Company Release - 07/16/2015 07:00
OLNEY, Md., July 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq:SASR) the parent company of Sandy Spring Bank, today reported net income for the second quarter of 2015 of $10.3 million ($0.42 per diluted share) compared to net income of $7.0 million ($0.28 per diluted share) for the second quarter of 2014 and net income of $11.2 million ($0.45 per diluted share) for the first quarter of 2015. Results for the second quarter of 2014 included a $6.1 million pre-tax accrual for litigation expenses.
For the six months ended June 30, 2015, net income was $21.6 million ($0.87 per diluted share) compared to net income of $17.9 million ($0.71 per diluted share) for the same period of the prior year.
"Our second quarter results reflect continued momentum from the first quarter as growth in net interest income from a larger loan portfolio and income from mortgage banking and wealth management led the way," said Daniel J. Schrider, President and Chief Executive Officer.
"This momentum is also demonstrated by balance sheet growth within each loan portfolio and overall deposit growth on a linked quarter basis," continued Schrider.
"I am especially pleased to announce the receipt of the 2015 CX Innovation Award from the Customer Experience Professionals Association, an international organization headquartered in the Boston area. Sandy Spring Bank is one of only five companies across the country to receive this prestigious award, which gives further proof of our dedication to providing a consistent and remarkable experience to all of our clients," said Schrider.
Second Quarter Highlights:
- Total loans increased 13% compared to the second quarter of 2014 and were up 4% compared to the first quarter of 2015. This increase was driven primarily by year-over-year growth of 16% in the commercial loan portfolio.
- Combined noninterest-bearing and interest-bearing transaction account balances increased 11% to $1.6 billion at June 30, 2015 as compared to $1.5 billion at June 30, 2014.
- The provision for loan and lease losses for the second quarter of 2015 was a charge of $1.2 million compared to charges of $0.2 million for the second quarter of 2014 and $0.6 million for the first quarter of 2015.
- The net interest margin was 3.42% for the second quarter of 2015, compared to 3.48% for the second quarter of 2014 and 3.44% for the first quarter of 2015.
- Non-interest income increased 4% for the quarter compared to the prior year quarter primarily due to increases in income from wealth management and mortgage banking. Non-interest income decreased 8% compared to the linked quarter due to seasonal declines in insurance agency commissions.
- During the second quarter of 2015, the Company repurchased 224,103 shares at an average price of $26.23 per share as part of its existing share repurchase program. For the year-to-date, the Company has repurchased 575,472 shares at an average price of $25.92 per share.
Review of Balance Sheet and Credit Quality
Total assets grew 6% to $4.5 billion at June 30, 2015 compared to $4.2 billion at June 30, 2014. This growth was driven by a 13% increase in the loan portfolio as total loans and leases ended the period at $3.3 billion.
At June 30, 2015, combined noninterest-bearing and interest-bearing checking account balances, a primary driver of multiple-product banking relationships with clients, increased 11% compared to balances at June 30, 2014. Total deposits and certain other short-term borrowings that comprise the funding sources derived from customers increased 8% compared to June 30, 2014.
Tangible common equity totaled $435 million at June 30, 2015 compared to $427 million at June 30, 2014. The ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets decreased to 9.84% at June 30, 2015 from 10.29% at June 30, 2014 due primarily to the growth in assets and continued share repurchases. Dividends per common share were $0.44 per share for the first six months of 2015 compared to $0.36 per common share for the first six months of 2014, a 22% increase. At June 30, 2015, the Company had a total risk-based capital ratio of 14.65%, a common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 12.53%, a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 13.54% and a tier 1 leverage ratio of 10.83%.
Non-performing loans totaled $37.3 million at June 30, 2015 compared to $41.7 million at June 30, 2014 and $36.0 million at March 31, 2015. The level of non-performing loans to total loans decreased to 1.13% at June 30, 2015 compared to 1.43% at June 30, 2014 due to growth in the overall loan portfolio. The increase in non-performing loans at June 30, 2015 compared to March 31, 2015 was driven primarily by two residential mortgage loan credits totaling $4.6 million that were moved to nonaccrual status during the quarter. This was somewhat offset by several pay downs on such loans.
Loan charge-offs virtually equaled recoveries for the second quarter of 2015, while net loan charge-offs totaled $0.2 million for the second quarter of 2014 and of $0.9 million for the first quarter of 2015. The allowance for loan and lease losses represented 1.18% of outstanding loans and leases and 104% of non-performing loans at June 30, 2015 compared to 1.30% of outstanding loans and leases and 91% of non-performing loans at June 30, 2014. Non-performing loans includes accruing loans 90 days or more past due and restructured loans.
Income Statement Review
Net interest income for the second quarter of 2015 increased 5% compared to the second quarter of 2014. The net interest margin was 3.42% for the second quarter of 2015 compared to 3.48% for the second quarter of 2014.
The provision for loan and lease losses was a charge of $1.2 million for the second quarter of 2015 compared to a charge of $0.2 million for the second quarter of 2014 and a charge of $0.6 million for the first quarter of 2015. The current quarter's charge reflects the growth in the loan portfolio.
Non-interest income increased 4% to $12.1 million for the second quarter of 2015 compared to $11.7 million for the second quarter of 2014. The increase in non-interest income for the quarter compared to the prior year quarter was due primarily to increases in income from wealth management due to growth in assets under management and mortgage banking due primarily to higher mortgage origination volumes.
Non-interest expenses decreased 14% to $29.5 million for the second quarter of 2015 compared to $34.1 million in the second quarter of 2014. Excluding $6.1 million of litigation expenses recognized in the second quarter of 2014, non-interest expenses increased 5% from the prior year. The current quarter included increases in salaries and benefits, equipment and marketing expenses. The non-GAAP efficiency ratio was 61.35% for the second quarter of 2015 compared to 61.30% for the second quarter of 2014.
Net interest income for the first six months of 2015 increased 5% compared to the first six months of 2014 due primarily to an increase in average loans. The net interest margin was 3.43% for the first six months of 2015 compared to 3.48% for the first six months of 2014.
The provision for loan and lease losses was a charge of $1.8 million for the first six months of 2015 compared to a credit of $0.8 million for the first six months of 2014. The change in the provision for the year-to-date period reflects the growth in the loan portfolio over the prior year period.
Non-interest income increased 10% to $25.3 million for the first six months of 2015 compared to $22.9 million for the first six months of 2014. This increase was driven by increases in income from wealth management due to growth in assets under management and mortgage banking due primarily to higher mortgage origination volumes. Other non-interest income increased due to higher gains on sales of SBA loans and loan prepayment fees.
Non-interest expenses decreased 5% to $58.7 million for the first six months of 2015 compared to $61.7 million for the first six months of 2014. Excluding the litigation expenses previously mentioned, non-interest expenses increased 5% over the prior year period. The current year-to-date included increases in salaries and benefits and other non-interest expenses that were somewhat offset by a decline in intangibles amortization. The non-GAAP efficiency ratio was 60.74% for the first six months of 2015 compared to 61.45% for the first six months of 2014.
Conference Call
The Company's management will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter results today at 2:00 P.M. (ET). A live Web cast of the conference call is available through the Investor Relations' section of the Sandy Spring Web site at www.sandyspringbank.com. Participants may call 866.235.9910. A password is not necessary. Visitors to the Web site are advised to log on 10 minutes ahead of the scheduled start of the call. An internet-based replay will be available at the Web site until 9:00 am (ET) July 30, 2015. A replay of the teleconference will be available through the same time period by calling 1-877-344-7529 under conference call number 10068751.
About Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.
With $4.5 billion in assets, Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Sandy Spring Bank and its principal subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation and West Financial Services, Inc. Sandy Spring Bank traces its origin to 1868, making it among the oldest banking institutions in the region. Sandy Spring is a community banking organization that focuses its lending and other services on businesses and consumers in the local market area. Independent and community-oriented, Sandy Spring offers a broad range of commercial banking, retail banking and trust services through 44 community offices in Anne Arundel, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties in Maryland, and Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. Through its subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Bank also offers a comprehensive menu of insurance and investment management services. Visit www.sandyspringbank.com for more information about Sandy Spring Bank.
Forward-Looking Statements
Sandy Spring Bancorp makes forward-looking statements in this news release and in the conference call regarding this news release. These forward-looking statements may include: statements of goals, intentions, earnings expectations, and other expectations; estimates of risks and of future costs and benefits; assessments of probable loan and lease losses; assessments of market risk; and statements of the ability to achieve financial and other goals.
Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project" and other similar words and expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Sandy Spring Bancorp does not assume any duty and does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements. Because forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those that Sandy Spring Bancorp anticipated in its forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance.
Sandy Spring Bancorp's forward-looking statements are subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties: general economic conditions and trends, either nationally or locally; conditions in the securities markets; changes in interest rates; changes in deposit flows, and in the demand for deposit, loan, and investment products and other financial services; changes in real estate values; changes in the quality or composition of the Company's loan or investment portfolios; changes in competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions; the Company's ability to retain key members of management; changes in legislation, regulations, and policies; and a variety of other matters which, by their nature, are subject to significant uncertainties. Sandy Spring Bancorp provides greater detail regarding some of these factors in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, including in the Risk Factors section of that report, and in its other SEC reports. Sandy Spring Bancorp's forward-looking statements may also be subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those that it may discuss elsewhere in this news release or in its filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov.
Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS - UNAUDITED