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, 2006

or

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File Number: 0-16471

 


First Citizens BancShares, Inc

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   56-1528994

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

3128 Smoketree Court, Raleigh, North Carolina   27604
(Address of principle executive offices)   (Zip code)

(919) 716-7000

(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 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve 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 ninety days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. Se definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer: in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x             Accelerated filer  ¨            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

Class A Common Stock—$1 Par Value—8,756,778 shares

Class B Common Stock—$1 Par Value—1,677,675 shares

(Number of shares outstanding, by class, as of May 5, 2006)

 



INDEX

 

         Page(s)
PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
Item 1.   Financial Statements (Unaudited)    3
  Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2006, December 31, 2005, and March 31, 2005    3
  Consolidated Statements of Income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006, and March 31, 2005    4
  Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006, and March 31, 2005    5
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006, and March 31, 2005    6
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    7-8
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    9-21
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    22
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures    22
PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION   
Item 1a.   Risk Factors.    22
Item 6.   Exhibits.    22


PART I

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

(thousands, except share data)

   March 31*
2006
    December 31#
2005
    March 31*
2005
 

Assets

      

Cash and due from banks

   $ 805,757     $ 777,928     $ 599,358  

Overnight investments

     748,918       481,012       642,461  

Investment securities available for sale

     2,396,001       2,293,020       1,336,582  

Investment securities held to maturity

     500,961       636,496       850,792  

Loans and leases

     9,810,088       9,642,994       9,404,742  

Less allowance for loan and lease losses

     130,222       128,847       125,710  
                        

Net loans and leases

     9,679,866       9,514,147       9,279,032  

Premises and equipment

     657,141       639,469       605,724  

Income earned not collected

     55,680       54,879       43,619  

Other assets

     250,886       242,441       235,107  
                        

Total assets

   $ 15,095,210     $ 14,639,392     $ 13,592,675  
                        

Liabilities

      

Deposits:

      

Noninterest-bearing

   $ 2,733,885     $ 2,616,177     $ 2,561,043  

Interest-bearing

     9,778,672       9,557,681       9,068,339  
                        

Total deposits

     12,512,557       12,173,858       11,629,382  

Short-term borrowings

     850,566       779,028       465,000  

Long-term obligations

     408,954       408,987       285,312  

Other liabilities

     119,767       96,460       110,413  
                        

Total liabilities

     13,891,844       13,458,333       12,490,107  

Shareholders’ Equity

      

Common stock:

      

Class A - $1 par value (8,756,778 shares issued for all periods)

     8,757       8,757       8,757  

Class B - $1 par value (1,677,675 shares issued for all periods)

     1,678       1,678       1,678  

Surplus

     143,766       143,766       143,766  

Retained earnings

     1,054,793       1,029,005       949,749  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (5,628 )     (2,147 )     (1,382 )
                        

Total shareholders’ equity

     1,203,366       1,181,059       1,102,568  
                        

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 15,095,210     $ 14,639,392     $ 13,592,675  
                        

* Unaudited
# Derived from the 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Consolidated Statements of Income

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

     Three Months Ended March 31  

(thousands, except share and per share data; unaudited)

   2006     2005  

Interest income

    

Loans and leases

   $ 159,205     $ 132,343  

Investment securities:

    

U. S. Government

     24,285       12,467  

State, county and municipal

     61       66  

Dividends

     711       371  
                

Total investment securities interest and dividend income

     25,057       12,904  

Overnight investments

     5,739       2,998  
                

Total interest income

     190,001       148,245  

Interest expense

    

Deposits

     57,742       35,346  

Short-term borrowings

     6,992       1,813  

Long-term obligations

     7,449       5,419  
                

Total interest expense

     72,183       42,578  
                

Net interest income

     117,818       105,667  

Provision for credit losses

     6,737       5,326  
                

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

     111,081       100,341  

Noninterest income

    

Service charges on deposit accounts

     18,206       18,693  

Cardholder and merchant services income

     18,428       16,253  

Trust and asset management fees

     5,178       4,488  

Fees from processing services

     6,909       6,220  

Commission income

     7,872       6,263  

ATM income

     2,532       2,480  

Mortgage income

     1,372       1,506  

Other service charges and fees

     4,123       4,215  

Securities losses

     (186 )     —    

Other

     1,315       1,105  
                

Total noninterest income

     65,749       61,223  

Noninterest expense

    

Salaries and wages

     56,543       51,726  

Employee benefits

     13,943       12,515  

Occupancy expense

     12,875       11,438  

Equipment expense

     12,664       12,507  

Other

     35,687       33,159  
                

Total noninterest expense

     131,712       121,345  
                

Income before income taxes

     45,118       40,219  

Income taxes

     16,461       15,222  
                

Net income

     28,657       24,997  
                

Other comprehensive loss net of taxes

    

Unrealized securities losses arising during period

     (3,594 )     (5,870 )

Less: reclassified adjustment for losses included in net income

     (113 )     —    
                

Other comprehensive loss

     (3,481 )     (5,870 )
                

Comprehensive income

   $ 25,176     $ 19,127  
                

Average shares outstanding

     10,434,453       10,434,453  

Net income per share

   $ 2.75     $ 2.40  
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

(thousands, except share data, unaudited)

   Class A
Common
Stock
   Class B
Common
Stock
   Surplus    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (loss)
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 

Balance at December 31, 2004

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 927,621     $ 4,488     $ 1,086,310  

Net income

              24,997         24,997  

Unrealized securities losses, net of deferred taxes

              (5,870 )     (5,870 )  

Cash dividends

              (2,869 )       (2,869 )
                                             

Balance at March 31, 2005

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 949,749     $ (1,382 )   $ 1,102,568  
                                             

Balance at December 31, 2005

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 1,029,005     $ (2,147 )   $ 1,181,059  

Net income

              28,657         28,657  

Unrealized securities losses, net of deferred taxes

                (3,481 )     (3,481 )

Cash dividends

              (2,869 )       (2,869 )
                                             

Balance at March 31, 2006

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 1,054,793     $ (5,628 )   $ 1,203,366  
                                             

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005  
     (thousands)  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net income

   $ 28,657     $ 24,997  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

    

Amortization of intangibles

     586       625  

Provision for credit losses

     6,737       5,326  

Deferred tax (benefit) expense

     (5,104 )     (3,384 )

Change in current taxes payable

     19,172       15,967  

Depreciation

     11,603       10,987  

Change in accrued interest payable

     1,800       435  

Change in income earned not collected

     (801 )     (3,045 )

Securities losses

     186       —    

Origination of loans held for sale

     (84,096 )     (94,437 )

Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale

     123,165       106,552  

Loss (gain) on loans held for sale

     274       (448 )

Net amortization of premiums and discounts

     (1,140 )     293  

Net change in other assets

     (1,697 )     9,585  

Net change in other liabilities

     2,335       (964 )
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     101,677       72,489  
                

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Net change in loans and leases outstanding

     (211,799 )     (65,487 )

Purchases of investment securities held to maturity

     (1,066 )     (166,098 )

Purchases of investment securities available for sale

     (161,631 )     (347,452 )

Proceeds from maturities of investment securities held to maturity

     137,741       192,492  

Proceeds from maturities of investment securities available for sale

     52,753       249,238  

Net change in overnight investments

     (267,906 )     (258,718 )

Dispositions of premises and equipment

     2,779       2,034  

Additions to premises and equipment

     (32,054 )     (48,607 )

Purchase of branch, net of cash acquired

     —         18,343  
                

Net cash used by investing activities

     (481,183 )     (424,255 )
                

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Net change in time deposits

     278,962       105,499  

Net change in demand and other interest-bearing deposits

     59,737       152,128  

Net change in short-term borrowings

     71,505       16,683  

Cash dividends paid

     (2,869 )     (2,869 )
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     407,335       271,441  
                

Change in cash and due from banks

     27,829       (80,325 )

Cash and due from banks at beginning of period

     777,928       679,683  
                

Cash and due from banks at end of period

   $ 805,757     $ 599,358  
                

CASH PAYMENTS FOR:

    

Interest

   $ 73,983     $ 42,143  

Income taxes

     25,352       1,145  
                

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Unrealized securities losses

   $ (5,711 )   $ (9,677 )
                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note A

Accounting Policies

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements.

