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BancTrust Financial Group, Inc. Reports Improved Third Quarter Results

MOBILE, Ala., Oct. 29, /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BancTrust Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: BTFG) today reported its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009. The Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $30,000, or $0.00 per fully diluted share, for the third quarter of 2009 compared with net income of $223,000, or $0.01 per fully diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008. Net income before the preferred stock dividend was $786,000 in the third quarter of 2009 compared to $223,000 for the same period in 2008. For the first nine months of 2009, BancTrust reported a net loss of $124.7 million, or $7.08 per diluted share, compared with net income of $4.7 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2008. The 2009 nine month results include a $97.4 million ($5.53 per diluted share) non-cash write-off of goodwill. The 2009 earnings per share were also diminished by preferred stock dividends of $756,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the third quarter and $2.3 million, or $0.13 per share, for the first nine months. No comparable preferred dividends were paid in 2008.

"BancTrust's results in the third quarter compared to the prior two quarters benefitted from growth in our net interest margin," stated W. Bibb Lamar, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of BancTrust. "We've made further progress in stabilizing our loan portfolio since mid-year, and our improved credit metrics highlight our success. Our non-performing loans were down almost 5% since June 30, 2009.

"Our outlook for the fourth quarter is positive based on our current credit trends and the recovery we are experiencing in certain key markets, including Mobile," continued Mr. Lamar. "We remain focused on reducing our non-performing assets through workouts on non-performing loans and sales of other real estate. We believe these steps are key to building our profitability in future quarters."

Third Quarter Results

Net interest revenue increased to $13.6 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared with $12.4 million in the linked second quarter of 2009. The increase was enhanced by a 27 basis point improvement in the net interest margin to 2.92% compared with 2.65% in the second quarter of 2009.

For the third quarter of 2008, net interest revenue was $14.4 million and our net interest margin was 3.25%. The net interest margin has declined 33 basis points since the third quarter of last year as a result of numerous interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and the negative impact of reduced interest income associated with the increase in nonperforming assets over the past year. Approximately 50.7% of BancTrust's loan portfolio is tied to variable interest rates.

Total loans have declined 1.7% since September 30, 2008, because of a slowdown in economic activity in our coastal markets and an increase in other real estate owned (OREO). Total loans were down $25.4 million to $1.5 billion at September 30, 2009, compared with the same time in 2008.

"Our focus has been on credit quality throughout our franchise and particularly in our Florida market, and we are pleased with the results that occurred during the quarter," stated Mr. Lamar. Non-performing loans declined 4.8% to $119.7 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared with the linked second quarter total of $125.7 million. Renegotiated loans, all of which are accruing interest, account for 10.5% of non-performing loans at September 30, 2009. Other real estate owned also declined in the latest quarter to $49.9 million at September 30, 2009 compared with $51.8 million at June 30, 2009. BancTrust had $69.9 million in non-performing loans and $46.7 million of OREO at September 30, 2008. For the second consecutive quarter, loans that were 30 days past due and accruing interest were approximately 1.35% of total loans.

BancTrust recorded a provision for loan losses of $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2009, a substantial reduction from the second quarter 2009 provision of $22.1 million and a slight reduction from the $1.9 million provision in the third quarter of 2008. Net charge-offs also declined in the third quarter of 2009 to $2.8 million compared with $10.9 million in the second quarter of 2009 and compared to $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2008. The allowance for loan losses was 3.20% of total loans at September 30, 2009, compared with 3.27% in the second quarter of 2009 and 1.65% in the third quarter of 2008.

"We strengthened our allowance for loan losses over the past year to account for the deterioration in the economy, particularly the soft real estate conditions in our Florida market," continued Mr. Lamar. "We utilized some of our reserves in the third quarter to account for write-offs previously reserved for. We expect to further utilize our reserves in coming quarters as problem loans are moved through our system. We remain diligent in protecting our strong capital base to buffer BancTrust from any prolonged weakness in the economy."

Total non-interest revenue increased 2.4% to $5.7 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared with $5.6 million in the third quarter of 2008. Some of the increase was due to securities gains and higher other income, offset partially by lower trust department income and service charges.

