North Valley Bancorp Reports Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2013

REDDING, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 30, 2013) -  North Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ: NOVB), a bank holding company with $911 million in assets, today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. North Valley Bancorp ("the Company") is the parent company for North Valley Bank ("NVB").

The Company reported net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 of $1,261,000, or $0.18 per diluted share compared to net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 of $480,000, or $0.07 per diluted share. "We are pleased with the results from the first quarter as we execute our 2013 Plan. Loan production met our goal; however, loan payoffs exceeded expectations resulting in a net reduction in total loans. We continue to negotiate the sale of OREO and to focus on reducing operating costs as we navigate through an improving economy amidst a challenging interest rate environment," stated Mike Cushman, President and CEO.

The Company did not record a provision for loan losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 compared to a provision for loan losses of $400,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2013 was $9,651,000, or 1.98% of total loans, compared to $10,458,000, or 2.12% of total loans, at December 31, 2012 and $12,274,000, or 2.74% of total loans, at March 31, 2012.

At March 31, 2013, total assets were $910,734,000, a decrease of $2,995,000, or 0.3%, from $913,729,000 at March 31, 2012. The loan portfolio totaled $488,606,000 at March 31, 2013, an increase of $39,957,000, or 8.9%, compared to $448,649,000 at March 31, 2012. The loan to deposit ratio at March 31, 2013 was 63.0% as compared to 58.1% at March 31, 2012, and 64.0% at December 31, 2012. Total deposits increased $3,356,000, or 0.4%, to $775,920,000 at March 31, 2013 compared to $772,564,000 at March 31, 2012. Available-for-sale investment securities totaled $283,721,000 at March 31, 2013, a decrease of $70,433,000 from March 31, 2012. When compared to December 31, 2012, total assets increased $8,391,000 from $902,343,000, driven by an increase in deposits of $7,340,000 from $768,580,000, while loans decreased by $3,605,000 from $492,211,000. Available-for-sale investment securities decreased $2,094,000 from December 31, 2012 to March 31, 2013, while Federal funds sold increased $20,060,000 from December 31, 2012 to March 31, 2013. 

At March 31, 2013, the Company's Total Risk-based Capital was $115,023,000, and its capital ratios were: Total Risk-based Capital ratio - 18.6%; Tier 1 risk-based Capital ratio - 17.4%; and Tier 1 Leverage ratio - 12.1%. At March 31, 2013, the Bank's Total Risk-based Capital was $115,381,000, and its capital ratios were: Total Risk-based Capital ratio - 18.7%; Tier 1 risk-based Capital ratio - 17.4%; and Tier 1 Leverage ratio - 12.1%.

Credit Quality

Nonperforming loans (defined as nonaccrual loans and loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest) decreased $9,185,000, or 58.8%, to $6,449,000 at March 31, 2013 from $15,634,000 at March 31, 2012, and increased $614,000 from the December 31, 2012 balance of $5,835,000. Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans were 1.32% at March 31, 2013, as compared to 1.19% at December 31, 2012 and 3.48% at March 31, 2012.

During the first quarter of 2013, the Company identified eight loans totaling $2,001,000, net of charge-offs, as additional nonperforming loans. The additions were offset by reductions in nonperforming loans totaling $1,387,000 due primarily to collections received on certain loans and secondarily due to charge-offs and the transfer of three properties to OREO totaling $602,000. Of the eight loans totaling $2,001,000 identified as nonperforming loans during the first quarter of 2013, three relationships make up $1,828,000 of the balance. The first relationship is for a multi-family commercial real estate loan totaling $642,000 located in Yolo County. The Company has recorded a $239,000 charge-off for this loan and there is no specific reserve established. The second relationship consists of three loans totaling $617,000 to a contractor located in Shasta County. The Company has recorded an $86,000 charge-off for these loans and there is no specific reserve established. The third relationship consists of two hospitality commercial real estate loans totaling $569,000 located in Humboldt County. The Company has not recorded a charge-off for these loans and there is no specific reserve established. The remaining two loans of the eight identified as nonperforming loans in the first quarter total $173,000. Charge-offs of $71,000 were recorded against one of the loans and there were no specific reserves established. 

