HELENA, Mont., July 28, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (NASDAQ:EBMT), (the “Company,” “Eagle”), the holding company of Opportunity Bank of Montana, today reported net income increased 59.6% to $1.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2016, compared to $792,000, or $0.21 per diluted share, in the second quarter a year ago.  In the preceding quarter, Eagle earned $647,000, or $0.17 per diluted share. 

In the first six months of 2016, net income increased 62.2% to $1.9 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, compared to $1.2 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the first six months of 2015.

“Our second quarter financial results reflect strong loan and deposit growth, robust mortgage production and only moderate increases in operating expenses,” said Peter J. Johnson, President and CEO.  “Our focus on gathering core deposits, growing the loan portfolio and expanding our customer base throughout Montana continues to gain momentum.  As we improve our revenue generation while holding the line on overhead expenses, our operating efficiency is beginning to show reliable improvement.”

Eagle’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share.  The dividend will be payable September 2, 2016 to shareholders of record August 12, 2016. The current annualized yield is 2.45% at recent market prices.

Second Quarter 2016 Highlights (at or for the three month period ended June 30, 2016, except where noted)

  • Net income grew 59.6% to $1.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted share in the second quarter, compared to $792,000, or $0.21 per diluted share in the second quarter a year ago.
  • Revenues (net interest income before the provision for loan losses, plus non-interest income) increased 12.7% to $8.7 million compared to $7.8 million in the same period a year ago. 
  • Net interest margin remained healthy at 3.31%.
  • Total loans increased 5.0% to $443.9 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $422.9 million three months earlier and increased 23.9% compared to $358.4 million a year earlier. 
  • Commercial real estate loans increased 43.7% to $200.8 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $139.8 million a year earlier, and remain well within regulatory concentration limits.
  • Total deposits increased 9.3% to $508.9 million at June 30, 2016, from $465.6 million a year earlier.
  • Capital ratios remain strong with a tangible shareholders equity ratio of 10.11% at June 30, 2016.
  • Increased quarterly cash dividend to $0.08 per share, providing a 2.45% current yield at recent market prices.

Balance Sheet Results

Total assets increased 13.7% to $663.3 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $583.4 million a year earlier, and increased 3.2% compared to $643.0 million three months earlier.  Total loans increased 5.0% to $443.9 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $422.9 million three months earlier and increased 23.9% compared to $358.4 million a year earlier.  “Loan growth picked up again during the quarter, with our loan pipeline showing strong demand for  C&I and commercial real estate loans,” added Johnson.

Eagle originated $80.5 million in new residential mortgages during the quarter, excluding construction loans, and sold $68.7 million in residential mortgages, with an average gross margin on sale of mortgage loans of approximately 3.62%.  This production compares to residential mortgage originations of $55.8 million in the preceding quarter with sales of $52.1 million.

Commercial real estate loans increased 43.7% to $200.8 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $139.8 million a year earlier, while residential mortgage loans increased 8.8% to $116.2 million compared to $106.9 million a year earlier.  Home equity loans increased 16.8% to $47.8 million, commercial loans increased 5.6% to $49.0 million, and construction loans increased 55.8% to $16.4 million, compared to a year ago.  

Eagle’s total deposits increased 9.3% to $508.9 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $465.6 million a year earlier and were up 2.9% compared to $494.4 million at March 31, 2016.  As of June 30, 2016, checking and money market accounts represent 51.9%, savings accounts represent 16.9%, and CDs comprise 31.2% of the total deposit portfolio.  

Shareholders’ equity improved to $59.0 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $56.5 million three months earlier and $53.7 million one year earlier.  Tangible book value improved to $13.63 per share at June 30, 2016, compared to $12.97 per share at March 31, 2016 and $12.05 per share a year earlier. 

Operating Results

“Our second quarter net interest margin contracted compared to the second quarter a year ago due to the additional interest expense from the subordinated debt issuance in the middle of 2015,” Johnson said.  Eagle’s net interest margin was 3.31% in the second quarter compared to 3.35% in the preceding quarter and 3.46% in the second quarter a year ago.  In the first six months of the year, Eagle’s net interest margin was 3.33% compared to 3.41% in the same period one year ago.  Funding costs for the quarter were up 12 basis points while asset yields decreased three basis points compared to a year ago.  The investment securities portfolio decreased to $140.4 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $148.8 million a year ago, which had a slight positive impact on the average yields on earning assets. 

