EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:   April 27, 2007 8:00 A.M. (ET)
Contact:   Terry L. Hester
  Chief Financial Officer
  (229) 426-6002

Colony Bankcorp, Inc. Announces First Quarter Results

FITZGERALD, GA., April 27, 2007 — Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBAN), today reported quarterly net income of $2,474,000 for the first quarter of 2007, up 7.15 percent from first quarter 2006 net income of $2,309,000. Diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2007 were $0.34 per share compared to $0.32 per share for the same year ago period or an increase of 6.25 percent. Earnings per share were negatively impacted $0.02 per share during first quarter 2007 when the Company refinanced $9 million in trust preferred securities and had to expense unamortized loan placement fees on the original issuance. Though the Company incurred after-tax expense of approximately $121 thousand on the unamortized loan placement fees, the Company will realize annual interest savings on the thirty year instrument of approximately $115 thousand (after-tax). This will allow the Company to recoup the unamortized loan placement fees expense in twelve months while also realizing the annual interest savings over the remaining twenty-nine year term. Annualized return on assets for the quarter was 0.82 percent and return on equity was 12.76 percent, compared to 0.83 percent and 13.39 percent for the same year ago period, respectively. Due to the inverted yield curve and sluggish first quarter loan activity, net interest margin was 3.70 percent for first quarter 2007 compared to 3.80 percent for first quarter 2006.

Total assets increased 4.04 percent to $1,191,407,000 on March 31, 2007 from $1,145,186,000 a year ago. Net loans increased 4.09 percent to $917,984,000 on March 31, 2007 from $881,897,000 a year ago. Total deposits increased 5.13 percent to $1,024,632,000 on March 31, 2007 from $974,672,000 a year ago. Shareholders’ equity on March 31, 2007 was $78,553,000 and equaled 6.59 percent of total assets.

The company’s focus on credit quality resulted in significant improvement during first quarter 2007 as the ratio of non-performing assets to loans and other real estate on March 31, 2007 was 0.86 percent as compared to 1.22 percent on March 31, 2006 and 0.96 percent on December 31, 2006. Total nonperforming assets decreased $1,009,000 to $8,039,000 on March 31, 2007 from $9,048,000 on December 31, 2006, or a decrease of 11.15 percent. The first quarter 2007 provision for loan losses were $914,000 compared to $922,000 for the same period in 2006. Net charge-offs for the quarter were 0.08 percent of average loans, down from 0.11 percent for the first quarter of 2006. The loan loss reserve of $12,170,000 on March 31, 2007 was 1.31 percent of total loans, which provided coverage of 187.92 percent of non-performing loans and 151.39 percent of non-performing assets, compared to 122.08 percent and 98.31 percent on March 31, 2006, respectively.

During the quarter the board of directors increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.0875 per share compared to $0.085 per share in the fourth quarter of 2006 and to the cash dividend of $0.0775 per share in the first quarter of 2006. The first quarter dividend payment represents an increase of 12.90 percent over the dividend payment in first quarter 2006.


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
     03/31/07    03/31/06    03/31/07    03/31/06

EARNINGS SUMMARY

           

Net Interest Income

   $ 10,451    $ 9,933    $ 10,451    $ 9,933

Provision for Loan Losses

     914      922      914      922

Non-interest Income

     2,110      1,608      2,110      1,608

Non-interest Expense

     7,909      7,087      7,909      7,087

Income Taxes

     1,264      1,223      1,264      1,223

Net Income

     2,474      2,309      2,474      2,309

Operating Income

     2,353      2,309      2,353      2,309


COLONY BANKCORP, INC.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)

DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA

 

     QUARTER ENDED    YEAR-TO-DATE
     03/31/07    03/31/06    03/31/07    03/31/06

PER SHARE SUMMARY

           

Common Shares Outstanding

     7,204,775      7,190,735      7,204,775      7,190,735

Weighted Average Diluted Shares

     7,194,741      7,172,669      7,194,741      7,172,669

Net Income Per Weighted Average Diluted Shares

   $ 0.34    $ 0.32    $ 0.34    $ 0.32

Operating Income Per Weighted Average Diluted Shares

   $ 0.33    $ 0.32    $ 0.33    $ 0.32

Dividends Declared Per Share

   $ 0.0875    $ 0.0775    $ 0.0875    $ 0.0775

 

     QUARTER ENDED     YEAR-TO-DATE  
     03/31/07     03/31/06     03/31/07     03/31/06  

OPERATING RATIOS (1)

