FRANKLIN FINANCIAL CORP 
By RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Franklin Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FRNK) ("the Company"), the parent company of Franklin Federal Savings Bank, announced net income for the three months ended June 30, 2013 of $1.7 million, or $0.14 per share, compared to a net loss of $354,000, or $0.03 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2012. Net income for the nine months ended June 30, 2013 was $6.7 million, or $0.56 per share, compared to $3.9 million, or $0.30 per share, for the nine months ended June 30, 2012.
"Our loan portfolio increased $28.6 million, or 6.1%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2013 and $46.1 million, or 10.2%, during the first nine months of fiscal 2013, and we continue to see solid loan demand as we enter the final quarter of this fiscal year," noted Richard T. Wheeler, Jr., Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. "Our net interest income declined $109,000 in the most recent quarter compared to the prior quarter and $427,000 compared to the same quarter in fiscal 2012. We anticipate that our loan growth coupled with the recent increase in longer-term interest rates and the expected tapering of the Federal Reserve's bond buying program will allow us to reverse the decreases in net interest income."
Third Quarter Highlights
-- Tangible book value increased $0.20 per share in the three months ended
June 30, 2013 to $19.12 per share.
-- Net loans increased $28.6 million, or 6.1%, during the three months
ended June 30, 2013 and $46.1 million, or 10.2%, during the first nine
months of fiscal 2013.
-- Nonperforming assets decreased $2.4 million in the three months ended
June 30, 2013 to $48.2 million.
-- Net interest margin for the three months ended June 30, 2013 decreased 8
basis points to 2.58% from the prior quarter and 7 basis points from the
comparable prior year quarter, and net interest income declined $109,000
from the prior quarter and $427,000 from the comparable prior year
quarter.
-- The Company repurchased 237,300 shares of its common stock for $4.3
million ($18.16 per share on average) under its previously announced
stock repurchase program.
Net Interest Income
Net interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2013 decreased $427,000, or 6.4%, to $6.3 million compared to $6.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012. This decrease was primarily the result of the sale, maturity and prepayment of higher yielding securities and loans, which resulted in lower yields on these asset classes. Average interest-earning assets decreased $43.1 million and average interest-bearing liabilities declined $24.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2012. Interest income on loans increased $50,000 and interest income on securities declined $991,000, while deposit costs declined $360,000 and FHLB borrowing costs declined $124,000. Our net interest margin for the three months ended June 30, 2013 decreased 8 basis points from the prior quarter and 7 basis points from the same quarter in the prior year to 2.58%. The yield on loans and securities for the three months ended June 30, 2013 decreased 33 basis points and 55 basis points, respectively, and the cost of deposits and FHLB borrowings declined 20 basis points and 12 basis points, respectively, from the same quarter in fiscal 2012. The decline in deposit costs was the result of the lower interest rate environment. The decline in the cost of FHLB borrowings was the result of the Company's exchange of nine FHLB advances for lower-rate advances during the third quarter of fiscal 2012.
Net interest income for the nine months ended June 30, 2013 decreased $1.5 million, or 7.4%, to $19.0 million compared to $20.5 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2012. This decrease was primarily the result of the sale, maturity and prepayment of higher yielding securities and loans, which resulted in lower yields on these asset classes. Average interest-earning assets decreased $46.7 million and average interest-bearing liabilities declined $20.8 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2012. Interest income on loans declined $964,000 and interest income on securities declined $2.6 million, while deposit costs declined $1.1 million and FHLB borrowing costs declined $870,000. Our net interest margin for the nine months ended June 30, 2013 decreased 7 basis points from the same period in the prior year to 2.60%. The yield on loans and securities for the nine months ended June 30, 2013 decreased 27 basis points and 48 basis points, respectively, and the cost of deposits and FHLB borrowings declined 21 basis points and 29 basis points, respectively, from the same period in fiscal 2012. The decline in deposit costs was the result of the lower interest rate environment. The decline in the cost of FHLB borrowings was the result of the Company's exchange of nine FHLB advances for lower-rate advances during the third quarter of fiscal 2012.
