WESTFIELD, Mass., April 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Western New England Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company” or “WNEB”) (NasdaqGS:WNEB), the holding company for Westfield Bank (the “Bank”), announced today the unaudited results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The Company reported net income of $3.5 million, or $0.12 earnings per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, as compared to $5.1 million, or $0.17 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and as compared to a net loss of $353,000, or $0.01 loss per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The Company also announced that the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share, payable on or about May 23, 2018 to shareholders of record on May 9, 2018.

“Our year is off to a solid start,” said Jim Hagan, President and CEO of the Company.  “We saw good organic growth in both loans and deposits, despite an increase in payoffs and had the obvious benefit of lower corporate tax expense from the Tax Reform enacted on December 22, 2017.  Our first quarter is traditionally seasonally slower, but we have good momentum headed into the spring and summer months.”

Financial Highlights:

• During the three months ended March 31, 2018, total loans grew by $16.3 million, or 4.0% on an annualized basis, despite the Company experiencing approximately $7.3 million in commercial real estate loan payoffs related to the sale of a borrower’s collateral during the quarter.
• Total deposits increased $47.6 million, or 12.7% on an annualized basis, from $1.5 billion at December 31, 2017 to $1.6 billion at March 31, 2018.
• The net interest margin was 3.12% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to 3.08% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 3.19% for three months ended December 31, 2017. Excluding the impact of favorable purchase accounting amortization of $235,000, the net interest margin was 3.07% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to 2.99% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, and 2.94% for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
• At March 31, 2018, nonperforming loans decreased $655,000, or 5.1%, to $12.1 million, or 0.73% of total loans, compared to $12.8 million, or 0.78% of total loans, at December 31, 2017 and $14.8 million, or 0.92% of total loans at March 31, 2017.  At March 31, 2018, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans was 94.0%, compared to 84.9% at December 31, 2017 and 69.3% at March 31, 2017.
• During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company repurchased 451,641 shares under its previously approved repurchase program.  As of March 31, 2018, there were 1,988,968 shares remaining under the plan.
• The Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share during the three months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $0.01, or 33.3%, compared to both the linked quarter and the comparable three months ended March 31, 2017.
• Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01, Financial Instrument – Overall (subtopic 825-10), which requires changes in the unrealized gains or losses on certain equity securities, net of deferred taxes, to be recognized through the income statement. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01, these changes were reported in shareholders’ equity through accumulated other comprehensive income, and only realized gains and losses on sale of securities were recognized through the income statement. As a result of adopting the ASU, the Company recorded $106,000 in losses on marketable equity securities within non-interest income during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Net Income for the Three Months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the Three Months ended December 31, 2017

The Company reported net income of $3.5 million, or $0.12 earnings per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to a net loss of $353,000, or $0.01 loss per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2017.  The results for the three months ended December 31, 2017 includes a one-time, non-cash write-down in the amount of $4.0 million as a result of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017 (“Tax Act”).  Excluding the $4.0 million write-down, core net income was $3.6 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Core net income is a non-GAAP financial measure.  Management believes core net income more accurately reflects the Company’s results of operations in the overall evaluation of its performance, and given the impact of the Tax Act on corporate income taxes beginning in 2018, management believes it is useful to compare pre-tax earnings to prior quarters.  A reconciliation of core net income is included in the accompanying financial tables. Net income, excluding favorable purchase accounting amortization of $235,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $953,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2017, was $3.3 million, or $0.11 earnings per diluted share and $2.7 million, or $0.09 earnings per diluted share, respectively.  Excluding the favorable purchase accounting amortization of $661,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, net income was $3.1 million, or $0.11 earnings per diluted share.

On a pre-tax basis, income before taxes of $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 decreased $913,000, or 16.7%, from $5.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017.  When adjusting for the purchase accounting amortization mentioned above, as well as the impact of both realized and unrealized securities losses and gains and losses on the sale of other real estate owned (“OREO”), adjusted pre-tax income of $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was basically equivalent to adjusted pre-tax income of $4.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, which is exclusive of the impact of the lower corporate tax rate on 2018 financial performance.

Return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.69% and 5.82%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, as compared to a loss of (0.07)% and (0.56)%, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

On a sequential quarter basis, net interest income decreased $630,000, or 4.1%, to $14.7 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, from $15.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017.  The decrease in net interest income was due to a $507,000, or 2.6%, decrease in interest and dividend income and an increase in interest expense of $123,000, or 3.2%. Interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2017 included $675,000 in favorable purchase accounting adjustments due to the full payoff of a credit-marked classified loan.

