FRANKLIN FINANCIAL CORP 
By RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Franklin Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FRNK), or "the Company", the parent company of Franklin Federal Savings Bank, announced net income for the three months ended December 31, 2011 of $1.8 million, or $0.13 per share, compared to $2.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2010.
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"Pre-tax income, excluding impairment charges on securities, improved substantially in the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared to both the prior quarter and the comparable quarter in fiscal 2010," noted Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard T. Wheeler, Jr. "Asset quality also improved compared to the prior quarter as we continued to work diligently to reduce our nonperforming assets to acceptable levels."
First Quarter Highlights
-- The provision for loan losses decreased $1.1 million to $146,000 from
the prior quarter and $276,000 from the three months ended December 31,
2010.
-- Nonperforming assets decreased $4.7 million to $46.1 million from
September 30, 2011, including a $4.5 million decrease in nonperforming
loans and a $183,000 decrease in real estate owned.
-- The Company recorded other-than-temporary impairment charges of $1.5
million in earnings for the quarter, primarily related to equity
investments in Virginia-based community banks.
-- Net interest margin for the three months ended December 31, 2011
improved nine basis points to 2.72% from 2.63% in the prior quarter.
-- Net loans decreased $16.6 million as several large loans prepaid. The
fees received in connection with these payoffs were the primary cause of
a $444,000 increase in other service charges and fees in the quarter
compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2010.
-- Certificates of deposit decreased $20.8 million from September 30, 2011
as several large certificates of deposit were not renewed.
Net Interest Income
Net interest income was $7.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $7.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Our net interest margin for the three months ended December 31, 2011 was 2.72%, a nine basis point increase from the prior quarter.
Net interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2011 increased $608,000, or 9.4%, compared to the same period in the prior year primarily because a decline in deposit costs of $700,000 combined with a $226,000 increase in interest and dividend income on securities exceeded a decrease in interest income on loans of $297,000. Our net interest margin for the three months ended December 31, 2011 decreased seven basis points to 2.72% from the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a 141 basis point decline in the yield on collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs") as we continued to purchase lower-yielding short-term CMOs in order to comply with qualified thrift lender requirements without taking on excessive interest rate risk.
Noninterest Income, Excluding Impairment Charges on Securities
Noninterest income, excluding impairment charges on securities, increased $548,000, or 82.4%, to $1.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2010. This increase was primarily the result of a $444,000 increase in other service charges and fees, which were $506,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $62,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2010. The increase in fees related to the prepayment of several large loans resulting either from refinancing or sales of the underlying collateral. Additionally, the Company recognized no gains or losses on sales of securities in the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to net losses of $100,000 in the three months ended December 31, 2010.
Impairment Charges on Securities
The Company recorded other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") charges in earnings of $1.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to charges of $299,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2010. OTTI charges included $1.4 million related to the impairment of equity investments in Virginia-based community banks and $96,000 related to the Company's portfolio of non-agency CMOs for the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to no charges on equity securities and charges of $299,000 on non-agency CMOs for the three months ended December 31, 2010.
Asset Quality
During the three months ended December 31, 2011, nonperforming assets decreased $4.7 million to $46.1 million from $50.8 million at September 30, 2011. This decrease was the result of a $4.5 million decrease in nonperforming loans and a $183,000 decrease in real estate owned. Nonperforming loans totaled $37.7 million at December 31, 2011 compared to $42.2 million at September 30, 2011. The decrease in nonperforming loans related primarily to the removal from nonaccrual status of one nonresidential loan that has been current for over six months. Real estate owned decreased to $8.4 million at December 31, 2011 from $8.6 million at September 30, 2011 as the Company continued to actively work to reduce its level of foreclosed assets. The Company recognized net gains on sales of real estate owned of $198,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to net gains on sales of $100,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2010. No impairment charges were recorded on real estate owned in the three months ended December 31, 2011 or 2010. Total nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans at December 31, 2011 were 7.91% compared to 8.50% at September 30, 2011.
The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $146,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and $422,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2010. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 2.46% at December 31, 2011 compared to 2.95% at September 30, 2011. The decrease in the allowance coverage rate was the result of net charge-offs of $3.0 million recorded on certain impaired loans that were reserved through specific allowances at September 30, 2011.
