First Financial Bankshares Announces First Quarter Earnings Results

ABILENE, Texas, April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIN) today reported earnings for the first quarter of 2017 of $26.60 million, up 3.51 percent compared with earnings of $25.70 million in the same quarter last year.  Basic earnings per share were $0.40 for the first quarter of 2017 compared with $0.39 in the same quarter a year ago.

Net interest income for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016 was $57.02 million. The net interest margin, on a taxable equivalent basis, was 4.03 percent for the first quarter of 2017 compared to 4.01 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 4.15 percent in the first quarter of 2016. Included in interest income for the first quarter of 2017 was $401 thousand, or three basis points in net interest margin, related to discount accretion from fair value accounting related to the Conroe and Orange acquisitions.  

The provision for loan losses was $1.95 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared with $1.99 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and $2.33 million in the first quarter of 2016. The continued provision for loan losses in 2017 reflects the continued levels of nonperforming and classified assets, gross charge-offs, as well as the continuing economic effects related to the oil and gas industry. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of loans and foreclosed assets totaled 0.90 percent at March 31, 2017, compared with 0.86 percent at December 31, 2016, and 0.88 percent at March 31, 2016. Classified loans totaled $122.62 million at March 31, 2017, compared to $127.80 million at December 31, 2016, and $142.14 million at March 31, 2016.

At March 31, 2017, loans with oil and gas industry exposure totaled 2.22% of gross loans. These loans comprised $29.08 million of the classified loan totals and $3.21 million of the nonperforming loan totals. There were no charge-offs related to these oil and gas loans for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. At March 31, 2017, the Company's allowance for loan loss reserve specific to its total oil and gas loan portfolio totaled 6.59% of total oil and gas loans.

Noninterest income increased 7.39 percent in the first quarter of 2017 to $21.29 million compared with $19.82 million in the same quarter a year ago. Trust fees increased $1.36 million to $6.02 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared with $4.66 million in the same quarter last year, primarily due to continued growth in the fair value of Trust assets managed to $4.54 billion from $4.01 billion a year ago and an increase of $514 thousand in real estate and lease bonus fees over the same quarter a year ago. ATM, interchange and credit card fees increased 8.52 percent to $6.16 million compared with $5.68 million in the same quarter last year due to continued growth in net new accounts and debit cards. Real estate mortgage fees increased 8.86 percent in the first quarter of 2017 to $3.42 million compared with $3.14 million in the same quarter a year ago.

Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2017 totaled $42.15 million compared to $41.08 million in the first quarter of 2016. The Company's efficiency ratio in the first quarter of 2017 was 49.67 percent compared with 49.52 percent in the same quarter last year. The increase in noninterest expense in the first quarter of 2017 was primarily driven by a $669 thousand increase in salary and employee benefit expense and an increase in fraud and operational and other losses of $499 thousand when compared to the same quarter a year ago.

As of March 31, 2017, consolidated assets for the Company totaled $6.93 billion compared to $6.81 billion at December 31, 2016 and $6.53 billion at March 31, 2016. Loans totaled $3.39 billion at quarter end compared with loans of $3.38 billion at December 31, 2016, and $3.30 billion at March 31, 2016. Deposits totaled $5.66 billion at March 31, 2017, compared to $5.48 billion at December 31, 2016, and $5.06 billion at March 31, 2016. Shareholders' equity rose to $859.35 million as of March 31, 2017, compared with $837.89 million at December 31, 2016, and $838.61 million at March 31, 2016. 

"We continue to work diligently to grow loans and deposits, reduce expenses to improve our bottom line while continuing to look for acquisition opportunities to better utilize our strong capital position and increase our return to our shareholders," said F. Scott Dueser, Chairman, President and CEO.

About First Financial Bankshares

Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that through its subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., operates multiple banking regions with 69 locations in Texas including Abilene, Acton, Albany, Aledo, Alvarado, Beaumont, Boyd, Bridgeport, Brock, Burleson, Cisco, Cleburne, Clyde, Conroe, Cut and Shoot, Decatur, Eastland, Fort Worth, Glen Rose, Granbury, Grapevine, Hereford, Huntsville, Keller, Magnolia, Mauriceville, Merkel, Midlothian, Mineral Wells, Montgomery, Moran, New Waverly, Newton, Odessa, Orange, Port Arthur, Ranger, Rising  Star,  Roby,  San  Angelo,  Southlake,  Stephenville,  Sweetwater, Tomball, Trent,  Trophy Club, Vidor, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Willis, and Willow Park. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with seven locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company.

The Company is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol FFIN.  For more information about First Financial Bankshares, please visit our website at http://www.ffin.com

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Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the belief of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made beyond information currently available to the Company's management, and may be, but not necessarily are, identified by such words as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "target", "forecast" and "goal".  Because such "forward-looking statements" are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include competition from other financial institutions and financial holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the  Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses, and similar variables.   Other key risks are described in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be obtained under "Investor Relations-Documents/Filings" on the Company's Web site or by writing or calling the Company at 325.627.7155. Except as otherwise stated in this news announcement, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.