SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION





SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549


Form 8-K


Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 16, 2012


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, Inc.

(exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Pennsylvania        0-11204        25-1424278

(State or other     (commission    (I.R.S. Employer

jurisdiction        File Number)   Identification No.)

of Incorporation)


Main and Franklin Streets, Johnstown, Pa.  15901

(address or principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 814-533-5300


N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to

simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under

any of the following provisions:


( ) Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities

Act (17 CFR 230.425)


( ) Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange

Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)


( ) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the

Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))


( ) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the

Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4c))

















Form 8-K


Item 2.02 Results of operation and financial condition.


AMERISERV FINANCIAL Inc. (the "Registrant") announced third quarter and first nine month results through September 30, 2012.  For a more detailed description of the announcement see the press release attached as Exhibit #99.1.  


Exhibits

--------


Exhibit 99.1

Press release dated October 16, 2012, announcing the third quarter and first nine month results through September 30, 2012.



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



AMERISERV FINANCIAL, Inc.


By /s/Jeffrey A. Stopko

Jeffrey A. Stopko

Executive Vice President

& CFO


Date: October 16, 2012








Exhibit 99.1


AMERISERV FINANCIAL REPORTS EARNINGS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER AND FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2012     


JOHNSTOWN, PA – AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASRV) reported third quarter 2012 net income available to common shareholders of $1,056,000 or $0.05 per diluted common share.  This performance is consistent with the financial results reported for the third quarter of 2011.  For the nine month period ended September 30, 2012, the Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $3,528,000 or $0.18 per diluted share.  While net income available to common shareholders for the nine month period was down by $120,000 or 3.3%, compared to the same period in 2011, diluted earnings per share increased by $0.01 or 5.9% due to the success of the Company’s common stock repurchase program.  The sustained improvements in asset quality continued to result in a negative provision for loan losses in 2012, but at a lesser level than in 2011.  This is the factor causing the reduction in net income for both the third quarter and nine month period of 2012.  The following table highlights the Company’s financial performance for both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012:         

     

 

Third Quarter 2012

Third Quarter 2011

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2012

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$1,307,000

$1,566,000

 

$4,304,000

$4,767,000

Net income available to

  common shareholders


$1,056,000


$1,027,000

 


$3,528,000


$3,648,000

Diluted earnings per share

          $ 0.05

          $ 0.05

 

                   $ 0.18

$0.17


Glenn L. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the third quarter 2012 financial results: “AmeriServ Financial was able to report a sixth consecutive quarter of loan growth during the third quarter of 2012 and now exceeds $1 billion in total assets.  This loan growth helped us increase our net interest income by over $200,000 and maintain a stable net interest margin on a linked quarter basis, despite the challenging interest rate environment.  I was pleased that our recently opened loan production offices are now contributing to the loan increase we have achieved in 2012.  Additionally, this loan growth has occurred in loan categories that qualify for the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF).  As a result, we will pay the lowest preferred share dividend rate available under the SBLF program for at least two consecutive quarters beginning in the fourth quarter of 2012.  This will have a positive impact on the key shareholder value metrics of earnings per share and tangible book value per share in future quarters.”                


The Company’s net interest income has been relatively consistent this year as it increased by $24,000 or 0.3% in the third quarter of 2012 from the prior year’s third quarter and for the first nine months of 2012 decreased by only $49,000 or 0.2% when compared to the first nine months of 2011.  The Company’s 2012 net interest margin of 3.63% was seven basis points lower than the net interest margin of 3.70% for the first nine months of 2011.  The decreased net interest margin reflects the challenges of a flatter yield curve which has pressured interest revenue in 2012.  The Company has been able to overcome this net interest margin pressure and keep net interest income relatively constant by reducing its cost of funds and growing its earning assets, particularly loans.  Specifically, total loans outstanding have increased for six consecutive quarters and now are $39.2 million or 5.9% higher than they were at September 30, 2011.  This loan growth reflects the successful results of the Company’s more intensive sales calling efforts with an emphasis on generating commercial loans and owner occupied commercial real estate loans which qualify as Small Business Lending Fund loans, particularly through its new loan production offices.  Despite this growth in loans, total interest revenue dropped by $1.6 million between years and reflects the lower interest rate environment and flatter yield curve.  Interest revenue has also been negatively impacted by increased premium amortization on mortgage backed securities due to faster mortgage prepayment speeds.  However, careful management of funding costs has allowed the Company to mitigate a significant portion of this drop in interest revenue during the past year.  Specifically, interest expense in the first nine months of 2012 declined by $1.5 million from the same prior year period due to the Company’s proactive efforts to reduce deposit and borrowing costs.  Even with this reduction in deposit costs, the Company still experienced solid growth in deposits which increased by $22.8 million or 2.8% over the past 12 months.  The Company continues to maintain strong liquidity as evidenced by a loan to deposit ratio of 83.1% at September 30, 2012.   


