Intervest Bancshares Corporation Reports 2014 Third Quarter Earnings Increase by 62% to $4.2 Million or $0.19 Per Share

Intervest Bancshares Corporation (IBC) (NASDAQ-GS:IBCA), parent company of Intervest National Bank (INB), today announced that its net earnings available to common stockholders for the third quarter of 2014 (Q3-14) increased 62% to $4.2 million, or $0.19 per share, from $2.6 million, or $0.12 per share, for the third quarter of 2013 (Q3-13). For the first nine months of 2014 (9mths-14), net earnings available to common stockholders increased 49% to $13.8 million, or $0.62 per share, from $9.2 million, or $0.42 per share, for the same period of 2013 (9mths-13).

Returns on average assets and average common stockholders’ equity increased to 1.08% and 8.10% for Q3-14 and to 1.17% and 9.05% for 9mths-14. IBC's Board of Directors also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share payable on November 24, 2014 to stockholders of record at the close of business November 14, 2014.

Operating Summary

• There were no preferred dividend requirements in the 2014 periods, compared to $0.3 million in Q3-13 and $1.1 million in 9mths-13.
• Net interest and dividend income increased to $11.0 million in Q3-14, from $8.8 million in Q3-13, and to $32.1 million in 9mths-14, from $26.4 million in 9mths-13, reflecting a higher net interest margin.
• The net interest margin (exclusive of loan prepayment income) increased to 2.86% in Q3-14 and 2.81% in 9mths-14, from 2.32% and 2.33% in the same periods of 2013.
• No provision for loan losses was recorded in Q3-14, compared to $0.3 million in Q3-13. A credit for loan losses of $1.5 million was recorded in 9mths-14 and in 9mths-13. The credit for 9mths-14 reflected improved credit quality resulting from the payoff of substandard loans and other credit upgrades, while the credit for 9mths-13 was primarily due to partial cash recoveries of prior loan charge offs.
• Noninterest income (inclusive of loan prepayment income) increased to $1.0 million in Q3-14 and to $4.3 million in 9mths-14, from $0.9 million and $2.3 million in the same periods of 2013. The increase for 9mths-14 was primarily due to higher prepayment income ($3.0 million versus $1.9 million in 9mths-13) and no security impairment charges in 9mths-14 (compared to $1.9 million in 9mths-13).
• No provisions for real estate losses were recorded in the 2014 periods, compared to $0.3 million in Q3-13 and $1.0 million in 9mths-13.
• Real estate expenses, net of rental and other income, amounted to $0.1 million in Q3-14, compared to $0.2 million in Q3-13. For 9mths-14, these expenses totaled $0.6 million, compared to net income of $1.1 million in 9mths-13. The net income reflected gains from sales of several properties and cash recoveries of expenses associated with previously owned properties. Exclusive of these non-recurring income items, net real estate expenses would have been $1.3 million in 9mths-13.
• Operating expenses increased to $4.6 million in Q3-14, from $3.9 million in Q3-13, and to $13.1 million in 9mths-14, from $12.0 million in 9mths-13. The increase for both periods was largely due to higher professional fees of $0.8 million associated with the previously announced proposed merger with Bank of the Ozarks, Inc. Contributing to the increase in 9mths-14 was salary increases, higher stock compensation and employee bonus expense totaling $0.8 million, partially offset by a $0.4 million decrease in FDIC insurance premiums.
• Our efficiency ratio, which measures our ability to control expenses as a percentage of revenues, continued to be favorable and improved to 38% for Q3-14 and 36% for 9mths-14, from 40% and 42% in the same periods of 2013, respectively.

Balance Sheet Summary

• Assets decreased to $1.51 billion at September 30, 2014, from $1.58 billion at December 31, 2013, as decreases of $80 million in security investments, $13 million in cash and short-term investments and $8 million in properties owned through foreclosure were partially offset by a $48 million increase in loans.
• Loans increased to $1.18 billion at September 30, 2014, from $1.13 billion at December 31, 2013.
• New loan originations for 9mths-14 totaled $223 million, compared to $221 million for 9mths-13, while loan repayments decreased to $175 million from $225 million in the same periods, respectively.
• Deposits decreased $68 million to $1.21 billion at September 30, 2014, from $1.28 billion at December 31, 2013.
• Stockholders' equity increased to $206 million at September 30, 2014, from $197 million at December 31, 2013.
• INB's regulatory capital ratios at September 30, 2014 were as follows: Tier One Leverage - 16.44%; Tier One Risk-Based Capital - 20.22%; and Total Risk-Based Capital - 21.48%.
• Book value per common share increased to $9.35 at September 30, 2014, from $8.99 at December 31, 2013.