Noninterest Income, Excluding Impairment Charges and Gains and Losses on Sales of Securities
Noninterest income, excluding impairment charges and gains and losses on sales of securities, decreased $772,000, or 51.6%, to $722,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012. For the nine months ended June 30, 2013, noninterest income, excluding impairment charges and gains and losses on sales of securities, decreased $17,000, or 0.4%, to $3.7 million compared to $3.8 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2012. The decrease for the three month period was primarily the result of a $661,000 decrease in net gains on sales of other real estate owned. The decrease for the nine month period was primarily due to a $310,000 decrease in other service charges and fees due to fees received on the prepayment of several large loans in the nine months ended June 30, 2012, partially offset by a $278,000 increase in net gains on sales of other real estate owned.
Impairment Charges and Gains and Losses on Sales of Securities
The Company recorded other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") charges in earnings of $138,000 and $333,000 for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, compared to charges of $2.1 million and $4.4 million for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. OTTI charges for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2013 related entirely to debt securities compared to $153,000 and $968,000 on debt securities and $1.9 million and $3.4 million on equity securities for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. OTTI charges in the current year related to the Company's investment in an auction-rate municipal bond backed by student loans that experienced deteriorating collateral quality as well as the Company's portfolio of non-agency CMOs.
Sales of securities resulted in net gains of $205,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to net losses of $777,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012. For the nine months ended June 30, 2013, sales of securities resulted in net gains of $1.6 million compared to net losses of $777,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2012.
Other Noninterest Expenses
Other noninterest expenses decreased $467,000, or 9.2%, to $4.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $5.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012. The decrease was primarily due to a $533,000 decrease in impairment of other real estate owned as well as a $167,000 decrease in personnel expense as a result of decreased stock compensation expense related to the stock options and restricted stock granted in March 2012 under the Company's 2012 Equity Incentive Plan. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in other operating expenses of $224,000 due to increased technology costs as we prepared for the introduction of additional checking products in fiscal 2013.
Other noninterest expenses increased $1.7 million, or 13.7%, to $13.9 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $12.2 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2012. The increase was primarily due to an increase in personnel expenses of $1.3 million and an increase in other operating expenses of $980,000 both due to increased compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock granted to officers and directors under the Company's 2012 Equity Incentive Plan. The increase in other operating expenses was also due to increased technology costs as we prepared for the introduction of additional checking products in fiscal 2013. These increases were partially offset by a $533,000 decrease in impairment of other real estate owned.
Asset Quality
Nonperforming assets decreased $2.4 million in the three months ended June 30, 2013 and $836,000 in the nine months ended June 30, 2013 to $48.2 million. The decrease for the three months ended June 30, 2013 was the result of a $3.4 million decrease in other real estate owned, partially offset by a $1.0 million increase in nonperforming loans. Nonperforming loans totaled $41.2 million at June 30, 2013 compared to $40.2 million at March 31, 2013 and $32.6 million at September 30, 2012. Other real estate owned totaled $7.0 million at June 30, 2013 compared to $10.4 million at March 31, 2013 and $16.5 million at September 30, 2012. Total nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans at June 30, 2013 were 8.08% compared to 8.33% at March 31, 2013 and 7.02% at September 30, 2012.
The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $171,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to a credit provision of $390,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012. The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $532,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2013 compared to a credit provision of $542,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2012. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.94% at June 30, 2013 compared to 2.21% at March 31, 2013 and 2.22% at September 30, 2012.
Stock Repurchase Program
During the three months ended June 30, 2013, the Company repurchased 237,300 shares of its common stock for $4.3 million, or an average price of $18.16 per share, under its previously announced third repurchase program.
