North Valley Bancorp Reports Unaudited Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2012


REDDING, CA--(Marketwire - Feb 6, 2013) - North Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ: NOVB), a bank holding company with $902 million in assets, today reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2012. North Valley Bancorp (the "Company") is the parent company for North Valley Bank (the "Bank").

The Company reported net income of $545,000, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 compared to net income of $809,000, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. The Company reported net income for the year ended December 31, 2012 of $6,290,000, or $0.92 per diluted share, compared to net income of $3,047,000, or $0.45 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2011. 

Michael J. Cushman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "2012 was a year of many successes and positions us well for 2013. We had positive loan growth, improved the mix of our deposits, reduced nonperforming assets, and had a good year of profitability, among other achievements. Our team continues to work hard in a challenging environment, and the results are positive. I want to thank them, our customers, and our shareholders for their continued support of our Company."

The Company did not record a provision for loan losses in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2012 or the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011. The Company recorded provisions for loan losses of $2,100,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to provisions for loan losses of $2,650,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011. The allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2012 was $10,458,000 or 2.12% of total loans, compared to $12,656,000, or 2.77% of total loans at December 31, 2011. 

At December 31, 2012, total assets were $902,343,000, a decrease of $2,623,000, or 0.3% from $904,966,000 at December 31, 2011. Total loans were $492,211,000 at December 31, 2012, an increase of $35,996,000, or 7.9%, compared to $456,215,000 at December 31, 2011. The loan to deposit ratio at December 31, 2012 was 64.0% as compared to 59.5% at December 31, 2011. Total deposits increased $2,341,000, or 0.3%, to $768,580,000 at December 31, 2012 compared to $766,239,000 at December 31, 2011. Available-for-sale investment securities decreased $26,390,000 to $285,815,000 at December 31, 2012 from $312,205,000 at December 31, 2011, as proceeds and paydowns from the investment portfolio were used to fund loan growth. 

At December 31, 2012, the Company's Total Risk-based Capital was $113,028,000, and its capital ratios were: Total Risk-based Capital ratio - 18.3%; Tier 1 risk-based Capital ratio - 17.0%; and Tier 1 Leverage ratio - 11.8%. At December 31, 2012, the Bank's Total Risk-based Capital was $112,938,000, and its capital ratios were: Total Risk-based Capital ratio - 18.3%; Tier 1 risk-based Capital ratio - 17.0%; and Tier 1 Leverage ratio - 11.8%.

Credit Quality

Nonperforming loans (defined as nonaccrual loans and loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest) decreased $12,576,000, or 68.3%, to $5,835,000 at December 31, 2012 from $18,411,000 at December 31, 2011. Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans were 1.19% at December 31, 2012, compared to 4.04% at December 31, 2011.

The overall level of nonperforming loans decreased $5,744,000 to $5,835,000 at December 31, 2012 from $11,579,000 at September 30, 2012. During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company identified four loans totaling $777,000 as additional nonperforming loans. These additions were offset by reductions in nonperforming loans totaling $6,521,000 due primarily to the transfer to OREO of five properties totaling $4,755,000, and secondarily due to collections received on certain loans and charge-offs. Of the four loans totaling $777,000 identified as nonaccrual loans and added to nonperforming loans, one loan represented $623,000 of the total. This loan is for a commercial real estate building located in Shasta County. This loan had a charge-off of $78,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012 to write the loan down to its net realizable value. The remaining three loans in this group of nonperforming loans totaled $154,000 and no specific reserve has been established for them.

Gross loan and lease charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2012 were $1,051,000 and recoveries totaled $82,000 resulting in net charge-offs of $969,000 compared to gross loan and lease charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2011 of $1,151,000 and recoveries of $136,000 resulting in net charge-offs of $1,015,000. Gross charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2012 were $4,702,000 and recoveries for the same year totaled $404,000 resulting in net charge-offs of $4,298,000, compared to gross charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2011 of $5,525,000 and recoveries of $538,000 resulting in net charge-offs of $4,987,000. 

