LAKEVILLE, Conn., July 31, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. (“Salisbury”), NASDAQ Capital Market: (Nasdaq:SAL), the holding company for Salisbury Bank and Trust Company (the “Bank”), announced results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Net income available to common shareholders was $2,032,000, or $0.74 per common share, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 (second quarter 2015), compared with $2,194,000, or $0.81 per common share, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 (first quarter 2015), and $926,000, or $0.54 per common share, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014 (second quarter 2014).

Selected Second Quarter 2015 Financial Highlights

As a result of Salisbury’s acquisition of Riverside Bank being completed in December 2014, the results of Riverside Bank’s 2014 stand-alone operations are not included in the presentation below of any Salisbury information prior to December 2014.

  • Salisbury’s earnings per common share for the three (3) and six (6) month periods ended June 30, 2015 increased to $0.74 and $1.55, respectively, per common share as compared with $0.54 and $0.83 per common share for the same periods in 2014.
  • During the six (6) month period ended June 30, 2015, total shareholders’ equity increased to $104.1 million from $101.8 million at December 31, 2014.
  • Salisbury’s efficiency ratio improved to 62.91% for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 as compared with 65.45% from the prior quarter and 72.35% for the second quarter in 2014.
  • Annualized return on average assets for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 amounted to 0.94% as compared with 1.03% for the prior quarter and 0.62% for the second quarter of 2014.
  • Annualized return on average common equity amounted to 9.26% for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 as compared with 10.22% for the prior quarter and 6.32% for the second quarter of 2014.

Richard J. Cantele, President and Chief Executive Officer stated, “We have made significant progress with respect to integrating the acquisitions we completed during 2014.  We are achieving the desired benefits of our Riverside Bank acquisition and are combining the strengths of that organization with the core strengths of Salisbury.  While it has been less than one year since the consummation of this acquisition, we are achieving positive results in terms of improved earnings, returns on equity and assets, capital growth and improved efficiency.  We are pleased with our progress to date, and we remain committed to achieving greater benefits for our shareholders and customers.”

Net-Interest Income

Tax equivalent net interest income decreased $154,000, or 1.9%, versus first quarter 2015, and increased $2.9 million, or 54.7%, versus second quarter 2014. Interest income for the second quarter reflects net accretion related to the fair value adjustments of loans acquired in the Riverside Bank acquisition in the amount of $654,000. The first quarter of 2015 included similar adjustments totaling $650,000. Average earning assets increased $3.1 million versus first quarter 2015, and increased $247.0 million versus second quarter 2014. Average total interest bearing deposits decreased $2.0 million versus first quarter 2015 and increased $160.2 million versus second quarter 2014 primarily as a result of the Riverside Bank acquisition. The net interest margin of 4.01% decreased 10 basis points versus 4.11% for the first quarter 2015 and increased 27 basis points versus 3.74% for the second quarter 2014.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income for second quarter 2015 increased $4,000 versus first quarter 2015 and increased $218,000 versus second quarter 2014. Trust and wealth advisory revenues increased $68,000 versus first quarter 2015 and decreased $49,000 versus second quarter 2014. Such decrease is the result of a decrease in managed assets.  Service charges and fees increased $47,000 versus first quarter 2015 and increased $152,000 versus second quarter 2014. The increases were a result of higher fees due to increased transactional volume, mainly attributable to the contribution from the deposits assumed in the Riverside Bank acquisition. Income from sales and servicing of mortgage loans increased $53,000 versus first quarter 2015 and increased $64,000 versus second quarter 2014 due to a decrease in amortization as a result of a decline in projected prepayment rates. Second quarter 2015 mortgage loans sales totaled $3.0 million versus $2.1 million for first quarter 2015 and $1.6 million for second quarter 2014. Second quarter 2015, first quarter 2015, and second quarter 2014 included a mortgage servicing valuation impairment benefit / (charge) of $6,000, ($9,000), and $2,000, respectively. Gain on sale of securities for second quarter 2015 totaled $11,000, compared to $175,000 in the first quarter 2015 and no gains were recognized in the second quarter of 2014. Other income includes bank owned life insurance income and rental income.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense for second quarter 2015 decreased $264,000 versus first quarter 2015 and increased $1.5 million versus second quarter 2014. Total compensation expense decreased $136,000 versus first quarter 2015 as a result of lower salary and payroll tax expense partially offset by higher employee benefit costs. The total compensation expense year-over-year increase of $719,000 (second quarter 2015 versus second quarter 2014) reflects increased staffing levels primarily as a result of the Riverside Bank acquisition.  

