Bay Street News

1ST Constitution Bancorp Reports Net Income of $3.3 Million For the Fourth Quarter and $12.0 Million For the Full Year 2018 and Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.075 Per Share

CRANBURY, N.J., Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 1ST Constitution Bancorp (NASDAQ: FCCY), the holding company (the “Company”) for 1ST Constitution Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $3.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to net income of $574,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2017. Diluted earnings per share were $0.38 for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.07 for the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Adjusted Net Income, which is net income excluding the after-tax effect of merger-related expenses, gain on bargain purchase and revaluation of deferred tax assets, increased 32.1% to $3.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to Adjusted Net Income of $2.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2017. For the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company recorded a $46,000 gain on bargain purchase due to adjustments to deferred tax assets related to acquisition accounting. For the fourth quarter of 2017, $265,000 of merger-related expenses were incurred and an additional $1.7 million of income tax expense was recorded due to the revaluation of the Company’s deferred tax assets.

For the fourth quarter of 2018, Adjusted Net Income per diluted share was $0.38, an increase of 26.7%, compared to Adjusted Net Income per diluted share of $0.30 for the fourth quarter of 2017.

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.075 per share of common stock that will be paid on February 28, 2019 to shareholders of record on February 15, 2019.

FOURTH QUARTER 2018 HIGHLIGHTS

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company reported net income of $12.0 million and Adjusted Net Income of $13.4 million compared to net income of $6.9 million and Adjusted Net Income of $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. For the year ended December 31, 2018, diluted earnings per share were $1.40 and Adjusted Net Income per diluted share was $1.56 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.83 and Adjusted Net Income per diluted share of $1.06 for the year ended December 31, 2017.

On April 11, 2018, the Company completed the merger of New Jersey Community Bank (“NJCB”) with and into the Bank (the “NJCB merger”). As a result of the NJCB merger, merger related expenses of $2.1 million were incurred primarily in the second quarter of 2018 and the after-tax effect of the merger expenses reduced net income for the year ended December 31, 2018 by $1.6 million. The acquisition method of accounting for the business combination resulted in the recognition of a gain on the bargain purchase of $230,000 and no goodwill.

Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per diluted share, Adjusted return on average assets and Adjusted return on average equity are non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the Company’s GAAP financial results. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the GAAP financial results is attached to this press release. Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures of the Company in this press release may be helpful to readers in understanding the Company’s financial performance without including the financial impact of the NJCB merger and the revaluation of the deferred tax assets when comparing the Company’s income statement for the three and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Robert F. Mangano, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are very pleased with our record 2018 results that were driven by the growth of our loan portfolio as well as the year over year improvement of 28 basis points in our net interest margin. The higher interest rate environment had a positive effect on net interest income and our net interest margin.” Mr. Mangano added, “We remain committed to delivering superior banking experience in the communities we serve and look forward to continued success in 2019.”

Discussion of Financial Results

The Company’s net income was $3.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to net income of $574,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2017.

For the three months ended December 31, 2018, net interest income was $11.3 million, compared to $9.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The increase in interest-earning assets and the higher yield on loans were the primary drivers of the $1.5 million increase in net interest income. Non-interest expenses were $8.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $8.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2017.

Total interest income was $13.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to $11.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017. This increase was due in part to the $90.8 million increase in average loans, reflecting growth primarily of commercial real estate, construction and commercial business loans. The growth in average loans included average loans of approximately $67.3 million from the NJCB merger. Average interest-earning assets were $1.1 billion with a tax-equivalent yield of 5.02% for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $1.0 billion with a tax-equivalent yield of 4.49% for the fourth quarter of 2017. The higher yield on average interest-earning assets for the fourth quarter of 2018 also contributed to the increase and reflected primarily the higher yield earned on the loan portfolio. The 100 basis point increase in the Federal Reserve’s targeted federal funds rate and the corresponding increase in the Prime Rate since December 2017 have had a positive effect on the yields of construction, commercial business, home equity and warehouse loans with variable interest rate terms for the fourth quarter of 2018.

Interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities was $2.4 million, with an interest cost of 1.19%, for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $1.4 million, with an interest cost of 0.75%, for the fourth quarter of 2017. The $998,000 increase in interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities for the fourth quarter of 2018 reflected primarily higher interest costs due to higher short-term market interest rates in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 and an increase of $51.0 million in average interest-bearing liabilities. The increase in average interest-bearing liabilities was comprised primarily of increases in certificates of deposit and short-term borrowings, which generally have higher interest cost than other types of interest-bearing deposits.

The net interest margin increased to 4.19% for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to 3.98% for the fourth quarter of 2017 due primarily to the higher yield on average interest-earning assets, which more than offset the increase in the interest cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.

The Company recorded a higher provision for loan losses of $225,000 for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to a provision for loan losses of $150,000 for the fourth quarter of 2017 due primarily to the growth of the loan portfolio and the change in the mix of loans in the loan portfolio.

At December 31, 2018, total loans were $883.2 million and the allowance for loan losses was $8.4 million, or 0.95% of total loans, compared to total loans of $789.9 million and an allowance for loan losses of $8.0 million, or 1.01% of total loans, at December 31, 2017. Management believes that the current economic conditions in New Jersey and operating conditions for the Bank are generally positive, which were also considered in management’s evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.

Non-interest income was $1.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, a decrease of $92,000 compared to $1.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2017. Gains on the sale of loans declined $163,000, which was partially offset by increases in income on Bank-owned life insurance of $19,000 and gain on bargain purchase of $46,000. In the fourth quarter of 2018, $19.4 million of residential mortgages were sold and $553,000 of gains were recorded compared to $28.8 million of residential mortgage loans sold and $1.1 million of gains recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017. Management believes that the decrease in residential mortgage loans sold was due primarily to lower residential mortgage lending activity as a result of higher mortgage interest rates in 2018 compared to 2017. In the fourth quarter of 2018, $7.5 million of SBA loans were sold and gains of $497,000 were recorded compared to $1.5 million of SBA loans sold and gains of $139,000 recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017. SBA guaranteed commercial lending activity and loan sales vary from period to period, and the level of activity is due primarily to the timing of loan originations.

Non-interest expenses were $8.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, which was an increase of $233,000, or 2.9%, compared to $8.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2017. Salaries and employee benefits expense increased $218,000, or 4.4%, in the fourth quarter of 2018 due primarily to salaries for former NJCB employees who joined the Company, merit increases and increases in employee benefit expenses. Occupancy costs increased $231,000, or 29.3%, due primarily to the addition of the two former NJCB branch offices in the second quarter of 2018. Other real estate owned expenses increased $58,000 to $82,000 for the fourth quarter of 2018 due primarily to ownership costs for property insurance and other maintenance expenses associated with a commercial real estate property that was foreclosed in the third quarter of 2018. Merger related expenses of $265,000 were incurred in the fourth quarter of 2017. Other operating expenses were relatively unchanged and included a check fraud loss of $155,000 recorded in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Income tax expense was $1.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, resulting in an effective tax rate of 28.8%, compared to income tax expense of $3.0 million, which resulted in an effective tax rate of 83.7%, for the fourth quarter of 2017. As previously discussed, the Company recorded additional income tax expense of $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 due to the revaluation of deferred tax assets as a result of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) in December 2017. Excluding the additional income tax expense, the Company’s effective tax rate would have been 35.1% for the fourth quarter of 2017.  The effective tax rate decreased in the fourth quarter of 2018 due primarily to the decrease in the maximum federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning in 2018 as a result of the Tax Act. Partially offsetting the lower federal corporate income tax rate was the enactment of legislation by the State of New Jersey in July of 2018, which increased the corporate income tax rate to 11.5% from 9% for taxable income of $1.0 million or more effective January 1, 2018 and resulted in an approximately 2% higher effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2018.

At December 31, 2018, the allowance for loan losses was $8.4 million compared to $8.0 million at December 31, 2017. As a percentage of total loans, the allowance was 0.95% at December 31, 2018 compared to 1.01% at December 31, 2017. The decrease in the allowance as a percentage of loans was due primarily to the acquisition accounting for the NJCB merger, which resulted in the elimination of the NJCB allowance for loan losses and the NJCB loans being recorded at their fair value. Included in the fair value of the loans at the date of acquisition was a credit risk adjustment discount of approximately $1.6 million.

Total assets increased $98.8 million to $1.18 billion at December 31, 2018 from $1.08 billion at December 31, 2017 due primarily to a $93.3 million increase in total loans. The increase in assets was funded primarily by a $28.7 million increase in deposits and a $51.3 million increase in overnight borrowings. Total portfolio loans at December 31, 2018 were $883.2 million compared to $789.9 million at December 31, 2017. The increase in loans was due primarily to an increase of $79.5 million in commercial real estate loans, a $13.0 million increase in construction loans, a $27.7 million increase in commercial business loans and a $6.8 million increase in residential real estate loans which were partially offset by a $35.2 million decrease in mortgage warehouse lines. The NJCB merger contributed approximately $67.4 million to the increase of loans at December 31, 2018.

Total deposits were $950.7 million at December 31, 2018 compared to $922.0 million at December 31, 2017. The NJCB merger contributed $69.6 million of deposits at December 31, 2018. Total deposits, excluding the NJCB deposits, declined $40.9 million during the year 2018. Municipal deposits, primarily interest-bearing demand deposits and savings accounts, declined approximately $46.2 million from the end of 2017. As a result of the Tax Act, a number of the Bank’s municipal customers experienced significant advanced payments in December 2017 for real estate taxes that were due in 2018. As the Bank’s municipal customers disbursed these additional funds in 2018, their deposit balances declined from the levels at December 31, 2017.

Regulatory capital ratios for the Company and the Bank continue to reflect a strong capital position. Under current regulatory capital standards, the Company’s common equity Tier 1 to risk-based assets (“CET1”), total risk-based capital, Tier I capital, and leverage ratios were 10.80%, 13.25%, 12.47% and 11.80%, respectively, at December 31, 2018. The Bank’s CET1, total risk-based capital, Tier 1 capital and leverage ratios were 12.48%, 13.26%, 12.48% and 11.80%, respectively, at December 31, 2018. The Company and the Bank are considered “well capitalized” under these capital standards.

Asset Quality

Non-performing loans were $6.6 million at December 31, 2018 compared to $7.1 million at December 31, 2017. During the fourth quarter of 2018, $240,000 of principal payments were recorded on non-accrual loans and loans totaling $4,000 were placed on non-accrual status. Charge-offs of loans were $88,000 and no recoveries of loans previously charged-off were recorded for the fourth quarter of 2018. The allowance for loan losses was 128% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2018 compared to 113% of non-performing loans at December 31, 2017.

Overall, management observed generally stable trends in loan quality, with non-performing loans to total loans of 0.75% and non-performing assets to total assets of 0.77% at December 31, 2018 compared to non-performing loans to total loans of 0.90% and non-performing assets to total assets of 0.66% at December 31, 2017.

OREO at December 31, 2018 was $2.5 million and consisted of one residential real estate property acquired in the NJCB merger with a carrying value of $1.1 million, land with a carrying value of $93,000 that was foreclosed in the second quarter of 2018 and a commercial real estate property that was foreclosed in the third quarter of 2018 with a fair value of $1.3 million.

About 1ST Constitution Bancorp

1ST Constitution Bancorp, through its primary subsidiary, 1ST Constitution Bank, operates 20 branch banking offices in Cranbury (2), Asbury Park, Fort Lee, Freehold, Hamilton, Hightstown, Hillsborough, Hopewell, Jamesburg, Lawrenceville, Little Silver, Neptune City, Perth Amboy, Plainsboro, Princeton, Rocky Hill, Rumson, Fair Haven and Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

1ST Constitution Bancorp is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol “FCCY” and information about the Company can be accessed through the Internet at www.1STCONSTITUTION.com

The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management’s confidence and strategies and management’s expectations about new and existing programs and products, relationships, opportunities, taxation, technology and market conditions. These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as “expect,” “look,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may,” “will,” or similar statements or variations of such terms. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in the direction of the economy in New Jersey, the direction of interest rates, effective income tax rates, loan prepayment assumptions, continued levels of loan quality and origination volume, continued relationships with major customers including sources for loans, a higher level of net loan charge-offs and delinquencies than anticipated, bank regulatory rules, regulations or policies that restrict or direct certain actions, the adoption, interpretation and implementation of new or pre-existing accounting pronouncements, a change in legal and regulatory barriers including issues related to compliance with anti-money laundering and bank secrecy act laws, as well as the effects of general economic conditions and legal and regulatory barriers and structure. 1ST Constitution Bancorp assumes no obligation for updating any such forward-looking statements at any time, except as required by law.

1ST Constitution Bancorp
Selected Consolidated Financial Data
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

  Three months ended   Twelve months ended
  December 31,   December 31,
  2018   2017   2018   2017
Per Common Share Data:              
Earnings per common share:              
Basic $ 0.39     $ 0.07     $ 1.45     $ 0.86  
Diluted 0.38     0.07     1.40     0.83  
Book value per common share at the period-end         14.77     13.81  
Tangible Book value per common share at the period-end         13.34     12.27  
Average common shares outstanding:              
Basic 8,432,971     8,075,173     8,320,718     8,049,981  
Diluted 8,680,778     8,340,318     8,593,509     8,312,784  
Shares Outstanding at end of period         8,605,978     8,082,903  
Performance Ratios/Data:              
Return on average assets 1.14 %   0.21 %   1.06 %   0.67 %
Return on average equity 10.37 %   2.03 %   10.11 %   6.36 %
Net interest income (tax-equivalent basis) 1 $ 11,464     $ 10,055     $ 43,961     $ 37,192  
Net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis) 2 4.19 %   3.98 %   4.09 %   3.81 %
Efficiency ratio (tax-equivalent basis) 3 62.37 %   67.28 %   65.70 %   68.25 %
               
          December 31,   December 31,
Loan Portfolio Composition:         2018   2017
Commercial real estate         $ 388,431     $ 308,924  
Mortgage warehouse lines         154,183     189,412  
Construction loans         149,386     136,412  
Commercial business         120,590     92,906  
Residential real estate         47,263     40,494  
Loans to individuals         22,478     21,025  
Other loans         665     183  
Gross loans         882,996     789,356  
Deferred costs, net         168     550  
Total loans         $ 883,164     $ 789,906  
Asset Quality Data:              
Loans past due over 90 days and still accruing         55      
Non-accrual loans         6,525     7,114  
OREO property         2,515      
Total non-performing assets         $ 9,095     $ 7,114  
               
Net recoveries $ (88 )   $ 62     $ (511 )   $ (81 )
Allowance for loan losses to total loans         0.95 %   1.01 %
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans         127.69 %   112.64 %
Non-performing loans to total loans         0.75 %   0.90 %
Non-performing assets to total assets         0.77 %   0.66 %
Capital Ratios:              
1ST Constitution Bancorp              
Common equity to risk weighted assets (“CET 1”)         10.80 %   10.19 %
Total capital to risk weighted assets         13.25 %   12.84 %
Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets         12.47 %   12.02 %
Tier 1 capital to average assets (leverage ratio)         11.80 %   11.23 %
1ST Constitution Bank              
Common equity to risk weighted assets (“CET 1”)         12.48 %   11.74 %
Total capital to risk weighted assets         13.26 %   12.55 %
Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets         12.48 %   11.74 %
Tier 1 capital to average assets (leverage ratio)         11.80 %   10.96 %
                   

1The tax equivalent adjustment was $125 and $246 for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
  The tax equivalent adjustment was $529 and $1.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
2Represents net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis as a percent of average interest-earning assets.
3Represents non-interest expenses divided by the sum of net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis and non-interest income.

1ST Constitution Bancorp
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

  December 31, 2018   December 31, 2017
Assets      
Cash and due from banks $ 4,983     $ 5,037  
Interest-earning deposits 11,861     13,717  
Total cash and cash equivalents 16,844     18,754  
Investment securities      
Available for sale, at fair value 132,222     105,458  
Held to maturity (fair value of $91,220 and $111,865 at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively) 79,572     110,267  
Total securities 211,794     215,725  
       
Loans held for sale 3,020     4,254  
Loans 883,164     789,906  
Less: allowance for loan losses (8,402 )   (8,013 )
Net loans 874,762     781,893  
Premises and equipment, net 11,653     10,705  
Accrued interest receivable 3,860     3,478  
Bank owned life insurance 28,705     25,051  
Other real estate owned 2,515     12,496  
Goodwill and intangible assets 12,258      
Other assets 12,680     6,918  
Total assets $ 1,178,091     $ 1,079,274  
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity      
Liabilities      
Deposits      
Non-interest bearing $ 212,981     $ 196,509  
Interest bearing 737,691     725,497  
Total deposits 950,672     922,006  
       
Short-term borrowings 71,775     20,500  
Redeemable subordinated debentures 18,557     18,557  
Accrued interest payable 1,228     804  
Accrued expense and other liabilities 8,774     5,754  
Total liabilities 1,051,006     967,621  
Shareholders’ equity      
Preferred stock, no par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued      
Common stock, no par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 8,639,276 and 8,116,201 shares issued and 8,605,978 and 8,082,903 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively 79,536     72,935  
Retained earnings 49,750     39,822  
Treasury stock, 33,298 shares at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (368 )   (368 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,833 )   (736 )
Total shareholders’ equity 127,085     111,653  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 1,178,091     $ 1,079,274  
               

1ST Constitution Bancorp
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

  Three Months Ended
December 31,
  Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  2018   2017   2018   2017
Interest income              
Loans, including fees $ 12,124     $ 9,842     $ 45,202     $ 35,967  
Securities:              
Taxable 1,110     826     4,024     3,326  
Tax-exempt 471     512     1,989     2,140  
Federal funds sold and short-term investments 50     47     258     230  
Total interest income 13,755     11,227     51,473     41,663  
Interest expense              
Deposits 1,969     1,198     6,511     4,550  
Borrowings 260     81     836     429  
Redeemable subordinated debentures 187     139     694     519  
Total interest expense 2,416     1,418     8,041     5,498  
Net interest income 11,339     9,809     43,432     36,165  
Provision for loan losses 225     150     900     600  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses 11,114     9,659     42,532     35,565  
Non-interest income              
Service charges on deposit accounts 162     152     638     596  
Gain on sales of loans 1,050     1,213     4,475     5,149  
Income on bank-owned life insurance 150     131     575     522  
Gain on bargain purchase 46         230      
Gain on sales of securities         12     129  
Other income 430     434     1,988     1,844  
Total non-interest income 1,838     1,930     7,918     8,240  
Non-interest expense              
Salaries and employee benefits 5,140     4,922     19,853     18,804  
Occupancy expense 1,019     788     3,623     3,169  
Data processing expenses 323     331     1,332     1,314  
FDIC insurance expense 105     105     486     360  
Other real estate owned expenses 82     24     158     42  
Merger-related expenses     265     2,141     265  
Other operating expenses 1,628     1,629     6,492     7,052  
Total non-interest expenses 8,297     8,064     34,085     31,006  
Income before income taxes 4,655     3,525     16,365     12,799  
Income taxes 1,342     2,951     4,317     5,871  
Net Income $ 3,313     $ 574     $ 12,048     $ 6,928  
Net income per common share              
Basic $ 0.39     $ 0.07     $ 1.45     $ 0.86  
Diluted 0.38     0.07     1.4     0.83  
Weighted average shares outstanding              
Basic 8,432,971     8,075,173     8,320,718     8,049,981  
Diluted 8,680,778     8,340,318     8,593,509     8,312,784  
                       

1ST Constitution Bancorp
Net Interest Margin Analysis
(Unaudited)

  Three months ended December 31, 2018   Three months ended December 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands) Average       Average   Average       Average
Assets Balance   Interest   Yield   Balance   Interest   Yield
Interest-earning assets:                      
Federal funds sold/short term investments $ 16,804     $ 50     1.18 %   $ 19,622     $ 47     0.95 %
Investment securities:                      
Taxable 148,495     1,110     2.99     136,776     826     2.42  
Tax-exempt (1) 67,371     596     3.54     83,792     758     3.62  
Total 215,866     1,706     3.16     220,568     1,584     2.87  
Loans (2):                      
Commercial real estate 377,820     4,926     5.1     294,799     3,763     4.99  
Mortgage warehouse lines 143,322     2,085     5.69     175,598     1,923     4.29  
Construction 146,661     2,542     6.78     129,197     1,983     6.01  
Commercial business 114,271     1,668     5.74     97,120     1,481     5.99  
Residential real estate 47,327     568     4.8     41,192     442     4.29  
Loans to individuals 22,467     303     5.35     21,411     203     3.76  
Loans held for sale 1,764     22     4.99     3,572     37     4.14  
All other loans 1,388     10     2.82     1,283     10     3.05  
Total Loans 855,020     12,124     5.56     764,172     9,842     5.05  
Total interest earning assets 1,087,690     13,880     5.02 %   1,004,362     11,473     4.49 %
Non-interest-earning assets:                      
Allowance for loan losses (8,371 )           (7,873 )        
Cash and due from bank 5,039             5,777          
Other assets 70,394             59,966          
Total assets $ 1,154,752             $ 1,062,232          
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:                      
Interest-bearing liabilities:                      
Money market and NOW accounts $ 341,649     $ 541     0.63 %   $ 358,273     $ 407     0.45 %
Savings accounts 189,576     388     0.81 %   212,228     340     0.64  
Certificates of deposit 217,029     1,040     1.9 %   140,881     451     1.27  
Other borrowed funds 37,220     260     2.77 %   23,052     81     1.39  
Redeemable subordinated debentures 18,557     187     4.03 %   18,557     139     3.00  
 Total interest-bearing liabilities 804,031     2,416     1.19 %   752,991     1,418     0.75 %
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:                      
Demand deposits 216,018             190,243          
Other liabilities 7,954             6,944          
 Total liabilities 223,972             197,187          
Shareholders’ equity 126,749             112,054          
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 1,154,752             $ 1,062,232          
Net interest spread (3)         3.83 %           3.74 %
Net interest margin (4)     11,464     4.19 %       10,055     3.98 %
                               

(1) Tax equivalent basis, using 21% federal tax rate in 2018 and 34% in 2017.
(2) Loan origination fees are considered an adjustment to interest income. For the purpose of calculating loan yields, average loan balances include non-accrual loans with no related interest income and the average balance of loans held for sale.
(3) The net interest spread is the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.
(4) The net interest margin is equal to net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

1ST Constitution Bancorp
Net Interest Margin Analysis
(Unaudited)

  Twelve months ended December 31, 2018   Twelve months ended December 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands) Average       Average   Average       Average
Assets Balance   Interest   Yield   Balance   Interest   Yield
Interest-earning assets:                      
Federal funds sold/short term investments $ 20,157     $ 258     1.28 %   $ 27,533     $ 230     0.84 %
Investment securities:                      
Taxable 146,631     4,024     2.74     140,431     3,326     2.37  
Tax-exempt (1) 74,477     2,518     3.38     90,186     3,167     3.51  
Total 221,108     6,542     2.96     230,617     6,493     2.82  
Loans (2):                      
Commercial real estate 356,581     18,318     5.07     274,192     13,851     4.98  
Mortgage warehouse lines 153,868     8,403     5.46     160,756     6,937     4.26  
Construction 137,976     9,090     6.59     115,913     6,780     5.77  
Commercial business 111,150     6,059     5.45     96,193     5,474     5.63  
Residential real estate 46,301     2,085     4.44     41,898     1,777     4.24  
Loans to individuals 23,155     1,083     4.61     22,171     903     4.07  
Loans held for sale 2,738     123     4.49     4,197     202     4.81  
All other loans 1,197     41     3.38     1,690     43     2.51  
Total Loans 832,966     45,202     5.38     717,010     35,967     4.96  
Total interest earning assets 1,074,231     52,002     4.81 %   975,160     42,690     4.33 %
Non-interest-earning assets:                      
Allowance for loan losses (8,314 )           (7,703 )        
Cash and due from bank 5,595             5,371          
Other assets 66,256             58,968          
Total assets $ 1,137,768             $ 1,031,796          
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:                      
Interest-bearing liabilities:                      
Money market and NOW accounts $ 356,906     $ 1,978     0.55 %   $ 336,445     $ 1,440     0.43 %
Savings accounts 203,940     1,467     0.72 %   210,798     1,332     0.63  
Certificates of deposit 189,521     3,066     1.62 %   145,539     1,778     1.22  
Other borrowed funds 36,612     836     2.28 %   21,139     429     2.03  
Redeemable subordinated debentures 18,557     694     3.74 %   18,557     519     2.80  
 Total interest-bearing liabilities 805,536     8,041     1 %   732,478     5,498     0.75 %
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:                      
Demand deposits 204,002             183,802          
Other liabilities 9,018             6,591          
Total liabilities 1,018,556             922,871          
Shareholders’ equity 119,212             108,925          
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 1,137,768             $ 1,031,796          
Net interest spread (3)         3.81 %           3.58 %
Net interest margin (4)     $ 43,961     4.09 %       37,192     3.81 %
                                 

(1) Tax equivalent basis, using 21% federal tax rate in 2018 and 34% in 2017.
(2) Loan origination fees are considered an adjustment to interest income. For the purpose of calculating loan yields, average loan balances include non-accrual loans with no related interest income and the average balance of loans held for sale.
(3) The net interest spread is the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.
(4) The net interest margin is equal to net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

1ST Constitution Bancorp
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures (1)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

    Three months ended   Twelve months ended
    December 31,   December 31,
    2018   2017   2018   2017
Adjusted net income                
Net income   $ 3,313     $ 574     $ 12,048     $ 6,928  
Adjustments:                
Merger-related expenses       265     2,141     265  
Gain from bargain purchase   (46 )       (230 )    
Income tax effect of adjustments (2)       (77 )   (568 )   (77 )
Adjusted Net Income (3)   $ 3,267     $ 2,474     $ 13,391     $ 8,828  
                 
Adjusted net income per diluted share                
Adjusted net income   $ 3,267     $ 2,474     $ 13,391     $ 8,828  
Diluted shares outstanding   8,680,778     8,340,318     8,593,509     8,312,784  
Adjusted net income per diluted share   $ 0.38     $ 0.30     $ 1.56     $ 1.06  
                 
Adjusted average return on average assets                
Adjusted net income   $ 3,267     $ 2,474     $ 13,391     $ 8,828  
Average assets   1,154,752     1,062,232     1,137,768     1,031,796  
Adjusted return on average assets   1.12 %   0.92 %   1.18 %   0.86 %
                 
Adjusted average return on average equity                
Adjusted net income   $ 3,267     $ 2,474     $ 13,391     $ 8,828  
Average equity   126,749     112,054     119,212     108,925  
Adjusted return on average equity   10.23 %   8.76 %   11.23 %   8.10 %
                 
Book value and tangible book value per share                
Shareholders’ equity           $ 127,085     $ 111,653  
Less: goodwill and intangible assets           12,258     12,496  
Tangible shareholders’ equity           114,827     99,157  
Shares outstanding           8,605,978     8,082,903  
Book value per share           $ 14.77     $ 13.81  
Tangible book value per share           $ 13.34     $ 12.27  
                 

1 The Company used the non-GAAP financial measures, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per diluted share, Adjusted return on average assets and Adjusted return on average equity, because the Company believes that it is helpful to readers in understanding the Company’s financial performance and the effect on net income of the revaluation of the deferred tax assets for 2017 and the merger-related expenses and the gain on bargain purchase recorded in connection with the NJCB merger. These non-GAAP measures improve the comparability of the current period results with the results of the prior periods. The Company cautions that the non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the Company’s GAAP financial results.
2 Tax effected at an income tax rate of 30.09%, less the impact of non-deductible merger-related expenses and the non-taxable gain on bargain purchase for 2018 and tax effected at an income tax rate of 39.94%, less the impact of non-deductible merger-related expenses for 2017.

CONTACT: Robert F. Mangano Stephen J. Gilhooly
  President & Chief Executive Officer Sr. Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
  (609) 655-4500 (609) 655-4500