MARIETTA, Ohio, July 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Summary second quarter 2015 results:

• Net income was $4.9 million, or $0.27 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2015, and $4.2 million, $0.24 per diluted common share, through six months of 2015.
  • Pre-tax earnings were impacted by the following non-core charges:
    • Acquisition charges of $0.7 million were reported for the quarter and totaled $10.3 million year-to-date.
    • Pension settlement charges of $103,000 were incurred during the quarter and totaled $372,000 year-to-date.
    • Other non-core charges of $410,000 were incurred during the quarter and totaled $1,013,000 year-to-date.
  • Adjusted for the non-core charges, net income was $5.8 million, or $0.32 per diluted common share, for the quarter, and $12.1 million, or $0.73 per diluted common share, year-to-date.
• Total revenue grew 35% year-over-year, and 12% over the linked quarter.
  • Year-over-year and second quarter revenue growth was driven by net interest income.
    • Net interest income increased $14.7 million year-to-date and $3.4 million compared to the linked quarter due largely to loan growth and accretion income from acquisitions.
    • Net interest margin expanded 9 basis points to 3.46% year-to-date, and was flat compared to the linked quarter.
  • Non-interest income grew 17% compared to the first six months of 2014, and 4% compared to the linked quarter.
    • Electronic banking income increased 38% year-to-date and 17% compared to the linked quarter.
    • Trust and investment income was up 21% compared to the first six months of 2014 and 24% compared to the linked quarter.
• Higher operating expenses were driven mainly by acquisitions.
  • The increases in full-time equivalent employees since June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014, due largely to acquisitions, contributed to the growth in salaries and benefits costs.
  • Net occupancy and equipment expenses increased largely as a result of the net increase of 31 branches since June 30, 2014, due to acquisitions.
• Period-end total loan balances, excluding NB&T acquired loans, reflected annualized growth of 9% for the quarter, and 3% year-to-date.
  • Non-mortgage consumer loan balances grew at an annualized rate of 38% for the quarter and 25% year-to-date.
  • Commercial real estate loan balances grew at an annualized rate of 13% for the quarter and 5% year-to-date.
  • Loan production, for both commercial and consumer, was strong during the quarter.
  • Loan activity during 2015 was supplemented by the NB&T acquisition, which accounted for $366.8 million of loans as of June 30, 2015.
  • Quarterly average net loan balances were up 17% compared to linked quarter, and 51% year-to-date.
• Asset quality trends remained favorable, but a few metrics increased during the quarter.
  • Net charge-offs for the quarter remained at historically low levels.
  • Nonperforming assets increased due mainly to one large commercial relationship being placed on nonaccrual status.
  • Criticized assets decreased during the quarter due mainly to a large commercial loan being upgraded.
  • Allowance for loan losses declined to 1.42% of originated loans at June 30, 2015.
• Retail deposit balances declined during the quarter due largely to seasonal variances.
  • Retail deposit balances, excluding NB&T acquired deposits, declined 1% compared to the linked quarter, due to seasonality.
  • Non-interest-bearing balances comprised 27% of total deposits at June 30, 2015.
  • Quarterly average retail deposit balances were up 22% compared to the linked quarter.

Peoples Bancorp Inc. ("Peoples") (NASDAQ: PEBO) today announced results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015.  Peoples recorded net income of $4.9 million for the second quarter of 2015, representing earnings per diluted common share of $0.27.  In comparison, Peoples recorded a net loss of $0.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2015, and net income of $3.5 million, or $0.32 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2014. On a year-to-date basis, net income totaled $4.2 million, or $0.24 per diluted common share, through June 30, 2015, versus $8.3 million, or $0.76 per diluted common share, a year ago.

"Our overall results for the year have been lack luster as our revenue growth has not yet kept pace with our expense growth," said Chuck Sulerzyski, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "The growth in expenses was due largely to the additions to our employee base and footprint from the four acquisitions that were completed over the last fourteen months, which was in line with our expectations.  Overall, the acquisitions have resulted in significant growth of our Company.  We remain confident in our ability to lower our efficiency ratio to 65% in the second half of 2015.  The second quarter, excluding NB&T acquired loan balances, showed strong loan growth of 9% annualized, and was in line with our expectations for the year.  However, our annualized loan growth rate of 3% year-to-date is something that we will continue to strive to improve.  We remain optimistic about our ability to achieve our stated goal of 7% to 9% loan growth for the year."

Second quarter net interest income was $24.8 million, up 16% compared to the linked quarter and 55% higher than the prior year's second quarter, while net interest margin for these periods was 3.46%, 3.46% and 3.39%, respectively.  Net interest margin, excluding net accretion income, improved 3 basis points compared to the linked quarter due to the continued decline in funding costs.  The accretion income, net of amortization expense, from the acquisitions added 15 basis points of net interest margin in the second quarter of 2015, compared to 18 basis points for the linked quarter and 8 basis points for the second quarter of 2014.  On a year-to-date basis, net accretion income from the acquisitions added 17 basis points for the six months of 2015 and 7 basis points for the six months of 2014.

"Our net interest margin remained stable during the quarter.  Accretion and amortization from acquisitions added approximately $1.1 million of net interest income this quarter," said Ed Sloane, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.  "We continued to have excess cash during the second quarter, which will be used to fund the loan growth expected during the second half of the year, but continued to be a drag on our net interest margin during the second quarter."

Total non-interest income was up 4% compared to the linked quarter and 23% compared to the prior year second quarter.  The growth over the linked quarter was due to increases in deposit account service charges, trust and investment income, and electronic banking income, all of which have benefited from the acquisitions.  The growth was partially offset by lower insurance income over the linked quarter as a majority of the annual performance-based insurance income is recognized in the first quarter each year.  On a year-to-date basis, all categories comprising total non-interest income were up compared to the first six months of 2014, most notably electronic banking income, trust and investment income, and service charges on deposit accounts, with growth of 38%, 21% and 19%, respectively.

"During the second quarter, we continued to experience a reduction in the percentage of total revenue derived from our fee-based businesses, which contributed 32% of the total revenue for the quarter, and 34% for the year," said Sulerzyski.  "Insurance and investment acquisitions are still a high priority for us as we proceed through the remainder of the year.  Additionally, positive operating leverage remains a key priority for us, one we will focus on during the second half of the year as we begin to fully recognize the revenue growth opportunities of all of the acquisitions completed within the last fourteen months.  The expense impacts of the acquisitions have, in contrast, been fully phased-in during the second quarter."

Non-interest expenses, adjusted for non-core charges, were up 18% compared to the linked quarter, with much of the increase due to a full quarter impact of the NB&T Financial Group, Inc. ("NB&T") acquisition, which closed March 6, 2015.  Year-to-date, non-interest expenses adjusted for non-core charges were up 41% compared to the first six months of 2014.  The increase year-to-date was due largely to the four acquisitions that were completed since May 30, 2014.  Non-core charges for the second quarter and year-to-date 2015 consisted of acquisition costs of $0.7 million and $9.8 million, respectively, pension settlement charges of $103,000 and $372,000, respectively, and other items totaling $285,000 and $385,000, respectively.  The quarterly average number of full-time equivalent employees was 838 at June 30, 2015, 735 at March 31, 2015 and 563 at June 30, 2014.  The efficiency ratio for the second quarter of 2015 was 74.20%, compared to 96.71% for the linked quarter and 75.59% for the second quarter of 2014.  The decrease in the ratio for the quarter was the result of the decrease in non-interest expenses, mainly due to non-core charges incurred and acquisitions.  Peoples expects core non-interest expenses to be approximately $26.5 million for each the third and fourth quarter of 2015, which aligns with the expected efficiency ratio of 65%.

Period-end loan balances, excluding the loans acquired from NB&T, increased $36.1 million compared to the March 31, 2015 period-end loan balances, which was driven by growth in commercial loan balances and non-mortgage consumer loan balances.  Commercial loans, excluding loans acquired from NB&T, grew $21.9 million, or 10% annualized, with commercial real estate loan growth contributing $18.9 million of the growth for the quarter.  Non-mortgage consumer loans grew $17.7 million, or 38% annualized, during the quarter.  The NB&T acquisition added $366.8 million of loans to the balances as of June 30, 2015, which was $20.3 million less than the reported balance at March 31, 2015.  The decline in loans acquired from NB&T during the second quarter was due mainly to a decrease in the commercial real estate loans, as well as an adjustment to the fair value of acquired loans related to purchase accounting.  The average net loan balances for the quarter increased $281.7 million, or 17%, compared to the linked quarter due largely to the balances acquired from NB&T, which were included in the average balance for the entire second quarter.

"While we started the year slow on loan growth, our production has remained strong, which was reflected in the ending loan balances for the quarter.  We are excited about the significant growth in our non-mortgage consumer loan balances," said Sulerzyski.  "Commercial balances experienced 10% annualized growth during the quarter, driven mainly by growth in commercial real estate loan balances."

Peoples' asset quality remained favorable during the second quarter of 2015.  Net charge-offs remained well below  Peoples' historical rate of 30 basis points to 50 basis points, as Peoples recorded net charge-offs of $516,000, resulting in a net charge-off rate of 10 basis points.  The increase in nonaccrual loans was due to one large commercial relationship, comprised of four commercial and industrial loan balances.  Criticized assets, which are those classified as watch, substandard or doubtful, decreased during the quarter largely due to an $8.4 million commercial real estate loan being upgraded during the quarter, which was subsequently paid off on July 2, 2015.  At quarter-end, the ratio of the allowance for loan losses as a percent of originated loans, net of deferred fees and costs, was 1.42%, down slightly from the 1.48% reported for both March 31, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014, which does not include acquired loan balances.

Peoples' retail deposits decreased $36.6 million, or 1%, during the quarter.  Certificates of deposits, non-interest bearing deposits and governmental deposits each made up approximately one third of the decline.  The decline in governmental deposits was attributable to normal seasonal declines.  Average retail deposits for the quarter compared to the linked quarter increased $462.5 million, or 22%, due mainly to the balances acquired from NB&T being included in the average balance for the entire second quarter.

"We remain confident in our ability to achieve our stated loan growth goal for 2015 and to bring our efficiency ratio to 65% in the second half of 2015.  We will diligently work towards achieving positive operating leverage and increasing fee-based revenue as a percentage of total revenue.  The first half of 2015 was challenging, but we remain optimistic about the second half of 2015," summarized Sulerzyski.

Peoples Bancorp Inc. is a diversified financial services holding company with $3.2 billion in total assets, 81 locations and 81 ATMs in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky.  Peoples makes available a complete line of banking, investment, insurance and trust solutions through its subsidiaries - Peoples Bank and Peoples Insurance Agency, LLC.  Peoples' common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market® under the symbol "PEBO", and Peoples is a member of the Russell 3000 index of U.S. publicly-traded companies.  Learn more about Peoples at www.peoplesbancorp.com. 

Conference Call to Discuss Results:
Peoples will conduct a facilitated conference call to discuss second quarter and year-to-date 2015 results of operations today at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, with members of Peoples' executive management participating.  Analysts, media and individual investors are invited to participate in the conference call by calling (866) 890-9285.  A simultaneous webcast of the conference call audio will be available online via the "Investor Relations" section of Peoples' website, www.peoplesbancorp.com.  Participants are encouraged to call or sign in at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time to ensure participation and, if required, to download and install the necessary software.  A replay of the call will be available on Peoples' website in the "Investor Relations" section for one year.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This news release contains financial information and performance measures determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").  Management uses these "non-GAAP" measures in its analysis of Peoples' performance and the efficiency of its operations. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide a greater understanding of ongoing operations and enhance comparability of results with prior periods and peers. These disclosures should not be viewed as substitutes for financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Below is a listing of the non-GAAP measures used in this news release:

• Tangible assets and tangible equity measures are non-GAAP since they exclude the impact of intangible assets acquired through acquisitions on both total stockholders' equity and total assets.
• Pre-provision net revenue is defined as net interest income plus non-interest income minus non-interest expense. This measure is non-GAAP since it excludes provision for (recovery of) loan losses and all gains and/or losses included in earnings.
• Adjusted core net income is non-GAAP since it excludes non-core charges incurred during the period and the tax expense is adjusted to be the estimated, effective tax rate for the year.

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of this news release under the caption of "Non-GAAP Financial Measures".