The increase in interest expense of 3.2% from December 31, 2017 was primarily due to an increase of $86,000, or 3.8%, in interest expense on deposits and an increase of $37,000, or 2.3%, in interest expense on borrowings. The overall average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased three basis points. We anticipate that recent increases in the federal funds rate may result in an upward pressure on deposit and borrowing rates as competition for deposits increases.  For the three months ended March 31, 2018, average demand deposits of $310.2 million, an interest-free source of funds, represented 20.3% of average total deposits compared to 16.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

The average yield on interest-earning assets decreased twelve basis points from 4.02% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 to 3.90% for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Excluding the purchase accounting adjustments, the average yield on interest-earning assets was 3.87% and 3.89% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and the three months ended March 31, 2018, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the average cost of funds increased three basis points from 1.04% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 to 1.07% for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The average cost of time deposits increased six basis points from 1.23% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 to 1.29% for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The average cost of borrowings increased 16 basis points from 2.18% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 to 2.34% for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, average interest-earning assets decreased $6.2 million, or 0.3%, to $1.9 million. The decrease in average interest-earning assets was due to a decrease in average securities of $11.2 million, or 3.8%, partially offset by an increase in average loans of $5.0 million, or 0.3%.

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses was $500,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $510,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The Company recorded net recoveries of $39,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018, as compared to net charge-offs of $197,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Non-Interest Income

On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest income decreased $231,000, or 11.6%, to $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, from $2.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The decrease in non-interest income was primarily due to the recognition of $201,000 in unamortized premium on a bond which paid in full prior to its final maturity, unrealized losses of $106,000 on the Company’s marketable equity securities portfolio due to the adoption of ASU 2016-01, a decrease in service charges of $17,000, or 1.1%, and a decrease in bank-owned life insurance of $13,000, or 2.9%. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company reported a gain on the sale of OREO of $48,000, while a $58,000 loss on OREO was recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Non-Interest Expense

On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest expense increased $62,000, or 0.5%, to $11.4 million, or 2.24% of average assets, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, from $11.4 million, or 2.17% of average assets, for the three months ended December 31, 2017.  Salaries and benefit increased $56,000, or 0.9%, occupancy expense increased $101,000, or 10.5%, primarily due to a $92,000 increase in snow removal related expenses. Data processing increased $5,000, or 0.8%, FDIC insurance expense increased $4,000, or 2.6%, advertising expense increased $12,000, or 3.6%, and professional fees increased $19,000, or 3.0%. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in other expenses of $118,000, or 6.6%, and a decrease of $17,000, or 4.4%, in furniture and equipment related expenses.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, the efficiency ratio was 68.2%, compared to 65.3% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 63.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Excluding the purchase accounting adjustments of $235,000 and $953,000, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the efficiency ratio was 69.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 69.1% for the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Income Tax Provision

The Company’s effective tax rate decreased to 22.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from 106.4% for the three months ended December 31, 2017 primarily due to the decrease in the federal tax rate. The 2017 period also included a $4.0 million, one-time tax provision expense related to the previously discussed write down of the Company’s deferred tax asset.

Net Income for the Three Months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the Three Months ended March 31, 2017

The Company reported net income of $3.5 million, or $0.12 earnings per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to a net income of $5.1 million, or $0.17 earnings per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  The financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 include $1.6 million in tax benefits recorded in connection with the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance and exercises of stock options, both favorably impacting the income tax provision for first quarter 2017. Also, included are $293,000, net of tax, of acquisition and integration related costs associated with the acquisition of Chicopee.  Excluding these tax benefits and integration costs, net income was $3.8 million, or $0.13 earnings per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Net income, excluding favorable purchase accounting amortization of $235,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $661,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2017, was $3.3 million, or $0.11 earnings per diluted share and $3.1 million, or $0.11 earnings per diluted share, respectively.

Return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.69% and 5.82%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, as compared to 1.00% and 8.51%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Excluding the tax benefits and integration costs, for the three months ended March 31, 2017, return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.74% and 6.28%, respectively.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income increased $219,000, or 1.5%, to $14.7 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, from $14.5 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  The increase in net interest income was due to a $775,000, or 4.3%, increase in interest and dividend income, partially offset by an increase in interest expense of $556,000, or 16.1%. Net interest income included $235,000 and $661,000 in favorable purchase accounting adjustments for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The increase in interest expense of 16.1% was primarily due to an increase of $346,000, or 17.2%, in interest expense on deposits and the increase of $210,000, or 14.5%, in interest expense on borrowings. The overall average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased 16 basis points. We anticipate that recent increases in the federal funds rate may result in an upward pressure on deposit and borrowing rates as competition for deposits increases. 