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 both owner and 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 continued 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, 2011 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 Ended
--------------------------
(Dollars in December September December
thousands) 31, 30, 31,
--------- ---------- ---------
2011 2011 2010
---- ---- ----
Operating Data:
Interest and dividend
income $11,437 $11,497 $11,529
Interest expense 4,381 4,541 5,081
----- ----- -----
Net interest income 7,056 6,956 6,448
Provision for loan
losses 146 1,207 422
--- ----- ---
Net interest income
after provision
for loan losses 6,910 5,749 6,026
-- ----- --
Noninterest income
(expense):
Impairment of
securities reflected
in earnings (1,456) (637) (299)
Other service charges
and fees 506 139 62
Gains (losses) on
sales of securities,
net - (22) (100)
Other noninterest
income 707 651 703
--- --- ---
Total noninterest
income (expense) (243) 131 366
---- --- ---
Other noninterest
expenses 3,554 3,852 3,450
----- ----- -----
Income before
provision for income
taxes 3,113 2,028 2,942
Income tax expense 1,337 1,092 907
----- ----- ---
Net income $1,776 $936 $2,035
====== ==== ======
For the Three Months Ended
--------------------------
(Amounts in thousands, December September December
except per share data) 31, 30, 31,
--------- ---------- ---------
2011 2011 2010
---- ---- ----
Per Share Data
Basic earnings per share $0.13 $0.07 N/A
Diluted earnings per share $0.13 $0.07 N/A
Book value per share at
period end $17.80 $17.45 N/A
Shares outstanding at
period end 14,303 14,303 N/A
Weighted-average shares
outstanding
Basic 13,205 13,184 N/A
Diluted 13,205 13,184 N/A
December September December
(Dollars in thousands) 31, 30, 31,
--------- ---------- ---------
2011 2011 2010
---- ---- ----
Financial Condition Data:
Total assets $1,081,470 $1,096,977 $980,666
Cash and cash equivalents 103,283 115,749 82,837
Securities available for sale 413,973 396,809 302,040
Securities held to maturity 23,970 25,517 33,227
Loans, net 461,851 478,423 476,609
Loans held for sale 868 922 2,008
Cash surrender value of bank-owned
life insurance 32,037 31,714 30,750
Deposits 628,427 648,754 653,128
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings 190,000 190,000 190,000
Total stockholders' equity 254,639 249,558 129,483
Capital Ratios(1):
Tier 1 capital to adjusted tangible
assets 16.66% 16.07% 11.08%
Tier 1 risk-based capital to risk
weighted assets 25.18 23.81 14.46
Tangible capital to adjusted
tangible assets 16.66 16.07 11.08
Risk-based capital to risk weighted
assets 26.43 25.07 15.71
(1) Ratios are for Franklin Federal Savings Bank.
For the Three Months Ended
--------------------------
December September December
(Dollars in thousands) 31, 30, 31,
--------- ---------- ---------
2011 2011 2010
---- ---- ----
Performance Ratios:
Return on average
assets 0.64% 0.33% 0.83%
Return on average
equity 2.79 1.45 6.31
Interest rate spread(2) 2.32 2.22 2.56
Net interest margin(3) 2.72 2.63 2.79
Efficiency ratio(4) 44.03 45.37 48.50
Average interest-earning assets to
average interest-
bearing liabilities 124.01 124.33 110.29
Average equity to
average assets 23.10 23.12 13.16
(2) Represents the difference between the weighted average
yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted
average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(3) Represents net interest income as a percent of average
interest-earning assets.
(4) A non-GAAP measure calculated by dividing other
noninterest expenses, net of impairment charges and losses
on the sale of fixed assets and foreclosed assets, by the sum
of net interest income and other noninterest income,
net of gains on the sale of fixed assets and foreclosed
assets.
For the Three Months Ended
--------------------------
(Dollars in December September
thousands) 31, 30, December 31,
--------- ---------- ------------
2011 2011 2010
---- ---- ----
Asset Quality:
Allowance for Loan
Losses
Beginning balance $14,624 $13,432 $13,419
Provision 146 1,207 422
Recoveries 3 18 3
Charge-offs (3,024) (33) (2,197)
------ --- ------
Ending balance $11,749 $14,624 $11,647
======= ======= =======
Nonperforming Assets
at Period End
Nonaccrual loans $37,699 $42,205 $25,355
Accruing loans 90+
days past due - - 1,430
Other real estate
owned 8,444 8,627 13,274
----- ----- ------
Total nonperforming
assets at period
end $46,143 $50,832 $40,059
======= ======= =======
Allowance for loan
losses as a percent
of total loans at
period end 2.46% 2.95% 2.37%
Allowance for loan
losses as a percent
of nonperforming
loans at period end 31.17 34.65 43.48
Nonperforming loans
as a percent of
total loans at
period end 7.91 8.50 5.45
Nonperforming assets
as a percent of
total assets at
period end 4.27 4.63 2.73
Net charge-offs to
average loans
outstanding
during the period
(annualized) 2.49 0.01 1.78
Non-GAAP Reconciliation
For the Three Months Ended
--------------------------
(Dollars in December September December
thousands) 31, 30, 31,
--------- ---------- ---------
2011 2011 2010
---- ---- ----
Net interest income $7,056 $6,955 $6,448
Other noninterest
income 1,213 790 765
Less: Gains on sales
of other real estate
owned (198) (99) (100)
---- --- ----
Total net interest
income and adjusted
other noninterest
income $8,071 $7,646 $7,113
====== ====== ======
Other noninterest
expenses $3,554 $3,852 $3,450
Less: Impairment
charges on other
real estate owned - (370) -
Less: Losses on sales
of fixed assets - (13) -
--- --- ---
Adjusted other
noninterest expenses $3,554 $3,469 $3,450
====== ====== ======
Efficiency ratio 44.03% 45.37% 48.50%
SOURCE Franklin Financial Corporation
