SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION





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 22, 2003



DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




Delaware

 

0-27782

 

11-3297463

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)



209 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, New York   11211

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

(718) 782-6200




None

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





- # -








Items 1 through 6, and 8, 10 and 11

Not Applicable.


Item 7.       Financial Statements and Exhibits.


    Exhibit No.

Description


99

Earnings release for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003 issued on April 22, 2003



Items 9 and 12.       Regulation FD Disclosure.


This information, furnished under Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure, is also intended to be furnished under Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition, in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8216.


On April 22, 2003, Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. issued a press release reporting its results of operations for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003.


A copy of this presentation is attached as Exhibit 99.




- # -








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.




DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.




/s/ KENNETH J. MAHON

By:  ___________________________________________

Kenneth J. Mahon

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer



Dated: April 22, 2003






- # -







EXHIBIT INDEX





Exhibit

Description


   99

Earnings release for the quarterly period ended

   March 31, 2003 issued on April 22, 2003









- # -




Exhibit 99



Contact:  

Kenneth J. Mahon

Exec. VP and Chief Financial Officer

718-782-6200 extension 8265


Stephanie Prince/Julie Prozeller

FD Morgen-Walke

Press: Abby Aylman

212-850-5600



DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES REPORTS 38% INCREASE

IN QUARTERLY EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE

Annualized Deposit Growth of 24% During Quarter


Brooklyn, NY – April 22, 2003 - Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCOM), the parent company of The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh, today announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2003.


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


Highlights for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 are summarized as follows:


* 34% increase in net income over same quarter of prior year

* Diluted EPS of $0.55, a 38% increase over the same quarter of the prior year

* Real estate loan originations of $257.7 million, a 76% increase over the

 same quarter of the prior year

* 24% annualized growth in deposits for the quarter

* Stable adjusted net interest margin of 3.68%.

* 291,000 shares repurchased into treasury


FINANCIAL RESULTS


For the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Company’s net income increased 34% to $13.6 million, compared to $10.2 million in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.  Earnings per diluted share increased 38% to $0.55 for the most recent quarter compared to $0.40 per diluted share during the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.


Net interest income increased $4.2 million from the March 2002 quarter to $26.3 million in the most recent quarter.  This represents an increase of 19% on a quarter-over-quarter basis.  In the March 2002 quarter, net interest income was reduced by $1.0 million of prepayment costs on borrowings.  Excluding such cost from the calculations, net interest income rose by $3.2 million, or 14% from the March 2002 quarter to the most recent quarter.  There were no prepayment costs incurred during the March 2003 quarter.


Net interest income increased $3.3 million from the December 2002 quarter to $26.3 million in the March 2003 quarter.  This represents an increase of 14% on a linked quarter basis.  In the December 2002 quarter, net interest income was reduced by $3.1 million of prepayment cost on borrowings.  Excluding such cost from the calculations, net interest income rose by $239,000, or 3.6% annualized, on a linked quarter basis.


Net interest margin increased 34 basis points to 3.68% during the March 2003 quarter, from 3.34% in the same quarter of the previous year.  Excluding prepayment cost on borrowings from the March 2002 quarterly calculation, net interest margin rose by 19 basis points, from 3.49% a year ago.


Net interest margin increased 43 basis points to 3.68%, from 3.25% on a linked quarter basis.  Excluding prepayment costs on borrowings from the December 2002 quarterly calculation, net interest margin remained unchanged at 3.68%.


Non-interest income, excluding gains on sales of assets, increased $1.5 million from the March 2002 quarter, to $4.7 million in the March 2003 quarter.  This represents an increase of 49%.  Loan prepayment fee income increased $1.3 million during this period to $2.4 million in the March 2003 quarter.  The remaining growth resulted from retail fee income associated with new account growth.


There were $656,000 of gains on sales of assets recorded in the March 2003 quarter, due primarily to the sales of loans to Fannie Mae.  These gains added approximately one cent per share for the quarter.


Non-interest income, excluding gains and losses on sales of assets, decreased $561,000 from the December 2002 quarter to $4.7 million in the March 2003 quarter.  Loan prepayment fee income decreased $544,000 during this period to $2.4 million in the most recent quarter.  Linked quarter retail fee income rose by 10% on an annualized basis.


Non-interest expense totaled $9.7 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2003, an increase of 9% over the prior year quarter.  This rise reflects staffing increases during the year, increased benefit plan expenses, and increased costs associated with growth in both the branch network and the number of deposit customers due to the success of the Company’s retail banking strategy.  


