COLB Columbia Banking System Inc

TACOMA, Wash., Jan. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Melanie Dressel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Banking System and Columbia Bank (NASDAQ: COLB) ("Columbia"), said today upon the release of Columbia's fourth quarter and full year 2016 earnings, "We are very pleased with our results for the fourth quarter, which continued to build upon our second and third quarter performance. Record loan production during the year, good credit quality metrics, and a continued focus on improved operating leverage helped us achieve record fourth quarter net income." Ms. Dressel continued, "I was also inspired by the shared commitment of our team, customers and business partners for helping to care for those who are truly in need. It's a privilege to give back to each of the communities we serve through our annual Warm Hearts Winter Drive."

Balance Sheet

Total assets at December 31, 2016 were $9.51 billion, a decrease of $77.1 million from September 30, 2016. Loans declined $46.3 million during the quarter as payments and a seasonal decline in line utilization offset strong loan originations of $294.1 million. Loan production was diversified across the portfolio sectors, with growth primarily centered in commercial business loans. Securities available for sale were $2.28 billion at December 31, 2016, a decrease of $81.5 million, or 3% from $2.36 billion at September 30, 2016. Total deposits at December 31, 2016 were $8.06 billion, relatively unchanged from September 30, 2016. Core deposits comprised 96% of total deposits and were $7.75 billion at December 31, 2016, a decrease of $59.5 million from September 30, 2016. The average cost of total deposits for the quarter was 0.04%, unchanged from the third quarter of 2016.

Income Statement

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $85.7 million, an increase of $165 thousand and $3.9 million from the linked and prior year periods, respectively. The linked quarter increase was principally from taxable securities income, whose yields benefited from a market-driven reduction in premium amortization. The increase from the prior year period was due to higher loan and securities volumes as well as the previously noted reduction in securities premium amortization. Incremental accretion income from purchased loans in the current period was $1.7 million lower than the prior year period. For additional information regarding net interest income, see the "Average Balances and Rates" table.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income was $22.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, a decrease of $836 thousand compared to $23.2 million for the third quarter of 2016. The linked quarter decrease was due to lower card and merchant processing revenue as well as investment securities gains, partially offset by higher other noninterest income. Noninterest income was favorably impacted by a $391 thousand adjustment to our estimated mortgage repurchase liability which was recognized with our acquisition of West Coast Bank. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2015, noninterest income decreased by $2.4 million due to the $3.1 million adjustment recorded in the prior year period related to the previously noted mortgage repurchase liability. This decrease was partially offset by lower expenses from the FDIC loss-sharing asset. Additional details of the components of the change in the FDIC loss-sharing asset are provided in tabular format below.

The change in the FDIC loss-sharing asset has been a significant component of noninterest income but, as our larger loss-sharing agreements have expired, the significance continues to diminish. The following table reflects the income statement components of the change in the FDIC loss-sharing asset:

Noninterest Expense

Total noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $65.0 million, a decrease of $2.3 million from $67.3 million for the third quarter of 2016. The decrease was due to lower advertising and occupancy costs in the current quarter. During the prior quarter we incurred increased advertising costs from production and broadcast of refreshed television commercials as well as occupancy costs associated with the consolidation of a branch location.

Compared to the fourth quarter of 2015, noninterest expense decreased $1.9 million, or 3%, from $66.9 million. After removing the effect of $291 thousand in acquisition-related expenses from the current quarter and $1.9 million from the prior year period, noninterest expense was relatively unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2015. Compensation expense was higher in the current quarter due to recognizing additional incentive expense relative to the record loan production, deposit growth and financial performance. However, the increased compensation costs were substantially offset by decreases in several noninterest expense line items, the largest being occupancy.

Net Interest Margin ("NIM")

Columbia's net interest margin (tax equivalent) for the fourth quarter of 2016 was 4.11%, a decrease of 2 basis points from the linked quarter and a decline of 14 basis points from the prior year period. The decrease from the linked quarter was due to higher volume of interest-earning deposits with banks as well as lower incremental accretion income from acquired loans. The decrease from the prior year period was due to both lower incremental accretion income from acquired loans and lower yielding originated loans. Incremental accretion income was $4.3 million in the current period compared to $6.0 million in the prior year quarter.

Columbia's operating net interest margin (tax equivalent)⁽¹⁾ was 3.99% for the fourth quarter of 2016, a decline of 4 and 10 basis points from the linked and prior year periods, respectively. Higher volumes of deposits with banks contributed to the decrease from both the linked and prior year periods. Lower yielding originated loans also contributed to the decrease from the prior year period.

Clint Stein, Columbia's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, commented, "We held higher than normal balances of overnight funds throughout the quarter to maintain balance sheet flexibility through year end." Mr. Stein continued, "The impact of the additional overnight funds was a reduction in our net interest margin of three basis points."

The following table shows the impact to interest income resulting from income accretion on acquired loan portfolios as well as the net interest margin and operating net interest margin:

Asset Quality

At December 31, 2016, nonperforming assets to total assets were 0.35% compared to 0.32% at September 30, 2016 and 0.39% at December 31, 2015. Total nonperforming assets increased $3.4 million from the linked quarter due to a $6.4 million increase in nonaccrual loans, partially offset by a decrease in other real estate owned.

The following table sets forth information regarding nonaccrual loans and total nonperforming assets:

The following table provides an analysis of the Company's allowance for loan and lease losses:

The allowance for loan losses to period end loans was 1.13% at December 31, 2016 compared to 1.12% at September 30, 2016 and 1.17% at December 31, 2015. For the fourth quarter of 2016, Columbia recorded a net provision for loan and lease losses of $18 thousand compared to a net provision of $1.9 million for the linked quarter and $2.3 million for the comparable quarter last year. The net provision for loan and lease losses recorded during the current quarter consisted of $600 thousand of provision for loan losses for loans, excluding PCI loans, substantially offset by a provision recovery of $582 thousand for PCI loans.

Andy McDonald, Columbia's Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, commented, "Our credit quality metrics continue to compare favorably to our peers. Our nonperforming assets to total assets of thirty five basis points remains below the fifty basis points we have long considered as a sustainable level for this point in the current economic cycle."

Impact of FDIC Acquired Loan Accounting

The following table illustrates the impact to earnings associated with Columbia's FDIC acquired loan portfolios:

The incremental accretion income on FDIC purchased credit impaired loans represents the amount of income recorded above the contractual rate stated in the individual loan notes. At December 31, 2016, the accretable yield on purchased credit impaired loans was $45.2 million. Accretable yield is subject to change based upon expected future loan cash flows, which are remeasured by Columbia on a quarterly basis.

The $388 thousand change in the FDIC loss-sharing asset in the current quarter reduced noninterest income and consisted primarily of $299 thousand in amortization expense. Additional details of the components of the change in the FDIC loss-sharing asset are provided in tabular format in the section titled "Noninterest Income" in the prior page

Organizational Update

Ms. Dressel commented, "Earlier this month we announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase Pacific Continental Corporation. We are looking forward to this well respected Northwest franchise joining the Columbia team." Ms. Dressel continued, "Aside from both of our companies being commercially oriented community banks, we share a common passion for serving our customers and broader communities while creating an exceptional working environment for our employees."      

Conference Call Information

Columbia's management will discuss the fourth quarter and full-year 2016 results on a conference call scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time). Interested parties may listen to this discussion by calling 1-866-378-3802; Conference ID code #22782095.

A conference call replay will be available from approximately 4:00 p.m. PST on January 26, 2017 through midnight PST on February 2, 2017. The conference call replay can be accessed by dialing 1-855-859-2056 and entering Conference ID code #22782095.

About Columbia

Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is the holding company of Columbia Bank, a Washington state-chartered full-service commercial bank with locations throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. For the tenth consecutive year, the bank was named in 2016 as one of Puget Sound Business Journal's "Washington's Best Workplaces." Columbia ranked in the top 20 on the 2016 Forbes list of best banks in the country for the fifth year in a row.

More information about Columbia can be found on its website at www.columbiabank.com.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, descriptions of Columbia's management's expectations regarding future events and developments such as future operating results, growth in loans and deposits, continued success of Columbia's style of banking and the strength of the local economy. The words "will," "believe," "expect," "intend," "should," and "anticipate" or the negative of these words or words of similar construction are intended in part to help identify forward looking statements. Future events are difficult to predict, and the expectations described above are necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, that may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely. In addition to discussions about risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in Columbia's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the Company's website at www.columbiabank.com, including the "Risk Factors," "Business" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of our annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, (as applicable), factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:  (1) local, national and international economic conditions may be less favorable than expected or have a more direct and pronounced effect on Columbia than expected and adversely affect Columbia's ability to continue its internal growth at historical rates and maintain the quality of its earning assets; (2) changes in interest rates could significantly reduce net interest income and negatively affect funding sources; (3) projected business increases following strategic expansion or opening or acquiring new branches may be lower than expected; (4) costs or difficulties related to the integration of acquisitions may be greater than expected; (5) competitive pressure among financial institutions may increase significantly;  (6) legislation or regulatory requirements or changes may adversely affect the businesses in which Columbia is engaged; and (7) the proposed merger with Pacific Continental Corporation ("Pacific Continental") may not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all, which may have an effect on the trading prices of Columbia's stock. We believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, based on information available to us on the date hereof. However, given the described uncertainties and risks, we cannot guarantee our future performance or results of operations and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by the federal securities laws. The factors noted above and the risks and uncertainties described in our SEC filings should be considered when reading any forward-looking statements in this release.

Additional Information

In connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 9, 2017, by and between Columbia Banking System, Inc. and Pacific Continental, Columbia will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a Joint Proxy Statement of Columbia and Pacific Continental and a Prospectus of Columbia, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction.  Shareholders of Columbia and Pacific Continental are urged to carefully read the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the transaction in their entirety when they become available and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information.  Shareholders of Columbia and Pacific Continental are also urged to carefully review and consider each of Columbia's and Pacific Continental's public filings with the SEC, including but not limited to their Annual Reports on Form 10-K, their proxy statements, their Current Reports on Form 8-K and their Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.  A definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be sent to the shareholders of each institution seeking any required shareholder approvals.  The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other relevant materials (when they become available) filed with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's Website at http://www.sec.gov.  PACIFIC CONTINENTAL AND COLUMBIA SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND THE OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS BEFORE VOTING ON THE TRANSACTION.

Investors will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from Pacific Continental by accessing Pacific Continental's website at www.therightbank.com under the link "Investor Relations" or from Columbia at www.columbiabank.com under the tab "About" and then under the heading "Investor Relations." Copies can also be obtained, free of charge, by directing a written request to Columbia, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 1301 A Street, Suite 800, Tacoma, Washington 98401-2156 or to Pacific Continental, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 111 West Seventh Avenue, P.O. Box 10727, Eugene Oregon 97440-2727.

Participants in Solicitation

Columbia and Pacific Continental and their directors and executive officers and certain other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Pacific Continental or Columbia in connection with the transaction.  Information about the directors and executive officers of Columbia and their ownership of Columbia common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Columbia's 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on a Schedule 14A on March 16, 2016.  Information about the directors and executive officers of Pacific Continental and their ownership of Pacific Continental common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Pacific Continental's 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on a Schedule 14A on March 15, 2016.  Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the solicitation may be obtained by reading the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the transaction when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.