Robinson McGraw
Analyst · KBW. Please go ahead
Thank you, John. Good morning, everyone. Thank you again for joining us today. We're pleased with our third quarter financial results. Annualized linked quarter non-acquired loan growth of 21.64% and strong revenue growth driven from our mortgage operations were large contributing factors to our third quarter net income of approximately $23.18 million or diluted EPS of $0.55 as compared to $0.40 for the third quarter of '15. During the quarter, we incurred pre-tax merger and conversion expenses of $268,000, which had an immaterial impact on reported diluted EPS as compared to pre-tax merger and conversion expenses incurred during the third quarter of '15 of $7.75 million, which reduced diluted EPS by $0.13. In connection with the prepayment of approximately $38.89 million and long-term advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank, we incurred prepayment penalties of $2.21 million, which reduced diluted EPS by $0.04. We did not incur any FHLB prepayment penalties in the third quarter of '15. Excluding the impact of after-tax merger and conversion expenses and debt prepayment penalties incurred during each quarter, diluted EPS was $0.59 for the third quarter of '16 as compared to $0.53 for the third quarter of '15. Our balance sheet and results of operations as of and for the three months ending September 30 of '16, include the impact of our acquisition of KeyWorth Bank, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, which was completed on April 1, '16. On August 22, '16, we completed the public offering and sale of $60 million of our 5% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due September 1, 2026, and $40 million of our 5.5% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due September 1, 2031. These notes were sold at par, resulting in net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated expenses of approximately $98.17 million. We intend to use the net proceeds from these note offerings for general corporate purposes, which may include providing capital to support our growth organically or through strategic acquisitions, repaying indebtedness and financing investments and capital expenditures and for investments in the bank as regulatory capital. During the third quarter of '16, our return on average assets and return on average equity were 1.08% and 8.12%, respectively. Our ‘16 third quarter return on average tangible assets and return on average tangible equity were 1.20% and 15.15%, respectively. Focusing on our balance sheet, total assets at June 30, '16 were approximately $8.54 billion as compared to approximately $7.93 billion at December 31 of '15. Total loans, including loans acquired in our KeyWorth, Heritage and First M&F acquisitions, or in FDIC-assisted transactions, which we collectively refer to as acquired loans, were approximately $6.11 billion at September 30 of '16, as compared to $5.41 billion at December 31, '15. Excluding acquired loans, loans grew 18.16% to $4.53 billion at September 30, '16, as compared to $3.83 billion at December 31, '15. Non-acquired loans were $3.61 billion at September 30, '15. Looking at net loan growth geographically. Net loans in our Western region, which includes our Mississippi markets, increased by 4.53% year-over-year, while our Central region, which includes our Alabama and Florida markets, and our Northern region, which includes our Tennessee markets, grew net loans by 13.77% and 13.06% respectively, during the same period. In Georgia, during the third quarter of '16, we grew non-acquired loans by $107.35 million, which offset a $46.87 million decrease in acquired loans. These loans on an annualized linked quarter growth rate of 15.3% of total loans in the state of Georgia. These geographic loan growth metrics include the contribution from our specialty lines of business, which include health care, equipment financing and asset-based lending. Total deposits were $6.82 billion at September 30 of '16 as compared to $6.22 billion on December 31. Our cost of funds was 40 basis points for the third quarter of '16 as compared to 33 basis points for the same quarter in '15 and 32 basis points when compared to December 31 of '15. Our noninterest-bearing deposits averaged approximately $1.51 billion or approximately 22.32% of average deposits for the third quarter of '16 as compared to $1.27 billion or approximately 20.38% of average deposits for the third quarter of '15. Looking at our capital ratios at September 30 of '16, our tangible common equity ratio was 8.03%. Our Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 9.38%. Our common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 10.16%. Our Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 11.57%, and our total risk-based capital ratio was 13.84%. Net interest income was $75.73 million for the third quarter of '16 as compared to $68.61 million for the third quarter of '15. Net interest margin was 4.15% for the third quarter of '16 as compared to 4.09% for the same quarter in '15. Additional interest income recognized in connection with the acceleration of pay downs and payoffs from acquired loans increased net interest margin by $3.40 million or 18 basis points in the third quarter of '16 and $766,000 or 4 basis points in the third quarter of '15. Our noninterest income is derived from diverse lines of business, which primarily consist of originations and sales of mortgage loans, wealth management and insurance revenue sources, along with income from deposit and loan products. Total noninterest income was $38.27 million for the third quarter of '16 as compared to approximately $32.08 million for the same quarter in '15. Our overall increase in noninterest income for the third quarter as compared to the same period in the prior years is primarily attributable to an increase in mortgage banking income and the KeyWorth acquisition. Noninterest expense was $76.47 million for the third quarter of '16 as compared to approximately $75.98 million for the same quarter in '15. We recorded merger and conversion expenses of approximately $268,000 and $7.75 million during the third quarter of '16 and '15, respectively. During the current quarter, we recognized a prepayment penalty charge of $2.21 million in connection with the prepayment of approximately $38.89 million of borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank. No such charge was incurred during the third quarter of '15. After considering these expenses, which are typically nonrecurring, our overall growth in noninterest expense for the third quarter as compared to the same period in the prior year is primarily attributable to the addition of KeyWorth operations. Looking at our credit quality metrics and trends, at September 30 of '16, we recorded a provision for loan losses of $2.65 million for the third quarter of '16 as compared to $750,000 for the third quarter of '15. The increase in the provision is primarily attributable to our loan growth during the period. Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans were 5 basis points for the third quarter of '16 as compared to 4 basis points in the same quarter of '15. Total nonperforming loans, which are loans 90 or more days past due, and nonaccrual loans were $41.91 million, and total OREO was $26.33 million. Our nonperforming loans and OREO that were acquired either through previous acquisitions or in connection with FDIC-assisted transactions, which we collectively refer to as acquired nonperforming assets, were $27.14 million and $17.90 million, respectively, at September 30 of '16. Since acquired nonperforming assets were recorded at fair value at the time of acquisition and are subject to loss-share agreements with the FDIC, which significantly mitigates our actual loss unless otherwise noted, the remaining information on nonperforming loans, OREO and the related asset quality ratios excludes these non-acquired - these acquired nonperforming assets. Nonperforming loans consisting of loans 90 days or more past due and nonaccrual loans were $14.77 million at September 30 of '16 as compared to $14.97 million at December 31 of '15. Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans were 33 basis points at September 30 of '16 as compared to 39 basis points at December 31 of '15. The allowance for loan losses totaled $45.9 million at September 30 of '16 as compared to $42.44 million at December 31 of '15. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.01% at September 30 of '16 as compared to 1.11% at December 31 of '15. Early-stage delinquencies or loans 30 to 89 days past due as a percentage of total loans were 22 basis points at September 30 of '16 as compared to 19 basis points at December 31 of '15. OREO was $8.43 million at September 30 of '16 as compared to $12.99 million at December 31 of '15. We continue to proactively market these properties held in OREO and currently have $4.4 million on the contract for sale during the fourth quarter of '16. We continue to see many positives, specifically healthy commercial loan pipelines and sustainable mortgage loan pipelines, which support our annual loan growth goals, both of which should drive continued revenue growth. This now concludes my prepared remarks, and I'll turn the call back over to Nicole for any questions that anyone may have.