Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. Posts Strong Quarterly Earnings

BROOKLYN, NY--(Marketwired - April 23, 2015) - Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCOM) (the "Company" or "Dime"), the parent company of The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh (the "Bank"), today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. Consolidated net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 was $11.8 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared to $12.0 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, and $10.0 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. 

The quarter ended March 31, 2015 featured several significant income and expense items that were non-recurring in nature. A curtailment of certain postretirement defined benefits generated a $3.4 million pre-tax reduction to the salaries and benefits component of non-interest expense. A pre-tax gain of $1.4 million was recognized in non-interest income on the sale of approximately $25 million of mortgage-backed securities, and offsetting additional interest expense of $1.4 million was recognized on the prepayment of a single $25 million Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advance. These three items produced a net increase of $1.9 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in after-tax earnings for the period.

Vincent F. Palagiano, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dime, commented, "We began the 2015 fiscal year on a positive track by posting a second consecutive quarter of $0.33 (diluted) earnings per share, recognizing growth in our core net interest margin (adjusted for the impact of prepayment income and expense items), adding $182.6 million in deposits and originating $273.1 million in loans." 

Mr. Palagiano continued, "The Company recently established an annual asset growth target of 12% for the year ending December 31, 2015. Should the reduced loan amortization and prepayment levels experienced in the most recent quarter persist, we can readily remain selective in our lending activities and successfully achieve our desired growth target." 

Management's Discussion of Quarterly Operating Results

• Net Interest Margin

Net interest margin ("NIM") was 2.80% during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to 3.02% during the December 2014 quarter, and 3.06% during the March 2014 quarter. Income recognized from loan prepayment activity, which varies from quarter to quarter, increased the Company's NIM during each of the reporting periods presented. Loan amortization and prepayments ran significantly lower during the March 2015 quarter than during the December 2014 quarter. For the first quarter 2015, income from prepayment activity was $2.3 million, or 22 basis points of impact upon NIM, compared to $3.7 million, or 35 basis points of impact upon NIM, during the quarter ended December 31, 2014. In addition during the March 2015 quarter, the NIM was adversely impacted by 12 basis points as a result of $1.4 million in additional interest expense recognized from the prepayment of a Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advance. The "core" NIM, which excludes the impact of these prepayment income and expense items, increased from 2.67% during the December 2014 quarter to 2.71% during the March 2015 quarter, caused primarily by a reduction of 10 basis points in the average cost of interest bearing liabilities. Core NIM for the March 2014 quarter was 2.79%.

As mentioned in the Company's previous earnings release, the core NIM is not expected to fluctuate significantly as long as the current interest rate environment remains in effect.

The average cost of funds declined by 10 basis points from the December 2014 to the March 2015 quarter, reflecting a 32 basis point reduction in the average cost of borrowings, as funding costs continued to remain at historically low levels. 

• Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $30.1 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2015, down $1.6 million from $31.7 million reported in the December 2014 quarter, and $161,000 from the $30.3 million reported in the March 2014 quarter. The reductions from both the December 2014 and March 2014 quarters resulted from the $1.4 million of additional interest expense from the borrowing prepayment, and a reduction in prepayment related income recognized as a component of real estate loan interest income during the March 2015 quarter, as loan prepayment activity moderated during the March 2015 quarter.

• (Credit) Provision/Allowance For Loan Losses

A recapture of a portion of the allowance for loan loss reserve resulted in a credit, rather than a charge, to earnings in the March 2015 quarter of $172,000, due primarily to a lower loss expectation applied to problematic loans.

• Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income was $3.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, an increase of $706,000 from the December 2014 quarter. The increase resulted primarily from the $1.4 million gain on the sale of mortgage-backed securities recognized in the March 2015 quarter, which exceeded a gain of $1.0 million recognized on the sale of investment securities in the December 2014 quarter. Excluding the impact of the non-recurring gains or losses on sales of securities, non-interest income was $1.8 million during the March 2015 quarter, up from $1.6 million in the December 2014 quarter due to higher loan-related fee income.

• Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense was $13.9 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2015, net of a $3.4 million benefit (reduction to expense) from the curtailment of post-retirement health benefits. Excluding the curtailment benefit, non-interest expense was $17.3 million in the March 2015 quarter. Salaries and benefits are commonly higher in the first quarter of each year due to both the full impact of FICA taxes, and adjustments related to the annual executive officer incentive compensation. 

Excluding the curtailment benefit, non-interest expense was 1.53% of average assets during the most recent quarter, compared to 1.38% during the December 2014 quarter. The efficiency ratio approximated 52% during the March 2015 quarter excluding the curtailment benefit. 

• Income Tax Expense

The effective tax rate approximated the 40% forecasted level during the most recent quarter. Excluding the unfavorable impact of the curtailment benefit, the effective tax rate would have approximated 39%, as a combination of additional tax strategies and recent tax law changes reduced the consolidated effective tax rate below the forecasted 40% level.

Management's Discussion of the March 31, 2015 Balance Sheet

Total assets were $4.58 billion at March 31, 2015, up $86.2 million, or 1.9%, from December 31, 2014. 

