First Commonwealth Reports Fourth Quarter and Record Full Year 2018 Earnings; Increases Quarterly Dividend 11.1%

INDIANA, Pa., Jan. 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE: FCF) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2018.

Full Year 2018 Highlights

Franchise Growth

• The company successfully completed its acquisition of Foundation Bank located in the Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan area on May 1, 2018, which included $184 million in loans and $141 million in deposits at close.
• Total loans grew $364 million, or 6.7% compared to the prior year including $180 million, or 3.3% in organic loan growth (excluding loans acquired from Foundation Bank).
• Average deposits grew $441 million, or 8.2% compared to the prior year including $346 million, or 6.5% in organic deposit growth (excluding deposits acquired from Foundation Bank).
• On May 21, 2018, the company’s banking subsidiary, First Commonwealth Bank, issued $100 million in subordinated debt notes resulting in net proceeds of approximately $98 million.  These notes qualify as Tier II capital for regulatory capital purposes and further strengthen the Bank’s capital ratios.
• The Company repurchased 1.8 million shares, or 1.8% of common shares outstanding.
• Tangible book value per share grew 10.1% year-over-year.

Earnings

• For the year ended December 31, 2018, net income was $107.5 million (or $1.08 diluted earnings per share).  Core net income (non-GAAP), which excludes acquisition expenses, was $108.8 million, or $1.10 diluted earnings per share, all of which are record levels for First Commonwealth.
  -- Core earnings per share (non-GAAP) increased $0.28, or 34.1% from the previous year.
• Total revenue (excluding net security gains) (non-GAAP) grew $26.4 million, or 8.6% from the prior year.
  -- Net interest income (on a fully tax-equivalent (FTE) basis) (non-GAAP) increased $21.2 million, or 9.1%, from the prior year.
  -- Noninterest income (excluding net security gains) (non-GAAP) grew $5.2 million, or 7.0%, from the prior year.
• Total noninterest expense decreased $4.7 million, or 2.4% from the prior year.
  -- Noninterest expense (excluding acquisition expenses) (non-GAAP) increased $3.8 million, or 2.0%, from the prior year.
• The return on average equity (ROE) for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 11.41%.  The core return on average tangible common equity (ROTCE) (non-GAAP) for the period was 16.87%, an increase of 349 basis points from the previous year.

Profitability

• The net interest margin improved 14 basis points to 3.71% compared to the prior year.
• The efficiency ratio improved 307 basis points to 57.15% compared to the prior year.
• The return on average assets (ROA) for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 1.42%.  The Core ROA (non-GAAP) improved 35 basis points to 1.44% compared to the prior year.

Fourth Quarter 2018 Highlights

Franchise Growth

• Total loans grew $115 million, or 8.1% (annualized) compared to the prior quarter.

Earnings

• For the quarter ended December 31, 2018, net income was $27.0 million (or $0.27 diluted earnings per share), resulting in an ROA of 1.39% and an ROE of 11.06%.  Core net income (non-GAAP) was essentially the same as the company’s reported GAAP earnings.
• Total revenue (excluding security gains) grew $5.1 million, or 6.2%, from the prior year quarter and $2.0 million, or 9.4% (annualized), from the third quarter of 2018.
  -- Net interest income (FTE) increased $1.2 million, or 7.5% (annualized), from the prior quarter.
  -- Noninterest income (excluding security gains) grew $0.8 million, or 15.6% (annualized), from the prior quarter.
• Total noninterest expense decreased $1.9 million, or 3.6%, from the prior year quarter and increased $0.5 million from the third quarter of 2018.
  -- Noninterest expense (excluding acquisition expenses) decreased $2.1 million from the prior year quarter.
• Provision for credit losses totaled $1.5 million, a decrease of $0.8 million and $1.5 million from the year ago and previous quarter, respectively, as all major asset quality metrics improved.

Profitability

• The net interest margin expanded three basis points to 3.70% compared to the prior quarter and increased nine basis points from the prior year quarter as positive replacement yields on loans offset deposit rate increases.
  -- Deposit betas on non-maturity deposits remained well controlled at 20%.
• The Core return on average assets (non-GAAP) was 1.39%.

“Our results in the fourth quarter were a strong finish to a very successful year for our organization,” stated T. Michael Price, President and Chief Executive Officer. “In 2018, we expanded our footprint into Cincinnati with the acquisition and integration of Foundation Bank, the buildout of our SBA team moved us to a number 2 ranking in our western Pennsylvania market from number 18 a year ago, and we produced record earnings of $107.5 million.  And we continue to make strategic investments in talent and technology to fulfill the needs of the businesses in our communities and help our customers improve their financial lives.  We have positive momentum heading into 2019 and are well-positioned to generate consistent and sustainable long-term performance.”