Eagle’s second quarter revenues increased 12.7% to $8.7 million compared to $7.8 million in both the preceding quarter and in the second quarter a year ago.  In the first six months of 2016, revenues increased 11.1% to $16.5 million, compared to $14.9 million in the first six months of 2015.  Net interest income before the provision for loan loss was $4.9 million in the second quarter, which was unchanged compared to the preceding quarter and increased 10.1% compared to $4.5 million in the second quarter a year ago.  In the first six months of the year, net interest income increased 12.6% to $9.8 million, compared to $8.7 million in the first six months of 2015.

Primarily a result of the net gain on sale of loans during the quarter, noninterest income increased 31.4% to $3.8 million in the second quarter, compared to $2.9 million in the preceding quarter, and increased 16.2% compared to $3.3 million in the second  quarter a year ago.  Year-to-date, noninterest income increased 8.9% to $6.7 million compared to $6.2 million in the first six months a year ago.  Second quarter noninterest expenses were $6.7 million, compared to $6.5 million in both the preceding quarter and the year ago quarter.  Year-to-date, noninterest expense was up modestly to $13.2 million compared to $12.8 million in the first six months of 2015.

Credit Quality

Eagle’s second quarter provision for loan losses was $459,000, compared to $450,000 in the preceding quarter and $328,000 in the second quarter a year ago.  As of June 30, 2016, the allowance for loan losses represented 196.0% of nonperforming loans compared to 168.7% three months earlier and 501.7% a year earlier.  At June 30, 2016, nonperforming loans (NPLs) were $2.2 million, which was down slightly compared to $2.3 million three months earlier, and an increase compared to $588,000 a year earlier.   

Second quarter net charge-offs totaled $139,000, compared to $60,000 in the preceding quarter and $3,000 in the second quarter a year ago.  The allowance for loan losses was $4.3 million, or 0.96% of total loans at June 30, 2016, compared to $3.9 million, or 0.93% of total loans at March 31, 2016, and $3.0 million, or 0.82% of total loans a year ago.

OREO and other repossessed assets was $565,000 at June 30, 2016, which was down slightly compared to $606,000 at March 31, 2016.  Nonperforming assets (NPAs), consisting of nonperforming loans, OREO and other repossessed assets, loans delinquent 90 days or more, and restructured loans, were $2.7 million at June 30, 2016, or 0.41% of total assets, compared to $2.9 million, or 0.46% of total assets three months earlier and $1.2 million, or 0.21% of total assets a year earlier. 

Capital Management

Eagle Bancorp Montana continues to be well capitalized with the ratio of shareholders’ equity to tangible asset of 10.11% at June 30, 2016.  (Shareholders’ equity, plus trust preferred securities and subordinated debt, less goodwill and core deposit intangible to tangible assets).

During the second quarter of 2015, Eagle issued $10.0 million in subordinated debt.  The subordinated notes were issued on June 19, 2015, bear a fixed rate of interest of 6.75% per annum, payable quarterly, and mature on June 19, 2025.  The net cash proceeds from the sale of the subordinated notes were $9.9 million, and the subordinated notes qualify as Tier 2 capital for regulatory purposes.  The net proceeds from the offering are being used for general corporate purposes, to support organic growth and fund acquisitions should appropriate opportunities arise.

Stock Repurchase

Eagle announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 100,000 shares of its common stock, representing approximately 2.6% of outstanding shares. Under the plan, shares may be purchased by the company on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The extent to which the company repurchases its shares and the timing of such repurchase will depend upon market conditions and other corporate considerations.

About the Company

Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Helena, Montana and is the holding company of Opportunity Bank, a community bank established in 1922 that serves consumers and small businesses in Montana through 13 banking offices. Additional information is available on the bank’s website at www.opportunitybank.com.  The shares of Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “EBMT.”

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and may be identified by the use of such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “estimated,” and “potential.” These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements of our goals, intentions and expectations; statements regarding our business plans, prospects, growth and operating strategies; statements regarding the asset quality of our loan and investment portfolios; and estimates of our risks and future costs and benefits. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in laws or government regulations or policies affecting financial institutions, including changes in regulatory fees and capital requirements; general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas, that are worse than expected; competition among depository and other financial institutions; loan demand or residential and commercial real estate values in Montana; inflation and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our margins or reduce the fair value of financial instruments; adverse changes in the securities markets; and other economic, governmental, competitive, regulatory and technological factors that may affect our operations. Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. All information set forth in this press release is current as of the date of this release and the company undertakes no duty or obligation to update this information.

