ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., April 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNOB) (the “Company” or “ConnectOne”), parent company of ConnectOne Bank (the “Bank”), today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016.  The Company reported first quarter 2016 net income available to common stockholders of $10.4 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, compared with $9.5 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2015 and $10.4 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2015.

In addition to the results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), ConnectOne routinely supplements its evaluation with an analysis of certain non-GAAP financial measures including net income available to common stockholders excluding non-core items. ConnectOne believes these non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to the related GAAP measures, provide meaningful information to investors in understanding our operating performance and trends, and facilitates comparisons with the performance of peers. Reconciliations of non-GAAP disclosures used in this earnings release to the comparable GAAP measures are provided in the accompanying tables.

First quarter 2016 results reflect the following non-core items, on an after-tax basis: $0.9 million of income resulting from accretion of purchase accounting fair value marks; $0.2 million in additional loan and lease loss provision related to the maturity and extension of acquired portfolio loans; $1.0 million in additional provision associated with the Bank’s New York City taxi medallion loan portfolio; $0.1 million of pension settlement expenses, which had no impact on total stockholders’ equity or book value per share; and $0.1 million in amortization of intangible assets. Excluding noncore items, net income available to common stockholders was $10.9 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for both the first quarter of 2016 and the sequential fourth quarter of 2015, and $9.9 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2015. (See Supplemental GAAP and non-GAAP Financial Measures for a reconciliation of GAAP earnings and noncore measures for all periods discussed above.)    

“We are off to a solid start in 2016,” commented Frank Sorrentino, ConnectOne’s Chairman and CEO.  “We executed on our business plan by delivering continued organic loan growth at attractive yields despite the difficult interest rate and regulatory environment currently weighing on our industry. A substantial portion of our loan portfolio is tied to commercial real estate, and our policies and procedures reflect our proficiency in this area, remaining consistent and compliant with regulatory guidance and scrutiny. While many other banks in our region have pulled back from commercial real estate lending due to concentration or other limitations, we continue to originate new loans across all of our lending units.  As a result, our loan portfolio increased by $165 million from year-end 2015, reflecting an annualized growth rate in excess of 20%.  Return on assets was in excess of 1% and return on tangible equity was in excess of 13% despite an additional $1.5 million of pre-tax reserves set aside for our NYC taxi medallion portfolio.  Operating efficiency was approximately 43%, which was slightly higher for ConnectOne due to seasonal factors and one-time items, yet we remain one of the most efficient banks in the nation. Additionally, our Small Business Lending Fund (“SBLF”) preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury was repaid during the quarter. Our loan pipeline remains strong, with growth expected to be in the mid- to high-teens as the year progresses.” 

Operating Results

Fully taxable equivalent net interest income for the first quarter of 2016 was $32.0 million, an increase of $0.9 million, or 2.8%, from the sequential fourth quarter. This was a result of a 4.1% increase in average interest-earning assets and a one basis-point widening of the net interest rate margin. Included in net interest income was accretion and amortization of purchase accounting adjustments of $1.3 million during the first quarter of 2016 and $1.4 million in the sequential fourth quarter.  Excluding these purchase accounting adjustments, the adjusted net interest margin was 3.31% in the first quarter of 2016, widening by two basis points from the 2015 sequential fourth quarter adjusted net interest margin of 3.29%.  The increase in the adjusted net interest margin in the first quarter of 2016 versus the sequential fourth quarter was attributable to an increase in prepayment fee income, partially offset by a modest increase in funding rates. 

Fully taxable equivalent net interest income for the first quarter of 2016 was $32.0 million, an increase of $3.1 million, or 10.7%, from the same quarter of 2015. This was a result of a 17.2% increase in average interest-earning assets due to significant organic loan growth, partially offset by a 23 basis-point contraction of the net interest margin. Included in net interest income was accretion and amortization of purchase accounting adjustments of $1.3 million during the first quarter of 2016 and $1.8 million in the same quarter of 2015.  Excluding these purchase accounting adjustments, the adjusted net interest margin was 3.31% in the first quarter of 2016, 15 basis points lower than the 2015 first quarter adjusted net interest margin of 3.46%. The reduction in the adjusted net interest margin in the first quarter of 2016 versus the same 2015 period was attributable to a decline in yield on loans combined with an increase in overall funding rates.  The decline in loan yields largely reflects the impact of a protracted low interest rate environment, while the increase in the cost of funds was due to the June 30, 2015 issuance of approximately $50 million in subordinated debt, the extension of liability duration in connection with interest rate risk management, and the impact of an increasingly competitive environment for deposit funds.

Noninterest income, excluding net securities gains, totaled $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2016, $1.2 million in the sequential fourth quarter and $1.0 million for the first quarter of 2015. There were no securities sold during the first quarter of 2016. Securities gains were $1.1 million and $0.5 million for the sequential fourth quarter and the first quarter of 2015, respectively.  Noninterest income also includes bank-owned life insurance income, deposit and loan fees, annuities and life insurance commissions, and gains on sales of residential mortgages in the secondary market. In total, noninterest income represents a relatively small portion of the Bank’s total revenue.

