National Bank Holdings Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Oct. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NBHC) reported net income of $7.2 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2017, compared to net income of $9.2 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2017 and net income of $8.3 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2016. The return on average tangible assets was 0.69% for the third quarter of 2017 compared to 0.87% for the second quarter of 2017, and 0.80% for the third quarter of 2016. The return on average tangible equity was 6.43% for the third quarter of 2017 compared to 8.21% for the second quarter of 2017, and 7.07% for the third quarter of 2016.

In announcing these results, Chief Executive Officer Tim Laney shared, "Our business lines continued to build and deepen relationships with our clients during the quarter resulting in another quarter of double-digit annualized revenue growth (excluding gain from banking center divestitures in the prior quarter), strong deposit growth, particularly average demand deposits which grew 9.5%, annualized, adjusting for banking center divestitures and a continued focus on expense control. We took charge-offs on the last of our previously identified problem energy loans during the quarter, and continue to see the remaining loan portfolio improve nicely. In fact, we expect to have zero energy-related non-accruals by year-end. Positive credit trends across the total loan portfolio continued as evidenced by our non-performing loans to total loans ratio of 0.61% and just 0.13% year-to-date annualized net charge-offs on non-energy loans."

Mr. Laney added, "As we look to close the year, we have good underlying business momentum and a solid foundation for future growth. In addition, our pending acquisition of Peoples will deepen our presence in our core markets of the Colorado Front Range and the greater Kansas City region while adding a best-in-class mortgage banking platform to our business."

Third Quarter 2017 Highlights
(All comparisons refer to the second quarter of 2017, except as noted)

• Total loans ended the quarter at $3.1 billion, increasing $32.6 million, or 4.2% annualized, while originated loans outstanding totaled $2.9 billion and increased $54.1 million, or 7.6% annualized.
• Fully taxable equivalent net interest income totaled $39.4 million, and increased $1.1 million due to growth in average earning assets and a 0.05% widening of the net interest margin to 3.60%.
• The non 310-30 provision for loan losses totaled $4.0 million and included $2.9 million related to one non-accrual energy loan as we are resolving the remaining problem energy loans. Net charge-offs totaled $8.8 million, which includes $5.7 million previously reserved and the $2.9 million non-accrual energy loan mentioned above. Excluding the energy credits, annualized non 310-30 net charge-offs were 0.37% during the quarter and 0.13% year-to-date.
• Average deposits totaled $3.9 billion and increased $16.8 million, or 1.7% annualized, excluding the banking center divestitures in the prior quarter.
• Non-interest income totaled $9.6 million and decreased $2.4 million, driven entirely by a $2.9 million gain from banking center divestitures in the prior quarter. Net of the gain, non-interest income grew $0.5 million, primarily due to strong interest rate swap income from commercial clients.
• Non-interest expense totaled $34.6 million and increased $1.2 million due to higher problem asset workout expenses net of OREO gains.
• At September 30, 2017, common book value per share was $20.53, while tangible common book value per share was $18.59 and $19.42 after consideration of the excess accretable yield value of $0.83 per share.

Third Quarter 2017 Results
(All comparisons refer to the second quarter of 2017, except as noted)

Net Interest Income
Fully taxable equivalent net interest income totaled $39.4 million, and increased $1.1 million due to a widening of the net interest margin and growth in average earning assets. The fully taxable equivalent net interest margin widened 0.05% to 3.60% due to a 0.07% increase in the yield on earning assets partially offset by a 0.03% increase in the cost of interest bearing liabilities. The earning asset yield benefited from higher yields on our variable rate loans, primarily driven by the short-term market rate increases as well as a 0.04% benefit from higher levels of acquired loan interest income. Average earning assets increased $22.2 million, or 2.0% annualized, as originated loan growth was partially offset by the decrease in acquired loan balances and continued investment portfolio runoff.

Loans
Total loans ended the quarter at $3.1 billion, increasing $32.6 million, or 4.2% annualized, while originated loans outstanding totaled $2.9 billion and increased $54.1 million, or 7.6% annualized led by total commercial loan growth of 8.3%, annualized. New loan originations totaled $181.3 million and were impacted by lower levels of line of credit utilizations. Loan originations totaled $922.5 million during the past twelve months, resulting in originated loan outstandings growth of 15.2% over September 30, 2016.

