FIRST NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP - Quarter Report: 2007 May (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
———————————
FORM
10-Q
x
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2007
OR
ྑ
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the transition period from _______________ to
_______________
Commission
File Number 000-30707
First
Northern Community Bancorp
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California
|
68-0450397
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number)
|
195
N. First Street, Dixon, California
|
95620
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
707-678-3041
(Registrant’s
telephone number including area code)
Indicate
by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant
was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
x
|
No
¨
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer” and “large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act.
Large
accelerated filer ¨
|
Accelerated
filer x
|
Non-accelerated
filer ¨
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
¨
|
No
x
|
The
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of May 7, 2007 was 8,388,237.
FIRST
NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP
INDEX
Page
|
|||||
PART
I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
|||||
|
|||||
Item
1
|
Consolidated
Financial Statements
|
||||
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
3
|
||||
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
|
4
|
||||
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive
Income
|
5
|
||||
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
|
6
|
||||
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
|
7
|
||||
Item
2
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
|
17
|
|||
Item
3
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|
29
|
|||
Item
4
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
29
|
|||
PART
II: OTHER INFORMATION
|
|||||
Item
1A
|
Risk
Factors
|
30
|
|||
Item
2
|
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
30
|
|||
Item
6
|
Exhibits
|
31
|
|||
Signatures
|
31
|
2
PART
I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1.
CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in
thousands, except share amounts)
(UNAUDITED)
|
|||||||
March
31, 2007
|
December
31, 2006
|
||||||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
Cash
and due from banks
|
$
|
27,682
|
$
|
35,531
|
|||
Federal
funds sold
|
82,665
|
62,470
|
|||||
Investment
securities - available-for-sale
|
80,136
|
74,180
|
|||||
Loans,
net of allowance for loan losses of
|
|||||||
$7,950
at March 31, 2007 and $8,361 at December 31, 2006
|
462,708
|
475,549
|
|||||
Loans
held-for-sale
|
7,718
|
4,460
|
|||||
Premises
and equipment, net
|
8,225
|
8,060
|
|||||
Other
Real Estate Owned
|
1,475
|
375
|
|||||
Accrued
interest receivable and other assets
|
23,364
|
24,600
|
|||||
TOTAL ASSETS
|
$
|
693,973
|
$
|
685,225
|
|||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|||||||
Liabilities
|
|||||||
Deposits
|
|||||||
Demand
deposits
|
$
|
179,410
|
$
|
197,498
|
|||
Interest-bearing
transaction deposits
|
129,332
|
117,620
|
|||||
Savings
and MMDA's
|
183,055
|
175,128
|
|||||
Time,
under $100,000
|
50,908
|
47,137
|
|||||
Time,
$100,000 and over
|
72,044
|
66,299
|
|||||
Total deposits
|
614,749
|
603,682
|
|||||
FHLB
Advances and other borrowings
|
10,161
|
10,981
|
|||||
Accrued
interest payable and other liabilities
|
6,117
|
8,572
|
|||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES
|
631,027
|
623,235
|
|||||
Stockholders'
equity
|
|||||||
Common
stock, no par value; 16,000,000 shares authorized;
|
|||||||
8,408,803
shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2007 and 7,980,952 shares
issued and outstanding at December 31, 2006
|
55,433
|
45,726
|
|||||
Additional
paid in capital
|
977
|
977
|
|||||
Retained
earnings
|
7,018
|
15,792
|
|||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss
|
(482
|
)
|
(505
|
)
|
|||
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
62,946
|
61,990
|
|||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
$
|
693,973
|
$
|
685,225
|
See
notes
to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
UNAUDITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in
thousands, except per share amounts)
Three
months
|
Three
months
|
||||||
ended
|
ended
|
||||||
March
31, 2007
|
March
31, 2006
|
||||||
Interest Income
|
|||||||
Loans
|
$
|
10,375
|
$
|
9,684
|
|||
Federal funds sold
|
860
|
960
|
|||||
Investment securities
|
|||||||
Taxable
|
650
|
532
|
|||||
Non-taxable
|
278
|
131
|
|||||
Other
interest earning assets
|
29
|
24
|
|||||
Total interest income
|
12,192
|
11,331
|
|||||
Interest Expense
|
|||||||
Deposits
|
2,892
|
1,805
|
|||||
Other borrowings
|
77
|
134
|
|||||
Total interest expense
|
2,969
|
1,939
|
|||||
Net interest income
|
9,223
|
9,392
|
|||||
Recovery
of provision for loan losses
|
(170
|
)
|
(575
|
)
|
|||
Net interest income after recovery
of provision for
|
|||||||
loan losses
|
9,393
|
9,967
|
|||||
Other operating income
|
|||||||
Service charges on deposit accounts
|
793
|
621
|
|||||
Gain on sales of other
real estate owned
|
—
|
7
|
|||||
Gains on sales of loans
held-for-sale
|
46
|
37
|
|||||
Investment and brokerage services income
|
67
|
45
|
|||||
Mortgage brokerage income
|
69
|
85
|
|||||
Loan servicing income
|
75
|
68
|
|||||
Fiduciary
activities income
|
65
|
33
|
|||||
ATM fees
|
66
|
69
|
|||||
Signature
based transaction fees
|
114
|
81
|
|||||
Other income
|
203
|
163
|
|||||
Total other operating income
|
1,498
|
1,209
|
|||||
Other operating expenses
|
|||||||
Salaries and employee benefits
|
4,473
|
4,543
|
|||||
Occupancy and equipment
|
998
|
855
|
|||||
Data processing
|
408
|
329
|
|||||
Stationery and supplies
|
146
|
123
|
|||||
Advertising
|
211
|
216
|
|||||
Directors’ fees
|
54
|
34
|
|||||
Other expense
|
1,356
|
1,227
|
|||||
Total other operating expenses
|
7,646
|
7,327
|
|||||
Income before income tax expense
|
3,245
|
3,849
|
|||||
Provision for income taxes
|
1,155
|
1,447
|
|||||
Net income
|
$
|
2,090
|
$
|
2,402
|
|||
Basic earnings per share
|
$
|
0.25
|
$
|
0.28
|
|||
Diluted earnings per share
|
$
|
0.24
|
$
|
0.27
|
|||
See
notes
to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
UNAUDITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
OF
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in
thousands, except share amounts)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
Other
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
Comprehensive
|
Paid-in
|
Retained
|
Comprehensive
|
||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amounts
|
Income
|
Capital
|
Earnings
|
Income
/ (Loss)
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
7,980,952
|
$
|
45,726
|
$
|
977
|
$
|
15,792
|
$
|
(505
|
)
|
$
|
61,990
|
||||||||||
Comprehensive
income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$
|
2,090
|
2,090
|
2,090
|
||||||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive gain:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
holding gains on securities arising during the current period, net
of tax
effect of $15
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income
|
$
|
2,113
|
||||||||||||||||||||
6%
stock dividend
|
476,976
|
10,851
|
(10,851
|
)
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||||
Cash
in lieu of fractional shares
|
(13
|
)
|
(13
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation and related tax benefits
|
181
|
181
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
options exercised, net of swapped shares
|
10,592
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Stock
repurchase and retirement
|
(59,717
|
)
|
(1,325
|
)
|
(1,325
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||
Balance
at March 31, 2007
|
8,408,803
|
$
|
55,433
|
$
|
977
|
$
|
7,018
|
$
|
(482
|
)
|
$
|
62,946
|
See
notes
to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
UNAUDITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||
Three
months ended March
31, 2007
|
Three
months ended March
31, 2006
|
||||||
Operating
Activities
|
|||||||
Net Income
|
$
|
2,090
|
$
|
2,402
|
|||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
|
|||||||
cash provided by operating activities:
|
|||||||
Depreciation
|
337
|
253
|
|||||
Recovery
of provision for loan losses
|
(170
|
)
|
(575
|
)
|
|||
Stock
plan accruals
|
181
|
95
|
|||||
Tax
benefit for stock options
|
—
|
206
|
|||||
Gains
on sales of loans held-for-sale
|
(46
|
)
|
(37
|
)
|
|||
Gains
on sales of other real estate owned
|
—
|
(7
|
)
|
||||
Proceeds
from sales of loans held-for-sale
|
9,566
|
3,260
|
|||||
Originations
of loans held-for-sale
|
(12,778
|
)
|
(3,485
|
)
|
|||
Decrease
in accrued interest receivable and other assets
|
1,274
|
346
|
|||||
Decrease