Balance Sheet              
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)     (Unaudited)
              As Restated  
            June 30, March 31, June 30,
              2016     2016     2015  
                 
Assets:              
  Cash and due from banks     $ 5,579   $ 5,620   $ 8,108  
  Interest-bearing deposits with banks       844     993     619  
  Total cash and cash equivalents       6,423     6,613     8,727  
  Securities available-for-sale, at market value       140,449     145,070     148,766  
  FHLB stock, at cost       3,735     3,564     2,326  
  FRB stock       871     871     642  
  Investment in Eagle Bancorp Statutory Trust I       155     155     155  
  Loans held-for-sale       21,246     18,284     17,184  
  Loans:          
  Residential mortgage (1-4 family)       116,207     113,364     106,852  
  Commercial loans       48,982     40,614     46,372  
  Commercial real estate       200,848     194,479     139,812  
  Construction loans       16,382     15,673     10,513  
  Consumer loans       14,618     14,229     14,480  
  Home equity       47,842     45,404     40,946  
  Unearned loan fees       (951 )   (882 )   (605 )
       Total loans       443,928     422,881     358,370  
  Allowance for loan losses       (4,260 )   (3,940 )   (2,950 )
  Net loans         439,668     418,941     355,420  
  Accrued interest and dividends receivable       2,274     2,213     2,337  
  Mortgage servicing rights, net       5,196     4,988     4,517  
  Premises and equipment, net       17,965     18,145     18,459  
  Cash surrender value of life insurance       14,683     12,598     11,898  
  Real estate and other assets acquired in settlement of loans, net       565     606     623  
  Goodwill       7,034     7,034     7,034  
  Core deposit intangible       449     481     588  
  Other assets       2,623     3,441     4,691  
  Total assets     $ 663,336   $ 643,004   $ 583,367  
                 
Liabilities:              
  Deposit accounts:          
  Noninterest bearing       88,327     90,517     69,565  
  Interest bearing       420,555     403,877     396,016  
  Total deposits       508,882     494,394     465,581  
  Accrued expense and other liabilities       5,000     5,933     5,463  
  FHLB advances and other borrowings       75,491     71,204     43,611  
  Subordinated debentures, net       14,959     14,954     15,005  
  Total liabilities       604,332     586,485     529,660  
                 
Shareholders’ Equity:              
  Preferred stock (no par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized;          
  none issued or outstanding)                
  Common stock (par value  $0.01; 8,000,000 shares authorized;          
  4,083,127 shares issued; 3,779,464, 3,779,464, and 3,822,981 shares outstanding              
  at June 30, 2016, March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2015, respectively)         41     41     41  
  Additional paid-in capital       22,168     22,157     22,129  
  Unallocated common stock held by employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)       (891 )   (933 )   (1,057 )
  Treasury stock, at cost (303,663, 303,663 and 260,146 shares at          
  June 30, 2016, March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2015, respectively)       (3,321 )   (3,321 )   (2,810 )
  Retained earnings       38,626     37,655     36,490  
  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     2,381     920     (1,086 )
  Total shareholders’ equity     59,004     56,519     53,707  
  Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 663,336   $ 643,004   $ 583,367  
                 

Income Statement      (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                As Restated        
              June 30, March 31, June 30,   June 30,
                2016     2016     2015       2016     2015  
Interest and dividend Income:                
  Interest and fees on loans     $   4,955   $   4,837   $   4,255     $   9,792   $   8,217  
  Securities available-for-sale         740       747       737         1,487       1,496  
  FRB and FHLB dividends         35       31       20         66       20  
  Interest on deposits with banks         1       –        1         1       1  
  Other interest income         –       3       2         3       5  
    Total interest and dividend income       5,731       5,618       5,015         11,349       9,739  
Interest Expense:                  
  Interest expense on deposits         381       355       356         736       693  
  Advances and other borrowings       212       201       128         413       271  
  Subordinated debentures         195       194       42         389       63  
    Total interest expense         788       750       526         1,538       1,027  
Net interest income           4,943       4,868       4,489         9,811       8,712  
Loan loss provision           459       450       328         909       650  
    Net interest income after loan loss provision       4,484       4,418       4,161         8,902       8,062  
                         
Noninterest income:                  
  Service charges on deposit accounts       211       199       243         410       466  
  Net gain on sale of loans         2,438       1,718       1,856         4,156       3,487  
  Mortgage loan servicing fees         442       363       422         805       837  
  Wealth management income         159       136       111         295       296  
  Interchange and ATM fees         223       202       164         425       290  
  Appreciation in cash surrender value of life insurance     113       112       105         225       210  
  Net gain on sale of available-for-sale securities       84       –        48         84       234  
  Net loss on sale of OREO         (12 )     –        –          (12 )     –   
  Net loss on fair value hedge         –       –        –          –        (93 )
  Other noninterest income         148       166       326         314       430  
    Total noninterest income         3,806       2,896       3,275         6,702       6,157  
                         