Nonperforming assets (nonperforming loans and other real estate owned ("OREO")) totaled $28,258,000 at December 31, 2012, a decrease of $10,259,000, or 26.6%, from the December 31, 2011 balance of $38,517,000. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets were 3.13% at December 31, 2012 compared to 4.26% at December 31, 2011. 

The Company's OREO properties increased $734,000 to $22,423,000 at December 31, 2012 from $21,689,000 at September 30, 2012. The increase in OREO was due to the transfer of five properties totaling $4,755,000. The increase in OREO was partially offset by the sale of four properties totaling $2,475,000 with losses of $218,000 associated with those sales and the write-down of certain other OREO properties totaling $1,328,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2012. 

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 $224,000, or 3.0%, for the three months ended December 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. Interest income decreased by $603,000, or 6.8%, for the three months ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to the decrease in interest income on loans due to the decrease in yield on average loan balances. The Company had foregone interest income of $80,000 related to loans currently on nonaccrual status for the three months ended December 31, 2012 compared to $173,000 for the same period in 2011. Average loans increased $19,471,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the fourth quarter of 2011 while the yield on the loan portfolio decreased 47 basis points to 5.44% for the fourth quarter of 2012. Offsetting this decrease in interest income for the quarter was a decrease in interest expense of $827,000, or 62.1%, primarily due to a decrease in the rates paid on deposits and secondarily a decrease in interest expense on subordinated debentures. Overall, average earning assets decreased $32,677,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. Average yields on earning assets decreased 33 basis points from the quarter ended December 31, 2011, to 3.99% for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 while the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities decreased by 50 basis points to 0.33%. The Company's net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 was 3.74%, an increase of 6 basis points from 3.68% for the fourth quarter of 2011 and a decrease of 4 basis points from the net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) of 3.78% for the linked quarter ended September 30, 2012. Net interest income decreased $1,153,000, or 3.7%, for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to the year ended December 31, 2011. Total interest income decreased by $3,414,000, or 9.2%, primarily due to a decrease in income on loans as a result of both the decrease in average balance of loans and a decrease in yield on loans. Interest expense decreased $2,261,000, or 39.1%, due to a decrease in rates paid on deposits and due to a decrease in interest expense on subordinated debentures for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to the year ended December 31, 2011. The net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2012 decreased 17 basis points to 3.75% from the net interest margin of 3.92% for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Noninterest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 increased $552,000, or 14.9%, to $4,269,000 compared to $3,717,000 for the same period in 2011. Service charges on deposits decreased $33,000 to $1,059,000 for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to $1,092,000 for the same period in 2011, and other fees and charges decreased by $85,000 to $1,095,000 for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to $1,180,000 for the same period in 2011. The Company recorded gains on the sale of mortgage loans of $966,000, and gains on the sale of SBA loans of $330,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 compared to gains of $215,000 and zero, respectively, for the same period in 2011. The Company recognized gains on the sale of investment securities of $221,000 for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to $828,000 for the same period in 2011. Noninterest income for the year ended December 31, 2012 increased by $2,054,000, or 14.3%, to $16,419,000 from $14,365,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011. The primary reason for the increase in noninterest income in 2012 compared to 2011 was due to an increase in gains on the sale of mortgage loans of $2,189,000. Service charges on deposit accounts decreased $302,000 to $4,333,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $4,635,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011, while other fees and charges increased $52,000 to $4,715,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $4,663,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011. The Company recorded gains on the sale of mortgage loans of $2,682,000, and gains on the sale of SBA loans of $472,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $493,000 and $680,000, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2011. The Company recognized gains on the sale of investment securities of $1,877,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $1,677,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011. 

