WARREN, Ohio, July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First Place Financial Corp. reported net income of $2.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, a decrease of $2.7 million compared with net income of $5.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. The decrease was primarily due to an increase of $1.5 million in the provision for loan losses and a $1.4 million charge for impairment of securities. Earnings per share for the current quarter were $0.18 compared with $0.33 for the same quarter in the prior year. Return on average equity for the current quarter was 3.75% compared with 6.84% for the prior year quarter. Return on average tangible equity for the current quarter was 5.67% compared with 10.15% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
Net income of $2.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 represented a decrease of $1.9 million from net income of $4.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The decrease in net income was due to a charge for impairment of securities, merger expenses and a decrease in mortgage banking gains. Diluted earnings per share were $0.18 for the current quarter compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.30 for the preceding quarter ended March 31, 2008. Return on average equity for the current quarter was 3.75% compared with 6.11% for the preceding quarter ended March 31, 2008.
For the year ended June 30, 2008, First Place Financial Corp. or the Company reported net income of $10.8 million compared with $25.6 million for the year ended June 30, 2007, or a decrease of $14.8 million or 57.9%. Diluted earnings per share were $0.67 for fiscal 2008 compared with $1.49 for fiscal 2007, or a decline of 55.0%. Return on average assets and return on average equity for the year ended June 30, 2008 were 0.33% and 3.41%, respectively, down from 0.83% and 7.92%, respectively, for the year ended June 30, 2007.
Core earnings are a supplementary financial measure computed using methods other than generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that exclude certain unusual or nonrecurring items of revenue or expense. The $1.2 million pre-tax charge for merger expenses for the year ended June 30, 2008, and the $0.7 million pre-tax charge for merger expenses for the year ended June 30, 2007 have been excluded from core earnings. For additional information on core earnings, see the Explanation of Certain Non-GAAP Measures beginning on page five of this release and the Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Core Earnings on page nine.
Core earnings for the year ended June 30, 2008 were $11.6 million compared with $26.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2007, or a decrease of 55.6%. Core diluted earnings per share were $0.72 for fiscal year 2008 compared with $1.52 for fiscal year 2007. Core return on average equity for the current year was 3.66% compared with 8.07% for the prior year. Core return on average tangible equity for the current year was 5.52% compared with 11.93% for the prior year.
On June 30, 2008 First Place completed its acquisition of OC Financial, Inc. (OC Financial). The acquisition adds retail offices in Dublin, Ohio in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area and in Cleveland Heights, Ohio in the Cleveland metropolitan area. The financial results in this release include the $68 million of assets acquired but do not include any revenue or expense of OC Financial.
Commenting on these results, Steven R. Lewis, President and CEO, stated, "Without the noncash securities impairment and merger charges, our results for the current quarter were very similar to last quarter's results without the one-time gain from the adoption of SAB 109. More importantly, we were able to decrease nonperforming loans and slow the increase in nonperforming assets. With all of the negative publicity given to asset quality problems in the Midwest, we are encouraged by this progress. I am particularly pleased with the performance of our core business units which achieved success in commercial lending, mortgage banking and core deposit growth. Net interest margin expansion clearly illustrates that success. As you might expect, prudent management of capital in these uncertain times is a priority. As a result, we have reduced our dividend by 50%. And finally, we welcome OC Financial and its two locations to First Place. We look forward to the growth opportunities their addition represents."
Revenue
Net interest income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was $22.9 million, an increase of $1.0 million or 4.6% over the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. This increase was the result of a 3.2% increase in average earning assets in the current quarter compared with the same quarter in the prior year and an increase in the net interest margin of six basis points to 3.13% for the current quarter from 3.07% for the same quarter in the prior year. Net interest income also improved compared to the preceding quarter. Net interest income of $22.9 million and net interest margin of 3.13% for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 were both increases over net interest income of $21.8 million and net interest margin of 2.98% for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. A combination of falling short-term interest rates from September 2007 through April 2008 and a high concentration of maturing certificates of deposit enabled First Place to reduce deposit costs more rapidly than asset yields declined in the current quarter.
Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was $7.5 million, a decrease of $1.6 million or 17.1% compared with the same quarter in the prior year. The majority of this decrease was due to a pre-tax charge of $1.4 million for impairment of securities in the current quarter. The increase in mortgage banking gains of $0.7 million was primarily due to an increase of $22 million in the volume of loans sold to $298 million for the current quarter compared to $276 million for the same quarter in the prior year and an increase of 18 basis points in the profit margin on the loans sold. Other income - non-bank for the current quarter was $1.3 million, a decrease of $0.6 million or 31.3% compared with the same quarter in the prior year. The decrease in other income - non-bank was primarily due to decreases in investment and real estate commissions related to the economic slowdown in the Company's market area.
First Place currently owns $10.5 million of Fannie Mae preferred stock. The market value of these securities at June 30, 2008 was $9.3 million or $1.2 million less than First Place's book value. At June 30, 2008, management determined that the impairment in these securities was substantially due to interest rate changes and was temporary. Since that time, there has been significant public speculation, both positive and negative, about Fannie Mae's solvency and the adequacy of their current level of capital. As a result, the market value for this preferred stock has fluctuated widely. As of the date of this release, First Place continues to seek additional information about the financial condition of Fannie Mae as of June 30, 2008. If we determine that this preferred stock is other than temporarily impaired at June 30, 2008, we will record up to an additional $1.2 million in other than temporary impairment write-downs as of June 30, 2008. This could reduce net income for the quarter and year ended June 30, 2008 by as much as $0.8 million. Regardless of the outcome of this issue, there would be no change to total shareholders' equity in the statement of financial condition as these securities are included in securities available for sale at market value. The impairment in these securities has already been recorded as an unrealized mark to market loss included in the accumulated other comprehensive loss category of shareholders' equity. The Company anticipates finalizing research on this issue and determining whether additional other than temporary impairment exists prior to filing our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2008.
Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $21.2 million, an increase of $1.8 million or 9.1% compared with the same quarter in the prior year. Salaries and employee benefit costs increased $1.5 million or 17.8% and occupancy and equipment costs increased $0.5 million or 17.5%. Salaries and employee benefits increased primarily due to a decrease in the capitalized direct loan costs related to a decrease in the level of commercial loan originations. Occupancy and equipment costs increased due to an increase in depreciation related to additions in computer hardware, software and property and equipment related to the acquisition of Flint, Michigan branches late in April 2007 and the acquisition of Hicksville Building, Loan and Savings Bank (HBLS Bank) in October 2007. Real estate owned expense increased $0.7 million, which was related to an increase in the volume of properties added to real estate owned in recent months and write-downs taken to reflect the decline in the value of residential property during the current quarter. Noninterest expense as a percent of average assets was 2.60% for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, up from 2.49% for the same quarter in the prior year.
Core noninterest expense excludes merger, integration and restructuring costs. Core noninterest expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 was $20.8 million, an increase of $2.1 million or 11.1% over core noninterest expense of $18.7 million in the same quarter in the prior year.
Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 of $21.2 million increased $1.2 million or 6.2% from $20.0 million for the preceding quarter of fiscal 2008. The increase was primarily due to increases in real estate owned expense and merger expenses. Noninterest expense as a percent of average assets increased to 2.60% in the current quarter compared with 2.45% for the preceding quarter.
