EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED JANUARY 19, 2007 Press Release dated January 19, 2007

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:   January 19, 2007 8:00 A.M. (ET)
Contact:   Terry L. Hester
  Chief Financial Officer
  (229) 426-6002

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter Results

FITZGERALD, GA., January 19, 2007 — Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBAN) reached a milestone surpassing $10 million in earnings with net income of $10,152,000 for 2006, up 13.09 percent from 2005 net income of $8,977,000. Diluted earnings per share for 2006 were $1.41 per share compared to $1.25 per share for 2005 or an increase of 12.80 percent. Return on assets for 2006 was 0.87 percent and return on equity was 14.10 percent, compared to 0.87 percent and 13.78 percent for 2005, respectively. Net interest margin had a slight increase to 3.84 percent for 2006 compared to 3.81 percent for 2005.

Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2006 was $2,611,000 or $0.36 per share as compared to $2,305,000, or $0.32 per share for the same year ago period. Earnings per share reflect an increase of 12.50 percent from a year ago. Annualized return on assets for the three months ended December 31, 2006 was 0.87 percent and return on equity was 13.83 percent, compared to 0.84 percent and 13.63 percent for the three months ended December 31, 2005, respectively. Net interest margin decreased to 3.70 percent for the three months ended December 31, 2006 compared to 3.79 percent for the same year ago period.

Total assets increased 9.49 percent to $1,213,504,000 on December 31, 2006 from $1,108,338,000 a year ago. Net loans increased 9.64 percent to $929,783,000 on December 31, 2006 from $848,053,000 a year ago. Total deposits increased 10.39 percent to $1,042,446,000 on December 31, 2006 from $944,365,000 a year ago. Shareholders’ equity on December 31, 2006 was $76,611,000 and equaled 6.31 percent of total assets.

The company’s focus on credit quality resulted in continued improvement during 2006 as the ratio of non-performing assets to loans and other real estate on December 31, 2006 was 0.96 percent as compared to 1.25 percent on December 31, 2005. Total nonperforming assets decreased $1,717,000 to $9,048,000 on December 31, 2006 from $10,765,000 on December 31, 2005, or a decrease of 15.95 percent. Total 2006 provision for loan losses were $3,987,000 compared to $3,444,000 for 2005. Net charge-offs for 2006 were 0.30 percent of average loans, while net charge-offs for 2005 were 0.33 percent. During fourth quarter 2006, net charge-offs were 0.14 percent of average loans as the company recognized losses primarily in commercial real estate and commercial business loans. The loan loss reserve of $11,989,000 on December 31, 2006 was 1.27 percent of total loans, which provided coverage of 148.42 percent of non-performing loans and 132.50 percent of non-performing assets, compared to 125.21 percent and 99.97 percent on December 31, 2005, respectively.

During the quarter the board of directors increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.085 per share compared to $0.0825 per share in the third quarter of 2006 and to the cash dividend of $0.075 per share in the fourth quarter of 2005. The fourth quarter dividend payment represents an increase of 13.33 percent over the dividend payment in fourth quarter 2005. Total dividends for 2006 were $0.325 per share compared to $0.285 for 2005, or an increase of 14.04 percent.


Colony Bankcorp, Inc. is a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Fitzgerald, Georgia that consists of the following subsidiaries: Colony Bank of Fitzgerald, Colony Bank Wilcox, Colony Bank Ashburn, Colony Bank of Dodge County, Colony Bank Worth, Colony Bank Southeast, Colony Bank Quitman, FSB, Georgia First Mortgage Company and Colony Management Services, Inc. The Company conducts a general full service commercial, consumer and mortgage banking business through twenty-nine offices located in the middle and south Georgia cities of Fitzgerald, Warner Robins, Centerville, Ashburn, Leesburg, Cordele, Albany, Thomaston, Columbus, Sylvester, Tifton, Moultrie, Douglas, Broxton, Savannah, Eastman, Chester, Soperton, Rochelle, Pitts, Quitman and Valdosta, Georgia.

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “CBAN”.

Certain statements contained in the preceding release that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”), notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified. In addition, certain statements may be contained in the Company’s future filings with the SEC, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by or with the approval of the Company that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenues, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statement of plans and objectives of Colony Bankcorp, Inc. or its management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “targeted” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

COLONY BANKCORP, INC.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)

DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA

 

     QUARTER ENDED    YEAR-TO-DATE

EARNINGS SUMMARY

   12/31/06    12/31/05    12/31/06    12/31/05

Net Interest Income

   $ 10,481    $ 9,791    $ 41,888    $ 37,154

Provision for Loan Losses

     997      742      3,987      3,444

Non-interest Income

     1,788      1,518      7,312      6,152

Non-interest Expense

     7,478      7,009      29,844      26,076

Income Taxes

     1,183      1,253      5,217      4,809

Net Income

     2,611      2,305      10,152      8,977

Operating Income

     2,611      2,305      10,152      8,977


COLONY BANKCORP, INC.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)

DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA

 

     QUARTER ENDED    YEAR-TO-DATE

PER SHARE SUMMARY (2)