Noninterest expenses increased $424,000 to $11,336,000 for the fourth quarter of 2012 from $10,912,000 for the fourth quarter of 2011. Salaries and employee benefits increased $401,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012 from the fourth quarter of 2011, while the Company experienced decreases in occupancy expense and furniture and equipment expense of $40,000, and decreases in FDIC and state assessments of $94,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. The Company's other real estate owned expense decreased $535,000 to $1,763,000 for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to $2,298,000 for the fourth quarter of 2011. Other noninterest expense increased $692,000 to $3,323,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to $2,631,000 for the fourth quarter of 2011. Noninterest expenses for the year ended December 31, 2012 increased $264,000 to $39,979,000 compared to $39,715,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011. The reason for the increase was due primarily to an increase in salaries and employee benefits of $1,620,000 to $20,277,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $18,657,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011. The increase was partially offset due to decreases in occupancy expense and furniture and equipment expense of $363,000, decreases in other real estate owned expense of $1,248,000 and FDIC and state assessments of $433,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to the year ended December 31, 2011. 

The Company recorded a provision for income taxes for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 of $160,000, compared to a benefit for income taxes of $456,000, for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. The Company recorded a benefit for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2012 of $1,744,000, compared to a provision for income taxes of $312,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011. 

On January 30, 2013, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, reporting that its interim financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 would be restated because there was an error in the calculation of the tax benefits recorded in that quarter. In its previously filed third quarter 2012 Form 10-Q, the Company reported tax benefits of $3,893,000 and $3,251,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. The correct amounts were $2,546,000 and $1,904,000, respectively. The Company intends to amend and correct its third quarter Form 10-Q as soon as practicable. The difference in recorded tax benefits is expected to reduce the Company's net income to $4,004,000 and $5,745,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. For additional information, reference should be made to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K as filed on January 30, 2013.

North Valley Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Redding, California. Its subsidiary, North Valley Bank (the "Bank"), 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 the Bank, 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, the Bank engages in a full complement of lending activities including consumer, commercial and real estate loans. Additionally, the Bank 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; and (f) 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        
    December 31,        
Statement of Operations Data   2012   2011     $ Change     % Change  
Interest income                            
  Loans (including fees)   $ 6,605   $ 6,885     $ (280 )   (4.07 %)
  Investment securities     1,660     1,958       (298 )   (15.22 %)
  Federal funds sold and other     11     36       (25 )   (69.44 %)
    Total interest income     8,276     8,879       (603 )   (6.79 %)
Interest expense                            
  Interest on deposits     365     859       (494 )   (57.51 %)
  Subordinated debentures     139     472       (333 )   (70.55 %)
  Other borrowings     -     -       -     -  
    Total interest expense     504     1,331       (827 )   (62.13 %)
Net interest income     7,772     7,548       224     2.97 %
Provision for loan losses     -     -       -     -  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     7,772     7,548       224     2.97 %
                             
Noninterest income                            
  Service charges on deposit accounts     1,059     1,092       (33 )   (3.02 %)
  Other fees and charges     1,095     1,180       (85 )   (7.20 %)
  Gain on sales of mortgage loans     966     215       751     349.30 %
  Gain on sales of SBA loans     330     -       330     -  
  Gain on sales of securities, net     221     828       (607 )   (73.31 %)
  Other     598     402       196     48.76 %
    Total noninterest income     4,269     3,717       552     14.85 %
                             
Noninterest expenses                            
  Salaries and employee benefits     5,164     4,763       401     8.42 %
  Occupancy     636     662       (26 )   (3.93 %)
  Furniture and equipment     229     243       (14 )   (5.76 %)
  Other real estate owned expense     1,763     2,298       (535 )   (23.28 %)
  FDIC and state assessments     221     315       (94 )   (29.84 %)
  Other     3,323     2,631       692     26.30 %
    Total noninterest expenses     11,336     10,912       424     3.89 %
    Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes     705     353       352     99.72 %
Provision (benefit) for income taxes     160     (456 )     616     (135.09 %)
    Net income   $ 545   $ 809     $ (264 )   (32.63 %)
                             
                             
Common Share Data                            
Earnings per share                            
  Basic   $ 0.08   $ 0.12     $ (0.04 )   (33.33 %)
  Diluted   $ 0.08   $ 0.12     $ (0.04 )   (33.33 %)
                             
