TriCo Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBK) (the "Company"), parent company of Tri Counties Bank, today announced net income of $2,989,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, compared to $12,533,000 for the fourth quarter of 2016. Diluted earnings per share were $0.13 for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $0.54 for the fourth quarter of 2016. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2017 includes a one-time income tax expense of $7,416,000 due to the re-measurement of the Company’s net deferred tax asset (“DTA”) resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Also included in net income for the fourth quarter of 2017 is $530,000 of merger and acquisition expenses related to the proposed merger with FNB Bancorp (“FNBB”) previously announced on December 11, 2017. Excluding the impact of the FNBB related merger expenses, and the DTA re-measurement, net income totaled $10,896,000 for the fourth quarter of 2017, or $0.47 per diluted share.

Net income was $40,554,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $44,811,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016. Diluted earnings per share were $1.74 for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $1.94 for the year ended December 31, 2016. Excluding the impact of the FNBB related merger expenses, and the DTA re-measurement, net income totaled $48,462,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017, or $2.08 per diluted share. Net income for twelve months ended December 31, 2016 include the effects of $784,000 of expenses related to the acquisition of three bank branches, including $161,231,000 of deposits, during the three months ended March 31, 2016. Excluding the impact of the branch acquisition expenses, net income totaled $45,266,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016, or $1.96 per diluted share.

On December 22, 2017, President Donald Trump signed into law "H.R.1", commonly known as the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act", which among other items reduces the Federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. While this decrease in the Federal corporate tax rate is expected to have a positive impact on the Company’s net income beginning January 1, 2018, the Company concluded that this caused the Company’s DTA to be reduced, and Federal income tax expense to be increased by $7,416,000 during the fourth quarter of 2017.

In addition to the nonrecurring income statement items noted above, there were other expense and revenue items during the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 of less significance that may be considered nonrecurring and these items are described below in various sections of this announcement.

Performance highlights and other developments for the Company during the three months ended December 31, 2017 included the following:

  • On December 11, 2017, TriCo and FNBB announced that they entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which FNBB will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”). The Merger Agreement provides that immediately after the Merger, FNBB’s bank subsidiary, First National Bank of Northern California, will merge with and into the Company’s bank subsidiary, Tri Counties Bank, with Tri Counties Bank as the surviving bank.
  • Loan balances increased $83,552,000 representing a 2.9% increase in total loans, and an annualized growth rate of 11.4%, during the three months ended December 31, 2017.
  • The average rate of interest paid on deposits, including the effect of noninterest-bearing deposits, remained low at 0.11%.

The following is a summary of the components of the Company’s consolidated net income, average common shares, and average diluted common shares outstanding for the periods indicated:

     
Three months ended
December 31,
(dollars and shares in thousands) 2017   2016

$ Change

% Change
Net Interest Income $ 45,093 $ 43,155 $ 1,938 4.5 %
(Provision for) reversal of loan losses (1,677 ) 1,433 (3,110 )
Noninterest income 12,478 12,462 16 0.1 %
Noninterest expense (38,076 ) (36,563 ) (1,513 ) 4.1 %
Provision for income taxes   (14,829 )   (7,954 )   (6,875 ) 86.4 %
Net income $ 2,989   $ 12,533     ($9,544 ) (76.2 %)
 
Average common shares 22,945 22,846 99 0.4 %
Average diluted common shares 23,290 23,116 174 0.8 %
 

The following is a summary of certain of the Company’s consolidated assets and deposits as of the dates indicated:

     
Ending balances As of December 31,
($'s in thousands) 2017   2016  

$ Change

  % Change
Total assets $ 4,761,315   $ 4,517,968 $ 243,347 5.4 %
Total loans 3,015,165 2,759,593 255,572 9.3 %
Total investments 1,262,683 1,169,725 92,958 7.9 %
Total deposits 4,009,131 3,895,560 $ 113,571 2.9 %
 
