Meridian Bancorp, Inc. Reports Net Income for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2015

BOSTON, Jan. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Meridian Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company” or “Meridian”) (NASDAQ:EBSB), the holding company for East Boston Savings Bank (the “Bank”) announced net income of $6.9 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared to $6.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, net income was $24.6 million, or $0.46 per diluted share compared to $22.3 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company’s return on average assets was 0.80% for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared to 0.75% for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company’s return on average assets was 0.74% compared to 0.75% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company’s return on average equity was 4.67% for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared to 4.19% for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company’s return on average equity was 4.19%, down from 5.69% for the year ended December 31, 2014, reflecting the net cash proceeds of $302.3 million raised in the Company’s second step common stock offering completed on July 28, 2014.

Richard J. Gavegnano, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “It is my great pleasure to report record net income of $6.9 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2015 and $24.6 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the year 2015. Our core pre-tax income, which excludes gains on sales of securities, increased $3.1 million, or 43%, to $10.3 million for the fourth quarter and $6.9 million, or 25%, to $34.1 million for the year 2015 from the same periods last year due to the continuing rise in net interest income and expansion of net interest margins along with significant improvement in asset quality. We closed 2015 with total assets of $3.5 billion, total loans of $3.1 billion and total deposits of $2.7 billion. Other key achievements during the year included the initiation of a 5% stock repurchase program, the commencement of quarterly dividends at $0.03 per share and the opening of new branches in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood and in Brookline. We are also looking forward to entering Boston’s Chinatown district this March with our thirtieth branch as we continue to consider new franchise expansion opportunities within the greater Boston area.”

Net interest income increased $3.7 million, or 15.8%, to $27.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from $23.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. The interest rate spread and net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis were 3.17% and 3.39%, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, up from 2.91% and 3.13%, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, net interest income increased $14.7 million, or 16.7%, to $102.9 million from $88.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The net interest rate spread and net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis were 3.09% and 3.31%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2015, up from 3.00% and 3.19%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increases in net interest income were due primarily to loan growth along with declines in the cost of funds, partially offset by deposit growth for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the same periods in 2014.

The Company’s yield on interest-earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis increased three basis points to 3.94% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 3.91% for the year ended December 31, 2014, while the cost of funds declined five basis points to 0.75% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 0.80% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in interest income was primarily due to growth in the Company’s average loan balances of $374.4 million, or 15.4%, to $2.802 billion, partially offset by a decrease in the yield on loans on a tax-equivalent basis of four basis points to 4.35% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 4.39% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in interest expense on deposits was primarily due to the growth in average total deposits of $209.9 million, or 8.8%, to $2.587 billion, partially offset by the decline in the cost of average total deposits of five basis points to 0.71% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 0.76% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease in interest expense on borrowings was primarily due to the reduction in average borrowings of $42.9 million, or 22.7%, to $146.4 million, partially offset by an increase in the cost of average borrowings of four basis points to 1.35% for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to 1.31% for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Mr. Gavegnano noted, “Remarkably, we have experienced net loan growth of $1.7 billion over the last four years for a compounded annual growth rate of 23% and a steady rise in net interest income. During 2015 alone, our loan portfolio grew $401 million, or 15%, on commercial loan originations of $1.2 billion. As a result of this growth along with stable loan yields and a decline in the cost of funds, net interest income rose each quarter while the net interest margin expanded throughout the year.”

The Company's provision for loan losses was $544,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, down from $1.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to recoveries on loans, reductions in problem loans and other improving asset quality trends, partially offset by growth in commercial loans. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the provision for loan losses was $6.7 million, up from $3.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, reflecting loan growth in all commercial categories during the year ended December 31, 2015 and a $2.3 million provision and charge-off related to a construction loan relationship during the second quarter of 2015. Changes in the provision for loan losses were also based on management’s assessment of historical charge-off trends, an ongoing evaluation of credit quality and current economic conditions. The allowance for loan losses was $33.4 million or 1.08% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2015, compared to $28.5 million or 1.06% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2014. Net recoveries totaled $274,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, or less than 0.01% of average loans outstanding on an annualized basis, and net charge-offs totaled $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, or 0.06% of average loans outstanding.

