OKLAHOMA CITY, April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BancFirst Corporation (NASDAQ GS:BANF) reported net income of $22.1 million, or $1.36 diluted earnings per share, for the first quarter of 2017 compared to net income of $16.6 million, or $1.05 diluted earnings per share, for the first quarter of 2016. Net income for the quarter included the effects of favorable resolutions of two problem loans which resulted in principal recovery of $894,000 and interest income of $2.3 million.

The Company's net interest income for the first quarter of 2017 increased to $54.8 million compared to $50.0 million for the first quarter of 2016. The net interest margin for the quarter was 3.39% compared to 3.25% a year ago. The increase in margin was primarily due to the previously mentioned interest of $2.3 million, which added 0.14% to the margin, and the increase in the federal funds rate. The provision for loan losses for the first quarter of 2017 decreased to $72,000 compared to $4.1 million a year ago. The decrease in the provision was due in part to the resolution of the above-mentioned problem loans and an unusually high provision for a few commercial loans in the prior year. Net charge-offs for the quarter were 0.02% of average loans, compared to 0.03% for the first quarter of 2016. Noninterest income for the quarter totaled $28.1 million, compared to $25.6 million last year. Noninterest expense for the quarter totaled $49.6 million compared to $46.3 million last year. The increase in noninterest expense was due to salary increases in 2017 and $1.2 million in gains on the sale of other real estate owned that reduced expenses in 2016. The Company's effective tax rate was 33.6% compared to 34.2% for the first quarter of 2016. The decrease in the effective tax rate was due to a change in accounting standards related to stock based compensation.

At March 31, 2017, the Company's total assets were $7.2 billion, an increase of $170.7 million from December 31, 2016. Securities of $463.3 million and loans of $4.4 billion were both down slightly from December 31, 2016. Deposits totaled $6.4 billion, an increase of $146.6 million from December 31, 2016 total. The Company's total stockholders' equity was $729.9 million, an increase of $18.8 million over December 31, 2016.

Asset quality remained strong during the first quarter of 2017. Nonperforming and restructured assets fell to 0.45% of total assets at March 31, 2017 compared to 0.56% at December 31, 2016. The decrease in nonperforming and restructured assets was largely due to the resolution of the aforementioned two problem loans during the quarter. The allowance to total loans was 1.09% compared to 1.10% at year-end 2016. The allowance to nonperforming and restructured loans was 171.6% compared to 137.3% at year-end 2016.

CEO David Rainbolt commented, "Our results this quarter provided great optics in absolute terms. However, even absent the favorable outcome in nonperforming loans, it was still a sound performance."

BancFirst Corporation is an Oklahoma based financial services holding company. The Company's principal subsidiary bank, BancFirst, is Oklahoma's largest state-chartered bank with 100 banking locations serving 53 communities across Oklahoma. More information can be found at www.bancfirst.com.

The Company may make forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with respect to earnings, credit quality, corporate objectives, interest rates and other financial and business matters. Forward-looking statements include estimates and give management's current expectations or forecasts of future events. The Company cautions readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including economic conditions, the performance of financial markets and interest rates; legislative and regulatory actions and reforms; competition; as well as other factors, all of which change over time. Actual results may differ materially from forward-looking statements.

BancFirst Corporation
Summary Financial Information
(Dollars in thousands, except per share and share data - Unaudited)

	2017		2016		2016		2016		2016
	1st Qtr		4th Qtr		3rd Qtr		2nd Qtr		1st Qtr
Condensed Income Statements:
Net interest income	$ 54,768		$ 51,553		$ 51,431		$ 50,868		$ 49,976
Provision for loan losses	72		1,672		2,940		2,804		4,103
Non-interest income:
Trust revenue	2,952		2,878		2,685		2,602		2,465
Service charges on deposits	15,778		16,005		16,033		15,485		14,710
Securities transactions	---		52		(146)		(65)		100
Income from sales of loans	632		705		863		695		562
Insurance commissions	4,563		3,797		4,372		3,255		4,135
Cash management	2,754		2,713		2,853		2,732		2,318
Other	1,406		1,281		1,267		1,353		1,327
Total noninterest income	28,085		27,431		27,927		26,057		25,617

Non-interest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits	30,654		29,706		30,591		30,008		29,357
Occupancy expense, net	2,974		3,198		3,217		3,071		2,827
Depreciation	2,420		2,461		2,556		2,567		2,530
Amortization of intangible assets	547		548		560		580		581
Data processing services	1,195		1,229		1,178		1,174		1,215
Net expense (income) from other real estate owned	50		197		162		35		(1,141)
Marketing and business promotion	2,215		1,978		1,779		1,624		1,855
Deposit insurance	588		569		641		855		839
Other	8,945		8,303		8,520		7,806		8,228
Total noninterest expense	49,588		48,189		49,204		47,720		46,291
Income before income taxes	33,193		29,123		27,214		26,401		25,199
Income tax expense	11,143		10,503		9,232		8,908		8,620
Net income	$ 22,050		$ 18,620		$ 17,982		$ 17,493		$ 16,579
Per Common Share Data:
Net income-basic	$ 1.39		$ 1.19		$ 1.15		$ 1.12		$ 1.07
Net income-diluted	1.36		1.16		1.13		1.10		1.05
Cash dividends declared	0.38		0.38		0.38		0.36		0.36
Common shares outstanding	15,891,276		15,810,935		15,695,083		15,560,271		15,527,804
Average common shares outstanding -
Basic	15,864,807		15,743,770		15,631,094		15,549,811		15,534,416
Diluted	16,237,998		16,046,061		15,922,209		15,842,485		15,816,371
Performance Ratios:
Return on average assets	1.27	%	1.07	%	1.06	%	1.04	%	1.00	%
Return on average equity	12.37		10.44		10.35		10.42		10.05
Net interest margin	3.39		3.19		3.27		3.28		3.25
Efficiency ratio	59.85		61.01		62.00		62.03		61.24

BancFirst Corporation
Summary Financial Information
(Dollars in thousands, except per share and share data - Unaudited)

	2017		2016		2016		2016		2016
	1st Qtr		4th Qtr		3rd Qtr		2nd Qtr		1st Qtr
Balance Sheet Data:

Total assets	$ 7,189,637		$ 7,018,952		$ 6,783,537		$ 6,683,376		$ 6,740,938
Interest-bearing deposits with banks	1,857,961		1,666,540		1,532,095		1,373,923		1,498,356
Securities	463,250		469,833		473,738		419,238		497,986
Total loans	4,398,529		4,409,550		4,317,512		4,337,063		4,282,738
Allowance for loan losses	(47,921)		(48,693)		(48,061)		(46,566)		(44,571)
Deposits	6,394,627		6,248,057		6,024,949		5,943,982		6,010,872
Stockholders' equity	729,873		711,094		693,731		676,830		662,661
Book value per common share	45.93		44.97		44.20		43.50		42.68
Tangible book value per common share	41.72		40.71		39.87		39.09		38.22
Balance Sheet Ratios:
Average loans to deposits	70.13	%	70.98	%	71.77	%	71.74	%	71.28	%
Average earning assets to total assets	93.45		93.30		93.16		93.05		92.88
Average stockholders' equity to average assets	10.25		10.26		10.22		10.02		9.92
Asset Quality Data:
Past due loans	$ 2,024		$ 1,962		$ 1,906		$ 2,695		$ 1,099
Nonaccrual loans	23,694		31,798		31,014		30,063		31,040
Restructured loans	2,203		1,713		1,842		1,974		533
Total nonperforming and restructured loans	27,921		35,473		34,762		34,732		32,672
Other real estate owned and repossessed assets	4,404		3,866		4,339		4,469		4,245
Total nonperforming and restructured assets	32,325		39,339		39,101		39,201		36,917
Nonperforming and restructured loans to total loans	0.63	%	0.80	%	0.81	%	0.80	%	0.76	%
Nonperforming and restructured assets to total assets	0.45		0.56		0.58		0.59		0.55
Allowance to total loans	1.09		1.10		1.11		1.07		1.04
Allowance to nonperforming and restructured loans	171.63		137.27		138.26		134.07		136.42
Net charge-offs to average loans	0.02		0.02		0.03		0.02		0.03

BancFirst Corporation
Consolidated Average Balance Sheets
And Interest Margin Analysis
Taxable Equivalent Basis
(Dollars in thousands - Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2017
	Average	Income/	Yield/
	Balance	Expense	Rate
ASSETS
Earning assets:
Loans	$ 4,400,707	$ 53,833	4.96	%
Securities – taxable	435,196	1,761	1.64
Securities – tax exempt	33,291	287	3.50
Interest bearing deposits with banks	1,724,747	3,440	0.81
Total earning assets	6,593,941	59,321	3.65

Nonearning assets:
Cash and due from banks	173,329
Interest receivable and other assets	337,123
Allowance for loan losses	(48,453)
Total nonearning assets	461,999
Total assets	$ 7,055,940

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Interest-bearing liabilities:
Transaction deposits	$ 795,743	$ 211	0.11	%
Savings deposits	2,263,918	2,297	0.41
Time deposits	685,575	1,217	0.72
Short-term borrowings	1,870	3	0.62
Junior subordinated debentures	31,959	527	6.69
Total interest-bearing liabilities	3,779,065	4,255	0.46

Interest-free funds:
Noninterest bearing deposits	2,259,883
Interest payable and other liabilities	23,874
Stockholders' equity	723,118
Total interest free-funds	3,276,875
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 7,055,940
Net interest income		$ 55,066
Net interest spread			3.19	%
Effect of interest free funds			0.20	%
Net interest margin			3.39	%

CONTACT: Kevin Lawrence, Chief Financial Officer at (405) 270-1003 or David Rainbolt, Chief Executive Officer at (405) 270-1002

OKLAHOMA	0-14384	73-1221379
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

101 North Broadway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	73102
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

	(c)	Exhibits.

	Exhibit No.	Description

	BANCFIRST CORPORATION
	(Registrant)




Date: April 20, 2017	/s/ Kevin Lawrence
	Kevin Lawrence
	Executive Vice President
	Chief Financial Officer