EX-99 2 march-exhibi8k.htm MARCH 2005 EARNINGS PRESS RELEASE Exhibit 99.1 - Press release of Flushing Financial Corporation, dated April 19, 2005.
CONTACT:          

David W. Fry
   Van Negris / Lexi Terrero  
Senior Vice President and   Van Negris & Company, Inc  
Chief Financial Officer   (212) 759-0290  
Flushing Financial Corporation  
(718) 961-5400  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Flushing Financial Corporation Reports
2005 First Quarter Results

FLUSHING, NY -- April 19, 2005 -- Flushing Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: FFIC), the parent holding company for Flushing Savings Bank, FSB (the "Bank"), today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2005.

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2005, diluted earnings per share was $0.33, an increase of $0.04, or 13.8 percent, from the $0.29 earned in the comparable quarter a year ago. Net income for the first quarter of 2005 was $6.0 million, an increase of $0.7 million, or 13.8 percent, from $5.2 million for the comparable quarter a year ago. This is primarily the result of an adjustment recorded during the first quarter of 2004 related to compensation expense for certain of the Company's restricted stock awards and supplemental retirement benefits. This adjustment, which related to prior periods, was a charge to earnings in the first quarter of 2004 of $1.1 million, $0.7 million on an after-tax basis or $0.04 per diluted share.

Michael J. Hegarty, President and Chief Executive Officer stated: "During the first quarter of 2005, we continued to implement the key initiatives of our strategic plan. The demand for our loan products remains strong, with loan originations totaling $148.9 million in the first quarter of 2005, compared to $117.5 million in the first quarter of 2004. Our loan origination efforts were focused on higher yielding loans, as we originated $111.6 million of multi-family residential and one-to-four family mixed-use property mortgage loans. At March 31, 2005, loans in process totaled $229.9 million, compared to $170.0 million at December 31, 2004 and $192.8 million at March 31, 2004.

"We have seen an increase in competition in our market for deposits. Financial institutions which had not been actively marketing their deposit products for several years began marketing campaigns to attract deposits. Despite this increased competition, customer deposits remained at $1.28 billion for the first quarter of 2005, with the cost declining one basis point from the fourth quarter of 2004.

"Total assets increased $77.5 million, or 3.8 percent, to $2,135.5 million, with the loan portfolio increasing $98.4 million, or 6.5 percent. We continued to maintain strong asset quality. This growth in the loan portfolio was funded with reductions in the securities portfolio and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York.

"Our loan growth resulted in a $0.5 million increase, or 2.8 percent, in net interest income in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004. We achieved this growth while facing a challenging interest rate environment. While short-term rates have been rising for the past nine months, longer-term rates have not increased at the same rate. This has put increased pressure on our net-interest margin. Our continued focus on the origination of higher yielding mortgage loan products has allowed us to maintain a higher yield on our mortgage loan portfolio than we would have otherwise experienced. At the same time, we continued to focus on attracting lower cost deposits. This resulted in our achieving a net interest margin of 3.42 percent for the first quarter of 2005, which, although down 12 basis points from the first quarter of 2004, represents an increase of seven basis points from that achieved for the fourth quarter of 2004.

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Flushing Financial Corporation
April 19, 2005
Page Two

"Our continued strong capital position has enabled us to grow our asset size, continue our stock repurchase program, and focus on other shareholder value initiatives. During the first quarter of 2005, we increased our quarterly dividend to $0.10 per common share, an increase of 25 percent compared to the first quarter of 2004.

"We remain committed to a path of structured and orderly growth, and continued expansion of the financial services we offer to our customers. We plan to remain focused on the origination of higher-yielding one-to-four family mixed-use property mortgage loans, multi-family residential mortgage loans, and commercial real estate loans.

"Above all, we continue to strive to optimize our shareholders' return on their investment."

