First Mutual Bancshares, Inc., (NASDAQ:FMSB) the holding company
for First Mutual Bank, today reported that the Business Banking
Division has generated additional core deposits and prime-based
loans, contributing to the 55th consecutive quarter of record
year-over-year profits. In the quarter ended June 30, 2006, net
income was $2.7 million, compared to $2.5 million in the second
quarter a year ago, and earnings per diluted share grew 11% to
$0.50, compared to $0.45 per share a year ago. For the first six
months of 2006, net income was $5.4 million, up from $5.1 million
in the first half of 2005, with diluted earnings per share growing
9% to $1.00, compared to $0.92 in the same period last year. In the
first quarter of this year, First Mutual began expensing stock
options. In the first six months of 2006, stock option expense was
$260,000, which decreased earnings by $171,000, net of tax, or
$0.02 per diluted share. Had the expensing of stock options started
on January 1, 2005, earnings in the first half of last year would
have been negatively impacted by $216,000, net of tax, or $0.03 per
diluted share. Subtracting out the cost of stock option expense
from a year ago, year-to-date pro forma earnings per share would
have reflected a 12% increase over the first half of 2005. As the
beneficiary of an insurance policy on the life of a deceased
employee, First Mutual accrued $400,000 in proceeds in the second
quarter of 2006, which offset the impact of the stock option
expense. Financial highlights for the second quarter of 2006,
compared to a year ago, include: 1. Loan originations increased by
15%, with an emphasis on prime-based business loans. 2. Net
portfolio loans grew 8% and deposits were up 6%. 3. Credit quality
remains excellent: non-performing assets were just 0.03% of total
assets, net charge-offs were $60,000. 4. Return on average equity
improved to 17.3%. Management will host an analyst conference call
tomorrow morning, July 20, at 7:00 am PDT (10:00 am EDT) to discuss
the results. Investment professionals are invited to dial (303)
262-2140 to participate in the live call. All current and
prospective shareholders are welcome to listen to the live call or
the replay through a webcast posted on www.firstmutual.com. Shortly
after the call concludes, a telephone replay will be available for
a month at (303) 590-3000, using passcode 11064027#. "Growing our
Business Banking Division has been a priority, and we had some
material success over the past year," stated John Valaas, President
and CEO. "Building the low-cost deposits and prime-based loans that
are inherent in those relationships can help mitigate our interest
rate risk. We have deepened our ties with members of the local
business community, generating strong loan and core deposit growth
despite intense pricing competition." New loan originations were
$158 million in the second quarter of 2006, compared to $121
million in the preceding quarter and $137 million in the second
quarter of 2005. Net portfolio loans increased by 8% to $899
million, compared to $832 million at the end of June 2005. Total
assets grew by 6% to $1.10 billion, from $1.05 billion at the end
of second quarter last year. At the end of June 2006, income
property loans were 28% of First Mutual's loan portfolio, compared
to 37% a year earlier. Non-conforming home loans had grown to 26%
of total loans, compared to 24% a year earlier. Business banking
accounted for 16% of total loans, compared to 13% at the end of the
second quarter last year. Consumer loans remained flat at 12% of
total loans, primarily due to the sale of $10 million of sales
finance loans in the second quarter. Single family custom
construction, commercial construction and single-family speculative
construction loans all grew slightly to 10%, 5%, and 3% of total
loans, respectively. "After modest loan growth in the first
quarter, activity improved in the second quarter," Valaas said. "We
continued to build on our residential lending portfolio, and
business banking was also strong. Looking toward the third quarter,
I expect we will slow loan growth in light of escalating funding
costs to preserve our margins." Although 82% of First Mutual's
portfolio consists of adjustable rate loans, the 16% increase in
earning-asset yields over the past year was outpaced by a 45% rise
in funding costs. The yield on earning assets improved to 7.44% in
the June 2006 quarter, compared to 7.17% in the preceding quarter
and 6.39% in the second quarter last year. The cost of
interest-bearing liabilities was 3.79% in the second quarter of
2006, compared to 3.41% in the previous quarter and 2.62% in the
second quarter a year ago. The net interest margin was 3.91% in the
second quarter, compared to 4.02% in the quarter ended March 31,
2006, and 4.01% in the June 2005 quarter. For the first six months
of 2006 the net interest margin was 3.96%, compared to 4.04% in the
first half of last year. Total deposits increased 6% to $760
million at the end of June, compared to $720 million at the end of
the second quarter of 2005. Core deposits grew by 12% to $293
million, from $261 million at the end of the second quarter last
year, while time deposits increased by 2% to $467 million, versus
$459 million a year ago, reflecting an $8 million growth in
brokered deposits. Business checking has grown by 309 accounts over
the past year to 2,397 at quarter-end, with the associated balance
rising 13% to $50 million since the middle of 2005. Consumer
checking accounts increased by 385 accounts to 7,568 at the end of
June 2006, with the total balances declining 5% from a year ago to
$53 million. "On a year-over-year basis, our growth in core
deposits has eclipsed our increase in costlier time deposits,"
Valaas said. "However, we experienced an overall decline in
deposits during the second quarter, reflecting our decision to
avoid locking in long-term, high-cost deposits. In order to fund
our strong loan growth in the quarter, we utilized wholesale funds
as well as $7 million of securities that matured during the
quarter." Net interest income was $10.0 million in the second
quarter, up slightly from $9.8 million in the same quarter last
year, with a 52% increase in interest expense tempering the 22%
interest income growth. Noninterest income was $2.1 million in the
quarter ended June 30, 2006, up 31% from $1.6 million in the second
quarter a year ago, primarily due to the insurance proceeds.
Noninterest expense was up 10% to $7.8 million in the second
quarter of 2006, compared to $7.1 million in the same quarter last
year, with the expensing of stock options and an increase in loan
officer commissions driving up salary and employee benefit
expenses. Total revenues increased 6% for both the three- and
six-month periods. In the second quarter of 2006, revenues were
$12.1 million, compared to $11.4 million in the same quarter last
year. For the first half of 2006, revenues were $24.0 million, up
from $22.6 million in the same period a year ago. For the first six
months of 2006, net interest income was $20.3 million, up 3% from
$19.6 million in the first half of last year. Noninterest income
grew 28% to $3.8 million, compared to $2.9 million in the six
months ended June 30, 2005, primarily due to an increase in the
gain on sale of loans and the insurance proceeds. Noninterest
expense was $15.5 million, an 11% increase over $14.0 million in
the first half of 2005. First Mutual generated a return on average
equity (ROE) of 17.3% in the second quarter and 17.5% in the first
half of 2006, compared to 16.0% and 16.5%, respectively, last year.
Return on average assets was 0.99% in the second quarter and first
six months, a two basis point improvement over the year-ago quarter
and a one basis point drop from the first half of last year. The
efficiency ratio was 64.9% for the quarter and 64.6% for the
six-month periods through June 2006, versus 62.7% and 62.1%,
respectively, in the same periods a year earlier. "While credit
quality remains strong nearly industry-wide, First Mutual has a
proven track record of maintaining excellent credit quality
regardless of the economic cycle," Valaas said. "We have again
posted a decline in non-performing assets with very moderate net
charge-offs." Non-performing loans (NPLs) were $386,000, or 0.04%
of gross loans at June 30, 2006, compared to $793,000, or 0.09% of
gross loans a year earlier. Non-performing assets (NPAs) were also
$386,000 at quarter-end, or 0.03% of total assets, compared to
$797,000, or 0.08% of total assets at the end of June 2005. Net
charge-offs were just $60,000 in the second quarter, while the
provision for loan losses was $135,000. As a result, the loan loss
reserve grew to $10.2 million (including a $341,000 liability for
unfunded commitments), or 1.09% of gross loans and far in excess of
non-performing loans. First Mutual's consistent performance has
garnered attention from a number of sources. Keefe, Bruyette &
Woods named First Mutual to its Honor Roll in 2004 and 2005 for the
company's 10-year earnings per share growth rate. In August 2005,
U.S. Banker magazine ranked First Mutual #34 in the Top 100
Publicly Traded Mid-Tier Banks, which includes those with less than
$10 billion in assets, based on its three-year return on equity.
