TriCo Bancshares Announces Quarterly Results

TriCo Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBK) (the “Company”), parent company of Tri Counties Bank, today announced net income of $22,890,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to $23,395,000 during the trailing quarter ended September 30, 2019 and $23,211,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2018. Diluted earnings per share were $0.75 for the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $0.76 for the third quarter of 2019 and $0.76 for the fourth quarter of 2018.

Financial Highlights

Performance highlights and other developments for the Company as of or for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019 included the following:

  • For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, the Company’s return on average assets was 1.40% and 1.43%, respectively, and the return on average equity was 10.03% and 10.49%, respectively.
  • The Company paid a cash dividend of $0.22 in December 2019, a 16% increase over the $0.19 cash dividend paid in December 2018.
  • As of December 31, 2019, the Company reported total loans, total assets and total deposits of $4.31 billion, $6.47 billion and $5.37 billion, respectively.
  • The loan to deposit ratio was 80.26% as of December 31, 2019, as compared to 78.98% at September 30, 2019 and 74.95% at December 31, 2018.
  • For the current quarter, net interest margin was 4.39% on a tax equivalent basis as compared to 4.49% in the quarter ended December 31, 2018 and decreased 5 basis points from the trailing quarter.
  • Non-interest bearing deposits as a percentage of total deposits were 34.14% at December 31, 2019, as compared to 33.56% at September 30, 2019 and 32.80% at December 31, 2018.
  • The average rate of interest paid on deposits, including non-interest-bearing deposits, decreased to 0.22% for the fourth quarter of 2019 as compared with 0.23% for the trailing quarter, but increased by 2 basis points from the average rate paid during the same quarter of the prior year.
  • Non-performing assets to total assets were 0.30% at December 31, 2019, as compared to 0.31% as of September 30, 2019, and 0.47% at December 31, 2018.
  • The balance of nonperforming loans decreased by $1.7 million during the quarter and by $10.6 million for the 2019 year end. Net charge-offs (recoveries) for the fourth quarter 2019 and 2018 were $0.6 million and ($0.2) million, respectively, and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
  • The efficiency ratio was 59.92% for the fourth quarter of 2019, as compared to 58.82% in the trailing quarter and 59.11% in the same quarter of the 2018 year.

President and CEO, Rick Smith commented, “As we continue to refine our revenue generating activities and streamline our operational processes, we are pleased to report the results of those efforts through 2019, which are highlighted by average loan growth of over 8.5%, maintaining an efficiency ratio below 60.0% and preserving our low cost of funds. We further benefited from improvement in credit quality. While the headwinds of low interest rates continue to pressure net interest margins into 2020, we continue to benefit from strong loan demand and further improvements in operational efficiencies provided through our continued investment in technology.”

Summary Results

For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, the Company’s return on average assets was 1.40% and 1.43%, respectively, and the return on average equity was 10.03% and 10.49%, respectively. For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Company’s return on average assets was 1.46% and 1.24%, respectively, and the return on average equity was 11.33% and 10.75%, respectively. While there were no merger and acquisition expenses incurred during the 2019 periods nor during the quarter ended December 31, 2018, $5,227,000 in merger and acquisition expenses were incurred during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018.

The following is a summary of the components of the Company’s operating results and performance ratios for the periods indicated:

Three Months Ended

December 31,

September 30,

(dollars and shares in thousands)

2019

2019

$ Change

% Change

Net interest income

$

64,196

$

64,688

$

(492

)

(0.8

)%

Reversal of (provision for) loan losses

298

329

(31

)

(9.4

)%

Noninterest income

14,186

14,108

78

0.6

%

Noninterest expense

(46,964

)

(46,344

)

(620

)

1.3

%

Provision for income taxes

(8,826

)

(9,386

)

560

(6.0

)%

Net income

$

22,890

$

23,395

$

(505

)

(2.2)

%

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.75

$

0.76

$

(0.01)

(1.3)

%

Dividends per share

$

0.22

$

0.22

$

0.0

%

Average common shares

30,520

30,509

11

0.0

%

Average diluted common shares

30,650

30,629

21

0.1

%

Return on average total assets

1.40

%

1.44

%

Return on average equity

10.03

%

10.42

%

Efficiency ratio

59.92

%

58.82

%

 

Three Months Ended
December 31,

(dollars and shares in thousands)

2019

2018

$ Change

% Change

Net interest income

$

64,196

$

64,002

$

194

0.3

%

Reversal of (provision for) loan losses

298

(806

)

1,104

(137.0

)%

Noninterest income

14,186

12,595

1,591

12.6

%

Noninterest expense

(46,964

)

(45,246

)

(1,718

)

3.8

%

Provision for income taxes

(8,826

)

(7,334

)

(1,492

)

20.3

%

Net income

$

22,890

$

23,211

$

(321

)

(1.4

)%

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.75

$

0.76

$

(0.01

)

(1.3

)%

Dividends per share

$

0.22

$

0.19

$

0.03

15.8

%

Average common shares

30,520

30,423

97

0.3

%

Average diluted common shares

30,650

30,672

(22

)

(0.1

)%

Return on average total assets

1.40

%

1.46

%

Return on average equity

10.03

%

11.33

%

Efficiency ratio

59.92

%

59.11

%

 

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,

(dollars and shares in thousands)

2019

2018

$ Change

% Change

Net interest income

$

257,069

$

215,346

$

41,723

19.4

%

Reversal of (provision for) loan losses

1,690

(2,583

)

4,273

(165.4

)

Noninterest income

53,520

49,061

4,459

9.1

%

Noninterest expense

(185,457

)

(168,472

)

(16,985

)

10.1

%

Provision for income taxes

(34,750

)

(25,032

)

(9,718

)

38.8

%

Net income

$

92,072

$

68,320

$

23,752

34.8

%

Diluted earnings per share

$

3.00

$

2.54

$

0.46

18.1

%

Dividends per share

$

0.82

$

0.70

$

0.12

17.1

%

Average common shares

30,478

26,593

3,885

14.6

%

Average diluted common shares

30,645

26,880

3,765

14.0

%

Return on average total assets

1.43

%

1.24

%

Return on average equity

10.49

%

10.75

%

Efficiency ratio

59.71

%

63.72

%

Balance Sheet

Total loans outstanding reached a record high of $4.31 billion as of December 31, 2019, an increase of 7.1% over the trailing twelve month period and an annualized increase of 12.0% over the trailing quarter. In general, cash flows from the maturity, prepayment and sales of investment securities were utilized to fund loan growth.

