Poplar Bluff, Oct. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. (“Company”) (NASDAQ: SMBC), the parent corporation of Southern Bank (“Bank”), today announced preliminary net income available to common stockholders for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 of $4.9 million, an increase of $1.2 million, or 31.1%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable to increases in net interest income and noninterest income, as well as a reduction in provision for loan losses, partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense and provision for income taxes. Preliminary net income available to common stockholders was $.56 per fully diluted common share for the first quarter of fiscal 2018, an increase of $.06 as compared to the $.50 per fully diluted common share reported for the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Highlights for the first quarter of fiscal 2018:

  • Earnings per common share (diluted) were $.56, up $.06, or 12.0%, as compared to the same quarter a year ago, and up $.07, or 14.3%, as compared to the $.49 earned in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the linked quarter.
     
  • Annualized return on average assets was 1.12%, while annualized return on average common equity was 11.1%, as compared to 1.03% and 11.6%, respectively, in the same quarter a year ago, and 0.97% and 10.5%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the linked quarter.
     
  • Net loan growth for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 was $51.8 million, as the September quarter met expectations for seasonally strong loan draws. Deposit growth was $16.1 million for the first quarter, as the quarter is traditionally weaker for deposit growth; the Company also experienced outflows of brokered deposits discussed below.
     
  • Net interest margin for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 was 3.79%, down from the 3.81% reported for the year ago period, and down from 3.82% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the linked quarter. Activity in the year ago and linked quarter periods included elevated discount accretion and other items discussed in detail below.
     
  • Noninterest income was up 27.0% for the first quarter of fiscal 2018, compared to the year ago period, and up 13.3% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the linked quarter.
     
  • Noninterest expense was up 17.4% for the first quarter of fiscal 2018, compared to the year ago period, and down 0.6% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the linked quarter. The current quarter’s results included a smaller amount of non-recurring charges, including expenses related to merger and acquisition activity, as compared to the linked quarter.
     
  • Nonperforming assets were $6.0 million, or 0.34% of total assets, at September 30, 2017, as compared to $6.3 million, or 0.37% of total assets, at June 30, 2017.

Dividend Declared:

The Board of Directors, on October 17, 2017, declared a quarterly cash dividend on common stock of $0.11, payable November 30, 2017, to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 15, 2017, marking the 94th consecutive quarterly dividend since the inception of the Company. The Board of Directors and management believe the payment of a quarterly cash dividend enhances stockholder value and demonstrates our commitment to and confidence in our future prospects.

Conference Call:

The Company will host a conference call to review the information provided in this press release on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, at 3:30 p.m. central time (4:30 p.m. eastern). The call will be available live to interested parties by calling 1-888-339-0709 in the United States (Canada: 1-855-669-9657, international: 1-412-902-4189). Telephone playback will be available beginning one hour following the conclusion of the call through November 6, 2017. The playback may be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (Canada: 1-855-669-9658, international: 1-412-317-0088), and using the conference passcode 10113716. Participants should ask to be joined into the Southern Missouri Bancorp (SMBC) call.

Balance Sheet Summary:

The Company experienced balance sheet growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, with total assets of $1.8 billion at September 30, 2017, reflecting an increase of $55.8 million, or 3.3%, as compared to June 30, 2017. Asset growth was comprised mainly of loan growth.

Available-for-sale (“AFS”) securities were $147.7 million at September 30, 2017, an increase of $3.3 million, or 2.3%, as compared to June 30, 2017. Cash equivalents and time deposits were $25.1 million, a decrease of $5.7 million, or 18.5%, as compared to June 30, 2017.

Loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, were $1.4 billion at September 30, 2017, an increase of $51.8 million, or 3.7%, as compared to June 30, 2017. The increase was attributable primarily to growth in commercial real estate, commercial operating, and residential loans, partially offset by a decline in consumer loans. The increase in commercial real estate lending was attributable mostly to loans secured by nonresidential properties. The increase in commercial operating loans was attributable primarily to commercial and industrial lending, as well as agricultural lines of credit. The increase in residential lending was attributable primarily to loans secured by one- to four-family residential properties. Loans anticipated to fund in the next 90 days stood at $85.4 million at September 30, 2017, as compared to $80.7 million at June 30, 2017, and $55.4 million at September 30, 2016.

Nonperforming loans were $2.6 million, or 0.18% of gross loans, at September 30, 2017, as compared to $3.2 million, or 0.23% of gross loans, at June 30, 2017. Nonperforming assets were $6.0 million, or 0.34% of total assets, at September 30, 2017, as compared to $6.3 million, or 0.37% of total assets, at June 30, 2017. Our allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2017, totaled $16.4 million, representing 1.12% of gross loans and 627% of nonperforming loans, as compared to $15.5 million, or 1.10% of gross loans, and 482% of nonperforming loans, at June 30, 2017. For all impaired loans, the Company has measured impairment under ASC 310-10-35. Management believes the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2017, is adequate, based on that measurement.

Total liabilities were $1.6 billion at September 30, 2017, an increase of $51.8 million, or 3.4%, as compared to June 30, 2017.

Deposits were $1.5 billion at September 30, 2017, an increase of $16.1 million, or 1.1%, as compared to June 30, 2017. Deposit growth was comprised primarily of interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing transaction accounts, and money market deposit accounts, partially offset by declines in certificates of deposit and savings accounts. Since June 30, 2017, the Company’s public unit deposits increased by $15.5 million, brokered certificates of deposit decreased $25.6 million, and brokered nonmaturity deposits decreased $1.0 million. Our discussion of brokered deposits excludes those brokered deposits originated through reciprocal arrangements, as our reciprocal brokered deposits are primarily originated by our public unit depositors and utilized as an alternative to pledging securities against those deposits. The average loan-to-deposit ratio for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 was 97.8%, as compared to 104.4% for the same period of the prior fiscal year.

FHLB advances were $84.7 million at September 30, 2017, an increase of $41.0 million, or 94.0%, as compared to June 30, 2017, as the Company utilized overnight and short-term funding to fund loan growth in excess of deposit growth and to allow brokered deposits to decrease. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase totaled $6.6 million at September 30, 2017, a decrease of $3.6 million, or 35.1%, as compared to June 30, 2017, as we continued to encourage larger customers to migrate from this product to a reciprocal brokered deposit arrangement. At both dates, the full balance of repurchase agreements was due to local small business and government counterparties.

The Company’s stockholders’ equity was $177.0 million at September 30, 2017, an increase of $4.0 million, or 2.3%, as compared to June 30, 2017. The increase was attributable to retention of net income and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income, partially offset by payment of dividends on common stock.

Income Statement Summary:

The Company’s net interest income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, was $15.1 million, an increase of $2.5 million, or 20.1%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable to a 20.5% increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets, partially offset by a decrease in net interest margin to 3.79% in the current three-month period, from 3.81% three-month period a year ago.

Loan discount accretion and deposit premium amortization related to the Company’s August 2014 acquisition of Peoples Service Company and its subsidiary, Peoples Bank of the Ozarks (the “Peoples Acquisition”), decreased to $234,000 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $601,000 for the same period of the prior fiscal year. Loan discount accretion and deposit premium amortization related to the Company’s June 2017 acquisition of Tammcorp, Inc., and its subsidiary, Capaha Bank (the “Capaha Acquisition”) resulted in an additional $231,000 in net interest income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, with no comparable item in the same period a year ago. Combined, these components of net interest income contributed twelve basis points to net interest margin in the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, as compared to a contribution of 18 basis points for the same period of the prior fiscal year. For the linked quarter, ended June 30, 2017, comparable items contributed 20 basis points to net interest margin. The dollar impact of this component of net interest income has generally been declining each sequential quarter as assets from the Peoples Acquisition mature or prepay, however, the Capaha Acquisition will contribute additional net interest income during fiscal 2018, with no comparable items from fiscal 2017 periods.  

The provision for loan losses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, was $868,000, as compared to $925,000 in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Decreased provisioning was attributed to the reduction in nonperforming loans and net charge offs. As a percentage of average loans outstanding, the provision for loan losses in the current three-month period represented a charge of 0.24% (annualized), while the Company recorded net charge offs during the period of 0.01% (annualized). During the same period of the prior fiscal year, provision for loan losses as a percentage of average loans outstanding represented a charge of 0.31% (annualized), while the Company recorded net charge offs of 0.09% (annualized).

The Company’s noninterest income for the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, was $3.3 million, an increase of $696,000, or 27.0%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable primarily to deposit account service charges, bank card interchange income, loan fees, and loan servicing income, partially offset by a decline in gains on sales of residential real estate loans originated for that purpose.

Noninterest expense for the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, was $10.8 million, an increase of $1.6 million, or 17.4%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was attributable primarily to increases in compensation and benefits and occupancy expenses, as a result of the Company’s larger staff and number of facilities following the Capaha Acquisition. Expenses related to merger and acquisition activity in the current period totaled $222,000, with no comparable charges in the year ago period. The same quarter of the prior fiscal year did include $335,000 in charges related to the early repayment of an FHLB term advance. The efficiency ratio for the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, was 58.5%, as compared to 60.5% in the same period of the prior fiscal year.

