First Community Bancshares, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2010 Results


BLUEFIELD, Va., April 26, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Community Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCBC) (www.fcbinc.com) today reported net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, of $5.28 million, or $0.30 per diluted common share.

Commenting on first quarter results, Chief Executive John M. Mendez stated, "We are happy to return to what we consider more normalized earnings. We are also very pleased to report favorable trends in our net interest income and margin, strong earnings per share, and that asset quality measures remain very good compared to the industry."

First Quarter 2010 Highlights –

  • Asset quality metrics continue to compare favorably to peers with a ratio of non-performing assets to total assets at March 31, 2010, of 97 basis points
  • Net interest margin increased to 4.02%, up 10 basis points from the quarter ended December 31, 2009
  • Net interest income increased $2.19 million, or 13.30%, from the first quarter of 2009
  • Tangible book value per common share increased to $9.67, up $0.51 from the quarter ended December 31, 2009
  • First Community Bancshares, Inc. remains "well-capitalized" with a total risk-based capital ratio of 14.1%, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 12.9%, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 9.0% at March 31, 2010

Net Interest Income

Tax-equivalent net interest margin for the first quarter of 2010 was 4.02%. Net interest income was $18.62 million, an increase of $2.19 million, or 13.30%, from the first quarter of 2009. Interest income was $26.61 million, a slight decrease of $251 thousand, or 0.93%, from the first quarter of 2009. The yield on loans dropped to 6.22% from 6.28%, while average loans increased $103.49 million to $1.40 billion from first quarter 2009, which reflects the acquisition of TriStone Community Bank in July 2009. The Company continues to maintain a high level of liquidity with average invested cash balances of $76.59 million in the first quarter. 

First quarter 2010 interest expense was $7.99 million, a decrease of $2.44 million, or 23.37%, from the first quarter of 2009. First quarter deposit costs decreased $2.07 million compared to the first quarter of 2009, while the average rate paid on interest bearing deposits decreased 71 basis points to 1.55%. Compared to the first quarter of 2009, interest costs on borrowings decreased $372 thousand to $2.49 million, while the average balance decreased $31.56 million due to the redemption and restructuring of various wholesale borrowings. The cost of interest bearing liabilities decreased 62 basis points during the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009. Average interest bearing liabilities increased $49.00 million, or 2.83%, compared with the first quarter of 2009, and included a decrease of $17.07 million in Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") borrowings.

Noninterest Income

During the first quarter of 2010, wealth management revenues decreased $99 thousand, or 10.06%, to $885 thousand. Trust Division revenue was very strong in the prior year due to several estate settlements. The Wealth Management Division reported $831 million in assets under management at March 31, 2010. Service charges on deposit accounts were $2.99 million for the first quarter of 2010, a decrease of $165 thousand, or 5.23%, from the first quarter of 2009. Insurance commissions were $2.20 million for the first quarter of 2010, a decrease of $116 thousand, or 5.01%, from the same period in 2009. 

Noninterest Expenses

Noninterest expenses for the first quarter of 2010 increased $885 thousand, or 5.83%, from the first quarter of 2009. The increase was primarily due to increased Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") deposit insurance premiums. Salaries and employee benefits increased $103 thousand, or 1.31%, from the first quarter of 2009. TriStone Community Bank branches accounted for an increase in salaries and employee benefits of $326 thousand. The remainder of the Company showed an overall decrease in salaries and benefits of $223 thousand. Other operating expenses increased $187 thousand, or 4.30%, compared to the first quarter of 2009. The efficiency ratio in the first quarter of 2010 was 54.53% compared to 58.25% in the first quarter of 2009.  

Credit Quality

The Company's loan quality measures at March 31, 2010, continue to compare favorably to the Company's Federal Reserve peer group of bank holding companies with total assets between $1 and $3 billion. Total loan delinquencies of 30 days or more, including non-accrual loans, as a percent of total loans were 2.35% at March 31, 2010, compared to 4.57% for the Federal Reserve peer group at December 31, 2009. During the first quarter, non-accrual loans decreased $50 thousand from December 31, 2009. The ratio of allowance for loan losses as a percent of loans held for investment was 1.58% at March 31, 2010.