Net interest margin was 3.12% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to 3.08% for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  The amortization of purchase accounting adjustments related to the merger increased net interest income by $235,000 and $661,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and the three months ended March 31, 2017, respectively. Excluding the favorable purchase accounting amortization, the net interest margin was 3.07% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2.94% for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

The average yield on interest-earning assets increased 16 basis points to 3.90% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, from 3.74% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the average cost of funds increased 16 basis points to 1.07%, from 0.91% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The average cost of time deposits increased 23 basis points to 1.29% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from 1.06% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The average cost of borrowings increased 44 basis points to 2.34% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from 1.90% for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Average interest-earning assets decreased $10.7 million, or 0.55%, to $1.9 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from $1.9 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in average interest-earning assets was due to a decrease in average short-term investments of $51.4 million, or 89.6%, a decrease in securities of $25.3 million, or 8.2%, partially offset by an increase of $66.4 million, or 4.3%, in average loans.

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses was $500,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $300,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The Company recorded net recoveries of $39,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018, as compared to net charge-offs of $141,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income decreased $251,000, or 12.4%, to $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, from $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in non-interest income was primarily due to the recognition of $201,000 in unamortized premium on a bond which paid in full prior to its final maturity, unrealized losses of $106,000 on the Company’s marketable equity securities portfolio due to the adoption of ASU 2016-01, a decrease of $116,000 in other non-interest income, partially offset by an increase in service charges of $57,000, or 3.7%, and a gain on the sale of OREO of $48,000.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense, excluding merger related expenses of $410,000, increased $866,000, or 8.2%, to $11.4 million, or 2.24% of average assets, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, from $10.6 million, or 2.07% of average assets, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  Salaries and benefits increased $308,000, or 4.9%, occupancy expense increased $53,000, or 5.3%, data processing expense increased $246,000, or 62.9%, due to the expiration of credits related to the merger with Chicopee, FDIC insurance expense increased $41,000, or 35.0%, advertising expense increased $99,000, or 39.9%, professional fees increased $63,000, or 10.6%, and non-interest expense increased $62,000, or 3.9%.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, the efficiency ratio was 68.2%, compared to 63.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Excluding the purchase accounting adjustments of $235,000 and $661,000, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the efficiency ratio was 69.2% and 66.3%, respectively.  

Income Tax Provision

The Company’s effective tax rate increased from 2.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to 22.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 include $1.6 million in tax benefits recorded in connection with the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance and exercises of stock options, both favorably impacting the income tax provision during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Balance Sheet

At March 31, 2018, total assets of $2.1 billion increased $2.5 million, or 0.1%, from $2.1 billion at December 31, 2017. During the same period, total gross loans increased $16.3 million, or 1.0%, partially offset by a decrease in securities of $15.1 million, or 5.2%.

Loans

Total gross loans increased $16.3 million, or 1.0%, from December 31, 2017 due to an increase in commercial real estate loans of $14.0 million, or 1.9%, and an increase in residential real estate loans of $3.4 million, or 0.5%, partially offset by a decrease in commercial and industrial loans of $1.2 million, or 0.5%. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company experienced approximately $7.3 million in commercial real estate loan payoffs related to the sale of borrower’s collateral. In order to reduce interest rate risk, the Company currently services $63.3 million in residential loans sold to the secondary market. The servicing rights will continue to be retained on all loans sold.

The following table is a summary of our outstanding loan balances as of the periods indicated:           

	March 31, 2018			December 31, 2017
	(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate loans	$	746,626		$	732,616
Commercial and industrial loans		237,337			238,502
Residential real estate loans		653,789			650,351
Consumer loans		4,539			4,478
Total gross loans		1,642,291			1,625,947
Unamortized premiums and net deferred loans fees and costs		4,699			4,734
Total loans	$	1,646,990		$	1,630,681

Credit Quality

Management continues to remain attentive to any signs of deterioration in borrowers’ financial conditions and is proactive in taking the appropriate steps to mitigate risk. Net recoveries for the three months ended March 31, 2018 totaled $39,000, compared to net charge-offs of $197,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2017.

