Franklin Financial Reports 2016 Earnings; Declares Dividend

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa., Jan. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Franklin Financial Services Corporation, the bank holding company of F&M Trust, reported earnings of $1.7 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016. This represents a 24.0% decrease when compared to fourth quarter 2015 earnings of $2.3 million and a 17.0% decrease when compared to third quarter 2016 earnings of $2.1 million. Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2016 were affected by a $1.2 million write down of a property, which was held as other real estate (ORE) in participation with another bank. Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $9.0 million, compared to $8.8 million in the third quarter, and $8.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Net income for the year was $8.1 million compared with $10.2 million in 2015, a decrease of 20.7%. Contributing to the decline in earnings was an increase in the provision for loan losses expense of $2.5 million and the $1.2 million ORE write down. In addition, 2015 included two nonrecurring events that increased noninterest income by $899 thousand and a reversal of $250 thousand of the valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset. Net interest income was $34.7 million for the year representing an increase of 7.7%, when compared to 2015, driven primarily by growth in the commercial loan portfolio of 17.9%.

On a per share basis, diluted earnings were $0.40 for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 and $1.88 for the year, compared to $0.53 and $2.40 for the same periods in 2015.

"In a transition year for the bank, we closed 2016 with very strong core performance and we are encouraged by the opportunities that lie ahead," said Timothy G. Henry, President and CEO of F&M Trust. "We continued our growth in commercial loans and noninterest-bearing deposits and we expect new relationships to develop with aggressive marketing of our Investment and Trust Services team."

Total assets at December 31, 2016 were $1.1 billion, an 8.9% increase when compared with total assets at December 31, 2015. Net loans increased 14.4% to $882.8 million and total deposits increased 6.9% to $982.1 million, both of which were driven by the expansion of new and existing customer relationships. The market value of trust assets under management increased 6.1% to $622.6 million.

Additionally, the Board of Directors of Franklin Financial Services Corporation declared a $0.21 per share regular cash dividend for the first quarter of 2017, matching the regular quarterly cash dividend paid in the fourth quarter of 2016. This compares to a $0.19 per share regular cash dividend for the first quarter of 2016, representing a 10.5% increase.

The regular quarterly cash dividend will be paid on February 22, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 3, 2017.

Franklin Financial is the largest independent, locally owned and operated bank holding company headquartered in Franklin County with assets of more than $1 billion. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, F&M Trust, has twenty-two community banking offices located in Boiling Springs, Camp Hill, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Greencastle, Hustontown, McConnellsburg, Mechanicsburg, Mont Alto, Marion, Newville, Orbisonia, Shippensburg and Waynesboro. Franklin Financial stock is trading on the OTCQX^® marketplace of the OTC Markets under the symbol FRAF. Please visit our website for more information, www.franklinfin.com.

Management considers subsequent events occurring after the balance sheet date for matters which may require adjustment to, or disclosure in, the consolidated financial statements.  The review period for subsequent events extends up to and including the filing date of a public company's consolidated financial statements when filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Accordingly, the financial information in this announcement is subject to change.

Certain statements appearing herein which are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements refer to a future period or periods, reflecting management's current views as to likely future developments, and use words "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "anticipate," or similar terms.  Because forward-looking statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors over which Franklin Financial Services Corporation has no direct control, actual results could differ materially from those contemplated in such statements.  These factors include (but are not limited to) the following: general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, changes in the Corporation's cost of funds, changes in government monetary policy, changes in government regulation and taxation of financial institutions, changes in the rate of inflation, changes in technology, the intensification of competition within the Corporation's market area, and other similar factors.

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SOURCE Franklin Financial Services Corporation