Earnings Summary -- Three Months Ended March 31, 2005

Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2005 increased $0.5 million, or 2.8 percent, to $16.9 million from $16.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The increase in net interest income is primarily attributed to the growth in the average balance of interest-earning assets, which increased $119.8 million to $1,973.7 million, as the net interest spread decreased 15 basis points to 3.22 percent for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 from 3.37 percent for the same period in 2004. The yield on interest-earning assets declined six basis points to 6.22 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from 6.28 percent in the three months ended March 31, 2004. At the same time, the cost of funds increased nine basis points to 3.00 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from 2.91 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The decline in the yield of interest-earning assets is primarily due to the declining interest rate environment experienced during the past three years. However, short term rates began to rise in the third quarter of 2004 and continued into the first quarter of 2005. The decreased yield on the mortgage loan portfolio reflects the effect of the high refinancing activity that had occurred during the previous three years. The Bank's existing borrowers had been refinancing their higher costing mortgage loans at the then current lower rates, thus reducing the yield of the mortgage portfolio. In an effort to increase the yield on interest-earning assets, we have shifted $108.8 million of funds into the higher-yielding mortgage loan portfolio from the lower-yielding securities portfolio over the past year. The increase in the cost of interest bearing liabilities was attributed to the increase in the average balances of certificates of deposit of $108.6 million and borrowed funds of $24.0 million, combined with a 16 basis increase in the cost of borrowed funds. The net interest margin decreased 12 basis points to 3.42 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from 3.54 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2004. However, the net interest margin increased 7 basis points compared to the fourth quarter 2004. Excluding prepayment penalty income, the net interest margin would have been 3.24 percent and 3.34 percent for the three month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Non-interest income remained constant at $1.5 million for both the quarter ended March 31, 2005 and 2004. There was an increase of $0.1 million in dividends on Federal Home Loan Bank of New York ("FHLB-NY") stock, which was offset by the reduction of $0.1 million from the gain on sale of loans for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 from the quarter ended March 31, 2004.

Non-interest expense was $8.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, a reduction of $0.7 million, or 7.4 percent, from $9.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses decreased $0.9 million and $0.2 million, respectively, as a result of the 2004 adjustment to amortization of compensation expense for certain of the Company's restricted stock awards and supplemental retirement benefits. These decreases were offset by an increase in occupancy and equipment of $0.1 million in 2005, primarily due to the relocation of the Bank's headquarters in the third quarter of 2004, and an increase of $0.2 million in professional fees, of which $0.1 million was related to initial compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Management continues to monitor expenditures resulting in efficiency ratios of 46.8 percent and 51.9 percent for three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $6.0 million, an increase of $0.7 million from the three months ended March 31, 2004. Diluted earnings per share increased 13.8 percent to $0.33 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from $0.29 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

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Flushing Financial Corporation
April 19, 2005
Page Three

Return on average equity was 15.0 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared to 14.2 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Return on average assets was 1.2 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared to 1.1 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

Balance Sheet Summary

At March 31, 2005, total assets were $2,135.5 million, an increase of $77.5 million from $2,058.0 million at December 31, 2004. Total loans, net increased $98.4 million during the first three months of 2005 to $1,614.9 million from $1,516.5 million at December 31, 2004. At March 31, 2005, loans in process totaled $229.9 million, compared to $170.0 million at December 31, 2004 and $192.8 million at March 31, 2004.

Loan originations and purchases were as follows for the three months ended March 31:

2005 2004


(In thousands)
Multi-family residential     $ 73,923   $ 46,957  
Commercial real estate    24,326    28,287  
One-to-four family - mixed-use property    37,665    32,445  
One-to-four family - residential    2,122    1,483  
Construction    6,985    5,444  
Co-operative apartment        105  
Commercial business and other loans    3,906    2,732  


Total   $ 148,927   $ 117,453  


As the Company continues to increase its loan portfolio, management continues to adhere to the Bank's strict underwriting standards. As a result, the Company has been able to minimize charge-offs of losses from impaired loans and maintain asset quality. Non-performing assets were $1.2 million at March 31, 2005 compared to $0.9 million at December 31, 2004 and $0.7 million at March 31, 2004. Total non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets was 0.05 percent at March 31, 2005 compared to 0.04 percent at both December 31, 2004 and March 31, 2004. The ratio of allowance for loan losses to total non-performing loans was 568 percent at March 31, 2005 compared to 717 percent at December 31, 2004 and 918 percent at March 31, 2004.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2005, mortgage-backed securities decreased $26.9 million to $368.7 million, while other securities decreased $0.7 million to $39.4 million. As funds became available from principle reductions on the securities portfolio during the first quarter of 2005, they have been reinvested in higher yielding loans. Other securities primarily consists of securities issued by government agencies and mutual or bond funds that invest in government and government agency securities.

Total liabilities were $1,974.8 million at March 31, 2005, an increase of $77.4 million from December 31, 2004. During the quarter ended March 31, 2005, due to depositors remained at $1,276.3 million, primarily as a result of the increased competition in our market for deposits. Certificate of deposit accounts increased $7.7 million, while lower-costing deposits decreased $7.7 million. As a result of due to depositors remaining unchanged, borrowed funds increased $64.0 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2005 to partially fund the growth in the loan portfolio. Mortgagors' escrow deposits increased $11.2 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2005.

Total stockholders' equity was $160.7 million at March 31, 2005, which was the same as on December 31, 2004. Net income of $6.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 was more than offset by $2.4 million in treasury shares purchased through the Company's stock repurchase program, a net after tax decrease of $3.4 million on the market value of securities available for sale, and $1.7 million of cash dividends paid. The exercise of stock options increased stockholders' equity by $1.3 million. Book value per share was $8.37 at March 31, 2005 compared to $8.35 per share at December 31, 2004 and $7.98 per share at March 31, 2004.

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Flushing Financial Corporation
April 19, 2005
Page Four

Under its current stock repurchase program, the Company repurchased 133,000 shares during the quarter ended March 31, 2005, at a total cost of $2.4 million, or an average of $17.93 per share. At March 31, 2005, 786,350 shares remain to be repurchased under the current stock repurchase program. Through March 31, 2005, the Company had repurchased approximately 47 percent of the common shares issued in connection with the Company's initial public offering at a cost of $111.6 million.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this Press Release relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expects", "plans", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "forecasts", "potential" or "continue" or similar terms or the negative of these terms. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Flushing Financial Corporation is the holding company for Flushing Savings Bank, FSB, a federally chartered stock savings bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Bank conducts its business through ten banking offices located in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Nassau County.

Additional information on Flushing Financial Corporation may be obtained by visiting the Company's web site at http://www.flushingsavings.com.








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Flushing Financial Corporation      April 19, 2005 - Page Five  

FLUSHING FINANCIAL CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)

March 31, December 31,
2005 2004


ASSETS            
Cash and due from banks   $ 13,460   $ 14,661  
Securities available for sale:  
    Mortgage-backed securities    368,718    395,629  
    Other securities    39,378    40,116  
Loans:  
    Multi-family residential    696,150    646,922  
    Commercial real estate    351,838    334,048  
    One-to-four family - mixed-use property    361,443    332,805  
    One-to-four family - residential    147,883    151,737  
    Co-operative apartments    2,695    3,132  
    Construction    35,748    31,460  
    Small Business Administration    5,985    5,633  
    Commercial business and other    14,081    12,505  
    Net unamortized premiums and unearned loan fees    5,601    4,798  
    Allowance for loan losses    (6,533 )  (6,533 )


          Net loans    1,614,891    1,516,507  

Interest and dividends receivable
    9,271    8,868  
Bank premises and equipment, net    7,623    7,558  
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock    25,461    22,261  
Bank owned life insurance    25,678    25,399  
Goodwill    3,905    3,905  
Other assets    27,156    23,140  


                    Total assets   $ 2,135,541   $ 2,058,044  


LIABILITIES  
Due to depositors:  
    Non-interest bearing   $ 52,006   $ 49,540  
    Interest bearing:  
       Certificate of deposit accounts    710,997    703,314  
       Passbook savings accounts    215,457    216,772  
       Money market accounts    252,612    258,235  
       NOW accounts    45,191    48,463  


             Total interest-bearing deposits    1,224,257    1,226,784  

Mortgagors' escrow deposits
    27,626    16,473  
Borrowed funds    648,730    584,736  
Other liabilities    22,186    19,858  