   12/31/06    12/31/05    12/31/06    12/31/05

Common Shares Outstanding

     7,189,937      7,181,320      7,189,937      7,181,320

Weighted Average Diluted Shares

     7,179,017      7,169,269      7,177,737      7,171,100

Net Income Per Weighted Average Diluted Shares

   $ 0.36    $ 0.32    $ 1.41    $ 1.25

Operating Income Per Weighted Average Diluted Shares

   $ 0.36    $ 0.32    $ 1.41    $ 1.25

Dividends Declared Per Share

   $ 0.085    $ 0.075    $ 0.325    $ 0.285

 

     QUARTER ENDED     YEAR-TO-DATE  

OPERATING RATIOS (1)

   12/31/06     12/31/05     12/31/06     12/31/05  

Net Interest Margin (a)

   3.70 %   3.79 %   3.84 %   3.81 %

Return on Average Assets Based on Net Income

   0.87 %   0.84 %   0.87 %   0.87 %

Return on Average Assets Based on Operating Income

   0.87 %   0.84 %   0.87 %   0.87 %

Return on Average Equity Based on Net Income

   13.83 %   13.63 %   14.10 %   13.78 %

Return on Average Equity Based on Operating Income

   13.83 %   13.63 %   14.10 %   13.78 %

Efficiency (b)

   60.53 %   61.67 %   60.33 %   59.90 %

 

     QUARTER ENDED  

ENDING BALANCES (2)

   12/31/06     12/31/05  

Total Assets

   $ 1,213,504     $ 1,108,338  

Loans, Net of Reserves

     929,783       848,053  

Allowance for Loan Losses

     11,989       10,762  

Goodwill

     2,412       2,412  

Intangible Assets

     439       520  

Deposits

     1,042,446       944,365  

Stockholders’ Equity

     76,611       68,128  

Book Value Per Share

   $ 10.66     $ 9.49  

Tangible Book Value Per Share

   $ 10.26     $ 9.08  

Shareholders’ Equity to Total Assets

     6.31 %     6.15 %

(1) Annualized.
(2) All Per Share Data has been adjusted to reflect 5-for-4 stock split effective May 16, 2005.
(a) Computed using fully taxable-equivalent net income.
(b) Computed by dividing non-interest expense by the sum of fully taxable-equivalent net interest income and non-interest income and excluding any security gains/losses.


COLONY BANKCORP, INC

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)

DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA

 

     QUARTER ENDED    YEAR-TO-DATE

AVERAGE BALANCES

   12/31/06    12/31/05    12/31/06    12/31/05

Total Assets

   $ 1,205,025    $ 1,097,134    $ 1,160,718    $ 1,034,777

Loans, Net of Reserves

     930,665      841,488      900,711      809,166

Deposits

     1,033,741      934,709      990,968      878,109

Stockholders’ Equity

     75,524      67,590      71,993      65,146

 

     QUARTER ENDED     YEAR-TO-DATE  

ASSET QUALITY

   12/31/06     12/31/05     12/31/06     12/31/05  

Nonperforming Loans

   $ 8,078     $ 8,595     $ 8,078     $ 8,595  

Nonperforming Assets

     9,048       10,765       9,048       10,765  

Net Loan Chg-offs (Recoveries)

     1,316       643       2,760       2,694  

Reserve for Loan Loss to Gross Loans

     1.27 %     1.25 %     1.27 %     1.25 %

Reserve for Loan Loss to Non-performing Loans

     148.42 %     125.21 %     148.42 %     125.21 %

Reserve for Loan Loss to Non-performing Assets

     132.50 %     99.97 %     132.50 %     99.97 %

Net Loan Chg-offs (Recoveries) to Avg. Gross Loans

     0.14 %     0.08 %     0.30 %     0.33 %

Nonperforming Loans to Gross Loans

     0.86 %     1.00 %     0.86 %     1.00 %

Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets

     0.75 %     0.97 %     0.75 %     0.97 %

Nonperforming Assets to Loans and Other Real Estate

     0.96 %     1.25 %     0.96 %     1.25 %

Quarterly Comparative Data (in thousands, except per share data)

 

     4Q2006    3Q2006    2Q2006    1Q2006    4Q2005

Assets

   $ 1,213,504    $ 1,186,382    $ 1,169,161    $ 1,145,186    $ 1,108,338

Loans

     929,783      926,332      900,781      881,897      848,053

Deposits

     1,042,446      1,016,327      1,005,086      974,672      944,365

Equity

     76,611      74,352      71,051      69,625      68,128

Net Income

     2,611      2,622      2,610      2,309      2,305

Net Income Per Share (1)

     0.36      0.36      0.36      0.32      0.32

Dividends Declared Per Share (1)

     0.085      0.0825      0.08      0.0775      0.075

 

Key Performance Ratios

   4Q2006     3Q2006     2Q2006     1Q2006     4Q2005  

Return on Assets

   0.87 %   0.90 %   0.90 %   0.83 %   0.84 %

Return on Equity

   13.83 %   14.45 %   14.80 %   13.39 %   13.64 %

Equity/Assets

   6.31 %   6.27 %   6.08 %   6.08 %   6.15 %

Net Interest Margin

   3.70 %   3.93 %   3.95 %   3.80 %   3.79 %

(1) All per share data has been adjusted to reflect 5-for-4 stock split effective May 16, 2005.


