TFS Financial Corporation Announces Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2012 Financial Results

CLEVELAND, Oct. 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TFS Financial Corporation TFSL (the "Company"), the holding company for Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland (the "Association"), today announced results for the three months and fiscal year ended September 30, 2012.

The Company reported net income of $11.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2012, compared to net income of $9.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2011. The increase in net income for the year ended September 30, 2012 is largely the result of an increase in net interest income partially offset by lower non-interest income and slightly higher provision for loan losses and non-interest expenses. Net income of $1.1 million was reported for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared to net income of $8.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. This change is mainly attributable to an increase in the provision for loan losses and higher non-interest expenses, partially offset by an increase in net interest income.

Loan growth and lower interest rates on deposits and borrowed funds caused net interest income to increase $14.6 million, or 6%, to $262.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2012 from $247.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2011. Net interest income increased $2.3 million, or 4%, to $66.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $64.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. First mortgage loan originations exceeded $2.64 billion for the year. Low interest rates continue to decrease the yield on interest-earning assets and to an even greater extent, the rate paid on deposits and borrowed funds. As a result, the interest rate spread has improved from the prior year. The interest rate spread for the year ended September 30, 2012 was 2.11% compared to 1.97% last year. The net interest margin for the year ended September 30, 2012 was 2.39% compared to 2.32% last year. 

"Our geographic expansion and a healthy refinance market has continued to fuel our growth," said Chairman and CEO Marc A. Stefanski. "However, we continue to experience elevated provisions because of the slow economic recovery and adjusting to the ongoing regulatory changes."

The Office of the Comptroller and Currency, the Association's primary regulator, issued guidance in the current quarter which requires the charge off of performing loans to collateral value when the borrowers have had their obligations discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, regardless of how long the loans have been performing, and the classification of those loans as troubled debt restructurings. The implementation of this guidance during the current quarter negatively impacted the Company's provision for loan losses, net charge-offs, and the levels of troubled debt restructuring and non-accrual loans at September 30, 2012. The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $29.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $19.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The Company reported $35.9 million of net loan charge-offs for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $15.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Of the $35.9 million of net charge-offs for the three months ended September 30, 2012, $15.8 million occurred as a result of the regulatory guidance. Excluding these incremental charge-offs, net charge-offs for the quarter would have been $20.1 million. Of the $35.9 million of net charge-offs, $17.1 million occurred in the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio, $10.6 million occurred in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio and $8.3 million occurred in the Home Today portfolio. The Home Today portfolio is an affordable housing program targeted toward low and moderate income home buyers, which totaled $208.3 million at September 30, 2012 and $264.0 million at September 30, 2011. The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $102.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2012 compared to $98.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2011. The Company reported $158.5 million of net loan charge-offs for the year ended September 30, 2012. This included the $15.8 million impact of the regulatory guidance mentioned above and the impact of charging off, during the December, 2011 quarter, the Specific Valuation Allowance (SVA), which was $55.5 million at September 30, 2011. This charge-off was also required by regulatory directive. The SVA charge-off was a major reason for the decrease in the reported balances of delinquent and nonperforming loans, non-accrual loans and the allowance for loan losses as of September 30, 2012, from balances at September 30, 2011. Net charge-offs were $74.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2011. The allowance for loan losses was $100.5 million, or 0.97% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2012, compared to $157.0 million, or 1.58% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2011. 

Non-accrual loans decreased $52.7 million to $182.6 million, or 1.77% of total loans, at September 30, 2012 from $235.3 million, or 2.37% of total loans, at September 30, 2011. Non-accrual loans had decreased $86.7 million prior to implementing the regulatory guidance regarding Chapter 7 bankruptcy loans mentioned above. The $52.7 million decrease in non-accrual loans for the year ended September 30, 2012 consisted of a $19.2 million decrease in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio; a $28.5 million decrease in the residential, Home Today portfolio; a $1.6 million decrease in the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio; and a $3.4 million decrease in construction loans.

Total loan delinquencies decreased $112.7 million to $172.5 million, or 1.66% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2012 from $285.1 million, or 2.86% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2011.

