Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. Announces First Quarter Results


NAMPA, Idaho, Jan. 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq:HOME), the parent company of Home Federal Bank (the "Bank"), today announced first quarter results for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009. For the quarter ended December 31, 2008, a $3.6 million provision for loan losses contributed to a net loss of ($801,000), or ($0.05) per diluted share, compared to net income of $947,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the same period last year. Pre-tax, pre-provision earnings(1) increased 21% to $2.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 from $1.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2008. The Company's efficiency ratio improved to 73.5% for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, compared to 76.6% for the same quarter a year ago as an increase in net interest income outpaced slowing service charge and fee income coupled with a slight increase in noninterest expenses.

The following summarize key activities of the Company during the quarter ended December 31, 2008:



 * A new banking office was opened in Boise. This represents a
   relocation and upgrade of an older facility. Also, the Bank broke
   ground on its sixteenth banking office;
 * Nonperforming and delinquent loans increased significantly as
   unemployment and real estate related pressures continue to increase
   in the Boise area;
 * The slowdown in consumer spending negatively impacted fee income;
 * The Bank began execution of its small business growth strategy by
   hiring leadership for its newly formed Small Business Banking Group;
   and
 * The sale of the Bank's mortgage servicing rights asset was
   completed.

Operating Results

Total revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, which consisted of net interest income before the provision for loan losses plus noninterest income, increased $525,000, or 7%, to $8.2 million, compared to $7.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2007. However, total revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 declined $344,000, or 4%, from the linked fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. Net interest income before the provision for loan losses increased 14% to $5.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, compared to $5.1 million for the same quarter of the prior year.

The Company's net interest margin increased 40 basis points to 3.37% for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, from 2.97% for the same quarter last year, but declined four basis points from the linked quarter margin of 3.41%. The improvement in the net interest margin over the first quarter of fiscal 2008 is primarily attributable to the increase in interest earning assets that resulted from the proceeds of the Company's second step conversion and stock offering completed on December 19, 2007, and a decrease in interest expense. Current rates paid on deposits are significantly lower than in the prior year. In addition, Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings were lower than in the same period of the prior year as maturing advances have been repaid with excess liquidity. The decline in net interest income of $158,000 from the linked quarter was attributable to a 21 basis point decline in the yield on loans in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. The yield on loans fell to 6.00% in the first quarter of 2009 as a result of the decrease in the Wall Street Journal Prime rate from 4.00% at the beginning of the quarter to 3.25% at the end of the quarter. Additionally, the significant increase in loans on nonaccrual status during the first quarter of 2009 reduced interest income by approximately $90,000.

As previously announced, management established a provision for loan losses of $3.6 million in connection with its analysis of the loan portfolio for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, compared to $287,000 for the same quarter of the prior year. The increase in the provision reflects an increase in total classified assets and delinquent loans as the Bank continues to be negatively impacted by the current economic downturn.

Noninterest income decreased $164,000, or 6%, to $2.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, compared to $2.6 million for the same quarter a year ago and $2.6 million in the linked quarter. The decreases from the first and fourth quarters of fiscal 2008 were primarily attributable to decreases of $123,000 and $237,000, respectively, in fees and service charges reflecting the continuing slowdown in consumer spending. As noted earlier, the Bank sold and transferred its mortgage servicing rights during the first fiscal quarter of 2009.

Noninterest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, increased $151,000, or 3%, to $6.0 million, from $5.9 million for the comparable period a year earlier. Compensation and benefits declined 3.4% in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the year-ago period. Occupancy and equipment expense was higher in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 as the Bank opened two stand-alone banking offices during fiscal 2008. The increase in professional fees in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 resulted from expenses related to the Company's fiscal year end, which was September 30, 2008, and legal expenses related to foreclosures and the workout of troubled loans. Insurance and taxes increased as Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation premiums were higher in the first quarter of 2009 as the Company was able to apply some credits to the assessment in 2008.

Balance Sheet

Total assets decreased 8% to $718.1 million at December 31, 2008, compared to $782.6 million a year earlier. The majority of the decrease is a result of excess cash being used to pay down Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances as they matured as well as to fund declining balances in certificates of deposit.

Securities. Mortgage-backed securities increased $29.2 million or 18% to $188.2 million at December 31, 2008, compared to $159.0 million at December 31, 2007. The increase is attributable to purchases made with proceeds from the Company's second step conversion and stock offering. Approximately 98% of the Company's mortgage-backed securities were issued by U.S. government sponsored enterprises. The Company does not own trust preferred securities or collateralized debt obligations. At December 31, 2008, the Company held $9.6 million of stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle.