Gross loan charge offs for the first quarter of 2013 were $1,056,000 and recoveries totaled $249,000 resulting in net charge offs of $807,000. Gross loan charge offs for the first quarter of 2012 were $885,000 and recoveries totaled $103,000 resulting in net charge offs of $782,000.

Nonperforming assets (nonperforming loans and OREO) totaled $27,814,000 at March 31, 2013, a decrease of $4,726,000 from the March 31, 2012 balance of $32,540,000, and a $444,000 decrease from the December 31, 2012 balance of $28,258,000. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets were 3.05% at March 31, 2013 compared to 3.56% at March 31, 2012 and 3.13% at December 31, 2012. 

The Company's OREO properties decreased $1,058,000 to $21,365,000 at March 31, 2013 from $22,423,000 at December 31, 2012. The decrease in OREO was due to the sale of three properties totaling $1,425,000 (a gain of $26,000 was recorded on the sale), and the write-down of the value of certain other OREO properties of $261,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 2013, which was partially offset by the transfer of three properties to OREO totaling $602,000.

Operating Results

Net interest income, which represents the Company's largest component of revenues and is the difference between interest earned on loans and investments and interest paid on deposits and borrowings, increased $44,000, or 0.6%, for the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. Interest income decreased by $741,000, or 8.6%, primarily due to both the lower yield on earning assets and a decrease in average earning asset balances. The Company had foregone interest income of $85,000 and $155,000 for the loans on nonaccrual status for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Average loans increased $32,936,000 in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the first quarter of 2012, while the yield on the loan portfolio decreased 42 basis points to 5.33% for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. Offsetting the decrease in interest income was a decrease in interest expense of $785,000, or 64.5%, due to both a decrease in the rates paid on deposits and the rates paid on its subordinated debt for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. Overall, average earning assets decreased $32,329,000 to $797,861,000 in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the first quarter of 2012. Average yields on earning assets decreased 17 basis points from the quarter ended March 31, 2012, to 4.03% for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 while the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities decreased by 48 basis points to 0.28%. The Company's net interest margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 was 3.81%, an increase of 20 basis points from the margin of 3.61% for the first quarter in 2012 and a decrease of 12 basis points from the 3.93% net interest margin for the linked quarter ended December 31, 2012.

Noninterest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 increased $1,070,000, or 32.8%, to $4,329,000 compared to $3,259,000 for the same period in 2012. Service charges on deposits decreased by $100,000 to $952,000 for the first quarter of 2013 compared to $1,052,000 for the same period in 2012. Other fees and charges decreased by $77,000 to $1,120,000 for the first quarter of 2013 compared to $1,197,000 for the first quarter of 2012. The Company recorded gains on the sale of mortgage loans of $757,000, and gains on the sale of SBA loans of $168,000 for the first quarter of 2013 compared to gains of $361,000 and $43,000, respectively, for the same period in 2012. The Company recognized gains on the sale of investment securities of $543,000 for the first quarter of 2013 compared to a loss on sale of investments securities of $9,000 for the same period in 2012. Other noninterest income increased $174,000, to $789,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 compared to $615,000 for the same period in 2012. 

Noninterest expense increased $232,000, or 2.4%, to $9,888,000 for the first quarter of 2013 from $9,656,000 for the first quarter in 2012. Salaries and employee benefits increased $105,000, for the first quarter of 2013 compared to the first quarter of 2012 due primarily to incentive compensation for production personnel. Occupancy and furniture and equipment expense decreased $32,000 for the first quarter of 2013 compared to the first quarter of 2012 due to a decrease in depreciation and rent expense as a result of facilities consolidation initiatives completed in 2012. OREO expense decreased $258,000 to $376,000, for the first quarter of 2013 compared to $634,000 for the same period in 2012, and FDIC and state assessments decreased $95,000 to $218,000 for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $313,000 for the same period in 2012. Other expense increased $512,000 to $3,279,000 for the first quarter of 2013 compared to $2,767,000 for the same period in 2012 due primarily to the recording of a $500,000 additional reserve for expenses expected to be incurred during 2013 in connection with the anticipated settlement of a compliance exam conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in 2010. 

The Company recorded a provision for income taxes for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 of $616,000, resulting in an effective tax rate of 32.8%, compared to a provision for income taxes of $115,000, or an effective tax rate of 19.3%, for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

North Valley Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Redding, California. Its subsidiary, North Valley Bank ("NVB"), operates twenty-two commercial banking offices in Shasta, Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Yolo, Sonoma, Placer and Trinity Counties in Northern California, including two in-store supermarket branches and six Business Banking Centers. North Valley Bancorp, through NVB, offers a wide range of consumer and business banking deposit products and services including internet banking and cash management services. In addition to these depository services, NVB engages in a full complement of lending activities including consumer, commercial and real estate loans. Additionally, NVB has SBA Preferred Lender status and provides investment services to its customers. Visit the Company's website address at www.novb.com for more information.

Cautionary Statement: This release contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated herein. Management's assumptions and projections are based on their anticipation of future events and actual performance may differ materially from those projected. Risks and uncertainties which could impact future financial performance include, among others, (a) competitive pressures in the banking industry; (b) changes in the interest rate environment; (c) general economic conditions, either nationally, regionally or locally, including fluctuations in real estate values; (d) changes in the regulatory environment; (e) changes in business conditions or the securities markets and inflation; (f) possible shortages of gas and electricity at utility companies operating in the State of California, and (g) the effects of terrorism, including the events of September 11, 2001, and thereafter, and the conduct of the war on terrorism by the United States and its allies. Therefore, the information set forth herein, together with other information contained in the periodic reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, should be carefully considered when evaluating the business prospects of the Company. North Valley Bancorp undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release, except as required by law.

NORTH VALLEY BANCORP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
				Three Months Ended
				March 31,
Statement of Income				2013			2012				$ Change				% Change
Interest income
	Loans (including fees)			$	6,366		$	6,470			$	(104	)		(1.61	%)
	Investment securities				1,483			2,111				(628	)		(29.75	%)
	Federal funds sold and other				19			28				(9	)		(32.14	%)
		Total interest income			7,868			8,609				(741	)		(8.61	%)
Interest expense
	Interest on deposits				299			734				(435	)		(59.26	%)
	Subordinated debentures				133			483				(350	)		(72.46	%)
		Total interest expense			432			1,217				(785	)		(64.50	%)
Net interest income					7,436			7,392				44			0.60	%
Provision for loan losses					-			400				(400	)		(100.00	%)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses					7,436			6,992				444			6.35	%
Noninterest income
	Service charges on deposit accounts				952			1,052				(100	)		(9.51	%)
	Other fees and charges				1,120			1,197				(77	)		(6.43	%)
	Gain on sales of mortgage loans				757			361				396			109.70	%
	Gain on sales of SBA loans				168			43				125			290.70	%
	Gain (loss) on sales of securities, net				543			(9	)			552			(6133.33	%)
	Other				789			615				174			28.29	%
		Total noninterest income			4,329			3,259				1,070			32.83	%
Noninterest expenses
	Salaries and employee benefits				5,162			5,057				105			2.08	%
	Occupancy				633			640				(7	)		(1.09	%)
	Furniture and equipment				220			245				(25	)		(10.20	%)
	Other real estate owned expense				376			634				(258	)		(40.69	%)
	FDIC and state assessments				218			313				(95	)		(30.35	%)
	Other				3,279			2,767				512			18.50	%
		Total noninterest expenses			9,888			9,656				232			2.40	%
		Income before provision for income taxes			1,877			595				1,282			215.46	%
Provision for income taxes					616			115				501			435.65	%
		Net income		$	1,261		$	480			$	781			162.71	%
Common Share Data
Earnings per share
	Basic			$	0.18		$	0.07			$	0.11			157.14	%
	Diluted			$	0.18		$	0.07			$	0.11			157.14	%
Weighted average shares outstanding					6,835,192			6,833,752
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted					6,845,484			6,833,752
Book value per share				$	14.18		$	13.31
Tangible book value				$	14.15		$	13.26
Shares outstanding					6,835,192			6,833,752

NORTH VALLEY BANCORP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
					March 31,				December 31,				March 31,
Balance Sheet Data					2013				2012				2012
Assets
	Cash and due from banks				$	15,890			$	22,654			$	19,314
	Federal funds sold					35,925				15,865				16,400
	Time deposits at other financial institutions					2,219				2,219				1,960
	Available-for-sale securities - at fair value					283,721				285,815				354,154
	Held-to-maturity securities - at amortized cost					6				6				6
	Loans					488,606				492,211				448,649
	Allowance for loan losses					(9,651	)			(10,458	)			(12,274	)
		Net loans				478,955				481,753				436,375
	Premises and equipment, net					8,978				9,181				8,738
	Other real estate owned					21,365				22,423				16,906
	Core deposit intangibles, net					219				255				364
	Accrued interest receivable and other assets					63,456				62,172				59,512
Total assets					$	910,734			$	902,343			$	913,729
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
	Deposits:
		Demand, noninterest bearing			$	174,495			$	177,855			$	156,030
		Demand, interest bearing				193,846				185,315				184,408
		Savings and money market				245,094				233,034				223,475
		Time				162,485				172,376				208,651
			Total deposits			775,920				768,580				772,564
	Accrued interest payable and other liabilities					16,217				15,951				18,215
	Subordinated debentures					21,651				21,651				31,961
Total liabilities						813,788				806,182				822,740
	Shareholders' equity					96,946				96,161				90,989
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity					$	910,734			$	902,343			$	913,729
Asset Quality
	Nonaccrual loans				$	6,449			$	5,835			$	15,634
	Loans past due 90 days and accruing interest					-				-				-
	Other real estate owned					21,365				22,423				16,906
		Total nonperforming assets			$	27,814			$	28,258			$	32,540
	Classified assets				$	39,113			$	45,297			$	51,441
	Bank Tier 1 Capital + ALLL				$	117,245			$	115,580			$	128,110
	Classified assets ratio					33.36	%			39.19	%			40.15	%
	Allowance for loan losses to total loans					1.98	%			2.12	%			2.74	%
	Allowance for loan losses to NPL's					149.65	%			179.23	%			78.51	%

NORTH VALLEY BANCORP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
				Three Months Ended
				March 31,
Selected Financial Ratios				2013				2012
	Return on average total assets				0.57	%			0.21	%
	Return on average shareholders' equity				5.30	%			2.12	%
	Net interest margin (tax equivalent basis)				3.81	%			3.61	%
	Efficiency ratio				84.05	%			90.66	%
Selected Average Balances
	Loans			$	484,415			$	451,479
	Taxable investments				270,493				316,776
	Tax-exempt investments				9,840				12,985
	Federal funds sold and other				33,113				48,950
		Total earning assets		$	797,861			$	830,190
		Total assets		$	897,178			$	916,176
	Demand deposits - interest bearing			$	188,138			$	175,999
	Savings and money market				238,785				219,729
	Time deposits				166,198				212,900
	Other borrowings				21,651				31,961
		Total interest bearing liabilities		$	614,772			$	640,589
	Demand deposits - noninterest bearing			$	169,080			$	158,384
	Shareholders' equity			$	96,483			$	90,725

NORTH VALLEY BANCORP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
			For the Quarter Ended
			March			December			September				June
			2013			2012			2012				2012
Interest income			$	7,868		$	8,276		$	8,426			$	8,420
Interest expense				432			504			713				1,091
	Net interest income			7,436			7,772			7,713				7,329
Provision for loan losses				-			-			700				1,000
Noninterest income				4,329			4,269			4,204				4,687
Noninterest expense				9,888			11,336			9,759				9,228
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes				1,877			705			1,458				1,788
Provision (benefit) for income taxes				616			160			(2,546	)			527
	Net income		$	1,261		$	545		$	4,004			$	1,261
Earnings per common share:
	Basic		$	0.18		$	0.08		$	0.59			$	0.18
	Diluted		$	0.18		$	0.08		$	0.59			$	0.18