First Mutual Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company of First Mutual
Bank, an independent, community-based bank that operates 12
full-service banking centers in the Puget Sound area and a sales
finance office in Jacksonville, Florida. www.firstmutual.com -0- *T
INCOME STATEMENT (Unaudited) (Dollars In Thousands, Except Per
Share Data) Quarters Ended Three ----------------------------- One
Month June 30, March 31, June 30, Year Change 2006 2006 2005 Change
------ -------- --------- -------- ------ INTEREST INCOME: Loans
Receivable $18,518 $17,547 $14,823 Interest on Available for Sale
Securities 1,088 1,193 1,267 Interest on Held to Maturity
Securities 87 90 102 Interest Other 132 118 94 ----------
---------- ---------- Total Interest Income 5% 19,825 18,948 16,286
22% INTEREST EXPENSE: Deposits 6,447 5,916 4,254 FHLB and Other
Advances 3,353 2,801 2,206 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total
Interest Expense 12% 9,800 8,717 6,460 52% Net Interest Income -2%
10,025 10,231 9,826 2% Provision For Loan Losses (135) (71) (450)
---------- ---------- ---------- Net Interest Income After Loan
Loss Provision -3% 9,890 10,160 9,376 5% NONINTEREST INCOME: Gain
on Sales of Loans 554 756 420 Servicing Fees, Net of Amortization
300 335 369 Fees on Deposits 194 182 171 Other 1,009 442 612
---------- ---------- ---------- Total Noninterest Income 20% 2,057
1,715 1,572 31% NONINTEREST EXPENSE: Salaries and Employee Benefits
4,477 4,446 4,332 Occupancy 1,043 1,010 849 Other 2,315 2,232 1,962
---------- ---------- ---------- Total Noninterest Expense 2% 7,835
7,688 7,143 10% Income Before Federal Income Tax 4,112 4,187 3,805
Provision for Federal Income Tax 1,400 1,473 1,288 ----------
---------- ---------- NET INCOME 0% $2,712 $2,714 $2,517 8%
========== ========== ========== EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: Basic
0% $0.51 $0.51 $0.47 9% ========== ========== ========== Diluted 0%
$0.50 $0.50 $0.45 11% ========== ========== ========== WEIGHTED
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: Basic 5,315,843 5,301,838 5,319,017
Diluted 5,432,078 5,407,028 5,554,215 INCOME STATEMENT (Unaudited)
(Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Data) One Six Months Ended
Year June 30, June 30, Change 2006 2005 --------- -------- ------
INTEREST INCOME: Loans Receivable $36,065 $28,755 Interest on
Available for Sale Securities 2,281 2,538 Interest on Held to
Maturity Securities 177 196 Interest Other 250 196 ----------
---------- Total Interest Income 38,773 31,685 22% INTEREST
EXPENSE: Deposits 12,363 7,825 FHLB and Other Advances 6,154 4,234
---------- ---------- Total Interest Expense 18,517 12,059 54% Net
Interest Income 20,256 19,626 3% Provision For Loan Losses (206)
(850) ---------- ---------- Net Interest Income After Loan Loss
Provision 20,050 18,776 7% NONINTEREST INCOME: Gain on Sales of
Loans 1,310 945 Servicing Fees, Net of Amortization 635 695 Fees on
Deposits 376 306 Other 1,451 996 ---------- ---------- Total
Noninterest Income 3,772 2,942 28% NONINTEREST EXPENSE: Salaries
and Employee Benefits 8,923 8,278 Occupancy 2,053 1,633 Other 4,547
4,095 ---------- ---------- Total Noninterest Expense 15,523 14,006
11% Income Before Federal Income Tax 8,299 7,712 Federal Income Tax
2,873 2,611 ---------- ---------- NET INCOME $5,426 $5,101 6%
========== ========== EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: Basic $1.02 $0.96
6% ========== ========== Diluted $1.00 $0.92 9% ==========
========== WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: Basic 5,308,879
5,310,175 Diluted 5,450,956 5,553,308 BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)
(Dollars in Thousands) Three Month June 30, March 31, June 30,
Change 2006 2006 2005 ------- --------- ---------- ---------
ASSETS: Interest- Earning Deposits $918 $3,235 $1,817 Noninterest-
Earning Demand Deposits and Cash on Hand 20,084 23,037 15,905
----------- ----------- ----------- Total Cash and Cash Equivalents
-20% 21,002 26,272 17,722 Mortgage-Backed and Other Securities,
Available For Sale 97,139 110,064 121,430 Loans Receivable, Held
For Sale 20,501 13,920 13,408 Mortgage-Backed and Other Securities,
Held To Maturity (Fair Value of $6,032, $6,284, $7,754, and $6,971
respectively) 6,153 6,342 7,663 Loans Receivable 3% 908,738 881,462
841,582 Reserve For Loan Losses (9,821) (10,087) (9,709)
----------- ----------- ----------- Loans Receivable, Net 3%
898,917 871,375 831,873 Accrued Interest Receivable 5,365 5,362
4,811 Land, Buildings and Equipment, Net 35,080 34,269 31,128 Real
Estate Held-For-Sale - 27 - Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Stock, at
Cost 13,122 13,122 13,122 Servicing Assets 2,702 2,474 2,082 Other
Assets 3,192 2,040 2,231 ----------- ----------- ----------- TOTAL
ASSETS 2% $1,103,173 $1,085,267 $1,045,470 =========== ===========
=========== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: LIABILITIES:
Money Market Deposit and Checking Accounts $285,882 $290,734
$253,055 Savings 7,051 8,165 7,914 Time Deposits 467,411 484,715
458,718 ----------- ----------- ----------- Total Deposits -3%
760,344 783,614 719,687 Drafts Payable 468 1,172 541 Accounts
Payable and Other Liabilities 6,858 6,980 12,015 Advance Payments
by Borrowers for Taxes and Insurance 1,870 2,878 1,900 FHLB
Advances 248,332 206,969 228,119 Other Advances 4,600 4,600 1,600
Long-Term Debentures Payable 17,000 17,000 17,000 -----------
----------- ----------- Total Liabilities 2% 1,039,472 1,023,213
980,862 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Common Stock $1 Par Value-
Authorized, 30,000,000 Shares Issued and Outstanding, 5,318,732,
5,315,107, 5,342,191, and 5,296,810 Shares, Respectively $5,319
$5,315 $5,342 Additional Paid-in Capital 45,772 45,631 46,321
Retained Earnings 15,241 13,062 13,364 Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss): Unrealized (Loss) on Securities
Available for Sale and Interest Rate Swap, Net of Federal Income
Tax (2,631) (1,954) (419) ----------- ----------- ----------- Total
Stockholders' Equity 3% 63,701 62,054 64,608 -----------
----------- ----------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 2% $1,103,173
$1,085,267 $1,045,470 =========== =========== =========== BALANCE
SHEET (Unaudited) (Dollars in Thousands) One Year Dec. 31, Change
2005 ------ -------- ASSETS: Interest- Earning Deposits $1,229
Noninterest- Earning Demand Deposits and Cash on Hand 24,552
--------- Total Cash and Cash Equivalents 19% 25,781
Mortgage-Backed and Other Securities, Available For Sale 114,450
Loans Receivable, Held For Sale 14,684 Mortgage-Backed and Other
Securities, Held To Maturity (Fair Value of $6,032, $6,284, $7,754,
and $6,971 respectively) 6,966 Loans Receivable 8% 878,066 Reserve
For Loan Losses (10,069) --------- Loans Receivable, Net 8% 867,997
Accrued Interest Receivable 5,351 Land, Buildings and Equipment,
Net 33,484 Real Estate Held-For-Sale - Federal Home Loan Bank
(FHLB) Stock, at Cost 13,122 Servicing Assets 1,866 Other Assets
2,464 ------- --------- TOTAL ASSETS 6% $1,086,165 =======
========== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: LIABILITIES: Money
Market Deposit and Checking Accounts $263,445 Savings 8,054 Time
Deposits 489,222 --------- Total Deposits 6% 760,721 Drafts Payable
734 Accounts Payable and Other Liabilities 15,707 Advance Payments
by Borrowers for Taxes and Insurance 1,671 FHLB Advances 225,705
Other Advances 4,600 Long-Term Debentures Payable 17,000 ---------
Total Liabilities 6% 1,026,138 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Common Stock
$1 Par Value- Authorized, 30,000,000 Shares Issued and Outstanding,
5,318,732, 5,315,107, 5,342,191, and 5,296,810 Shares, Respectively
$5,297 Additional Paid-in Capital 45,289 Retained Earnings 10,877
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss): Unrealized (Loss) on
Securities Available for Sale and Interest Rate Swap, Net of
Federal Income Tax (1,436) --------- Total Stockholders' Equity -1%
60,027 ------- --------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 6% $1,086,165
======= ========== FINANCIAL RATIOS Quarters Ended Six Months Ended
-----------------------------------------------
-------------------- (Unaudited) June 30, March 31, June 30, June
30, June 30, 2006 2006 2005 2006 2005 ----------------------------
-------------------- Return on Average Equity 17.25% 17.79% 16.04%
17.52% 16.54% Return on Average Assets 0.99% 1.00% 0.97% 0.99%
1.00% Efficiency Ratio 64.85% 64.36% 62.66% 64.60% 62.06%
Annualized Operating Expense/Average Assets 2.86% 2.83% 2.76% 2.84%
2.74% Yield on Earning Assets 7.44% 7.17% 6.39% 7.31% 6.27% Cost of
Interest- Bearing Liabilities 3.79% 3.41% 2.62% 3.61% 2.49% Net
Interest Spread 3.65% 3.76% 3.77% 3.70% 3.78% Net Interest Margin
3.91% 4.02% 4.01% 3.96% 4.04% June 30, March 31, Dec. 31, June 30,
2006 2006 2005 2005
------------------------------------------------ Tier 1 Capital
Ratio 7.44% 7.28% 7.11% 7.53% Risk Adjusted Capital 11.10% 11.39%
11.21% 12.12% Book Value Per Share $11.98 $11.67 $11.33 $12.09
AVERAGE BALANCES ---------------- (Unaudited) (Dollars in
Thousands) Quarters Ended Six Months Ended
-------------------------------- -------------------- June 30,
March 31, June 30, June 30, June 30, 2006 2006 2005 2006 2005
Average Assets $1,094,220 $1,085,716 $1,033,686 $1,094,669
$1,024,627 Average Equity $62,877 $61,041 $62,786 $61,864 $62,028
Average Net Loans (Including Loans Held for Sale) $902,356 $883,988
$834,064 $901,049 $827,343 Average Non- Interest Bearing Deposits
$44,827 $46,764 $38,038 Average Interest Bearing Deposits $727,153
$725,404 $667,641 Average Deposits $771,979 $772,168 $705,680
$760,532 $697,528 Average Earning Assets $1,027,404 $1,018,253
$979,981 $1,027,600 $971,946 LOAN DATA --------- (Unaudited) June
30, March 31, December 31, June 30, (Dollars in 2006 2006 2005 2005
Thousands) ------------------------------------------------ Net
Loans (Including Loans Held for Sale) $919,418 $885,295 $882,681
$845,281 Non- Performing/Non- Accrual Loans (90+ Delinquent) $386
$468 $897 $793 as a Percentage of Gross Loans 0.04% 0.05% 0.10%
0.09% Real Estate Owned Loans and Repossessed Assets $ - $ 27 $ - $
4 Total Non- Performing Assets $386 $495 $897 $797 as a Percentage
of Total Assets 0.03% 0.05% 0.08% 0.08% ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
(Unaudited) (Dollars in Thousands) Quarters Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, March 31, June 30, June 30, June 30, 2006 2006 2005 2006
2005 ---------------------------- ------------------- Balance at
Beginning of Period Including Reserves for Unfunded Commitments
$10,087 $10,069 $9,490 $10,069 $9,301 Loan Loss Provision $135 $71
$450 $206 $850 Net Charge-Offs from Reserves $60 $53 $231 $113 $442
------- ------- ------ ------- ------ Balance at End of Period
Before Portion Identified for Unfunded Commitments $10,162 $10,087
$9,709 $10,162 $9,709 Portion of Reserves Identified for Unfunded
Commitments $(341) $- $- $(341) $- ------- ------- ------ -------
------ Balance at End of Period $9,821 $10,087 $9,709 $9,821 $9,709
======= ======= ======= ======= ====== Gross Reserves as a
Percentage of Gross Loans 1.09% 1.13% 1.14% 1.09% 1.14% (Includes
Portion of Reserves Identified for Unfunded Commitments) *T
FINANCIAL DETAILS NET INTEREST INCOME For the quarter and six
months ended June 30, 2006, our net interest income increased
$198,000 and $629,000 relative to the same periods in 2005. This
improvement resulted from growth in our earning assets, as the net
effects of asset and liability repricing negatively impacted net
interest income for both periods. The following table illustrates
the impacts to our net interest income from balance sheet growth
and rate changes on our assets and liabilities, with the results
attributable to the level of earning assets classified as "volume"
and the effect of asset and liability repricing labeled "rate." -0-
*T Rate/Volume Analysis -------------------- Quarter Ended Six
Months Ended June 30, 2006 vs. June 30, 2006 vs. June 30, 2005 June
30, 2005 Increase/(Decrease) Increase/(Decrease) due to due to
Volume Rate Total Volume Rate Total ---------------------
---------------------- Interest Income (Dollars in thousands) Total
Investments $(195) $38 $(157) $(271) $48 $(223) Total Loans 1,457
2,238 3,695 2,823 4,487 7,310 ---------------------
---------------------- Total Interest Income $1,262 $2,276 $3,538
$2,552 $4,535 $7,087 --------------------- ----------------------
Interest Expense Total Deposits $320 $1,873 $2,193 $795 $3,743
$4,538 FHLB and Other (87) 1,234 1,147 (285) 2,205 1,920
--------------------- ---------------------- Total Interest Expense
$233 $3,107 $3,340 $510 $5,948 $6,458 ---------------------
---------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
Net Interest Income $1,029 $(831) $198 $2,042 $(1,413) $629
--------------------- ---------------------- *T Earning Asset
Growth (Volume) For the second quarter and first six months of
2006, the growth in our earning assets contributed an additional
$1.3 million and $2.6 million in interest income relative to the
same periods last year. Partially offsetting this improvement was
additional interest expense of $233,000 for the quarter and
$510,000 for the first half of the year incurred from the funding
sources used to accommodate the asset growth. Consequently, the net
impacts of asset growth were improvements in net interest income of
slightly more than $1.0 million and $2.0 million compared to the
quarter and six months ended June 30, 2005. -0- *T Average Average
Earning Net Average Quarter Ended Assets Loans Deposits
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands) June 30, 2005 $979,981 $834,064 $705,680
September 30, 2005 $995,159 $854,343 $723,595 December 31, 2005
$1,009,727 $873,042 $744,112 March 31, 2006 $1,018,253 $883,988
$772,168 June 30, 2006 $1,027,404 $902,356 $771,979 *T Our earning
assets totaled nearly $1.04 billion as of the June 2006
quarter-end, up from $1.02 billion at both December 31, 2005, and
March 31, 2006. This growth was achieved despite sales of over $10
million in home improvement (Sales Finance) loans during the
quarter and a $13 million reduction in the size of our securities
portfolio relative to March 31, 2006. The increase in earning
assets during the second quarter was attributable to growth in our
loan portfolio, with our Business Banking and Residential Lending
segments once again making the most significant contributions.
Additionally, our consumer lending segment would likely have shown
significant growth for the quarter, were it not for the previously
mentioned loan sales, which exceeded $10 million for the second
quarter. When taking into account our expected production volumes,
payoffs, and loan sales for all business segments, including an
estimated $18 million to $21 million in consumer loan sales, our
forecast for the total loan portfolio is for no growth, or even
modest decline in the third quarter of 2006, followed by an
increase of $10 million to $15 million in the fourth quarter. In
contrast to the loan portfolio, our securities portfolio continued
to contract in size, declining nearly $26 million compared to the
level as of June 30, 2005, $18 million from the year end level, and
$13 million from its level as of March 31, 2006. Over the past
several quarters, we have typically found the yields available on
investment securities to be significantly less attractive than
those on loans, particularly when the funding costs to support the
additional assets were taken into account. Consequently, as the
securities in our portfolio have amortized or matured, we have
generally not replaced the paid-off securities balances, but
instead redirected those cash flows to support loan growth. In the
event that market conditions should become more conducive to
holding investment securities, we would consider increasing the
size of our securities portfolio at that time. We generally rely on
growth in our deposit balances, including certificates issued in
institutional markets through deposit brokerage services, to
support our asset growth. During times when our deposit growth is
not sufficient to fully support our asset growth, we also utilize
advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle (FHLB) as an
alternative funding source. In our first quarter 2006 press
release, we noted that the combination of slow asset growth and a
substantial increase in non-maturity deposit balances had allowed
us to take steps in improving our funding mix by reducing balances
borrowed from the FHLB as well as rates offered on retail
certificates of deposit. Were this trend to have continued, it was
our expectation that these factors would have contributed to an
eventual expansion of our net interest margin, as we would have
been increasingly funded with less expensive non-maturity deposits
while reducing our reliance on more expensive wholesale funding
sources. Unfortunately, these trends did not continue in the second
quarter. Following impressive growth in the first quarter, our
non-maturity deposit balances peaked in mid-April, then steadily
declined for the next month as a result of outflows for federal
income tax and state property tax payments, as well as a
substantial reduction in balances maintained by a large commercial
customer. While some recovery occurred in June, our non-maturity
balances ended the quarter at a level lower than that at which the
quarter began. Additionally, as previously noted, following a
quarter marked by the absence of asset growth, the size of our loan
portfolio increased significantly in the second quarter, and with
it our level of total assets. Both of these factors resulted in an
increased usage of higher cost wholesale funding sources. Asset
Yields and Funding Costs (Rate) The effects of interest rate
movements and repricing on our loan portfolio accounted for $2.2
million and $4.5 million in additional interest income relative to
the second quarter and first half of last year. Adjustable-rate
loans, which reprice according to terms specified in our loan
agreements with the borrowers, accounted for approximately 82% of
our loan portfolio as of June 30, 2006. While most of the repricing
of these loans occurs on an annual basis, a notable exception is
those loans tied to the prime rate, which typically reprice within
one or two days of any increase in the federal funds target rate by
the Federal Reserve Bank. With adjustable-rate loans accounting for
the vast majority of our loan portfolio, and new loan production
being originated at higher interest rates, all major loan
categories benefited from rising interest rate indexes. On the
liability side of the balance sheet, the effects of interest rate
movements and repricing increased our interest expense on deposits
and wholesale funding by more than $3.1 million for the quarter and
$5.9 million for the first six months of the year. As a result, for
the second quarter and first six months of 2006, the net effects of
rate movements and repricing negatively impacted our net interest
income by $831,000 and $1.4 million relative to the same periods in
2005, as the large volumes of maturing/repricing liabilities
resulted in a greater increase in liabilities costs than was
observed for asset yields. -0- *T Quarter Ended Net Interest Margin
------------------------------------------- June 30, 2005 4.01%
September 30, 2005 4.03% December 31, 2005 4.18% March 31, 2006
4.02% June 30, 2006 3.91% *T As had been expected, our net interest
margin continued to decline in the second quarter of 2006. In our
first quarter 2006 press release, we had indicated that we expected
to see continued compression in our net interest margin as we
increased sales of our home improvement (Sales Finance) loans,
which are generally among our highest yielding assets. It should be
noted that while the sales of these loans negatively impact our net
interest margin, these sales result in substantial levels of
noninterest income, including the gains on sales recognized at the
times of the transactions, as well as servicing fee income earned
on an ongoing basis following the sale. Also expected to impact the
margin were large FHLB advance balances that matured over the first
quarter of 2006 and large time deposit balances maturing in the
second quarter. Based on increases in rates since the times these
advances and time deposits were originated, these liabilities were
subject to renewal at rates much higher than their original rates,
resulting in increased interest expense and additional compression
of the margin. Between these two factors, we expected our net
interest margin to decline over the next two quarters. At 3.91%,
however, the net interest margin achieved for the second quarter
fell short of the 3.95% to 4.00% range we had forecast in our first
quarter press release. In addition to the increased level of home
improvement loan sales and large liabilities balances repricing
throughout the first and second quarters, the greater than expected
decline in the margin was largely attributable to the previously
mentioned second quarter asset growth, runoff in non-maturity
deposit balances, and the resulting increased use of more expensive
wholesale funds. An additional factor that has negatively impacted
our margin this year has been rate modifications on a substantial
part of our Income Property multifamily and commercial mortgage
portfolios. As previously noted, the vast majority of loans in our
portfolio are adjustable-rate in nature, and most of our
multifamily and commercial mortgages have historically been subject
to repricing on an annual basis. The current interest rate and
competitive environments, however, in which we face a flat yield
curve and tighter margins, provide financial incentives for
borrowers with such loans to refinance with longer-term, fixed-rate
loans. Consequently, prepayment rates for these loans had been
running at exceptionally high levels for quite some time. In an
effort to prevent prepayments of certain loans, rate modifications
were offered to some of our borrowers. While these modifications
effectively reduced asset yields and negatively impacted the net
interest margin, we believe the impact of these modifications on
net interest income, and ultimately earnings, to be less than the
reduction in net interest income would have been had these loans
been refinanced elsewhere and paid off, resulting in an erosion of
the Income Property portfolio. Net Interest Income Simulation The
results of our income simulation model constructed using data as of
May 31, 2006, indicate that relative to a "base case" scenario
described below, our net interest income over the next twelve
months would be expected to rise by 0.43% in an environment where
interest rates gradually increase by 200 bps over the subject
timeframe, and 1.16% in a scenario in which rates fall 200 bps. The
magnitudes of these changes suggest that there is little
sensitivity in net interest income from the "base case" level over
the twelve-month horizon, with relatively consistent net interest
income in all three scenarios. The changes indicated by the
simulation model represent variances from a "base case" scenario,
which is our forecast of net interest income assuming interest
rates remain unchanged from their levels as of the model date and
that no balance sheet growth, contraction, or changes in
composition occur over the forecasted timeframe regardless of
interest rate movements. The base model does, however, illustrate
the future effects of rate changes that have already occurred but
have not yet flowed through to all the assets and liabilities on
our balance sheet. These changes can either increase or decrease
net interest income, depending on the timing and magnitudes of
those changes. Gap Report In addition to the simulation model, an
interest "gap" analysis is used to measure the matching of our
assets and liabilities and exposure to changes in interest rates.
Certain shortcomings are inherent in gap analysis, including the
failure to recognize differences in the frequencies and magnitudes
of repricing for different balance sheet instruments. Additionally,
some assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or
repricing characteristics, but they may react differently to
changes in interest rates or have features that limit the effect of
changes in interest rates. Due to the limitations of the gap
analysis, these features are not taken into consideration. As a
result, we utilize the gap report as a complement to our income
simulation and economic value of equity models. Based on our May
31, 2006, model, our one-year gap position totaled -6.9%, implying
liability sensitivity, with more liabilities than assets expected
to mature, reprice, or prepay over the following twelve months.
This remained relatively comparable with the gap ratios as of the
2005 year-end and March 31, 2006, quarter-end, which indicated
positions of -5.3% and -4.8%, respectively. In the two months since
the March 31 model, the gap ratio had become more liability
sensitive. A major contributor to this progression was our
increased utilization of FHLB advances, which were originated with
terms to repricing/maturity of one year or less, as well as the
rolling forward into the twelve months and less maturity category
of longer term FHLB advances originated in prior years. NONINTEREST
INCOME Relative to the second quarter of last year, our noninterest
income rose $486,000, representing growth of nearly 31%, based
primarily on the accrual of insurance proceeds of $400,000 from a
key-man life insurance policy. The accrual of these proceeds was
the result of the unexpected passing of our Eastern Region Sales
Finance Manager. Significant increases in loan sales and resulting
gains thereon also contributed to the fee income as compared to
last year. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, noninterest
income increased $831,000 relative to the prior year level, with
the above mentioned insurance proceeds and higher gains on loan
sales again being the most significant contributors to the
additional income. -0- *T Quarter Ended Six Months Ended
------------------------------------------------ June 30, June 30,
June 30, June 30, 2006 2005 2006 2005
------------------------------------------------ Gains/(Losses) on
Loan Sales: ---------------------- Consumer $430,000 $201,000
$1,178,000 $702,000 Residential 18,000 38,000 (2,000) 62,000
Commercial 106,000 181,000 134,000 181,000
------------------------------------------------ Total Gains on
Loan Sales 554,000 420,000 1,310,000 945,000
================================================ Loans Sold:
----------- Consumer $10,028,000 $5,038,000 $23,043,000 $15,676,000
Residential 13,717,000 4,938,000 23,113,000 12,090,000 Commercial
4,182,000 2,570,000 5,192,000 2,570,000
------------------------------------------------ Total Loans Sold
$27,927,000 $12,546,000 $51,348,000 $30,336,000
================================================ *T As was the case
in the first quarter of 2006, our second quarter gains on loan
sales significantly exceeded those of the prior year based on a
substantial increase in sales of our consumer loans. For the second
quarter, gains on sales totaled $554,000, representing a 32%
increase over the same period last year. In our fourth quarter 2005
press release, we noted that we were experiencing an increased
level of interest in, and favorable opportunities to market our
consumer loans to other institutional investors, as well as our
expectation that sales of these loans would likely increase in
2006. This expectation materialized in the first quarter and
continued in the second quarter, as consumer loan sales again
exceeded both those of the same period last year, though second
quarter sales totaled less than the $14 million to $18 million
range estimated in our first quarter press release. Based on our
current levels of loan production and market demand, our
expectation is for our third quarter consumer loan sales to total
in the $18 million to $21 million range, significantly exceeding
the prior year's sales levels. Note that these expectations may be
subject to change based on changes in loan production, market
conditions, and other factors. Improved execution also contributed
to the improvement in gains relative to last year, as gains
increased nearly 114% from the prior year level while the total
volume of loans sold increased 99% from the same period last year.
Based on high sales levels in May and June, the volume of
residential loans sold during the quarter and six months ended June
30, 2006, far exceeded the amount sold in the same periods last
year. Relative to the markets for our consumer and commercial loan
sales, however, the market for residential loan sales is
significantly larger and more efficient. As a result, residential
loan sales are typically sold for very modest gains or potentially
even at slight losses in situations in which interest rates are
rising quickly. We believe the construction phase to be the most
profitable facet of residential lending and the primary objective
in a residential lending relationship. Following the construction
process, our practice is to retain in our portfolio those
residential mortgages that we consider to be beneficial to the
bank, but to sell those that we consider less attractive assets.
Included in these less attractive assets would be those mortgages
with fixed rates, which we offer for competitive reasons.
Additionally, as residential loans are typically sold servicing
released, sales do not result in future servicing income. Following
relatively modest commercial real estate loan sales volume in
recent quarters, we sold participations in several commercial real
estate loans during the second quarter, though gains still trailed
their year ago levels. In June 2005, we sold participations in a
large commercial real estate credit that included both the
construction financing as well as the permanent mortgage to
refinance that loan following the completion of construction, which
resulted in an unusually large gain on sale. While our current
expectation is that we will expand our commercial real estate loan
sales, we would reiterate our comment made in previous quarters
that commercial real-estate loan transactions, particularly those
that are candidates for sales of participations to other
institutions, tend to be larger-dollar credits and unpredictable in
their timing and frequency of occurrence. As a result, the volumes
of commercial real estate loans sold, and gains thereon, can be
expected to vary considerably from one quarter to the next
depending on the timing of the loan and sales transactions. -0- *T
Service Fee Income Quarter Ended Six Months Ended
------------------------------------ June 30, June 30, June 30,
June 30, 2006 2005 2006 2005 ------------------------------------
Consumer Loans $298,000 $341,000 $630,000 $641,000 Commercial Loans
0 26,000 9,000 50,000 Residential Loans 2,000 2,000 (4,000) 4,000
------------------------------------ Total Service Fee Income
$300,000 $369,000 $635,000 $695,000
==================================== *T Our second quarter
servicing fee income declined nearly 19% from the level earned in
the same period last year, with significant reductions observed in
servicing income from both consumer and commercial loans serviced
for other institutions. Servicing fee income represents the net of
actual servicing income received less the amortization of servicing
assets, which are recorded when we sell loans, servicing retained,
from our portfolio to other investors. The values of these
servicing assets are determined at the times of the sales using a
valuation model that calculates the present value of future cash
flows for the loans sold, including cash flows related to the
servicing of the loans. The calculated present value of the
servicing rights is then capitalized and amortized in proportion
to, and over the period of, the estimated future servicing income.
In the case of consumer loans, net service fee income declined
based on an increase in servicing asset amortization expense
relative to the level of gross service fee income received. The
amortization of servicing assets is reviewed on a quarterly basis,
taking into account market discount rates, anticipated prepayment
speeds, estimated servicing cost per loan, and other relevant
factors. These factors are subject to significant fluctuations, and
any projection of servicing asset amortization in future periods is
limited by the conditions that existed at the time the calculations
were performed, and may not be indicative of actual amortization
expense that will be recorded in future periods. Based on a modest
level of sales in recent quarters, fee income earned on our
commercial loans serviced for others was not a major contributor to
our total service fee income this quarter, as servicing income
received was only sufficient to offset the amortization of
servicing assets. In contrast to consumer and commercial loans,
residential loans are typically sold servicing released, which
means we no longer service those loans once they are sold.
Consequently, we do not view these loans as a significant source of
servicing fee income. Fees on Deposits Fee income earned on deposit
accounts rose by $23,000, or 14%, compared to the second quarter of
2005, and $70,000, or 23% relative to the first six months of last
year. The improvements over last year were attributable to
increased NSF fees and checking account service charges, which have
grown as we have continued our efforts to expand our base of
business and consumer checking accounts. -0- *T Other Noninterest
Income Quarter Ended Six Months Ended
---------------------------------------- June 30, June 30, June 30,
June 30, 2006 2005 2006 2005
---------------------------------------- ATM/Wire/Safe Deposit Fees
$79,000 $62,000 $154,000 $119,000 Late Charges 66,000 45,000
117,000 94,000 Loan Fee Income 155,000 289,000 250,000 358,000
Rental Income 186,000 144,000 343,000 310,000 Miscellaneous Fee
Income 523,000 72,000 587,000 115,000
---------------------------------------- Other Noninterest Income
$1,009,000 $612,000 $1,451,000 $996,000
======================================== *T Our noninterest income
from sources other than those described earlier rose by $397,000,
or 65% for the quarter and $456,000, or 46% for the six months
ended June 30 relative to the same periods last year. As previously
noted, the accrual of insurance proceeds of $400,000 from a key-man
life insurance policy made the most significant contribution to the
increase over the prior year. Also contributing to the increase in
miscellaneous fee income was $50,000 related to the
marking-to-market of two interest-rate derivatives into which we
entered during the second quarter. This income was essentially
matched by $50,000 of mark-to-market losses on offsetting
derivatives recorded in our other noninterest expense. These
derivatives are associated with two commercial loans totaling
approximately $3 million and are marked-to-market each quarter. The
derivatives were utilized to hedge interest rate risk associated
with extending longer-term, fixed-rate periods on commercial real
estate loans, and structured such that a gain on any given
derivative would be matched against a nearly identical loss on an
offsetting derivative, resulting in essentially no net impact to
the bank. To the extent that we continue to offer similar
longer-term, fixed-rate periods on commercial real estate loans in
the future and use similar derivative structures to manage interest
rate risk, this income, as well as the offsetting expense, would be
expected to increase in future periods. We continued to observe
significant growth in our ATM/Wire/Safe Deposit Fees, which totaled
$79,000 for the quarter and $154,000 for the six months ended June
30, 2006, representing increases of 27% and 30% over the same
periods in 2005. The majority of this growth has been attributable
to Visa and ATM fee income, which we expect to continue rising as
checking accounts become a greater piece of our overall deposit
mix. Rental income also increased significantly relative to the
prior year, as the second quarter of 2006 brought the arrival of a
new tenant in the First Mutual Center building as well as a
recovery of some 2005 operating expenses from other tenants in the
building. First Mutual Center has a total of 74,000 square feet. We
occupy 55% of the space and tenants occupy 36%, with 9% of the
space vacant. Counter to the trend observed in recent quarters,
loan fee income, which totaled $155,000 for the quarter and
$250,000 for the first half of the year, declined relative to prior
year levels due primarily to a reduction in loan prepayment fees.
In May and June of 2005, we received large prepayment penalties
associated with the prepayments of some income property loans. In
contrast, prepayment penalties on income property loans were
relatively minimal in the second quarter of this year. NONINTEREST
EXPENSE Noninterest expense increased $692,000, or 10% in the
second quarter of 2006 over the like period of 2005. On a
year-to-date basis noninterest expense grew by $1,517,000, or 11%
compared to the first two quarters of 2005. Salaries and Employee
Benefits Expense Salary and employee benefit expense increased
$145,000, or 3% from the second quarter of 2005 to the same period
this year. Salary and employee benefit expense was 8% higher after
the first two quarters of 2006 compared to the same period last
year, reflecting an increase of $645,000. -0- *T Quarter Ended Six
Months Ended -------------------------------------------- June 30,
June 30, June 30, June 30, 2006 2005 2006 2005
-------------------------------------------- Salaries $2,994,000
$2,526,000 $5,966,000 $5,147,000 Commissions and Incentive Bonuses
634,000 927,000 1,174,000 1,438,000 Employment Taxes and Insurance
267,000 272,000 568,000 562,000 Temporary Office Help 59,000 70,000
154,000 112,000 Benefits 523,000 537,000 1,061,000 1,019,000
-------------------------------------------- Total $4,477,000
$4,332,000 $8,923,000 $8,278,000
============================================ *T Salary expense
increased both on a quarter-to-quarter and a year-to-date basis.
