AMESBURY, Mass., July 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Provident Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq:PVBC), the holding company for The Provident Bank (the “Bank”), reported net income for the three months ended June 30, 2017 of $1.6 million, or $.17 per diluted share, compared to $1.4 million, or $.15 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2016. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $3.4 million, or $.37 per diluted share, compared to $2.9 million, or $.31 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2016.

David P. Mansfield, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our success this quarter was the result of planned strategic initiatives. With our unique niche lending and high level of service, we attained a significant amount of new loan growth. As we continue toward our goal of being the top commercial bank in our region, we listen carefully to our customers, and by doing so, we were motivated to place significant resources within our international lending niche. Our new Senior Vice President, Leanne Spees, will spearhead our International Banking division. With more than 30 years of international trade finance experience, Leanne can leverage The Provident’s distinction of being the delegated US Export-Import bank in the region. This distinction combined with the mutual partnerships we have established with various state agencies allows The Provident to offer significant benefits to our commercial customers engaged in or interested in international trade.”

Net interest income before provision for loan losses increased by $1.6 million, or 25.1%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2016 and increased by $2.6 million, or 20.9%, compared to the six months ending June 30, 2016. The growth in net interest income this quarter over the prior year’s second quarter is primarily the result of an increase in our average interest earning assets of $104.2 million or 14.8% and an increase in net interest margin of 32 basis points to 3.94%. The growth in net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the six months ended in the same period 2016 is primarily the result of an increase in average interest earning assets of $89.4 million or 12.8% and an increase of the net interest margin of 26 basis points to 3.86% for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

Provision for loan losses of $892,000 were booked for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $210,000 for the same period in 2016. For the six months ended June 30, 2017 $1.5 million of provisions were recognized compared to $321,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The provisions were primarily due to an increase in our loan portfolio as we apply loan provisions to newly originated loans based on historical loss ratios, which, absent other factors, results in an increase in the allowance for loan loss. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.40% as of June 30, 2017 compared to 1.36% as of December 31, 2016. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of non-performing loans was 235.05% as of June 30, 2017 compared to 542.98% as of December 31, 2016. Non-performing assets were $4.2 million, or 0.48%, to total assets as of June 30, 2017 compared to $1.4 million, or 0.18%, to total asset for the same period 2016.

Noninterest income increased $103,000, or 10.7% to $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, noninterest income increased $669,000, or 35.2%, to $2.6 million. The primary reasons for the increases in both periods presented are due to increased gains on sales of securities and income from service fees.

Noninterest expense increased $795,000, or 15.6%, to $5.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, noninterest expense increased $1.5 million, or 14.9%, to $11.5 million. The primary reasons for the increase were salary expense, marketing expense, and other expense. The increase in salary and employee benefits was $568,000, or 18.0%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and $1.1 million, or 17.9%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The primary reason for the increase in salary and employee benefits was a higher head count and stock based compensation expense compared to the prior year. The increase in marketing expense was $49,000, or 96.1%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and $42,000, or 38.9%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The primary reason for the increase in marketing expense was due to strategic target marketing within the Company’s footprint. The increase in other expense was $262,000, or 36.6%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and $351,000, or 24.6%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The primary reason for the increase in the other expense category was directors stock based compensation expense and increased software expense. The noninterest expense increases were partially offset by a decrease in professional fees and the FDIC assessment expense. The decrease in professional fees was $98,000, or 31.3%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and $149,000, or 25.8%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The primary reason for the decrease in professional fees was due to onetime services incurred in 2016. The decrease in the FDIC assessment expense was $23,000, or 24.0%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and $49,000, or 25.8%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease was related to a change in the FDIC reserve calculation.

