TCF Financial : Reports Quarterly Net Income of $39.9 Million, or 24 Cents Per Share, up 8 Cents, or 50 Percent, from the First Quarter of 2013

TCF Financial Corporation (NYSE:TCB):

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Revenue of $304.7 million, up 4.4 percent from the first quarter of 2013
• Provision for credit losses of $14.5 million, down 62.2 percent from the first quarter of 2013
• Non-accrual loans and leases of $266.7 million, down 22.3 percent from the first quarter of 2013
• Loan and lease originations increased $422.2 million, or 15.5 percent, from the first quarter of 2013
• Average deposits increased $483.9 million, or 3.4 percent, from the first quarter of 2013

TCF Financial Corporation (“TCF” or the “Company”) (NYSE:TCB) today reported net income of $39.9 million for the first quarter of 2014, compared with net income of $25.5 million for the first quarter of 2013, and net income of $35.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2013. Diluted earnings per common share was 24 cents for the first quarter of 2014, compared with 16 cents for the first quarter of 2013, and 22 cents for the fourth quarter of 2013.

Chairman’s Statement

“TCF continued its momentum into the first quarter with return on average assets returning to 1.00 percent for the first time since the second quarter of 2010,” said William A. Cooper, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

“TCF’s first quarter results were positively impacted by the continuation of several key trends. Strong loan and lease originations and core deposit growth, decreased provision through continued credit quality improvement, and an industry-leading net interest margin more than offset the seasonal decline in banking fee revenue. In addition, TCF executed a significant expense reduction and efficiency initiative by completing the consolidation of 46 branches across our footprint late in the first quarter. As we continue to execute on our strategies and take advantage of opportunities, I believe we are well positioned to achieve strong returns for our stockholders.”

Net Interest Income

• Net interest income for the first quarter of 2014 increased $2.2 million, or 1.1 percent, compared with the first quarter of 2013 and remained relatively flat compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. The increase from the first quarter of 2013 was driven by higher average loan balances in the auto finance and inventory finance businesses as well as decreased rates on various deposit products. This increase was partially offset by downward pressure on yields across the lending businesses in this increasingly competitive low interest rate environment as well as lower average balances of consumer real estate and higher yielding commercial fixed-rate loans due to run-off exceeding originations.
• Net interest margin in the first quarter of 2014 was 4.66 percent, compared with 4.72 percent in the first quarter of 2013 and remained relatively flat compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. The decrease from the first quarter of 2013 was primarily due to downward pressure on origination yields in the leasing and equipment finance and consumer businesses due to the increasingly competitive low interest rate environment as well as a shift in commercial real estate from higher yielding fixed-rate loans to lower yielding variable-rate loans due to marketplace demand.

Non-interest Income

• Fees and service charges in the first quarter of 2014 were $36.6 million, down $2.7 million, or 6.9 percent, from the first quarter of 2013 and down $6.6 million or 15.3 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2013. The decrease from the first quarter of 2013 was primarily due to lower transaction activity, which was negatively impacted by the harsh winter weather experienced across the bank’s footprint, and by higher average checking account balances per customer, partially offset by a larger account base. The decrease from the fourth quarter of 2013 was primarily due to seasonality resulting in a decline in transaction activity, which was negatively impacted by the adverse weather as mentioned above, and by an increase in average checking account balances per customer.
• Leasing and equipment finance revenue was $22.3 million during the first quarter of 2014, up $5.8 million, or 35.4 percent, from the first quarter of 2013 and down $1.3 million, or 5.7 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2013. The increase from the first quarter of 2013 and the decrease from the fourth quarter of 2013 were primarily due to customer-driven events impacting sales-type lease revenue.
• TCF sold $347.4 million, $279.2 million and $202.3 million of consumer real estate loans during the first quarters of 2014 and 2013, and the fourth quarter of 2013, respectively, resulting in net gains in the same respective periods.
• TCF sold $261.7 million, $179.8 million and $236 million of auto loans during the first quarters of 2014 and 2013, and the fourth quarter of 2013, respectively, resulting in net gains in the same respective periods.