                    Total liabilities    1,974,805    1,897,391  


STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY  
Preferred stock ($0.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares
     authorized; none issued)
          
Common stock ($0.01 par value; 40,000,000 shares
     authorized; 19,456,696 shares issued at
     March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004;
     19,204,465 and 19,232,248 shares outstanding at
     March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004,
     respectively)
    195    195  
Additional paid-in capital    37,707    37,187  
Treasury stock (252,231 and 224,448 shares at
     March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004,
     respectively)
    (4,440 )  (3,893 )
Unearned compensation    (4,875 )  (5,117 )
Retained earnings    136,518    133,290  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes    (4,369 )  (1,009 )


                    Total stockholders' equity    160,736    160,653  


                    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 2,135,541   $ 2,058,044  


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Flushing Financial Corporation      April 19, 2005 - Page Six  

FLUSHING FINANCIAL CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)

For the Three Months
Ended March 31,

2005 2004


Interest and dividend income            
Interest and fees on loans   $ 26,265   $ 23,555  
Interest and dividends on securities:  
     Interest    4,362    5,423  
     Dividends    81    87  
Other interest income    8    40  


          Total interest and dividend income    30,716    29,105  


Interest expense  
Deposits    7,683    7,008  
Other interest expense    6,160    5,686  


          Total interest expense    13,843    12,694  


Net interest income    16,873    16,411  
Provision for loan losses          


Net interest income after  
     provision for loan losses    16,873    16,411  


Non-interest income  
Loan fee income    530    457  
Banking services fee income    383    441  
Net gain on loans held for sale        92  
Net gain on sale of loans    19      
Federal Home Loan Bank stock    164    93  
Bank owned life insurance    279    289  
Other income    140    104  


          Total non-interest income    1,515    1,476  


Non-interest expense  
Salaries and employee benefits    4,278    5,148  
Occupancy and equipment    963    861  
Professional services    940    790  
Data processing    535    529  
Depreciation and amortization    403    357  
Other operating expenses    1,484    1,604  


          Total non-interest expense    8,603    9,289  


Income before income taxes    9,785    8,598  


Provision for income taxes  
Federal    2,994    2,692  
State and local    822    661  


          Total taxes    3,816    3,353  


Net income   $ 5,969   $ 5,245  



Basic earnings per share
     $0.34     $0.30  
Diluted earnings per share     $0.33     $0.29  

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Flushing Financial Corporation      April 19, 2005 - Page Seven  

FLUSHING FINANCIAL CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

(Dollars in Thousands Except Share Data)
(Unaudited)

At or For the Three Months
Ended March 31,

2005 2004


Per Share Data            
Basic earnings per share     $0.34     $0.30  
Diluted earnings per share     $0.33     $0.29  
Average number of shares outstanding for:  
   Basic earnings per share computation    17,478,131    17,376,859  
   Diluted earnings per share computation    18,003,579    18,162,537  
Book value per share (based on 19,204,465  
   and 19,374,446 shares outstanding at  
   March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively)     $8.37     $7.98  

Average Balances
  
Total loans, net   $ 1,545,147   $ 1,298,603  
Total interest-earning assets    1,973,745    1,853,931  
Total assets    2,070,766    1,954,803  
Total due to depositors    1,221,954    1,154,474  
Total interest-bearing liabilities    1,843,728    1,746,195  
Stockholders' equity    159,690    148,038  

Performance Ratios (1)
  
Return on average assets    1.15 %  1.07 %
Return on average equity    14.95    14.17  
Yield on average interest-earning assets    6.22    6.28  
Cost of average interest-bearing liabilities    3.00    2.91  
Interest rate spread during period    3.22    3.37  
Net interest margin    3.42    3.54  
Non-interest expense to average assets    1.66    1.90  
Efficiency ratio    46.79    51.93  
Average interest-earning assets to average  
     interest-bearing liabilities    1.07 X  1.06 X

(1) Ratios for the quarters ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 are presented on an annualized basis.

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Flushing Financial Corporation      April 19, 2005 - Page Eight  

FLUSHING FINANCIAL CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)

March 31, 2005 December 31, 2004


Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data            

Regulatory capital ratios (for Flushing Savings Bank only):
  
     Tangible capital (minimum requirement = 1.5%)    7.91 %  7.89 %
     Leverage and core capital (minimum requirement = 3%)    7.91    7.89  
     Total risk-based capital (minimum requirement = 8%)    13.86    14.01  

Capital ratios:
  
     Average equity to average assets    7.71 %  7.56 %
     Equity to total assets    7.53    7.81  

Asset quality:
  
     Non-performing loans     $1,150     $911  
     Non-performing assets    1,150    911  
     Net charge-offs        20  

Asset quality ratios:
  
     Non-performing loans to gross loans    0.07 %  0.06 %
     Non-performing assets to total assets    0.05    0.04  
     Allowance for loan losses to gross loans    0.40    0.43  
     Allowance for loan losses to total
          non-performing assets
    568.04    717.29  
     Allowance for loan losses to total
          non-performing loans
    568.04    717.29  

Full-service customer facilities
    10    10  

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Flushing Financial Corporation      April 19, 2005 - Page Nine  

FLUSHING FINANCIAL CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES
NET INTEREST MARGIN

(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)

  For the three months ended March 31,
 
  2005   2004  
 
 
 
  Average       Yield/   Average       Yield/  
  Balance   Interest   Cost   Balance   Interest   Cost  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets                          
Interest-earning assets:  
  Mortgage loans, net (1)   $1,526,045   $25,977   6.81 % $1,288,829   $23,405   7.26 %
  Other loans, net (1)   19,102   288   6.03   9,774   150   6.14  
   




 




 
     Total loans, net   1,545,147   26,265   6.80   1,298,603   23,555   7.26  
   




 




 
  Mortgage-backed securities   387,376   4,092   4.23   477,061   4,972   4.17  
  Other securities   39,682   351   3.54   58,825   538   3.66  
   




 




 
     Total securities   427,058   4,443   4.16   535,886   5,510   4.11  
   




 




 
  Interest-earning deposits and  
    federal funds sold   1,540   8   2.08   19,442   40   0.82  
   




 




 
Total interest-earning assets   1,973,745   30,716   6.22   1,853,931   29,105   6.28  
     



   



 
Other assets   97,021           100,872
   
         
       Total assets   $2,070,766           $1,954,803
   
         

Liabilities and Equity
 
Interest-bearing liabilities:  
  Deposits:  
    Passbook accounts   $216,040   267   0.49   $217,081   270   0.50  
    NOW accounts   46,161   57   0.49   41,968   52   0.50  
    Money market accounts   252,981   1,211   1.91   297,281   1,490   2.00  
    Certificate of deposit accounts   706,772   6,134   3.47   598,144   5,184   3.47  
   




 




 
     Total due to depositors   1,221,954   7,669   2.51   1,154,474   6,996   2.42  
    Mortgagors' escrow accounts   23,092   14   0.24   17,002   12   0.28  
   




 




 
     Total deposits   1,245,046   7,683   2.47   1,171,476   7,008   2.39  
  Borrowed funds   598,682   6,160   4.12   574,719   5,686   3.96  
   




 




 
     Total interest-bearing liabilities   1,843,728   13,843   3.00   1,746,195   12,694   2.91  
     



   



 
Non-interest bearing deposits   48,335           40,602
Other liabilities   19,013           19,968
   
         
         
       Total liabilities   1,911,076           1,806,765
Equity   159,690           148,038
   
         
         
     Total liabilities and equity   $2,070,766           $1,954,803
   
         
         
Net interest income/net interest  
 rate spread       $16,873   3.22 %     $16,411   3.37 %
     



   



 
Net interest-earning assets/ net  
 interest margin   $130,017       3.42 % $107,736       3.54 %
   
   

 
   

 
Ratio of interest-earning assets to  
 interest-bearing liabilities           1.07 X         1.06 X
         

       

 

(1) Loan interest income includes loan fee income (which includes net amortization of deferred fees and costs, late charges, and prepayment penalties) of approximately $0.9 million and $1.0 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

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