GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) reported first quarter 2019 net income of $9.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, versus net income of $9.2 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. 

Significant items impacting comparable first quarter 2019 and 2018 results include the following:

• Changes in the fair value due to price of capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights (the “MSR Change”) of a negative $2.2 million ($0.07 per diluted share, after taxes) and a positive $1.5 million ($0.05 per diluted share, after taxes) for the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively.
• The acquisition of TCSB Bancorp, Inc. (“TCSB”), and its subsidiary, Traverse City State Bank, on Apr. 1, 2018 (referred to as the “Merger” or “TCSB Acquisition”) and the associated data processing systems conversions in June 2018.  The total assets, loans and deposits acquired in the Merger were approximately $343.5 million, $295.8 million (including $1.3 million of loans held for sale) and $287.7 million, respectively.

First quarter 2019 highlights include:

• Return on average assets and return on average equity of 1.13% and 11.14%, respectively.  These ratios increase to 1.34% and 13.20%, respectively, when excluding the after tax impact of the MSR Change.
• A year-over-year increase in net interest income of $6.3 million, or 26.3%;
• A year-over-year increase in net gains on mortgage loans of $1.0 million, or 40.5%;
• Net growth in total portfolio loans of $36.3 million, or 5.7% annualized; and
• Net growth in total deposits, excluding brokered deposits, of $79.7 million, or 12.2% annualized.

William B. (“Brad”) Kessel, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Independent Bank Corporation, commented: “We are pleased to report a solid start to 2019.  When excluding the after tax impact of the MSR Change, net income and diluted earnings per share increased by 38.9% and 26.0%, respectively, in 2019 as compared to 2018.  We achieved strong growth in both loans and deposits.  As we look ahead to the remainder of 2019, we continue to be focused on building shareholder value and positioning the Company for long-term success.”

Operating Results

The Company’s net interest income totaled $30.2 million during the first quarter of 2019, an increase of $6.3 million, or 26.3%, from the year-ago period, and a decrease of $0.4 million, or 1.4% from the fourth quarter of 2018.  The Company’s tax equivalent net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets (the “net interest margin”) was 3.88% during the first quarter of 2019 compared to 3.71% in the year ago period, and 3.93% in the fourth quarter of 2018.  The year-over-year quarterly increase in net interest income is due to increases in both the net interest margin and in average interest-earning assets.  Total average interest-earning assets were $3.15 billion in the first quarter of 2019 compared to $2.61 billion in the year ago quarter and $3.12 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Non-interest income totaled $10.0 million and $11.7 million in the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively.  This decrease is primarily due to declines in service charges on deposits and mortgage loan servicing income. 

Gains on mortgage loans totaled $3.6 million and $2.6 million in the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively.  An increase in mortgage loan sales volume was partially offset by compression in the profit margin.  Mortgage loan origination volume declined 13.3% to $137.8 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the year ago period. 

Mortgage loan servicing generated a loss of $1.2 million and income of $2.2 million in the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively.  This activity is summarized in the following table: 

The significant variance in the fair value change due to price relates primarily to the decline in mortgage loan interest rates in the first quarter of 2019.  This decline increased projected prepayment rates for mortgage loans serviced for others, leading to a decrease in fair value due to price.

Non-interest expense totaled $28.0 million in the first quarter of 2019, compared to $24.1 million in the year-ago period.  Several categories of non-interest expense increased as a result of the Merger.  In addition, the Company incurred increases in compensation due to market rate driven increases, particularly in hourly wages, and in health care costs due to increased claims. 

The Company recorded an income tax expense of $2.2 million and $2.0 million in the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively.  Income tax expense represented 18.8% and 18.2% of pre-tax earnings in the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Asset Quality

Commenting on asset quality, President and CEO Kessel added:  “Non-performing loans and assets remain at low levels.  In addition, thirty- to eighty-nine day delinquency rates at Mar. 31, 2019 were 0.003% for commercial loans and 0.39% for mortgage and consumer loans.  These early stage delinquency rates continue to be well-managed.”

A breakdown of non-performing loans⁽¹⁾ by loan type is as follows:

1. Excludes loans that are classified as “troubled debt restructured” that are still performing.

Non-performing loans decreased by $0.2 million since year-end 2018 due to a decline in non-performing commercial loans.  The decrease in non-performing commercial loans primarily reflects loan charge-offs, pay-offs and negotiated transactions.  Other real estate and repossessed assets totaled $1.3 million at both Mar. 31, 2019 and at Dec. 31, 2018.

The provision for loan losses was an expense of $0.7 million and $0.3 million in the first quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively.  The level of the provision for loan losses in each period reflects the Company’s overall assessment of the allowance for loan losses, taking into consideration factors such as loan mix, levels of non-performing and classified loans and loan net charge-offs.  The Company recorded loan net charge-offs of $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to loan net recoveries of $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2018.  At Mar. 31, 2019, the allowance for loan losses totaled $25.3 million, or 0.96% of portfolio loans, compared to $24.9 million, or 0.96% of portfolio loans, at Dec. 31, 2018.  Excluding the remaining TCSB acquired loan balances, the allowance for loan losses was equal to 1.05% and 1.06% of portfolio loans at Mar. 31, 2019 and Dec. 31, 2018, respectively.

Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Capital

Total assets were $3.38 billion at Mar. 31, 2019, an increase of $30.3 million from Dec. 31, 2018.  Loans, excluding loans held for sale, were $2.62 billion at Mar. 31, 2019, compared to $2.58 billion at Dec. 31, 2018.  Deposits totaled $2.93 billion at Mar. 31, 2019, an increase of $20.8 million from Dec. 31, 2018.  The increase in deposits is primarily due to growth in savings and interest-bearing checking account balances and in reciprocal deposits. 

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $71.6 million at Mar. 31, 2019, versus $70.2 million at Dec. 31, 2018. Securities available for sale totaled $461.5 million at Mar. 31, 2019, versus $427.9 million at Dec. 31, 2018. 

Total shareholders’ equity was $344.7 million at Mar. 31, 2019, or 10.19% of total assets.  Tangible common equity totaled $310.3 million at Mar. 31, 2019, or $13.17 per share.  The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Independent Bank, remains significantly above “well capitalized” for regulatory purposes with the following ratios:

Share Repurchase Plan

As previously announced, on Dec. 18, 2018, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a share repurchase plan.  Under the terms of the share repurchase plan, the Company is authorized to buy back up to 5% of its outstanding common stock.    The repurchase plan is authorized to last through Dec. 31, 2019.  Thus far in 2019, the Company has repurchased 115,787 shares at a weighted average price of $21.85 per share.

Earnings Conference Call
Brad Kessel, President and CEO, and Rob Shuster, CFO, will review the quarterly results in a conference call for investors and analysts beginning at 11:00 am ET on Monday, Apr. 22, 2019.

To participate in the live conference call, please dial 1-866-200-8394. Also the conference call will be accessible through an audio webcast with user-controlled slides at the following event site/URL:  https://services.choruscall.com/links/ibcp190422.html.

A playback of the call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (Conference ID # 10129490). The replay will be available through Apr. 29, 2019.

Annual Shareholders Meeting
The Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is being held at 3:00 pm ET on Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2019.  This meeting will be held at the Company’s headquarters – 4200 East Beltline, Grand Rapids, MI 49525.

About Independent Bank Corporation

Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) is a Michigan-based bank holding company with total assets of approximately $3.4 billion.  Founded as First National Bank of Ionia in 1864, Independent Bank Corporation operates a branch network across Michigan'sLower Peninsula through one state-chartered bank subsidiary.  This subsidiary (Independent Bank) provides a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage lending, investments and insurance.  Independent Bank Corporation is committed to providing exceptional personal service and value to its customers, stockholders and the communities it serves. 

For more information, please visit our Web site at:  IndependentBank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, predictions, forecasts, objectives, or assumptions of future events or performance, may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “predicts,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “should,” “will,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,” “seeks,” “intends” and similar words or phrases. Accordingly, these statements involve estimates, known and unknown risks, assumptions, and uncertainties that could cause actual strategies, actions, or results to differ materially from those expressed in them, and are not guarantees  of timing, future results, events, or performance. Because forward-looking statements are necessarily only estimates of future strategies, actions, or results, based on management’s current expectations, assumptions, and estimates on the date hereof, there can be no assurance that actual strategies, actions or results will not differ materially from expectations. Therefore, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements.  Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences are changes in general economic, political or industry conditions; changes in monetary and fiscal policies, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; volatility and disruptions in capital and credit markets; the interdependence of financial service companies; changes in regulation or oversight; unfavorable developments concerning credit quality; any future acquisitions or divestitures; the effects of more stringent capital or liquidity requirements; declines or other changes in the businesses or industries of Independent Bank Corporation's customers; the implementation of Independent Bank Corporation's strategies and business models; Independent Bank Corporation's ability to utilize technology to efficiently and effectively develop, market and deliver new products and services; operational difficulties, failure of technology infrastructure or information security incidents; changes in the financial markets, including fluctuations in interest rates and their impact on deposit pricing; competitive product and pricing pressures among financial institutions within Independent Bank Corporation's markets; changes in customer behavior; management's ability to maintain and expand customer relationships; management's ability to retain key officers and employees; the impact of legal and regulatory proceedings or determinations; the effectiveness of methods of reducing risk exposures; the effects of terrorist activities and other hostilities; the effects of catastrophic events; changes in accounting standards and the critical nature of Independent Bank Corporation's accounting policies.

Certain risks and important factors that could affect Independent Bank Corporation's future results are identified in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and other reports filed with the SEC, including among other things under the heading “Risk Factors” in such Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Independent Bank Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether to reflect events or circumstances, after the date on which the statement is made, to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Independent Bank Corporation

Independent Bank Corporation believes non-GAAP measures are meaningful because they reflect adjustments commonly made by management, investors, regulators and analysts to evaluate the adequacy of common equity and performance trends.  Tangible common equity is used by the Company to measure the quality of capital.

The tangible common equity ratio removes the effect of goodwill and other intangible assets from capital and total assets.  Tangible common equity per share of common stock removes the effect of goodwill and other intangible assets from common shareholders’ equity per share of common stock.

Contact:               
William B. Kessel, President and CEO, 616.447.3933
Robert N. Shuster, Chief Financial Officer, 616.522.1765