VSB Bancorp, Inc. Third Quarter 2013 Results of Operations


STATEN ISLAND, NY--(Marketwired - Oct 9, 2013) - VSB Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSBN) reported net income of $341,238 for the third quarter of 2013, a decrease of $16,222, or 4.5%, from the third quarter of 2012. The following unaudited figures were released today. Pre-tax income was $629,022 in the third quarter of 2013, compared to $658,888 for the third quarter of 2012. Net income for the quarter was $341,238, or basic net income of $0.19 per common share, compared to a net income of $357,460, or $0.20 basic net income per common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. 

The $16,222 decrease in net income was due to a decrease in net interest income of $87,480, an increase in non-interest expense of $43,925, and increase in the provision for loan losses of $5,000, partially offset by an increase in non-interest income of $106,539, and a decrease in the provision for income taxes of $13,644.

The $87,480 decrease in net interest income for the third quarter of 2013 occurred primarily because our interest income decreased by $82,401, and our cost of funds increased by $5,079. The decline in interest income resulted from a $172,782 decrease in income on loans, due to a $7.8 million decrease in the average balance of loans and a 14 basis point decrease in yield from the third quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2013. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in interest income from investment securities due to a $32.4 million increase in the average balance between the periods, which was partially offset by a 35 basis point decrease in average yield, as new securities were purchased at market rates significantly below the rates on securities repaid or matured. Our average non-performing loans decreased $225,582, from $6.1 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2012, to $5.9 million in the third quarter of 2013. The level of non-performing loans declined from $6.4 million at December 31, 2012 to $5.7 million at March 31, 2013, $5.1 million at June 30, 2013 and to $5.1 million at September 30, 2013.

Interest income from other interest earning assets (principally overnight investments) increased by $9,463 due to a 2 basis point increase in yield, and a $12.6 million increase in average balance from the third quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2013. Overall, average interest-earning assets increased by $37.2 million from the third quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2013 due to an influx of deposits in 2013.

The most significant components of the increase in interest expense was a $7,985 increase in interest on time deposits due to the $10.3 million increase in the average balance between the periods, even as the average cost declined by 5 basis points, and a $3,537 increase in the cost of savings accounts due to 3 basis point increase in the average cost and a $2.5 million increase in the average balance between the periods. The increase in interest expense in these deposit categories was partially offset by a $2,139 decrease in the cost of money market accounts, as the average cost declined by 16 basis points, while the average balance increase by $7.5 million. The cost of NOW accounts decreased by $4,304 as the average rate declined by 6 basis points, due to a continuation of low market interest rates, although the average balance increased by $1.5 million. Average demand deposits, an interest free source of funds for us to invest, increased $17.4 million, or 22.1%, from the third quarter of 2012, representing approximately 36% of average total deposits for the third quarter of 2013. Average interest-bearing deposits increased by $21.9 million, resulting in an overall $39.1 million increase in average total deposits from the third quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2013.

The average yield on interest-earning assets declined by 55 basis points, while the average cost of funds declined by 6 basis points, from the third quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2013. The reduction in the yield on assets was principally due to the 35 basis point drop in the yield on investment securities and a 14 basis point decrease in the yield on loans. Also significantly contributing to the reduction in yield is the reduction of loans, our highest yield asset category, as a percentage of average interest earning assets from 33.1% in the third quarter of 2012 to 26.2% in the third quarter of 2013. The decline in the cost of funds was driven principally by a 16 basis point drop in the cost of money market account deposits, a 6 basis point drop in the cost of NOW deposits and a 5 basis point drop in the cost of time deposits partially offset by a 3 basis point increase in the cost of saving account deposits. Our interest rate margin decreased by 51 basis points from 3.18% to 2.67% when comparing the third quarter of 2013 to the same quarter in 2012, while our interest rate spread decreased by 49 basis points from 2.97% to 2.48%. The spread and margin both decreased because of the combined effect of the decline in earnings we were able to obtain on our investments securities, the increased average balance of low yielding other interest-earning assets and the adverse effect of the non-receipt of interest received on non-performing loans. These declines could not be offset by corresponding declines in the cost of deposits because the rates we paid on deposits were already low due to low markets rates so that we could not reduce them as much as the decline in the earnings on investment securities and loans. Non-interest income increased by $106,539 to $714,367 in the third quarter of 2013, compared to $607,828 for the same quarter in 2012 due primarily to a recent increase in the non-sufficient fund fee assessed against deposit accounts. 

Comparing the third quarter of 2013 with the same quarter in 2012, non-interest expense increased by $43,925, totaling $2.0 million for the third quarter of 2013. Non-interest expense increased for various business reasons including (i) a $26,185 increase in legal fees due to general corporate needs in 2013 and a recovery of a past due loan in the third quarter of 2012 on which the legal fees had been expensed, (ii) a $21,156 increase in professional fees due to the hiring of a consulting firm; iii) a $13,419 increase in salary and benefit costs due to severance expenses; (iv) a $10,049 increase in other non-interest expenses due to increased costs of regulatory filings, foreclosure costs and ATM costs, and (iv) a $4,261 increase in computer expenses due to a recent rise in software contract expenses. These increases were partially offset by a $27,245 decrease in occupancy expenses due to reduced fixed asset costs, and a $7,400 decrease in director fees because of a reduced number of meetings in 2013. 