Sustained improvements in asset quality evidenced by low levels of non-performing assets, net charge-offs, and classified loans allowed the Company to again reverse a portion of the allowance for loan losses into earnings in the third quarter of 2012 while still maintaining strong coverage ratios.  At September 30, 2012, non-performing assets totaled $5.4 million or 0.77% of total loans.  This represents the fifth consecutive quarter where non-performing assets have been near the $5 million level.  Criticized and classified loans also dropped by $11 million or 20.7% during the past 12 months.  Actual credit losses realized through net charge-offs have also declined in 2012 for both the third quarter and nine month periods.  For the first nine months of 2012, net charge-offs totaled $470,000 or 0.09% of total loans which represents a decrease from the first nine months of 2011 when net charge-offs totaled $1.4 million or 0.28% of total loans.  As a result of this sustained asset quality improvement, the Company recorded a negative provision for loan losses of $200,000 in the third quarter of 2012 compared to a negative provision of $550,000 in the third quarter of 2011.  For the nine month period in 2012, the negative provision amounted to $1,325,000 compared to a $2,325,000 credit provision in the first nine months of 2011.  Overall, there has been $1.0 million less earnings benefit from negative loan loss provisions in 2012.  When determining the provision for loan losses, the Company considers a number of factors some of which include periodic credit reviews, non-performing asset, loan delinquency and charge-off trends, concentrations of credit, loan volume trends and broader local and national economic trends.  In summary, the allowance for loan losses provided 282% coverage of non-performing loans, and was 1.83% of total loans, at September 30, 2012, compared to 288% of non-performing loans, and 2.18% of total loans, at December 31, 2011.


The Company’s growth in non-interest income has also been a financial performance highlight in 2012.  Total non-interest income in the third quarter of 2012 increased by $125,000 or 3.5% from the prior year’s third quarter and for the first nine months of 2012 increased by $973,000 or 9.6% when compared to the first nine months of 2011.  The 2012 non-interest income increase was driven by increased revenue from residential mortgage banking activities.  Specifically, gains realized on residential mortgage loan sales into the secondary market increased by $76,000 for the third quarter and by $186,000 for the nine month period due to increased mortgage loan production in 2012.  Higher fees related to residential mortgage banking activities along with increased revenue from financial services (annuity and mutual funds sales) were the key factors responsible for the $159,000 quarterly increase and $377,000 nine month increase in other income in 2012.  Also for the nine month period, our Trust Company continued its positive momentum with trust fees increasing by $115,000 or 2.4% as our wealth management businesses benefited from the implementation of new fee schedules and improved asset values under management in 2012.  Finally, the Company realized a modest $12,000 investment security gain in 2012 compared to a $358,000 investment security loss in the first quarter of 2011 that resulted from a portfolio repositioning strategy.            


Total non-interest expense in the third quarter of 2012 increased by $205,000 from the prior year’s third quarter and for the first nine months of 2012 increased by $590,000 or 2.0% when compared to the first nine months of 2011.  Salaries and employee benefits increased by $430,000 for the third quarter and $1.3 million or 7.9% for the nine month period due to higher salaries expense, incentive compensation, and pension expense.  The 2012 personnel expenses also reflect the staffing costs associated with new loan production offices in Altoona, Harrisburg and Hagerstown, Maryland.  Other expenses also increased by $152,000 for the nine month period due to an increase in the reserve for unfunded loan commitments as result of increased commercial loan origination activity in 2012 and higher business development related expenses.  These negative items were partially offset by a $158,000 reduction in FDIC deposit insurance expense for the third quarter of 2012 and an $837,000 reduction for the nine month period.  This reduction resulted from a change in the calculation methodology which took effect in the second half of 2011 and the Company’s improved risk profile resulting primarily from better asset quality.  Finally, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $1.9 million or an effective tax rate of 31.0% for the first nine months of 2012 which was comparable with the income tax expense of $2.1 million or an effective tax rate of 30.9% for the first nine months of 2011.  The quarterly effective tax rates were also comparable with the nine month average.


ASRV had total assets of $1.0 billion and shareholders’ equity of $112 million or a book value of $4.74 per common share and a tangible book value of $4.09 per common share at September 30, 2012.  During the first nine months of 2012, the Company repurchased 1,667,000 shares or 8.0% of its outstanding common stock at an average price of $2.49 in conjunction with the terms of its previously announced common stock repurchase program.  This was a key factor contributing to an 8.8% growth in tangible book value per share since the end of 2011.  The Company continued to maintain strong capital ratios that considerably exceed the regulatory defined well capitalized status with a risk based capital ratio of 16.26%, an asset leverage ratio of 11.45% and a tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio of 7.95% at September 30, 2012.  


This news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report and Form 10-K to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Actual results may differ materially.  

Nasdaq: ASRV

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE DATA

September 30, 2012

(In thousands, except per share and ratio data)

(Unaudited)


2012

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

Net income

$1,565

$1,432

$1,307

$4,304

Net income available to common

    shareholders


1,302


1,170


1,056


3,528

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

0.65%

0.59%

0.52%

0.59%

Return on average equity

5.60

5.19

4.66

5.15

Net interest margin

3.70

3.59

3.59

3.63

Net charge-offs (recoveries) as a percentage

    of average loans


0.13


(0.02)


0.16


0.09

Loan loss provision as a percentage of

    average loans


(0.38)


(0.30)


(0.11)


(0.26)

Efficiency ratio

86.17

86.34

85.50

86.00

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

Basic

$0.06

$0.06

$0.05

$0.18

Average number of common shares

    outstanding


20,679


19,584


19,275


19,844

Diluted

0.06

0.06

0.05

0.18

Average number of common shares

    outstanding


20,722


19,652


19,351


19,904

 

 

 

 

 


2011

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

Net income

$1,263

$1,938

$1,566

$4,767

Net income available to common

    shareholders


973


1,648


1,027


3,648

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

0.54%

0.81%

0.64%

0.66%

Return on average equity

4.77

7.11

5.52

5.81

Net interest margin

3.70

3.71

3.68

3.70

Net charge-offs as a percentage of

    average loans


0.70


(0.07)


0.20


0.28

Loan loss provision as a percentage of

    average loans


(0.37)


(0.72)


(0.33)


(0.47)

Efficiency ratio

89.53

85.53

84.83

86.59

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

Basic

$0.05

$0.08

$0.05

$0.17

Average number of common shares

    outstanding


21,208


21,208


21,208


21,208

Diluted

0.05

0.08

0.05

0.17

Average number of common shares

    outstanding


21,230


21,236


21,227


21,231


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

(In thousands, except per share, statistical, and ratio data)

(Unaudited)


2012

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

Assets

$967,401

$997,102

$1,002,281

Short-term investments/overnight funds

7,398

14,158

14,210

Investment securities

190,089

191,791

181,319

Loans and loans held for sale

671,328

690,815

706,624

Allowance for loan losses

13,778

13,317

12,829

Goodwill

12,613

12,613

12,613

Deposits

820,105

854,017

850,125

FHLB borrowings

6,390

3,000

12,000

Shareholders’ equity

112,270

110,810

112,311

Non-performing assets

4,801

5,077

5,372

Asset leverage ratio

11.83%

11.60%

11.45%

Tangible common equity ratio

8.24

7.84

7.95

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

Book value (A)

$4.46

$4.66

$4.74

Tangible book value

3.84

4.00

4.09

Market value

2.74

2.82

2.97

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

$1,469,789

$1,447,877

$1,511,012

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

353

353

355

Branch locations

18

18

18

Common shares outstanding

20,465,521

19,284,521

19,255,221


2011

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$961,067

$954,893

$973,439

$979,076

Short-term investments/overnight funds

26,769

4,338

17,941

7,845

Investment securities

195,272

198,770

195,784

195,203

Loans and loans held for sale

644,836

656,838

667,409

670,847

Allowance for loan losses

18,025

16,958

16,069

14,623

Goodwill and core deposit intangibles

12,613

12,613

12,613

12,613

Deposits

816,528

810,082

827,358

816,420

FHLB borrowings

9,736

9,722

9,707

21,765

Shareholders’ equity

108,170

111,410

114,164

112,352

Non-performing assets

9,328

7,433

5,344

5,199

Asset leverage ratio

11.40%

11.60%

11.70%

11.66%

Tangible common equity ratio

7.89

8.29

8.38

8.15

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value (A)

$4.12

$4.28

$4.39

$4.37

Tangible book value

3.53

3.68

3.80

3.76

Market value

2.37

1.95

1.90

1.95

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

$1,410,755

$1,390,534

$1,313,440

$1,382,745

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

351

352

342

347

Branch locations

18

18

18

18

Common shares outstanding

21,207,670

21,208,421

21,208,421

20,921,021

NOTES:

(A)

Preferred stock of $21 million received through the Small Business Lending Fund is excluded from the book value per

common share and tangible book value per common share calculations.

        (B) Not recognized on the balance sheet.


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


2012

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$8,729

$8,552

$8,807

$26,088

Total investment portfolio

1,395

1,333

1,223

3,951

Total Interest Income

10,124

9,885

10,030

30,039

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Deposits

1,762

1,668

1,587

5,017

All borrowings

304

296

301

901

Total Interest Expense

2,066

1,964

1,888

5,918

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

8,058

7,921

8,142

24,121

Provision (credit) for loan losses

(625)

(500)

(200)

(1,325)

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER

   PROVISION (CREDIT) FOR LOAN

   LOSSES



8,683



8,421



8,342



25,446

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

Trust fees

1,697

1,628

1,533

4,858

Investment advisory fees

193

177

182

552

Net realized gains on investment securities

-

12

-

12

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

276

251

262

789

Service charges on deposit accounts

535

517

567

1,619

Bank owned life insurance

215

212

217

644

Other income

758

936

888

2,582

Total Non-interest Income

3,674

3,733

3,649

11,056

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

5,986

5,976

6,132

18,094

Net occupancy expense

729

702

698

2,129

Equipment expense

451

473

395

1,319

Professional fees

923

937

977

2,837

FDIC deposit insurance expense

129

114

104

347

Other expenses

1,896

1,865

1,781

5,542

Total Non-interest Expense

10,114

10,067

10,087

30,268

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME

2,243

2,087

1,904

6,234

Income tax expense

678

655

597

1,930

NET INCOME

1,565

1,432

1,307

4,304

Preferred stock dividends

263

262

251

776

NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS


$1,302


$1,170


$1,056


$3,528


2011

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$9,083

$8,804

$8,888

$26,775

Total investment portfolio

1,513

1,726

1,604

4,843

Total Interest Income

10,596

10,530

10,492

31,618

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Deposits

2,294

2,106

2,038

6,438

All borrowings

336

338

336

1,010

Total Interest Expense

2,630

2,444

2,374

7,448

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

7,966

8,086

8,118

24,170

Provision (credit) for loan losses

(600)

(1,175)

(550)

(2,325)

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER

   PROVISION (CREDIT) FOR LOAN

   LOSSES



8,566



9,261



8,668



26,495

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

Trust fees

1,556

1,617

1,570

4,743

Investment advisory fees

198

198

172

568

Net realized losses on investment securities

(358)

-

-

(358)

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

262

155

186

603

Service charges on deposit accounts

472

549

640

1,661

Bank owned life insurance

216

218

227

661

Other income

759

717

729

2,205

Total Non-interest Income

3,105

3,454

3,524

10,083

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

5,500

5,574

5,702

16,776

Net occupancy expense

757

742

680

2,179

Equipment expense

429

411

435

1,275

Professional fees

980

911

983

2,874

FDIC deposit insurance expense

462

460

262

1,184

Other expenses

1,791

1,779

1,820

5,390

Total Non-interest Expense

9,919

9,877

9,882

29,678

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME

1,752

2,838

2,310

6,900

Income tax expense

489

900

744

2,133

NET INCOME

1,263

1,938

1,566

4,767

Preferred stock dividends and accretion of

   preferred stock  


290


290


539


1,119

NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS


$973


$1,648


$1,027


$3,648


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

Nasdaq: ASRV

Average Balance Sheet Data (In thousands)

(Unaudited)


2012

2011

 

 

NINE

 

NINE

 

3QTR

MONTHS

3QTR

MONTHS

Interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Loans and loans held for sale, net of unearned

    income


$701,104


$678,995


$663,230


$658,442

Deposits with banks

5,265

8,870

9,861

4,546

Short-term investment in money market funds

4,717

4,567

3,547

3,451

Federal funds sold

-

-

-

7,784

Total investment securities

187,474

190,662

199,228

198,580

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest earning assets

898,560

883,094

875,866

872,803

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

17,090

16,775

16,228

15,598

Premises and equipment

11,019

10,925

10,535

10,504

Other assets

81,526

81,793

79,342

79,323

Allowance for loan losses

(13,167)

(13,830)

(17,032)

(18,309)

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

$995,028

$978,757

$964,939

$959,919

 

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing deposits:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing demand

$63,321

$59,703

$59,099

$57,143

Savings

86,373

85,152

83,280

81,241

Money market

216,644

208,414

193,921

190,642

Other time

328,410

330,073

346,639

352,643

Total interest bearing deposits

694,748

683,342

682,939

681,669

Borrowings:

 

 

 

 

Federal funds purchased and other short- term

    borrowings


3,808


2,827


227


507

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

4,417

5,683

9,715

9,729

Guaranteed junior subordinated deferrable interest

    debentures


13,085


13,085


13,085


13,085

Total interest bearing liabilities

716,058

704,937

705,966

704,990

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

  Demand deposits

150,844

146,229

134,767

133,465

  Other liabilities

16,467

15,970

11,634

11,691

Shareholders’ equity

111,659

111,621

112,572

109,773

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$995,028

$978,757

$964,939

$959,919