FITZGERALD, Ga., Oct. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:CBAN), today reported net income available to shareholders of $1,606,000, or $0.19 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2015 compared to $1,384,000, or $0.16 per diluted share for the comparable 2014 period, while net income available to shareholders for nine month period ended September 30, 2015 was $4,414,000, or $0.52 per diluted share compared to $3,533,000, or $0.42 per share for the comparable 2014 period. This increase of 24.94 percent in net income for the comparable nine month period was primarily driven by a reduction in provision for loan losses, an increase in noninterest income and a reduction in noninterest expense. “In addition to solid earnings, we also are pleased to report asset quality improvement and continued loan growth. Total non-performing assets were $24.57 million at September 30, 2015 which is a reduction of 6.09 percent from the prior quarter end. Though economic recovery has been less than robust, we have seen our loans increase for the fifth consecutive quarter. Total loans, net of reserves increased to $763.85 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $742.93 a year ago,” said Ed Loomis, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Noteworthy during the quarter was approval by regulatory agencies to redeem 4,833 shares of preferred stock at par. This redemption of $4.833 million reduces our preferred stock 17.26 percent and on an annual basis reduces our dividend payment by $435 thousand. It is our intent to redeem additional shares of preferred stock prior to year end.”

Capital

Colony continues to maintain a strong regulatory capital position to be categorized as “well-capitalized” by regulatory benchmarks. At September 30, 2015, the Company’s tier one leverage ratio, tier one and total risk-based capital ratios were 11.14 percent, 15.36 percent and 17.01 percent, respectively, compared to 11.18 percent, 16.78 percent  and 17.95 percent, respectively, at December 31, 2014 and to 11.01 percent, 16.51 percent and 17.76 percent, respectively, at September 30, 2014. Effective January 1, 2015, new regulatory regulations (commonly referred to as Basel III capital regulation) required new risk-weighting of certain assets and an additional capital ratio to be calculated. The common equity tier one capital ratio at September 30, 2015 of 10.09 percent exceeded the minimum requirement of 4.50 percent.   The Company’s capital ratios were all in excess of regulatory minimums required to be classified as “well-capitalized”.

Net Interest Margin

During the third quarter of 2015, the Company reported net interest income of $9.50 million and a net interest margin of 3.58 percent compared to $9.74 million and 3.73 percent, respectively, for third quarter 2014, while net interest income for nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $27.95 million and a net interest margin of 3.48 percent compared to $28.46 million and 3.60 percent, respectively, for the comparable 2014 period.   The low interest rate environment continues to be challenging for the banking industry. The company continues to focus on maximizing its net interest margin through deposit and loan pricing and balance sheet restructuring.  We await Federal Reserve action to modestly begin the process of increasing interest rates from their record lows though this appears to be pushed back into 2016. 

Asset Quality

The Company continues to monitor our substandard and non-performing assets and focus on problem asset resolution. Substandard assets that include non-performing assets totaled $43.02 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $43.29 million and $43.49 million, respectively, at December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014. Substandard assets adjusted for SBA guarantees to tier one capital plus loan loss reserve ratio was 31.73%, 32.39% and 30.23%, respectively, at September 30, 2015, December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014. The current quarter was slightly impacted due to the reduction in capital associated with the $4.833 million preferred stock redemption. Non-performing assets decreased from the previous quarter end to $24.57 million or 3.17 percent of total loans and other real estate owned as of September 30, 2015. This compares to $28.74 million or 3.80 percent and $24.01 million or 3.18 percent, respectively, as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014.   With continued economic recovery and stabilization, we anticipate further reduction in our substandard assets.    

Other real estate (“OREO”) totaled $11.00 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $10.40 million and $10.83 million, respectively, at December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014.   Activity during the third quarter  reflects a decrease of $1.03 million, or 8.56 percent reduction from the previous quarter end. Colony has established a target of twelve months to liquidate improved properties due to the high carrying cost of taxes, insurance, maintenance and repairs associated with holding these properties on our books. 

In the third quarter of 2015 net charge-offs were $328 thousand, or 0.04 percent of average loans as compared to net charge-offs of $1.18 million, or 0.16 percent of average loans in third quarter 2014, while year to date 2015 net charge-offs were $1.14 million, or 0.15 percent of average loans as compared to net charge-offs of $3.33 million, or 0.45 percent of average loans for the comparable 2014 period. The loan loss reserve was $8.40 million or 1.10 percent of total loans on September 30, 2015 compared to $8.80 million or 1.18 percent and $9.79 million or 1.32 percent, respectively, at December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2014. Loan loss reserve methodology resulted in three months ended September 30, 2015 provision for loan losses of $250 thousand compared to $500 thousand for the comparable 2014 period, while year to date 2015 provision for loan losses was $741 thousand compared to $1.31 million for the comparable 2014 period.

Noninterest Income

Total noninterest income increased modestly in the comparable periods as noninterest income for nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $6.80 million compared to $6.72 million in the comparable 2014 period, or an increase of 1.27 percent.  Mortgage fee income was primarily attributable for the increase with an increase of $74 thousand or 23.79 percent.       

Noninterest Expense

Total noninterest expense decreased in the comparable periods as noninterest expense for nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $24.94 million compared to $25.69 million for the comparable 2014 period, or a decrease of 2.92 percent.  Improved asset quality is attributable for much of the reduction with a significant decrease in credit-related expenses. Repossession and foreclosure expense decreased from $711 thousand to $516 thousand for the comparable periods and loss on sale of OREO properties decreased from $1.12 million to $365 thousand. Salaries and employee benefit expenses remained relatively flat with an increase of 0.92 percent. Occupancy expense was also relatively flat with a decrease of 1.08 percent.  The efficiency ratio improved to 71.61 percent for nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to 72.85 percent for the comparable 2014 period, or a decrease of 1.70 percent.   The company continues to explore opportunities to further improve its’ operating efficiency.

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Fitzgerald, Georgia that consists of one operating subsidiary, Colony Bank. Colony Bank conducts a general full service commercial, consumer and mortgage banking business through twenty-nine offices located in the central, southern and coastal Georgia cities of Albany, Ashburn, Broxton, Centerville, Chester, Columbus, Cordele, Douglas, Eastman,

Fitzgerald, Leesburg, Moultrie, Pitts, Quitman, Rochelle, Savannah, Soperton, Sylvester, Thomaston, Tifton, Valdosta and Warner Robins, Georgia. 

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “CBAN”.

Certain statements contained in the preceding release that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”), notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified. In addition, certain statements may be contained in the Company’s future filings with the SEC, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by or with the approval of the Company that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenues, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statement of plans and objectives of Colony Bankcorp, Inc. or its management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “targeted” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.    Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

COLONY BANKCORP, INC.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)
DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA
         
  QUARTER ENDED YEAR-TO-DATE
EARNINGS SUMMARY 09/30/15 09/30/14 09/30/15 09/30/14
Net Interest Income $9,497 $9,738 $27,946 $28,460
Provision for Loan Losses 250 500 741 1,308
Non-interest Income 2,233 2,410 6,803 6,718
Non-interest Expense 8,335 8,534 24,941 25,691
Income Taxes 945 1,033 2,799 2,625
Net Income 2,200 2,081 6,268 5,554
Preferred Stock Dividend 594 697 1,854 2,021
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders 1,606 1,384 4,464 3,533
         
  QUARTER ENDED YEAR-TO-DATE
PER COMMON SHARE SUMMARY 09/30/15 09/30/14 09/30/15 09/30/14 
Common Shares Outstanding 8,439,258 8,439,258 8,439,258 8,439,258
Weighted Average Basic Shares 8,439,258 8,439,258 8,439,258 8,439,258
Weighted Average Diluted Shares 8,466,285 8,439,258 8,449,057 8,439,258
Earnings Per Basic Share (b) $0.19 $0.16 $0.52 $0.42
Earnings Per Diluted Share (b) $0.19 $0.16 $0.52 $0.42
Common Book Value Per Share $9.23 $8.09 $9.23 $8.09
Tangible Common Book Value Per Share $9.22 $8.07 $9.22 $8.07
     
  QUARTER ENDED YEAR-TO-DATE
OPERATING RATIOS (1) 09/30/15 09/30/14 09/30/15 09/30/14
Net Interest Margin (a) 3.58% 3.73% 3.48% 3.60%
Return on Average Assets (b) 0.57% 0.49% 0.51% 0.42%
Return on Average Total Equity (b) 6.28% 5.78% 5.77% 5.02%
Efficiency (c) 70.85% 70.08% 71.61% 72.85%
         
(1)  Annualized
(a) Computed using fully taxable-equivalent net income
(b) Computed using net income available to shareholders
(c) Computed by dividing non-interest expense by the sum of fully taxable-equivalent net interest income and non-interest income and excluding security gains/losses.
         
         
  QUARTER ENDED    
ENDING BALANCES 09/30/15  09/30/14    
Total Assets $1,127,320 $1,114,414    
Loans, Net of Reserves 755,447 733,139    
Allowance for Loan Losses 8,402 9,788    
Intangible Assets 125 161    
Deposits 958,034 941,200    
Common Shareholders’ Equity 77,907 68,272    
Common Equity to Total Assets 6.91% 6.13%    
Total Equity 101,074 96,272    
Total Equity to Total Assets 8.97% 8.64%    
         
  QUARTER ENDED YEAR-TO-DATE
AVERAGE BALANCES 09/30/15 09/30/14 09/30/15 09/30/14
Total Assets $1,135,920 $1,118,848 $1,145,711 $1,126,625
Loans, Net of Reserves 753,340 728,146 745,609 728,570
Deposits 965,300 946,255 974,693 958,728
Common Shareholders’ Equity 76,043 67,806 74,478 65,773
Total Equity 102,328 95,806 101,911 93,773
         
  QUARTER ENDED YEAR-TO-DATE
ASSET QUALITY 09/30/15 09/30/14 09/30/15 09/30/14
Nonperforming Loans $13,567 $13,178 $13,567 $13,178
Nonperforming Assets 24,565 24,011 24,565 24,011
Substandard Assets 43,021 43,494 43,021 43,494
Net Loan Chg-offs (Recoveries) 328 1,182 1,141 3,326
Reserve for Loan Loss to Total Loans 1.10% 1.32% 1.10% 1.32%
Reserve for Loan Loss to Non- performing Loans 61.93% 74.28% 61.93% 74.28%
Reserve for Loan Loss to Non- performing Assets 34.20% 40.76% 34.20% 40.76%
Net Loan Chg-offs (Recoveries) to Avg. Total Loans 0.04% 0.16% 0.15% 0.45%
Nonperforming Loans to Total Loans 1.78% 1.77% 1.78% 1.77%
Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets 2.18% 2.15% 2.18% 2.15%
Nonperforming Assets to Total Loans And Other Real Estate 3.17% 3.18% 3.17% 3.18%
Substandard Assets to Tier One Capital and Allowance for Loan Losses 31.73% 30.23% 31.73% 30.23%
         
         
Quarterly Comparative Data (in thousands, except per share data)
  3Q2015 2Q2015 1Q2015 4Q2014 3Q2014
Assets $1,127,320 $1,139,050 $1,156,711 $1,146,898 $1,114,414
Loans 755,447 751,210 744,866 736,930 733,139
Deposits 958,034 968,634 985,856 979,304 941,200
Common Shareholders’ Equity 77,907 74,658 74,363 71,027 68,272
Total Equity 101,074 102,658 102,363 99,027 96,272
Net Income 2,200 2,185 1,883 1,978 2,081
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders 1,606 1,555 1,253 1,310 1,384
Net Income Per Share 0.19 0.18 0.15 0.16 0.16
           
           
Key Performance Ratios 3Q2015 2Q2015 1Q2015 4Q2014 3Q2014
Return on Average Assets (1) 0.57% 0.54% 0.44% 0.46% 0.49%
Return on Average Total Equity (1) 6.28% 6.05% 4.98% 5.37% 5.78%
Common Equity to Total Assets 6.91% 6.55% 6.43% 6.18% 6.13%
Total Equity to Total Assets 8.97% 9.01% 8.85% 8.62% 8.64%
Net Interest Margin 3.58% 3.44% 3.43% 3.59% 3.73%
(1) Computed using net income available to shareholders
           
           
Consolidated Balance Sheets Colony Bankcorp, Inc.
(in thousands)
       
