National Bank Holdings Corporation Announces First Quarter 2017 Financial Results

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NBHC) reported net income of $8.3 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2017, compared to net income of $10.0 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2016 and net income of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2016. The return on average tangible assets was 0.81% for the first quarter of 2017 compared to 0.95% for the fourth quarter of 2016, and 0.10% for the first quarter of 2016. The return on average tangible equity was 7.66% for the first quarter of 2017 compared to 8.87% for the fourth quarter of 2016, and 0.79% for the first quarter of 2016.

In announcing these results, Chief Executive Officer Tim Laney shared, "We are pleased with our continued momentum, most notably the record $1.1 billion in new loan originations over the past twelve months. We grew our non 310-30 loan portfolio by $99 million, or 15% annualized from year-end, while maintaining excellent diversification and granularity of our portfolio. In addition, credit quality remains solid as evidenced by just two basis points of annualized non 310-30 net charge-offs. We also continued to grow our low-cost deposit base and have increased our average transaction deposits by $41 million, or 6% annualized, all while continuing to reduce our banking center expense base through the reduction of seven banking centers over the past year."

Mr. Laney added, "Our excess capital continues to be a source of strength and gives us flexibility to take advantage of opportunities to leverage capital in situations we believe will create attractive returns for our shareholders."

First Quarter 2017 Highlights
(All comparisons refer to the fourth quarter of 2016, except as noted)

• Total loans ended the quarter at $3.0 billion and increased $92.7 million, or 13.1% annualized, driven by $196.6 million in first quarter originations. Total loans at March 31, 2017 increased $361.6 million, or 14.0%, since March 31, 2016.
• Fully taxable equivalent net interest income totaled $36.0 million and decreased $0.8 million, primarily due to two fewer days and a 0.02% narrowing of the net interest margin to 3.44%.
• Annualized net charge-offs in the non 310-30 portfolio were 0.02% of average non 310-30 loans, consistent with the prior quarter. Provision for loan losses totaled $1.8 million and increased $0.5 million due to an additional specific reserve on one energy credit.
• Accretable yield for the acquired loans accounted for under ASC 310-30 increased a net $5.0 million.
• Total deposits averaged $3.9 billion and increased $51.9 million, or 5.5% annualized, driven by transaction deposit growth of $41.4 million, or 6.3% annualized.
• Non-interest income totaled $8.7 million and decreased $1.3 million, driven by a $1.3 million decrease in swap related income entirely due to interest rate movements during the quarter.
• Non-interest expense totaled $34.6 million and increased $0.2 million. Excluding gain on sale of OREO, non-interest expense was consistent with the prior quarter. The quarter included net problem asset workout and OREO expense of $0.8 million, representing a negative $0.02 impact to earnings per share, as no large OREO gains were realized in the quarter.
• Income tax benefit of $1.2 million was driven by a $2.8 million tax benefit from stock compensation activity.
• At March 31, 2017, common book value per share was $20.12, while tangible common book value per share was $18.05 and $18.96 after consideration of the excess accretable yield value of $0.91 per share.

First Quarter 2017 Results
(All comparisons refer to the fourth quarter of 2016, except as noted)

Net Interest Income
Fully taxable equivalent net interest income totaled $36.0 million, and decreased $0.8 million primarily due to two fewer days in the quarter. The fully taxable equivalent net interest margin narrowed 0.02% to 3.44% as the cost of interest bearing liabilities increased 0.02% to 0.51% while the yield on average earning assets was consistent with the prior period. Average interest earning assets were slightly higher, increasing to $4.3 billion due to strong originated loan growth and higher cash balances from average transaction deposit growth.  

Loans
Total loans ended the quarter at $3.0 billion, increasing $92.7 million, or 13.1% annualized, driven by new loan originations of $196.6 million. Non 310-30 loans increased $98.5 million, or 14.7% annualized, led by total commercial loans increasing 22.3% annualized. Originated loans outstanding totaled $2.7 billion and increased $107.7 million, or 17.0% annualized. Loan originations totaled a record $1.1 billion during the past twelve months, resulting in originated loan outstandings growth of 20.3% over March 31, 2016.