Premises and equipment increased $5,000 versus first quarter 2015 and increased $212,000 versus second quarter 2014. The quarterly increase was related to seasonal building maintenance. The year-over-year increase is mainly due to the addition of branch facilities acquired as a result of the Riverside Bank acquisition in December 2014, and the Sharon, Connecticut branch acquisition, as well as the opening of a new branch in Great Barrington, Massachusetts in June 2014.

Data processing decreased $76,000 versus first quarter 2015 and decreased $35,000 versus second quarter 2014 mainly attributable to a reclassification of trust tax filing fees from data processing to consulting fees in first quarter 2015.

Professional fees decreased $57,000 versus first quarter 2015, and increased $249,000 versus second quarter 2014. First quarter 2015 included additional audit expenses related to the Riverside Bank merger. In second quarter 2015, trust tax filing fees were reclassified from data processing to consulting fees.

Collections and OREO related expenses decreased $16,000 versus first quarter 2015 and increased $147,000 versus second quarter 2014. The year-over-year increase is mainly due to the write-down associated with OREO properties in second quarter 2015.

The effective income tax rates for second quarter 2015, first quarter 2015 and second quarter 2014 were 29.96%, 29.90% and 19.85%, respectively.

Loans

Net loans receivable increased $1.0 million during second quarter 2015 to $677.7 million at June 30, 2015, compared with $676.7 million at March 31, 2015, and increased $221.1 million compared with $456.6 million at June 30, 2014. The year-over-year increase includes loans acquired with a fair value of $196.3 million from the Riverside Bank transaction completed in the fourth quarter 2014.

Asset Quality

Non-performing assets increased $0.1 million during second quarter 2015 to $15.0 million, or 1.7% of assets at June 30, 2015, from $14.9 million, or 1.7% of assets at March 31, 2015, and increased $6.2 million from $8.8 million, or 1.4% of assets, at June 30, 2014.

The amount of total impaired and potential problem loans improved to $30.3 million (4.44% of gross loans receivable) during second quarter 2015, compared to $30.9 million, or 4.53% of gross loans receivable at March 31, 2015. While the aggregate of such loans increased $5.3 million from $25.0 million at June 30, 2014, the percentage of such loans improved from 5.43% of gross loans receivable at June 30, 2014.  

Accruing loans receivable 30-to-89 days past due decreased $2.8 million during second quarter 2015 to $2.8 million, or 0.41% of gross loans receivable, from $5.6 million, or 0.82% of gross loans receivable at March 31, 2015, and increased $0.5 million versus June 30, 2014.

Provision for loan loss expense was $165,000 for second quarter 2015 versus a benefit of $200,000 in first quarter 2015 and an expense for second quarter 2014 of $314,000.  Excluding recoveries of $460,000, provision expense would have been approximately $260,000 for the first quarter 2015.  Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) were $320,000 for the second quarter 2015, ($24,000) for first quarter 2015 and $106,000 for second quarter 2014, respectively. Reserve coverage, as measured by the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to gross loans, was 0.74% for the second quarter 2015, versus 0.76% for first quarter 2015 and 1.11% for second quarter 2014. When expressed as a percentage of gross loans, the allowance for loan losses declined significantly from June 30, 2014 to June 30, 2015 due to the increase in the balance of gross loans that resulted from the addition of the loans purchased from Riverside Bank. 

Salisbury endeavors to work constructively to resolve its non-performing loan issues with customers. Substantially all non-performing loans are collateralized with real estate and the repayment of such loans is largely dependent on the return of such loans to performing status or the liquidation of the underlying real estate collateral.

Capital

Both Salisbury and the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios remain in compliance with regulatory “well capitalized” requirements. At June 30, 2015, Salisbury’s tier 1 leverage, total risk-based capital, and common equity tier 1 capital ratios were 10.42%, 14.22%, and 11.01%, respectively. The Bank’s tier 1 leverage, total risk-based capital, and common equity tier 1 capital ratios were 9.40%, 12.91%, and 12.12%, respectively, compared with regulatory “well capitalized” minimums of 5.00%, 10.00%, and 6.5%, respectively. Risk based capital information for 2015 incorporates the implementation of Basel III.

