SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549


Form 8-K


Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 20, 2009


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, Inc.

(exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Pennsylvania        0-11204        25-1424278

(State or other     (commission    (I.R.S. Employer

jurisdiction        File Number)   Identification No.)

of Incorporation)


Main and Franklin Streets, Johnstown, Pa.  15901

(address or principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 814-533-5300


N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


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-4c))













Form 8-K


Item 2.02 Results of operation and financial condition.


AMERISERV FINANCIAL Inc. (the "Registrant") announced fourth quarter and full year results through December 31, 2008.  For a more detailed description of the announcement see the press release attached as Exhibit #99.1.  


Exhibits

--------


Exhibit 99.1

Press release dated January 20, 2009, announcing the fourth quarter and full year results through December 31, 2008.



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.



AMERISERV FINANCIAL, Inc.


By /s/Jeffrey A. Stopko

Jeffrey A. Stopko

Senior Vice President

& CFO


Date: January 20, 2009




Exhibit 99.1


AMERISERV FINANCIAL REPORTS INCREASED EARNINGS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 0F 2008     


JOHNSTOWN, PA – AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASRV) reported fourth quarter 2008 net income of $1,615,000 or $0.07 per diluted share.  This represents an increase of $691,000 or 74.8% over the fourth quarter 2007 net income of $924,000 or $0.04 per diluted share.  For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company earned $5,509,000 or $0.25 per diluted share.  This also represents an increase of $2,475,000 or 81.6% when compared to net income of $3,034,000 or $0.14 per diluted share for the full year 2007.  The following table highlights the Company’s financial performance for the both the quarters and years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007:

     

 

     Fourth Quarter 2008

Fourth

Quarter 2007

 

Year Ended

December 31, 2008

Year Ended

December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$1,615,000

$924,000

 

$5,509,000

$3,034,000

Diluted earnings per share

            $ 0.07

           $ 0.04

 

                         $ 0.25

$ 0.14


Allan R. Dennison, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the 2008 financial results, “AmeriServ Financial’s strong growth in earnings in 2008 resulted from our disciplined focus on maintaining a high quality conservatively positioned balance sheet during a historic period of economic turmoil and crisis within the financial markets.  I was particularly pleased that we were able to have a record year in growing our loan portfolio by $71 million or 11.1% by extending credit to quality borrowers within the communities in which we operate.  The current recessionary environment makes the future more difficult to forecast, but we enter 2009 with an improved net interest margin, sound asset quality, and strong capital levels which should provide us with greater financial flexibility.”    


The Company’s net interest income in the fourth quarter of 2008 increased by $2.0 million from the prior year’s fourth quarter and for the full year of 2008 increased by $4.9 million or 20.2% when compared to 2007.  The Company’s net interest margin when compared to the same prior year periods was up sharply by 76 basis points to 3.84% for the fourth quarter of 2008 and was up by 58 basis points to 3.64% for the full year 2008.  This improved net interest margin resulted from a combination of strong loan growth and balance sheet positioning which allowed the Company to benefit from the significant Federal Reserve reductions in short-term interest rates and the return to a more traditional positively sloped yield curve.  As a result of these changes, the Company’s interest expense on deposits and borrowings declined at a faster rate than the interest income on loans and investment securities.  Additionally, the improved earning asset mix with fewer investment securities and more loans outstanding also contributed to the increased net interest income and margin in 2008.  For the full year 2008, total loans increased by $71 million or 11.1% with $43 million of this growth occurring during the fourth quarter.  The 2008 loan growth was driven by increased commercial and commercial real-estate loan production particularly in the suburban Pittsburgh market. Overall, net interest income has now increased for eight consecutive quarters.       


The Company recorded a $625,000 provision for loan losses in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to a $150,000 provision in the fourth quarter of 2007.  For the full year 2008, the Company recorded a $2.9 million loan loss provision which represented an increase of $2.6 million over the 2007 full year loan loss provision of $300,000.  When determining the provision for loan losses, the Company considers a number of factors some of which include periodic credit reviews, delinquency and charge-off trends, concentrations of credit, loan volume trends and broader local and national economic trends.  The higher loan provision in 2008 was caused by the Company’s decision to strengthen its allowance for loan losses due to the downgrade of the rating classification of several specific performing commercial loans and uncertainties in the local and national economies.  Overall net charge-offs were up moderately in 2008 when compared to 2007.  Specifically, for the full year 2008, net charge-offs amounted to $1.3 million or 0.20% of total loans compared to net charge-offs of $1.1 million or 0.19% of total loans for the full year 2007.  Non-performing assets increased by $182,000 since the third quarter of 2008 but are still lower than the year-end 2007 level.  Non-performing assets totaled $4.6 million or 0.65% of total loans at December 31, 2008 compared to $5.3 million or 0.83% of total loans at December 31, 2007.  Overall, the allowance for loan losses provided 195% coverage of non-performing assets and was 1.26% of total loans at December 31, 2008 compared to 137% of non-performing assets and 1.14% of total loans at December 31, 2007.  Note also that the Company has no direct exposure to sub-prime mortgage loans in either the loan or investment portfolios.


