WSBC WesBanco Inc

WHEELING, W.Va., July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Todd F. Clossin, President and Chief Executive Officer of WesBanco, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Market: WSBC), a Wheeling, West Virginia based multi-state bank holding company, today announced an increase in net income and related earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014.

Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2014 was a record at $18.9 million, compared to $16.4 million for the first quarter of 2014, representing an increase of 14.9%, while diluted earnings per share were $0.64, compared to $0.56 per share for the first quarter of 2014, representing an increase of 14.3%.  As compared to the second quarter of 2013, net income increased 10.9% and diluted earnings per share increased by 10.3%.  For the six month period ended June 30, 2014, net income totaled $35.3 million compared to $33.0 million for the first half of last year, representing an increase of 6.8%, while diluted earnings per share totaled $1.20 as compared to $1.13 for 2013, representing an increase of 6.2%.  The increase in net income improved the return on average assets to 1.15% from 1.10% in the first six months of last year.  Return on assets and return on tangible equity for WesBanco remain well above first quarter 2014 peer group averages, the most recent available.

Mr. Clossin commented, "The second quarter was impressive and we are very pleased with the results.  Loan growth improved in the second quarter after a challenging first quarter for much of the economy.  Earning assets increased and, when combined with a steady reduction in the cost of funds, resulted in further increases in net interest income. Trust fees and securities brokerage revenue also grew at a strong rate again this quarter.  Improvement in credit quality continues, reducing charge offs and the credit provision.  Expenses continue to be well managed as we stay disciplined and continue our focus on gaining efficiencies from our infrastructure investments. The management at WesBanco is a team that, while recognizing the successes of this quarter, is prepared to further improve the organization going forward."

Financial Condition

Total assets at June 30, 2014 increased 3.2% or $193.0 million from June 30, 2013, primarily due to loan growth.  Portfolio loans increased $144.7 million or 3.8% over the last year and 1.5% in the second quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of this year.  Loan growth was achieved through $1.4 billion in loan originations over the last twelve months. Although somewhat depressed in the first quarter due to the challenging weather and economy, loan originations increased 28.4% in the second quarter compared to the first quarter.  Loan growth was driven by increased business activity in markets impacted by Marcellus and Utica shale gas drilling, additional lending personnel, focused marketing efforts, an expanded presence in our larger urban markets, and continued improvement in loan origination processes.  Loan growth was funded primarily by growth in deposits.  Deposits increased $178.6 million or 3.6% from June 30, 2013, with approximately $260 million of deposits for Marcellus and Utica shale gas payments made over the last twelve months significantly contributing to the increase.  All deposit types increased except certificates of deposit, which decreased $150.6 million due to lower rate offerings for maturing CDs.  However, deposits decreased 1.9% in the second quarter compared to March 31, 2014 due to reduced demand deposits and CDs.  Available deposit funding was also used to reduce higher cost borrowings by 10.6% over the last twelve months, further reducing the cost of funds.  Total assets at June 30, 2014 increased 2.2% compared to 2013 year-end, due to growth in both loans and securities balances.

WesBanco continues to maintain strong regulatory capital ratios.  At June 30, 2014, tier I leverage was 9.64%, tier I risk-based capital was 13.46%, and total risk-based capital was 14.56%, which all improved from June 30, 2013.  Both consolidated and bank-level regulatory capital ratios are well above the applicable "well-capitalized" standards promulgated by bank regulators, as well as the recently finalized fully-implemented BASEL III capital standards.  Total tangible equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP measure) was 7.74% at June 30, 2014, up from 7.07% at June 30, 2013.  Strong earnings and improved total capital have enabled WesBanco to increase the quarterly dividend rate, currently at $0.22 per share, seven times over the last four years, cumulatively representing a 57% increase.  The most recent increase was $0.02 per share in the first quarter of 2014.

Credit Quality

Total non-performing loans, including TDRs, at June 30, 2014 were $49.6 million or 1.26% of total loans, which represents a 2.5% decrease from March 31, 2014 and a 20.4% decrease from $62.3 million or 1.64% of total loans at June 30, 2013.  Criticized and classified loans decreased 6.0% in the second quarter of 2014 compared to March 31, 2014 to $121.5 million, or 3.08% of total loans at June 30, 2014.  This represents a decrease of 23.6% over the last twelve months from $159.1 million or 4.18% of total loans last year.

Net charge-offs for the second quarter of 2014 were $0.6 million or 0.06% of average portfolio loans, compared to $4.1 million or 0.43% for the first quarter of 2014 and $2.4 million or 0.26% for the second quarter of 2013.  Year-to-date, net charge-offs were $4.7 million or 0.25% of average portfolio loans compared to $5.5 million or 0.30% in the same period of 2013. Second quarter 2014 net charge-offs benefitted from higher than normal commercial recoveries on loans charged off in prior periods.  Gross charge-offs for the second quarter of 2014 were $1.9 million or 0.20% of average portfolio loans compared to $4.7 million or 0.50% for the prior quarter and $3.3 million or 0.36% for the same quarter last year.

