Citizens First Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2014 Results

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens First Corporation (NASDAQ: CZFC) today reported results for the quarter ending June 30, 2014, which include the following:

• For the quarter ended June 30, 2014, the Company reported net income of $733,000, which represents an increase of $42,000 from the linked quarter ended March 31, 2014 and a decrease of $55,000 from the quarter ended June 30, 2013. Earnings per diluted common share for the current quarter were $0.29, an increase of $0.02 from the linked quarter ended March 31, 2014 and a decrease of $0.01 for the quarter ended June 30, 2013.
• For the six months ended June 30, 2014, net income totaled $1.42 million, or $0.56 per diluted common share.  This represents an increase of $521,000, or $0.31 per diluted common share, from the net income of $903,000 in the first six months of the previous year.
• The Company's net interest margin was 3.74% for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 compared to 3.81% for the linked quarter ended March 31, 2014 and 3.77% for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of 7 basis points for the linked quarter and a decrease of 3 basis points from the prior year.  The Company's net interest margin decreased from prior periods due to a decline in the yield on loans.
• Total loans increased $16.4 million, or 5.6%, to $311.5 million at June 30, 2014 compared to $295.1 million at December 31, 2013. Total deposits increased $2.8 million, or 0.8%, to $345.8 million at June 30, 2014 compared to $343.0 million at December 31, 2013.  Todd Kanipe, President & CEO of Citizens First, commented, "commercial loan growth during the first half of the year along with a much lower provision for loan losses and improved asset quality were significant contributors to improved profitability.  We remain encouraged by overall loan demand in our markets."

Second Quarter 2014 Compared to First Quarter 2014

Net interest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 improved $31,000 from the previous quarter, or 0.9%, as the volume of average earning assets increased $6.0 million for the second quarter of 2014.

Non-interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2014 increased $129,000, or 20.5%, compared to the previous quarter, primarily due to an increase in service charges on deposits of $35,000 and an increase in security gains of $74,000.  Non-interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2014 increased $71,000, or 2.3%, compared to the previous quarter, primarily due to an increase in other real estate expense.

A $150,000 provision for loan losses was recorded for the second quarter of 2014, compared to a $125,000 provision in the previous quarter, an increase of $25,000.  The allowance for loan losses to total loans remained relatively constant at 1.59% compared to 1.60% in the first quarter.  Net charge-offs (recoveries) were $24,000 for the second quarter of 2014 compared to $(49,000) in the first quarter of 2014.  

Second Quarter 2014 Compared to Second Quarter 2013

Net interest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 decreased $26,000, or 0.7%, compared to the previous year.  The decrease in net interest income was impacted by a reduction in interest expense of $69,000 combined with a decrease in interest income of $95,000.  The decrease in interest income was created by a decline in the yield on loans from 5.28% in the second quarter of 2013 to 5.13% in the second quarter of 2014.  Loan yields have declined as maturing loans were repriced at a lower rate.

Non-interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2014 decreased $37,000, or 4.7%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2013, primarily due to a decline in gains on sale of mortgage loans.

Non-interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2014 decreased $46,000, or 1.4%, compared to the three months ended June 30 2013, due to a decrease in legal and collection expenses.

A $150,000 provision for loan losses was recorded for the second quarter of 2014, an increase of $100,000, from $50,000 in the second quarter of 2013.  The allowance for loan losses to total loans decreased from 1.98% of total loans at June 30, 2013 to 1.59% at June 30, 2014, primarily due to charge-offs of specific allocations which were included in the allowance at June 30, 2013.  Net charge-offs were $24,000 for the second quarter of 2014 compared to net charge-offs of $635,000 in the second quarter of 2013.

Balance Sheet

Total assets at June 30, 2014 were $414.8 million, an increase of $4.6 million from $410.2 million at December 31, 2013.  Average assets year-to-date were $416.9 million, a decrease of 0.4%, or $1.6 million, from $418.5 million in 2013.  Average interest earning assets decreased 0.4%, or $1.6 million, from $386.1 million year-to-date 2013 to $384.5 million year-to-date 2014.

Loans increased $16.4 million, or 5.6%, from $295.1 million at December 31, 2013 to $311.5 million at June 30, 2014.  Total loans averaged $303.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, compared to $304.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of $1.2 million, or 0.4%.

Non-performing assets totaled $2.5 million at June 30, 2014 compared to $2.0 million at December 31, 2013, an increase of $468,000. A summary of nonperforming assets is presented below:

The allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2014 was $5.0 million, or 1.59% of total loans, compared to $4.7 million, or 1.58% of total loans as of December 31, 2013.  The allowance increased due to an increase in outstanding loans for the year.  A summary of the allowance for loan losses is presented below:

Deposits at June 30, 2014 were $345.8 million, an increase of $2.8 million, or 0.8%, compared to $343.0 million at December 31, 2013.  Total deposits averaged $348.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $4.4 million, or 1.3%, compared to $344.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2013.  Average deposits increased during the year, but the cost of funds declined as higher cost deposits matured and were renewed at lower rates. 

At June 30, 2014, total shareholders' equity was $36.8 million compared to $38.3 million at December 31, 2013, a decrease of $1.5 million.  During the first quarter of 2014, the Company paid $3.3 million to repurchase the remaining 93 shares of the Series A preferred stock that the Company had issued to the Treasury in 2008 under the TARP Capital Purchase Program.  

The Company's tangible equity ratio declined to 7.85% as of June 30, 2014 compared to 8.28% at December 31, 2013 due to the repurchase of the Company's Series A preferred stock noted above.  The tangible book value per common share improved from $11.51 at December 31, 2013, to $12.47 at June 30, 2014.  The Company and Citizens First Bank are categorized as "well capitalized" under regulatory guidelines.

About Citizens First Corporation

Citizens First Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky and established in 1999.  The Company has branch offices located in Barren, Hart, Simpson and Warren Counties in Kentucky, and a loan production office in Williamson County, Tennessee.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release relating to Citizens First Corporation's plans, objectives, expectations or future performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based upon the Company's current expectations, but are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially.  Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially are economic conditions generally and in the market areas of the Company, a continuation or worsening of the current disruption in credit and other markets, goodwill impairment, overall loan demand, increased competition in the financial services industry which could negatively impact the Company's ability to increase total earning assets, and the retention of key personnel.  Actions by the Department of the Treasury and federal and state bank regulators in response to changing economic conditions, changes in interest rates, loan prepayments by and the financial health of the Company's borrowers, and other factors described in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission could also impact current expectations.    

(1)   The tangible equity ratio, tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per common share, while not required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), are considered critical metrics with which to analyze banks.  The ratio and per share amount have been included to facilitate a greater understanding of the Company's capital structure and financial condition.  See the Regulation G Non-GAAP Reconciliation table for reconciliation of this ratio and per share amount to GAAP.

SOURCE Citizens First Corporation