Net Interest and Dividend Income

The increase in net interest and dividend income for both periods of 2014 was driven by an improved interest rate spread and a higher ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities due to deployment of cash into new loans. The net interest margin improved to 2.86% in Q3-14 from 2.32% in Q3-13, primarily due to a 57 basis point increase in the interest rate spread and a $48 million increase in net interest-earning assets. The higher spread reflected primarily the run-off of higher-cost legacy CDs, which reduced the average cost of funds by 52 basis points to 1.50% in Q3-14 from 2.02% in Q3-13. At the same time, the average yield on interest-earning assets increased slightly to 4.15% in Q3-14 from 4.10% in Q3-13 as slightly higher yields on security investments and the growth in net interest-earning assets were mostly offset by the negative impact of payoffs of older, higher yielding loans coupled with new loan originations at lower market interest rates.

Total average interest-earning assets increased by $12 million in Q3-14 from Q3-13, reflecting a $92 million increase in loans, partially offset by an $80 million decrease in total securities and overnight investments. At the same time, average deposits decreased by $36 million, while average stockholders' equity increased by $5 million.

For 9mths-14, the net interest margin increased to 2.81%, from 2.33% in 9mths-13. The average cost of funds decreased by 53 basis points to 1.55% in 9mths-14, from 2.08% in 9mths-13, while the average yield on interest-earning assets decreased by 3 basis points to 4.16% in 9mths-14, from 4.19% in 9mths-13. Total average interest-earning assets increased for the 9mths-14 by $11 million from 9mths-13, reflecting an increase of $78 million in loans, partially offset by a $67 million decrease in total securities and overnight investments. At the same time, average deposits decreased by $29 million and average stockholders' equity decreased by $7 million. Average stockholders' equity for both periods of 2014 was impacted by the repurchase and retirement of $25 million of TARP preferred stock (plus payment of $5.1 million of preferred dividends) during the middle of 2013 and the repurchase and cancelation (for $2.9 million) in September 2014 of a related common stock warrant as discussed below.

Security Investments

The $80 million decrease in securities was due to repayments and sales exceeding new purchases. In Q3-14, INB transferred its entire portfolio of securities held to maturity (with a then carrying value of $352 million and estimated fair value of $349 million) to the available-for-sale ("AFS") category in order to provide additional flexibility in executing asset and liability management strategies. During Q3-14, proceeds from periodic sales of AFS securities totaled $37 million, resulting in a net realized gain of $0.2 million. The sales enhanced INB's liquidity to fund new loans and planned deposit outflow. INB's current strategy is to re-deploy low-yielding investments into loans. INB also significantly reduced its interest rates offered on longer-terms CDs from a high of 1.92% to 1.24% on its five-year CD term during Q3-14. INB's loan-to-deposit ratio increased to 92% at September 30, 2014 from 84% at December 31, 2013.

Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses

The $48 million increase in loans reflected $223 million of originations, partially offset by payoffs, principal amortization and partial pay downs totaling $175 million. New originations were comprised primarily of $176 million of commercial real estate (CRE) loans and $39 million of multifamily loans. New CRE loans included loans on $30 million of single tenant credit and $38 million of single tenant non-credit properties. New originations for 9mths-14 had a weighted-average rate, term, debt service coverage ratio and loan-to-value ratio of 4.70%, 6.5 years, 1.24x and 60%, respectively, compared to 4.40%, 6.6 years, 1.35x and 61%, respectively, for new loans originated in 9mths-13. Nearly all new loans in both periods had fixed interest rates. Loans paid off in 9mths-14 and 9mths-13 had a weighted-average rate of 5.25% and 5.96%, respectively.

At September 30, 2014, our loan portfolio remained concentrated in CRE loans, with 77% of loans secured by CRE, 17% secured by multifamily properties and 5% by investor-owned, 1-4 family condominiums. The single tenant category totaled $212 million at September 30, 2014, or approximately 23% of the total CRE loan portfolio, up from $157 million and 19% at December 31, 2013.

At September 30, 2014, the allowance for loan losses totaled $26.6 million, or 2.27% of total loans, compared to $27.8 million, or 2.47%, at December 31, 2013. The allowance included at each date $5.1 million and $6.1 million, respectively, allocated to impaired loans.