 
Qtrly avg balances As of December 31,
($'s in thousands) 2017   2016  

$ Change

  % Change
Total assets $ 4,658,677 $ 4,483,251 $ 175,426 3.9 %
Total loans $ 2,948,277 $ 2,730,391 217,886 8.0 %
Total investments 1,254,868 1,166,410 88,458 7.6 %
Total deposits $ 3,961,422 $ 3,853,432 $ 107,990 2.8 %
 

The Company’s primary source of revenue is net interest income, or the difference between interest income on interest-earning assets and interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities. Included in the Company’s net interest income is interest income from municipal bonds that is almost entirely exempt from Federal income tax. These municipal bonds are classified as investments – nontaxable, and the Company may present the interest income from these bonds on a fully tax equivalent (FTE) basis.

Loans acquired through purchase, or acquisition of other banks, are classified by the Company as Purchased Not Credit Impaired (PNCI), Purchased Credit Impaired – cash basis (PCI – cash basis), or Purchased Credit Impaired – other (PCI – other). Loans not acquired in an acquisition or otherwise “purchased” are classified as “originated”. Often, such purchased loans are purchased at a discount to face value, and part of this discount is accreted into (added to) interest income over the remaining life of the loan. A loan may also be purchased at a premium to face value, in which case, the premium is amortized into (subtracted from) interest income over the remaining life of the loan. Generally, as time goes on, the effects of loan discount accretion and loan premium amortization decrease as the purchased loans mature or pay off early. Upon the early pay off of a loan, any remaining (unaccreted) discount or (unamortized) premium is immediately taken into interest income; and as loan payoffs may vary significantly from quarter to quarter, so may the impact of discount accretion and premium amortization on interest income. Further details regarding interest income from loans, including fair value discount accretion, may be found under the heading “Supplemental Loan Interest Income Data” in the Consolidated Financial Data table at the end of this announcement.

Following is a summary of the components of net interest income for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

     
Three months ended
December 31,
(dollars and shares in thousands) 2017   2016

$ Change

% Change
Interest income $ 46,961 $ 44,615 $ 2,346 5.3 %
Interest expense (1,868 ) (1,460 ) (408 ) 27.9 %
FTE adjustment   625     619     6   1.0 %
Net interest income (FTE)

$

45,718

  $ 43,774   $ 1,944   4.4 %
Net interest margin (FTE)   4.26 %   4.24 %
Purchased loan discount accretion:
Amount (included in interest income) $ 1,489 $ 1,778
Effect on average loan yield 0.20 % 0.26 %
Effect on net interest margin (FTE) 0.14 % 0.17 %
Interest income recovered via loan sales:
Amount (included in interest income) - $ 586
Effect on average loan yield 0.00 % 0.09 %
Effect on net interest margin (FTE) 0.00 % 0.06 %
 

The following table shows the components of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent (FTE) basis for the periods indicated:

 
ANALYSIS OF CHANGE IN NET INTEREST MARGIN ON EARNING ASSETS
(unaudited, dollars in thousands)
 
 

Three Months Ended

 

Three Months Ended

 

