/EINPresswire.com/ -- BALA CYNWYD, PA--(Marketwired - January 30, 2017) - Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc. ("the Company") (NASDAQ: RBPAA), parent company of Royal Bank America ("Royal Bank"), is pleased to report net income attributable to the Company of $4.1 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, and $10.4 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016, respectively. Comparatively, net income was $6.4 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, and $11.0 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company reversed $1.9 million of the valuation allowance related to net deferred tax assets which contributed to a net tax benefit of $1.8 million. This transaction positively affected both the fourth quarter and full year 2016 results.

Excluding the net tax benefit of $1.9 million, net income attributable to the Company was $2.2 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2016, and excluding the net tax benefit of $1.8 million, net income attributable to the Company was $8.6 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, for the full year 2016. In 2015, the Company reversed $5.4 million of the valuation allowance related to net deferred tax assets, which contributed to a net tax benefit of $5.1 million.

The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Tylus, noted, "Quality loan growth and expense discipline drove our increase in earnings for 2016. Throughout the year, as we received regulatory approval, we repurchased all of the remaining Series A Preferred stock ("TARP"). We have fully retired the $30.4 million in original principal and avoid future dividends at a rate of 9%. During 2016, to meet the needs of our growing customer base, we broadened our online customer technologies, implemented enhancements to our website, and added residential mortgages to our suite of products. Recently, we completed extensive renovations of our Narberth retail location, which brings a modern experience to our customers."

Highlights for the three months and year ended December 31, 2016 included:

Balance Sheet Trends:

• At December 31, 2016, total assets were $832.5 million and grew $21.1 million, or 2.6%, from $811.4 million at September 30, 2016, and increased $44.2 million, or 5.6%, from $788.3 million at December 31, 2015.
• Total loans were $602.0 million at December 31, 2016, an increase of $26.2 million, or 4.5%, from $575.8 million at September 30, 2016. In 2016, total loans grew $102.9 million, or 20.6%, from $499.1 million at December 31, 2015. Increases were recognized in multiple commercial loan portfolio classes.
• Total deposits were $629.5 million at December 31, 2016 and increased $37.3 million, or 6.3%, from $592.2 million at September 30, 2016. In 2016, total deposits increased $51.6 million, or 8.9%, from $577.9 million at December 31, 2015.
• Total Company equity was $51.6 million at December 31, 2016, a decrease of $17.7 million, or 25.5%, from $69.3 million at September 30, 2016 and declined $20.3 million, or 28.2%, from $71.9 million at December 31, 2015. The Company repurchased or redeemed the remaining 18,856 shares of Series A preferred stock from time to time during 2016 as shares became available for purchase and the Company received the required regulatory approvals to repurchase such shares. The Company paid $29.5 million to repurchase the outstanding shares and eliminated future dividends on these shares.

Asset Quality:

• The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans improved from 1.10% at December 31, 2015 to 1.00% at December 31, 2016. Excluding tax certificates, the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.69% and 0.88% at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
• Non-performing loans of $6.0 million at December 31, 2016 increased $515 thousand, or 9.4%, from $5.5 million at December 31, 2015.
• The ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 1.15% and 1.64% at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Excluding the tax lien assets, the ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 0.53% and 0.59% at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
• Non-performing assets of $9.5 million at December 31, 2016, decreased $3.4 million, or 26.2%, from $12.9 million at December 31, 2015. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company sold the largest tax lien property in the other real estate owned ("OREO") portfolio.
• For the three months and year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded a provision to the allowance for loan and lease losses of $255 thousand and $1.2 million, respectively. For the three months and year ended December 31, 2015, we recorded a provision to the allowance for loan and lease losses of $634 thousand and a credit of $748 thousand, respectively. The 2016 provision was primarily attributable to loan growth, specific reserves on the leasing portfolio, and net charge-off activity within the leasing and tax certificate portfolios.

Income Statement and Other Highlights:

