1st Constitution Bancorp : Reports First Quarter 2017 Results

Cranbury NJ - April 24, 2017 -- 1ST Constitution Bancorp (NASDAQ: FCCY), the holding company (the "Company") for 1ST Constitution Bank (the "Bank"), today reported net income of $1.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.23 for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

FIRST QUARTER 2017 HIGHLIGHTS

• Book value per share and tangible book value per share were $13.28 and $11.69, respectively, at March 31, 2017.

• Net interest income was $8.6 million and the net interest margin was 3.83% on a tax equivalent basis.

• Non-interest income increased $807,000 to $2.4 million driven primarily by an increase in the volume of residential mortgages sold.

• The Bank recorded a provision for loan losses of $150,000 and net charge-offs were $94,000.

• Commercial business, commercial real estate and construction loans totaled $467 million at March 31, 2017 and increased $64 million compared to the total at March 31, 2016 and increased $29 million compared to the total at December 31, 2016.

• Non-performing assets were $7.9 million, or 0.78% of assets, and included $431,000 of OREO at March 31, 2017.

• On March 17, 2017, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per common share that will be paid on April 25, 2017 to shareholders of record as of April 3, 2017.

Robert F. Mangano, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated "Our first quarter of 2017 financial results reflected several important operating fundamentals. We have good momentum in our lending operations as we generated growth in our commercial business, commercial real estate and construction loan portfolio segments. Our new residential lending team contributed to a significant increase in non-interest income in the first quarter through the sale of $38 million of mortgages." Mr. Mangano added, "We are beginning to see a positive effect of the increase in short-term interest rates through increasing yields on our variable rate commercial business, SBA, construction and consumer loans."

Discussion of Financial Results

Net income was $1.9 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2017 compared to $2.2 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2016. Growth of loans and deposits generated a

$139,000 increase in net interest income and higher residential lending activity produced $25 million of closed loans and $38 million of loan sales, which generated a net increase in gains on sales of loans of

$686,000 and contributed to the $807,000 increase in non-interest income for the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016. The combined increase in revenue was offset by a $150,000 provision for loan losses in the first quarter of 2017 compared to a $200,000 credit (negative) provision for loan losses in the first quarter of 2016 and a $1.1 million increase in non-interest expenses for the first quarter of 2017

compared to the first quarter of 2016. As a result, net income declined $273,000, or 12.3%, from $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2016 to $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2017.

Net interest income was $8.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 and increased $139,000 compared to net interest income of $8.5 million for the first quarter of 2016. Total interest income was $9.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $9.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and increased primarily due to a net increase of $31.8 million in average loans, reflecting growth primarily of commercial real estate and construction loans, which was partially offset by declines in the average balances of mortgage warehouse and commercial business loans. Average interest-earning assets were $941.8 million with a yield of 4.38% for the first quarter of 2017 compared to $895.5 million with a yield of 4.46% for the first quarter of 2016. The lower yield on average interest-earning assets for the first quarter of 2017 reflected primarily the lower yield earned on commercial real estate loans and investments. The yield on commercial real estate loans and investments declined due to the continued low interest rate environment as new commercial real estate loans were originated and investment securities were purchased at yields lower than the average yield on commercial real estate loans and investments, respectively, in the prior year period. The 75 basis point increase in the Federal Reserve's targeted federal funds rate and the corresponding increase in the prime rate since December of 2015 have had a positive effect on the yields of construction, commercial business, SBA, home equity and other loans with variable interest rate terms in the first quarter of 2017.

Interest expense on average interest bearing-liabilities was $1.3 million, with an interest cost of 0.73%, for the first quarter of 2017 compared to $1.2 million, with an interest cost of 0.69%, for the first quarter of 2016. The $104,000 increase in interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities for the first quarter of 2017 reflected primarily higher short-term market interest rates in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016.

The net interest margin declined to 3.83% for the first quarter of 2017 compared to 3.92% for the first quarter of 2016 due primarily to the lower yield on average interest-earning assets and the higher cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.

The Company recorded a provision for loan losses in the amount of $150,000 for the first quarter of 2017 compared to a negative (credit) provision for loan losses of $200,000 for the first quarter of 2016. Aprovision for loan losses of $150,000 was recorded for the first quarter of 2017 due primarily to the increase in loans. At March 31, 2017, total loans were $676.4 million and the allowance for loan losses was $7.6 million, or 1.12% of total loans, compared to total loans of $659.0 million and an allowance for loan losses of $7.3 million, or 1.11% of total loans, at March 31, 2016. Management believes that the current economic and operating conditions are generally positive, which also were considered in management's evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.

Non-interest income was $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2017, an increase of $807,000, compared to

$1.6 million for the first quarter of 2016. This increase was due primarily to an increase of $686,000 in gains on sales of loans and an increase of $178,000 in other income in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016. In the first quarter of 2017, $3.9 million of SBA loans were sold and gains of

$335,000 were recorded compared to $5.3 million of SBA loans sold and gains of $482,000 recorded in the first quarter of 2016. SBA guaranteed commercial lending activity and loan sales vary from period to period. In the first quarter of 2017, $38.4 million of residential mortgages were sold and $1.2 million of gains were recorded compared to $24.0 million of residential mortgage loans sold and $421,000 of gains recorded in the first quarter of 2016. The increase in residential mortgage loans closed and sold was due primarily to higher residential mortgage lending activity as the result of a new residential mortgage lending team joining the Bank in August 2016.

The increase in other income was due primarily to the sale of $2.1 million of investment securities, which generated a gain of $106,000 for the first quarter of 2017. There were no sales of investment securities in the first quarter of 2016. Other income also included a $40,000 fee related to a loan participation with another bank. Service charge income decreased $43,000 to $154,000 for the first quarter of 2017 from

$197,000 for the first quarter of 2016 due primarily to lower fees for insufficient funds.