Three Months Ended

December 31, 2017

September 30, 2017

December 31, 2016

Average   Income/   Yield/ Average   Income/   Yield/ Average   Income/   Yield/
Balance Expense Rate Balance Expense Rate Balance Expense Rate
Assets
Earning assets
Loans $ 2,948,277 $ 38,194 5.18 % $ 2,878,944 $ 37,268 5.18 % $ 2,730,391 $ 36,241 5.31 %
Investments - taxable 1,118,547 7,459 2.67 % 1,114,112 7,312 2.63 % 1,031,401 7,026 2.72 %
Investments - nontaxable 136,321 1,666 4.89 % 136,095 1,665 4.89 % 135,009 1,650 4.89 %
Cash at Federal Reserve and other banks   86,511     267   1.23 %   85,337     292   1.37 %   233,169     317   0.54 %
Total earning assets 4,289,656   47,586   4.44 % 4,214,488   46,537   4.42 % 4,129,970   45,234   4.38 %
Other assets, net   369,021   357,936   353,281
Total assets $ 4,658,677 $ 4,572,424 $ 4,483,251
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Interest-bearing
Demand deposits $ 964,827 210 0.09 % $ 949,348 206 0.09 % $ 892,518 94 0.04 %
Savings deposits 1,380,384 430 0.12 % 1,365,249 419 0.12 % 1,389,676 439 0.13 %
Time deposits 307,446 422 0.55 % 310,325 403 0.52 % 338,326 339 0.40 %
Other borrowings 61,769 141 0.91 % 65,234 149 0.91 % 19,122 2 0.04 %
Trust preferred securities   56,837     665   4.68 %   56,784     652   4.59 %   56,641     586   4.14 %
Total interest-bearing liabilities 2,771,263   1,868   0.27 % 2,746,941   1,829   0.27 % 2,696,283   1,460   0.22 %
Noninterest-bearing deposits 1,308,765 1,253,261 1,232,912
Other liabilities 65,642 64,834 72,352
Shareholders' equity   513,007   507,389   481,704
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 4,658,677 $ 4,572,424 $ 4,483,251
Net interest rate spread 4.17 % 4.15 % 4.16 %
Net interest income/net interest margin (FTE)   45,718   4.26 %   44,708   4.24 %   43,774   4.24 %
FTE adjustment   (625 )   (624 )   (619 )
Net interest income (not FTE) $ 45,093   $ 44,084   $ 43,155  
 
 
Purchase loan discount accretion effect:
Amount (included in interest income) $ 1,489 $ 1,364 $ 1,778
Effect on avg loan yield 0.20 % 0.19 % 0.26 %
Effect on net interest margin 0.14 % 0.13 % 0.17 %
Loan sale effect:
Amount (included in interest income) - - $ 586
Effect on avg loan yield 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.09 %
Effect on net interest margin 0.00 % 0.00 % 0.06 %

 

Net interest income (FTE) during the three months ended December 31, 2017 increased $1,944,000 (4.4%) to $45,718,000 compared to $43,774,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2016. The increase in net interest income (FTE) was due primarily to increases in the average balance of loans and investments that were partially offset by an increase in other borrowings, a decrease in yield on loans, and an increase in the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016.

The table below that sets forth a summary of the changes in interest income and interest expense from changes in average asset and liability balances (volume) and changes in average interest yields and rates for each category of interest earning asset and interest paying liability for the periods indicated:

 

Three months ended December 31, 2017
compared with three months ended December 31, 2016

Volume   Yield/Rate   Total
Increase (decrease) in interest income:    
Loans $ 2,892 $ (939 ) $ 1,953
Investments - taxable 593 (160 ) 433
Investments - nontaxable 16 - 16
Federal funds sold   (198 )     148       (50 )
Total   3,303       (951 )     2,352  
Increase (decrease) in interest expense:
Demand deposits (interest-bearing) 7 109 116
Savings deposits (3 ) (6 ) (9 )
Time deposits (31 ) 114 83
Other borrowings 4 135 139
Junior subordinated debt   2       77       79  
Total   (21 )     429       408  
Increase (decrease) in net interest income $ 3,324     $ (1,380 )   $ 1,944  
 

The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $1,677,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2017 compared to a reversal of provision for loan losses of $1,433,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2016. The $1,677,000 provision for loan losses during the three months ended December 31, 2017 was due primarily to an increase in nonperforming loans, and an increase in loans classified as “special mention” that were partially offset by continued low historical loan loss experience. Nonperforming loans were $24,394,000, or 0.81% of loans outstanding as of December 31, 2017, compared to $21,955,000, or 0.75% of loans outstanding as of September 30, 2017, and $20,128,000, or 0.73% of loans outstanding as of December 31, 2016. Net loan charge-offs during the three months ended December 31, 2017 were $101,000.