  Sept. 30, 2015 Dec. 31, 2014 Sept. 30, 2014
  (unaudited) (audited) (unaudited)
ASSETS      
Cash and Cash Equivalents      
Cash and Due from Banks $17,137 $24,473 $17,120
Federal Funds Sold 20,132 6,712
  17,137 44,605 23,832
Interest-Bearing Deposits 15,996 21,206 10,682
Investment Securities      
Available for Sale, at Fair Value 271,611 274,594 273,547
Held for Maturity, at Cost (Fair Value of $28, $30 and $32 as of Sept. 30, 2015, Dec. 31, 2014, and Sept. 30, 2014, Respectively) 28 30 33
  271,639 274,624 273,580
Federal Home Loan Bank Stock, at Cost 2,731 2,831 2,831
Loans 764,204 746,094 743,281
Allowance for Loan Losses (8,402) (8,802) (9,788)
Unearned Interest and Fees (355) (362) (354)
  755,447 736,930 733,139
Premises and Equipment 24,460 24,960 24,976
Other Real Estate 10,998 10,402 10,833
Other Intangible Assets 125 152 161
Other Assets 28,787 31,188 34,380
Total Assets $1,127,320 $1,146,898 $1,114,414
       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY      
       
Deposits      
Noninterest-Bearing $125,793 $128,340 $116,131
Interest-Bearing 832,241 850,963 825,069
  958,034 979,303 941,200
Borrowed Money 24,229 24,229 24,229
Subordinated Debentures 40,000 40,000 40,000
Other Borrowed Money  64,229 64,229 64,229
       
Other Liabilities 3,983 4,339 12,713
       
Stockholders’ Equity      
Preferred Stock, Stated Value $1,000 a Share; Authorized 10,000,000 Shares, Issued 23,167 Shares as of Sept. 30, 2015 and 28,000 Shares as of Dec. 31, 2014 and Sept. 30, 2014 23,167 28,000 28,000
Common Stock, Par Value $1 a share; Authorized 20,000,000 Shares, Issued 8,439,258 Shares as of Sept. 30, 2015, Dec. 31, 2014 and Sept. 30, 2014, Respectively 8,439 8,439 8,439
Paid in Capital 29,145 29,145 29,145
Retained Earnings 42,703 38,288 36,978
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax (2,380) (4,845) (6,290)
  101,074 99,027 96,272
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $1,127,320 $1,146,898 $1,114,414
       
       
Consolidated Statements of Income Colony Bankcorp, Inc.
(in thousands except per share data)
         
  Quarter Year-to-Date
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  09/30/15 09/30/14 09/30/15 09/30/14
  (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
Interest Income        
Loans, Including Fees $9,981 $10,170 $29,563 $29,815
Federal Funds Sold 6 15 23
Deposits with Other Banks 17 9 58 32
Investment Securities        
U. S. Government Agencies 1,060 1,165 2,108 3,574
State, County and Municipal 28 24 78 75
Dividends on Other Investments 31 26 91 85
  11,117 11,400 32,913 33,604
Interest Expense        
Deposits 1,210 1,260 3,648 3,869
Borrowed Money 410 402 1,319 1,275
  1,620 1,662 4,967 5,144
Net Interest Income 9,497 9,738 27,946 28,460
Provision for Loan Losses 250 500 741 1,308
Net Interest Income After Provision for Loan Losses 9,247 9,238 27,205 27,152
         
Noninterest Income        
Service Charges on Deposits 1,133 1,250 3,184 3,433
Other Service Charges, Commissions and Fees 661 603 1,963 1,778
Mortgage Fee Income 138 130 385 311
Securities Gains (Losses)  9 12 1
Other 292 427 1,259 1,195
  2,233 2,410 6,803 6,718
Noninterest Expense        
Salaries and Employee Benefits 4,395 4,432 13,270 13,149
Occupancy and Equipment 1,026 1,049 3,036 3,069
Other 2,914 3,053 8,635 9,473
  8,335 8,534 24,941 25,691
         
Income Before Income Taxes 3,145 3,114 9,067 8,179
Income Taxes 945 1,033 2,799 2,625
Net Income 2,200 2,081 6,268 5,554
         
Preferred Stock Dividends 594 697 1,854 2,021
         
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders $1,606 $1,384 $4,414 $3,533
Net Income Per Share of Common Stock        
Basic $0.19 $0.16 $0.52 $0.42
Diluted $0.19 $0.16 $0.52 $0.42
Weighted Average Basic Shares Outstanding 8,439,258 8,439,258 8,439,258 8,439,258
Weighted Average Diluted Shares Outstanding 8,466,285 8,439,258 8,449,057 8,439,258
         
CONTACT: Terry L. Hester
         Chief Financial Officer
         (229) 426-6000 (Ext 6002)