EX-99 3 ex99_1.htm FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS RELEASE *** News Release ***

EXHIBIT 99.1 - First Commonwealth Financial Corporation Press Release dated
                           April 15, 2004



*** NEWS RELEASE ***



TO:

All Area News Agencies

For More Information Contact:

 

 

 

FROM:

First Commonwealth

John Dolan, Executive Vice President and

 

Financial Corporation

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation

DATE:

April 15, 2004

(724) 349-7220

 

FIRST COMMONWEALTH ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS

 

INDIANA, PA - First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (NYSE:FCF) reported net income of $13.3 million for the first quarter of 2004 and the first quarter of 2003.  Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.22 in the 2004 quarter, and were $0.23 basic and diluted earnings per share for the comparable period in 2003. 

Return on equity was 12.12% and return on assets was 1.04% for the first quarter of 2004 compared to 13.15% and 1.19%, respectively in the 2003 period.  Net interest income continues to be pressured by the low interest rate environment.  Both periods contain securities gains and the 2004 period includes the effects of including the results of Pittsburgh Financial Corp. (which we refer to as PHFC) for the full quarter, including some costs of integration and certain employee separation expenses.

Net Interest Income
Net interest income declined $39 thousand in 2004 even as average earning assets were 14% more in the 2004 period, primarily as the earning asset yields declined faster than funding costs.  Net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent basis, as a percentage of average earning assets ("net interest margin") was 3.27% in the 2004 period and compared to 3.78% in the 2003 quarter.  Also affecting net interest income was $372 thousand of interest expense related to the debt issued in anticipation of the acquisition of GA Financial, Inc., which is expected to consummate in the second quarter of 2004, pending their shareholder approval.  Continued low or declining interest rates would tend to continue to strain net interest income.

Noninterest income
Net securities gains increased $1.6 million in the 2004 quarter when compared to the first quarter of 2003 through the sale of equity securities.  The inclusion of PHFC results in the 2004 quarter as well as improved deposit service charges were the primary causes of the increases in other noninterest income.

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Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expenses increased $3.9 million during the 2004 quarter when compared to the first quarter of 2003.  The inclusion of PHFC results in the 2004 quarter caused the Corporation to incur $1.3 million merger and integration expenses.  The most significant other noninterest expense item that increased was salaries and employee benefit costs.  The 2003 period also included the benefit of a $610 thousand partial recovery of a litigation settlement.

Provision for Credit Losses
The provision for credit losses decreased $1.4 million reflecting improvement in nonperforming loans and net charge-offs.  The provision for credit losses in 2004 exceeded net charge-offs for the same period by $127 thousand.  The first quarter of 2004 reflected a $662 thousand improvement in net charge-offs when compared to the 2003 quarter.

Credit quality 
Nonperforming loan levels show significant improvements at March 31, 2004 when compared to March 31, 2003 reflecting a $12.1 million reduction.  Nonaccrual loans maintained the levels experienced in the fourth quarter of 2003.  Significant credits continue to be monitored closely.  The uncertain economic conditions present a risk to the company and the industry but management feels that its risk management process is thorough and serves as an early warning system so that an appropriate response will be promptly implemented.

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation is a $5.2 billion bank holding company headquartered in Indiana, PA.  It operates in 17 counties in western and central Pennsylvania through First Commonwealth Bank, a Pennsylvania chartered bank.  Financial services and insurance products are also provided through First Commonwealth Trust Company, First Commonwealth Financial Advisors, Inc. and First Commonwealth Insurance Agency.  The Corporation also operates First Commonwealth Systems Corporation, a data processing subsidiary, First Commonwealth Professional Resources, Inc., a support services subsidiary, FraMal Holdings Corporation, an investment services firm, and jointly owns Commonwealth Trust Credit Life Insurance Company, a credit life reinsurance company.

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements as that item is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimated results.  Such risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.





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FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

 

(Dollar Amounts in Thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Quarter

 

Ended March 31,

 

     2004     

     2003     

Interest income

$61,972

$62,317

Interest expense

  25,165

  25,471

     Net interest income

36,807

36,846

Provision for credit losses

    2,100

    3,460

     Net interest income after provision for credit losses

34,707

33,386

 

 

 

Securities gains

3,850

2,234

Trust income

1,268

1,185

Service charges on deposits

3,200

2,849

Insurance commissions

804

797

Income from bank owned life insurance

1,263

1,046

Merchant discount income

828

812

Other income

   2,370

   2,148

     Total other income

13,583

11,071

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

16,703

15,335

Net occupancy expense

2,189

1,974

Furniture and equipment expense

2,521

2,552

Data processing expense

813

527

Pennsylvania shares tax expense

1,134

1,060

Intangible amortization

74

7

Litigation settlement

0

(610)

Merger and related charges

1,291

0

Other operating expense

   6,992

   6,927

     Total other expenses

 31,717

 27,772

Income before income taxes

16,573

16,685

Applicable income taxes

   3,250

   3,381

     Net income

$13,323

$13,304

 

 

 

Average shares outstanding

60,772,824

58,703,260

Average shares outstanding assuming dilution

61,289,672

58,934,248

 

 

 

Per Share Data:

 

 

Basic earnings per share

$0.22

$0.23

Diluted earnings per share

$0.22

$0.23

Cash dividends per share

$0.160

$0.155

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

 

(Dollar Amounts in Thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

Asset Quality Data At March 31,

 

 

 

     2004     

     2003     

Loans on nonaccrual basis

$12,292

$22,982

Past due loans

11,627

13,007

Renegotiated loans

     192

     205

     Total nonperforming loans

$24,111

$36,194

Loans outstanding at end of period

$2,888,349

$2,649,872

Average loans outstanding(year-to-date)

$2,843,976

$2,633,040

Allowance for credit losses

$37,512

$35,321

Nonperforming loans as percent of total loans

0.83%

1.37%

Net charge-offs(year-to-date)

$1,973

$2,635

Net charge-offs as percent of average loans

0.07%

0.10%

Allowance for credit losses as percent of average loans

 

 

   outstanding

1.32%

1.34%

Allowance for  credit losses as percent of nonperforming

 

 

   loans

155.58%

97.59%

Other real estate owned

$2,233

$1,862

 

 

 

End of Period Data At March 31,

 

 

 

     2004     

     2003     

Assets

$5,225,461

$4,575,457

Earning assets

$4,947,730

$4,340,376

Securities

$2,058,472

$1,688,623

Loans,net of unearned income

$2,888,349

$2,649,872

Total deposits

$3,305,393

$3,147,135

     Non-interest bearing deposits

$425,181

$364,495

     NOW, Moneymarket & Savings

$1,470,906

$1,175,628

    Time deposits

$1,409,306

$1,607,012

Short-term borrowings

$616,148

$408,725

Long-term debt

$824,915

$579,230

Other liabilities

$34,617

$33,699

Shareholders' equity

$444,388

$406,668

Shares outstanding

61,120,778

58,997,787

Book value per share

$7.27

$6.89

Market value per share

$14.78

$11.65

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

FIRST COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL CORPORATION

 

 

CONSOLIDATED SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

 

(Dollar Amounts in Thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter To Date Average Balances At March 31,

 

 

 

     2004     

     2003     

Assets

$5,172,519

$4,529,375

Earning assets

$4,887,051

$4,269,839

Securities

$2,037,927

$1,635,064

Loans,net of unearned income

$2,843,976

$2,633,040

Deposits

$3,280,567

$3,065,510

Shareholders' Equity

$442,021

$410,180

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profitability Ratios

 

 

 

For the Quarter

 

Ended March 31,

 

     2004     

     2003     

Return on average assets

1.04%

1.19%

Return on average equity

12.12%

13.15%

Yield on earning assets (FTE)

5.33%

6.16%

Total cost of funds

2.35%

2.77%

Net interest margin (FTE)

3.27%

3.78%

Efficiency ratio (FTE) (a)

59.49%

54.60%

Fully tax equivalent adjustment

$2,924

$2,946

 

 

 

(a) Efficiency ratio is "total other expenses" as a percentage of total revenue.

     Total revenue consists of "net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent basis", plus "total other income".