Non-interest expenses remained relatively constant with the December 2002 quarter, when excluding $697,000 of expenses incurred during the December 2002 quarter related to the Company's recent change in fiscal year-end.  The Company's efficiency ratio and ratio of non-interest expense to average assets were 31% and 1.29%, respectively, during the March 2003 quarter.


"This quarter we reaped the benefits of many of the initiatives we have put in place," commented Vincent F. Palagiano, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our cost of funds continued to fall allowing Dime to realize stable margins in spite of the ongoing high level of loan refinancings. We also originated $258 million of new loans, which includes the sale of over $21 million to Fannie Mae, with servicing rights retained.  Our credit quality remains very strong as does our efficiency ratio, resulting in the generation of new tangible capital of approximately 28% and return on equity of 20.4%."


"Perhaps the most positive surprise of this quarter was experiencing the power of our direct mail deposit gathering capabilities.  Early in the quarter we did a mailing for six-month CD’s that resulted in the generation of $138 million in this product, over half of which was new money to the Company. Total deposits increased by 24% on an annualized basis, while core (non-certificate) deposits comprised 54% of our total deposits, the first sequential mix decline in over two years, although the dollar value remained essentially level.”


REAL ESTATE LENDING AND CREDIT QUALITY


The continuation of the historic low interest rate environment resulted in heightened origination, refinancing and prepayment volume during the most recent quarter.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Bank originated $257.7 million in real estate loans, up 76% from the prior year period, including $209.1 million that are secured by multi-family buildings.  However, while originations far exceeded last year's levels, loan amortization, inclusive of prepayment and refinancing activity, also increased substantially during the most recent quarter.  Loan amortization approximated 42% of the loan portfolio on an annualized basis, up from 19% during the March 2002 quarter, and 33% during the December 2002 quarter.  The weighted average interest rate on real estate loans originated during the most recent quarter was approximately 5.80% and their weighted average term to next repricing was 5.8 years at their respective origination dates.  The current loan pipeline now exceeds $230 million dollars.


As mentioned previously, the Company sold $21.6 million of loans to Fannie Mae during the quarter ended March 31, 2003, with an average term to repricing of 8.1 years.  Due to the sale of loans and the high level of prepayments, the real estate loan portfolio growth was minimal during the most recent quarter.


The Company has continued to maintain its long record of outstanding credit quality during the most recent quarter. Non-performing loans totaled $1.3 million at March 31, 2003, approximating the level at March 31, 2002 and $852,000 below the level at December 31, 2002.  Non-performing assets represented 0.04% of total assets at March 31, 2003, and have remained below 10 basis points of total assets for the last 5 quarters.


SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM AND CASH DIVIDEND DECLARATION


In the March 2003 quarter, the Company repurchased 291,000 shares of its common stock into treasury.  As of March 31, 2003, the Company had 539,500 shares remaining eligible for future repurchase under its current stock repurchase program, which was authorized in September 2001.


The Company also recently declared its 24th consecutive quarterly cash dividend, which will be paid on May 6, 2003, to all holders of record on April 30, 2003.


OUTLOOK


Calendar 2003 earnings per share are currently forecasted to be in a range of $2.00 to $2.04.  The forecast assumes that rates remain stable through the calendar year, and loan amortization rates remain high.  We also expect to complete our $200 million loan sale commitment to Fannie Mae during calendar year 2003, and modest net interest margin compression resulting from reduced yield on assets.


“As we look ahead during these continuing uncertain economic times, we remain very comfortable with Dime’s positioning,” concluded Mr. Palagiano. “Our efficiency ratio is among the best in our peer group while our balance sheet retains maximum flexibility for several reasons: a large base of core deposits; low average years to repricing and stellar credit quality in our loan portfolio due to our multi-family lending focus; and excess capital that provides the ability to accelerate asset growth if necessary. This, combined with our newly established partnership with Fannie Mae which we expect will attract new customers to the bank and increase our ability to offer additional services to existing customers, supports our optimism and confidence for the years ahead.”


CONFERENCE CALL


Management will conduct a conference call at 10 A.M. Eastern Time, on Tuesday, April 22, 2003, to discuss DCOM's operating performance for the quarter ended March 31, 2003.  The direct dial number for the call is 785-832-1077.  For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available. To access the replay, dial 402-220-1142 from one hour after the end of the call until midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on Friday, April 25, 2003.