Consolidated Balance Sheets Colony Bankcorp, Inc.

(in thousands)

 

     Dec. 31, 2006     Dec. 31, 2005  
     (unaudited)     (audited)  

ASSETS

    

Cash and Cash Equivalents

    

Cash and Due from Banks

   $ 27,231     $ 21,606  

Federal Funds Sold

     45,149       57,456  
                
     72,380       79,062  
                

Interest-Bearing Deposits

     3,076       1,635  
                

Investment Securities

    

Available for Sale, at Fair Value

     149,236       124,246  

Held for Maturity, at Cost (Fair Value of $71 and $80 as of Dec. 31, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2005, Respectively)

     71       80  
                
     149,307       124,326  
                

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock, at Cost

     5,087       5,034  
                

Loans

     942,273       859,117  

Allowance for Loan Losses

     (11,989 )     (10,762 )

Unearned Interest and Fees

     (501 )     (302 )
                
     929,783       848,053  
                

Premises and Equipment

     27,453       25,676  
                

Other Real Estate

     970       2,170  
                

Goodwill

     2,412       2,412  
                

Other Intangible Assets

     439       520  
                

Other Assets

     22,597       19,450  
                

Total Assets

   $ 1,213,504     $ 1,108,338  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Deposits

    

Noninterest-Bearing

   $ 77,336     $ 78,778  

Interest-Bearing

     965,110       865,587  
                
     1,042,446       944,365  
                

Borrowed Money

    

Federal Funds Purchased

     1,070       —    

Subordinated Debentures

     24,229       19,074  

Other Borrowed Money

     61,500       70,226  
                
     86,799       89,300  
                

Other Liabilities

     7,648       6,545  
                

Stockholders’ Equity

    

Common Stock, Par Value $1, Authorized 20,000,000 Shares, Issued 7,189,937 and 7,181,320 Shares as of Dec. 31, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2005, Respectively

     7,190       7,181  

Paid in Capital

     24,257       24,000  

Retained Earnings

     46,417       38,602  

Restricted Stock- Unearned Compensation

     (278 )     (302 )

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax

     (975 )     (1,353 )
                
     76,611       68,128  
                

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 1,213,504     $ 1,108,338  
                


Consolidated Statements of Income Colony Bankcorp, Inc.

(in thousands except per share data)

 

     Quarter
Three Months Ended
   Year-to-Date
Twelve Months Ended
     12/31/06    12/31/05    12/31/06    12/31/05
     (unaudited)    (unaudited)    (unaudited)    (audited)

Interest Income

           

Loans, Including Fees

   $ 20,017    $ 16,130    $ 75,087    $ 58,309

Federal Funds Sold

     577      597      2,035      1,266

Deposits with Other Banks

     41      29      133      86

Investment Securities

           

U. S. Government Agencies

     1,483      993      5,199      3,413

State, County and Municipal

     107      63      381      241

Corporate Obligations

     46      37      162      139

Dividends on Other Investments

     80      44      283      180
                           
     22,351      17,893      83,280      63,634
                           

Interest Expense

           

Deposits

     10,672      7,059      36,610      22,590

Federal Funds Purchased

     1      1      29      16

Borrowed Money

     1,197      1,042      4,753      3,874
                           
     11,870      8,102      41,392      26,480
                           

Net Interest Income

     10,481      9,791      41,888      37,154

Provision for Loan Losses

     997      742      3,987      3,444
                           

Net Interest Income After Provision for Loan Losses

     9,484      9,049      37,901      33,710
                           

Noninterest Income

           

Service Charges on Deposits

     1,200      1,071      4,580      4,128

Other Service Charges, Commissions and Fees

     206      169      831      708

Mortgage Fee Income

     252      115      768      494

Other

     130      163      1,133      822
                           
     1,788      1,518      7,312      6,152
                           

Noninterest Expense

           

Salaries and Employee Benefits

     4,194      3,674      16,870      14,128

Occupancy and Equipment

     1,000      959      4,035      3,778

Other

     2,284      2,376      8,939      8,170
                           
     7,478      7,009      29,844      26,076
                           

Income Before Income Taxes

     3,794      3,558      15,369      13,786

Income Taxes

     1,183      1,253      5,217      4,809
                           

Net Income

   $ 2,611    $ 2,305    $ 10,152    $ 8,977
                           

Net Income Per Share of Common Stock

           

Basic

   $ 0.36    $ 0.32    $ 1.41    $ 1.25
                           

Diluted

   $ 0.36    $ 0.32    $ 1.41    $ 1.25
                           

Weighted Average Basic Shares Outstanding

     7,179,017      7,143,741      7,176,894      7,168,406
                           

Weighted Average Diluted Shares Outstanding

     7,179,017      7,169,269      7,177,737      7,171,100
                           

Per Share Data has been adjusted to reflect 5-for-4 stock split effective May 16, 2005.