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United Security Bancshares, Inc. Announces Quarterly Earnings
United Security Bancshares, Inc. Announces Quarterly Earnings
THOMASVILLE, Ala., May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Security
Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: USBI) today reported net income of $1.9 million, or
$0.31 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared
with $3.0 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, for the same period of 2007.
"United Security's earnings for the first quarter were below last year's
results primarily due to economic factors that affected our interest income,
loan demand, and credit quality," stated R. Terry Phillips, President and
Chief Executive Officer of United Security Bancshares, Inc. "Since last year,
our net interest income declined in response to the significant drop in
interest rates. Our total loans are also lower than the first quarter of last
year, reflecting, in part, the soft loan demand in some of our markets. We
also increased our provision for loan losses in the first quarter to reflect
increased charge-offs and the slowdown in the economy compared with the first
quarter of last year."
"We remain very positive about the future of United Security," continued
Mr. Phillips. "Our Board of Directors recently increased our regular cash
dividend to $0.27 per share, our 20th consecutive annual increase in our
regular cash dividend, and extended the expiration date of the existing share
repurchase program. Since last year, we have repurchased 132,212 shares of
United Security's stock, including 34,248 shares in the first quarter of 2008.
We have a strong capital balance sheet to fund the dividend and stock
repurchase programs and believe United Security is positioned well to grow
future earnings as the economy improves."
First Quarter Results
Interest income totaled $13.5 million in the first quarter of 2008,
compared with $15.1 million in the first quarter of 2007. Interest income
declined $1.6 million due to a decrease in the average yield on loans and a
decrease in loan volume, which was offset somewhat by an increase in the
volume of investment securities.
Interest expense increased 2.6% to $4.8 million in the first quarter of
2008, compared with $4.6 million in the first quarter of 2007. Interest
expense rose $120,000 due to an increase in interest paid on deposits that
resulted from higher average balances of interest bearing deposits, offset by
a $106,000 decrease in interest expense on borrowed funds.
Rates paid on CDs did not adjust down as quickly as interest earned on
loans, resulting in a 16.4% decrease in net interest income to $8.8 million in
the first quarter of 2008, compared with $10.5 million in the first quarter of
the prior year. Net interest margin declined to 5.86% in the first quarter of
2008, compared to 7.12% in the first quarter of 2007.
"We increased our provision for loan losses to $1.4 million in the first
quarter of 2008 from $1.0 million in the same quarter of 2007," stated Mr.
Phillips. "The slowdown in the economy has affected credit quality and
resulted in higher loan charge-offs this year than in the first quarter of
last year. As a result, we increased our allowance for loan losses to 1.83%
of loans, up from 1.70% of loans in the first quarter of last year and believe
we have adequate reserves based on our current outlook for the economy."
Non-interest income rose 8.8% to $1.4 million compared with $1.2 million
in the first quarter of 2007. The $109,000 increase in non-interest income
benefited from growth in service charges and fees on deposit accounts
($34,000), income on bank-owned life insurance ($6,000), letters of credit and
commitment fees ($2,000), and all other fees and charges ($78,000), offset
partially by an $11,000 decline in commissions on credit insurance.
Non-interest expense decreased 2.8% to $6.0 million in the first quarter
of 2008, compared with $6.2 million in the first quarter of 2007, primarily
due to lower salary and employee benefit expense compared with the prior year.
Salary and employee benefits were down 8.9% to $3.2 million due to decreased
incentive accruals and decreased salary expense. Salary expense is expected
to increase modestly in the second quarter of 2008 due to the hiring of two
loan officers late in the first quarter. Occupancy expense, furniture and
equipment expense, and other expense rose 5.4% from the first quarter of 2007
and totaled $2.8 million in 2008, compared with $2.6 million in the first
quarter of 2007.
At March 31, 2008, total assets amounted to $673.3 million, a 2.0%
increase over March 31, 2007. Total deposits increased 0.8% to $482.7
million, and loans, net of unearned discount, decreased 6.7% to $427.2
million.
Shareholders' equity totaled $80.2 million, or book value of $13.26 per
share at the end of the first quarter 2008. Return on average assets for the
first quarter of 2008 was 1.15%, and return on average equity was 9.56%.
Regular dividends were increased from $0.26 per share in the first quarter of
2007, to $0.27 per share during the first quarter of 2008, and no special
dividend was declared in the 2008 first quarter.
About United Security Bancshares, Inc.
United Security Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company that operates
nineteen banking offices inAlabama through First United Security Bank. In
addition, the Company's operations include Acceptance Loan Company, Inc., a
consumer loan company; FUSB Reinsurance, Inc., an underwriter of credit life
and credit accident and health insurance policies sold to the bank's and ALC's
consumer loan customers; and R2Metrics, Inc., a provider of investment and
asset and liability management software, analytics, and consulting services.
The Company's stock is traded on NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol
"USBI."
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by
federal securities laws. Statements contained in this press release which are
not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements may
address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and
assumptions made by management. USBI undertakes no obligation to update these
statements following the date of this press release. In addition, USBI,
through its senior management, may make from time to time forward-looking
public statements concerning the matters described herein. Such
forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best
judgment of USBI's senior management based upon current information and
involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Certain factors which could
affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements are identified in the
public filings made by USBI with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and
forward looking statements contained in this press release or in other public
statements of USBI or its senior management should be considered in light of
those factors. There can be no assurance that such factors or other factors
will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements.
UNITED SECURITY BANCSHARES, INC.
(Unaudited Financial Highlights)
(In thousands, except per share amounts and percentages)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2008 2007
Earnings Summary:
Net Interest Income $8,777 $10,504
Provision for Credit Losses 1,360 1,041
Non-Interest Income 1,351 1,242
Non-Interest Expense 5,996 6,168
Income Before Income Taxes 2,772 4,537
Income Tax Provision 869 1,495
Net Income $1,903 $3,042
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.31 $0.49
Dividends Per Share $0.27 $0.41
Balance Sheet Summary:
Total Assets $673,279 $660,672
Total Earning Assets 605,442 601,321
Loans, Net of Unearned Discount 427,178 457,933
Allowance for Credit Losses 7,816 7,786
Total Deposits 482,689 478,748
Common Shareholders' Equity 80,159 88,658
Book Value Per Share $13.26 $14.34
Average Balance Sheet Data:
Total Assets $668,008 $652,797
Total Earning Assets 602,184 598,025
Loans, Net of Unearned Discount 434,870 453,004
Total Deposits 483,102 460,911
Common Shareholders' Equity 80,046 90,124
Performance Ratios:
Return on Average Assets 1.15% 1.89%
Return on Common Equity 9.56% 13.69%
Basic and Diluted Average Shares Outstanding 6,062,738 6,237,848
SOURCE United Security Bancshares, Inc.
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Tags: Tags: Banking and Finance, Alabama
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