The following table presents the key components of noninterest income for the periods indicated:

     
Three months ended
December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2017   2016

$ Change

% Change
Service charges on deposit accounts

$

3,954

$

3,816

$

138 3.6 %
ATM fees and interchange 4,255 4,723 (468 ) (9.9 %)
Other service fees 761 752 9 1.2 %
Mortgage banking service fees 515 495 20 4.0 %
Change in value of mortgage servicing rights   77   14     63   450.0 %
Total service charges and fees   9,562   9,800     (238 ) (2.4 %)
 
Gain on sale of loans 816 1,392 (576 ) (41.4 %)
Commission on nondeposit investment products 745 439 306 69.7 %
Increase in cash value of life insurance 642 631 11 1.7 %
Change in indemnification asset - (219 ) 219 (100.0 %)
Gain on sale of foreclosed assets 403 44 359 815.9 %
Other noninterest income   310   375     (65 ) (17.3 %)
Total other noninterest income   2,916   2,662     254   9.5 %
Total noninterest income

$

12,478 $ 12,462   $ 16   0.1 %
 

Noninterest income increased $16,000 (0.1%) to $12,478,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2017 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016. The increase in noninterest income was due primarily to a $359,000 (816%) increase in gain on sale of foreclosed assets, a $306,000 (69.7%) increase in commission on nondeposit investment products, and a $219,000 increase in change in indemnification asset that were partially offset by a $576,000 decrease in gain on sale of loans. The $359,000 increase in gain on sale of foreclosed asset was due primarily to $378,000 of previously deferred gain on sale of foreclosed assets being recorded into noninterest income as the conditions requiring its deferral were alleviated during the three months ended December 31, 2017. The $306,000 increase in commissions on nondeposit investment products was due to continued focus in this area. The $219,000 increase in change in indemnification asset was due to a $219,000 decrease in the indemnification asset during the fourth quarter of 2016, and no such change during the fourth quarter of 2017 as the Company and the FDIC terminated their loss sharing agreements during the second quarter of 2017. The $576,000 decrease in gain on sale of loans was due primarily to decreased residential mortgage refinance activity compared to the year-ago quarter.

The following table presents the key components of the Company’s noninterest expense for the periods indicated:

 
  Three months ended    
December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2017   2016

$ Change

% Change
Base salaries, overtime and temporary help, net of deferred loan origination costs $ 13,942 $ 14,074

$

(132

)

(0.9 %)
Commissions and incentives 2,247 1,864 383 20.5 %
Employee benefits   4,421   4,616     (195 ) (4.2 %)
Total salaries and benefits expense   20,610   20,554     56   0.3 %
 
Occupancy 2,698 2,635 63 2.4 %
Equipment 1,797 1,760 37 2.1 %
Provision for losses unfunded 175 (189 ) 364 (192.6 %)
Data processing and software 3,116 2,580 536 20.8 %
Telecommunications 686 664 22 3.3 %
ATM & POS network charges 1,399 1,076 323 30.0 %
Professional fees 1,388 2,226 (838 ) (37.6 %)
Advertising and marketing 928 808 120 14.9 %
Postage 238 417 (179 ) (42.9 %)
Courier service 283 182 101 55.5 %
Intangible amortization 339 360 (21 ) (5.8 %)
Operational losses 228 558 (330 ) (59.1 %)
Provision for OREO losses - 100 (100 ) (100.0 %)
OREO expense 114 69 45 65.2 %
Assessments 424 241 183 75.9 %
Merger & acquisition expense 530 - 530
Other   3,123   2,522     601   23.8 %
Total other noninterest expense   17,466   16,009     1,457   9.1 %
Total noninterest expense $ 38,076 $ 36,563   $ 1,513   4.1 %
 
Average full time equivalent employees 981 1,008 (27 ) (2.7 %)
 
Merger & acquisition expense:
Professional fees $ 513 -
Miscellaneous other expense   17   -  
Total merger & acquisition expense $ 530 $ 0  
 

Salary and benefit expenses increased $56,000 (0.3%) to $20,610,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2017 compared to $20,554,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2016. Base salaries, net of deferred loan origination costs decreased $132,000 (0.9%) to 13,942,000. The decrease in base salaries was due primarily to annual merit increases that were more than offset by a 2.7% decrease in average full time equivalent employees to 981 from 1,008 in the year-ago quarter, and a decrease in temporary help expense. Commissions and incentive compensation increased $383,000 (20.5%) to $2,247,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year-ago quarter due primarily to increases in almost every category of incentive compensation. Benefits & other compensation expense decreased $195,000 (4.2%) to $4,421,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2017 due primarily to decreases in group medical expense.

Other noninterest expense increased $1,457,000 (9.1%) to $17,466,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2017 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016. The increase in other noninterest expense was due primarily to $530,000 of expenses incurred in the fourth quarter of 2017 related to the proposed merger with FNBB, a $536,000 (20.8%) increase in data processing and software expense, a $323,000 increase in ATM & POS network charges, and a $364,000 increase in provision for losses for unfunded loan commitments that were partially offset by decreases of $838,000 in professional fees, and $330,000 in operational losses. The increase in data processing and software expense and ATM & POS network charges were due primarily to system enhancements and capacity expansion. The increase in change in reserve for unfunded commitments was due primarily to a larger increase in unfunded loan commitments during the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016. The decrease in professional fees was due primarily to consulting fees incurred in the fourth quarter of 2016 related to system enhancements and capacity expansion.

The effective combined Federal and State income tax rate on income was 83.2% and 38.8% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The effective combined Federal and State income tax rate was greater than the Federal statutory tax rate of 35.0% due to a Federal tax expense of $7,416,000 related to the DTA re-measurement in the fourth quarter of 2017, and State income tax expense of $1,973,000 and $2,195,000, for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, that were partially offset by the effects of tax-exempt income of $1,041,000 and $1,031,000, respectively, from investment securities, $641,000 and $631,000, respectively, from increase in cash value of life insurance, low-income housing tax credits of ($123,000) and $62,000, respectively, and $59,000 and $0, respectively, of equity compensation excess tax benefits. The low income housing tax credits and the equity compensation excess tax benefits represent direct reductions in tax expense.

The provisions for income taxes applicable to income before taxes differ from amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal income tax rates to income before taxes. The effective tax rate and the statutory federal income tax rate are reconciled for the periods indicated as follows:

 

 

Three months ended

 

December 31,

2017   2016
Federal statutory income tax rate 35.0 %   35.0 %
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit 7.2 7.0
Tax-exempt interest on municipal obligations (2.0 ) (1.8 )
Increase in cash value of insurance policies (1.3 ) (1.1 )
Low income housing tax credits 0.7 (0.3 )
Equity compensation (0.3 ) -
Nondeductible merger expenses 0.9 -
DTA re-measurement 41.6 -
Other 1.4 -
Effective Tax Rate 83.2 % 38.8 %
 

The Company’s financial statements are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP). The Company uses certain non-GAAP measures to provide supplemental information regarding performance. Net income and the effective tax rate for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 include the effects of $530,000 of expenses related to the proposed merger with FNBB, of which $438,000 is non-deductible for taxes, and a one-time charge of $7,416,000 due to the re-measurement of the Company’s DTA resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 include the effects of $784,000 of expenses, all of which were deductible for taxes, related to the acquisition of three bank branches, including $161,231,000 of deposits, during the three months ended March 31, 2016. The Company believes that presenting the effective tax rate, net income, return on average assets (ROAA), return on average equity (ROAE), and earnings per common share, excluding the impact of merger & acquisition expenses and the re-measurement of the Company’s DTA, provides additional clarity to the users of the financial statements regarding core financial performance. The following table presents a comparison of the effective tax rate, net income, ROAA, ROAE, and earnings per common share as reported, and as adjusted for the impact of merger & acquisition expenses and the re-measurement of the Company’s DTA, for the periods indicated.

   
Three months ended Year ended
December 31, December 31,
($'s in thousands except per share amounts)   2017       2016     2017       2016  
Income tax expense $ 14,829   $ 7,954 $ 36,958   $ 27,712
Effect of non-deductible merger expense

 

(184 )

 

-

 

(184 )

 

-
Effect of income tax rate change DTA re-measurement   (7,416 )     -     (7,416 )     -  

Adjusted income tax expense

$ 7,229     $ 7,954   $ 29,358     $ 27,712  
 
Effective tax rate 83.2 % 38.8 % 47.7 % 38.2 %
Adjusted effective tax rate 40.6 % 38.8 % 37.9 % 38.2 %
 
Net income $ 2,989 $ 12,533 $ 40,554 $ 44,811

Effect of merger expense

 

491

 

-

 

491

 

454
Effect of income tax rate change DTA re-measurement   7,416       -     7,416       -  
Adjusted net income $ 10,896     $ 12,533   $ 48,462     $ 45,266  
 
ROAA 0.26 % 1.12 % 0.89 % 1.02 %
Adjusted ROAA 0.94 % 1.12 % 1.06 % 1.04 %
 
ROAE 2.33 % 10.41 % 8.10 % 9.46 %
Adjusted ROAE 8.50 % 10.41 % 9.68 % 9.55 %
 
Earnings per common share:
Basic $ 0.13 $ 0.55 $ 1.77 $ 1.96
Diluted $ 0.13 $ 0.54 $ 1.74 $ 1.94
 
Adjusted earnings per common share:
Basic $ 0.47 $ 0.55 $ 2.12 $ 1.98
Diluted $ 0.47 $ 0.54 $ 2.08 $ 1.96
 
M&A expense $ 530 $ - $ 530 $ 784
Non-deductible M&A expense $ 438 $ - $ 438 $ -
Average assets $ 4,658,677 $ 4,483,251 $ 4,554,505 $ 4,373,022
Average equity $ 513,007 $ 481,704 $ 500,653 $ 473,829
Weighted average shares 22,944,523 22,845,623 22,911,611 22,814,002
Weighted average diluted shares 23,289,545 23,115,708 23,249,887 23,086,460
 

Richard P. Smith, President and CEO of the Company commented, “The fourth quarter of 2017 was a very busy and successful quarter for the company. Lending activity across our footprint remains strong, with total loans eclipsing $3.0 billion for the first time. Total loans grew by 2.9% during the quarter, or at 11.4% annualized. Similarly, total deposits exceeded $4.0 billion during the quarter, growing $102 million or 2.6%. Just as importantly, the bank continues to be positioned well for rising rates, with demand deposits representing 34% of total deposits and the overall average cost of deposits at just 0.11%

Smith added, “Key events for the quarter were the passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and our announced acquisition of First National Bank of Northern California. While the reduction in the corporate tax rate resulted in the recognition of immediate revaluation expense against our deferred tax assets, we expect a lower corporate tax rate to have a continuing positive impact on the Company’s net income beginning in January 2018. We remain enthusiastic about our organic growth and momentum as we enter 2018, along with the completion of our previously announced strategic acquisition of First National Bank of Northern California. We continue to believe this transaction is an important element in our overall growth strategy and squarely align with our goal of being Northern California’s #1 community bank.

The statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be the same as those anticipated by management. The Company cautions readers that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which the Company conducts operations; the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; the impact of changes in financial services policies, laws and regulations; technological changes; mergers and acquisitions, including costs or difficulties related to the integration of acquired companies; changes in the level of the Company’s nonperforming assets and charge-offs; any deterioration in values of California real estate, both residential and commercial; the effect of changes in accounting standards and practices; possible other-than-temporary impairment of securities held by the Company; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; ability to attract deposits and other sources of liquidity; changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers; the impact of competition from financial and bank holding companies and other financial service providers; unanticipated regulatory or judicial proceedings; the costs and effects of litigation and of unexpected or adverse outcomes in such litigation; and the Company’s ability to manage the risks involved in the foregoing. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described above can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and available in the “Investor Relations” section of our website, https://www.tcbk.com/investor-relations and in other documents we file with the SEC. Annualized, pro forma, projections and estimates are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results.

Statements concerning the potential merger of the Company and FNB Bancorp may also be forward-looking statements. Please refer to each of the Company’s and FNB’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as well as their other filings with the SEC, for a more detailed discussion of risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.

Established in 1975, Tri Counties Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TriCo Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBK) headquartered in Chico, California, providing a unique brand of customer Service with Solutions available in traditional stand-alone and in-store bank branches in communities throughout Northern and Central California. Tri Counties Bank provides an extensive and competitive breadth of consumer, small business and commercial banking financial services, along with convenient around-the-clock ATM, online and mobile banking access. Brokerage services are provided by the Bank’s investment services through affiliation with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Visit www.TriCountiesBank.com to learn more.

 
TRICO BANCSHARES - CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited. Dollars in thousands, except share data)
 
  Three months ended
December 31,   September 30,   June 30,   March 31,   December 31,
  2017       2017       2017       2017       2016  
Statement of Income Data
Interest income $ 46,961 $ 45,913 $ 45,044 $ 43,484 $ 44,615
Interest expense 1,868 1,829 1,610 1,491 1,460
Net interest income 45,093 44,084 43,434 41,993 43,155
Provision (benefit from reversal of provision) for loan losses 1,677 765 (796 ) (1,557 ) (1,433 )
Noninterest income:
Service charges and fees 9,562 9,475 9,479 8,907 9,800
Other income 2,916 3,455 3,431 2,796 2,662
Total noninterest income 12,478 12,930 12,910 11,703 12,462
Noninterest expense:

Base salaries net of deferred loan origination costs

13,942 13,600 13,657 13,390 14,074
Incentive compensation expense 2,247 2,609 2,173 2,198 1,864

Employee benefits and other compensation expense

4,421 4,724 4,664 5,305 4,616
Total salaries and benefits expense 20,610 20,933 20,494 20,893 20,554
Other noninterest expense 17,466 16,289 15,410 14,929 16,009
Total noninterest expense 38,076 37,222 35,904 35,822 36,563
Income before taxes 17,818 19,027 21,236 19,431 20,487
Net income $ 2,989 $ 11,897 $ 13,589 $ 12,079 $ 12,533
Share Data
Basic earnings per share $ 0.13 $ 0.52 $ 0.59 $ 0.53 $ 0.55
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.13 $ 0.51 $ 0.58 $ 0.52 $ 0.54
Book value per common share $ 22.03 $ 22.09 $ 21.76 $ 21.28 $ 20.87
Tangible book value per common share $ 19.01 $ 19.04 $ 18.70 $ 18.20 $ 17.77
Shares outstanding 22,955,963 22,941,464 22,925,069 22,873,305 22,867,802
Weighted average shares 22,944,523 22,931,855 22,899,600 22,870,467 22,845,623
Weighted average diluted shares 23,289,545 23,244,235 23,240,112 23,231,778 23,115,708
Credit Quality
Nonperforming originated loans $ 15,463 $ 11,689 $ 10,581 $ 13,234 $ 12,894
Total nonperforming loans 24,394 21,955 17,429 19,511 20,128
Foreclosed assets, net of allowance 3,226 3,071 3,489 3,529 3,986
Loans charged-off 627 862 2,512 409 635
Loans recovered 526 701 434 480 1,087
Selected Financial Ratios
Return on average total assets 0.26 % 1.04 % 1.21 % 1.08 % 1.12 %
Return on average equity 2.33 % 9.38 % 10.93 % 9.97 % 10.41 %
Average yield on loans 5.18 % 5.18 % 5.23 % 5.06 % 5.31 %
Average yield on interest-earning assets 4.44 % 4.42 % 4.42 % 4.27 % 4.38 %
Average rate on interest-bearing liabilities 0.27 % 0.27 % 0.24 % 0.22 % 0.22 %
Net interest margin (fully tax-equivalent) 4.26 % 4.24 % 4.26 % 4.13 % 4.24 %
Supplemental Loan Interest Income Data:
Discount accretion PCI - cash basis loans $ 516 $ 398 $ 386 $ 112 $ 483
Discount accretion PCI - other loans 445 407 797 631 658
Discount accretion PNCI loans 528 559 987 798 637
All other loan interest income 36,705 35,904 34,248 33,373 34,463
Total loan interest income $ 38,194 $ 37,268 $ 36,418 $ 34,914 $ 36,241
 
TRICO BANCSHARES - CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited. Dollars in thousands)
 
  Three months ended
December 31,   September 30,   June 30,   March 31,   December 31,
Balance Sheet Data   2017       2017       2017       2017       2016  
Cash and due from banks $ 205,428 $ 188,034 $ 167,649 $ 323,706 $ 305,612
Securities, available for sale

730,883

678,236 672,569 571,719 550,233
Securities, held to maturity

514,844

536,567 559,518 580,137 602,536
Restricted equity securities 16,956 16,956 16,956 16,956 16,956
Loans held for sale 4,616 2,733 2,537 1,176 2,998
Loans:
Commercial loans 220,500 227,479 225,743 212,685 217,047
Consumer loans 365,113 361,320 360,782 357,593 366,111
Real estate mortgage loans 2,291,995 2,194,874 2,106,567 2,066,372 2,054,016
Real estate construction loans 137,557 147,940 133,301 124,542 122,419
Total loans, gross 3,015,165 2,931,613 2,826,393 2,761,192 2,759,593
Allowance for loan losses (30,323 ) (28,747 ) (28,143 ) (31,017 ) (32,503 )
Foreclosed assets 3,226 3,071 3,489 3,529 3,986
Premises and equipment 57,742 54,995 51,558 49,508 48,406
Cash value of life insurance 97,783 97,142 96,410 95,783 95,912
Goodwill 64,311 64,311 64,311 64,311 64,311
Other intangible assets 5,174 5,513 5,852 6,204 6,563
Mortgage servicing rights 6,687 6,419 6,596 6,860 6,595
Accrued interest receivable 13,772 12,656 11,605 11,236 12,027
Other assets 55,051 86,936 62,635 66,654 74,743
Total assets $ 4,761,315 $ 4,656,435 $ 4,519,935 $ 4,527,954 $ 4,517,968
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits $ 1,368,218 $ 1,283,949 $ 1,261,355 $ 1,254,431 $ 1,275,745
Interest-bearing demand deposits 971,459 965,480 956,690 947,006 887,625
Savings deposits 1,364,518 1,367,597 1,346,016 1,370,015 1,397,036
Time certificates 304,936 310,430 314,361 327,432 335,154
Total deposits 4,009,131 3,927,456 3,878,422 3,898,884 3,895,560
Accrued interest payable 930 867 781 770 818
Reserve for unfunded commitments 3,164 2,989 2,599 2,734 2,719
Other liabilities 63,258 62,850 59,868 66,938 67,364
Other borrowings 122,166 98,730 22,560 15,197 17,493
Junior subordinated debt 56,858 56,810 56,761 56,713 56,667
Total liabilities $ 4,255,507 $ 4,149,702 $ 4,020,991 $ 4,041,236 $ 4,040,621
Total shareholders' equity $ 505,808 $ 506,733 $ 498,944 $ 486,718 $ 477,347

Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)

(5,228 ) (4,612 ) (4,501 ) (7,402 ) (7,913 )
Average loans $ 2,948,277 $ 2,878,944 $ 2,783,686 $ 2,758,544 $ 2,730,391
Average interest-earning assets 4,289,656 4,214,488 4,135,021 4,130,469 4,129,970
Average total assets 4,658,677 4,572,424 4,492,389 4,493,657 4,483,251
Average deposits 3,961,422 3,878,183 3,851,519 3,862,793 3,853,432
Average total equity 513,007 507,389 497,225 484,811 481,704
Total risk based capital ratio 14.1 % 14.4 % 14.8 % 15.0 % 14.8 %
Tier 1 capital ratio 13.2 % 13.6 % 13.9 % 14.0 % 13.7 %
Tier 1 common equity ratio 11.7 % 12.1 % 12.3 % 12.4 % 12.2 %
Tier 1 leverage ratio 10.8 % 11.0 % 11.0 % 10.8 % 10.6 %
Tangible capital ratio 9.3 % 9.5 % 9.6 % 9.3 % 9.1 %