Non-performing assets remained stable at 0.97% of total assets at March 31, 2010, and non-performing loans as a percentage of loans held for investment was 1.26%, even with December 31, 2009. The Federal Reserve peer group reported non-performing assets to total assets of 3.23% and non-performing loans to total loans held for investment of 3.49% at December 31, 2009.

Balance Sheet

Consolidated assets were $2.28 billion at March 31, 2010. Total stockholders' equity for the Company was $262.76 million, resulting in a book value per common share outstanding of $14.78 at March 31, 2010, compared to $253.86 million and $14.29 per common share at December 31, 2009. During the first quarter, the Company paid a $0.10 per share dividend on common shares. 2010 marks the Company's 25th consecutive year of dividends to shareholders. 

The Company will host an investor and media teleconference and webcast on Monday, April 26, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. To access the teleconference, the toll-free number is (877) 407-8033. Alternatively, individuals may listen to the live or archived webcast of the conference call. To listen to the webcast, visit www.fcbinc.com and follow the link under the Current News Releases section. The Company's press release and financial summary will be available in this section, as well. Copies of the Company's first quarter 2009 earnings press release and financial summary will also be made available upon request via fax, email or postal service mail. To request a copy, contact David D. Brown, Chief Financial Officer, at (276) 326-9000.

First Community Bancshares, Inc., headquartered in Bluefield, Virginia, is a $2.28 billion financial holding company and is the parent company of First Community Bank, N. A. First Community Bank, N. A. operates through fifty-seven locations in the five states of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. First Community Bank, N. A. offers wealth management services through its Trust & Financial Services Division and Investment Planning Consultants, Inc., a registered investment advisory firm which offers wealth management and investment advice. The Company's Wealth Management Division managed assets with a market value of $831 million at March 31, 2010. First Community is also the parent company of GreenPoint Insurance Group, Inc., a full-service insurance agency headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, that operates eleven offices. First Community Bancshares, Inc.'s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol, "FCBC". Additional investor information can be found on the Internet at www.fcbinc.com.

The First Community Bancshares, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6960

This news release may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially. These risks include: changes in business or other market conditions; the timely development, production and acceptance of new products and services; the challenge of managing asset/liability levels; the management of credit risk and interest rate risk; the difficulty of keeping expense growth at modest levels while increasing revenues; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent year ended. Pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements contained within this news release.

First Community Bancshares, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
     
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
For the Quarter Ended
March 31,
  2010 2009
Interest Income    
Interest and fees on loans held for investment  $ 21,354  $ 19,984
Interest on securities-taxable  3,786  5,164
Interest on securities-nontaxable  1,426  1,676
Interest on federal funds sold and deposits  46  39
Total interest income  26,612  26,863
Interest Expense    
Interest on deposits  5,502  7,567
Interest on borrowings  2,491  2,863
Total interest expense  7,993  10,430
Net interest income  18,619  16,433
Provision for loan losses  3,665  2,087
Net interest income after provision for loan losses  14,954  14,346
Noninterest Income    
Wealth management income  885  984
Service charges on deposit accounts  2,992  3,157
Other service charges and fees  1,281  1,178
Insurance commissions  2,201  2,317
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings  --   (209)
Security gains  250  411
Other operating income  969  579
Total noninterest income  8,578  8,417
Noninterest Expense    
Salaries and employee benefits  7,969  7,866
Occupancy expense of bank premises  1,709  1,603
Furniture and equipment expense  904  938
Amortization of intangible assets  256  245
FDIC premiums and assessments  701  188
Merger-related expenses  --   1
Other operating expense   4,533  4,346
Total noninterest expense  16,072  15,187
Income before income taxes  7,460  7,576
Income tax expense   2,182  2,346
Net income  5,278  5,230
Dividends on preferred stock  --   571
Net income available to common shareholders  $ 5,278  $ 4,659
Per Share    
Basic earnings per common share   $ 0.30  $ 0.40
Diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.30  $ 0.40
Weighted average shares outstanding:    
Basic  17,765,556  11,567,769
Diluted  17,784,449  11,616,568
For the period:    
Return on average assets 0.95% 0.87%
Return on average common equity 8.26% 10.61%
Cash dividends per common share  $ 0.10  $ -- 
 
