QUINCY, Calif., Jan. 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plumas Bancorp (Nasdaq:PLBC), the parent company of Plumas Bank, today announced record earnings for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2015, Plumas Bancorp (the “Company”) reported net income of $5.8 million an increase of $1.1 million or 23%, from $4.7 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2014. Earnings per diluted share increased to $1.15 during the year ended December 31, 2015, up from $0.95 during 2014. Earnings for the three months ended December 31, 2015 totaled $1.6 million or $0.33 per diluted share, an increase of $304 thousand from $1.3 million or $0.27 per diluted share during the fourth quarter of 2014.

Andrew J. Ryback, president and chief executive officer of Plumas Bancorp and Plumas Bank, remarked, “The Board of Directors, executives and I are pleased to report record earnings for 2015. Driven by strong growth in revenues, including a $2 million increase in net-interest income and a $400 thousand increase in non-interest income, net income increased to a record $5.8 million in 2015; up over $1 million from 2014.  In addition, we continue to experience strong growth in loans and deposits while decreasing our levels of nonperforming loans and loan charge-offs. Finally, we remain focused on responsible expense management.”

Ryback continued, "We’re also very pleased to announce that in December, 2015 we entered the Northern Nevada market with the opening of our first out-of-state branch located in Reno, Nevada.  Additionally, we expanded our government guaranteed lending operations with the opening of a new loan production office located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Currently, Plumas Bank operates eleven full service branches in Northern California, one branch in Northern Nevada and three stand-alone SBA loan production offices serving the states of California, Nevada, Arizona and Oregon.”

Ryback concluded, “Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge a significant milestone in our bank’s history.  That is, in 2015, we celebrated our 35th year of operations. We are very proud of what we have been able to accomplish during these years and very grateful to the communities we serve for making this journey with us. We look forward with optimism and enthusiasm to the years ahead.”

Financial Highlights
December 31, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014
Balance Sheet

  • Total assets increased by $60.4 million, or 11%, to $599 million.
  • Gross loans increased by $30.6 million, or 8%, to $401 million at December 31, 2015 compared to $370 million at December 31, 2014.
  • Total deposits increased by $59.4 million, or 13% to $527 million at December 31, 2015.
  • Total equity increased by $6.0 million to $42.5 million.
  • Book value per share increased by $1.18, or 16% to $8.79 at December 31, 2015, up from $7.61 at December 31, 2014.

                     

Asset Quality

  • Net charge-offs decreased by $693 thousand, or 59% to $473 thousand from $1.2 million.
  • Net charges-offs as a percent of average loans declined from 0.33% to 0.12%.
  • The ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans decreased from 1.79% to 1.13% and the ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets decreased from 1.90% to 1.06%

Income Statement

Year ended December 31, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014

  • Net income increased by $1.1 million or 23% to $5.8 million and diluted EPS increased by $0.20 or 21% to $1.15 from $0.95.
  • Net interest income increased by $2.0 million to $21.4 million.
  • Non-interest income increased by $400 thousand to $7.7 million.
  • Return on average equity increased to 14.6% from 14.0%.
  • Return on average assets increased to 1.02% from 0.89%.
  • The Company’s efficiency ratio improved to 63.5% from 66.7%.

     Three months ended December 31, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014

  • Net income increased by $304 thousand or 23% to $1.6 million and diluted EPS increased by $0.06 or 22% to $0.33 from $0.27.
  • Net interest income increased by $323 thousand to $5.6 million.
  • Return on average equity increased to 15.5% from 14.8%.
  • Return on average assets increased to 1.09% from 0.96%.

Loans, Deposits, Investments and Cash

Loans increased by $30.6 million, or 8%, from $370.4 million at December 31, 2014 to $401.0 million at December 31, 2015. The increase in loan balances includes $28.8 million in commercial real estate loans, $5.6 million in commercial loans, $4.5 million in agricultural loans and $3.7 million in automobile loans.  These increases were partially offset by declines of $8.4 million in construction loans and $3.6 million in all other loan types. Construction and land development loans, which management has identified as a higher-risk loan category, represented 4.0% and 6.6% of the loan portfolio as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.  

Total deposits increased by $59.4 million from $468 million at December 31, 2014 to $527 million at December 31, 2015.  Core deposit growth remained strong in 2015 as evidenced by increases of $28.4 million in demand deposits, $19.6 million in savings accounts, $9.1 million in interest-bearing transaction accounts (NOW) and $6.4 million in money market accounts.  Time deposits declined by $4.1 million, much of which we attribute to migration into other types of deposits given the low rates and lack of liquidity associated with time deposits. The Company has no brokered deposits.

Total investment securities increased by $6.4 million to $96.7 million at December 31, 2015, up from $90.3 million at December 31, 2014. The largest component of this increase was a $9.8 million increase in obligations of states and political subdivisions.  This was partially offset by a $5 million decrease in U.S. Government-sponsored agency securities.  Cash and due from banks increased by $22.6 million from $45.6 million at December 31, 2014 to $68.2 million at December 31, 2015.

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders’ equity increased by $6.0 million from $36.5 million at December 31, 2014 to $42.5 million at December 31, 2015. The $6.0 million includes earnings during the twelve month period totaling $5.8 million with the balance of $0.2 million mostly representing stock option activity.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets (which are comprised of nonperforming loans, other real estate owned (“OREO”) and repossessed vehicle holdings) at December 31, 2015 were $6.3 million, down from $10.2 million at December 31, 2014.  Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets decreased to 1.06% at December 31, 2015 down from 1.90% at December 31, 2014. OREO declined by $1.8 million or 51% from $3.6 million at December 31, 2014 to $1.8 million at December 31, 2015.  Nonperforming loans at December 31, 2015 were $4.5 million, a decrease of $2.1 million, or 31% from the $6.6 million balance at December 31, 2014.  Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans decreased to 1.13% at December 31, 2015, down from 1.79% at December 31, 2014. 

During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 we recorded a provision for loan losses of $1.1 million.  Net charge-offs totaled $473 thousand during the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 and $1.2 million during the same period in 2014. Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans decreased from 0.33% during 2014 to 0.12% during the year ended December 31, 2015. The allowance for loan losses totaled $6.1 million at December 31, 2015 and $5.5 million at December 31, 2014. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans increased slightly from 1.47% at December 31, 2014 to 1.52% at December 31, 2015.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income, on a nontax-equivalent basis, was $21.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, up $2.0 million, or 10%, from $19.4 million for 2014. Mostly related to an increase in average loan balances, interest income increased by $1.5 million, or 7% from $21.1 million during 2014 to $22.6 million during the current year.  Related to the redemption of the Company’s $7.5 million subordinated debenture in April, 2015, interest expense declined by $489 thousand to $1.2 million during 2015. Net interest margin is net interest income expressed as a percentage of average interest-earning assets.  As a result of the changes noted above, the net interest margin for 2015 increased to 4.10%, up from 4.05% during 2014.

Net interest income, on a nontax-equivalent basis, for the three months ended December 31, 2015 was $5.6 million, an increase of $323 thousand from the $5.3 million earned during the same period in 2014. Similar to the twelve month comparison, the largest component of the increase in net interest income was an increase in average loan balances. However, this was partially offset by a decline in loan yield from 5.67% during the 2014 quarter to 5.38% during the three months ended December 31, 2015.  During the three months ended December 31, 2014 the Company benefited from a prepayment fee of approximately $0.2 million on a large commercial real estate loan which increased overall loan yield by approximately 22 basis points.  Interest expense declined from $405 thousand during the three months ended December 31, 2014 to $265 thousand during the quarter ended December 31, 2015. The largest component of this decline was a reduction of $188 thousand related to interest on the subordinated debenture during the 2014 quarter. Net interest margin for the three months ended December 31, 2015 decreased to 4.03%, down from 4.16% during the fourth quarter of 2014.

Non-Interest Income/Expense

During the year ended December 31, 2015 non-interest income totaled $7.7 million an increase of $400 thousand from the year ended December 31, 2014.  The largest component of this increase was an increase in gain on sale of SBA loans of $546 thousand. Gains on sale of securities were $21 thousand during 2015 and $128 thousand in 2014. In addition, the 2014 quarter included a $148 thousand gain on sale of our credit card portfolio. 

During the three months ended December 31, 2015 non-interest income totaled $1.8 million, a decrease of $36 thousand from the three months ended December 31, 2014. This decrease was mostly related to the $148 thousand gain on sale of our credit card portfolio during the 2014 quarter.

Non-interest expense increased by $646 thousand to $18.5 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, up from $17.8 million during 2014. The largest component of this increase was an increase in salary expense of $559 thousand.  This increase includes an increase in loan production personnel costs, costs associated with our new Reno, Nevada branch, an increase in commissions earned on the sale of SBA loans, related to an increase in sales volume, and merit and promotional wage increases.
  
Non-interest expense totaled $4.5 million during the three months ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Founded in 1980, Plumas Bank is a locally owned and managed full-service community bank based in Northeastern California. The Bank operates eleven branches located in the California counties of Plumas, Lassen, Placer, Nevada, Modoc and Shasta and one branch in Reno, Nevada. Plumas Bank offers a wide range of financial and investment services to consumers and businesses and has received nationwide Preferred Lender status with the United States Small Business Administration. For more information on Plumas Bancorp and Plumas Bank, please visit our website at www.plumasbank.com.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and Plumas Bancorp intends for such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Future events are difficult to predict, and the expectations described above are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely.

Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management's views as of any subsequent date. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those presented, either expressed or implied, in this news release. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the Company's ability to successfully execute its business plans and achieve its objectives; changes in general economic and financial market conditions, either nationally or locally in areas in which the Company conducts its operations; changes in interest rates; continuing consolidation in the financial services industry; new litigation or changes in existing litigation; increased competitive challenges and expanding product and pricing pressures among financial institutions; legislation or regulatory changes which adversely affect the Company's operations or business; loss of key personnel; and changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other regulatory agencies.

In addition, discussions about risks and uncertainties are set forth from time to time in the Company’s publicly available Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

 
PLUMAS BANCORP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 As of December 31,  
  2015   2014  Dollar
Change		 Percentage
Change
ASSETS       
Cash and due from banks$68,195  $45,574  $22,621   49.6%
Investment securities 96,704   90,320   6,384   7.1%
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses 396,833   366,787   30,046   8.2%
Premises and equipment, net 12,234   11,642   592   5.1%
Bank owned life insurance 12,187   11,845   342   2.9%
Real estate acquired through foreclosure 1,756   3,590   (1,834)  -51.1%
Accrued interest receivable and other assets 11,377   9,104   2,273   25.0%
Total assets$599,286  $538,862  $60,424   11.2%
        
LIABILITIES AND       
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
Deposits$527,276  $467,891  $59,385   12.7%
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities 14,329   15,710   (1,381)  -8.8%
Note payable 4,875   1,000   3,875   387.5%
Subordinated debentures -   7,454   (7,454)  -100.0%
Junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures 10,310   10,310   -   0.0%
Total liabilities 556,790   502,365   54,425   10.8%
Common stock 6,475   6,312   163   2.6%
Retained earnings 36,063   30,245   5,818   19.2%
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (42)  (60)  18   30.0%
Shareholders’ equity 42,496   36,497   5,999   16.4%
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$599,286  $538,862  $60,424   11.2%
   
  
PLUMAS BANCORP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
      
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015   2014  Dollar
Change		 Percentage
Change
        
Interest income$5,851  $5,668  $183   3.2%
Interest expense 265   405   (140)  -34.6%
Net interest income before provision for loan losses 5,586   5,263   323   6.1%
Provision for loan losses 200   350   (150)  -42.9%
Net interest income after provision for loan losses 5,386   4,913   473   9.6%
Non-interest income 1,802   1,838   (36)  -2.0%
Non-interest expenses 4,497   4,531   (34)  -0.8%
Income before  income taxes 2,691   2,220   471   21.2%
Provision  for income taxes 1,043   876   167   19.1%
Net income$1,648  $1,344  $304   22.6%
        
Basic earnings  per share$0.34  $0.28  $0.06   21.4%
Diluted earnings  per share$0.33  $0.27  $0.06   22.2%
   
   
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015   2014  Dollar
Change		 Percentage
Change
        
Interest income$22,615  $21,147  $1,468   6.9%
Interest expense 1,204   1,693   (489)  -28.9%
Net interest income before provision for loan losses 21,411   19,454   1,957   10.1%
Provision for loan losses 1,100   1,100   -   0.0%
Net interest income after provision for loan losses 20,311   18,354   1,957   10.7%
Non-interest income 7,715   7,315   400   5.5%
Non-interest expenses 18,491   17,845   646   3.6%
Income before  income taxes 9,535   7,824   1,711   21.9%
Provision for income taxes 3,717   3,086   631   20.4%
Net income$5,818  $4,738  $1,080   22.8%
        
Basic earnings  per share$1.21  $0.99  $0.22   22.2%
Diluted earnings  per share$1.15  $0.95  $0.20   21.1%
        
        
PLUMAS BANCORP 
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
(In thousands, except per share data) 
(Unaudited) 
   
 December 31,      
  2015   2014    
AVERAGE BALANCES FOR THE YEAR ENDED           
Assets$571,990  $531,528    
Earning assets$521,681  $479,921     
Loans$386,070  $353,389    
Deposits$503,343  $464,067     
Total equity$39,844  $33,810    
   
CREDIT QUALITY DATA      
Allowance for loan losses$6,078     $5,451        
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans 1.52%     1.47%      
Nonperforming loans$4,546     $6,625        
Nonperforming assets$6,332     $10,228        
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans 1.13%     1.79%      
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets 1.06%     1.90%      
Year-to-date net charge-offs$473     $1,166        
Year-to-date net charge-offs as a percentage of average 0.12%     0.33%      
loans              
        
SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA       
Basic earnings  per share for the quarter$0.34 $0.28    
Diluted earnings per share for the quarter$0.33 $0.27    
Quarterly weighted average shares outstanding 4,831  4,796    
Quarterly weighted average diluted shares outstanding 5,055  5,010    
Basic earnings  per share, year-to-date$1.21 $0.99    
Diluted earnings  per share, year-to-date$1.15 $0.95    
Year-to-date weighted average shares outstanding 4,817  4,793    
Year-to-date weighted average diluted shares outstanding 5,058  4,977    
Book value per common share$8.79 $7.61    
Total shares outstanding 4,835  4,799    
     
QUARTERLY KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS     
Annualized return  on average  equity 15.5% 14.8%  
Annualized return  on average assets 1.09% 0.96%  
Net interest margin 4.03% 4.16%  
Efficiency ratio 60.9% 63.8%  
    
YEAR END KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS     
Return  on average  equity 14.6% 14.0%  
Return  on average assets 1.02% 0.89%  
Net interest margin 4.10% 4.05%  
Efficiency ratio 63.5% 66.7%  
Loan to Deposit Ratio 76.0% 79.2%  
             
PLUMAS BANK CAPITAL RATIOS            
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio  9.4%  9.8%  
Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio  12.7%     N/A      
Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio  12.7%  13.2%     
Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio  14.0%  14.4%  
       
Contact: Elizabeth Kuipers
Vice President, Marketing Manager & Investor Relations Officer
Plumas Bank
35 S. Lindan Ave.
Quincy, CA 95971
530.283.7305 ext.8912
investorrelations@plumasbank.com

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