At June 30, 2015, Salisbury’s assets totaled $861 million. Book value and tangible book value per common share were $32.26 and $26.69, respectively. Tangible book value excludes goodwill and core deposit intangibles.

In August 2011, Salisbury received $16 million of capital from the U.S. Treasury’s Small Business Lending Fund (the “SBLF”) program. The SBLF program was established to encourage lending to small businesses by providing Tier 1 capital to qualified community banks with assets of less than $10 billion. To date, Salisbury has used this capital to increase its portfolio of qualified small business loans by $48.3 million and to augment its regulatory capital ratios.

Second Quarter 2015 Dividends on Common Shares

The Board of Directors of Salisbury declared a $0.28 per common share quarterly cash dividend at their July 31, 2015 meeting. The dividend will be paid on August 28, 2015 to shareholders of record as of August 14, 2015.

Background

Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Salisbury Bank and Trust Company, a Connecticut chartered commercial bank serving the communities of northwestern Connecticut and proximate communities in New York and Massachusetts, since 1848, through full service branches in Canaan, Lakeville, Salisbury and Sharon, Connecticut; Great Barrington, South Egremont and Sheffield, Massachusetts; and Dover Plains, Fishkill, Millerton, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Red Oaks Mill, New York. The Bank offers a full complement of consumer and business banking products and services as well as trust and wealth advisory services.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and expectations of management as well as the assumptions and estimates made by management using information currently available to management.  Since these statements reflect the views of management concerning future events, these statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including among others: changes in market interest rates and general and regional economic conditions; changes in government regulations; changes in accounting principles; and the quality or composition of the loan and investment portfolios and other factors that may be described in Salisbury’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10-K, each filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s internet website (www.sec.gov) and to which reference is hereby made.  Therefore, actual future results may differ materially from results discussed in the forward-looking statements.

Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
   
(in thousands, except share data)June 30, 2015
(unaudited)
December 31, 2014
ASSETS  
Cash and due from banks$  13,203 $  13,280 
Interest bearing demand deposits with other banks 37,217  22,825 
Total cash and cash equivalents 50,420  36,105 
Securities  
  Available-for-sale at fair value 79,417  91,312 
  Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston stock at cost 3,515  3,515 
Loans held-for-sale 300  568 
Loans receivable, net (allowance for loan losses: $5,059 and $5,358) 677,726  673,330 
Other real estate owned 268  1,002 
Bank premises and equipment, net 14,020  14,431 
Goodwill 12,552  12,552 
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization: $2,591 and $2,258) 2,657  2,990 
Accrued interest receivable 2,292  2,334 
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies 13,499  13,314 
Deferred taxes 2,834  2,428 
Other assets  1,294   1,546 
  Total Assets$  860,794 $  855,427 
LIABILITIES and SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY  
Deposits  
  Demand (non-interest bearing)$  171,022 $  161,386 
  Demand (interest bearing) 118,293  117,169 
  Money market 173,488  174,274 
  Savings and other 123,697  121,387 
  Certificates of deposit 134,234  141,210 
  Total deposits 720,734  715,426 
Repurchase agreements 2,771  4,163 
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston advances 28,033  28,813 
Capital lease liability 423  424 
Accrued interest and other liabilities 4,729  4,780 
  Total Liabilities 756,690  753,606 
Shareholders' Equity  
  Preferred stock - $.01 per share par value  
  Authorized: 25,000; Issued: 16,000 (Series B);  
  Liquidation preference: $1,000 per share 16,000  16,000 
  Common stock - $.10 per share par value  
  Authorized: 5,000,000 and 3,000,000;  
  Issued: 2,731,176 and 2,720,766 273  272 
Paid-in capital 41,312  41,077 
Retained earnings 45,378   42,677 
Unearned compensation - restricted stock awards (229) (313)
Accumulated other comprehensive income 1,370  2,108 
  Total Shareholders' Equity 104,104  101,821 
  Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity$  860,794 $  855,427 


Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)
   
