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 13, 2008


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 results through September 30, 2008.  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 13, 2008, announcing the third quarter and first nine months results through September 30, 2008.



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 13, 2008




Exhibit 99.1


AMERISERV FINANCIAL REPORTS INCREASED EARNINGS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER AND FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2008     


JOHNSTOWN, PA – AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASRV) reported third quarter 2008 net income of $1,149,000 or $0.05 per diluted share.  This represents an increase of $275,000 or 31.5% over the third quarter 2007 net income of $874,000 or $0.04 per diluted share.  For the nine month period ended September 30, 2008, the Company earned $3,894,000 or $0.18 per diluted share.  This also represents an increase of $1,784,000 or over 84.5% when compared to net income of $2,110,000 or $0.10 per diluted share for the first nine months of 2007.  The following table highlights the Company’s financial performance for the both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007:

     

 

Third Quarter 2008

Third Quarter 2007

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2008

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$1,149,000

$874,000

 

$3,894,000

$2,110,000

Diluted earnings per share

            $ 0.05

           $ 0.04

 

                         $ 0.18

$0.10


Allan R. Dennison, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the 2008 financial results, “Our conservatively positioned balance sheet has allowed AmeriServ Financial to post improved financial performance during a historic period of turmoil and crisis within the financial markets.  Our Company has no direct exposure to subprime mortgages, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac preferred stock, or credit exposure to any of the large financial firms that have recently failed or been taken over.  The Bank’s loyal deposit base has provided us with ample liquidity to grow our loan portfolio during the third quarter of 2008 when many banks have restricted lending due to the credit crunch.  We enter the fourth quarter of 2008 with an improved net interest margin, stable asset quality, and strong capital levels which provide us with greater financial flexibility during this period of economic uncertainty.”  


The Company’s net interest income in the third quarter of 2008 increased by $1.2 million from the prior year’s third quarter and for the first nine months of 2008 increased by $2.9 million or 16.4% when compared to the first nine months of 2007.  The Company’s net interest margin is also up sharply by 59 and 49 basis points, respectively for the quarter and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008.  The Company’s balance sheet positioning allowed it to benefit from the significant Federal Reserve reductions in short-term interest rates and the return to a more traditional positively sloped yield curve.  As a result of these changes, the Company’s interest expense on deposits and borrowings declined at a faster rate than the interest income on loans and investment securities.  Additionally, an improved earning asset mix with fewer investment securities and more loans outstanding also contributed to the increased net interest income and margin in 2008.  For the first nine months of 2008, total loans have increased by $28 million or 4.4%.  Overall, net interest income has now increased for seven consecutive quarters and the Company believes its balance sheet is well positioned for further reductions in short-term interest rates recently announced by the Federal Reserve.    


The Company recorded a $775,000 provision for loan losses in the third quarter of 2008 and a $2.3 million provision for the nine month period ended September 30, 2008 compared to a $150,000 loan loss provision for the same periods in 2007.  When determining the provision for loan losses, the Company considers a number of factors some of which include periodic credit reviews, delinquency and charge-off trends, concentrations of credit, loan volume trends and broader local and national economic trends.  The higher loan provision in 2008 was caused by the Company’s decision to strengthen its allowance for loan losses due to the downgrade of the rating classification of several specific performing commercial loans and uncertainties in the local and national economies.  Overall net charge-offs are down modestly in 2008 when compared to 2007.  Specifically, for the nine month period ended September 30, 2008, net charge-offs have amounted to $875,000 or 0.18% of total loans compared to net charge-offs of $1.1 million or 0.25% of total loans for the same nine month period in 2007.  Non-performing assets increased by $673,000 since the second quarter of 2008 but are still lower than the year-end 2007 level.  Non-performing assets totaled $4.4 million or 0.66% of total loans at September 30, 2008 compared to $5.3 million or 0.83% of total loans at December 31, 2007.  Overall, the allowance for loan losses provided 198% coverage of non-performing assets and was 1.31% of total loans at September 30, 2008 compared to 137% of non-performing assets and 1.14% of total loans at December 31, 2007.  Note also that the Company has no direct exposure to sub-prime mortgage loans in either the loan or investment portfolios.

        


The Company’s non-interest income in the third quarter of 2008 decreased by $255,000 from the prior year’s third quarter but for the first nine months of 2008 increased by $2.1 million when compared to the first nine months of 2007.  Increased revenue from bank owned life insurance due to the payment of death claims favorably impacted the 2007 third quarter performance and the second quarter 2008 results.  Overall for the nine month period, income from bank owned life insurance is $1.4 million greater in 2008 than 2007.  The remainder of the increase in non-interest income was driven by increases in several other non-interest revenue categories.  Deposit service charges increased by $100,000 for the 2008 quarterly period and $420,000 or 22.2% for the nine month period due to increased overdraft fees and greater service charge revenue that resulted from a realignment of the bank’s checking accounts to include more fee based products.  The Company also recorded an increase on gains realized on residential mortgage loan sales into the secondary market that amounted to $22,000 for the third quarter of 2008 and $128,000 for the nine month period ended September 30, 2008.  This increase reflects improved residential mortgage production from the Company’s primary market as this has been an area of emphasis in the Company’s strategic plan.   Trust fees were up modestly by $14,000 for the 2008 quarterly period and by $148,000 or 2.9% for the nine month period due to continued successful new business development efforts which has helped mitigate the declines in the market value of assets due to reduced equity values.  The decline in equity values was also responsible for the approximate $90,000 drop in investment advisory fees in 2008. Finally, the Company took advantage of the positively sloped yield curve to position the investment portfolio for better future earnings by selling some of the lower yielding securities in the portfolio and replacing them with higher yielding securities with a modestly longer duration.  The Company realized a net security loss of $117,000 in 2008 from this strategy.


Total non-interest expense in the third quarter of 2008 was essentially flat with the prior year’s third quarter and for the first nine months of 2008 increased by $620,000 or 2.4% when compared to the first nine months of 2007. The higher 2008 expenses were due to a $802,000 increase in other expenses, a $274,000 increase in professional fees, and a $91,000 charge on the prepayment of $6 million of Federal Home Loan Bank Advances.  Note that the increase in other expenses was due to higher advertising and business development expenses in 2008 and the non-recurrence of a favorable $400,000 recovery on a previous mortgage loan securitization that was realized in the second quarter of 2007. The increased professional fees resulted primarily from higher legal and other professional fees in the trust company.  The $91,000 FHLB debt prepayment charge resulted from the Company’s decision to retire some higher cost advances and replace them with lower cost current market rate advances in order to reduce ongoing interest expense.  These negative items were partially offset by expense decreases recorded in salaries and employee benefits and equipment expense as a result of the Company’s continuing focus on containing and reducing non-interest expenses.  For the first nine months of 2008, salaries and employee benefits costs are down by $228,000 or 1.6% due to on average a reduction of 19 full-time equivalent employees and reduced medical insurance premiums.  The $329,000 reduction in equipment expense resulted from the benefits achieved on the migration to a new core data processing operating system and mainframe processor.    


ASRV had total assets of $911 million and shareholders’ equity of $93.7 million or a book value of $4.29 per share at September 30, 2008.  The Company built its capital and maintained a strong asset leverage ratio of 10.37% at quarter-end.  During the first quarter of 2008, the Company repurchased 354,500 shares of its common stock at an average price of $3.11 in conjunction with the terms of the Company’s stock buyback program that was announced on January 22, 2008.  The Company did not repurchase any additional shares during the second or third quarter.


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

October 13, 2008

(In thousands, except per share and ratio data)

(All quarterly and 2008 data unaudited)

2008

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

Net income  

$1,229

$1,516

$1,149

$3,894

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

0.55%

0.71%

0.52%

0.59%

Return on average equity

5.43

6.64

4.93

5.66

Net interest margin

3.32

3.58

3.59

3.49

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans

0.06

0.46

0.04

0.18

Loan loss provision as a percentage of average loans

0.10

0.89

0.48

0.49

Efficiency ratio

82.87

73.20

79.72

78.33

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

Basic

$0.06

$0.07

$0.05

$0.18

Average number of common shares outstanding

22,060

21,847

21,855

21,921

Diluted

0.06

0.07

0.05

0.18

Average number of common shares outstanding

22,062

21,848

21,856

21,922

 

 

 

 

 



2007

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

Net income

$428

$808

$874

$2,110

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

0.20%

0.37%

0.39%

0.32%

Return on average equity

2.05

3.79

4.00

3.30

Net interest margin

2.97

3.01

3.00

3.00

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans

0.06

0.07

0.61

0.25

Loan loss provision as a percentage of average loans

-

-

0.10

0.03

Efficiency ratio

94.16

88.52

87.15

89.84

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

Basic

$0.02

$0.04

$0.04

$0.10

Average number of common shares outstanding

22,159

22,164

22,175

22,166

Diluted

0.02

0.04

0.04

0.10

Average number of common shares outstanding

22,166

22,171

22,177

22,170

 

 

 

 

 



AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

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

(All quarterly and 2008 data unaudited)


2008

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

 

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$902,349

$877,230

$911,306

 

Investment securities

151,967

148,819

148,777

 

Loans

632,934

623,798

663,996

 

Allowance for loan losses

7,309

7,963

8,677

 

Goodwill and core deposit intangibles

14,254

14,038

13,821

 

Deposits

682,459

722,913

688,998

 

FHLB borrowings

106,579

40,214

106,897

 

Stockholders’ equity

91,558

92,248

93,671

 

Non-performing assets

3,050

3,717

4,390

 

Asset leverage ratio

9.78%

10.47%

10.37%

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value (A)

$4.19

$4.22

$4.29

 

Market value

2.79

2.98

2.51

 

Market price to book value

66.62%

70.59%

58.57%

 

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

1,828,475

1,813,231

1,678,398

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

350

353

352

 

Branch locations

19

18

18

 

Common shares outstanding

21,842,691

21,850,773

21,859,409

 



2007

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$891,559

$876,160

$897,940

$904,878

Investment securities

185,338

174,508

170,765

163,474

Loans

603,834

604,639

629,564

636,155

Allowance for loan losses

8,010

7,911

7,119

7,252

Goodwill and core deposit intangibles

15,119

14,903

14,687

14,470

Deposits

768,947

762,902

763,771

710,439

FHLB borrowings

15,170

4,258

23,482

82,115

Stockholders’ equity

85,693

86,226

88,517

90,294

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

1,828,475

1,872,366

1,846,240

1,883,307

Non-performing assets

2,706

2,825

2,463

5,280

Asset leverage ratio

10.23%

10.36%

10.44%

9.74%

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value

$3.87

$3.89

$3.99

$4.07

Market value

4.79

4.40

3.33

2.77

Market price to book value

123.88%

113.12%

83.44%

68.07%

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

375

376

358

351

Branch locations

21

21

20

20

Common shares outstanding

22,161,445

22,167,235

22,180,650

22,188,997


NOTES:

        (A) Other comprehensive income had a negative impact of $0.16 on book value per share at September 30, 2008.

        (B)  Not recognized on the balance sheet.


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(In thousands)

(All quarterly and 2008 data unaudited)

2008

 

 

 

 

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$10,462

$9,862

$10,015

$30,339

Total investment portfolio

1,820

1,588

1,717

5,125

Total Interest Income

12,282

11,450

11,732

35,464

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Deposits

4,499

3,861

3,774

12,134

All borrowings

1,048

623

727

2,398

Total Interest Expense

5,547

4,484

4,501

14,532

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

6,735

6,966

7,231

20,932

Provision for loan losses

150

1,375

775

2,300

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES


6,585


5,591


6,456


18,632

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

Trust fees

1,790

1,737

1,691

5,218

Net realized gains (losses) on investment securities

-

(137)

20

(117)

