Macatawa Bank Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013 Results

HOLLAND, Mich., Jan. 30, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Macatawa Bank Corporation (Nasdaq:MCBC) today announced its results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013, reflecting continued improvement in financial performance.

• Net income of $2.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, or $3.2 million before tax, which was an increase from $2.4 million before tax in the fourth quarter of 2012
• Significant expense reductions – total non-interest expense decreased by $5.4 million, or 10%, for 2013 compared to 2012
• Net growth in total loans of $13.6 million for the fourth quarter 2013
• Total nonperforming assets decreased by $18.4 million, or 27%, from 2012
• Strong loan collection results exemplified by net recoveries once again – net recoveries of $526,000 for the fourth quarter 2013, net recoveries in three of the previous five quarters and net recoveries of $1.3 million for 2013
• Accomplished key capital initiatives
  -- Completion of exchange of all Series A and Series B Preferred Stock to common stock at end of 2013
  -- Prepayment and full redemption of Company subordinated debt in third quarter of 2013
  -- Resumption of regular quarterly interest payments on trust preferred securities

Macatawa reported net income of $2.2 million, or ($0.56) per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to net income of $21.2 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2012. For the full year of 2013, the Company reported net income of $9.5 million, or ($0.29) per diluted share, compared to $35.4 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, for the same period in 2012. Net income in 2012 was bolstered by several one-time events, including reversal of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance which boosted earnings by $18.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Earnings per share for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013 were affected by a reduction to net income available to common shares of $17.6 million representing the impact of the exchange of preferred stock. The exchange by holders of preferred stock for common stock and, at the election of the holder, cash was accounted for as an induced conversion. The fair value of common stock and cash issued in excess of the fair value of securities issuable pursuant to the original conversion terms was treated as a reduction to net income available to common shares for earnings per share purposes. While this one-time, non-cash impact on earnings per share was negative, the exchange improved the key metrics of book value per common share by $0.11 to $3.92 and the tangible common equity to assets ratio by over 200 basis points to 8.82% at December 31, 2013.

"Completing our capital initiatives for the year, we reached an agreement with all of our Series A and Series B preferred stock holders in which we exchanged all of the preferred stock for shares of common stock and cash, effective December 30, 2013," said Richard L. Postma, Chairman of the Board of the Company. "The transaction was immediately accretive to book value per share and paves the way to resuming cash dividends to our common shareholders."

Mr. Postma continued: "Net income for the fourth quarter and for the full year 2013 reflected continued improvement in core operating results. Net income for 2012 included several large one-time items, including $18.9 million for the reversal of a deferred tax asset valuation allowance, a one-time $2.8 million loan prepayment fee collected in the third quarter of 2012 and a $3.6 million negative provision for loan losses in the first quarter of 2012 related to a large recovery on an individual loan. Our results for 2013 did not include such one-time items and were more consistent. Nonperforming asset expenses for 2013 were $5.5 million compared to $10.0 million for 2012, amounting to a $4.5 million decrease. This significant cost reduction was accomplished through our focus on reducing the level of nonperforming assets. Our nonperforming assets decreased by over $18.4 million from a year ago, which resulted in the decrease in associated costs. Proceeds on sales of other real estate owned amounted to $16.5 million in 2013, bringing total nonperforming assets down to $49.2 million at December 31, 2013. This is the lowest level of nonperforming assets for the Bank since the second quarter 2007." 

Mr. Postma concluded: "We are pleased with our financial results and the improvements we were able to make in our capital structure in 2013. We are poised for growth in our earning assets to produce stronger future earnings for our shareholders. In addition, with the preferred stock exchange complete, the Board of Directors can now focus on other strategies to enhance shareholder value, including consideration of dividends to common shareholders."

