First Banks, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2012 Results

First Banks, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2012 Results

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- First Banks, Inc. (the "Company") (NYS: FBSPRA) , the holding company of First Bank, today announced earnings of $3.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2012 as compared to a net loss of $15.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded earnings of $26.3 million as compared to a net loss of $41.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. First Bank recorded earnings of $7.4 million and $41.7 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2012, respectively, as compared to net losses of $12.3 million and $28.3 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2011, respectively.

Terrance M. McCarthy, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said, "We are very pleased to report our fourth consecutive quarter of earnings in addition to a full year of profitability. The quarterly and annual earnings performance is a direct result of our ability to significantly improve asset quality in the fourth quarter and over the course of 2012. We expect to continue to improve earnings, asset quality and capital levels in 2013."

Key Points for the Quarter:

• The Company did not record a provision for loan losses for the fourth quarter of 2012, primarily as a result of the decrease in nonaccrual and potential problem loans. The Company reduced its overall level of nonperforming assets by $40.1 million, or 16.6%, during the fourth quarter of 2012 and $148.3 million, or 42.3%, during the year. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company sold $47.7 million of special mention, potential problem and nonaccrual loans resulting in a net charge-off of $13.3 million. As a result of this loan sale and other actions, the Company has reduced its ratio of nonaccrual loans to total loans to 3.75% at December 31, 2012 from 6.71% at December 31, 2011 while maintaining an allowance for loan losses to nonaccrual loans and total loans at 83.37% and 3.13%, respectively. Certain asset quality metrics as of or for the quarterly periods are summarized in the following table:

• The Company executed a Purchase and Assumption Agreement to sell eight branches in the Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida market area to HomeBanc National Association, headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida. This transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2013. The Company also announced plans to close three other branch offices in Florida and consolidate two branch locations in Illinois and two branch locations in California. The Company believes these transactions have the potential to improve core earnings performance during 2013 and future years.

• Increased First Bank's regulatory capital ratios, reflecting continued and consistent improvement in each of the regulatory capital ratios, including an increase in First Bank's Total Capital Ratio to 17.18% at December 31, 2012, from 16.40% at September 30, 2012 and 14.98% at December 31, 2011. Regulatory capital ratios for First Bank and First Banks, Inc. are summarized in the following table:

Net Interest Income:

Net interest income was $41.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, in comparison to $43.0 million for the third quarter of 2012 and $45.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.

The net interest margin was 2.68% for the fourth quarter of 2012, in comparison to 2.79% for the third quarter of 2012 and 2.89% for the fourth quarter of 2011. The net interest margin continues to be negatively impacted by the change in the mix of our interest-earning assets, which have shifted from loans to cash and cash equivalents and investment securities, and a decrease in the average yield on loans and investment securities due to the historically low interest rate environment, partially offset by a decrease in the cost of interest-bearing deposits resulting from the continued change in the mix of our deposits from time deposits and money market deposits to demand and savings deposits, and the continued re-pricing of money market relationships and certificates of deposit to current market interest rates upon maturity. Yields on interest-earning assets and costs of interest-bearing liabilities are summarized in the following table:

Provision for Loan Losses:

The provision for loan losses was zero for the third and fourth quarters of 2012, in comparison to $17.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2011. The decrease in the provision for loan losses for the fourth quarter of 2012, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, was primarily attributable to the decrease in nonaccrual and potential problem loans, in addition to lower net charge-offs, which were $22.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2012 (including net charge-offs of $13.3 million associated with the sale of approximately $47.7 million of loans), $6.0 million for the third quarter of 2012 and $37.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.

Nonaccrual loans decreased $21.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2012 to $109.9 million at December 31, 2012 compared to $131.6 million at September 30, 2012 and $220.3 million at December 31, 2011, representing a decrease of $110.4 million, or 50.1%, in nonaccrual loans during 2012.

Noninterest Income:

Noninterest income was $16.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, in comparison to $16.8 million for the third quarter of 2012 and $16.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.

The gain on sale of residential mortgage loans was $2.6 million, $4.3 million and $1.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, the third quarter of 2012 and the fourth quarter of 2011, respectively, primarily reflecting an increase in loan origination volume in our mortgage division during 2012.

Net losses associated with changes in the fair value of mortgage and SBA servicing rights were $867,000, $2.4 million and $913,000 for the fourth quarter of 2012, the third quarter of 2012 and the fourth quarter of 2011, respectively, primarily reflecting changes in mortgage interest rates and the related changes in estimated prepayment speeds during these time periods.

Noninterest Expense:

Noninterest expense was $54.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to $51.2 million for the third quarter of 2012 and $61.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2011. The decrease in noninterest expense as compared to the fourth quarter of 2011 is primarily reflective of a lower level of expenses related to nonperforming assets and potential problem loans and the implementation of certain measures intended to improve efficiency in conjunction with the restructuring of the Company to a smaller footprint.

Write-downs and expenses on other real estate properties and repossessed assets were $7.5 million, $2.9 million and $10.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, the third quarter of 2012 and the fourth quarter of 2011, respectively, and primarily reflects continued write-downs on certain other real estate properties primarily resulting from a decline in fair value upon periodic re-appraising of the properties.

During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company recorded a write-down of $2.3 million due to a fair value adjustment on the Bank-owned premises and equipment associated with eight branches in Bradenton, Palmetto and Longboat Key, Florida. These branches were previously reported as discontinued operations but were reclassified to continuing operations during the fourth quarter of 2012 as a result of the change in the Company's intent to now hold and invest in these branches.

Provision for Income Taxes:

The Company recorded a benefit for income taxes of $217,000 for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to a benefit for income taxes of $138,000 for the third quarter of 2012 and a provision for income taxes of $803,000 for the fourth quarter of 2011. The Company presently maintains a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets.

Investment Securities:

Investment securities were $2.68 billion at December 31, 2012 compared to $2.76 billion at September 30, 2012 and $2.47 billion at December 31, 2011. The Company continues to maintain significant on-balance sheet liquidity to support the sale and closure of branches in addition to future loan growth opportunities.

Loans:

Loans, net of deferred loan fees, were $2.93 billion at December 31, 2012 compared to $3.08 billion at September 30, 2012 and $3.28 billion at December 31, 2011. The decrease in loans of $149.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2012 reflects the sale of approximately $47.7 million of special mention, potential problem and nonaccrual loans during the fourth quarter of 2012 in addition to loan runoff, primarily in problem loans and loans in markets the Company previously exited. The Company is continuing to focus on loan growth initiatives to offset the impact of the decrease in nonaccrual, potential problem and other loan relationships in future periods.

The Company's loan-to-deposit ratio was 51.89% at December 31, 2012, as compared to 54.44% at September 30, 2012 and 56.65% at December 31, 2011.

Deposits:

Deposits were $5.65 billion at December 31, 2012, in comparison to $5.66 billion at September 30, 2012 and $5.80 billion at December 31, 2011. Certificates of deposit and money market and savings deposits declined $67.4 million and $34.6 million, respectively, and demand deposits increased $92.2 million, during the fourth quarter of 2012.