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

89

121

138

348

Service charges on deposit accounts

734

807

771

2,312

Investment advisory fees

226

218

185

629

Bank owned life insurance

249

1,923

260

2,432

Other income

750

674

702

2,126

Total Non-interest Income

3,838

5,343

3,767

12,948

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

4,830

4,812

4,758

14,400

Net occupancy expense

661

653

586

1,900

Equipment expense

431

414

402

1,247

Professional fees

769

910

922

2,601

FHLB prepayment penalty

-

91

-

91

FDIC deposit insurance expense

22

20

30

72

Amortization of core deposit intangibles

216

216

217

649

Other expenses

1,850

1,909

1,869

5,628

Total Non-interest Expense

8,779

9,025

8,784

26,588

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME

1,644

1,909

1,439

4,992

Income tax expense

415

393

290

1,098

NET INCOME  

$1,229

$1,516

$1,149

$3,894

 

 

 

 

 



2007

 

 

 

 

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$10,061

$10,303

$10,591

$30,955

Total investment portfolio

2,114

2,005

1,863

5,982

Total Interest Income

12,175

12,308

12,454

36,937

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Deposits

5,699

5,931

5,994

17,624

All borrowings

521

364

438

1,323

Total Interest Expense

6,220

6,295

6,432

18,947

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

5,955

6,013

6,022

17,990

Provision for loan losses

-

-

150

150

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES


5,955


6,013


5,872


17,840

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

Trust fees

1,704

1,689

1,677

5,070

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

25

79

116

220

Service charges on deposit accounts

585

636

671

1,892

Investment advisory fees

102

329

275

706

Bank owned life insurance

258

265

479

1,002

Other income

559

594

804

1,957

Total Non-interest Income

3,233

3,592

4,022

10,847

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

4,885

4,930

4,813

14,628

Net occupancy expense

664

615

618

1,897

Equipment expense

546

564

466

1,576

Professional fees

695

818

814

2,327

FDIC deposit insurance expense

22

22

22

66

Amortization of core deposit intangibles

216

216

216

648

Other expenses

1,645

1,357

1,824

4,826

Total Non-interest Expense

8,673

8,522

8,773

25,968

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME

515

1,083

1,121

2,719

Income tax expense

87

275

247

609

NET INCOME

$428

$808

$874

$2,110

 

 

 

 

 



AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

Nasdaq: ASRV

Average Balance Sheet Data (In thousands)

(All quarterly and 2008 data unaudited)


    Note:  2007 data appears before 2008.


2007

2008

 

 

NINE

 

NINE

 

3QTR

MONTHS

3QTR

MONTHS

Interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Loans and loans held for sale, net of unearned income

$612,424

$601,592

$634,807

$628,928

Deposits with banks

616

525

399

403

Federal funds

2,249

3,009

32

152

Total investment securities

176,474

187,398

160,459

161,264

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest earning assets

791,763

792,524

795,697

790,747

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

18,673

17,734

16,574

17,188

Premises and equipment

8,607

8,722

9,593

9,193

Other assets

71,506

69,550

71,647

72,402

Allowance for loan losses

(7,808)

(7,947)

(8,088)

(7,582)

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

$882,741

$880,583

$885,423

$881,948

 

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing deposits:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing demand

$55,151

$56,559

$65,704

$65,169

Savings

71,503

73,112

71,520

70,388

Money market

173,844

182,215

108,181

92,907

Other time

353,331

344,153

341,455

359,255

Total interest bearing deposits

653,829

656,039

586,860

587,719

Borrowings:

 

 

 

 

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


6,760


8,441


60,635


57,818

Advanced from Federal Home Loan Bank

5,499

3,607

10,258

11,266

Guaranteed junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures

13,085

13,085

13,085

13,085

Total interest bearing liabilities

679,173

681,172

670,838

669,888

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Demand deposits

106,055

104,336

111,136

110,366

Other liabilities

10,768

9,477

10,763

9,836

Stockholders’ equity

86,745

85,598

92,686

91,858

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$882,741

$880,583

$885,423

$881,948