Paragon Commercial Corporation Reports 21% Increase in Net Income for the Third Quarter of 2017

Highlights:

- Third Quarter 2017 Net Income of $4.2 Million, a $717,000 or 20.8% Increase Over the Same Period in the Prior Year, Mostly Due to Higher Levels of Interest Income as a Result of Loan Portfolio Growth
- Loan Growth of $50.1 Million in the Third Quarter of 2017 and $198.7 Million Year-to-date, an Annualized Increase of 22.3% Year-to-date
- Third Quarter 2017 Earnings Per Share of $0.77, a $0.13 or 20.3% Increase Over the Same Period in the Prior Year
- Net Interest Income of $13.8 Million for the Third Quarter of 2017, an Increase of 17.6% Over the Same Period in the Prior Year
- Credit Quality Remains Strong with Nonperforming Loans at Only 0.03% of Total Loans at September 30, 2017
- Annualized Third Quarter 2017 ROAA of 0.99% and ROAE of 11.34%

RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2017 / Paragon Commercial Corporation (the "Company") (PBNC), parent company of Paragon Bank (the "Bank"), today reported unaudited financial results for the three-month period ended September 30, 2017. Net income during the three-month period increased 20.8% to $4.2 million compared to $3.5 million for the same period in 2016. The increase in earnings was primarily driven by a $2.1 million increase in net interest income, which was a result of continued loan growth. Income during the third quarter of 2017 was impacted by loan loss provision of $405,000, compared to $391,000 for the same period in 2016. In addition, the Company incurred $98,000 in additional costs directly attributable to its pending merger with TowneBank. Fully diluted earnings per share ("EPS") were $0.77 for the third quarter of 2017 compared to $0.64 for the same period in 2016.

"Once again our quarterly results reflected outstanding growth, earnings, efficiency and quality. Our year-to-date loan growth is an impressive 17%. We recorded a return on average assets of 0.99% or $4.1 million, which is the largest earnings quarter in our history. Our efficiency ratio is among the lowest in NC and our credit quality is at levels not seen since 2007. Our dependence on brokered deposits is now at an all-time low of 1.76%. These are outstanding quarterly results which would make any bank CEO very proud," said Robert C. Hatley, President and CEO.

The annualized return on average assets for the third quarter of 2017 was 0.99% and the annualized return on average equity was 11.34% compared to 0.95% and 10.35%, respectively, for the same ratios in the third quarter of 2016. The improvements in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, compared to the respective periods of 2016, primarily reflect the benefit of balance sheet growth.

Consolidated Assets

Total consolidated assets as of September 30, 2017 were $1.74 billion compared to $1.50 billion as of December 31, 2016. Assets increased during the quarter by $108.4 million from $1.64 billion as of June 30, 2017 to the current level primarily as a result of strong loan demand and increased cash as a result of strong deposit growth during the quarter.

Loan Portfolio

Loans outstanding increased by $50.1 million during the third quarter from $1.34 billion at June 30, 2017 to $1.39 billion at September 30, 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, loans have increased $198.7 million, an annualized rate of 22.3%. All loan categories experienced strong growth, except commercial and industrial loans, which decreased $2.9 million during the third quarter of 2017. Growth for some of the other loan categories for the same period was as follows: commercial real estate - $32.7 million, construction and land development - $4.8 million and consumer real estate - $15.5 million. The Company continues to see strong loan growth throughout the Raleigh, Charlotte and Cary markets.

Deposit Portfolio

Total deposits increased by $113.4 million during the third quarter of 2017. For the first nine months of 2017, deposits are up $115.9 million despite the Company's continued effort to pay down wholesale deposits, which have decreased by $54.1 million year-to-date. During the third quarter of 2017, demand account balances increased $52.6 million and money market and interest checking accounts increased $71.1 million. Time deposits decreased $10.3 million, driven by reduction in the brokered deposit portfolio of $17.3 million. As a result of the strong deposit growth, the Company was able to decrease its Federal Home Loan Bank advances by $10.0 million during the quarter despite its strong loan growth during the same period.

