Metro Bancorp Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Financial Results: Net Income up 14%, Loans Grow 14% and Deposits up 6%; Also Announces Initiation of Cash Dividend

Metro Bancorp, Inc. (Metro or the Company) (NASDAQ Global Select Market Symbol: METR), today reported record financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014. The Company recorded net income of $5.6 million, or $0.38 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, compared to net income of $4.9 million, or $0.34 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2013. This represents the eighth straight quarter that the Company has delivered record net income. Net income for the full year totaled $21.1 million, or $1.46 per diluted common share, compared to $17.3 million, or $1.20 per diluted common share, for 2013. The Company also reported net loan growth of $245.8 million, or 14%, over the past twelve months.

“Despite mixed quarterly results throughout the banking sector, we are extremely pleased with our continued progress on increasing the Company's profitability, as evidenced by our eighth straight quarter of record net income,” said Gary L. Nalbandian, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014 include increased revenues, diligent expense control, strong loan growth and increased deposits. These financial results, combined with our previously announced shareholder return and cost-saving initiatives, demonstrate our commitment to grow the value of the Metro franchise and drive long-term shareholder value."

"As part of our basic commitment to enhancing shareholder returns, I am pleased to announce that on January 23, 2015, Metro's Board of Directors declared a first quarter cash dividend of $0.07 per common share, payable on February 25, 2015 to shareholders of record on February 4, 2015. The initiation of an annual dividend reflects our enthusiasm about Metro's future, and going forward we will continue to evaluate our capital structure and allocation priorities. The Metro Board and management team remain committed to exceeding our customers' expectations, increasing profitability and driving increased value for our shareholders."

Income Statement Highlights

• The Company recorded net income of $5.6 million, or $0.38 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to net income of $4.9 million, or $0.34 per diluted common share for the same period one year ago; a $668,000, or 14%, increase. Record net income for the full year 2014 totaled $21.1 million, or $1.46 per diluted common share; up $3.8 million, or 22%, over $17.3 million, or $1.20 per diluted common share recorded for 2013.
• Total revenues (net interest income plus noninterest income) for the fourth quarter of 2014 were $33.1 million, up $1.8 million, or 6%, over total revenues of $31.3 million for the same quarter one year ago and were up $653,000, or 2%, over total revenues of $32.5 million for the previous quarter. Total revenues of $127.5 million for 2014 increased by $6.2 million, or 5%, over 2013.
• Return on average stockholders' equity (ROE) was 8.43% for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to 8.30% for the same period last year. ROE for the full year 2014 was 8.46%, compared to 7.41% for 2013.
• The Company's net interest margin on a fully-taxable basis for the fourth quarter of 2014, which continued to be compressed by the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and resultant interest rate environment, improved to 3.60%, compared to 3.57% recorded in the third quarter of 2014 and 3.55% for the fourth quarter of 2013. The Company's deposit cost of funds for the fourth quarter was 0.27%, the same as the previous quarter and compared to 0.28% for the same period one year ago.
• The provision for loan losses totaled $2.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $2.1 million for the previous quarter and compared to $1.6 million for the fourth quarter one year ago. The provision for loan losses for 2014 totaled $6.8 million, down 2%, from 2013.
• Noninterest expenses for the fourth quarter of 2014 were $22.4 million, relatively unchanged compared to the previous quarter and down $368,000, or 2%, from the same quarter last year. Total noninterest expenses for 2014 were up slightly by $679,000, or 1%, compared to 2013.
• The efficiency ratio improved to 67.5% compared to 68.9% for the previous quarter and 72.7% for the fourth quarter of 2013.

Balance Sheet Highlights

• Loan growth continues to be strong as net loans grew $84.5 million, or 4%, on a linked quarter basis to $1.97 billion and were up $245.8 million, or 14%, over the fourth quarter 2013.
• Nonperforming assets were 1.44% of total assets at December 31, 2014, compared to 1.36% of total assets for the previous quarter and compared to 1.61% of total assets one year ago.
• Total deposits were $2.38 billion, up $141.1 million, or 6%, compared to same quarter last year. Total core deposits grew $108.9 million, or 5%, over the past twelve months and totaled $2.29 billion at December 31, 2014.
• Metro's capital levels remain strong with a Tier 1 Leverage ratio of 9.00% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 13.42%.
• Stockholders' equity totaled $265.5 million, or 8.86% of total assets, at the end of the fourth quarter 2014. At December 31, 2014, the Company's book value per share was $18.60. The market price of Metro's common stock increased by 20% from $21.54 per common share at December 31, 2013 to $25.92 per common share at December 31, 2014.
• Late in the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company initiated its previously announced 5% common share repurchase program. A total of 12,300 shares were purchased as of December 31, 2014.

Income Statement Overview

Metro recorded net income of $5.6 million, or $0.38 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to net income of $4.9 million, or $0.34 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2013. Net income totaled $21.1 million, or $1.46 per diluted common share, for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to net income of $17.3 million, or $1.20 per diluted common share, for 2013.

Total revenues (net interest income plus noninterest income) for the fourth quarter of 2014 were $33.1 million, up $1.8 million, or 6%, over the fourth quarter of 2013. Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $127.5 million, up $6.2 million, or 5%, over last year.

Noninterest expenses for the quarter totaled $22.4 million, down $368,000 compared to the same period in 2013. Total noninterest expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $90.5 million, up $679,000, or 1%, over last year.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2014 totaled $25.6 million, up $2.3 million, or 10%, over the fourth quarter of 2013. Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2014 totaled $97.8 million versus $91.1 million for the year 2013, a $6.7 million, or 7%, increase.

Average interest-earning assets for the fourth quarter of 2014 totaled $2.86 billion versus $2.81 billion for the previous quarter and were up $204.8 million, or 8%, over the fourth quarter of 2013. Average loans receivable increased by $225.9 million, or 13%, and average investment securities balances decreased by $21.1 million, or 2%, from the fourth quarter of last year. Average interest-bearing deposits totaled $1.84 billion for the fourth quarter of 2014, up $92.9 million, or 5%, over the same period of 2013 and average noninterest-bearing deposits for the fourth quarter 2014 were $480.5 million, up $46.5 million, or 11%, over the fourth quarter last year.

Average interest-earning assets for the full year 2014 totaled $2.77 billion versus $2.57 billion for 2013, an increase of $195.7 million, or 8%. Total interest income on a tax equivalent basis for the year ended December 31, 2014 was up $6.3 million, or 6% , over the same period last year. Total interest expense for the year 2014 was down $217,000, or 3%, from the same period of 2013.

The net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2014 improved to 3.53%, up 4 basis points (bps) from the 3.49% recorded for the previous quarter and up 7 bps over the 3.46% recorded in the fourth quarter one year ago, notwithstanding the drag of the persistently low interest rate environment. The net interest margin on a fully-taxable basis for the fourth quarter of 2014 was 3.60%, up 3 bps over the previous quarter and up 5 bps compared to 3.55% for the fourth quarter of 2013.

The net interest margin for the year 2014 was 3.50%, down 1 bp from the 3.51% recorded in 2013. On a fully-taxable basis, the net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2014 was 3.58%, down 2 bps compared to 3.60% for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Metro's deposit cost of funds for the fourth quarter of 2014 was 0.27%, compared to the same amount for the previous quarter, and down 1 bp from 0.28% recorded in the fourth quarter one year ago. Metro's deposit cost of funds decreased from 0.29% for the year ended December 31, 2013 to 0.27% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The total cost of all funding sources for the fourth quarter was 0.27%, compared to 0.32% for the previous quarter and 0.33% for the same period in 2013.

Change in Net Interest Income and Rate/Volume Analysis

The increase in net interest income on a fully tax-equivalent basis for the fourth quarter and for the full year 2014 over the same periods of 2013 was primarily due to an increase in the level of interest-earning assets, offset partially by lower yields on those interest-earning assets, and a lower total cost of funding sources.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2014 totaled $7.5 million, down $446,000, or 6%, from the fourth quarter one year ago. Service charges, card and other income for the fourth quarter were $7.1 million, a decrease of 1%, from the fourth quarter last year. Gains on the sale of loans totaled $506,000 for the fourth quarter of 2014 versus $144,000 for the same period in 2013. Net losses on investment securities totaled $119,000 for the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to net gains on investment securities of $643,000 for the fourth quarter of 2013.

Noninterest income for the full year 2014 totaled $29.7 million, down $469,000, or 2%, compared to the full year 2013. Service charges, card and other income were $28.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, up 1% compared to 2013, while gains on the sale of loans were $1.0 million for the year ended 2014, up 8% compared to the same period of 2013. Net losses on sales of securities during 2014 were $82,000 compared to net gains of $664,000 in 2013.

The breakdown of noninterest income for the fourth quarter and for the years ended 2014 and 2013, respectively, is shown in the table below:

Noninterest Expenses

Noninterest expenses for the fourth quarter of 2014 were $22.4 million, relatively unchanged on a linked quarter basis, and down $368,000, or 2%, compared to the fourth quarter one year ago. For the year ended December 31, 2014, noninterest expenses totaled $90.5 million, up $679,000, or 1%, over $89.9 million recorded for the same period of 2013.

The breakdown of noninterest expenses for the fourth quarter and for the full year 2014 and 2013, respectively, are shown in the table below:

Balance Sheet

Lending

Gross loans receivable totaled $2.0 billion at December 31, 2014, an increase of $247.7 million, or 14%, over December 31, 2013. The Company experienced loan growth in every major loan category in 2014 except for commercial tax exempt loans. The composition of the Company's loan portfolio at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was as follows:

The Company's particularly strong growth in commercial real estate loans reflects a steady progression over the past four quarters in this portfolio, owing to continued strengthening in the real estate markets the Company serves combined with increased opportunities.

Asset Quality

The Company's asset quality ratios are shown below:

Nonperforming loans increased by $2.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2014 from September 30, 2014, while foreclosed asset balances increased by $519,000. Compared to December 31, 2013, nonperforming loans decreased $4.9 million, or 12%, and foreclosed assets increased $3.2 million, or 72%.

Nonperforming assets increased during the fourth quarter of 2014 from September 30, 2014 by $2.8 million, or 7%, to $43.1 million, or 1.44%, of total assets at December 31, 2014, compared to $40.3 million, or 1.36%, of total assets at September 30, 2014, and $44.8 million, or 1.61%, of total assets one year ago. Nonperforming assets were down $1.7 million, or 4%, over the past year.

At December 31, 2014, foreclosed assets totaling $3.7 million were under contract to be sold with no additional net loss expected.

Net loan charge-offs totaled $2.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, comprised of $2.8 million in gross loan charge-offs offset partially by $576,000 in recoveries. Total net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $4.9 million, or 0.26%, of average loans outstanding compared to $9.0 million, or 0.55% of average loans outstanding, for the year ended December 31, 2013.

The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $2.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2014 as compared to $2.1 million for the previous quarter and $1.6 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2013. The allowance for loan losses totaled $25.0 million as of December 31, 2014, compared to $24.5 million at September 30, 2014 and $23.1 million at December 31, 2013. The allowance represented 1.25% of gross loans outstanding at December 31, 2014, compared to 1.28% at September 30, 2014 and 1.32% at December 31, 2013.

Deposits

The Company's deposit balances at December 31, 2014 were $2.38 billion, compared to total deposits of $2.33 billion at September 30, 2014 and $2.24 billion one year ago. The change in core deposits over the past twelve months by type of account is as follows:

Total core deposits, excluding time deposits, increased $107.5 million, or 5%, over the past twelve months. The cost of core deposits, excluding time deposits, during the fourth quarter of 2014 was 0.21%, compared to the same amount for the previous quarter and 0.22% for the fourth quarter one year ago. The cost of total core deposits for the fourth quarter of 2014 was 0.27%, which was up 1 bp from the previous quarter and down 1 bp from fourth quarter of 2013.

Change in total core deposits by type of customer was as follows:

Total commercial core deposits grew by $56.5 million, or 9%, and total consumer core deposits also increased by $56.5 million, or 6%, over the past twelve months.

Investments

At December 31, 2014, the Company's investment portfolio totaled $853.0 million, down $34.5 million, or 4%, on a linked quarter basis and down $16.7 million, or 2%, compared to December 31, 2013. Detailed below is information regarding the composition and characteristics of the portfolio at December 31, 2014:

At December 31, 2014, the after-tax unrealized loss on the Company's available for sale portfolio was $3.9 million, as compared to an after-tax unrealized loss of $16.5 million at December 31, 2013.

Capital

Stockholders' equity at December 31, 2014 totaled $265.5 million, compared to $230.2 million at December 31, 2013. Return on average stockholders' equity (ROE) for the fourth quarter of 2014 was 8.43%, up over ROE of 8.30% for the fourth quarter last year. ROE for the year 2014 was 8.46%, compared to 7.41% for the year 2013.

The Company's capital ratios at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

Both the Company and its subsidiary bank continue to maintain strong capital ratios and are well capitalized under various regulatory capital guidelines as required by federal banking agencies. The decrease in each of the capital ratios shown above is a result of the Company's 14% year over year net loan growth combined with the redemption of $15 million of Trust Preferred Securities which were included in Tier 1 and Total Risk-Based Capital.

During late fourth quarter of 2014, the Company initiated a 5% common share repurchase program. This had minimal impact in the Company's capital ratios at December 31, 2014.

At December 31, 2014, the Company's book value per common share was $18.60, compared to $16.19 one year ago.

The market price of the Company's common stock increased by 20% from $21.54 per common share at December 31, 2013 to $25.92 per common share at December 31, 2014.

As previously mentioned, Metro's Board of Directors declared a first quarter cash dividend of $0.07 per common share payable on February 25, 2015 to shareholders of record on February 4, 2015.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which we refer to as the Exchange Act, with respect to the financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, future performance and business of Metro Bancorp, Inc. These forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are those that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond our control). The words "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

While we believe our plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions as reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable based on the information available to us at the time, we can give no assurance that any of them will be achieved. You should understand that various factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this document, could affect our future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, including:

• the effects of and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies, including in particular interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, including the duration of such policies;
• general economic or business conditions, either nationally, regionally or in the communities in which we do business, may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and loan performance or a reduced demand for credit;
• federal budget and tax negotiations and their effects on economic and business conditions in general and our customers in particular;
• the federal government’s inability to reach a deal to permanently raise the debt ceiling and the potential negative results on economic and business conditions;
• the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) and other changes in financial services’ laws and regulations (including laws concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance as well as enhanced expectations of regulators);
• possible impacts of the capital and liquidity requirements of the Basel III standards as implemented or to be implemented by the Federal Reserve and other US regulators, as well as other regulatory pronouncements and prudential standards;
• changes in regulatory policies on positions relating to capital distributions;
• ability to generate sufficient earnings to justify capital distributions;
• continued effects of the aftermath of recessionary conditions and the impacts on the economy in general and our customers in particular, including adverse impacts on loan utilization rates as well as delinquencies, defaults and customers' ability to meet credit obligations;
• our ability to manage current levels of impaired assets;
• continued levels of loan volume origination;
• the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses or any provisions;
• the views and actions of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regarding consumer credit protection laws and regulations;
• changes resulting from legislative and regulatory actions with respect to the current economic and financial industry environment;
• changes in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) deposit fund and the associated premiums that banks pay to the fund;
• interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations;
• the results of the regulatory examination and supervision process;
• unanticipated regulatory or legal proceedings and liabilities and other costs;
• compliance with laws and regulatory requirements of federal, state and local agencies, including regulatory expectations regarding enhanced compliance programs;
• our ability to continue to grow our business internally or through acquisitions and successful integration of new or acquired entities while controlling costs;
• deposit flows;
• inability to achieve anticipated cost savings in the amount of time expected, and the emergence of unexpected offsetting costs in the compliance or risk management areas or otherwise;
• changes in consumer spending and saving habits relative to the financial services we provide;
• the ability to hedge certain risks economically and effectively;
• the loss of key officers or other personnel;
• changes in accounting principles, policies and guidelines as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and other accounting standards setters;
• the timely development of competitive new products and services by us and the acceptance of such products and services by customers;
• the willingness of customers to substitute competitors’ products and services for our products and services and vice versa, based on price, quality, relationship or otherwise;
• other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technological factors affecting the Company’s operations, pricing, products and services;
• rapidly changing technology;
• continued relationships with major customers;
• effect of terrorist attacks and threats of actual war;
• interruption or breach in security of our information systems, including cyber-attacks, resulting in failures or disruptions in customer account management, general ledger processing and loan or deposit systems or disclosure of confidential information;
• our ability to maintain compliance with the exchange rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.;
• our ability to maintain the value and image of our brand and protect our intellectual property rights;
• disruptions due to flooding, severe weather or other natural disasters or Acts of God; and
• our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

Because such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these factors or any of our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document or, in the case of documents incorporated by reference, the dates of those documents. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of us except as required by applicable law.