About Franklin Financial Corporation
Franklin Financial Corporation is the parent of Franklin Federal Savings Bank, a federally chartered capital stock savings bank engaged in the business of attracting retail deposits from the general public and originating non-owner-occupied one- to four-family loans as well as multi-family loans, nonresidential real estate loans, construction loans, and land and land development loans. The Bank is headquartered in Glen Allen, Virginia and operates eight branch offices. Franklin Financial Corporation trades under the symbol FRNK (NASDAQ).
Forward-Looking Statements
This report may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are not historical facts; rather they are statements based on our current expectations regarding our business strategies and their intended results and our future performance. Forward-looking statements are preceded by terms such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Numerous risks and uncertainties could cause or contribute to our actual results, performance and achievements being materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to, among others, the following factors:
-- general economic conditions, either internationally, nationally, or in
our primary market area, that are worse than expected;
-- a decline in real estate values;
-- changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our interest
margins or reduce the fair value of financial instruments;
-- increased competitive pressures among financial services companies;
-- changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;
-- legislative, regulatory or supervisory changes that adversely affect our
business;
-- adverse changes in the securities markets; and
-- changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the
bank regulatory agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
Additional factors that may affect our results are discussed in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2012 under the Item 1A titled "Risk Factors." These factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, we assume no obligation and disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Website: www.franklinfederal.com
Selected Financial Data
For the Three Months For the Nine Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
-------------- --------------
(Dollars in thousands) 2013 2012 2013 2012
---- ---- ---- ----
Operating Data:
Interest and dividend income $9,787 $10,698 $29,699 $33,152
Interest expense 3,505 3,989 10,671 12,602
----- ----- ------ ------
Net interest income 6,282 6,709 19,028 20,550
Provision for loan losses 171 (390) 532 (542)
--- ---- --- ----
Net interest income after provision
for loan losses 6,111 7,099 18,496 21,092
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Noninterest income (expense):
Impairment of securities reflected in earnings (138) (2,058) (333) (4,384)
Gains (losses) on sales of securities, net 205 (777) 1,618 (777)
Gains on sales of other real estate owned 50 711 1,614 1,336
Other noninterest income 672 783 2,134 2,429
--- --- ----- -----
Total noninterest income (expense) 789 (1,341) 5,033 (1,396)
--- ------ ----- ------
Other noninterest expenses 4,598 5,065 13,904 12,231
----- ----- ------ ------
Income before provision for income taxes 2,302 693 9,625 7,465
Income tax expense 640 1,047 2,939 3,536
--- ----- ----- -----
Net income (loss) $1,662 $(354) $6,686 $3,929
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Per Share Data
For the Three Months For the Nine Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
-------------- --------------
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) 2013 2012 2013 2012
---- ---- ---- ----
Basic net income (loss) per share $0.14 $(0.03) $0.56 $0.30
Diluted net income (loss) per share $0.14 $(0.03) $0.56 $0.30
Tangible book value per share at end of period $19.12 $18.40 $19.12 $18.40
Shares outstanding at end of period 12,507 13,777 12,507 13,777
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Basic 11,499 13,029 11,850 13,152
Diluted 11,709 13,050 12,011 13,159
Quarterly Data
(Dollars in thousands) June 30, March 31, September 30, June 30,
2013 2013 2012 2012
---- ---- ---- ----
Financial Condition Data:
Total assets $1,050,630 $1,052,094 $1,070,781 $1,080,994
Cash and cash equivalents 129,309 143,106 119,879 130,873
Securities available for sale 331,521 345,097 394,179 384,389
Securities held to maturity 16,061 17,387 20,372 21,801
Loans, net 496,532 467,898 450,465 462,861
Loans held for sale 113 643 1,458 665
Cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance 33,970 33,650 33,008 32,679
Deposits 629,634 628,810 640,304 647,324
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings 173,162 172,841 172,204 171,887
Total stockholders' equity 239,160 241,007 249,467 253,485
Capital Ratios(1):
Tier 1 capital to adjusted tangible assets 17.68% 17.10% 17.68% 17.15%
Tier 1 risk-based capital to risk weighted assets 26.98 26.34 26.62 25.85
Risk-based capital to risk weighted assets 28.23 27.60 27.87 27.11
(1) Ratios are for Franklin Federal Savings Bank.