• Loans and leases were $16.2 billion at March 31, 2014, an increase of $602.3 million, or 3.9 percent, compared with March 31, 2013 and an increase of $368.7 million, or 2.3 percent, compared with December 31, 2013. Average loans and leases were $16.1 billion for the first quarter of 2014, an increase of $616 million, or 4 percent, compared with the first quarter of 2013 and an increase of $339.7 million, or 2.2 percent, compared with the fourth quarter of 2013. The increases in both periods for the period-end and average loans and leases were primarily due to the continued growth of the auto finance portfolio as TCF expands the number of active dealers and sales force in its network and further penetrates existing territories, as well as an increase in the inventory finance portfolio. The increases from the first quarter of 2013 were also driven by an increase in leasing and equipment finance. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in total consumer real estate loans driven by run-off in the first mortgage real estate business and ongoing loan sales. The increases from the first quarter of 2013 were also partially offset by a decrease in commercial loans, primarily due to run-off exceeding new originations.
• Loan and lease originations were $3.1 billion for the first quarter of 2014, an increase of $422.2 million, or 15.5 percent, compared with the first quarter of 2013 and an increase of $59.7 million, or 1.9 percent, compared with the fourth quarter of 2013. The increase from the first quarter of 2013 was due to the continued growth in auto finance and an increase in commercial and inventory finance originations as a result of an improving economic environment. The increase from the fourth quarter of 2013 was due to seasonality of inventory finance originations and the continued growth in auto finance.

Credit Quality

(Table 4 - Credit Trends: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50847192&lang=en)

• Non-accrual loans and leases were $266.7 million at March 31, 2014, a decrease of $76.7 million, or 22.3 percent, from March 31, 2013, and a decrease of $10.3 million, or 3.7 percent, from December 31, 2013. The decrease from both periods was primarily due to improving credit quality trends and continued efforts to actively work out problem loans in the commercial portfolio. The decrease from March 31, 2013 was further driven by fewer non-accrual consumer real estate loans as a result of improved credit quality, and the sale of $40.5 million of non-accrual loans during the second quarter of 2013. The reduction was partially offset by $48.6 million of delinquent loans being transferred to non-accrual status due to a change in the non-accrual policy for consumer real estate loans during the third quarter of 2013.
• Other real estate owned was $63.4 million at March 31, 2014, a decrease of $8.3 million from March 31, 2013 and a decrease of $5.4 million from December 31, 2013. The decrease from March 31, 2013 was primarily due to continued efforts to actively work out problem loans and fewer transfers from consumer real estate non-accrual loans and leases. The decrease from December 31, 2013 was primarily due to increased property sales from the consumer real estate portfolio.
• The over 60-day delinquency rate, excluding acquired portfolios and non-accrual loans and leases, was .19 percent at March 31, 2014, down from .53 percent at March 31, 2013, and flat with December 31, 2013. The decrease from March 31, 2013 was primarily a result of reduced over 60-day delinquencies in the consumer real estate portfolio due to a change in the non-accrual policy for consumer real estate loans during the third quarter of 2013, which increased non-accrual loans and leases.
• Net charge-offs were $17.4 million for the first quarter of 2014, a decrease of $23.6 million from the first quarter of 2013 and a decrease of $12.7 million from the fourth quarter of 2013. The decrease from the first quarter of 2013 was primarily due to improved credit quality in the consumer real estate portfolio as home values improved and incident rates of default declined. The decrease from the fourth quarter of 2013 was driven by one previously reserved large commercial loan which was charged off during the fourth quarter of 2013 and continued improvement in consumer real estate credit quality. Consumer real estate net charge-offs decreased for the sixth consecutive quarter.
• Provision for credit losses was $14.5 million for the first quarter of 2014, a decrease of $23.9 million from the first quarter of 2013 and a decrease of $8.3 million from the fourth quarter of 2013. The decrease from the first quarter of 2013 was primarily due to decreased net charge-offs in the consumer real estate portfolio resulting from improved home values and a reduction in incidents of default. The decrease from the fourth quarter of 2013 was due to reduced reserve requirements in the commercial and consumer real estate portfolios as credit quality in those portfolios improved, and a reduction in net charge-offs.