Loans. Net loans (excluding loans held for sale) at December 31, 2008, decreased 2% to $466.2 million, compared to $477.4 million at December 31, 2007. One- to four-family residential loans represented 43% of the Bank's loan portfolio at December 31, 2008, compared to 50% at December 31, 2007. The Company currently originates conventional one- to four-family residential loans for sale in the secondary market. As a result, the residential loan portfolio will likely continue to decline as new loans are not added to the portfolio. The Company plans to continue its increased emphasis on commercial and small business banking products. Commercial, multifamily and acquisition and development loans increased $16.3 million during the first quarter of 2009, totaling $214.9 million at December 31, 2008, compared to $190.4 million at December 31, 2007.

Asset Quality. Loans delinquent 30 to 89 days totaled $10.7 million at December 31, 2008, compared to $6.5 million at September 30, 2008, and $5.3 million at December 31, 2007. Non-performing assets, which include impaired loans and other real estate owned, totaled $18.4 million at December 31, 2008, compared to $10.6 million at September 30, 2008, and $2.3 million at December 31, 2007. The allowance for loan losses was $8.0 million, or 1.69%, of gross loans at December 31, 2008, compared to $4.6 million, or 0.98% of gross loans at September 30, 2008, and $3.0 million, or 0.63% of gross loans at December 31, 2007.

The following table summarizes non-performing and impaired loans at December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008:



                                December 31, 2008   September 30, 2008
                                            Loss                Loss
 (in thousands)                  Balance   Reserve   Balance   Reserve
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Land acquisition and
  development                   $  4,330  $    936  $  3,975  $    916
 One- to four-family
  construction                     5,389       832     4,239       596
 Commercial real estate            3,071       273        --        --
 One- to four-family
  residential                      4,240       713     1,701       219
 Other                                 4        --        30         2
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
  Total nonperforming and
   impaired loans               $ 17,034  $  2,754  $  9,945  $  1,733
                                ========            ========  
 General loss reserve                        5,273               2,846
                                          --------            --------
                                          $  8,027            $  4,579
                                          ========            ========

Commenting on asset quality, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Len E. Williams, said, "The Treasure Valley economy continues to deteriorate as unemployment is rising and new home construction has come to a near standstill. Excess inventory in the residential and commercial real estate markets continues to put stress on property values and the closure of retail locations will exacerbate that problem. Last year, we announced a realignment of our Credit Administration Department and the appointment of a Chief Credit Officer, reporting directly to me, in anticipation of this environment. We also recently hired a senior workout professional to increase the Credit Administration Department's resources. Since we are just beginning to place properties into foreclosure and sale, we recorded a significant provision for loan losses this quarter due to the uncertainty of the value of some properties in the Treasure Valley. We are also watching our commercial real estate portfolio very closely as delinquencies are rising and we're beginning to see stress in that portfolio."

In 2005, the Bank purchased approximately $38.8 million of residential real estate loans from Countrywide Financial, now Bank of America, who continues to service the loans. Balances on the portfolio totaled $24.1 million at December 31, 2008. Approximately 91% of the portfolio balance is secured by properties outside of the state of Idaho and delinquencies and foreclosures are rising quickly in that portfolio. At December 31, 2008, loans in this portfolio that were delinquent over 30 days totaled $2.2 million, or 9%, of the portfolio, including $1.9 million of nonperforming loans that are reported in the table above. The total reserve allocated to loans in the Countrywide portfolio was $1.3 million at December 31, 2008, or 5% of the balance outstanding on that date.

Deposits and borrowings. Deposits decreased $27.6 million, or 7%, to $377.4 million at December 31, 2008, compared to $405.0 million at December 31, 2007, but increased $4.5 million, or 1%, from September 30, 2008. From the year-ago period, demand deposits and savings accounts increased $7.7 million, or 4%, to $202.9 million at December 31, 2008. Certificates of deposit decreased $35.2 million, or 17%, to $174.5 million at December 31, 2008, compared to $209.7 million at December 31, 2007. The decrease in certificates of deposit was primarily the result of the Bank choosing not to match rates offered by local competitors that in some instances exceeded the Bank's cost of alternative funding sources.

Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle decreased 24% to $124.6 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $163.6 million at December 31, 2007. The decrease resulted from maturing advances being repaid with excess liquidity.

Equity. Stockholders' equity increased $3.6 million, or 2%, to $207.4 million at December 31, 2008, compared to $203.8 million at December 31, 2007. Significant activity among equity accounts over the past twelve months included $2.3 million in net income, the allocation of earned ESOP shares, equity compensation and the exercise of stock options totaling $2.2 million, and a $2.4 million increase in the value of securities available for sale, net of taxes, offset by $3.6 million in cash dividends paid to stockholders. The Company's book value per share as of December 31, 2008 was $11.93 per share based upon 17,392,289 outstanding shares of common stock.

About the Company

Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. is a Maryland corporation headquartered in Nampa, Idaho, and is the holding company of Home Federal Bank, a federal savings bank that was originally organized as a building and loan association in 1920. The Company serves the Treasure Valley region of Southwestern Idaho that includes Ada, Canyon, Elmore and Gem Counties, through 15 full-service banking offices and one loan center. The Company's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "HOME." The Company's stock is also included in the America's Community Bankers NASDAQ Index and the Russell 2000 Index. For more information, visit the Company's web site at www.myhomefed.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements in this news release regarding future events, performance or results are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA") and are made pursuant to the safe harbors of the PSLRA. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations of the business environment in which the Company operates, projections of future performance, perceived opportunities in the market, potential future credit experience, and statements regarding the Company's mission and vision. These forward-looking statements are based upon current management expectations and may, therefore, involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause results to differ include but are not limited to: general economic and banking business conditions, competitive conditions between banks and non-bank financial service providers, interest rate fluctuations, the credit risk of lending activities, including changes in the level and trend of loan delinquencies and write-offs; results of examinations by our banking regulators, regulatory and accounting changes, the value of mortgage servicing rights, risks related to construction and development lending, commercial and small business banking and other risks. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are disclosed in Home Federal Bancorp, Inc.'s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2008, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements are accurate only as of the date released, and we do not undertake any responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

(1) Earnings information excluding the provision for loan losses and taxes (alternately referred to as pre-tax, pre-provision earnings) represents a non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measure. Management has presented this non-GAAP financial measure in this earnings release because it believes that it provides more useful and comparative information to assess trends in the Company's core operations reflected in the current quarter. Where applicable, the Company has also presented comparable earnings information using GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial information.



 HOME FEDERAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 (In thousands, except share data)

                                   Dec. 31,    Sept. 30,     Dec. 31,
                                     2008         2008         2007
                                 -----------  -----------  -----------
                                 (Unaudited)               (Unaudited)
 ASSETS

  Cash and amounts due from
   depository institutions         $ 17,412     $ 23,270     $102,453
  Certificates of deposit in
   correspondent bank                    --        5,000           --
  Mortgage-backed securities
   available for sale, at fair
   value                            188,237      188,787      159,028
  FHLB stock, at cost                 9,591        9,591        9,591
  Loans receivable, net of
   allowance for loan losses of
   $8,027 and $4,579 and $3,015     466,169      459,813      477,446
  Loans held for sale                 2,267        2,831        3,043
  Accrued interest receivable         2,534        2,681        3,016
  Property and equipment, net        16,073       15,246       12,572
  Mortgage servicing rights, net         --        1,707        1,979
  Bank owned life insurance          11,696       11,590       11,273
  Real estate and other property
   owned                              1,352          650          672
  Deferred income tax asset, net         --        1,770          230
  Other assets                        2,802        2,134        1,266
                                 -----------  -----------  -----------
   TOTAL ASSETS                    $718,133    $ 725,070    $ 782,569
                                 ===========  ===========  ===========

 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
  EQUITY

 LIABILITIES
  Deposit accounts:
   Noninterest-bearing demand
    deposits                       $ 41,187     $ 41,398     $ 36,474
   Interest-bearing demand
    deposits                        134,148      127,714      136,586
   Savings deposits                  27,589       26,409       22,195
   Certificates of deposit          174,475      177,404      209,717
                                 -----------  -----------  -----------
    Total deposit accounts          377,399      372,925      404,972

  Advances by borrowers for
   taxes and insurance                  721        1,386          772
  Interest payable                      486          552          675
  Deferred compensation               5,230        5,191        4,694
  FHLB advances                     124,574      136,972      163,638
  Deferred income tax liability,
   net                                  310           --           --
  Other liabilities                   1,965        2,857        3,973
                                 -----------  -----------  -----------
    Total liabilities               510,685      519,883      578,724

 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Serial preferred stock,
   $.01 par value; 10,000,000
   authorized, issued and
   outstanding, none                     --           --           --
  Common stock, $.01 par value;
   90,000,000 authorized, issued
   and outstanding:
   Dec. 31, 2008 - 17,445,311
    issued; 17,392,289
    outstanding                         174          174          173
   Sept. 30, 2008 - 17,412,449
    issued; 17,374,161
    outstanding
   Dec. 31, 2007 - 17,369,853
    issued; 17,326,565 outstanding
  Additional paid-in capital        157,813      157,205      156,427
  Retained earnings                  58,118       59,813       59,418
  Unearned shares issued to ESOP    (10,378)     (10,605)     (11,470)
  Accumulated other
   comprehensive income (loss)        1,721       (1,400)        (703)
                                 -----------  -----------  -----------
    Total stockholders' equity      207,448      205,187      203,845
                                 -----------  -----------  -----------
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
     STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY          $718,133     $725,070     $782,569
                                 ===========  ===========  ===========


 HOME FEDERAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 (In thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)

                                                 Three Months Ended
                                                    December 31,
                                                ----------------------
                                                   2008        2007
                                                ----------  ----------

 Interest and dividend income:
  Loan interest                                   $ 7,113     $ 8,076
  Investment interest                                  43         264
  Mortgage-backed security interest                 2,205       1,943
  FHLB dividends                                      (33)         19
                                                ----------  ----------
   Total interest and dividend income               9,328      10,302
                                                ----------  ----------
 Interest expense:
  Deposits                                          2,018       3,214
  FHLB advances                                     1,565       2,032
                                                ----------  ----------
   Total interest expense                           3,583       5,246
                                                ----------  ----------
   Net interest income                              5,745       5,056
 Provision for loan losses                          3,575         287
                                                ----------  ----------
   Net interest income after provision for
    loan losses                                     2,170       4,769
                                                ----------  ----------
 Noninterest income:
  Service charges and fees                          2,109       2,232
  Gain on sale of loans                               190         185
  Increase in cash surrender value of bank
   owned life insurance                               106         104
  Loan servicing fees                                  69         127
  Mortgage servicing rights, net                      (31)        (68)
  Other                                                18          45
                                                ----------  ----------
   Total noninterest income                         2,461       2,625
                                                ----------  ----------
 Noninterest expense:
  Compensation and benefits                         3,575       3,699
  Occupancy and equipment                             770         711
  Data processing                                     542         522
  Advertising                                         248         287
  Postage and supplies                                137         150
  Professional services                               335         212
  Insurance and taxes                                 155          85
  Other                                               272         217
                                                ----------  ----------
   Total noninterest expense                        6,034       5,883
                                                ----------  ----------
 Income (loss) before income taxes                 (1,403)      1,511
 Income tax expense (benefit)                        (602)        564
                                                ----------  ----------
   NET INCOME (LOSS)                              $  (801)    $   947
                                                ==========  ==========

 Earnings (loss) per common share(1):
   Basic                                          $ (0.05)    $  0.06
   Diluted                                          (0.05)       0.06
 Weighted average number of shares
  outstanding(1):
   Basic                                       16,129,352  16,738,289
   Diluted                                     16,129,352  16,762,906

 Dividends declared per share(1):                 $ 0.055     $ 0.048

 (1)  Earnings per share, dividends per share and average common
      shares outstanding during the quarter ended December 31, 2007,
      have been adjusted to reflect the impact of the second-step
      conversion and reorganization of the Company, which occurred on
      December 19, 2007.


 HOME FEDERAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)

                           At or For the Quarter Ended
            ----------------------------------------------------------
                                 2008                          2007
            ----------------------------------------------  ----------
             Dec. 31     Sept. 30     June 30    March 31    Dec. 31
 SELECTED
  PERFORMANCE
  RATIOS
  Return
   (loss) on
   average
   assets(1)     (0.44)%      0.54%       0.59%       0.49%       0.53%
  Return
   (loss) on
   average
   equity(1)     (1.55)       1.94        2.18        1.83        3.00
  Pre-tax,
   pre-
   provision
   return on
   average        1.20        1.42        1.31        0.95        1.00
   assets(5)
  Net
   interest
   margin(1)      3.37        3.41        3.29        3.15        2.97
  Efficiency
   ratio(2)      73.53       69.68       71.40       77.76       76.59

 PER SHARE
  DATA(3)
  Basic
   earnings
   (loss)
   per
   share    $    (0.05) $     0.06  $     0.07  $     0.06  $     0.06
  Diluted
   earnings
   (loss)
   per
   share         (0.05)       0.06        0.07        0.06        0.06
  Book value
   per share     11.93       11.81       11.73       11.84       11.76
  Cash
   dividends
   declared
   per share     0.055       0.055       0.055       0.055       0.048
  Average
   number of
   shares
   outstan-
   ding:
   Basic(4) 16,129,352  16,042,720  16,007,599  15,962,325  16,738,289
   Diluted
    (4)     16,129,352  16,078,302  16,043,435  15,978,217  16,762,906

 ASSET
  QUALITY
  Allowance
   for loan
   losses   $    8,027  $    4,579  $    3,801  $    3,307  $    3,015
  Non-
   performing
   loans        17,034       9,945       3,462       1,852       1,656
  Non-
   performing
   assets       18,386      10,595       4,169       2,304       2,328

  Allowance
   for loan
   losses to
   non-
   performing    47.12%      46.04%     109.79%     178.56%     182.07%
   loans
  Allowance
   for loan
   losses to
   gross
   loans          1.69        0.98        0.81        0.69        0.63
  Non-
   performing
   loans to
   gross
   loans          3.58        2.14        0.73        0.39        0.34
  Non-
   performing
   assets to
   total
   assets         2.56        1.46        0.56        0.30        0.30

 FINANCIAL
  CONDITION
  DATA
  Average
   interest-
   earning
   assets   $  681,374  $  692,776  $  718,207  $  732,444  $  680,180
  Average
   interest-
   bearing
   liabili-
   ties        470,319     482,232     504,680     518,500     542,819
  Net
   average
   earning
   assets      211,055     210,544     213,527     213,944     137,361
  Average
   interest-
   earning
   assets to
   average
   interest-
   bearing
   liabili-
   ties         144.87%     143.66%     142.31%     141.26%     125.31%
  Stock-
   holders'
   equity to
   assets        28.89       28.30       27.43       26.74       26.05

 STATEMENT
  OF INCOME
  DATA
  Interest
   income   $    9,328  $    9,729  $   10,093  $   10,459  $   10,302
  Interest
   expense       3,583       3,826       4,181       4,682       5,246
            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Net
   interest
   income        5,745       5,903       5,912       5,777       5,056
  Provision
   for loan
   losses        3,575       1,114         652         378         287
  Noninterest
   income        2,461       2,647       2,735       2,478       2,625
  Noninterest
   expense       6,034       5,958       6,174       6,419       5,883
            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
   Net
    income
    (loss)
    before
    taxes       (1,403)      1,478       1,821       1,458       1,511
  Income tax
   expense
   (benefit)      (602)        484         702         513         564
            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
    Net
     income
     (loss) $     (801) $      994  $    1,119  $      945  $      947
            ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

  Total
   revenue
   (6)      $    8,206  $    8,550  $    8,647  $    8,255  $    7,681
  Pre-tax
   pre-
   provision
   income(7)     2,172       2,592       2,473       1,836       1,798

 (1) Amounts are annualized.
 (2) Noninterest expense divided by net interest income plus
     noninterest income.
 (3) Earnings per share, book value per share, dividends per share and
     average common shares outstanding for the quarter ended
     December 31, 2007, have been adjusted to reflect the impact of
     the second-step conversion and reorganization of the Company,
     which occurred on December 19, 2007.
 (4) Amounts calculated exclude ESOP shares not committed to be
     released and unvested restricted shares.
 (5) Income before income taxes plus provision for loan losses divided
     by average assets for the period presented.
 (6) Net interest income plus noninterest income.
 (7) Income before income taxes plus provision for loan losses. See
     "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures."


 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 (In thousands)
                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                       December 31,
                                                    ------------------
                                                      2008      2007
                                                    --------  --------

 NET INCOME (LOSS)                                   $ (801)    $ 947
 Income tax expense (benefit)                          (602)      564
                                                    --------  --------
  Income (loss) before income taxes                  (1,403)    1,511
                                                    --------  --------

 Provision for loan losses                            3,575       287
                                                    --------  --------
   Pre-tax, pre provision income                     $2,172    $1,798
                                                    ========  ========


            

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