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BCB Bancorp, Inc., Announces Increase in First Quarter Earnings and Declaration of Quarterly Dividend

^{Published on 2011-04-28 06:15:59 - Market Wire}
 

BAYONNE, N.J.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--BCB Bancorp, Inc., Bayonne, NJ (NASDAQ: BCBP) announced an increase in net income of $1.2 million or 171.4% to $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 from $718,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.20 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared to $0.15 for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2011 for basic and diluted earnings per share calculations was 9,393,000 and 9,413,000. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2010 for basic and diluted earnings per share calculations was 4,662,000 and 4,678,000.

Total assets decreased by $7.0 million or 0.63% to $1.10 billion at March31, 2011 from $1.11 billion at December31, 2010. Total cash and cash equivalents decreased by $54.9 million or 45.3% to $66.2 million at March31, 2011 from $121.1 million at December31, 2010. Investment securities classified as held-to-maturity increased by $60.6 million or 36.6% to $226.2 million at March31, 2011 from $165.6 million at December31, 2010. Loans receivable decreased by $7.7 million or 1.0% to $765.4 million at March31, 2011 from $773.1 million at December31, 2010. Deposit liabilities decreased by $7.4 million or 0.83% to $878.9 million at March31, 2011 from $886.3 million at December31, 2010. Stockholdersa™ equity increased by $1.0 million or 1.0% to $100.0 million at March31, 2011 from $99.0 million at December31, 2010. The increase in stockholdersa™ equity was primarily attributable to net income for the three months ended March31, 2011 of $1.9 million, a $172,000 increase resulting from the exercise of stock options totaling 19,084 shares and a $96,000 increase in the market value of our available-for-sale securities portfolio, net of tax. This gain was partially offset by the payment of a quarterly cash dividend totaling $1.1 million, representing a $0.12 per share payment during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and $54,000 paid to repurchase 5,132 shares of the Companya™s common stock.

Net income increased by $1.2 million or 171.4% to $1.9 million for the three months ended March31, 2011 from $718,000 for the three months ended March31, 2010. The increase in net income reflects increases in net interest income, non-interest income and a decrease in the provision for loan losses, partially offset by increases in non-interest expense and income tax expense.

Net interest income increased by $4.93 million or 104.0% to $9.67 million for the three months ended March31, 2011 from $4.74 million for the three months ended March31, 2010. The increase in net interest income resulted primarily from an increase in the average balance of interest earning assets of $463.6 million or 74.7% to $1.08 billion for the three months ended March31, 2011 from $620.8 million for the three months ended March31, 2010, partially offset by a decrease in the average yield of interest earning assets to 4.82% for the three months ended March31, 2011 from 5.13% for the three months ended March31, 2010. The average balance of interest bearing liabilities increased by $384.6 million or 70.4% to $930.9 million for the three months ended March31, 2011 from $546.3 million for the three months ended March31, 2010 and the average cost of interest bearing liabilities decreased by ninety-one basis points to 1.45% for the three months ended March31, 2011 from 2.36% for the three months ended March31, 2010. The decrease of ninety-one basis points in the average cost of interest bearing liabilities more than offset the decrease of thirty-one basis points in the average yield on interest earning assets. As a consequence of the aforementioned, our net interest margin increased to 3.57% for the three months ended March31, 2011 from 3.06% for the three months ended March31, 2010. The increase in the average balance of interest earning assets and the average balance of interest bearing liabilities was primarily attributable to the completion of the business combination transaction with Pamrapo Bancorp, Inc., on July 6, 2010.

Donald Mindiak, President & CEO commented, aour increase in earnings per share was reflective of a concerted effort to redeploy accumulated liquidity into higher yielding, intermediate term mortgage backed securities during the quarter. The culmination of the business combination transaction with Pamrapo Bancorp, Inc., coupled with the balance sheet growth this transaction brought as well as the synergies extracted from the combination, factored positively in the improvement in our net interest margin to 3.57% from 3.06%. Asset quality remains the most critical component of managementa™s focus, with an increase in internal resources dedicated to addressing these concerns in this challenging economy.a

Mr. Mindiak continued, aThe Board of Directors unanimously declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12/share payable on Monday, May 16, 2011, with a record date of May 6, 2011, consistent with our prior quartera™s amount. The maintenance of our quarterly cash dividend remains a source of pride that we can continue to provide our shareholders a competitive return on their equity, while maintaining sufficient capital and allowance levels to address the challenges of this economy. Our recent announcement to engage in a business combination transaction with Allegiance Community Bank reinforces our commitment to our shareholders that we will explore opportunities and execute transactions that we believe provide the opportunity for growth in both franchise and shareholder value.a

Forward-looking Statements and Associated Risk Factors

This release, like many written and oral communications presented by BCB Bancorp, Inc., and our authorized officers, may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding our prospective performance and strategies within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are including this statement for purposes of said safe harbor provisions.

Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies, and expectations of the Company, are generally identified by use of words aanticipate,a abelieve,a aestimate,a aexpect,a aintend,a aplan,a aproject,a aseek,a astrive,a atry,a or future or conditional verbs such as acould,a amay,a ashould,a awill,a awould,a or similar expressions. Our ability to predict results or the actual effects of our plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

There are a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause actual conditions, events, or results to differ significantly from those described in our forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions and trends, either nationally or in some or all of the areas in which we and our customers conduct our respective businesses; conditions in the securities markets or the banking industry; changes in interest rates, which may affect our net income, prepayment penalties and other future cash flows, or the market value of our assets; changes in deposit flows, and in the demand for deposit, loan, and investment products and other financial services in the markets we serve; changes in the financial or operating performance of our customersa™ businesses; changes in real estate values, which could impact the quality of the assets securing the loans in our portfolio; changes in the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios; changes in competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions; changes in our customer base; potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities of companies targeted for acquisition; our ability to retain key members of management; our timely development of new lines of business and competitive products or services in a changing environment, and the acceptance of such products or services by our customers; any interruption or breach of security resulting in failures or disruptions in customer account management, general ledger, deposit, loan or other systems; any interruption in customer service due to circumstances beyond our control; the outcome of pending or threatened litigation, or of other matters before regulatory agencies, or of matters resulting from regulatory exams, whether currently existing or commencing in the future; environmental conditions that exist or may exist on properties owned by, leased by, or mortgaged to the Company; changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory and accounting requirements; changes in legislation, regulation, and policies, including, but not limited to, those pertaining to banking, securities, tax, environmental protection, and insurance, and the ability to comply with such changes in a timely manner; changes in accounting principles, policies, practices, or guidelines; operational issues stemming from, and/or capital spending necessitated by, the potential need to adapt to industry changes in information technology systems, on which we are highly dependent; the ability to keep pace with, and implement on a timely basis, technological changes; changes in the monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board; war or terrorist activities; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and geopolitical factors affecting our operations, pricing and services.

It also should be noted that the Company occasionally evaluates opportunities to expand through acquisition and may conduct due diligence activities in connection with such opportunities. As a result, acquisition discussions and, in some cases, negotiations, may take place in the future, and acquisitions involving cash, debt, or equity securities may occur. Furthermore, the timing and occurrence or non-occurrence of these events may be subject to circumstances beyond the Companya™s control.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which such statements were made.