City : Announces Annual Earnings

CHARLESTON, W. Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- City Holding Company ('Company' or 'City') (NASDAQ:CHCO), a $4.0 billion bank holding company headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia, today announced net income of $52.1 million and diluted earnings of $3.45 per share for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Highlights of the Company's performance and results for the year ended December 31, 2016 include the following:

• Return on assets and return on tangible equity of 1.36% and 14.8%, respectively.
• Reported net interest income increased $4.0 million (3.4%) from the year ended December 31, 2015, while net interest income exclusive of accretion from fair value adjustments increased $7.7 million (7.1%) from the year ended December 31, 2015.
• Total loan growth of $183.7 million (6.4%) from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016.
• Asset quality continues to remain strong with nonperforming assets declining from $24.0 million, or 0.84% of total loans and other real estate owned at December 31, 2015 to $18.7 million, or 0.61%, at December 31, 2016. Past due loans declined from 0.32% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2015 to 0.28% at December 31, 2016.

Highlights of the Company's fourth quarter performance include the following:

• Return on assets and return on tangible equity of 1.49% and 16.1%, respectively.
• Reported net interest income increased $0.6 million (2.1%) from the quarter ended September 30, 2016, while net interest income exclusive of accretion from fair value adjustments increased $0.8 million (2.8%) from the quarter ended September 30, 2016.
• Total loan growth of $88.3 million (3.0%) from September 30, 2016 to December 31, 2016.

Net Interest Income

The Company's tax equivalent net interest income increased $4.0 million, or 3.4%, from $115.8 million in 2015 to $119.8 million in 2016. This increase was due primarily to an increase in average loan balances from organic growth ($127.1 million) and from loans associated with the acquisition of three branches in the Lexington, Kentucky market in November 2015 (approximately $102.4 million in loans) contributing additional net interest income of $9.0 million in 2016. In addition, higher average investment balances ($111.5 million) increased net interest income by $3.9 million. During 2016 in conjunction with its interest rate risk management strategy, the Company elected to grow investment balances and reduce cash balances to enhance net interest income. As part of this strategy, the Company purchased tax-exempt municipal securities to improve its earnings by lowering its effective income tax rate. As a result of this strategy, the Company's overnight borrowings increased during 2016 and the Company anticipates growing time deposit balances in 2017 to reduce overnight borrowings. These increases in net interest income were partially offset by lower accretion from fair value adjustments on recent acquisitions that decreased net interest income $3.8 million ($6.7 million in 2015 compared to $2.9 million in 2016) and margin compression which lowered net interest income $3.9 million. The Company's reported net interest margin decreased from 3.76% for the year ended December 31, 2015 to 3.50% for the year ended December 31, 2016. Excluding the favorable impact of the accretion from the fair value adjustments, the net interest margin would have been 3.54% for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 3.41% for the year ended December 31, 2016. This decrease was primarily caused by the yield on loans (excluding accretion) compressing slightly from 4.05% for the year ended December 31, 2015 to 3.96% for the year ended December 31, 2016 and by the yield on investment securities decreasing from 3.28% to 3.01% for the same period.

During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company's tax equivalent net interest income increased $0.6 million, or 2.1%, to $30.6 million from $30.0 million during the third quarter of 2016. This increase was largely due to higher average commercial and residential real estate loan balances (up $87.3 million from the third quarter of 2016) that increased net interest income by $0.8 million and higher average investment securities balances (up $39.3 million from the third quarter of 2016) that increased net interest income by $0.2 million. The Company's reported net interest margin decreased from 3.48% for the third quarter of 2016 to 3.42% for the fourth quarter of 2016. Excluding the favorable impact of the accretion from the fair value adjustments ($0.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 and $0.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2016), the net interest margin would have been 3.37% for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 and 3.40% for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. The decrease in the net interest margin from the third quarter of 2016 is attributable to the yield on investment securities compressing 8 basis points and a slightly higher cost of funds. The Company's yield on loans (excluding accretion) remained stable at 3.94% for both the quarter ended September 30, 2016 and the quarter ended December 31, 2016. The majority of the Company's commercial loans originated in 2016 have variable interest rates and the Company believes that it remains well positioned to benefit from rising interest rates.

Credit Quality

The Company's ratio of nonperforming assets to total loans and other real estate owned improved from 0.84% at December 31, 2015 to 0.61% at December 31, 2016. Total nonperforming assets decreased from $24.0 million at December 31, 2015 to $18.7 million at December 31, 2016. Excluded from this ratio are purchased credit-impaired loans in which the Company estimated cash flows and estimated a credit mark. Such loans would be considered nonperforming loans if the loan's performance deteriorates below the initial expectations. Total past due loans decreased from $9.2 million, or 0.32% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2015 to $8.6 million, or 0.28% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2016.

