OAK RIDGE, N.C., Oct. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. (“Oak Ridge”; the “Company”) (OTCPink:BKOR), the parent company of Bank of Oak Ridge (the “Bank”), announced unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2016 today.

Net income available to common shareholders was $712,000 compared to $709,000 for the third quarter of 2015. Basic and diluted net income per common share was $0.30 for the 2016 quarter compared to $0.32 for the 2015 quarter. Net income available to common stockholders’ for the third quarter of 2016 produced annualized returns on average assets of 0.76% and on average equity of 10.30%.

Financial Performance and Overview
Tom Wayne, President and Chief Financial Officer, reported, “We were very pleased with loan and deposit growth in the third quarter. In the first nine months of 2016, loans have increased $19.9 million or 7.1%. The growth was due to a combination of increased production from our lending team and improving economic conditions in the Triad.

The retail banking team has supported the lending side, as total deposits have increased $16.5 million or 5.3% in the first nine months of 2016. In particular, we have been very pleased with the growth in non-interest bearing deposits, which have grown $3.7 million or 8.5% during the first nine months of 2016. Additionally, the retail banking team continues to drive adoption to existing and new clients of the Bank’s new interactive teller machines (“ITMs”) which were deployed in the second quarter of 2016. Client acceptance of the new delivery channel and the extended hours (7 am to 7 pm Monday-Friday and 9 am – 1 pm Saturday)  has been very positive. 

Although net income to available shareholders during the three month period ending September 30, 2016 was up only slightly from the same period in 2015, return on average common stockholders’ equity was 10.30%, which are a reflection of solid earnings as well as the prudent use of forms of regulatory capital other than common equity to fund the Company’s growth.

During the first nine months of 2016, the Company has had stable profitability and solid growth. I’m very pleased with our performance and thank our amazing employees, the Board of Directors, and our clients for their support.”

Capital
Bank of Oak Ridge’s capital ratios remain strong and exceed all regulatory requirements.

As of September 30, 2016, the Company’s stockholders’ equity was 7.2% of total assets, compared to 8.2% as of December 31, 2015. Book value per common share was $11.56 as of September 30, 2016, compared to $10.86 as of December 31, 2015.

Net Interest Income
Net interest income was $3.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2016, which was essentially unchanged from net interest during the same period in 2015. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.24% at September 30, 2016 compared to 1.39% at December 31, 2015.

For the 2016 quarter, the net interest margin was 3.77% compared to 3.92% for the same quarter in 2015, a decrease of 15 basis points. Most of the decrease in the margin was driven by subordinated debentures of $5.5 million that were outstanding during the three months ended September 30, 2016 but not outstanding during the prior year period. The debentures, which carry an interest rate of 7%, were used to redeem Series A preferred stock on June 30, 2016 that carried an interest rate of 9%. Interest expense on the debentures is deductible while the dividend payments on the Series A preferred stock were non-deductible.

Provision for Losses and Allowance for Loan Losses
The Company recorded a negative provision expense of $100,000 for the third quarter of 2016 compared with a negative provision of $250,000 for the same quarter in 2015.

There has been growth in loans outstanding over the first three quarters of 2016. The need for additions to the allowance for loan losses was reduced by improvement in various qualitative factors used in the determination of the allowance, notably asset quality and economic conditions. Charge-offs, and other real estate owned are all improved over the past year, and non-performing assets are relatively unchanged.

Credit Quality Measurements
Non-performing assets ($3.4 million of non-performing loans and $4,000 of other real estate owned) represented 0.90% of total assets at September 30, 2016, compared to 0.88% at December 31, 2015.

Other real estate owned was $4,000 compared to $44,000 at December 31, 2015, a decrease of $40,000 or 91.0%.

Noninterest Income
Noninterest income totaled $978,000 in the third quarter of 2016, compared with $661,000 in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of $317,000 or 48.0%. Gain on sale of securities was the most notable change, as it was $275,000 compared to no gains in the prior year quarter.

Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense totaled $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $3.0 million in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of $332,000 or 11.0%. Most of the increase was related to higher salaries, which increased $208,000 from the third quarter of 2015 to the same period in 2016. The increase is mostly attributable to normal merit increases which generally occur on January 1 of each year as well as higher incentive payments during the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.

About Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc.
Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. (OTCPink:BKOR) is the holding company for Bank of Oak Ridge. Bank of Oak Ridge is an employee owned community bank with a mission to provide Banking as It Should Be® by delivering personal attention and convenience for every client. Bank of Oak Ridge has been named Best Bank in the Triad five years in a row, as well as one of the Triad’s Healthiest Employers and Top Workplaces.  We offer a complete range of banking services for individuals and businesses. Bank of Oak Ridge is a Member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

Banking Services | ATM Usage Worldwide | Mobile Banking | Online Billpay | Remote Deposit | Checking | Savings | Mortgage | Insurance | Lending | Wealth Management

Visit Us | To learn more, visit us during our extended weekday and Saturday hours at one of our convenient locations in Greensboro, Summerfield and Oak Ridge, North Carolina, or call 336.644.9944, or online at www.BankofOakRidge.com.