The retention of earnings generated from changes in the mix of earning assets was the primary driver in total equity increasing to $906,570,000 at December 31, 2019 as compared to $896,665,000 at September 30, 2019, which is inclusive of ($5,222,000) and $1,499,000 in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income as of the same periods, respectively. As a result, the Company’s book value per share increased to $29.70 per share at December 31, 2019 from $29.39 at September 30, 2019. The Company’s tangible book value per share, calculated by subtracting goodwill and other intangible assets from total shareholders’ equity and dividing that sum by total shares outstanding, increased to $21.69 per share at December 31, 2019 from $21.33 per share at September 30, 2019.

Trailing Quarter Balance Sheet Change

 

Ending balances

As of December 31,

As of September 30,

Annualized

($‘s in thousands)

2019

2019

$ Change

% Change

Total assets

$

6,471,181

$

6,384,883

$

86,298

5.4

%

Total loans

4,307,366

4,182,348

125,018

12.0

%

Total investments

1,345,954

1,397,753

(51,799

)

(14.8

)%

Total deposits

$

5,366,994

$

5,295,407

$

71,587

5.4

%

Loan growth of $125,018,000 or 12.0% on an annualized basis during the fourth quarter of 2019 provided benefit to the yield on earning assets and net interest margin as prepayments and sales of investment securities were utilized to fund loans and to reduce the need for overnight borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank.

Average Trailing Quarter Balance Sheet Change

 

Qtrly avg balances

As of December 31,

As of September 30,

Annualized

($‘s in thousands)

2019

2019

$ Change

% Change

Total assets

$

6,482,832

$

6,452,470

$

30,362

1.9

%

Total loans

4,231,347

4,142,602

88,745

8.6

%

Total investments

1,356,067

1,536,691

(180,624

)

(47.0

)%

Total deposits

$

5,385,190

$

5,327,235

$

57,955

4.4

%

The growth in average loans of $88,745,000 or 8.6%, on an annualized basis, during the fourth quarter of 2019 was slightly above the annual year over year growth rate of 7.1% but less than the annualized period ended growth of 12.0% as a significant concentration of the quarterly activity occurred in the later half of the quarter.

Year Over Year Balance Sheet Change

 

Ending balances

As of December 31,

($'s in thousands)

2019

2018

$ Change

% Change

Total assets

$

6,471,181

$

6,352,441

$

118,740

1.9

%

Total loans

4,307,366

4,022,014

285,352

7.1

%

Total investments

1,345,954

1,580,096

(234,142

)

(14.8

)%

Total deposits

$

5,366,994

$

5,366,466

$

528

%

Total assets grew by $118,740,000 or 1.9% between December 2018 and December 2019. This growth was led by $285,352,000 or 7.1% in loan growth which was funded by the retention of earnings but primarily by cash flows from the maturity, prepayment and sales of investment securities which decreased by $234,142,000 or 14.8% from the year ended 2018.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

The following is a summary of the components of net interest income for the periods indicated:

Three Months Ended

December 31,

September 30,

(dollars in thousands)

2019

2019

$ Change

% Change

Interest income

$

67,918

$

68,889

$

(971

)

(1.4

)%

Interest expense

(3,722

)

(4,201

)

479

(11.4

)%

Fully tax-equivalent adjustment (FTE) (1)

272

289

(17

)

(5.9

)%

Net interest income (FTE)

$

64,468

$

64,977

$

(509

)

(0.8

)%

Net interest margin (FTE)

4.39

%

4.44

%

Acquired loans discount accretion, net:

Amount (included in interest income)

$

2,218

$

2,360

$

(142

)

(6.0

)%

Effect on average loan yield

0.21

%

0.23

%

Effect on net interest margin (FTE)

0.16

%

0.16

%

Three Months Ended
December 31,

(dollars in thousands)

2019

2018

$ Change

% Change

Interest income

$

67,918

$

68,065

$

(147

)

(0.2

)%

Interest expense

(3,722

)

(4,063

)

341

(8.4

)%

Fully tax-equivalent adjustment (FTE) (1)

272

322

(50

)

(15.5

)%

Net interest income (FTE)

$

64,468

$

64,324

$

144

0.2

%

Net interest margin (FTE)

4.39

%

4.49

%

Acquired loans discount accretion, net:

Amount (included in interest income)

$

2,218

$

1,982

$

236

11.9

%

Effect on average loan yield

0.21

%

0.20

%

Effect on net interest margin (FTE)

0.16

%

0.14

%

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,

(dollars in thousands)

2019

2018

$ Change

% Change

Interest income

$

272,444

$

228,218

$

44,226

19.4

%

Interest expense

(15,375

)

(12,872

)

(2,503

)

19.4

%

Fully tax-equivalent adjustment (FTE) (1)

1,201

1,304

(103

)

(7.9

)%

Net interest income (FTE)

$

258,270

$

216,650

$

41,620

19.2

%

Net interest margin (FTE)

4.47

%

4.28

%

Acquired loans discount accretion, net:

Amount (included in interest income)

$

8,137

$

5,271

$

2,866

54.4

%

Effect on average loan yield

0.20

%

0.15

%

Effect on net interest margin (FTE)

0.11

%

0.10

%

(1)

Information is presented on a fully tax-equivalent (FTE) basis. The Company believes the use of this non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) measure provides additional clarity in assessing its results, and the presentation of these measures on a FTE basis is a common practice within the banking industry.