Asset Quality

Impaired loans (nonaccrual, restructured (TDRs) and one other accruing and performing loan) totaled $54.9 million at September 30, 2014, compared to $57.2 million at December 31, 2013. Nonaccrual loans decreased to $22.5 million at September 30, 2014, from $35.9 million at December 31, 2013, primarily reflecting one loan transferred to an accruing TDR status. Nonaccrual loans included TDRs at each date of $19.9 million and $33.2 million, respectively. These TDRs were current and had a weighted-average interest rate of 4.31% as of September 30, 2014. Accruing TDR loans increased to $24.7 million at September 30, 2014 from $13.4 million at December 31, 2013, due to the transfer of the loan noted above. These TDRs had a weighted-average interest rate of approximately 5% at September 30, 2014.

Real estate acquired through foreclosure decreased to $2.6 million at September 30, 2014, from $10.6 million at December 31, 2013, reflecting sales of two properties.

Deposits

The $68 million decrease in deposits reflected a $41 million decrease in certificate of deposit accounts and a $27 million decrease in total money market and checking accounts.

Stockholders' Equity

The $9 million increase in stockholders' equity reflected primarily net earnings of $13.8 million, partially offset by $2.2 million of common dividends paid and $2.9 million paid on September 3, 2014 to repurchase and cancel a common stock warrant held by the U.S. Treasury. The warrant was issued by IBC in December 2008 in connection with its participation in the TARP Capital Purchase Program and it had permitted the Treasury to purchase up to 691,882 shares of IBC's common stock at an exercise price of $5.42 per share. There are no other investments from IBC's participation in TARP that remain outstanding. IBC's $25 million TARP preferred stock was repurchased and retired during June and August 2013.

Proposed Merger

IBC entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger dated July 31, 2014, among Bank of the Ozarks, Inc. ("Ozarks"), Bank of the Ozarks, IBC and INB, relating to a proposed merger transaction. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Ozarks or IBC or the solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed transaction, Ozarks filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") containing a proxy statement/prospectus. The proxy statement/prospectus contains important information about Ozarks, IBC, the transaction and related matters. When available, copies of the proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to IBC stockholders.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS) BECAUSE SUCH DOCUMENTS CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents (when they become available) and other documents filed with the SEC on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Investors and security holders are also able to obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by IBC at IBC's website at www.intervestbancsharescorporation.com.

Ozarks, IBC, their directors, executive officers and certain other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from IBC stockholders in favor of the approval of the proposed transaction. Information regarding IBC's executive officers and directors is included in IBC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the SEC on March 3, 2014 and IBC's definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 1, 2014, and information regarding Ozarks' executive officers and directors is included in Ozarks' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the SEC on February 28, 2014 and Ozarks' definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 11, 2014. Descriptions of the interests of the directors and executive officers of IBC and Ozarks in the proposed transaction will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC.

Intervest Bancshares Corporation (IBC) is a bank holding company. Its operating subsidiary is Intervest National Bank (INB), a nationally chartered commercial bank that has its headquarters and full-service banking office at One Rockefeller Plaza, in New York City, and a total of six full-service banking offices in Clearwater and Gulfport, Florida. IBC's Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market: Trading Symbol IBCA.

This release may contain forward-looking information. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "assume," "indicate," "continue," "target," "goal," and similar words or expressions of the future are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Except for historical information, the matters discussed herein are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in forward looking statements: changes in economic conditions and real estate values both nationally and in our market areas; changes in our borrowing facilities, volume of loan originations and deposit flows; changes in the levels of our non-interest income and provisions for loan and real estate losses; changes in the composition and credit quality of our loan portfolio; legislative or regulatory changes, including increased expenses arising therefrom; changes in interest rates which may reduce our net interest margin and net interest income; increases in competition; technological changes which we may not be able to implement; changes in accounting or regulatory principles, policies or guidelines; changes in tax laws and our ability to utilize our deferred tax asset, including NOL and AMT carryforwards; and our ability to attract and retain key members of management, the requisite stockholder or regulatory approval of the previously disclosed proposed merger with Bank of the Ozarks may not be received or other conditions to the completion of the proposed merger might not be satisfied or waived; and our business and operations will continue to be impacted until the proposed merger transaction is either consummated or terminated. Reference is made to IBC's filings with the SEC for further discussion of risks and uncertainties regarding our business. Forward looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward looking information, whether as a result of new, updated information, future events, or otherwise. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of our future prospects.