ÂPHM014 MP 16:30 USBANCORP Announces Earnings









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 21, 2003


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.)

















Form 8-K


Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition



AMERISERV FINANCIAL Inc. (the "Registrant") press release dated October 21, 2003, announcing its earnings for the three (3) and nine (9) month periods ended September 30, 2003 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference


Exhibits

--------


Exhibit 99.1 Press release dated October 21, 2003, announcing its earnings for the

 three (3) and nine (9) month periods ended September 30, 2003.



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

Senior Vice President

& CFO


Date: October 21, 2003














Exhibit 99.1


Jeffrey A. Stopko

 

    October 21, 2003

Senior Vice President &


Chief Financial Officer


(814)-533-5310


AMERISERV FINANCIAL REPORTS SECOND CONSECUTIVE QUARTER OF PROFITABIITY     


JOHNSTOWN, PA – AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASRV) completed its second consecutive quarter of profitability by reporting net income for the third quarter of 2003 of $249,000 or $0.02 per diluted share.  This represents significant improvement and a dramatic turnaround from the net loss of $4.2 million or $0.31 per share reported in the third quarter of 2002.  As a result of the positive second and third quarter 2003 performance, the Company is also profitable for the nine month period ended September 30, 2003 with net income of $369,000 or $0.03 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $3.2 million or $0.23 per share for the same period in 2002.  The following table highlights the Company’s financial performance for both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002:      


 

Third

Quarter 2003

Third Quarter 2002

 

Nine Months

Ended

September 30, 2003

Nine Months

Ended

September 30, 2002

Net income (loss)

$249,000

($4,224,000)

 

$369,000

($3,190,000)

Diluted earnings (loss) per share


0.02


(0.31)

 


0.03


(0.23)

   

At September 30, 2003, ASRV had total assets of $1.16 billion and shareholders’ equity of $73 million or $5.21 per share.  The Company is well capitalized for regulatory purposes with an asset leverage ratio at September 30, 2003 of 7.19%, compared to a regulatory minimum of 5.0%.


The Company’s provision for loan losses totaled $384,000 or 0.30% of total loans in the third quarter of 2003.  This represented a decrease of $3 million from the third quarter 2002 provision of $3.4 million or 2.24% of total loans.  Net charge-offs also experienced a similar decline dropping from $3.1 million or 2.08% of total loans in the third quarter of 2002 to $428,000 or 0.33% of total loans in the third quarter of 2003.  The Company’s allowance for loan losses totaled $11.9 million at September 30, 2003 providing 106% coverage of non-performing assets.  Non-performing assets totaled $11.2 million at September 30, 2003.  This represented an increase of $1.1 million from the June 30, 2003 level primarily due to the transfer of a commercial lease into non-accrual status.  The Company’s largest non-performing asset continues to be a $4.8 million commercial mortgage loan to a borrower in the personal care industry that is supported by an 80% guarantee by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is secured by a first mortgage on the personal care facility.  If the government guaranteed portion of this commercial mortgage were excluded from the non-performing asset totals, the loan loss reserve coverage of non-performing assets would amount to 162% at September 30, 2003.   Overall, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans increased to 2.39% at September 30, 2003 compared to 1.75% at December 31, 2002 and 0.97% at September 30, 2002.                                                                    


The Company’s net interest income in the third quarter of 2003 decreased by $1.1 million from the prior year third quarter due to a reduced level of earning assets and a 34 basis point decline in the net interest margin to 2.14%.   Loan portfolio shrinkage experienced during 2003 was a predominant factor contributing to both the lower level of earning assets and the quarterly net interest margin contraction.  The overall net decrease in loans reflects continuing prepayment pressures caused by the historically low interest rate environment and the Company’s internal focus on improving asset quality.  The Company completed the restructuring of its lending division during the third quarter of 2003 and is now better positioned to generate increased new loan production in the fourth quarter of 2003.  The record rate of mortgage re-financings also contributed to accelerated prepayments on the Company’s mortgage backed securities portfolio.  This caused an approximate $500,000 increase in amortization expense on premiums associated with the mortgage-backed securities thus reducing the yield earned on the investment securities portfolio.  The Company believes that the after-effect of the significant May-June refinancing wave is now largely completed and the negative earnings impact related to these accelerated prepayments should decline in the fourth quarter.    


