Greene County Bancorp, Inc. - Reports 10.6% Increase in Quarterly Earnings

CATSKILL, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Greene County Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ: GCBC), the holding company for The Bank of Greene County and its subsidiary Greene County Commercial Bank, today reported net income for the six months and quarter ended December 31, 2011, which is the second quarter of the Company's fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. Net income for the six months and quarter ended December 31, 2011 totaled $3.0 million, or $0.72 per basic and diluted share, and $1.5 million, or $0.36 per basic and diluted share, respectively, as compared to $2.7 million, or $0.65 per basic and $0.64 per diluted share, and $1.4 million, or $0.33 per basic and $0.32 per diluted share, for the six months and quarter ended December 31, 2010, respectively, an increase of $328,000, or 12.3%, and $143,000, or 10.6% for these same periods in the prior year.

Donald E. Gibson, President & CEO stated: "We are pleased to report a continuation of our strong performance. The Bank's return on average equity for the six months ended December 31, 2011 was 12.20% and return on average assets was 1.09%. We remain focused on increasing shareholder value through quality growth and diligent cost controls."

• Net interest income increased $730,000 to $10.4 million for the six months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $9.7 million for the six months ended December 31, 2010, and increased $328,000 to $5.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 compared to $4.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. The increase in average balances of loans and securities, along with a decrease in rates paid on deposit accounts, primarily led to an increase in net interest income for the six months and quarter- ended December 31, 2011 compared to the six months and quarter-ended December 31, 2010.
• Net interest spread increased 4 basis points to 3.79% for the six months ended December 31, 2011 from 3.75% for the six months ended December 31, 2010, and increased 11 basis points to 3.76% for the six months ended December 31, 2011 from 3.65% for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. Net interest margin remained constant at 3.92% for the six months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and increased 8 basis points to 3.88% for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 as compared to 3.80% for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. The increases in our spread and margin were primarily due to the growth in deposits, and the lower costs of total deposits.
• The provision for loan losses totaled $896,000 and $836,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, an increase of $60,000, or 7.2%. The provision for loan losses totaled $422,000 and $483,000 for the quarters ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
• The allowance for loan losses totaled $5.6 million at December 31, 2011 compared to $4.6 million at December 31, 2010. The allowance for loan losses totaled $5.1 million at June 30, 2011. The level of allowance for loan losses to total loans receivable increased to 1.77% at December 31, 2011 as compared to 1.55% at December 31, 2010, and 1.66% at June 30, 2011.
• Net charge-offs totaled $348,000 and $211,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, an increase of $137,000.
• Nonperforming loans increased by $922,000, or 14.6%, to $7.2 million at December 31, 2011 from $6.3 million at June 30, 2011. This growth has resulted from adverse changes in the economy and increases in local unemployment compounded by the extended length of time required to complete the foreclosure process in New York State.
• Noninterest income decreased $39,000 and $153,000 when comparing the six months and quarters ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Noninterest income totaled $2.4 million and $1.2 million for the six months and quarter ended December 31, 2011, respectively. The Company recorded a net gain on sale of investments during the quarter ended December 31, 2010 of $212,000, and a net gain on sale of investments during the six months ended December 31, 2011 of $11,000. Excluding these items, noninterest income increased $162,000 and $59,000 when comparing the six months and quarters ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. These increases were primarily the result of higher service charges on deposit accounts and higher debit card fees due to growth in the number of deposit accounts.
• Noninterest expense increased $181,000 and $51,000 when comparing the six months and quarters ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. This increase was primarily due to an increase in legal and professional fees, service and data processing fees, equipment and furniture expense, computer software, supplies & support, and other expenses. The increase in legal and professional fees of $90,000 and $67,000 when comparing the six months and quarters ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, were related to loans in process of foreclosure and increased fees for consulting services related to the implementation of strategic objectives. Included in the increases in service and data processing fees of $72,000 and $44,000 when comparing the six months and quarters ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, were increased costs associated with the increase in the number of debit card accounts. The increase in other expenses was the result of the recognition of a loss on foreclosed assets of $131,500 and $81,500 for the six months and quarter ended December 31, 2011. These increases were partially offset by decreases in FDIC insurance premiums of $129,000 and $76,000 when comparing the six months and quarters ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The decrease in FDIC insurance premiums was the result of regulatory changes in the method of calculating the premiums.
• Total assets of the Company were $559.6 million at December 31, 2011 compared to $547.5 million at June 30, 2011, an increase of $12.1 million, or 2.2%.
• Securities available for sale and held to maturity totaled $206.0 million, or 36.8% of assets, at December 31, 2011, as compared to $214.3 million, or 39.1% of assets, at June 30, 2011, a decrease of $8.3 million, or 3.9%.
• Net loans grew by $10.8 million, or 3.6%, to $311.8 million at December 31, 2011 compared to $301.0 million at June 30, 2011. The increase in loans was primarily in nonresidential real estate and commercial installment loans, which generally carry higher yields than residential real estate loans.
• Total deposits increased to $494.0 million at December 31, 2011 from $469.9 million at June 30, 2011, an increase of $24.1 million, or 5.1%. This increase was primarily the result of an $13.3 million increase in balances at the Company's Commercial Bank subsidiary due primarily to the annual collection of taxes by several local school districts.
• As a result of the increase in deposits, the Company repaid its overnight borrowings with the Federal Home Loan Bank. Borrowings decreased $14.3 million from $26.3 million at June 30, 2011 to $12.0 million at December 31, 2011.
• Total shareholders' equity was $50.6 million at December 31, 2011, or 9.1% of total assets.