Asset Quality and Provision for Loan Losses
Non 310-30 loans totaled $2.8 billion and represented 95.3% of total loans at March 31, 2017. These loans are comprised of originated loans and acquired loans not accounted for under 310-30. Net charge-offs within the non 310-30 portfolio totaled $0.1 million, or only 0.02% annualized, consistent with the prior quarter. Non-performing non 310-30 loans (comprised of non-accrual loans and non-accrual TDRs) were 1.20% of total non 310-30 loans, compared to 1.13% at December 31, 2016 and 1.87% at March 31, 2016.

A provision for loan losses on the non 310-30 loans of $1.8 million was recorded during the quarter, increasing $0.5 million from the prior quarter due to additional specific reserves on one energy credit previously placed on non-accrual. The non 310-30 allowance for loan losses was 1.09% of total non 310-30 loans, increasing from 1.07% at prior quarter end.

Energy sector loan balances totaled $89.5 million, decreasing $0.8 million from the prior quarter, but decreased $42.6 million compared to March 31, 2016, or 32.3%. Three energy sector loans with balances of $12.7 million were on non-accrual at March 31, 2017, representing the remainder of problem loans identified in 2015. There were no new adversely rated energy loans during the first quarter of 2017 and as of March 31, 2017, 85.8% of the energy loan portfolio is pass rated. The total allowance for loan losses on the energy sector portfolio was 4.3% compared to 3.9% at prior quarter end.

Acquired problem loans accounted for under 310-30 totaled $140.1 million at March 31, 2017 and decreased $5.8 million during the first quarter, an annualized decrease of 16.1%, reflecting continued successful workout efforts. The quarterly fair value re-measurement on the 310-30 loans resulted in a favorable net transfer of $5.0 million from non-accretable difference to accretable yield, which will be recognized over the 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 $219.0 million.

Deposits
Total deposits averaged $3.9 billion and increased $51.9 million, or 5.5% annualized. Transaction deposits (defined as total deposits less time deposits) averaged $2.7 billion and increased $41.4 million, or 6.3% annualized, driven by savings and money market account growth of $45.0 million, or 12.8% annualized, partially offset by a decrease in average demand deposits of $10.1 million due to seasonality. Time deposits averaged $1.2 billion, representing an increase of $10.5 million from the prior quarter. Repurchase agreements averaged $78.3 million, representing a decrease of $21.1 million from the prior quarter due to normal client activity. The cost of interest bearing liabilities was 0.51%, increasing from 0.49% primarily due to slightly higher cost of time deposits.

Non-Interest Income
Non-interest income totaled $8.7 million in the first quarter of 2017, decreasing $1.3 million driven by a $1.3 million decrease in swap related income. Service charges and bank card fees decreased $0.3 million and gain on sale of mortgages decreased $0.2 million, both due to seasonality. These decreases were fully offset by a $0.2 million increase in OREO related income and a $0.3 million increase in other income categories.

Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense totaled $34.6 million and increased $0.2 million due to slightly higher net problem asset workout and OREO expense. Salaries and benefits increased $0.9 million due to the normal first quarter resetting of benefit expense and was offset by a $0.7 million decrease in professional fees due to the timing of projects and a $0.2 million decrease in other expense categories.

Income tax benefit totaled $1.2 million, including a benefit of $2.8 million due to tax benefits from stock compensation activity. Without this $2.8 million benefit, tax expense would have been $1.6 million, an effective tax rate of 22.9%. 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 $537.6 million at March 31, 2017 and increased $1.4 million from prior quarter end. The increase in equity from net income was partially offset by dividends, other comprehensive income and the realization of previously issued performance-based equity awards.

Book value per share was $20.12 at March 31, 2017 and decreased $0.20 from the prior quarter end. Tangible common book value per share was $18.05 at March 31, 2017, compared to $18.15 at prior quarter end, as the increase from net income was fully offset by dividends and the realization of previously issued performance–based equity awards. The leverage ratio at March 31, 2017 for the consolidated company and the Bank was 10.22% and 8.39%, 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 March 31, 2017 accretable yield balance on the 310-30 loans of $59.6 million would add $1.36 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 $0.91 after-tax to our tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2017, resulting in a tangible common book value per share of $18.96.

Year-Over-Year Review
(All comparisons refer to the first quarter of 2016)

Net income for the first quarter of 2017 was $8.3 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, compared to net income of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share for 2016. Fully taxable equivalent net interest income totaled $36.0 million and decreased $3.0 million. The net interest margin narrowed 0.24% to 3.44%, entirely due to lower levels of high-yielding 310-30 loans and a 0.06% increase in the cost of interest bearing liabilities. Average interest earning assets of $4.3 billion were consistent with the prior period as originated loan growth continued to replace high-yielding acquired 310-30 loans and investment portfolio runoff.

Loan balances at March 31, 2017 totaled $3.0 billion and increased $361.6 million, or 14.0%, on the strength of a record $1.1 billion in loan originations between the two periods. Non 310-30 loans increased $401.1 million, or 16.6%, led by total commercial loans increasing 16.8%. Originated loans outstanding totaled $2.7 billion and increased $452.3 million, or 20.3%. The acquired 310-30 loan portfolio declined $39.4 million, or 22.0%, 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 quarter of 2017, increasing $82.2 million, driven by an $88.5 million, or 3.4%, increase in average transaction deposits (defined as total deposits less time deposits), which totaled $2.7 billion. The increase in average transaction deposits was driven by higher average demand deposits of $31.9 million, or 4.0%, coupled with an increase in other low-cost transaction deposits of $56.6 million, or 3.1%. Time deposits averaged $1.2 billion, decreasing $6.3 million, or 0.5%. Repurchase agreements averaged $78.3 million, decreasing $28.5 million due to temporary client funds from one client in the prior year. The mix of transaction deposits to total deposits improved to 70.1% at March 31, 2017 from 69.2% in the prior year. Additionally, the cost of deposits totaled 0.39%, increasing from 0.35% in the prior year primarily due to higher cost of time deposits.

Provision for loan loss expense on non 310-30 loans was $1.8 million during the first quarter of 2017, compared to $11.5 million, a decrease of $9.7 million driven by an energy sector provision of $10.7 million in the first quarter of 2016. The non 310-30 allowance for loan losses ended the quarter at 1.09% of total non 310-30 loans compared to 1.53% in the first quarter of 2016. Annualized net charge-offs on non 310-30 loans totaled 0.02%, compared to 0.10% in the first quarter of 2016.

Non-interest income totaled $8.7 million during the first quarter of 2017, representing an increase of $0.8 million, driven by a $0.6 million increase in swap related income due to interest rate movements during the period and a $0.2 million increase in other income categories. Service charges and bank card fees increased a combined $0.1 million on the strength of higher interchange activity, while gain on sale of mortgages was consistent with the prior year. These increases were offset by $0.1 million of lower OREO-related income. 

Non-interest expense totaled $34.6 million during the first quarter of 2017, representing a decrease of $0.3 million. The decrease was partially due to lower salaries and benefits of $0.2 million and lower occupancy and equipment of $0.6 million. Other non-interest expense increased $0.4 million, primarily due to the timing of marketing expense of $0.2 million. Problem asset workout expenses and gain on sale of OREO increased a combined $0.2 million.

Conference Call
Management will host a conference call to review the results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, April 21, 2017. Interested parties may listen to this call by dialing (877) 272-6762 (United States) / (615) 800-6832 (International) using the Conference ID of 92242744 and asking for the National Bank Holdings Corporation First Quarter Earnings conference call. A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning approximately two hours after the call's completion through May 5, 2017, by dialing (855) 859-2056 (United States) / (404) 537-3406 (International) using the Conference ID of 92242744. 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 90 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.