Weighted average shares outstanding     6,835,192     6,833,752                
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted     6,836,192     6,833,752                
Book value per share   $ 14.07   $ 13.09                
Tangible book value   $ 14.03   $ 13.03                
Shares outstanding     6,835,192     6,833,752                
                             
   
NORTH VALLEY BANCORP  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA  
(Unaudited)  
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)  
                       
    Twelve Months Ended      
    December 31,      
Statement of Operations Data   2012     2011   $ Change     % Change  
Interest income                            
  Loans (including fees)   $ 26,062     $ 28,863   $ (2,801 )   (9.70 %)
  Investment securities     7,603       8,209     (606 )   (7.38 %)
  Federal funds sold and other     66       73     (7 )   (9.59 %)
    Total interest income     33,731       37,145     (3,414 )   (9.19 %)
Interest expense                            
  Interest on deposits     2,165       3,893     (1,728 )   (44.39 %)
  Subordinated debentures     1,352       1,892     (540 )   (28.54 %)
  Other borrowings     8       1     7     700.00 %
    Total interest expense     3,525       5,786     (2,261 )   (39.08 %)
Net interest income     30,206       31,359     (1,153 )   (3.68 %)
Provision for loan losses     2,100       2,650     (550 )   (20.75 %)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses     28,106       28,709     (603 )   (2.10 %)
                             
Noninterest income                            
  Service charges on deposit accounts     4,333       4,635     (302 )   (6.52 %)
  Other fees and charges     4,715       4,663     52     1.12 %
  Gain on sales of mortgage loans     2,682       493     2,189     444.02 %
  Gain on sales of SBA loans     472       680     (208 )   (30.59 %)
  Gain on sales of securities, net     1,877       1,677     200     11.93 %
  Other     2,340       2,217     123     5.55 %
    Total noninterest income     16,419       14,365     2,054     14.30 %
                             
Noninterest expenses                            
  Salaries and employee benefits     20,277       18,657     1,620     8.68 %
  Occupancy     2,547       2,786     (239 )   (8.58 %)
  Furniture and equipment     938       1,062     (124 )   (11.68 %)
  Other real estate owned expense     3,556       4,804     (1,248 )   (25.98 %)
  FDIC and state assessments     922       1,355     (433 )   (31.96 %)
  Other     11,739       11,051     688     6.23 %
    Total noninterest expenses     39,979       39,715     264     0.66 %
    Income before (benefit) provision for income taxes     4,546       3,359     1,187     (35.34 %)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes     (1,744 )     312     (2,056 )   658.97 %
    Net income     6,290       3,047     3,243     (106.43 %)
                             
                             
Common Share Data                            
Earnings per share                            
  Basic   $ 0.92     $ 0.45   $ 0.47     (104.44 %)
  Diluted   $ 0.92     $ 0.45   $ 0.47     (104.44 %)
                             
Weighted average shares outstanding     6,835,371       6,833,031              
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted     6,836,371       6,833,031              
Book value per share   $ 14.07     $ 13.09              
Tangible book value   $ 14.03     $ 13.03              
Shares outstanding     6,835,192       6,833,752              
             
             
NORTH VALLEY BANCORP  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA  
(Unaudited)  
(Dollars in thousands)  
             
    December 31,     December 31,  
Balance Sheet Data   2012     2011  
Assets                
  Cash and due from banks   $ 22,654     $ 18,758  
  Federal funds sold     15,865       40,210  
  Time deposits at other financial institutions     2,219       1,959  
  Available-for-sale securities - at fair value     285,815       312,205  
  Held-to-maturity securities - at amortized cost     6       6  
                   
  Loans net of deferred loan fees     492,211       456,215  
  Allowance for loan losses     (10,458 )     (12,656 )
    Net loans     481,753       443,559  
                 
