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) July 19, 2016


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 second quarter and first six months of 2016 results through June 30, 2016.  For a more detailed description of the announcement see the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1.  


Exhibits

--------


Exhibit 99.1

Press release dated July 19, 2016, announcing the second quarter and first six months of 2016 results through June 30, 2016.



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/Michael D. Lynch

Michael D. Lynch

SVP & CFO


Date: July 19, 2016







Exhibit 99.1


Information Contacts:    

Jeffrey A. Stopko

Michael D. Lynch

 

    July 19, 2016

President & CEO

SVP & CFO

(814)-533-5310

(814)-533-5193


AMERISERV FINANCIAL REPORTS EARNINGS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2016   


JOHNSTOWN, PA – AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASRV) returned to more typical profitability levels in the second quarter of 2016 by reporting net income available to common shareholders of $1,362,000, or $0.07 per diluted common share.  This earnings performance was consistent with the second quarter of 2015 where net income available to common shareholders totaled $1,369,000, or $0.07 per diluted common share.  For the six month period ended June 30, 2016, the Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $80,000, which rounds to $0.00 per diluted share.  This represented a decrease in earnings per share from the first half of 2015 where net income available to common shareholders totaled $2,685,000, or $0.14 per diluted common share, due primarily to an increased provision for loan losses that was recorded in the first quarter of 2016.  The following table highlights the Company’s financial performance for both the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015:

          

 

Second Quarter 2016

Second Quarter 2015

 

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2016

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$1,362,000

$1,421,000

 

$95,000

$2,790,000

Net income available to common shareholders


$1,362,000


$1,369,000

 


$80,000


$2,685,000

Diluted earnings per share

          $ 0.07

          $ 0.07

 

                   $ 0.00

$0.14


Jeffrey A. Stopko, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the 2016 second quarter financial results: “I was pleased with the solid growth in both loan and deposits that AmeriServ Financial achieved in the second quarter as customers are responding positively to our banking for life focus.  Additionally, our previously announced expense reduction measures are taking hold as the second quarter 2016 non-interest expense is at its lowest level since the third quarter of 2011.  This expense discipline is necessary as we continue to operate in a challenging interest rate environment that pressures our net interest margin.  Finally, our asset quality continues to be very strong, with non-performing assets amounting to only 0.25% of total loans at June 30, 2016.”


The Company’s net interest income in the second quarter of 2016 decreased by $314,000, or 3.6%, from the prior year’s second quarter and for the first six months of 2016 decreased by $690,000, or 3.9%, when compared to the first six months of 2015.  The Company’s net interest margin of 3.27% for the first six months of 2016 was 24 basis points lower than the net interest margin of 3.51% for the first half of 2015.  There was a similar net interest margin decline of 22 basis points between the second quarter of 2016 and the prior year’s second quarter.  The reduction in net interest income is a direct result of net interest margin compression that is prevalent in the banking industry as well as additional interest expense that is associated with the Company’s late fourth quarter 2015 issuance of subordinated debt.  The prolonged low interest rate environment  that  exists  in the economy,  along with intense market competition for loans, more than offset the Company continuing to grow earning assets and control its cost of funds through disciplined deposit pricing.  Specifically, the earning asset growth occurred in the loan portfolio as total loans averaged $885 million in the first half of  2016  which is $35.5  million, or  4.2%,  higher  than the  $849  million average  for the first half of 2015.  This loan growth reflects the successful results of the Company’s business development efforts, with an emphasis on generating commercial loans and owner occupied commercial real estate loans particularly through its loan production offices.  Despite this meaningful loan growth experienced between years, loan interest income decreased by $62,000, or 0.3%.  Interest income on investments showed some growth in the second quarter of 2016 but is down for the six month period as the Company benefited from a special dividend from the FHLB of Pittsburgh in the first half of 2015.  Overall, total interest income decreased by $121,000, or 0.6%, in the first half of 2016.  


Total interest expense for the first half of 2016 increased by $569,000, or 17.8%, due to higher levels of both borrowings and deposit interest expense.  The Company experienced a $330,000 increase in the interest cost for borrowings in the first half of 2016 with $258,000 of this increase attributable to the Company’s recent subordinated debt issuance.  Specifically, the Company issued $7.65 million of subordinated debt which has a 6.50% fixed interest rate in late December 2015.  The proceeds from the subordinated debt issuance, along with other cash on hand, was used to redeem all $21 million of our outstanding SBLF preferred stock on January 27, 2016.  The remainder of the increase in borrowings interest expense was due to a greater utilization of FHLB term advances to extend borrowings for interest rate risk management purposes.  


