Malaga Financial Corporation Reports Record Earnings for 7th Consecutive Year; Increases Quarterly D
Malaga Financial Corporation Reports Record Earnings for 7thConsecutive Year; Increases Quarterly Dividend by 20%
PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Malaga Financial Corporation (OTCBB:MLGF), the parent company of Malaga Bank FSB, today reported that net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 was $11,689,000 ($1.98 basic and $1.96 fully diluted earnings per share) as compared to $11,115,000 ($1.90 basic and $1.89 fully diluted earnings per share) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, a 5% increase. Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 was $2,757,000 ($0.47 basic and $0.46 fully diluted earnings per share), a decrease of $149,000 or 5% from net income of $2,906,000 ($0.50 basic and fully diluted earnings per share) for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012 were the highest in Malaga's history and resulted in a pre-tax return on average equity of 23.54%.
The Company did not have any delinquent loans or foreclosed real estate ownedat December 31, 2012. The Company's allowance for loan losses was $2,762,000, or 0.35% of total loans, at December 31, 2012.
For 2012, net interest income totaled $29,503,000, an increase of $873,000 or 3% from 2011. This increase resulted primarily from an increase of 0.10% in the interest rate spread to 3.55%. The increase in the interest rate spread was due to a decline in the weighted average cost of funds of 0.44%, which exceeded the 0.34% decline in the weighted average yield on interest earning assets. The decrease in the weighted average cost of funds was due to maturity and repricing of certificates of deposit at lower rates and a $39 million decrease in the outstanding Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings, which have higher interest rates than the Company's other liabilities.
Operating expenses remained stable with a nominal increase of $221,000 or 2% to $10,526,000 in 2012 from $10,305,000 in 2011.
Randy C. Bowers, President and CEO, remarked, "We are pleased to report record earnings for the 7th consecutive year. Our strong capital position and earnings have allowed us to increase our most recent quarterly dividend by 20% in addition to declaring a special year end 2012 dividend. Our results for the year are the result of the continued execution of our business plan emphasizing high asset quality and a focus on controlling costs."
Malaga's total assets increased $23.9 million or 3% to $851 million at December 31, 2012. The loan portfolio at December 31, 2012 was $783 million, a decrease of $12 million or 1% from December 31, 2011. Malaga originates loans principally for its own portfolio and not for sale.
Malaga funds its assets with a mix of retail deposits, wholesale deposits and FHLB borrowings. Retail deposits totaled $544 million as of December 31, 2012, a $53 million or 11% increase from $491 million at December 31, 2011. The retail deposit growth was used primarily to increase on-balance sheet liquidity and to repay FHLB borrowings. FHLB borrowings decreased $39 million or 23% from $169 million at December 31, 2011 to $130 million at December 31, 2012.
As of December 31, 2012, Malaga Bank was in compliance with all applicable regulatory capital requirements and was deemed "well-capitalized" under applicable regulations. Core capital and risk-based capital ratios were 13.05% and 22.82%, respectively, at December 31, 2012, significantly exceeding the minimum "well capitalized" requirements of 5% and 10% respectively.
In the fourth quarter, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of 15 cents per share, payable in January 2013 and a special dividend of 10 cents per share payable in 2012. The quarterly dividend reflected a 20% increase in the quarterly dividend amount in effect for the past four quarters.
Mr. Bowers concluded, "We are honored that earlier this year we were ranked #1 of the 100 largest publicly traded thrifts in the United States for the third consecutive year by SNL Financial and as one of the 349 safest banks in the United States by MSN.money using the complex Texas Ratio. In addition, for over ten years, Malaga Bank has consistently received premier Top 5-Star rating by one of the nation's leading independent bank rating and research firms, BauerFinancial Inc. These recognitions are a direct result of the contributions of our dedicated staff and board of directors, in addition to our loyal shareholders and customers."
Malaga Bank, a subsidiary of Malaga Financial Corporation, is a full-service community bank headquartered on the Palos Verdes Peninsula with six offices located in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. It has been ranked the #1 performing thrift in the nation for three consecutive years by SNL Financial. Since 1985 Malaga has been delivering competitive banking services to residents and businesses of the South Bay, including real estate loan products custom-tailored to consumers and investors. As the largest community bank in the South Bay, Malaga is proud of its continuing tradition of relationship-based banking and legendary customer service. The Bank's web site is located at www.malagabank.com.
Malaga Financial Corporation
Randy Bowers
President and Chief Executive Officer
310-375-9000
rbowers@malagabank.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America California
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:
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