The Company’s non-interest income in the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased by $384,000 from the prior year’s fourth quarter but for the full year of 2008 increased by $1.7 million when compared to the full year 2007.  The quarterly decrease was primarily due to a $288,000 decline in trust and investment advisory fees due to reductions in the market value of assets managed due to lower equity values in the fourth quarter of 2008. Other income also declined as there was a non-recurring $200,000 gain realized in the fourth quarter of 2007 on the sale of a bank owned operations facility that was no longer being fully utilized.  For the full year 2008, the increase in non-interest income was primarily due to a $1.4 million increase in revenue from bank owned life insurance due to the payment of death claims in 2008.  The remainder of the increase in non-interest income was driven by increases in several other non-interest revenue categories.  Deposit service charges increased by $490,000 or 19.0% due to increased overdraft fees and greater service charge revenue that resulted from a realignment of the bank’s checking accounts to include more fee based products.  The Company also recorded an increase on gains realized on residential mortgage loan sales into the secondary market that amounted to $170,000 for the full year 2008.  This increase reflects improved residential mortgage production from the Company’s primary market as this has been an area of emphasis in the Company’s strategic plan.   Finally, the Company took advantage of the positively sloped yield curve to position the investment portfolio for better future earnings by selling some of the lower yielding securities in the portfolio and replacing them with higher yielding securities with a modestly longer duration.  Overall, the Company realized a net security loss of $95,000 in 2008.


Total non-interest expense in the fourth quarter of 2008 increased by $345,000 from the prior year’s fourth quarter and for the full year of 2008 increased by $965,000 or 2.8% when compared to 2007.  The higher annual 2008 expenses were due to an $887,000 increase in other expenses, a $385,000 increase in professional fees, and a $91,000 charge on the prepayment of $6 million of Federal Home Loan Bank Advances.  Note that the increase in other expenses was due to higher advertising and business development expenses, increased other real-estate owned expenses, and the non-recurrence of a $400,000 expense recovery related to a previous mortgage servicing operation that was realized in 2007. The increased professional fees resulted primarily from higher legal, consulting and other professional fees in 2008.  The $91,000 FHLB debt prepayment charge resulted from the Company’s decision to retire some higher cost advances and replace them with lower cost current market rate advances in order to reduce ongoing interest expense.  While salaries and employee benefits expenses were higher in the fourth quarter of 2008, they were down by $122,000 for the full year due primarily to reduced medical insurance premiums.  The $368,000 annual reduction in equipment expense resulted from the benefits achieved from the migration to a new core data processing operating system and mainframe processor.    


ASRV had total assets of $967 million, total shareholders’ equity of $113 million and a book value of $4.39 per share at December 31, 2008.  With the receipt of $21 million of preferred stock from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program on December 19, 2008, the Company’s asset leverage ratio increased to 12.15% at December 31, 2008 compared to 9.74% as December 31, 2007.  The Company also completed its previously announced stock repurchase program during the fourth quarter of 2008 by repurchasing 743,200 shares at an average price of $2.33.  For the full year 2008, the Company repurchased 1,097,700 shares of its common stock at an average price of $2.58.


As a result of the decision by the Company to accept a preferred stock investment under the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program for a period of three years the Company is no longer permitted to repurchase stock or declare and pay common dividends without the consent of the U.S. Treasury.


This news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report and Form 10-K to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Actual results may differ materially.



Nasdaq: ASRV

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE DATA

January 20, 2009

(In thousands, except per share and ratio data)

(All quarterly and 2008 data unaudited)

2008

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income  

$1,229

$1,516

$1,149

$1,615

$5,509

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

0.55%

0.71%

0.52%

0.69%

0.62%

Return on average equity

5.43

6.64

4.93

6.68

5.93

Net interest margin

3.32

3.58

3.59

3.84

3.64

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans

0.06

0.46

0.04

0.23

0.20

Loan loss provision as a percentage of average loans

0.10

0.89

0.48

0.36

0.45

Efficiency ratio

82.87

73.20

79.72

77.46

78.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$0.06

$0.07

$0.05

$0.07

$0.25

Average number of common shares outstanding

22,060

21,847

21,855

21,571

21,833

Diluted

0.06

0.07

0.05

0.07

0.25

Average number of common shares outstanding

22,062

21,848

21,856

21,571

21,975

 

 

 

 

 

 



2007

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$428

$808

$874

$924

$3,034

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

0.20%

0.37%

0.39%

0.41%

0.34%

Return on average equity

2.05

3.79

4.00

4.12

3.51

Net interest margin

2.97

3.01

3.00

3.08

3.06

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans

0.06

0.07

0.61

0.01

0.19

Loan loss provision as a percentage of average loans

-

-

0.10

0.09

0.05

Efficiency ratio

94.16

88.52

87.15

86.04

88.85

 

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$0.02

$0.04

$0.04

$0.04

$0.14

Average number of common shares outstanding

22,159

22,164

22,175

22,184

22,171

Diluted

0.02

0.04

0.04

0.04

0.14

Average number of common shares outstanding

22,166

22,171

22,177

22,186

22,173

 

 

 

 

 

 


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

(In thousands, except per share, statistical, and ratio data)

(All quarterly and 2008 data unaudited)


2008

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$902,349

$877,230

$911,306

$966,929

Investment securities

151,967

148,819

148,777

158,253

Loans

632,934

623,798

663,996

707,108

Allowance for loan losses

7,309

7,963

8,677

8,910

Goodwill and core deposit intangibles

14,254

14,038

13,821

13,605

Deposits

682,459

722,913

688,998

694,956

FHLB borrowings

106,579

40,214

106,897

133,778

Stockholders’ equity

91,558

92,248

93,671

113,252

Non-performing assets

3,050

3,717

4,390

4,572

Asset leverage ratio

9.78%

10.47%

10.37%

12.15%

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value (A)

$4.19

$4.22

$4.29

$4.39

Market value

2.79

2.98

2.51

1.99

Market price to book value

66.62%

70.59%

58.57%

45.31%

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

$1,828,475

$1,813,231

$1,678,398

$1,554,351

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

350

353

352

353

Branch locations

19

18

18

18

Common shares outstanding

21,842,691

21,850,773

21,859,409

21,128,831



2007

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$891,559

$876,160

$897,940

$904,878

Investment securities

185,338

174,508

170,765

163,474

Loans

603,834

604,639

629,564

636,155

Allowance for loan losses

8,010

7,911

7,119

7,252

Goodwill and core deposit intangibles

15,119

14,903

14,687

14,470

Deposits

768,947

762,902

763,771

710,439

FHLB borrowings

15,170

4,258

23,482

82,115

Stockholders’ equity

85,693

86,226

88,517

90,294

Non-performing assets

2,706

2,825

2,463

5,280

Asset leverage ratio

10.23%

10.36%

10.44%

9.74%

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value

$3.87

$3.89

$3.99

$4.07

Market value

4.79

4.40

3.33

2.77

Market price to book value

123.88%

113.12%

83.44%

68.07%

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

$1,828,475

$1,872,366

$1,846,240

$1,883,307

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

375

376

358

351

Branch locations

21

21

20

20

Common shares outstanding

22,161,445

22,167,235

22,180,650

22,188,997


NOTES:

(A) Preferred stock received through the Capital Purchase Program is excluded from the book value per common share calculation.

        (B)  Not recognized on the balance sheet.

AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(In thousands)

(All quarterly and 2008 data unaudited)

2008

 

 

 

 

 

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$10,462

$9,862

$10,015

$10,680

$41,019

Total investment portfolio

1,820

1,588

1,717

1,675

6,800

Total Interest Income

12,282

11,450

11,732

12,355

47,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

4,499

3,861

3,774

3,546

15,680

All borrowings

1,048

623

727

624

3,022

Total Interest Expense

5,547

4,484

4,501

4,170

18,702

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

6,735

6,966

7,231

8,185

29,117

Provision for loan losses

150

1,375

775

625

2,925

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES


6,585


5,591


6,456


7,560


26,192

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

Trust fees

1,790

1,737

1,691

1,513

6,731

Net realized gains (losses) on investment securities

-

(137)

20

22

(95)

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

89

121

138

129

477

Service charges on deposit accounts

734

807

771

757

3,069

Investment advisory fees

226

218

185

150

779

Bank owned life insurance

249

1,923

260

263

2,695

Other income

750

674

702

642

2,768

Total Non-interest Income

3,838

5,343

3,767

3,476

16,424

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

4,830

4,812

4,758

4,817

19,217

Net occupancy expense

661

653

586

661

2,561

Equipment expense

431

414

402

430

1,677

Professional fees

769

910

922

981

3,582

FHLB prepayment penalty

-

91

-

-

91

FDIC deposit insurance expense

22

20

30

41

113

Amortization of core deposit intangibles

216

216

217

216

865

Other expenses

1,850

1,909

1,869

1,903

7,531

Total Non-interest Expense

8,779

9,025

8,784

9,049

35,637

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME

1,644

1,909

1,439

1,987

6,979

Income tax expense

415

393

290

372

1,470

NET INCOME

$1,229

$1,516

$1,149

$1,615

$5,509


2007

 

 

 

 

 

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$10,061

$10,303

$10,591

$10,608

$41,563

Total investment portfolio

2,114

2,005

1,863

1,834

7,816

Total Interest Income

12,175

12,308

12,454

12,442

49,379

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

5,699

5,931

5,994

5,187

22,811

All borrowings

521

364

438

1,022

2,345

Total Interest Expense

6,220

6,295

6,432

6,209

25,156

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

5,955

6,013

6,022

6,233

24,223

Provision for loan losses

-

-

150

150

300

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES


5,955


6,013


5,872


6,083


23,923

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

Trust fees

1,704

1,689

1,677

1,683

6,753

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

25

79

116

87

307

Service charges on deposit accounts

585

636

671

687

2,579

Investment advisory fees

102

329

275

268

974

Bank owned life insurance

258

265

479

266

1,268

Other income

559

594

804

869

2,826

Total Non-interest Income

3,233

3,592

4,022

3,860

14,707

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

4,885

4,930

4,813

4,711

19,339

Net occupancy expense

664

615

618

597

2,494

Equipment expense

546

564

466

469

2,045

Professional fees

695

818

814

870

3,197

FDIC deposit insurance expense

22

22

22

22

88

Amortization of core deposit intangibles

216

216

216

217

865

Other expenses

1,645

1,357

1,824

1,818

6,644

Total Non-interest Expense

8,673

8,522

8,773

8,704

34,672

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME

515

1,083

1,121

1,239

3,958

Income tax expense

87

275

247

315

924

NET INCOME

$428

$808

$874

$924

$3,034

 

 

 

 

 

 



AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

Nasdaq: ASRV

Average Balance Sheet Data (In thousands)

(All quarterly and 2008 data unaudited)


    Note:  2007 data appears before 2008.


2007

2008

 

 

TWELVE

 

TWELVE

 

4QTR

MONTHS

4QTR

MONTHS

Interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Loans and loans held for sale, net of unearned income

$625,255

$607,507

$680,278

$641,766

Deposits with banks

603

500

493

583

Federal funds

85

2,278

-

114

Total investment securities

174,094

184,117

159,926

160,772

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest earning assets

800,037

794,402

840,697

803,235

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

17,797

17,750

15,581

16,786

Premises and equipment

8,328

8,623

9,751

9,333

Other assets

72,823

70,369

71,786

72,249

Allowance for loan losses

(7,181)

(7,755)

(8,602)

(7,837)

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

$891,804

$883,389

$929,213

$893,766

 

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing deposits:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing demand

$55,853

$56,383

$63,225

$64,683

Savings

68,354

71,922

69,856

70,255

Money market

132,141

169,696

113,703

107,843

Other time

352,074

346,134

325,920

341,185

Total interest bearing deposits

608,422

644,135

572,704

583,966

Borrowings:

 

 

 

 

Federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and other short-term borrowings


54,051


19,844


113,093


71,636

Advanced from Federal Home Loan Bank

8,585

4,852

13,101

11,725

Guaranteed junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures


13,085


13,085


13,085


13,085

Total interest bearing liabilities

684,143

681,916

711,983

680,412

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Demand deposits

108,214

105,306

111,306

110,601

Other liabilities

10,385

9,703

9,751

9,816

Stockholders’ equity

89,062

86,464

96,173

92,937

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$891,804

$883,389

$929,213

$893,766