Asset Quality and Provision for Loan Losses
Non 310-30 loans totaled $3.0 billion and represented 96.0% of total loans at September 30, 2017. These loans are comprised of originated loans and acquired loans not accounted for under 310-30. The non 310-30 provision for loan losses totaled $4.0 million and included $2.9 million related to one non-accrual energy loan as we are resolving the remaining problem energy loans. Net charge-offs within the non 310-30 portfolio totaled $8.8 million primarily due to two previously-reserved for loans totaling $5.7 million and $2.9 million from the resolution of one previously identified non-accrual energy loan. Excluding the energy loans, annualized non 310-30 net charge-offs were 0.37% and 0.13% year-to-date. Non-performing non 310-30 loans (comprised of non-accrual loans and non-accrual TDRs) were 0.64% of total non 310-30 loans, compared to 1.10% at June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of 41.8%. The non 310-30 allowance for loan losses was 1.00% of total non 310-30 loans, decreasing from 1.18% at prior quarter end due to the charge-offs of previously reserved-for credits.

Acquired problem loans accounted for under 310-30 totaled $125.6 million at September 30, 2017 and decreased $8.8 million during the third quarter, an annualized decrease of 26.1%. The quarterly fair value re-measurement on the 310-30 loans resulted in a favorable net transfer of $1.6 million from non-accretable difference to accretable yield, which will be recognized over the remaining lives of the 310-30 pools. This increased the life-to-date economic benefit of the accretable yield transfers net of impairments on 310-30 loans to $223.1 million.

Deposits
Total deposits averaged $3.9 billion and increased $16.8 million, or 1.7% annualized, adjusting for the banking center divestitures in the prior quarter. Adjusting for the banking center divestitures in the prior quarter, average transaction deposits (defined as total deposits less time deposits) increased $17.4 million, or 2.5% annualized, driven by strong demand deposit growth of $20.5 million, or 9.5% annualized. Time deposits averaged $1.1 billion and decreased $0.6 million, on an adjusted basis. The cost of deposits was 0.42%, increasing 0.02% from the prior quarter.

Non-Interest Income
Non-interest income totaled $9.6 million, decreasing $2.4 million, driven entirely by a $2.9 million gain from banking center divestitures in the prior quarter. Net of the banking center divestiture gain, non-interest income grew $0.5 million primarily due to strong interest rate swap income from commercial clients. Service charges totaled $3.6 million and were consistent with the prior quarter. Bank card fees decreased $0.1 million, primarily due to lower interchange revenue on lower transaction volumes. Gain on sale of mortgages increased $0.1 million on higher volume.

Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense totaled $34.6 million and increased $1.2 million primarily due to $1.9 million higher problem asset workout expenses net of OREO gains and $0.4 million of acquisition-related cost in the quarter. Salaries and benefits decreased $0.5 million primarily due to lower payroll tax and incentive accruals. Professional fees decreased $0.5 million primarily due to less acquisition-related expenses during the quarter.

Income tax expense totaled $1.7 million, including a benefit of $0.1 million due to tax benefits from stock compensation activity. Without this $0.1 million benefit, tax expense would have been $1.8 million, an effective tax rate of 20%. The lower rate compared to the statutory rate reflects the continued success of our tax strategies and tax exempt income.

Capital
Capital ratios continue to be strong and in excess of federal bank regulatory agency "well capitalized" thresholds. Shareholders' equity totaled $550.2 million at September 30, 2017 and increased $5.8 million from the prior quarter end. The increase in equity was due to net income, partially offset by dividends in the quarter.

Common book value per share was $20.53 at September 30, 2017 and increased $0.20 from the prior quarter end. Tangible common book value per share was $18.59 at September 30, 2017, compared to $18.32 at the prior quarter end, as the increase from net income and intangible asset amortization was partially offset by dividends. The leverage ratio at September 30, 2017 for the consolidated company and the Bank was 10.43% and 8.48%, respectively.

A common convention in the industry is to add the value of the accretable yield to the tangible book value per share. The value of the September 30, 2017 accretable yield balance on the 310-30 loans of $51.5 million would add $1.17 after-tax to the tangible book value per share. A more conservative methodology that management uses values the excess yield above a 4.0% yield and then considers the timing of the excess accreted interest income recognition discounted at 5%. This would add $0.83 after-tax to our tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2017, resulting in a tangible common book value per share of $19.42.

