ELMIRA, N.Y., July 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chemung Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:CHMG), the parent company of Chemung Canal Trust Company, today reported net income for the second quarter of 2016 of $2.4 million, or $0.50 per share, compared to $2.6 million, or $0.55 per share, for the second quarter of 2015.

Ronald M. Bentley, Chemung Financial Corporation CEO, stated:

“We continue to grow our municipal deposit base, which was the primary contributor for the $67.6 million increase in deposits since December 31, 2015. Our deposit growth has allowed us to continue funding higher yielding commercial loans and indirect auto loans, and grow our net interest income. Finally, we created a new captive insurance subsidiary during the second quarter of 2016, which will allow us to strengthen our risk management program, along with providing a potential net tax benefit starting in 2017.”

Second Quarter Highlights¹

• Loans, net of deferred fees increased $32.5 million, or 2.8%
• Commercial loans increased $43.2 million, or 6.2%
• Deposits increased $67.6 million, or 4.8%
• Net interest income increased $0.3 million, or 2.5%
• Dividends declared during the quarter were $0.26

A more detailed summary of financial performance follows.

¹ Balance sheet comparisons are calculated for June 30, 2016 versus December 31, 2015. Income statement comparisons are calculated for the second quarter of 2016 versus prior-year second quarter.
2nd Quarter 2016 vs 1st Quarter 2016

Net Interest Income:

Net interest income for the current quarter totaled $13.0 million, consistent with the prior quarter. Interest and fees from loans and interest-bearing deposits both increased $0.1 million, while interest and dividend income from securities decreased $0.2 million when compared to the prior quarter. Fully taxable equivalent net interest margin was 3.36%, compared with 3.47% for the prior quarter. Average interest-earning assets increased $45.7 million compared to the prior quarter. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased twelve basis points, while the cost of interest-bearing liabilities was flat compared to the prior quarter. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased due to an increase of $55.3 million in the average interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions balance, compared to the prior quarter. These deposits earned the federal funds rate of approximately 50 basis points during the current quarter.

Non-Interest Income:

Non-interest income for the quarter was $5.2 million compared with $5.6 million for the prior quarter, a decrease of $0.4 million, or 6.9%. The decrease was due primarily to the $0.9 million net gain on security transactions from the sale of $14.5 million in U.S. Treasuries during the prior quarter. Offsetting the net gain on security transactions were increases of $0.2 million in wealth management group fee income, $0.2 million in service charges on deposit accounts, and $0.1 million in other non-interest income. The increase in wealth management group fee income can be attributed to tax services performed during the quarter. The increase in service charges on deposit accounts can be attributed to seasonality.

Non-Interest Expense:

Non-interest expense for the quarter was $14.4 million compared with $14.0 million for the prior quarter, an increase of $0.4 million, or 2.6%. The increase was due primarily to increases of $0.2 million in professional services, $0.1 million in marketing and advertising expenses, and $0.1 million in loan expense. The increase in professional services can be attributed to start-up costs associated with the establishment of Chemung Risk Management, Inc. (the “Captive”), a captive insurance subsidiary, which was completed in May 2016. The increase in marketing and advertising expense was due to seasonality, as the Bank sponsors the majority of its events during the spring and summer. The increase in loan expense can be attributed to an increase in commercial loan volume.

2nd Quarter 2016 vs 2nd Quarter 2015

Net Interest Income:

Net interest income for the current quarter totaled $13.0 million compared with $12.6 million for the same period in the prior year, an increase of $0.4 million, or 2.5%. Interest and fees from loans increased $0.2 million, while interest and dividend income from securities increased $0.1 million when compared to the same period in the prior year. Fully taxable equivalent net interest margin was 3.36%, compared with 3.50% for the same period in the prior year. Average interest-earning assets increased $110.5 million compared to the same period in the prior year. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased 14 basis points, while the cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased one basis point compared to the same period in the prior year. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased due to an increase of $33.8 million in the average interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions balance, compared to the same period in the prior year. These deposits earned the federal funds rate of approximately 50 basis points during the current quarter.

Non-Interest Income:

Non-interest income for the quarter was $5.2 million compared with $5.3 million for the same period in the prior year, a decrease of $0.1 million, or 2.1%. The decrease was due primarily to the $0.3 million net gain on security transactions from the sale of $48.3 million in U.S. government sponsored agencies and Treasury securities during 2015. Offsetting the net gain on security transactions were increases of $0.1 million in service charges on deposit accounts and interchange revenue from debit card transactions. The increase in service charges on deposit accounts can be attributed to seasonality. The increase in interchange revenue from debit card transactions can be attributed to an increase in debit card activity when compared to the same period in the prior year.

Non-Interest Expense:

Non-interest expense for the quarter was $14.4 million compared with $13.8 million for the same period in the prior year, an increase of $0.6 million, or 3.9%. The increase was due primarily to increases of $0.1 million in pension and employee benefits, $0.1 million in net occupancy expenses, $0.2 million in data processing, $0.2 million in professional services, and $0.1 million in other non-interest expense, offset by a $0.2 million decrease in other real estate owned expense. The increase in net occupancy expenses can be attributed to one-time depreciation expense related to the closure of the branch office at 202 East State Street in Ithaca, NY at the end of May 2016. The increase in professional services can be attributed to start-up costs associated with the establishment of the Captive, which was completed in May 2016. The decrease in other real estate owned can be attributed to the sale of properties in 2015.