Safe Harbor Statement:
Certain statements made in this news release regarding Peoples' financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are identified by the fact they are not historical facts and include words such as "anticipate", "could", "may", "feel", "expect", "believe", "plan", and similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations based on all information available to management and its knowledge of Peoples' business and operations.  Additionally, Peoples' financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially.  These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the success, impact, and timing of the implementation of Peoples' business strategies, including the successful integration of recently completed acquisitions and the expansion of consumer lending activity; (2) Peoples' ability to integrate the Midwest Bancshares, Inc., Ohio Heritage Bancorp, Inc., North Akron Savings Bank and NB&T acquisitions and any future acquisitions may be unsuccessful, or may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (3) Peoples may issue equity securities in connection with future acquisitions, which could cause ownership and economic dilution to Peoples' current shareholders; (4) local, regional, national and international economic conditions and the impact they may have on Peoples, its customers and its counterparties, and Peoples' assessment of the impact, which may be different than anticipated; (5) competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions may increase significantly, including product and pricing pressures, third-party relationships and revenues, and Peoples' ability to attract, develop and retain qualified professionals; (6) changes in the interest rate environment due to economic conditions and/or the fiscal policies of the U.S. government and Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Federal Reserve Board"), which may adversely impact interest rates, interest margins and interest rate sensitivity; (7) changes in prepayment speeds, loan originations, levels of non-performing assets, delinquent loans and charge-offs, which may be less favorable than expected and adversely impact the amount of interest income generated; (8) adverse changes in the economic conditions and/or activities, including, but not limited to, impacts from the implementation of the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, as well as continued economic uncertainty in the U.S., the European Union, Asia, and other areas, which could decrease sales volumes and increase loan delinquencies and defaults; (9) legislative or regulatory changes or actions, including in particular the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the regulations promulgated and to be promulgated thereunder by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which may subject Peoples, its subsidiaries, or one or more acquired companies to a variety of new and more stringent legal and regulatory requirements which adversely affect their respective businesses; (10) deterioration in the credit quality of Peoples' loan portfolio, which may adversely impact the provision for loan losses; (11) changes in accounting standards, policies, estimates or procedures which may adversely affect Peoples' reported financial condition or results of operations; (12) Peoples' assumptions and estimates used in applying critical accounting policies, which may prove unreliable, inaccurate or not predictive of actual results; (13) adverse changes in the conditions and trends in the financial markets, including political developments, which may adversely affect the fair value of securities within Peoples' investment portfolio, the interest rate sensitivity of Peoples' consolidated balance sheet, and the income generated by Peoples' trust and investment activities; (14) Peoples' ability to receive dividends from its subsidiaries; (15) Peoples' ability to maintain required capital levels and adequate sources of funding and liquidity; (16) the impact of new minimum capital thresholds established as a part of the implementation of Basel III; (17) the impact of larger or similar sized financial institutions encountering problems, which may adversely affect the banking industry and/or Peoples' business generation and retention, funding and liquidity; (18) the costs and effects of regulatory and legal developments, including the outcome of potential regulatory or other governmental inquiries and legal proceedings and results of regulatory examinations; (19) Peoples' ability to secure confidential information through the use of computer systems and telecommunications networks, including those of Peoples' third-party vendors and other service providers, may prove inadequate, which could adversely affect customer confidence in Peoples and/or result in Peoples incurring a financial loss; (20) the overall adequacy of Peoples' risk management program; (21) the impact on Peoples' businesses, as well as on the risks described above, of various domestic or international military or terrorist activities or conflicts; and (22) other risk factors relating to the banking industry or Peoples as detailed from time to time in Peoples' reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including those risk factors included in the disclosures under the heading "ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS" of Peoples' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

Peoples encourages readers of this news release to understand forward-looking statements to be strategic objectives rather than absolute targets of future performance.  Peoples undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable legal requirements.  Copies of documents filed with the SEC are available free of charge at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov and/or from Peoples' website.

As required by U.S. GAAP, Peoples is required to evaluate the impact of subsequent events through the issuance date of its June 30, 2015 consolidated financial statements as part of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be filed with the SEC.  Accordingly, subsequent events could occur that may cause Peoples to update its critical accounting estimates and to revise its financial information from that which is contained in this news release.