Lower charge-offs and continued improvement in delinquent, non-performing and classified and criticized loans resulted in the provision for credit losses decreasing to $0.8 million for the second quarter of 2014 compared to $2.2 million for the first quarter of 2014, and $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2013.  For the first half of 2014 the provision was $3.0 million compared to $3.1 million in the same period of 2013. The allowance for loan losses represented 1.16% of total portfolio loans at June 30, 2014, compared to 1.17% at March 31, 2014 and 1.33% at the end of the 2013 second quarter.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income increased $2.3 million or 5.0% in the second quarter of 2014 compared to the second quarter of 2013, due to a 2.8% increase in average earning assets through increased average loan balances and $0.5 million of other interest income related to a refund of federal income taxes.  Year-to-date net interest income increased $3.5 million or 3.8% from last year.  The net interest margin improved by 8 basis points to 3.64% in the second quarter of 2014 compared to 3.56% in the same quarter of 2013, while for the first six months the margin was 3.63% compared to 3.60% in 2013. The interest on the tax refund contributed 3 basis points to the margin in the second quarter and 1 basis point in the year-to-date margin in 2014. Accretion of various purchase accounting adjustments from a 2012 acquisition benefited the net interest margin throughout 2013 and the first half of 2014, but at a decreasing rate. Excluding this benefit from both years, the net interest margin increased by 13 basis points from the second quarter of 2013, from 3.48% to 3.61% and 10 basis points from the first six months of 2013, from 3.49% to 3.59%.  The improved net interest margin in the current low interest rate environment resulted partially from the aforementioned loan growth, as the average rate on loans is higher than the average rate on securities.   In addition, funding costs continued to decrease in the first six months of 2014 as a result of a 33.2% reduction in higher-rate average FHLB and other borrowings, primarily through maturities, and a 9.8% increase in lower-cost demand, money market and savings account deposits, while higher-cost CDs decreased by 9.2%.  Overall average deposits increased by 3.6% year-to-date in 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. 

Non-Interest Income and Non-Interest Expense

For the second quarter of 2014, non-interest income increased $0.5 million or 2.9% compared to the second quarter of 2013.  The increase was due, in part, to a $1.0 million bank-owned life insurance death benefit in the current quarter.  In addition, trust fees increased 8.0% as assets under management continued to increase from customer development initiatives and overall market improvements.  Total trust assets were $3.8 billion at June 30, 2014, representing an increase of 11.7% from $3.4 billion at June 30, 2013.  Net securities brokerage revenues increased 22.1%, due to significant production increases from existing markets, the 2013 deployment of an advisor team in the Pittsburgh market, the addition of support and producing staff in several regions, as well as an increase in referrals and production from a licensed retail banker program.  Service charges on deposits decreased 8.6% compared to the second quarter of 2013, due to lower overdraft fees that are affected by lower seasonal usage patterns, consistent increases in deposit levels and higher average deposits per account.  Mortgage loan sale gains decreased 32.2% as increasing interest rates reduced refinancings resulting in lower mortgage activity, which was also impacted by the recently-adopted Qualified Mortgage and Ability-to-Repay rules, which have somewhat limited the Bank's product offerings.  Net security gains decreased by $0.5 million.  For the first half of 2014, non-interest income increased 0.2% from trends similar to the second quarter; however there was also a $1.1 million bank-owned life insurance death benefit in the first quarter of last year.

Non-interest expense increased $0.8 million or 2.0% for the second quarter compared to the second quarter of 2013.  Salaries and wages increased 7.2%, due to routine annual adjustments to compensation, increased commissions on higher brokerage revenue and incentive and stock-related compensation granted during the quarter.  Employee benefits expense decreased 4.9%, primarily from decreased pension expense.  Other expense decreased 1.1% primarily due to reduced communications expense.  For the first half of 2014, non-interest expense increased $0.2 million or 0.2% compared to the same period in 2013.  Excluding 2013 merger-related expenses of $1.2 million incurred primarily in the first quarter of 2013, total non-interest expense would have increased $1.4 million or 1.7% for the first six months.  Salaries and wages increased 5.6% and employee benefits decreased 7.6% in the year-to-date period.  In addition, net occupancy and equipment expense increased due to higher weather-related expenses, the opening of two branches near the end of 2013, and investment in internal infrastructure in the second half of last year. Other expense decreased 1.2% primarily due to lower communication and other real estate owned expenses.  However, despite the overall increase in non-interest expense, the efficiency ratio improved to 59.7% for the year-to-date period from 60.4% in 2013.

Financial Results Conference Call

WesBanco, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results for the second quarter of 2014 on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. E.D.T.  Callers wishing to participate should access the call by dialing 1-877-870-4263 or 1-412-317-0790 for international callers.  The call may also be listened to live via Webcast through the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's Web site or by registering at http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=99933. Access to the Webcast will begin approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the call.

WesBanco is a multi-state bank holding company with total assets of approximately $6.3 billion, operating through 119 branch locations and 106 ATMs in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.  WesBanco's banking subsidiary is WesBanco Bank, Inc., headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia.  WesBanco also operates an insurance brokerage company, WesBanco Insurance Services, Inc., and a full service broker/dealer, WesBanco Securities, Inc.

Website: www.wesbanco.com

Forward-looking Statements:

Forward-looking statements in this report relating to WesBanco's plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The information contained in this report should be read in conjunction with WesBanco's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and documents subsequently filed by WesBanco with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including WesBanco's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, which are available at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov or at WesBanco's website, www.wesbanco.com.  Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements, which are not historical fact, involve risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in WesBanco's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A.  Such statements are subject to important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements, including, without limitation, the effects of changing regional and national economic conditions; changes in interest rates, spreads on earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and associated interest rate sensitivity; sources of liquidity available to WesBanco and its related subsidiary operations; potential future credit losses and the credit risk of commercial, real estate, and consumer loan customers and their borrowing activities; actions of the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the SEC, the Financial Institution Regulatory Authority, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, the Securities Investors Protection Corporation, and other regulatory bodies; potential legislative and federal and state regulatory actions and reform, including, without limitation, the impact of the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act; adverse decisions of federal and state courts; fraud, scams and schemes of third parties; internet hacking; competitive conditions in the financial services industry; rapidly changing technology affecting financial services; marketability of debt instruments and corresponding impact on fair value adjustments; and/or other external developments materially impacting WesBanco's operational and financial performance.  WesBanco does not assume any duty to update forward-looking statements.