The income tax provision for the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, was $1.9 million, an increase of $531,000, or 39.1%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year, attributable primarily to higher pre-tax income, combined with an increase in the effective tax rate, to 28.0% from 26.8%. The higher effective tax rate was attributed primarily to the relative amount of the Company’s tax-advantaged investments as compared to total earning assets and pre-tax income.

Forward-Looking Information:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including: the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations; fluctuations in interest rates and in real estate values; monetary and fiscal policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the U.S. Government and other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry; the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses; our ability to access cost-effective funding; the timely development of and acceptance of our new products and services and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users, including the features, pricing and quality compared to competitors’ products and services; expected cost savings, synergies and other benefits from the Company’s merger and acquisition activities might not be realized to the extent anticipated or within the anticipated time frames, if at all, and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected; fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; demand for loans and deposits in our market area; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business; results of examinations of us by our regulators, including the possibility that our regulators may, among other things, require us to increase our reserve for loan losses or to write-down assets; the impact of technological changes; and our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing. Any forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed might not occur, and you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
           
Summary Balance Sheet Data as of:  September 30,  June 30,  March 31,  December 31,  September 30,
  (dollars in thousands, except per share data)    2017      2017      2017      2016      2016  
           
Cash equivalents and time deposits $   25,849   $   31,533   $   21,508   $   30,865   $   21,978  
Available for sale securities     147,680       144,416       134,048       132,116       124,249  
FHLB/FRB membership stock     8,384       6,119        6,220       8,256       9,121  
Loans receivable, gross     1,465,917       1,413,268       1,241,120       1,224,828       1,218,228  
  Allowance for loan losses     16,357       15,538       15,190       14,992       14,456  
Loans receivable, net     1,449,560       1,397,730       1,225,930       1,209,836       1,203,772  
Bank-owned life insurance     34,562       34,329       30,147       30,491       30,282  
Intangible assets      15,071       15,390       7,287       7,478       7,657  
Premises and equipment     54,129       54,167       46,624        46,371       46,615  
Other assets     28,256       24,028       24,220       26,936       26,138  
  Total assets $   1,763,491   $    1,707,712   $   1,495,984   $   1,492,349   $   1,469,812  
           
Interest-bearing deposits $   1,276,943   $   1,268,662   $   1,133,405   $   1,075,792   $   1,032,810  
Noninterest-bearing deposits     194,747       186,935       139,095       136,024       134,540  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase     6,627        10,212       17,900       22,542       25,450  
FHLB advances     84,654       43,637       51,619       107,502       129,184  
Note payable     3,000       3,000       –        –        –   
Other liabilities     5,613       7,335        5,156       5,336       4,156  
Subordinated debt     14,872       14,848       14,824       14,800       14,776  
  Total liabilities     1,586,456       1,534,629       1,361,999       1,361,996       1,340,916  
           
Common stockholders’ equity     177,035       173,083        133,985       130,353       128,896  
  Total stockholders’ equity     177,035       173,083       133,985       130,353       128,896  
           
  Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $   1,763,491   $   1,707,712   $   1,495,984   $   1,492,349   $   1,469,812  
           
Equity to assets ratio   10.04 %   10.14 %   8.96 %   8.73 %   8.77 %
Common shares outstanding      8,591,363       8,591,363       7,450,041       7,450,041       7,436,866  
  Less: Restricted common shares not vested     17,975       18,775       33,175       33,175       36,000  
Common shares for book value determination     8,573,388       8,572,588       7,416,866       7,416,866       7,400,866  
           
Book value per common share $   20.65   $   20.19   $   18.06   $   17.58   $   17.42  
Closing market price     36.49       32.26        35.52       35.38       24.90  
           
Nonperforming asset data as of:  September 30,  June 30,  March 31,  December 31,  September 30,
  (dollars in thousands)    2017      2017      2017      2016      2016  
           
Nonaccrual loans $   2,307   $   2,825   $   3,069   $   5,572   $   4,969  
Accruing loans 90 days or more past due     303        401       134       85       54  
  Total nonperforming loans     2,610       3,226       3,203        5,657       5,023  
Other real estate owned (OREO)     3,357       3,014       3,296       3,310       3,182  
Personal property repossessed     67       86       37       39       45  
  Total nonperforming assets $   6,034   $   6,326   $   6,536   $   9,006   $   8,250  
           
Total nonperforming assets to total assets   0.34 %   0.37 %   0.44 %   0.60 %   0.56 %
Total nonperforming loans to gross loans   0.18 %   0.23 %   0.26 %   0.47 %   0.42 %
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans   626.70 %   481.65 %   474.24 %   265.02 %   287.80 %
Allowance for loan losses to gross loans   1.12 %   1.10 %   1.22 %   1.22 %   1.19 %
           
Performing troubled debt restructurings (1) $   10,740   $    10,908   $   8,649   $   7,673   $   7,853  
           
  (1) Nonperforming troubled debt restructurings are included with nonaccrual loans or accruing loans 90 days or more past due.
           