• Total average deposits for the first quarter of 2014 increased $483.9 million, or 3.4 percent, from the first quarter of 2013 and increased $161.5 million, or 1.1 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2013. The increase from the first quarter of 2013 was primarily due to growth in the number of checking accounts, as well as special campaigns for certificates of deposit. The increase from the fourth quarter of 2013 was primarily due to special campaigns for certificates of deposit, as well as higher average checking account balances per customer.
• The average interest rate on deposits for the first quarter of 2014 was .22 percent, down six basis points from the first quarter of 2013 and down one basis point from the fourth quarter of 2013. The decrease from the first quarter of 2013 was primarily due to reduced average interest rates on various savings accounts and certificates of deposit.

• Compensation and employee benefits expense increased $10.9 million, or 10.4 percent, from the first quarter of 2013 and increased $6.5 million, or 6 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2013. The increases from both periods were primarily due to increased staff levels to support the growth of auto finance and risk management, and expenses related to higher incentives based on production results. The increase from the fourth quarter of 2013 was also due to the seasonality of payroll taxes.
• Foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets expense decreased $4.1 million, or 40.3 percent, from the first quarter of 2013 and remained relatively flat compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. The decrease from the first quarter of 2013 was driven by accelerated expenses in the first quarter of 2013 related to a portfolio sale of consumer properties, a reduction in write-downs in balances of existing foreclosed real estate properties as a result of improved real estate property values, and improved exit values on consumer real estate.

• On April 21, 2014, TCF’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 5 cents per common share, payable on June 2, 2014, to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 15, 2014. TCF also declared dividends on the 7.50% Series A and 6.45% Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, both payable on June 2, 2014, to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 15, 2014.

Webcast Information

A live webcast of TCF’s conference call to discuss the first quarter earnings will be hosted at TCF’s website, http://ir.tcfbank.com, on April 22, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. CT. A slide presentation for the call will be available on the website prior to the call. Additionally, the webcast will be available for replay at TCF’s website after the conference call. The website also includes free access to company news releases, TCF’s annual report, investor presentations and SEC filings.

Cautionary Statements for Purposes of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act

Any statements contained in this earnings release regarding the outlook for the Company’s businesses and their respective markets, such as projections of future performance, guidance, statements of the Company’s plans and objectives, forecasts of market trends and other matters, are forward-looking statements based on the Company’s assumptions and beliefs. Such statements may be identified by such words or phrases as “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “outlook,” “will benefit,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “management believes” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in such statements and no assurance can be given that the results in any forward-looking statement will be achieved. For these statements, TCF claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we disclaim any obligation to subsequently revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after such date or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Certain factors could cause the Company’s future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements contained herein. These factors include the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, under the heading “Risk Factors,” the factors discussed below and any other cautionary statements, written or oral, which may be made or referred to in connection with any such forward-looking statements. Since it is not possible to foresee all such factors, these factors should not be considered as complete or exhaustive.

Adverse Economic or Business Conditions; Competitive Conditions; Credit and Other Risks. Deterioration in general economic and banking industry conditions, including those arising from government shutdowns, defaults, anticipated defaults or rating agency downgrades of sovereign debt (including debt of the U.S.), or continued high rates of or increases in unemployment in TCF’s primary banking markets; adverse economic, business and competitive developments such as shrinking interest margins, reduced demand for financial services and loan and lease products, deposit outflows, deposit account attrition or an inability to increase the number of deposit accounts; customers completing financial transactions without using a bank; adverse changes in credit quality and other risks posed by TCF’s loan, lease, investment and securities available for sale portfolios, including declines in commercial or residential real estate values, changes in the allowance for loan and lease losses dictated by new market conditions or regulatory requirements, or the inability of home equity line borrowers to make increased payments caused by increased interest rates or amortization of principal; deviations from estimates of prepayment rates and fluctuations in interest rates that result in decreases in value of assets such as interest-only strips that arise in connection with TCF’s loan sales activity; interest rate risks resulting from fluctuations in prevailing interest rates or other factors that result in a mismatch between yields earned on TCF’s interest-earning assets and the rates paid on its deposits and borrowings; foreign currency exchange risks; counterparty risk, including the risk of defaults by our counterparties or diminished availability of counterparties who satisfy our credit quality requirements; decreases in demand for the types of equipment that TCF leases or finances; the effect of any negative publicity.