For the Three Months Ended
--------------------------
June 30, March 31, September 30, June 30,
2013 2013 2012 2012
---- ---- ---- ----
Performance Ratios:
Return on average assets(2) 0.63% 1.04% 0.94% (0.13)%
Return on average equity(2) 2.77 4.57 3.99 (0.54)
Interest rate spread(2)(3) 2.26 2.34 2.28 2.27
Net interest margin(2)(4) 2.58 2.66 2.62 2.65
Efficiency ratio(5) 64.36 67.18 65.27 59.28
Average interest-earning assets to
average interest-bearing liabilities 122.14 121.31 123.43 123.71
Average equity to average assets 22.86 22.83 23.52 23.85
(2) Annualized
(3) Represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(4) Represents net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets.
(5) A non-GAAP measure calculated by dividing other noninterest expenses, net of impairment charges on OREO and net losses on the sale of fixed assets and foreclosed assets, by the sum of net interest income and other
noninterest income, net of impairments of securities, gains and losses on sales of securities, gains and losses on sales of OREO and net gains on sales of fixed assets.
For the Three Months Ended
--------------------------
(Dollars in thousands) June 30, March 31, September 30, June 30,
2013 2013 2012 2012
---- ---- ---- ----
Asset Quality:
Allowance for Loan Losses
Beginning balance $10,638 $10,649 $10,806 $11,206
Provision 171 126 (607) (390)
Recoveries 56 13 714 12
Charge-offs (953) (150) (629) (22)
---- ---- ---- ---
Ending balance $9,912 $10,638 $10,284 $10,806
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Nonperforming Assets at Period End
Nonaccrual loans $41,184 $40,171 $32,567 $27,270
Other real estate owned 7,049 10,440 16,502 10,569
----- ------ ------ ------
Total nonperforming assets 48,233 50,611 49,069 37,839
Performing troubled debt restructurings (6) 5,510 5,518 5,534 5,542
----- ----- ----- -----
Total non-performing assets and performing troubled debt restructurings $53,743 $56,129 $54,603 $43,381
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Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans at period end 1.94% 2.21% 2.22 2.26%
%
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of nonperforming loans at period end 24.07 26.48 31.58 39.63
Nonperforming loans as a percent of total loans at period end 8.08 8.33 7.02 5.72
Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets at period end 4.59 4.81 4.58 3.50
Total non-performing assets and troubled debt
restructurings to total assets at period end 5.12 5.33 5.10 4.01
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans
outstanding during the period (annualized) 0.72 0.12 (0.07) 0.01
(6) Performing troubled debt restructurings do not include troubled debt restructurings that remain on nonaccrual status and are included in nonaccrual loans above.
Non-GAAP Reconciliation
For the Three Months Ended
--------------------------
(Dollars in thousands) June 30, March 31, September 30, 2012 June 30,
2013 2013 2012
---- ---- ----
Net interest income $6,282 $6,391 $6,654 $6,709
Plus: Total noninterest income (expense) 789 2,455 1,328 (1,341)
Less: (Gains) losses on sales of securities, net (205) (1,382) (840) 777
Plus: Net impairment reflected in income 138 76 280 2,058
Less: Gains on sales of OREO (50) (525) (62) (711)
--- ---- --- ----
Total net interest income and adjusted other noninterest income
$6,954 $7,015 $7,360 $7,492
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Other noninterest expenses $4,598 $4,713 $4,833 $5,065
Less: Impairment charges on OREO (78) - - (611)
Less: Net losses on sales of fixed assets (43) - (29) (13)
--- --- --- ---
Adjusted other noninterest expenses $4,477 $4,713 $4,804 $4,441
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Efficiency ratio 64.36% 67.18% 65.27% 59.28%
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SOURCE Franklin Financial Corporation