Part of the increase in salary expense is due to the expensing of
stock option compensation. We adopted Statement of Financial
Accounting Standard 123-R, an accounting standard relating to the
valuation and expensing of equity-based compensation, on January 1,
2006. Expenses related to stock options were $135,000 in the first
quarter of 2006 and $125,000 in the second quarter of 2006, for a
total of $260,000 year-to-date. Stock option expense was down
$10,000 from first quarter mainly due to $27,000 in cancelled stock
options. We expect a 15% rise in stock option expense in the third
quarter as options are granted, followed by a comparable level of
expense in the fourth quarter. Regular compensation grew 17%, or
$366,000 on a quarter-over-quarter basis. Over the first half of
2006, regular compensation was up 14%, or $605,000 from the same
period of last year. Some of the growth in regular compensation
expense is attributed to growth in full-time equivalent (FTE)
employees. As of June 30, 2006, we employed 237 FTE employees,
versus 218 FTE employees as of June 30, 2005. This change
represents staff growth of 9%. Also contributing to the escalation
in regular compensation expense were the annual increases in staff
salaries, taking effect in April 2006 and generally falling within
the range of 2% to 4%. Loan officer commissions increased 15% this
quarter and 11% in the first half of the year mainly as a result of
larger loan production volume. The incentive compensation plans for
loan production staff tend to vary directly with the production of
the business lines. Reductions in the administrative and support
staff bonus accrual offset the increases in loan officer
commissions for the first two quarters of this year. The
administrative and support staff bonus is paid out at the end of
the year and is accrued throughout the year as the bonus is earned.
Last year, a larger portion of the annual bonus was accrued in the
first half of 2005 as compared to this year. Expenditures on
temporary office help decreased in the second quarter of 2006 but
increased over the first half of 2006 relative to the same periods
last year. The business areas with the heaviest use of temporary
office help during the first six months of 2006 were the sales
finance, consumer loan administration, and customer service areas.
Temporary office help fills needs in positions affected by
turnover. Occupancy Expense Occupancy expense increased $194,000,
or 23% compared to the second quarter of 2005. For the six months
ended June 30, 2006, occupancy expense grew $421,000 or 26%. A
large part of the rise in occupancy expense in both the second
quarter and the first half of the year was depreciation expense,
associated with the remodel of portions of First Mutual Center, our
headquarters, and several of our banking centers in 2005 and the
relocation of the West Seattle banking center in 2006. -0- *T
Quarter Ended Six Months Ended
------------------------------------------ June 30, June 30, June
30, June 30, 2006 2005 2006 2005
------------------------------------------ Rent Expense $79,000
$81,000 $158,000 $159,000 Utilities and Maintenance 198,000 140,000
402,000 329,000 Depreciation Expense 518,000 395,000 1,028,000
734,000 Other Occupancy Expenses 248,000 233,000 465,000 411,000
------------------------------------------ Total Occupancy Expense
$1,043,000 $849,000 $2,053,000 $1,633,000
========================================== *T Rent expense was
slightly lower in both the second quarter of 2006 and the six month
period ending June 30, 2006. This decrease was due to the
relocation of the West Seattle Banking Center from a space that we
rented to a new building that we own. Building maintenance expenses
were $40,000 higher in the second quarter than in the same period
of 2005. The increased expense is attributed to several projects
completed throughout the banking centers and at our headquarters,
First Mutual Center. These projects included, among other things,
new signage, removing old signage at the previous West Seattle
Banking Center location, landscaping, and HVAC repairs at First
Mutual Center. On a year-to-date basis maintenance expenses were
$34,000 higher, indicating that the year-to-date increased expense
primarily fell in the second quarter of 2006. The most significant
growth in occupancy expense was in depreciation expense, which rose
31% from the second quarter and 40% from the first half of 2005.
The increase in depreciation expense was principally the result of
depreciation of the previously noted new office building assets and
office building improvements. Besides the depreciation expense
associated with these building improvements and the new office
building, depreciation expense related to furniture and fixtures
grew by 22% for the quarter as compared to second quarter last
year. On a sequential quarter basis, depreciation expense showed
only modest gains, increasing by $9,000 from the first quarter of
this year. Within the other occupancy costs category, escalations
in real estate taxes, software licensing, and the cost of
maintenance for computers, furniture, and equipment, contributed to
the rise in other occupancy costs. A 38% growth in real estate
taxes was the result of annual increases in taxes paid on bank
properties, as well as property taxes on the land purchased for our
new Canyon Park banking center, which is scheduled to open in the
second quarter of 2007. Software licensing expenses were up on a
year-to-date basis as a result of new software licenses purchased
for new employees, the acquisition of programs to support our
commercial loan business, and accounting for stock options. Higher
fees on our licensing agreement with Microsoft, which was initiated
late in the first quarter of 2005, also added to this expense.
Maintenance costs for computers and equipment rose by 18% on a
year-to-date basis but fell on a quarter-to-date basis. The
year-to-date increase reflects a strategic change in the management
of, and contract on, office equipment such as printers and copy
machines. Other Noninterest Expense Other noninterest expense grew
by $353,000, or 18% in the second quarter of 2006 compared to the
like period of last year. The largest increases in these expenses
are attributable to growth in credit insurance costs, outside
services expenditures, taxes, and legal fees. For the first six
months of 2006, other noninterest expense was 11%, or $452,000
higher than in the same period of last year. -0- *T Quarter Ended
Six Months Ended ---------------------------------------- June 30,
June 30, June 30, June 30, 2006 2005 2006 2005
---------------------------------------- Marketing and Public
Relations 268,000 350,000 520,000 704,000 Credit Insurance 479,000
346,000 942,000 679,000 Outside Services 255,000 154,000 423,000
352,000 Taxes 159,000 84,000 303,000 225,000 Information Systems
226,000 226,000 430,000 473,000 Legal Fees 118,000 72,000 305,000
207,000 Other 810,000 730,000 1,624,000 1,455,000
---------------------------------------- Total Other Noninterest
Expense 2,315,000 1,962,000 4,547,000 4,095,000
======================================== *T Marketing and public
relations expenses declined in the second quarter of 2006 compared
to the same period last year, as well as for the first six months
of the year versus the first six months of 2005. We reduced
marketing expenditures in our Residential, Income Property, and
Community Business Banking departments during the first half of
this year. We anticipate that marketing and public relations costs
will be at a similar, reduced level for the remainder of the year.
