HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABTX), the holding company of Allegiance Bank, reported net income attributable to common stockholders of $5.5 million in the third quarter 2016, a 35.2% increase over the same period in 2015, and a 4.1% increase compared to the second quarter 2016. Net income per diluted common share increased 5.0% to $0.42 in the third quarter 2016 compared to $0.40 for the same period in 2015 and increased 5.0% compared to $0.40 for the second quarter 2016.

"Our outstanding team of bankers has delivered another strong quarter of well-managed growth," said George Martinez, Allegiance's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are pleased with our third quarter results despite an increase in our provision for loan losses, which signifies the strength of our Bank. Allegiance's credit quality continues to be strong despite today's challenging market. Our third quarter results reflect solid organic loan and deposit growth as we continue to focus on serving our customers and executing on our super-community bank growth strategy.

"October marks Allegiance's one-year anniversary as a public company. We have achieved a lot in the past year, including generating strong internal growth and positioning ourselves for continued growth by adding exceptional bankers. We are well on track to complete another outstanding year of increasing value to our shareholders leading into 2017," continued Martinez.

Third Quarter 2016 Results

Third quarter 2016 annualized returns on average assets, average common equity and average tangible common equity were 0.90%, 7.77% and 9.21%, respectively, compared to annualized returns on average assets, average common equity and average tangible common equity of 0.85%, 8.27% and 10.77%, respectively, for the third quarter 2015. The initial public offering of 2.9 million shares generated net proceeds of $57.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2015. Annualized returns on average assets, average common equity and average tangible common equity for the second quarter 2016 were 0.91%, 7.79% and 9.30%, respectively.

In the third quarter 2016, Allegiance’s efficiency ratio decreased to 60.34% from 65.04% in the third quarter 2015 and increased slightly from 60.11% in the second quarter 2016.

Net interest income before provision for loan losses in the third quarter 2016 increased $3.0 million, or 14.7%, to $23.4 million from $20.4 million for the third quarter 2015 primarily due to organic loan growth and an increase in our securities portfolio. Net interest income before provision for loan losses in the third quarter 2016 increased $1.5 million, or 6.7%, from $21.9 million in the second quarter 2016. The net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis decreased 22 basis points to 4.39% for the third quarter 2016 from 4.61% for the third quarter 2015, and increased 7 basis points from 4.32% for the second quarter 2016. Excluding the impact of acquisition accounting adjustments, the net interest margin in the third quarter 2016 would have been 4.33%, compared to 4.44% and 4.24% in the third quarter 2015 and second quarter 2016, respectively.

Noninterest income in the third quarter 2016 was $1.3 million, an increase of $73 thousand, or 6.1%, compared to $1.2 million in the third quarter 2015 and an increase of $62 thousand, or 5.1%, compared to $1.2 million in the second quarter 2016.

Noninterest expense in the third quarter 2016 increased $994 thousand, or 7.2%, to $14.9 million from $13.9 million in the third quarter 2015, and increased $972 thousand, or 7.0%, from $13.9 million in the second quarter 2016.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Results

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, annualized returns on average assets, average common equity and average tangible common equity were 0.99%, 8.40% and 10.03%, respectively, compared to annualized returns on average assets, average common equity and average tangible common equity of 0.82%, 7.75% and 10.16%, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Excluding the gain on the sale of two Central Texas branch locations during the first quarter of 2016, the annualized returns on average assets, average common equity and average tangible common equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 would have been 0.92%, 7.75% and 9.24%, respectively.

Allegiance’s efficiency ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 decreased to 61.37% from 66.31% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Net interest income before provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 increased $7.5 million, or 12.8%, to $66.4 million from $58.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily due to organic growth within the loan portfolio and an increase in our securities portfolio. The net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis decreased 32 basis points to 4.39% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from 4.71% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Excluding the impact of acquisition accounting adjustments, the net interest margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 would have been 4.31%, compared to 4.44% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $5.8 million, an increase of $2.8 million, or 92.1%, when compared to $3.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Noninterest income for the first quarter 2016 included the gain on the sale of two Central Texas branch locations. Noninterest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 increased $2.2 million, or 5.3%, to $43.1 million from $40.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Financial Condition

Total loans at September 30, 2016 increased $214.3 million, or 13.3%, to $1.83 billion compared to $1.62 billion at September 30, 2015 and increased $77.0 million, or 4.4%, compared to $1.75 billion at June 30, 2016. These increases were due to strong organic loan growth within Allegiance Bank’s loan portfolio. Third quarter 2016 core loans, excluding the mortgage warehouse portfolio and loans held for sale, increased $231.2 million, or 15.2%, to $1.75 billion from $1.52 billion in the third quarter 2015 and increased $76.6 million, or 4.6%, from $1.68 billion in the second quarter 2016.

Deposits at September 30, 2016 increased $244.3 million, or 14.7%, to $1.90 billion compared to $1.66 billion at September 30, 2015 and increased $57.5 million compared to $1.84 billion at June 30, 2016.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets totaled $17.1 million, or 0.69% of total assets, at September 30, 2016, compared to $6.3 million, or 0.31% of total assets, at September 30, 2015, and $8.6 million, or 0.37% of total assets, at June 30, 2016. The allowance for loan losses was 0.94% of total loans at September 30, 2016, 0.69% of total loans at September 30, 2015, and 0.85% of total loans at June 30, 2016.

The provision for loan losses in the third quarter 2016 was $2.2 million, or 0.49% (annualized) of average loans, compared to $1.5 million, or 0.39% (annualized) of average loans, in the third quarter 2015, and $1.6 million, or 0.38% (annualized) of average loans, in the second quarter 2016. The provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $4.6 million, or 0.35% (annualized) of average loans, compared to $3.6 million, or 0.33% (annualized) of average loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Third quarter 2016 net recoveries were $54 thousand, compared to net charge-offs of $638 thousand, or 0.16% (annualized) of average loans, in the third quarter 2015, and $485 thousand, or 0.11% (annualized) of average loans, in the second quarter 2016. Net charge-offs for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $482 thousand, or 0.04% (annualized) of average loans, compared to $675 thousand, or 0.06% (annualized) of average loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

GAAP Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Allegiance’s management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate its performance. Specifically, Allegiance reviews tangible book value per common share, return on average tangible common equity and the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets. Please refer to the GAAP Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of non-GAAP Financial Measures on page 10 of this Earnings Release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures.

Allegiance Bancshares, Inc.

Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. is a $2.46 billion asset Houston, Texas-based bank holding company. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Allegiance Bank, Allegiance provides a diversified range of commercial banking services primarily to Houston metropolitan area-based small to medium-sized businesses and individual customers. Allegiance’s unique super-community banking strategy was designed to foster strong customer relationships while benefitting from a platform and scale that is competitive with larger local and regional banks. Allegiance Bank operates 16 full-service banking locations in the Houston metropolitan area. Visit www.allegiancebank.com for more information.