As of June 30, 2017, total assets have increased $87.6 million, or 11.0%, to $883.1 million compared to $795.5 million at December 31, 2016. The primary reason for the increase is due to net loans with an increase of $77.7 million, or 12.4%, an increase in investments available-for-sale securities of $5.3 million, or 4.4%, and an increase in premises and equipment of $2.9 million, or 24.8%. The increase in net loans was due to an increase in commercial loans of $50.1 million, or 30.1%, an increase in construction and development loans of $15.0 million, or 31.2%, and an increase in consumer loans of $5.8 million, or 93.3%. Deposits were $701.4 million as of June 30, 2017 representing an increase of $73.4 million, or 11.7%, compared to December 31, 2016. The primary reason for the increase in deposits was due to an increase in time deposits of $35.9 million, or 39.5%, an increase of $19.8 million, or 13.7%, in money market deposits, and an increase of $11.7 million, or 4.2%, in NOW deposits. Borrowings increased $10.2 million, or 20.5%, to $60.1 million as of June 30, 2017.

As of June 30, 2017, shareholders’ equity was $114.0 million compared to $109.1 million at December 31, 2016 representing an increase of $4.9 million, or 4.4%. The increases are primarily due to year-to-date net income of $3.4 million and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income of $1.1 million.

About Provident Bancorp, Inc.
Provident Bancorp, Inc. is a Massachusetts corporation that was formed in 2011 by The Provident Bank to be its holding company. Approximately 52.2% of Provident Bancorp, Inc. outstanding shares are owned by Provident Bancorp, a Massachusetts corporation and a mutual holding company. The Provident Bank is an innovative, commercial bank that finds solutions for our business clients. We are committed to strengthening the economic development of the regions we serve, by working closely with businesses and delivering superior products and high-touch services to meet their banking needs. The Provident has offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. All deposits are insured in full through a combination of insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF).For more information about The Provident Bank please visit our website www.theprovidentbank.com or call 877-487-2977.

Forward-looking statements
This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements, such as statements of the Company’s or the Bank’s plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as, “expects,” “subject,” “believe,” “will,” “intends,” “will be” or “would.” These statements are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s or the Bank’s control) and actual results may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements (which reflect management’s analysis of factors only as of the date of which they are given). These factors include general economic conditions, trends in interest rates, the ability of our borrower to repay their loans, the ability of the Company or the Bank to effectively manage its growth and results of regulatory examinations, among other factors. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents of the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Provident Bancorp, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
  At   At
  June 30,   December 31,
(In thousands) 2017   2016
Assets (unaudited)    
Cash and due from banks $ 10,535     $ 7,939  
Interest-bearing demand deposits with other banks   1,243       2,637  
Money market mutual funds   158       129  
Cash and cash equivalents   11,936       10,705  
Investments in available-for-sale securities (at fair value)   123,143       117,867  
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost   3,008       2,787  
Loans, net   702,085       624,425  
Bank owned life insurance   19,694       19,395  
Premises and equipment, net   14,457       11,587  
Accrued interest receivable   2,532       2,320  
Deferred tax asset, net   4,239       4,913  
Other assets   2,048       1,544  
Total assets $ 883,142     $ 795,543  
       
Liabilities and Equity      
Deposits:      
Noninterest-bearing $ 170,136     $ 158,075  
Interest-bearing   531,214       469,907  
Total deposits   701,350       627,982  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances   60,075       49,858  
Other liabilities   7,715       8,554  
Total liabilities   769,140       686,394  
Shareholders’ equity:      
Preferred stock; authorized 50,000 shares:      
no shares issued and outstanding          
Common stock, no par value: 30,000,000 shares authorized;      
9,633,288 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017          
and 9,652,448 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016      
Additional paid-in capital   43,976       43,393  
Treasury stock: 19,160 shares at June 30, 2017   (383 )      
Retained earnings   69,632       66,229  
Accumulated other comprehensive income   3,753       2,622  
Unearned compensation – ESOP   (2,976 )     (3,095 )
Total shareholders’ equity   114,002       109,149  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 883,142     $ 795,543  
       
       

