Alliance Financial Announces First Quarter Earnings

SYRACUSE, N.Y., April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliance Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:ALNC), the holding company for Alliance Bank, N.A., announced today that its net income for the first quarter of 2008 was $2.1 million, a decrease of 11.8% compared with $2.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Diluted earnings per share decreased 8.2% to $0.45 in the first quarter, compared with $0.49 in the first quarter of 2007. An increase in net interest income of $686,000 compared with the year-ago quarter was offset by a $616,000 increase in the provision for credit losses and a $543,000 increase in non-interest expenses.

Jack H. Webb, President and CEO of Alliance said, "Trends in net interest income and asset-quality were positive in the first quarter, as net interest income increased 7.6% on a higher net interest margin and delinquencies fell nearly 34% compared with the fourth quarter of 2007. We recorded a higher provision for credit losses in the first quarter as we took steps to accelerate the resolution of two large commercial problem credits, which contributed to a decrease in non-performing loans and leases of $2.1 million or 31% during the quarter."

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets were $1.3 billion at March 31, 2008, an increase of $41.4 million from December 31, 2007. Federal funds sold increased $27.8 million due to the timing of cash flows related to our wholesale funding activities. Total loans and leases (net of unearned income) decreased $11.3 million in the first quarter, to $884.2 million at March 31, 2008, primarily due to the reclassification of $10.8 million of equipment leases to held-for-sale.

Residential mortgage volume was strong in the first quarter, with outstandings increasing $6.3 million or 2.3% during the historically slowest quarter of the year. The growth in residential mortgages has come entirely from conventional mortgages originated by Alliance Bank originators in our local markets. The Company does not originate and has no direct exposure to sub-prime, Alt-A, negative amortizing or other higher risk residential mortgages.

Commercial loans were unchanged in the first quarter, and totaled $217.3 million at March 31, as sluggish economic conditions and competition continues to constrain growth in our markets.

Leases, net of unearned income decreased $10.2 million due to the reclassification of a portion of the Company's equipment lease portfolio to held-for-sale, as the Company has elected to exit this non-core segment of our equipment finance business.

Total deposits were $972.7 million at March 31, 2008, an increase of $28.5 million from December 31, 2007. Money market accounts increased $23.8 million due primarily to a seasonal increase in municipal deposits.

Shareholders' equity increased $399,000 to $116.0 million at March 31, 2008. Net income was $2.1 million in the first quarter and the Company declared a dividend totaling $1.1 million ($0.24 per share). In addition, the Company continued its stock repurchase program in the first quarter of 2008 with the purchase of 76,460 shares of its stock for a total of $1.9 million. The average cost of the shares repurchased was $25.78 per share. Also impacting shareholders' equity in the first quarter was a $1.8 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive income, which resulted primarily from an increase in unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale. The securities available-for-sale portfolio is predominantly comprised of investment grade mortgage-backed securities, securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored corporations and municipal securities. Our mortgage- backed securities portfolio is comprised of pass-through securities guaranteed by either Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae, and does not include any securities backed by subprime or other high-risk mortgages.

Asset Quality and the Provision for Credit Losses

Loans and leases past due 30 days or more, which includes nonperforming loans, totaled $10.9 million or 1.23% of total loans and leases at March 31, 2008. This is a decrease of $5.5 million or 33.5% from delinquencies of $16.4 million or 1.83% of total loans and leases at December 31, 2007, and is the lowest level since March 31, 2007. Approximately $3.4 million of the decrease in delinquencies in the first quarter was in the 30 to 89 day categories, largely the result of a decrease in residential mortgage delinquencies. The Company's delinquencies at March 31, 2008 are not concentrated in any one segment of the loan and lease portfolio. Commercial loans and residential mortgages, the two largest segments of our loan and lease portfolio, comprised the largest portion of total delinquencies at 38.1% and 36.2%, respectively of total delinquencies.

