Franklin Financial Reports 2017 Earnings; Declares Dividend

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa., Jan. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Franklin Financial Services Corporation, the bank holding company of F&M Trust, reported a net loss of $7.3 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017, as compared to third quarter 2017 earnings of $3.1 million and fourth quarter 2016 earnings of $1.7 million. Net income for the year was $2.2 million compared with $8.1 million in 2016, a decrease of 73.1%. On a per share basis, diluted earnings were -$1.67 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 and $0.50 for the year, compared to $0.40 and $1.88 for the same periods in 2016.

Results for the fourth quarter and the year-to-date period were affected by a $10 million pre-tax expense related to the accrual for a legal settlement and additional tax expense of $2.3 million due to the remeasurement of net deferred tax assets (DTA). The legal settlement is described in the Corporation's current report on Form 8-K filed on January 2, 2018. The remeasurement of the DTA was necessary as a result of the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Act) in December 2017 that reduced the Corporation's statutory tax rate from 34% to 21%. Passage of the Act is expected to reduce the Corporation's income tax expense in 2018 and on an ongoing basis.

Without the effect of the legal reserve and the DTA remeasurement, net income would have been $2.9 million for the fourth quarter, a 4.8% decrease as compared to third quarter 2017 earnings, and $12.4 million for the year, a 52.9% increase as compared to the same period in 2016. Likewise, diluted earnings per share would have been $0.67 for the fourth quarter and $2.84 for the year. See the GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation of these numbers included in this release.

Compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, net interest income increased 7.7%. For the year, net interest income increased $2.7 million and the net interest margin increased to 3.72%. The provision for loan loss expense was $250 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2017, the same as the prior quarter, and $200 thousand less than the fourth quarter of 2016. Year-over-year the provision for loan losses decreased by $3.1 million, as a result of an improvement in credit quality. The 2016 provision for loan losses was affected by a $2.7 million charge-off on one commercial loan. Noninterest income remained stable for the quarter at $3.1 million and showed a 5% increase year-over-year, primarily the result of an increase in investment and trust service fees. Noninterest expense for the quarter and year-to-date period was affected by the $10 million legal reserve. Absent this expense, noninterest expense for the year was essentially unchanged as compared to 2016.

"Despite the one-time expenses that were reflected in our fourth quarter earnings, the core performance of the bank was very strong," said Timothy G. Henry, President and CEO. "We continue to be well capitalized, and we have expanded our net interest margin, improved loan quality, and grown our noninterest income. We are looking at 2018 with great expectations as we start the year with a robust commercial loan pipeline and numerous opportunities to expand relationships with customers."

Total assets at December 31, 2017 were $1.2 billion, a 9.1% increase when compared with total assets at December 31, 2016. Net loans increased 5.6% to $931.9 million, and total deposits increased 6.6% to $1.1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2017 over the same period last year. Additionally, the market value of assets under management and held at third-party brokers increased 10.4% to $845.0 million ($686.9 million and $158.1 million, respectively).

The Board of Directors of Franklin Financial Services Corporation declared a $0.24 per share regular cash dividend for the first quarter of 2018. This compares to a $0.21 per share regular cash dividend for the first quarter of 2017, representing a 14.3% increase.

The regular quarterly cash dividend will be paid on February 28, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 2, 2018.

Franklin Financial is the largest independent, locally owned and operated bank holding company headquartered in Franklin County with assets of more than $1 billion. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, F&M Trust, has twenty-two community banking offices located in Boiling Springs, Camp Hill, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Greencastle, Hustontown, McConnellsburg, Mechanicsburg, Mont Alto, Marion, Newville, Orbisonia, Shippensburg and Waynesboro. Franklin Financial stock is trading on the OTCQX^® marketplace of the OTC Markets under the symbol FRAF. Please visit our website for more information, www.franklinfin.com.

Management considers subsequent events occurring after the balance sheet date for matters which may require adjustment to, or disclosure in, the consolidated financial statements.  The review period for subsequent events extends up to and including the filing date of a public company's consolidated financial statements when filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Accordingly, the financial information in this announcement is subject to change.

Certain statements appearing herein which are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements refer to a future period or periods, reflecting management's current views as to likely future developments, and use words "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "anticipate," or similar terms.  Because forward-looking statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors over which Franklin Financial Services Corporation has no direct control, actual results could differ materially from those contemplated in such statements.  These factors include (but are not limited to) the following: general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, changes in the Corporation's cost of funds, changes in government monetary policy, changes in government regulation and taxation of financial institutions, changes in the rate of inflation, changes in technology, the intensification of competition within the Corporation's market area, and other similar factors.

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SOURCE Franklin Financial Services Corporation