PremierWest Bancorp Announces Fourth Quarter and 2009 Results

MEDFORD, Ore., Jan. 21, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PremierWest Bancorp (Nasdaq:PRWT) announced results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ending December 31, 2009. James M. Ford, President & CEO, stated, “We are reporting losses for the quarter and the year that include $121.3 million in non-cash write-offs that completely mask the progress we are making at restoring profitability. Our cash generation capacity for the quarter (a non-GAAP measure that management defines as our net income before loan loss provision, goodwill impairment and income tax effects), remains solid at an annualized rate of slightly more that $17 million. This level of underlying pretax profit generation is occurring despite problem loan impairment expense and FDIC assessment charges that contributed to a year-over-year 17.96% increase in recurring annual non-interest expense.” 

Selected highlights for the quarter and year are summarized below:

For the three months ended and as of December 31, 2009:

• All but one of the regulatory capital ratios above  the published requirements for “Well-Capitalized” bank status. Bank’s total risk-based capital ratio was 8.53%, categorized as “Adequately Capitalized”.
   
• Bank primary liquidity (comprised of cash and equivalents and available for sale securities) of $247.1 million or 17.38% of total deposits and borrowings.
   
• Net interest margin of 4.12%, up 13.2% or 48 basis points compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2009.
   
• Net interest income of $15.3 million, up $1.3 million or 9.4% from the previous quarter.
   
• Non-interest income of $3.6 million, up 27.1% from the quarter ended September 30, 2009.
   
• Provision expense of $16.7 million and charge-offs, net of recoveries, of $12.3 million.
   
• Allowance for loan losses (ALL) at $45.9 million or 3.99% of gross loans.
   
• One-time non-cash goodwill impairment expense and non-cash deferred tax asset valuation allowance of $74.9 million and $29.7 million, respectively.
   
• Loss per common share of $4.46 on a net loss of $110.6 million, compared with loss per common share of $0.47 on net loss of $11.3 million for the same period in 2008.

For the twelve months ended and as of December 31, 2009:

• Net interest margin of 4.10%.
   
• Provision expense of $88.0 million and charge-offs, net of recoveries, of $59.3 million.
   
• Loss per common share of $6.01 on a net loss of $148.6 million, compared with loss per common share of $0.34 on net loss of $7.8 million for 2008.

Mr. Ford continued, “We continue to make substantial progress in the process of controlling the credit issues that have impacted PremierWest over the past year. Our non-performing loan total of $103.9 million includes $38.4 million of loans that are current as to payment of principal and interest but that have been placed on non-accrual status for reasons unrelated to payment performance. Our non-performing loan totals declined $5.5 million at year end compared to September 30, 2009; and our loans delinquent 60+ days as well as 90+ days have also declined since the end of the third quarter. We are optimistic that this trend will continue as we proceed through 2010.”

CREDIT QUALITY AND NON-PERFORMING ASSETS

During the quarter just ended, we recorded $16.7 million in provision expense and charged-off (net of recoveries) $12.3 million of non-performing loans. Recoveries of previously charged-off loans totaled $807 thousand for the quarter and $1.8 million for 2009. Our allowance for loan losses totaled $45.9 million or 3.99% of gross loans at year end. Non-performing loans declined to $103.9 million or 9.04% of gross loans at December 31, 2009 compared to $109.4 million, or 9.23% of gross loans at September 30, 2009.

The table below summarizes the Company’s non-performing loans (NPL) by loan type and geographic region:

 

Throughout 2009, the Company’s principal source of credit stress has been real estate related loans. Commercial real estate exposure, primarily non-owner occupied properties, represents 44.88% of gross loans, virtually unchanged from the prior year. Borrowers either involved in real estate development or having loans secured by real estate have been vulnerable to both the ongoing economic downturn and to declining real estate values. At December 31, 2009, $38.4 million of our non-performing loans remain current in terms of principal and interest payment performance. 

Bill Yarbenet, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, stated, “We have achieved good progress in prioritizing and executing credit improvement actions resulting in reduced delinquencies and stabilized non-performing loans. An extended history of reduced delinquencies will result in a decline in new non-performers. With stabilization achieved during the most recent quarter, we believe a meaningful reduction of non-performing assets during 2010 is attainable."