For the first nine months of 2013, pre-tax income decreased to $1,427,136 from $1,863,544 for the first nine months of 2012, a decline of $436,408, or 23.4%. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $774,178, or basic net income of $0.44 per common share, as compared to a net income of $1,010,945, or basic net income of $0.57 per common share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The $236,767 reduction in net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was attributable principally to a $544,961 decrease in net interest income, and a $100,569 increase in non-interest expenses partially offset by a $109,122 increase in non-interest income and a $100,000 decrease in the provision for loan losses. 

The increase in non-interest expense of $100,569 was due primarily to (i) a $143,313 in increased costs of holding real estate acquired in foreclosure, costs of regulatory filings, foreclosure costs, ATM and forgery costs; (ii) a $40,416 increase in computer expenses due to a recent rise in software contract expenses; (iii) a $37,068 increase in employee salary and benefit costs due to the acceleration of stock benefits resulting from a retirement and employee termination expenses, and (iv) a $23,067 increase in professional fees due to the hiring of a consulting firm for alternate revenue services. These increases were partially offset by a $101,381 decrease in occupancy expenses due to insurance payouts on monies expensed in the remediation of damage to our Dongan Hills branch from Superstorm Sandy and reduced fixed asset costs, a $28,275 decrease in director fees due to reduced number of meetings, a $10,639 decrease in legal fees due to a recovery of a past due loan on which the legal fees had been expensed, and a $3,000 decrease in FDIC and NYSBD assessments. Income tax expense decreased $199,641 due to the $436,408 decrease in pre-tax income.

The net interest margin decreased by 66 basis points from the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to 2.73% from 3.39%, in the same period in 2012, as the yield on our investment securities declined dramatically and we had very low earnings on our substantial level of overnight deposits. Loans declined from 34.0% of average interest earning assets in the first nine months of 2012 to 28.0% in the same period in 2013, which also contributed to the decline in net interest margin. Average interest earning assets, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, increased by $33.6 million, or 13.7%, from the same period in 2012.

Total assets increased to $299.9 million at September 30, 2013, an increase of $30.2 million, or 11.2%, from December 31, 2012. The significant components of this increase were a $50.0 million increase in investment securities, partially offset by a $14.5 million decrease in cash and other liquid assets, and a $5.0 million decrease in loans, net. Our non-performing loans decreased from $6.4 million at December 31, 2012 to $5.1 million at September 30, 2013, due primarily to the payoff of a loan previously on non-accrual and a charge-off of a loan that was in foreclosure. Total deposits, including escrow deposits, increased to $271.1 million, an increase of $30.4 million, or 12.6%. We had increases in demand and checking deposits of $15.6 million, $8.5 million in money market accounts, $2.1 million in NOW accounts, $2.4 million in in time deposits and a $1.7 million increase in savings deposits from year end 2012. The Bancorp's Tier 1 capital ratio was 9.05% at September 30, 2013. 

Raffaele (Ralph) M. Branca, VSB Bancorp, Inc.'s President and CEO, stated, "The recent increase in intermediate and long interest rates provided us with more attractive investment opportunities at higher yields. We have steadily increased quarterly net income in 2013 from $209,871 to $341,238." Joseph J. LiBassi, VSB Bancorp, Inc.'s Chairman, stated, "We have demonstrated growth this year in net income, assets and deposits. We have just paid our twenty-fourth consecutive cash dividend, our payout ratio has been declining and our book value stands strong at $15.42 per common share. These are encouraging trends."

VSB Bancorp, Inc. ("Company") is the one-bank holding company for Victory State Bank. Victory State Bank, a Staten Island based commercial bank, which commenced operations on November 17, 1997. The Bank's initial capitalization of $7.0 million was primarily raised in the Staten Island community. The Bancorp's total equity has increased to $27.5 million primarily through the retention of earnings. The Bank operates five full service locations in Staten Island: the main office in Great Kills, and branches on Forest Avenue (West Brighton), Hyatt Street (St. George), Hylan Boulevard (Dongan Hills) and on Bay Street (Rosebank). 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to adverse changes in local, regional or national economic conditions, fluctuations in market interest rates, changes in laws or government regulations, weaknesses of other financial institutions, changes in customer preferences, and changes in competition within our market area. When used in this release or in any other written or oral statements by the Company or its directors, officers or employees, words or phrases such as "will result in," "management expects that," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "projected," or similar expressions, and other terms used to describe future events, are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"). Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date of the statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. This statement is included for the express purpose of protecting the Company under the PSLRA's safe harbor provisions.

