QUAKERTOWN, Pa., Jan. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- QNB Corp. (the "Company" or "QNB") (OTC Bulletin Board: QNBC), the parent company of QNB Bank (the "Bank"), reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2016 of $2,269,000, or $0.66 per share on a diluted basis, compared with $1,943,000, or $0.58 per share on a diluted basis during the same period in 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2016, QNB reported net income of $8,924,000, or $2.63 per share on a diluted basis. This compares to net income of $8,233,000, or $2.46 per share on a diluted basis, reported for 2015.

For the year 2016 the rate of return on average assets and average shareholders' equity was 0.87% and 9.45%, respectively, compared with 0.83% and 9.29%, respectively, for the year 2015.

Total assets as of December 31, 2016 were $1,063,141,000 compared with $1,020,936,000 at December 31, 2015. Loans receivable at December 31, 2016 were $633,079,000 compared with $615,270,000 at December 31, 2015, an increase of $17,809,000, or 2.9%, with commercial lending as the largest contributor to the growth. Total deposits at December 31, 2016 were $913,355,000, an increase of 2.6% compared with $889,786,000 at December 31, 2015, due to strong growth in non-interest bearing deposits.

David W. Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our improved results reflect loan, deposit and household growth for the fourth quarter and the entire year. Our retail brokerage business, QNB Financial Services, achieved a milestone during the quarter, with over $100 million in assets under management. Asset quality is strong. Net interest margin declined slightly in 2016, as we continue to experience pressure due to the rate environment and competition."

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income for the quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 totaled $7,279,000 and $28,504,000, respectively, an increase of $254,000 and $1,135,000, respectively, from the same periods in 2015. The net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2016 was 2.97% compared to 3.00% for the fourth quarter of 2015. Net interest margin for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 was 3.03%, a decrease of two basis points compared to 2015. The yield on earning assets decreased two basis points from 3.46% for the fourth quarter of 2015 to 3.44% for the fourth quarter of 2016. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, the yield on earning assets declined three basis points, from 3.53% in 2015 to 3.50% in 2016. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 0.57% for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2016, compared with 0.56% for the same periods in 2015.

Asset Quality, Provision for Loan Loss and Allowance for Loan Loss

QNB reversed $95,000 in provision for loan losses in the fourth quarter of 2016. In October 2016, the Company sold its interest in its indirect lease finance portfolio, recording a loss on sale of $223,000. The allowance for loan losses associated with this sold portfolio, totaling $220,000, was reversed, while provisions for loan losses for the rest of the commercial and retail loan portfolio totaling $125,000 were recorded during the quarter. A provision of $140,000 was recorded for the fourth quarter 2015. For the year 2016, QNB recorded $30,000 in provision, compared to $200,000 for the year 2015. QNB's allowance for loan losses of $7,394,000 represents 1.17% of loans receivable at December 31, 2016 compared to an allowance for loan losses of $7,554,000, or 1.23% of loans receivable at December 31, 2015. Net loan charge-offs were $104,000 for the fourth quarter of 2016, or 0.07% annualized of total average loans, compared with net charge-offs of $255,000 for the fourth quarter of 2015, or 0.17% of total average loans. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 net loan charge-offs were $190,000, or 0.03%, and $647,000, or 0.11%, of total average loans, respectively. The majority of charge-offs recorded during both 2016 and 2015 had specific reserves established prior to the decision to charge off the loan.

Non-performing assets totaled $14,219,000 at December 31, 2016 compared with $13,372,000 as of December 31, 2015. Included in this classification are non-performing loans, other real estate owned (OREO) and repossessed assets, and non-performing pooled trust preferred securities. Total non-performing loans, which represent loans on non-accrual status, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest and restructured loans were $11,938,000, or 1.89% of loans receivable at December 31, 2016, compared with $10,719,000, or 1.74% of loans receivable at December 31, 2015. In cases where there is a collateral shortfall on impaired loans, specific impairment reserves have been established based on updated collateral values even if the borrower continues to pay in accordance with the terms of the agreement. At December 31, 2016, $7,749,000, or approximately 77% of the loans classified as non-accrual are current or past due less than 30 days. At December 31, 2016 substandard or doubtful loans totaled $22,204,000, a reduction of $5,121,000, or 18.7%, from the $27,325,000 reported at December 31, 2015.

