3rd Quarter 2016 Shareholder Communication

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Dear Shareholders:

On behalf of the all of the professionals at Premara Financial, Inc. (the "Company") and Carolina Premier Bank (the "Bank"), I am pleased to outline our financial progress in the third quarter of 2016.  Balancing our goals of quality, profitability, and growth while remaining true to our Purpose—We are your Catalyst for Excellence—remains critical to moving our Company toward high-performing.

GROWTH

Loan Production:  Through the third quarter of 2016, our loan production (including participations but excluding purchased loan pools) is up 82% over all of 2015.  Gross loan outstandings were up 3.6% over the second quarter and 11.6% over the same period of 2015. We are pleased with the momentum that started to build in the third quarter. The 3.6% growth came on top of a $1.9 million paydown of a non- performing loan.

In addition, a portion of our third quarter production was commercial construction related. We will witness an increase in loan outstandings as these loans fund up over the next few quarters. We are still within regulatory guidance on both our construction and commercial real estate (CRE) concentrations.

Professionals: During the third quarter, we hired Don Jackson to lead our SBA Lending efforts. Don brings 27 years of banking experience and recently served in the SBA unit of a local community bank. The SBA platform allows us to serve more small business clients, build loan volume, and enhance fee income. Don has already built a solid loan pipeline and is looking to add another banker to his team in the near future. We also hired Alan Fletcher, a 31-year banker, to serve as City Executive and Commercial Banker in our Rock Hill, SC office. Rock Hill and York County are great markets for a community bank focusing on small businesses. We are pleased that we now have the manpower to focus on business development for both loans and deposits in this important market.

In addition to Don and Alan, we added several other new professionals to our commercial banking team during 2015-2016. We recognize that these professionals need to be actively contacting our existing client base in order to increase client retention and identify further opportunities to solve their financial needs.  To this end, our commercial team is engaged in an active client calling program. This effort, combined with new prospect opportunities, results in a loan pipeline that remains strong.

Deposits: Total deposits are up slightly on a linked quarter basis and down slightly over the same period last year. We continue to enjoy a healthy mix of demand deposits, which were over 24% of total deposits at quarter end.

We do have efforts underway to increase our core deposit base; this is a major initiative in our 2017 operating plan.  A re-defined Retail Banking strategy and the addition of a strong calling officer in our Rock Hill office are two action items that will drive this increase in the fourth quarter of 2016 and in 2017.

QUALITY

With the aforementioned payoff of a $1.9 million non-performing loan, our quality metrics showed marked improvement in the third quarter. Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets stood at 0.84% at the end of the third quarter, compared to 1.46% in the second quarter of 2016 and 1.77% in the third quarter of last year.

Year-to-date net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans totaled 18 basis points through the third quarter of 2016, compared to 21 basis points during the same period of 2015. We maintain the appropriate level of reserves, which cover non-performing loans by 103% at quarter end.

PROFITABILITY

Net Interest Margin:  It is not news that we remain in a low interest rate environment and that margins are squeezed as loans reprice.  We are no exception. Our NIM was 3.69% (YTD) through the third quarter of 2016, down from 3.78% in 2015. On a stand-alone quarterly basis, we did improve our margin to 3.74% over the second quarter margin of 3.69%.  This squeeze in NIM, combined with fluctuating loan outstandings, resulted in a 1.2% decrease in the year-to-date net interest income.

Non-Interest Income:  As a small community bank, we are predominately a "spread lender," and do not report a large non-interest income figure. As mentioned above, the launching of our SBA platform will result in increased fee income, as we sell the guaranteed portion of the loans on the secondary market. We continue to explore other strategies to generate non-interest income while not losing our focus on our core business.

The year-to-date non-interest income for 2016 is skewed by $147 thousand related to the subleasing of our Washington, DC office. Recall that we exited DC at the end of 2015 and subleased our space to another bank. We report lease income and an equal offsetting lease expense related to this transaction.