Nonperforming loans and leases decreased $2.1 million or 30.9% in the first quarter to $4.6 million or 0.52% of total loans and leases at March 31, 2008, compared with $6.7 million or 0.75% of total loans and leases at December 31, 2007. Nonperforming commercial loans decreased $2.4 million in the first quarter due primarily to principal pay downs, collateral liquidation and charge-offs with respect to the two largest nonperforming loans. The largest nonperforming commercial loan had a balance of $1.6 million at December 31, 2007. During the first quarter the Company collected cash payments of $750,000 with respect to this loan through the liquidation of collateral, and charged-off $645,000, resulting in a remaining balance of $205,000 at March 31, 2008 which is secured by receivables and other collateral. The next largest nonperforming commercial loan had a balance of $1.2 million at December 31, 2007. The Company recorded a charge-off of $575,000 on this loan in the first quarter and is currently engaged in settlement negotiations which are anticipated to result in full payment of the remaining balance.

The provision for credit losses was $1.4 million in the first quarter, compared with $750,000 in the year-ago period. Net charge-offs were $1.6 million in the first quarter compared with $446,000 in the first quarter of 2007. Comprehensive liquidation strategies on the two largest non-performing commercial relationships resulted in charge-offs of $1.2 million which represented 65% of the first quarter's total gross charge-offs.

The allowance for credit losses was $8.2 million at March 31, 2008, compared with $8.4 million at December 31, 2007. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to total loans and leases was 0.93% at March 31, 2008, compared with 0.94% at December 31, 2007. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans and leases was 177% at March 31, 2008, compared with 126% at December 31, 2007.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income totaled $8.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2008, which was an increase of $686,000 or 8.5% from the first quarter of 2007, and was up $622,000 or 7.6% from the fourth quarter of 2007. Interest income increased $174,000 compared with the first quarter of 2007, while interest expense decreased $512,000 compared with the year-ago quarter.

The Company's net interest margin increased 10 basis points compared with the year-ago quarter, and was up 17 basis points compared with the fourth quarter of 2007 primarily as a result of the impact of the 300 basis point drop in the federal funds target rate on our deposit product rates and wholesale funding costs. The net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis was 3.15% in the first quarter of 2008, compared with 3.05% in the first quarter of 2007 and 2.98% in the fourth quarter of 2007. The Company's earning asset yield decreased 21 basis points in the first quarter compared with the fourth quarter of 2007, while its cost of funds decreased 45 basis points over the same period.

Webb added, "We have been proactive in lowering our deposit offering rates across all product lines, which contributed to a substantial decrease in our cost of funds in the first quarter. These rate reductions, along with lower wholesale borrowing costs, are expected to continue to favorably impact our net interest margin in the second quarter."

Non-Interest Income and Non-Interest Expenses

Non-interest income was $5.2 million in the first quarter, which was an increase of $166,000 or 3.3% compared with $5.0 million in the first quarter of 2007. The increase resulted primarily from a gain on the sale of securities available-for-sale totaling $137,000 in the first quarter of 2008. Non-interest income decreased $520,000 or 9.1% compared with the fourth quarter of 2007, due primarily to two fourth quarter events; a non-recurring gain of $283,000 on the prepayment of certain leases and the recognition by our insurance subsidiary of annual sales commissions totaling $160,000. Also contributing to the decrease in non-interest income was a normal seasonal decrease in service charges on deposit accounts of $139,000 in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2007.

Non-interest income comprised 36.3% of total revenue in the first quarter, compared with 38.3% in the first quarter of 2007 and 40.0% in the fourth quarter of 2007. The decrease in the ratio is due primarily to the increase in net interest income in the first quarter of 2008. Gains and losses on sales of securities and the gain on the lease prepayment in the fourth quarter of 2007 have been excluded from this calculation. Also excluded from the calculation is a gain on the partial redemption of the Company's equity interest in Visa, Inc. of $208,000 in connection with its initial public offering and a writedown of leases available-for-sale of $160,000, both of which are included in other non-interest income in the first quarter of 2008.

Non-interest expenses were $9.8 million in the first quarter, which was an increase of $543,000 or 5.9% compared to $9.3 million in the first quarter of 2007. Non-interest expenses increased $298,000 or 3.1% compared with the fourth quarter of 2007. Salaries and benefits were the primary factor behind the increases compared with both periods in 2007. Approximately $227,000 of the increase in salaries and benefits expense in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the first quarter of 2007 resulted from unique items in each of the two quarters.