QNB had no other real estate owned and other repossessed assets as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Non-accrual pooled trust preferred securities are carried at fair value of $2,281,000, and $2,653,000, at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

Non-Interest Income

Total non-interest income was $1,073,000 for the fourth quarter of 2016, and $5,667,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $190,000 and $365,000, compared to the same periods in 2015, respectively. Net gain on sale of loans declined $220,000, due to a loss on sale of the indirect lease finance portfolio during the fourth quarter 2016. Losses in the trading portfolio for the fourth quarter, resulting from the increase in interest rates, contributed $103,000 to the decline. These decreases in income were offset in part by increases in retail brokerage and advisory fees, gain on investment securities and other non-interest income of $49,000, $41,000, and $40,000, respectively.

Non-Interest Expense

Total non-interest expense was $5,435,000 for the fourth quarter of 2016, a decrease of $199,000, or 3.5%, compared with $5,634,000 for the fourth quarter of 2015. For year ended December 31, 2016, total non-interest expense decreased $235,000, or 1.0%, to $22,163,000, compared to the year 2015. Salaries and benefits expense decreased $219,000, or 7.0%, for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, compared to the same period in 2015, due to reduced medical insurance claims of $124,000, a $99,000 reduction in accrued bonus expense, and $32,000 in lower 401k expenses, offset in part by increased salary expense of $77,000. For the year ended December 31, 2016 salaries and benefits expense decreased $65,000, or 0.5%, compared to the same period in 2015. Net occupancy and furniture and equipment expense increased $29,000, or 3.3%, for the fourth quarter 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, due to increases in software and building maintenance. For year ended December 31, 2016, net occupancy and furniture and equipment costs increased $15,000 compared to the same period in 2015, due primarily to increased software maintenance, building maintenance and security expense, offset in part by lower depreciation expense. Other operating expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2016 decreased $10,000, with increases in debit card expense and supplies and telecommunications expense of $141,000 and $23,000, respectively, offset by decreased FDIC insurance of $73,000, third party expense of $23,000 and marketing expense of $84,000. Other operating expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 decreased $186,000, or 2.7%, due to the same reasons detailed for expense increases and decreases for the quarter. Debit card expenses in 2015 included a contract termination fee related to card platform upgrades, which took place during 2016. Provision for income taxes increased in the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, due to the increase in taxable net income, as well as the effective tax rate. The increase in effective tax rate in 2016 reflects lower proportionate tax-free income in 2016, compared to 2015.

About the Company

QNB Corp. is the holding company for QNB Bank, which is headquartered in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. QNB Bank currently operates eleven branches in Bucks, Montgomery and Lehigh Counties and offers commercial and retail banking services in the communities it serves. In addition, the Company provides securities and advisory services under the name of QNB Financial Services through Investment Professionals, Inc., a registered Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Advisor, and title insurance as a member of Laurel Abstract Company LLC. More information about QNB Corp. and QNB Bank is available at www.qnbbank.com.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various factors. Such factors include the possibility that increased demand or prices for the Company's financial services and products may not occur, changing economic and competitive conditions, technological developments, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including "Item lA. Risk Factors," set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.



                                                                                              QNB Corp.

                                                                          Consolidated Selected Financial Data (unaudited)


    (Dollars in thousands)


    Balance Sheet (Period End)                        12/31/16            9/30/16                                    6/30/16  3/31/16            12/31/15
    -------------------------                         --------            -------                                    -------  -------            --------

    Assets                                                     $1,063,141                                          $1,071,931         $1,030,238          $1,004,552  $1,020,936

    Cash and cash equivalents                                      10,721                                              69,428             57,949              32,138      16,991

    Investment securities

    Trading                                                         3,596                                               4,312              3,459               4,006       4,189

    Available-for-sale                                            390,475                                             368,834            344,253             345,118     361,915

    Held-to-maturity                                                    -                                                147                147                 147         147

    Loans held-for-sale                                               789                                                 456                184                  90         987

    Loans receivable                                              633,079                                             608,231            604,478             601,686     615,270

    Allowance for loan losses                                     (7,394)                                            (7,593)           (7,550)            (7,556)    (7,554)

    Net loans                                                     625,684                                             600,638            596,928             594,130     607,716

    Deposits                                                      913,355                                             926,712            893,285             865,360     889,786

    Demand, non-interest bearing                                  119,010                                             105,029            117,650             105,660      98,543

    Interest-bearing demand, money market and                     568,763                                             593,307            547,262             532,597     563,867
    savings

    Time                                                          225,582                                             228,376            228,373             227,103     227,376

    Short-term borrowings                                          52,660                                              41,179             36,693              40,426      37,163

    Shareholders' equity                                           93,567                                              97,996             97,207              94,955      90,443


    Asset Quality Data (Period End)
    ------------------------------

    Non-accrual loans                                             $10,119                                              $8,237             $8,685              $8,834      $9,420

    Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing                   -                                                150                 65                   8          11

    Restructured loans                                              1,819                                               1,149              1,433               1,268       1,288
                                                                    -----                                               -----              -----               -----       -----

    Non-performing loans                                           11,938                                               9,536             10,183              10,110      10,719

    Other real estate owned and repossessed assets                      -                                                  -                 -                  -          -

    Non-accrual pooled trust preferred securities                   2,281                                               2,275              2,400               2,655       2,653
                                                                    -----                                               -----              -----               -----       -----

    Non-performing assets                                         $14,219                                             $11,811            $12,583             $12,765     $13,372
                                                                  =======                                             =======            =======             =======     =======


    Allowance for loan losses                                      $7,394                                              $7,593             $7,550              $7,556      $7,554


    Non-performing loans / Loans excluding held-for-                1.89%                                              1.57%             1.68%              1.68%      1.74%
    sale

    Non-performing assets / Assets                                  1.34%                                              1.10%             1.22%              1.27%      1.31%

    Allowance for loan losses / Loans excluding held-               1.17%                                              1.25%             1.25%              1.26%      1.23%
    for-sale




                                                                                                            QNB Corp.

                                                                                         Consolidated Selected Financial Data (unaudited)


    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)                                 Three months ended,                                                                   Year ended,
                                                                                  -------------------                                                                   -----------

    For the period:                                  12/31/16             9/30/16                  6/30/16                   3/31/16                 12/31/15                   12/31/16      12/31/15
    ---------------                                  --------             -------                  -------                   -------                 --------                   --------      --------


    Interest income                                                $8,486                            $8,287                                   $8,184                    $8,280                      $8,184           $33,237             $31,875

    Interest expense                                              1,207                             1,202                                    1,165                     1,159                       1,159             4,733               4,506
                                                                  -----                             -----                                    -----                     -----                       -----             -----               -----

    Net interest income                                           7,279                             7,085                                    7,019                     7,121                       7,025            28,504              27,369

    (Credit) provision for loan losses                   (95)                              -                                       -                          125                        140               30                200
                                                          ---                             ---                                     ---                          ---                        ---              ---                ---

    Net interest income after provision                           7,374                             7,085                                    7,019                     6,996                       6,885            28,474              27,169
        for loan losses


    Non-interest income:

    Fees for services to customers                                  416                               425                                      397                       383                         417             1,621               1,657

    ATM and debit card                                              422                               419                                      422                       388                         418             1,651               1,571

    Retail brokerage and advisory income                            178                               129                                      126                       170                         129               603                 686

    Net gain (loss) on investment securities                         24                               316                                       15                       319                        (17)              674                 783
        available-for-sale

    Net (loss) gain from trading activity                          (87)                             (39)                                      52                        34                          16              (40)                 33

    Net (loss) gain on sale of loans                              (166)                              143                                       71                        49                          54                97                 356

    Other                                                           286                               251                                      291                       233                         246             1,061                 946
                                                                    ---                               ---                                      ---                       ---                         ---             -----                 ---

    Total non-interest income                                     1,073                             1,644                                    1,374                     1,576                       1,263             5,667               6,032
                                                                  -----                             -----                                    -----                     -----                       -----             -----               -----

    Non-interest expense:

    Salaries and employee benefits                                2,897                             3,072                                    2,988                     3,054                       3,116            12,011              12,076

    Net occupancy and furniture and equipment                       896                               875                                      866                       866                         867             3,503               3,488

    Other                                                         1,642                             1,669                                    1,739                     1,599                       1,651             6,649               6,834
                                                                  -----                             -----                                    -----                     -----                       -----             -----               -----

    Total non-interest expense                                    5,435                             5,616                                    5,593                     5,519                       5,634            22,163              22,398
                                                                  -----                             -----                                    -----                     -----                       -----            ------              ------

    Income before income taxes                                    3,012                             3,113                                    2,800                     3,053                       2,514            11,978              10,803

    Provision for income taxes                                      743                               821                                      702                       788                         571             3,054               2,570
                                                                    ---                               ---                                      ---                       ---                         ---             -----               -----

    Net income                                                     $2,269                            $2,292                                   $2,098                    $2,265                      $1,943            $8,924              $8,233
                                                                   ======                            ======                                   ======                    ======                      ======            ======              ======


    Share and Per Share Data:
    -------------------------

    Net income - basic                                              $0.67                             $0.68                                    $0.62                     $0.67                       $0.58             $2.64               $2.47

    Net income - diluted                                            $0.66                             $0.67                                    $0.62                     $0.67                       $0.58             $2.63               $2.46

    Book value                                                     $27.43                            $28.82                                   $28.66                    $28.08                      $26.92            $27.43              $26.92

    Cash dividends                                                  $0.30                             $0.30                                    $0.30                     $0.30                       $0.29             $1.20               $1.16

    Average common shares outstanding - basic                 3,402,479                         3,391,471                                3,383,109                 3,369,782                   3,351,909         3,386,766           3,337,505

    Average common shares outstanding - diluted               3,416,117                         3,404,039                                3,391,875                 3,377,936                   3,366,566         3,395,839           3,350,539


    Selected Ratios:
    ----------------

    Return on average assets                                      0.85%                            0.86%                                   0.84%                    0.91%                      0.75%            0.87%              0.83%

    Return on average shareholders' equity                        9.34%                            9.57%                                   9.01%                    9.88%                      8.50%            9.45%              9.29%

    Net interest margin (tax equivalent)                          2.97%                            2.93%                                   3.08%                    3.14%                      3.00%            3.03%              3.05%

    Efficiency ratio (tax equivalent)                            62.17%                           61.49%                                  63.52%                   60.43%                     64.43%           61.89%             63.66%

    Average shareholders' equity to total average                 9.10%                            9.04%                                   9.30%                    9.21%                      8.87%            9.16%              8.97%
    assets

    Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)                                $104                             $(43)                                      $6                      $123                        $255              $190                $647

    Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) - annualized /              0.07%                           -0.03%                                   0.00%                    0.08%                      0.17%            0.03%              0.11%

          Average loans excluding held-for-sale


    Balance Sheet (Average)
    ----------------------

    Assets                                                     $1,061,980                        $1,054,001                               $1,007,036                $1,001,189                  $1,023,365        $1,031,198            $987,894

    Investment securities (Trading, AFS & HTM)                  386,374                           351,102                                  342,132                   357,428                     370,780           359,410             354,973

    Loans receivable                                            615,853                           602,645                                  600,761                   600,808                     589,096           605,040             574,339

    Deposits                                                    919,623                           916,366                                  871,379                   862,239                     896,730           892,541             863,801

    Shareholders' equity                                         96,660                            95,255                                   93,688                    92,251                      90,725            94,472              88,642

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SOURCE QNB Corp.