News Details

BEDMINSTER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market:PGC) (the Corporation) recorded net income of $2.14 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.18 for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. This compared to net income and diluted earnings per share of $1.88 million and $0.18 for the immediately preceding quarter ended December 31, 2010, and $2.13 million and $0.16 for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

Frank A. Kissel, Chairman and CEO, stated, “We are pleased to have shown growth in our net income this quarter. As I have noted many times in the past, building capital internally to redeem the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”) investment over time continues to be an important business objective of the Corporation. In the March 2011 quarter, we were successful in redeeming an additional 25 percent of the CPP investment. Together with the January 2010 redemption, we have now redeemed $14.4 million or 50 percent of the Treasury’s original CPP investment.”

The Corporation’s provision for loan losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, was $2.0 million, slightly below the $2.4 million provision recorded in the March 2010 quarter, and also below the $2.9 million provision recorded in the December 2010 quarter. Mr. Kissel noted that progress continues in resolving problem assets. During the March 2011 quarter, $5.4 million of problem loans were paid off or sold. Further, a $1.0 million property in Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) was sold.

Net Interest Income and Margin

Net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent basis, was $12.4 million for the first quarter of 2011, down slightly from $12.7 million for the same quarter in 2010.

On a fully tax-equivalent basis, the net interest margin was 3.54 percent for the March 2011 quarter compared to 3.67 percent for the March 2010 quarter, as the overall asset yield declined more than the decline in the cost of funds.

In comparing the March 2011 quarter to the same quarter last year, the growth of lower cost core deposits and the allowed run-off of higher cost certificates of deposit contributed to the reduced cost of funds, while growth in lower yielding, but shorter duration investment securities coupled with lower loan balances contributed to the reduced overall asset yield.

Loans

Average loans totaled $937.1 million for the first quarter of 2011 as compared to $978.5 million for the same 2010 quarter, reflecting a decrease of $41.4 million or 4.2 percent.

The average residential mortgage loan portfolio was $429.4 million for the March 2011 quarter, reflecting a decline of $19.9 million or 4.4 percent when compared to $449.4 million in the same quarter of 2010. The decline is attributable to loan paydowns that have outpaced the originations retained in portfolio. The Corporation sells the majority of its longer-term, fixed-rate loan production as a source of noninterest income and as part of its interest rate risk management strategy in the lower rate environment.

The average commercial mortgage and commercial loan portfolio increased to $417.6 million for the first quarter of 2011, reflecting an increase of $13.9 million or 3.4 percent from $403.7 million the first quarter of 2010. Mr. Kissel commented, “Loan demand from higher quality borrowers on the commercial mortgage / commercial loan front was generally scarce through the first nine months of 2010. However, over the last few months of 2010 and into 2011, we have seen increased commercial mortgage demand from higher quality borrowers. The commercial mortgage and commercial loan pipeline stands at $51.3 million at March 31, 2011.”

The average commercial construction loan portfolio declined $36.3 million or 60.4 percent from the first quarter of 2010 to the first quarter of 2011, as the Bank has significantly decreased its exposure to construction lending.

The average home equity line portfolio rose $6.9 million or 17.5 percent to $46.0 million for the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same quarter in 2010. The Corporation focuses on the origination of these adjustable-rate loans and loan originations outpaced principal paydowns over the year.

From December 31, 2010 to March 31, 2011, the total loan portfolio grew $17.8 million to $950.3 million. Mr. Kissel stated, “We were particularly pleased to have seen new quality growth opportunities in our loan portfolio over the course of this quarter. Loan originations increased to $89.6 million for the first quarter of 2011 from $87.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2010 and from $40.4 million for the first quarter of 2010. Included in these totals were commercial loan originations of $31.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, $4.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2010 and $9.6 million for the first three months of 2010. Given our shorter duration investment portfolio, we will benefit from utilizing cash flows from this lower-yielding portfolio to fund our higher-yielding commercial and residential loan production. In doing so, however, we will remain committed to our conservative underwriting philosophy.”

Deposits

Average total deposits (interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing) increased $22.6 million, or 1.7 percent, to $1.34 billion for the March 2011 quarter from $1.32 billion for the same quarter last year.

Average noninterest-bearing checking balances grew $14.4 million or 6.9 percent to $222.4 million for the first quarter of 2011 from $208.0 million for the first quarter of 2010. Average interest-bearing checking balances totaled $298.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, rising $59.7 million or 25.1 percent from the same quarter in 2010. Checking growth is attributable to the Corporation’s continual focus on business and personal core deposit growth, particularly checking, coupled with the Corporation’s recent focus on obtaining the core deposit accounts of select municipalities within its branch market areas.

Average money market accounts also rose, from $494.7 million for the first quarter of 2010 to $522.5 million for the first quarter of 2011, reflecting an increase of $27.8 million or 5.6 percent. The Corporation’s reduction in certificate of deposit balances and its focus on core deposit growth, as well as certain customers tending to “park” funds in money market accounts in lower interest rate environments, accounted for this growth.

Average certificates of deposit (CDs) declined from $305.7 million for the March 2010 quarter to $219.4 million for the March 2011 quarter, a decline of $86.3 million or 28.2 percent. The Corporation allowed higher cost CDs to run-off, and replaced those funds with lower cost, more stable core deposits.

From December 31, 2010 to March 31, 2011, total deposits increased $12.1 million or 1.0 percent. The Corporation’s checking, savings and money market balances increased $26.3 million, while higher costing CD balances declined by $14.4 million.

Mr. Kissel commented, “Our continued growth in core deposits coupled with our reduced reliance on higher cost certificates of deposit, has reduced our cost of funds, and enhanced our franchise value.”

PGB Trust and Investments

PGB Trust and Investments generated $2.7 million in fee income in the first quarter of 2011, compared to $2.4 million in the same quarter of 2010. The market value of the assets under administration of the Trust Division increased from $1.89 billion at March 31, 2010 to just under $2.00 billion at March 31, 2011.

Craig C. Spengeman, President of PGB Trust & Investments commented, “We continue to see increases in our asset management business and related recurring fee income. We also continue to add new clients, as individuals seek our professional advice. We are pleased with the performance of our assets under administration - our performance reflects the sound financial management of our trust and investment professionals.”

Other Non-Interest Income

Other non-interest income, exclusive of Trust fees, totaled $1.45 million in the March 2011 quarter compared to $1.11 million in the same quarter a year ago. The 2011 quarter reflected: increased service charges and fees, partially due to increased core deposit accounts and activity from such account holders, and increased income from Bank Owned Life Insurance, due to improved crediting rates. Additionally, during the first quarter of 2011, the Corporation recorded $196 thousand of gains on sales of securities that were held as available for sale.

Operating Expenses

The Corporation’s total operating expenses were $11.2 million in the March 2011 quarter compared to $10.5 million in the March 2010 quarter. Costs for the Corporation to keep up with the increased regulatory burden on financial institutions, a new corporate headquarters occupied in June 2010 and a major system upgrade in our Trust Division in May 2010, were partially offset by various operational efficiencies. Mr. Kissel commented, “Our investments in a new corporate headquarters and a new, significantly enhanced system in our Trust area have added convenience for our customers and operating efficiencies for our company.”

Asset Quality

At March 31, 2011, nonperforming assets totaled $22.5 million or 1.48 percent of total assets, reflecting a slight decline from $22.8 million or 1.51 percent of total assets at December 31, 2010. During the March 2011 quarter, the Corporation classified a $4.7 million commercial loan participation in nonperforming loans. However, as noted earlier, $5.4 million of problem loans were paid off or sold during the quarter. Further, a $1 million property in Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) was sold.

Total net charge-offs against the allowance for loan losses were $1.90 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2011 was $14.4 million or 1.51 percent of total loans, as compared to $14.3 million or 1.53 percent of total loans at December 31, 2010, and $13.7 million or 1.41 percent of total loans at March 31, 2010.

Capital

At March 31, 2011, the Corporation’s leverage ratio, tier 1 and total risk based capital ratios were 7.59 percent, 12.25 percent and 13.51 percent, respectively. All ratios reflect the March 2011$7.2 million partial redemption of the preferred shares previously issued under the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program. The Corporation’s ratios are all above the levels necessary to be considered well capitalized under applicable regulatory guidelines. Additionally, the Corporation’s common equity ratio (common equity to total assets) at March 31, 2011 is 6.46 percent.

As previously announced, on April 21, 2011, the Board of Directors declared a regular cash dividend of $0.05 per share payable on May 19, 2011 to shareholders of record on May 5, 2011.

ABOUT THE CORPORATION

Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation is a bank holding company with total assets of $1.52 billion as of March 31, 2011. Peapack-Gladstone Bank, its wholly owned community bank, was established in 1921, and has 23 branches in Somerset, Hunterdon, Morris, Middlesex and Union Counties. The Bank’s Trust Division, PGB Trust and Investments, operates at the Bank’s new corporate offices located at 500 Hills Drive in Bedminster and at four other locations in Clinton, Morristown and Summit, New Jersey and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. To learn more about Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation and its services please visit our website at www.pgbank.com or call 908-234-0700.

The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management’s confidence and strategies and management’s expectations about new and existing programs and products, investments, relationships, opportunities and market conditions. These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as “expect”, “look”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “may”, or similar statements or variations of such terms. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to

• a continued or unexpected decline in the economy, in particular in our New Jersey market area;
• declines in value in our investment portfolio;
• higher than expected increases in our allowance for loan losses;
• higher than expected increases in loan losses or in the level of nonperforming loans;
• unexpected changes in interest rates;
• inability to successfully grow our business;
• inability to manage our growth;
• a continued or unexpected decline in real estate values within our market areas;
• legislative and regulatory actions (including the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and related regulations) subject us to additional regulatory oversight which may result in increased compliance costs;
• higher than expected FDIC insurance premiums;
• lack of liquidity to fund our various cash obligations;
• repurchase of our preferred shares issued under the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program which will impact net income available to our common shareholders and our earnings per share;
• reduction in our lower-cost funding sources;
• our inability to adapt to technological changes;
• claims and litigation pertaining to fiduciary responsibility, environmental laws and other matters; and
• other unexpected material adverse changes in our operations or earnings.

A discussion of these and other factors that could affect our results is included in our SEC filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Corporation’s expectations.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

(Tables to Follow)

Source: Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation

Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation

Jeffrey J. Carfora, 908-719-4308

EVP and CFO