Highlights
Net Earnings of $110.0 Million, or $0.92 Per Diluted ShareLoan and Lease Production of $1.2 Billion; $263 Million of Net Loan GrowthCore Deposits Growth of $854 million; Represent 84% of Total DepositsNet Charge-offs to Average Loans of 10 basis points in Third Quarter; 12 basis points Year-To-DateLOS ANGELES, Oct. 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PacWest Bancorp (Nasdaq: PACW) today announced net earnings for the third quarter of 2019 of $110.0 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, compared to net earnings for the second quarter of 2019 of $128.1 million, or $1.07 per diluted share. The decrease in net earnings in the third quarter of 2019 was due primarily to a $22.2 million pre-tax gain on the sale of securities in the second quarter of 2019 that contributed $0.13 per diluted share.Matt Wagner, President and CEO, commented, “We had a solid quarter highlighted by very strong core deposits growth, another quarter of consistent loan production from all of our business groups, and the continuation of our trend of lower credit costs. Our third quarter of 2019 results produced a return on assets of 1.65% and a return on tangible equity of 19.01%.”Mr. Wagner continued, “In a very competitive market, we achieved our largest core deposit growth quarter ever with growth of $854 million in the third quarter. Core deposits generation, with an emphasis on noninterest-bearing deposits, remains a priority in this declining-rate environment. We achieved solid loan and lease production of $1.2 billion in the third quarter bringing our net loan growth to $778 million, or 6% annualized, for the first nine months of 2019.”FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
INCOME STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTSNet Interest IncomeNet interest income decreased by $8.7 million to $252.2 million for the third quarter of 2019 compared to $260.9 million for the second quarter of 2019 due mainly to a lower yield on average loans and leases, offset partially by a higher balance of average loans and leases and one more day in the third quarter of 2019. The tax equivalent yield on average loans and leases was 5.91% for the third quarter of 2019 compared to 6.26% for the second quarter of 2019. The decrease in the yield on average loans and leases was due principally to the repricing of variable-rate loans causing lower coupon interest in addition to lower loan prepayment fees in the third quarter compared to the second quarter. The prepayment fees added five basis points to the third quarter loan and lease yield and 14 basis points to the second quarter loan and lease yield.The tax equivalent NIM was 4.46% for the third quarter of 2019 compared to 4.72% for the second quarter of 2019. The decrease in the NIM was due mainly to lower coupon interest, lower loan prepayment fees, and lower loan fee income.The cost of average total deposits increased to 0.83% for the third quarter of 2019 from 0.81% for the second quarter of 2019 due to a higher average balance of core interest-bearing deposits combined with a lower average balance of noninterest-bearing deposits. The cost of average interest-bearing deposits declined by one basis point in the third quarter and the cost of average total deposits for the month of September was 0.80%, reflecting actions taken to reduce certain deposit rates in light of the fed funds target rate cuts during the third quarter.Provision for Credit LossesThe following table presents details of the provision for credit losses for the periods indicated:
Noninterest IncomeThe following table presents details of noninterest income for the periods indicated:
Noninterest income decreased by $17.5 million to $33.4 million for the third quarter of 2019 compared to $50.9 million for the second quarter of 2019 due primarily to a $21.3 million decrease in the gain on sale of securities attributable to a $0.9 million net gain on sales of $143 million in the third quarter of 2019 compared to a $22.2 million net gain on sales of $980 million in the second quarter of 2019. We re-positioned a portion of our securities portfolio in the second quarter to shorten the duration of the portfolio and to enhance liquidity. Partially offsetting the decrease in the gain on sale of securities was a $2.7 million increase in warrant income and a $1.1 million increase in other income for the third quarter of 2019. The increase in warrant income was due to higher gains resulting from exercised warrants. The increase in other income was mainly due to higher gains from lease terminations.Noninterest ExpenseThe following table presents details of noninterest expense for the periods indicated: 
Noninterest expense increased by $1.4 million to $126.8 million for the third quarter of 2019 compared to $125.4 million for the second quarter of 2019 attributable primarily to a $2.5 million increase in compensation expense, offset partially by a $1.4 million decrease in other expense. Compensation expense increased due mainly to higher incentives expense and higher stock compensation expense, partially offset by lower payroll taxes and benefits expense. Other expense decreased primarily due to lower business development expense and a loss on the early termination of an office lease in the second quarter.Income TaxesThe overall effective income tax rate was 27.5% for the third quarter of 2019 and 28.2% for the second quarter of 2019. The effective tax rate for the full year 2019 is estimated to be in the range of 27-28%.BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTSLoans and LeasesThe following table presents roll forwards of loans and leases held for investment, net of deferred fees, for the periods indicated:
Loans and leases held for investment, net of deferred fees, increased by $262.7 million, or 6% annualized, in the third quarter of 2019 to $18.7 billion at September 30, 2019. The net loan growth in the third quarter was primarily from the asset-based loan portfolio class and residential real estate construction loan portfolio class.The following table presents the composition of loans and leases held for investment by loan portfolio segment and class, net of deferred fees, as of the dates indicated:
Allowance for Credit LossesThe following tables present roll forwards of the allowance for credit losses for the periods indicated:

The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of loans and leases held for investment was 0.92% at both September 30, 2019 and June 30, 2019.Gross charge-offs for the third quarter of 2019 were $6.5 million and included $4.4 million for venture capital loans and $1.7 million for other commercial loans compared to gross charge-offs for the second quarter of 2019 of $17.6 million that included $11.8 million for a single asset-based loan, $3.7 million for other commercial loans, and $1.5 million for venture capital loans.Recoveries for the third quarter of 2019 were $2.0 million and included $1.2 million for other commercial loans and $0.4 million for venture capital loans compared to recoveries for the second quarter of 2019 of $6.4 million that included $4.8 million for venture capital loans and $1.0 million for other commercial loans.For the third quarter of 2019 and second quarter of 2019, annualized net charge-offs to average loans and leases were 0.10% and 0.25%.Deposits and Client Investment FundsThe following table presents the composition of our deposit portfolio as of the dates indicated:
At September 30, 2019, core deposits totaled $16.5 billion, or 84% of total deposits, including $7.4 billion of noninterest-bearing demand deposits, or 38% of total deposits. The $854 million increase in core deposits for the third quarter of 2019 included strong growth in both our Venture Banking and Community Banking groups.In addition to deposit products, we also offer alternative non-depository cash investment options for select clients; these alternatives include investments managed by Pacific Western Asset Management Inc. (“PWAM”), our registered investment advisor subsidiary, and third-party sweep products. Total off-balance sheet client investment funds at September 30, 2019 were $1.8 billion, of which $1.5 billion was managed by PWAM.CREDIT QUALITYThe following table presents loan and lease credit quality metrics as of the dates indicated:
Nonaccrual, classified, and special mention loans and leases fluctuate from period to period as a result of loan repayments and our ongoing active portfolio monitoring.During the third quarter of 2019, nonaccrual loans and leases increased by $17.8 million, while classified loans and leases decreased by $2.4 million and special mention loans and leases increased by $28.6 million. The increase in nonaccrual loans was primarily attributable to one previously classified $14.9 million security monitoring commercial loan. The increase in special mention loans and leases was due primarily to the downgrade of two security monitoring commercial loans totaling $49 million, partially offset by a net decrease from other activity.The following table presents nonaccrual loans and leases and accruing loans and leases past due between 30 and 89 days by loan portfolio segment and class as of the dates indicated:
STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAMDuring the third quarter of 2019, there were no stock repurchases. At September 30, 2019, the remaining amount that could be used to repurchase shares under the $225 million Stock Repurchase Program was $124.7 million.ABOUT PACWEST BANCORPPacWest Bancorp (“PacWest”) is a bank holding company with over $26 billion in assets with one wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Pacific Western Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank has 74 full-service branches located throughout the state of California and one branch in Durham, North Carolina. Our Community Banking group provides lending and comprehensive deposit and treasury management services to small and medium-sized businesses conducted primarily through our California-based branch offices. We offer additional products and services through our National Lending and Venture Banking groups. National Lending provides asset-based, equipment, real estate and security monitoring cash flow loans and treasury management services to established middle-market businesses on a national basis. Venture Banking offers a comprehensive suite of financial services focused on entrepreneurial businesses and their venture capital and private equity investors, with offices located in key innovative hubs across the United States. For more information about PacWest Bancorp, visit www.pacwestbancorp.com, or to learn more about Pacific Western Bank, visit www.pacwest.com.FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTSThis communication contains certain forward-looking information about PacWest that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include future financial and operating results, expectations, intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on information available at the time of this communication and are based on current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including the risk factors described in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.We are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

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