EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

 

MASSBANK CORP.   April 25, 2007
Reading, MA  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MASSBANK CORP. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2007 EARNINGS OF

$2.08 MILLION OR $0.48 PER SHARE

MASSBANK Corp. (NASDAQ – MASB), the Holding Company for MASSBANK, today reported net income of $2,081,000 or $0.48 in diluted earnings per share for the first quarter 2007, compared with net income of $1,810,000 or $0.41 in diluted earnings per share in the first quarter of 2006. Basic earnings per share in the recent quarter were $0.48 per share compared to $0.42 per share in the first quarter of the prior year. The Company’s first quarter 2007 earnings include an after tax benefit of $660,000 or $0.15 in diluted earnings per share from a change in accounting rules for valuing certain financial instruments at fair value.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company elected early adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 159 and No. 157. SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” was issued in February 2007 and permits the measurement of selected eligible financial instruments at fair value at specified election dates. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 159, the Company selected the fair value option for all its U.S. Treasury and Government Agency securities available for sale, a portfolio totaling $261.3 million as of January 1, 2007. The initial fair value measurement of these securities resulted in a $2.2 million cumulative effect adjustment, net of tax, recorded as a reduction in retained earnings as of January 1, 2007. This charge to retained earnings has no overall impact on total stockholders’ equity because the fair value adjustment had previously been included as an element of stockholders’ equity in the accumulated other comprehensive loss account. Under the provisions of SFAS No. 159, the cumulative-effect adjustment is a one-time charge to retained earnings and will not be recognized in current earnings. None of the eligible securities selected were sold during the first quarter 2007. The Company intends to account for certain selected financial assets at fair value under Statement No. 159 with changes in fair value recognized in earnings on an ongoing basis.

As a result of the Company’s election to early adopt SFAS No. 159, the Company recorded $1,014,000 of pretax unrealized trading gains ($660,000 net of taxes) in its first quarter earnings for the change in fair value of the selected securities noted above from the election date of January 1, 2007 to March 31, 2007.

The Company’s return on average assets and return on average equity for the first quarter of 2007 improved to 1.01% and 7.79%, respectively, from 0.82% and 6.91%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2006. The net interest margin for the first quarter of 2007 was 2.39% compared to 2.53% for the same quarter of the prior year.

Income Statement

Net interest income for the first quarter 2007 decreased by $650,000 or 11.9% as the bank continued to be challenged by the current inverted yield curve environment (an environment where short-term rates actually exceed long-term rates) and increased funding costs. This has resulted in a decrease of 14 basis points in net interest margin in the recent quarter compared to the same quarter of 2006. Average earning assets for the first quarter of 2007 declined to $803.4 million, from $863.0 million in the first quarter of the prior year due to a lower deposit base. This is due in part to intense competition for short-term deposits.


April 25, 2007

Page Two

 

Non-interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 increased $879,000 or 143.9% to $1,490,000 from $611,000 for the same period in 2006. This increase is due primarily to an increase in net securities gains of $883,000, from $251,000 in the first quarter 2006 to $1,134,000 in the recent quarter. Net securities gains in the first quarter 2007 were comprised of $1,049,000 in net gains on trading securities and net gains on available for sale securities of $85,000. This compares to net gains on trading securities and available for sale securities of $238,000 and $13,000, respectively, for the same quarter in 2006. The net gains on trading securities for the first quarter 2007 consisted of $1,014,000 in pretax unrealized trading gains resulting from the early adoption of SFAS No. 159 discussed earlier, realized trading losses on equity securities of $27,000, unrealized trading gains on equity securities of $60,000 and realized gains on other securities of $2,000. Other non-interest income consisting of deposit account service fees, option fees and other income totaled $356,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $360,000 for the same period in 2006.

Non-interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007, decreased $207,000 or 6.3% to $3,100,000 compared to $3,307,000 for the same period in 2006. Salaries and employee benefits increased $16,000 or less than 1%. Included in salaries and employee benefits for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006 were stock–based compensation costs of $20,000 and $10,000, respectively.

Deferred compensation plan expense decreased $44,000 in the recent quarter compared to the same quarter last year. This decrease was essentially offset by the lower earnings on plan assets reflected in non-interest income of $46,000.

Occupancy and equipment expense decreased $71,000 or 11.8% to $531,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 from $602,000 for the same period in 2006. The decrease is due primarily to a reduction in building and equipment depreciation expense, and a reduction in costs for snow removal this winter.

Professional services expense decreased $40,000 or 23.8% to $128,000 in the recent quarter compared to $168,000 for the same quarter last year due primarily to a reduction in legal fees.