The conference call will also be available via the Internet by accessing the following Web address: www.dsbwdirect.com or www.vcall.com.  Web users should go to the site at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. The webcast will be available until May 22, 2003.


ABOUT DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES


Dime Community Bancshares, Inc., a unitary thrift holding company, is the parent company of The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, New York, founded in 1864. With $3.09 billion in assets, the Bank has twenty branches located throughout Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Nassau County, New York.  More information on the Company and Bank can be found on the Bank's Internet website at www.dsbwdirect.com.


Statements made herein that are forward looking in nature within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.  Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those related to overall business conditions and market interest rates, particularly in the markets in which the Company operates, fiscal and monetary policy, changes in regulations affecting financial institutions and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.  The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly announce future events or developments which may affect the forward-looking statements herein.


-tables to follow-





DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES,  INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(In thousands except share amounts)


 

March 31,

 
 

2003

December 31,

ASSETS:

(Unaudited)

2002

   

Cash and due from banks

$37,104 

$21,487

Investment securities held to maturity

825 

825

Investment securities available for sale

77,002 

104,564

Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity

1,881 

2,249

Mortgage-backed securities available for sale

528,805 

360,703

Federal funds sold and other short-term assets

108,636 

114,291

Real estate Loans:

  

   One-to-four family and cooperative apartment

156,542 

162,620

   Multi-family and underlying cooperative

1,725,188 

1,730,370

   Commercial real estate

285,332 

265,485

   Construction

2,776 

1,931

   Unearned discounts and net deferred loan fees

(772)

332

   

   Total real estate loans

2,169,066 

2,160,738

   

   Other loans

4,178 

4,753

   Allowance for loan losses

(15,516)

(15,458)

   

Total loans, net

2,157,728 

2,150,033

   

Loans held for sale

142 

4,586

Premises and fixed assets, net

16,277 

15,862

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York capital stock

31,150 

34,890

Other real estate owned, net

-  

134

Goodwill

55,638 

55,638

Other assets

79,336 

81,112

   

TOTAL ASSETS

$3,094,524 

$2,946,374

   

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

  

Deposits:

  

Checking and NOW

$118,472 

$117,873

Savings

363,115 

362,400

Money Market

614,269 

616,762

   

    Sub-total

1,095,856 

1,097,035

   

Certificates of deposit

947,367 

830,140

   

Total Due to depositors

2,043,223 

1,927,175

   

Escrow and other deposits

54,796 

36,678

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

85,978 

95,541

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York advances

555,000 

555,000

Subordinated Notes Sold

25,000 

25,000

Other liabilities

60,343 

41,243

   

TOTAL LIABILITIES

2,824,340 

2,680,637

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

  

Common stock ($0.01 par, 125,000,000 shares authorized,

  

   32,003,149 shares, and 31,935,399 shares issued at

  

   March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively, and

  

   25,423,452 shares and 25,646,702 shares outstanding at

  

   March 31, 2003, and December 31, 2002, respectively

320 

319

Additional paid-in capital

173,228 

172,460

Retained earnings

206,363 

196,309

Unallocated common stock of Employee Stock Ownership Plan

(5,547)

(5,661)

Unearned common stock of Recognition and Retention Plan

(2,614)

(2,641)

Common stock held by the Benefit Maintenance Plan

(4,187)

(3,867)

Treasury stock (6,579,697 shares and 6,288,697 shares  

  

   at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively

(99,222)

(93,258)

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net

1,843 

2,076

   

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

270,184 

265,737

   

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

$3,094,524 

$2,946,374





DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands except per share amounts)


 

For the Three Months  Ended

 

March 31,

December 31,

March 31,

 

2003

2002

2002

Interest income:

   

     Loans secured by real estate

$37,873

$39,456

$38,922

     Other loans

68

67

68

     Mortgage-backed securities

4,069

3,967

4,716

     Investment securities

907

1,177

1,161

     Other

983

882

883

          Total interest  income

43,900

45,549

45,750

Interest expense:

   

     Deposits  and escrow

10,221

10,671

11,294

     Borrowed funds

7,410

11,910

12,406

         Total interest expense

17,631

22,581

23,700

              Net interest income

26,269

22,968

22,050

Provision for loan losses  

60

60

60

Net interest income after

   

   provision for loan losses

26,209

22,908

21,990

Non-interest income:

   

