BOWLING GREEN, Ky., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens First Corporation (NASDAQ: CZFC) today reported results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 which include the following:

For the quarter ended March 31, 2018 the Company reported net income of $1,084,000, or $0.43 per diluted common share (EPS).  This represents a 19.5% increase or $177,000 from the $907,000, or $0.36 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. "Loan growth and lower income tax expense combined to drive profitability in the first quarter," said Todd Kanipe, President and CEO.  "The challenge continues to be our margin as the competition for deposits in our region stiffens," Kanipe added.

Income Statement

Net interest income increased $120,000, or 3.2%, from the prior year.  The Company's net interest margin was 3.55% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to 3.68% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, a decrease of 13 basis points.  The Company's net interest margin was impacted by an increase in the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities of 27 basis points.

There was a $30,000 provision for loan losses in both the current and previous year.

Non-interest income increased $8,000, or 1.0%, primarily due to an increase in service charges on deposit accounts of $20,000 and an increase in other service charges and fees of $17,000, offset by a reduction in gains on the sale of securities of $23,000 and a decrease in gains on the sales of mortgage loans of $18,000.

Non-interest expense increased $68,000, or 2.1%, primarily due to an increase in personnel expenses of $112,000 offset by a reduction in data processing expenses of $59,000.

Income tax expense decreased $117,000, or 31.9% due to a marginal rate of 21% in 2018 compared to a rate of 34% in 2017.

Credit Quality

Non-performing assets totaled $2.1 million, or 0.43% of total assets, at March 31, 2018 compared to $1.3 million, or 0.29% of total assets at December 31, 2017, an increase of approximately $740,000.   The balance is primarily one restructured agricultural-related credit which was moved to non-accrual status during the first quarter of 2017. 

The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2018 was $4.7 million, or 1.21% of total loans, compared to $4.9 million, or 1.34% of total loans as of March 31, 2017.  We consider the size, volume and credit quality of the loan portfolio as well as recent economic and other external influences to record the allowance for loan losses and provision for loan losses that is directionally consistent with our loan portfolio.

Balance Sheet

Total assets at March 31, 2018 were $487.0 million, compared to $465.4 million at December 31, 2017, an increase of $21.6 million or 4.6%.   Loans increased $14.7 million, or 3.9%, from December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018.  Deposits increased $14.2 million, or 3.8%, from December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018.  Borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank increased $7.0 million, or 17.5%, from December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018.

Stockholders' equity increased to $46.4 million at March 31, 2018 from $45.8 million at December 31, 2017.  The book value per common share and tangible book value per common share ratios were $18.29 and $16.64, respectively, at March 31, 2018 compared to $18.14 and $16.47, respectively, at December 31, 2017. 

Quarterly Common Dividend Payable May 16

On April 19, 2018, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per common share payable May 16, 2018 to shareholders of record on May 4, 2018.  This represents an increase of 16.7% from the quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per common share declared in January, 2018.

About Citizens First Corporation

Citizens First Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky and established in 1999.  The Company has branch offices located in Barren, Hart, Simpson and Warren Counties in Kentucky, and a loan production office in Williamson County, Tennessee.  Additional information concerning our products and services is available at www.citizensfirstbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release relating to Citizens First Corporation's plans, objectives, expectations or future performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based upon the Company's current expectations, but are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially.  Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially are current and future economic and business conditions; possible changes in trade, monetary, and fiscal policies, as well as legislative and regulatory changes; changes in the interest rate environment and our ability to effectively manage interest rate risk and other market risk, credit risk and operational risk; changes in the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios; increases in our nonperforming assets, or our inability to recover or absorb losses created by such nonperforming assets; and other factors described in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission could also impact current expectations.

Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited)

Consolidated Statement of Condition











(In Thousands, Except Share Data and ratios)


March 31, 


December 31, 


December 31, 


2018


2017


2016

Assets









Cash and due from financial institutions

$

6,303


$

6,444


$

8,542

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions


22,962



13,532



11,018

Available-for-sale securities


46,044



48,616



53,547

Loans held for sale


570



427



264

Loans


388,935



374,239



359,391

Allowance for loan losses


(4,693)



(4,724)



(4,854)

Premises and equipment, net


9,060



9,140



9,390

Bank owned life insurance (BOLI)


8,571



8,528



8,351

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock, at cost


2,065



2,053



2,025

Accrued interest receivable


1,518



1,681



1,622

Deferred income taxes


768



670



1,464

Goodwill and other intangible assets


4,203



4,221



4,291

Other assets


699



555



371

Total Assets

$

487,005


$

465,382


$

455,422

Liabilities









Deposits









Noninterest bearing

$

53,834


$

53,259


$

52,322

Savings, NOW and money market


183,779



175,087



173,620

Time


148,895



143,968



144,497

Total deposits


386,508



372,314



370,439

FHLB advances and other borrowings


47,000



40,000



35,000

Subordinated debentures


5,000



5,000



5,000

Accrued interest payable


328



285



220

Other liabilities


1,741



1,949



2,399

Total Liabilities


440,577



419,548



413,058

Stockholders' Equity









6.5% Cumulative convertible preferred stock






7,261

Common stock


33,169



33,138



25,920

Retained earnings


14,162



13,142



9,706

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)


(903)



(446)



(523)

Total stockholders' equity


46,428



45,834



42,364

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

487,005


$

465,382


$

455,422

 

 

Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited)

Consolidated Statement of Income

















Three months ended


(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data and ratios)


March 31, 


December 31, 


September 30, 


June 30, 


March 31, 


2018


2017


2017


2017


2017

Interest and dividend income

$

4,860


$

4,905


$

4,640


$

4,593


$

4,457

Interest expense


960



858



777



726



677

   Net interest income


3,900



4,047



3,863



3,867



3,780
















Provision (credit) for loan losses


30



(150)



(30)





30
















Non-interest income















Service charges on deposit accounts


298



315



317



327



278

Other service charges and fees


281



288



317



301



264

Gain on sale of mortgage loans


50



82



79



88



68

Non-deposit brokerage fees


99



97



90



91



87

Lease income


52



52



53



80



52

BOLI income


43



45



44



45



43

Gain on sale of securities




-



25





23

Total non-interest income


823



879



925



932



815
















Non-interest expenses:















Personnel expense


1,846



1,740



1,673



1,655



1,734

Net occupancy expense


453



448



449



446



461

Advertising and public relations


81



78



111



77



71

Professional fees


164



86



160



171



130

Data processing services


194



192



214



251



253

Franchise shares and deposit tax


120



88



132



132



132

FDIC insurance


42



47



52



49



49

Other


459



433



415



432



461

Total non-interest expenses


3,359



3,112



3,206



3,213



3,291
















Income before income taxes


1,334



1,964



1,612



1,586



1,274

Income taxes


250



1,012



490



478



367

Net income


1,084



952



1,122



1,108



907

Dividends on preferred stock








119



119

Net income available for common stockholders

$

1,084


$

952


$

1,122


$

989


$

788

Basic earnings per common share

$

0.43


$

0.38


$

0.44


$

0.49


$

0.39

Diluted earnings per common share

$

0.43


$

0.37


$

0.44


$

0.43


$

0.36

 

 

Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited)

Key Operating Statistics


















Three months ended



(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data and ratios)



March 31, 


December 31, 


September 30, 


June 30, 


March 31, 



2018


2017


2017


2017


2017


Average:
















Assets

$

476,063


$

462,966


$

449,770


$

454,524


$

452,265


Earning Assets


448,853



435,458



422,258



427,674



424,349


Loans


384,184



370,173



362,343



363,733



363,824


Interest-bearing deposits


322,627



317,196



312,668



319,883



314,939


Deposits


375,617



369,643



364,798



368,743



364,227


Borrowed funds


52,167



45,000



37,696



39,769



43,078


Equity


46,023



45,907



44,916



44,047



42,827


Common equity


46,023



45,907



44,916



38,240



35,718


















Return on average assets


0.92

%


0.82

%


0.99

%


0.98

%


0.81

%

Return on average equity


9.55

%


8.23

%


9.91

%


10.09

%


8.59

%

















Efficiency ratio


70.72

%


62.46

%


66.51

%


66.10

%


70.96

%

Non-interest income to average assets


0.70

%


0.75

%


0.82

%


0.82

%


0.73

%

Non-interest expenses to average assets


2.86

%


2.67

%


2.83

%


2.84

%


2.95

%

Net overhead to average assets


2.16

%


1.91

%


2.01

%


2.01

%


2.22

%

Yield on loans


4.75

%


4.88

%


4.73

%


4.69

%


4.60

%

Yield on investment securities (TE)


2.56

%


2.77

%


2.68

%


2.85

%


2.87

%

Yield on average earning assets (TE)


4.42

%


4.52

%


4.41

%


4.37

%


4.32

%

Cost of average interest bearing liabilities


1.04

%


0.94

%


0.88

%


0.81

%


0.77

%

Net interest margin (TE)


3.55

%


3.74

%


3.68

%


3.69

%


3.68

%

Number of FTE employees


96



98



97



95



94


















Asset Quality Indicators:
















Non-performing loans to total loans


0.54

%


0.36

%


0.73

%


0.8

%


0.83

%

Non-performing assets to total assets


0.43

%


0.29

%


0.58

%


0.63

%


0.65

%

Allowance for loan losses to total loans


1.21

%


1.26

%


1.34

%


1.36

%


1.34

%

YTD net charge-offs (recoveries) to average
loans, annualized


0.06

%


(0.01)

%


%


(0.01)

%


(0.02)

%

YTD net charge-offs (recoveries)


61



(22)



2



(13)



(22)


 

 

Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited)














(In Thousands, Except Share Data and ratios)




March 31, 


December 31, 


December 31, 


Consolidated Capital Ratios


2018


2017


2016













Total shareholders' equity to total assets ratio


9.53

%


9.85

%


9.30

%

Tangible equity ratio (1)



8.75

%


9.02

%


8.44

%

Tangible common equity ratio (1)



8.75

%


9.02

%


6.83

%

Book value per common share


$

18.29


$

18.14


$

17.54


Tangible book value per common share (1)

$

16.64


$

16.47


$

15.40


End of period common share closing price

$

25.41


$

24.00


$

18.00


 

(1)

The tangible equity ratio, tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per common share, while not required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), are considered critical metrics with which to analyze banks.  The ratio and per share amount have been included to facilitate a greater understanding of the Company's capital structure and financial condition.  See the Regulation G Non-GAAP Reconciliation table for reconciliation of this ratio and per share amount to GAAP.

 














(In Thousands, Except Share Data and ratios)




March 31, 


December 31, 


December 31, 


Regulation G Non-GAAP Reconciliation:

2018


2017


2016













Total shareholders' equity (a)


$

46,428


$

45,834


$

42,364


Less:











Preferred stock







(7,261)


Common equity (b)



46,428



45,834



35,103


Goodwill



(4,097)



(4,097)



(4,097)


Intangible assets



(106)



(124)



(194)


Tangible common equity (c)



42,225



41,613



30,812


Add:











Preferred stock







7,261


Tangible equity (d)



42,225



41,613



38,073













Total assets (e)



487,005



465,382



455,422


Less:











Goodwill



(4,097)



(4,097)



(4,097)


Intangible assets



(106)



(124)



(194)


Tangible assets (f)


$

482,802


$

461,161


$

451,131


Shares outstanding (in thousands) (g)


2,538



2,526



2,001













Book value per common share (b/g)

$

18.29


$

18.14


$

17.54


Tangible book value per common share (c/g)

$

16.64


$

16.47


$

15.40


Equity to assets ratio (a/e)



9.53

%


9.85

%


9.30

%

Tangible equity ratio (d/f)



8.75

%


9.02

%


8.44

%

Common equity ratio (b/e)



9.53

%


9.85

%


7.71

%

Tangible common equity ratio (c/f)


8.75

%


9.02

%


6.83

%

 

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SOURCE Citizens First Corporation