   For the three-month period ended
Quarterly Average Balance Sheet Data:  September 30,  June 30,  March 31,  December 31,  September 30,
  (dollars in thousands)    2017      2017      2017      2016      2016  
           
Interest-bearing cash equivalents $   2,268   $   2,482   $   1,896   $   1,599   $   7,730  
Available for sale securities and membership stock     153,872       143,114       141,223       139,183       135,188  
Loans receivable, gross     1,436,156       1,271,705       1,221,642       1,216,607       1,178,067  
  Total interest-earning assets     1,592,296       1,417,301       1,364,761       1,357,389       1,320,985  
Other assets     140,660       117,235       119,436        123,287       115,277  
  Total assets $   1,732,956   $   1,534,536   $   1,484,197   $   1,480,676   $   1,436,262  
           
Interest-bearing deposits $   1,280,842   $    1,155,547   $   1,099,319   $   1,043,542   $   994,518  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase     9,492       13,694       24,053       24,323        26,723  
FHLB advances     55,063       55,914       71,405       124,834       132,107  
Note payable     3,000       1,451       –        –        –   
Subordinated debt     14,860       14,836       14,812       14,788        14,765  
  Total interest-bearing liabilities     1,363,257       1,241,442       1,209,589       1,207,487       1,168,113  
Noninterest-bearing deposits     187,330       145,790       138,667       137,468       133,601  
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities     7,367       5,191       3,479       5,874        7,082  
  Total liabilities     1,557,954       1,392,423       1,351,735       1,350,829       1,308,796  
           
Common stockholders’ equity     175,002        142,113       132,462       129,847       127,466  
  Total stockholders’ equity     175,002       142,113       132,462       129,847       127,466  
           
  Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $   1,732,956   $   1,534,536   $   1,484,197   $   1,480,676   $   1,436,262  
           
   For the three-month period ended
Quarterly Summary Income Statement Data:  September 30,  June 30,  March 31,  December 31,  September 30,
  (dollars in thousands, except per share data)    2017      2017      2017      2016      2016  
           
Interest income:          
  Cash equivalents $    10   $   8   $   13   $   4   $   4  
  Available for sale securities and membership stock     946        895       875       848       851  
  Loans receivable     17,455       15,442       14,067       14,229        14,250  
  Total interest income     18,411       16,345       14,955       15,081       15,105  
Interest expense:          
  Deposits     2,862       2,386       2,111       2,043       1,932  
  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase     14       18        25       25       27  
  FHLB advances     226       214       224       282        418  
  Note payable     28       13       –        –        –   
  Subordinated debt     178        172       163       160       152  
  Total interest expense     3,308       2,803       2,523        2,510       2,529  
Net interest income     15,103       13,542       12,432       12,571       12,576  
Provision for loan losses      868       383       376       656       925  
Other noninterest income     3,271       2,886       2,925       2,702       2,575  
Noninterest expense     10,755       10,825       9,564       8,706       9,159  
Income taxes      1,889       1,507       1,463       1,735       1,358  
  Net income available to common stockholders $   4,862   $   3,713   $    3,954   $   4,176   $   3,709  
           
Basic earnings per common share $   0.57   $   0.49   $   0.53   $   0.56   $    0.50  
Diluted earnings per common share     0.56       0.49       0.53       0.56       0.50  
Dividends per common share      0.11       0.10       0.10       0.10       0.10  
Average common shares outstanding:          
  Basic     8,591,000       7,606,000        7,450,000       7,441,000       7,437,000  
  Diluted     8,620,000       7,635,000       7,479,000       7,467,000       7,466,000  
           
Return on average assets   1.12 %   0.97 %   1.07 %   1.13 %   1.03 %
Return on average common stockholders’ equity   11.1 %   10.5 %   11.9 %   12.9 %   11.6 %
           
Net interest margin   3.79 %   3.82 %   3.64 %   3.70 %   3.81 %
Net interest spread   3.66 %   3.71 %   3.55 %   3.61 %   3.70 %
           
Efficiency ratio   58.5 %   65.9 %   62.3 %   57.0 %   60.5 %

CONTACT: Matt Funke, CFO
573-778-1800