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 18, 2017


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 2017 results through June 30, 2017.  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 18, 2017, announcing second quarter and first six months of 2017 earnings through June 30, 2017.



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 18, 2017







Exhibit 99.1


AMERISERV FINANCIAL REPORTS EARNINGS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2017   


JOHNSTOWN, PA – AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASRV) reported second quarter 2017 net income available to common shareholders of $1,389,000, or $0.07 per diluted common share.  This earnings performance was consistent with the second quarter of 2016 where net income available to common shareholders totaled $1,362,000, or $0.07 per diluted common share.  For the six month period ended June 30, 2017, the Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $2,737,000, or $0.15 per diluted common share.  This represents a significant improvement of $2.7 million from the six month period of 2016 where net income available to common shareholders totaled $80,000, which rounds to $0.00 per diluted common share.  The following table highlights the Company’s financial performance for both the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:  

          

 

Second Quarter 2017

Second Quarter 2016

 

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2017

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$1,389,000

$1,362,000

 

$2,737,000

$95,000

Net income available to common shareholders


$1,389,000


$1,362,000

 


$2,737,000


$80,000

Diluted earnings per share

          $ 0.07

          $ 0.07

 

                   $ 0.15

$ 0.00


Jeffrey A. Stopko, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the 2017 financial results: “In the first half of 2017, we have carefully managed our balance sheet to achieve controlled growth which provides us with the flexibility to return more capital to our shareholders.  This growth in earning assets, combined with favorable positioning for higher interest rates, contributed to a 3.4% increase in net interest income which helped support earnings per share growth.  As a result of our improved net income, we returned 89% of our earnings for the first six months of 2017 to our shareholders through accretive stock buybacks and cash dividends.”      


The Company’s net interest income in the second quarter of 2017 increased by $413,000, or 4.9%, from the prior year’s second quarter and for the first six months of 2017 increased by $576,000, or 3.4%, when compared to the first six months of 2016.  The Company’s net interest margin was 3.27% for both the second quarter and for the first six months of 2017 representing an improvement of four basis points from the prior year’s second quarter while matching the level achieved in the first six months of 2016.  The quarter versus quarter improvement in net interest income is a result of a higher level of total earning assets and the improved net interest margin performance.  The Company continues to grow earning assets while also controlling its cost of funds through disciplined deposit pricing.  Specifically, the earning asset growth occurred in both the investment securities portfolio and the loan portfolio.  Total investment securities averaged $173 million in the second quarter of 2017 which is $28.1 million, or 19.4%, higher than the $145 million average for the second quarter of 2016.  Investment securities have also averaged $171 million for the six month time period which is $27.1 million, or 18.9%, higher than the six month 2016 average.  Total loans averaged $900 million in the second quarter of 2017 which is $11.3 million, or 1.3%, higher than the $889 million average for the second quarter of 2016.  Total loans averaged $895 million in the first half of 2017 which is $10.1 million, or 1.1%, higher than the 2016 first six month average.  


The growth in the investment securities portfolio is the result of management electing to diversify the mix of the investment securities portfolio through purchases of high quality corporate and taxable municipal securities.  This revised strategy for securities purchases was facilitated by the increase in national interest rates that resulted in improved opportunities to purchase additional securities and grow the portfolio.  As a result, interest on investments increased between the second quarter of 2017 and the second quarter of 2016 by $293,000 or 29.9% and increased in the first half of 2017 from the first half of 2016 by $528,000 or 27.3%.  The growth in the loan portfolio reflects the successful results of the Company’s business development efforts, with an emphasis on generating commercial loans and commercial real estate loans particularly through its loan production offices.  Loan interest income increased by $369,000, or 3.9%, between the second quarter of 2017 and the second quarter of 2016 and also increased by $460,000, or 2.4%, in the first six months of 2017 when compared to last year.  The higher loan interest income also reflects the upward repricing of certain loans tied to LIBOR or the prime rate as both of these indices have moved up with the Federal Reserve’s decision to increase the target federal funds interest rate by 25 basis points in December of 2016, March of 2017, and again in June of 2017. Overall, total interest income increased by $988,000, or 4.7%, in the first half of 2017.  


