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Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2011 Earnings of $2.9 Million, an 8% Increase, and Strong Loan and Deposit Growt

^{Published on 2011-10-24 08:35:23 - Market Wire}
 

LOWELL, Mass.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the aCompanya) (NASDAQ: EBTC), parent of Enterprise Bank, announced net income of $2.9 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $2.7 million, or $0.30 per diluted share for the comparable 2010 period. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 amounted to $8.1 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, compared to $8.2 million, or $0.89 per diluted share for the comparable 2010 period.

"Managementas Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

As previously announced on October 18, 2011, the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.105 per share to be paid on December 1, 2011 to shareholders of record as of November 10, 2011. The quarterly dividend represents a 5.0% increase over the 2010 dividend rate.

Chief Executive Officer Jack Clancy commented, aOur 8% third quarter net income growth reflects our success in growing our business lines. Deposits, excluding brokered deposits, have grown $101.5 million, or 8%, since December 31, 2010. While many banks continue to experience declining loan portfolios, our loan balances grew $86.2 million, or 8%, since December 31, 2010. On an annualized basis, deposits and loans have grown 11% and 10%, respectively, since December 31, 2010. We believe that our continued and steady growth is a result of our ability to serve our market.a

Mr. Clancy further stated, aOur focus remains on growing all of our business lines, including quality lending, deposits, investment assets managed and insurance services through continued organic growth and strategic expansion, as we seek to take advantage of market opportunities that continue to be presented to strong community banks. The Bankas expansion in recent years in Southern New Hampshire, the Nashoba Valley Region and into Essex County presents increased opportunities to enhance our franchise. Our recently announced Pelham location, our fourth in Southern New Hampshire, is anticipated to open in early 2012. We remain committed to making investments in our branch network, technology, and most importantly, in our employees, customers and communities, in order to positionthe Bank for long-term growth.a

Founder and Chairman of the Board George Duncan stated, aThe desire to do business with a vibrant, stable and thriving community bank is stronger than ever, and we see many possibilities for future growth. Local businesses, professionals, non-profits and individuals continue to seek the flexibility, responsiveness and personalized service that a community bank such as Enterprise provides. As a strong, well-capitalized community bank with state-of-the-art product capabilities delivered with a local and dedicated customer-service focus, we believe that we are well positioned to meet our communitiesa needs.a

Results of Operations

The Companyas growth contributed to increases in net interest income and the level of operating expenses, in both the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2011. Increases in the loan loss provision and non-interest revenue, primarily gains on security sales in the quarter, also impacted both the quarter end and year-to-date periods.

Net interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 amounted to $14.7 million, an increase of $842 thousand, or 6%, compared to the September 2010 quarter. Net interest income increased $2.1 million, or 5% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011 and amounted to $43.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in net interest income over the comparable 2010 periods was due primarily to loan growth, partially offset by a decrease in net interest margin. Average loan balances for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, were $91.7 million and $69.6 million, respectively, above the comparable periods in 2010. Tax equivalent net interest margin was 4.33% for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, compared to 4.40% for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. Year-to-date net interest margins were 4.36% and 4.44% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The year-to-date 2011 margin has been impacted by higher average balances in lower yielding short-term investments in 2011 compared to 2010, primarily from deposit growth in excess of loan growth.

The provision for loan losses amounted to $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $1.3 million for the same period in 2010. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the provision for loan losses amounted to $4.0 million and $3.2 million, respectively. The provisions made to the allowance for loan losses are a function of growth and trends in asset quality, taking into consideration the level of loan growth, adversely classified and specific reserves for impaired loans, the level of non-performing loans and net charge-offs. The level of loan growth during the first nine months of 2011 was $86.2 million compared to $31.7 million during the same period in 2010. The balance of the allowance for loan losses allocated to impaired loans amounted to $4.1 million at September 30, 2011, compared to $2.7 million at September 30, 2010. Total non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets were 1.81% at September 30, 2011, compared to 1.36% at September 30, 2010. For the year-to-date period ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded net charge-offs of $800 thousand, compared to net charge-offs of $2.4 million for the comparable period ended September 30, 2010. Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 amounted to 0.09% compared to 0.29% in 2010. Management continues to closely monitor the non-performing assets, charge-offs and necessary allowance levels, including specific reserves, and believes that current loan quality statistics are a function of the ongoing effects of the recent economic environment. The allowance for loan losses to total loans ratio was 1.84% at September 30, 2011, compared to 1.70% at both December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010.