Loans may be acquired at a premium or discount to par value, in which case, the premium is amortized (subtracted from) or accreted (added to) interest income over the remaining life of the loan. Generally, as time goes on, the effects of loan discount accretion and loan premium amortization decrease as the purchased loans mature or pay off early. Upon the early pay off of a loan, any remaining (unaccreted) discount or (unamortized) premium is immediately taken into interest income; and as loan payoffs may vary significantly from quarter to quarter, so may the impact of discount accretion and premium amortization on interest income. As a result of the declining rate environment, the prepayment rate of portfolio loans, inclusive of those acquired at a premium or discount, accelerated and this is evidenced by the increase in discount accretion included in interest income subsequent to the second quarter of 2019. During the three months ended December 31, 2019, September 30, 2019, June 30, 2019, and March 31, 2019, purchased loan discount accretion was $2,218,000, $2,360,000, $1,904,000, and $1,655,000 respectively. Net accretion for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 was reduced by $259,000 from the early repayment of loans purchased at a premium several years ago.

The following table shows the components of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent (FTE) basis for the quarterly periods indicated:

ANALYSIS OF CHANGE IN NET INTEREST MARGIN ON EARNING ASSETS

(unaudited, dollars in thousands)

Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended

December 31, 2019

September 30, 2019

December 31, 2018

Average
Balance

Income/
Expense

Yield/
Rate

Average
Balance

Income/
Expense

Yield/
Rate

Average
Balance

Income/
Expense

Yield/
Rate

Assets

Loans

$

4,231,347

$

56,862

5.33

%

$

4,142,602

$

56,999

5.46

%

$

4,026,569

$

55,662

5.48

%

Investments-taxable

1,236,717

9,246

2.97

%

1,403,653

10,172

2.88

%

1,378,182

8,955

2.58

%

Investments-nontaxable (1)

119,350

1,179

3.92

%

133,038

1,250

3.73

%

143,598

1,395

3.85

%

Total investments

1,356,067

10,425

3.05

%

1,536,691

11,422

2.95

%

1,521,780

10,350

2.70

%

Cash at Federal Reserve and other banks

236,381

903

1.52

%

130,955

757

2.29

%

131,496

2,375

7.17

%

Total earning assets

5,823,795

68,190

4.65

%

5,810,248

69,178

4.72

%

5,679,845

68,387

4.78

%

Other assets, net

659,037

642,222

636,492

Total assets

$

6,482,832

$

6,452,470

$

6,316,337

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Interest-bearing demand deposits

$

1,227,854

229

0.07

%

$

1,240,548

284

0.09

%

$

1,183,805

$

272

0.09

%

Savings deposits

1,859,652

1,261

0.27

%

1,861,166

1,192

0.25

%

1,849,788

1,132

0.24

%

Time deposits

453,894

1,458

1.27

%

447,669

1,574

1.39

%

459,658

1,190

1.03

%

Total interest-bearing deposits

3,541,400

2,948

0.33

%

3,549,383

3,050

0.34

%

3,493,251

2,594

0.29

%

Other borrowings

20,247

3

0.06

%

73,350

334

1.81

%

122,755

639

2.07

%

Junior subordinated debt

57,205

771

5.35

%

57,156

817

5.67

%

57,019

830

5.78

%

Total interest-bearing liabilities

3,618,852

3,722

0.41

%

3,679,889

4,201

0.45

%

3,673,025

4,063

0.44

%

Noninterest-bearing deposits

1,843,790

1,777,852

1,748,888

Other liabilities

114,605

104,062

81,899

Shareholders’ equity

905,585

890,667

812,525

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

6,482,832

$

6,452,470

$

6,316,337

Net interest rate spread (1) (2)

4.24

%

4.27

%

4.34

%

Net interest income and margin (1) (3)

$

64,468

4.39

%

$

64,977

4.44

%

$

64,324

4.49

%

(1)

Fully taxable equivalent (FTE)

(2)Net interest spread is the average yield earned on interest-earning assets minus the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.

(3)

Net interest margin is computed by calculating the difference between interest income and interest expense, divided by the average balance of interest-earning assets. All yields and rates are calculated using the specific day counts for the period and the total number of days for the year.

Net interest income (FTE) during the three months ended December 31, 2019 decreased $(509,000) or (0.8)% to $64,468,000 compared to $64,977,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2019. Over the same period net interest margin declined 5 basis points to 4.39% as compared to 4.44% in the trailing quarter. The decline in net interest income (FTE) was due primarily to a decline in yield on interest earning assets, which was 4.65% for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, which represents a decrease of 7 basis points over the trailing quarter and a decrease of 13 basis points over the same quarter in the prior year. The index utilized in a significant portion of the Company’s variable rate loans, Wall Street Journal Prime, decreased by 25 basis points during the current quarter to 4.75% at December 31, 2019, as compared to 5.00% at September 30, 2109 and 5.50% at December 31, 2018. The index decreased by 25 basis points each month in both August and September, 2019. As such, there was minimal immediate change to interest income on loans during the trailing quarter.

As compared to the same quarter in the prior year, average loan yields decreased 15 basis points from 5.48% during the three months ended December 31, 2018 to 5.33% during the three months ended December 31, 2019. Of the 15 basis point decrease in yields on loans during the comparable three month periods ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, 16 basis points was attributable to decreases in market rates while 1 basis point was gained from the accretion of purchased loan discounts.