• The return on average assets for the three months and year ended December 31, 2016 was 2.01% and 1.29%, respectively, compared to 3.30% and 1.49% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2015, respectively. The return on average assets for the fourth quarters of 2016 and 2015 was directly impacted by reversals of a portion of the DTA valuation allowance. We reversed $1.9 million in 2016 and $5.4 million in 2015. Excluding the net tax benefit of $1.9 million, the return on average assets was 1.09% for the fourth quarter of 2016. For 2016, excluding the net tax benefit of $1.8 million, the return on average assets was 1.06%. Excluding the net tax benefit of $5.1 million, the return on average assets was 0.65% and 0.79% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2015, respectively.
• The return on average equity for the three months and year ended December 31, 2016 was 28.78% and 15.19%, respectively, compared to 37.95% and 16.81% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2015. The return on average equity for the fourth quarters of 2016 and 2015 was directly impacted by reversals of a portion of the DTA valuation allowance. Excluding the net tax benefit of $1.9 million, the return on average equity was 15.65% for the fourth quarter of 2016. For 2016, excluding the net tax benefit of $1.8 million, the return on average equity was 12.56%. Excluding the net tax benefit of $5.1 million, the return on average equity was 7.51% and 8.95% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2015, respectively.
• At December 31, 2016, the Company's Tier 1 leverage and Total Risk Based Capital ratios were 8.49% and 13.30%, respectively, compared to 12.44% and 18.57%, respectively, at December 31, 2015. The Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 7.99% at December 31, 2016 compared to 9.37% at December 31, 2015. Impacting the 2016 capital ratios is the repurchase of 18,856 shares of the Series A Preferred stock during 2016. With the retirement of the Series A Preferred we have eliminated future dividends at a rate of 9%.
• Net interest income increased $477 thousand, or 7.7%, from $6.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015 to $6.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. Net interest income increased $2.6 million, or 11.0%, from $23.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 to $26.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The growth in net interest income was primarily related to an increase in interest income on average loan balances.
• The net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2016 was 3.43% compared to 3.36% for the fourth quarter in 2015 and was 3.44% for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to 3.38% for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in net interest margin was directly related to an increase in the yield on average interest-earning assets due to a change in the composition of such assets.
• Non-interest income for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $838 thousand and decreased $214 thousand from $1.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. Income from Company owned life insurance and service charges and fees increased $194 thousand and $78 thousand, respectively. The increase in service charges and fees were mostly related to the leasing portfolio. More than offsetting these positive items was a decline of $324 thousand in gains on the sale of premises and equipment and a $199 thousand decrease in gains on the sale of investment securities. During the fourth quarter of 2015, we sold a Company owned building. There were no sales of premises and equipment in 2016.
• Non-interest income was $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and grew $1.2 million from $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Income from Company owned life insurance and net gains on the sale of investment securities increased $669 thousand and $531 thousand, respectively, from 2015. Additionally, we received a $273 thousand beneficiary payment from a life insurance policy. Service charges and fees increased $235 thousand and were mostly related to the leasing portfolio. Partially offsetting these positive items was an increase in other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") charges on the investment portfolio of $176 thousand related to investments in private equity real estate funds and the previously mentioned decrease in gain on sale of premises and equipment.
• Non-interest expense was $4.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 and declined $548 thousand from $5.3 million for the comparable period in 2015. Contributing to the decrease in non-interest expense for the fourth quarter of 2016 was a $525 thousand decrease in net other real estate owned ("OREO") expenses. During the fourth quarter of 2016, we sold an OREO tax lien property with a carrying value of $3.2 million and recorded a gain of $645 thousand. Salaries and benefits declined $254 thousand. Additionally in the 2016 quarter, we benefited from a $97 thousand credit for unfunded loan commitments due to a decline in the historical loss rates associated with such commitments compared to a $143 thousand provision for unfunded loan commitments during the fourth quarter of 2015. Partially offsetting the decrease in non-interest expense were increases of $239 thousand, $65 thousand and $45 thousand in professional and legal fees, communications and data processing and occupancy and equipment expenses, respectively, during the fourth quarter of 2016.
• Non-interest expense was $20.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and decreased $988 thousand from $21.0 million for the comparable period in 2015. Contributing to the decrease in non-interest expense for 2016 was a $758 thousand decline in the provision for unfunded loan commitments and a $427 thousand decline in net OREO expenses. In 2016, the Company benefited from a $333 thousand credit for unfunded loan commitments due to a decline in the historical loss rates associated with such commitments compared to a $425 thousand provision for unfunded loan commitments during 2015. As mentioned previously, in 2016 we sold an OREO tax lien property with a carrying value of $3.2 million and recorded a gain of $645 thousand. Additionally, in 2016 we reversed a $200 thousand contingency accrual related to an OREO property that was sold in a previous reporting period. During 2016, Management determined that the contingency no longer exists and therefore was reversed. Partially offsetting the decrease in non-interest expense were increases of $246 thousand and $206 thousand in professional and legal fees and communications and data processing expenses, respectively.

About Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc., headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, is the parent company of Royal Bank America, which is headquartered in Narberth, Pennsylvania. Royal Bank serves growing small and middle market businesses, commercial real estate investors, consumers, and depositors principally in Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, Bucks, Philadelphia and Berks counties in Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey, and Delaware. Established in 1963, Royal Bank provides an array of financial products and services through a comprehensive suite of cash management services and thirteen branches and two loan production offices. More information on Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc., Royal Bank America, and its subsidiaries can be found at www.royalbankamerica.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The foregoing material may contain forward-looking statements. We caution that such statements may be subject to a number of uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially; therefore, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc. does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. For a discussion of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from the results discussed in any such forward-looking statements, see the filings made by Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report - Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

SELECTED PERFORMANCE RATIOS: