FRANKLIN FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP quarterly report, Q2 FY2013

Franklin Financial Services Corporation — 2013 Q2 Form 10-Q

Reporting period: Quarterly and year-to-date periods ended June 30, 2013; comparisons are primarily with June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012. The company is a Pennsylvania-based bank holding company whose principal subsidiary is Farmers and Merchants Trust Company of Chambersburg. Financial statements are unaudited and amounts are in thousands except per-share data.

Business Context and Financial Position

  • Total assets were $1.033 billion, up $5.3 million from year-end 2012.
  • Gross loans were $729.2 million, down 3.2% from December 31, 2012; net loans were $717.7 million, down 3.4%.
  • Investment securities available for sale were $150.0 million, up $16.7 million, primarily reflecting purchases of U.S. Agency mortgage-backed securities.
  • Total deposits were $881.8 million, up $7.4 million. Interest-bearing checking and savings increased $55.2 million, while time deposits declined $43.2 million.
  • Shareholders’ equity was $92.8 million, compared with $91.6 million at year-end 2012.

Financial Results and Key Metrics

MetricThree months ended June 30, 2013Three months ended June 30, 2012Six months ended June 30, 2013Six months ended June 30, 2012
Total interest income$8,876$10,002$17,978$19,952
Net interest income$7,580$8,191$15,440$16,175
Provision for loan losses$803$825$1,605$2,775
Noninterest income$2,401$2,493$4,785$5,056
Noninterest expense$7,625$7,597$15,208$14,606
Net income$1,355$1,906$2,906$3,275
Diluted EPS$0.33$0.47$0.70$0.81
  • Second-quarter net income decreased 28.9%; first-half net income decreased 11.3%.
  • Tax-equivalent net interest income declined to $8.0 million in the second quarter from $8.6 million, and to $16.2 million for the first half from $16.9 million.
  • Net interest margin was 3.26% for the second quarter and 3.35% for the first half, versus 3.51% and 3.54%, respectively, in the prior-year periods.
  • The first-half efficiency ratio increased to 72.29% from 66.49%. Return on average assets declined to 0.56% from 0.64%, and return on average equity declined to 6.34% from 7.49%.
  • Net cash provided by operating activities was $7.6 million. Investing activities provided $5.6 million, and financing activities provided $3.1 million. Cash and cash equivalents increased to $94.1 million from $77.8 million at year-end 2012.
  • Long-term debt was $12.4 million and repurchase agreements were $38.9 million at June 30, 2013.

Material Changes Versus Comparable Periods

  • Lower loan balances and reduced yields on loans and securities pressured interest income and net interest margin. Average loans declined $33.2 million in the second quarter and $20.3 million for the first half.
  • Lower funding costs partially offset reduced asset yields. Average interest-bearing liability costs declined to 0.62% in the second quarter from 0.86% and to 0.61% for the first half from 0.92%.
  • Noninterest income declined 3.7% in the second quarter and 5.4% year to date, mainly because of lower loan and deposit service charges, increased OREO losses, and a $50 thousand other-than-temporary impairment charge on three equity securities.
  • Noninterest expense increased 0.4% in the second quarter and 4.1% year to date, reflecting higher occupancy, legal and professional, salaries and benefits, and other OREO-related costs.
  • The provision for loan losses declined materially year to date, from $2.8 million to $1.6 million, and net charge-offs declined from $2.9 million to $546 thousand.
  • Accumulated other comprehensive loss increased to $4.8 million from $4.1 million, primarily because of lower unrealized securities gains following the second-quarter decline in bond prices.

Credit Quality, Capital, Outlook, and Risks

  • Nonperforming loans were $31.1 million, down from $37.0 million at year-end; nonperforming assets were $36.3 million, down from $42.1 million. Nonperforming loans represented 4.26% of gross loans, while the allowance for loan losses was $11.4 million, or 1.57% of loans.
  • Watch-list loans declined to $88.7 million from $104.3 million. Management stated that all TDR loans were complying with modified terms, but workout periods may be lengthy and additional loans could become delinquent.
  • Other real estate owned totaled $5.3 million. The company recorded a $135 thousand writedown on two properties during the first half and had $1.3 million of residential properties in foreclosure.
  • Management expects the investment portfolio yield to continue declining as higher-yielding securities mature or pay down and reinvestment yields remain low. Management also expects the low interest-rate environment to continue pressuring net interest margin.
  • The company expects 2013 pension expense of approximately $560 thousand, compared with $1.1 million in 2012, and does not expect additional pension contributions in 2013.
  • The Board declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share for the third quarter of 2013. The first-half dividend payout ratio was 48.1%.
  • The company reported that it was well capitalized. At June 30, 2013, the consolidated total risk-based capital ratio was 13.49%, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 12.23%, and Tier 1 leverage ratio was 8.41%.
  • Liquidity included approximately $35 million available under an FHLB line, $16 million of unsecured correspondent-bank lines, and approximately $36 million of Federal Reserve Discount Window borrowing capacity. The FHLB had placed the Bank on full collateral delivery status, reducing borrowing capacity relative to prior arrangements.
  • Unused commitments and standby letters of credit totaled $232.6 million and $20.6 million, respectively. Management believes collateral and guarantees support the standby letters of credit and that liquidity is sufficient for anticipated needs.
  • Key risks include prolonged low interest rates, declining asset yields, commercial real estate and agricultural credit exposure, collateral values, potential additional securities or OREO write-downs, dependence on FHLB funding, economic conditions, regulatory changes, and competition.

Important Facts for Investors to Verify

  • Whether declining commercial loan balances and persistent low rates continue to reduce net interest margin and earnings.
  • The performance of the $88.7 million watch list, $31.1 million of nonperforming loans, TDR portfolio, and significant nonaccrual credits.
  • Whether the $11.4 million allowance for loan losses remains adequate relative to commercial real estate, agricultural, and collateral-dependent exposures.
  • Potential additional losses on the $56.7 million of temporarily impaired securities, including $4.9 million of trust-preferred securities and private-label mortgage-backed securities.
  • The effect of FHLB collateral delivery restrictions and the availability of alternative funding sources.
  • Future deposit mix changes, particularly the replacement of repurchase agreements and brokered time deposits with more liquid deposit products.
  • Implementation of new regulatory capital rules beginning in 2015 and the company’s planned election to exclude unrealized securities gains and losses from regulatory capital.
  • The filing states that no material legal proceedings or material changes in risk factors were present; investors should nevertheless review the full annual-report risk disclosures and subsequent filings.