FDBC Fidelity D and D Bancorp Inc

DUNMORE, Pa., July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Fidelity D & D Bancorp, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: FDBC), parent company of The Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank, announced net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 of $1.6 million, a $0.1 million, or 8%, increase compared to the same 2013 quarter.  Earnings improvement occurred by expanding net interest income by 5%, while the decline in other income and incurring higher operating expenses was offset by the drop in provision for loan losses compared to the previous year's second quarter.  Net interest income improvement was derived from the Company's successful growth over the past year; with an over $37 million growth in quarterly average earning assets funded by a $31 million increase in average deposit balances, plus an $8 million average balance expansion of shareholder's equity.  The return on average assets (ROA) was 1.01% and 1.00%, respectively for the second quarter of 2014 and 2013.  Earnings per share on a diluted basis were $0.67 and $0.64 for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

"Fidelity is very pleased with the 8% increase in earnings for the 2nd quarter of 2014 when compared to the same period in 2013," stated Daniel J. Santaniello, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "The second quarter earnings reflected ongoing loan growth, strong fee income, continued credit quality improvement and disciplined expense management.  The positive growth in the balance sheet and income statement are a result of the Bank's commitment to building strong relationships through knowledgeable bankers and a dedication to continuous improvement."

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2014 was $3.1 million, an increase of $0.2 million, or 6%, compared to net income of $2.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013. The year-to-date period earnings improvement occurred from producing more net interest income, with lower provision for loan losses almost off-setting the decline in other income, while other expenses remained flat compared to the prior year-to-date period.  ROA was 0.96% for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.  Earnings per share were $1.28 and $1.24 for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The Company's assets increased $26.5 million, or 4%, to total $650.3 million at June 30, 2014 from $623.8 million at December 31, 2013.  The first half of 2014 growth resulted primarily from adding $18.0 million in net loan balances and $5.3 million in securities.  This earning asset growth was supported by deploying $13.2 million of availability on short-term borrowings plus the $8.8 million in deposit growth and $3.9 million increase of shareholder's equity.

Net interest income was $5.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, up $0.2 million, or 5%, compared to $5.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2013.  This resulted from a larger but lower-yielding average earning asset base which was primarily funded by deposit growth.  This activity pressured net interest spread down 5 basis points and brought net interest margin down to 3.79% for the second quarter of 2014 compared to 3.84% for same 2013 quarterly period.

Net interest income increased $306 thousand, or 3%, to $10.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 from $10.4 million recorded during the same period of 2013.  Net interest margin was 3.79% during the first half of 2014 compared to 3.84% during the first half of 2013, a decline of 5 basis points.  This decline resulted from growth in the average earning assets base, stemming from average loan balance growth of $31.2 million that lowered yield on interest-earning assets by 10 basis points, while the rate on interest-bearing liabilities only declined by 5 basis points.

The provision for loan losses was halved at $300 thousand for the second quarter ending June 30, 2014 compared to $600 thousand provided for the same 2013 quarter.  Provision for loan losses was $0.6 million for the six months ending June 30, 2014, compared to $1.2 million for the same 2013 period.  The allowance for loan losses was 1.82% of total loans at June 30, 2014, up from 1.78% at June 30, 2013 from the reduction in non-accrual loans to total loans from 1.44% at June 30, 2013 to 0.82% at June 30, 2014.

Total other income recorded for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 was $1.8 million compared with $2.1 million for the same quarter in 2013.  The decrease in other income was primarily due to the $266 thousand reduction in total gains recognized from the sale of loans with $41 less loan service charge activities.  These reductions were partially off-set by the net improvement from $85 thousand more gains recognized on the sale of securities plus revenue increases of $33 thousand more rental income, $32 thousand more net mortgage servicing fees, $25 thousand additional interchange fees and $13 thousand more financial service fees, all earned from reoccurring traditional commercial banking and asset management services, that were reduced by a $67 thousand loss on disposal of equipment, $28 thousand lower deposit service charges collected and a $20 thousand decline in fiduciary fees.

Total other income for the six months ended June 30, 2014 was $3.6 million compared to $4.1 million for the same period in 2013.  The revenue decrease in the comparative periods resulted primarily from $642 thousand reduction in gains from the sale of loans and $158 thousand less loan service charge activities.  These were partially off-set by the $173 thousand more gains realized from the sale on investment securities for the six months ended June 30, 2014 compared to the same 2013 period.

Total other operating expenses were $4.8 million, $155 thousand more compared to $4.6 million for the quarters ending June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  The other operating expenses increased primarily from fewer number of loans booked, from refinancing activity that capitalized $99 thousand more loan origination costs in the 2013 quarter than in the same 2014 period. Also, occupancy and equipment costs increased $70 thousand, salary and benefit expenses added $66 thousand, advertising and marketing costs were up $59 thousand and automated transaction processing costs increased $39 thousand over the 2013 second quarter coupled with a $48 thousand sales-tax refund that reduced the prior years' second quarter other expenses.  These expense increases were off-set by $98 thousand lower loan collections and $37 thousand less other real estate costs, along with a $44 thousand reduced FDIC assessment and $14 thousand decline in supply and postage expenses recorded during the second quarter 2014, when compared to the same 2013 quarter.

Total other operating expenses were $9.5 million each for the six months ending June 30, 2014 and 2013.  The current period included $162 thousand less capitalized loan origination costs, with $139 thousand more marketing expenses from an educational improvement tax credit donation, $132 thousand additional premises and equipment expenses, $65 thousand greater automated transaction processing costs and $62 thousand additional professional services; almost off-set by $246 thousand fewer loan collection expenses, $172 thousand reduced PA shares tax from awarded educational improvement tax credits, $95 thousand less other real estate costs and $71 thousand lower FDIC assessments.

Fidelity D & D Bancorp, Inc. serves Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties through The Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank's 11 community banking office locations, including wealth management assistance through providing fiduciary activities with the Bank's full trust powers; as well as offering a full array of asset management services.  The Bank's deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to the full extent permitted by law.

Forward-looking statements

Certain of the matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as such may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The words "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

The Company's actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:

• the effects of economic deterioration on current customers, specifically the effect of the economy on loan customers' ability to repay loans;
• the costs and effects of litigation and of unexpected or adverse outcomes in such litigation;
• the impact of new laws and regulations, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the regulations promulgated there under;
• the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses;
• impacts of the new capital and liquidity requirements of the Basel III standards and other regulatory pronouncements, regulations and rules;
• governmental monetary and fiscal policies, as well as legislative and regulatory changes;
• effects of short- and long-term federal budget and tax negotiations and their effect on economic and business conditions;
• the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by banking regulatory agencies, as well as the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters;
• the risks of changes in interest rates on the level and composition of deposits, loan demand, and the values of loan collateral, securities and interest rate protection agreements, as well as interest rate risks;
• the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds and other financial institutions operating in our market area and elsewhere, including institutions operating locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, together with such competitors offering banking products and services by mail, telephone, computer and the internet;
• technological changes;
• acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses;
• the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for loan and lease losses and estimations of values of collateral and various financial assets and liabilities;
• volatility in the securities markets;
• disruptions due to flooding, severe weather, or other natural disasters or Acts of God;
• acts of war or terrorism; and
• disruption of credit and equity markets.

For more information please visit our investor relations web site located through www.bankatfidelity.com.

SOURCE Fidelity D & D Bancorp, Inc.