Ron Ohsberg
Analyst · Sandler O'Neill and Partners. Please go ahead with your question
Thank you, Ned. Good morning everyone. Thank you for joining us on the call today. I'll review our second quarter 2019 operating results and financial position as described in our prepared release issued yesterday. As Ned mentioned, net income was $17.3 million or $0.99 per diluted share for the second quarter. This compared to $17.5 million and $1 per share for the first quarter. We also reported return on equity of 14.58% to return on assets of 1.34%. Net interest income for the second quarter declined by 726,000 or 2%. The net interest margin was 2.81%, down 12 basis points. Income and margin were affected by the reversal in market interest rates during Q2 as mortgage prepayments resulted in accelerated amortization of mortgage backed security premiums, as well as in deferred costs on residential mortgages. There was a slight impact from lower LIBOR rates in Q2 as well. Liability rates increased quarter-over-quarter as CD's and wholesale funding mature and re-priced upward in the quarter and money market rates continue to rise. The average balance in interest earning assets rose by $56 million or 1% on a linked quarter basis. Average commercial loans were up by $32 million and average investment securities were down by $4 million. The yield on average interest earning assets decreased by 6 basis points from the preceding quarter to 4.18% due to lower market interest rates. On the funding side, average end market deposits declined $12 million and the average balance of wholesale funding sources was up $57 million from the first quarter. The cost of in-market deposits was 88 basis points, up 6 basis points in the quarter and the cost of wholesale funding was is 2.54%, up 6 basis points. Net interest income comprised 33% of total revenues in the second quarter and amounted to $16.8 million, up $1.4 million or 9% from Q1. Wealth management revenues were $9.5 million, up $297,000 or 3%. Asset based wealth management revenues totaled $9.1 million, up $220,000 or 2% on a linked quarter basis. This increase reflected an increase in the average balance of wealth management assets under administration. Transaction based wealth management revenues totaled $408,000, up by $77,000 on a linked quarter basis and was due to tax reporting and preparation fees, which are generally concentrated in the first half of the year. The June 30 end of the period balance of wealth management assets under administration stood at $6.5 billion, an increase of $129 million or 2%. The average balance increased 3%. The increase in spot and average balances reflects financial market appreciation. As Ned mentioned, two of our investments counselors left the company in June. They managed or co-managed just over $1 billion in assets, which have estimated annual revenues of approximately $5.5 million. It is too early to estimate how much of this business will be lost. As of yesterday, we have been informed by clients that they are withdrawing approximately $75 million in assets, which have estimated annual revenues of $435,000. Our mortgage banking revenues totaled $3.6 million in the second quarter, up by $994,000 or 38%. These results reflect a higher volume of mortgages sold in the secondary market. Our origination pipeline at June 30 was $223 million, an increase of $83 million or 60% since March 31st. This reflected the recent sharp decline in the 30 year mortgage rates. Now, let me turn to non-interest expenses. Total expenses increased by $1.2 million or 4% from the previous quarter; significant items include an increase of $817,000 in salaries and benefit expense, which reflected the increased commission expense due to an increase in mortgage banking activities; an increase of $286,000 in advertising and promotion costs is largely due to timing of our marketing activities. Income tax expenses totaled $4.7 million. The effective tax rate was $21.3 million compared to $21.7 million in the first quarter. We expect the full year 2019 effective tax rate to be approximately $21.6 million. Turning to the balance sheet. Total loans were by $8 million compared to March 31st, but up $240 million or 7% from a year ago. Commercial real estate portfolio increased by $90 million with new loans and advances of $85 million offset by pay-downs of $64 million. Recall that our Q1 balances were elevated by delayed payoffs, which occurred in the second quarter. The C&I portfolio declined by $27 million with new loans of $11 million offset by pay downs of $39 million. Included in the $39 million were $8 million of TDR and [indiscernible] loan payoffs. Investment securities decreased by $26 million, primarily due to repeat principle pay downs and mortgage back securities, partially offset by an increase in the fare value of available for sales securities. We are not seeing attractive reinvestment opportunities at this time. Total deposits were $3.5 billion, up $362,000 from the end of Q1 and up $183 million or 6% from a year ago. In market deposits were up $1 million and wholesale brokerage CDs were down by $1 million. We have had our typical seasonal outflows in municipal and higher education customers, but these have been offset by some new larger depositor transactions. FHLB borrowings increased by $5 million. Asset quality remains very strong. Non-accruing loans were 0.34% of total loans compared to 0.33% at the end of the first quarter. Loans pass-due by 30 days or more were 0.48% of total loans compared to 0.39% at the end of Q1. There was one commercial real estate loan with a carrying value of $2.7 million that was pass-due at 30, but returned to current status in early July. Net charge-offs were $771,000 versus $78,000 in the previous quarter. This increase was largely due to charge-offs on one residential real estate relationship. The allowance for loan losses was 0.73% of total loans and provided MPL coverage of 213%, and the loan loss provision of $525,000 compared to $650,000 in the first quarter. Total shareholders' equity was $484 million, up $14.4 million from the end of the first quarter. We remain well capitalized. The total risk based capital ratio was 12.8% at June 30 compared to 12.59% at the end of March. Tangible equity to tangible asset ratio improved to 8.06% compared to 7.83% at the end of Q1. And finally, our second quarter dividend declaration of $0.51 per share, an increase of $0.04 or 9%, was paid on July 12th. And at this time, I will turn the call back over to Ned.