Friendly Hills Bank Reports First Quarter Results; Announces Establishment of Payroll Division


WHITTIER, Calif., May 18, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Friendly Hills Bank (the "bank") (OTCBB:FHLB) reported results for the first quarter of 2015.

For the three month period ending March 31, 2015, the bank reported a profit of $65,000 or $0.04 per diluted share of common stock. This figure includes a $13,000 increase in the value of the interest rate caps and a $31,000 gain on securities sold. The bank reported a profit of $183,000 or $0.11 per diluted share of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2014. This figure includes a $32,000 increase in the value of the interest rate caps and a $23,000 gain on securities sold.

As of March 31, 2015, the bank reported total assets of $117.0 million, an 8% increase from $108.2 million as of March 31, 2014. The bank's loan portfolio, net of unearned income, increased 11% from $58.7 million as of March 31, 2014, to $64.9 million as of March 31, 2015. The portfolio remains diversified with $30.9 million or 48% in Commercial & Industrial Loans to local businesses (including $19.6 million in Owner Occupied Commercial Real Estate Loans), $17.0 million or 26% in Residential Real Estate Loans to investors and $9.2 million or 14% in Commercial Real Estate Loans to investors. The bank has an additional $20.1 million in unfunded loan commitments.

The bank's overall deposit base has increased 4% in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015, from $86.2 million as of March 31, 2014, to $89.5 million as of March 31, 2015. Non-interest bearing deposits continue to form a substantial part of the deposit base (43%), growing from $34.7 million to $38.7 million as of March 31, 2015. During the same time period, interest-bearing deposits decreased from $51.5 million to $50.8 million on March 31, 2015. The bank has no deposits which were sourced through brokers or other wholesale funding sources.

At March 31, 2015, shareholders' equity was $15.3 million and the bank's total risk-based capital ratio was 17%, significantly exceeding the "well-capitalized" level of 10% prescribed under regulatory requirements. The bank also continues to maintain substantial liquidity positions, retaining significant balances of liquidity as well as available collateralized borrowings and other potential sources of liquidity.

Effective April 1, 2015, the bank established a payroll division which will provide payroll and timekeeping solutions to small business clients. To facilitate this expansion of product lines the bank acquired the service contracts of a local payroll provider and employed the operational staff of the same entity.

"We are delighted to have established our payroll division as an expansion of the bank's product offering to small and medium size companies," commented Jeffrey K. Ball, Chief Executive Officer. "The acquisition of these contracts not only provides us with an immediate opportunity to diversify our revenue sources beyond traditional net interest income but also provides synergistic opportunities for further growth of the bank. We look forward to broadening our product offering in an effort to expand revenue sources and enhance the overall profitability of the company. This is particularly helpful with the continued decline in net interest margins resulting from a sustained low interest rate environment and extreme competition for quality loans in our market areas."

Company Profile:

Friendly Hills Bank is a community bank which was formed to primarily serve the Southern California communities of eastern Los Angeles County and northern Orange County. The bank was established in 2006 by prominent members of the local community who were seeking an alternative to the larger financial institutions in the area. The bank is headquartered in Whittier, California with an additional branch office in Santa Fe Springs, California and a loan production office in Irvine, California. For more information on the bank, please visit www.friendlyhillsbank.com or call 562-947-1920.

Forward Looking Statements:

The numbers in this press release are unaudited. Statements such as those regarding the anticipated development and expansion of Friendly Hills Bank's business, and the intent, belief or current expectations of the bank, its directors or its officers, are "forward looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to the local and national economy, the bank's performance, including its ability to generate loan and deposit growth, changes in interest rates, and regulatory matters.

 

Friendly Hills Bank
Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share information)
       
  3/31/15 12/31/14 3/31/14
ASSETS      
Cash and due from banks $3,598 $4,912 $3,757
Interest bearing deposits with other financial institutions 4,966 5,617 6,516
Cash and Cash Equivalents 8,564 10,529 10,273
Investment securities available-for-sale 38,961 42,829 35,844
Federal Home Loan Bank stock 677 677 600
Federal Reserve Bank stock 393 393 0
Loans, net of unearned income 64,919 60,868 58,669
Allowance for loan losses (1,595) (1,595) (1,452)
Net Loans 63,324 59,273 57,217
Premises and equipment, net 322 362 548
Accrued interest receivable and other assets 4,775 5,840 3,714
Total Assets $117,016 $119,903 $108,196
       
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY      
Liabilities      
Deposits      
Noninterest-bearing deposits $38,731 $39,220 $34,661
Interest-bearing deposits 50,814 56,339 51,545
Total Deposits 89,545 95,559 86,206
FHLB advances 11,750 8,750 8,750
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities 397 422 342
Total Liabilities 101,692 104,731 95,298
Shareholders' Equity      
Common stock, no par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized: 1,616,000 shares issued and outstanding 15,958 15,958 15,958
Additional paid-in-capital 1,091 1,091 1,090
Accumulated deficit (1,980) (2,045) (4,112)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 255 168 (38)
Total Shareholders' Equity 15,324 15,172 12,898
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $117,016 $119,903 $108,196
       
Book Value Per Share $9.48 $9.39 $7.98
       
Friendly Hills Bank
Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share information)
     
  For the three For the three
  months ended months ended
  3/31/15 3/31/14
Interest Income $1,041 $1,038
Interest Expense 82 103
Net Interest Income 959 935
Provision for Credit Losses 0 0
Net Interest Income after Provision for Credit Losses 959 935
Other Income 66 147
Operating Expenses 973 955
Gain on Investment Securities and Hedging Contracts 44 56
Earnings before Provision for Income Taxes 96 183
Income Tax Expense (31) 0
Net Earnings $65 $183
     
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.04 $0.11
     

            

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