Headquartered in Catskill, New York, the Company provides full-service community-based banking in its twelve branch offices located in Greene, Columbia and Albany Counties. Customers are offered 24-hour services through ATM network systems, an automated telephone banking system and Internet Banking through its web site at .

This press release contains statements about future events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, regulatory considerations, competition, technological developments, retention and recruitment of qualified personnel, and market acceptance of the Company's pricing, products and services.

					At or for the Six							At or for the Three
					Months Ended December 31,							Months Ended December 31,
					2011			2010				2011			2010
Dollars In thousands, except share and per share data
Interest income					$12,363			$12,042				$6,158			$6,066
Interest expense					1,941			2,350				935			1,171
Net interest income					10,422			9,692				5,223			4,895
Provision for loan losses					896			836				422			483
Noninterest income					2,422			2,461				1,208			1,361
Noninterest expense					7,426			7,245				3,768			3,717
Income before taxes					4,522			4,072				2,241			2,056
Tax provision					1,518			1,396				746			704
Net Income					$3,004			$2,676				$1,495			$1,352
Basic EPS					$0.72			$0.65				$0.36			$0.33
Weighted average shares outstanding					4,146,965			4,125,619				4,148,102			4,129,939
Diluted EPS					$0.72			$0.64				$0.36			$0.32
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding					4,190,187			4,157,903				4,190,211			4,163,333
Dividends declared per share 2					$0.350			$0.550				$0.175			$0.375
Selected Financial Ratios
Return on average assets					1.09%			1.04%				1.07%			1.01%
Return on average equity					12.20%			11.76%				11.98%			11.79%
Net interest rate spread					3.79%			3.75%				3.76%			3.65%
Net interest margin					3.92%			3.92%				3.88%			3.80%
Efficiency ratio1					57.82%			59.61%				58.59%			59.41%
Non-performing assets to total assets					1.35%			1.16%
Non-performing loans to net loans					2.31%			2.01%
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans					77.83%			77.99%
Allowance for loan losses to total loans					1.77%			1.55%
Shareholders' equity to total assets					9.05%			8.64%
Dividend payout ratio2					48.61%			84.62%
Book value per share					$12.20			$11.10

1 Noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.

2 Greene County Bancorp, MHC, the owner of 53.5% of the shares issued by the Company, waived its right to receive the dividends. No adjustment has been made to account for this waiver. Dividends per share for the six months and quarter ended December 31, 2010 include a special dividend of $0.20 per share paid on December 15, 2010.

					As of December 31, 2011				As of June 30, 2011
Dollars In thousands
Assets
Total cash and cash equivalents					$20,055				$9,966
Securities- available for sale, at fair value					77,235				90,117
Securities- held to maturity, at amortized cost					128,748				124,177
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost					1,273				1,916
Gross loans receivable					317,041				305,620
Less: Allowance for loan losses					(5,617)				(5,069)
Unearned origination fees and costs, net					410				495
Net loans receivable					311,834				301,046
Premises and equipment					15,044				15,407
Accrued interest receivable					2,714				2,716
Foreclosed real estate					361				443
Prepaid expenses and other assets					2,319				1,737
Total assets					$559,583				$547,525
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Noninterest bearing deposits					$53,766				$49,313
Interest bearing deposits					440,203				420,584
Total deposits					493,969				469,897
Borrowings from FHLB, short term					---				14,300
FHLB borrowings, long term					12,000				12,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities					2,993				3,247
Total liabilities					508,962				499,444
Total shareholders' equity					50,621				48,081
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity					$559,583				$547,525
Common shares outstanding					4,150,228				4,145,828
Treasury shares					155,442				159,842

Greene County Bancorp, Inc.
Donald E. Gibson
President & CEO
518-943-2600
[e-mail]
or
Michelle M. Plummer, CPA
EVP, COO & CFO
518-943-2600
[e-mail]

Source: Greene County Bancorp, Inc.