As a result of the Company's quarterly analysis of the adequacy of the Allowance for Loan Losses ('ALLL'), the Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $2.8 million and $7.0 million for the comparable periods in 2015. The provision for loan losses recorded in 2016 reflects the impact of several factors, including the growth in the loan portfolio and changes in the quality of the portfolio. Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2016, a commercial customer of the Company with a hotel/motel related credit whose business is located in North Central West Virginia experienced a downfall in occupancy rates as a result of a slowdown in the oil and gas industry. As a result, the Company increased the allowance for loan losses in the fourth quarter in relation to this loan. Beyond this particular loan, the Company has very limited exposure to the oil and gas industry and does not have any direct loans to any oil and gas operations. Changes in the amount of the allowance and related provision are based on the Company's detailed systematic methodology and are directionally consistent with changes in the composition and quality of the Company's loan portfolio. The Company believes its methodology for determining the adequacy of its ALLL adequately provides for probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio and produces a provision and allowance for loan losses that is directionally consistent with changes in asset quality and loss experience.

Non-interest Income

During 2016, the Company realized $3.5 million of investment gains compared to $2.1 million during 2015. These gains represented partial recoveries of impairment charges previously recognized on pools of trust preferred securities. In addition, during 2015 the Company sold its insurance operation which resulted in the recognition of a pre-tax gain of $11.1 million in 2015. Exclusive of these gains, non-interest income increased from $54.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $55.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $0.6 million, or 3.9%, in bankcard revenues; an increase of $0.4 million, or 8.8%, in trust and investment management fee income; and an increase of $0.4 million, or 1.5%, in service charges.

Non-interest income increased from $14.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 to $14.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. This increase was mainly due to an increase in bankcard revenues of $0.2 million, or 5.6%, from the fourth quarter of 2015.

Non-interest Expenses

Non-interest expenses increased $3.2 million from the year ended December 31, 2015 to the year ended December 31, 2016. During 2015, the Company recognized $0.6 million of acquisition and integration expenses associated with the acquisition of three branches in Lexington, Kentucky. Excluding acquisition related expenses, non-interest expenses increased $3.8 million from $92.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $96.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. This increase was largely due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits ($2.1 million) due to salary adjustments and increased health insurance costs. In addition non-interest expenses increased $1.7 million due to the annual operating costs of the three branches acquired in November 2015 and from an increase of $0.5 million in bankcard expenses due to increased transaction volumes.

Non-interest expenses increased $1.3 million from the quarter ended December 31, 2015 to the quarter ended December 31, 2016. Exclusive of acquisition related expenses of $0.3 million, total non-interest expenses increased $1.6 million from $20.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 to $22.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. This increase was due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits of $1.0 million caused by salary adjustments and increased health insurance costs, an increase in other expenses of $0.2 million, advertising expenses of $0.2 million, and the operating costs associated with the acquisition of three branches of $0.2 million. These increases were partially offset by lower FDIC insurance expenses ($0.3 million).

Balance Sheet Trends

For the year ending December 31, 2016, period end loan balances increased $183.7 million (6.4%) to $3.05 billion. Commercial loans increased $122.3 million (9.4%) and residential real estate loans increased $68.3 million (4.9%) from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016. A significant portion of the increase in commercial loans during 2016 were in the Columbus, Ohio and Charlotte, North Carolina markets and were diversified across a broad base of industry types, such as multi-family housing, properties leased to the government, nursing homes, grocery and retail stores, and other commercial and industrial loans. These increases were slightly offset by decreases in home equity junior lien loans ($5.1 million) and consumer loans ($3.5 million).

Total average depository balances increased $219.3 million, or 7.4%, from the year ended December 31, 2015 to the year ended December 31, 2016. This growth was partially attributable to deposits acquired in 2015 via acquisition in Lexington, Kentucky ($126.6 million). Exclusive of these acquired deposits, noninterest deposits increased $64.2 million (10.9%), interest bearing deposits increased $27.4 million (4.3%) and savings deposits increased $21.1 million (3.0%). These increases were partially offset by a decrease in time deposits ($20.0 million).