The Company's efficiency ratio was 71.1% in the first quarter of 2008, compared with 70.6% in the year-ago quarter and 69.9% in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The Company's effective tax rate was 25.6% for the first quarter, compared with 24.0% in the year-ago period. The increase in the effective tax rate primarily reflects a decline in the percentage of non-taxable income to pre- tax income.

Alliance Financial Corporation is an independent financial holding company with Alliance Bank, N.A. as its principal subsidiary that provides banking, commercial leasing, and trust and investment services through 29 offices in Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego counties. The Bank also operates a trust administration center in Buffalo, N.Y. and offers lease financing through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alliance Leasing, Inc. Alliance also operates a wholly-owned multi-line insurance subsidiary, Ladd's Agency, Inc.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Alliance Financial Corporation. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, among others, the following possibilities: an increase in competitive pressure in the banking industry; changes in the interest rate environment which may reduce margins; changes in the regulatory environment; general economic conditions, either nationally or regionally, that are less favorable than expected, resulting, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality; changes in business conditions and inflation; changes in the securities markets; changes in technology used in the banking business; our ability to maintain and increase market share and control expenses; the possibility that our investment management business will fail to perform as currently anticipated; and other factors detailed from time to time in our SEC filings.

Contact: Alliance Financial Corporation
J. Daniel Mohr, Treasurer and CFO
(315) 475-4478

Alliance Financial Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

March 31, December 31,
2008 2007
(Dollars in thousands,
except share and per share data)

Assets
Cash and due from banks $29,863 $30,704
Fed funds sold 27,815 - Securities available-for-sale 278,751 272,713
Federal Home Loan Bank of NY ("FHLB") Stock
and Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB") Stock 10,610 9,507
Loans and leases held for sale 15,057 3,163
Total loans and leases, net of unearned income 884,225 895,533
Less allowance for credit losses 8,184 8,426
Net loans and leases 876,041 887,107

Premises and equipment, net 21,646 21,560
Accrued interest receivable 5,361 4,501
Bank-owned life insurance 24,243 17,084
Assets held-for-sale 801 801
Goodwill 32,187 32,187
Intangible assets, net 12,771 13,183
Other assets 13,527 14,771
Total assets $1,348,673 $1,307,281

Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing 131,500 138,846
Interest bearing 841,230 805,367
Total deposits 972,730 944,213

Borrowings 215,021 201,929
Accrued interest payable 4,676 3,903
Other liabilities 14,513 15,902
Junior subordinated obligations issued to
unconsolidated subsidiary trusts 25,774 25,774
Total liabilities 1,232,714 1,191,721

Shareholders' equity:
Common stock 4,905 4,889
Surplus 40,818 38,847
Undivided profits 76,341 75,844
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 2,978 1,205
Directors' stock-based deferred
compensation plan (1,887) - Treasury stock (7,196) (5,225)
Total shareholders' equity 115,959 115,560
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $1,348,673 $1,307,281

Common shares outstanding 4,649,935 4,710,885
Book value per share $24.94 $24.53
Tangible book value per share $15.27 $14.90

Alliance Financial Corporation
Consolidated Average Balances (Unaudited)

Three months ended March 31,
2008 2007
Earning assets: (Dollars in thousands)
Federal funds sold and interest
bearing deposits $7,072 $283
Securities (1) 290,460 259,072
Loans and leases receivable:
Residential real estate loans (2) 278,605 255,135
Commercial loans 218,438 221,931
Leases, net of unearned income (2) 129,770 130,997
Indirect loans 174,022 181,025
Other consumer loans 91,691 89,792
Loans and leases receivable, net of
unearned income 892,526 878,880
Total earning assets 1,190,058 1,138,235

Non-earning assets 120,816 125,629
Total assets $1,310,874 $1,263,864

Interest bearing liabilities:
Interest bearing checking accounts 106,958 96,479
Savings accounts 81,849 84,635
Money market accounts 210,837 200,491
Time deposits 413,794 424,972
Borrowings 210,238 180,149
Junior subordinated obligations issued to
unconsolidated trusts 25,774 25,774
Total interest bearing liabilities 1,049,450 1,012,500