     Service charges and other fees

1,413

1,377

1,215

     Net gain on sales and redemptions of assets

656

2,005

44

     Other

3,296

3,893

1,953

          Total non-interest income

5,365

7,275

3,212

Non-interest expense:

   

     Compensation and benefits

5,166

5,812

5,074

     Occupancy and equipment

1,236

1,132

988

     Core deposit intangible amortization

206

206

206

     Other

3,061

3,091

2,618

          Total non-interest expense

9,669

10,241

8,886

          Income before taxes

21,905

19,942

16,316

Income tax expense

8,268

7,410

6,161

Net Income

$13,637

$12,532

$10,155

    

Earnings per Share:

   

  Basic

$0.57

$0.52

$0.42

  Diluted

$0.55

$0.50

$0.40

Average common shares

   

   outstanding for Diluted EPS

24,931,630

25,088,347

25,397,845






DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands except per share amounts)


 

For the Three Months  Ended

 

March 31,

December 31,

March 31,

 

2003

2002

2002

Performance and Other Selected Ratios:

   

Return on Average Assets

1.82%

1.70%

1.46%

Return on Average Stockholders' Equity

20.44%

19.10%

16.55%

Return on Average Tangible Stockholders' Equity

26.28%

24.79%

22.24%

Average Interest Rate Spread (1)

3.36%

3.36%

3.06%

Net Interest Margin (1)

3.68%

3.68%

3.49%

Non-interest Expense to Average Assets (2)

1.29%

1.39%

1.28%

Efficiency Ratio (2)

31.21%

36.27%

35.24%

Effective Tax Rate

37.74%

37.16%

37.76%

    

Per Share Data:

   

Reported EPS (Diluted)

$0.55   

$0.50   

$ 0.40   

Stated Book Value

10.63   

10.36   

9.55   

Tangible Book Value

8.31   

8.04   

7.16   

    

Average Balance Data:

   

Average Assets

$ 3,000,597   

$ 2,952,998   

$ 2,778,578   

Average Interest Earning Assets

2,857,554   

2,830,933   

2,641,972   

Average Interest Bearing Liabilities

2,566,672   

2,519,492   

2,381,576   

Average Stockholders' Equity

266,911   

262,479   

245,397   

Average Tangible Stockholders' Equity

207,526   

202,206   

182,665   

Average Loans

2,186,202   

2,212,647   

2,077,906   

Average Deposits

1,983,962   

1,901,499   

1,627,713   

    

Asset Quality Summary:

   

Net charge-offs (recoveries)

$ 2   

$ 36   

$ 72   

Nonperforming Loans

1,264   

2,116   

1,152   

Nonperforming Loans/ Total Loans

0.06%

0.10%

0.05%

Nonperforming Assets/Total Assets

0.04%

0.08%

0.05%

Allowance for Loan Loss/Total Loans

0.71%

0.71%

0.74%

Allowance for Loan Loss/Nonperforming Loans

1,227.53%

730.53%

1,343.75%

    

Non-GAAP Disclosures –

Cash Earnings Reconciliation and Ratios (3):

   

Net Income

$13,637   

$12,532   

$10,155   

Additions to Net Income:

   

Core Deposit Intangible Amortization

206   

206   

206   

Non-cash stock benefit plan expense

546   

532   

650   

Cash Earnings

$14,389   

$13,270   

$11,011   

    

Cash EPS (Diluted)

0.58   

0.53   

0.43   

Cash Return on Average Assets

1.92%

1.80%

1.59%

Cash Return on Average Tangible Stockholders' Equity

27.73%

26.25%

24.11%


(1)   Ratios exclude prepayment expenses on borrowings of $3,062,000 and $1,014,000 recorded during the three months ended December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2002, respectively.  Including these expenses, the net interest spread was 2.88% and the net interest margin was 3.25%  during the three months ended December 31, 2002, and the net interest spread was 2.89% and the net interest margin was 3.34% during the three months ended March 31, 2002.


(2)   Excluding expenses associated with the change in fiscal year totaling $697,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2002, the efficiency ratio and ratio of non-interest expense to average assets were 33.80% and 1.29%, respectively, during the three months ended December 31, 2002.


(3)   Cash earnings and related data are "Non-GAAP Disclosures."  These disclosures present information which management considers  useful to the readers of this report since they present a measure of the tangible equity generated from operations during each period presented.  Tangible equity generation is a significant financial measure since banks are under regulatory restrictions involving the maintenance of minimum tangible capital requirements.