AMESBURY, Mass., July 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Provident Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq:PVBC), the holding company for The Provident Bank (the “Bank”), reported net income for the three months ended June 30, 2018 of $2.4 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to $1.6 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2017. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $4.4 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, compared to $3.4 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

David P. Mansfield, Chief Executive Officer, said “I am pleased by this quarter’s earnings results, most notably our return on assets of 1.07%, continued improvement to our efficiency ratio and strong net interest margin. We continue to experience steady growth within our commercial loan portfolio, which now represents over 89% of the Bank’s total loans.  Our commercial and industrial portfolio has grown by $34 million, or 4.6% of total loans year-to-date. We did, however experience a decrease in our commercial real estate lending due to a combination of an expected payoff and unexpected prepayments.” Mansfield added, “The addition of Joe Reilly to our Board of Directors in June is another positive move for the company. Founder of Centrix Bank, the first dedicated commercial bank in NH, Joe is a highly respected member of the banking community and brings critical insight, sound judgement and hands-on experience to the company. Joe will add significant value as we continue to grow and thrive as a commercial bank.”

Net interest and dividend income before provision for loan losses increased by $1.2 million, or 15.5%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2017 and increased by $2.6 million, or 17.1%, compared to the six months ending June 30, 2017. The growth in net interest and dividend income this quarter over the prior year’s second quarter is primarily the result of an increase in our average interest earning assets of $36.9 million, or 4.6%, and an increase in net interest margin of 41 basis points to 4.35%. The growth in net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 is primarily the result of an increase in average interest earning assets of $49.5 million, or 6.3%, and an increase of the net interest margin of 40 basis points to 4.26%.

Provisions for loan losses of $638,000 were booked for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $892,000 for the same period in 2017. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, $1.3 million of provisions were recognized compared to $1.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The changes in the provision were based on management’s assessment of loan portfolio growth and composition changes, historical charge-off trends, levels of problem loans and other asset quality trends.

The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.36% as of June 30, 2018 compared to 1.30% as of December 31, 2017. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans was 149.13% as of June 30, 2018 compared to 108.02% as of December 31, 2017. Non-performing assets were $7.1 million, or 0.77% of total assets as of June 30, 2018 compared to $9.0 million, or 1.00% of total assets as of December 31, 2017. The non-performing assets at June 30, 2018 consist primarily of two commercial and industrial relationships and one commercial real estate. Impairment was evaluated and specific reserves of $315,000 were allocated during the three months ended June 30, 2018. No additional impairment was recorded on existing impaired loans in the six months ended June 30, 2018.

Noninterest income increased $48,000, or 4.5% to $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The increase is primarily due to an increase in service fees of $109,000, or 22.5%, partially offset by a decrease in gains on sales of securities of $58,000. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, noninterest income decreased $440,000, or 17.1%, to $2.1 million compared to $2.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The decrease is primarily due to decreased gains on sales of securities of $540,000.

Noninterest expense increased $536,000, or 9.1%, to $6.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $5.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, noninterest expense increased $1.3 million, or 11.2%, to $12.8 million compared to $11.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The primary reason for the increase for the three months ended June 30, 2018 is salary and employee benefits expense and professional fees. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the primary reason for the increase is salaries and employee benefits expense, professional fees, and other expense. The increase of $538,000, or 14.4%, for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and the increase of $1.0 million, or 13.8%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018 in salary and employee benefits was primarily due to a higher number of lenders compared to June 30, 2017. The increase of $114,000, or 53.0%, for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and the increase of $148,000, or 34.5%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018 in professional fees was primarily due to increased legal expenses related to certain subordinated lienholders that are disputing the priority of the Bank’s liens and the right of the Bank to retain proceeds from a foreclosure sale. The increase of $210,000, or 14.3%, for the six months ended June 30, 2018 in other expense is primarily related to costs incurred working out nonperforming loans.

As of June 30, 2018, total assets have increased $23.2 million, or 2.6%, to $925.4 million compared to $902.3 million at December 31, 2017. The primary reason for the increase is due to an increase in net loans partially offset by a decrease in investments in available-for-sale securities. Net loans increased $28.0 million, or 3.8%, to $770.1 million as of June 30, 2018 compared to $742.1 million at December 31, 2017. The increase in net loans was due to an increase in commercial loans of $34.5 million, or 14.3%. The decrease in investments in available-for-sale securities of $6.1 million, or 9.9%, resulted from a decrease in the fair value of the securities.

Total liabilities increased $19.0 million, or 2.4%, due to increased borrowings and deposits. Deposits were $754.3 million as of June 30, 2018 representing an increase of $4.2 million, or 0.6%, compared to December 31, 2017. The primary reason for the increase in deposits was due to an increase of $16.0 million, or 5.2%, in NOW and demand deposits partially offset by a decrease in time deposits of $13.4 million, or 13.1%. The increase in the NOW and demand deposits occurred primarily in municipal deposits. Time deposits decreased primarily due to the roll-off of brokered certificates of deposit. Borrowings increased $13.0 million, or 48.6%, to $39.9 million as of June 30, 2018 primarily due to loan growth funding.

As of June 30, 2018, shareholders’ equity was $120.0 million compared to $115.8 million at December 31, 2017, representing an increase of $4.2 million, or 3.6%. The increase is primarily due to net income of $4.4 million for the current year.

About Provident Bancorp, Inc.
Provident Bancorp, Inc. is a Massachusetts corporation that was formed in 2011 by The Provident Bank to be its holding company. Approximately 52.1% of Provident Bancorp, Inc. outstanding shares are owned by Provident Bancorp, a Massachusetts corporation and a mutual holding company. The Provident Bank, a subsidiary of Provident Bancorp, Inc., is an innovative, commercial bank that finds solutions for our business and private clients. We are committed to strengthening the economic development of the regions we serve, by working closely with businesses and private clients and delivering superior products and high-touch services to meet their banking needs. The Provident has offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. All deposits are insured in full through a combination of insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). For more information about The Provident Bank please visit our website www.theprovidentbank.com or call 877-487-2977.

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements, such as statements of the Company’s or the Bank’s plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as, “expects,” “subject,” “believe,” “will,” “intends,” “may,” “will be” or “would.” These statements are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s or the Bank’s control) and actual results may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements (which reflect management’s analysis of factors only as of the date of which they are given). These factors include general economic conditions, trends in interest rates, the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans, and the ability of the Company or the Bank to effectively manage its growth and results of regulatory examinations, among other factors. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents of the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual and Quarterly reports on forms 10-K and 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Provident Bancorp, Inc.
Carol Houle, 978-834-8534
Executive Vice President/CFO
choule@theprovidentbank.com

Provident Bancorp, Inc.
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Provident Bancorp, Inc.
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Provident Bancorp, Inc.
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