• Solid Net Income showed positive quarter over quarter growth
• Quarterly earnings per share growth of 11.1% over prior quarter
• Book value increased 12.0% to $13.37 per share year over year
• Continued growth shown in assets and core deposits

FENTON, Mich., Aug. 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fentura Financial, Inc. reported net income for the three months ended June 30, 2016 of $1.0 million compared to earnings of $921,000 reported for the first quarter of 2016 and $1.2 million reported for the three months ended June 30, 2015. On a pre-tax, pre-provison basis net income was $1.5 million in the current quarter compared to $1.4 million in the prior quarter and $1.8 million reported for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.  For the six months ended June 30, 2016 the Company reported net income of $1.9 million compared to earnings of $2.0 million for the same period in 2015.

“We continue to work toward regulatory approval of our announced acquisition of Community State Bank, while producing Quarter over Quarter improvement in Earnings and strong Balance Sheet growth,” Ronald L. Justice, President and CEO said. “We look forward to integrating those customers and employees into our family and are optimistic that the acquired markets provide potential new customers as well. Additionally, while competitive, our legacy markets continue to provide solid pipelines for business, municipal and consumer account growth.”

Balance Sheet

Total assets increased $18.1 million or 4.0% at June 30, 2016 compared to March 31, 2016, ending the quarter at $473.7 million.  When compared to December 31, 2015, assets at June 30, 2016, increased $28.7 million or 6.4%.  Cash and due from banks totals increased 26.4%, to $35.0 million at June 30, 2016 compared to the $27.7 million reported at March 31, 2016.  Cash totals increased during the quarter primarily due to core funding growth outpacing loan growth.  Gross loan balances increased $9.9 million or 2.6% quarter over quarter. Both consumer and mortgage loan portfolios grew during the quarter, while commercial loans saw a slight decline. All three portfolios showed growth over year end 2015 levels. Loans totaled $396.6 million at June 30, 2016.  Year over year, loans increased $52.8 million or 15.4%.  The increase in loans resulted from the Company’s efforts to grow its loan portfolio with new and existing clients.  Additionally, the Company has continued to have success in offering customers products whose terms help manage interest rate risk in changing interest rate environments.           

Deposit totals of $393.6 million, showed an increase of $17.2 million or 4.6% compared to the $376.4 million reported at March 31, 2016.  The increase has primarily been in non-interest bearing and other non-maturity deposits as the Company continues to have success in acquiring new clients and increasing wallet share of current clients.  We have seen an increase in municipal cash holdings based on our efforts to grow these relationships.  A portion of municipal deposits can have seasonal volatility, though no indications have been made that the balances will see material decreases in the near term. Additionally, commercial deposit account growth has been strong.  For the six months ended June 30, 2016, deposits increased $17.6 million or 4.7%.

Capital

Fentura Financial, Inc. and The State Bank continue to maintain capital in excess of levels considered well capitalized by regulatory agencies. The Bank’s regulatory capital ratios are detailed in the table that follows, and indicate the Bank’s strong Tier 1 Leverage Capital Ratio at June 30, 2016, December 31, 2015, and June 30, 2015.   As the table reflects, while the Bank saw a marginal weakening in the Tier 1 Leverage Capital ratio during 2016 due primarily to asset growth outpacing earnings, both Risk-Based Capital ratios increased year to date and compared to June 30, 2015, primarily due to changes in the balance sheet mix and strong earnings.

Credit Quality

The Company continued to benefit from credit quality improvement during the 2^nd quarter of 2016.   At June 30, 2016 loan delinquencies to total loans were 0.02% compared to 0.14% and 0.12% at March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2015, respectively.  Substandard assets totaled $472,000 at the end of the second quarter down slightly from the $724,000 reported at March 31, 2016 and down significantly from the $1.2 million reported at June 30, 2015. These numbers tend to be leading indicators of losses in the loan portfolio and are monitored monthly. The allowance for loan losses is calculated on a quarterly basis and at the end of the current quarter the Company believes that the allowance for loan loss is adequate to absorb losses inherent in the portfolio.  Continued improvement in credit quality metrics could result in further releases of previously provided reserves for loan losses, as seen in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income of $3.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 reflects no change compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2016 and an 11.4% increase relative to the $3.5 million reported for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.    The increase relative to the prior year is attributable to improved levels of interest income from loan growth.  While the portfolios showed increases over prior periods, the net interest margin declined modestly during the period, largely due to the competitive marketplace and the Company’s strategy to offer competitively priced variable rate loans in order to more effectively manage the Company’s interest rate risk. Additionally, funding growth has outpaced loan growth, with the proceeds not yet being reinvested in the loan portfolio. This also caused a slight depression in the net interest margin, though at the same time enhancing the Company’s liquidity position.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income was $1.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 compared to $1.5 million for the first quarter of 2016 and $2.1 million for the second quarter of 2015.  The decline from the prior year is due primarily to a one-time gain on the sale of a security at the holding company taken in 2015 as well as the loss of income from data processing services previously rendered to an unrelated financial institution, partially offset by an increase in mortgage banking income.  For the six months ended June 30, 2016, noninterest income of $3.0 million represents a decrease of $700,000 or 18.9% over the same period in 2015.  The decrease is primarily attributable to the above mentioned items.

Noninterest Expense

The Company recorded $3.9 million of noninterest expense in the quarter ended June 30, 2016, down from the $4.0 million reported in the first quarter of 2016 and up slightly from the $3.8 million reported in the second quarter of 2015.  The current quarter increase over the prior quarter is primarily attributable to salary and benefits.  These expenses decreased largely due to commissions paid associated with mortgage loan volumes and the decline in gains on the sales of these loans in the secondary market.  For the six months ended June 30, 2016, noninterest expense totaled $8.0 million an increase over the $7.6 million reported for the same period of 2015.  The increase is attributable to increases in salary and benefits and other operating expenses, partially offset by a decline in loan and collection expenses.  Salary and benefits expense increased in 2016 due to general annual salary increases, the rising cost of providing medical benefits, commission expenses and increase to the formal annual bonus program.  The increase in other expenses is primarily due diligence costs related to the acquisition of Community State Bank along with other risk mitigation activities that the Company has undertaken.

Fentura Financial, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Fenton, Michigan.  Its subsidiary bank, The State Bank, is also headquartered in Fenton with offices serving Fenton, Linden, Holly, Grand Blanc and Brighton. The Bank offers comprehensive financial services including commercial, consumer, mortgage, trust and financial planning services, and deposit products.  The Bank proudly provides services from its community offices in Genesee, Oakland and Livingston Counties and through on-line and mobile banking services.  More information about The State Bank is available at www.thestatebank.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future growth in earning assets and net income.  Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting the Company's operations, markets, products, services, interest rates and fees for services. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

Contact:
Ronald L. Justice
President & CEO
Fentura Financial, Inc.
(810) 714-3902