The Company’s total non-interest income in the third quarter of 2003 declined by $947,000 from the prior year third quarter due primarily to fewer gains realized on investment security sales.  Investment security gains decreased by $954,000 and were at their lowest quarterly level in seven quarters as the increasing interest rate environment limited the Company’s ability to capture profits on prepaying securities.  The Company’s decision to exit the merchant card business in the fourth quarter of 2002 was the item responsible for the decline in other income. Items that favorably impacted third quarter 2003 non-interest income were increased trust fees and deposit service charges.  The trust division is focused on continuing to increase the fee revenue generated from union business activities, particularly the ERECT and Build Funds, which are collective investment funds for trade union pension funds.  


The Company’s total non-interest expense in the third quarter of 2003 favorably decreased by $5.9 million when compared to the prior year third quarter due to the Company’s continued focus on reducing and containing expenses.  The Company recorded a $3.0 million impairment charge on its mortgage servicing rights in the third quarter of 2002 compared to a modest impairment reversal of $230,000 in the third quarter of 2003.  The dramatic downsizing of the mortgage servicing asset in the first quarter of 2003 has significantly reduced the volatility of this business line on the Company’s financial performance.  The value of the Company’s mortgage servicing rights has declined from $6.9 million at December 31, 2002 to $1.9 million at September 30, 2003.  The Company also recorded in the third quarter of 2002 a $920,000 restructuring charge associated with implementing its earnings improvement program.  There was no such charge in the third quarter of 2003.  The Company is realizing the benefits of its ongoing focus on reducing expenses as evidenced by salaries and employee benefits dropping by $613,000. There were 42 fewer full-time equivalent employees when compared to the beginning of the third quarter of 2002. Other expenses also declined by $988,000 due to cost cutting in numerous expense categories, some of the larger of which included advertising expense, merchant card expense, business development expense and education expenses.        


AmeriServ Financial, Inc., is the parent of AmeriServ Financial Bank and AmeriServ Trust & Financial Services in Johnstown, AmeriServ Associates of State College, and AmeriServ Life Insurance Company.


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

 


Nasdaq NMS: ASRV

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE DATA (A)

October 21, 2003

(In thousands, except per share and ratio data)

2003

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

    

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

    

Net income (loss)

$(795)

$915

$249

$369

     

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

    

Return on average equity

(4.17)%

4.84%

1.35%

0.65%

Net interest margin

2.48

2.41

2.14

2.34

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans

0.20

0.02

0.33

0.18

Loan loss provision as a percentage of average loans

1.19

0.40

0.30

0.64

Efficiency ratio

94.98

84.81

94.05

91.02

     

PER COMMON SHARE:

    

Net income (loss):

    

Basic

$(0.06)

$0.07

$0.02

$0.03

Average number of common shares outstanding

13,923,010

13,935,086

13,945,889

13,934,746

Diluted

(0.06)

0.07

0.02

0.03

Average number of common shares outstanding

13,923,010

13,940,460

13,954,648

13,940,926

Cash dividends declared

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

     




2002

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

    

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

    

Net income (loss)

$626

$408

$(4,224)

$(3,190)

     

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

    

Return on average equity

3.16%

2.04%

(20.19)%

(5.25)%

Net interest margin

2.35

2.63

2.48

2.49

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans

0.06

1.09

2.08

1.08

Loan loss provision as a percentage of average loans

0.37

0.56

2.24

1.07

Efficiency ratio

88.34

89.52

127.78

101.86

     

PER COMMON SHARE:

    

Net income (loss):

    

Basic

$0.05

$0.03

$(0.31)

$(0.23)

Average number of common shares outstanding

13,689,478

13,748,179

13,799,547

13,746,138

Diluted

0.05

0.03

(0.31)

(0.23)

Average number of common shares outstanding

13,712,382

13,778,716

13,800,897

13,765,998

Cash dividends declared

0.09

0.09

0.09

0.27

     

    NOTES:

(A)

All quarterly data unaudited.



AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

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


2003

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

   

Assets

$1,190,360

$1,167,610

$1,160,915

Investment securities

546,427

544,967

577,374

Loans

555,335

525,591

496,951

Allowance for loan losses

11,415

11,916

11,872

Goodwill and core deposit intangibles

15,337

14,979

14,621

Mortgage servicing rights

2,214

1,784

1,859

Deposits

669,103

661,932

648,844

Stockholders’ equity

75,364

76,384

72,688

Trust assets

1,091,391

1,146,695

1,009,520

Non-performing assets

11,687

10,163

11,227

Asset leverage ratio

6.94%

7.10%

7.19%

PER COMMON SHARE:

   

Book value (A)

$5.41

$5.48

$5.21

Market value

3.50

3.80

4.17

Market price to book value

64.69%

69.35%

80.03%

    

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

   

Full-time equivalent employees

416

427

422

Branch locations

23

23

23

Common shares outstanding

13,929,324

13,940,999

13,949,383


2002

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

    

Assets

$1,213,764

$1,202,086

$1,182,678

$1,175,550

Investment securities

532,349

493,322

491,861

505,778

Loans

587,624

600,778

594,285

572,977

Allowance for loan losses

6,286

5,518

5,757

10,035

Goodwill and core deposit intangibles

16,968

16,610

16,252

15,894

Mortgage servicing rights

8,315

7,566

5,146

6,917

Deposits

680,435

705,662

674,573

669,929

Stockholders’ equity

78,051

82,491

79,711

77,756

Trust assets

1,198,480

1,190,834

1,082,311

1,057,816

Non-performing assets

9,105

5,668

5,407

6,964

Asset leverage ratio

7.54%

7.46%

7.00%

6.84%

PER COMMON SHARE:

    

Book value (A)

$5.69

$6.00

$5.77

$5.59

Market value

4.96

4.58

2.45

2.85

Market price to book value

87.17%

76.37%

42.45%

50.98%

     

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

    

Full-time equivalent employees

468

464

445

422

Branch locations

24

24

24

23

Common shares outstanding

13,709,329

13,754,342

13,811,595

13,898,302


    NOTES:

    

    (A) Other comprehensive income had a positive impact of $0.01 on book value per share at September 30, 2003.

    

    

AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(In thousands)

(Quarterly data unaudited)

2003

    

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$9,083

$8,595

$8,044

$25,722

Total investment portfolio

5,660

5,631

5,035

16,326

Total Interest Income

14,743

14,226

13,079

42,048

     

INTEREST EXPENSE

    

Deposits

3,140

2,965

2,765

8,870

All other funding sources

4,956

4,827

4,618

14,401

Total Interest Expense

8,096

7,792

7,383

23,271

     

NET INTEREST INCOME

6,647

6,434

5,696

18,777

Provision for loan losses

1,659

534

384

2,577

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES


4,988


5,900


5,312


16,200

     

NON-INTEREST INCOME

    

Trust fees

1,253

1,253

1,254

3,760

Net realized gains on investment securities

    available for sale


1,278


1,420


402


3,100

Net realized gains on loans and loans held for sale

173

221

165

559

Service charges on deposit accounts

767

800

812

2,379

Net mortgage servicing fees

71

77

55

203

Gain (loss) on sale of mortgage servicing

(758)

-

-

(758)

Bank owned life insurance

298

307

305

910

Other income

913

1,017

989

2,919

Total Non-interest Income

3,995

5,095

3,982

13,072

     

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

    

Salaries and employee benefits

4,789

4,717

4,729

14,235

Net occupancy expense

752

701

682

2,135

Equipment expense

817

750

692

2,259

Professional fees

903

1,058

951

2,912

FDIC deposit insurance expense

28

26

75

129

Amortization of core deposit intangibles

358

358

358

1,074

Impairment charge (credit) for mortgage servicing  

   rights


366


254


(230)


390

Goodwill impairment loss

199

-

-

199

Other expenses

1,908

1,922

1,855

5,685

Total Non-interest Expense

10,120

9,786

9,112

29,018

     

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

(1,137)