The decline in interest expense is attributed primarily to the reduction in average balances of other borrowings during the three months ended December 31, 2019, which had average balances of $20.2 million, $73.4 million and $122.8 million during the quarterly periods ended December 31, 2019, September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Comparing the quarter ended December 31, 2019 to the same quarter in the prior year, the cost of interest bearing deposits increased by 4 basis points to 0.33% from 0.29% as a direct result of market competition.

The following table shows the components of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent (FTE) basis for the year-to-date periods indicated:

ANALYSIS OF CHANGE IN NET INTEREST MARGIN ON EARNING ASSETS

(unaudited, dollars in thousands)

Twelve Months Ended

Twelve Months Ended

December 31, 2019

December 31, 2018

Average
Balance

Income/
Expense

Yield/
Rate

Average
Balance

Income/
Expense

Yield/
Rate

Assets

Loans

$

4,111,093

$

223,750

5.44

%

$

3,548,498

$

186,117

5.24

%

Investments–taxable

1,360,793

41,095

3.02

%

1,241,829

35,702

2.87

%

Investments-nontaxable (1)

133,733

5,203

3.89

%

142,146

5,649

3.97

%

Total investments

1,494,526

46,298

3.10

%

1,383,975

41,351

2.99

%

Cash at Federal Reserve and other banks

171,021

3,597

2.10

%

109,352

2,054

1.88

%

Total earning assets

5,776,640

273,645

4.74

%

5,041,825

229,522

4.55

%

Other assets, net

660,455

496,323

Total assets

$

6,437,095

$

5,538,148

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Interest-bearing demand deposits

$

1,254,375

1,089

0.09

%

$

1,075,331

945

0.09

%

Savings deposits

1,883,964

4,892

0.26

%

1,610,202

2,803

0.17

%

Time deposits

446,142

5,735

1.29

%

378,058

3,248

0.86

%

Total interest-bearing deposits

3,584,481

11,716

0.33

%

3,063,591

6,996

0.23

%

Other borrowings

15,484

387

2.50

%

154,372

2,745

1.78

%

Junior subordinated debt

57,133

3,272

5.73

%

56,950

3,131

5.50

%

Total interest-bearing liabilities

3,657,098

15,375

0.42

%

3,274,913

12,872

0.39

%

Noninterest-bearing deposits

1,780,746

1,531,383

Other liabilities

121,933

74,113

Shareholders’ equity

877,318

657,739

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

6,437,095

$

5,538,148

Net interest rate spread (1) (2)

4.32

%

4.16

%

Net interest income and margin (1) (3)

$

258,270

4.47

%

$

216,650

4.30

%

(1)

Fully taxable equivalent (FTE)

(2)

Net interest spread is the average yield earned on interest-earning assets minus the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.

(3)

Net interest margin is computed by calculating the difference between interest income and interest expense, divided by the average balance of interest-earning assets. All yields and rates are calculated using the specific day counts for the period and the total number of days for the year.

Net interest income (FTE) during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 increased $41,620,000 or 19.2% to $258,270,000 compared to $216,650,000 during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. The increase was substantially attributable to changes in volume of earning assets from the acquisition of FNB Bancorp in July 2018, in addition to organic loan growth experienced during 2019. The yield on interest earning assets was 4.74% and 4.55% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. This 19 basis point increase in total earning asset yield was primarily attributable to a 20 basis point increase in loan yields and a 11 basis point increase in yields on total investments. Of the 20 basis point increase in yields on loans, 15 basis points was attributable to increases in market rates while 5 basis points was from accretion of purchased loans.

The increases in yields on earning assets were partially offset by increased funding expenses as the costs of total interest bearing liabilities increased 3 basis points to 0.42% during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to 0.39% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. During the same period, costs associated with interest bearing deposits increased by 10 basis points to 0.33% as compared to 0.23% in the prior year. The increase in interest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the prior period was due largely to the increases in the average balances of interest-bearing liabilities associated with the acquisition of FNB Bancorp, offset partially by reductions in the average balance of other borrowings.

Asset Quality and Loan Loss Provisioning

The Company recorded a benefit from the reversal of loan losses of $298,000 and $329,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively, as compared to a provision of $806,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2018. The reversal of loan losses during the quarter ended December 31, 2019 was largely driven by a net reduction in calculated specific reserves associated with net reductions in non-performing loans of $1,701,000 and to a lesser extent the loan loss reserves associated with loans impacted by the 2018 wildfires. Additions to other real estate owned were $995,000 during three month period ended December 31, 2019. The amount of required provision reversal was partially offset by loan growth of $125,018,000 during the fourth quarter. Net charge-offs (recoveries) for the quarters ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were $623,000 and ($172,000), respectively.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 the Company recorded a benefit from the reversal of loan losses of $1,690,000. While year to date loan growth in 2019 totaled $285,352,000, nonperforming loans decreased by $10,630,000, and past due loans decreased by $8,344,000. These reductions were facilitated through loan repayments and performance based upgrades of approximately $6,351,000 and approximately $4,279,000 in sales of nonperforming loans. In addition, the outstanding balances of loans associated with wildfire activity continued to decline as illustrated by their balances of approximately $28.9 million and $10.7 million at December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Net charge-offs (recoveries) for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were $276,000 and $324,000, respectively.

Provision for Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate was 27.4% for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to 26.8% for the same period in the prior year. The increase in effective tax rate is due primarily to a lesser amount of non-taxable income as well as a greater level of non-deductible compensation to covered employees in 2019.