Credit Quality

The Company recorded a $405,000 loan loss provision for the third quarter of 2017 as a result of the growth in total loans. There was $391,000 in provision for loan losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was 0.68% and 0.66%, respectively.

Asset quality continued to remain strong as nonperforming loans were 0.03% of total loans and the ratio of total nonperforming assets to total assets including foreclosed real estate was 0.22% at September 30, 2017.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income increased by $2.1 million or 17.6% during the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016. Net interest income totaled $13.8 million during the third quarter of 2017, representing a net interest margin of 3.47% on a tax-equivalent basis, unchanged from the third quarter of 2016. Net interest margin was the same primarily as a result of increased rates in Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings offset by higher yields on average total interest earning assets. The yield on these assets was 4.20% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to 4.07% for the same period in 2016.

Non-Interest Income

For the third quarter of 2017, non-interest income was $274,000 compared to $438,000 for the same period in 2016. The third quarter of 2017 was negatively impacted by $311,000, primarily as a result of the write-down and loss on foreclosed real estate. There were no such losses in the third quarter of 2016.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense in the third quarter of 2017 was $7.4 million compared to $6.8 million in the third quarter of 2016. Personnel expense increased by $353,000 as the Company added temporary personnel to compensate for the departure of employees who have left the Bank due to the pending merger with TowneBank. The Bank also added more lenders and staff to support its strong growth. In addition, the Company incurred $98,000 in additional merger-related costs in the third quarter of 2017 as a result of the pending merger with TowneBank. There were no such costs in the third quarter of 2016.

MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Blair Kelly - MMI Public Relations, 919.233.6600 or BKelly@MMIpublicrelations.com
Meghan Killela - Paragon Bank, 919.534.7402 or MKillela@ParagonBank.com

INVESTOR INQUIRIES:

Steve Crouse - Paragon Bank, Chief Financial Officer, 919.534.7404 or SCrouse@ParagonBank.com

NEW MEDIA CONTENT:

Paragon Bank LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/paragon-bank/

ABOUT PARAGON COMMERCIAL CORPORATION

Paragon Commercial Corporation is the parent company of Paragon Bank, which provides a private banking experience to businesses, professionals, executives, entrepreneurs and other individuals. Founded in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1999, Paragon Bank provides banking services through highly responsive professionals, an extensive courier service, online and mobile technologies, free worldwide ATM access, and a select number of strategically placed offices in Raleigh, Cary and Charlotte, NC. For more information, visit http://ParagonBank.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation: failure to obtain all regulatory approvals and meet other closing conditions pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of April 26, 2017, by and among TowneBank, TB Acquisition, LLC, and the Company (the "TowneBank Merger"), including approval by the stockholders of the Company, on the expected terms and time schedule: delay in closing the TowneBank Merger; difficulties and delays in integrating TowneBank's and the Company's businesses or fully realizing cost savings and other benefits; business disruption as a result of the TowneBank Merger; customer acceptance of TowneBank products and services; potential difficulties encountered in expanding into a new market following the TowneBank Merger; the effects of future economic conditions; governmental fiscal and monetary policies; legislative and regulatory changes; the risks of changes in interest rates; management of growth; fluctuations in our financial results; reliance on key personnel; our ability to compete effectively; privacy, security and other risks associated with our business; and the other factors set forth from time to time in our SEC filings, copies of which are available free of charge within the Investor Relations section of our website at https://paragonbank.com/investor-relations/ or upon request from our investor relations department. Paragon Commercial Corporation assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Some of the financial measures included in this press release are not measures of financial performance recognized by the United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures are "overhead to average assets" and "efficiency ratio." Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in its analysis of our performance and because of market expectations of use of these ratios to evaluate the Company. Management believes each of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information about our financial condition and results of operation.

"Overhead to average assets" reflects the amount of non-interest expenses incurred in comparison to the total size of the Company and provides investors with an additional measure of our productivity.

The efficiency ratio shows the amount of revenue generated for each dollar spent and provides investors with a measure of our productivity.