1,209

182

254

Provision  (benefit) for income taxes

(342)

294

(67)

(115)

NET INCOME (LOSS)

$(795)

$915

$249

$369

     



2002

    

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$10,562

$10,434

$10,191

$31,187

Total investment portfolio

6,698

6,637

6,011

19,346

Total Interest Income

17,260

17,071

16,202

50,533

     

INTEREST EXPENSE

    

Deposits

4,288

4,215

4,015

12,518

All other funding sources

6,389

5,549

5,393

17,331

Total Interest Expense

10,677

9,764

9,408

29,849

     

NET INTEREST INCOME

6,583

7,307

6,794

20,684

Provision for loan losses

540

815

3,380

4,735

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES


6,043


6,492


3,414


15,949

     

NON-INTEREST INCOME

    

Trust fees

1,279

1,235

1,077

3,591

Net realized gains on investment securities

     available for sale


637


1,314


1,356


3,307

Net realized gains on loans and loans held for sale

124

141

160

425

Service charges on deposit accounts

674

694

732

2,100

Net mortgage servicing fees

92

123

97

312

Bank owned life insurance

554

317

309

1,180

Other income

1,288

1,200

1,198

3,686

Total Non-interest Income

4,648

5,024

4,929

14,601

     

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

    

Salaries and employee benefits

5,145

5,128

5,342

15,615

Net occupancy expense

739

750

682

2,171

Equipment expense

783

768

741

2,292

Professional fees

750

847

1,057

2,654

FDIC deposit insurance expense

29

29

28

86

Amortization of core deposit intangibles

358

358

358

1,074

Impairment charge (credit) for mortgage servicing

    rights


(123)


787


3,034


3,698

Wholesale mortgage production exit costs

(26)

(14)

-

(40)

Restructuring costs

-

-

920

920

Other expenses

2,280

2,403

2,843

7,526

Total Non-interest Expense

9,935

11,056

15,005

35,996

     

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

756

460

(6,662)

(5,446)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

130

52

(2,438)

(2,256)

NET INCOME (LOSS)

$626

$408

$(4,224)

$(3,190)

     


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

Nasdaq NMS: ASRV

Average Balance Sheet Data (In thousands)

(Quarterly Data Unaudited)


    Note:  2002 data appears before 2003.


2002

2003

  

NINE

 

NINE

 

3QTR

MONTHS

3QTR

MONTHS

Interest earning assets:

    

Loans and loans held for sale, net of unearned income

$591,743

$586,753

$497,647

$526,902

Deposits with banks

15,379

16,800

5,183

5,475

Federal funds sold

124

702

80

38

Total investment securities

483,688

494,591

565,477

531,716

     

Total interest earning assets

1,090,934

1,098,846

1,068,387

1,064,131

     

Non-interest earning assets:

    

Cash and due from banks

21,957

22,218

22,008

22,366

Premises and equipment

13,060

13,249

11,827

12,142

Other assets

67,308

67,798

62,114

67,674

Allowance for loan losses

(5,529)

(5,959)

(11,881)

(11,286)

     

Total assets

$1,187,730

$1,196,152

$1,152,455

$1,155,027

     

Interest bearing liabilities:

    

Interest bearing deposits:

    

Interest bearing demand

$49,633

$49,290

$52,565

$51,868

Savings

103,435

100,213

105,055

103,470

Money market

125,893

130,710

122,536

125,199

Other time

301,037

302,521

278,641

284,244

Total interest bearing deposits

579,998

582,734

558,797

564,781

Borrowings:

    

Federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and other short-term borrowings



70,244



46,697



100,602



98,839

Advanced from Federal Home Loan Bank

304,645

335,700

277,313

270,110

Guaranteed junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures


34,500


34,500


34,500


34,500

Total interest bearing liabilities

989,387

999,631

971,212

968,230

     

Non-interest bearing liabilities:

    

Demand deposits

106,752

105,604

102,378

104,761

Other liabilities

8,602

9,634

6,048

6,738

Stockholders’ equity

82,989

81,283

72,817

75,298

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$1,187,730

$1,196,152

$1,152,455

$1,155,027