Forward-looking Information
This form contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company.  These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management of the Company and on the information available to management at the time that these disclosures were prepared. These statements can be identified by the use of words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate” and “believe,” variations of these words and other similar expressions.  Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, (1) competition in the Company’s markets, (2) changes in the interest rate environment, (3) general national, regional or local economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and the possible impairment of collectability of loans, (4) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, (5) significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment and tax laws, (6) the impact of changes in monetary and fiscal policies, laws, rules and regulations and (7) other risks and factors identified in the Company’s other filings with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets September 30, 2016 (unaudited) and December 31, 2015 (audited) (Dollars in thousands)
	2016				2015
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	7,055			$	6,357
Interest-bearing deposits with banks		8,516				9,611
Federal Funds sold		3,156				2,061
Total cash and cash equivalents		18,727				18,029
Securities available-for-sale		45,723				46,526
Securities held-to-maturity (fair values of $1,621 in 2016 and $1,936 in 2015)		1,502				1,771
Federal Home Loan Bank Stock, at cost		684				680
Loans held for sale		92				582
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $3,714 in 2016 and $3,898 in 2015		296,023				275,972
Property and equipment, net		8,866				8,056
Foreclosed assets		4				44
Accrued interest receivable		1,244				1,260
Bank owned life insurance		5,513				5,441
Other assets		2,579				2,870
Total assets	$	380,957			$	361,231
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing	$	47,305			$	43,582
Interest-bearing		277,795				264,996
Total deposits		325,100				308,578
Short-term borrowings		8,500				8,500
Long-term borrowings		1,625				2,000
Junior subordinated notes related to trust preferred securities		8,248				8,248
Subordinated debentures		5,519				-
Accrued interest payable		135				122
Other liabilities		4,234				4,081
Total liabilities		353,361				331,529
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, Series A, no par value, $1,000 per share liquidation preference; 7,700 shares authorized; 0 and 5,200 issued and outstanding in 2016 and 2015, respectively		-				5,191
Common stock, no par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 2,386,514 and 2,257,891 issued and outstanding in 2016 and 2015, respectively		19,875				19,241
Retained earnings		6,051				4,329
Accumulated other comprehensive income		1,670				941
Total stockholders’ equity		27,596				29,702
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	380,957			$	361,231

	Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (Dollars in thousands except per share data)
			Three months ended September 30,											Nine months ended September 30,
			2016					2015						2016				2015
	Interest and dividend income
	Loans and fees on loans			$	3,624			$	3,404					$	10,598			$	10,252
	Interest on deposits in banks				12				8						38				21
	Federal Home Loan Bank stock dividends				4				5						16				14
	Investment securities				354				389						1,110				1,253
	Total interest and dividend income				3,994				3,806						11,762				11,540
	Interest expense
	Deposits				487				447						1,456				1,360
	Short-term and long-term debt				176				47						301				156
	Total interest expense				663				494						1,757				1,516
	Net interest income				3,331				3,312						10,005				10,024
	Provision for loan losses				(100		)		(250		)				(150		)		(525		)
	Net interest income after provision for loan losses				3,431				3,562						10,155				10,549
	Noninterest income
	Service charges on deposit accounts				181				184						528				559
	Gain on sale of securities				275				25						275				699
	Gain (loss) on sale of property and equipment				-				-						(1		)		-
	Gain on sale of mortgage loans				61				28						102				101
	Investment commissions				20				12						38				32
	Insurance commissions				74				55						178				146
	Fee income from accounts receivable financing				46				60						150				200
	Debit card interchange income				229				230						685				664
	Income earned on bank owned life insurance				24				28						73				84
	Impairment loss on securities				(11		)		(29		)				(18		)		(65		)
	Other service charges and fees				79				68						296				202
	Total noninterest income				978				661						2,306				2,622
	Noninterest expense
	Salaries				1,683				1,475						4,750				4,390
	Employee benefits				247				181						702				689
	Occupancy expense				181				177						566				568
	Equipment expense				186				192						505				561
	Data and item processing				379				364						1,124				983
	Professional and advertising				212				201						617				577
	Stationary and supplies				59				52						184				193
	Net cost of foreclosed assets				-				(18		)				13				262
	Telecommunications expense				104				79						311				340
	FDIC assessment				60				56						174				194
	Accounts receivable financing expense				14				18						45				61
	Other expense				217				233						582				878
	Total noninterest expense				3,342				3,010						9,573				9,696
	Income before income taxes				1,067				1,213						2,888				3,475
	Income tax expense				355				387						872				1,080
	Net income			$	712			$	826					$	2,016			$	2,395
	Preferred stock dividends				-				(117		)				(234		)		(351		)
	Net income available to common stockholders			$	712			$	709					$	1,782			$	2,044
	Basic net income per common share			$	0.30			$	0.32					$	0.76			$	0.93
	Diluted income per common share			$	0.30			$	0.32					$	0.76			$	0.93
	Basic weighted average common shares outstanding				2,386,514				2,201,392						2,348,571				2,186,653
	Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding				2,397,723				2,211,267						2,359,667				2,195,744

Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. Selected Quarterly Financial Ratios (unaudited)
Selected Financial Ratios	September  30, 2016			June 30, 2016			March 31,   2016			December   31, 2015			September   30, 2015
Return on average assets1		0.76	%		0.81	%		0.62	%		0.64	%		0.92	%
Return on average common stockholders' equity1		10.30	%		9.61	%		6.99	%		7.52	%		12.59	%
Net interest margin1		3.77	%		3.81	%		3.88	%		3.96	%		3.92	%
Net interest income to average assets1		3.54	%		3.65	%		3.67	%		3.69	%		3.69	%
Efficiency ratio		77.6	%		77.3	%		78.4	%		76.8	%		75.8	%
Nonperforming assets to total assets		0.90	%		0.82	%		0.83	%		0.85	%		0.88	%
1Annualized

Contact: Thomas W. Wayne, President and CFO
Phone: 336-644-9944