First Community Bancshares, Inc. 
Condensed Quarterly Income/(Loss) Statements
           
   As of and for the Quarter Ended
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
March 31,
2010
December 31,
2009
September 30,
2009
June 30,
2009
March 31,
2009
Interest Income          
Interest and fees on loans held for investment  $ 21,354  $ 22,085  $ 21,064  $ 19,571  $ 19,984
Interest on securities-taxable  3,786  4,190  4,562  5,177  5,164
Interest on securities-nontaxable  1,426  1,445  1,449  1,402  1,676
Interest on federal funds sold and deposits  46  32  55  39  39
Total interest income  26,612  27,752  27,130  26,189  26,863
Interest Expense          
Interest on deposits  5,502  6,155  6,998  7,076  7,567
Interest on borrowings  2,491  2,635  2,596  2,792  2,863
Total interest expense  7,993  8,790  9,594  9,868  10,430
Net interest income  18,619  18,962  17,536  16,321  16,433
Provision for loan losses  3,665  6,996  3,418  2,552  2,087
Net interest income after provision for loan losses  14,954  11,966  14,118  13,769  14,346
Noninterest Income          
Wealth management income  885  1,059  971  1,133  984
Service charges on deposit accounts  2,992  3,585  3,659  3,491  3,157
Other service charges and fees  1,281  1,248  1,156  1,133  1,178
Insurance commissions  2,201  1,465  1,567  1,639  2,317
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings  --   (44,067)  (30,811)  (3,776)  (209)
Securities gains (losses)  250  (14,603)  866  1,653  411
Acquisition gain  --   --   4,493  --   -- 
Other operating income  969  983  815  247  579
Total noninterest income  8,578  (50,330)  (17,284)  5,520  8,417
Noninterest Expense          
Salaries and employee benefits  7,969  8,254  7,860  7,405  7,866
Occupancy expense of bank premises  1,709  1,687  1,266  1,333  1,603
Furniture and equipment expense  904  988  928  892  938
Amortization of intangible assets  256  277  262  244  245
FHLB debt prepayment fees  --   --   --   88  -- 
FDIC premiums and assessments   701  1,474  1,313  1,287  188
Merger-related expenses  --   146  1,505  74  1
Other operating expense  4,533  4,802  4,634  4,718  4,346
Total noninterest expense  16,072  17,628  17,768  16,041  15,187
Income (loss) before income taxes  7,460  (55,992)  (20,934)  3,248  7,576
Income tax expense (benefit)  2,182  (21,430)  (9,633)  843  2,346
Net income (loss)  5,278  (34,562)  (11,301)  2,405  5,230
Preferred dividends  --   --   1,011  578  571
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders  $ 5,278  $ (34,562)  $ (12,312)  $ 1,827  $ 4,659
Per Share          
Basic EPS  $ 0.30  $ (1.95)  $ (0.71)  $ 0.14  $ 0.40
Diluted EPS   $ 0.30  $ (1.95)  $ (0.71)  $ 0.14  $ 0.40
Cash dividends per common share  $ 0.10  $ --   $ 0.10  $ 0.20  $ -- 
Weighted average shares outstanding:          
Basic  17,765,556  17,687,413  17,427,434  12,696,202  11,567,769
Diluted  17,784,449  17,687,413  17,427,434  12,741,080  11,616,568
           
 
First Community Bancshares, Inc. 
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Core Earnings
     
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2010 2009
     
Net income, GAAP  $ 5,278  $ 5,230
Non-GAAP adjustments:    
Security gains  (250)  (411)
Merger expenses  --   1
Other-than-temporary security impairments  --   209
Other non-core, non-recurring items  935  300
Total adjustments to core earnings  685  99
Tax effect   257  39
Core earnings, non-GAAP  $ 5,706  $ 5,290
     
Core return on average assets 1.03% 0.99%
Core return on average equity 8.93% 9.77%
Core diluted earnings per share  $ 0.32  $ 0.46
     
Efficiency Ratio Calculation
     
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2010 2009
     
Noninterest expenses, GAAP  $ 16,072  $ 15,187
Non-GAAP adjustments:    
Merger expenses  --  (1)
Other non-core, non-recurring items  (935)  (300)
Adjusted noninterest expenses  15,137  14,886
     
Net interest income, GAAP  18,619  16,433
Noninterest income, GAAP  8,578  8,417
Non-GAAP adjustments:    
Tax-equivalency adjustment  813  916
Security gains  (250)  (411)
Other-than-temporary security impairments  --  209
Adjusted net interest and noninterest income  27,760  25,564
     
Efficiency Ratio 54.53% 58.23%
 
 
First Community Bancshares, Inc. 
Quarterly Balance Sheets
           
   For the Quarter Ended
(Unaudited)
(Dollars In Thousands)
March 31,
2010
December 31,
2009
September 30,
2009
June 30,
2009
March 31,
2009
           
Cash and due from banks  $ 74,962  $ 97,641  $ 51,905  $ 116,095  $ 100,881
Interest-bearing deposits with banks  12,744  3,700  3,352  28,354  79
Securities available for sale   524,297  486,057  575,800  521,879  549,664
Securities held to maturity   7,155  7,454  7,452  7,725  8,471
Loans held for sale  1,494  11,576  4,376  802  1,445
Loans held for investment, net of unearned income  1,390,874  1,393,931  1,396,617  1,269,443  1,276,790
Less allowance for loan losses  21,956  21,725  17,444  16,678  16,555
Net loans  1,370,412  1,383,782  1,383,549  1,253,568  1,261,680
Premises and equipment  56,772  56,946  57,695  55,193  54,893
Other real estate owned  4,740  4,578  3,955  3,615  3,114
Interest receivable  8,630  8,610  9,046  8,934  8,848
Intangible assets  90,805  91,061  90,134  89,534  89,338
Other assets  130,017  135,049  115,453  118,313  122,173
Total Assets  $ 2,280,534  $ 2,274,878  $ 2,298,341  $ 2,203,210  $ 2,199,141
Deposits:          
Demand  $ 205,810  $ 208,244  $ 198,107  $ 202,543  $ 207,947
Interest bearing demand  246,513  231,907  216,184  195,905  194,934
Savings  427,883  381,381  351,450  311,435  319,007
Time  775,405  824,428  896,716  837,475  861,556
Total Deposits  1,655,611  1,645,960  1,662,457  1,547,358  1,583,444
Interest, taxes and other liabilities  21,912  22,498  24,374  27,630  28,293
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase  144,381  153,634  147,042  153,804  153,824
FHLB and other indebtedness  195,873  198,924  198,932  190,863  215,870
Total Liabilities  2,017,777  2,021,016  2,032,805  1,919,655  1,981,431
           
Preferred stock, net of discount  --   --   --   40,525  40,471
Common stock  18,083  18,083  18,083  17,341  12,051
Additional paid-in capital  190,650  190,967  192,799  183,955  127,992
Retained earnings  71,857  68,355  102,920  116,997  118,021
Treasury stock, at cost  (9,342)  (9,891)  (12,768)  (13,712)  (14,453)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (8,491)  (13,652)  (35,498)  (61,551)  (66,372)
Total Stockholders' Equity  262,757  253,862  265,536  283,555  217,710
Total Liabilities and
Stockholders' Equity
 $ 2,280,534  $ 2,274,878  $ 2,298,341  $ 2,203,210  $ 2,199,141
           