Non-interest expenses were $8.1 million for the first quarter of 2017, an increase of $1.1 million, or 15.1%, compared to $7.0 million for the first quarter of 2016. Salaries and employee benefits expense increased

$607,000, or 14.1%, in 2017 due primarily to an increase of $221,000 in commissions paid to residential loan officers, $334,000 of salaries for additional commercial loan, business development and residential mortgage personnel, merit increases and increases in employee benefits expenses. Full time equivalent employees ("FTE") increased by 21 to 194 FTE in the first quarter of 2017 from 173 FTE in the first quarter of 2016. Commission expense increased due to the higher volume of residential mortgages originated and sold in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016. Occupancy costs increased $47,000, or 5.4%, due primarily to the occupancy costs of four residential mortgage loan offices added in the third quarter of 2016. Data processing expenses of $318,000 were relatively unchanged for the first quarter of 2017 compared to $313,000 for the first quarter of 2016. FDIC insurance expense declined $38,000, or 32.2%, due to a lower assessment rate that reflected the Bank's improvement in asset quality and financial performance and lower assessment rates for community banks. OREO expense declined due to the lower level of OREO assets in the first quarter of 2017. Other operating expenses increased $469,000 due primarily to a decrease of $334,000 in deferred loan origination costs compared to the first quarter of 2016. In the first quarter of 2017, management implemented a refined methodology utilized to estimate loan origination costs, which, in combination with a lower level of loan origination activity, resulted in a lower amount of deferred costs.The implementation of the refined methodology is not projected to have a significant impact in subsequent periods. Increases of $87,000 in consulting expense and $39,000 in internal and external professional audit fees also contributed to the increase in other operating expenses for the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016.

Income tax expense was $852,000 for the first quarter of 2017, resulting in an effective tax rate of 30.4% compared to income tax expense of $1.0 million, which resulted in an effective tax rate of 32.0% for the first quarter of 2016. Income tax expense decreased primarily due to the decrease in pre-tax income. The effective tax rate decreased due to the higher percentage of the net amount of tax-exempt interest income and income on Bank-owned life insurance as compared to pre-tax income.

At March 31, 2017, the allowance for loan losses was $7.6 million compared to $7.5 million at December 31, 2016. As a percentage of total loans, the allowance was 1.12% at March 31, 2017 compared to 1.03% at December 31, 2016. The increase in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans was due primarily to a $414,000 increase in the specific reserve component of the allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2017 compared to December 31, 2016.

Total assets decreased $28.3 million to $1.01 billion at March 31, 2017 from $1.04 billion at December 31, 2016 due primarily to a $48.4 million decrease in total loans and a decrease of $11.5 million in loans held for sale, which were partially offset by an increase of $33.0 million in cash and due from banks. The reduction in assets and the $34.3 million increase in deposits resulted in a $63.1 million decrease in short- term FHLB borrowings. The $1.8 million increase in shareholders' equity also contributed to the decrease in FHLB borrowings. Total portfolio loans at March 31, 2017 were $676.4 million compared to $724.8 million at December 31, 2016. The decrease in loans was due primarily to a decrease of $73.6 million in mortgage warehouse loans, which was partially offset by a $16.0 million increase in commercial real estate loans, an $11.7 million increase in construction loans and a $1.5 million increase in commercial business loans. The decline in mortgage warehouse loans reflects the seasonal nature of residential lending in the Bank's markets, with generally lower home purchase activity during the winter months as compared to

other periods during the year. Higher mortgage interest rates in the later part of the fourth quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 also reduced the volume of residential mortgage loan refinancing activity compared to the first quarter of 2016.

Total deposits at March 31, 2017 were $868.8 million compared to $834.5 million at December 31, 2016, primarily reflecting the growth in core deposits. Interest-bearing demand deposits increased $28.0 million, non interest-bearing demand deposits increased $13.4 million and savings deposits increased $4.9 million, which were partially offset by a decrease of $12.0 million in time deposits.

Regulatory capital ratios for the Company and the Bank continue to reflect a strong capital position. Under current regulatory capital standards, the Company's common equity Tier 1 to risk based assets ("CET1"), total risk-based capital, Tier I capital, and leverage ratios were 10.81%, 13.73%, 12.87% and 11.46%, respectively, at March 31, 2017. The Bank's CET1, total risk-based capital, Tier 1 capital and leverage ratios were 12.58%, 13.44%, 12.58% and 11.20%, respectively, at March 31, 2017. The Company and the Bank are considered "well capitalized" under these capital standards.

Asset Quality

Non-accrual loans were $7.4 million at March 31, 2017 compared to $5.2 million at December 31, 2016. During the first quarter of 2017, $1.8 million of non-performing loans were resolved, including a residential mortgage that was foreclosed and transferred to OREO, which resulted in a charge-off of $101,000, and

$4.0 million of loans were placed on non-accrual. In the first quarter of 2017, the Bank was notified that a shared national credit syndicated loan in which it was a participant in a $4.3 million facility had further deteriorated. As of the date of notification, the Bank downgraded the loan, which had a balance of $4.0 million, and placed it on non-accrual.

Net loan charge-offs were $94,000 for the first quarter of 2017. The allowance for loan losses was 102% of non-performing loans at March 31, 2017 compared to 144% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2016.

Overall, management observed generally stable trends in loan quality, with non-performing loans to total loans of 1.1% and non-performing assets to total assets of 0.78% at March 31, 2017 compared to non- performing loans to total loans of 0.72% and non-performing assets to total assets of 0.52% at December 31, 2016.

OREO at March 31, 2017 increased to $431,000 from $166,000 at December 31, 2016 due to the foreclosure of one residential property in the first quarter of 2017.