In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements contain all material adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. as of and for each of the periods presented, and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the 2005 First Citizens BancShares, Inc. Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference on Form 10-K. Certain amounts for prior periods have been reclassified to conform with statement presentations for 2006. However, the reclassifications have no effect on shareholders’ equity or net income as previously reported.

Note B

Operating Segments

BancShares conducts its banking operations through its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (FCB) and IronStone Bank (ISB). Although FCB and ISB offer similar products and services to customers, each entity operates in distinct geographic markets and each entity operates under a separate charter. Additionally, the financial results and trends of ISB reflect the de novo nature of its growth.

FCB is a mature banking institution that operates from a single charter from its branch network in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee. ISB began operations in 1997 and currently operates in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon and Washington under a federal thrift charter.

In the aggregate, FCB and its consolidated subsidiaries, which are integral to its branch operation, and ISB account for more than 90 percent of consolidated assets, revenues and net income. Other includes activities of the parent company, Neuse, Incorporated, a subsidiary that owns real property used in the banking operation and American Guaranty Insurance Corporation, a property insurance company.

The adjustments in the accompanying tables represent the elimination of the impact of certain inter-company transactions. The adjustments to interest income and interest expense neutralize the earnings and cost of inter-company borrowings. The adjustments to noninterest income and noninterest expense reflect the elimination of management fees and other services fees paid by one company to another within BancShares’ consolidated group.


     As of and for the three months ended March 31, 2006
     ISB     FCB    Other     Total    Adjustments     Consolidated

Interest income

   $ 28,595     $ 161,433    $ 5,390     $ 195,418    $ (5,417 )   $ 190,001

Interest expense

     12,347       55,071      10,182       77,600      (5,417 )     72,183
                                            

Net interest income

     16,248       106,362      (4,792 )     117,818      —         117,818

Provision for loan and lease losses

     966       5,771      —         6,737      —         6,737
                                            

Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses

     15,282       100,591      (4,792 )     111,081      —         111,081

Noninterest income

     2,544       64,612      543       67,699      (1,950 )     65,749

Noninterest expense

     17,992       115,115      555       133,662      (1,950 )     131,712
                                            

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (166 )     50,088      (4,804 )     45,118      —         45,118

Income taxes

     (19 )     18,147      (1,667 )     16,461      —         16,461
                                            

Net income (loss)

   $ (147 )   $ 31,941    $ (3,137 )   $ 28,657    $ —       $ 28,657
                                            

At March 31, 2006:

              

Total assets

   $ 1,945,156     $ 13,003,924    $ 2,070,063     $ 17,019,143    $ (1,923,933 )   $ 15,095,210

Loans and leases

     1,719,046       8,091,042      —         9,810,088      —         9,810,088

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     20,268       109,954      —         130,222      —         130,222

Total deposits

     1,576,990       11,002,133      —         12,579,123      (66,566 )     12,512,557
     As of and for the three months ended March 31, 2005
     ISB     FCB    Other     Total    Adjustments     Consolidated

Interest income

   $ 21,378     $ 126,864    $ 1,276     $ 149,518    $ (1,273 )   $ 148,245

Interest expense

     7,380       30,543      5,928       43,851      (1,273 )     42,578
                                            

Net interest income

     13,998       96,321      (4,652 )     105,667      —         105,667

Provision for loan and lease losses

     1,622       3,704      —         5,326      —         5,326
                                            

Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses

     12,376       92,617      (4,652 )     100,341      —         100,341

Noninterest income

     1,375       61,255      322       62,952      (1,729 )     61,223

Noninterest expense

     15,501       107,056      517       123,074      (1,729 )     121,345
                                            

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (1,750 )     46,816      (4,847 )     40,219      —         40,219

Income taxes

     (576 )     17,482      (1,684 )     15,222      —         15,222
                                            

Net income (loss)

   $ (1,174 )   $ 29,334    $ (3,163 )   $ 24,997    $ —       $ 24,997
                                            

At March 31, 2005:

              

Total assets

   $ 1,587,569     $ 11,867,771    $ 1,643,916     $ 15,099,256    $ (1,506,581 )   $ 13,592,675

Loans and leases

     1,441,228       7,963,514      —         9,404,742      —         9,404,742

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     16,089       109,621      —         125,710      —         125,710

Total deposits

     1,237,647       10,421,269      —         11,658,916      (29,534 )     11,629,382

Note C

Employee Benefits

BancShares recognized pension expense totaling $3,690 and $3,735, respectively, in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2005. Pension expense is included as a component of employee benefit expense.

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

   2006     2005  

Service cost

   $ 4,128     $ 3,414  

Interest cost

     4,885       4,061  

Expected return on plan assets

     (6,423 )     (4,695 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     66       97  

Recognized net actuarial loss

     1,034       858  
                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 3,690     $ 3,735  
                

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets for 2006 is 8.50 percent.


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

INTRODUCTION

Management’s discussion and analysis of earnings and related financial data are presented to assist in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries (BancShares). BancShares is a financial holding company with two wholly owned banking subsidiaries: First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (FCB), a North Carolina-chartered bank, and IronStone Bank (ISB), a federally-chartered thrift institution. FCB operates branches in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee. ISB operates in Georgia, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado.

This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes presented within this report. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Although certain amounts for prior years have been reclassified to conform to statement presentations for 2006, the reclassifications have no effect on shareholders’ equity or net income as previously reported.

SUMMARY

BancShares’ earnings and cash flows are derived primarily from the commercial banking activities conducted by its banking subsidiaries. These activities include commercial and consumer lending, deposit and cash management products, cardholder, merchant, wealth management services as well as various other products and services typically offered by commercial banks. FCB and ISB gather interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing deposits from retail and commercial customers. BancShares and its subsidiaries also secure supplemental short-term and long-term funding through various non-deposit sources. We invest the liquidity generated from these funding sources in various types of interest-earning assets such as loans and leases, investment securities and overnight investments. We also invest in bank premises, furniture and equipment used in the subsidiaries’ commercial banking business.

Various external factors influence customer demand for our loan, lease and deposit products. The general strength of the economy influences loan and lease demand as well as the quality and collectibility of our loan and lease portfolio. External economic indicators such as consumer bankruptcy rates and business debt service capacity closely follow trends in the economic cycle. In an effort to stimulate and control the rate of growth of economic activity, monetary actions by the Federal Reserve are significant to the interest rate environment in which we operate. At any point in time, both the existing level and anticipated movement of interest rates have a profound impact on customer demand for our products, our pricing of those products and on our profitability.

