Western New England Bancorp, Inc. Reports Results for Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

WESTFIELD, Mass., July 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Western New England Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or "WNEB") WNEB, the holding company for Westfield Bank (the "Bank"), today announced unaudited results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017.   The Company also announced that the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.03 per share, payable on or about August 23, 2017 to shareholders of record on August 9, 2017.  The first and second quarter financial results for 2017 reflect full quarters of combined operations following the completion of the merger of Chicopee Bancorp, Inc. ("Chicopee") into WNEB on October 21, 2016.  The second quarter financial results for 2016 reflect the pre-merger operations of the Company.  As a result, the Company's 2017 second quarter may not be comparable to financial results for the second quarter of 2016.

James C. Hagan, President and CEO stated, "We are pleased with the progress we are making with the continued merger integration, and we had a small amount of merger-related charges this quarter in that regard.   On a core basis, our second quarter financial performance was similar to the first quarter, even while incurring a number of expenses in the second quarter that we do not anticipate to be recurring.  Our focus continues to be on leveraging the merger to make a meaningful impact in our expanded market area, growing our balance sheet, continuing to improve our financial performance and increasing our tangible book value.  We have made meaningful improvement in our performance and returns as a result of the merger and look to continue our momentum."

Financial Highlights

Highlights for the quarter include the following:

  • Net income of $3.8 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to $5.1 million, or $0.17 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  On a core basis (as described below), net income for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was $3.7 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, as compared to $3.8 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
  • On a core basis, which the Company defines as exclusive of merger related expenses and tax benefits, return on average assets and return on average equity were 0.72% and 5.99%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to 0.74% and 6.28%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 0.38% and 3.64%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2016.
  • Loan growth continued favorably with commercial and industrial loans increasing $11.5 million, or 4.9%, during the three months ended June 30, 2017, and $21.7 million, or 9.8%, during the six months ended June 30, 2017.  Total loans increased $42.2 million, or 2.7%, during the six months ended June 30, 2017, net of an expected $7.5 million payoff related to a completed commercial real estate construction project during the first quarter of 2017.
  • Total deposits decreased $22.7 million, or 1.5%, for the first six months of 2017, which reflects both the cyclical nature of our municipal deposit balances, and our desire to reduce higher cost non-core deposits and focus on increasing lower cost, core customer deposit relationships. 
  • Tangible book value per share was $7.55 at June 30, 2017, an increase of $0.11 per share from the first quarter of 2017 and $0.30 per share, or 4.1%, from year-end 2016.

Net Income for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017

The Company reported net income, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, of $3.8 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.12, compared to $5.1 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.17, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  The results for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and March 31, 2017 included $174,000 and $1.6 million, respectively, in tax benefits in connection with the exercise of stock options and a first quarter reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance, both favorably impacting the income tax provision. Also included in the three months ended June 30, 2017 and March 31, 2017 are $149,000 and $293,000, respectively, of after-tax merger related costs associated with the merger.  Excluding these tax benefits and merger related costs, net income was $3.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, or diluted earnings per share of $0.12, compared to $3.8 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.13, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

On a sequential quarter basis, net interest income increased $240,000 to $14.7 million, or 1.7%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, from $14.5 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  The increase in net interest income was due to an increase of $370,000, or 2.1%, in interest and dividend income, partially offset by an increase in interest expense of $130,000, or 3.8%, from the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in interest income of $370,000, or 2.1%, was primarily due to a $41.7 million, or 2.7%, increase in average loans outstanding to $1.6 billion, for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in interest expense was due to an increase of $80,000, or 5.5%, in interest expense on borrowings and an increase in interest expense on deposits of $50,000, or 2.5%. Net interest margin increased three basis points to 3.11%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, from 3.08%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and increased 49 basis points from the three months ended June 30, 2016. During the three months ended June 30, 2017, amortization of purchase accounting adjustments related to the merger increased net interest income by $341,000. Excluding these adjustments, net interest income increased $560,000, or 4.0%, from three months ending March 31, 2017, with an adjusted net interest margin of 3.04%. The average yield on assets increased 10 basis points from 3.74%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017, to 3.84%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017. Asset yields have benefited from the increase in the prime rate following the Federal Reserve increase in its target rate by 25 basis points in late 2016 and again in March and June of 2017. The average cost of funds increased five basis points from 0.91%, for three months ended March 31, 2017, to 0.96%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, driven primarily by a twelve basis point increase in the cost of FHLB borrowings. 