Provident Bancorp, Inc.
Consolidated Income Statements
 
  Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended  
  June 30,   June 30,  
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)  2017    2016    2017    2016  
Interest and dividend income: (unaudited)  
Interest and fees on loans $ 7,911   $ 6,159   $ 15,144   $ 12,250  
Interest and dividends on securities   902     861     1,775     1,742  
Interest on interest-bearing deposits   3     6     9     14  
Total interest and dividend income   8,816     7,026     16,928     14,006  
Interest expense:                
Interest on deposits   678     529     1,248     1,084  
Interest on Federal Home Loan Bank advances   201     152     411     294  
Total interest expense   879     681     1,659     1,378  
Net interest and dividend income   7,937     6,345     15,269     12,628  
Provision for loan losses   892     210     1,455     321  
Net interest and dividend income after provision for loan losses   7,045     6,135     13,814     12,307  
Noninterest income:                
Customer service fees on deposit accounts   346     292     684     597  
Service charges and fees – other   481     448     983     866  
Gain on sale of securities, net   58     17     540     37  
Other income   185     210     364     402  
Total noninterest income   1,070     967     2,571     1,902  
Noninterest expense:                
Salaries and employee benefits   3,727     3,159     7,403     6,281  
Occupancy expense   450     417     921     782  
Equipment expense   157     164     307     309  
FDIC assessment   73     96     141     190  
Data processing   176     165     366     328  
Marketing expense   100     51     150     108  
Professional fees   215     313     429     578  
Other   977     715     1,779     1,428  
Total noninterest expense   5,875     5,080     11,496     10,004  
Income before income tax expense   2,240     2,022     4,889     4,205  
Income tax expense   639     659     1,486     1,355  
Net income $ 1,601   $ 1,363   $ 3,403   $ 2,850  
                 
Income per share:                
Basic $ 0.17     0.15     0.37     0.31  
Diluted $ 0.17     0.15     0.37     0.31  
                 
Weighted Average Shares:                
Basic   9,193,836     9,173,317     9,193,206     9,170,340  
Diluted   9,198,286     9,173,317     9,193,206     9,170,340  

Provident Bancorp, Inc.  
Selected Financial Ratios  
   
  At or for the three   At or for the six  
  months ended   months ended  
  June 30,   June 30,  
  2017  2016    2017  2016   
(unaudited)            
Performance Ratios:            
Return on average assets (1) 0.75 % 0.74 %   0.81 % 0.77 %  
Return on average equity (1) 5.68 % 5.20 %   5.94 % 5.50 %  
Interest rate spread (1) (3) 3.75 % 3.43 %   3.69 % 3.42 %  
Net interest margin (1) (4) 3.94 % 3.62 %   3.86 % 3.60 %  
Non-interest expense to average assets (1) 2.77 % 2.74 %   2.75 % 2.70 %  
Efficiency ratio  (5) 65.23 % 69.47 %   64.44 % 68.85 %  
Average interest-earning assets to            
average interest-bearing liabilities 142.57 % 147.93 %   142.12 % 146.48 %  
Average equity to average assets 13.28 % 14.14 %   13.71 % 14.00 %  

    At   At   At  
    June 30,   December 31,   June 30,  
(unaudited)   2017   2016   2016  
Asset Quality Ratios:              
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans (2)   1.40 %   1.36 %   1.40 %  
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of non-performing loans   235.05 %   542.98 %   601.24 %  
Non-performing loans as a percent of total loans (2)   0.59 %   0.25 %   0.23 %  
Non-performing loans as a percent of total assets   0.48 %   0.20 %   0.18 %  
Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets (6)   0.48 %   0.20 %   0.18 %  
               
               
               
(1) Annualized              
(2) Loans are presented before the allowance but include deferred costs/fees.  Loans held-for-sale are excluded.    
(3) Represents the difference between the weighted average yield on average interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.  
(4) Represents net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets.          
(5) Represents noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.      
(6) Represents non-accrual loans plus loans accruing but 90 days or more overdue and OREO.        

CONTACT: Provident Bancorp, Inc.
Carol Houle, 978-834-8534
Executive Vice President/CFO
[email protected]