8-K for April 17, 2006
 
UNITED STATES
 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
______________________________
 

FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 17, 2006
 
 
 
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
 
North Carolina
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
 
 
 
000-27205
56-2132396
(Commission File No.)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
518 West C Street, Newton, North Carolina
28658
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
 
 
 
(828) 464-5620
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
 
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
   
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
   
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
   
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
   
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.
 
INDEX
 

   
Page
 
Item 2.02 - Results of Operations and Financial Condition
 
3
 
       
Item 9.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
 
3
 
       
Signatures
 
4
 
       
Exhibit (99)(a) Press release dated April 17, 2006
 
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2

 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition 

On April 17, 2006, Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. issued a press release announcing first quarter 2006 earnings.

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit (99)(a) and is incorporated by reference herein.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (d)       Exhibits
 
             (99)(a)  Press Release, dated April 17, 2006


Disclosure about forward-looking statements

This Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rate environment, management’s business strategy, national, regional, and local market conditions and legislative and regulatory conditions.
 
Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s view only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Readers should also carefully review the risk factors described in other documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


3



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 hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
   
   
Date: April 19, 2006
By:
/s/ A. Joseph Lampron
 
A. Joseph Lampron
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


4



 
        EXHIBIT (99)(a)
   
       
NEWS RELEASE
     
       
     
April 17, 2006
Contact:
Tony W. Wolfe
   
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
   
       
 
A. Joseph Lampron
   
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
   
       
 
828-464-5620, Fax 828-465-6780
   

For Immediate Release

PEOPLES BANCORP ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS RESULTS
 
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc., the parent company of Peoples Bank, reported net income of $2.2 million, or $0.66 basic net income per share and $0.64 diluted net income per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2006 as compared to $1.3 million or $0.37 basic net income per share and $0.36 diluted net income per share, for the same period one year ago. Net income from recurring operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $2.4 million, or $0.70 basic net income per share and $0.69 diluted net income per share, as compared to first quarter 2005 net income from recurring operations of $1.3 million, or $0.37 basic net income per share and $0.36 diluted net income per share.
 
Tony W. Wolfe, President and Chief Executive Officer, attributed the growth in recurring first quarter earnings to growth in interest-earning assets, which contributed to increases in net interest income and non-interest income. These increases in net interest income and non-interest income were partially offset by increases in the provision for loan losses and non-interest expense.
 
Net interest income increased 28% to $8.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006 compared to $6.2 million for the same period one year ago. This increase is attributable to an increase in interest income due to increases in the prime rate, which resulted from Federal Reserve interest rate increases. In addition, the average outstanding balances of loans and investment securities available for sale increased for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Net interest income after the provision for loan losses increased 31% to $7.2 million during the first quarter of 2006, compared to $5.5 million for the same period one year ago. The provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $759,000 as compared to $690,000 for the same period one year ago.
 
Recurring non-interest income increased 23% to $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006, as compared to $1.6 million for the same period one year ago. The increase in recurring non-interest income is primarily due to an increase in service charges and fees of $271,000, an increase in miscellaneous other income of $99,000 and an increase in mortgage banking income of $17,000. Net non-recurring losses of $63,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 included an $82,000 loss on the sale of securities partially offset by a $19,000 gain on the disposition of assets.
 
Recurring non-interest expense increased 5% to $5.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006, as compared to $5.3 million for the same period last year. The increase in non-interest expense included an increase of $176,000 or 6% in salaries and benefits expense due to normal salary increases and increased incentive expense, as well as an increase of $77,000 or 15% in other non-interest expenses. The Company had non-recurring expenses of $178,000 in the first quarter of 2006 resulting from a prepayment fee associated with the early termination of a $5.0 million Federal Home Loan Bank advance. This fee is included in other non-interest expense.
 
5

PEOPLES BANCORP ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS RESULTS - PAGE TWO
 
Total assets as of March 31, 2006 amounted to $761.7 million, an increase of 10% compared to total assets of $690.0 million at March 31, 2005. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in loans combined with an increase in available for sale securities. Loans increased 9% to $590.6 million as of March 31, 2006 compared to $540.0 million as of March 31, 2005. Available for sale securities increased 9% to $113.8 million as of March 31, 2006 compared to $103.9 million as of March 31, 2005, the result of additional securities purchases. This increase in available for sale securities was partially offset by paydowns on mortgage-backed securities, calls and maturities.
 
Non-performing assets totaled $5.2 million at March 31, 2006 or 0.68% of total assets, compared to $8.3 million at March 31, 2005 or 1.20% of total assets. The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2006 amounted to $7.6 million or 1.30% of total loans compared to $7.4 million or 1.37% of total loans at March 31, 2005.
 
Deposits amounted to $613.5 million as of March 31, 2006, representing an increase of 10% over deposits of $558.3 million at March 31, 2005. Core deposits, which include non-interest bearing demand deposits, NOW, MMDA, savings and certificates of deposits of denominations less than $100,000, increased $15.8 million to $429.2 million at March 31, 2006 as compared to $413.4 million at March 31, 2005 primarily due to an increase of $18.7 million in certificates of deposit in amounts less than $100,000 and a $16.2 million increase in non-interest bearing demand deposits. These increases in core deposits were partially offset by a $19.2 million decrease in interest bearing demand deposits resulting from a decrease in the Bank’s Investment Checking product. Certificates of deposit in amounts greater than $100,000 or more totaled $184.3 million at March 31, 2006 as compared to $144.9 million at March 31, 2005. This increase is due to an increase of $21.1 million in brokered deposits combined with an increase of $18.4 million in non-brokered deposits resulting from a change in certificate of deposit pricing strategies implemented in 2005.
 
Shareholders’ equity increased to $55.5 million, or 7.28% of total assets, at March 31, 2006 as compared to $50.7 million, or 7.35% of total assets, at March 31, 2005. The $4.7 million increase in shareholders’ equity from March 31, 2005 to March 31, 2006 is primarily due to net income earned for the period, which was offset by a $601,000 decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income as compared to March 31, 2005. The decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income is primarily due to a decrease in the market value of available for sale securities.
 
Peoples Bank operates entirely in North Carolina, with eleven offices throughout Catawba County, one office in Alexander County, three offices in Lincoln County and two offices in Mecklenburg County. The Bank also operates a Loan Production Office in Davidson, North Carolina, which is located in Mecklenburg County. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded over the counter and is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “PEBK.”
 
Statements made in this press release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management and on the information available to management at the time that this release was prepared. These statements can be identified by the use of words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and “believe,” variations of these words and other similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, (1) competition in the markets served by Peoples Bank, (2) changes in the interest rate environment, (3) general national, regional or local economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and the possible impairment of collectibility of loans, (4) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, (5) significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment and tax laws, (6) the impact of changes in monetary and fiscal policies, laws, rules and regulations and (7) other risks and factors identified in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to those described in Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
 
 
6

 

PEOPLES BANCORP ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS RESULTS - PAGE THREE
 
               
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
         
March 31, 2006, December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2005
         
               
               
               
               
   
March 31, 2006
 
December 31, 2005
 
March 31, 2005
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited) 
         
(Unaudited)
 
ASSETS:
                   
Cash and due from banks
 
$
22,959,163
 
$
18,468,999
 
$
14,789,934
 
Federal funds sold
   
3,493,000
   
1,347,000
   
859,000
 
Cash and cash equivalents
   
26,452,163
   
19,815,999
   
15,648,934
 
                     
Investment securities available for sale
   
113,758,100
   
115,158,184
   
103,913,432
 
Other investments
   
5,804,449
   
5,810,749
   
6,080,249
 
Total securities
   
119,562,549
   
120,968,933
   
109,993,681
 
                     
Loans
   
590,564,977
   
566,663,416
   
540,031,706
 
Mortgage loans held for sale
   
2,571,200
   
2,247,900
   
3,090,350
 
Less: Allowance for loan losses
   
(7,649,364
)
 
(7,424,782
)
 