Average interest-earning assets remained flat at $1.9 billion, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, and three months ended March 31, 2017. The change in average interest-earning assets was due to a $46.5 million, or 81.2%, decrease in other short-term investments and a $2.4 million, or 0.8%, decrease in average securities, partially offset by a $41.8 million, or 2.7%, increase in average loans outstanding. For the three months ended June 30, 2017, the average balance of demand deposit accounts, an interest-free source of funds, increased $3.9 million, or 1.3%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses increased $50,000, or 16.7%, to $350,000, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, compared to $300,000, for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in the provision was primarily due to an $11.5 million, or 4.9%, increase in the commercial and industrial loan portfolio during the three months ended June 30, 2017. The Company recorded net charge-offs of $159,000, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to $141,000, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Non-Interest Income

On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest income increased $58,000, or 2.9%, to $2.1 million, or 0.40% of average assets, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, from $2.0 million, or 0.39% of average assets, for the three month ended March 31, 2017. The increase was primarily due to a $23,000, or 1.5%, increase in service charges and fees and a $46,000 pre-tax realized gain on the sale of securities, compared to a $64,000 pre-tax realized loss on the sale of securities, during the three months ended March 31, 2017. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in other non-interest income of $116,000, consisting of seasonal fee income reported during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Non-Interest Expense

On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest expense of $11.3 million, or 2.18% of average assets, increased $326,000, or 3.0%, from $11.0 million, or 2.12% of average assets, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  The increase was primarily due to an increase in data processing expense of $278,000, or 71.1%, as a result of the expiration of temporary monthly credits totaling $113,000 and a $138,000 non-recurring expense. Advertising expense increased $137,000, or 55.2%, primarily due to the development of new marketing campaigns related to the merger as well as the announcement of new promotions and products. FDIC insurance expense increased $69,000, or 59.0%, professional fees increased $85,000, or 14.3%, salaries and benefits increased $14,000, or 0.2%, and other non-interest expense increased $34,000, or 2.1%. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in occupancy expense of $90,000, or 8.9%, due to a reduction in snow removal costs, and a decrease in merger related expenses of $194,000, or 47.3%. In addition to the reported merger and non-recurring data processing expenses, there were approximately $265,000 in other non-recurring expenses within professional fees.

The efficiency ratio, excluding merger expenses, was 66.1%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, compared to 63.7% and 76.3%, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and the three months ended June 30, 2016, respectively.

Income Tax Provision

During the three months ended June 30, 2017, income tax expense increased $1.3 million primarily due to the $1.6 million in tax benefits on stock options and the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2017. The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was 27.4%, compared to 2.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and 39.1% for the three months ended June 30, 2016.

Net Income for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company reported net income of $8.9 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.30, compared to $2.4 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.14, for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2017, reflect the two full quarters of combined operations following the completion of the merger and also included $1.8 million in tax benefits recorded in connection with the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance and exercises of stock options, both favorably impacting the income tax provision for six months ended June 30, 2017. Also, included in the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $446,000, net of tax, of merger related costs associated with the acquisition of Chicopee.  Excluding these tax benefits and merger expenses, net income was $7.5 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.25, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, compared to $3.3 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.19, for the six months ended June 30, 2016.

Return on average assets and return on average equity, excluding tax benefits and merger expenses, net of tax, mentioned earlier, were 0.73% and 6.13%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, compared to 0.50% and 4.80% for the six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income increased $13.0 million, or 80.0%, from $16.2 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2016 to $29.2 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in net interest income was primarily due to an increase in interest and dividend income of $14.8 million, or 68.6%, partially offset by an increase in interest expense of $1.8 million, or 33.6%, from the six months ended June 30, 2016. The increase in interest income of $14.8 million was primarily due to a $734.7 million, or 86.8%, increase in average loans outstanding primarily related to the Chicopee acquisition to $1.6 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2017 from $846.6 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The increase in interest expense was due to an increase in interest expense on deposits of $1.1 million, or 35.3%, and an increase in interest expense on borrowings of $708,000, or 31.3%.

The net interest margin increased 48 basis points from 2.61%, for the six months ended June 30, 2016, to 3.09% for the six months ended June 30, 2017. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, amortization of purchase accounting adjustments related to the Chicopee acquisition increased net interest income by $1.0 million. Excluding these items, net interest margin for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was 2.99%. The average asset yield increased from 3.44%, for the six months ended June 30, 2016, to 3.79%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The average cost of funds decreased 10 basis points from 1.03%, for the six months ended June 30, 2016, to 0.93% for the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to purchase accounting adjustments on time deposits and borrowings as well as the continuation of low market interest rates, which allowed the Company to renew or replace maturing time deposits at lower costs. The average cost of time deposits decreased 16 basis points from 1.23%, for the six months ended June 30, 2016, to 1.07% for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The average cost of borrowings increased 23 basis points, from 1.73% for the six months ended June 30, 2016, to 1.96%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in cost of funds in FHLB borrowings was primarily due to the increase in the Federal Funds target rate in December 2016, March 2017 and mid-June 2017.

The average balance sheet comparison for the six months ended June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2017 largely reflects the merger with Chicopee.  Average interest-earning assets increased $681.2 million, or 54.1%, from $1.3 billion, for the six months ended June 30, 2016, to $1.9 billion, for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in average interest-earning assets was due to a $734.7 million, or 86.8%, increase in average loans, partially offset by a $47.7 million, or 13.5%, decrease in average investments. The average balance of demand deposit accounts, an interest-free source of funds, increased $147.6 million, or 93.0%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016.

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses increased to $650,000, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, compared to $25,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The increase in the provision was primarily due to an $825,000 recovery reported during the six months ended June 30, 2016, on a previously charged-off commercial real estate loan. Also contributing to the increase in the general reserves was a $24.0 million, or 3.9%, increase in the residential loan portfolio as well as a $21.7 million, or 9.8%, increase in the commercial and industrial loan portfolio during the six months ended June 30, 2017. The Company recorded net charge-offs of $300,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to net recoveries of $705,000, for the six months ended June 30, 2016.

Non-Interest Income

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, non-interest income of $4.1 million, or 0.40% of average assets, increased $1.8 million, or 79.8%, compared to $2.3 million, or 0.34% of average assets, for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The increase of $1.8 million was primarily due to an increase in service charges and fees and wealth management fee income of $1.4 million, or 87.8%, and an increase in income from bank-owned life insurance of $155,000, or 20.3%. These increases were partially offset by a $701,000, or 102.6%, decrease in pre-tax realized gains on the sales of securities. Excluding the net gain on sales of securities of $665,000 and the prepayment of borrowings of $915,000, non-interest income increased $1.6 million, or 63.9%. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, wealth management fees of $241,000 earned by Westfield Financial Management Services, the Company's management subsidiary, were included in service charges and fee income. Total assets under management increased to $102.1 million at June 30, 2017, compared to $91.6 million at December 31, 2016 due to positive market movements and additions from new and existing clients.

Non-Interest Expense

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, non-interest expense increased $7.2 million, or 47.8%, to $22.3 million, or 2.16% of average assets, compared to $15.1 million, or 2.26% of average assets, for the six months ended June 30, 2016. Excluding merger-related expenses of $626,000 and $1.1 million, during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, non-interest expense would have been $21.6 million and $14.0 million, respectively. Non-interest expense excluding merger-related expenses is a non-GAAP financial measure.  Management believes total noninterest expense excluding merger-related expenses more accurately reflects the Company's results of operations in the overall evaluation of its performance.  A reconciliation of the non-interest expense excluding merger-related expenses is included in the accompanying financial tables.

The increase in non-interest expense was primarily due to a $4.8 million, or 62.9%, increase in salaries and benefits due to the addition of the Chicopee staff and normal merit increases. Occupancy expense increased $767,000, or 66.3%, due to the acquisition of the Chicopee branches. Furniture and equipment expense increased $258,000, or 53.6%, from $481,000, for the six months ended June 30, 2016, to $739,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017, and data processing expense increased $296,000, or 38.7%, from $764,000, for the six months ended June 30, 2016, to $1.1 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2017. Professional fees increased $216,000, or 20.4%, advertising and marketing expense increased $129,000, or 25.6%, and other non-interest expense increased $1.3 million, or 63.1%. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in FDIC insurance expense of $77,000, or 20.3%, to $303,000 and a $457,000, or 42.2%, decrease in merger related expenses. The increase to non-interest expense reflects generally higher level of expenses associated with operating a larger financial institution, which includes additional employees, increased costs for data processing, occupancy, and professional services. The merger provided the opportunity to achieve greater economies of scale as reflected in the improvement in the efficiency ratio from 74.6%, for the six months ended June 30, 2016, to 64.9%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

Income Tax Provision

The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016, was 15.0% and 31.3%, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the $1.8 million in tax benefits recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and previously disclosed.

Balance Sheet

At June 30, 2017, total assets of $2.1 billion remained unchanged from December 31, 2016. During the same period, total loans and securities increased $42.2 million, or 2.7%, and $3.3 million, or 1.1%, respectively. These increases were offset by the decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $50.8 million, or 72.4%.

Loans

Total loans increased $42.2 million, or 2.7 %, due to the increase in one- to four-family real estate loans of $24.0 million, or 3.9%, an increase in commercial and industrial loans of $21.7 million, or 9.8%, partially offset by a decrease in commercial real estate loans of $3.9 million, or 0.5%. The decrease in the commercial real estate portfolio was largely related to the expected payoff of a $7.5 million completed commercial real estate construction project during first quarter 2017. In order to reduce interest rate risk, the Company currently services $69.9 million in residential loans sold to the secondary market. The servicing rights will continue to be retained on all loans sold.           

Credit Quality

Maintaining strong asset quality remains a core management objective. Annualized net charge-offs to average loans was 0.02%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, compared to net recoveries of 0.08%, for the six months ended June 30, 2016. Net charge-offs for the six months ended June 30, 2017, totaled $300,000, as a result of $495,000 in charge-offs and $195,000 in recoveries, compared to net recoveries of $705,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016, as a result of recoveries of $965,000, partially offset by charge-offs of $260,000. During the first quarter of 2016, the Company received a partial recovery of $852,000 related to a single commercial real estate loan previously charged-off in 2010.

At June 30, 2017, non-performing loans decreased to $14.0 million, or 0.87% of total loans, compared to $14.1 million, or 0.90% of total loans, at December 31, 2016 and $14.8 million, or 0.92%, of total loans at March 31, 2017.  There are no loans 90 or more days past due and still accruing interest. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 0.65% at June 30, 2017, compared to 0.64% at March 31, 2017 and 0.64% at December 31, 2016. At June 30, 2017, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans was 74.46%, compared to 69.32% at March 31, 2017 and 71.62% at December 31, 2016. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans, excluding loans acquired from Chicopee, which were recorded at fair value with no related allowance for loan losses, was 1.02% at June 30, 2017, 1.02% at March 31, 2017, and 1.05% at December 31, 2016.

