First Financial Bankshares Announces Second Quarter 2017 Earnings Results

ABILENE, Texas, July 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIN) today reported earnings for the second quarter of 2017 of $28.26 million, up 5.39 percent when compared with earnings of $26.81 million in the same quarter last year.  Basic earnings per share were $0.43 for the second quarter of 2017 compared with $0.41 in the same quarter a year ago.

Net interest income for the second quarter of 2017 increased 4.48 percent to $59.09 million compared with $56.55 million in the same quarter of 2016. The net interest margin, on a taxable equivalent basis, was 4.05 percent in the second quarter of 2017 compared to 4.03 percent in the first quarter of 2017 and 4.12 percent in the second quarter of 2016. Included in interest income for the second quarter of 2017 was $505 thousand, or three basis points in net interest margin, related to discount accretion from fair value accounting related to the Conroe and Orange acquisitions.  

The provision for loan losses was $1.73 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared with $1.95 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $2.06 million in the second quarter of 2016. The continued provision for loan losses in 2017 reflects growth in the loan portfolio, the continued levels of gross charge-offs, as well as the continuing economic effects related to the oil and gas industry. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of loans and foreclosed assets totaled 0.71 percent at June 30, 2017, compared with 0.90 percent at March 31, 2017, and 1.22 percent at June 30, 2016. Classified loans totaled $117.61 million at June 30, 2017, compared to $122.62 million at March 31, 2017, and $132.67 million at June 30, 2016.

At June 30, 2017, loans with oil and gas industry exposure totaled 2.03% of gross loans. These loans comprised $24.40 million of the classified loan totals and $2.86 million of the nonperforming loan totals. In addition, $50 thousand in net charge-offs was related to these oil and gas loans for the quarter ended June 30, 2017. At June 30, 2017, the Company's allowance for loan loss reserve specific to its total oil and gas loan portfolio totaled 7.24% of total oil and gas loans.

Noninterest income increased 8.08 percent in the second quarter of 2017 to $23.17 million compared with $21.44 million in the same quarter a year ago. Trust fees increased $1.02 million to $5.75 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared with $4.73 million in the same quarter last year, primarily due to continued growth in the fair value of Trust assets managed to $4.73 billion from $4.11 billion a year ago. ATM, interchange and credit card fees increased 12.98 percent to $6.60 million compared with $5.84 million in the same quarter last year due to continued growth in debit cards. Service charges on deposits increased 10.88 percent to $4.88 million compared with $4.40 million in the same quarter a year ago due to continued growth in net new accounts. Also included in noninterest income during the second quarter of 2017 was a gain on sale of securities of $747 thousand compared to $912 thousand in the same quarter a year ago. Offsetting these increases in noninterest income were decreases in loan recoveries to $337 thousand in the second quarter of 2017 compared to $629 thousand in the same quarter a year ago and a loss on sale of foreclosed assets of $72 thousand in the second quarter of 2017 compared to a gain of $278 thousand in the second quarter of 2016.

Noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2017 totaled $43.78 million compared to $40.76 million in the second quarter of 2016. The Company's efficiency ratio in the second quarter of 2017 was 49.32 percent compared with 48.43 percent in the same quarter last year. The increase in noninterest expense in the second quarter of 2017 was driven by a $1.32 million increase in salary and employee benefit expense, primarily due to merit based pay increases and profit sharing expenses, and an increase of $824 thousand in data processing costs associated with a new Trust technology platform and software amortization and expense resulting from a write-off of internally developed software.

For the first half of 2017, net income increased 4.47 percent to $54.85 million from $52.51 million for the same period a year ago. Basic earnings per share rose to $0.83 in the first half of 2017 from $0.80 in the same period of 2016. Net interest income increased 2.23 percent to $116.11 million in the first half of 2017 from $113.57 million in the same period a year ago. The provision for loan losses totaled $3.68 million compared with $4.39 million in the first half of the previous year. Noninterest income was $44.46 million in the first half of 2017 compared with $41.26 million in the same period of 2016. Noninterest expense rose to $85.93 million in the first half of 2017 compared with $81.84 million during the same period last year.

As of June 30, 2017, consolidated assets for the Company totaled $6.95 billion compared to $6.93 billion at March 31, 2017, and $6.61 billion at June 30, 2016. Loans totaled $3.46 billion at June 30, 2017, compared with loans of $3.39 billion at March 31, 2017, and $3.31 billion at June 30, 2016. Deposits totaled $5.63 billion at June 30, 2017, compared to $5.66 billion at March 31, 2017, and $5.06 billion at June 30, 2016. Shareholders' equity rose to $887.44 million as of June 30, 2017, compared with $859.35 million at March 31, 2017, and $866.16 million at June 30, 2016. 

"We are pleased to report increased earnings for the quarter and improved trends in our credit metrics," said F. Scott Dueser, Chairman, President and CEO. "We continue to work diligently to grow loans and deposits, reduce expenses to improve our bottom line while continuing to look for acquisition opportunities to better utilize our strong capital position and increase our return to our shareholders."

About First Financial Bankshares

Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that through its subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., operates multiple banking regions with 69 locations in Texas including Abilene, Acton, Albany, Aledo, Alvarado, Beaumont, Boyd, Bridgeport, Brock, Burleson, Cisco, Cleburne, Clyde, Conroe, Cut and Shoot, Decatur, Eastland, Fort Worth, Glen Rose, Granbury, Grapevine, Hereford, Huntsville, Keller, Magnolia, Mauriceville, Merkel, Midlothian, Mineral Wells, Montgomery, Moran, New Waverly, Newton, Odessa, Orange, Port Arthur, Ranger, Rising  Star,  Roby,  San  Angelo,  Southlake,  Stephenville,  Sweetwater, Tomball, Trent,  Trophy Club, Vidor, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Willis, and Willow Park. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with seven locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company.

The Company is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol FFIN.  For more information about First Financial Bankshares, please visit our website at http://www.ffin.com

Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the belief of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made beyond information currently available to the Company's management, and may be, but not necessarily are, identified by such words as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "target", "forecast" and "goal".  Because such "forward-looking statements" are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include competition from other financial institutions and financial holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the  Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses, and similar variables.   Other key risks are described in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be obtained under "Investor Relations-Documents/Filings" on the Company's Web site or by writing or calling the Company at 325.627.7155. Except as otherwise stated in this news announcement, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.