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 14, 2014


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 months 2014 results through September 30, 2014.  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 14, 2014, announcing the third quarter and first nine months 2014 results through September 30, 2014.



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 14, 2014







Exhibit 99.1



AMERISERV FINANCIAL REPORTS EARNINGS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER AND FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2014   


JOHNSTOWN, PA – AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASRV) reported third quarter 2014 net income available to common shareholders of $312,000, or $0.02 per diluted common share.  This compares to net income available to common shareholders of $1,173,000, or $0.06 per diluted common share, reported for the third quarter of 2013.  As previously disclosed on September 25, 2014, the Company’s third quarter 2014 performance was negatively impacted by a $669,000 goodwill impairment charge related to its registered investment advisory subsidiary and approximately $150,000 of non-recurring expenses related to a profitability improvement project.  For the nine month period ended September 30, 2014, the Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $2,116,000, or $0.11 per diluted share.  This represented a 35.3% decline in earnings per share from the same nine month period in 2013 where net income available to common shareholders totaled $3,195,000 or $0.17 per diluted common share.  The following table highlights the Company’s financial performance for both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

          

 

Third Quarter 2014

Third Quarter 2013

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2014

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$365,000

$1,226,000

 

$2,274,000

$3,352,000

Net income available to common shareholders


$312,000


$1,173,000

 


$2,116,000


$3,195,000

Diluted earnings per share

          $ 0.02

          $ 0.06

 

                   $ 0.11

$ 0.17


Glenn L. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the third quarter 2014 financial results: “During the third quarter, we continued to thoroughly analyze our business operations and practices in order to improve efficiencies and increase profitability in 2015 and beyond.  We plan to accomplish this objective while keeping the positive momentum we have developed on growing our loan portfolio while maintaining strong asset quality. Over the past twelve months, we have increased total loans by $54 million, or 7.10%, to a record level of $818 million.  This has been an important factor contributing to the growth in net interest income that AmeriServ Financial has achieved in 2014.  Additionally, our asset quality metrics continue to be outstanding as non-performing assets are only 0.48% of total loans and our allowance for loan losses provided 298% coverage of non-performing loans at September 30, 2014.”  


The Company’s net interest income in the third quarter of 2014 increased by $203,000 from the prior year’s third quarter and for the first nine months of 2014 increased by $1,049,000, or 4.3%, when compared to the first nine months of 2013.  The Company’s net interest margin of 3.48% for the first nine months of 2014 was four basis points lower than the net interest margin of 3.52% for the first nine months of 2013.  There was a similar net interest margin decline of four basis points when the third quarter of 2014 is compared to the prior year third quarter.  We believe that this performance demonstrates that the recent pace of net interest margin contraction has slowed from the pace of margin decline experienced over the previous two years.  The Company has been able to mitigate this net interest margin pressure and to increase net interest income by both growing its earning assets and reducing its cost of funds. Specifically, the earning asset growth has occurred in the loan portfolio as total loans averaged $797 million in the first nine months of 2014 which is $60 million, or 8.2%, higher than the $737 million average for the same period in 2013.  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 (SBLF) loans.  As a result of this growth in SBLF qualified loans, the Company has locked in the lowest preferred dividend rate available under the program of 1% until the first quarter of 2016.  Interest income in 2014 has also benefitted from reduced premium amortization on mortgage backed securities due to slower mortgage prepayment speeds.  Overall, total interest income has increased by $957,000 in 2014.  Total interest expense for the first nine months of 2014 declined by $92,000 from the first nine months of 2013 due to the Company’s proactive efforts to reduce deposit costs.  Even with this reduction in deposit costs, the Company still experienced growth in deposits which reflects the loyalty of our core deposit base and ongoing efforts to cross sell new loan customers into deposit products.  Specifically, total deposits averaged a record level of $870 million for the first nine months of 2014 which is $26 million, or 3.1%, higher than the $844 million average in the first nine months of 2013.  This decreased interest cost for deposits has been partially offset by a $132,000 increase in the interest cost for borrowings as the Company has utilized more FHLB term advances to extend borrowings and provide protection against rising interest rates.   


The Company did not record a provision for loan losses in either the third quarter of 2014 or the third quarter of 2013.  For the nine month period during 2014, the Company also did not record a provision for loan losses compared to a $100,000 negative provision in the first nine months of 2013.  The Company continued to maintain outstanding asset quality in 2014.  At September 30, 2014, non-performing assets totaled $3.9 million, or 0.48% of total loans, which represents the second time that our non-performing assets have been under $4 million in the past seven quarters.  The Company experienced net loan charge-offs of $567,000, or 0.28% of total loans, in the third quarter of 2014 compared to net loan recoveries of $39,000, or 0.02% of total loans, in the third quarter of 2013.  However, for the first nine months of 2014 actual credit losses realized through net charge-offs totaled $522,000, or 0.09% of total loans, which represents a decrease from the first nine months of 2013 when net charge-offs totaled $1.3 million, or 0.23% of total loans.  When determining the provision for loan losses, the Company considers a number of factors, some of which include periodic credit reviews, non-performing assets, 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 a strong 298% coverage of non-performing loans, and 1.17% of total loans, at September 30, 2014, compared to 327% coverage of non-performing loans, and 1.29% of total loans, at December 31, 2013.


Total non-interest income in the third quarter of 2014 decreased by $393,000 from the prior year’s third quarter and for the first nine months of 2014 decreased by $1.1 million, or 9.4%, when compared to the first nine months of 2013.  The primary factors causing the third quarter 2014 decline were a $140,000 decrease in other income and an $86,000 decrease in trust and investment advisory fees.  The other income drop was due to reduced gains on the sale of other real estate owned and lower financial services commission revenue.  The decline in trust and investment advisory fees was caused by the loss of certain clients at our investment advisory subsidiary due to the departure of the former chief executive officer of that business earlier in 2014.  The largest factor contributing to the $1.1 million decline in non-interest income for the nine month period in 2014 was reduced revenue from residential mortgage banking activities due to lower refinance activity as a result of higher mortgage rates and reduced purchase activity, particularly in the first quarter of 2014.  This caused gains realized on residential mortgage loan sales into the secondary market and other mortgage related fees to decrease by a total of $539,000 for the first nine months of 2014.  Other factors contributing to the non-interest income decline in the first nine months of 2014 included a $233,000 decrease in bank owned life insurance revenue due largely to the receipt of a death claim in the prior year and a net unfavorable swing of $136,000 on other real estate owned property transactions.  


Total non-interest expense in the third quarter of 2014 increased by $830,000 from the prior year’s third quarter and for the first nine months of 2014 increased by $1.1 million, or 3.6%, when compared to the first nine months of 2013.  As previously disclosed, the Company recorded a $669,000 goodwill impairment charge and approximately $150,000 of professional fees related to a profitability improvement project in the third quarter of 2014.  The facts and circumstances that led to an impairment of goodwill included a recent loss of clients and a reduction in the projected earnings capacity of our investment advisory subsidiary.  The Company expects to achieve a significant payback on the costs related to the profitability improvement project as we evaluate and prioritize recommendations for implementation beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014 and continuing into 2015.  For the nine month period, salaries and employee benefits were down by $198,000 due to lower pension expense and incentive compensation expense in 2014.  Professional fees increased by $913,000 for the nine month period due to higher legal costs related to litigation against the former CEO of our investment advisory subsidiary, the consulting costs associated with our profitability improvement project and new recurring costs related to outsourcing our computer operations and statement processing to a third party vendor.  The overall cost savings benefit from outsourcing these services is captured in lower personnel costs in these departments and reduced software expense, which is a key factor contributing to the decline in other expenses of $436,000 for the nine month period in 2014.  Finally, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $1.2 million, or an effective tax rate of 34.5%, in the first nine months of 2014 compared to income tax expense of $1.4 million, or an effective tax rate of 29.6%, for the first nine months of 2013.  The higher effective tax rate in 2014 was primarily due to the non-deductibility of the goodwill impairment charge for tax purposes.  This was the factor responsible for the unusually high effective tax rate of 51.5% for the third quarter of 2014 as the impact of the goodwill impairment charge was more pronounced on the quarterly results.  


The Company had total assets of $1.07 billion, shareholders’ equity of $116 million, a book value of $5.06 per common share and a tangible book value of $4.43 per common share at September 30, 2014.  The Company has increased its tangible book value per share by 8.3% over the past twelve months.  The Company continued to maintain strong capital ratios that exceed the regulatory defined well capitalized status with a risk based capital ratio of 15.00%, an asset leverage ratio of 11.44% and a tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio of 7.86% at September 30, 2014.

 

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, 2014

(In thousands, except per share and ratio data)

(Unaudited)


2014

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

Net income

$930

$979

$365

$2,274

Net income available to common shareholders

877

927

312

2,116

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

0.36%

0.37%

0.14%

0.29%

Return on average equity

3.30

3.41

1.25

2.64

Net interest margin

3.56

3.47

3.42

3.48

Net charge-offs (recoveries) as a percentage

    of average loans


-


(0.02)


0.28


0.09

Loan loss provision (credit) as a percentage of

    average loans


-


-


-


-

Efficiency ratio

89.02

88.29

93.68

90.32

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

Basic

$0.05

$0.05

$0.02

$0.11

Average number of common shares outstanding

18,786

18,795

18,795

18,792

Diluted

0.05

0.05

0.02

0.11

Average number of common shares outstanding

18,904

18,936

18,908

18,916

Cash dividends declared

$0.01

$0.01

$0.01

$0.03


2013

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

Net income

$1,056

$1,070

$1,226

$3,352

Net income available to common shareholders

1,004

1,018

1,173

3,195

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

0.43%

0.43%

0.47%

0.44%

Return on average equity

3.86

3.86

4.44

4.05

Net interest margin

3.59

3.50

3.46

3.52

Net charge-offs (recoveries) as a percentage

    of average loans


0.76


(0.02)


(0.02)


0.23

Loan loss provision (credit) as a percentage of

    average loans


(0.14)


0.08


-


(0.02)

Efficiency ratio

89.52

86.28

85.41

87.05

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

Basic

$0.05

$0.05

$0.06

$0.17

Average number of common shares outstanding

19,168

19,039

18,784

18,995

Diluted

0.05

0.05

0.06

0.17

Average number of common shares outstanding

19,257

19,128

18,878

19,086

Cash dividends declared

$0.00

$0.01

$0.01

$0.02


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

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

(Unaudited)


2014

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION  DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$1,051,108

$1,063,717

$1,070,431

 

Short-term investments/overnight funds

9,019

8,013

6,662

 

Investment securities

154,754

153,603

150,471

 

Loans and loans held for sale

789,620

804,675

817,887

 

Allowance for loan losses

10,109

10,150

9,582

 

Goodwill

12,613

12,613

11,944

 

Deposits

875,333

873,908

872,170

 

FHLB borrowings

40,483

52,677

63,438

 

Shareholders’ equity

114,590

115,946

116,146

 

Non-performing assets

3,274

4,469

3,897

 

Asset leverage ratio

11.50%

11.56%

11.44%

 

Tangible common equity ratio

7.80

7.83

7.86

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value (A)

$4.97

$5.05

$5.06

 

Tangible book value (A)

4.31

4.38

4.43

 

Market value

3.85

3.48

3.30

 

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

$1,692,663

$1,778,522

$1,774,988

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

347

345

341

 

Branch locations

18

17

17

 

Common shares outstanding

18,793,388

18,794,888

18,794,888

 


2013

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

FINANCIAL CONDITION  DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$999,718

$1,025,084

$1,038,144

$1,056,036

Short-term investments/overnight funds

23,995

9,291

8,646

9,778

Investment securities

162,866

168,284

167,110

160,165

Loans and loans held for sale

717,852

751,522

763,681

786,748

Allowance for loan losses

10,960

11,145

11,183

10,104

Goodwill

12,613

12,613

12,613

12,613

Deposits

847,189

840,272

852,211

854,522

FHLB borrowings

16,000

50,292

52,096

66,555

Shareholders’ equity

111,445

109,282

110,370

113,307

Non-performing assets

4,387

5,027

5,037

4,109

Asset leverage ratio

11.58%

11.52%

11.44%

11.45%

Tangible common equity ratio

7.88

7.47

7.48

7.64

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value (A)

$4.72

$4.70

$4.76

$4.91

Tangible book value (A)

4.06

4.03

4.09

4.24

Market value

3.13

2.74

3.15

3.03

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

$1,566,236

$1,562,366

$1,599,402

$1,668,654

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

357

360

358

352

Branch locations

18

18

18

18

Common shares outstanding

19,168,188

18,784,188

18,784,188

18,784,188

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 consolidated balance sheets.


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


2014

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$9,032

$8,939

$9,019

$26,990

Interest on investments

1,063

1,044

1,000

3,107

Total Interest Income

10,095

9,983

10,019

30,097

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Deposits

1,211

1,240

1,237

3,688

All borrowings

359

359

379

1,097

Total Interest Expense

1,570

1,599

1,616

4,785

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

8,525

8,384

8,403

25,312

Provision (credit) for loan losses

-

-

-

-

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER

   PROVISION (CREDIT) FOR LOAN

   LOSSES



8,525



8,384



8,403



25,312

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

Trust and investment advisory fees

2,032

1,948

1,807

5,787

Service charges on deposit accounts

478

501

507

1,486

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

101

171

275

547

Mortgage related fees

117

160

190

467

Net realized gains on investment securities

57

120

-

177

Bank owned life insurance

187

185

188

560

Other income

560

553

626

1,739

Total Non-Interest Income

3,532

3,638

3,593

10,763

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

6,314

6,107

6,139

18,560

Net occupancy expense

839

717

709

2,265

Equipment expense

470

494

468

1,432

Professional fees

1,308

1,464

1,360

4,132

FDIC deposit insurance expense

160

154

159

473

Goodwill impairment charge

-

-

669

669

Other expenses

1,647

1,684

1,739

5,070

Total Non-Interest Expense

10,738

10,620

11,243

32,601

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME

1,319

1,402

753

3,474

Income tax expense

389

423

388

1,200

NET INCOME

930

979

365

2,274

Preferred stock dividends

53

52

53

158

NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS


$877


$927


$312


$2,116


2013

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$8,628

$8,590

$8,765

$25,983

Interest on investments

1,074

1,037

1,046

3,157

Total Interest Income

9,702

9,627

9,811

29,140

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Deposits

1,350

1,288

1,274

3,912

All borrowings

310

318

337

965

Total Interest Expense

1,660

1,606

1,611

4,877

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

8,042

8,021

8,200

24,263

Provision (credit) for loan losses

(250)

150

-

(100)

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER

   PROVISION (CREDIT) FOR LOAN

   LOSSES



8,292



7,871



8,200



24,363

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

Trust and investment advisory fees

1,881

1,999

1,893

5,773

Service charges on deposit accounts

511

538

560

1,609

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

386

241

285

912

Mortgage related fees

201

228

212

641

Net realized gains on investment securities

71

-

66

137

Bank owned life insurance

201

388

204

793

Other income

565

681

766

2,012

Total Non-Interest Income

3,816

4,075

3,986

11,877

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

6,331

6,176

6,251

18,758

Net occupancy expense

773

751

694

2,218

Equipment expense

455

455

429

1,339

Professional fees

1,035

1,150

1,034

3,219

FDIC deposit insurance expense

134

151

152

437

Other expenses

1,894

1,759

1,853

5,506

Total Non-Interest Expense

10,622

10,442

10,413

31,477

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME

1,486

1,504

1,773

4,763

Income tax expense

430

434

547

1,411

NET INCOME

1,056

1,070

1,226

3,352

Preferred stock dividends

52

52

53

157

NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS


$1,004


$1,018


$1,173


$3,195


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

NASDAQ: ASRV

Average Balance Sheet Data (In thousands)

(Unaudited)


2014

2013

 

 

NINE

 

NINE

 

3QTR

MONTHS

3QTR

MONTHS

Interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Loans and loans held for sale, net of unearned income

$808,731

$797,090

$754,996

$736,896

Deposits with banks

7,207

6,904

6,542

8,541

Short-term investment in money market funds

1,449

2,635

2,632

3,437

Fed funds sold

-

-

318

106

Total investment securities

155,816

158,651

172,880

168,666

Total interest earning assets

973,203

965,280

937,368

917,646

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

16,027

15,755

16,469

16,720

Premises and equipment

13,477

13,273

13,018

12,656

Other assets

69,528

69,635

72,125

76,683

Allowance for loan losses

(10,040)

(10,101)

(11,177)

(11,571)

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

$1,062,195

$1,053,842

$1,027,803

$1,012,134

 

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing deposits:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing demand

$104,197

$95,688

$79,224

$72,308

Savings

89,522

89,647

88,270

88,128

Money market

228,353

228,898

211,725

210,993

Other time

299,730

301,959

315,890

313,075

Total interest bearing deposits

721,802

716,192

695,109

684,504

Borrowings:

 

 

 

 

Federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings

12,933

16,606

18,711

13,590

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank

34,729

30,605

20,193

16,537

Guaranteed junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures

13,085

13,085

13,085

13,085

Total interest bearing liabilities

782,549

776,488

747,098

727,716

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

  Demand deposits

155,157

153,648

159,627

159,550

  Other liabilities

8,143

8,395

11,622

14,298

Shareholders’ equity

116,346

115,311

109,456

110,570

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$1,062,195

$1,053,842

$1,027,803

$1,012,134