Financial Summary

Earnings

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $27.0 million, as compared to $4.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2017.  The prior year quarter’s results were impacted by a previously disclosed valuation adjustment to the company’s deferred tax asset following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which resulted in a non-cash charge of $16.7 million.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $107.5 million, as compared to $55.2 million for the same period in 2017, an increase of $52.3 million.  The results for the prior year were impacted by the aforementioned non-cash charge of $16.7 million as well as merger-related expenses of $10.2 million (pretax) in 2017 as compared to merger-related expenses of $1.6 million in 2018.  Excluding these expenses, core net income (non-GAAP) for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $108.8 million, an increase of $30.3 million, or 38.6%, from the previous year.

Net Interest Margin and Net Interest Income

The net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2018 was 3.70%, an increase of three basis points from the previous quarter and an increase of nine basis points from the fourth quarter of 2017.

The total cost of interest-bearing demand and savings deposits increased five basis points from the previous quarter, compared to a 25 basis point increase in the Federal Funds Target Rate in the quarter.  This equates to an effective deposit beta of 20%, which is unchanged from the previous quarter.  The increased cost of interest-bearing deposits was partially offset by $9.0 million of growth in average noninterest-bearing deposits.

Loan yields increased 15 basis points from the previous quarter due to the repricing of variable and adjustable rate loans and higher replacement yields on new loans.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2018, total average earning assets grew $74 million and $367 million, respectively, from the prior quarter and prior year period.

The increase in the net interest margin from the prior year quarter was primarily due to a 44 basis point increase in the yield on loans, which was partially offset by higher short-term borrowing costs following the Federal Reserve’s decisions to raise short-term interest rates.

The net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 3.71%, an increase of 14 basis points from the previous year.

The increase from the prior year was due primarily to a 40 basis point increase in the yield on interest earning assets partially offset by a 26 basis point increase in funding costs.  These increases were primarily due to improved yields on variable and adjustable loan portfolios following the Federal Reserve’s decision to increase short-term rates 200 basis points since December 2016, along with the funding costs increasing less than asset yields.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, total average earning assets grew $319 million, or 4.9% from the prior year.  Average loans grew by 5.8%, while average deposits grew by 8.2%.

Credit Quality

At December 31, 2018, nonperforming loans were $32.0 million, a decrease of $7.8 million from September 30, 2018 and a decrease of $10.2 million from December 31, 2017.  Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans were 0.55%, 0.70% and 0.78% for the periods ended December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Subsequent to December 31, 2018, a $6.0 million nonperforming loan was paid off in full, resulting in the release of $1.7 million of excess reserves in the fourth quarter of 2018.

The provision for credit losses totaled $12.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $7.4 million as compared to the prior year.  The increase from the prior year is primarily the result of one commercial real estate relationship which was resolved during the year and the recognition of $3.1 million of recoveries on two commercial relationships during the prior year.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, net charge-offs were $13.1 million, or 0.23% of average loans, compared to $7.0 million in the prior year period, an increase of $6.1 million.  The increase from the prior year is primarily the result of the aforementioned commercial real estate relationship, which deteriorated and was resolved during the year, as well as recoveries for two large commercial credits totaling $3.1 million in the prior year.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, net charge-offs were $4.5 million, or 0.31% of average loans (annualized), compared to $3.5 million in the prior quarter and $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.  Net charge-offs in the fourth quarter were the result of the successful resolution of several problem credits during the quarter.

For the originated loan portfolio at December 31, 2018, the general allowance for credit losses to total originated loans was 0.87%, compared to 0.89% at September 30, 2018 and 0.90% at December 31, 2017.

Noninterest Income and Noninterest Expense

Noninterest income (excluding net security gains) totaled $20.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 as compared to $19.8 million for the third quarter of 2018 and $20.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2017.  Gain on sale of other loans and assets increased $1.1 million and $1.2 million from the prior quarter and the year ago quarter, respectively, due to a $0.6 million gain on the sale of a nonperforming loan and a $0.4 million insurance recovery during the fourth quarter of 2018, as well as the company’s recent emphasis on Small Business Administration (SBA) qualified lending.  This was partially offset by a decrease of $0.4 million and $0.5 million from the prior quarter and year ago quarter, respectively, in gain on sale of mortgage loans.  Trust fee income decreased $0.3 million from the prior quarter due to seasonally higher tax advisory services in the third quarter.