Non-accrual loans decreased $164,000, or 0.5%, to $31.3 million, or 1.02% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2015, from $31.5 million, or 1.18% of total loans outstanding, at December 31, 2014, primarily due to decreases of $5.4 million in one- to four-family loans, $1.6 million in commercial real estate loans and $514,000 in home equity loans, substantially offset by an increase of $7.4 million in construction loans. The increase in non-accrual construction loans during the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily due to a $14.0 million construction loan placed on non-accrual status following a $2.3 million charge-off during the second quarter of 2015. Non-performing assets decreased $1.3 million, or 3.7%, to $31.3 million, or 0.89% of total assets, at December 31, 2015, from $32.6 million, or 0.99% of total assets, at December 31, 2014. Non-performing assets at December 31, 2015 were comprised of $15.8 million of construction loans, $9.3 million of one- to four-family mortgage loans, $3.7 million of commercial real estate loans, $1.8 million of home equity loans and $805,000 of commercial and industrial loans.

Mr. Gavegnano commented, “We reduced our total non-performing assets across all loan types during the fourth quarter of 2015 by a total of $4.4 million, or 12%, due to effective credit monitoring, collection and workout efforts. Such efforts included significant progress toward resolution and collection of the $14.0 million non-accrual multi-family construction loan and the related collateral properties in Boston. Without this non-accrual loan relationship, our non-performing assets would have declined by $14.7 million during 2015 to $17.8 million at December 31, 2015, or 0.51% of total assets, while the Bank would have been in a net recovery position of $556,000 for the year 2015.”

Non-interest income decreased $1.7 million, or 38.5%, to $2.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from $4.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to a decrease of $1.9 million in gain on sales of securities, net, partially offset by increases of $161,000 in customer service fees and $79,000 in loan fees. For the year ended December 31, 2015, non-interest income decreased $3.0 million, or 18.8%, to $13.0 million from $16.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to a decrease of $3.8 million in gain on sales of securities, net, partially offset by increases of $431,000 in customer service fees and $326,000 in loan fees.

Non-interest expenses increased $2.2 million, or 12.7%, to $19.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 as compared to $17.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to increases of $1.3 million in salaries and employee benefits, $253,000 in occupancy and equipment, $523,000 in marketing and advertising and $138,000 in other general and administrative expenses, partially offset by a decrease of $166,000 in foreclosed real estate expense. For the year ended December 31, 2015, non-interest expenses increased $5.3 million, or 7.8%, to $72.7 million from $67.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to increases of $3.3 million in salaries and employee benefits, $618,000 in occupancy and equipment, $688,000 in data processing, $814,000 in marketing and advertising and $164,000 in professional services, partially offset by decreases of $204,000 in foreclosed real estate expense and $142,000 in deposit insurance assessments. The increases in salaries and employee benefits expense were primarily due to employee compensation increases and staffing growth during the current year along with expenses associated with the grant of restricted stock and stock options to the Company’s directors, officers and employees in November 2015. The increases in occupancy and equipment include costs associated with the opening of new branches located in Dorchester and Brookline. The increases in data processing expense reflected a cost reduction during the second quarter of 2014 along with a scheduled contractual increase and business growth during the current year. The increases in marketing and advertising expense reflected the Bank’s new and expanded advertising campaign in our Boston area market. The Company’s efficiency ratio improved to 63.81% for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 from 65.21% for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the efficiency ratio improved to 64.05% from 68.84% for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Mr. Gavegnano added, “The improvement in our efficiency ratio over the last three years has been the direct result of the steady rise in net interest income driven by strong loan growth in recent years. We were able to hold our efficiency ratio below 64% in the fourth quarter even with the costs associated with new branches and the grants made under our new equity incentive plan. We will continue to exercise prudent expense control as we move forward with our franchise growth plans.”

The Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $3.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, reflecting an effective tax rate of 33.1%, compared to $3.1 million, or 33.7%, for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the provision for income taxes was $12.0 million, reflecting an effective tax rate of 32.7%, compared to $11.1 million, or 33.3%, for the year ended December 31, 2014. The changes in the income tax provision and effective tax rate were primarily due to changes in the components of pre-tax income.

Total assets increased $246.0 million, or 7.5%, to $3.525 billion at December 31, 2015 from $3.279 billion at December 31, 2014. Net loans increased $396.3 million, or 15.0%, to $3.045 billion at December 31, 2015 from $2.649 billion at December 31, 2014. The net increase in loans for the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily due to increases of $182.5 million in commercial real estate loans, $155.6 million in construction loans, $69.2 million in commercial and industrial loans and $7.7 million in multi-family loans, partially offset by decreases of $10.1 million in one- to four-family loans and $3.4 million in home equity loans. Cash and due from banks decreased $109.4 million, or 53.2%, to $96.4 million at December 31, 2015 from $205.7 million at December 31, 2014. Securities available for sale decreased $61.9 million, or 30.4%, to $141.6 million at December 31, 2015 from $203.5 million at December 31, 2014.

Total deposits increased $239.1 million, or 9.5%, to $2.743 billion at December 31, 2015 from $2.504 billion at December 31, 2014. Core deposits, which exclude certificate of deposits, increased $58.5 million, or 3.3%, to $1.854 billion, or 67.6% of total deposits, at December 31, 2015. Total borrowings decreased $4.7 million, or 2.7%, to $167.2 million at December 31, 2015 from $171.9 million at December 31, 2014.

Total stockholders’ equity increased $10.4 million, or 1.8%, to $588.1 million at December 31, 2015, from $577.7 million at December 31, 2014. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2015 was due primarily to $24.6 million in net income and $3.3 million related to stock-based compensation plans, partially offset by decreases of $5.0 million in accumulated other comprehensive income, reflecting a decrease in the fair value of available for sale securities, a $9.4 million reduction in additional paid-in capital resulting from the Company’s repurchase of 722,104 shares and dividends of $0.06 per share totaling $3.1 million. Stockholders’ equity to assets was 16.69% at December 31, 2015, compared to 17.62% at December 31, 2014. Book value per share increased to $10.72 at December 31, 2015 from $10.56 at December 31, 2014. Tangible book value per share increased to $10.47 at December 31, 2015 from $10.31 at December 31, 2014. Market price per share increased $2.88, or 25.7%, to $14.10 at December 31, 2015 from $11.22 at December 31, 2014. At December 31, 2015, the Company and the Bank continued to exceed all regulatory capital requirements.

As of December 31, 2015, the Company had repurchased 722,104 shares of its stock at an average price of $13.06 per share, or 26.4% of the 2,737,334 shares authorized for repurchase under the Company’s repurchase program as adopted in August 2015. 

Meridian Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for East Boston Savings Bank. East Boston Savings Bank, a Massachusetts-chartered stock savings bank founded in 1848, operates 29 full-service locations in the greater Boston metropolitan area. We offer a variety of deposit and loan products to individuals and businesses located in our primary market, which consists of Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk Counties, Massachusetts. For additional information, visit www.ebsb.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “will,” “expects,” “project,” “may,” “could,” “developments,” “strategic,” “launching,” “opportunities,” “anticipates,”  “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets” and similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Meridian Bancorp, Inc.’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors. Factors that could cause such differences to exist include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, regulatory considerations, and competition and the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks materialize or should underlying beliefs or assumptions prove incorrect, Meridian Bancorp, Inc.’s actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release.