Year-Over-Year Review
(All comparisons refer to the first nine months of 2016, except as noted)

Fully taxable equivalent net interest income totaled $113.7 million and increased $0.8 million, benefiting from the continued shift of earning assets into the originated loan portfolio. Average earning assets were flat as average originated loans increased $433.2 million or 18.8%, and were entirely offset by the paydowns of higher-yielding 310-30 loans and the continued investment portfolio runoff. The fully taxable equivalent net interest margin widened 0.02% to 3.53%.

Loan balances at September 30, 2017 totaled $3.1 billion and increased $297.9 million, or 10.6%, while originated loans outstanding totaled $2.9 billion and increased $379.6 million, or 15.2%. New loan originations between the two periods totaled $922.5 million. The acquired 310-30 loan portfolio declined $32.1 million, or 20.3%, as a result of the continued successful workout efforts that have been made on exiting acquired problem loans.

Total deposits averaged $3.9 billion during the first nine months of 2017, increasing $75.2 million, or 2.0% from the prior year, adjusting for the banking center divestitures in the second quarter of 2017. Average transaction deposits (defined as total deposits less time deposits) totaled $2.7 billion and increased $42.5 million, or 1.6%. Excluding the banking center divestitures, average transaction deposits increased $71.1 million, or 2.7%, driven by demand deposit growth of $46.5 million, or 5.8%. Time deposits averaged $1.1 billion, increasing $4.1 million on an adjusted basis. Client repurchase agreements averaged $85.1 million, decreasing $27.5 million due to temporary client funds from one client in the prior year. The mix of transaction deposits to total deposits improved to 71.3% at September 30, 2017 from 69.3% in the prior year. Additionally, the cost of deposits was 0.41%, increasing from 0.36% in the prior year due to higher cost of savings, money market and time deposits.

Provision for loan loss expense on non 310-30 loans was $9.9 million during the first nine months of 2017, compared to $23.2 million, a decrease of $13.3 million driven entirely by a reduction in the provision for energy loans. The non 310-30 allowance for loan losses ended the quarter at 1.00% of total non 310-30 loans compared to 1.04% in the third quarter of 2016. Annualized net charge-offs on non 310-30 loans totaled 0.41%, or 0.13% excluding the energy portfolio compared to 1.16% in the first nine months of 2016 or 0.13% excluding the energy portfolio.

Non-interest income totaled $30.2 million during the first nine months of 2017, representing an increase of $0.2 million. Service charges and bank card fees increased a combined $0.6 million, or 2.9% due to higher treasury management fees and higher interchange activity. Gain on sale of mortgages decreased $0.5 million due to lower volumes. Other non-interest income increased $1.9 million due to a $2.9 million gain from banking center divestitures in the second quarter of 2017 and a $1.0 million increase in swap related income. These increases were partially offset by a $1.8 million gain on sale of a building in the prior year. OREO related income also decreased $1.7 million due to income from one large OREO property in the prior year.

Non-interest expense totaled $102.7 million during the first nine months of 2017, representing an increase of $1.1 million primarily due to lower gain on sale of OREO of $1.9 million as well as $0.7 million of acquisition-related costs. Salary and benefits expense decreased $0.7 million, while occupancy and equipment expenses were $1.6 million lower due to lower depreciation expense. Professional fees increased $0.1 million due to acquisition-related expenses. Other non-interest expense increased $1.0 million due to various expense categories including $0.3 million in acquisition-related expenses.

Income tax expense totaled $2.7 million, including a benefit of $3.4 million due to tax benefits from stock compensation activity. Without this $3.4 million benefit, tax expense would have been $6.1 million, an effective tax rate of 22.3%. The lower rate compared to the statutory rate reflects the continued success of our tax strategies and tax exempt income.