        

Net Interest Margin (a)

   3.70 %   3.80 %   3.70 %   3.80 %

Return on Average Assets Based on Net Income

   0.82 %   0.83 %   0.82 %   0.83 %

Return on Average Assets Based on Operating Income

   0.78 %   0.83 %   0.78 %   0.83 %

Return on Average Equity Based on Net Income

   12.76 %   13.39 %   12.76 %   13.39 %

Return on Average Equity Based on Operating Income

   12.13 %   13.39 %   12.13 %   13.39 %

Efficiency (b)

   62.57 %   61.11 %   62.57 %   61.11 %

 

     QUARTER ENDED  
     03/31/07     03/31/06  

ENDING BALANCES

    

Total Assets

   $ 1,191,407     $ 1,145,186  

Loans Held for Sale

     335       —    

Loans, Net of Reserves

     917,649       881,897  

Allowance for Loan Losses

     12,170       10,760  

Goodwill

     2,412       2,412  

Intangible Assets

     429       495  

Deposits

     1,024,632       974,672  

Stockholders’ Equity

     78,553       69,625  

Book Value Per Share

   $ 10.90     $ 9.68  

Tangible Book Value Per Share

   $ 10.51     $ 9.28  

Shareholders’ Equity to Total Assets

     6.59 %     6.08 %

(1) Annualized.
(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
     03/31/07    03/31/06    03/31/07    03/31/06

AVERAGE BALANCES

           

Total Assets

   $ 1,204,804    $ 1,111,827    $ 1,204,804    $ 1,111,827

Loans, Net of Reserves

     915,712      862,415      915,712      862,415

Deposits

     1,033,322      944,880      1,033,322      944,880

Stockholders’ Equity

     77,562      68,960      77,562      68,960

 

     QUARTER ENDED     YEAR-TO-DATE  
     03/31/07     03/31/06     03/31/07     03/31/06  

ASSET QUALITY

        

Nonperforming Loans

   $ 6,476     $ 8,814     $ 6,476     $ 8,814  

Nonperforming Assets

     8,039       10,945       8,039       10,945  

Net Loan Chg-offs (Recoveries)

     733       924       733       924  

Reserve for Loan Loss to Gross Loans

     1.31 %     1.21 %     1.31 %     1.21 %

Reserve for Loan Loss to Non- performing Loans

     187.92 %     122.08 %     187.92 %     122.08 %

Reserve for Loan Loss to Non- performing Assets

     151.39 %     98.31 %     151.39 %     98.31 %

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

     0.08 %     0.11 %     0.08 %     0.11 %

Nonperforming Loans to Gross Loans

     0.70 %     0.99 %     0.70 %     0.99 %

Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets

     0.67 %     0.96 %     0.67 %     0.96 %

Nonperforming Assets to Loans and Other Real Estate

     0.86 %     1.22 %     0.86 %     1.22 %

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

 

     1Q2007     4Q2006     3Q2006     2Q2006     1Q2006  
Assets    $1,191,407     $ 1,213,504     $ 1,186,382     $ 1,169,161     $ 1,145,186  
Loans    917,984       929,783       926,332       900,781       881,897  
Deposits    1,024,632       1,042,446       1,016,327       1,005,086       974,672  
Equity    78,553       76,611       74,352       71,051       69,625  
Net Income    2,474       2,611       2,622       2,610       2,309  
Net Income Per Share (1)    0.34       0.36       0.36       0.36       0.32  
Dividends Declared Per Share (1)    0.0875       0.085       0.0825       0.08       0.0775  
Key Performance Ratios    1Q2007     4Q2006     3Q2006     2Q2006     1Q2006  
Return on Assets    0.82 %     0.87 %     0.90 %     0.90 %     0.83 %
Return on Equity    12.76 %     13.83 %     14.45 %     14.80 %     13.39 %
Equity/Assets    6.59 %     6.31 %     6.27 %     6.08 %     6.08 %
Net Interest Margin    3.70 %     3.70 %     3.93 %     3.95 %     3.80 %


Consolidated Balance Sheets Colony Bankcorp, Inc.