Specific actions implemented to enhance our ability to identify, measure, monitor and control credit exposure include the following: 

• Development of a comprehensive credit management information system package that improves transparency and tracks performance.
• Enhanced monitoring of problem credits through a robust quarterly Watch Loan Review that includes oral and written presentations detailing strategic and tactical resolution plans. Executive management team participation in reviews with the focus on larger relationships.
• Commitment of substantial resources to an Asset Recovery Group (ARG) focused on improving credit quality on our most challenging relationships. Strategic and tactical plans are reviewed either monthly or weekly, as necessary, by the Chief Credit Officer with other executives participating as needed.
• Review of pass-rated commercial loans of $750 thousand and greater to ensure credit metrics are properly aligned with the current risk rating. In support of this effort, a quantitative risk rating tool was developed to improve consistency. Almost 68% of the portfolio is subject to enhanced monitoring through the collective efforts of ARG, the watch loan process, evaluation of loans $750 thousand and greater and the Special Asset Department.
• Gap analysis implemented with resolution plans developed to bridge any shortfall between current practice and “best” practice.
• Recurring review of the credit portfolio by independent consultants.

OREO sales activity increased during the fourth quarter of 2009 with $4.0 million in sales compared to $1.5 million during the third quarter. The result of these sales was a net $342 thousand gain. We anticipate further improvement in the marketing and sale of OREO due to a perception among potential buyers that valuations are near or close to lows for this cycle.

LOAN AND DEPOSITS

Gross loans as of December 31, 2009, were $1.15 billion, down $98.4 million from the balance as of December 31, 2008. A majority of the decline in loan volume was due to loan charge-offs of approximately $61.0 million and aggressive actions to reposition the loan portfolio with loan paydowns, net of originations, of $37.4 million. The loan paydowns were concentrated in commercial real estate ($22.6 million), commercial/industrial loans ($20.0 million), and agriculture/farm loans ($5.3 million). Partially offsetting the general trend of paydowns was a $10.5 million increase in consumer loan originations.

Excluding brokered deposits, our customer deposits at December 31, 2009, were $1.38 billion, up $289.1 million from year end 2008. The acquisition of the former Wachovia Bank branches in Davis and Grass Valley, California provided $289.2 million of the year-over-year increase offset by a $41.9 million decline in time deposit volume adjusted to exclude acquired branch deposits. The aggregate of acquisition-adjusted non-interest bearing demand deposits, NOW accounts and money market accounts grew by $42.9 million, offset by a $459 thousand decline in savings accounts.

Brokered deposits have been reduced to $44.3 million at the end of 2009, down $79.7 million from the year end 2008 total. Brokered deposits are anticipated to drop to $9.7 million by January 31, 2010 and will be comprised entirely of customer reciprocal deposits.

Again excluding the impact of the Wachovia branch acquisition, average non-interest bearing demand deposit balances for December 2009 were 10.51% greater than December 2008, while average NOW account balances grew 4.07% during the same period. Non-interest bearing demand deposits and NOW accounts are our lowest cost and most stable source of funding. The number of these consumer accounts grew by 5.78% during 2009, while the number of business accounts grew by 0.77%. These low cost accounts are key in sustaining our net interest margin.

Joe Danelson, Executive Vice President & Chief Banking Officer, remarked, “Maintaining quality customer communication and personal relationships has been and will continue to be a hallmark of the PremierWest way of doing business. In all of our communities, our 'People doing business with People' philosophy plays a big part in maintaining strong customer relationships, and our customers’ loyalty has been a foundation of our overall success. This does not go unnoticed, and we continue to support our communities with charitable donations and employee volunteer efforts to assist in the recovery of the communities we serve.”

NET INTEREST INCOME

Interest income rose slightly from $19.2 million to $19.5 million during the quarter just ended when compared to the immediately preceding quarter. However, net interest margin rose to 4.12% for the most recent quarter, up 48 basis points from the previous quarter, as cash from the Wachovia branch acquisition was invested in higher yielding securities after initially being invested in lower rate Fed Funds.

Our yield on earning assets for the quarter just ended was 5.24% compared to 4.98% for the immediately preceding quarter. Deployment of the cash into our investment portfolio, coupled with a reduction in interest reversals on non-performing loans, was largely responsible for the improvement. The cost of average interest bearing liabilities for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 was 1.35% compared to 1.63% for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 as market interest rates remain at low levels.

Mike Fowler, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, commented, “During the fourth quarter, we lost 11 basis points of net interest margin to interest reversals on loans transferred to non-accrual status compared with a margin loss of 16 basis points during the preceding quarter. Subsiding credit issues will be a significant factor in further improvements to our net interest margin as we proceed through 2010. This combined with what is generally acknowledged as an increasing interest rate environment during 2010, holds promise for continuing margin improvement.”  

NON-INTEREST INCOME

During the fourth quarter of 2009, PremierWest recorded non-interest income of $3.6 million, up $952 thousand from the same period last year. The increase from the previous year was primarily related to increases in other fee income, gains on the sale of other real estate owned and gains on sales of securities in our investment portfolio.