Financial institutions frequently focus their strategic and operating emphasis on maximizing profitability and therefore measure their relative success by reference to profitability measures such as return on average assets or return on average shareholders’ equity. BancShares’ profitability measures have historically compared unfavorably to the returns of similar-sized financial holding companies. We have historically placed significant emphasis upon asset quality, balance sheet liquidity and capital conservation, even when those priorities may be detrimental to short-term profitability.

Based on our organization’s strengths and competitive position within the financial services industry, we believe opportunities for significant growth and expansion exist. We operate in diverse and growing geographic markets and believe that through competitive products and superior customer service, we can increase our business volumes and profitability. In recent years, we have focused our efforts on customers who own their own businesses, medical and other professionals and individuals who are financially active. Among all of our customers, we seek to increase fee income in areas such as merchant processing, working capital finance, insurance, cash management, wealth management and private banking services. We also focus on opportunities to generate income by providing processing services to other banks.

We attempt to mitigate certain of the risks that can endanger our profitability and growth prospects. These risks generally fall into categories of economic, industry systemic, competitive and regulatory. While we are attentive to all areas of risk, economic risk is especially problematic due to the lack of control and the potential material impact upon our financial results. Specific economic risks include recession, rapid movements in interest rates and significant changes in inflation expectations. Compared to our larger competitors, our relatively small


Financial Summary

Table 1

 

     2006     2005  

(thousands, except per share data and ratios)

  

First

Quarter

    Fourth
Quarter
   

Third

Quarter

    Second
Quarter
   

First

Quarter

 

Summary of Operations

          

Interest income

   $ 190,001     $ 183,949     $ 173,534     $ 160,206     $ 148,245  

Interest expense

     72,183       66,731       59,306       49,536       42,578  
                                        

Net interest income

     117,818       117,218       114,228       110,670       105,667  

Provision for credit losses

     6,737       13,578       7,211       6,994       5,326  
                                        

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

     111,081       103,640       107,017       103,676       100,341  

Noninterest income

     65,749       65,457       68,106       68,566       61,223  

Noninterest expense

     131,712       125,395       128,665       123,951       121,345  
                                        

Income before income taxes

     45,118       43,702       46,458       48,291       40,219  

Income taxes

     16,461       15,866       16,505       18,215       15,222  
                                        

Net income

   $ 28,657     $ 27,836     $ 29,953     $ 30,076     $ 24,997  
                                        

Net interest income-taxable equivalent

   $ 118,226     $ 117,601     $ 114,603     $ 111,038     $ 106,014  

Selected Quarterly Averages

          

Total assets

   $ 14,694,936     $ 14,516,620     $ 14,160,391     $ 13,618,161     $ 13,309,802  

Investment securities

     2,896,711       2,938,833       2,764,377       2,345,056       2,072,316  

Loans and leases

     9,705,443       9,455,059       9,323,115       9,324,200       9,357,480  

Interest-earning assets

     13,129,313       13,024,871       12,750,494       12,255,663       11,929,086  

Deposits

     12,192,664       12,071,673       11,836,193       11,562,349       11,379,079  

Interest-bearing liabilities

     10,794,420       10,621,384       10,312,675       9,867,227       9,640,417  

Long-term obligations

     408,946       409,612       409,825       308,461       285,666  

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,191,820     $ 1,169,113     $ 1,143,391     $ 1,118,122     $ 1,094,213  

Shares outstanding

     10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453  

Selected Quarter-End Balances

          

Total assets

   $ 15,095,210     $ 14,639,392     $ 14,484,919     $ 14,023,066     $ 13,592,675  

Investment securities

     2,896,962       2,929,516       2,871,731       2,644,335       2,187,374  

Loans and leases

     9,810,088       9,642,994       9,359,540       9,300,984       9,404,742  

Interest-earning assets

     13,455,968       13,053,522       12,996,027       12,579,346       12,234,577  

Deposits

     12,512,557       12,173,858       12,123,491       11,758,089       11,629,382  

Interest-bearing liabilities

     11,038,192       10,745,696       10,544,543       10,156,552       9,818,651  

Long-term obligations

     408,954       408,987       409,742       409,964       285,312  

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,203,366     $ 1,181,059     $ 1,158,885     $ 1,134,242     $ 1,102,568  

Shares outstanding

     10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453  

Profitability Ratios (averages)

          

Rate of return (annualized) on:

          

Total assets

     0.79 %     0.76 %     0.84 %     0.89 %     0.76 %

Shareholders’ equity

     9.75       9.45       10.39       10.79       9.26  

Dividend payout ratio

     10.00       10.30       9.58       9.55       11.46  

Liquidity and Capital Ratios (averages)

          

Loans to deposits

     79.60 %     78.32 %     78.77 %     80.64 %     82.23 %

Shareholders’ equity to total assets

     8.11       8.05       8.07       8.21       8.22  

Time certificates of $100,000 or more to total deposits

     14.44       13.45       12.59       12.24       11.90  

Per Share of Stock

          

Net income

   $ 2.75     $ 2.67     $ 2.87     $ 2.88     $ 2.40  

Cash dividends

     0.275       0.275       0.275       0.275       0.275  

Book value at period end

     115.33       113.19       111.06       108.70       105.67  

Tangible book value at period end

     104.55       102.35       100.17       97.75       94.66  

asset size and limited capital resources create a level of economic risk that requires significant and constant management attention.


Detailed information regarding the components of net income and other key financial data over the most recent five quarters is provided in Table 1. Table 4 provides information on net interest income. Table 5 provides information related to asset quality.

Net income. BancShares realized an increase in earnings during the first quarter of 2006 compared to the first quarter of 2005. Consolidated net income during the first quarter of 2006 was $28.7 million, compared to $25.0 million earned during the corresponding period of 2005. The $3.7 million or 14.6 percent increase resulted from higher revenue, partially offset by increased levels of noninterest expense and provision for credit losses.

Net income per share during the first quarter of 2006 totaled $2.75, compared to $2.40 during the first quarter of 2005, a 14.6 percent increase. Return on average assets was 0.79 percent for the first quarter of 2006 and 0.76 percent for the first quarter of 2005. Return on average equity for the first quarter of 2006 was 9.75 percent compared to 9.26 percent during the first quarter of 2005.

ISB reported a net loss of $147,000 during the first quarter of 2006, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million during the first quarter of 2005. The improvement in the first quarter operating results reflects the impact of significantly higher levels of net interest income and reduced provision for credit losses arising from less robust loan growth. As ISB’s offices continue to mature, we anticipate continued improvements over 2005 earnings. However, ISB’s net yield on interest-earning assets remains under pressure due to competitive loan and deposit pricing.

Shareholders’ Equity. BancShares continues to exceed minimum regulatory capital standards, and the banking subsidiaries remain well-capitalized. However, the continued de novo growth has required BancShares to infuse significant amounts of capital into ISB to support its rapidly expanding balance sheet. BancShares infused $15.0 million into ISB during the first quarter of 2006. Since ISB was formed in 1997, BancShares has provided $265.0 million in capital. Losses incurred since ISB’s inception total $29.4 million. Based on plans for further growth and expansion, BancShares will infuse an additional $15 million into ISB during the remainder of 2006. BancShares’ prospective capacity to provide capital to support the growth and expansion of ISB is highly dependent upon FCB’s ability to return capital through dividends to BancShares.

INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS

Interest-earning assets include loans, investment securities and overnight investments, all of which reflect varying interest rates based on the risk level and maturity of the underlying asset. Riskier investments typically carry a higher interest rate, but expose the investor to potentially higher levels of default. We have historically focused on maintaining high asset quality, which results in a loan and lease portfolio subjected to strenuous underwriting and monitoring procedures. Our investment securities portfolio includes high-quality assets, primarily United States Treasury and government agency securities. Generally, the investment securities portfolio grows and shrinks based on loan, lease and deposit trends. When deposit growth exceeds loan and lease demand, we invest excess funds in the securities portfolio. Conversely, when loan and lease demand exceeds deposit growth, we use proceeds from maturing securities to fund loan and lease demand. Overnight investments are selectively made with other financial institutions that are within our risk tolerance.

During the first quarter of 2006, interest-earning assets averaged $13.13 billion, an increase of $1.20 billion or 10.1 percent from the first quarter of 2005. This increase resulted primarily from growth in investment securities, primarily funded by deposit growth.

Loans and Leases. At March 31, 2006 and 2005, loans and leases totaled $9.81 billion and $9.40 billion, respectively. The $405.3 million or 4.3 percent growth from March 31, 2005 to March 31, 2006 resulted from growth within the commercial and industrial and construction and land development portfolios.

At March 31, 2006, commercial and industrial loans equaled $1.33 billion or 13.5 percent of total loans and leases outstanding. These loans have increased $352.4 million or 36.2 percent since March 31, 2005. Construction and land development loans totaled $821.5 million or 8.4 percent of total loans at March 31, 2006, an increase of $183.8 million or 28.8 percent since March 31, 2005. Customer demand and ISB franchise expansion have supported the growth of both loan categories.


Outstanding Loans and Leases by Type

Table 2

 

     2006    2005

(thousands)

   First
Quarter
   Fourth
Quarter
   Third
Quarter
   Second
Quarter
   First
Quarter

Real estate:

              

Construction and land development

   $ 821,477    $ 766,945    $ 716,176    $ 690,362    $ 637,707

Commercial mortgage

     3,530,296      3,518,563      3,465,494      3,429,643      3,381,635

Residential mortgage

     979,572      1,016,677      990,355      980,410      963,779

Revolving mortgage

     1,359,483      1,368,729      1,375,145      1,395,122      1,661,820

Other mortgage

     173,819      172,712      179,217      171,729      165,348
                                  

Total real estate loans

     6,864,647      6,843,626      6,726,387      6,667,266      6,810,289

Commercial and industrial

     1,326,182      1,193,349      1,033,650      1,007,969      973,793

Consumer

     1,312,790      1,318,971      1,320,232      1,355,860      1,360,603

Lease financing

     246,544      233,499      213,603      205,056      197,495

Other

     59,925      53,549      65,668      64,833      62,562
                                  

Total loans and leases

     9,810,088      9,642,994      9,359,540      9,300,984      9,404,742

Less allowance for loan and lease losses

     130,222      128,847      126,297      126,247      125,710
                                  

Net loans and leases

   $ 9,679,866    $ 9,514,147    $ 9,233,243    $ 9,174,737    $ 9,279,032
                                  

Commercial real estate loans totaled $3.53 billion at March 31, 2006, representing 36.0 percent of total loans. This represents an increase of $148.7 million or 4.4 percent since March 31, 2005. Demand for commercial real estate loans continues to be healthy, particularly at ISB. A large percentage of our commercial mortgage portfolio is secured by owner-occupied facilities, rather than investment property. These loans are underwritten based primarily upon the cash flow from the operation of the business rather than the value of the real estate collateral.

Revolving mortgage loans totaled $1.36 billion at March 31, 2006, representing 13.9 percent of total loans outstanding. This component of the loan portfolio has decreased $302.3 million or 18.2 percent since March 31, 2005. During the second quarter of 2005, we completed a securitization and sale of $256.2 million of revolving mortgage loans. This transaction reduced our mix of revolving loans secured by real estate and generated additional liquidity for other loan types.

Our continuing expansion into new markets has allowed us to mitigate our historic exposure to geographic concentration in North Carolina and Virginia. As we continue to expand into new markets, we have endeavored to ensure that rigorous centralized underwriting and monitoring controls are functioning effectively. We will continue to place emphasis upon maintaining strong lending standards in new markets.

We maintain a well-diversified loan and lease portfolio, and seek to avoid the risk associated with large concentrations within specific industries. Over the past several years, we have aggressively sought opportunities to provide financial services to businesses associated with and professionals within the medical community. Due to strong growth within this industry, our loans for offices and clinics of medical doctors increased to $1.32 billion as of March 31, 2006, which represents 13.75 percent of total loans and leases outstanding. Except for this single concentration, no other industry represented more than 10 percent of total loans and leases outstanding at March 31, 2006.

We anticipate growth in commercial mortgage and commercial and industrial loans in 2005, as our expansion into new markets translates into higher levels of loan demand among our business customers. Our continued expansion will likewise continue to diversify risks resulting from regional concentrations. All growth projections are subject to change as a result of economic deterioration or improvement, competitive forces and other external factors.


Investment Securities

Table 3

 

     March 31, 2006     March 31, 2005

(thousands)

   Cost    Fair Value    Average
Maturity
(Yrs./Mos.)
   Taxable
Equivalent
Yield
    Cost    Fair Value    Average
Maturity
(Yrs./Mos.)
   Taxable
Equivalent
Yield

Investment securities available for sale:

                      

U. S. Government:

                      

Within one year

   $ 1,284,299    $ 1,264,371    0/5    3.16 %   $ 896,718    $ 878,534    0/4    2.50

One to five years

     1,009,952      997,206    1/7    4.10       367,364      362,737    1/9    3.22

Five to ten years

     1,852      1,788    7/3    4.99       151      147    6/4    5.43

Ten to twenty years

     3,092      2,969    14/2    4.92       2,341      2,271    13/8    4.76

Over twenty years

     52,871      51,229    28/9    5.30       32,227      31,681    28/10    5.34
                                                

Total

     2,352,066      2,317,563    1/7    3.62       1,298,801      1,275,370    1/5    2.78

State, county and municipal:

                      

Within one year

     1,076      1,074    0/3    2.37       730      729    0/2    1.20

One to five years

     2,872      2,823    2/5    3.54       4,023      3,984    2/10    3.19

Five to ten years

     1,114      1,104    6/1    4.65       1,118      1,107    7/1    4.64

Over ten years

     145      145    26/8    3.01       145      145    27/8    1.15
                                                

Total

     5,207      5,145    3/5    3.52       6,016      5,965    3/11    3.17

Other

                      

Within one year

     —        —             —        —        

One to five years

     —        —             —        —        

Five to ten years

     —        —             —        —        

Ten to twenty years

     11,740      11,740    11/8    11.09       —        —        
                                            

Total

     11,740      11,740    11/8    11.09       —        —        

Equity securities

     36,081      61,553           34,016      55,247      
                                      

Total investment securities available for sale

   $ 2,405,094    $ 2,396,001         $ 1,338,833    $ 1,336,582      
                                      

Investment securities held to maturity:

                      

U. S. Government:

                      

Within one year

   $ 398,692    $ 395,491    0/7    3.12 %   $ 455,685    $ 452,581    0/6    1.97

One to five years

     91,589      90,213    1/4    3.71       380,856      377,772    1/7    3.14

Five to ten years

     15      13    9/10    5       —        —        

Ten to twenty years

     8,468      8,468    11/1    5.52       11,835      12,084    12/1    5.55

Over twenty years

     373      366    22/9    7.10       432      432    23/8    7.20
                                                

Total

     499,137      494,551    0/11    3.27       848,808      842,869    1/2    2.54

State, county and municipal:

                      

Within one year

     —        —             165      166    0/3    5.55

One to five years

     147      154    4/1    5.88       146      155    4/1    5.88

Five to ten years

     —        —             —        —        

Ten to twenty years

     1,427      1,553    12/1    6.02       1,423      1,565    13/1   

Over twenty years

     —        —             —        —        
                                                

Total

     1,574      1,707    11/3    6.01       1,734      1,886    11/1    5.96

Other

                      

Within one year

     —        —             —        —        

One to five years

     250      250    3/4    7.75       250      250    3/4    7.75

Five to ten years

     —        —             —        —        
                                                

Total

     250      250    3/4    7.75       250      250    3/4    7.75
                                                

Total investment securities held to maturity

     500,961      496,508    0/11    3.28       850,792      845,005    1/2    2.55
                                                

Total investment securities

   $ 2,906,055    $ 2,892,509         $ 2,189,625    $ 2,181,587      
                                      

Average maturity assumes callable securities mature on their earliest call date; yields are based on amortized cost; yields related to securities that are exempt from federal and/or state income taxes are stated on a taxable-equivalent basis assuming statutory rates of 35% for federal income tax purposes and 6.9% for state income taxes for all periods.


Investment Securities. Investment securities available for sale equaled $2.40 billion at March 31, 2006, compared to $1.34 billion at March 31, 2005. The $1.06 billion increase in investment securities available for sale from March 31, 2005 resulted from deposit and short-term borrowings growth that exceeded loan demand and the continued migration of investments from the held to maturity portfolio. Available-for-sale securities are reported at their aggregate fair value. Investment securities held to maturity totaled $501.0 million at March 31, 2006, compared to $850.8 million at March 31, 2005. Securities that are classified as held to maturity reflect BancShares’ ability and positive intent to hold those investments until maturity. Table 3 presents detailed information relating to the investment securities portfolio.

Income on Interest-Earning Assets. Interest income amounted to $190.0 million during the first quarter of 2006, a $41.8 million or 28.2 percent increase from the first quarter of 2005. Higher yields and higher average volume caused the increase in interest income when compared to the same period of 2005. The taxable-equivalent yield on interest-earning assets for the first quarter of 2006 was 5.87 percent, compared to 5.04 percent for the corresponding period of 2005.

Loan interest income for the first quarter of 2006 was $159.2 million, an increase of $26.9 million or 20.3 percent from the first quarter of 2005, the result of higher average balances and higher yields. The taxable-equivalent yield on the loan portfolio was 6.66 percent during the first quarter of 2006, compared to 5.74 percent during the same period of 2005. The higher loan yields resulted from new loans originated at current market rates and repricing of outstanding variable-rate loans. Average loans increased $348.0 million or 3.7 percent from 2005 to 2006.

Interest income earned on the investment securities portfolio amounted to $25.1 million during the first quarter of 2006 and $12.9 million during the same period of 2005, an increase of $12.2 million or 94.2 percent. This increase in income is the result of higher average volume and increased yields. Average investment securities increased $824.4 million from $2.07 billion during the first quarter of 2005 to $2.90 billion during the first quarter of 2006. Maturing securities not needed to fund loan and lease growth were reinvested in higher-yielding securities. The taxable-equivalent yield increased 95 basis points from 2.53 percent in the first quarter of 2005 to 3.48 percent in the first quarter of 2006 due to higher market rates.

Interest income from overnight investments was $5.7 million during the first quarter of 2006, an increase of $2.7 million from the $3.0 million earned during the first quarter of 2005, the combined result of a 198 basis point increase in the earned yield and $27.9 million growth in average overnight investments.

INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES

Interest-bearing liabilities include our interest-bearing deposits as well as short-term borrowings and long-term obligations. Deposits are our primary funding source, although we also utilize non-deposit borrowings to stabilize our liquidity base and, in some cases, to fulfill commercial customer requirements for cash management services. Certain of our long-term borrowings also provide capital strength under existing guidelines established by the Federal Reserve Bank and other banking regulators.

At March 31, 2006 and 2005, interest-bearing liabilities totaled $11.04 billion and $9.82 billion, respectively. During the first quarter of 2006, interest-bearing liabilities averaged $10.79 billion, an increase of $1.15 billion or 12.0 percent from the first quarter of 2005. This increase primarily resulted from higher levels of time deposits and master notes.

Deposits At March 31, 2006, total deposits were $12.51 billion, an increase of $883.2 million or 7.6 percent over March 31, 2005. Deposits at ISB increased by $339.3 million or 27.4 percent from March 31, 2005 to March 31, 2006.

Average interest-bearing deposits were $9.60 billion during the first quarter of 2006, an increase of $691.5 million or 7.8 percent from the first quarter of 2005. Average time deposits increased $691.0 million or 17.3 percent to $4.68 billion from the first quarter of 2005 to the same period of 2006. Partially offsetting this increase, average savings accounts decreased $57.3 million or 7.7 percent.


Consolidated Taxable Equivalent Rate/Volume Variance Analysis - First Quarter

Table 4

 

     2006     2005     Increase (decrease) due to:  

(thousands)

   Average
Balance
   Interest
Income/
Expense
   Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
   Interest
Income/
Expense
   Yield/
Rate
    Volume     Yield/
Rate
    Total
Change
 

Assets

                      

Loans and leases

   $ 9,705,443    $ 159,587    6.66 %   $ 9,357,480    $ 132,659    5.74 %   $ 5,313     $ 21,615     $ 26,928  

Investment securities:

                      

U. S. Government

     2,816,950      24,285    3.47       2,010,448      12,467    2.51       6,031       5,787       11,818  

State, county and municipal

     6,745      87    5.23       7,929      97    4.96       (15 )     5       (10 )

Other

     73,016      711    3.95       53,939      371    2.79       158       182       340  
                                                                

Total investment securities

     2,896,711      25,083    3.48       2,072,316      12,935    2.53       6,174       5,974       12,148  

Overnight investments

     527,159      5,739    4.42       499,290      2,998    2.44       236       2,505       2,741  
                                                                

Total interest-earning assets

   $ 13,129,313    $ 190,409    5.87 %   $ 11,929,086    $ 148,592    5.04 %   $ 11,723     $ 30,094     $ 41,817  
                                                                

Liabilities

                      

Interest-bearing deposits:

                      

Checking With Interest

   $ 1,561,441    $ 469    0.12 %   $ 1,542,002    $ 460    0.12 %   $ 7     $ 2     $ 9  

Savings

     691,093      362    0.21       748,441      373    0.20       (29 )     18       (11 )

Money market accounts

     2,663,856      16,169    2.46       2,625,438      9,536    1.47       182       6,451       6,633  

