CommunityOne Bancorp fka COB

[Enterprising Investor]

CommunityOne Bancorp Announces Continued Profitability With Fourth Quarter 2013 Earnings of $2.3 Million (2/07/14)

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CommunityOne Bancorp (Nasdaq:COB), the holding company for CommunityOne Bank, N.A. ("Bank"), today reported its second consecutive profitable quarter. Highlights of the unaudited financial results for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2013 include:

•Net income after tax was $2.3 million in 4Q 2013 compared to net income after tax of $4.0 million in 3Q 2013 and a net loss after tax of $(6.3) million in 4Q 2012. For the full year 2013, net loss after tax was $(1.5) million compared to a net loss of $(40.0) million in 2012. Pre tax operating income for 2013 was virtually break even with a $(0.2) million loss.

•For the full year 2013, core earnings, which excludes taxes, credit costs and provision, and non-recurring income and expense items, were $10.4 million, an increase of 111% from 2012. Core earnings were $3.8 million in 4Q 2013, compared to $4.7 million in 3Q 2013 and $2.3 million in 4Q 2012.

•Noninterest expenses declined 23%, or $25.8 million, in 2013 as we realized the cost savings from the merger and the benefit of improved asset quality. Noninterest expenses fell 2% during 4Q 2013 on reduced personnel, occupancy and loan collection expenses.

•Return on average assets was 0.45% and return on average equity was 11.05% for 4Q 2013

•Net interest margin rose 49 bps on a full year basis in 2013 to 3.44%. For 4Q 2013, net interest margin fell by 24 basis points to 3.52%, from 3.76% in 3Q 2013 and 2.96% in 4Q 2012.

•Continued positive credit performance in Q4 2013, including net OREO costs of $21 thousand and non-purchased loan recoveries of $0.7 million.

•Asset quality continued to improve as nonperforming assets fell 19% from 3Q 2013 and 54% from 4Q 2012. Full year net charge-offs as a percent of average loans held for investment fell to 0.26%, from 1.94% in 2012.

•Net provision expense for the quarter of $1.8 million and $0.5 million for the full year 2013. 4Q provision includes $0.9 million recovery of provision for non-Granite purchased impaired loans, offset by $2.7 million of provision on Granite purchased impaired loans caused by a reduction in future cash flow estimates for certain of the loan pools in this portfolio.

•For the Granite purchased impaired loan portfolio as a whole,
estimated future accretion increased by $8.9 million as a result of extension of cash flows in the portfolio.

"We achieved all of the goals we set out for the Company in 2013", said Brian Simpson, CEO. "We completed the merger with the Bank of Granite, returned our Company to satisfactory condition with the lifting of the regulatory orders by the OCC and the Federal Reserve, continued to resolve the legacy credit problems by reducing nonperforming assets by 54% and lowering charge offs to 26 bps of loans, and most importantly, recorded two consecutive quarters of profitability in the third and fourth quarters as we had said we would."

"We are excited about the momentum we built in 2013 and we are already working on our 2014 priorities", said Bob Reid, President. "In 2014 we are focused on growing loans, growing deposits, investing in key businesses and capabilities, like cash management and mobile banking, all while continuing to reduce expenses, and resolving our remaining problem assets. Serving our customers and achieving our goals in 2014 will position us well for future expansion."

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013 Financial Results

Results of Operations

Net income was $2.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to net income of $4.0 million in the third quarter of 2013 and a net loss of $(6.3) million in the fourth quarter of 2012. Net income available to common shareholders was also $2.3 million, or $0.11 per common share, in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to net income of $4.0 million, or $0.18 per common share, and a net loss of $(6.3) million, or $(0.29) per common share, in the third quarter of 2013 and the fourth quarter of 2012, respectively. Core earnings, which exclude taxes, credit costs and provision, and non-recurring income and expenses, fell to $3.8 million in the fourth quarter, from $4.7 million in the third quarter of this year, but was $1.3 million higher than the $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Fourth quarter financial results were primarily impacted by $1.8 million in provision expense. A recovery of provision of $0.9 million on non-Granite purchased impaired loans, which was offset by a $2.7 million provision on Granite purchased impaired loans due to a reduction in forecasted future cash flow in certain pools in this portfolio.

Net loss after tax was $(1.5) million in 2013, compared to a net loss of $(40.0) million in 2012. Net loss available to common shareholders was also $(1.5) million, or $(0.07) per common share, in 2013 compared to a loss of ($40.0) million, or $(1.87) per common share, in 2012. Core earnings, which exclude taxes, credit costs and provision, and non-recurring income and expenses, increased to $10.4 million in 2013, from $4.9 million in 2012.

The improved financial performance in 2013 was driven by a $3.2 million increase in net interest income as a result of $6 million decline in the cost of deposits, offset by an $83 million decline in average loan balances, primarily related to problem asset resolution. In addition, noninterest expense declined by $25.8 million during 2013 as the result of improvements in asset quality and the completion of the merger of Bank of Granite into CommunityOne Bank in June of 2013.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $64.4 million for the full year 2013, an increase of 5% compared to $61.3 million in 2012. The Company's net interest margin was 3.44% in 2013, increased by 17% from 2.95% in 2012.

The 49 basis point increase in the net interest margin in 2013 over 2012 was the result of a 26 bp decrease in the cost of interest bearing deposits from 2012 to 53 basis points, and a decline in the average deposits of $218 million between 2012 and 2013. Average yield on earning assets was stable from 2012 to 2013, falling 1 bp to 4.00%.

Fourth quarter 2013 net interest income was $16.5 million, a decrease of 5% compared to $17.4 million in the third quarter, and an increase of 11% compared to $14.8 million in the same quarter of 2012. The Company's net interest margin was 3.52% for the fourth quarter of 2013, decreased by 6% from 3.76% in the third quarter of 2013, and increased by 19% from 2.96% in the fourth quarter of last year.

The cost of interest bearing deposits also continued to decline during the fourth quarter from the previous quarter, by 1 bp, to 50 basis points, from the third quarter of 2013. The 24 basis point decline in the net interest margin in the fourth quarter of 2013 over the third quarter was principally the result of a decrease of $0.7 million in accretion on Granite purchased loans as a result of the cash flow reforecast on this portfolio during the quarter.

Accretion, net of contractual interest collected, on Granite purchased impaired loans was $5.7 million and $4.9 million in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Accretion, net of contractual interest collected, on these loans was $1.3 million, $2.0 million and $1.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, the third quarter of 2013 and the fourth quarter of 2012, respectively. During the quarter, our estimated future accretion on this portfolio increased $8.9 million as a result of extension of cash flows in this portfolio.

Asset Quality and Provision for Loan Losses

Nonperforming assets, including nonaccruing loans, loans over 90 days delinquent and still accruing not accounted for under purchased impaired loan accounting, and other real estate owned and repossessed loan collateral, fell to $65.3 million, or 3.3% of total assets at the end of 2013, compared to $142.6 million, or 6.6% of total assets, in 2012. Other real estate owned and repossessed loan collateral fell by 54% during 2013 to $28.4 million at year end, compared to $63.1 million at the end of 2012.

The allowance for loan losses was $26.8 million, or 2.21% of loans held for investment, at the end of the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $25.4 million, or 2.12%, at the end of the previous quarter, and $29.3 million, or 2.49%, at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012. The year to date annualized loss rate declined to 0.26% in 2013, compared to 1.94% in 2012.

Provision for loan losses was $0.5 million in 2013 compared to $14.0 million in 2012 as asset quality improved.

Provision for loan losses was $1.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to a recovery of $0.4 million in the previous quarter, and a provision of $3.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. A $0.9 million recovery of provision in the non-Granite purchased impaired loan portfolio was recorded as a result of continued improvements in historical loss rates utilized in our allowance for loan loss model. This recovery was offset by the $2.7 million provision on Granite purchased impaired loans discussed previously. The fourth quarter annualized charge off rate for average loans held for investment was 0.14%, compared to an annualized recovery rate of 0.22% during the third quarter of 2013.

Other real estate owned and repossessed loan collateral fell by 14% during the quarter to $28.4 million at quarter-end, compared to $33.2 million in the previous quarter. For the fourth quarter of 2013 the Company had net OREO costs of $21 thousand, which included gains on the sale of OREO, net of writedowns, of $0.5 million.

Noninterest Income

Core noninterest income, which excludes non-recurring securities gains and losses, was almost unchanged in 2013, falling by $0.3 million to $17.6 million, compared to $17.9 million in 2012. Increases of $0.3 million in mortgage loan income and $0.3 million in trust and investment services were offset by $0.4 million decline in service charges, mostly as a result of service charges waived during the bank merger in June, and a $0.5 million decrease in income from other investments in 2013.

For the fourth quarter, core noninterest income fell $0.3 million to $4.1 million, compared to $4.4 million in the previous quarter and $4.8 million in the fourth quarter a year ago. A decrease in the mortgage loan pipeline and sales of mortgage loans to Fannie Mae contributed to a $0.2 million decrease in mortgage loan income from last quarter, and $0.8 million from the fourth quarter of 2012.

Noninterest Expense

Total noninterest expense fell $25.8 million, or 23%, from 2012 on reduced OREO and professional fees. Core noninterest expense fell by 3%, or $2.6 million, to $71.7 million in 2013, compared to $74.3million in 2012.

Total noninterest expense fell $0.4 million, or 2%, in the fourth quarter from the prior quarter on reduced personnel, occupancy and loan collection related expenses. Core noninterest expense fell 2% to $16.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $17.1 million in the preceding quarter and $17.4 million in the fourth quarter a year ago. The decrease this quarter of $0.3 million was primarily the result of reductions in personnel and occupancy expense synergies as a result of the Bank of Granite merger, as well as reduced loan collection expenses associated with reduced levels of problem assets.

Balance Sheet Review

Loans held for investment grew 3% in 2013 to $1.21 billion, compared to $1.18 billion at the end of the 2012. Loans held for investment grew at an annualized rate of 6% in the fourth quarter, reflecting improving loan demand, an additional residential mortgage loan pool purchase of $23 million during the quarter and an improving portfolio in terms of credit quality.

Total deposits fell $158.3 million, or 8%, during 2013 to $1.75 billion, compared to $1.91 billion at the end of 2012. Higher cost time deposits fell $180.9 million as part of our strategy to reduce deposit costs. Low cost core deposits, consisting of non-CD deposits, grew $22.6 million during 2013 to $1.17 billion, from $1.14 billion at December 31, 2012.

Conference Call

A conference call will be held at 11:00 a.m., Eastern time this morning February 7th, 2014. Interested parties should dial in five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time to 1-888-317-6016. International callers should dial in to 1-412-317-6016. Canadian callers may dial in to 1-855-669-9657. To join the call, participants will be required to provide conference ID number 10039109. The webcast may be accessed via the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.community1.com. The webcast replay will be available until February 7, 2015. The teleconference replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference through March 10, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the teleconference replay, dial toll free in the U.S. to 1-877-344-7529 or outside the U.S. to 1-412-317-0088 and provide Conference ID Number 10039109.

About CommunityOne Bancorp

CommunityOne Bancorp is the North Carolina-based bank holding company for CommunityOne Bank, N.A., a $2 billion community bank, operating 53 branches in 42 communities throughout central, southern and western North Carolina, offering a wide variety of consumer, mortgage and commercial banking services to retail and business customers, including loans, deposits, cash management, wealth and online banking. Investors can obtain additional information about the Company and the Bank through reviewing its website at www.community1.com.

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