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

Non-interest expense during the quarter was $89.6 million, an increase of $74.7 million when compared to the preceding quarter and $77.6 million when compared to the same period in 2008. As indicated in the table below, FDIC and state regulatory assessments, branch acquisition transaction expenses, professional fee expenses, problem loan related expenses, goodwill impairment expenses and OREO expenses were significant factors behind the non-interest expense increases during both the quarter and the 12-month periods as compared to last year.
 

 GOODWILL IMPAIRMENT

The Company recorded goodwill impairment during the fourth quarter totaling $74.9 million based on a detailed analysis valuing each element of our balance sheet. This analysis was conducted with the assistance of an independent consulting firm, which has performed comparable work for the Company since the end of 2008. The fourth quarter 2009 earnings charge for goodwill impairment was a non-cash charge with no effect on our cash balances, liquidity or tangible equity capital. Similarly, since goodwill is excluded when calculating regulatory capital, the Company’s regulatory capital ratios were largely unaffected by the charge.

DEFERRED TAX ASSET VALUATION ALLOWANCE

The Company also established a reserve against the deferred tax asset of $29.7 million that otherwise would have been included on its balance sheet under Other Assets. This action was taken pursuant to accounting practices that use decision standards involving judgment as to the certainty that net operating losses generated will be utilized to offset income taxes otherwise due in the future. Establishing this reserve was a non-cash reduction to our reported earnings for the quarter just ended.

CAPITAL OUTLOOK

As indicated in the table below, PremierWest Bank is now “Adequately Capitalized” in one of the three published regulatory standards as of December 31, 2009. In light of this and our level of non-performing loans and OREO, PremierWest expects to enter into an agreement with our Regulators relating to raising capital and reducing non-performing assets. 

Accordingly, we previously announced a $36 million shareholders’ rights offering from which we expect to increase our risk-based capital ratio to a level above the regulatory minimum for “Well-Capitalized.” We are pursuing other balance sheet strategies aimed at reducing risk-weighted assets and improving our capital ratios. Management previously announced deferral of further payments on our trust preferred securities and our TARP-Capital Purchase Program preferred stock issue. These actions do not cause default under the underlying agreements governing the securities involved and will be reversed at the earliest time possible.

Jim Ford commented, “PremierWest is aggressively managing the challenges that exist in the banking industry, whether related to credit quality, regulatory compliance or economic conditions. We believe that community banks are a key contributor to the economic vibrancy of America, and our role in supporting the recovery of the communities we serve is core to our business objectives. We see a bright future beyond any current economic gloom and firmly believe that working with our customers, both large and small, will hasten that brighter outcome.”

ABOUT PREMIERWEST BANCORP

PremierWest Bancorp (Nasdaq:PRWT) is a financial services holding company headquartered in Medford, Oregon, and operates primarily through its subsidiary PremierWest Bank. PremierWest Bank offers expanded banking-related services through two subsidiaries, Premier Finance Company and PremierWest Investment Services, Inc.

PremierWest Bank was created following the merger of the Bank of Southern Oregon and Douglas National Bank in May, 2000. In April, 2001, PremierWest Bancorp acquired Timberline Bancshares, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Timberline Community Bank, with eight branch offices located in Siskiyou County in northern California. In January 2004, PremierWest acquired Mid Valley Bank with five branch offices located in the northern California counties of Shasta, Tehama and Butte. In January 2008, PremierWest acquired Stockmans Financial Group, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Stockmans Bank, with five full service banking offices in the Sacramento, California area. In July of this year, PremierWest acquired two branches, one in Davis, California and a second in Grass Valley, California. During the last several years, PremierWest expanded into the Klamath Falls and Central Oregon communities of Bend and Redmond, and into Yolo, Butte, and Placer counties in California.

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “Safe-Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which management believes are a benefit to shareholders. These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty and actual results could differ materially due to certain risk factors, including those set forth from time to time in PremierWest’s filings with the SEC, and risks that we are unable to raise capital as planned or effectively implemented asset reduction and credit quality improvement strategies. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and we undertake no obligation to update any such statements. We make forward-looking statements in this press release about the prospects for earnings growth, deposit and loan growth, capital levels, our dividend program, expected peer rankings, the effective management of our credit quality, the collectability of identified non-performing loans, payment of dividends on TARP CPP preferred stock, payment of interest on junior subordinated debentures, the success of our proposed rights offering, real estate market conditions, and the adequacy of our Allowance for Loan Losses.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy our common stock nor shall there any sale of our common stock in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Offer may be made only by means of a prospectus.