Actual shares outstanding at period end  17,782,791  17,765,164  17,680,328  16,909,592  11,596,249
Book value per common share at period end  $ 14.78  $ 14.29  $ 15.02  $ 14.31  $ 15.20
Tangible book value per common share
  at period end (1)
 $ 9.67  $ 9.16  $ 9.92  $ 9.02  $ 7.49
           
(1) Tangible book value per common share is defined as stockholders' equity less goodwill and other intangibles divided by common shares outstanding.
 
First Community Bancshares, Inc. 
Selected Financial Information
           
  As of and for the Quarter Ended
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in Thousands)
March 31,
2010
December 31,
2009
September 30,
2009
June 30,
2009
March 31,
2009
Summary of Loan Loss Experience          
Allowance for loan losses:          
Beginning balance  $ 21,725  $ 17,444  $ 16,678  $ 16,555  $ 15,978
Balance acquired  --  --  --  --  --
Provision for loan losses  3,665  6,996  3,418  2,552  2,087
Charge-offs  (3,732)  (2,954)  (2,990)  (2,681)  (1,730)
Recoveries  298  239  338  252  220
Net charge-offs  (3,434)  (2,715)  (2,652)  (2,429)  (1,510)
Ending balance  $ 21,956  $ 21,725  $ 17,444  $ 16,678  $ 16,555
           
Summary of Asset Quality          
Nonaccrual loans   $ 17,477  $ 17,527  $ 12,278  $ 11,645  $ 10,628
Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing  --  --  --  --  --
Total non-performing loans  17,477  17,527  12,278  11,645  10,628
           
Other real estate owned  4,740  4,578  3,955  3,615  3,114
Total non-performing assets  $ 22,217  $ 22,105  $ 16,233  $ 15,260  $ 13,742
           
Asset Quality Ratios          
Non-performing loans as a percentage of loans
   held for investment
1.26% 1.26% 0.88% 0.92% 0.83%
Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets 0.97% 0.97% 0.71% 0.69% 0.62%
Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of 
   average loans held for investment
1.00% 0.77% 0.77% 0.77% 0.47%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans
   held for investment
1.58% 1.56% 1.25% 1.31% 1.30%
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to non-performing
   loans
 1.26  1.24  1.42  1.43  1.56
           
First Community Bancshares, Inc. 
Nonaccrual Loan Detail
       
(Unaudited) As of March 31, 2010
(Dollars in Thousands)
Loans
Outstanding

Nonaccrual
Loans
Nonaccrual
Loans to Loans
Outstanding
Commercial      
Commercial & industrial   $ 106,377  $ 734 0.69%
Agriculture  1,279  -- 0.00%
Total commercial  107,656  734 0.68%
       
Commercial real estate      
Construction, land development & vacant land  113,139  3,961 3.50%
Non-owner occupied  163,909  1,597 0.97%
Owner occupied  187,466  3,571 1.90%
Farmland  39,659  10 0.03%
Total commercial real estate  504,173  9,139 1.81%
       
Consumer  60,643  108 0.18%
       
Residential real estate      
Residential  537,436  5,627 1.05%
Multi-family  70,508  1,604 2.27%
Home equity lines  110,458  265 0.24%
Total residential  718,402  7,496 1.04%
       
