PVF Capital Corp. (PVFC) News

SOLON, Ohio, Jan. 20, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  

• Linked quarter decline in nonperforming assets of $1.4 million.
• Managed cost of deposits resulting in a 35 basis point expansion of net interest margin to 2.58% from 2.23% in the September 2009 quarter.
• Park View Federal Savings Bank regulatory capital ratios improved to 7.15% tier one (core) and 10.74% total risk based.
• Net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 of $1.3 million primarily driven by credit costs, partially offset by higher net interest income and net mortgage banking activities.
• Provision for Loan Losses of $2.3 million during the quarter resulting in an allowance for loan losses of $29.9 million or 4.55% of loans.

PVF Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:PVFC), the parent company of Park View Federal Savings Bank, announced a net loss of $1.3 million or $0.16 basic and diluted loss per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, as compared to a loss of $2.7 million or $0.35 basic and diluted loss per share for the prior year comparable period. The net loss for the quarter was primarily due to the provision for loan losses which totaled $2.3 million. Total assets at December 31, 2009 were $869.3 million compared with $912.2 at June 30, 2009, representing a decrease of 4.71%

Robert J. King, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer commented, “This quarter’s results reflect another step forward in our progress to reposition the Company by restoring its core profitability, asset quality and capital position.”

Net Interest Margin

Net interest income was $5.14 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $689,000 or 15.5% compared to $4.45 million for the same period of 2008, and was also $665,000 or 14.9% higher than the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The improvement was reflective of a smaller but more profitable balance sheet. The net interest margin improved 45 basis points for the quarter to 2.58% compared with 2.13% for the prior year comparable period and improved 35 basis points compared with the prior quarter. The improvement of the margin compared with the prior year period was the result of the cost of interest-bearing liabilities declining 129 basis points while the yield on interest-bearing assets declined only 70 basis points in this lower interest rate environment. The decline in the cost of interest bearing liabilities was driven by lower deposit costs as the result of the re-pricing of maturing certificates of deposit into lower rate products. The improvement of the margin compared with the linked period was also the result of improving the spread pricing on maturing loans which improved the loan portfolio yield by 12 basis points. Additionally, the cost of deposits declined 29 basis points from proactive management and pricing of the non-maturity deposit products and the re-pricing of maturing certificates of deposit.

Mr. King noted, “We are pleased with the substantial margin improvement and are optimistic as we move into the second half of the fiscal year and more fully realize the benefit of the rate reductions on liabilities as well as wider loan spreads. As we proceed with our efforts to improve our capital position we are strategically shrinking our balance sheet into a more profitable one.”

Asset Quality

The provision for loan losses of $2.3 million reflected a decrease of $1.4 million from the prior year comparable period and an increase of $490,000 from the quarter ended September 30, 2009, and was driven largely by economic conditions in the markets in which the Company conducts its business and the ongoing review and evaluation of its loan portfolio. The Company is continuing to thoroughly review its loan portfolio. This review involves analyzing all large borrowing relationships, delinquency trends, and loan collateral valuation in light of the weak economic conditions. The Company performs an ongoing assessment of the overall credit risk within the portfolio. This assessment provides an analysis of the estimated probable credit losses that could be incurred in the portfolio. This assessment resulted in the Bank establishing a total allowance for loan losses of $29.9 million or 4.55% of loans at December 31, 2009, compared with $11.0 million or 1.50% of loans and $31.8 million or 4.65% of loans at December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2009, respectively.

Nonperforming loans totaled $73.3 million at December 31, 2009, down slightly from $75.2 million at September 30, 2009 and significantly higher than nonperforming loans of $35.8 million reported at December 31, 2008. The Company also had real estate owned of $12.1 million at December 31, 2009 compared with $11.6 million and $9.5 million for September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

Mr. King added, “We continue to devote significant resources to the monitoring and early recognition of any weaknesses in the portfolio. While we remain aware of the overall economic environment we are operating in, we are pleased that we did not see any material new specific loan problems arise in the portfolio. We continue to seek opportunities to accelerate the resolution of problem credits while maintaining a strong allowance which is a key objective for the return to profitability by the Company.”

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income increased by $149,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the prior year comparable period. The increase was attributable to an increase of $1.0 million in net mortgage banking activities as a result of the low interest rate environment and higher refinancing activity and an increase of $134,000 in earnings on bank-owned life insurance. These increases were partially offset by the loss on sale and write-downs of real estate owned which were $498,000 higher during the current quarter. Additionally, the prior year quarter included a realized a gain of $666,000 on the sale of mortgage-backed securities. There was no corresponding gain in the current quarter.

For the linked quarter ended September 30, 2009, noninterest income totaled $9.9 million and resulted primarily from PVF Capital Corp. entering into an exchange agreement whereby the Company paid $500,000 in cash, and issued $500,000 in common stock and warrants valued at $800,000 in exchange for the cancellation of $10.0 million of subordinated debt. This transaction resulted in a pre-tax gain of $8.6 million, including the elimination of $400,000 in accrued interest due on this debt.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense for the current quarter was $6.0 million, essentially flat with the same period a year ago. Lower compensation and benefits expense of $643,000 was offset by higher FDIC insurance premiums which increased by $597,000 and higher expenses associated with real estate owned of $128,000. Noninterest expense compared with the linked quarter ended September 30, 2009 was $209,000 lower. Outside services and fees paid to consultants were $359,000 lower as many of these activities have been completed or are being managed internally and expenses associated with real estate owned were $116,000 lower. These lower costs were partially offset by higher compensation and benefit expenses of $130,000 associated with the addition of new management and higher FDIC expenses of $172,000 from higher assessment rates.

Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2009, PVF Capital Corp. reported assets of $869.3 million, a decrease of $42.9 million, or 4.7%, from the prior year end period of June 30, 2009. The decline in assets was primarily attributable to lower net loans receivable which totaled $626.4 million and was $42.0 million or 6.3% lower than the prior year end, along with fewer loans held for sale which declined $19.9 million or 73.5% due to timing differences between the funding and settlement of the warehouse mortgage portfolio. Very little new portfolio lending has occurred as the Company addresses its asset quality issues and works to reposition its balance sheet and strengthen its capital ratios.

Total deposits at December 31, 2009 were $682.9 million which was $42.0 million or 5.8% and $14.0 million or 2.0% lower compared with June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2009, respectively, as the Company is not replacing its maturing brokered deposits.

Total stockholders’ equity of PVF Capital Corp. was $53.6 million at the end of the quarter and was $4.0 million higher than the prior year end primarily as a result of earnings associated with the cancellation of debt.

In addition, Park View Federal’s regulatory capital ratios improved during the quarter. Under newly passed legislation, the Company elected to carry back its 2009 net operating loss. As part of the Worker, Home Ownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, taxpayers with net operating losses were permitted to elect to offset these losses against income earned in up to five prior years. Typically, a net operating loss can be carried back for only two years. As a result of this change in the income tax laws, PVF Capital Corp. and its subsidiaries were able to offset all their net operating losses against historical income. Under Office of Thrift Supervision regulations, a portion of Park View Federal’s deferred tax asset, amounting to $4.25 million at September 30, 2009, was required to be excluded from Park View Federal’s tier one (core) and risk-based capital. The effect of this change in tax laws and the related election by the Company was to increase Park View Federal’s capital ratios since this portion of its deferred tax asset is no longer required to be excluded. Park View Federal’s tier-one (core) and risk-based capital ratios at December 31, 2009 were 7.15% and 10.74%, respectively.

Year-To-Date Results

For the six month period ended December 31, 2009, net income totaled $2.9 million or $0.37 basic and diluted earnings per share compared with a loss of $3.6 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase in earnings was primarily attributable to the previously discussed gain on the cancellation of debt.

Net interest income was slightly lower by $138,000 in the current year period due to a substantially smaller balance sheet in the current period combined with a lower level of nonperforming assets during the prior year period. The net interest margin was 2.40% for the six month period ended December 31, 2009, four basis points higher than the prior year comparable period.

The provision for loan losses totaled $4.0 million in the 2009 period, $322,000 less than the provision of $4.3 million recorded for the six month period ended December 31, 2008.

In addition to the gain on the cancellation of debt noted earlier, net mortgage banking income was $1.6 million or 185% higher in 2009 versus 2008 as a result of the lower interest rate environment and higher refinancing activity. The 2008 results were negatively impacted from the inclusion of a $1.8 million charge relative to the Company’s investments in preferred stock issued by FHLMC and FNMA after these organizations were placed under conservatorship. The 2009 results included an increase of $574,000 related to losses on the sale or direct write-down of real estate owned compared to the prior year period, while the 2008 period included a $666,000 gain on the sale of securities.

Noninterest expense totaled $12.3 million for the 2009 period compared with $11.0 million for the six months of the 2008 period. Lower compensation and benefits expense of $960,000 was more than offset by higher costs related to the utilization of outside services, FDIC insurance premiums and expenses associated with the carry of real estate owned which increased $488,000, $972,000 and $720,000, respectively.

The Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders is scheduled to be held Friday, January 29, 2010. The Company also recently announced it has set January 27, 2010 as the new record date for its planned rights offering.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective.  The securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.  You may obtain a written prospectus, when available, for the proposed rights offering meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by writing to the Company, 30000 Aurora Road, Solon, Ohio 44139, Attention: Jeffrey N. Male, Corporate Secretary. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the effectiveness of a registration statement, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any state.

Park View Federal is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PVF Capital Corp and operates 17 full-service offices located throughout the Greater Cleveland area. For additional information, visit our web site at www.myparkview.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 or the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectation regarding important risk factors including, but not limited to, real estate values and the impact of interest rates on financing. Accordingly, actual results may differ from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, and the making of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that results expressed therein will be achieved.

PVF Capital Corp.’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol PVFC.

CONTACT: PVF Capital Corp.
         James H. Nicholson, Chief Financial Officer
         440-248-7171