We are pleased to report total non-interest expense was down 6.7% to $16.7 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared with $17.9 million in the third quarter of 2008. BancTrust's cost-cutting initiatives are continuing. These initiatives contributed to lower expenses for salaries and employee benefits, lower furniture and equipment expenses and lower net occupancy expenses in the third quarter of 2009 compared with the same quarter last year. Other expenses rose because of increased FDIC insurance costs ($580,000) and higher carrying costs for other real estate ($425,000), partially offset by a $1,046,000 decrease in loss on OREO compared with the third quarter of 2008.

BancTrust was classified as well-capitalized at the end of the third quarter of 2009. Total risk-based capital was 12.9% for the holding company and 14.0% for the bank, compared with a regulatory requirement of 10.0% for a well-capitalized institution and a minimum regulatory requirement of 8.0%. Tier 1 risk-based capital was 11.6% for the holding company and 12.7% for the bank, both measures significantly above the requirement of 6.0% for a wellcapitalized institution and minimum regulatory requirement of 4.0%.

Nine Months Results

Net loss available to common shareholders for the first nine months of 2009 was $124.7 million compared with net income of $4.7 million for the first nine months of 2008. Net loss available to common shareholders per diluted share was $7.08 for the first nine months of 2009 compared with net income of $0.27 for the same period in 2008. The 2009 results included a $97.4 million ($5.53 per diluted share) non-cash write-off of goodwill and $2.3 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in preferred stock dividends.

Net interest income was $38.7 million in the first nine months of 2009 compared with $47.4 million in the first nine months of 2008. The decline in interest income was due primarily to a 69 basis point decrease in the net interest margin compared with the first nine months of 2008. We are pleased that trend was reversed in the third quarter. BancTrust's increase in non-performing assets over the past year also contributed to the decline in net interest income and net interest margin, a trend that was also reversed in the third quarter.

The provision for loan losses rose to $34.9 million in the 2009 period compared with $7.2 million in the 2008 period. The increase in the provision since last year was due primarily to increased charge-offs and a higher level of non-performing loans. At September 30, 2009, non-performing assets totaled $169.6 million compared with $116.6 million at September 30, 2008.

Non-interest income increased 0.7% to $17.6 million in the first nine months of 2009 compared with $17.5 million in the first nine months of 2008. The 2009 results included a $2.9 million increase in security gains offset partially by decreased trust department revenue and service charges. The 2008 results included a $1.1 million gain on the sale of an interest rate floor contract.

Non-interest expense, excluding the $97.4 million charge for goodwill impairment, increased to $61.9 million in the first nine months of 2009 compared with $51.0 million in the first nine months of 2008. The increase was due primarily to a $9.9 million loss/write down on OREO, increased FDIC insurance costs and higher carrying costs related to OREO compared with 2008.

BancTrust's Board of Directors did not declare a dividend for the fourth quarter of 2009. "Our Board of Directors will continue to evaluate the advisability of future cash dividends, keeping in mind our goals of maintaining a strong capital base and building long-term shareholder value," stated Mr. Lamar.

About BancTrust Financial Group, Inc.

BancTrust Financial Group, Inc. is a registered bank holding company headquartered in Mobile, Alabama. The Company provides an array of traditional financial services through 42 bank offices in the southern two-thirds of Alabama and 9 bank offices in northwest Florida. BancTrust's common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol BTFG.

Additional information concerning BancTrust Financial Group can be accessed at www.banktrustonline.com by following the link to investor relations.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning and subject to the protection of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expect," "may," "could," "intend," "project", "hope," "schedule," "outlook," "estimate," "anticipate," "should," "will," "plan," "believe," "continue," "predict," "contemplate" and similar expressions. Our ability to accurately project results or predict the future effects of our plans and strategies is inherently limited. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are based on information presently available to management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, in addition to the inherent uncertainty of predictions, including, without limitation, risks that competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly; changes in the interest rate environment may reduce margins; general economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a further deterioration in credit quality and/or a reduction in demand for credit; legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards and changes resulting from the recently enacted Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and programs enacted by the U. S. Treasury and BancTrust's regulators to address capital and liquidity concerns in the financial system, may adversely affect the business in which BancTrust is engaged; BancTrust may be unable to obtain required shareholder or regulatory approval or financing for any proposed acquisition or other strategic or capital raising transactions; costs or difficulties related to the integration of BancTrust's businesses may be greater than expected; deposit attrition, customer loss or revenue loss following acquisitions may be greater than expected; competitors may have greater financial resources and develop products that enable these competitors to compete more successfully than BancTrust can compete; and the other risks described in BancTrust's SEC reports and filings under "Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors." You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, since the statements speak only as of the date that they are made. BancTrust has no obligation and does not undertake to publicly update, revise or correct any of its forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, or after the respective dates on which such statements otherwise are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

                                  BANCTRUST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
                                               (BTFG)
                                  Financial Highlights (Unaudited)
                              (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                              Quarter Ended
                                              -------------
                    September   June     March    December   September
                    30, 2009  30, 2009  31, 2009  31, 2008    30, 2008
                    --------  --------  --------  --------    --------
    EARNINGS:
    Interest
     revenue        $21,399    $21,066   $21,911   $24,210     $25,266
    Interest
     expense          7,817      8,669     9,149    10,697      10,898
                      -----      -----     -----    ------      ------

    Net interest
     revenue         13,582     12,397    12,762    13,513      14,368

    Provision for
     loan losses      1,725     22,050    11,100     8,086       1,863

    Trust revenue       866        926       926     1,138       1,018
    Service charges
     on deposit
     accounts         2,379      2,312     2,271     2,697       2,802
    Securities gains    667          4     2,299       135           3
    Gain on sale of
     interest rate
     floor                0          0         0         0           0
    Other income,
     charges and
     fees             1,807      1,716     1,456     1,503       1,764
                      -----      -----     -----     -----       -----
    Total
     non-interest
     revenue          5,719      4,958     6,952     5,473       5,587
                      -----      -----     -----     -----       -----

    Salaries,
     pensions
     and other
     employee
     benefits         6,915      7,449     7,356     7,598       7,626
    Net occupancy,
     furniture and
     equipment
     expense          2,757      2,599     2,676     2,954       2,998
    Intangible
     amortization       687        688       687       780         949
    Goodwill
     Impairment           0     97,367         0         0           0
    Loss (gain)
     on other real
     estate, net        663      9,340     1,643       301       1,709
    FDIC insurance
     assessment         778      2,290       389       404         198
    Other real estate
     carrying cost      685      1,505       528       405         260
    Other non-interest
     expense          4,226      4,200     3,874     4,199       4,166
                      -----      -----     -----     -----       -----
    Total non-interest
     expense         16,711    125,438    17,153    16,641      17,906
                     ------    -------    ------    ------      ------
    (Loss) income
     before income
     taxes              865   (130,133)   (8,539)   (5,741)        186
    Income tax
     expense (benefit)   79    (12,217)   (3,261)   (2,249)        (37)
                         --    -------    ------    ------         ---
    Net income (loss)   786   (117,916)   (5,278)   (3,492)        223
                        ---   --------    ------    ------         ---

    Effective preferred
     stock dividend     756        761       745       111           0
                        ---        ---       ---       ---         ---

    Net (loss) income
     to common
     shareholders       $30  ($118,677)  ($6,023)  ($3,603)       $223
                        ===  =========   =======   =======        ====

    (Loss) earnings per
     common share:
      Total
      Basic            0.00      (6.74)    (0.34)    (0.21)      $0.01
      Diluted          0.00      (6.74)    (0.34)    (0.21)       0.01

    Cash dividends
     declared per
     common share     $0.00      $0.01    $0.025     $0.13       $0.13

    Book value per
     common share     $6.61      $6.55    $13.32    $13.80      $14.00

    Common shares
     outstanding     17,634     17,629    17,594    17,555      17,548
    Basic average
     common shares
     outstanding     17,634     17,613    17,588    17,555      17,548
    Diluted average
     common shares
     outstanding     17,634     17,613    17,715    17,712      17,721



    STATEMENT OF
     CONDITION:    09/30/09   06/30/09   03/31/09   12/31/08   09/30/08
                   --------   --------    --------  --------   --------
    Cash and cash
     equivalents    $94,724   $159,619  $201,967   $85,069     $99,638
    Securities
     available
     for sale       304,461    270,771   208,655   221,879     215,126
    Loans and loans
     held for
     sale         1,496,258  1,498,336 1,532,003 1,533,806   1,521,704
    Allowance for
     loan losses    (47,903)   (49,008)  (37,872)  (30,683)    (25,116)
    Goodwill              0          0    97,367    97,367      97,506
    Other intangible
     assets           7,415      8,102     8,790     9,477      10,256
    Other assets    181,114    186,834   174,750   171,262     169,774
                    -------    -------   -------   -------     -------
    Total assets $2,036,069 $2,074,654 $2,185,660  $2,088,177  $2,088,888
                 ========== ========== ==========  ==========  ==========

    Deposits     $1,738,430 $1,777,471 $1,770,933  $1,662,477  $1,687,116
    Short term
     borrowings      20,000     20,000     20,000   20,000         959
    FHLB borrowings
     and long
     term debt       93,087     93,125     93,209   93,398     134,473
    Other
     liabilities     20,510     21,264     19,954   22,914      20,677
    Preferred stock  47,454     47,323     47,194   47,085           0
    Common
     shareholders'
     equity         116,588    115,471    234,370  242,303     245,663
                    -------    -------    -------  -------     -------
    Total liabilities
     and shareholders'
     equity      $2,036,069 $2,074,654 $2,185,660  $2,088,177  $2,088,888
                 ========== ========== ==========  ==========  ==========



                                           Quarter Ended
                ---------    --------    --------     --------   --------
                09/30/09     06/30/09    03/31/09     12/31/08   09/30/08
                --------     --------    --------     --------   --------
    AVERAGE BALANCES:
    Total
     assets     $2,049,546  $2,163,702  $2,139,138   $2,072,075  $2,088,019
    Earning
     assets      1,865,263   1,889,139   1,848,420    1,766,228  1,774,193
    Loans        1,491,762   1,525,170   1,533,361    1,521,737  1,542,183
    Deposits     1,752,623   1,753,792   1,710,054    1,670,043  1,677,430
    Common shareholders'
     equity        116,001     231,964     242,563      246,079    247,008

    PERFORMANCE RATIOS:

    Return on
     average
     assets          0.15%     -21.86%      -1.00%       -0.67%      0.04%
    Return on
     average common
     shareholders'
     equity          0.10%    -205.21%     -10.07%       -5.82%      0.36%
    Net interest
     margin (tax
     equivalent)    2.92%       2.65%       2.83%         3.08%      3.25%


    ASSET QUALITY:

    Ratio of
     non-performing
     assets to total
     assets           8.33%       8.56%       7.23%       5.91%      5.58%
    Ratio of
     allowance for
     loan losses
     to total loans,
     net of
     unearned
     income           3.20%       3.27%       2.47%        2.00%     1.65%
    Net loans
     charged-off to
     average loans
     (annualized)     0.75%       2.87%       1.03%        0.66%     0.27%
    Ratio of ending
     allowance to
     total non-performing
     loans            40.02%      39.00%      35.07%       42.32%    35.94%

    CAPITAL RATIOS:

    Average common
     shareholders'
     equity to
     average total
     assets            5.66%      10.72%      11.34%       11.88%    11.83%
    Dividend payout
     ratio              N/A         N/A         N/A          N/A   1300.00%




                                   Nine Months Ended
                                   -----------------
                                      September 30,
                                     2009        2008
                                     ----        ----

    EARNINGS:
    Interest revenue              $64,376     $83,882
    Interest expense               25,635      36,491
                                   ------      ------

    Net interest
     revenue                       38,741      47,391

    Provision for loan
     losses                        34,875       7,174

    Trust revenue                   2,718       3,018
    Service charges on
     deposit accounts               6,962       8,372
    Securities gains                2,970          51
    Gain on sale of
     interest rate
     floor                              0       1,115
    Other income,
     charges and fees               4,979       4,957
                                    -----       -----
    Total non-interest
     revenue                       17,629      17,513
                                   ------      ------

    Salaries, pensions
     and other employee
     benefits                      21,720      23,675
    Net occupancy,
     furniture and
     equipment expense              8,032       9,137
    Intangible
     amortization                   2,062       2,721
    Goodwill Impairment            97,367           0
    Loss (gain) on
     other real estate,
     net                           11,646       1,709
    FDIC insurance
     assessment                     3,457         477
    Other real estate
     carrying cost                  2,718         902
    Other non-interest
     expense                       12,300      12,407
                                   ------      ------
    Total non-interest
     expense                      159,302      51,028
                                  -------      ------
    (Loss) income
     before income
     taxes                       (137,807)      6,702
    Income tax expense
     (benefit)                    (15,399)      1,954
                                  -------       -----
    Net income (loss)            (122,408)      4,748
                                 --------       -----

    Effective
     preferred stock
     dividend                       2,262           0
                                    -----           -

    Net (loss) income
     to common
     shareholders               ($124,670)     $4,748
                                =========      ======

    (Loss) earnings per common share:
      Total
      Basic                        -$7.08       $0.27
      Diluted                       -7.08        0.27

    Cash dividends declared
      per common share             $0.035       $0.39

    Book value per
     common share                   $6.61      $14.00

    Common shares
     outstanding                   17,634      17,548
    Basic average
     common shares
     outstanding                   17,612      17,535
    Diluted average
     common shares
     outstanding                   17,612      17,689



    STATEMENT OF
     CONDITION:              09/30/09       09/30/08
                             --------       --------
    Cash and cash
     equivalents                  $94,724     $99,638
    Securities
     available for sale           304,461     215,126
    Loans and loans
     held for sale              1,496,258   1,521,704
    Allowance for loan
     losses                       (47,903)    (25,116)
    Goodwill                            0      97,506
    Other intangible
     assets                         7,415      10,256
    Other assets                  181,114     169,774
                                  -------     -------
    Total
     assets                    $2,036,069  $2,088,888
                               ==========  ==========

    Deposits                   $1,738,430  $1,687,116
    Short term
     borrowings                    20,000         959
    FHLB borrowings
     and long term debt            93,087     134,473
    Other liabilities              20,510      20,677
    Preferred stock                47,454           0
    Common
     shareholders'
     equity                       116,588     245,663
                                  -------     -------
    Total liabilities
     and shareholders'
     equity                    $2,036,069  $2,088,888
                               ==========  ==========

                        Nine Months Ended
                        -----------------   --------
                             09/30/09       09/30/08
                             --------       --------
    AVERAGE BALANCES:
    Total
     assets                    $2,117,134  $2,131,315
    Earning assets              1,867,669   1,827,521
    Loans                       1,516,612   1,572,870
    Deposits                    1,738,979   1,717,575
    Common
     shareholders'
     equity                       196,379     248,713

    PERFORMANCE RATIOS:

    Return on average
     assets                         -7.73%       0.30%
    Return on average
     common
     shareholders'
     equity                        -84.88%       2.55%
    Net interest
     margin (tax
     equivalent)                     2.80%       3.49%


    ASSET QUALITY:

    Ratio of non-
     performing assets
     to total assets                 8.33%       5.58%
    Ratio of allowance
     for loan losses to
     total loans, net
     of unearned income              3.20%       1.65%
    Net loans charged-
     off to average
     loans (annualized)              1.56%       0.47%
    Ratio of ending
     allowance to total
     non-performing
     loans                          40.02%      35.94%

    CAPITAL RATIOS:

    Average common shareholders' equity to
     average total
      assets                         9.28%      11.67%
    Dividend payout
     ratio                            N/A      144.44%




SOURCE BancTrust Financial Group, Inc.

Copyright (2009) PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.
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