.4 billion in assets as of March 31, 2018, that owns 100% of Southside Bank.  Southside Bank currently has 60 branches in Texas and operates a network of 84 ATMs/ITMs.

To learn more about Southside Bancshares, Inc., please visit our investor relations website at www.southside.com/about/investor-relations.  Our investor relations site provides a detailed overview of our activities, financial information and historical stock price data.  To receive e-mail notification of company news, events and stock activity, please register on the E-mail Notification portion of the website.  Questions or comments may be directed to Suni Davis at (903) 531-7235, or suni.davis@southside.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements of other than historical fact that are contained in this document and in other written material, press releases and oral statements issued by or on behalf of the Company may be considered to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of and subject to the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management’s views as of any subsequent date.  These statements may include words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “likely,” “intend,” “probability,” “risk,” “target,” “objective,” “plans,” “potential,” and similar expressions.  Forward-looking statements are statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, expectations, objectives, goals, anticipations, assumptions and estimates about the Company's future performance and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.  For example, discussions about trends in asset quality, capital, liquidity, the pace of loan and revenue growth, the Company's ability to sell nonperforming assets, expense reductions, planned operational efficiencies, earnings, successful integration of completed acquisitions and certain market risk disclosures, including the impact of interest rates, tax reform and other economic factors, are based upon information presently available to management and are dependent on choices about key model characteristics and assumptions and are subject to various limitations.  By their nature, certain of the market risk disclosures are only estimates and could be materially different from what actually occurs in the future.

Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect the Company’s financial results, is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, under “Part I - Item 1. Forward Looking Information” and "Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors" and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to announce publicly the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.

(1)  These amounts are presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and are non-GAAP measures.  See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information.

(1)   Excludes purchased credit impaired ("PCI") loans measured at fair value at acquisition.
(2)   Includes $2.9 million, $2.9 million, $3.0 million, $3.0 million, and $3.0 million in PCI loans restructured as of March 31, 2018, December 31, 2017, September 30, 2017, June 30, 2017, and March 31, 2017, respectively.

Loan Portfolio Composition

The following table sets forth loan totals by category for the periods presented:

The “Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates” tables that follow show average earning assets and interest bearing liabilities together with the average yield on the earning assets and the average rate of the interest bearing liabilities (dollars in thousands) for the periods presented.  The interest and related yields presented are on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and are therefore non-GAAP measures.  See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for more information.

(1)  Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.
(2)  For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities is presented at historical cost.

Note:  As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, loans totaling $34.5 million and $2.9 million, respectively, were on nonaccrual status.  Our policy is to reverse previously accrued but unpaid interest on nonaccrual loans; thereafter, interest income is recorded to the extent received when appropriate.

(1)  Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.
(2)  For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities is presented at historical cost.

Note:  As of September 30, 2017 and June 30, 2017, loans totaling $3.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively, were on nonaccrual status.  Our policy is to reverse previously accrued but unpaid interest on nonaccrual loans; thereafter, interest income is recorded to the extent received when appropriate.

(1)  Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.
(2)  For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities is presented at historical cost.

Note: As of March 31, 2017, loans totaling $7.3 million were on nonaccrual status.  Our policy is to reverse previously accrued but unpaid interest on nonaccrual loans; thereafter, interest income is recorded to the extent received when appropriate.