 
  VSB Bancorp, Inc.    
  Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition    
  September 30, 2013    
  (unaudited)    
             
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2013     2012  
                 
Assets:                
                 
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 63,257,198     $ 77,728,426  
Investment securities, available for sale     56,912,504       106,825,570  
Investment securities, held to maturity     99,958,474       -  
Loans receivable     76,520,302       81,971,571  
  Allowance for loan loss     (1,260,454 )     (1,753,521 )
    Loans receivable, net     75,259,848       80,218,050  
Bank premises and equipment, net     2,050,521       2,097,356  
Accrued interest receivable     551,728       617,833  
Deferred tax asset     1,117,480       617,501  
Other assets     809,494       1,599,635  
      Total assets   $ 299,917,247     $ 269,704,371  
                 
Liabilities and stockholders' equity:                
                 
Liabilities:                
  Deposits:                
    Demand and checking   $ 97,497,389     $ 81,881,173  
    NOW     35,502,753       33,394,785  
    Money market     41,565,442       33,023,373  
    Savings     22,591,370       20,871,593  
    Time     73,828,624       71,452,704  
      Total Deposits     270,985,578       240,623,628  
Escrow deposits     104,885       77,578  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses     1,291,551       1,249,194  
      Total liabilities     272,382,014       241,950,400  
                 
                 
Stockholders' equity:                
Common stock, ($.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized 1,989,509 issued, 1,785,309 outstanding at September 30, 2013 and at December 31, 2012)     199       199  
Additional paid in capital     9,321,312       9,257,167  
Retained earnings     19,790,109       19,336,280  
Treasury stock, at cost (204,200 shares at September 30, 2013 and at December 31, 2012)     (2,068,898 )     (2,068,898 )
Unearned ESOP shares     (98,629 )     (225,438 )
Accumulated other comprehensive gain, net of taxes of $498,519 and $1,226,742, respectively     591,140       1,454,661  
                 
      Total stockholders' equity     27,535,233       27,753,971  
                 
      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 299,917,247     $ 269,704,371  
                       
                       
   
VSB Bancorp, Inc.  
Consolidated Statements of Operations  
September 30, 2013  
(unaudited)  
                   
    Three months   Three months   Nine months   Nine months  
    ended   ended   ended   ended  
    Sept. 30, 2013   Sept. 30, 2012   Sept. 30, 2013   Sept. 30, 2012  
Interest and dividend income:                          
  Loans receivable   $ 1,312,109   $ 1,484,891   $ 4,137,806   $ 4,489,089  
  Investment securities     817,651     736,733     2,093,702     2,319,168  
  Other interest earning assets     39,722     30,259     123,781     78,331  
    Total interest income     2,169,482     2,251,883     6,355,289     6,886,588  
                           
Interest expense:                          
  NOW     15,110     19,414     47,303     62,972  
  Money market     57,048     59,187     157,163     174,058  
  Savings     20,030     16,493     57,963     35,693  
  Time     113,503     105,518     359,326     335,370  
    Total interest expense     205,691     200,612     621,755     608,093  
                           
Net interest income     1,963,791     2,051,271     5,733,534     6,278,495  
Provision for loan loss     45,000     40,000     180,000     280,000  
    Net interest income after provision for loan loss     1,918,791     2,011,271     5,553,534     5,998,495  
                           
Non-interest income:                          
  Loan fees     13,399     12,471     37,132     32,063  
  Service charges on deposits     630,611     524,766     1,651,242     1,626,041  
  Net rental income     17,667     18,327     52,903     42,605  
  Other income     52,690     52,264     224,629     156,075  
    Total non-interest income     714,367     607,828     1,965,906     1,856,784  
                           
Non-interest expenses:                          
  Salaries and benefits     947,829     934,410     2,898,913     2,861,845  
  Occupancy expenses     340,003     367,248     994,348     1,095,729  
  Legal expense     85,477     59,292     198,637     209,276  
  Professional fees     105,975     84,819     276,947     253,880  
  Computer expense     70,724     66,463     223,547     183,131  
  Director fees     53,375     60,775     177,625     205,900  
  FDIC and NYSBD assessments     60,500     57,000     175,500     178,500  
  Other expenses     340,253     330,204     1,146,787     1,003,474  
    Total non-interest expenses     2,004,136     1,960,211     6,092,304     5,991,735  
                             
      Income before income taxes     629,022     658,888     1,427,136     1,863,544  
                           
Provision (benefit) for income taxes:                          
  Current     323,092     329,410     424,715     1,058,329  
  Deferred     (35,308 )   (27,982 )   228,243     (205,730 )
    Total provision for income taxes     287,784     301,428     652,958     852,599  
                             
      Net income   $ 341,238   $ 357,460   $ 774,178   $ 1,010,945  
                           
Basic net income per common share   $ 0.19   $ 0.20   $ 0.44   $ 0.57  
                           
Diluted net income per share   $ 0.19   $ 0.20   $ 0.44   $ 0.57  
                           
Book value per common share   $ 15.42   $ 15.61   $ 15.42   $ 15.61  
                           

Contact Information:

Contact Name:
Ralph M. Branca
President & CEO
(718) 979-1100