Credit insurance premium costs rose 39% for both the second quarter
and the first half of the year. On a sequential quarter basis, the
change is negligible, increasing only 4% over the two preceding
quarters. The majority of the credit insurance premiums are
attributable to sales finance loans and, to a lesser extent,
residential land loans. A small share of the consumer and income
property loan portfolios is also insured. As the portfolios and the
percentage of the portfolios insured have grown, credit insurance
premium expenses have increased. To illustrate, the insured sales
finance portfolio balance was 21% higher at June 30, 2006, than it
was at the same time last year. Expenditures on outside services
jumped $101,000 in the second quarter and $71,000 the first half of
2006 compared to the same periods in the prior year. The current
quarters' outside services expenses were 52% higher than the
preceding quarter but only 2% greater than the fourth quarter of
2005. Most of the increase in the second quarter's expense was the
result of consulting services for evaluating efficiency within the
commercial loan origination and servicing business areas. Tax
expense rose 88% in the second quarter of 2006. The rise in taxes
in the first quarter of this year was slight, and as such the
increase over the first half of 2006 occurred in the second
quarter. Growth in taxes was due to business and occupation taxes
paid on income from sales of consumer loans. Another cause of the
escalation in taxes is a direct result of our expanded footprint of
sales finance operations across the country. As we extend our sales
finance lending to more states, we are paying additional taxes to
those states in which we operate. Legal fees grew by $46,000 in the
second quarter and $98,000 for the six months of 2006, compared to
the same time periods last year. In the first quarter of 2006 we
saw legal cost increases due to fees associated with several
non-performing loans. We recovered a portion of these expenses
early in the second quarter. The most significant increase in our
legal fees for the first half of this year was in our Sales Finance
department. The jump in the department's legal fees was associated
with a biennial compliance review of the Bank's practices in the
states in which we do business. Sales Finance legal expenses for
the second quarter of 2006 were $73,000 compared to $17,000 in
2005. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, total Sales Finance
legal expenses were $128,000 versus a total of $52,000 for the same
period last year. Included in "other" operating expense is $50,000
related to the mark-to-market of two interest-rate swaps that we
entered into in the second quarter. These two swaps are associated
with commercial loans totaling approximately $3 million. Offsetting
this expense is $50,000 of mark-to-market revenue recorded in
"other" income in the noninterest income section. -0- *T
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO PRO FORMA EARNINGS (Dollars in
thousands except per share amounts) Quarter Six Months Ended Ended
June 30, June 30, 2005 2005 ---------------------- Net Income, as
reported $2,517 $5,101 Compensation Expense Related to Stock
Options (net of tax) ($109) ($215) ---------------------- Pro Forma
Net Income $2,408 $4,886 ====================== Earnings Per Share:
Basic, as reported $0.47 $0.96 ====================== Basic, pro
forma $0.45 $0.92 ====================== Diluted, as reported $0.45
$0.92 ====================== Diluted, pro forma $0.44 $0.89
====================== *T RESERVE FOR LOAN LOSS AND LOAN
COMMITMENTS LIABILITY The reserve for loan loss has, prior to this
quarter, also included the estimated loss from unfunded loan
commitments. The preferred accounting method is to separate the
loan commitments from the disbursed loan amounts and record the
loan commitment portion as a liability. At June 30, 2006, we
determined that the reserve for loan commitments was $341,000,
which we then subtracted from the reserve for loan loss allowance
and placed on the liability side of the balance sheet. We have
included that amount in "Accounts Payable and Other Liabilities".
We consider the liability account for unfunded commitments to be
part of the reserve for loan loss. Although the accounting
treatment that we now use is a preferred method the substance of
the reserve is the same as it has been in prior quarters. When we
calculate the reserve for loan loss ratio to total loans we include
the liability account in that calculation. -0- *T NON-PERFORMING
ASSETS Our exposure to non-performing assets as of June 30, 2006
was: Fifty-four consumer loans. Full recovery anticipated from
insurance claims. $264,000 One land loan in Western
Washington.(Note) 52,000 Seven consumer loans. No anticipated loss.
39,000 Eight consumer loans. Possible loss of the total loan
balances. 31,000 --------- Total Non-Performing Assets $386,000
========= (Note) During the second quarter an impairment charge was
recorded for $110,000 for this loan. The balance owing on the loan
at the time was $162,000. Subsequent to the end of the second
quarter this property was sold at a trustee's sale for $134,000.
During the third quarter a recovery of $82,000 will be recorded
reflecting the sale. *T PORTFOLIO INFORMATION Commercial Real
Estate Loans The average loan size (excluding construction loans)
in the Commercial Real Estate portfolio was $714,000 as of June 30,
2006, with an average loan-to-value ratio of 62%. At quarter-end,
none of these commercial loans were delinquent for 30 days or more.
Small individual investors or their limited liability companies and
business owners typically own the properties securing these loans.
At quarter-end, the portfolio was 40% residential (multi-family or
mobile home parks) and 60% commercial. The loans in our commercial
real estate portfolio are well diversified, secured by small retail
shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses, mini-storage
facilities, restaurants and gas stations, as well as other
properties classified as general commercial use. To diversify our
risk and to continue serving our customers, we sell participation
interests in some loans to other financial institutions. About 13%
of commercial real estate loan balances originated by the Bank have
been sold in this manner. We continue to service the customer's
loan and are paid a servicing fee by the participant. Likewise, we
occasionally buy an interest in loans originated by other lenders.
About $15 million of the portfolio, or 5%, has been purchased in
this manner. Sales Finance (Home Improvement) Loans The Sales
Finance loan portfolio balance increased $3 million to $82 million,
based on $22 million in new loan production, $10 million in loan
sales, and loan prepayments that ranged from 30%-40% (annualized).
We manage the portfolio by segregating it into its uninsured and
insured balances. The uninsured balance totaled $50 million at the
end of the second quarter 2006, while the insured balance amounted
to $32 million. A decision to insure a loan is principally
determined by the borrower's credit score. Uninsured loans have an
average credit score of 741 while the insured loans have an average
score of 672. We are responsible for loan losses with uninsured
loans, and as illustrated in the following table the charge-offs
for that portion of the portfolio have ranged from a low of $55,000
in net recoveries for the most recent quarter to a high of $223,000
in charge-offs in the first quarter 2006. The charge-offs in the
first quarter were largely attributable to bankruptcy filings that
occurred as a consequence of the change in bankruptcy laws in
October 2005. -0- *T UNINSURED PORTFOLIO - BANK BALANCES
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Delinquent Charge-offs Loans Net Charge- (% of Bank (% of Bank Bank
Balance Offs Portfolio) Portfolio)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
June 30, 2005 $44 million $147,000 0.33% 0.77% September 30, 2005
$48 million $98,000 0.21% 1.20% December 31, 2005 $52 million
$93,000 0.18% 1.18% March 31, 2006 $47 million $223,000 0.47% 0.92%
June 30, 2006 $50 million ($ 55,000) ( 0.11%) 0.58% *T Losses that
we sustain in the insured portfolio are reimbursed by an insurance
carrier. As shown in the following table, the claims to the
insurance carrier have varied in the last five quarters from a low
of $344,000 to as much as $1,023,000 in the fourth quarter of 2005.
The substantial increase in claims paid during the fourth quarter
2005 and first quarter 2006 was also largely related to bankruptcy
filings immediately before the change in bankruptcy laws. The
standard limitation on loss coverage for this portion of the
portfolio is 10% of the original pool of loans for any given pool
year. -0- *T INSURED PORTFOLIO - BANK AND INVESTOR LOANS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Claims (% of Delinquent Loans Insured (% of Bank Claims Paid
Balance) Portfolio)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
June 30, 2005 $344,000 0.67% 3.23% September 30, 2005 $493,000
0.91% 3.64% December 31, 2005 $1,023,000 1.87% 3.60% March 31, 2006
$985,000 1.81% 3.60% June 30, 2006 $483,000 0.86% 3.25% *T Through
the third quarter of 2005, we maintained a relationship with a
single credit insurance company (Insurer #1) that provided credit
insurance on Sales Finance loans as well as on a small number of
home equity products. In August 2005, we entered into an agreement
with another credit insurance company (Insurer #2) to provide
similar insurance products with very similar underwriting and
pricing terms. In October of 2005, we were unable to reach an
agreement on the pricing of insurance for Sales Finance loans with
Insurer #1, and have since placed newly insured loans with Insurer
#2. This decision does not affect the pricing or coverage in place
on loans currently insured with Insurer #1, and we continue to have
a relationship with Insurer #1 for home equity loan products. In
March 2006, the pool for the policy year 2002/2003 reached the 10%
cap from Insurer #1. Earlier, in October 2005, we acquired back-up
insurance through Insurer #2 to address this circumstance. The
policy through Insurer #2 added $1.07 million in additional
coverage to that pool year, an amount equal to 10% of the
outstanding balances at the policy date. The cost of this policy
was competitive with the premiums that we were paying to Insurer
#1, however, beginning July 1st those premiums have been raised by
about 60%. Unlike the other insured pools, the premium coverage on
this pool with Insurer #2 is subject to periodic adjustments based
on their claims experience. Because of the increase in premiums for
that pool, we have entered into negotiations to sell the servicing
on a servicing released basis. It is our intent, if possible, to
complete a sale in the third quarter. Our current view is that a
sale would probably result in a loss of $15,000-$25,000, taking
into consideration the effect of avoiding the increase in premiums
and the proceeds from the sale. -0- *T Insurer #1 Current Original
Remaining Policy Loans Loan Loss Claims Loss Year(a) Insured
Balance Limit Paid Limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2002/2003 $21,442,000 $8,038,000 $2,144,000 $2,144,000 $0 2003/2004
$35,242,000 $16,895,000 $3,524,000 $2,671,000 $853,000 2004/2005
$23,964,000 $15,725,000 $2,396,000 $95,000 $1,601,000 Remaining
Limit as % Current Policy Of Current Delinquency Year(a) Balance
Rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2002/2003 0% 4.50% 2003/2004 5.05% 4.23% 2004/2005 10.18% 3.60%
Policy years close on 9/30 of each year. Insurer #2 Current
Original Remaining Policy Loans Loan Loss Claims Loss Year Insured
Balance Limit Paid Limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2002/2003(a) $10,768,000 $8,038,000 $1,077,000 $101,000 $976,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2005/2006(b) $17,811,000 $15,367,000 N/A(b) $64,000 N/A Remaining
Limit as % Current Policy Of Current Delinquency Year Balance Rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2002/2003(a) 12.14% 4.50%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2005/2006(b) N/A 1.53% (a) Loans in this policy year are the same
loans insured with Insurer #1 during the same time period. (b) Not
Applicable. Policy year closes on 7/31 of each year. *T The
prepayment speeds for the entire portfolio continue to remain in a
range of 30% to 40%. During the second quarter of 2006, the average
new loan amount was $11,113. The average loan balance in the entire
portfolio is $9,100, and the yield on this portfolio is 10.42%.