Conference Call
Management will host a conference call to review the results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 19, 2017. Interested parties may listen to this call by dialing (877) 272-6762 (United States) / (615) 800-6832 (International) using the Conference ID of 92242777 and asking for the National Bank Holdings Corporation Third Quarter Earnings conference call. A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning approximately two hours after the call's completion through November 3, 2017, by dialing (855) 859-2056 (United States) / (404) 537-3406 (International) using the Conference ID of 92242777. The earnings release will also be available on the Company's website at www.nationalbankholdings.com by visiting the investor relations area.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Certain of the financial measures and ratios we present, including "tangible assets," "return on average tangible assets," "return on average tangible assets before provision for loan losses and taxes," "return on average tangible common equity," "tangible common book value," "tangible common book value per share," "tangible common equity," "tangible common equity to tangible assets," and "fully taxable equivalent" metrics, are supplemental measures that are not required by, or are not presented in accordance with, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We refer to these financial measures and ratios as "non-GAAP financial measures." We consider the use of select non-GAAP financial measures and ratios to be useful for financial and operational decision making and useful in evaluating period-to-period comparisons. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance by excluding certain expenditures or assets that we believe are not indicative of our primary business operating results or by presenting certain metrics on a fully taxable equivalent basis. We believe that management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting, analyzing and comparing past, present and future periods.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP and you should not rely on non-GAAP financial measures alone as measures of our performance. The non-GAAP financial measures we present may differ from non-GAAP financial measures used by our peers or other companies. We compensate for these limitations by providing the equivalent GAAP measures whenever we present the non-GAAP financial measures and by including a reconciliation of the impact of the components adjusted for in the non-GAAP financial measure so that both measures and the individual components may be considered when analyzing our performance.

A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.

About National Bank Holdings Corporation
National Bank Holdings Corporation is a bank holding company created to build a leading community bank franchise delivering high quality customer service and committed to shareholder results. National Bank Holdings Corporation operates a network of 85 banking centers located in Colorado, the greater Kansas City region and Texas. Through the Company's subsidiary, NBH Bank, it operates under the following brand names: Bank Midwest in Kansas and Missouri, Community Banks of Colorado in Colorado and Hillcrest Bank in Texas. Additional information about National Bank Holdings Corporation can be found at www.nationalbankholdings.com.

For more information visit: bankmw.com, cobnks.com, hillcrestbank.com or nbhbank.com. Or, follow us on any of our social media sites:
Bank Midwest: facebook.com/bankmw, twitter.com/bank_mw, instagram.com/bankmw;
Community Banks of Colorado: facebook.com/cobnks, twitter.com/cobnks, instagram.com/cobnks;
Hillcrest Bank: facebook.com/hillcrestbank, twitter.com/hillcrest_bank;
NBH Bank: twitter.com/nbhbank;
or connect with any of our brands on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "would," "should," "could," "may," "predict," "seek," "potential," "will," "estimate," "target," "plan," "project," "continuing," "ongoing," "expect," "intend" or similar expressions that relate to the Company's strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements involve certain important risks, uncertainties and other factors, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the "Risk Factors" referenced in our most recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in our reports and documents filed with the SEC, and the following factors: ability to execute our business strategy; business and economic conditions; economic, market, operational, liquidity, credit and interest rate risks associated with the Company's business; effects of any changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws; changes imposed by regulatory agencies to increase capital standards; effects of inflation, as well as, interest rate, securities market and monetary supply fluctuations; changes in the economy or supply-demand imbalances affecting local real estate values; changes in consumer spending, borrowings and savings habits; the Company's ability to identify potential candidates for, consummate, integrate and realize operating efficiencies from, acquisitions or consolidations; the Company's ability to realize anticipated benefits from enhancements or updates to its core operating systems from time to time without significant change in client service or risk to the Company's control environment; the Company's dependence on information technology and telecommunications systems of third party service providers and the risk of systems failures, interruptions or breaches of security; the Company's ability to achieve organic loan and deposit growth and the composition of such growth; changes in sources and uses of funds; increased competition in the financial services industry; the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices; the share price of the Company's stock; the Company's ability to realize deferred tax assets or the need for a valuation allowance; continued consolidation in the financial services industry; ability to maintain or increase market share and control expenses; costs and effects of changes in laws and regulations and of other legal and regulatory developments; technological changes; the timely development and acceptance of new products and services; the Company's continued ability to attract and maintain qualified personnel; ability to implement and/or improve operational management and other internal risk controls and processes and reporting system and procedures; regulatory limitations on dividends from the Company's bank subsidiary; changes in estimates of future loan reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory and accounting requirements; widespread natural and other disasters, dislocations, political instability, acts of war or terrorist activities, cyberattacks or international hostilities; impact of reputational risk; and success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items. The Company can give no assurance that any goal or plan or expectation set forth in forward-looking statements can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law.