Time deposits

     4,684,360      40,742    3.53       3,993,331      24,977    2.54       5,172       10,593       15,765  
                                                                

Total interest-bearing deposits

     9,600,750      57,742    2.44       8,909,212      35,346    1.61       5,332       17,064       22,396  

Federal funds purchased

     47,080      506    4.36       43,525      252    2.35       29       225       254  

Repurchase agreements

     165,737      1,188    2.91       141,332      354    1.02       118       716       834  

Master notes

     509,145      4,685    3.73       205,319      839    1.66       2,021       1,825       3,846  

Other short-term borrowings

     62,762      613    3.96       55,363      368    2.70       61       184       245  

Long-term obligations

     408,946      7,449    7.29       285,666      5,419    7.59       2,274       (244 )     2,030  
                                                                

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   $ 10,794,420    $ 72,183    2.71 %   $ 9,640,417    $ 42,578    1.79 %   $ 9,835     $ 19,770     $ 29,605  
                                                                

Interest rate spread

         3.16 %         3.25 %      

Net interest income and net yield on interest-earning assets

      $ 118,226    3.65 %      $ 106,014    3.60 %   $ 1,888     $ 10,324     $ 12,212  

Average loan and lease balances include nonaccrual loans and leases. Yields related to loans, leases and securities exempt from both federal and state income taxes, federal income taxes only, or state income taxes only are stated on a taxable-equivalent basis assuming a statutory federal income tax rate of 35% and state income tax rate of 6.90% for each period. The taxable-equivalent adjustment was $408 for 2006 and $347 for 2005.

We attribute the growth of time deposits to the higher interest rate environment, and expect that the mix of time deposit balances within interest-bearing deposits will increase as market rates continue to move higher. Competition for deposit business in our market areas is extremely intense. While we have access to non-deposit borrowing sources, we prefer to fund loan demand with traditional bank deposits. Therefore, generating acceptable levels of deposit growth is a critical challenge for us, particularly during periods of strong loan demand.

Short-term Borrowings At March 31, 2006, short-term borrowings totaled $850.6 million compared to $465.0 million at March 31, 2005. For the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, short-term borrowings averaged $784.7 million and $445.5 million, respectively. The growth in short-term borrowings was primarily the result of significantly higher customer demand for our commercial master note product.


Long-Term Obligations. At March 31, 2006 and 2005, long-term obligations totaled $408.9 million and $285.7 million, respectively, an increase of $123.3 million or 43.2 percent.

Long-term obligations at March 31, 2006 include $125.0 million in 5.125 percent subordinated notes payable issued by FCB during 2005. The notes mature in 2015 and are redeemable, subject to regulatory approval, at any time based on specific redemption provisions and qualify as tier 2 regulatory capital.

Long-term obligations includes $257.8 million in junior subordinated debentures representing obligations to two equity method subsidiaries, FCB/NC Capital Trust I and FCB/NC Capital Trust II. Under regulatory standards, these trust preferred capital securities qualify as Tier 1capital for BancShares. The $150.0 million in trust preferred capital securities issued by FCB/NC Capital Trust I mature in 2028 and may be redeemed in whole or in part at a declining premium after March 1, 2008. The $100.0 million in trust preferred capital securities issued by FCB/NC Capital Trust II mature in 2031 and may be redeemed in whole or in part at par after October 31, 2006. Although no definitive action has been directed by the board of directors, given current interest rates, it is likely that the trust preferred capital securities issued by FCB/NC Capital Trust II will be redeemed during the fourth quarter of 2006.

Expense on Interest-Bearing Liabilities. Interest expense amounted to $72.2 million during the first quarter of 2006, a $29.6 million or 69.5 percent increase from the first quarter of 2005. The higher interest expense was the result of higher rates and higher average volume. The rate on average interest-bearing liabilities was 2.71 percent, a 92 basis point increase in the aggregate blended rate on interest-bearing liabilities as compared to the first quarter of 2005.

NET INTEREST INCOME

Net interest income totaled $117.8 million during the first quarter of 2006, an increase of $12.2 million or 11.5 percent from the first quarter of 2005. The taxable-equivalent net yield on interest-earning assets was 3.65 percent for the first quarter of 2006, compared to the 3.60 percent achieved for the first quarter of 2005.

Our asset/liability management strategy continues to focus on maintaining high levels of balance sheet liquidity and managing our interest rate risk. We maintain portfolios of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities with maturities or repricing characteristics that will protect against wide interest rate fluctuations, thereby limiting, to the extent possible, the ultimate interest rate exposure. We do not use interest rate swaps, floors, collars or other derivative financial instruments to attempt to hedge our interest rate sensitivity and interest rate risk. Due to customer preference for fixed-rate commercial loans and surges in shorter-term deposit balances, our interest-sensitivity position has shifted over the last several quarters to a virtually neutral position, whereby short-term interest sensitive assets and liabilities are roughly equivalent. Based upon recent trends, it appears that the interest-sensitivity position will migrate to being liability- sensitive within the next twelve months by the end of 2006. A liability sensitive position typically creates a situation where rising interest rates cause a reduction in the net yield on interest-earning assets.

ASSET QUALITY

The maintenance of excellent asset quality is one of our primary areas of focus. We have historically dedicated significant resources to ensuring we are prudent in decisions to extend credit and in the monitoring of asset quality on an ongoing basis.

Nonperforming assets. At March 31, 2006, BancShares’ nonperforming assets amounted to $21.4 million or 0.22 percent of loans and leases plus foreclosed properties, compared to $22.9 million at March 31, 2005. Management views these levels of nonperforming assets as evidence of strong asset quality. Management continues to closely monitor nonperforming assets, taking necessary actions to minimize potential exposure.

Allowance for Credit Losses. At March 31, 2006, the allowance for credit losses totaled $137.1 million or 1.40 percent of total loans and leases, compared to 1.41 percent at March 31, 2005. The $4.5 million increase was needed to support new loan growth and specific impaired loans. The allowance for credit losses includes the allowance for loan and lease losses and the liability for unfunded credit commitments. We continuously analyze the growth and risk characteristics of the total loan and lease portfolio under current economic conditions in order to evaluate the adequacy of the allowance. Such factors as the financial condition of borrowers, fair market value of collateral and other considerations are recognized in estimating probable credit losses.


The provision for credit losses charged to operations during the first quarter of 2006 was $6.7 million, compared to $5.3 million during the first quarter of 2005. The $1.4 million increase in the provision for credit losses during 2006 resulted primarily from higher net charge offs. Net charge-offs during the first quarter of 2006 were $5.4 million compared to $3.5 million during the first quarter of 2005, primarily due to losses incurred on a single relationship. On an annualized basis, net charge-offs represent 0.22 percent of average loans and leases during the first quarter of 2006 compared to 0.15 percent in the first quarter of 2005. Table 5 provides details concerning the allowance and provision for credit losses during the past five quarters.