(7,419,580
)
Net loans
   
585,486,813
   
561,486,534
   
535,702,476
 
                     
Premises and equipment, net
   
12,705,399
   
12,662,153
   
12,924,933
 
Cash surrender value of life insurance
   
6,363,484
   
6,311,757
   
6,148,580
 
Accrued interest receivable and other assets
   
11,178,541
   
9,034,239
   
9,601,761
 
Total assets
 
$
761,748,949
 
$
730,279,615
 
$
690,020,365
 
                     
                     
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
                   
Deposits:
                   
Non-interest bearing demand
 
$
101,497,002
 
$
94,660,721
 
$
85,265,032
 
NOW, MMDA & Savings
   
172,164,020
   
183,248,699
   
191,331,645
 
Time, $100,000 or more
   
184,315,220
   
152,410,976
   
144,862,102
 
Other time
   
155,538,776
   
152,533,265
   
136,795,166
 
Total deposits
   
613,515,018
   
582,853,661
   
558,253,945
 
                     
Demand notes payable to U.S. Treasury
   
121,769
   
1,473,693
   
1,284,709
 
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
   
3,905,108
   
981,050
   
-    
 
FHLB borrowings
   
69,500,000
   
71,600,000
   
61,000,000
 
Junior subordinated debentures
   
14,433,000
   
14,433,000
   
14,433,000
 
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities
   
4,800,560
   
4,585,217
   
4,315,642
 
Total liabilities
   
706,275,455
   
675,926,621
   
639,287,296
 
                     
Shareholders' Equity:
                   
Preferred stock, no par value; authorized
                   
5,000,000 shares; no shares issued
                   
and outstanding
   
-    
   
-    
   
-    
 
Common stock, no par value; authorized
                   
20,000,000 shares; issued and
                   
outstanding 3,437,285 shares in 2006
                   
and 3,440,805 shares in 2005
   
40,856,995
   
41,096,500
   
41,355,975
 
Retained earnings
   
16,511,234
   
14,656,160
   
10,671,056
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
   
(1,894,735
)
 
(1,399,666
)
 
(1,293,962
)
Total shareholders' equity
   
55,473,494
   
54,352,994
   
50,733,069
 
                     
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 
$
761,748,949
 
$
730,279,615
 
$
690,020,365
 
                     
 
 

 

PEOPLES BANCORP ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS RESULTS - PAGE FOUR
     
           
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
         
For the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005
         
           
           
           
   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2006
2005
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
 
INTEREST INCOME:
         
Interest and fees on loans
 
$
11,527,479
 
$
8,461,937
 
Interest on federal funds sold
   
4,142
   
1,480
 
Interest on investment securities:
             
U.S. Government agencies
   
1,021,674
   
848,356
 
States and political subdivisions
   
192,750
   
181,863
 
Other
   
125,163
   
87,033
 
Total interest income
   
12,871,208
   
9,580,669
 
               
INTEREST EXPENSE:
             
NOW, MMDA & savings deposits
   
674,737
   
633,320
 
Time deposits
   
2,987,731
   
1,789,677
 
FHLB borrowings
   
885,690
   
711,776
 
Junior subordinated debentures
   
279,639
   
207,474
 
Other
   
35,543
   
4,066
 
Total interest expense
   
4,863,340
   
3,346,313
 
NET INTEREST INCOME
   
8,007,868
   
6,234,356
 
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
   
759,000
   
690,000
 
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER
             
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
   
7,248,868
   
5,544,356
 
               
NON-INTEREST INCOME:
             
Service charges
   
924,945
   
805,260
 
Other service charges and fees
   
396,017
   
244,627
 
Gain (loss) on sale of securities
   
(81,800
)
 
-    
 
Mortgage banking income
   
120,608
   
103,116
 
Insurance and brokerage commission
   
103,900
   
109,759
 
Miscellaneous
   
474,209
   
375,306
 
Total non-interest income
   
1,937,879
   
1,638,068
 
NON-INTEREST EXPENSES:
             
Salaries and employee benefits
   
3,238,770
   
3,062,501
 
Occupancy
   
988,396
   
969,066
 
Other
   
1,475,312
   
1,227,280
 
Total non-interest expenses
   
5,702,478
   
5,258,847
 
               
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
   
3,484,269
   
1,923,577
 
INCOME TAXES
   
1,249,200
   
646,800
 
               
NET INCOME
 
$
2,235,069
 
$
1,276,777
 
PER SHARE AMOUNTS
             
Basic net income
 
$
0.66
 
$
0.37
 
Diluted net income
 
$
0.64
 
$
0.36
 
Cash dividends
 
$
0.11
 
$
0.10
 
Book value
 
$
16.14
 
$
14.70
 

 

 
 
PEOPLES BANCORP ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS RESULTS - PAGE FIVE
     
           
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
         
For the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005
         
           
           
           
   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2006        
        2005
 
   
     (Unaudited)
 
      (Unaudited)
 
SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES:
         
Available for sale securities
 
$
116,648,247
 
$
104,489,669
 
Loans
   
580,463,706
   
538,897,639
 
Earning assets
   
704,957,468
   
650,350,681
 
Assets
   
744,167,124
   
687,980,934
 
Deposits
   
588,699,597
   
554,229,998
 
Shareholders' equity
   
56,513,281
   
51,974,639
 
               
               
SELECTED KEY DATA:
             
Net interest margin (tax equivalent)
   
4.71%
 
 
3.98%
 
Return of average assets
   
1.22%
 
 
0.75%
 
Return on average shareholders' equity
   
16.04%
 
 
9.96%
 
Shareholders' equity to total assets (period end)
   
7.28%
 
 
7.35%
 
               
               
ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES:
             
Balance, beginning of period
 
$
7,424,782
 
$
8,048,627
 
Provision for loan losses
   
759,000
   
690,000
 
Charge-offs
   
(586,039
)
 
(1,404,263
)
Recoveries
   
51,621
   
85,216
 
Balance, end of period
 
$
7,649,364
 
$
7,419,580
 
               
               
ASSET QUALITY:
             
Non-accrual loans
 
$
4,852,504
 
$
7,541,426
 
90 days past due and still accruing
   
-    
   
68,857
 
Other real estate owned
   
344,935
   
664,252
 
Total non-performing assets
 
$
5,197,439
 
$
8,274,535
 
Non-performing assets to total assets
   
0.68%
 
 
1.20%
 
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing assets
   
147.18%
 
 
89.67%
 
Allowance for loan losses to total loans
   
1.30%
 
 
1.37%
 
               
 

LOAN RISK GRADE ANALYSIS:
   
Percentage of Loans
   
General Reserve
 
 
 
 
By Risk Grade*
   
Percentage
 
 
 
 
3/31/2006
   
3/31/2005
   
3/31/2006
   
3/31/2005
 
Risk 1 (excellent quality)
   
13.69%
 
 
14.02%
 
 
0.15%
 
 
0.15%
 
Risk 2 (high quality)
   
17.62%
 
 
22.65%
 
 
0.50%
 
 
0.50%
 
Risk 3 (good quality)
   
58.26%
 
 
54.75%
 
 
1.00%
 
 
1.00%
 
Risk 4 (management attention)
   
7.50%
 
 
4.78%
 
 
2.50%
 
 
2.50%
 
Risk 5 (watch)
   
1.15%
 
 
0.88%
 
 
7.00%
 
 
7.00%
 
Risk 6 (substandard)
   
0.37%
 
 
0.80%
 
 
12.00%
 
 
12.00%
 
Risk 7 (low substandard)
   
0.59%
 
 
0.72%
 
 
25.00%
 
 
25.00%
 
Risk 8 (doubtful)
   
0.00%
 
 
0.00%
 
 
50.00%
 
 
50.00%
 
Risk 9 (loss)
   
0.00%
 
 
0.00%
 
 
100.00%
 
 
100.00%
 
                           
*Excludes non-accrual loans
                         
                           
At March 31, 2006 there was one relationship exceeding $1.0 million (which totaled $1.8 million) in the Watch risk grade, no relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Substandard risk grade, and one relationship exceeding $1.0 million (which totaled $3.1 million) in the Low Substandard risk grade. These customers continue to meet payment requirements and these relationships would not become non-performing assets unless they are unable to meet those requirements.
(END)