There were no security gains during the fourth and third quarters of 2018; however, the company recognized a $4.3 million gain during the fourth quarter of 2017 following the successful auction call of a single pooled trust preferred security.

Noninterest expense (excluding merger-related expenses) totaled $50.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, as compared to $49.5 million for the third quarter of 2018 and $52.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2017.  The $0.5 million increase from the previous quarter was primarily the result of a $1.0 million increase in salaries and benefits (due to a $1.3 million increase in hospitalization costs) and a $0.5 million increase in other professional fees.  This was partially offset by a $0.4 million decrease in advertising and promotion, a $0.3 million decrease in appraisal fees, and a $0.3 million decrease in unfunded commitment reserves on construction loans.

The $2.1 million decrease from the prior year quarter was primarily due to $2.5 million of expense for a bonus paid to all employees following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Full time equivalent staff was 1,426 at December 31, 2018 as compared to 1,417 at September 30, 2018 and 1,372 at December 31, 2017.  The increase from the prior year is the result of the addition of employees from acquisitions and the continued expansion of the mortgage, SBA and commercial banking businesses.

Dividends and Capital

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.10 per share, which is payable on February 22, 2019 to shareholders of record as of February 8, 2019.  This dividend represents an 11.1% increase over the previous quarter and a 3.0% projected annual yield utilizing the January 28, 2019 closing market price of $13.42.

First Commonwealth’s capital ratios for Total, Tier I, Leverage and Common Equity Tier I at December 31, 2018 were 14.7%, 12.3%, 10.3% and 11.1%, respectively.  First Commonwealth’s current capital levels exceed the fully phased-in Basel III capital requirements issued by U.S. bank regulators.

Conference Call

First Commonwealth will host a quarterly conference call to discuss its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2018 on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at 2:00 PM (ET).  The call can be accessed by dialing (toll free) 1-844-792-3645 or through the company’s web page, http://www.fcbanking.com/InvestorRelations.  A replay of the call will be available approximately one hour following the conclusion of the conference by dialing 1-877-344-7529 and entering the access code #10127627.  A link to the webcast replay will also be accessible on the company’s web page for 30 days.

About First Commonwealth Financial Corporation

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE: FCF), headquartered in Indiana, Pennsylvania, is a financial services company with 137 community banking offices in 22 counties throughout western and central Pennsylvania and central and northeastern Ohio, as well as a Corporate Banking Center in northeast Ohio and mortgage offices in Stow and Dublin, Ohio.  First Commonwealth provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking, mortgage, wealth management and insurance products and services through its subsidiaries First Commonwealth Bank and First Commonwealth Insurance Agency.  For more information about First Commonwealth or to open an account today, please visit www.fcbanking.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements about First Commonwealth’s future plans, strategies and financial performance.  These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and often include words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could" or "may."  Such statements are based on assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond First Commonwealth’s control.  Factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) local, regional, national and international economic conditions and the impact they may have on First Commonwealth and its customers; (2) volatility and disruption in national and international financial markets; (3) the effects of and changes in trade and monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; (4) inflation, interest rate, commodity price, securities market and monetary fluctuations; (5) the effect of changes in laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance); (6) the soundness of other financial institutions; (7)  political instability; (8) impairment of First Commonwealth’s goodwill or other intangible assets; (9) acts of God or of war or terrorism; (10) the timely development and acceptance of new products and services and perceived overall value of these products and services by users; (11) changes in consumer spending, borrowings and savings habits; (12) changes in the financial performance and/or condition of First Commonwealth’s borrowers; (13) technological changes; (14) acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; (15) First Commonwealth’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees; (16) changes in the competitive environment in First Commonwealth’s markets and among banking organizations and other financial service providers; (17) the ability to increase market share and control expenses; (18) the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters; (19) the reliability of First Commonwealth’s vendors, internal control systems or information systems; (20) the costs and effects of legal and regulatory developments, the resolution of legal proceedings or regulatory or other governmental inquiries, the results of regulatory examinations or reviews and the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals; and (21) other risks and uncertainties described in the reports that First Commonwealth files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10?K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. First Commonwealth undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

Media Relations:
Jonathan E. Longwill
Vice President / Communications and Media Relations
Phone: 724-463-6806
E-mail: JLongwill@fcbanking.com

Investor Relations:
Ryan M. Thomas
Vice President / Finance and Investor Relations
Phone: 724-463-1690
E-mail: RThomas1@fcbanking.com