 Total loans   $ 1,390,874  $ 17,477 1.26%
 
 
First Community Bancshares, Inc. 
Selected Financial Information
           
  As of and for the Quarter Ended
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in Thousands)
March 31,
2010
December 31,
2009
September 30,
2009
June 30,
2009
March 31,
2009
Ratios          
Return on average assets 0.95% -5.99% -2.15% 0.34% 0.87%
Return on average common equity 8.26% -51.15% -18.78% 3.82% 10.61%
Net interest margin 4.02% 3.92% 3.68% 3.62% 3.73%
Efficiency ratio for the quarter  54.53% 61.29% 59.40% 58.62% 58.23%
Efficiency ratio year-to-date  54.53% 59.10% 58.37% 58.43% 58.23%
Equity as a percent of total assets at end of period 11.52% 11.16% 11.55% 12.87% 9.90%
Average earning assets as a percentage of 
   average total assets
87.31% 87.41% 87.14% 86.78% 86.68%
Average loans as a percentage of average deposits 85.08% 85.13% 83.25% 81.19% 82.83%
           
Average Balances          
Investments  $ 481,116  $ 549,386  $ 536,485  $ 564,934  $ 521,776
Loans   1,395,669  1,406,497  1,362,603  1,269,584  1,292,179
Earning assets  1,960,511  2,001,576  1,978,626  1,892,403  1,887,583
Total assets  2,245,381  2,289,946  2,270,592  2,180,779  2,177,762
Deposits  1,640,424  1,652,082  1,636,744  1,563,640  1,560,109
Interest bearing deposits  1,441,359  1,452,369  1,437,763  1,361,970  1,360,798
Borrowings  340,720  346,990  347,292  359,628  372,282
Interest bearing liabilities  1,782,079  1,799,359  1,785,055  1,721,597  1,733,080
Equity  259,014  268,074  260,126  233,093  219,653
Tax equivalent net interest income  19,432  19,778  18,329  17,093  17,349
 
First Community Bancshares, Inc.
Consolidated Average Balance Sheets, Yields, and Rates
             
  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2010 2009
(Unaudited)
Average
Balance

 Interest
(1) 
 Yield/
Rate
(1) 

Average
Balance
 
Interest
(1) 
 Yield/
Rate
(1) 
   (Dollars in Thousands) 
Earning assets            
Loans held for investment (2)  $ 1,395,669  $ 21,398 6.22%  $ 1,292,179  $ 19,997 6.28%
Securities available for sale  481,116  5,833 4.92%  513,300  7,571 5.98%
Held to maturity securities  7,139  148 8.41%  8,473  172 8.23%
Interest bearing deposits with banks  76,587  46 0.24%  73,628  39 0.21%
Total earning assets  1,960,511  $ 27,425 5.67%  1,887,580  $ 27,779 5.97%
Other assets  284,870      290,182    
Total  $ 2,245,381      $ 2,177,762    
Interest bearing liabilities            
Interest bearing demand deposits  $ 236,484  $ 200 0.34%  $ 190,215  $ 79 0.17%
Savings deposits  413,037  831 0.82%  312,563  656 0.85%
Time deposits  791,838  4,471 2.29%  858,020  6,832 3.23%
Retail repurchase agreements  91,976  276 1.22%  106,469  390 1.49%
Wholesale repurchase agreements  50,000  463 3.76%  50,000  510 4.14%
FHLB borrowings & other long-term debt  198,744  1,752 3.58%  215,813  1,963 3.69%
Total interest-bearing liabilities  1,782,079  7,993 1.82%  1,733,080  10,430 2.44%
Noninterest bearing demand deposits  199,065      199,311    
Other liabilities  5,223      25,718    
Stockholders' equity  259,014      219,653    
Total  $ 2,245,381      $ 2,177,762    
Net interest income    $ 19,432      $ 17,349  
Net interest rate spread (3)     3.85%     3.53%
Net interest margin (4)     4.02%     3.73%
             
(1) Fully taxable equivalent at the rate of 35%.    
(2) Non-accrual loans are included in average balances outstanding but with no related interest income during the period of non-accrual.
(3) Represents the difference between the yield on earning assets and cost of funds.
(4) Represents tax equivalent net interest income divided by average earning assets.


            

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