These non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables at the end of this release under the caption "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

PARAGON COMMERCIAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Year to Date

Sept. 30,

June 30,

March 31,

Dec. 31,

Sept. 30,

as of September 30,

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

2017

2017

2017

2016

2016

2017

2016

Loans and loan fees

$

15,241

$

14,014

$

13,070

$

13,261

$

12,544

$

42,325

$

35,574

Investment securities

1,501

1,465

1,403

1,264

1,214

4,369

3,802

Federal funds and other interest income

73

71

159

48

97

303

218

Total Interest and Dividend Income

16,815

15,550

14,632

14,573

13,855

46,997

39,594

Interest-bearing checking and money markets

1,125

1,127

1,074

1,064

966

3,326

2,659

Time deposits

472

458

511

560

588

1,441

1,711

Borrowings and repurchase agreements

1,376

947

728

530

534

3,051

1,605

Total Interest Expense

2,973

2,532

2,313

2,154

2,088

7,818

5,975

Net Interest Income

13,842

13,018

12,319

12,419

11,767

39,179

33,619

Provision for loan losses

405

650

159

200

391

1,214

391

Net Interest Income after Provision for Loan Losses

13,437

12,368

12,160

12,219

11,376

37,965

33,228

Non-interest Income

Increase in cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance

258

255

258

247

220

771

669

Net gain on sale of securities

-

-

-

21

-

-

85

Deposit service charges and other fees

75

68

62

64

65

205

179

Mortgage banking revenues

6

26

51

48

59

83

124

Net loss on sale or write-down of other real estate

(311

)

-

-

(443

)

-

(311

)

(257

)

Other noninterest income

246

145

132

272

94

523

285

Total Non-interest Income

274

494

503

209

438

1,271

1,085

Non-interest Expense

Salaries and employee benefits

4,265

4,310

4,462

4,083

3,912

13,037

11,521

Occupancy

390

373

359

393

362

1,122

1,048

Furniture and equipment

418

451

502

473

430

1,371

1,312

Data processing

547

580

530

438

339

1,657

1,159

Directors fees and expenses

226

253

224

193

219

703

690

Professional fees

149

244

203

429

208

596

627

FDIC and other supervisory assessments

176

201

166

71

220

543

632

Advertising and public relations

228

297

221

210

239

746

661

Unreimbursed loan costs and foreclosure related expenses

214

104

174

145

172

492

383

Merger related costs

98

368

-

-

-

466

-

Other expenses

663

676

771

573

677

2,110

1,833

Total Non-interest Expenses

7,374

7,857

7,612

7,008

6,778

22,843

19,866

Income before income taxes

6,337

5,005

5,051

5,420

5,036

16,393

14,447

Income tax expense

2,165

1,722

1,697

1,798

1,581

5,584

4,679

Net income

$

4,172

$

3,283

$

3,354

$

3,622

$

3,455

$

10,809

$

9,768

Basic earnings per share

$

0.77

$

0.61

$

0.62

$

0.67

$

0.64

$

2.00

$

2.02

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.77

$

0.61

$

0.62

$

0.67

$

0.64

$

2.00

$

2.00

PARAGON COMMERCIAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)


Sept. 30,

June 30,

March 31,

Dec. 31,

Sept. 30,

(Dollars and shares in thousands)

2017

2017

2017

2016

2016

Assets

Cash and due from banks

$

83,428

$

17,564

$

56,478

$

43,005

$

73,706

Investment securities - available for sale, at fair value

197,159

203,544

194,008

197,441

178,606

Loans-net of unearned income and deferred fees

1,389,987

1,339,860

1,230,953

1,191,280

1,165,345

Allowance for loan losses

(9,402

)

(8,921

)

(8,125

)

(7,909

)

(7,925

)

1,380,585

1,330,939

1,222,828

1,183,371

1,157,420

Premises and equipment, net

15,296

15,233

15,420

15,642

15,858

Bank owned life insurance

34,961

34,703

34,448

34,190

28,943

Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost

12,403

12,828

5,603

8,400

5,425

Accrued interest receivable

4,840

4,690

4,403

4,368

4,022

Deferred tax assets

4,270

3,882

4,734

4,841

3,361

Other real estate owned and repossessed property

3,399

4,690

4,740

4,740

5,183

Other assets

7,584

7,494

7,365

7,769

6,335

Total Assets

$

1,743,925

$

1,635,567

$

1,550,027

$

1,503,767

$

1,478,859

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Liabilities

Deposits:

Demand, non-interest bearing

$

253,511

$

200,944

$

222,904

$

211,202

$

188,398

Money market accounts and interest checking

865,355

794,255

848,705

742,046

767,124

Time deposits

169,277

179,531

193,249

219,007

243,563

Total deposits

1,288,143

1,174,730

1,264,858

1,172,255

1,199,085

Repurchase agreements and federal funds purchased

21,064

21,256

19,529

20,174

19,796

Borrowings

260,000

270,000

100,000

150,000

100,000

Subordinated debentures

18,558

18,558

18,558

18,558

18,558

Other liabilities

7,107

5,730

6,937

6,679

6,398

Total Liabilities

1,594,872

1,490,274

1,409,882

1,367,666

1,343,837

Stockholders' equity

Common stock, $0.008 par value

44

44

44

44

44

Additional paid in capital

80,822

80,721

80,323

80,147

80,015

Retained earnings

69,559

65,387

62,104

58,750

55,128

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(1,372

)

(859

)

(2,326

)

(2,840

)

(165

)

Total Stockholders' Equity

149,053

145,293

140,145

136,101

135,022

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$

1,743,925

$

1,635,567

$

1,550,027

$

1,503,767

$

1,478,859

PARAGON COMMERCIAL CORPORATION
LOANS
(Unaudited)

Sept. 30,

June 30,

March 31,

Dec. 31,

Sept. 30,

(In thousands except per share data)

2017

2017

2017

2016

2016

Loans

Construction and land development

$

75,465

$

70,661

$

78,552

$

79,738

$

74,605

Commercial real estate:

Commercial real estate

448,762

433,486

391,795

365,569

356,833

Commercial real estate - owner occupied

221,661

202,982

193,291

186,892

178,631

Multifamily, nonresidential and junior liens

104,892

106,106

91,368

89,191

96,643

Total commercial real estate

775,315

742,574

676,454

641,652

632,107

Consumer real estate:

Home equity lines

92,285

87,229

86,550

87,489

86,361

Secured by 1-4 family residential, secured by 1st deeds of trust

242,655

231,903

208,504

195,343

190,913

Secured by 1-4 family residential, secured by 2nd deeds of trust

4,425

4,712

4,247

4,289

4,358

Total consumer real estate

339,365

323,844

299,301

287,121

281,632

Commercial and industrial loans

178,765

181,644

162,580

170,709

164,913

Consumer and other

21,077

21,137

14,066

12,060

12,088

Total loans

1,389,987

1,339,860

1,230,953

1,191,280

1,165,345

PARAGON COMMERCIAL CORPORATION
OTHER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Sept. 30,

June 30,

March 31,

Dec. 31,

Sept. 30,

(In thousands, except per share data)

2017

2017

2017

2016

2016

Selected Average Balances:

Average total assets

$

1,681,192

$

1,586,566

$

1,557,830

$

1,489,487

$

1,452,526

Average earning assets

1,615,475

1,527,475

1,492,181

1,409,467

1,378,081

Average loans

1,359,440

1,272,604

1,209,314

1,184,790

1,135,448

Average total deposits

1,176,609

1,197,472

1,165,010

1,169,062

1,123,277

Average stockholders' equity

147,212

142,832

138,005

135,656

133,494

Performance Ratios:

Return on average assets

0.99

%

0.83

%

0.86

%

0.97

%

0.95

%

Return on average equity

11.34

%

9.19

%

9.72

%

10.68

%

10.35

%

Tangible common equity ratio

8.55

%

8.88

%

9.04

%

9.05

%

9.13

%

Total interest-earning assets

$

1,678,994

$

1,569,602

$

1,482,570

$

1,435,505

$

1,408,456

Tax equivalent net interest margin

3.47

%

3.51

%

3.44

%

3.58

%

3.47

%

Overhead to average assets (1)

1.73

%

1.89

%

1.95

%

1.88

%

1.87

%

Efficiency ratio (1)

49.50

%

54.09

%

57.88

%

52.66

%

54.38

%

Credit Ratios:

Non-accrual loans

$

466

$

492

$

500

$

968

$

948

Other real estate owned

$

3,399

$

4,690

$

4,740

$

4,740

$

5,183

Nonperforming assets to total assets

0.22

%

0.32

%

0.34

%

0.38

%

0.41

%

Nonperforming loans to total loans

0.03

%

0.04

%

0.04

%

0.08

%

0.08

%

Loans past due >30 days and still accruing

$

149

$

-

$

59

$

-

$

499

Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)

$

(76

)

$

(146

)

$

(57

)

$

216

$

452

Annualized net charge-offs/average loans

-0.02

%

-0.05

%

-0.02

%

0.07

%

0.16

%

Allowance for loan losses/total loans

0.68

%

0.67

%

0.66

%

0.66

%

0.68

%

Allowance for loan losses/nonperforming loans

2018

%

1813

%

1625

%

817

%

836

%

Per share data:

Average diluted common shares outstanding

5,421,388

5,413,270

5,422,590

5,422,817

5,439,596

End of quarter common shares outstanding

5,459,982

5,458,528

5,452,088

5,450,713

5,450,042

Book value per common share

$

27.30

$

26.62

$

25.70

$

24.97

$

24.77

(1) This measure is not a measure recognized under United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and is therefore considered to be a non-GAAP financial measure. Please see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a reconciliation of this measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

"Overhead to average assets" is defined as non-interest expense less merger-related costs divided by total average assets. We believe overhead to average assets is an important indicator of the Company's level of non-interest expenses relative to the Company's overall size, which assists in the evaluation of our productivity. While the overhead to average assets ratio is a measure of productivity, its value reflects the attributes of the business model we employ.

Three Months Ended

Sept. 30,

June 30,

March 31,

Dec. 31,

Sept. 30,

(Dollars in thousands)

2017

2017

2017

2016

2016

Overhead to Average Assets

Non-interest expense

$

7,374

$

7,857

$

7,612

$

7,008

$

6,778

Less merger related costs

98

368

-

-

-

Adjusted non-interest expense

$

7,276

$

7,489

$

7,612

$

7,008

$

6,778

Average Assets

$

1,681,192

$

1,586,566

$

1,557,830

$

1,489,487

$

1,452,526

Overhead to Average Assets

1.73

%

1.89

%

1.95

%

1.88

%

1.87

%

"Efficiency ratio" is defined as total non-interest expense less merger-related costs divided by adjusted operating revenue. Adjusted operating revenue is equal to net interest income (taxable equivalent) plus non-interest income, adjusted to exclude the impacts of gains and losses on the sale of securities and gains and losses on the sale or write-down of foreclosed real estate because we believe the timing of the recognition of those items to be discretionary. We believe the efficiency ratio is important as an indicator of productivity because it shows the amount of revenue generated by our operations for each dollar spent. While the efficiency ratio is a measure of productivity, its value reflects the attributes of the business model we employ.

Three Months Ended

Sept. 30,

June 30,

March 31,

Dec. 31,

Sept. 30,

(Dollars in thousands)

2017

2017

2017

2016

2016

Efficiency Ratio

Non-interest expense

$

7,374

$

7,857

$

7,612

$

7,008

$

6,778

Less merger related costs

98

368

-

-

-

Adjusted non-interest expense

$

7,276

$

7,489

$

7,612

$

7,008

$

6,778

Net interest taxable equivalent income

$

14,114

$

13,351

$

12,649

$

12,676

$

12,026

Non-interest income

274

494

503

209

438

Less gain on investment securities

-

-

-

(21

)

-

Plus loss on sale or writedown of foreclosed real estate

311

-

-

443

-

Adjusted operating revenue

$

14,699

$

13,845

$

13,152

$

13,307

$

12,464

Efficiency ratio

49.50

%

54.09

%

57.88

%

52.66

%

54.38

SOURCE: Paragon Commercial Corporation

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