WILLIAMSPORT, Pa., July 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:PWOD)

Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. continued its solid earnings, supported by loan and deposit growth, achieving net income of $5,772,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 resulting in basic and dilutive earnings per share of $1.22.

Highlights

• Net income from core operations (“operating earnings”), which is a non-generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) measure of net income excluding net securities gains, was $3,094,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to $3,065,000 for the same period of 2016. Operating earnings decreased to $5,649,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to $5,830,000 for the same period of 2016. Impacting the level of operating earnings were several factors including the continued shift of earning assets from the investment portfolio to the loan portfolio as the balance sheet is actively managed to reduce market risk and interest rate risk in a rising rate environment. In addition, the effective tax rate has increased due to the conclusion of the ten year tax credit generation period of several low income elderly housing projects in our market footprint in which the company participates.
• Operating earnings per share for the three months ended June 30, 2017 were $0.66 for both basic and dilutive, an increase from $0.65 for basic and dilutive for the same period of 2016. Operating earnings per share for the six months ended June 30, 2017 were $1.20 basic and dilutive compared to $1.23 basic and dilutive for the same period of 2016.
• Return on average assets was 0.88% for the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to 1.00% for the corresponding period of 2016. Return on average assets was 0.83% for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to 0.97% for the corresponding period of 2016.
• Return on average equity was 8.79% for the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to 9.77% for the corresponding period of 2016. Return on average equity was 8.24% for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to 9.36% for the corresponding period of 2016.

“We continue to position and build the company for the future. To spur quality asset growth the indirect auto lending program has been introduced throughout our entire market area, various building projects have been completed, while others are in various stages of completion. To increase income we are adding high quality assets as we build our balance sheet. In one year the indirect lending program has generated in excess of $40 million in short duration high quality loans. A more customer centric experience in our Williamsport branch is now in place following a substantial remodel. Luzerne Bank is set to open a new office in Conyngham, while Jersey Shore State Bank is expanding its footprint into Muncy/Hughesville with a branch in the construction phase. The addition of quality earning assets has led to increased revenue resulting in the second quarter of 2017 outperforming the first quarter of the year. The structures of the earning assets that have been acquired have contributed to an improving net interest margin. We continue to build for the future recognizing it may have a drag on earnings in the short-term. However, as seen by the second quarter results, investing in the future will provide long-term rewards,” said Richard A. Grafmyre, CFP®, President and CEO.

A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures of operating earnings, operating return on assets, operating return on equity, and operating earnings per share, described in the highlights, to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of this press release.

Net Income

Net income, as reported under GAAP, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 was $3,086,000 and $5,772,000 compared to $3,390,000 and $6,468,000 for the same period of 2016. Results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to 2016 were impacted by a decrease in after-tax securities gains of $333,000 (from a gain of $325,000 to a loss of $8,000) for the three month periods and a decrease in after-tax securities gains of $515,000 (from a gain of $638,000 to a gain of $123,000) for the six month periods. Basic and dilutive earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were $0.65 and $1.22 compared to $0.72 and $1.37 for the corresponding period of 2016. Return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.88% and 8.79% for the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to 1.00% and 9.77% for the corresponding period of 2016. Return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.83% and 8.24% for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to 0.97% and 9.36% for the corresponding period of 2016.

Net Interest Margin

The net interest margin for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 was 3.44% and 3.42% compared to 3.42% and 3.49% for the corresponding period of 2016. The decline in the net interest margin for the six month period was driven by a decreasing yield on the investment portfolio due to the continued lower than historical rate environment that limits the yield that we can acquire into the portfolio and our strategic decision to continue repositioning the portfolio through active management in anticipation of a steadily rising rate environment. The impact of the declining investment portfolio yield and decreasing investment portfolio balance was offset by an 8.06% growth in gross loans from June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2017. The loan growth was funded by an increase in core deposits and a decrease in the investment portfolio. Core deposits represent a lower cost funding source than time deposits and comprise 82.11% of total deposits at June 30, 2017 and 79.65% at June 30, 2016.

Assets

Total assets increased $48,882,000 to $1,395,364,000 at June 30, 2017 compared to June 30, 2016. Net loans increased $84,374,000 to $1,125,976,000 at June 30, 2017 compared to June 30, 2016 primarily due to campaigns related to increasing home equity product market share during 2016 and 2017 and the introduction of indirect auto lending during the third quarter of 2016. The investment portfolio decreased $7,950,000 from June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2017 due to our strategy to reduce the investment portfolio duration through the selective selling of bonds as opportunities develop. The combination of loan portfolio growth and a decrease in the size of the investment portfolio has resulted in shortening the overall earning asset portfolio duration consistent with a strategy to reduce the interest rate and market risk exposure to a rising rate environment.

Non-performing Loans

The non-performing loans to total loans ratio remained flat at 1.10% at June 30, 2017 from June 30, 2016 as non-performing loans have increased to $12,537,000 at June 30, 2017 from $11,626,000 at June 30, 2016. The majority of non-performing loans are centered on loans that are either in a secured position and have sureties with a strong underlying financial position or have a specific allocation for any impairment recorded within the allowance for loan losses. Net loan charge-offs of $332,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 minimally impacted the allowance for loan losses which was 1.15% of total loans at June 30, 2017. The majority of the loans charged-off had a specific allowance within the allowance for loan losses.

Deposits

Deposits increased $66,243,000 to $1,151,110,000 at June 30, 2017 compared to June 30, 2016. Core deposits (total deposits excluding time deposits) increased $81,067,000 due to our commitment to building complete banking relationships with our customers. Noninterest-bearing deposits increased $26,052,000 to $300,054,000 at June 30, 2017 compared to June 30, 2016. Driving this growth is our commitment to easy-to-use products, community involvement, and emphasis on customer service. While deposit gathering efforts have centered on core deposits, the lengthening of the time deposit portfolio continues to move forward as part of the strategy to build balance sheet protection in a rising rate environment.

Shareholders’ Equity

Shareholders’ equity decreased $954,000 to $138,440,000 at June 30, 2017 compared to June 30, 2016. The change in accumulated other comprehensive loss from $2,168,000 at June 30, 2016 to $4,249,000 at June 30, 2017 is a result of an increase in unrealized losses on available for sale securities from an unrealized gain of $1,838,000 at June 30, 2016 to an unrealized loss of $16,000 at June 30, 2017. The amount of accumulated other comprehensive loss at June 30, 2017 was also impacted by the change in net excess of the projected benefit obligation over the fair value of the plan assets of the defined benefit pension plan resulting in an increase in the net loss of $227,000 to $4,233,000 at June 30, 2017. The current level of shareholders’ equity equates to a book value per share of $29.53 at June 30, 2017 compared to $29.45 at June 30, 2016 and an equity to asset ratio of 9.92% at June 30, 2017 compared to 10.35% at June 30, 2016. Excluding goodwill and intangibles, book value per share was $25.54 at June 30, 2017 compared to $25.42 at June 30, 2016. Dividends declared for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were $0.94 per share.

Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Jersey Shore State Bank, which operates fifteen branch offices providing financial services in Lycoming, Clinton, Centre, Montour, and Union Counties, and Luzerne Bank, which operates eight branch offices providing financial services in Luzerne County. Investment and insurance products are offered through Jersey Shore State Bank’s subsidiary, The M Group, Inc. D/B/A The Comprehensive Financial Group.