• Real Estate Loans

Real estate loan net portfolio growth was $115.7 million for the quarter. Real estate loan originations were $273.1 million, at a weighted average interest rate of 3.19%. Of this amount, $102.1 million represented loan refinances from the existing portfolio. Approximately 74% of the loans originated during the quarter contained repricing terms of 5-years or less. Loan amortization and satisfactions totaled $155.5 million, or 14.9% (annualized) of the quarterly average portfolio balance, at an average rate of 4.27%. The average yield on the loan portfolio (excluding income recognized from prepayment activity) during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 was 3.79%, compared to 3.85% during the December 2014 quarter and 4.00% during the March 2014 quarter.

• Credit Summary

Non-performing loans were $6.4 million, or 0.15% of total loans, at March 31, 2015, relatively unchanged from December 31, 2014. Accruing loans delinquent between 30 and 89 days were $1.2 million, or 0.03% of total loans, at March 31, 2015, down slightly from the levels at December 31, 2014.

At March 31, 2015, the Bank also had $9.2 million of troubled debt restructured loans that remained on accrual status and were deemed performing loans. 

The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans declined from 0.45% at December 31, 2014 to 0.43% at March 31, 2015 due to a reduction in the estimated reserves on problematic loans. 

At March 31, 2015, non-performing assets represented 2.1% of the sum of tangible capital plus the allowance for loan losses (this statistic is otherwise known as the "Texas Ratio") (see table on page 10). This number compares very favorably to both national and regional industry averages.

• Deposits and Borrowed Funds

Deposits increased by $182.6 million during the most recent quarter, reflecting net growth of $172.6 million in money markets and $9.5 million in non-interest bearing checking balances.

Total borrowings declined $125.0 million during the March 2015 quarter. Shorter-term Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances were reduced $100.0 million, as the Company utilized deposits to fund asset growth during the period. During the March 2015 quarter, the Company also utilized the proceeds from the sale of mortgage-backed securities to prepay a $25.0 million, 4.27% fixed-rate advance that was due to mature in August 2016.

• Capital

During the March 2015 quarter, the Bank and Company commenced compliance with the Basel III capital rules. The consolidated leverage ratio (Tier 1 capital to average assets) was 10.81% at March 31, 2015, well in excess of all required levels (inclusive of conservation buffer amounts) stated in the Basel III capital rules. 

The Bank's leverage ratio (Tier 1 capital to average assets) was 9.24% at March 31, 2015, down from 9.64% at December 31, 2014, due to the growth in assets during the most recent quarter. The Bank's "Tier 1" and "Total" capital ratios were 12.43% and 12.98%, respectively, at March 31, 2015, also well in excess of the most stringent requirements stated under Basel III.

Reported diluted earnings per share exceeded the quarterly cash dividend rate per share by 136% during the quarter ended March 31, 2015, equating to a 42% payout ratio. Additions to capital from earnings during the most recent quarterly period enabled tangible book value per share to increase $0.20 sequentially during the most recent quarter, to $11.40 at March 31, 2015.

Outlook for the Quarter Ending June 30, 2015

At March 31, 2015, Dime had outstanding loan commitments totaling $246.7 million, all of which are likely to close during the quarter ending June 30, 2015, at an average interest rate approximating 3.22%. Loan prepayments and amortization are currently projected to run in the 15% - 20% range during 2015.

The Company has a balance sheet growth objective approximating 12% for the year ending December 31, 2015. Management currently expects to utilize retail deposits to fund much of this growth. 

Deposit funding costs are expected to remain near current historically low levels through the June 2015 quarter. The Bank has $136.8 million of CDs maturing at an average cost of 1.05% during the quarter ending June 30, 2015. The current offering rate on 12-month term CDs approximates 40 basis points. During the quarter ending June 30, 2015, the Bank has $205.0 million in borrowings due to mature at an average cost of 0.86%.

Loan loss reserve provisions or credits will likely depend upon annualized loan portfolio growth, incurred and anticipated losses, and the overall performance of the loan portfolio.

Non-interest expense is expected to approximate $16.5 million during the June 2015 quarter, as strategic technology and infrastructure initiatives planned for 2015 are expected to elevate operating costs from their 2014 level. 

The Company projects that the consolidated effective tax rate will approximate 39.0% in the June 2015 quarter.

ABOUT DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.

The Company (NASDAQ: DCOM) had $4.58 billion in consolidated assets as of March 31, 2015, and is the parent company of the Bank. The Bank was founded in 1864, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, and currently has twenty-five branches located throughout Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Nassau County, New York. More information on the Company and Dime can be found on the Dime's Internet website at www.dime.com.

This News Release contains a number of forward-looking statements 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 (the "Exchange Act"). These statements may be identified by use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions.

Forward-looking statements are based upon various assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of management's experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors (many of which are beyond the Company's control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, the following: the timing and occurrence or non-occurrence of events may be subject to circumstances beyond the Company's control; there may be increases in competitive pressure among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions; changes in the interest rate environment may reduce interest margins; changes in deposit flows, loan demand or real estate values may adversely affect the business of Dime; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines may cause the Company's financial condition to be perceived differently; changes in corporate and/or individual income tax laws may adversely affect the Company's financial condition or results of operations; general economic conditions, either nationally or locally in some or all areas in which the Company conducts business, or conditions in the securities markets or the banking industry may be less favorable than the Company currently anticipates; legislation or regulatory changes may adversely affect the Company's business; technological changes may be more difficult or expensive than the Company anticipates; success or consummation of new business initiatives may be more difficult or expensive than the Company anticipates; or litigation or other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future, may delay the occurrence or non-occurrence of events longer than the Company anticipates.