First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2016 Results

ALPENA, Mich., Feb. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: FFNM) (the "Company") reported consolidated net income of $547,000, or $0.15 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 compared to $805,000, or $0.22 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.  

Consolidated net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 was $1.3 million, or $0.35 per basic and diluted share, compared to $3.4 million, or $0.92 per basic and diluted share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015. 

Michael W. Mahler, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "We are pleased with the acceleration of loan growth as we recognized an increase of $9.3 million in net loans during the fourth quarter of 2016 and $13.5 million for the year. This growth was realized without relaxing underwriting standards. Our strategic plan includes growing market share in new and existing markets. The addition of lending staff late in 2015 and early this year has facilitated our achievement of this goal. We expect this momentum of growth to extend into early 2017 with the robust volume of loans in our pipelines and the quantity of commitment letters that continue to be signed by borrowers. The impact from the loan growth on the fourth quarter earnings is best demonstrated by an 86% increase in pretax, pre-provision income when compared to the same quarter last year."

Mahler further added, "Our multiyear trend in improving asset quality metrics remains intact. During 2016, we have reduced our level of non-performing assets to 0.7% of total assets, which represents the lowest level in more than a decade.  As of year-end, our Texas ratio is below 8.0% and our classified asset ratio stands at 20.4%. Reduced levels of non-performing assets, along with other cost savings measures, has resulted in a reduction of 10.2%, for the quarter, and 2.7%, for the year, in our non-interest expenses.  In spite of the investment in seasoned and talented lenders, we managed to reduce compensation and employee benefits by 6.9% for the quarter and hold them static year over year."

Performance Highlights

• Net loan growth of $9.3 million since September 30, 2016 and $13.5 million since December 31, 2015.
• Net interest income remained relatively unchanged for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 at $2.4 million and $9.3 million, respectively.
• Provision for loan loss was $3,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2016 compared to recovery of $510,000 for the same period in 2015 and $95,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to recovery of $535,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015.
• Decreases of $267,000, quarter over quarter, and $273,000, year over year, in the Company's non-interest expense.    
• A reduction of the deferred tax asset valuation reserve resulted in no tax expense for 2016 and a tax benefit of $1.7 million for 2015.
• Non-performing assets declined 8.5% to $2.4 million as of December 31, 2016 from $2.6 million at December 31, 2015. Non-performing loans declined 29.4% to $1.0 million at year end as compared to $1.4 million at December 31, 2015.
• Tangible book value per share at December 31, 2016 was $8.60 compared to $8.68 at December 31, 2015.
• First Federal of Northern Michigan remains "well-capitalized" for regulatory purposes.

Financial Condition

• Total assets of the Company at December 31, 2016 were $345.0 million, an increase of $9.0 million, or 2.7%, from total assets of $336.0 million at December 31, 2015.
  • We have experienced an increase in our net loans of $13.5 million,
    • With an $8.5 million increase in our commercial loan portfolio as we have focused our efforts on growing loans organically in and around our market areas.
    • We increased our mortgage loan portfolio by $6.3 million as we continue to retain high quality adjustable rate mortgages and 10- and 15-year fixed rate loans in our mortgage portfolio. In addition, the consumer loan portfolio decreased $1.2 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.

• We experienced a decrease of $4.0 million in our deposits held at other financial institutions during the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.
• Deposits increased $24.9 million to $293.4 million at December 31, 2016. While the balance of our Federal Home Loan Bank advances decreased $15.4 million to $17.5 million during the same period.
• Stockholders' equity was $32.9 million at December 31, 2016 compared to $33.3 million at December 31, 2015.
  • During 2016, the Company paid $596,000 in shareholder dividends.
  • We experienced a decrease of $1.2 million in the unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax.
  • Partially offsetting these decreases is our reported net income of $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.
• First Federal of Northern Michigan's regulatory capital remains at levels in excess of regulatory requirements, as shown in the table below.

Results of Operations

• Interest income remained steady at $2.7 million and $10.6 million for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
  • During the three months ended December 31, 2016, the yield on our interest-earning assets increased 5 basis points to 3.36% from 3.31% as of December 31, 2015.
  • The yield on our interest-earning assets decreased to 3.35% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 from 3.36% for the year ended December 31, 2015.
• Interest expense remained unchanged at $318,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and increased to $1.3 million, as of December 31, 2016, from $1.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015.
  • The average cost of our certificates of deposit increased to 0.99% for the three months ended December 31, 2016 from 0.93% during the same period a year earlier. In addition, the cost of these funds increased to 0.99% for the year ended December 31, 2016 from 0.94% for the same period in 2015. The average balance of our certificate of deposits decreased $3.7 million over the same period.
  • The cost of our FHLB advances decreased 10 basis points from 1.34% for the three months ended December 31, 2015 to 1.24% for the three months ended December 31, 2016. In addition, the cost of these funds increased 5 basis points from 1.29% for the year ended December 31, 2015 to 1.34% for the year ended December 31, 2016.
  • Interest-bearing core deposit balances increased $30.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 while the cost for those deposits rose 1 basis point during the same period.
• Net interest margin increased to 2.96% for the three-month period ended December 31, 2016 from 2.91% for the same period in 2015, and decreased to 2.94% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 from 2.96% for the year in 2015 as a result of the factors mentioned above.
• Provision for loan losses for the three months ended December 31, 2016 was $3,000 as compared to recovery of $510,000 for the prior year period.
• For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, provision for loan loss was $95,000 as compared to recovery of $535,000 for same period in 2015.
  • For the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2015, the recovery of provision resulted from the collection of $543,000 associated with a single commercial loan that was charged off in 2014.
• Non-interest income decreased to $516,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2016 from $548,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2015 with the following period-over-period decreases noted in 2016:
  • Other income of $95,000 primarily related to reduced level of insurance and brokerage commission received in 2016.
  • Partially offsetting these decreases were increases of $34,000 to gain on sale of available-for-sale securities and $36,000 to gain on sale of bank-owned assets.
• Non-interest income remained relatively unchanged at $2.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 with the following activity noted year over year:
  • Service charges and fees increased $20,000.
  • Gain on sale of securities increased $130,000.
  • Mortgage banking income declined $32,000.
  • Gain on bank-owned assets decreased $25,000.
• Non-interest expense decreased $267,000, to $2.3 million, for the three months ended December 31, 2016 when compared to $2.6 million for the same period one year earlier. The following are decreases noted in the quarter over quarter period ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
  • Compensation and employee benefits of $108,000.
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) premiums of $47,000.
  • Occupancy of $44,000.
  • Professional services of $41,000.
  • Expenses related to real estate owned and other repossessed assets of $168,000.
  • Offsetting these decreases was an increase in other expenses of $117,000 primarily related to automated teller machine (ATM) expenses, dues and subscriptions, and commercial loan expenses.
• Non-interest expense decreased $274,000, to $9.8 million, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 compared to $10.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 the following decreases were noted:
  • FDIC premiums of $57,000.
  • Professional services of $93,000.
  • Expenses related to real estate owned and other repossessed assets of $181,000.
  • Partially offsetting these decreases was an increase of $57,000 for service bureau expenses related to software cost associated with our Bank operating platform.

Selected Performance Ratios

Safe Harbor Statement
This news release and other releases and reports issued by the Company may contain "forward-looking statements." The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company is including this statement for purposes of taking advantage of the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

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SOURCE First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp, Inc.