Non-interest Income

The following table presents the key components of non-interest income for the current and trailing quarterly periods indicated:

Three months ended

(dollars in thousands)

December 31,
2019

September 30,
2019

$ Change

% Change

ATM and interchange fees

$

5,227

$

5,427

$

(200

)

(3.7

)%

Service charges on deposit accounts

4,268

4,327

(59

)

(1.4

)%

Other service fees

817

808

9

1.1

%

Mortgage banking service fees

476

483

(7

)

(1.4

)%

Change in value of mortgage servicing rights

(159

)

(455

)

296

(65.1

)%

Total service charges and fees

10,629

10,590

39

0.4

%

Increase in cash value of life insurance

735

773

(38

)

(4.9

)%

Asset management and commission income

775

721

54

7.5

%

Gain on sale of loans

1,059

1,236

(177

)

(14.3

)%

Lease brokerage income

247

172

75

43.6

%

Sale of customer checks

128

126

2

1.6

%

Gain (loss) on sale of investment securities

3

107

(104

)

(97.2

)%

Gain (loss) on marketable equity securities

(14

)

22

(36

)

(163.6

)%

Other

624

361

263

72.9

%

Total other non-interest income

3,557

3,518

39

1.1

%

Total non-interest income

$

14,186

$

14,108

$

78

0.6

%

Non-interest income increased $78,000 or 0.6% to $14,186,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2019 compared to $14,108,000 during the trailing quarter September 30, 2019. Similar to the previous quarters of 2019, the value of mortgage servicing rights continued to decline, but to a lesser extent, which is consistent with changes in the rate environment and changes in the other assumptions utilized in determining their fair value. Specifically, continued trends associated with increased prepayment speeds resulting from decreases in the 15 and 30 year mortgage rates, as compared to the first half of 2019, continued to be the largest contributors to the decline in fair value of the mortgage servicing asset. Modest increases in rates during the fourth quarter softened the decline in the fair value of mortgage servicing rates, which decreased $(159,000) during the three months ended December 31, 2019, an improvement of $296,000 as compared to the $(455,000) decline during the trailing three months period ended. This improvement in the value of mortgage servicing assets was partially offset by a $(177,000) decrease in gains from the sale of loans due to a lower volume of mortgage loans sold.

The following table presents the key components of non-interest income for the current and prior year quarterly periods indicated:

Three Months Ended
December 31,

(dollars in thousands)

2019

2018

$ Change

% Change

ATM and interchange fees

$

5,227

$

4,914

$

313

6.4

%

Service charges on deposit accounts

4,268

4,059

209

5.1

%

Other service fees

817

832

(15

)

(1.8

)%

Mortgage banking service fees

476

511

(35

)

(6.8

)%

Change in value of mortgage servicing rights

(159

)

(184

)

25

(13.6

)%

Total service charges and fees

10,629

10,132

497

4.9

%

Increase in cash value of life insurance

735

722

13

1.8

%

Asset management and commission income

775

737

38

5.2

%

Gain on sale of loans

1,059

540

519

96.1

%

Lease brokerage income

247

164

83

50.6

%

Sale of customer checks

128

122

6

4.9

%

Gain (loss) on sale of investment securities

3

3

%

Gain (loss) on marketable equity securities

(14

)

28

(42

)

(150.0

)%

Other

624

150

474

316.0

%

Total other non-interest income

3,557

2,463

1,094

44.4

%

Total non-interest income

$

14,186

$

12,595

$

1,591

12.6

%

Non-interest income increased $1,591,000 or 12.6% to $14,186,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2019 compared to $12,595,000 during the same period in 2018. As noted in previous quarters, the increase in non-interest income was largely driven by increases in fees charged for various services and increases in usage associated with both services and interchange transactions. As a result, ATM and interchange fees increased by $313,000 or 6.4% during the three months ended December 31, 2019 compared to 2018, and service charges on deposit accounts increased by $209,000 or 5.1% over the same period. Other significant increases in non-interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2019 include a $519,000 increase in gain on sale of loans to $1,059,000 and increases in other non-interest income of $474,000 to $624,000.

The following table presents the key components of non-interest income for the current and prior year-to-date periods indicated:

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,

(dollars in thousands)

2019

2018

$ Change

% Change

ATM and interchange fees

$

20,639

$

18,249

$

2,390

13.1

%

Service charges on deposit accounts

16,657

15,467

1,190

7.7

%

Other service fees

3,015

2,852

163

5.7

%

Mortgage banking service fees

1,917

2,038

(121

)

(5.9

)%

Change in value of mortgage servicing rights

(1,811

)

(146

)

(1,665

)

1,140.4

%

Total service charges and fees

40,417

38,460

1,957

5.1

%

Increase in cash value of life insurance

3,029

2,718

311

11.4

%

Asset management and commission income

2,877

3,151

(274

)

(8.7

)%

Gain on sale of loans

3,282

2,371

911

38.4

%

Lease brokerage income

878

678

200

29.5

%

Sale of customer checks

529

449

80

17.8

%

Gain (loss) on sale of investment securities

110

207

(97

)

(46.9

)%

Gain (loss) on marketable equity securities

86

(64

)

150

(234.4

)%

Other

2,312

1,091

1,221

111.9

%

Total other non-interest income

13,103

10,601

2,502

23.6

%

Total non-interest income

$

53,520

$

49,061

$

4,459

9.1

%

Non-interest income increased $4,459,000 or 9.1% to $53,520,000 during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 compared to $49,061,000 during the comparable twelve month period in 2018. Non-interest income for the twelve months ended 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018 was impacted by changes in the fair value of the Company’s mortgage servicing assets, which contributed to a $1,665,000 decline. However, this was offset by previously discussed increase in income charged for interchange fees and service charges, which increased by $2,390,000 or 13.1% and $1,190,000 or 7.7%, respectively. Gains from the sale of mortgage loans, which resulted from increased volume, contributed $911,000 to the overall increase in non-interest income during the 2019 year. Other non-interest income was positively impacted by the recognition of $831,000 in life insurance death benefits during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, compared to none in the equivalent period in 2018.