(in thousands)

 

     Mar. 31,
2007
    Mar. 31,
2006
 
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  

ASSETS

    

Cash and Cash Equivalents

    

Cash and Due from Banks

   $ 21,583     $ 24,785  

Federal Funds Sold

     35,004       54,104  
                
     56,587       78,889  
                

Interest-Bearing Deposits

     2,810       3,631  
                

Investment Securities

    

Available for Sale, at Fair Value

     156,028       124,221  

Held for Maturity, at Cost (Fair Value of $73 and $81 as of Mar. 31, 2007 and Mar. 31, 2006, Respectively)

     73       81  
                
     156,101       124,302  
                

Federal Home Loan Bank Stock, at Cost

     4,903       5,469  
                

Loans Held for Sale

     335       —    
                

Loans

     930,250       893,100  

Allowance for Loan Losses

     (12,170 )     (10,760 )

Unearned Interest and Fees

     (431 )     (443 )
                
     917,649       881,897  
                

Premises and Equipment

     27,268       26,280  
                

Other Real Estate

     1,563       2,131  
                

Goodwill

     2,412       2,412  
                

Other Intangible Assets

     429       495  
                

Other Assets

     21,350       19,680  
                

Total Assets

   $ 1,191,407     $ 1,145,186  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Deposits

    

Noninterest-Bearing

   $ 76,702     $ 73,545  

Interest-Bearing

     947,930       901,127  
                
     1,024,632       974,672  
                

Borrowed Money

    

Federal Funds Purchased

     480       —    

Subordinated Debentures

     24,229       19,074  

Other Borrowed Money

     55,000       74,672  
                
     79,709       93,746  
                

Other Liabilities

     8,513       7,143  
                

Stockholders’ Equity

    

Common Stock, Par Value $1, Authorized 20,000,000 Shares, Issued 7,204,775 and 7,190,735 Shares as of Mar. 31, 2007 and Mar. 31, 2006, Respectively

     7,205       7,191  

Paid in Capital

     24,503       24,215  

Retained Earnings

     48,013       40,353  

Restricted Stock- Unearned Compensation

     (478 )     (488 )

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax

     (690 )     (1,646 )
                
     78,553       69,625  
                

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 1,191,407     $ 1,145,186  
                


Consolidated Statements of Income Colony Bankcorp, Inc.

(in thousands except per share data)

 

    

Quarter

Three Months Ended

  

Year-to-Date

Three Months Ended

     03/31/07    03/31/06    03/31/07    03/31/06
     (unaudited)    (unaudited)    (unaudited)    (unaudited)

Interest Income

           

Loans, Including Fees

   $ 19,768    $ 16,753    $ 19,768    $ 16,753

Federal Funds Sold

     631      479      631      479

Deposits with Other Banks

     41      18      41      18

Investment Securities

           

U. S. Government Agencies

     1,544      1,164      1,544      1,164

State, County and Municipal

     134      91      134      91

Corporate Obligations

     63      36      63      36

Dividends on Other Investments

     76      59      76      59
                           
     22,257      18,600      22,257      18,600
                           

Interest Expense

           

Deposits

     10,607      7,514      10,607      7,514

Federal Funds Purchased

     6      9      6      9

Borrowed Money

     1,193      1,144      1,193      1,144
                           
     11,806      8,667      11,806      8,667
                           

Net Interest Income

     10,451      9,933      10,451      9,933

Provision for Loan Losses

     914      922      914      922
                           

Net Interest Income After Provision for Loan Losses

     9,537      9,011      9,537      9,011
                           

Noninterest Income

           

Service Charges on Deposits

     1,118      1,032      1,118      1,032

Other Service Charges, Commissions and Fees

     246      215      246      215

Mortgage Fee Income

     252      123      252      123

Securities Gains

     184      —        184      —  

Other

     310      238      310      238
                           
     2,110      1,608      2,110      1,608
                           

Noninterest Expense

           

Salaries and Employee Benefits

     4,542      4,079      4,542      4,079

Occupancy and Equipment

     1,001      985      1,001      985

Other

     2,366      2,023      2,366      2,023
                           
     7,909      7,087      7,909      7,087
                           

Income Before Income Taxes

     3,738      3,532      3,738      3,532

Income Taxes

     1,264      1,223      1,264      1,223
                           

Net Income

   $ 2,474    $ 2,309    $ 2,474    $ 2,309
                           

Net Income Per Share of Common Stock

           

Basic

   $ 0.34    $ 0.32    $ 0.34    $ 0.32
                           

Diluted

   $ 0.34    $ 0.32    $ 0.34    $ 0.32
                           

Weighted Average Basic Shares Outstanding

     7,181,568      7,170,406      7,181,568      7,170,406
                           

Weighted Average Diluted Shares Outstanding

     7,194,741      7,172,669      7,194,741      7,172,669