Periods ended June 30,Three months endedSix months ended
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2015    2014  2015  2014 
Interest and dividend income    
Interest and fees on loans$  7,850 $  4,731 $  15,772 $  9,327 
Interest on debt securities    
  Taxable 298  365  624  745 
  Tax exempt 357  432  747  878 
Other interest and dividends 40    24  73    45 
  Total interest and dividend income 8,545  5,552  17,216  10,995 
Interest expense    
Deposits 453  349  897  700 
Repurchase agreements 2  1  3  2 
Capital lease 17  -  35  18 
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston advances 280  297  562  595 
  Total interest expense 752  647  1,497  1,315 
Net interest and dividend income 7,793  4,905  15,719  9,680 
Provision (benefit) for loan losses 165  314  (35) 651 
  Net interest and dividend income after provision (benefit) for loan losses 7,628  4,591  15,754  9,029 
Non-interest income    
Gains on sales of available-for-sale securities, net 11  -  186  - 
Trust and wealth advisory 890  939  1,712  1,718 
Service charges and fees 778  626  1,509  1,168 
Gains on sales of mortgage loans, net 87  32  181  43 
Mortgage servicing, net 20  11  (20) 39 
Other  114  74  228  152 
  Total non-interest income 1,900  1,682  3,796  3,120 
Non-interest expense    
Salaries 2,449  1,951  4,989  3,795 
Employee benefits 960  739  1,965  1,480 
Premises and equipment 913  701  1,821  1,374 
Data processing 398  433  872  788 
Professional fees 593  344  1,243  706 
Collections and OREO 228  85  472  221 
FDIC insurance 133  124  331  221 
Marketing and community support 180  127  290  240 
Amortization of core deposit intangibles 164  63  333  118 
Merger and acquisition related expenses -  90  -  391 
Other 553  411  1,090  844 
  Total non-interest expense 6,571  5,068  13,406  10,178 
Income before income taxes 2,957  1,205  6,144  1,971 
Income tax provision 885  239  1,838  454 
Net income$  2,072 $  966 $  4,306 $  1,517 
Net income available to common shareholders$  2,032 $  926 $  4,226 $  1,431 
     
Basic earnings per common share$  0.74 $  0.54 $  1.55 $  0.83 
Diluted earnings per common share 0.74  0.54  1.54  0.83 
Common dividends per share 0.28  0.28  0.56  0.56 


Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA (unaudited)
      
At or for the three month periods ended     
(in thousands, except per share amounts and ratios)Q2 2015Q1 2015Q4 2014Q3 2014Q2 2014
Total assets$860,794 $865,037 $855,427 $638,089 $621,476 
Loans receivable, net 677,726  676,734  673,330  461,913  456,627 
Total securities 82,932  84,694  94,827  88,960  92,884 
Deposits 720,734  724,910  715,426  522,294  507,361 
FHLBB advances 28,033  28,403  28,813  29,218  29,619 
Shareholders’ equity 104,104  103,211  101,821  75,516  75,000 
Wealth assets under management 374,141  384,574  385,316  416,510  429,093 
Non-performing loans 14,728  14,000  9,890  8,611  8,379 
Non-performing assets 14,995  14,875  10,892  8,945  8,757 
Accruing loans past due 30-89 days 2,799  5,564  4,128  1,294  2,306 
Net interest and dividend income 7,793  7,926  5,717  4,754  4,905 
Net interest and dividend income, tax equivalent 8,084  8,238  6,038  5,075  5,227 
Provision (benefit)  for loan losses 165  (200) 165  318  314 
Non-interest income 1,900  1,896  1,579  1,553  1,682 
Non-interest expense 6,571  6,835  6,852  5,108  5,068 
Income before income taxes 2,957  3,187  279  881  1,205 
Income tax provision 885  953  43  113  239 
Net income 2,072  2,234  236  768  966 
Net income available to common shareholders 2,032  2,194  196  728  926 
      
Per share data     
Basic earnings per common share$  0.74 $  0.81 $  0.10 $  0.43 $  0.54 
Diluted earnings per common share 0.74  0.80  0.10  0.43  0.54 
Dividends per common share 0.28  0.28  0.28  0.28  0.28 
Book value per common share 32.26  31.96  31.54  34.74  34.44 
Tangible book value per common share - Non-GAAP⁽¹⁾ 26.69  26.33  25.84  28.50  28.15 
      
Common shares outstanding at end of period 2,731  2,729  2,721  1,713  1,713 
Weighted average common shares outstanding,  to calculate basic earnings per share   

2,706
   

2,699
   

1,977
   

1,693
   

1,691
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding, to calculate diluted earnings per share   

2,724
   

2,716
   

1,981
   

1,693
   

1,691
 
 

Profitability ratios
     
Net interest margin (tax equivalent) 4.01% 4.11% 3.68% 3.39% 3.74%
Efficiency ratio(2) 62.91  65.45  77.84  75.92  72.35 
Non-interest income to operating revenue 19.51  17.84  21.65  24.62  25.54 
Effective income tax rate 29.96  29.90  15.41  12.82  19.85 
Return on average assets 0.94  1.03  0.11  0.45  0.62 
Return on average common shareholders’ equity 9.26  10.22  1.18  4.85  6.32 
      
Credit quality ratios     
Net charge-offs to average loans receivable, gross 0.19% -0.01% 0.14% 0.03% 0.09%
Non-performing loans to loans receivable, gross 2.16  2.05  1.46  1.84  1.82 
Accruing loans past due 30-89 days to loans receivable, gross 0.41  0.82  0.61  0.28  0.50 
Allowance for loan losses to loans receivable, gross 0.74  0.76  0.79  1.15  1.11 
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans 34.35  37.02  54.18  62.52  60.89 
Non-performing assets to total assets 1.74  1.72  1.27  1.40  1.41 
      
Capital ratios     
Common shareholders' equity to assets 10.24% 10.08% 10.03% 9.33% 9.49%
Tangible common shareholders' equity to tangible assets - Non-GAAP⁽¹⁾ 8.62  8.45  8.37  7.78  7.90 
Tier 1 leverage capital 10.42  10.29  12.31  9.85  10.50 
Total risk-based capital   14.22  13.65  14.29  16.27  16.11 
Common equity tier 1 capital    11.01  10.50          N/A       N/A       N/A
          
⁽¹⁾ Refer to schedule labeled “Supplemental Information – Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
⁽2⁾ Calculated using SNL’s methodology: Noninterest expense before OREO expense, amortization of intangibles, and goodwill impairments as a percent of net interest income (fully taxable equivalent) and noninterest revenues, excluding gains from securities transactions and nonrecurring FHLBB prepayment fees and litigation expenses.


Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION – Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited)
      
At or for the quarters ended     
(in thousands, except per share amounts and ratios)Q2 2015Q1 2015Q4 2014Q3 2014Q2 2014
Shareholders' Equity$104,104 $103,211 $101,821 $  75,516 $  75,000 
Less: Preferred Stock (16,000) (16,000) (16,000) (16,000) (16,000)
Common Shareholders' Equity 88,104  87,211  85,821  59,516  59,000 
Less: Goodwill (12,552) (12,552) (12,552) (9,829) (9,829)
Less: Intangible assets (2,657) (2,821) (2,990) (872) (946)
Tangible Common Shareholders' Equity$  72,895 $  71,838 $  70,279 $  48,815 $  48,225 
Total Assets$860,794 $865,037 $855,427 $638,089 $621,476 
Less: Goodwill (12,552) (12,552) (12,552) (9,829) (9,829)
Less: Intangible assets (2,657) (2,821) (2,990) (872) (946)
Tangible Total Assets$845,585 $849,664 $839,885 $627,388 $610,701 
Common Shares outstanding 2,731  2,729  2,721  1,713  1,713 
      
Book value per Common Share – GAAP$  32.26 $  31.96 $  31.54 $  34.74 $  34.44 
Tangible book value per Common Share - Non-GAAP 26.69  26.33  25.84  28.50  28.15 
      
Common Shareholders’ Equity to Assets – GAAP 10.24% 10.08% 10.03% 9.33% 9.49%
Tangible Common Shareholders’ Equity to Tangible Assets – Non-GAAP 8.62  8.45  8.37  7.78  7.90 
      
Non-interest expense$  6,571 $  6,835 $  6,852 $  5,108 $  5,068 
Less: Amortization of core deposit intangibles (164) (169) (97) (75) (63)
Less: Foreclosed property expense (131) (148) (114) (1) (5)
Less: Strategic initiatives -  -  (1,596) (197) (90)
Operating expenses$  6,276 $  6,518 $  5,045 $  4,835 $  4,910 
Net interest and dividend income, tax equivalent$  8,084 $  8,238 $  6,038 $  5,075 $  5,227 
Non-interest income 1,900  1,896  1,579  1,553  1,682 
Gains on securities, net (11) (175) -  -  - 
Operating revenue$  9,973 $  9,959 $  7,617 $  6,628 $  6,909 
Efficiency Ratio less strategic initiatives 62.91% 65.45% 66.19% 72.94% 71.07%
      

 

Salisbury Contact:
Richard J. Cantele, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer
860-435-9801 or rcantele@salisburybank.com