Total interest expense for the second quarter of 2017 increased by $249,000, or 13.1%, and increased by $412,000, or 10.9%, in the first six months of 2017 when compared to 2016, due to higher levels of both deposit and borrowing interest expense.  The Company experienced growth in deposits which we believe reflects the loyalty of our core deposit base that provides a strong foundation upon 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 offer new loan customers deposit products were the primary reasons for this growth.  Specifically, total deposits averaged $975 million for the first half of 2017 which is $42.9 million, or 4.6%, higher than the $933 million average for the first half of 2016.  Deposit interest expense through six months in 2017 increased by $356,000, or 13.8%, due to the higher balance of deposits along with certain indexed money market accounts repricing upward after the Federal Reserve interest rate increases.  As a result of the strong deposit growth, the Company’s loan to deposit ratio averaged 91.8% in the first half of 2017 which indicates that the Company has ample room to further grow its loan portfolio in 2017.  The Company experienced a $56,000 increase in the interest cost for borrowings in the first six months of 2017 due to the immediate impact that the increases in the Federal Funds Rate had on the cost of borrowed funds.  In the first half of 2017, total average FHLB borrowed funds of $62 million decreased slightly by $3.5 million, or 5.3%.      


The Company recorded a $325,000 provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2017 compared to a $250,000 provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2016.  For the six month period in 2017, the Company recorded a $550,000 provision for loan losses compared to $3,350,000 provision for loan losses in 2016 or a decrease of $2.8 million between years.  Both, the loan loss provision and net charge-offs were at more typical levels this year than the substantially higher levels that were necessary early last year to resolve a troubled loan exposure to the energy industry.  The provision recorded in 2017 supported the continuing loan growth, a higher level of criticized loans and more than covered the low level of net loan charge-offs incurred in the first six months of 2017.  For the six month timeframe, the Company experienced net loan charge-offs of $91,000, or 0.02% of total loans in 2017 compared to net loan charge-offs of $3.5 million, or 0.80%, of total loans in 2016.  Overall, the Company continued to maintain strong asset quality as its non-performing assets totaled $2.4 million, or 0.26%, of total loans, at June 30, 2017.  In summary, the allowance for loan losses provided a strong 440% coverage of non-performing loans, and 1.16% of total loans, at June 30, 2017, compared to 612% coverage of non-performing loans, and 1.12% of total loans, at December 31, 2016.


Total non-interest income in the second quarter of 2017 increased by $13,000, or 0.3%, from the prior year’s second quarter, and for the first six months of 2017 increased by $138,000, or 1.9%, when compared to the first six months of 2016.  For the second quarter of 2017, the increase was due to higher revenue from bank owned life insurance (BOLI) by $141,000 due to the receipt of a death claim.  This more than offset lower trust and investment advisory fees by $43,000, service charges on deposits declining by $19,000 due to reduced overdraft fee income and a lower level of mortgage related fees by $15,000.  For the six month period, a $115,000 increase in revenue from BOLI as well as a greater level of other income by $88,000 and trust and investment advisory fees increasing by $48,000 more than offset lower levels of service charges on deposits by $60,000 and a reduced recognition of gains from security sales by $58,000.  Within other income there was an increase in revenue from our financial services business unit by $153,000 as wealth management continues to be an important strategic focus of the Company.  


The Company’s total non-interest expense in the second quarter of 2017 increased by $278,000, or 2.8%, when compared to the second quarter of 2016, and for the first half of 2017 decreased by $348,000, or 1.7%.  The increase in the second quarter of 2017 is attributed to a higher level of professional fees by $223,000 and salaries & employee benefits by $111,000.  The increase to professional fees was due to higher legal costs and additional professional services expenses that were related to technology improvements.  These items more than offset reduced occupancy expense by $51,000 due to improved efficiencies and lower FDIC insurance expense by $36,000.  For the six month period, the $348,000 decrease in non-interest expense in 2017 was primarily attributable to the Company’s ongoing profitability improvement initiatives.  Specifically, salaries and employee benefits were down by $45,000 as there were seven fewer full time equivalent employees in the first half of 2017 due primarily to a branch consolidation and closure of an unprofitable loan production office.  This ongoing focus to reduce and control non-interest expense was also evident in occupancy expense, which decreased by $114,000, or 8.0% and other expenses which decreased by $100,000 or 2.9% in the first half of 2017.  Finally, reduced FDIC insurance by $55,000 also contributed to the favorable six month comparison.  Overall, the continued focus on expense control and rationalization results in the efficiency ratio improving through six months from 85.61% in 2016 to 81.75% in 2017.  The Company recorded an income tax expense of $1,248,000, or an effective tax rate of 31.3%, in the first half of 2017.  This compares to an income tax expense of $28,000, or an effective tax rate of 22.8%, for the first half of 2016.


The Company had total assets of $1.17 billion, shareholders’ equity of $96.3 million, a book value of $5.21 per common share and a tangible book value of $4.57 per common share at June 30, 2017.  In accordance with the common stock buyback program announced on January 24, 2017, the Company returned $1,870,000 of capital to its shareholders through the repurchase of 465,956 shares of its common stock in the first half of 2017.  The Company continued to maintain strong capital ratios that exceed the regulatory defined well capitalized status.

 

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, 2017

(In thousands, except per share and ratio data)

(Unaudited)


2017

 

1QTR

2QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

Net income

$1,348

$1,389

$2,737

Net income available to common shareholders

1,348

1,389

2,737

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

Return on average assets

0.47%

0.48%

0.47%

Return on average equity

5.74

5.81

5.77

Net interest margin

3.27

3.27

3.27

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans

0.04

0.01

0.02

Loan loss provision as a percentage of

    average loans


0.10


0.14


0.12

Efficiency ratio

82.04

81.47

81.75

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

Basic

$0.07

$0.07

$0.15

Average number of common shares outstanding

18,814

18,580

18,696

Diluted

0.07

0.07

0.15

Average number of common shares outstanding

18,922

18,699

18,808

Cash dividends declared

$0.015

$0.015

$0.03


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











AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

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

(Unaudited)


2017

 

1QTR

2QTR

 

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION  DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$1,172,127

$1,171,962

 

 

Short-term investments/overnight funds

8,320

8,389

 

 

Investment securities

165,781

168,367

 

 

Loans and loans held for sale

899,456

897,876

 

 

Allowance for loan losses

10,080

10,391

 

 

Goodwill

11,944

11,944

 

 

Deposits

964,776

956,375

 

 

FHLB borrowings

79,718

87,143

 

 

Subordinated debt, net

7,447

7,453

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

95,604

96,277

 

 

Non-performing assets

1,488

2,362

 

 

Tangible common equity ratio

7.21

7.27

 

 

Total capital (to risk weighted assets) ratio

13.03

13.13

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value

$5.12

$5.21

 

 

Tangible book value

4.48

4.57

 

 

Market value

3.75

4.15

 

 

Trust assets – fair market value (A)

$2,025,304

$2,070,212

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

307

308

 

 

Branch locations

16

16

 

 

Common shares outstanding

18,666,520

18,461,628

 

 


2016

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

FINANCIAL CONDITION  DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$1,121,701

