/EINPresswire.com/ -- DENVER, CO --(Marketwired - October 26, 2016) - Guaranty Bancorp (NASDAQ: GBNK)

• Completed the merger with Home State Bancorp on September 8, 2016, adding $445.5 million in loans and $769.7 million in deposits
• Systems integration is expected to be completed by November 7, 2016, offering customers an expanded branch network
• Grew loans by $68.9 million, or 14.4% annualized, during the third quarter 2016, excluding loans acquired in the merger with Home State Bancorp
• Increased deposits by $135.0 million, or 29.1% annualized, during the third quarter 2016, excluding deposits acquired in the merger with Home State Bancorp
• Reduced the nonperforming asset ratio to 0.19% at September 30, 2016, as compared to 0.69% at September 30, 2015

Guaranty Bancorp (NASDAQ: GBNK) ("we", "our" or "the Company"), a community bank holding company based in Colorado, today announced third quarter 2016 net income of $5.8 million, or $0.25 per basic and diluted common share, as compared to $6.0 million, or $0.28 per basic and diluted common share in the third quarter 2015. Third quarter 2016 net income was impacted by $2.2 million in merger-related expenses. Third quarter 2016 operating earnings¹ increased 21.6% to $7.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted common share, as compared to the third quarter 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net income was $17.0 million or $0.78 per basic common share and $0.77 per diluted common share as compared to $16.6 million, or $0.79 per basic common share and $0.78 per diluted common share for the same period in 2015. Year-to-date 2016 net income includes $3.2 million in merger-related expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, operating earnings increased $2.6 million, or 15.4% to $19.2 million; an increase of $0.09 per diluted common share as compared to the same period in 2015.

"We are pleased to close our merger with Home State Bancorp and further our commitment to serving the financial needs of businesses and consumers in the state of Colorado," said Paul W. Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Bancorp. "The integration of our systems is expected to be completed on November 7th and our teams are diligently working to ensure a smooth transition as we move forward as one bank. Throughout this process, we have also remained focused on our business. Excluding loans and deposits acquired in the merger with Home State Bancorp, annualized loan and deposit growth was 14.4% and 29.1%, respectively, during the third quarter of 2016. In addition, we had an operating return on average assets of 1.11% during the third quarter of 2016. Following the system integration in the fourth quarter, we are poised to deliver long-term value for our customers, communities, employees and shareholders."

During the third quarter 2016, operating earnings increased $1.3 million, as compared to the same quarter in 2015, primarily due to a $3.3 million increase in net interest income and a $0.3 million increase in deposit service and other fees, partially offset by a $1.3 million increase in salaries and employee benefits and an increase in income tax expense due to an increase in pretax income. The $3.3 million increase in net interest income in the third quarter 2016, as compared to the third quarter 2015, was due to a combination of a $331.0 million, or 15.5% increase in average earning assets and a $0.8 million interest income recovery on a nonaccrual loan during the third quarter 2016. This interest recovery had a seven basis point impact on the quarterly operating return on average assets. Net income decreased $0.2 million for the third quarter 2016, as compared to the same quarter in 2015, due to a $3.8 million increase in noninterest expense, primarily merger-related expenses, mostly offset by a $3.3 million increase in net interest income and a $0.3 million increase in noninterest income. The merger-related expenses incurred in the third quarter 2016 were $2.2 million, consisting of $1.4 million in salaries and employee benefit expense related to severance and retention payments and $0.8 million in other general and administrative expense.

As compared to the second quarter 2016, third quarter 2016 operating earnings increased $1.2 million, or 20.3% to $7.3 million primarily due to a $2.9 million increase in net interest income and a $0.3 million increase in deposit service and other fees, partially offset by a $1.1 million increase in salaries and employee benefits expense. The $2.9 million increase in net interest income in the third quarter 2016, as compared to the second quarter 2016, was mostly related to a $238.2 million increase in average earning assets, partially due to the transaction with Home State Bancorp (Home State). Third quarter 2016 net income increased $0.1 million to $5.8 million, as compared to the second quarter 2016, primarily due to a $2.9 million increase in net interest income and a $0.6 million increase noninterest income, partially offset by a $3.5 million increase in noninterest expense. The $3.5 million increase in noninterest expense in the third quarter 2016 as compared to the second quarter 2016, was primarily related to a $1.9 million increase in merger-related expenses and a $0.8 million increase in salaries and employee benefits expense related to the transaction with Home State.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, operating earnings increased 15.4%, or $2.6 million, as compared to the same period in 2015 due to a $5.4 million increase in net interest income, mostly due to a $249.9 million, or 12.1% increase in average earning assets, partially offset by a $2.0 million increase in salaries and employee benefits and an increase in income taxes due to an increase in pretax income. Net income increased $0.4 million for the first nine months of 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, due to the $5.4 million increase in net interest income, as discussed above, partially offset by a $4.5 million increase in noninterest expense, primarily due to $3.2 million in merger-related expenses incurred in 2016 and $0.8 million in salaries and benefit expenses related to the transaction with Home State.