Non-interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2011 amounted to $3.2 million, an increase of $580 thousand, or 22%, compared to the third quarter of 2010. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the gain on security sales and increases in deposit fees, partially offset by a decrease in net gains on loans sales. Non-interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 amounted to $9.1 million an increase of $458 thousand, or 5%, compared to the 2010 year-to-date period. This increase primarily resulted from increases in investment advisory fees and deposit fee income.

Non-interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2011, amounted to $11.9 million, an increase of $670 thousand, or 6%, compared to the same period in the prior year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, non-interest expense amounted to $36.2 million, an increase of $2.1 million, or 6%, compared to the same period in the prior year. Increases in both the quarter and year-to-date expenses resulted primarily from increases in compensation-related expenses, occupancy, technology and audit, legal and other professional expenses, partially offset by a reduction in FDIC insurance expenses, resulting from changes made by the FDIC (effective April 1, 2011) in their deposit insurance assessment. Increases in Other Operating Expenses of $172 thousand and $494 thousand for the quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively, included foreclosed real estate and workout and delinquent loan expense increases of $147 thousand and $251 thousand for the quarter and year-to-date periods respectively.

Key Financial Highlights

• Total assets were $1.497 billion at September 30, 2011 as compared to $1.397 billion at December 31, 2010, an increase of $99.5 million, or 7%, primarily due to loan growth. Since June 30, 2011, total assets have increased $26.3 million, or 2%.
• Total loans amounted to $1.23 billion at September 30, 2011, an increase of $86.2 million, or 8%, since December 31, 2010. Since June 30, 2011, total loans have increased $53.9 million, or 5%.
• Total deposits, excluding brokered deposits, were $1.35 billion at September 30, 2011 as compared to $1.24 billion at December 31, 2010, an increase of $101.5 million, or 8%. Total deposits, excluding brokered deposits, have increased $25.5 million, or 2%, since June 30, 2011. The Company had no brokered deposit balances at September 30, 2011 or June 30, 2011 and amounts were minimal at December 31, 2010.
• Investment assets under management amounted to $470.6 million at September 30, 2011 as compared to $493.1 million at December 31, 2010, a decrease of $22.5 million, or 5%. Investment assets under management have decreased $41.9 million, or 8%, since June 30, 2011. The decrease is attributable primarily to the effects of declines in the equity markets on investment account balances.
• Total assets under management amounted to $2.03 billion at September 30, 2011 as compared to $1.95 billion at December 31, 2010, an increase of $77.2 million, or 4%. Since June 30, 2011, total assets under management have decreased $12.8 million, or 1%.

Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (the aCompanya), is a Massachusetts corporation that conducts substantially all of its operations through Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, commonly referred to as Enterprise Bank, and has reported 88 consecutive profitable quarters. The Company principally is engaged in the business of attracting deposits from the general public and investing in commercial loans and investment securities. Through the bank and its subsidiaries, the Company offers a range of commercial and consumer loan products, deposit and cash management products as well as investment management, trust and insurance services. The Companyas headquarters and the bank's main office are located at 222 Merrimack Street in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Companyas primary market area is the Merrimack Valley and North Central regions of Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. Enterprise Bank has eighteen full-service branch offices located in the Massachusetts cities and towns of Lowell, Acton, Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Fitchburg, Leominster, Methuen, Tewksbury, and Westford and in the New Hampshire towns of Derry, Hudson, and Salem. The Company has also obtained the necessary regulatory approvals to establish a new branch in Pelham, New Hampshire, and expects that this office will be open for business in early 2012.

The above text contains statements about future events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words abelieve,a aexpect,a aanticipate,a aintend,a aestimate,a aassume,a awill,a ashould,a and other expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate to historical matters. Forward-looking statements should not be relied on, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company. These risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results, performance and achievements of the Company to be materially different from the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, regulatory considerations and competition. For more information about these factors, please see our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K on file with the SEC, including the sections entitled aRisk Factorsa and aManagementas Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.a Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and we undertake no duty, and specifically disclaim any duty, to update or revise any such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.