Noninterest expenses totaled $14.4 million for the first quarter of 2016, an increase of $0.8 million from $13.6 million for the sequential fourth quarter.  The increase was a result of higher salary and employee benefits expense due to salary increases, higher payroll tax expense, and severance, as well as higher occupancy and equipment expenses including snow removal and several one-time expense items related to leases and service contracts. Noninterest expenses for the first quarter of 2016 increased by $1.7 million from the prior year quarter, largely attributable to a $1.0 million increase in salary and employee benefits, $0.2 million in professional and consulting expense, $0.2 in occupancy and equipment expense, and $0.1 million in data processing, all resulting from increased levels of business and staff resulting from organic growth.

Income tax expense was $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2016, compared to $4.6 million for the sequential fourth quarter and $5.0 million for the first quarter of 2015, resulting in effective tax rates of 31.5%, 32.6% and 32.6% for the first quarter of 2016, sequential fourth quarter and first quarter of 2015, respectively. The effective tax rate for the full year 2016 is currently expected to be approximately 31.5%.

Asset Quality

The provision for loan and lease losses decreased by $2.1 million to $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $5.1 million in the sequential fourth quarter.  The first quarter of 2016 included $1.5 million in additional specific allocations associated with the Bank’s taxi medallion portfolio, down from $2.5 million added during the sequential fourth quarter.  In addition, the fourth quarter of 2015 provision included a $1.3 million specific allocation related to a former operations center of legacy Union Center National Bank that was repositioned as a lease financing receivable.

The provision for loan and lease losses increased by $1.2 million to $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2015.  The increase was primarily attributable to $1.5 million of specific allocations to the Bank’s taxi medallion portfolio, partially offset by a reduced level of non-Taxi specific allocations.

As of March 31, 2016, loans secured by New York City taxi medallions totaled $103.2 million, of which $99.9 million was current and $1.4 million was past due 30-59 days.  Troubled debt restructurings associated with this portfolio totaled $86.4 million and total nonaccrual loans were $1.9 million.  The net average loan-to-value ratio of the medallion portfolio was approximately 92%, assuming valuations of approximately $775 thousand for corporate medallions and $650 thousand for individual medallions.  These valuations declined from year-end levels of $800 thousand for corporate and $700 thousand for individual.

Nonperforming assets, which includes nonaccrual loans and other real estate owned, were $23.1 million at March 31, 2016, $23.3 million at December 31, 2015, and $15.5 million at March 31, 2015. Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets were 0.57% at March 31, 2016, 0.58% at December 31, 2015, and 0.44% at March 31, 2015. Annualized net charge-offs were 0.06% for the first quarter 2016, 0.00% for the sequential fourth quarter, and 0.01% in the first quarter of 2015. The allowance for loan and lease losses was $29.1 million, representing 0.89% of loans receivable and 135.5% of nonaccrual loans at March 31, 2016. At December 31, 2015, the allowance was $26.6 million representing 0.86% of loans receivable and 128.1% of nonaccrual loans, and at March 31, 2015, the allowance was $15.9 million representing 0.60% of loans receivable and 109.2% of nonaccrual loans. In purchase accounting, any allowance for loan and lease losses on an acquired loan portfolio is reversed and a credit risk discount is applied directly to the acquired loan balances. In Management’s opinion, a useful non-GAAP metric is the ratio of allowance for loan and lease losses plus the credit risk discount to total loans receivable. This non-GAAP ratio was 1.26% at March 31, 2016, 1.28% at December 31, 2015, and 1.20% at March 31, 2015. (See Supplemental GAAP and non-GAAP Financial Measures).

Selected Balance Sheet Items

At March 31, 2016, the Company’s total assets were $4.1 billion, an increase of $74 million from December 31, 2015. Loans receivable were $3.3 billion, reflecting net loan growth (loan originations less pay-downs and pay-offs) of $165 million from December 31, 2015, primarily attributable to multi-family ($32 million, excluding a $28 million loan reclassified during the current quarter as multi-family from other commercial real estate), commercial and industrial (“C&I”) ($32 million), other commercial real estate ($29 million, excluding the aforementioned reclassification) and construction ($74 million). Management’s current intent is to maintain a multi-family portfolio concentration in the range of 25-30% of total loans, while growing the C&I and construction segments. The growth in loans was funded with increases in deposits, borrowings and subordinated debt.

The Company’s stockholders’ equity was $475 million at March 31, 2016, a decrease of $3 million from December 31, 2015. The decrease in stockholders’ equity was due to the $11.25 million payoff of our SBLF preferred stock, offset by an increase of $8 million in retained earnings and approximately $1 million of equity issuance related to stock-based compensation, including the exercise of options. As of March 31, 2016, the Company’s tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per share were 8.25% and $10.78, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, the tangible common equity ratio and tangible book value per share were 8.18% and $10.51, respectively. Total goodwill and other intangible assets were $150 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

About ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.

ConnectOne is a New Jersey corporation and a registered bank holding company pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and serves as the holding company for ConnectOne Bank ("the Bank"). The Bank is a community-based, full-service New Jersey-chartered commercial bank that was founded in 2005. The Bank operates from its headquarters located at 301 Sylvan Avenue in the Borough of Englewood Cliffs, Bergen County, New Jersey, and through its 20 other banking offices.

For more information visit https://www.ConnectOneBank.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," or similar expressions. The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in Item 1A – Risk Factors of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities Exchange Commission, and changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board, the quality or composition of the loan or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows, competition, demand for financial services in the Company's market area and accounting principles and guidelines. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Investor Contact:

William S. Burns
Executive VP & CFO
201.816.4474; bburns@cnob.com

Media Contact:
Christine Marra, MWW
646.215.6888; cmarra@mww.com

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