$1,142,492

$1,145,655

$1,153,780

Short-term investments/overnight funds

5,556

6,836

8,279

8,966

Investment securities

139,000

145,753

145,609

157,742

Loans and loans held for sale

882,410

895,513

896,301

886,858

Allowance for loan losses

9,520

9,746

9,726

9,932

Goodwill

11,944

11,944

11,944

11,944

Deposits

906,773

940,931

962,736

967,786

FHLB borrowings

88,952

72,617

56,943

58,296

Subordinated debt, net

7,424

7,430

7,435

7,441

Shareholders’ equity

97,589

99,232

100,044

95,395

Non-performing assets

3,007

2,230

1,907

1,624

Tangible common equity ratio

7.72

7.72

7.77

7.31

Total capital (to risk weighted assets) ratio

13.11

13.04

13.17

13.15

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value

$5.16

$5.25

$5.29

$5.05

Tangible book value

4.53

4.62

4.66

4.41

Market value

2.99

3.02

3.32

3.70

Trust assets – fair market value (A)

$1,974,180

$1,982,868

$2,011,344

$1,992,978

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

317

311

310

305

Branch locations

16

16

16

16

Common shares outstanding

18,894,561

18,896,876

18,903,472

18,903,472

NOTES:

        (A) Not recognized on the consolidated balance sheets.




AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


2017

 

1QTR

2QTR

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

 

 

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$9,556

$9,778

$19,334

Interest on investments

1,192

1,273

2,465

Total Interest Income

10,748

11,051

21,799

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

Deposits

1,436

1,504

2,940

All borrowings

591

648

1,239

Total Interest Expense

2,027

2,152

4,179

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

8,721

8,899

17,620

Provision for loan losses

225

325

550

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER

   PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES


8,496


8,574


17,070

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

Trust and investment advisory fees

2,166

2,081

4,247

Service charges on deposit accounts

374

385

759

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

114

186

300

Mortgage related fees

75

83

158

Net realized gains on investment securities

27

32

59

Bank owned life insurance

141

310

451

Other income

665

678

1,343

Total Non-Interest Income

3,562

3,755

7,317

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

6,010

5,979

11,989

Net occupancy expense

674

639

1,313

Equipment expense

419

434

853

Professional fees

1,200

1,415

2,615

FDIC deposit insurance expense

160

152

312

Other expenses

1,622

1,698

3,320

Total Non-Interest Expense

10,085

10,317

20,402

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME

1,973

2,012

3,985

Income tax expense

625

623

1,248

NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS


1,348


1,389


2,737



















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






















AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

NASDAQ: ASRV

Average Balance Sheet Data (In thousands)

(Unaudited)


2017

2016

 

 

SIX

 

SIX

 

2QTR

MONTHS

2QTR

MONTHS

Interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Loans and loans held for sale, net of unearned income

$900,156

$895,032

$888,839

$884,951

Short-term investment in money market funds

7,285

7,613

10,208

9,082

Deposits with banks

1,030

1,030

1,065

2,275

Total investment securities

172,908

170,585

144,808

143,484

Total interest earning assets

1,081,379

1,074,260

1,044,920

1,039,792

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

22,231

22,280

19,235

18,987

Premises and equipment

12,013

11,909

11,969

12,030

Other assets

67,628

67,710

68,640

68,195

Allowance for loan losses

(10,281)

(10,167)

(9,652)

(9,769)

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

$1,172,970

$1,165,992

$1,135,112

$1,129,235

 

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing deposits:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing demand

$130,744

$129,138

$ 108,615

$ 104,954

Savings

98,119

97,686

96,551

95,927

Money market

274,116

276,464

275,888

270,161

Other time

290,910

289,869

290,482

279,143

Total interest bearing deposits

793,889

793,157

771,536

750,185

Borrowings:

 

 

 

 

Federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings

24,127

16,495

3,682

16,565

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

45,824

45,679

49,081

49,108

Guaranteed junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures

13,085

13,085

13,085

13,085

Subordinated debt

7,650

7,650

7,650

7,650

Total interest bearing liabilities

884,575

876,066

845,034

836,593

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

  Demand deposits

180,885

182,209

183,547

182,322

  Other liabilities

11,646

12,130

8,752

9,061

Shareholders’ equity

95,864

95,587

97,779

101,259

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$1,172,970

$1,165,992

$1,135,112

$1,129,235