As a direct result of the recently completed transaction with Home State, the Company improved its liquidity position as well as its concentration of commercial real estate during the third quarter 2016. The loan-to-deposit ratio decreased from 102.8% at June 30, 2016 to 87.7% at September 30, 2016, providing additional liquidity for continued balance sheet growth. In addition, our total commercial real estate as a percent of capital (CRE2 Ratio) fell significantly from 360% at June 30, 2016 to 314% at September 30, 2016. Commercial real estate is defined as our total reported loans secured by multifamily and non-farm residential properties, loans for construction, land development and other land and loans otherwise sensitive to the general commercial real estate market, including loans to commercial real estate related entities.

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¹ This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company's operational performance and to enhance investors' overall understanding of the Company's core financial performance. See the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section later in this press release for a definition of operating earnings and other non-GAAP measures.

Net interest income increased $3.3 million in the third quarter 2016, as compared to the same quarter in 2015, due to a $4.5 million increase in interest income, partially offset by a $1.1 million increase in interest expense. The increase in interest income was the result of a $307.4 million, or 18.0% increase in average loan balances in the third quarter 2016 as compared to the same quarter in 2015, a $0.8 million interest income recovery on a nonaccrual loan received in the third quarter 2016 and $0.3 million related to accretion of the discount applied to loans acquired in the Home State transaction. The increase in interest expense was due to a $0.5 million increase in subordinated debt expense, a $0.3 million increase in Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) borrowings expense and a $0.4 million increase in interest expense on deposits. On July 18, 2016, we issued $40.0 million of unsecured fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes, to raise the cash consideration paid to the shareholders of Home State in connection with the transaction. FHLB borrowing expense increased in the third quarter 2016, as compared to the same quarter in 2015, as a result of fixed-rate hedged borrowings, $25.0 million of which became effective in the third quarter 2015 and $25.0 million of which became effective in the first quarter 2016. Interest expense on deposits increased in the third quarter 2016, as compared to the third quarter 2015, due to higher average deposit balances, attributable to both organic growth and the Home State transaction.

As compared to the second quarter 2016, net interest income increased by $2.9 million due to a $3.5 million increase in interest income, partially offset by a $0.6 million increase in interest expense. The increase in interest income during the third quarter 2016, as compared to the second quarter 2016, was primarily due to a $165.3 million increase in average loan balances and a $37.7 million increase in average investment balances. The $0.6 million increase in interest expense in the third quarter 2016, as compared to the second quarter 2016, was mostly due to the newly issued $40.0 million of unsecured fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes, discussed above.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net interest income increased $5.4 million, as compared to the same period in 2015, due to an $8.2 million increase in interest income, partially offset by a $2.7 million increase in interest expense. The year-to-date increase in interest income was driven by a $274.0 million, or 16.9% increase in average loans, as compared to the same period in 2015. The $2.7 million increase in interest expense during the first nine months of 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, was due to a $1.2 million increase in FHLB borrowing expense, a $1.0 million increase in interest expense on deposits, and a $0.6 million increase in interest expense on subordinated debt. As outlined above, the increased cost of FHLB borrowings was the result of our hedged borrowings becoming fully effective, increased borrowing levels required to fund loan growth, and an increase in short-term, variable rates resulting from the December 2015 federal funds interest rate increase. The increase in interest expense on deposits in the first nine months of 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, was the result of a five basis point increase in weighted average cost and a $185.1 million increase in average balances. The increase in interest expense on subordinated debt in the first nine months of 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, was mostly due to the newly issued $40.0 million of unsecured fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes, discussed above.

Third quarter 2016 noninterest income was $4.7 million as compared to $4.1 million in the second quarter 2016 and $4.4 million in the third quarter 2015.

The $0.6 million increase in noninterest income in the third quarter 2016, as compared to the second quarter 2016, was primarily due to a $0.3 million increase in deposit service and other fees, primarily generated by deposits acquired in the transaction with Home State as well as smaller increases in other categories. The $0.3 million increase in noninterest income in the third quarter 2016, as compared to the third quarter 2015, was attributable to an increase in deposit service and other fees primarily generated by deposits acquired in the transaction with Home State.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, noninterest income increased $0.1 million to $13.0 million as compared to $12.9 million for the same period in 2015.

Third quarter 2016 noninterest expense was $18.6 million as compared to $15.1 million in the second quarter 2016 and $14.9 million in the third quarter 2015. The Company's tax equivalent efficiency ratio was 56.78% for the third quarter 2016, as compared to 59.08% in the second quarter 2016, and 58.75% in the third quarter 2015.

Third quarter 2016 noninterest expense increased $3.5 million, as compared to the second quarter 2016, primarily as a result of a $1.9 million increase in merger-related expenses; consisting of a $1.4 million increase in salaries and employee benefit expense related to severance and retention payments and a $0.5 million increase in other general and administrative expenses. Excluding of the merger-related expenses included in salaries and employee benefits, this category of expense increased $1.1 million, mostly due to expenses related to the employees acquired in the Home State transaction.

Noninterest expense increased by $3.8 million in the third quarter 2016, as compared to the third quarter 2015, primarily due to $2.2 million in merger-related expenses incurred in the third quarter 2016; consisting of $1.4 million in salaries and employee benefit expense related to severance and retention payments and $0.8 million in other general and administrative expenses. Excluding the merger-related expenses included in salaries and employee benefits, this category of expense increased $1.3 million, consisting of $0.8 million related to the employees acquired in the Home State transaction and a $0.5 million increase in base salaries and employee benefit expense.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, noninterest expense was $49.6 million, as compared to $45.1 million for the same period in 2015. The $4.5 million increase in noninterest expense during the first nine months of 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, was primarily due to $3.2 million in merger-related expenses incurred during the first nine months of 2016; consisting of $1.4 million in salaries and employee benefits related to severance and retention payments and $1.8 million in other general and administrative expenses. Excluding the merger-related expenses, noninterest expense increased $1.3 million for the first nine months of 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, due to a $2.0 million increase in salaries and employee benefits, partially offset by a $0.8 million decline in occupancy expense. The $2.0 million increase in salaries and employee benefits was due to $0.8 million related to the employees acquired in the Home State transaction, a $0.8 million increase in base salaries and a $0.4 million increase in the Company's self-funded medical plan. The $0.8 million decrease in occupancy expense was related to a reduction in rent and depreciation expense related to the restructure of the lease for the Company's corporate office.

At September 30, 2016, the Company had total assets of $3.3 billion, reflecting an increase of $977.7 million as compared to December 31, 2015, and an increase of $1.1 billion as compared to September 30, 2015. The increase in total assets during the first nine months of 2016 was comprised of a $598.5 million increase in loans, a $137.4 million increase in investments, a $137.2 million increase in cash, and a $67.0 million increase in intangible assets related to the transaction with Home State. In addition, there were $37.6 million of combined increases in several other categories of nonearning assets. Loans acquired in the transaction with Home State during the third quarter 2016 were $445.5 million. Excluding the loans acquired from Home State, loans grew $68.9 million, or 14.4% annualized during the third quarter 2016.

During the third quarter 2016, loans net of deferred costs and fees increased $514.5 million. Loans acquired in the transaction with Home State during the third quarter 2016 were $445.5 million. Excluding the loans acquired from Home State, loans grew $68.9 million during the third quarter 2016 despite $214.1 million in net pay-downs and maturities during the quarter. In addition to contractual loan principal payments and maturities, the third quarter 2016 included $37.7 million in early payoffs related to our borrowers selling their assets, $24.3 million in payoffs due to our strategic decision to not match certain financing terms offered by competitors, $27.8 million in loan pay-downs related to fluctuations in loan balances to existing customers.

During the twelve months ended September 30, 2016, loans net of deferred costs and fees increased by $686.8 million. Excluding the loans acquired in the transaction with Home State, loans grew $241.3 million, or 14.0% over the twelve months ending September 30, 2016.

At September 30, 2016, non-maturing deposits were $2.4 billion, an increase of $831.5 million as compared to December 31, 2015, and an increase of $771.7 million as compared to September 30, 2015. Deposits acquired in the transaction with Home State were $769.7 million, of which $685.7 million were non-maturing deposits. During the third quarter 2016, deposits grew $135.0 million, or 29.1% annualized, excluding the deposits acquired in the transaction with Home State. At September 30, 2016, noninterest-bearing deposits as a percentage of total deposits were 31.1%, as compared to 34.0% at December 31, 2015, and 37.0% at September 30, 2015.

At September 30, 2016, securities sold under agreements to repurchase were $35.9 million, an increase of $9.5 million as compared to December 31, 2015, and an increase of $5.8 million as compared to September 30, 2015. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase acquired in the transaction with Home State were $20.0 million.

Total FHLB borrowings were $122.5 million at September 30, 2016, all of which were term advances. During the third quarter 2016, the Company was able to repay all outstanding borrowings on its FHLB line of credit as of June 30, 2016, utilizing funds raised from increased deposit balances as well as proceeds from securities sold subsequent to the transaction with Home State. At December 31, 2015, total FHLB borrowings consisted of $185.8 million in overnight advances and $95.0 million in term advances.

At September 30, 2016, all of our regulatory capital ratios remained well above minimum requirements for a "well-capitalized" institution. The Company's consolidated Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio decreased relative to December 31, 2015 whereas the Company's total risk-based capital ratios increased compared to December 31, 2015. The transaction with Home State was financed through the issuance of $40.0 million in fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes, which qualified for treatment as Tier 2 capital and by the issuance of common stock valued at $117.5 million, which qualified as Common Equity Tier 1 capital.

During the third quarter 2016, nonperforming assets decreased by $7.5 million from June 30, 2016 and $9.4 million from September 30, 2015. The $7.5 million decline in nonperforming assets during the third quarter 2016 included the transfer of a $9.4 million out-of-state loan syndication to performing status. As a result of the transaction with Home State, $2.1 million of nonperforming loans and $0.1 million of other real estate owned were acquired. At September 30, 2016, performing troubled debt restructurings were $24.4 million, as compared to $13.1 million at June 30, 2016 and $12.1 million at September 30, 2015. The increase in performing troubled debt restructurings in the third quarter 2016, as compared the second quarter 2016, was primarily due to the transfer of a $9.4 million out-of-state loan syndication to performing status, described above.

At September 30, 2016, classified assets represented 10.7% of bank-level Tier 1 risk-based capital plus allowance for loan losses, as compared to 11.7% at December 31, 2015, and 13.5% at September 30, 2015.

All acquired loans are initially recorded at their estimated fair value which encompasses an estimate of credit losses. The table below presents two alternative views of credit risk coverage ratios for loans, reflecting adjustments for acquired loans and the associated purchase accounting discount:

Net recoveries of $0.2 million were recognized during the third quarter 2016, as compared to immaterial net recoveries in the second quarter of 2016 and immaterial net recoveries in the third quarter 2015. During the third quarter 2016, the Bank recorded an immaterial provision for loan losses as compared to immaterial provisions in both the second quarter 2016 and the third quarter 2015. The Bank considered recoveries, historical charge-offs, level of nonperforming loans, loan growth and other factors when determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses and the resulting amount of loan loss provision to be recognized during the quarter.

Shares Outstanding

As of September 30, 2016, the Company had 28,349,107 shares of common stock outstanding, consisting of 27,330,107 shares of voting common stock, of which 564,376 shares were in the form of unvested stock awards, and 1,019,000 shares of non-voting common stock.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company discloses certain non-GAAP financial measures related to tangible assets, including tangible book value and tangible common equity, and operating earnings adjusted for merger-related expenses, OREO expenses, debt termination expense, impairments of long-lived assets, securities gains and losses and gains or losses on the sale or disposal of other assets. The Company also discloses the following GAAP profitability metrics alongside the operating earnings equivalent: return on average assets, return on average equity and earnings per share (diluted).

The Company discloses these non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company's operational performance and to enhance investors' overall understanding of the Company's core financial performance. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures allow for additional transparency and are used by some investors, analysts and other users of the Company's financial information as performance measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures presented by the Company may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

The following non-GAAP schedules reconcile the book value per share to the tangible book value per share and the GAAP equity ratio to the tangible equity ratio as of the dates indicated:

About Guaranty Bancorp

Guaranty Bancorp is a $3.3 billion financial services company that operates as the bank holding company for Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, a premier Colorado community bank. The Bank provides comprehensive financial solutions to consumers and small to medium-sized businesses that value local and personalized service. In addition to loans and depository services, the Bank also offers wealth management solutions, including trust and investment management services. More information about Guaranty Bancorp can be found at www.gbnk.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expects," "plans," "intends," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue," or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: failure to maintain adequate levels of capital and liquidity to support the Company's operations; general economic and business conditions in those areas in which the Company operates, including the impact of global and national economic conditions on our local economy; demographic changes; competition; fluctuations in interest rates; continued ability to attract and employ qualified personnel; ability to receive regulatory approval for the bank subsidiary to declare dividends to the Company; adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, changes in credit quality and the effect of credit quality on the provision for credit losses and allowance for loan losses; changes in governmental legislation or regulation, including, but not limited to, any increase in FDIC insurance premiums; changes in accounting policies and practices; changes in business strategy or development plans; failure or inability to complete mergers or other corporate transactions; failure or inability to realize fully the expected benefits of mergers or other corporate transactions; changes in the securities markets; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; the availability of capital from private or government sources; competition for loans and deposits and failure to attract or retain loans and deposits; failure to recognize expected cost savings; changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers and the ability of our borrowers to perform under the terms of their loans and terms of other credit agreements; changes in oil and natural gas prices; political instability, acts of war or terrorism and natural disasters; and additional "Risk Factors" referenced in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as supplemented from time to time. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to the Company, investors and others are cautioned to consider these and other risks and uncertainties. The Company can give no assurance that any goal or plan or expectation set forth in any forward-looking statement can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date made. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, except as may otherwise be required by law, the Company does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.