Total troubled debt restructurings increased $55.2 million at September 30, 2012, to $221.4 million from $166.2 million at September 30, 2011. Total troubled debt restructurings had decreased $15.7 million prior to implementing the regulatory guidance regarding Chapter 7 bankruptcy loans mentioned above, as $70.9 million of loans discharged under Chapter 7 bankruptcy are considered a troubled debt restructuring at September 30, 2012, regardless of no payment, rate or term modifications occurring. Of the $70.9 million of loans, $51.1 million are performing. Of the $221.4 million of troubled debt restructurings recorded at September 30, 2012, $81.9 million was in the Home Today portfolio, $118.0 million was in the residential, non-Home Today portfolio and $20.7 million was in the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio. The portion of total troubled debt restructurings included as part of non-accrual loans was $86.9 million at September 30, 2012 and $45.1 million at September 30, 2011.

Total assets increased by $625.2 million, or 6%, to $11.52 billion at September 30, 2012 from $10.89 billion at September 30, 2011. This change was mainly the result of increases in our mortgage loans held for sale and in our loan portfolio plus an increase in cash and investment securities.

The combination of cash and cash equivalents and investment securities increased $26.4 million, or 4%, to $729.7 million at September 30, 2012 from $703.3 million at September 30, 2011, to maintain liquidity levels. 

The combination of loans held for investment, net and mortgage loans held for sale increased $598.6 million, or 6%, to $10.35 billion at September 30, 2012 from $9.75 billion at September 30, 2011. Residential mortgage loans, including those held for sale, increased $946.9 million during the year ended September 30, 2012, while the equity loans and lines of credit portfolio decreased by $335.7 million. A total of $1.49 billion of adjustable rate mortgages were originated during the year ended September 30, 2012, representing approximately 56% of all residential mortgage originations, compared to $1.18 billion for last year. Under a marketing effort to offset future interest rate risk exposure, adjustable rate mortgages originated under the Smart Rate ARM program since July, 2010 have an outstanding principal balance of $2.62 billion as of September 30, 2012. Loans under the program have mainly either 15 or 30 year terms, with the initial interest rate fixed for either the first three or five years and adjusting annually thereafter, subject to various caps. Most loans originated under the program have 30 year terms with interest rates fixed for five years. The total principal balance of all adjustable rate first mortgage loans was $2.93 billion, or 35% of all first mortgage residential loans, at September 30, 2012, compared to $1.83 billion, or 25%, at September 30, 2011. To further manage our future interest rate risk, we continue to evaluate potential non-agency, whole loan sales of a pool of our high credit quality, fixed-rate, first mortgage loans held for sale, which had a balance of $124.5 million at September 30, 2012.

Deposits increased $265.5 million, or 3%, to $8.98 billion at September 30, 2012 from $8.72 billion at September 30, 2011. The increase in deposits was the result of a $95.7 million increase in our savings accounts, a $30.7 million increase in our checking accounts, and a $139.5 million increase in our certificates of deposit for the year ended September 30, 2012.

Borrowed funds increased $348.3 million, to $488.2 million at September 30, 2012 from $139.9 million at September 30, 2011. This increase reflects additional, lower cost, mainly short term FHLB borrowings used to manage liquidity.

Principal, interest and related escrow on loans serviced decreased $24.4 million, or 16.1%, to $127.5 million at September 30, 2012 from $151.9 million at September 30, 2011. This change reflects a combination of the settlement of prepayments for loans serviced for other investors and a lower balance in the sold loan portfolio.

Accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased $6.9 million, or 13%, to $46.3 million at September 30, 2012 from $53.2 million at September 30, 2011. This change primarily reflects the decrease in the pension plan accrual mainly as a result of a plan amendment to freeze future pension benefit accruals as of December 31, 2011.

Total shareholders' equity increased $32.9 million, or 2%, to $1.81 billion at September 30, 2012 from $1.77 billion at September 30, 2011. Activity reflects $11.5 million of net income in the current fiscal year combined with adjustments related to our stock compensation plan and ESOP and a $10.4 million reduction in accumulated other comprehensive loss that resulted primarily from the pension accrual adjustment and the transfer of investment securities from held to maturity to available for sale.

