AMESBURY, Mass., Jan. 24, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Provident Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) (NasdaqCM: PVBC), the holding company for The Provident Bank (the “Bank”), reported net income for the three months ended December 31, 2018 of $2.8 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, compared to $1.7 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2017. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $9.3 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, compared to $7.9 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Dave Mansfield, Chief Executive Officer said “Our continued focus on Commercial & Industrial lending contributed significantly to our strong fourth quarter and overall 2018 performance. Commercial & Industrial loans grew by $121 million, or 51%, in 2018 with $61 million originating in the fourth quarter. Our Commercial & Industrial portfolio now represents 43% of our total loans, up from 32% at year-end 2017.  We were also able to significantly improve our net interest margin with 2018 year-end at 4.33% compared to 3.90% the previous year. We are particularly pleased with our record fourth quarter efficiency Ratio of 59.14%. Our ability to control costs, develop new niche lending products while enhancing technology and investing in the personal and professional development of our workforce will enable us to sustain our strong growth momentum into 2019.”

Net interest and dividend income before provision for loan losses increased by $1.3 million, or 15.0%, compared to the three months ended December 31, 2017 and increased by $5.1 million, or 15.8%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2017. The growth in net interest and dividend income this quarter over the prior year’s fourth quarter is primarily the result of an increase in our average interest earning assets of $14.9 million, or 1.7%, and an increase in net interest margin of 52 basis points to 4.50%. The growth in net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 2017 is primarily the result of an increase in average interest earning assets of $35.3 million, or 4.3%, and an increase of the net interest margin of 43 basis points to 4.33%.

Provisions for loan losses of $614,000 were recognized for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to $462,000 for the same period in 2017. For the year ended December 31, 2018, $3.3 million of provisions were recognized compared to $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The changes in the provision were based on management’s assessment of loan portfolio growth and composition changes, historical charge-off trends, levels of problem loans and other asset quality trends.

The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.38% as of December 31, 2018 compared to 1.30% as of December 31, 2017. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans was 187.37% as of December 31, 2018 compared to 108.02% as of December 31, 2017. Non-performing loans were $6.3 million, or 0.64% of total assets as of December 31, 2018 compared to $9.0 million, or 1.00% of total assets as of December 31, 2017. The non-performing loans at December 31, 2018 consist primarily of three commercial and industrial loan relationships. Impairment was evaluated and specific reserves of $1.1 million were allocated to impaired loans as of December 31, 2018.  

Noninterest income decreased $3.5 million, or 78.0%, to $988,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to $4.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in gains on sales of securities of $3.5 million. For the year ended December 31, 2018, noninterest income decreased $5.8 million, or 58.0%, to $4.2 million compared to $10.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The decrease is primarily due to decreased gains on sales of securities of $5.9 million. In January 2018, the Company adopted ASU (Accounting Standards Update) No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” This standard required us to measure our equity investments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company evaluated the pronouncement and decided to divest from its equity securities portfolio in 2017 to reduce potential volatility within the Company’s earnings performance.

Noninterest expense increased $65,000, or 1.0%, to $6.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to $6.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The primary increases for the three months ended December 31, 2018 were salary and employee benefits expense and professional fees, offset by decreases in occupancy expense and other expense. The increase of $214,000, or 5.3%, for the three months ended December 31, 2018 in salary and employee benefits was primarily due to a higher number of lenders compared to the same period in 2017. The increase of $92,000, or 32.9%, for the three months ended December 31, 2018 in professional fees was primarily due to increased legal expenses related to certain subordinated lienholders that are disputing the priority of the Bank’s liens and the right of the Bank to retain proceeds from a foreclosure sale. The decrease of $97,000, or 19.1%, for the three months ending December 31, 2018 was primarily due to repairs and maintenance and the greater need for snow removal in 2017 compared to 2018. The decrease of $107,000, or 12.1%, in other expense was primarily due to decreased loan workout expenses of approximately $44,000 and decreased debit card dispute losses of $61,000. For the year ended December 31, 2018, noninterest expense increased $1.7 million, or 7.0%, to $25.4 million compared to $23.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the primary increases were salaries and employee benefits expense and professional fees. The increase of $1.4 million, or 9.3%, for the year ended December 31, 2018 in salary and employee benefits was primarily due to a higher number of lenders and key management positions in operations compared to the same period in 2017. The increase of $287,000, or 30.7%, for the year ended December 31, 2018 in professional fees was primarily due to increased legal expenses related to certain subordinated lienholders that are disputing the priority of the Bank’s liens and the right of the Bank to retain proceeds from a foreclosure sale.

Income tax expense decreased $3.5 million, or 78.3%, to $975,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to $4.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017. For the year ended December 31, 2018, income tax expense decreased $4.2 million, or 56.4%, to $3.2 million, reflecting an effective tax rate of 25.8%, compared to $7.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, reflecting an effective tax rate of 48.4%. The decreases were primarily due to the reduction of the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in December 2017. In addition, we were required to re-measure our deferred tax asset in December 2017, which resulted in additional income tax expense of $2.0 million.

As of December 31, 2018, total assets have increased $71.8 million, or 8.0%, to $974.1 million compared to $902.3 million at December 31, 2017. The primary reason for the increase is due to an increase in net loans partially offset by a decrease in cash and cash equivalents and investments in available-for-sale securities. Net loans increased $93.4 million, or 12.6%, to $835.5 million as of December 31, 2018 compared to $742.1 million at December 31, 2017. The increase in net loans was due to an increase in commercial loans of $121.6 million, or 50.6%, offset by a decrease of $10.4 million, or 15.3%, in residential real estate loans and a decrease of $11.2 million, or 20.1%, in construction and land development loans. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $19.1 million, or 40.0%, was due to utilizing funds for loan growth. The decrease in investments in available-for-sale securities of $10.0 million, or 16.3%, resulted primarily from principal pay downs and also a decrease in the fair value of the securities.

Total liabilities increased $62.0 million, or 7.9%, due to increased borrowings and deposits. Deposits were $768.1 million as of December 31, 2018 representing an increase of $18.0 million, or 2.4%, compared to December 31, 2017. The primary reason for the increase in deposits was due to an increase of $22.6 million, or 7.3%, in NOW and demand deposits and an increase of $3.6 million, or 1.6%, in money market deposits, partially offset by a decrease in time deposits of $4.8 million, or 4.7%. The increase in the NOW and demand deposits and money market deposits occurred primarily due to new account relationships. Time deposits decreased primarily due to the roll-off of brokered certificates of deposit. Borrowings increased $41.2 million, or 153.4%, to $68.0 million as of December 31, 2018 primarily due to loan growth funding. Out of the $68.0 million in borrowed funds, $38.1 million is short-term. Net loans grew $52.2 million over the three months ended December 31, 2018. Borrowings were utilized to fund the loan growth that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2018.

As of December 31, 2018, shareholders’ equity was $125.6 million compared to $115.8 million at December 31, 2017, representing an increase of $9.8 million, or 8.5%. The increase is primarily due to net income of $9.3 million for the current year.

About Provident Bancorp, Inc.
Provident Bancorp, Inc. is a Massachusetts corporation that was formed in 2011 by The Provident Bank to be its holding company. Approximately 52.3% of Provident Bancorp, Inc.’s outstanding shares are owned by Provident Bancorp, a Massachusetts corporation and a mutual holding company. The Provident Bank, a subsidiary of Provident Bancorp, Inc., is an innovative, commercial bank that finds solutions for our business and private clients. We are committed to strengthening the economic development of the regions we serve, by working closely with businesses and private clients and delivering superior products and high-touch services to meet their banking needs. The Provident has offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. All deposits are insured in full through a combination of insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). For more information about The Provident Bank please visit our website www.theprovidentbank.com or call 877-487-2977.

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements, such as statements of the Company’s or the Bank’s plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as, “expects,” “subject,” “believe,” “will,” “intends,” “may,” “will be” or “would.” These statements are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s or the Bank’s control) and actual results may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements (which reflect management’s analysis of factors only as of the date of which they are given). These factors include general economic conditions, trends in interest rates, the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans, the effects of the recent federal government shutdown, and the ability of the Company or the Bank to effectively manage its growth and results of regulatory examinations, among other factors. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents of the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual and Quarterly reports on forms 10-K and 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Provident Bancorp, Inc.
Carol Houle, 978-834-8534
Executive Vice President/CFO
[email protected]

Provident Bancorp, Inc.
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Provident Bancorp, Inc.
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