  Premises and equipment, net     9,181       8,661  
  Other real estate owned     22,423       20,106  
  Core deposit intangibles, net     255       401  
  Accrued interest receivable and other assets     62,172       59,101  
Total assets   $ 902,343     $ 904,966  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity                
  Deposits:                
    Demand, noninterest bearing   $ 177,855     $ 167,506  
    Demand, interest bearing     185,315       170,124  
    Savings and money market     233,034       216,299  
    Time     172,376       212,310  
      Total deposits     768,580       766,239  
                 
  Accrued interest payable and other liabilities     15,951       17,301  
  Subordinated debentures     21,651       31,961  
Total liabilities     806,182       815,501  
  Shareholders' equity     96,161       89,465  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   $ 902,343     $ 904,966  
                 
Asset Quality                
  Nonaccrual loans   $ 5,835     $ 18,359  
  Loans past due 90 days and accruing interest     -       52  
  Other real estate owned     22,423       20,106  
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 28,258     $ 38,517  
                 
  Classified assets   $ 45,297     $ 59,742  
  Bank Tier 1 Capital + ALLL   $ 115,580     $ 126,323  
  Classified assets ratio     39.19 %     47.29 %
                 
  Allowance for loan losses to total loans     2.12 %     2.77 %
  Allowance for loan losses to NPL's     179.23 %     68.74 %
  Allowance for loan losses to NPA's     37.01 %     32.86 %
                         
                         
NORTH VALLEY BANCORP  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA  
(Unaudited)  
(Dollars in thousands)  
                         
    Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
Selected Financial Ratios   2012     2011     2012     2011  
  Return on average total assets     0.24 %     0.35 %     0.69 %     0.34 %
  Return on average shareholders' equity     2.19 %     3.66 %     6.70 %     3.54 %
  Net interest margin (tax equivalent basis)     3.74 %     3.68 %     3.75 %     3.92 %
  Efficiency ratio     94.15 %     96.87 %     85.75 %     86.86 %
                                 
Selected Average Balances                                
  Loans   $ 481,998     $ 462,527     $ 464,647     $ 482,845  
  Taxable investments     279,807       286,708       297,451       280,708  
  Tax-exempt investments     10,749       13,974       11,903       14,205  
  Federal funds sold and other     17,893       59,915       27,861       31,103  
    Total earning assets   $ 790,447     $ 823,124     $ 801,862     $ 808,861  
    Total assets   $ 904,083     $ 917,642     $ 910,295     $ 901,271  
                                 
  Demand deposits - interest bearing   $ 183,948     $ 168,997     $ 180,038     $ 164,616  
  Savings and money market     235,146       219,283       226,070       220,501  
  Time deposits     174,096       215,689       193,476       216,408  
  Other borrowings     21,651       31,961       30,205       32,012  
    Total interest bearing liabilities   $ 614,841     $ 635,930     $ 629,789     $ 633,537  
  Demand deposits - noninterest bearing   $ 173,296     $ 163,157     $ 164,437     $ 159,242  
  Shareholders' equity   $ 98,512     $ 87,583     $ 93,906     $ 86,106  
                                 
                   
NORTH VALLEY BANCORP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
     
    For the Quarter Ended
    December   September     June   March
    2012   2012     2012   2012
Interest income   $ 8,276   $ 8,426     $ 8,420   $ 8,609
Interest expense     504     713       1,091     1,217
  Net interest income     7,772     7,713       7,329     7,392
                           
Provision for loan losses     -     700       1,000     400
Noninterest income     4,269     4,204       4,687     3,259
Noninterest expense     11,336     9,759       9,228     9,656
                           
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes     705     1,458       1,788     595
Provision (benefit) for income taxes     160     (2,546 )     527     115
  Net income   $ 545   $ 4,004     $ 1,261   $ 480
                           
Earnings per common share:                          
  Basic   $ 0.08   $ 0.59     $ 0.18   $ 0.07
  Diluted   $ 0.08   $ 0.59     $ 0.18   $ 0.07

Contact Information:

For further information contact:
Michael J. Cushman
President & Chief Executive Officer
(530) 226-2900
Fax: (530) 221-4877

or

Kevin R. Watson
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
(530) 226-2900
Fax: (530) 221-4877