Non-interest bearing deposits 126,253 124,237
Other non-interest bearing liabilities 19,078 17,386
Total liabilities 1,194,781 1,154,123
Shareholders' equity 116,093 109,741
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity $1,310,874 $1,263,864

(1) The amounts shown are amortized cost and include FHLB and FRB stock

(2) Includes loans and leases held for sale

Alliance Financial Corporation
Loan and Deposit Composition (Unaudited)

March 31, 2008 December 31, 2007
Amount Percent Amount Percent
Loan portfolio composition (Dollars in thousands)
Residential real estate loans $ 279,729 31.8% $ 273,465 30.6%
Commercial loans 217,294 24.7% 217,136 24.4%
Leases, net of unearned income 121,134 13.8% 131,300 14.7%
Indirect loans 172,692 19.6% 176,115 19.7%
Other consumer loans 89,891 10.1% 94,246 10.6%
Total loans and leases $ 880,740 100.0% $ 892,262 100.0%

Net deferred loan costs 3,485 3,271
Allowance for credit losses (8,184) (8,426)
Net loans and leases $ 876,041 $ 887,107

Deposit composition
Non-interest bearing checking $ 131,500 13.5% $ 138,846 14.7%
Interest bearing checking 108,789 11.2% 101,793 10.8%
Total checking 240,289 24.7% 240,639 25.5%
Savings 84,045 8.6% 81,154 8.6%
Money market 226,870 23.3% 203,074 21.5%
Time deposits 421,526 43.4% 419,346 44.4%
Total deposits $ 972,730 100.0% $ 944,213 100.0%

Alliance Financial Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

Three months ended March 31,
2008 2007
(In thousands,
except share and per share data)
Interest income:
Loans, including fees $14,154 $14,561
Federal funds sold and interest
bearing deposits 46 6
Securities 3,351 2,810
Total interest income 17,551 17,377

Interest expense:
Deposits:
Savings accounts 106 110
Money market accounts 1,386 1,552
Time accounts 4,654 4,884
NOW accounts 214 183
Total 6,360 6,729

Borrowings:
Repurchase agreements 517 712
FHLB advances 1,484 1,369
Mortgagors' escrow funds 8 3
2,009 2,084

Junior subordinated obligations 415 483
Total interest expense 8,784 9,296

Net interest income 8,767 8,081
Provision for credit losses 1,366 750
Net interest income after provision
for credit losses 7,401 7,331

Non-interest income:
Investment management income 2,288 2,218
Service charges on deposit accounts 1,233 1,252
Card-related fees 502 446
Insurance agency income 338 397
Income from bank-owned life insurance 158 156
Gain on the sale of loans 26 44
Gain on sale of securities available-for-sale 137 - Rental income from leases 66 76
Other non-interest income 437 430
Total non-interest income 5,185 5,019

Non-interest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits 5,005 4,434
Occupancy and equipment expense 1,723 1,822
Communication expense 198 192
Stationery and supplies expense 108 129
Marketing expense 291 289
Amortization of intangible assets 412 420
Professional fees 762 700
Other operating expense 1,295 1,265
Total non-interest expense 9,794 9,251

Income before income tax expense 2,792 3,099
Income tax expense 716 745
Net income $2,076 $2,354

Share and Per Share Data
Basic average shares outstanding 4,578,027 4,724,638
Diluted average shares outstanding 4,636,012 4,799,638
Basic earnings per share $0.45 $0.50
Diluted earnings per share $0.45 $ 0.49
Cash dividends declared $0.24 $0.22

Alliance Financial Corporation
Consolidated Financial Information (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

March 31, 2008 December 31, 2007
Asset quality
Non-accruing loans and leases
Residential real estate loans $1,143 $1,118
Commercial loans 2,568 4,988
Leases 524 320
Indirect loans 59 83
Other consumer loans 157 158
Total non-accruing loans and leases 4,451 6,667
Accruing loans and leases delinquent
90 days or more 180 39
Total non-performing loans and leases 4,631 6,706
Other real estate and repossessed assets 158 229
Total non-performing assets $ 4,789 $ 6,935

Allowance for credit losses Three months ended March 31,
2008 2007
Allowance for credit losses,
beginning of period $8,426 $7,029

Loans and leases charged-off (1,881) (635)
Recoveries of loans and leases previously
charged-off 273 189
Net loans and leases charged-off (1,608) (446)

Provision for credit losses 1,366 750
Allowance for credit losses, end of period $8,184 $7,333

Alliance Financial Corporation
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

2008 2007
First Fourth Third Second First
(Dollars in thousands,
except share and per share data)

Interest income $17,551 $17,978 $18,028 $17,649 $17,377
Interest expense 8,784 9,832 9,822 9,600 9,296
Net interest income 8,767 8,146 8,206 8,049 8,081
Provision for credit
losses 1,366 1,200 1,140 700 750
Net interest income
after provision for
credit losses 7,401 6,946 7,066 7,349 7,331
Other non-interest income 5,185 5,705 5,432 5,136 5,019
Other non-interest expense 9,794 9,496 9,350 9,541 9,251
Income before income tax
expense 2,792 3,155 3,148 2,944 3,099
Income tax expense 716 715 738 671 745
Net income $2,076 $2,440 $2,410 $2,273 $2,354

Stock and related per
share data
Basic earnings per share $0.45 $0.52 $0.51 $ 0.48 $0.50
Diluted earnings per
share $0.45 $0.51 $0.51 $0.48 $0.49
Basic weighted average
shares outstanding 4,578,027 4,699,106 4,709,334 4,709,334 4,724,638
Diluted weighted average
shares outstanding 4,636,012 4,752,112 4,756,088 4,771,091 4,799,638
Cash dividends paid per
share $0.24 $0.24 $0.22 $0.22 $0.22

Dividend payout ratio (1) 53.33% 47.06% 43.14% 45.83% 44.90%
Book value $24.94 $24.53 $23.71 $23.06 $23.07
Tangible book value (2) $15.27 $14.90 $13.87 $13.10 $13.01

Capital
Tier 1 leverage ratio 7.37% 7.53% 7.53% 7.41% 7.34%
Tier 1 risk based capital 10.36% 10.64% 10.62% 10.41% 10.15%
Total risk based capital 11.27% 11.59% 11.53% 11.29% 11.01%

Selected ratios
Return on average assets 0.63% 0.75% 0.75% 0.71% 0.75%
Return on average equity 7.15% 8.49% 8.64% 8.22% 8.58%
Yield on earning assets 6.12% 6.33% 6.43% 6.35% 6.31%
Cost of funds 3.35% 3.80% 3.86% 3.78% 3.67%
Net interest margin
(tax equivalent) (3) 3.15% 2.98% 3.04% 3.01% 3.05%
Non-interest income to
total income (4) 36.32% 40.01% 39.83% 38.95% 38.31%
Efficiency ratio (5) 71.14% 69.93% 68.56% 72.36% 70.62%

Asset quality ratios
Net loans and leases charged
off to average loans and
leases, annualized 0.72% 0.29% 0.37% 0.22% 0.20%
Provision for credit losses
to average loans and leases,
annualized 0.61% 0.54% 0.51% 0.32% 0.34%
Allowance for credit losses
to total loans and leases 0.93% 0.94% 0.88% 0.85% 0.83%
Allowance for credit losses
to non-performing loans
and leases 176.7% 125.7% 176.1% 139.3% 132.7%
Non-performing loans and
leases to total loans
and leases 0.52% 0.75% 0.50% 0.61% 0.62%
Non-performing assets to
total assets 0.36% 0.53% 0.37% 0.43% 0.44%

(1) Cash dividends declared per share divided by diluted earnings per
share

(2) Shareholders' equity less goodwill and intangible assets divided by
common shares outstanding

(3) Tax equivalent net interest income divided by average earning assets

(4) Non-interest income (excluding net realized gains and losses on
securities, gain on the partial redemption of Visa Inc. stock, write
down of leases held for sale and lease prepayment gain) divided by the
sum of net interest income and non-interest income (as adjusted)

(5) Non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and
non-interest income (as adjusted)

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Alliance Financial Corporation

CONTACT: J. Daniel Mohr, Treasurer and CFO, Alliance Financial
Corporation, +1-315-475-4478

Web site: http://www.alliancebankna.com/

2008-04-22 18:05:12 0342595 PRNEWSWIRE