Summary of Loan and Lease Loss Experience and Risk Elements

Table 5

 

     2006     2005  

(thousands, except ratios)

   First
Quarter
    Fourth
Quarter
    Third
Quarter
    Second
Quarter
    First
Quarter
 

Allowance for credit losses at beginning of period

   $ 135,770     $ 133,220     $ 133,218     $ 132,681     $ 130,832  

Provision for credit losses

     6,737       13,578       7,211       6,994       5,326  

Adjustment for sale of loans

     —         —         (48 )     (1,537 )     —    

Net charge-offs:

          

Charge-offs

     (7,053 )     (12,408 )     (8,305 )     (6,048 )     (5,745 )

Recoveries

     1,691       1,380       1,144       1,128       2,268  
                                        

Net charge-offs

     (5,362 )     (11,028 )     (7,161 )     (4,920 )     (3,477 )
                                        

Allowance for credit losses at end of period

   $ 137,145     $ 135,770     $ 133,220     $ 133,218     $ 132,681  
                                        

Allowance for credit losses includes:

          

Allowance for loan and lease losses

   $ 130,222     $ 128,847     $ 126,297     $ 126,247     $ 125,710  

Liability for unfunded credit commitments

     6,923       6,923       6,923       6,971       6,971  
                                        

Allowance for credit losses at end of period

   $ 137,145     $ 135,770     $ 133,220     $ 133,218     $ 132,681  
                                        

Historical Statistics

          

Average loans and leases

   $ 9,705,443     $ 9,455,059     $ 9,323,115     $ 9,324,200     $ 9,357,480  

Loans and leases at period-end

     9,810,088       9,642,994       9,359,540       9,300,984       9,404,742  
                                        

Risk Elements

          

Nonaccrual loans and leases

   $ 15,844     $ 18,969     $ 11,065     $ 13,362     $ 15,344  

Other real estate

     5,573       6,753       4,843       5,049       7,533  
                                        

Total nonperforming assets

   $ 21,417     $ 25,722     $ 15,908     $ 18,411     $ 22,877  
                                        

Accruing loans and leases 90 days or more past due

   $ 6,729     $ 9,180     $ 7,712     $ 10,056     $ 7,479  
                                        

Ratios

          

Net charge-offs (annualized) to average total loans and leases

     0.22 %     0.46 %     0.30 %     0.21 %     0.15  

Percent of total loans and leases at period-end:

          

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     1.33       1.34       1.35       1.36       1.34  

Liability for unfunded credit commitments

     0.07       0.07       0.07       0.07       0.07  
                                        

Allowance for credit losses

     1.40       1.41       1.42       1.43       1.41  
                                        

Nonperforming assets to total loans and leases plus other real estate

     0.22       0.27       0.17       0.20       0.24  
                                        

Management considers the established allowance adequate to absorb estimated probable losses that relate to loans and leases outstanding at March 31, 2006, although future additions may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions and other factors. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the allowance for credit losses. Such agencies may require the recognition of adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examination.


NONINTEREST INCOME

The growth of noninterest income is essential to our ability to sustain adequate levels of profitability. The primary sources of noninterest income are service charges on deposit accounts, cardholder and merchant services income, various types of commission-based income, fees from processing services and various types of revenues derived from wealth management services.

During the first three months of 2006, noninterest income was $65.7 million, compared to $61.2 million during the same period of 2005. The $4.5 million or 7.4 percent increase was primarily due to improvements in cardholder and merchant services income, commission income and trust and asset management fees.

Service charges on deposit accounts generated $18.2 million and $18.7 million for the first quarter of 2006 and 2005, respectively. The $487,000 or 2.6 percent decrease was primarily due to lower commercial service charges, the result of higher interest rates, which reduce service charge income earned on commercial analysis accounts.

Cardholder and merchant services income increased $2.2 million or 13.4 percent to $18.4 million during the first quarter. This increase resulted from higher merchant discount income due to higher merchant transaction volume, and higher interchange income, the result of growth in cardholder transaction volume.

Within commission income, fees generated by broker-dealer activities increased $1.1 million as a result of strong sales growth. Commission income generated by insurance agency activities and working capital finance also improved when compared to 2005.

Trust and asset management fees improved $690,000 or 15.4 percent to $5.2 million during the first quarter of 2006 due to new sales activity and favorable results from accounts that generate fees based on asset values. Fees from processing services totaled $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2006 and $6.2 million in the first quarter of 2005. The $689,000 or 11.1 percent increase was primarily the result of increased volume.

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

The primary components of noninterest expense are salaries and related employee benefit costs, occupancy costs related to branch offices and support facilities, and equipment costs related to branch offices and technology.

Noninterest expense equaled $131.7 million for the first three months of 2006, a $10.4 million or 8.5 percent increase over the $121.3 million recorded during the same period of 2005. As a result of its continued growth and expansion, ISB’s noninterest expense increased from $15.5 million for the first quarter of 2005 to $18.0 million in 2006, a $2.5 million or 16.1 percent increase.

Salaries and wages increased $4.8 million or 9.3 percent during the first quarter of 2006 when compared to the same period of 2005. The increase resulted from workforce expansions both as a result of new branch offices and headcount additions in several support functions, merit increases and higher incentive payments. Employee benefits expense totaled $13.9 million for the first three months of 2006, an increase of $1.4 million. This 11.4 percent increase was the result of higher health insurance costs.

Occupancy expense was $12.9 million during the first quarter of 2006 and $11.4 million during the first quarter of 2005. The $1.4 million or 12.6 percent increase resulted from higher building depreciation, rent expense and occupancy costs arising from branch expansion.

Other expenses increased $2.5 million or 7.6 percent from the first quarter of 2005 to the first quarter of 2006. This increase includes a $1.6 million increase in card processing costs and smaller increases among costs related to our cardholder reward program, courier expenses, and external computer processing expense.

INCOME TAXES

BancShares continually monitors and evaluates the potential impact of current events on the estimates used to establish income tax expenses and income tax liabilities. On a periodic basis, we evaluate our income tax positions based on current tax law, positions taken by various tax auditors within the jurisdictions that BancShares is required to file income tax returns as well as potential or pending audits or assessments by such tax auditors.

Income tax expense amounted to $16.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2006, compared to $15.2 million during the same period of 2005. The 8.1 percent increase in income tax expense was primarily the result of higher pre-tax income. The effective tax rates for these periods were 36.5 percent and 37.8 percent, respectively.


LIQUIDITY

BancShares has historically maintained a strong focus on liquidity, and our deposit base represents our primary liquidity source. Through our deposit pricing strategies, we have the ability to stimulate or curtail deposit growth. BancShares also maintains additional sources for borrowed funds through federal funds lines of credit and other borrowing facilities. At March 31, 2006, BancShares had access to $480.0 million in unfunded borrowings through its correspondent bank network.

Once we have generated the needed liquidity and satisfied our loan and lease demand, residual liquidity is invested in overnight and longer-term investment products. Investment securities available for sale provide immediate liquidity as needed. In addition, investment securities held to maturity provide an ongoing liquidity source based on the scheduled maturity dates of the securities.

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND CAPITAL ADEQUACY

BancShares maintains an adequate capital position and exceeds all minimum regulatory capital requirements. At March 31, 2006 and 2005, the leverage capital ratios of BancShares were 9.23 percent and 9.39 percent, respectively, surpassing the minimum level of 3 percent. As a percentage of risk-adjusted assets, BancShares’ Tier 1 capital ratios were 12.52 percent at March 31, 2006 and 12.15 percent at March 31, 2005. The minimum ratio allowed is 4 percent of risk-adjusted assets. The total risk-adjusted capital ratios were 15.03 percent at March 31, 2006 and 13.49 percent as of March 31, 2005. The minimum total capital ratio is 8 percent. BancShares and each of its subsidiary banks exceed the capital standards established by their respective regulatory agencies.

SEGMENT REPORTING

BancShares conducts its banking operations through its two banking subsidiaries, FCB and ISB. Although FCB and ISB offer similar products and services to customers, each entity operates in distinct geographic markets and has separate management groups. We monitor growth and financial results in these institutions separately and, within each institution, by geographic segregation.

Although FCB has grown through acquisition in certain of its markets, throughout its history much of its expansion has been accomplished on a de novo basis. However, because of FCB’s size, market share and maturity as well as the current modest expansion of its branch network, the costs associated with de novo branching are not material to FCB’s financial performance. Since it first opened in 1997, ISB has followed a similar business model for growth and expansion. Yet, due to the magnitude of the number of branch offices that have yet to attain sufficient size for profitability, the financial results and trends of ISB are significantly affected by its current and continuing growth. Each new market ISB enters creates additional operating costs that are typically not fully offset by operating revenues until the third year after initial opening. ISB’s rapid growth in new markets in recent years has continued to adversely impact its financial performance.

IronStone Bank. At March 31, 2006, ISB operated 54 branches in Florida, Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado, compared to 48 branches at March 31, 2005. ISB continues to focus on markets with favorable growth prospects. Our business model for these new markets has two pivotal requirements. First, we are recruiting and hiring experienced bankers who are established in the markets we are entering and who are focused on strong asset quality and delivering high quality customer service. Second, we are occupying attractive branch facilities located in areas conducive to attracting medical and professional customers. While these are costly goals, we believe that they are critical to establishing a solid foundation for future success in these new markets.

ISB’s total assets were $1.95 billion at March 31, 2006 compared to $1.59 billion at March 31, 2005, an increase of $357.6 million or 22.5 percent. Net interest income increased $2.3 million or 16.1 percent during the first quarter of 2006, the result of balance sheet growth and an improved net yield on interest-earning assets.

The provision for credit losses decreased $656,000 during the first quarter of 2006 due to lower net charge offs and slower loan and lease growth. Net charge-offs decreased from $277,000 in the first quarter of 2005 to $141,000 in the first quarter of 2006. On an annualized basis, the ratio of current quarter net charge-offs to average loans and leases outstanding equaled 0.10 percent.


ISB’s noninterest income increased $1.2 million or 85.0 percent during the first quarter of 2006 as cardholder and merchant services income increased $824,000 and factoring commissions increased $327,000. These increases were partially offset by lower mortgage income.

Noninterest expense increased $2.5 million or 16.1 percent during the first quarter of 2006, versus the same period of 2005. Personnel costs increased $768,000 or 9.5 percent, while occupancy expense was up $573,000 or 22.0 percent. Other expense equaled $4.9 million during the first quarter of 2006 compared to $3.9 million during the first quarter of 2005. This increase was the result of higher general operating expenses, such as credit card processing, service fee expense and recording fees. Noninterest expenses will continue to grow as compared to 2005 levels.

ISB recorded a net loss of $147,000 during the first quarter of 2006, compared to net loss of $1.2 million recorded during the same period of 2005. This represents a favorable variance of $1.0 million. ISB continues to evaluate expansion opportunities. As growth continues, ISB will incur incremental operating costs, particularly in the areas of personnel and occupancy. As a result of the de novo status of much of the ISB franchise and plans for continued expansion, ISB’s net losses will likely extend into the foreseeable future.

First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company. At March 31, 2006, FCB operated 339 branches in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee, compared to 340 branches at March 31, 2005.

FCB’s total assets increased from $11.87 billion at March 31, 2005 to $13.00 billion at March 31, 2006, an increase of $1.14 billion or 9.6 percent, the result of strong growth in investment securities, primarily funded by deposit growth. FCB’s net interest income increased $10.0 million or 10.4 percent during 2006, due both to an improved net yield and higher balances of interest-earning assets.

The provision for credit losses increased $2.1 million due to higher net charge offs. Net charge-offs increased $2.0 million or 62.9 percent. FCB’s noninterest income increased $3.4 million or 5.5 percent during the first quarter of 2006, primarily the result of higher cardholder and merchant services income and commission-based income. Noninterest expense increased $8.1 million or 7.5 percent during 2006, caused principally by higher personnel costs.

FCB recorded net income of $31.9 million during the first quarter of 2006 compared to $29.3 million during the same period of 2005. This represents a $2.6 million or 8.9 percent increase in net income.

CURRENT ACCOUNTING AND REGULATORY ISSUES

In November 2003, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) issued EITF Issue No. 03-01, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments (“EITF 03- 01”). In September 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a FASB Staff Position (FSP EITF 03-1-b). In November 2005, the FASB issued FSP FAS 115-1 and FAS 124-1. Collectively, these documents consider when an investment is considered impaired, what disclosures are appropriate for impairment losses, and what disclosures are appropriate for unrealized losses that have not been recognized as other-than-temporary impairments. The new disclosure requirements are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15. 2005.

In May 2005, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154 (SFAS 154), “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections”, which replaces prior accounting guidance related to accounting changes and error corrections. SFAS 154 changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in an accounting principle. SFAS 154 requires retrospective application for voluntary changes in an accounting principle unless it is impracticable to do so. SFAS 154 is effective for accounting changes made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. We adopted SFAS 154 on January 1, 2006. There will be no material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Management is not aware of any current recommendations by regulatory authorities that, if implemented, would have or would be reasonably likely to have a material effect on liquidity, capital ratios or results of operations.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this Report and exhibits relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments, expectations or beliefs about future events or results, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.


Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents filed by us from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “forecasts,” “projects,” “potential” or “continue,” or similar terms or the negative of these terms, or other statements concerning opinions or judgments of BancShares’ management about future events.

Factors that could influence the accuracy of those forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the financial success or changing strategies of our customers, customer acceptance of our services, products and fee structure, the competitive nature of the financial services industry, our ability to compete effectively against other financial institutions in our banking markets, actions of government regulators, the level of market interest rates and our ability to manage our interest rate risk, changes in general economic conditions particularly changes that affect our loan and lease portfolio, the abilities of our borrowers to repay their loans and leases, and the values of collateral, and other developments or changes in our business that we do not expect.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We have no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk is the potential economic loss resulting from changes in market prices and interest rates. This risk can either result in diminished current fair values of financial instruments or reduced net interest income in future periods. As of March 31, 2006, BancShares’ market risk profile has not changed significantly from December 31, 2005. Changes in fair value that result from movement in market rates cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. Therefore, the impact that future changes in market rates will have on the fair values of financial instruments is uncertain.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

BancShares’ management, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of BancShares’ disclosure controls and procedures in accordance with Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). Based on their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, BancShares’ disclosure controls and procedures were effective in enabling it to record, process, summarize and report in a timely manner the information required to be disclosed in reports it files under the Exchange Act.

No change in BancShares’ internal control over financial reporting occurred during the first quarter of 2006 that had materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, BancShares’ internal control over financial reporting.

PART II

 

Item 1a. Risk Factors

In addition to information discussed in this report, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 identifies and discusses various risk factors that could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer
32    Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer


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.

 

Dated: May 5, 2006  

FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.

(Registrant)

 
  By:  

/s/ Kenneth A. Black

    Kenneth A. Black
    Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer