/EINPresswire.com/ -- CLEARFIELD, PA--(Marketwired - October 20, 2016) - CNB Financial Corporation ("CNB") (NASDAQ: CCNE), the parent company of CNB Bank, today announced its earnings for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016. Highlights include the following:

• Net income of $6.4 million, or $0.44 per share, in the third quarter of 2016, compared to net income of $5.5 million, or $0.38 per share, in the third quarter of 2015.
• Pre-tax income of $9.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, compared to pre-tax income of $7.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, excluding the effects of realized gains on the sale of available-for-sale securities and certain one-time costs as described in the financial tables.
• Net income of $15.5 million, or $1.07 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to net income of $16.7 million, or $1.16 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
• Pre-tax income of $23.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to pre-tax income of $22.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, excluding the effects of realized gains on the sale of available-for-sale securities and certain one-time costs as described in the financial tables.
• Loans of $1.80 billion as of September 30, 2016, including loans acquired from Lake National Bank of $126.1 million, compared to loans of $1.52 billion as of September 30, 2015.
• Deposits of $2.02 billion as of September 30, 2016, including deposits acquired from Lake National Bank of $139.6 million, compared to deposits of $1.85 billion as of September 30, 2015.
• Tangible book value per share of $11.97 as of September 30, 2016, an increase of 1.4% over tangible book value per share of $11.80 as of September 30, 2015, even after considering intangible assets associated with the acquisition of Lake National Bank.
• Non-performing assets of $16.5 million, or 0.65% of total assets as of September 30, 2016, compared to $12.9 million, or 0.57% of total assets, as of September 30, 2015.

CNB acquired Lake National Bank ("LNB") on July 15, 2016. Under the terms of the merger agreement, LNB merged with and into CNB Bank, with CNB being the surviving corporation of the merger. Cash consideration paid to LNB shareholders was $24.75 million, and goodwill of $12.0 million was recorded in the combination.

In September 2016, CNB completed a private placement of $50 million, in aggregate principal amount, of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes. These subordinated notes were designed to qualify as Tier 2 capital under the Federal Reserve's capital guidelines and were given an investment grade rating of BBB- by Kroll Bond Rating Agency. CNB injected the net proceeds from the subordinated notes into its bank subsidiary, CNB Bank, and intends to use the capital for general corporate purposes, including loan growth, additional liquidity, and working capital.

"The successful closing of our previously announced acquisition of Lake National Bank is already providing CNB with enhanced commercial lending opportunities in the greater Cleveland market, and our entry into the Buffalo market is ahead of plan." Joseph B. Bower, Jr., President and CEO, went on to say, "The issuance of subordinated notes at the end of the third quarter and resulting increase in regulatory capital will facilitate the continued expansion of our franchise in both new and legacy markets."

Net Interest Margin

Net interest margin on a fully tax equivalent basis was 3.76% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to 3.74% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Net accretion included in loan interest income in the first nine months of 2016 related to acquired loans was $694 thousand, resulting in an increase in the net interest margin of 4 basis points. Net accretion included in loan interest income in the first nine months of 2015 related to acquired loans was $1.9 million, resulting in an increase in the net interest margin of 12 basis points.

Consistent with the trends across the financial services industry during this historically low interest rate environment, during 2015 and the first nine months of 2016, CNB experienced continued pressure on its net interest margin as a result of loans repricing downward and new loans with market yields significantly below historical averages. Throughout the current interest rate cycle, CNB has been able to gradually lower its cost of funds, primarily through disciplined deposit pricing and refinancing of long-term borrowings. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 65 basis points during the first nine months of 2016, compared to 72 basis points during the first nine months of 2015.

Asset Quality

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, CNB recorded a provision for loan losses of $622 thousand and $2.0 million, as compared to a provision for loan losses of $463 thousand and $1.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. Net chargeoffs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $907 thousand and $3.1 million, as compared to $731 thousand and $2.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. As a result of the purchase accounting requirements associated with a business combination, the allowance for loan losses previously recorded by LNB did not carry over to the financial statements of CNB. Instead, CNB recorded a fair value adjustment to the loans acquired from LNB resulting in a reduction in the loan balance of $4.3 million, which will be accreted into loan income in proportion to the reduction of the loan principal balances.

The increase in chargeoffs was primarily attributable to consumer loans held in CNB's consumer discount company, Holiday Financial Services Corporation. There were no new impaired commercial loan relationships that required a significant loss reserve in the first nine months of 2016. In addition, one impaired commercial and industrial loan that had a loss reserve of $671 thousand at June 30, 2016 was repaid in full in July 2016, resulting in no loss to CNB.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income was $4.5 million and $13.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to $4.0 million and $12.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. In the second quarter of 2016, CNB realized gains on the sale of available-for-sale securities in the amount of $1.0 million, including $922 thousand on the sale of two structured pooled trust preferred securities that had no carrying value due to other-than-temporary impairment charges recorded in previous periods.

Non-Interest Expenses

Total non-interest expenses were $17.1 million and $50.7 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to $15.0 million and $43.4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. Throughout 2015 and the first nine months of 2016, CNB made numerous infrastructure, personnel, and technology investments to facilitate its continued growth. In order to better serve our customers and improve operational efficiencies, CNB completed a core processing system upgrade in May 2016. Included in non-interest expenses in 2016 are $3.6 million of non-recurring items, with costs associated with our core processing system upgrade of $1.6 million, merger related expenses of $481 thousand, and a prepayment penalty associated with the early payoff of long-term borrowings of $1.5 million. The borrowings totaled $40 million and carried interest rates ranging from 3.97% to 4.60%, and the resulting interest expense savings are projected at $870 thousand for 2016 and $1.0 million for 2017.

Salaries and benefits expense increased $2.2 million, or 10.1%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2015. As of September 30, 2016, CNB had 471 full-time equivalent staff, compared to 430 full-time equivalent staff as of September 30, 2015. The staff added during this period included both customer-facing personnel such as business development and wealth management officers, as well as support department personnel. In addition, CNB retained 20 employees in connection with its acquisition of Lake National Bank.

About CNB Financial Corporation

CNB Financial Corporation is a financial holding company with consolidated assets of approximately $2.5 billion that conducts business primarily through CNB Bank, CNB Financial Corporation's principal subsidiary. CNB Bank is a full-service bank engaging in a full range of banking activities and services, including trust and wealth management services, for individual, business, governmental, and institutional customers. CNB Bank operations include a private banking division, three loan production offices, 31 full-service offices in Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio, including ERIEBANK, a division of CNB Bank, and 9 full-service offices in central Ohio conducting business as FCBank, a division of CNB Bank. More information about CNB and CNB Bank may be found on the internet at www.cnbbank.bank.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to CNB's financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, future performance and business. These forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are those that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond CNB's control). Forward-looking statements often include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "plans," "targets," "potentially," "probably," "projects," "outlook" or similar expressions or future conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would" and "could." CNB's actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, which are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. For more information about factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of and the forward-looking statement disclaimers in CNB's annual and quarterly reports.

The forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs and assumptions and are made as of the date of this press release. CNB undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this press release or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur and you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.