Asset Quality
Nonperforming assets, which are comprised of nonperforming loans and real estate owned, were $74.4 million at June 30, 2008, or 2.22% of total assets, up $33.7 million from $40.7 million or 1.26% of total assets at June 30, 2007. Nonperforming loans were $50.7 million at June 30, 2008, or 1.91% of total loans, up $16.7 million from $34.0 million or 1.35% of total loans at June 30, 2007. Real estate owned was $23.7 million at June 30, 2008, up $17.0 million from $6.7 million at June 30, 2007. Between March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, nonperforming assets increased $3.7 million due to an increase of $10.5 million in real estate owned, partially offset by a decrease of $6.8 million in nonperforming loans. First Place works with borrowers to avoid foreclosure if at all possible. Furthermore, if it becomes inevitable that a borrower will not be able to retain ownership of their property, First Place often seeks a deed in lieu of foreclosure in order to gain control of the property earlier in the recovery process. First Place has been very successful in obtaining deeds in lieu of foreclosure in the current quarter. As a result, the balance of real estate owned grew 79.3% during the current quarter while nonperforming loans have declined 11.8%. Over the long term, this should result in a significant reduction in the holding period for nonperforming assets and reduce economic losses. Single family residential properties represented $15.3 million of the $23.7 million balance of real estate owned at June 30, 2008.
Net charge-offs were $5.4 million in the current quarter which was an increase of $4.2 million over net charge-offs of $1.2 million in the prior year quarter and an increase of $3.2 million from net charge-offs of $2.2 million in the preceding quarter. Each quarter management performs a review of estimated probable incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio at each balance sheet date. Based on this analysis, a provision for loan losses of $4.6 million was recorded for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. That provision was a $1.4 million increase over the provision of $3.2 million recorded in the quarter ended June 30, 2007 and a $0.1 million decrease from the provision of $4.7 million recorded in the preceding quarter. The allowance for loan losses increased $2.3 million to $28.2 million at June 30, 2008, from $25.9 million at June 30, 2007. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.07% at June 30, 2008, compared with 1.10% at March 31, 2008 and 1.03% at June 30, 2007. Another factor considered in determining the level of the allowance is the type of collateral. Of the total nonperforming loans at June 30, 2008, 98% were secured by real estate. Real estate loans are generally well secured and if these loans do default, the actual losses are often only a portion of the total loan amount.
Steven Lewis commented, "We have had great success during the fourth quarter in obtaining deeds in lieu of foreclosure which will allow us to preserve our collateral and get it on the market more rapidly. This has resulted in a high level of charge-offs in the current quarter but will benefit us in future quarters. Our level of delinquencies and nonperforming loans continues to remain high as the values of residential real estate have continued to remain at depressed levels. However, we have experienced a decrease in delinquent single family loans during the quarter ended June 30, 2008 which is encouraging. On the economic front, we believe that the announcement of the addition of a third shift at the Lordstown, Ohio General Motors plant will benefit the economy in the Mahoning Valley. We continue to recognize the full cost of our current delinquent and nonperforming loans through our provision for loans losses. This quarter we increased our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans to 55.6% up from 50.0% last quarter, an increase of 11.2%. We remain committed to reducing nonperforming assets in the coming months."
Balance Sheet Activity
Assets were $3.341 billion at June 30, 2008, compared with $3.226 billion at June 30, 2007, an increase of $115 million or 3.6%. Virtually all of this growth was accounted for by two acquisitions, HBLS Bank on October 31, 2007 with $48 million in assets and OC Financial on June 30, 2008 with $68 million in total assets. Total portfolio loans were $2.649 billion at June 30, 2008, an increase of $141 million from June 30, 2007. Commercial loans increased $187 million during fiscal 2008, or 17.9%, to $1.234 billion. Commercial loans now account for 46.6% of the loan portfolio up from 41.7% at June 30, 2007. Mortgage and construction loans decreased $65 million during the current fiscal year and consumer loans increased $19 million during the same period. Loans held for sale declined $24 million to $72 million at June 30, 2008 compared with $96 million at June 30, 2007.
Deposits totaled $2.369 billion at June 30, 2008, an increase of $128 million since June 30, 2007. This increase included $40 million in deposits acquired as part of HBLS Bank in October 2007 and $43 million in deposits acquired as part of OC Financial in June 2008. Total borrowings increased $28 million to $621 million at June 30, 2008, compared with June 30, 2007.