At March 31, 2018, nonperforming loans decreased $655,000, or 5.1%, to $12.1 million, or 0.73% of total loans, compared to $12.8 million, or 0.78% of total loans, at December 31, 2017.  There were no loans 90 or more days past due and still accruing interest. At March 31, 2018, nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.58% decreased from 0.62% at December 31, 2017. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 0.69% at March 31, 2018, compared to 0.66% at December 31, 2017. At March 31, 2018, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans was 94.0%, compared to 84.9% at December 31, 2017. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans, excluding loans acquired from Chicopee, which were recorded at fair value with no related allowance for loan losses, was 1.02% at March 31, 2018 and 1.01% at December 31, 2017.

Deposits

At March 31, 2018, total deposits of $1.6 billion increased $47.6 million, or 3.2%, from December 31, 2017. Core deposits, which the Company defines as all deposits except time deposits, increased $35.1 million, or 3.7%, from $949.5 million, or 63.0% of total deposits, at December 31, 2017, to $984.6 million, or 63.4% of total deposits, at March 31, 2018. Non-interest bearing deposits increased $3.6 million, or 1.2%, to $315.5 million, money market accounts increased $8.1 million, or 2.0%, to $418.3 million, interest-bearing checking accounts increased $20.4 million, or 23.3%, to $107.8 million, and savings accounts increased $2.9 million, or 2.1%, to $143.0 million. The increase in interest-bearing checking accounts was partially due to the termination of customer repurchase agreements which resulted in the account balances being transferred into core deposits. Time deposits increased $12.6 million, or 2.3%, from $556.5 million at December 31, 2017 to $569.1 million at March 31, 2018.

FHLB Advances and Repurchase Agreements

FHLB advances decreased $30.1 million, or 10.1%, from $297.8 million at December 31, 2017, to $267.7 million at March 31, 2018, while customer repurchase agreements decreased $11.7 million. The increase in deposit accounts during the quarter resulted in paying off Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston borrowings. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company eliminated customer repurchase agreements and balances were transferred to the customer’s respective core deposit account.

Capital

At March 31, 2018, shareholders’ equity was $242.6 million, or 11.6% of total assets, compared to $247.3 million, or 11.9% of total assets, at December 31, 2017. The decrease in shareholders’ equity during the three months ended March 31, 2018 reflects $2.5 million net increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss, $4.8 million for the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock, a net decrease of $578,000 as a result of share-based compensation and stock option exercises, partially offset by a net increase of $2.1 million in the Company's retained earnings reflective of current period net income offset by common stock dividends. Total shares outstanding as of March 31, 2018 were 30,138,083. 

The Company’s tangible book value per share decreased by $0.07, or 0.9%, to $7.50 at March 31, 2018 from $7.57 at December 31, 2017. The increase in unrealized losses reported in other comprehensive income of $2.7 million decreased tangible book value by $0.09. The Company’s and Bank’s regulatory capital ratios continued to exceed the levels required to be considered “well-capitalized” under federal banking regulations.  

Share Repurchase

On January 31, 2017, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company may purchase up to 3,047,000 shares, or 10% of its outstanding common stock.  As of March 31, 2018, there were 1,988,968 shares remaining to be purchased under the plan.

About Western New England Bancorp, Inc.

Western New England Bancorp, Inc. is a Massachusetts-chartered stock holding company and the parent company of Westfield Bank, CSB Colts, Inc., Elm Street Securities Corporation, WFD Securities, Inc. and WB Real Estate Holdings, LLC.  Western New England Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiaries are headquartered in Westfield, Massachusetts and operate 21 banking offices located in Agawam, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Feeding Hills, Holyoke, Ludlow, South Hadley, Southwick, Springfield, Ware, West Springfield and Westfield, Massachusetts, and Granby and Enfield, Connecticut.  To learn more, visit our website at www.westfieldbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, which speak only as of the date made. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.  The Company and the Bank do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that 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.