Noninterest expense:                
  Salaries and employee benefits        3,916       3,690       3,639         7,606       7,018  
  Occupancy and equipment expense       671       789       733         1,460       1,469  
  Data processing         463       548       536         1,011       1,045  
  Advertising           150       188       174         338       393  
  Amortization of mortgage servicing fees       285       228       205         513       422  
  Amortization of core deposit intangible and tax credits     111       112       101         223       201  
  Federal insurance premiums         123       83       73         206       168  
  Postage             34       54       43         88       89  
  Legal, accounting and examination fees       61       98       133         159       289  
  Consulting fees         34       83       211         117       451  
  Other noninterest expense         838       675       624         1,513       1,288  
    Total noninterest expense         6,686       6,548       6,472         13,234       12,833  
                         
Income before income taxes          1,604       766       964         2,370       1,386  
Income tax provision         340       119       172         459       208  
Net income         $   1,264   $   647   $   792     $   1,911   $   1,178  
                         
Basic earnings per share     $   0.34   $   0.17   $   0.21     $   0.51   $   0.31  
Diluted earnings per share     $   0.32   $   0.17   $   0.21     $   0.49   $   0.30  
Weighted average shares                
  outstanding (basic EPS)         3,779,464       3,779,464       3,822,981         3,779,464       3,833,739  
Weighted average shares                
  outstanding (diluted EPS)         3,873,171       3,873,171       3,860,236         3,873,171       3,870,994  
                         

Financial Ratios and Other Data      
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)      
(Unaudited)   As Restated
      June 30 March 31 June 30
        2016     2016     2015  
Asset Quality:        
  Nonaccrual loans  $ 2,040   $ 1,580   $ 541  
  Loans 90 days past due   89     710      
  Restructured loans, net   44     45     47  
  Total nonperforming loans   2,173     2,335     588  
  Other real estate owned and other repossessed assets   565     606     623  
  Total nonperforming assets $ 2,738   $ 2,941   $ 1,211  
  Nonperforming loans / portfolio loans   0.49 %   0.55 %   0.16 %
  Nonperforming assets / assets   0.41 %   0.46 %   0.21 %
  Allowance for loan losses / portfolio loans   0.96 %   0.93 %   0.82 %
  Allowance / nonperforming loans   196.04 %   168.74 %   501.70 %
  Gross loan charge-offs for the quarter $ 148   $ 63   $ 4  
  Gross loan recoveries for the quarter $ 9   $ 3   $ 1  
  Net loan charge-offs for the quarter $ 139   $ 60   $ 3  
           
Capital Data (At quarter end):      
  Tangible book value per share $ 13.63   $ 12.97   $ 12.05  
  Shares outstanding   3,779,464     3,779,464     3,822,981  
           
           
Profitability Ratios (For the quarter):      
  Efficiency ratio*    75.15 %   82.90 %   82.06 %
  Return on average assets   0.78 %   0.41 %   0.56 %
  Return on average equity   8.76 %   4.56 %   5.96 %
  Net interest margin    3.31 %   3.35 %   3.46 %
           
Profitability Ratios (Year-to-date):      
  Efficiency ratio *    78.79 %   82.90 %   84.96 %
  Return on average assets   0.60 %   0.41 %   0.42 %
  Return on average equity   6.68 %   4.56 %   4.39 %
  Net interest margin    3.33 %   3.35 %   3.41 %
           
Other Information        
  Average total assets for the quarter $ 649,585   $ 631,998   $ 567,553  
  Average total assets year to date $ 641,188   $ 631,998   $ 559,524  
  Average earning assets for the quarter $ 596,479   $ 581,594   $ 518,291  
  Average earning assets year to date $ 589,432   $ 581,594   $ 511,356  
  Average loans for the quarter ** $ 448,158   $ 428,408   $ 360,782  
  Average loans year to date ** $ 438,283   $ 428,408   $ 349,895  
  Average equity for the quarter $ 57,746   $ 56,767   $ 53,193  
  Average equity year to date $ 57,257   $ 56,767   $ 53,642  
  Average deposits for the quarter $ 493,879   $ 480,255   $ 457,743  
  Average deposits year to date $ 487,463   $ 480,255   $ 451,931  
           
* The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP ratio that is calculated by dividing non-interest expense, exclusive of 
intangible asset amortization, by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income. 
** includes loans held for sale      
     
CONTACT: Contacts:
Peter J. Johnson, President and CEO
(406) 457-4006 
Laura F. Clark, SVP and CFO
(406) 457-4007