Legislative and Regulatory Requirements. New consumer protection and supervisory requirements and regulations, including those resulting from action by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and changes in the scope of Federal preemption of state laws that could be applied to national banks and their subsidiaries; the imposition of requirements that adversely impact TCF’s lending, loan collection and other business activities as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, or other legislative or regulatory developments such as mortgage foreclosure moratorium laws, use by municipalities of eminent domain on underwater mortgages, or imposition of underwriting or other limitations that impact the ability to use certain variable-rate products; changes affecting customer account charges and fee income, including changes to interchange rates; changes to bankruptcy laws which would result in the loss of all or part of TCF’s security interest due to collateral value declines; deficiencies in TCF’s compliance under the Bank Secrecy Act in past or future periods, which may result in regulatory enforcement action including monetary penalties; increased health care costs resulting from Federal health care reform legislation; regulatory criticism and resulting enforcement actions or other adverse consequences such as increased capital requirements, higher deposit insurance assessments or monetary damages or penalties; heightened regulatory practices, requirements or expectations, including, but not limited to, requirements related to the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering compliance activity.

Earnings/Capital Risks and Constraints, Liquidity Risks. Limitations on TCF’s ability to pay dividends or to increase dividends because of financial performance deterioration, regulatory restrictions or limitations; increased deposit insurance premiums, special assessments or other costs related to adverse conditions in the banking industry, the economic impact on banks of the Dodd-Frank Act and other regulatory reform legislation; the impact of financial regulatory reform, including additional capital, leverage, liquidity and risk management requirements or changes in the composition of qualifying regulatory capital (including those resulting from U.S. implementation of Basel III requirements); adverse changes in securities markets directly or indirectly affecting TCF’s ability to sell assets or to fund its operations; diminished unsecured borrowing capacity resulting from TCF credit rating downgrades and unfavorable conditions in the credit markets that restrict or limit various funding sources; costs associated with new regulatory requirements or interpretive guidance relating to liquidity; regulatory actions or changes in customer opt-in preferences with respect to overdraft, which may have an adverse impact on TCF’s fee revenue; uncertainties relating to future retail deposit account changes, including limitations on TCF’s ability to predict customer behavior and the impact on TCF’s fee revenues.

Supermarket Branching Risk; Growth Risks. Adverse developments affecting TCF’s supermarket banking relationships or any of the supermarket chains in which TCF maintains supermarket branches; costs related to closing underperforming branches; slower than anticipated growth in existing or acquired businesses; inability to successfully execute on TCF’s growth strategy through acquisitions or cross-selling opportunities; failure to expand or diversify TCF’s balance sheet through programs or new opportunities; failure to successfully attract and retain new customers, including the failure to attract and retain manufacturers and dealers to expand the inventory finance business; failure to effectuate, and risks of claims related to, sales and securitizations of loans; risks related to new product additions and addition of distribution channels (or entry into new markets) for existing products.

Technological and Operational Matters. Technological or operational difficulties, loss or theft of information, cyber-attacks and other security breaches, counterparty failures and the possibility that deposit account losses (fraudulent checks, etc.) may increase; failure to keep pace with technological change.

Litigation Risks. Results of litigation, including class action litigation concerning TCF’s lending or deposit activities including account servicing processes or fees or charges, or employment practices; the effect of interchange rate litigation against the Federal Reserve on debit card interchange fees; and possible increases in indemnification obligations for certain litigation against Visa U.S.A. and potential reductions in card revenues resulting from such litigation or other litigation against Visa.

Accounting, Audit, Tax and Insurance Matters. Changes in accounting standards or interpretations of existing standards; federal or state monetary, fiscal or tax policies, including adoption of state legislation that would increase state taxes; ineffective internal controls; adverse federal, state or foreign tax assessments or findings in tax audits; lack of or inadequate insurance coverage for claims against TCF; potential for claims and legal action related to TCF’s fiduciary responsibilities.