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Data
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
		2018			2017			2017			2017			2017
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME:
Loans	$	16,702		$	17,182		$	16,445		$	16,211		$	15,826
Securities		1,808			1,862			1,888			1,931			1,896
Other investments		201			177			172			166			163
Federal funds sold, interest-bearing deposits and other short-term investments		21			18			11			19			72
Total interest and dividend income		18,732			19,239			18,516			18,327			17,957
INTEREST EXPENSE:
Deposits		2,355			2,269			2,111			2,059			2,009
Long-term debt		855			627			534			549			551
Short-term borrowings		800			991			1,075			976			894
Total interest expense		4,010			3,887			3,720			3,584			3,454
Net interest and dividend income		14,722			15,352			14,796			14,743			14,503
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES		500			510			200			350			300
Net interest and dividend income after provision for loan losses		14,222			14,842			14,596			14,393			14,203
NON-INTEREST INCOME:
Service charges and fees		1,583			1,600			1,714			1,549			1,526
Income from bank-owned life insurance		442			455			450			480			439
(Loss) gain on securities available-for-sale, net		(201	)		-			70			46			(64	)
Gain (loss) on sale of OREO		48			(58	)		67			-			-
Unrealized losses on equity securities		(106	)		-			-			-			-
Other income		-			-			111			-			116
Total non-interest income		1,766			1,997			2,412			2,075			2,017
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE:
Salaries and employees benefits		6,533			6,477			6,490			6,239			6,225
Occupancy		1,060			959			891			917			1,007
Furniture and equipment		367			384			410			366			373
Data processing		637			632			680			669			391
Professional fees		659			640			642			681			596
FDIC insurance		158			154			163			186			117
Merger related expenses		-			-			-			116			410
Advertising expense		347			335			328			385			248
Other		1,665			1,783			1,552			1,737			1,603
Total non-interest expense		11,426			11,364			11,156			11,296			10,970
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		4,562			5,475			5,852			5,172			5,250
INCOME TAX PROVISION		1,043			5,828			2,037			1,416			147
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$	3,519		$	(353	)	$	3,815		$	3,756		$	5,103
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	0.12		$	(0.01	)	$	0.13		$	0.13		$	0.17
Weighted average shares outstanding		29,484,824			29,750,267			30,103,095			29,980,518			29,597,594
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	0.12		$	(0.01	)	$	0.13		$	0.12		$	0.17
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding		29,620,929			29,750,267			30,219,083			30,120,025			29,878,421
Other Data:
Return (loss) on average assets (1)		0.69	%		(0.07	)%		0.73	%		0.73	%		1.00	%
Return on average assets, exclusive of merger expenses, tax benefits and deferred tax asset adjustment for corporate rate change (1)(3)		0.69	%		0.70	%		0.73	%		0.70	%		0.74	%
Return (loss) on average equity (1)		5.82	%		(0.56	)%		5.98	%		6.05	%		8.51	%
Return on average equity, exclusive of merger expenses, tax benefits and deferred tax asset adjustment for corporate rate change (1)(3)		5.79	%		5.75	%		5.98	%		5.90	%		6.28	%
Efficiency ratio (2)(3)		68.23	%		65.28	%		65.35	%		66.06	%		63.68	%
Net interest margin		3.12	%		3.19	%		3.09	%		3.11	%		3.08	%
(1)  Annualized.
(2)  The efficiency ratio represents the ratio of operating expenses excluding merger related charges divided by the sum of net interest and dividend income and non-interest income, excluding realized and unrealized gains and losses on securities and OREO.
(3)  Please refer to the “Reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP Financial Measures” on pages 14 and 15 for further details.

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
	March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,
		2018				2017				2017				2017				2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$	29,438			$	27,132			$	28,900			$	19,407			$	40,716
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value		266,963				288,416				297,919				303,395				305,680
Marketable equity securities, at fair value		6,327				-				-				-				-
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and other  restricted stock - at cost		14,685				15,553				15,704				16,075				16,124
Loans		1,646,990				1,630,681				1,618,773				1,608,664				1,599,607
Allowance for loan losses		(11,370	)			(10,831	)			(10,518	)			(10,418	)			(10,227	)
Net loans		1,635,620				1,619,850				1,608,255				1,598,246				1,589,380
Bank-owned life insurance		69,204				68,762				68,307				67,858				67,377
Goodwill		12,487				12,487				12,487				12,487				12,487
Core deposit intangible		3,969				4,063				4,156				4,250				4,344
Other assets		46,838				46,807				50,650				51,745				50,438
TOTAL ASSETS	$	2,085,531			$	2,083,070			$	2,086,378			$	2,073,463			$	2,086,546
Total deposits	$	1,553,727			$	1,506,082			$	1,515,198			$	1,495,337			$	1,521,219
Short-term borrowings		55,000				144,650				192,465				191,008				176,883
Long-term debt		212,730				164,786				106,339				117,704				123,668
Other liabilities		21,451				20,271				19,821				18,213				18,972
TOTAL LIABILITIES		1,842,908				1,835,789				1,833,823				1,822,262				1,840,742
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY		242,623				247,281				252,555				251,201				245,804
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	2,085,531			$	2,083,070			$	2,086,378			$	2,073,463			$	2,086,546

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Other Data
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
	March 31,				December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,
		2018				2017				2017				2017				2017
Other Data:
Shares outstanding at end of period		30,138,083				30,487,309				30,816,813				31,070,107				30,778,690
Book value per share	$	8.05			$	8.11			$	8.20			$	8.08			$	7.99
Tangible book value per share		7.50				7.57				7.66				7.55				7.44
30-89 day delinquent loans		7,519				9,795				8,892				5,207				7,402
30-89 day delinquent loans acquired from Chicopee, net of purchase accounting adjustments		3,229				4,527				4,567				3,417				5,504
Total delinquent loans as a percentage of total loans		0.60	%			0.75	%			0.68	%			0.45	%			0.64	%
Nonperforming loans		12,100				12,755				13,165				13,992				14,753
Nonperforming loans acquired from Chicopee, net of purchase accounting adjustments		5,883				6,157				6,450				6,507				7,274
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans		0.73	%			0.78	%			0.81	%			0.87	%			0.92	%
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets		0.58	%			0.62	%			0.64	%			0.67	%			0.71	%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans		93.97	%			84.92	%			79.89	%			74.46	%			69.32	%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans		0.69	%			0.66	%			0.65	%			0.65	%			0.64	%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans, excluding loans acquired from Chicopee recorded at fair value with no corresponding allowance		1.02	%			1.01	%			1.02	%			1.02	%			1.02	%

The following tables set forth the information relating to our average balances and net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2018, December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017 and reflects the average yield on interest-earning assets and average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2018											December 31, 2017										March 31, 2017
	Average								Average Yield/			Average							Average Yield/			Average							Average   Yield/
	Balance			Interest					Cost			Balance			Interest				Cost			Balance			Interest				Cost
	(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS:
Interest-earning assets
Loans(1)(2)	$	1,626,738			$	16,827			4.14	%		$	1,621,863		$	17,417			4.30	%		$	1,560,341		$	16,040			4.11	%
Securities(2)		282,556				1,814			2.57				293,742			1,875			2.55				307,912			1,912			2.48
Other investments		17,111				201			4.70				17,864			177			3.96				17,510			163			3.72
Short-term investments(3)		5,946				21			1.41				5,062			18			1.42				57,326			72			0.50
Total interest-earning assets		1,932,351				18,863			3.90				1,938,531			19,487			4.02				1,943,089			18,187			3.74
Total non-interest-earning assets		137,017											139,623										130,771
Total assets	$	2,069,368										$	2,078,154									$	2,073,860
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Interest-bearing liabilities
Interest-bearing checking accounts	$	93,117				80			0.34			$	83,777			81			0.39			$	90,498			74			0.33
Savings accounts		142,890				40			0.11				145,111			42			0.12				152,553			42			0.11
Money market accounts		418,183				419			0.40				412,423			415			0.40				401,197			383			0.38
Time deposit accounts(6)		561,106				1,816			1.29				562,222			1,731			1.23				571,855			1,510			1.06
Total interest-bearing deposits		1,215,296				2,355			0.78				1,203,533			2,269			0.75				1,216,103			2,009			0.66
Short-term borrowings and long-term debt		282,710				1,655			2.34				297,136			1,618			2.18				303,795			1,445			1.90
Interest-bearing liabilities		1,498,006				4,010			1.07				1,500,669			3,887			1.04				1,519,898			3,454			0.91
Non-interest-bearing deposits		310,193											309,289										304,448
Other non-interest-bearing liabilities		15,886											16,449										6,331
Total non-interest-bearing liabilities		326,079											325,738										310,779
Total liabilities		1,824,085											1,826,407										1,830,677
Total equity		245,283											251,747										243,183
Total liabilities and equity	$	2,069,368										$	2,078,154									$	2,073,860
Less: Tax-equivalent adjustment(2)						(131	)									(248	)									(230	)
Net interest and dividend income					$	14,722									$	15,352									$	14,503
Net interest rate spread(4)									2.83	%									2.98	%									2.83	%
Net interest margin(5)									3.12	%									3.19	%									3.08	%
Ratio of average interest-earning
assets to average interest-bearing liabilities									128.99	%									129.18	%									127.84	%

(1) Loans, including non-accrual loans, are net of deferred loan origination costs and unadvanced funds.
(2) Securities and loan income are presented on a tax-equivalent basis using a tax rate of 21% and 35% for the 2018 and 2017 periods, respectively.  The tax-equivalent adjustment is deducted from tax-equivalent net interest and dividend income to agree to the amount reported on the consolidated statements of operations.
(3) Short-term investments include federal funds sold.
(4) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(5) Net interest margin represents tax-equivalent net interest and dividend income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets. 
(6) The accounting for the Chicopee acquisition required loans, time deposits and borrowings to be recorded at fair value.  The fair value marks on the loans, time deposits and borrowings acquired accrete and amortize into net interest income over time.  For the three months ended March 31, 2018, December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, the loan accretion income and interest expense reduction on time deposits and borrowings related to the Chicopee acquisition increased net interest income $235,000, $953,000 and $661,000, respectively.  Excluding these items, net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, 2018, December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017 was 3.07%, 2.99% and 2.94%, respectively.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP to GAAP Financial Measures

The Company believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide information to investors that is useful in understanding its financial condition.  Because not all companies use the same calculation, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures calculated by other companies.  A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures is provided below.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,				December 31,				September 30,			June 30,				March 31,
		2018				2017				2017			2017				2017
Net Income:
Net income (loss), as presented	$	3,519			$	(353	)		$	3,815		$	3,756			$	5,103
Merger related expenses, net of tax (1)		-				-				-			82				293
Tax benefits impact (2)		(15	)			-				-			(174	)			(1,632	)
Deferred tax asset adjustment for corporate rate change (3)		-				4,000				-			-				-
Core net income, exclusive of merger related expenses, tax benefits impact and deferred tax asset adjustment for corporate rate change	$	3,504			$	3,647			$	3,815		$	3,664			$	3,764
Diluted EPS:
Diluted earnings (loss) per share, as presented	$	0.12			$	(0.01	)		$	0.13		$	0.12			$	0.17
Merger related expense impact, net of tax (1)		-				-				-			0.01				0.01
Tax benefits impact (2)		-				-				-			(0.01	)			(0.05	)
Deferred tax asset adjustment for corporate rate change (3)		-				0.13				-			-				-
Core diluted EPS, exclusive of merger related expense, tax benefits impact and deferred tax asset adjustment for corporate rate change	$	0.12			$	0.12			$	0.13		$	0.12			$	0.13

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,
	2018			2017			2017			2017			2017
Return on Average Assets:
Return (loss) on average assets, as presented	0.69	%		(0.07	)%		0.73	%		0.73	%		1.00	%
Merger related expense impact, net of tax (1)	-			-			-			0.01			0.06
Tax benefits impact (2)	-			-			-			(0.04	)		(0.32	)
Deferred tax asset adjustment for corporate rate change (3)	-			0.77			-			-			-
Core return on average assets, exclusive of merger related expense, tax benefits impact and deferred tax asset adjustment for corporate rate  change	0.69	%		0.70	%		0.73	%		0.70	%		0.74	%

Return on Average Equity:
Return (loss) on average equity, as presented	5.82	%		(0.56	)%		5.98	%		6.05	%		8.51	%
Merger related expense impact, net of tax (1)	-			-			-			0.13			0.49
Tax benefits impact (2)	(0.03	)		-			-			(0.28	)		(2.72	)
Deferred tax asset adjustment for corporate rate change (3)	-			6.31			-			-			-
Core return on average equity, exclusive of merger related expense, tax benefits impact and corporate rate change	5.79	%		5.75	%		5.98	%		5.90	%		6.28	%

(1) Assumed tax rate for deductible expenses of 33.0% and 34.1% at June 30 and March 31, 2017, respectively.

(2) Tax benefit impact of the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance and stock option exercises incurred during period presented.

(3) Deferred tax asset adjustment recorded during the fourth quarter of 2017 upon change in corporate tax rate.

For further information contact:
James C. Hagan, President and CEO
Guida R. Sajdak, Executive Vice President and CFO
Meghan Hibner, Vice President and Investor Relations Officer
413-568-1911

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