First Federal Bankshares, Inc. Reports Net Loss in Fiscal Third Quarter and Suspends Fiscal Fourth Quarter Dividend
SIOUX CITY, Iowa, May 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First Federal Bankshares, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ:FFSX), the parent company of Vantus Bank (the "Bank"), recorded a net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2008, of $1.5 million or $0.47 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.0 million, or $0.30 per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2007. For the nine months ended March 31, 2008, the Company recorded a net loss of $802,000, or $0.25 per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.4 million, or $0.72 per diluted share for the nine months ended March 31, 2007.
Results of operations during the three months ended March 31, 2008, were negatively affected by a significant increase in the Company's provision for loan losses for the period. Non-performing loans increased from $3.1 million or 0.72% of loans receivable at December 31, 2007, to $9.3 million or 2.24% of loans receivable at March 31, 2008. In addition, adversely classified assets (which include non-performing loans) increased from $8.5 million or 1.36% of total assets at December 31, 2007, to $14.2 million or 2.38% of total assets at March 31, 2008. Adversely classified assets consist of loans rated "Substandard", "Doubtful", or "Loss", as well as foreclosed and repossessed assets. Loans rated "Special Mention" increased from $13.9 million at December 31, 2007, to $21.7 million at March 31, 2008. The increase in non-performing loans and adversely classified assets was primarily driven by four large loan relationships totaling $5.6 million, which defaulted during the quarter. Two of these loans totaling $3.5 million are in the renewable fuels industry and two totaling $2.1 million are in real estate development. As a result of these defaults, the loans were downgraded to "Substandard" and were placed on non-accrual. In addition to these loans, the Company downgraded to "Special Mention" a $6.1 million loan on a land development project and a $3.2 million loan to a clothing distributor that is secured by commercial real estate.
In all of the instances cited in the preceding paragraph, management of the Company currently believes the estimated fair value of the collateral securing these loans exceeds the amounts due the Company. Accordingly, the Company does not anticipate a need for specific loss allowance on these relationships at this time, although there can be no assurances. However, in addition to the Company's absolute level of classified assets, management's assessment of current economic conditions and expectations for near-term losses are key components in the calculation of the Company's allowance for loan losses. Changes in these assessments and/or expectations warranted an increase in certain subjective factors used in the Company's computation of its allowance for loan loss. As a result of these developments, as well as $380,000 specific loss allowance on an additional loan relationship discussed in the next paragraph, the Company recorded a provision for loan losses of approximately $2.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to $31,000 for the corresponding quarter in 2007. In addition, the Company recorded a loss of $171,000 as a result of the disposition of certain foreclosed real estate properties during the period. This amount has been included in other non-interest expense. In addition to the developments discussed in the previous paragraph, a $1.4 million loan to an out-of-market concrete pumping contractor deteriorated further during the quarter. Management now believes the probable outcome for this loan relationship will be the complete liquidation of the loan collateral to satisfy the amounts owed to the Company. Accordingly, during the quarter the Company increased its specific allowance on this loan relationship from $180,000 to $560,000 based on management's current assessment of the value of the collateral. However, there can be no assurances that the Company will be able to liquidate the collateral for the value estimated by management. As a result of the developments described in the preceding paragraphs, the Company's allowance for loan loss increased from $2.1 million or 0.47% of total loans at December 31, 2007, to $4.7 million or 1.13% of total loans at March 31, 2008. Although management believes that the Company's present level of allowance for loan losses is adequate, there can be no assurance that future adjustments to the allowance will not be necessary, which could adversely affect the Company's results of operations. Net interest income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008, increased $0.1 million from $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, to $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company's net interest margin was 2.86% compared to 2.79% for the same period a year ago. The increase in margin was due to liability costs falling faster than the yield of the Company's interest-earning assets. Asset yields decreased 20 basis points. Approximately half of this decrease was due to a decline in yields on the Company's loan portfolio. The remaining decrease was related to the reversal of interest on loans that were placed on non-accrual during the period. During the most recent quarter, the Company's cost of interest-bearing liabilities declined 40 basis points in response to overall decreases in market interest rates. The increase in margin was partially offset by a decrease in the Company's average interest-earning assets. Average interest-earning assets decreased $7.0 million to $553.1 million during the most recent quarter compared to $560.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. For the nine month period ended March 31, 2008, net interest income increased to $12.2 million compared to $11.8 million for the same period ended March 31, 2007. For the nine months ended March 31, 2008, the Company's net interest margin remained at 2.93%. However, average interest-earning assets for the nine month period ended March 31, 2008, increased $15.9 million to $561.5 million compared to $545.7 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2007. The change was primarily due to increases in the Company's investment portfolio. Non-interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, totaled $1.4 million. For the nine months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, non-interest income totaled $4.5 million. A decline in service fees on deposits was offset by an increase in fees charged on consumer and commercial loans. The decrease in service fees on deposits was due to the elimination of fees on internet banking services and lower income from overdraft fees as a result of the implementation of an overdraft protection product. These changes were driven by competitive forces in the Company's market areas. The corresponding increase in the amount of service fees on commercial and consumer loans was due to the collection of prepayment penalties on a number of large commercial real estate loans that refinanced during the period. Non-interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008, increased $0.7 million or 14.4% over the same period last year. For the nine months ended March 31, 2008, non-interest expense increased $1.8 million or 13.5% as compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2007. Personnel expense increased $0.9 million or 11.1% for the nine months ended March 31, 2008, as compared to the same period last year. This increase was primarily due to merit increases and an increase in the number of full-time equivalent employees as compared to last year. The number of full-time equivalent employees was 196 as of March 31, 2008, as compared to 182 at the same time last year. This increase was primarily due to the opening of two new banking centers in the Des Moines market, as well as the hiring of certain key employees over the past twelve months. Advertising, donations, and public relations for the nine months ended March 31, 2008, increased $0.5 million to $1.0 million as compared to the same period last year. This change was due to increased costs associated with the promotion of the Bank's new name and brand. Data processing, ATM, and other item processing expense increased $0.3 million from $0.9 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2007, to $1.2 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2008. This increase was partially due to costs associated with the purchase of new debit card stock in association with the name change. In addition, the Company has been successful at increasing the number of internet banking and cell phone users. As a result, processing costs to service these channels have increased as compared to the previous year. Income tax benefit for the nine months ended March 31, 2008, was $890,000 compared to an expense of $561,000 for the nine months ended March 31, 2007. Income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2008, was $1.0 million compared to an expense of $120,000 for the same period a year ago. Total assets decreased by $48.5 million, or 7.5%, to $597.4 million at March 31, 2008, from $645.8 million at June 30, 2007. This decrease was due to short term investments and cash being used to repay wholesale borrowings. In addition, loans receivable declined $15.7 million as loan prepayment activity increased. Total deposits declined significantly from June 30, 2007, as a result of management's decision to replace $50 million in brokered certificates of deposit with $50 million in advances from the FHLB. Excluding brokered certificates, deposit liabilities increased $6.3 million or 1.4% since June 30, 2007. This increase was led by total checking accounts, which were up $4.9 million or 3.6%. Other Matters The Company's book value per share was $17.47 at March 31, 2008, compared to $20.72 at June 30, 2007. This decline was attributable to the Company's net loss from operations, as well as a $9.6 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss, which is a component of stockholders' equity. This increase was caused by a decline in the fair value of the Company's available-for-sale securities, most notably its portfolio of trust-preferred pooled securities ("TPSs"). As of March 31, 2008, the Company owned TPSs with an amortized cost of $65.2 million. The cash flows of the Company's TPSs are derived from trust preferred securities and subordinated debt issued by well-diversified pools of banks and thrifts (73%), insurance companies (25%), and REIT/homebuilders (2%). The Company's TPS securities are secured through a combination of subordination from lower classes within the TPS structures, as well as over-collateralization of available future contractual cash flows. At the time of purchase, each of the securities in the Company's TPS portfolio were rated either single-A (61% of the portfolio) or triple-B (39% of the portfolio) by a nationally recognized rating agency. In December 2007, however, a TPS with an amortized cost of $5.1 million was downgraded to triple-C due to the default of two REITs within the TPS. This security is the only TPS in the Company's portfolio that has an exposure to REITs (27%). On March 31, 2008, the fair value of the Company's TPS portfolio was estimated to be $49.7 million or 76.3% of unamortized cost, compared to $57.9 million or 88.8% of unamortized cost at December 31, 2007. In management's judgment, the significant decline in the estimated fair value of the Company's TPS portfolio was not the result of a decline in the credit quality of the community banks, thrifts, and insurance companies that support these securities. The Company expects to receive all contractual principal and interest payments due on these securities, including the security that was recently downgraded to triple-C. For these reasons management has concluded that the decline in the estimated fair value of the Company's TPS portfolio is temporary. As such, the Company recorded the corresponding fair value adjustment as a component of other comprehensive loss, net of estimated income tax benefit. Accumulated other comprehensive loss is a component of stockholders' equity. This loss does not affect the cash flows of the Company and does not affect the regulatory capital of the Bank. As of March 31, 2008, the Bank remained well-capitalized for regulatory capital purposes. It should be noted, however, that future defaults by the companies that underlie the Company's TPS portfolio, negative actions by ratings agencies, or deterioration in market conditions or other factors could result in the Company concluding at some future date that all or portions of its TPS portfolio have been "other than temporarily impaired" or "permanently impaired." Such determination could have a material adverse impact on the Company's future earnings and stockholders' equity. Quarterly Dividend On April 17, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company elected to suspend the regular quarterly cash dividend for the Company's fiscal fourth quarter. Michael W. Dosland, President and CEO, stated "While the suspension of the dividend was a difficult decision, our Board of Directors believes that it is in the Company's best interests to preserve capital given recent negative trends in our operating performance and asset quality, as well as recent deterioration in economic conditions and financial markets." The Company intends to reassess the dividend on a quarterly basis, but does not anticipate reinstatement until operating results and asset quality improve and/or economic conditions and financial markets stabilize. This decision is expected to preserve approximately $1.4 million in capital on an annualized basis.
About Vantus Bank The Company's banking subsidiary, Vantus Bank, is headquartered in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1923, Vantus Bank is a community bank serving business and consumers in seven full-service offices in northwest Iowa, a full-service office in South Sioux City, Nebraska, and seven full-service offices in central Iowa, including four in the Des Moines market area. Certain matters in the press release are "forward looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability as established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements include words and phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," "intends to," or similar expressions. Similarly statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives, or goals are forward-looking statements. The Company wishes to caution the readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of the press release, and to advise readers that various factors could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause results for future periods to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) general market interest rates, (ii) general economic conditions, (iii) legislative/regulatory changes, (iv) monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve, (v) changes in the quality or composition of Company's loan and investment portfolios, (vi) demand for loan products, (vii) deposit flow, (viii) competition, (ix) demand for financial services in Company's markets and (x) changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines. FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES (Dollars in thousands, except per March 31 June 30 March 31 Actual number of shares outstanding FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES Three months Nine months Basic earnings per share: Diluted earnings per share: Cash dividends declared per share $0.105 $0.105 $0.315 $0.310 FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES, INC and SUBSIDIARIES At or for the three At or for the nine Activity in the allowance for loan
(1) Annualized except for efficiency ratio. FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES, INC and SUBSIDIARIES FHLB advances and all other borrowings maturing
CONTACT: Michael W. Dosland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Web site: http://www.firstfederalbank.com/
2008-05-02 19:39:07 0351861 PRNEWSWIRE
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