Non-interest income decreased $6.5 million, or 21%, to $24.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2012 from $31.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2011, mainly due to a decrease in fees and service charges, net of amortization, which reflected the reduced balance of loans serviced for others. Non-interest expense increased $3.0 million, or 2%, to $171.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2012 from $168.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2011. Increases in compensation, marketing and other operating expenses were partially offset by decreases in federal insurance premium and assessments and appraisal and other loan review expenses. Included in other operating expenses for the year ended September 30, 2012 is $4.8 million of loss reimbursement expenses for loans serviced for Fannie Mae, which includes $2.4 million of actual loss reimbursements and a reserve of $2.4 million for future potential expenses. For the year ended September 30, 2011, the total loss reimbursement expense was $0.4 million.

At September 30, 2012, the Association was "well capitalized" for regulatory capital purposes, as its tier 1 risk based capital ratio was 20.94% and its total risk-based capital was 22.19%, both of which substantially exceed the amounts required for the Association to be considered well capitalized.

Marianne Piterans, a director of the Company and the Director of Human Resources, Training, Security and Administrative Services for the Association, has announced that she will be retiring from the Board of Directors effective at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in February 2013, and from employment in March 2013. Her position on the Board is not expected to be filled. Cathy W. Zbanek, who has been with the Association since 2001 and currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer, will be expanding her role and will be assuming most of Ms. Piterans' employment functions. "Marianne has been an integral part of our success story during the last 20 years, not only through her business acumen, but also as a role model and mentor throughout the company," said Chairman and CEO Marc A. Stefanski.  "On behalf of our board, our management team and our associates, I thank her and wish her the best in her retirement. Because of Cathy's wide range of experience and her time on the executive management team, she is well-positioned for her new role."

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its operating results for the year ended September 30, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on October 31, 2012. The toll-free dial-in number is 866-952-1906, Conference ID TFSLQ412. A telephone replay will be available beginning at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on October 31, 2012 by dialing 800-283-4783. The conference call will be simultaneously webcast on the Company's website www.thirdfederal.com under the Investor Relations link under the "About Us" tab, and will be archived for 30 days after the event, beginning November 1, 2012. The slides for the conference call will be filed with the SEC under a separate Form 8-K and will also be available on the Company's website.

The TFS Financial Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3622

Forward Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of such words as estimate, project, believe, intend, anticipate, plan, seek, expect and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include:

• statements of our goals, intentions and expectations;
• statements regarding our business plans and prospects and growth and operating strategies;
• statements concerning trends in our provision for loan losses and charge-offs;
• statements regarding the asset quality of our loan and investment portfolios; and
• estimates of our risks and future costs and benefits.

These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, among other things, the following important factors that could affect the actual outcome of future events:

• significantly increased competition among depository and other financial institutions;
• inflation and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our interest margins or reduce the fair value of financial instruments;
• general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas, including employment prospects and conditions that are worse than expected;
• decreased demand for our products and services and lower revenue and earnings because of a recession or other events;
• adverse changes and volatility in the securities markets;
• adverse changes and volatility in credit markets;
• legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business, including changes in regulatory costs and capital requirements and changes related to our ability to pay dividends and the ability of Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland, MHC to waive dividends;
• our ability to enter new markets successfully and take advantage of growth opportunities, and the possible short-term dilutive effect of potential acquisitions or de novo branches, if any;
• changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;
• changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the bank regulatory agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;
• future adverse developments concerning Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac;
• changes in monetary and fiscal policy of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury or the Federal Reserve Board;
• changes in policy and/or assessment rates of taxing authorities that adversely affect us;
• the timing and the amount of revenue that we may recognize;
• changes in expense trends (including, but not limited to, trends affecting non-performing assets, charge-offs and provisions for loan losses);
• the impact of the continuing governmental effort to restructure the U.S. financial and regulatory system;
• inability of third-party providers to perform their obligations to us;
• adverse changes and volatility in real estate markets;
• a slowing or failure of the moderate economic recovery;
• the extensive reforms enacted in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("Dodd-Frank Act"), which will impact us;
• the adoption of implementing regulations by a number of different regulatory bodies under the Dodd-Frank Act, and uncertainty regarding the exact nature, extent and timing of such regulations and the impact they will have on us;
• the impact of coming under the jurisdiction of new federal regulators;
• changes in our organization, or compensation and benefit plans;
• the strength or weakness of the real estate markets and of the consumer and commercial credit sectors and their impact on the credit quality of our loans and other assets; and
• the ability of the U.S. Federal government to manage federal debt limits.

Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements.