HERMITAGE, Pa., April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) today reported first quarter 2012 financial results.  Net income for the first quarter of 2012 was $21.6 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared with first quarter of 2011 net income of $17.2 million, or $0.14 per diluted share and fourth quarter of 2011 net income of $23.7 million, or $0.19 per diluted share.  The first quarter of 2012 included merger and severance costs of $4.8 million (after-tax), which decreased net income by $0.04 per diluted share, and the first quarter of 2011 included merger and severance costs of $2.7 million (after-tax) which decreased net income by $0.02 per diluted share.

"Results for the first quarter reflect the continuation of several positive key trends for our company and our successful completion of the Parkvale acquisition," said Vincent J. Delie, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Organic loan growth was achieved for the eleventh consecutive quarter, driven by market share gains in the Pennsylvania commercial portfolio.  Growth in relationship-based deposits and customer repurchase agreements also remained strong.  Additionally, credit quality results continue to reflect consistent, solid performance.  We are pleased with these achievements and the strong momentum we have established."

First Quarter 2012 Highlights

• First quarter net income was $0.19 per diluted share, when excluding merger and severance costs (non-GAAP measure).
• The net interest margin was 3.74%.
• Organic loan growth was 5.3% annualized for the Pennsylvania commercial portfolio, resulting in the twelfth consecutive linked-quarter growth for this portfolio.
• Organic transaction deposit and customer repurchase agreement growth was 8.9% annualized.
• The efficiency ratio was 61%.
• Net charge-offs totaled $5.1 million or 0.32% annualized of average originated loans.
• The allowance for loan losses was 1.55% of total originated loans.

Mr. Delie continued, "The Parkvale acquisition closed on January 1, 2012.  This strategic acquisition allows us to leverage our existing strength in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, one of the nation's 25 largest MSA's based on population, where we now hold the number three retail deposit market share position.  Our enhanced presence and strengthened position will enable us to build on our past successes achieved in the Pittsburgh market."

F.N.B. Corporation's performance ratios for the first quarter of 2012 were as follows: return on average tangible equity (non-GAAP measure) was 14.65%; return on average equity was 6.42%; return on average tangible assets (non-GAAP measure) was 0.86% and return on average assets was 0.75%.  A reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures is included in the tables that accompany this press release. 

First Quarter 2012 Results
(All comparisons refer to the fourth quarter of 2011, except as noted)

Net Interest Income

Net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis totaled $92.8 million in the first quarter of 2012, increasing 13.1% from $82.1 million in the prior quarter.  The first quarter net interest margin of 3.74% narrowed from 3.79% as expected, primarily reflecting the addition of Parkvale Financial Corporation (Parkvale) on January 1, 2012 and the impact of the current low interest rate environment.  During the first quarter, continued improvements in the cost of funds largely offset the decline in the yield on earning assets.

Average loans totaled $7.8 billion and increased 13.8% reflecting loans added in the Parkvale acquisition ($925 million) and organic growth.  Organic growth was driven by continued market share gains in the Pennsylvania commercial portfolio with these average balances increasing $48.6 million, or 5.3% annualized, the twelfth consecutive linked-quarter of organic growth for this portfolio.  First quarter results for consumer loans were impacted by normal seasonally lower demand and elevated levels of pay downs experienced early in the quarter, with total consumer loans (excluding residential mortgages) declining $15.3 million or 3.9% annualized on an organic basis.  Recent activity for consumer loans has exhibited increased demand and stronger volumes aided by promotional campaigns for these products resulting in a significantly improved pipeline for consumer loans at the end of the first quarter.

Total average deposits and customer repurchase agreements totaled $9.6 billion and increased 19.3% due to deposits added in the Parkvale acquisition ($1.6 billion) and organic growth. Organic growth in lower cost transaction accounts and customer repurchase agreements continued, increasing $129.5 million, or 8.9% annualized, as a result of new client acquisition and customers holding higher average balances.  This growth was partially offset by a continued planned decline in time deposits.  As of March 31, 2012, FNB's total customer-based funding was 97.9% of total deposits and borrowings, compared to 96.8%, and loans as a percentage of total deposits and customer repurchase agreements was 79.7%, compared to 86.4%.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income totaled $31.7 million in the first quarter of 2012 and decreased 2.6%.  Non-interest income excluding gains on the sale of securities increased $2.6 million, or 8.8%, reflecting the addition of Parkvale and improvements in insurance and wealth management revenue.  During the first quarter, fee revenue from service charges increased 8.4% primarily as a result of the addition of Parkvale.  Insurance commissions and fees increased 23.7% reflecting seasonally higher contingent fee revenue.  Wealth management revenue (securities commissions and fees and trust income) increased 11.3% as a result of improved market conditions and the addition of Parkvale. 

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense totaled $86.7 million in the first quarter of 2012, increasing $15.1 million, or 21.1%.  Contributing to the increase were $7.6 million in merger and severance costs in the first quarter of 2012, partially offset by $3.3 million in FHLB prepayment charges and $0.4 million in merger and severance costs incurred in the fourth quarter of 2011.  Excluding these items from each period, non-interest expense increased $11.2 million, or 16.5%, primarily due to the addition of Parkvale's operating costs.  Additionally, higher personnel costs reflecting normal seasonal increases in employee benefits also contributed to the increase.  The efficiency ratio for the first quarter was 61%.

Credit Quality

"Credit quality metrics reflect consistent, solid performance and our focus on sound risk management practices," remarked Mr. Delie.  "We are pleased with the first quarter results.  Additionally, the impact of the Parkvale acquired portfolio on overall credit quality was in line with our original estimates."  

The provision for loan losses equaled $6.6 million for the first quarter of 2012, a $1.7 million reduction with improvements seen in all portfolios.  Net loan charge-offs for the first quarter totaled $5.1 million or 0.32% annualized of average originated loans.  The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total originated loans was 1.55%, consistent with 1.54% for this ratio at December 31, 2011.  At March 31, 2012, the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.31%, compared to 1.47% at December 31, 2011, with the decline reflecting the addition of the Parkvale portfolio.  The ratio of non-performing loans and OREO to total originated loans and OREO was 2.22% and increased slightly compared to 2.15% at December 31, 2011, primarily as a result of the addition of $6.1 million in OREO from the Parkvale acquisition.  Excluding the addition to OREO related to the acquisition, non-performing loans and OREO to total originated loans and OREO would have improved by two basis points. 

The Pennsylvania loan portfolio's credit quality metrics for the first quarter of 2012 continue to reflect very solid performance.  The Pennsylvania loan portfolio totaled $7.5 billion at March 31, 2012, representing 96% of the total loan portfolio.  Charge-off performance continues to be very good, with net charge-offs for the first quarter totaling $3.7 million or 0.20% annualized of average loans, compared to 0.29% of average loans for the full year of 2011.  The portfolio continues to be well reserved, with a 1.31% ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total originated loans, consistent with 1.30% for this ratio at December 31, 2011.

The Florida loan portfolio totaled $135.5 million, decreasing $18.5 million, or 12.0%, primarily reflecting principal payoffs.  There were no charge-offs or provisions for loan losses for this portfolio in the first quarter of 2012.  This portfolio now represents only 1.7% of the total loan portfolio.

Capital Position

The Corporation's capital levels at March 31, 2012 continue to exceed federal bank regulatory agency "well capitalized" thresholds.  The lower levels compared to the prior quarter are the result of the Parkvale acquisition completed on January 1, 2012.  The Parkvale acquisition resulted in total consideration of $138 million and a preliminary addition to goodwill of $102 million during the first quarter of 2012.

At March 31, 2012, the estimated total risk-based capital ratio was 12.2% compared to 13.4% at December 31, 2011, the estimated tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 10.7% compared to 11.8% at December 31, 2011, and the leverage ratio was 8.14% compared to 9.15%.  At March 31, 2012 the tangible equity to tangible assets ratio (non-GAAP measure) was 5.82% compared to 6.65% and the tangible book value per share (non-GAAP measure) was $4.59 compared to $4.80. 

The dividend payout ratio for the first quarter of 2012 was 78%.

Conference Call

F.N.B. Corporation will host its quarterly conference call to discuss first quarter 2012 financial results on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  Participating callers may access the call by dialing (800) 967-7141 or (719) 325-2106 for international callers; the confirmation number is 2173145.  The audio-only Webcast may be accessed through the "Shareholder and Investor Relations" section of the Corporation's Web site at www.fnbcorporation.com.

A replay of the call will be available from 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time the day of the call until midnight Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 1, 2012.  The replay is accessible by dialing (877) 870-5176 or (858) 384-5517 for international callers; the confirmation number is 2173145.  The call transcript and Webcast will be available on the "Shareholder and Investor Relations" section of F.N.B. Corporation's Web site at www.fnbcorporation.com.

About F.N.B. Corporation

F.N.B. Corporation, headquartered in Hermitage, PA, is a diversified financial services company with total assets of $11.7 billion.  F.N.B. Corporation is a leading provider of commercial and retail banking, leasing, wealth management, insurance, merchant banking and consumer finance services in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, where it owns and operates First National Bank of Pennsylvania, First National Trust Company, First National Investment Services Company, LLC, F.N.B. Investment Advisors, Inc., First National Insurance Agency, LLC, F.N.B. Capital Corporation, LLC, Regency Finance Company and F.N.B. Commercial Leasing.  It also operates consumer finance offices in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Information

We make statements in this news release and related conference call, and may from time to time make other statements, regarding our outlook for earnings, revenues, expenses, capital levels, liquidity levels, asset levels, asset quality and other matters regarding or affecting F.N.B. Corporation and its future business and operations that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.  Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "believe," "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "see," "look," "intend," "outlook," "project," "forecast," "estimate," "goal," "will," "should" and other similar words and expressions.  Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. 

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made.  We do not assume any duty and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements.  Actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in forward-looking statements, as well as from historical performance.

Our forward-looking statements are subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties:

• Our businesses, financial results and balance sheet values are affected by business and economic conditions, including the following:
  • Changes in interest rates and valuations in debt, equity and other financial markets.
  • Disruptions in the liquidity and other functioning of U.S. and global financial markets.
  • Actions by the Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury and other government agencies, including those that impact money supply and market interest rates.
  • Changes in customers', suppliers' and other counterparties' performance and creditworthiness.
  • Slowing or failure of the current moderate economic recovery.
  • Continued effects of the aftermath of recessionary conditions and uneven spread of positive impacts of recovery on the economy and our counterparties, including adverse impacts on levels of unemployment, loan utilization rates, delinquencies, defaults and counterparty ability to meet credit and other obligations. 
  • Changes in customer preferences and behavior, whether due to changing business and economic conditions, legislative and regulatory initiatives, or other factors. 
• Our forward-looking financial statements are subject to the risk that economic and financial market conditions will be substantially different than we are currently expecting.  These statements are based on our current view that the modest economic expansion will persist in 2012 and interest rates will remain very low.
• Legal and regulatory developments could have an impact on our ability to operate our businesses, financial condition, results of operations, competitive position, reputation, or pursuit of attractive acquisition opportunities.  Reputational impacts could affect matters such as business generation and retention, liquidity, funding, and ability to attract and retain management.  These developments could include:
  • Changes resulting from legislative and regulatory reforms, including broad-based restructuring of financial industry regulation and changes to laws and regulations involving tax, pension, bankruptcy, consumer protection, and other industry aspects, and changes in accounting policies and principles.  We will continue to be impacted by extensive reforms provided for in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and otherwise growing out of the recent financial crisis, the precise nature, extent and timing of which, and their impact on us, remains uncertain. 
  • Changes to regulations governing bank capital and liquidity standards, including due to the Dodd-Frank Act and to Basel III initiatives. 
  • Results of regulatory examination and the supervision process.
  • Impact on business and operating results of any costs associated with obtaining rights in intellectual property claimed by others and of adequacy of our intellectual property protection in general.
• Business and operating results are affected by our ability to identify and effectively manage risks inherent in our businesses, including, where appropriate, through effective use of third-party insurance, derivatives, swaps, and capital management techniques, and to meet evolving regulatory capital standards.  In particular, our results currently depend on our ability to manage elevated levels of impacted assets.
• Our acquisition of Parkvale presents us with risk and uncertainties related both to the acquisition transaction itself and its integration into F.N.B. Corporation after closing, including:
  • Anticipated benefits, including cost savings and strategic gains, may be significantly harder or take longer to achieve than expected or may not be achieved in their entirety as a result of unexpected factors or events.
  • Our ability to achieve anticipated results from this transaction is dependent also on the extent of credit losses in the acquired loan portfolios and the extent of deposit attrition, in part related to the state of the economy and financial markets.  Also, litigation and governmental investigations that may be filed or commenced, as a result of this transaction or otherwise, could impact the timing or realization of anticipated benefits to F.N.B. Corporation.
  • Full integration of Parkvale's business and operations into F.N.B. Corporation, which includes conversion of F.N.B. Corporations' different systems and procedures, may take longer than anticipated or be more costly than anticipated or have unanticipated adverse results relating to Parkvale's existing businesses.
• In addition to the Parkvale acquisition, we grow our business in party by acquiring from time to time other financial services companies, financial services assets and related deposits.  These other acquisitions often present risks and uncertainties analogous to those presented by the Parkvale transaction.  Acquisition risks include those presented by the nature of the business acquired, as well as risks and uncertainties related to the acquisition transactions themselves, regulatory issues, and the integration of the acquired businesses into F.N.B. Corporation after closing.
• Competition can have an impact on customer acquisition, growth and retention and on credit spreads and product pricing, which can affect market share, deposits and revenues.  Industry restructuring in the current environment could also impact our business and financial performance through changes in counterparty creditworthiness and performance and the competitive and regulatory landscape.  Our ability to anticipate and respond to technological changes can also impact our ability to respond to customer needs and meet competitive demands.
• Business and operating results can also be affected by widespread disasters, dislocations, terrorist activities or international hostilities through impacts on the economy and financial markets generally or on us or our counterparties specifically.

We provide greater detail regarding some of these factors in our 2011 Form 10-K and 2011 Form 10-Qs, including Risk Factors and Risk Management sections of those reports, and our subsequent SEC filings.  Our forward-looking statements may also be subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those we may discuss elsewhere in this news release or in SEC filings, accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on our corporate website at www.fnbcorporation.com.  We have included these web addresses as inactive textual references only.  Information on these websites is not part of this document.

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