The Company experienced significant growth in deposits between years which is a reflection of the loyalty and stability of our core deposit base that provides a strong foundation from which this growth builds.  Management’s ability to acquire new core deposit funding from outside of our traditional market areas as well as our ongoing efforts to cross sell new loan customers into deposit products were the primary reasons for this growth.  Specifically, total deposits averaged $933 million for the first half of 2016 which is $38.9 million, or 4.4%, higher than the $894 million average for the first half of 2015.  The Company is also pleased that a meaningful portion of this deposit growth occurred in non-interest bearing demand deposit accounts.  Deposit interest expense through six months of 2016 increased by $239,000, or 10.2%, due to the higher balance of deposits along with certain money market accounts repricing upward after the December 2015 Federal Reserve fed funds interest rate increase.


The Company recorded a $250,000 provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2016 compared to a $200,000 provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2015.  For the six month period in 2016, the Company recorded a $3,350,000 provision for loan losses compared to a $450,000 provision for loan losses in the first six months of 2015.  The substantially higher than typical provision and net loan charge-offs recorded in the first quarter of 2016 were necessary to resolve the Company’s only meaningful direct loan exposure to the energy industry, the specifics of which were discussed in detail in the Company’s first quarter results.  The provision recorded in the second quarter of 2016 was more typical of what is required to support the continuing growth of the loan portfolio and cover net loan charge-offs.  The Company experienced net loan charge-offs of $24,000, or 0.01% of total loans, in the second quarter of 2016, compared to net loan charge-offs of $172,000, or 0.08% of total loans, in the second quarter of 2015.  For the six month periods, there were net loan charge-offs of $3.5 million, or 0.80%, of total loans, in first half of 2016, compared to net loan charge-offs of $356,000, or 0.08% of total loans,  in 2015.  Overall, the Company continued to maintain outstanding asset quality in the first half of 2016.  At June 30, 2016, non-performing assets totaled $2.2 million, or only 0.25% of total loans.  In summary, the allowance for loan losses  provided  a  strong  437%  coverage  of  non-performing  loans,  and  1.09%  of  total  loans,at June 30, 2016, compared to 158% coverage of non-performing loans, and 1.13% of total loans, at December 31, 2015.


Total non-interest income in the second quarter of 2016 increased by $50,000, or 1.4%, from the prior year’s second quarter, and for the first six months of 2016 decreased by $225,000, or 3.0%, when compared to the first six months of 2015.  For the second quarter, the increase was primarily due to a higher level of other income by $107,000 and gains from investment security sales transactions by $32,000, both of which more than offset decreased revenue from mortgage loan sales by $40,000 and reduced fees from service charges on deposit accounts by $25,000.  For the six month period, a greater recognition of gains from investment security sale transactions by $89,000 along with a higher level of other income by $92,000 was more than offset by lower levels of revenue from bank owned life insurance by $198,000 after the Company received a death claim in 2015 and no such claim occurred in 2016.  Also, decreased refinance activity and a reduced level of new mortgage loan originations in the first six months of 2016 resulted in lower revenue from mortgage loan sales by $124,000 and reduced fees from residential mortgage lending activity by $63,000.  Finally despite the volatility in the equity and bond markets in 2016, trust and investment advisory fees were relatively consistent increasing modestly by $8,000 for the six month period.


Total non-interest expense in the second quarter of 2016 decreased by $200,000, or 2.0%, from the prior year’s second quarter and for the first six months of 2016 increased by $101,000, or 0.5%, when compared to the first six months of 2015.  As noted in our first quarter 2016 earnings release, the non-recurring costs for legal and accounting services that were necessary to resolve a trust operations trading error are the reasons for the negative comparison for the six month period.  With those particular expenses now largely behind us, the second quarter of 2016 non-interest expense comparison to 2015 is favorable and reflective of the Company’s ongoing focus and successful efforts to reduce and control non-interest expenses.  Professional fees continue to compare unfavorably by increasing $171,000, or 6.9%, for the six month time period, but compare favorably by decreasing $83,000, or 6.5%, for the second quarter.  Our cost control efforts are also clearly evident, both, for the quarter and six month time period comparisons as occupancy and equipment related expenses are lower by $99,000, or 8.3%, for the second quarter and lower by $233,000, or 9.3%, for the six months.  Salaries and employee benefits were down by $76,000, or 1.3%, in the second quarter but are up slightly by $17,000, or 0.1%, in the first half of 2016.  The favorable comparison between the second quarter of 2016 and the second quarter of 2015 is due to the previously disclosed branch consolidation in the State College Market and reduction of staff in the executive office.  Finally, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $28,000, or an effective tax rate of 22.8%, in the first six months of 2016 which is lower when compared to the income tax expense of $1,249,000, or an effective tax rate of 30.9%, for the first six months of 2015.  The lower income tax expense and effective tax rate is due to the first quarter 2016 loss recognized by the Company.  However, as described throughout this release, we are pleased to report that the actions taken for an immediate improvement in the second quarter of 2016 to a more typical and expected profitability level have proven successful.  We anticipate this to continue in the second half of the year.


The Company had total assets of $1.1 billion, shareholders’ equity of $99.2 million, a book value of $5.25 per common share and a tangible book value of $4.62 per common share at June 30, 2016.  The Company continued to maintain strong capital ratios that exceed the regulatory defined well capitalized status and had a tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio of 7.72% at June 30, 2016.  


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

June 30, 2016

(In thousands, except per share and ratio data)

(Unaudited)


2016

 

1QTR

2QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

 

 

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$(1,267)

$1,362

$95

 

 

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders

(1,282)

1,362

80

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

(0.45)%

0.48%

0.02%

 

 

Return on average equity

(4.86)

5.60

2.66

 

 

Net interest margin

3.30

3.23

3.27

 

 

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans

1.60

0.01

0.80

 

 

Loan loss provision as a percentage of

    average loans


1.42


0.11


0.76

 

 

Efficiency ratio

89.24

82.05

85.61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$(0.07)

$0.07

$0.00

 

 

Average number of common shares outstanding

18,884

18,897

18,890

 

 

Diluted

(0.07)

0.07

0.00

 

 

Average number of common shares outstanding

18,884

18,948

18,943

 

 

Cash dividends declared

$0.01

$0.01

$0.02

 

 


2015

 

1QTR

2QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

 

 

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$1,369

$1,421

$2,790

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders

1,316

1,369

2,685

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

0.51%

0.52%

0.51%

 

 

Return on average equity

4.80

4.88

4.84

 

 

Net interest margin

3.57

3.45

3.51

 

 

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans

0.09

0.08

0.08

 

 

Loan loss provision as a percentage of

    average loans


0.12


0.09


0.11

 

 

Efficiency ratio

82.29

81.93

82.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$0.07

$0.07

$0.14

 

 

Average number of common shares outstanding

18,851

18,859

18,855

 

 

Diluted

0.07

0.07

0.14

 

 

Average number of common shares outstanding

18,909

18,941

18,923

 

 

Cash dividends declared

$0.01

$0.01

$0.02

 

 









AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

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

(Unaudited)


2016

 

1QTR

2QTR

 

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION  DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$1,121,701

$1,142,492

 

 

Short-term investments/overnight funds

5,556

6,836

 

 

Investment securities

139,000

145,753

 

 

Loans and loans held for sale

882,410

895,513

 

 

Allowance for loan losses

9,520

9,746

 

 

Goodwill

11,944

11,944

 

 

Deposits

906,773

940,931

 

 

FHLB borrowings

88,952

72,617

 

 

Subordinated debt, net

7,424

7,430

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

97,589

99,232

 

 

Non-performing assets

3,007

2,230

 

 

Tangible common equity ratio

7.72

7.72

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value (A)

$5.16

$5.25

 

 

Tangible book value (A)

4.53

4.62

 

 

Market value

2.99

3.02

 

 

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

$1,974,180

$1,982,868

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

317

311

 

 

Branch locations

16

16

 

 

Common shares outstanding

18,894,561

18,896,876

 

 


2015

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

FINANCIAL CONDITION  DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$1,103,416

$1,112,934

$1,110,843

$1,148,922

Short-term investments/overnight funds

10,127

9,843

14,966

25,067

Investment securities

142,010

142,448

135,013

140,886

Loans and loans held for sale

853,972

866,243

868,213

883,987

Allowance for loan losses

9,689

9,717

9,772

9,921

Goodwill

11,944

11,944

11,944

11,944

Deposits

892,676

862,902

869,899

903,294

FHLB borrowings

71,219

109,430

100,988

96,748

Subordinated debt, net

-

-

-

7,418

Shareholders’ equity

116,328

117,305

119,408

118,973

Non-performing assets

3,046

2,565

2,294

6,297

Tangible common equity ratio

7.64

7.66

7.87

7.57

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value (A)

$5.06

$5.11

$5.21

$5.19

Tangible book value (A)

4.42

4.47

4.58

4.56

Market value

2.98

3.33

3.24

3.20

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

$2,033,573

$2,012,358

$1,935,495

$1,974,882

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

318

318

318

318

Branch locations

17

17

17

17

Common shares outstanding

18,855,021

18,861,811

18,870,811

18,870,811

NOTES:

(A)

For 2015, Preferred stock of $21 million received through the Small Business Lending Fund is excluded from the

book value per common share and tangible book value per common share calculations.  The Company repaid the US Treasury for the SBLF funds on January 27,2016.

        (B) Not recognized on the consolidated balance sheets.



AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


2016

 

1QTR

2QTR

YEAR

 

 

INTEREST INCOME

 

 

TO DATE

 

 

Interest and fees on loans

$9,465

$9,409

$18,874

 

 

Interest on investments

957

980

1,937

 

 

Total Interest Income

10,422

10,389

20,811

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

1,254

1,330

2,584

 

 

All borrowings

610

573

1,183

 

 

Total Interest Expense

1,864

1,903

3,767

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

8,558

8,486

17,044

 

 

Provision for loan losses

3,100

250

3,350

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER

   PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES


5,458


8,236


13,694

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

Trust and investment advisory fees

2,075

2,124

4,199

 

 

Service charges on deposit accounts

415

404

819

 

 

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

107

185

292

 

 

Mortgage related fees

63

98

161

 

 

Net realized gains on investment securities

57

60

117

 

 

Bank owned life insurance

167

169

336

 

 

Other income

553

702

1,255

 

 

Total Non-Interest Income

3,437

3,742

7,179

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

6,166

5,868

12,034

 

 

Net occupancy expense

737

690

1,427

 

 

Equipment expense

436

409

845

 

 

Professional fees

1,465

1,192

2,657

 

 

FDIC deposit insurance expense

179

188

367

 

 

Other expenses

1,728

1,692

3,420

 

 

Total Non-Interest Expense

10,711

10,039

20,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME (LOSS)

(1,816)

1,939

123

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

(549)

577

28

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

(1,267)

1,362

95

 

 

Preferred stock dividends

15

-

15

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS


$(1,282)


$1,362


$80

 

 



2015

 

1QTR

2QTR

YEAR

 

 

INTEREST INCOME

 

 

TO DATE

 

 

Interest and fees on loans

$9,456

$9,480

$18,936

 

 

Interest on investments

1,067

929

1,996

 

 

Total Interest Income

10,523

10,409

20,932

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

1,174

1,171

2,345

 

 

All borrowings

415

438

853

 

 

Total Interest Expense

1,589

1,609

3,198

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

8,934

8,800

17,734

 

 

Provision for loan losses

250

200

450

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER

   PROVISION  FOR LOAN LOSSES


8,684


8,600


17,284

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

Trust and investment advisory fees

2,056

2,135

4,191

 

 

Service charges on deposit accounts

419

429

848

 

 

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

191

225

416

 

 

Mortgage related fees

115

109

224

 

 

Net realized gains on investment securities

-

28

28

 

 

Bank owned life insurance

363

171

534

 

 

Other income

568

595

1,163

 

 

Total Non-Interest Income

3,712

3,692

7,404

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

6,073

5,944

12,017

 

 

Net occupancy expense

841

718

1,559

 

 

Equipment expense

466

480

946

 

 

Professional fees

1,211

1,275

2,486

 

 

FDIC deposit insurance expense

167

164

331

 

 

Other expenses

1,652

1,658

3,310

 

 

Total Non-Interest Expense

10,410

10,239

20,649

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME

1,986

2,053

4,039

 

 

Income tax expense

617

632

1,249

 

 

NET INCOME

1,369

1,421

2,790

 

 

Preferred stock dividends

53

52

105

 

 

NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS


$1,316


$1,369


$2,685

 

 





AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

NASDAQ: ASRV

Average Balance Sheet Data (In thousands)

(Unaudited)


2016

2015

 

 

SIX

 

SIX

 

2QTR

MONTHS

2QTR

MONTHS

Interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Loans and loans held for sale, net of unearned income

$888,839

$884,951

$857,294

$849,453

Short-term investment in money market funds

10,208

9,082

9,108

10,593

Deposits with banks

1,065

2,275

1,235

1,235

Total investment securities

144,808

143,484

146,434

147,043

Total interest earning assets

1,044,920

1,039,792

1,014,071

1,008,324

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

19,235

18,987

18,067

17,680

Premises and equipment

11,969

12,030

12,725

12,839

Other assets

68,640

68,195

69,880

70,091

Allowance for loan losses

(9,652)

(9,769)

(9,744)

(9,709)

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

$1,135,112

$1,129,235

$1,104,999

$1,099,225

 

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing deposits:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing demand

$108,615

$104,954

$ 101,586

$ 97,256

Savings

96,551

95,927

96,694

94,592

Money market

275,888

270,161

231,814

232,178

Other time

290,482

279,143

291,270

298,660

Total interest bearing deposits

771,536

750,185

721,364

722,686

Borrowings:

 

 

 

 

Federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings

3,682

16,565

27,771

20,628

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

49,081

49,108

45,933

44,757

Guaranteed junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures

13,085

13,085

13,085

13,085

Subordinated debt

7,650

7,650

-

-

Total interest bearing liabilities

845,034

836,593

808,153

801,156

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

  Demand deposits

183,547

182,322

169,250

170,904

  Other liabilities

8,752

9,061

10,741

10,897

Shareholders’ equity

97,779

101,259

116,855

116,268

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$1,135,112

$1,129,235

$1,104,999

$1,099,225