in accrued interest payable and other liabilities
|
(2,455
|
)
|
(2,195
|
)
|
|||
Net cash
(used
in) provided by operating activities
|
(2,001
|
)
|
263
|
||||
Investing Activities
|
|||||||
Net increase in investment securities
|
(5,971
|
)
|
(15,176
|
)
|
|||
Net decrease
(increase) in loans
|
13,011
|
(6,693
|
)
|
||||
Net
(increase) decrease in other real estate owned
|
(1,100
|
)
|
275
|
||||
Purchases of premises and equipment, net
|
(502
|
)
|
(84
|
)
|
|||
Net cash
provided
by (used in) investing activities
|
5,438
|
(21,678
|
)
|
||||
Financing Activities
|
|||||||
Net
increase in deposits
|
11,067
|
7,181
|
|||||
Net decrease in FHLB advances
|
(820
|
)
|
(4,544
|
)
|
|||
Cash dividends paid
|
(13
|
)
|
(8
|
)
|
|||
Tax
benefit for stock options
|
—
|
(206
|
)
|
||||
Repurchase of stock
|
(1,325
|
)
|
(1,549
|
)
|
|||
Net cash provided
by financing activities
|
8,909
|
874
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Net increase
(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
12,346
|
(20,541
|
)
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
98,001
|
122,692
|
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$
|
110,347
|
$
|
102,151
|
|||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
|
|||||||
Cash paid during the period for:
|
|||||||
Interest
|
$
|
2,958
|
$
|
1,946
|
|||
Income Taxes
|
$
|
107
|
—
|
||||
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:
|
|||||||
Stock dividend distributed
|
$
|
10,851
|
$
|
12,525
|
See
notes
to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
NOTES
TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March
31,
2007 and 2006 and December 31, 2006
1.
|
BASIS
OF PRESENTATION
|
The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of First
Northern Community Bancorp (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP)
for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and
Articles 9 and 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of
the
information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In
the
opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals)
considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The results
of
operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results
expected for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements
should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and
notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report to stockholders and Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The preparation of financial statements in conformity
with
GAAP also requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts
of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ
from those estimates. All material intercompany balances and transactions have
been eliminated in consolidation.
Recently
Issued Accounting Pronouncements:
In
February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid
Financial Instruments,” which amends the guidance in SFAS No. 133, “Accounting
for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” and SFAS No. 140,
“Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments
of Liabilities.” SFAS No. 155 provides entities with relief from having to
separately determine the fair value of an embedded derivative that would
otherwise be required to be bifurcated from its host contract in accordance
with
SFAS No. 133. SFAS No. 155 allows an entity to make an irrevocable election
to
measure such a hybrid financial instrument at fair value in its entirety, with
changes in fair value recognized in earnings. SFAS No. 155 was effective January
1, 2007 for the Company for financial instruments acquired, issued or subject
to
a re-measurement event. The adoption of SFAS No. 155 did not have a material
impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash
flows.
In
March
2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial
Assets,” which amends the guidance in SFAS No. 140. SFAS No. 156 requires that
an entity separately recognize a servicing asset or a servicing liability when
it undertakes an obligation to service a financial asset under a servicing
contract in certain situations. Such servicing assets or servicing liabilities
are required to be measured initially at fair value, if practicable. SFAS No.
156 also allows an entity to measure its servicing assets and servicing
liabilities subsequently using either the amortization method, which existed
under SFAS No. 140, or the fair value measurement method. SFAS No. 156 was
effective for the Company in the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2007. The
adoption of SFAS No. 156 did not have a material impact on the financial
condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
In
June
2006, the FASB issued Interpretation 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes” (“FIN 48”), an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for
Income Taxes.” FIN 48 clarifies the accounting and reporting for income taxes
where interpretation of the law is uncertain. FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive
model for the financial statement recognition, measurement, presentation and
disclosure of income tax uncertainties with respect to positions taken or
expected to be taken in income tax returns. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal
years
beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company adopted this Statement on January
1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of Interpretation 48, it was
not necessary for the Company to recognize any increase in the liability for
unrecognized tax benefits.
7
The
Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal
jurisdiction and California state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the
Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state examinations by tax
authorities for years before 2003.
The
Company will recognize interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized
tax benefits in income tax expense.
In
September 2006, The Emerging Issues Task Force issued EITF 06-5, “Accounting for
Purchases of Life Insurance- Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized
in
Accordance with FASB
Technical Bulletin No. 85-4.”
This
consensus concludes that a policyholder should consider any additional amounts
included in the contractual terms of the insurance policy other than the cash
surrender value in determining the amount that could be realized under the
insurance contract. A consensus also was reached that a policyholder should
determine the amount that could be realized under the life insurance contract
assuming the surrender of an individual-life by individual-life policy (or
certificate by certificate in a group policy). The consensuses are effective
for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The adoption of EITF 06-5 did
not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of
operations or cash flows.
Reclassifications
Certain
reclassifications have been made to prior period balances in order to conform
to
the current year presentation.
8
2. ALLOWANCE
FOR LOAN LOSSES
The
allowance for loan losses is maintained at levels considered adequate by
management to provide for loan losses that can be reasonably anticipated. The
allowance is based on management's assessment of various factors affecting
the
loan portfolio, including problem loans, economic conditions and loan loss
experience, and an overall evaluation of the quality of the underlying
collateral.
Changes
in the allowance for loan losses during the three-month periods ended March
31,
2007 and 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2006 were as
follows:
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||||
Three
months ended
March
31,
|
Year
ended December 31,
|
|||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2006
|
||||||||
Balance,
beginning of period
|
$
|
8,361
|
$
|
7,917
|
$
|
7,917
|
||||
(Recovery
of) provision for loan losses
|
(170
|
)
|
(575
|
)
|
735
|
|||||
Loan
charge-offs
|
(289
|
)
|
(57
|
)
|
(1,060
|
)
|
||||
Loan
recoveries
|
48
|
513
|
769
|
|||||||
Balance,
end of period
|
$
|
7,950
|
$
|
7,798
|
$
|
8,361
|
3.
|
MORTGAGE
OPERATIONS
|
Transfers
and servicing of financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities are
accounted for and reported based on consistent application of a
financial-components approach that focuses on control. Transfers of financial
assets that are sales are distinguished from transfers that are secured
borrowings. Retained interests (mortgage servicing rights) in loans sold are
measured by allocating the previous carrying amount of the transferred assets
between the loans sold and retained interest, if any, based on their relative
fair value at the date of transfer. Fair values are estimated using discounted
cash flows based on a current market interest rate.
The
Company recognizes a gain and a related asset for the fair value of the rights
to service loans for others when loans are sold. The Company sold substantially
all of its conforming long-term residential mortgage loans originated during
the
three months ended March 31, 2007 for cash proceeds equal to the fair value
of
the loans.
The
recorded value of mortgage servicing rights is included in other assets, and
is
amortized in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing
revenues. The Company assesses capitalized mortgage servicing rights for
impairment based upon the fair value of those rights at each reporting date.
For
purposes of measuring impairment, the rights are stratified based upon the
product type, term and interest rates. Fair value is determined by discounting
estimated net future cash flows from mortgage servicing activities using
discount rates that approximate current market rates and estimated prepayment
rates, among other assumptions. The amount of impairment recognized, if any,
is
the amount by which the capitalized mortgage servicing rights for a stratum
exceeds their fair value. Impairment, if any, is recognized through a valuation
allowance for each individual stratum.
At
March
31, 2007, the Company had $7,718,000 of mortgage loans held-for-sale. At March
31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company serviced real estate mortgage loans
for others of $112,273,000 and $112,742,000, respectively.
The
following table summarizes the Company’s mortgage servicing rights assets as of
March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||||||
December
31, 2006
|
Additions
|
Reductions
|
March
31, 2007
|
||||||||||
Mortgage
servicing rights
|
$
|
945
|
$
|
43
|
$
|
40
|
$
|
948
|
There
was
no valuation allowance recorded for mortgage servicing rights as of March 31,
2007 and December 31, 2006.
9
4.
|
OUTSTANDING
SHARES AND EARNINGS PER SHARE
|
On
January 25, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a 6% stock
dividend paid March 30, 2007 to stockholders of record as of February 28, 2007.
Earnings
per share amounts have been adjusted retroactively to reflect the effects of
the
stock dividend.
Earnings
Per Share (EPS)
Basic
EPS
includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net income by the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS includes
all common stock equivalents (“in-the-money” stock options, unvested restricted
stock, stock units, warrants and rights, convertible bonds and preferred stock),
which reflects the potential dilution of securities that could share in the
earnings of an entity.
The
following table presents a reconciliation of basic and diluted EPS for the
three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.
(in
thousands, except share and earnings per share amounts)
|
|||||||
Three
months ended March 31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Basic
earnings per share:
|
|||||||
Net
income
|
$
|
2,090
|
$
|
2,402
|
|||
Weighted
average common shares outstanding
|
8,431,880
|
8,503,922
|
|||||
Basic
EPS
|
$
|
0.25
|
$
|
0.28
|
|||
Diluted
earnings per share:
|
|||||||
Net
income
|
$
|
2,090
|
$
|
2,402
|
|||
Weighted
average common shares outstanding
|
8,431,880
|
8,503,922
|
|||||
Effect
of dilutive options
|
259,902
|
315,896
|
|||||
Adjusted
weighted average common shares outstanding
|
8,691,782
|
8,819,818
|
|||||
Diluted
EPS
|
$
|
0.24
|
$
|
0.27
|
10
5.
|
STOCK
PLANS
|
On
January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 123R, “Share-Based Payments,” which addresses the accounting for
stock-based payment transactions whereby an entity receives employee services
in
exchange for equity instruments, including stock options. SFAS No. 123R
eliminates the ability to account for stock-based compensation transactions
using the intrinsic value method under Accounting Principles Board Opinion
(“APB”) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and instead
generally requires that such transactions be accounted for using a fair-value
based method. The Company has elected the modified prospective transition method
as permitted under SFAS No. 123R, and accordingly prior periods have not been
restated to reflect the impact of SFAS No. 123R. The modified prospective
transition method requires that stock-based compensation expense be recorded
for
all new and unvested stock options that are ultimately expected to vest as
the
requisite service is rendered beginning on January 1, 2006. Stock-based
compensation for awards granted prior to January 1, 2006 is based upon the
grant-date fair value of such compensation as determined under the pro forma
provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” The
Company issues new shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options.
Prior
to
the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company, during the first quarter of fiscal
2003, adopted the fair value recognition provisions of Financial Accounting
Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement No. 148, Accounting
for Stock-Based Compensation
-
Transition and Disclosure,
an
amendment of FASB Statement No. 123,
for
stock-based employee compensation, effective as of the beginning of the fiscal
year. Under the prospective method of adoption selected by the Company,
stock-based employee compensation recognized for all stock options granted
after
January 1, 2003 is based on the fair value recognition provisions of Statement
123. For stock options issued prior to January 1, 2003, the Company is using
the
intrinsic value method, under which compensation expense is recorded on the
date
of grant only if the current market price of the underlying stock exceeds the
exercise price.
11
The
following table presents the activity related to stock options and restricted
stock for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
Number
of Shares
|
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
|
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Term
|
||||||||||
Options
outstanding at Beginning of Period
|
549,000
|
$
|
10.32
|
||||||||||
Granted
|
49,924
|
16.75
|
|||||||||||
Cancelled
/ Forfeited
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||
Exercised
|
(13,324
|
)
|
3.38
|
$
|
240,921
|
||||||||
Options
outstanding at End of Period
|
585,600
|
$
|
11.03
|
$
|
4,815,806
|
6.04
|
|||||||
Exercisable
(vested) at End of Period
|
421,707
|
$
|
8.65
|
$
|
4,218,298
|
5.06
|
The
weighted average fair value of options and restricted stock granted during
the
three-month period ended March 31, 2007 was $9.58 per share.
12
As
of
March 31, 2007, there was $817,209 of total unrecognized compensation related
to
non-vested stock options. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted
average period of approximately 2.3 years.
The
Company determines fair value at grant date using the Black-Scholes-Merton
pricing model that takes into account the stock price at the grant date, the
exercise price, the risk free interest rate, the volatility of the underlying
stock and the expected life of the option.
The
weighted average assumptions used in the pricing model are noted in the
following table. The expected term of options granted is derived from historical
data on employee exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior.
The
risk free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based
on
the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. Expected
volatility is based on both the implied volatilities from the traded option
on
the Company’s stock and historical volatility on the Company’s
stock.
The
Bank
expenses the fair value of the option on a straight line basis over the vesting
period. The Bank estimates forfeitures and only recognizes expense for those
shares expected to vest. The Bank’s estimated forfeiture rate in the first three
months of 2007, based on historical forfeiture experience, is approximately
0.0%.
A
summary
of the weighted average assumptions used in valuing stock options during the
three months ended March 31, 2007 is presented below:
Three
Months Ended
|
|||
March
31, 2007
|
|||
Risk
Free Interest Rate
|
4.67%
|
||
Expected
Dividend Yield
|
0.0%
|
||
Expected
Life in Years
|
4.18
|
||
Expected
Price Volatility
|
26.03%
|
13
The
Company has a 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). Under the plan, the
Company is authorized to issue to an eligible employee shares of common stock.
There are 265,000 (adjusted for the 2007 stock dividend) shares authorized
under
the Plan. The Plan will terminate February 27, 2017. The Plan is
implemented by participation periods of not more than twenty-seven months each.
The Board of Directors determines the commencement date and duration of each
participation period. The Board of Directors approved the current participation
period of November 24, 2006 to November 23, 2007. An eligible employee is one
who has been continually employed for at least ninety (90) days prior to
commencement of a participation period. Under the terms of the Plan, employees
can choose to have up to 10 percent of their compensation withheld to purchase
the Company’s common stock each participation period. The purchase price of the
stock is 85 percent of the lower of the fair market value on the last trading
day before the Date of Participation or the fair market value on the last
trading day during the participation period.
As
of
March 31, 2007, there was $35,000 of recognized compensation and $92,000 of
unrecognized compensation related to ESPP options. This cost is expected to
be
recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 0.75
years.
The
weighted average fair value at grant date is $6.08.
A
summary
of the weighted average assumptions used in valuing ESPP options during the
three months ended March 31, 2007 is presented below:
Three
Months Ended
|
||
March
31, 2007
|
||
Risk
Free Interest Rate
|
5.00%
|
|
Expected
Dividend Yield
|
0.00%
|
|
Expected
Life in Years
|
1.00
|
|
Expected
Price Volatility
|
22.97%
|
14
6.
|
FIRST
NORTHERN BANK - EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT
PLAN
|
First
Northern Bank has an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan
provided in two forms to a select group of highly compensated employees. Four
executives have Salary Continuation Benefits providing retirement benefits
between $50,000 and $100,000 depending on responsibilities and tenure at the
bank. The retirement benefits are paid for 10 years following retirement at
age
65. Reduced retirement benefits are available after age 55 and 10 years of
service.
The
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan is intended to provide a fixed annual
benefit for 10 years plus 6 months for each full year of service over 10 years
(limited to 180 months total) subsequent to retirement at age 65. Reduced
benefits are payable as early as age 55 if the participant has at least 10
years
of service. Two employees currently have Supplemental Executive Retirement
agreements. The agreements provide a target benefit of 2% (2.5% for the CEO)
times years of service times final average compensation. Final average
compensation is defined as three-year average salary plus seven-year average
bonus. The target benefit is reduced by benefits from social security and First
Northern Bank's profit sharing plan. The maximum target benefit is 50% of final
average compensation.
Three
months ended March 31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Components
of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
|
|||||||
Service
Cost
|
$
|
30,383
|
$
|
41,146
|
|||
Interest
Cost
|
28,784
|
16,155
|
|||||
Amortization
of prior service cost
|
21,821
|
3,257
|
|||||
Net
periodic benefit cost
|
$
|
80,988
|
$
|
60,558
|
The
Bank
estimates that the annual net periodic benefit cost will be $323,745 for the
year ended December 31, 2007. This compares to annual net periodic benefit
costs
of $260,592 for the year ended December 31, 2006.
Estimated
Contributions for Fiscal 2007
For
unfunded plans, contributions to the “Executive Salary Continuation Plan” are
the benefit payments made to participants. At December 31, 2006 the Bank
expected to make benefit payments of $54,144 in connection with the “Executive
Salary Continuation Plan” during fiscal 2007.
15
7. |
FIRST
NORTHERN BANK - DIRECTORS’ RETIREMENT
PLAN
|
First
Northern Bank has an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan
("Directors’ Retirement Plan") for directors of the bank. The plan provides a
retirement benefit equal to $1,000 per year of service as a director up to
a
maximum benefit of $15,000. The retirement benefit is payable for 10 years
following retirement at age 65. Reduced retirement benefits are available after
age 55 and 10 years of service.
Three
months ended
March
31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Components
of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
|
|||||||
Service
Cost
|
$
|
14,366
|
$
|
13,518
|
|||
Interest
Cost
|
6,736
|
5,943
|
|||||
Amortization
of net loss
|
121
|
234
|
|||||
Net
periodic benefit cost
|
$
|
21,223
|
$
|
19,695
|
The
Bank
estimates that the annual net periodic benefit cost will be $84,890 for
the
year ended
December
31, 2007. This compares to annual net periodic benefit costs of $78,774
for
the
year ended
December
31, 2006.
Estimated
Contributions for Fiscal 2007
For
unfunded plans, contributions to the “Directors’ Retirement Plan” are the
benefit payments made to participants. At December 31, 2006 the Bank expected
to
make cash contributions of $15,000 to the “Directors’ Retirement Plan” during
fiscal 2007.
16
ITEM
2.
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A
of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and subject to the "safe harbor" created
by
those sections. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning
possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company set forth under
the heading "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations." Forward-looking statements also include statements
in
which words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe,"
estimate," "consider" or similar expressions are used, and include assumptions
concerning the Company's operations, future results and prospects. These
forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and are subject
to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict.
Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those set
forth in or implied by the forward-looking statements and related assumptions.
Some factors that may cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking
statements include the following: (i) the effect of changing regional and
national economic conditions, including the continuing fiscal challenges for
the
State of California; (ii) uncertainty regarding the economic outlook resulting
from the continuing hostilities in Iraq and the war on terrorism, as well as
actions taken or to be taken by the United States or other governments as a
result of further acts or threats of terrorism; (iii) significant changes in
interest rates and prepayment speeds; (iv) credit risks of commercial,
agricultural, real estate, consumer and other lending activities; (v) adverse
effects of current and future federal and state banking or other laws and
regulations or governmental fiscal or monetary policies; (vi) competition in
the
banking industry; (vii) changes in accounting standards; and (viii) other
external developments which could materially impact the Company's operational
and financial performance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The
Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to
reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they are made.
For additional information concerning risks and uncertainties related to the
Company and its operations, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and Item 1A. of Part II of this
Report.
The
following is a discussion and analysis of the significant changes in the
Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and of the significant
changes in income and expenses reported in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Income and Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive
Income as of and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
and
should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated 2006 financial
statements and the notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report to
Stockholders and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, along with
other financial information included in this Report.
17
INTRODUCTION
This
overview of Management’s Discussion and Analysis highlights selected information
in this quarterly report and may not contain all of the information that is
important to you. For a more complete understanding of trends, events,
commitments, uncertainties, liquidity, capital resources and critical accounting
estimates, you should carefully read this entire quarterly report, together
with
our Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2006.
Our
subsidiary, First Northern Bank of Dixon (the “Bank”), is a California
state-chartered bank that derives most of its revenues from lending and deposit
taking in the Sacramento Valley region of Northern California. Interest rates,
business conditions and customer confidence all affect our ability to generate
revenues. In addition, the regulatory environment and competition can challenge
our ability to generate those revenues.
Significant
results and developments during the first quarter 2007 include:
· |
Net
income of $2.09 million, down 12.9% over the $2.40 million earned
in the
same fiscal period last year. (First quarter 2007 net income was
increased
through a $100,000, net of tax, recovery of provision for loan losses
from
a prior period. First quarter 2006 net income was increased through
a
$339,000, net of tax, recovery of provision for loan losses from
a prior
period.)
|
Without
the additional items referenced above, net income would have been $1.99 million
for 2007 and $2.06 million for 2006, a decrease of 3.4%
· |
Diluted
earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2007 of $0.24,
down 11.1% from the $0.27 reported in the same period last year (all
2006
per share earnings have been adjusted for the 6% stock dividend paid
March
30, 2007).
|
· |
Recovery
of provision for loan losses from a prior period of $170,000 for
the
three-month period ended March 31, 2007 compared to a recovery of
provision for loan losses from a prior period of $575,000 for the
same
period in 2006.
|
· |
Provision
for unfunded lending commitment losses of $50,000 for the three-month
period ended March 31, 2007 compared to a provision for unfunded
lending
commitment losses of $100,000 for the same period in
2006.
|
· |
Annualized
Return on Average Assets for the three-month period ended March 31,
2007
of 1.22%, compared to 1.44% for the same period in 2006.
|
· |
Annualized
Return on Beginning Equity for the three-month period ended March
31, 2007
of 13.49%, compared to 16.91% for the same period in 2006.
|
· |
Total
assets at March 31, 2007 of $694.0 million, an increase of $32.0
million,
or 4.8%, from prior-year first quarter levels.
|
· |
Total
deposits of $614.7 million at March 31, 2007, an increase of $25.7
million
or 4.4% compared to March 31, 2006.
|
· |
Total
net loans at March 31, 2007 (including loans held-for-sale) increased
$2.4
million, or 0.5%, to $470.4 million compared to March 31,
2006.
|
· |
Total
investment securities at March 31, 2007 increased $18.2 million,
or 29.4%,
to $80.1 million compared to March 31,
2006.
|
18
SUMMARY
The
Company recorded net income of $2,090,000 for the three-month period ended
March
31, 2007, representing a decrease of $312,000 or 13.0% from net income of
$2,402,000 for the same period in 2006.
The
following table presents a summary of the results for the three-month periods
ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.
(Amounts
in thousands, except percentage and per share amounts)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
.
|
Three
months
|
Three
months
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
ended
|
ended
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
March
31, 2007
|
March
31, 2006
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
For
the Period:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
$
|
2,090
|
$
|
2,402
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Basic
Earnings Per Share*
|
$
|
0.25
|
$
|
0.28
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Diluted
Earnings Per Share*
|
$
|
0.24
|
$
|
0.27
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Return
on Average Assets
|
1.22%
|
1.44%
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net
Earning / Beginning Equity
|
13.49%
|
16.91%
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
At
Period End:
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total
Assets
|
$
|
693,973
|
$
|
662,038
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total
Loans, Net (including loans held-for-sale)
|
$
|
470,426
|
$
|
468,031
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
Deposits
|
$
|
614,749
|
$
|
588,962
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
Loan-To-Deposit
Ratio
|
76.5%
|
79.5%
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
*Adjusted
for stock dividends
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
19
Distribution
of Average Statements of Condition and Analysis of Net Interest
Income
(in
thousands, except percentage amounts)
Three
months ended
|
Three
months ended
|
||||||||||||||||||
March
31, 2007
|
March
31, 2006
|
||||||||||||||||||
Average
|
Yield/
|
Average
|
Yield/
|
||||||||||||||||
Balance
|
Interest
|
Rate
|
Balance
|
Interest
|
Rate
|
||||||||||||||
Assets
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Interest-earning
assets:
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Loans
(1)
|
|
$478,034
|
|
$10,375
|
8.80
|
%
|
|
$462,546
|
|
$9,684
|
8.49
|
%
|
|||||||
Investment
securities, taxable
|
53,423
|
650
|
4.93
|
%
|
44,417
|
532
|
4.86
|
%
|
|||||||||||
Investment
securities, non-taxable (2)
|
25,789
|
278
|
4.37
|
%
|
10,988
|
131
|
4.84
|
%
|
|||||||||||
Federal
funds sold
|
67,035
|
860
|
5.20
|
%
|
89,301
|
960
|
4.36
|
%
|
|||||||||||
Other
interest earning assets
|
2,107
|
29
|
5.58
|
%
|
2,135
|
24
|
4.56
|
%
|
|||||||||||
Total
interest-earning assets
|
626,388
|
12,192
|
7.89
|
%
|
609,387
|
11,331
|
7.54
|
%
|
|||||||||||
Non-interest-earning
assets:
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Cash
and due from banks
|
27,202
|
31,972
|
|||||||||||||||||
Premises
and equipment, net
|
8,246
|
8,255
|
|||||||||||||||||
Other
real estate owned
|
1,248
|
231
|
|||||||||||||||||
Accrued
interest receivable and other assets
|
21,601
|
19,552
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total
average assets
|
684,685
|
669,397
|
|||||||||||||||||
Liabilities
and Stockholders’ Equity:
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Interest-bearing
liabilities:
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Interest-bearing
transaction deposits
|
123,278
|
736
|
2.42
|
%
|
85,069
|
215
|
1.02
|
%
|
|||||||||||
Savings
and MMDA’s
|
182,121
|
1,080
|
2.40
|
%
|
195,403
|
782
|
1.62
|
%
|
|||||||||||
Time,
under $100,000
|
47,397
|
381
|
3.26
|
%
|
51,314
|
309
|
2.44
|
%
|
|||||||||||
Time,
$100,000 and over
|
68,898
|
695
|
4.09
|
%
|
67,509
|
499
|
3.00
|
%
|
|||||||||||
FHLB
advances and other borrowings
|
10,400
|
77
|
3.00
|
%
|
13,211
|
134
|
4.11
|
%
|
|||||||||||
Total
interest-bearing liabilities
|
432,094
|
2,969
|
2.79
|
%
|
412,506
|
1,939
|
1.91
|
%
|
|||||||||||
Non-interest-bearing
liabilities:
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Non-interest-bearing
demand deposits
|
183,430
|
193,905
|
|||||||||||||||||
Accrued
interest payable and other liabilities
|
7,144
|
5,799
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total
liabilities
|
622,668
|
612,210
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
62,017
|
57,187
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total
average liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
|
$684,685
|
|
$669,397
|
|||||||||||||||
Net
interest income and net interest margin (3)
|
|
$9,223
|
5.97
|
%
|
|
$9,392
|
6.25
|
%
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
1.
Average
balances for loans include
loans held-for-sale and non-accrual loans and are net of the allowance
for
loan losses, but non-accrued interest thereon is
excluded.
Loan interest income includes loan fees of approximately $644 and $692 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. |
|||||||||||||||||||
2. Interest
income and yields on tax-exempt securities are not presented on a
taxable
equivalent basis.
|
|||||||||||||||||||
3. Net interest margin is computed by dividing net
interest income by total average interest-earning
assets.
|
20
CHANGES
IN FINANCIAL CONDITION
The
assets of the Company set forth in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance
Sheets showed a $7,849,000 decrease in cash and due from banks, a $20,195,000
increase in Federal funds sold, a $5,956,000 increase in investment securities
available-for-sale, a $12,841,000 decrease in net loans held for investment,
a
$3,258,000 increase in loans held-for-sale, a $165,000 increase in premises
and
equipment, a $1,100,000 increase in other real estate owned and a $1,236,000
decrease in accrued interest receivable and other assets from December 31,
2006
to March 31, 2007. The decrease in cash and due from banks was substantially
the
result of a decrease in items in process of collection. The increase in Federal
funds sold was largely due to decreases in cash and due from banks, loans
and
accrued interest receivable and other assets combined with an increase in
deposits, which was partially offset by increases in investment securities
available-for-sale, loans held-for-sale and other real estate owned. The
increase in investment securities available-for-sale was largely due to
purchases of agency investment securities and tax exempt municipal investment
securities which were partially offset by a decrease in mortgage-backed
investment securities. The decrease in net loans held for investment was
due to
decreases in the following loan categories: commercial; agricultural; equipment
leases; real estate; small business administration real estate and home equity
lines of credit, which were partially offset by increases in the following
loan
categories: equipment; consumer and real estate commercial and construction.
These fluctuations were due to changes in the demand for loan products by
the
Company’s borrowers. The increase in loans held-for-sale was in real estate
loans and was due, for the most part, to the origination of loans. The Company
originated approximately $12,778,000 in residential mortgage loans during
the
first three months of 2007, which was offset by approximately $9,566,000
in loan
sales during this period. The increase in premises and equipment was due
to an
increase in furniture and equipment purchases, which was partially offset
by
increased depreciation. The increase in other real estate owned was due to
the
transfer of a real estate loan to OREO from loans held for investment. The
decrease in accrued interest receivable and other assets was mainly due to
a
decrease in loan and securities interest receivables and income taxes
receivable, which was partially offset by an increase in the cash surrender
value of bank owned life insurance and prepaid expenses.
The
liabilities of the Company set forth in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheets showed an increase in total deposits of $11,067,000 at March
31,
2007 compared to December 31, 2006. The increase in deposits was due to higher
interest-bearing transaction deposits, savings and money market deposits,
under
$100,000 time deposit totals and $100,000 and over time deposits, which was
partially offset by lower demand deposits. These fluctuations were due to
cyclical changes in deposit requirements of the Company’s depositors. Federal
Home Loan Bank advances (“FHLB advances”) and other borrowings decreased
$820,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the year ended
December 31, 2006, due to payments to the FHLB combined with a decrease in
treasury tax and loan note payable. Other liabilities decreased $2,455,000
from
December 31, 2006 to March 31, 2007. The decrease in other liabilities was
due
to decreases in incentive compensation expenses, accrued profit sharing expenses
and accrued taxes payable, which were partially offset by increases in accrued
interest expense, accrued retirement expense, deferred compensation expense,
accrued vacation and salary expense and accrued unfunded lending commitment
losses expense.
21
CHANGES
IN RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Interest
Income
The
increase in general market interest rates increased the Company’s yields on
earning assets. The Federal Open Market Committee increased the federal funds
rate by a total of 50 basis points during the twelve-month period ended March
31, 2007.
Interest
income on loans for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007 was up 7.1%
from
the same period in 2006, increasing from $9,684,000 to $10,375,000. This
increase as compared to the same period a year ago was primarily due to an
increase in average loans combined with a 31 basis point increase in loan
yields.
Interest
income on investment securities
available-for-sale
for
the three-month
period ended March 31, 2007 was up 40.0% over the same period in 2006, from
$663,000 to $928,000. The increase over the three-month period year ago was
primarily due to an increase in average investment securities, which was
partially offset by a 10 basis point decrease in investment securities
yields.
Interest
income on Federal funds sold for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007
was
down 10.4% from the same period for 2006, decreasing from $960,000 to $860,000.
This decrease as compared to the three-month period ended March 31, 2006
was
primarily due to a decrease in average Federal funds sold, which was partially
offset by an 84 basis point increase in Federal funds yields.
Interest
income on other interest earning assets for the three-month
period ended March 31, 2007 was up 20.8% over the same period in 2006, from
$24,000 to $29,000. The increase over the three-month period a year ago was
primarily due to a 102 basis point increase in other interest earning assets
yields, which was partially offset by a decrease in average other interest
earning assets.
Interest
Expense
The
increase in general market interest rates increased the Company’s cost of funds
in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same quarter a year ago.
Interest
expense on deposits and other borrowings for the three-month period ended
March
31, 2007 was up 53.1% from the same period in 2006, increasing from $1,939,000
to $2,969,000. The increase in interest expense during the three-month period
ended March 31, 2007 was primarily due to an 88 basis point increase in the
Company’s average cost of funds combined with an increase in average interest
bearing liabilities.
22
Provision
for Loan Losses
There
was
a recovery of provision for loan losses of $170,000 for the three-month period
ended March 31, 2007 compared to a $575,000 recovery of provision for loan
losses for the same period in 2006. The recovery of the provision during
the
first quarter of 2007 was due to decreased loans and the Company’s evaluation of
the quality of the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses was
approximately $7,950,000 or 1.69% of total loans at March 31, 2007 compared
to
$8,361,000 or 1.73% of total loans at December 31, 2006. The allowance for
loan
losses is maintained at a level considered adequate by management to provide
for
possible loan losses inherent in the loan portfolio.
Provision
for Unfunded Lending Commitment Losses
There
was
a provision for unfunded lending commitment losses of $50,000 for the
three-month period ended March 31, 2007 compared to a $100,000 provision
for the
same period in 2006. The provision for unfunded lending commitment losses
was
due to an increase in unfunded lending commitments.
The
provision for unfunded lending commitment losses is included in non-interest
expense.
Other
Operating Income
Other
operating income was up 23.9% for the three-month period ended March 31,
2007
from the same period in 2006, increasing from $1,209,000 to $1,498,000. This
increase was primarily due to an increase in service charges on deposit
accounts, investment brokerage service income, fiduciary services income,
signature based transaction fees and other miscellaneous income, which was
partially offset by a decrease in mortgage brokerage income. The increase
in
service charges on deposit accounts was due to an increase in overdraft fees.
The increase in investment brokerage income and fiduciary income was due
to an
increase in the demand for those services. The increase in signature based
transaction fees was due to an increase in signature based transactions.
The
increase in other miscellaneous income was due to an increase in net letter
of
credit fees and deferred compensation insurance earnings. The decrease in
mortgage brokerage fees was the result of a decrease in mortgage brokerage
activity.
23
Other
Operating Expenses
Total
other operating expenses was up 4.4% for the three-month period ended March
31,
2007 from the same period in 2006, increasing from $7,327,000 to $7,646,000.
The
principal reasons for the increase in other operating expenses in the
three-month period ended March 31, 2007 were due to increases in the following:
occupancy and equipment expense; data processing; stationery and supplies;
directors’ fees and other miscellaneous operating expenses; which was partially
offset by a decrease in salaries and benefits. The increase in occupancy
and
equipment expense was due to increased rent expense, depreciation expense
associated with a branch closing, service contracts, utilities expense and
maintenance expense. The increase in data processing costs was due to increased
expenses associated with maintaining and monitoring the Company’s data
communications network and internet banking system. The increase in stationery
and supplies was due to an increase in supply usage. The decrease in salaries
and benefits was due to decreases in the following: payroll taxes; profit
sharing expenses; provision for incentive compensation due to decreased profits;
commissions paid; and worker’s compensation; which were partially offset by
increases in merit salaries; deferred compensation interest expense; group
insurance; welfare and recreation expense and stock compensation
expense.
The
following table sets forth other miscellaneous operating expenses by category
for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||||||
.
|
Three
months
|
Three
months
|
|||||||||||
ended
|
ended
|
||||||||||||
March
31, 2007
|
March
31, 2006
|
||||||||||||
Other
miscellaneous operating expenses
|
|
||||||||||||
Provision
for unfunded lending commitments
|
$
|
50
|
$
|
100
|
|||||||||
Contributions
|
52
|
22
|
|||||||||||
Legal
fees
|
71
|
45
|
|||||||||||
Accounting
and audit fees
|
126
|
164
|
|||||||||||
Consulting
fees
|
96
|
98
|
|||||||||||
Postage
expense
|
85
|
92
|
|||||||||||
Telephone
expense
|
61
|
54
|
|||||||||||
Public
relations
|
79
|
70
|
|||||||||||
Training
expense
|
77
|
63
|
|||||||||||
Loan
origination expense
|
214
|
142
|
|||||||||||
Computer
software depreciation
|
57
|
67
|
|||||||||||
Other
miscellaneous expense
|
388
|
310
|
|||||||||||
Total
other miscellaneous operating expenses
|
$
|
1,356
|
$
|
1,227
|
Income
Taxes
The
Company’s tax rate, the Company’s income before taxes and the amount of tax
relief provided by nontaxable earnings primarily affect the Company’s provision
for income taxes. In the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company’s
provision for income taxes decreased $292,000 from the same period last year,
from $1,447,000 to $1,155,000. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three
months ended March 31, 2007 was 35.6%, compared to 37.6% for the same period
in
2006.
The
provision for income taxes for all periods presented is primarily attributable
to the respective level of earnings and the incidence of allowable deductions,
in particular non-taxable municipal bond income, tax credits generated from
low-income housing investments, and for California franchise taxes, higher
excludable interest income on loans within designated enterprise
zones.
24
Off-Balance
Sheet Commitments
The
following table shows the distribution of the Company’s undisbursed loan
commitments at the dates indicated.
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||
March
31, 2007
|
December
31, 2006
|
||||||
Undisbursed
loan commitments
|
$
|
213,001
|
$
|
198,200
|
|||
Standby
letters of credit
|
12,015
|
12,222
|
|||||
$
|
225,016
|
$
|
210,422
|
The
reserve for unfunded lending commitments amounted to $1,000,000 at March
31,
2007, up from $950,000 at December 31, 2006. The increase was primarily related
to increased undisbursed loan commitments. The reserve for unfunded lending
commitments is included in other liabilities.
Asset
Quality
The
Company manages asset quality and credit risk by maintaining diversification
in
its loan portfolio and through review processes that include analysis of
credit
requests and ongoing examination of outstanding loans and delinquencies,
with
particular attention to portfolio dynamics and loan mix. The Company strives
to
identify loans experiencing difficulty early enough to correct the problems,
to
record charge-offs promptly based on realistic assessments of current collateral
values and to maintain an adequate allowance for loan losses at all
times.
It
is
generally the Company’s policy to discontinue interest accruals once a loan is
past due for a period of 90 days as to interest or principal payments. When
a
loan is placed on non-accrual, interest accruals cease and uncollected accrued
interest is reversed and charged against current income. Payments received
on
non-accrual loans are applied against principal. A loan may only be restored
to
an accruing basis when it again becomes well secured and in the process of
collection or all past due amounts have been collected.
Non-accrual
loans amounted to $2,934,000 at March 31, 2007 and were comprised of five
commercial loans totaling $1,148,000, two agricultural loans totaling $586,000,
four real estate loans totaling $1,150,000 and one installment loan totaling
$50,000. At
December 31, 2006, non-accrual loans amounted to $3,399,000 and were comprised
of five commercial loans totaling $1,469,000, two agricultural loans totaling
$620,000 and two real estate loans totaling 1,310,000.
At
March 31, 2006, non-accrual loans amounted to $2,702,000 and were comprised
of
three commercial loans totaling $1,045,000 and four agricultural loans totaling
$1,657,000. The decrease in non-accrual loans at March 31, 2007 from the
balance
at December 31, 2006 was due to payments received on five commercial loans
and
two agricultural loans combined with a partial charge-off of a commercial
loan
and a transfer of a real estate loan to OREO, which was partially offset
by the
addition of three real estate loans and one installment loan to non-accrual.
The
Company’s management believes that nearly $2,835,000 of the non-accrual loans at
March 31, 2007 were adequately collateralized or guaranteed by a governmental
entity, and the remaining $99,000 may have some potential loss which management
believes is sufficiently covered by the Company’s existing loan loss allowance.
See
“Allowance
for Loan Losses” below for additional information. No assurance can be given
that the existing or any additional collateral will be sufficient to secure
full
recovery of the obligations owed under these loans.
The
Company had no loans 90 days past due and still accruing at March 31, 2007.
Such
loans amounted to $37,000 at December 31, 2006 and $351,000 at March 31,
2006.
Other
real estate owned (“OREO”) is made up of property that the Company has acquired
by deed in lieu of foreclosure or through normal foreclosure proceedings,
and
property that the Company does not hold title to but is in actual control
of,
known as in-substance foreclosure. The estimated fair value of the property
is
determined prior to transferring the balance to OREO. The balance transferred
to
OREO is the lesser of the estimated fair market value of the property, or
the
book value of the loan, less estimated cost to sell. A write-down may be
deemed
necessary to bring the book value of the loan equal to the appraised value.
Appraisals or loan officer evaluations are then done periodically thereafter
charging any additional write-downs to the appropriate expense
account.
OREO
amounted to $1,475,000 at March 31, 2007 and $375,000 at December 31, 2006.
The
Company had no OREO properties at March 31, 2006.
25
Allowance
for Loan Losses
The
Company’s Allowance for Loan Losses is maintained at a level believed by
management to be adequate to provide for loan losses that can be reasonably
anticipated. The allowance is increased by provisions charged to operating
expense and reduced by net charge-offs. The Company makes credit reviews
of the
loan portfolio and considers current economic conditions, loan loss experience
and other factors in determining the adequacy of the reserve balance. The
allowance for loan losses is based on estimates and actual losses may vary
from
current estimates.
The
following table summarizes the loan loss experience of the Company for the
three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, and for the year ended
December 31, 2006.
Analysis
of the Allowance for Loan Losses
|
||||||||||
(Amounts
in thousands, except percentage amounts)
|
||||||||||
Three
months ended
March
31,
|
Year
ended
December
31,
|
|||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2006
|
||||||||
Balance
at beginning of period
|
$
|
8,361
|
$
|
7,917
|
$
|
7,917
|
||||
(Recovery
of) provision for loan losses
|
(170
|
)
|
(575
|
)
|
735
|
|||||
Loans
charged-off:
|
||||||||||
Commercial
|
(41
|
)
|
—
|
(572
|
)
|
|||||
Agriculture
|
—
|
—
|
(57
|
)
|
||||||
Real
estate mortgage
|
(120
|
)
|
—
|
—
|
||||||
Real
estate construction
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||
Installment
loans to individuals
|
(128
|
)
|
(57
|
)
|
(431
|
)
|
||||
Total
charged-off
|
(289
|
)
|
(57
|
)
|
(1,060
|
)
|
||||
Recoveries:
|
||||||||||
Commercial
|
1
|
480
|
561
|
|||||||
Agriculture
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||
Real
estate mortgage
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||
Real
estate construction
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||
Installment
loans to individuals
|
47
|
33
|
208
|
|||||||
Total
recoveries
|
48
|
513
|
769
|
|||||||
Net
(charge-offs) recoveries
|
(241
|
)
|
456
|
(291
|
)
|
|||||
Balance
at end of period
|
$
|
7,950
|
$
|
7,798
|
$
|
8,361
|
||||
Ratio
of net (charge-offs) recoveries
|
||||||||||
To
average loans outstanding during the period
|
(0.05
|
%)
|
0.10
|
%
|
(0.06
|
%)
|
||||
Allowance
for loan losses
|
||||||||||
To
total loans at the end of the period
|
1.69
|
%
|
1.66
|
%
|
1.73
|
%
|
||||
To
non-performing loans at the end of the period
|
270.96
|
%
|
255.42
|
%
|
243.34
|
%
|
Non-performing
loans totaled $2,934,000, $3,053,000 and $3,436,000 at March 31, 2007 and
2006
and December 31, 2006, respectively.
26
Deposits
Deposits
are one of the Company’s primary sources of funds. At March 31, 2007, the
Company had the following deposit mix: 29.8% in savings and MMDA deposits,
20.0%
in time deposits, 21.0% in interest-bearing transaction deposits and 29.2%
in
non-interest-bearing transaction deposits. Non-interest-bearing
transaction deposits enhance the Company’s net interest income by lowering its
cost of funds.
The
Company obtains deposits primarily from the communities it serves. No
material portion of its deposits has been obtained from or is dependent on
any
one person or industry. The Company accepts deposits in excess of $100,000
from customers. These deposits are priced to remain
competitive.
Maturities
of time certificates of deposits of $100,000 or more outstanding at March
31,
2007 and December 31, 2006 are summarized as follows:
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||
March
31, 2007
|
December
31, 2006
|
||||||
Three
months or less
|
$
|
26,822
|
$
|
28,729
|
|||
Over
three to twelve months
|
38,915
|
32,355
|
|||||
Over
twelve months
|
6,307
|
5,215
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
72,044
|
$
|
66,299
|
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
In
order
to serve our market area, the Company must maintain adequate liquidity and
adequate capital. Liquidity is measured by various ratios with the most common
being the ratio of net loans to deposits (including loans held-for-sale).
This
ratio was 76.5% on March 31, 2007. In addition, on March 31, 2007, the Company
had the following short-term investments: $82,665,000 in Federal funds sold;
$15,412,000 in securities due within one year; and $30,703,000 in securities
due
in one to five years.
To
meet
unanticipated funding requirements, the Company maintains short-term unsecured
lines of credit with other banks totaling $25,700,000; additionally the Company
has a line of credit with the Federal Home Loan Bank, of which the current
borrowing capacity is $93,886,000.
The
Company’s primary source of liquidity on a stand-alone basis is dividends from
First Northern Bank of Dixon (the “Bank”). Dividends from the Bank are subject
to regulatory restrictions.
As
of
March 31, 2007, the Bank’s capital ratios exceeded applicable regulatory
requirements. The following tables present the capital ratios for the Bank,
compared to the standards for well-capitalized depository institutions, as
of
March 31, 2007.
(amounts
in thousands except percentage amounts)
|
||||||||
Actual
|
Well
Capitalized Ratio Requirement
|
Minimum
Capital
|
||||||
Capital
|
Ratio
|
|||||||
Leverage
|
$
62,825
|
9.15%
|
5.0%
|
4.0%
|
||||
Tier
1 Risk-Based
|
$
62,825
|
11.14%
|
6.0%
|
4.0%
|
||||
Total
Risk-Based
|
$
69,462
|
12.32%
|
10.0%
|
8.0%
|
Return
on Equity and Assets
Three
months ended
March
31, 2007
|
Three
months ended
March
31, 2006
|
Year
ended
December
31, 2006
|
|||
Annualized
return on average assets
|
1.22%
|
1.44%
|
1.32%
|
||
Annualized
return on beginning equity
|
13.49%
|
16.91%
|
15.51%
|
27
Prospective
Accounting Pronouncements
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS
No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value
and
expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 establishes
a
fair value hierarchy about the assumptions used to measure fair value and
clarifies assumptions about risk and the effect of a restriction on the sale
or
use of an asset. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007. The Company has not completed its evaluation of the impact
of
the adoption of this Standard on the Company’s financial position and results of
operations.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” Under this Standard, the Company
may elect to report financial instruments and certain other items at fair
value
on a contract-by-contract basis with changes in value reported in earnings.
This
election is irrevocable. SFAS No. 159 provides an opportunity to mitigate
volatility in reported earnings that is caused by measuring hedged assets
and
liabilities that were previously required to use a different accounting method
than the related hedging contracts when the complex provisions of SFAS No.
133
hedge accounting are not met. SFAS No. 159 is effective for years beginning
after November 15, 2007. Early adoption within 120 days of the beginning
of the
Company’s 2007 fiscal year is permissible, provided the Company has not yet
issued interim financial statements for 2007 and has adopted SFAS No. 157.
The
Company has not completed its evaluation of the impact of the adoption of
this
Standard on the Company’s financial position and results of
operations.
In
September 2006, the Emerging Issues Task Force issued EITF 06-4, “Accounting for
Deferred Compensation and Postretirement Benefit Aspects of Endorsement
Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements.” This consensus concludes that for a
split-dollar life insurance arrangements within the scope of this Issue,
an
employer should recognize a liability for future benefits in accordance with
SFAS No. 106 (if, in substance, a postretirement benefit plan exits) or APB
Opinion No. 12 (if the arrangement is, in substance, an individual deferred
compensation contract) based on the substantive agreement with the employee.
The
consensus is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007.
The
Company does not expect the adoption of EITF 06-4 to have a material impact
on
its financial position and results of operations.
28
ITEM
3.
QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The
Company believes that there have been no material changes in the quantitative
and qualitative disclosures about market risk as of March 31, 2007, from
those
presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2006, which are incorporated by reference herein.
ITEM
4.
CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
Our
Chief
Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer) have concluded that the design and operation
of
our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of March 31, 2007.
This
conclusion is based on an evaluation conducted under the supervision and
with
the participation of management. Disclosure controls and procedures are those
controls and procedures which ensure that information required to be disclosed
in this filing is accumulated and communicated to management and is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner and in accordance with
Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations.
During
the quarter ended March 31, 2007, there were no changes in our internal controls
over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely
to
materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
29
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1A.
RISK
FACTORS
In
addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully
consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, which could materially
affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing the Company.
Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we
currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our
business, financial condition and/or operating results.
ITEM
2.
UNREGISTERED
SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Repurchases
of Equity Securities
Under
the
Company’s stock repurchase program, which will remain in effect until April 30,
2008, the Company is authorized to repurchase an aggregate of up to 2.5%
of the
Company’s outstanding shares of common stock over each rolling twelve-month
period. The Company repurchased 62,126 shares of the Company’s outstanding
common stock during the first quarter ended March 31, 2007.
The
Company made the following purchases of its common stock during the quarter
ended March 31, 2007:
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
(d)
|
||||||||||
Period
|
Total
number of shares
purchased
|
Average
price
paid
per share
|
Number
of shares purchased as part of publicly announced
plans
or programs
|
Maximum
number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or
programs
|
|||||||||
January
1 - January 31, 2007
|
40,115
|
$
|
21.72
|
40,115
|
92,280
|
||||||||
February
1 - February 28, 2007
|
2,433
|
$
|
21.59
|
2,433
|
89,847
|
||||||||
March
1 - March 31, 2007
|
19,578
|
$
|
20.51
|
19,578
|
70,269
|
||||||||
Total
|
62,126
|
$
|
21.33
|
62,126
|
70,269
|
A
6%
stock dividend was declared on January 25, 2007 with a record date of February
28, 2007 and is reflected in the number of shares purchased and average prices
paid per share.
30
ITEM
6.
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
|
Exhibit
|
10.1
|
Participation
Agreements - Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (incorporated
by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
dated January 9, 2007)
|
31.1
|
Certification
of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-
Oxley
Act of 2002
|
31.2
|
Certification
of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-
Oxley
Act of 2002
|
32.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350, as
adopted pursuant
to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
32.2
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350, as
adopted pursuant
to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
FIRST
NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP
|
|||
Date:
May
9, 2007
|
by
|
/s/
Louise A. Walker
|
|
Louise
A. Walker, Sr. Executive Vice President / Chief Financial
Officer
|
|||
(Principal
Financial Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)
|
31