Loans with credit insurance in place represent 39% of our portfolio
balance, and 29% (by balance) of the loans originated in the second
quarter were insured. Residential Lending The residential lending
portfolio (including loans held for sale) totaled $325 million on
June 30, 2006. This represents a decrease of $3 million from the
end of the first quarter, 2006. The breakdown of that portfolio at
June 30, 2006 was: -0- *T Bank Balance % of Portfolio
----------------------------------- Adjustable rate permanent loans
$ 177 million 55% Fixed rate permanent loans $ 10 million 3%
Residential building lots $ 43 million 13% Disbursed balances on
custom construction loans $ 89 million 27% Loans held-for-sale $ 6
million 2% ----------------------------------- Total $ 325 million
100% =================================== *T The portfolio has
performed in an exceptional manner, and currently only two loans,
or 0.10% of loan balances, are delinquent more than one payment.
The average loan balance in the permanent-loan portfolio is
$199,000, and the average balance in the building-lot portfolio is
$112,000. Owner-occupied properties, excluding building lots,
constitute 76% of the loan balances. Our portfolio program
underwriting is typically described as non-conforming, and largely
consists of loans that, for a variety of reasons, are not readily
salable in the secondary market at the time of origination. The
yield earned on the portfolio is generally much higher than the
yield earned on a more typical "conforming underwriting" portfolio.
We underwrite the permanent loans by focusing primarily on the
borrower's good or excellent credit and our overall exposure on the
loan. We manually underwrite all loans and review the loans for
compensating factors to offset the non-conforming elements of those
loans. We do not currently originate loans with interest-only
payment plans nor do we originate an "Option ARM" product, where
borrowers are given a variety of monthly payment options that allow
for the possibility of negative amortization. -0- *T Portfolio
Distribution The loan portfolio distribution at the end of the
second quarter was as follows: Single Family (including loans
held-for-sale) 26% Income Property 28% Business Banking 16%
Commercial Construction 5% Single-Family Construction: Spec 3%
Custom 10% Consumer 12% ------- 100% ======= Adjustable-rate loans
accounted for 82% of our total portfolio. *T DEPOSIT INFORMATION
The number of business checking accounts increased by 15%, from
2,088 at June 30, 2005, to 2,397 as of June 30, 2006, a gain of 309
accounts. The deposit balances for those accounts grew 13%.
Consumer checking accounts also increased, from 7,183 in the second
quarter of 2005 to 7,568 this year, an increase of 385 accounts, or
5%. Our total balances for consumer checking accounts declined 5%.
The following table shows the distribution of our deposits. -0- *T
Money Time Market Deposits Checking Accounts Savings
--------------------------------- June 30, 2005 64% 14% 21% 1%
September 30, 2005 65% 14% 20% 1% December 31, 2005 64% 14% 21% 1%
March 31, 2006 62% 13% 24% 1% June 30, 2006 62% 13% 24% 1% *T
OUTLOOK FOR THIRD QUARTER 2006 Net Interest Margin Our forecast for
the second quarter was a range of 3.95%-4.00%; the margin for the
quarter was below that forecast at 3.91%. Several factors
contributed to the shortfall in forecasting to include a decline in
retail deposits and unexpected loan growth, both of which required
funding with high-cost wholesale money. We anticipated that retail
deposits would increase by $6 million and approximately match the
expected growth in loans which we had forecast to be within a $4-$6
million dollar range. The pleasant surprise is that loan totals
(including loans held-for-sale) rose $34 million, however, retail
deposits were $21 million below our estimate for June 30th. Part of
the funding shortfall was covered by a $13 million drop in the
securities portfolio, but the rest of the funding came from
wholesale sources. Our corporate view is that loan growth will be
flat to negative in the third quarter, with a $10-$15 million
increase in the fourth quarter. We believe that retail deposits
will grow by $12 million in the third quarter and $6 million in the
fourth quarter. We are encouraged by the increase in deposits in
June, which helped to offset some of the decline that we
experienced in April and May. If these assumptions prove to be
reasonably correct, we anticipate that the margin will be in a
range of 3.85%-3.90% in the third quarter and 3.80%-3.85% in the
fourth quarter. Loan Portfolio Growth The loan portfolio, excluding
loans held-for-sale, grew $27 million, considerably more than our
forecast of $4-$6 million. Our commercial business lines, the
Income Property and Business Banking departments, increased their
loan portfolios at a rate that well exceeded our expectations. The
department managers for those business lines don't anticipate that
level of success in the next two quarters, and are projecting no
growth in the third quarter, and modest growth in the fourth
quarter. We are expecting negative growth in the consumer loan
segment as we intend to sell $20.5 million of the sales finance
loans. Our forecast for the combined loan portfolio is flat to a
negative $6 million in the third quarter, rebounding to a $10-$15
million increase in the fourth quarter. Noninterest Income Our
estimate for the second quarter was a range of $1.9-$2.1 million.
The actual result for the quarter was at the high end of that
forecast at $2.1 million. The accrual of $400,000 in life insurance
proceeds helped to push fee income into the upper end of the
projected range. For the third quarter, we anticipate fee income to
fall within a range of $1.9-$2.1 million. The increase in consumer
loan sales will, in part, offset the one-time gain from the life
insurance proceeds. Noninterest Expense Our noninterest expense
increased by 9.7% compared to second quarter last year, and was
greater than our forecast of 7.8%. Loan officer commissions on the
unexpected, but pleasant surprise, loan growth contributed to the
increase in operating expenses. Our forecast for the third quarter
is a range of $7.4-$7.7 million, which is a growth of 11.8%-15.4%
in operating costs over the like quarter of 2005, and down slightly
on a sequential quarter basis to second quarter. We are considering
several cost cutting measures that we anticipate implementing in
the third quarter. This press release contains forward-looking
statements, including, among others, statements about our
anticipated business banking and other loan and core deposit
growth, anticipated sales of commercial real estate and consumer
loans, fees from servicing income in connection with the sale of
loans, our anticipated fluctuations in net interest margins, our
anticipated stock option expenses, statements about our gap and net
interest income simulation models, the information set forth in the
section on "Outlook for Third Quarter 2006", and other matters that
are forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor
provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Although we believe that the expectations expressed in these
forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions
within the bounds of our knowledge of our business, operations, and
prospects, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous
uncertainties and risks, and actual events, results, and
developments will ultimately differ from the expectations and may
differ materially from those expressed or implied in such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect actual
results include the various factors affecting our acquisition and
sales of various loan products, general interest rate and net
interest changes and the fiscal and monetary policies of the
government, economic conditions in our market area and the nation
as a whole; our ability to continue to develop business banking,
new deposits and loans; our ability to control our expenses while
increasing our services, the quality of our operations; the impact
of competitive products, services, and pricing; and our credit risk
management. We disclaim any obligation to update or publicly
announce future events or developments that might affect the
forward-looking statements herein or to conform these statements to
actual results or to announce changes in our expectations. There
are other risks and uncertainties that could affect us which are
discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties should be
considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements, and undue
reliance should not be placed on such statements. We are not
responsible for updating any such forward-looking statements.
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