All other company expenses decreased 68,000 or 11.8% to $509,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $577,000 for the same period in 2006 due to reductions in a various types of expenses.

Balance Sheet

The Company’s total assets decreased $62.3 million to $828.2 million at March 31, 2007, from $890.5 million at March 31, 2006. Deposits decreased $60.9 million or 7.9% year-over-year from $775.2 million at March 31, 2006 to $714.3 million at March 31, 2007. Stockholders’ equity increased $4.5 million or 4.3% to $108.6 million at March 31, 2007, from $104.1 million at March 31, 2006. Book value per share increased $1.01 or 4.2% to $25.04 per share at March 31, 2007, from $24.03 per share at March 31, 2006.

The Company’s non-accrual loans remain near historical lows totaling $148,000 at March 31, 2007, representing 0.07% of total loans. This compares to $130,000 representing 0.06% of total loans at March 31, 2006. At March 31, 2007, the Bank’s allowance for loan losses totaled $1.382 million representing 0.68% of total loans compared to $1.247 million representing 0.56% of total loans at March 31, 2006. In addition, the Bank’s allowance for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures totaled $345,000 at March 31, 2007 compared to $517,000 a year earlier. This is intended to protect the Bank against possible losses on loan commitments made to customers that have not yet been drawn down.

MASSBANK Corp. is the holding company for MASSBANK, a Massachusetts chartered savings bank. The Bank operates fifteen banking offices in Reading, Chelmsford, Dracut, Everett, Lowell, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, Tewksbury, Westford and Wilmington, providing a variety of deposit, lending and trust services.


April 25, 2007

Page Three

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Dividend Declaration

MASSBANK Corp. today announced a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.28 per share. This, the Company’s eighty-third consecutive dividend, will be payable on May 18, 2007 to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 3, 2007.

Stock Repurchase Program

The Company did not repurchase any of its common stock during the recent quarter. As of March 31, 2007, there were 123,217 shares available for repurchase in the current program.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of MASSBANK Corp. held on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, stockholders voted to elect Alexander S. Costello, Stephen E. Marshall, Paul J. McCarthy and Nalin M. Mistry to serve as Directors of the Company until the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Cautionary Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking information, including information concerning the Company’s expectations of future business prospects. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results or performance to be materially different from the results and performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company’s belief, expectations or intentions concerning the Company’s future performance, the financial outlook of the markets it serves and the performance and activities of its competitors. These statements reflect the Company’s current views. They are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including the strength of the local economy and the U.S. economy in general, unexpected fluctuations in market interest rates, unexpected fluctuations in the markets for equities, bonds, federal funds and other financial instruments, an increase in the level of non-performing assets, an increase in competitive pricing pressures within the Company’s market, adverse legislative or regulatory developments, a significant decline in residential real estate values in the Company’s market area, adverse impacts resulting from the continuing war on terrorism, an increase in employee-related costs, the impact of deflation or inflation, and other factors described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2006.

For further information contact Reginald E. Cormier, Senior Vice President, Treasurer and CFO at (781) 942-8192.


April 25, 2007

Page Four

 

MASSBANK CORP.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Unaudited)

($ in thousands except share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2007     2006  

For the Period Ended

    

Total interest and dividend income

   $ 9,979     $ 9,801  

Total interest expense

     5,188       4,360  
                

Net interest income

     4,791       5,441  

Provision (credit) for loan losses

     —         —    
                

Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses

     4,791       5,441  

Gains on securities, net

     1,134       251  

Other non-interest income

     356       360  

Non-interest expense

     3,100       3,307  

Income tax expense

     1,100       935  
                

Net income

   $ 2,081     $ 1,810  

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

    

Basic

     4,335,589       4,339,812  

Diluted

     4,361,453       4,376,936  

Per Common Share

    

Earnings:

    

Basic

   $ 0.48     $ 0.42  

Diluted

     0.48       0.41  

Cash dividends paid

     0.28       0.27  

Book value (period end)

     25.04       24.03  

Ratios (1)

    

Return on average assets

     1.01 %     0.82 %

Return on average equity

     7.79       6.91  

Net interest margin

     2.39       2.53  

Total equity to assets (period end)

     13.12       11.69  
     At March 31,  
     2007     2006  

At Period End

    

Assets

   $ 828,181     $ 890,509  

Deposits

     714,298       775,232  

Total loans

     203,370       222,260  

Stockholders’ equity

   $ 108,626     $ 104,121  

Common shares outstanding

     4,338,154       4,333,629  

Asset Quality

    

Non-accrual loans

   $ 148     $ 130  

Real estate acquired through foreclosure

     —         —    
                

Total non-performing assets

   $ 148     $ 130  

Allowance for loan losses

   $ 1,382     $ 1,247  

Non-accrual loans to total loans

     0.07 %     0.06 %

(1) Ratios are presented on an annualized basis with the exception of equity to assets.


April 25, 2007

Page Five

 

MASSBANK CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

($ in thousands except share data)

 

     At
March 31,
2007
    At
March 31,
2006
 

Assets:

    

Cash and due from banks

   $ 7,464     $ 9,623  

Short-term investments

     163,698       167,397  
                

Total cash and cash equivalents

     171,162       177,020  
                

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

     —         641  

Term federal funds sold

     50,000       —    

Securities available for sale, at market value (amortized cost of $140,743 in 2007 and $457,911 in 2006)

     140,415       450,371  

Securities held to maturity, at amortized cost (market value of $5,101 in 2007 and $5,702 in 2006)

     5,208       5,910  

Trading securities, at market value

     240,042       8,833  

Loans:

    

Mortgage loans

     193,661       212,623  

Other loans

     9,709       9,637  
                

Total loans

     203,370       222,260  

Allowance for loan losses

     (1,382 )     (1,247 )
                

Net loans

     201,988       221,013  
                

Premises and equipment

     7,238       6,938  

Real estate held for resale

     425       —    

Accrued interest and income receivable

     4,726       4,663  

Goodwill

     1,090       1,090  

Deferred income tax asset, net

     2,620       4,228  

Other assets

     3,267       9,802  
                

Total assets

   $ 828,181     $ 890,509  
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Deposits:

    

Demand and NOW

   $ 75,967     $ 84,188  

Savings

     333,266       414,408  

Time certificates of deposit

     305,065       276,636  
                

Total deposits

     714,298       775,232  

Escrow deposits of borrowers

     993       1,031  

Accrued income taxes, net

     419       637  

Allowance for loan losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures

     345       517  

Other liabilities

     3,500       8,971  
                

Total liabilities

     719,555       786,388  
                

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized, none issued

     —         —    

Common stock, par value $1.00 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized, 7,870,817 and 7,829,292 shares issued in 2007 and 2006, respectively

     7,871       7,829  

Additional paid-in capital

     58,401       57,397  

Retained earnings

     105,686       105,380  
                
     171,958       170,606  

Treasury stock at cost 3,532,663 and 3,495,663 shares in 2007 and 2006, respectively

     (62,902 )     (61,692 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (430 )     (4,793 )

Shares held in rabbi trust at cost, 17,944 and 15,644 shares in 2007 and 2006, respectively

     (426 )     (351 )

Deferred compensation obligation

     426       351  
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     108,626       104,121  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 828,181     $ 890,509  
                


April 25, 2007

Page Six

 

MASSBANK CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

($ in thousands except share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
     March 31,
2007
   March 31,
2006

Interest and dividend income:

     

Mortgage loans

   $ 2,676    $ 2,890

Other loans

     193      180

Securities available for sale:

     

Mortgage-backed securities

     1,806      1,798

Other securities

     31      2,844

Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity

     69      79

Trading securities

     2,637      82

Federal funds sold

     2,180      1,922

Other investments

     387      6
             

Total interest and dividend income

     9,979      9,801
             

Interest expense:

     

Deposits

     5,188      4,360
             

Total interest expense

     5,188      4,360
             

Net interest income

     4,791      5,441

Provision (credit) for loan losses

     —        —  
             

Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses

     4,791      5,441
             

Non-interest income:

     

Deposit account service fees

     83      90

Gains on securities available for sale, net

     85      238

Gains on trading securities, net

     1,049      13

Option fees

     75      —  

Deferred compensation plan income

     25      71

Other

     173      199
             

Total non-interest income

     1,490      611
             

Non-interest expense:

     

Salaries and employee benefits

     1,884      1,868

Deferred compensation plan expense

     48      92

Occupancy and equipment

     531      602

Data processing

     146      143

Professional services

     128      168

Advertising and marketing

     33      37

Deposit insurance

     28      34

Other

     302      363
             

Total non-interest expense

     3,100      3,307
             

Income before income taxes

     3,181      2,745

Income tax expense

     1,100      935
             

Net income

   $ 2,081    $ 1,810
             

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

     

Basic

     4,335,589      4,339,812

Diluted

     4,361,453      4,376,936

Earnings per share (in dollars):

     

Basic

   $ 0.48    $ 0.42

Diluted

     0.48      0.41