Non-interest Expense

The following table presents the key components of non-interest expense for the current and trailing quarterly periods indicated:

Three Months Ended

(dollars in thousands)

December 31,
2019

September 30,
2019

$ Change

% Change

Base salaries, net of deferred loan origination costs

$

18,594

$

17,656

$

938

5.3

%

Incentive compensation

3,042

3,791

(749

)

(19.8

)%

Benefits and other compensation costs

5,683

5,452

231

4.2

%

Total salaries and benefits expense

27,319

26,899

420

1.6

%

Occupancy

3,670

3,711

(41

)

(1.1

)%

Data processing and software

3,403

3,411

(8

)

(0.2

)%

Equipment

1,724

1,679

45

2.7

%

Intangible amortization

1,430

1,431

(1

)

(0.1

)%

Advertising

1,411

1,358

53

3.9

%

ATM and POS network charges

1,511

1,343

168

12.5

%

Professional fees

859

999

(140

)

(14.0

)%

Telecommunications

753

867

(114

)

(13.1

)%

Regulatory assessments and insurance

93

94

(1

)

(1.1

)%

Postage

195

438

(243

)

(55.5

)%

Operational losses

307

228

79

34.6

%

Courier service

269

357

(88

)

(24.6

)%

Gain on sale of foreclosed assets

(50

)

50

(100.0

)%

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

2

(2

)

(100.0

)%

Other miscellaneous expense

4,020

3,577

443

12.4

%

Total other non-interest expense

19,645

19,445

200

1.0

%

Total non-interest expense

$

46,964

$

46,344

$

620

1.3

%

Average full-time equivalent staff

1,163

1,160

3

0.3

%

Non-interest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 increased $620,000 or 1.3% to $46,964,000 as compared to $46,344,000 during the trailing quarter ended September 30, 2019. Salaries and benefits expenses comprised the largest component of this modest increase, contributing $420,000 or 1.6% to the total change in non-interest expense during the three months ending December 31, 2019 compared to the same period in the prior year.

Increases in base salaries and benefits were primarily attributable to compensation adjustments associated with changes in the Company's management structure. These increases were largely offset by reductions in incentive compensation earned on sales and production related activities which seasonally taper in the fourth quarter of the calendar year.

Regulatory assessment credits issued by the FDIC during the three month periods ended December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019 totaled $432,000 and $430,000, respectively.

The following table presents the key components of non-interest expense for the current and prior year quarterly periods indicated:

Three months ended
December 31,

(dollars in thousands)

2019

2018

$ Change

% Change

Base salaries, net of deferred loan origination costs

$

18,594

$

18,346

$

248

1.4

%

Incentive compensation

3,042

2,021

1,021

50.5

%

Benefits and other compensation costs

5,683

4,647

1,036

22.3

%

Total salaries and benefits expense

27,319

25,014

2,305

9.2

%

Occupancy

3,670

3,565

105

2.9

%

Data processing and software

3,403

3,042

361

11.9

%

Equipment

1,724

1,713

11

0.6

%

Intangible amortization

1,430

1,431

(1

)

(0.1

)%

Advertising

1,411

1,364

47

3.4

%

ATM and POS network charges

1,511

1,411

100

7.1

%

Professional fees

859

648

211

32.6

%

Telecommunications

753

822

(69

)

(8.4

)%

Regulatory assessments and insurance

93

522

(429

)

(82.2

)%

Postage

195

220

(25

)

(11.4

)%

Operational losses

307

497

(190

)

(38.2

)%

Courier service

269

518

(249

)

(48.1

)%

Gain on sale of foreclosed assets

(18

)

18

(100.0

)%

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

(21

)

21

(100.0

)%

Other miscellaneous expense

4,020

4,518

(498

)

(11.0

)%

Total other non-interest expense

19,645

20,232

(587

)

(2.9

)%

Total non-interest expense

$

46,964

$

45,246

$

1,718

3.8

%

Average full-time equivalent staff

1,163

1,134

29

2.6

%

Non-interest expense increased by $1,718,000 or 3.8% to $46,964,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to $45,246,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2018. This modest increase was driven by salary and benefit increases of $2,305,000 or 9.2% to $27,319,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to $25,014,000 for the same period in 2018. These increases were impacted equally by increased costs associated with production incentives and long term benefit obligation costs. To a lesser extent, increases of $248,000 in based salaries during these comparable fourth quarter periods were the result of annual merit increases as well as compensation adjustments associated with changes in the organizational structure of management.

The following table presents the key components of non-interest expense for the current and prior year to date periods indicated:

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,

(dollars in thousands)

2019

2018

$ Change

% Change

Base salaries, net of deferred loan origination costs

$

70,218

$

62,422

$

7,796

12.5

%

Incentive compensation

13,106

11,147

1,959

17.6

%

Benefits and other compensation costs

22,741

20,373

2,368

11.6

%

Total salaries and benefits expense

106,065

93,942

12,123

12.9

%

Occupancy

14,893

12,139

2,754

22.7

%

Data processing and software

13,517

11,021

2,496

22.6

%

Equipment

7,022

6,651

371

5.6

%

Intangible amortization

5,723

3,499

2,224

63.6

%

Advertising

5,633

4,578

1,055

23.0

%

ATM and POS network charges

5,447

5,271

176

3.3

%

Professional fees

3,754

3,546

208

5.9

%

Telecommunications

3,190

3,023

167

5.5

%

Regulatory assessments and insurance

1,188

1,906

(718

)

(37.7

)%

Merger and acquisition expense

5,227

(5,227

)

(100.0

)%

Postage

1,258

1,154

104

9.0

%

Operational losses

986

1,260

(274

)

(21.7

)%

Courier service

1,308

1,287

21

1.6

%

Gain on sale of foreclosed assets

(246

)

(408

)

162

(39.7

)%

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

82

185

(103

)

(55.7

)%

Other miscellaneous expense

15,637

14,191

1,446

10.2

%

Total other non-interest expense

79,392

74,530

4,862

6.5

%

Total non-interest expense

$

185,457

$

168,472

$

16,985

10.1

%

Average full-time equivalent staff

1,150

1,071

79

7.4

%

Non-interest expense increased by $16,985,000 or 10.1% to $185,457,000 during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the $168,472,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. Virtually all significant increases in non-interest expense can be attributed to the acquisition of FNB Bancorp that took place in July 2018, which is reflected in all periods during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, as compared to only six months in the prior year.