Shareholders' equity remains strong; it was $318 million at June 30, 2008, down $8 million from June 30, 2007. The decline was primarily due to $14 million of purchases of treasury stock during the first six months of fiscal 2008 partially offset by $9 million in treasury stock issued in connection with the acquisition of OC Financial. During the six months ended December 31, 2007, First Place purchased 880,086 outstanding shares at an average price of $16.04 per share. There were no treasury stock purchases during the third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year and the board authorizations to purchase treasury stock have expired. Shareholders' equity as a percent of assets was 9.52% at June 30, 2008, down from 9.54% at March 31, 2008 and down from 10.11% at June 30, 2007. Tangible equity to tangible assets decreased to 6.52% at June 30, 2008 down from 6.53% at March 31, 2008 and down from 6.99% at June 30, 2007. First Place Bank remains well capitalized under regulatory capital standards.
Steven Lewis noted, "We continue to grow with high quality commercial loans bringing greater diversity, higher yields and more business customers with multiple relationships to the Bank. In the current quarter we were able to fund this growth with increases in savings accounts at favorable rates resulting in an increase in our net interest margin. While total assets increased during the quarter, that increase was supported by common stock issued as part of the OC Financial acquisition. We are committed to maintaining our strong capital position in these uncertain financial times."
Pending Acquisition
On May 8, 2008, First Place announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Camco Financial Corporation, the holding company for Advantage Bank headquartered in Cambridge, Ohio. At March 31, 2008, Camco Financial Corporation had approximately $1.03 billion in assets and currently operates 23 offices in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. The transaction is expected to be marginally accretive to regulatory capital and contribute positively to First Place's earnings per share, excluding one-time merger- related costs, in its subsequent fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth calendar quarter of 2008 pending regulatory approval, the approvals of First Place and Camco shareholders, and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.
Board Actions
At its regular meeting held on July 22, 2008, the Board of Directors declared a per share cash dividend of $0.085 payable on August 14, 2008, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 31, 2008. This dividend is a 50% reduction from the dividends of $0.17 declared in recent quarters. The Board's decision to reduce the quarterly cash dividend will increase capital available to support future growth or to be retained in First Place. Steven Lewis commented, "Retaining more capital in the Bank is the prudent thing to do given the current economic environment. The current quarter is the third quarter with earnings below historical levels, and this reduction in the dividend rate will return the dividend payout ratio to the 40-50% range where we have operated historically."
About First Place Financial Corp.
First Place Financial Corp. is a $3.3 billion financial services holding company based in Warren, Ohio. First Place Financial Corp. operates 45 retail locations, 2 business financial service centers and 20 loan production offices through the First Place Bank and the Franklin Bank divisions of First Place Bank. Additional affiliates of First Place Financial Corp. include First Place Insurance Agency, Ltd.; Coldwell Banker First Place Real Estate, Ltd.; TitleWorks Agency, LLC and APB Financial Group, Ltd., an employee benefit consulting firm and specialist in wealth management services for businesses and consumers. Information about First Place Financial Corp. may be found on the Company's web site: http://www.firstplacebank.com/ .
Explanation of Certain Non-GAAP Measures
This press release contains certain financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Specifically, we have provided financial measures that are based on core earnings rather than net income. Ratios and other financial measures with the word "core" in their title were computed using core earnings rather than net income. Core earnings excludes merger, integration and restructuring expense; extraordinary income or expense; income or expense from discontinued operations; and income, expense, gains and losses that are not reflective of ongoing operations or that we do not expect to reoccur. Similarly, core noninterest expense or core noninterest income exclude the pretax impact of those same items that impact noninterest income or noninterest expense. We believe that this information is useful to both investors and to management and can aid them in understanding the Company's current performance, performance trends and financial condition. While core earnings can be useful in evaluating current performance and projecting current trends into the future, we do not believe that core earnings are a substitute for GAAP net income. We encourage investors and others to use core earnings as a supplemental tool for analysis and not as a substitute for GAAP net income. Our non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to the non-GAAP measures of other companies. In addition, future results of operations may include nonrecurring items that would not be included in core earnings. A reconciliation from GAAP net income to the non-GAAP measure of core earnings is shown in the consolidated financial highlights on page nine.
Forward-Looking Statements
When used in this press release, or future press releases or other public or shareholder communications, in filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, words or phrases such as "will likely result," "expect," "will continue," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "believe," "should," "may," "will," "plan," variations of such terms or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the Company's actual results to be materially different from those indicated. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties including changes in economic conditions in the market areas the Company conducts business, which could materially impact credit quality trends, changes in laws, regulations or policies of regulatory agencies, fluctuations in interest rates, demand for loans in the market areas the Company conducts business, and competition, that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical earnings and those presently anticipated or projected. The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.
FIRST PLACE FINANCIAL CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) Three months ended Year ended June 30, Percent June 30, Percent 2008 2007 Change 2008 2007 Change (Dollars in thousands, except share data) Interest income $44,860 $47,739 (6.0)% $189,672 $186,464 1.7% Interest expense 21,999 25,885 (15.0) 102,046 99,459 2.6 Net interest income 22,861 21,854 4.6 87,626 87,005 0.7 Provision for loan losses 4,631 3,176 45.8 16,467 7,391 122.8 Net interest income after provision for loan losses 18,230 18,678 (2.4) 71,159 79,614 (10.6) Noninterest income Service charges on deposit accounts 2,140 1,987 7.7 8,346 6,436 29.7 Net gains on sale of securities 137 346 (60.4) 874 430 103.3 Impairment of securities (1,436) - N/M (7,336) - N/M Mortgage banking gains 2,398 1,737 38.1 9,257 7,240 27.9 Gain on sale of loan servicing rights - 107 N/M 1,961 107 N/M Loan servicing income 317 279 13.6 50 1,232 (95.9) Other income - bank 1,778 1,686 5.5 6,747 7,066 (4.5) Insurance commission income 900 1,055 (14.7) 3,630 3,633 (0.1) Other income - non-bank 1,297 1,888 (31.3) 4,843 6,144 (21.2) Total noninterest income 7,531 9,085 (17.1) 28,372 32,288 (12.1) Noninterest expense Salaries and employee benefits 10,156 8,625 17.8 40,875 35,951 13.7 Occupancy and equipment 3,513 2,989 17.5 13,140 11,577 13.5 Professional fees 627 852 (26.4) 2,781 3,010 (7.6) Loan expenses 641 489 31.1 2,117 2,121 (0.2) Marketing 558 786 (29.0) 2,684 2,535 5.9 Merger, integration & restructuring 451 749 (39.8) 1,241 749 65.7 State and local taxes 175 451 (61.2) 897 1,239 (27.6) Amortization of intangible assets 1,019 1,118 (8.9) 4,346 4,321 0.6 Real estate owned expense 894 186 380.6 3,584 726 393.7 Other expense 3,175 3,197 (0.7) 12,400 11,967 3.6 Total noninterest expense 21,209 19,442 9.1 84,065 74,196 13.3 Income before income tax expense 4,552 8,321 (45.3) 15,466 37,706 (59.0) Income tax expense 1,636 2,696 (39.3) 4,674 12,082 (61.3) Net income $2,916 $5,625 (48.2) $10,792 $ 25,624 (57.9) SHARE DATA: Basic earnings per share $0.18 $0.33 (45.5)% $0.67 $1.51 (55.6)% Diluted earnings per share $0.18 $0.33 (45.5) $0.67 $1.49 (55.0) Cash dividends per share $0.170 $0.155 9.7 $0.665 $0.605 9.9 Average shares outstanding - basic 15,986,481 16,934,216 (5.6) 16,132,198 16,954,804 (4.9) Average shares outstanding - diluted 15,992,275 17,105,823 (6.5) 16,195,704 17,171,684 (5.7) N/M - Not meaningful FIRST PLACE FINANCIAL CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION June 30, Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Sept. 30, June 30, 2008 2008 2007 2007 2007 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands) ASSETS Cash and due from banks $59,483 $52,351 $47,268 $54,866 $77,226 Interest-bearing deposits in other banks 4,151 5,049 13,583 19,496 9,989 Fed funds sold 5,608 - - - - Securities available for sale 284,559 275,519 267,709 268,610 285,242 Loans held for sale 72,341 85,372 72,547 60,646 96,163 Loans Mortgage and construction 1,015,010 1,018,083 1,081,719 1,095,060 1,079,788 Commercial 1,234,130 1,212,947 1,173,115 1,070,159 1,046,893 Consumer 399,637 384,629 393,383 383,229 381,011 Total loans 2,648,777 2,615,659 2,648,217 2,548,448 2,507,692 Less allowance for loan losses 28,216 28,874 26,360 26,165 25,851 Loans, net 2,620,561 2,586,785 2,621,857 2,522,283 2,481,841 Federal Home Loan Bank stock 35,761 34,523 34,100 33,209 33,209 Premises and equipment, net 40,089 50,902 51,568 46,415 45,639 Premises and equipment held for sale, net 13,555 - - - - Goodwill 93,626 91,978 91,835 91,692 91,692 Core deposit and other intangibles 13,573 13,998 15,108 15,587 16,678 Other assets 98,176 92,507 88,699 89,791 88,534 Total assets $3,341,483 $3,288,984 $3,304,274 $3,202,595 $3,226,213 LIABILITIES Deposits Noninterest- bearing checking $248,851 $227,994 $228,019 $226,710 $242,068 Interest- bearing checking 159,874 155,941 157,742 145,925 154,941 Savings 475,835 453,609 432,644 403,630 390,462 Money market 359,801 362,711 391,027 394,748 404,248 Certificates of deposit 1,124,731 1,128,340 1,090,411 1,060,222 1,048,977 Total deposits 2,369,092 2,328,595 2,299,843 2,231,235 2,240,696 Short-term borrowings 195,800 150,214 222,471 224,736 195,249 Long-term debt 425,674 464,371 436,518 384,450 397,914 Other liabilities 32,781 32,106 33,353 39,466 66,167 Total liabilities 3,023,347 2,975,286 2,992,185 2,879,887 2,900,026 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 318,136 313,698 312,089 322,708 326,187 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $3,341,483 $3,288,984 $3,304,274 $3,202,595 $3,226,213 FIRST PLACE FINANCIAL CORP. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited) As of or for the three months ended As of or for the 6/30/08 3/31/08 12/31/07 9/30/07 6/30/07 year ended 4th Qtr 3rd Qtr 2nd Qtr 1st Qtr 4th Qtr June 30, FY 2008 FY 2008 FY 2008 FY 2008 FY 2007 2008 2007 (Dollars in thousands except per share data) EARNINGS (GAAP) Tax equivalent net interest income $23,241 22,246 21,930 21,746 22,211 89,163 88,451 Net interest income $22,861 21,835 21,558 21,372 21,854 87,626 87,005 Provision for loan losses $4,631 4,680 5,195 1,961 3,176 16,467 7,391 Noninterest income $7,531 9,936 714 10,191 9,085 28,372 32,288 Noninterest expense $21,209 19,972 22,455 20,429 19,442 84,065 74,196 Net income (loss) $2,916 4,769 (3,147) 6,254 5,625 10,792 25,624 Basic earnings (loss) per share $0.18 0.30 (0.20) 0.38 0.33 0.67 1.51 Diluted earnings (loss) per share $0.18 0.30 (0.20) 0.38 0.33 0.67 1.49 PERFORMANCE RATIOS (annualized) (GAAP) Return on average assets 0.36% 0.59% (0.39)% 0.78% 0.72% 0.33% 0.83% Return on average equity 3.75% 6.11% (3.93)% 7.72% 6.84% 3.41% 7.92% Return on average tangible assets 0.37% 0.61% (0.40)% 0.81% 0.75% 0.34% 0.86% Return on average tangible equity 5.67% 9.25% (5.91)% 11.60% 10.15% 5.13% 11.71% Net interest margin, fully tax equivalent 3.13% 2.98% 2.92% 2.94% 3.07% 2.96% 3.11% Efficiency ratio 68.93% 62.06% 99.17% 63.97% 62.12% 71.52% 61.45% Noninterest expense as a percent of average assets 2.60% 2.45% 2.76% 2.55% 2.49% 2.59% 2.41% RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO CORE EARNINGS GAAP net income (loss) $2,916 4,769 (3,147) 6,254 5,625 10,792 25,624 Merger, integration and restructuring, net of tax $293 - 514 - 487 807 487 Core earnings (loss) $3,209 4,769 (2,633) 6,254 6,112 11,599 26,111 CORE EARNINGS Core earnings $3,209 4,769 (2,633) 6,254 6,112 11,599 26,111 Basic core earnings (loss) per share $0.20 0.30 (0.16) 0.38 0.36 0.72 1.54 Core diluted earnings (loss) per share $0.20 0.30 (0.16) 0.38 0.36 0.72 1.52 CORE PERFORMANCE RATIOS (annualized) Core return on average assets 0.39% 0.59% (0.32)% 0.78% 0.78% 0.36% 0.85% Core return on average equity 4.13% 6.11% (3.28)% 7.72% 7.44% 3.66% 8.07% Core return on average tangible assets 0.41% 0.61% (0.33)% 0.81% 0.81% 0.37% 0.88% Core return on average tangible equity 6.23% 9.25% (4.94)% 11.60% 11.03% 5.52% 11.93% Core net interest margin, fully tax equivalent 3.13% 2.98% 2.92% 2.94% 3.07% 2.96% 3.11% Core efficiency ratio 67.46% 62.06% 95.68% 63.97% 59.73% 70.47% 60.83% Core noninterest expense as a percent of average assets 2.55% 2.45% 2.66% 2.55% 2.39% 2.55% 2.38% FIRST PLACE FINANCIAL CORP. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited) As of or for the three months ended 6/30/08 3/31/08 12/31/07 9/30/07 6/30/07 4th Qtr 3rd Qtr 2nd Qtr 1st Qtr 4th Qtr FY 2008 FY 2008 FY 2008 FY 2008 FY 2007 (Dollars in thousands except per share data) CAPITAL Equity to total assets at end of period 9.52% 9.54% 9.45% 10.08% 10.11% Tangible equity to tangible assets 6.52% 6.53% 6.42% 6.96% 6.99% Book value per share $18.74 19.11 19.01 19.24 18.92 Tangible book value per share $12.43 12.65 12.50 12.85 12.64 Period-end market value per share $9.40 13.00 13.99 17.70 21.12 Dividends declared per common share $0.170 0.170 0.170 0.155 0.155 Common stock dividend payout ratio 94.44% 56.67% N/M 40.79% 46.97% Period-end common shares outstanding (000) 16,973 16,418 16,416 16,770 17,236 Average basic shares outstanding (000) 15,986 15,969 16,096 16,475 16,934 Average diluted shares outstanding (000) 15,992 15,999 16,096 16,590 17,106 ASSET QUALITY Net charge-offs $5,434 2,165 5,254 1,647 1,169 Annualized net charge-offs to average loans 0.84% 0.33% 0.80% 0.26% 0.19% Nonperforming loans (NPLs) $50,722 57,480 46,322 36,832 33,962 NPLs as a percent of total loans 1.91% 2.20% 1.75% 1.45% 1.35% Nonperforming assets (NPAs) $74,417 70,692 55,914 46,848 40,678 NPAs as a percent of total assets 2.22% 2.15% 1.69% 1.46% 1.26% Allowance for loan losses $28,216 28,874 26,360 26,165 25,851 Allowance for loan losses as a percent of loans 1.07% 1.10% 1.00% 1.03% 1.03% Allowance for loan losses as a percent of NPLs 55.63% 50.23% 56.91% 71.04% 76.12% MORTGAGE BANKING Mortgage originations $333,000 335,700 282,400 330,700 356,300 Net gains on sale of loans $2,398 3,938 1,065 1,856 1,737 Mortgage servicing portfolio $1,425,915 1,357,944 1,228,283 1,062,742 2,095,607 Mortgage servicing rights $14,272 13,402 11,721 10,876 20,785 Mortgage servicing rights valuation (loss) recovery $(100) (145) (305) - 70 Mortgage servicing rights / Mortgage servicing portfolio 1.00% 0.99% 0.95% 1.02% 0.99% END OF PERIOD BALANCES Assets $3,341,483 3,288,984 3,304,274 3,202,595 3,226,213 Deposits $2,369,092 2,328,595 2,299,843 2,231,235 2,240,696 Shareholders' equity $318,136 313,698 312,089 322,708 326,187 Tangible shareholders' equity $210,937 207,722 205,146 215,429 217,817 AVERAGE BALANCES Loans $2,584,075 2,625,799 2,613,435 2,551,278 2,503,590 Loans held for sale $84,488 74,675 60,112 82,538 93,719 Earning assets $2,990,218 3,007,062 2,989,442 2,939,959 2,898,204 Assets $3,277,767 3,276,830 3,236,941 3,185,983 3,134,562 Deposits $2,330,860 2,323,244 2,279,620 2,225,830 2,193,083 Shareholders' equity $312,467 313,888 318,909 322,372 329,652 Tangible shareholders' equity $207,009 207,400 211,933 214,555 220,330 As of or for the year ended June 30, (Dollars in thousands except per share data) 2008 2007 CAPITAL Equity to total assets at end of period 9.52% 10.11% Tangible equity to tangible assets 6.52% 6.99% Book value per share $18.74 18.92 Tangible book value per share $12.43 12.64 Period-end market value per share $9.40 21.12 Dividends declared per common share $0.665 0.605 Common stock dividend payout ratio 99.25% 40.60% Period-end common shares outstanding (000) 16,973 17,236 Average basic shares outstanding (000) 16,132 16,955 Average diluted shares outstanding (000) 16,196 17,172 ASSET QUALITY Net charge-offs $14,500 3,859 Annualized net charge-offs to average loans 0.56% 0.16% Nonperforming loans (NPLs) $50,722 33,962 NPLs as a percent of total loans 1.91% 1.35% Nonperforming assets (NPAs) $74,417 40,678 NPAs as a percent of total assets 2.22% 1.26% Allowance for loan losses $28,216 25,851 Allowance for loan losses as a percent of loans 1.07% 1.03% Allowance for loan losses as a percent of NPLs 55.63% 76.12% MORTGAGE BANKING Mortgage originations $1,281,800 1,120,200 Net gains on sale of loans $9,257 7,240 Mortgage servicing portfolio $1,425,915 2,095,607 Mortgage servicing rights $14,272 20,785 Mortgage servicing rights valuation (loss) recovery $(550) 111 Mortgage servicing rights / Mortgage servicing portfolio 1.00% 0.99% END OF PERIOD BALANCES Assets $3,341,483 3,226,213 Deposits $2,369,092 2,240,696 Shareholders' equity $318,136 326,187 Tangible shareholders' equity $210,937 217,817 AVERAGE BALANCES Loans $2,593,585 2,435,203 Loans held for sale $75,431 103,731 Earning assets $2,983,420 2,844,184 Assets $3,244,183 3,080,945 Deposits $2,289,632 2,117,703 Shareholders' equity $316,932 323,575 Tangible shareholders' equity $210,243 218,826 For Further Information: Steven R. Lewis, President & CEO David W. Gifford, CFO (330) 373-1221