Non-Interest Expense:  Our professionals continue to look for ways to manage our expenses. Our year-to-date non-interest expense was down 12% over the same period last year.  In early 2017, we will realize some additional savings as we consolidate two offices in Charlotte.

At this point, we believe we have the infrastructure necessary to grow our Company for the next several years. While we will continue to explore new opportunities, we have the professionals, the branch network, and the operating systems for growth. Realizing this growth in 2017 and beyond will result in improved financial metrics.

Pre-tax profit: We recognize that we are not yet a high-performing bank.  However, we are pleased that our year-to-date pre-tax profit totals $697 thousand compared to a pre-tax loss of $171 thousand for the same period of 2015. The resulting return on average assets is 0.39% year-to-date.

Premara Financial, Inc.: Growing our tangible book value and earnings per share remains a focus.  All professionals understand that we work for you, our shareholders, and are charged with growing shareholder value. At the end of the third quarter of 2016, the tangible book value per share was $7.68, compared to $7.69 in the third quarter of 2015.  Recall, however, that the remaining capital raise took place in the fourth quarter of 2015. Tangible book value at year end 2015 was $7.43/share; therefore, book value growth for the year is $0.25/share (3.3%).

Conclusion: We are pleased with the progress shown through the third quarter. It does take time to re- focus a company, hire new members of the leadership team and commercial banking team, and establish a plan for quality, profitability, and growth. We are excited about the possibilities in 2017— continuing our progress on growth and enhancing our existing processes to serve our clients and produce solid returns for our shareholders.

We stated before that 2015 was a "rebuilding year" that would produce results in subsequent years.
We do believe that our momentum is picking up in 2016, and we look forward to our continued progress toward a high-performing bank.  We are your Catalyst for Excellence!

Sincerely,

David P. Barksdale
Chief Executive Officer

Forward-looking statements: We have included in this letter "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act relating to our operations, results of operations and other matters that are based on our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections. Words such as "will," "expect," "believe" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate.  Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in these forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this letter or as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them.

 

Premara Financial, Inc.

Consolidated  Balance Sheet

September 30, 2016 and 2015







ASSETS


2016


2015

Cash and cash equivalents:






Cash and due from banks


$    2,814,887


$    2,916,368


Interest-bearing bank deposits


10,361,288


24,234,891

Total cash and cash equivalents


13,176,175


27,151,259










Time deposits - Financial institutions


500,000


-

Securities available-for-sale


32,076,067


35,212,049

Securities held-to-maturity


1,250,000


-

Nonmarketable equity securities


1,340,067


1,306,513

Loans



185,315,120


166,022,845

Allowance for loan and lease losses


(2,051,365)


(2,242,782)

Net loans


183,263,755


163,780,063

Premises and equipment, net


1,451,748


2,846,172

Deferred tax asset


2,666,208


2,625,023

Other real estate owned


54,119


74,264

Intangible assets


625,553


686,931

Bank owned life insurance


5,490,359


5,417,209

Accrued interest receivable


816,136


831,695

Other assets


1,151,239


2,277,185

            Total assets


$243,861,426


$242,208,363










LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY





Deposits:






Demand:






      Noninterest-bearing


$  46,387,315


$  44,621,224


      Interest-bearing


18,757,221


19,027,913


Savings and money market


75,707,523


76,953,190


Time, $100,000 and over


19,646,682


18,761,343


Other time deposits


41,452,857


39,564,946


      Total deposits


201,951,598


198,928,616










FHLB advances


15,000,000


14,000,000

Accrued interest payable


45,662


46,460

Other liabilities


1,981,715


1,945,278

            Total liabilities


218,978,975


214,920,354










Stockholders' equity






Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 6,238 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015


-


6,238,000


Common stock, $0.01 par value; 3,160,268 and 2,646,911 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively


31,603


26,469


Additional paid in capital


23,551,711


20,156,268


Undivided profits


1,130,296


1,045,380


Accumulated other comprehensive income


168,841


(178,108)


      Total stockholders' equity


24,882,451


27,288,009











      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity


$243,861,426


$242,208,363

 

 

Premara Financial, Inc.

Consolidated Income Statement

Three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015
















2016 - QTD


2015 - QTD

Interest income:






Loans, including fees


$    2,265,372


$    2,052,038


Securities income


228,342


236,020


Other interest and dividend income


32,867


105,401



Total interest income


2,526,581


2,393,459










Interest expense:






Time deposits, $100,000 and over


71,227


53,663


Other deposits


238,558


202,085


Other borrowings


44,986


57,854



Total interest expense


354,771


313,602



Net interest income


2,171,810


2,079,857

Provision for loan losses


-


250,000


Net int. inc. after prov. for loan losses


2,171,810


1,829,857










Other operating income:






Debit and ATM income


40,614


37,653


Bank owned life insurance


41,055


36,032


Mortgage broker fees


-


14,666


Mortgage banking income


-


-


Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities


5,451


-


Gain on sale of fixed assets


2,097


6,398


Gain on sale of other real estate owned


-


310,760


Service charges and other income


155,409


90,335



Total non-interest income


244,626


495,844










Other operating expenses:






Compensation and employee benefits


1,113,348


1,144,219


Occupancy


268,896


303,842


Furniture and equipment


94,477


112,963


Professional services


123,797


104,515


Data processing


145,526


148,062


Office supplies and printing


13,342


20,485


Software


46,981


51,858


Advertising and marketing


39,162


19,783


FDIC insurance premiums


52,930


54,966


Telecommunications


44,787


30,812


Debit and ATM fees


33,168


45,463


Other


179,900


258,898



Total other operating expenses


2,156,314


2,295,866



Income before income tax expense


260,122


29,835



Income tax expense (benefit)


27,760


(59,310)



Net income


$       232,362


$         89,145

 

Premara Financial, Inc.

Consolidated Income Statement

Nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015
















2016 - YTD


2015 - YTD

Interest income:






Loans, including fees


$    6,487,232


$    6,500,508


Securities income


759,853


698,727


Other interest and dividend income


145,382


179,714


      Total interest income


7,392,467


7,378,949










Interest expense:






Time deposits, $100,000 and over


198,379


146,975


Other deposits


687,364


622,958


Other borrowings


151,720


171,672


      Total interest expense


1,037,463


941,605


      Net interest income


6,355,004


6,437,344

Provision for loan losses


25,000


250,000


      Net int. inc. after prov. for loan losses


6,330,004


6,187,344










Other operating income:






Debit and ATM income


150,556


115,907


Bank owned life insurance


113,162


108,308


Mortgage broker fees


-


25,219


Mortgage banking income


-


32,688


Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities


15,371


-


Gain on sale of fixed assets


2,097


14,422


Gain on sale of other real estate owned


-


310,760


Service charges and other income


446,907


243,780


      Total non-interest income


728,093


851,084










Other operating expenses:






Compensation and employee benefits


3,151,967


3,470,140


Occupancy


778,940


930,059


Furniture and equipment


283,939


351,776


Professional services


445,340


415,522


Data processing


440,061


437,027


Office supplies and printing


46,210


60,201


Software


160,041


151,910


Advertising and marketing


77,238


42,188


FDIC insurance premiums


162,729


149,363


Telecommunications


114,349


116,036


Debit and ATM fees


127,712


121,852


Other


572,680


963,427


      Total other operating expenses


6,361,206


7,209,501


      Income (loss) before income tax expense


696,891


(171,073)


      Income tax expense (benefit)


42,416


(296,042)


      Net income


$       654,475


$       124,969

 

Media contact: David Barksdale, 704-697-5053

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/3rd-quarter-2016-shareholder-communication-300352018.html

SOURCE Premara Financial, Inc.

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