Asset Quality

Non-performing loans totaled $12.4 million at June 30, 2016, or 1.03% of total loans, compared with $12.2 million at December 31, 2015, or 1.05% of total loans. The increase in non-performing loans at June 30, 2016 was primarily in the residential mortgage and consumer loan segments of the loan portfolio. Non-performing assets, which are comprised of non-performing loans and other real estate owned, were $12.8 million, or 0.76% of total assets, at June 30, 2016, compared with $13.8 million, or 0.85% of total assets, at December 31, 2015.

Management performs an ongoing assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses based upon a number of factors including an analysis of historical loss factors, collateral evaluations, recent charge-off experience, credit quality of the loan portfolio, current economic conditions and loan growth. Based on this analysis, the provision for loan losses for the second quarter of 2016 and 2015 were $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Net charge-offs for the second quarter of 2016 were $0.2 million compared with $0.1 million for the same period in the prior year.

At June 30, 2016 the allowance for loan losses was $14.7 million, compared with $14.3 million at December 31, 2015. The allowance for loan losses was 118.0% of non-performing loans at June 30, 2016, compared with 116.6% at December 31, 2015. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.22% at June 30, 2016, level with December 31, 2015.

Balance Sheet Activity

Assets totaled $1.683 billion at June 30, 2016 compared with $1.620 billion at December 31, 2015, an increase of $63.5 million, or 3.9%. The growth was due primarily to increases of $81.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and $32.5 million in the loan portfolio, partially offset by a $44.5 million decrease in securities available for sale.

The increase in cash and cash equivalents can be attributed to the sale of available for sale securities and an increase in deposits, offset by an increase in total loans and the pay down of FHLB overnight advances.

The increase in total loans can be attributed to increases of $46.1 million in commercial mortgages and $0.4 million in residential mortgages, offset by decreases in indirect consumer of $6.3 million, other consumer of $4.8 million, and commercial and agriculture of $2.9 million.

The decrease in securities available for sale can be mostly attributed to the sale of $14.5 million in U.S. Treasuries and $35.2 million in maturities of agencies and pay-downs on mortgage-backed securities.

Deposits totaled $1.468 billion at June 30, 2016 compared with $1.400 billion at December 31, 2015, an increase of $67.6 million, or 4.8%. The growth was mostly attributable to increases of $64.4 million in money market accounts, $8.3 million in savings deposits, and $6.6 million in non-interest bearing demand deposits. Partially offsetting the increases noted above were decreases of $7.4 million in time deposits and $4.3 million in interest-bearing demand deposits. The changes in money market accounts and demand deposits can be attributed to the seasonal inflow of deposits from municipal clients.

Total equity was $144.2 million at June 30, 2016 compared with $137.2 million at December 31, 2015, an increase of $6.9 million, or 5.0%. The increase was primarily due to earnings of $5.1 million, a reduction of $0.8 million in treasury stock, and a decrease of $3.4 million in accumulated other comprehensive loss, offset by $2.4 million in dividends declared during the year.

The total equity to total assets ratio was 8.56% at June 30, 2016 compared with 8.47% at December 31, 2015. The tangible equity to tangible assets ratio was 7.17% at June 30, 2016 compared with 6.99% at December 31, 2015. Book value per share increased to $30.27 at June 30, 2016 from $28.96 at December 31, 2015. As of June 30, 2016, the Bank’s capital ratios were in excess of those required to be considered well-capitalized under regulatory capital guidelines and the Corporation met capital requirements under regulatory guidelines.

Other Items

The market value of total assets under management or administration in our Wealth Management Group was $1.689 billion at June 30, 2016, including $305.4 million of assets under management or administration for the Corporation, compared with $1.856 billion at December 31, 2015, including $304.1 million of assets held under management or administration for the Corporation, a decrease of $166.7 million, or 9.0%. The decrease can be attributed to the loss of one large non-profit customer during the first quarter of 2016, along with a decline in the market value of assets.

As previously disclosed on June 2, 2016, the Corporation received approval from the State of Nevada for the creation of a new captive insurance subsidiary, the Captive, on May 31, 2016. The purpose of the Captive is to insure gaps in commercial coverage and uninsured exposures in the Corporation’s current insurance coverages and allow the Corporation to strengthen its overall risk management program. The Corporation recognized approximately $170 thousand in one-time expenses associated with the feasibility and implementation of the Captive during the first half of 2016 and will have annual costs of approximately $90 thousand associated with the on-going operations of the Captive. Beginning in fiscal year 2017, the Corporation expects to receive a potential net benefit of approximately $370 thousand associated with the insurance premium exclusion, for income tax purposes, provided to captive insurance companies. This net benefit will be reduced by claims submitted to the Captive.

About Chemung Financial Corporation

Chemung Financial Corporation is a $1.7 billion financial services holding company headquartered in Elmira, New York and operates 33 retail offices through its principal subsidiary, Chemung Canal Trust Company, a full-service community bank with trust powers. Established in 1833, Chemung Canal Trust Company is the oldest locally-owned and managed community bank in New York State. Chemung Financial Corporation is also the parent of CFS Group, Inc., a financial services subsidiary offering non-traditional services including mutual funds, annuities, brokerage services, tax preparation services and insurance, and Chemung Risk Management, Inc., a captive insurance company based in the State of Nevada.

This press release may be found at: www.chemungcanal.com under Investor Relations.