Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach Reports 2014 Second-Quarter, First-Half Results

-- Net Loans Grew 13% in Year-to-Date Comparison --

LONG BEACH, Calif.--()--Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach (OTCBB: FMBL) today reported financial results for the second quarter and six-months ended June 30, 2014.

“Farmers & Merchants achieved strong loan growth during the first half of the year, as the Bank’s expanded lending team continues to deliver results,” said Henry Walker, president of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach. “At the same time, the Bank made steady gains in deposit growth, which is a testament to Farmers & Merchants’ focus on providing superior service with sound and stable fundamentals.”

Income Statement

For the three months ended June 30, 2014, interest income rose to $45.0 million from $39.2 million in the second quarter of 2013. Interest income for the first half of 2014 increased to $88.3 million from $78.8 million reported for the first half of 2013.

Interest expense for the 2014 second quarter was $1.7 million, compared with $1.5 million in the second quarter of 2013. Interest expense for the first half of 2014 was $3.3 million, versus $3.0 million reported for the corresponding period last year.

Net interest income for the 2014 second quarter advanced to $43.3 million from $37.6 million for the second quarter of 2013. Net interest income for the first half of 2014 increased to $85.0 million from $75.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013.

Farmers & Merchants’ net interest margin was 3.48% for the 2014 second quarter, up from 3.20% in the 2013 second quarter. Net interest margin was 3.44% for the first half of 2014, versus 3.24% for the same period in 2013.

The Bank did not have a provision for loan losses in the first half of 2014, nor in the same period a year ago, reflecting the continued strength of Farmers & Merchant’s loan portfolio. The Bank’s allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans outstanding was 1.86% at June 30, 2014, compared with 2.09% at December 31, 2013.

Non-interest income was $9.8 million for the 2014 second quarter, compared with $10.4 million in the same period a year ago. In the first half of 2014, non-interest income was $16.4 million, compared with $21.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013.

Non-interest expense for the 2014 second quarter was $29.7 million, compared with $26.4 million for the same period last year. Non-interest expense for the first half of 2014 was $57.9 million, compared with $50.1 million for the first half of 2013.

Net income for the 2014 second quarter increased to $16.1 million, or $123.05 per diluted share, from $14.9 million, or $113.76 per diluted share, for the 2013 second quarter. Net income for the first half of 2014 was $30.2 million, or $230.44 per diluted share, compared with $32.1 million, or $245.44 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2013.

Balance Sheet

At June 30, 2014, net loans increased to $2.71 billion from $2.40 billion at December 31, 2013. The Bank’s deposits rose to $4.00 billion at the end of the 2014 second quarter from $3.83 billion at December 31, 2013. Non-interest bearing deposits represented 39.3% of total deposits at June 30, 2014, versus 38.5% of total deposits at December 31, 2013. Total assets increased to $5.41 billion at the close of the 2014 second quarter from $5.21 billion at December 31, 2013.

At June 30, 2014, Farmers & Merchants Bank remained “well-capitalized” under all regulatory categories, with a total risk-based capital ratio of 24.38%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 23.13%, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 14.54%. The minimum ratios for capital adequacy for a well-capitalized bank are 10.00%, 6.00% and 5.00%, respectively.

“As a key pillar to the strength and stability of Farmers &Merchants Bank, we continued to maintain a healthy balance sheet in the first half of the year,” said Daniel Walker, chief executive officer and chairman of the board. “As Farmers & Merchants Bank further enhances its presence in Southern California, we remain committed to implementing our growth strategy with the very prudence, integrity and tact that has led to the Bank’s profitability on an annual basis for more than a century.”

About Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach

Founded in Long Beach in 1907 by C.J. Walker, Farmers & Merchants Bank has 23 branches in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The Bank specializes in commercial and small business banking along with business loan programs. Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach is a California state chartered bank with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Member FDIC) and an Equal Housing Lender. For more information about F&M, please visit www.fmb.com.

 
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK OF LONG BEACH
Income Statements (Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share data)
       
Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
  2014   2013   2014   2013
 
Interest income:
 
Loans $ 31,122 $ 25,252 $ 59,992 $ 50,811
Securities available-for-sale 1,328 2,069 2,858 4,309
Securities held-to-maturity 12,446 11,688 25,299 23,317
Deposits with banks 88 146 141 353
 
Total interest income 44,984 39,155 88,290 78,790
 
Interest expense:
 
Deposits 1,424 1,224 2,772 2,485
Federal funds purchased - - 4 -
Securities sold under repurchase agreements 280 284 554 557
 
Total interest expense 1,704 1,508 3,330 3,042
 
Net interest income 43,280 37,647 84,960 75,748
 
Provision for loan losses - - - -
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses 43,280 37,647 84,960 75,748
 
Non-interest income:
 
Service charges on deposit accounts 1,154 1,115 2,287 2,268
Gains on sale of securities - - 425 1,048
Other real estate owned income 338 153 503 463
Merchant bankcard income 2,429 2,388 4,703 4,562
Other income 5,853 6,771 8,445 12,838
 
Total non-interest income 9,774 10,427 16,363 21,179
 
Non-interest expense:
 
Salaries and employee benefits 16,247 13,383 31,926 26,724
FDIC and other insurance expense 769 1,707 1,521 3,399
Occupancy expense 1,982 1,673 3,753 3,271
Equipment expense 1,589 1,538 3,070 2,972
Other real estate owned expense 1,162 811 1,783 (6)
Amortization of public welfare investments 2,117 2,020 4,234 4,041
Merchant bankcard expense 1,938 1,939 3,725 3,660
Legal and professional services 782 1,001 1,726 1,749
Marketing expense 1,279 786 2,768 1,375
Other expense 1,807 1,507 3,360 2,954
2,922 2,922
Total non-interest expense 29,672 26,365 57,866 50,139
 
Income before income tax expense 23,382 21,709 43,457 46,788
 
Income tax expense 7,271 6,815 13,286 14,653
 
Net income $ 16,111 $ 14,894 $ 30,171 $ 32,135
 
Basic and diluted earnings per common share $ 123.05 $ 113.76 $ 230.44 $ 245.44
 
FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK OF LONG BEACH
Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(In thousands except share and per share data)
 
June 30, 2014 Dec. 31, 2013
 
Assets
 
Cash and due from banks:
Noninterest-bearing balances $ 67,663 $ 65,261
Interest-bearing balances 130,141 20,755
Securities available-for-sale 303,262 427,942
Securities held-to-maturity 1,985,486 2,145,289
Loans held for sale 1,254 465
Gross loans 2,759,914 2,454,302
Less allowance for loan losses (51,275) (51,251)
Less unamortized deferred loan fees, net (1,852) (1,704)
Net loans 2,706,787 2,401,347
Other real estate owned, net 12,075 14,502
Public welfare investments 50,519 27,722
Bank premises and equipment, net 87,004 66,212
Net deferred tax assets 23,089 23,512
Federal Home Loan Bank stock 25,000 -
Other assets 22,584 21,579
 
Total assets $

5,414,864

$

5,214,586

 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
Liabilities:
 
Deposits:
Demand, non-interest bearing $ 1,572,185 $ 1,475,888
Demand, interest bearing 408,256 413,291
Savings and money market savings 1,168,541 1,080,774
Time deposits 848,716 861,489
 
Total deposits 3,997,698 3,831,442
 
Securities sold under repurchase agreements 594,043 595,991
Other liabilities 38,806 27,986
 
Total liabilities

4,630,547

4,455,419

 
Stockholders' Equity:
 
Common Stock, par value $20; authorized 250,000
shares; issued and outstanding 130,928 shares 2,619 2,619
Additional paid-in capital 112,044 12,044
Retained earnings 666,818 742,408
Accumulated other comprehensive income 2,836 2,096
 
Total stockholders' equity 784,317 759,167
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $

5,414,864

$

5,214,586

Contacts

Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach
John Hinrichs
Executive Vice President
562-437-0011, ext. 5035
or
PondelWilkinson Inc.
Evan Pondel
Corporate and Investor Relations
310-279-5980
investor@pondel.com

Contacts

Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach
John Hinrichs
Executive Vice President
562-437-0011, ext. 5035
or
PondelWilkinson Inc.
Evan Pondel
Corporate and Investor Relations
310-279-5980
investor@pondel.com