About TriCo Bancshares

Established in 1975, Tri Counties Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TriCo Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBK) headquartered in Chico, California, providing a unique brand of customer Service with Solutions available in traditional stand-alone and in-store bank branches in communities throughout Northern and Central California. Tri Counties Bank provides an extensive and competitive breadth of consumer, small business and commercial banking financial services, along with convenient around-the-clock ATM, online and mobile banking access. Brokerage services are provided by the Bank’s investment services through affiliation with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Visit www.TriCountiesBank.com to learn more.

Forward-Looking Statement

The statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be the same as those anticipated by management. We caution readers that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations; the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; the impact of changes in financial services policies, laws and regulations; technological changes; weather, natural disasters and other catastrophic events that may or may not be caused by climate change; the costs or effects of mergers, acquisitions or dispositions we may make; the future operating or financial performance of the Company, including our outlook for future growth, changes in the level of our nonperforming assets and charge-offs; the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses including the timing and effects of the implementation of the current expected credit losses model; any deterioration in values of California real estate, both residential and commercial; the effect of changes in accounting standards and practices; possible other-than-temporary impairment of securities held by us; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; our ability to attract deposits and other sources of liquidity; changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers; our noninterest expense and the efficiency ratio; competition and innovation with respect to financial products and services by banks, financial institutions and non-traditional providers including retail businesses and technology companies; the challenges of integrating and retaining key employees; unanticipated regulatory or judicial proceedings; cybersecurity threats and the cost of defending against them; and our ability to manage the risks involved in the foregoing. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described above can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and available in the “Investor Relations” section of our website, https://www.tcbk.com/investor-relations and in other documents we file with the SEC. Annualized, pro forma, projections and estimates are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results.

TRICO BANCSHARES—CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

(Unaudited. Dollars in thousands, except share data)

Three months ended

December 31,
2019

September 30,
2019

June 30,
2019

March 31,
2019

December 31,
2018

Revenue and Expense Data

Interest income

$

67,918

$

68,889

$

68,180

$

67,457

$

68,065

Interest expense

3,722

4,201

3,865

3,587

4,063

Net interest income

64,196

64,688

64,315

63,870

64,002

Provision for (benefit from) loan losses

(298)

(329)

537

(1,600)

806

Noninterest income:

Service charges and fees

10,629

10,590

10,128

9,070

10,132

Gain on sale of investment securities

3

107

Other income

3,554

3,411

3,295

2,733

2,463

Total noninterest income

14,186

14,108

13,423

11,803

12,595

Noninterest expense:

Salaries and benefits

27,319

26,899

26,719

25,128

25,014

Occupancy and equipment

5,394

5,390

5,490

5,641

5,278

Data processing and network

4,914

4,754

4,624

4,672

4,455

Other noninterest expense

9,337

9,301

9,864

10,011

10,499

Total noninterest expense

46,964

46,344

46,697

45,452

45,246

Total income before taxes

31,716

32,781

30,504

31,821

30,545

Provision for income taxes

8,826

9,386

7,443

9,095

7,334

Net income

$

22,890

$

23,395

$

23,061

$

22,726

$

23,211

Share Data

Basic earnings per share

$

0.75

$

0.77

$

0.76

$

0.75

$

0.76

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.75

$

0.76

$

0.75

$

0.74

$

0.76

Dividends per share

$

0.22

$

0.22

$

0.19

$

0.19

$

0.19

Book value per common share

$

29.70

$

29.39

$

28.71

$

28.04

$

27.20

Tangible book value per common share (1)

$

21.69

$

21.33

$

20.60

$

19.86

$

18.97

Shares outstanding

30,523,824

30,512,187

30,502,757

30,432,419

30,417,223

Weighted average shares

30,520,490

30,509,057

30,458,427

30,424,184

30,422,687

Weighted average diluted shares

30,650,071

30,629,027

30,642,518

30,657,833

30,671,723

Credit Quality

Loans past due 30 days or more

$

9,024

$

8,089

$

14,580

$

16,761

$

17,368

Nonperforming originated loans

$

10,750

$

11,260

$

14,087

$

13,737

$

19,416

Total nonperforming loans

$

16,864

$

18,565

$

20,585

$

19,565

$

27,494

Total nonperforming assets

$

19,405

$

20,111

$

22,133

$

21,880

$

29,774

Loans charged-off

$

1,098

$

1,522

$

293

$

726

$

424

Loans recovered

$

475

$

520

$

560

$

1,808

$

596

Selected Financial Ratios

Return on average total assets

1.40

%

1.44

%

1.45

%

1.43

%

1.46

%

Return on average equity

10.03

%

10.42

%

10.68

%

10.93

%

11.33

%

Average yield on loans

5.33

%

5.46

%

5.50

%

5.48

%

5.48

%

Average yield on interest-earning assets

4.65

%

4.72

%

4.76

%

4.77

%

4.78

%

Average rate on interest-bearing deposits

0.33

%

0.34

%

0.33

%

0.30

%

0.29

%

Average cost of total deposits

0.22

%

0.23

%

0.22

%

0.20

%

0.20

%

Average rate on borrowings & subordinated debt

3.96

%

3.50

%

4.62

%

4.75

%

3.24

%

Average rate on interest-bearing liabilities

0.41

%

0.45

%

0.42

%

0.39

%

0.44

%

Net interest margin (fully tax-equivalent)

4.39

%

4.44

%

4.50

%

4.52

%

4.49

%

Loans to deposits

80.26

%

78.98

%

76.82

%

74.29

%

74.95

%

Efficiency ratio

59.92

%

58.82

%

60.07

%

60.06

%

59.11

%

Supplemental Loan Interest Income Data

Discount accretion on acquired loans

$

2,218

$

2,360

$

1,904

$

1,655

$

1,982

All other loan interest income

$

54,644

$

54,639

$

53,587

$

52,743

$

53,680

Total loan interest income

$

56,862

$

56,999

$

55,491

$

54,398

$

55,662

(1)

Tangible book value per share is calculated by subtracting goodwill and other intangible assets from total shareholders’ equity and dividing that result by the shares outstanding at the end of the period. Management believes that tangible book value per common share is meaningful because it is a measure that the Company and investors commonly use to assess shareholder value.

TRICO BANCSHARES—CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

(Unaudited. Dollars in thousands)

Balance Sheet Data

December 31,
2019

September 30,
2019

June 30,
2019

March 31,
2019

December 31,
2018

Cash and due from banks

$

276,507

$

259,047

$

175,582

$

318,708

$

227,533

Securities, available for sale

953,098

987,054

1,136,946

1,116,426

1,117,910

Securities, held to maturity

375,606

393,449

412,524

431,016

444,936

Restricted equity securities

17,250

17,250

17,250

17,250

17,250

Loans held for sale

5,265

7,604

5,875

5,410

3,687

Loans:

Commercial loans

283,707

278,458

276,045

269,163

276,548

Consumer loans

445,542

442,539

434,388

418,352

418,982

Real estate mortgage loans

3,328,290

3,247,156

3,178,730

3,129,339

3,143,100

Real estate construction loans

249,827

214,195

214,524

217,477

183,384

Total loans, gross

4,307,366

4,182,348

4,103,687

4,034,331

4,022,014

Allowance for loan losses

(30,616

)

(31,537

)

(32,868

)

(32,064

)

(32,582

)

Total loans, net

4,276,750

4,150,811

4,070,819

4,002,267

3,989,432

Premises and equipment

87,086

87,424

88,534

89,275

89,347

Cash value of life insurance

117,823

117,088

116,606

117,841

117,318

Accrued interest receivable

18,897

18,205

20,990

20,431

19,412

Goodwill

220,872

220,872

220,972

220,972

220,972

Other intangible assets

23,557

24,988

26,418

27,849

29,280

Operating leases, right-of-use

27,879

28,957

30,030

30,942

Other assets

70,591

72,134

72,626

73,465

75,364

Total assets

$

6,471,181

$

6,384,883

$

6,395,172

$

6,471,852

$

6,352,441

Deposits:

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

$

1,832,665

$

1,777,357

$

1,780,339

$

1,761,559

$

1,760,580

Interest-bearing demand deposits

1,242,274

1,222,955

1,263,635

1,297,672

1,252,366

Savings deposits

1,851,549

1,843,873

1,856,749

1,925,168

1,921,324

Time certificates

440,506

451,222

441,450

445,863

432,196

Total deposits

5,366,994

5,295,407

5,342,173

5,430,262

5,366,466

Accrued interest payable

2,407

2,847

2,665

2,195

1,997

Operating lease liability

27,540

28,494

29,434

30,204

Other liabilities

91,984

87,867

74,590

86,362

83,724

Other borrowings

18,454

16,423

13,292

12,466

15,839

Junior subordinated debt

57,232

57,180

57,132

57,085

57,042

Total liabilities

5,564,611

5,488,218

5,519,286

5,618,574

5,525,068

Common stock

543,998

543,415

542,939

542,340

541,762

Retained earnings

367,794

351,751

335,145

319,865

303,490

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

(5,222

)

1,499

(2,198

)

(8,927

)

(17,879

)

Total shareholders’ equity

$

906,570

$

896,665

$

875,886

$

853,278

$

827,373

Quarterly Average Balance Data

Average loans

$

4,231,347

$

4,142,602

$

4,044.044

$

4,023,864

$

4,026,569

Average interest-earning assets

$

5,823,795

$

5,810,248

$

5,764.966

$

5,759,966

$

5,679,845

Average total assets

$

6,482,832

$

6,452,470

$

6,385.889

$

6,426,227

$

6,316,337

Average deposits

$

5,385,190

$

5,327,235

$

5,370.879

$

5,387,079

$

5,242,139

Average borrowings and subordinated debt

$

77,452

$

130,506

$

75.185

$

72,459

$

179,774

Average total equity

$

905,585

$

890,667

$

866.284

$

843,090

$

812,525

Capital Ratio Data

Total risk based capital ratio

15.1

%

15.2

%

14.9

%

14.4

%

14.4

%

Tier 1 capital ratio

14.4

%

14.5

%

14.2

%

13.6

%

13.7

%

Tier 1 common equity ratio

13.3

%

13.4

%

13.0

%

12.5

%

12.5

%

Tier 1 leverage ratio

11.6

%

11.3

%

11.1

%

10.6

%

10.7

%

Tangible capital ratio (1)

10.6

%

10.6

%

10.2

%

9.7

%

9.5

%

(1)

Tangible capital ratio is calculated by subtracting goodwill and other intangible assets from total shareholders’ equity and total assets and then dividing the adjusted assets by the adjusted equity. Management believes that the tangible capital ratio is meaningful because it is a measure that the Company and investors commonly use to assess capital adequacy.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Financial results reported in this document are preliminary. Final financial results and other disclosures will be reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and may differ materially from the results and disclosures in this document due to, among other things, the completion of final review procedures, the occurrence of subsequent events, or the discovery of additional information.

Contacts:

Richard P. Smith
President & CEO (530) 898-0300

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