Income Tax Expense

The Company's effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2016 was 32.5% compared to 34.4% for the year ended December 31, 2015. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company reduced income tax expense by $0.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively, due to the recognition of previously unrecognized tax positions subsequent to the close of the statute of limitations for previous tax years. In addition, as previously noted, the Company sold its insurance agency, CityInsurance, in the first quarter of 2015. As a result of differences between the book and tax basis of the assets that were sold, the Company's income tax expense increased by $1.1 million. Exclusive of these items, the Company's tax rate from operations was 33.2% and 33.6% for the year ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

The Company's effective income tax rate for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 was 30.2% compared to 30.0% for the quarter ended December 31, 2015. During the quarters ended December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2015, the Company reduced income tax expense by $0.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively, due to the recognition of previously unrecognized tax positions resulting from the close of the statute of limitations for previous tax years. Exclusive of these items, the Company's tax rate from operations was 32.8% and 33.1% for the quarters ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

Capitalization and Liquidity

At December 31, 2016, the Company's loan to deposit ratio was 94.3% and the loan to asset ratio was 76.7%. The Company maintained investment securities totaling 13.6% of assets as of the same date. Further, the Company's deposit mix is weighted heavily toward checking and saving accounts that fund 55.2% of assets at December 31, 2016. Time deposits fund 26.2% of assets at December 31, 2016, but very few of these deposits are in accounts that have balances of more than $250,000, reflecting the core retail orientation of the Company.

The Company is strongly capitalized. The Company's tangible equity ratio was 9.3% at both December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2016, City National Bank's Leverage Ratio of 8.33%, Common Equity Tier I ratio of 11.29%, Tier I Capital ratio of 11.58%, and Total Risk-Based Capital ratio of 12.30%. These regulatory capital ratios are significantly above levels required to be considered 'well capitalized,' which is the highest possible regulatory designation.

On December 14, 2016, the Board approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.43 cents per share payable January 31, 2017, to shareholders of record as of January 13, 2017.

On December 19, 2016, the Company announced that it had filed a prospectus supplement to its existing shelf registration statement on Form S-3 for the sale of its common stock having an aggregate value of up to $55 million through an 'at-the-market' equity offering program. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to support loan growth, bolster regulatory capital, and provide cash for possible future acquisitions. Pending this use, the proceeds will be invested by the Company in various investment securities. During the quarter ended December 31, 2016, the Company sold approximately 108,000 common shares at a weighted average price of $66.21, net of broker fees. Through January 17, 2017, the Company has sold approximately 145,000 common shares at a weighted average price of $66.02, net of broker fees.

City Holding Company is the parent company of City National Bank of West Virginia. City National Bank operates 85 branches across West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that are included pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.Such information involves risks and uncertainties that could result in the Company's actual results differing materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (1) the Company may incur additional loan loss provision due to negative credit quality trends in the future that may lead to a deterioration of asset quality; (2) the Company may incur increased charge-offs in the future; (3) the Company could have adverse legal actions of a material nature; (4) the Company may face competitive loss of customers; (5) the Company may be unable to manage its expense levels; (6) the Company may have difficulty retaining key employees; (7) changes in the interest rate environment may have results on the Company's operations materially different from those anticipated by the Company's market risk management functions; (8) changes in general economic conditions and increased competition could adversely affect the Company's operating results; (9) changes in other regulations and government policies affecting bank holding companies and their subsidiaries, including changes in monetary policies, could negatively impact the Company's operating results; (10) the Company may experience difficulties growing loan and deposit balances; (11) the current economic environment poses significant challenges for us and could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations; (12) deterioration in the financial condition of the U.S. banking system may impact the valuations of investments the Company has made in the securities of other financial institutions resulting in either actual losses or other than temporary impairments on such investments; (13)the effects of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the 'Dodd-Frank Act') and the regulations promulgated and to be promulgated thereunder, which may subject the Company and its subsidiaries to a variety of new and more stringent legal and regulatory requirements which adversely affect their respective businesses; (14) the impact of new minimum capital thresholds established as a part of the implementation of Basel III; and (15) other risk factors relating to the banking industry or the Company as detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those risk factors included in the disclosures under the heading 'ITEM 1A Risk Factors' of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.Forward-looking statements made herein reflect management's expectations as of the date such statements are made. Such information is provided to assist stockholders and potential investors in understanding current and anticipated financial operations of the Company and is included pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date such statements are made.Further, the Company is required to evaluate subsequent events through the filing of its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.The Company will continue to evaluate the impact of any subsequent events on the preliminary December 31, 2016 results and will adjust the amounts if necessary.