Operating Results

Net interest income for the fourth quarter 2013 totaled $10.2 million, an increase of $88,000 from the third quarter 2013 and a decrease of $756,000 from the fourth quarter 2012. Net interest margin was 2.95 percent, down 1 basis point from the third quarter 2013, and down 31 basis points from the fourth quarter 2012. The decrease from the fourth quarter 2012 was largely due to reduced yields from the loan portfolio resulting from the low level of market interest rates and significant competitive loan pricing pressures.

Average interest earning assets for the fourth quarter 2013 increased $18.3 million from the third quarter 2013 and were up $48.7 million from the fourth quarter 2012. 

Non-interest income increased $65,000 in the fourth quarter 2013 compared to the third quarter 2013 and increased $205,000 from the fourth quarter 2012, primarily due to increased service charge income on deposit accounts. Much of this increase was offset by decreases in gains on sales of mortgage loans as the market for this activity contracted in the second part of 2013.  The Bank originated $16.9 million in loans for sale in the fourth quarter 2013 compared to $28.0 million in loans for sale in the third quarter 2013 and $39.3 million in loans for sale in the fourth quarter 2012.   

Non-interest expense was $12.0 million for the fourth quarter 2013, compared to $12.4 million for the third quarter 2013 and $12.9 million for the fourth quarter 2012. The largest fluctuations in non-interest expense related to costs associated with the administration and disposition of problem loans and non-performing assets, which decreased $359,000 compared to the third quarter 2013 and decreased $535,000 compared to the fourth quarter 2012. FDIC insurance assessments declined $179,000 compared to the fourth quarter 2012 due primarily to the termination of the Bank's Memorandum of Understanding effective April 12, 2013. Salaries and benefits were down $181,000 compared to the third quarter 2013 and were down $268,000 compared to the fourth quarter 2012 due primarily to reduced expense associated with medical insurance as we experienced lower claims in 2013. 

Federal income tax expense was $958,000 for the fourth quarter 2013 compared to $975,000 for the third quarter 2013 and an $18.9 million benefit for the fourth quarter 2012. The Company reversed its deferred tax asset valuation allowance at December 31, 2012 resulting in a large increase to income in the fourth quarter 2012. 

Asset Quality

As a result of the consistent improvements in nonperforming loans and past due loans over the past several quarters, and the reduction in historical loss ratios, a negative provision for loan losses of $1.0 million was recorded in the fourth quarter 2013. Net loan recoveries for the fourth quarter 2013 were $526,000, compared to third quarter 2013 net loan recoveries of $523,000 and fourth quarter 2012 net loan charge-offs of $2.0 million. The Bank has experienced net loan recoveries in three of the past five quarters and had net loan recoveries of $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Total loans past due on payments by 30 days or more amounted to $5.5 million at December 31, 2013, down from $7.8 million at September 30, 2013 and $7.9 million at December 31, 2012.

The allowance for loan losses of $20.8 million was 2.00 percent of total loans at December 31, 2013, compared to 2.07 percent of total loans at September 30, 2013, and 2.26 percent at December 31, 2012.  The coverage ratio of allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans continued to be strong and exceeded 1-to-1 coverage at 168.61 percent as of December 31, 2013, compared to 208.14 percent at September 30, 2013, and 148.34 percent at December 31, 2012. 

At December 31, 2013, the Company's nonperforming loans were $12.3 million, representing 1.18 percent of total loans. This compares to $10.2 million (0.99 percent of total loans) at September 30, 2013, which was the lowest level since the third quarter of 2006, and $16.0 million (1.52 percent of total loans) at December 31, 2012. Other real estate owned was $36.8 million at December 31, 2013, compared to $42.8 million at September 30, 2013, down significantly from $51.6 million at December 31, 2012. Total nonperforming assets, including other real estate owned and nonperforming loans, have decreased by $18.4 million, or 27.3 percent, from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2013.

A break-down of non-performing loans is shown in the table below.

Total non-performing assets were $49.2 million, or 3.24 percent of total assets, at December 31, 2013. A break-down of non-performing assets is shown in the table below.

Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Capital

Total assets were $1,517.4 million at December 31, 2013, a decrease of $45.3 million from $1,562.7 million at September 30, 2013 and a decrease of $43.3 million from $1,560.7 million at December 31, 2012. Total loans were $1,042.4 million at December 31, 2013, an increase of $13.6 million from $1,028.8 million at September 30, 2013 and a decrease of $9.9 million from $1,052.3 million at December 31, 2012.

Commercial loans decreased by $16.2 million during the full year 2013, partially offset by increases of $6.3 million in our residential mortgage and consumer loan portfolios. Commercial real estate loans were reduced by $30.6 million, as the Company continued its efforts to reduce exposure in this segment, and commercial and industrial loans increased by $14.4 million during the same period. 

The composition of the commercial loan portfolio is shown in the table below:

Total deposits were $1,249.7 million at December 31, 2013, down $36.5 million from $1,286.3 million at December 31, 2012. This decrease was related to our allowing the run-off of higher costing certificates of deposit. These balances decreased $42.9 million from December 31, 2012. The Bank continues to be successful at attracting and retaining core deposit customers. Customer deposit accounts remain insured to the highest levels available under FDIC deposit insurance.

The Bank's regulatory capital ratios decreased slightly in the fourth quarter of 2013 as a result of the exchange of preferred stock for common stock discussed above, but continued to be at levels among the highest in Bank history. The Bank was categorized as "well capitalized" at December 31, 2013.

About Macatawa Bank

Headquartered in Holland, Michigan, Macatawa Bank Corporation is the parent company for Macatawa Bank. Through its banking subsidiary, the Company offers a full range of banking, investment and trust services to individuals, businesses, and governmental entities from a network of 26 full service branches located in communities in Kent County, Ottawa County, and northern Allegan County. Services include commercial, consumer and real estate financing, business and personal deposit services, ATM's and Internet banking services, trust and employee benefit plan services, and various investment services. The Company emphasizes its local management team and decision making, along with providing customers excellent service and superior financial products.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on management's current beliefs, expectations, assumptions, estimates, plans and intentions. Forward-looking statements are identifiable by words or phrases such as "initiative," "continue," "improving," "efforts," "focus," "future," "strategies," "pave the way," "poised for growth" and other similar words or phrases. Such statements are based upon current beliefs and expectations and involve substantial risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements include, among others, statements related to trends in our key operating metrics and financial performance, future levels of earnings and profitability, future levels of earning assets, our ability to further reduce nonperforming asset levels and related expenses and strategies to enhance shareholder value. The declaration and payment of future dividends to common shareholders will be considered by the Board of Directors in its discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including our financial condition and anticipated profitability. All statements with references to future time periods are forward-looking. Management's determination of the provision and allowance for loan losses, the appropriate carrying value of intangible assets (including deferred tax assets) and other real estate owned and the fair value of investment securities (including whether any impairment on any investment security is temporary or other-than-temporary and the amount of any impairment) involves judgments that are inherently forward-looking. Our ability to sell other real estate owned at its carrying value or at all, utilize our deferred tax asset, successfully implement new programs and initiatives, increase efficiencies, maintain our current level of deposits and other sources of funding, maintain liquidity, respond to declines in collateral values and credit quality, improve profitability, and produce consistent core earnings is not entirely within our control and is not assured. The future effect of changes in the real estate, financial and credit markets and the national and regional economy on the banking industry, generally, and Macatawa Bank Corporation, specifically, are also inherently uncertain. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions ("risk factors") that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extend, likelihood and degree of occurrence. Therefore, actual results and outcomes may materially differ from what may be expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Macatawa Bank Corporation does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that may arise after the date of the forward-looking statements.

Risk factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors described in "Item 1A - Risk Factors" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. These and other factors are representative of the risk factors that may emerge and could cause a difference between an ultimate actual outcome and a preceding forward-looking statement.

CONTACT: Macatawa Bank Corporation
         macatawabank.com

Released January 30, 2014