Deposits

At June 30, 2017, total deposits of $1.5 billion decreased $22.7 million, or 1.5%, from December 31, 2016. Core deposits, which the Company defines as all deposits except time deposits, decreased $13.0 million, or 1.4%, from $945.1 million, or 62.3% of total deposits, at December 31, 2016, to $932.1 million, or 62.3% of total deposits, at June 30, 2017. Demand deposits decreased $4.5 million, or 1.5%, to $299.5 million, money market accounts decreased $14.3 million, or 3.5%, to $395.0 million, and savings accounts decreased $1.5 million, or 1.0%, to $148.0 million, interest-bearing checking accounts increased $7.3 million, or 8.9%, to $89.8 million.  The changes in demand and money market accounts were primarily due to seasonality and volatility within the Company's commercial and municipal customer base. Time deposits decreased $9.7 million, or 1.7%, from $573.0 million at December 31, 2016 to $563.2 million at June 30, 2017. The decrease in time deposits is due to non-relationship customers and brokered deposits seeking higher yields. We are focused on allowing high cost non-relationship deposits to mature and be replaced with low cost relationship-based core deposits.

FHLB Advances and Repurchase Agreements

FHLB advances increased $12.2 million, or 4.4%, from $279.8 million at December 31, 2016, to $292.0 million at June 30, 2017, and customer repurchase agreements decreased $593,000, or 3.4%, from $17.4 million at December 31, 2016, to $16.8 million, at June 30, 2017.

Capital

Shareholders' equity was $251.2 million, or 12.1% of total assets, at June 30, 2017 and $238.4 million, or 11.5% of total assets, at December 31, 2016. The increase in shareholders' equity during the six months ended June 30, 2017, reflects net income of $8.9 million, the exercise of 921,849 stock options of $5.5 million and other comprehensive income of $2.6 million.  These increases were offset by a decrease of $3.1 million for the repurchase of 321,015 shares of common stock at an average cost of $9.58 per share, and the payment of regular dividends of $1.8 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2017.  Total shares outstanding as of June 30, 2017 were 31,070,107.  The Company's tangible book value per share increased by $0.30, or 4.1%, to $7.55 at June 30, 2017 from $7.25 at December 31, 2016. At June 30, 2017, the Company's regulatory capital ratios continued to exceed the levels required to be considered "well-capitalized" under federal banking regulations.

Share Repurchase

On January 31, 2017, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company may purchase up to 3,047,000 shares, or 10% of its outstanding common stock.  As of June 30, 2017, there were 3,011,837 shares remaining under the plan.

About Western New England Bancorp, Inc.

Western New England Bancorp, Inc. is a Massachusetts-chartered stock holding company and the parent company of Westfield Bank, CSB Colts, Inc., Elm Street Securities Corporation, WFD Securities, Inc. and WB Real Estate Holdings, LLC.  Western New England Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiaries are headquartered in Westfield, Massachusetts and operate 21 banking offices located in Agawam, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Feeding Hills, Holyoke, Ludlow, South Hadley, Southwick, Springfield, Ware, West Springfield and Westfield, Massachusetts, and Granby and Enfield, Connecticut.  To learn more, visit our website at www.westfieldbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, which speak only as of the date made. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.  The Company and the Bank do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.



WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Net Income and Other Data
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited) 
 
 Three Months EndedSix Months Ended
 June 30,March 31,December 31,September 30,June 30,June 30,
  2017  2017  2016  2016  2016  2017  2016 
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME:       
Loans$16,211 $15,826 $14,170 $9,138 $8,639 $32,037 $16,889 
Securities 1,931  1,896  1,737  1,695  1,750  3,827  4,305 
Other investments - at cost 166  163  152  130  136  329  268 
Federal funds sold, interest-bearing deposits

and other short-term investments
 19  72  48  14  29  92  53 
Total interest and dividend income 18,327  17,957  16,107  10,977  10,554  36,285  21,515 
        
INTEREST EXPENSE:       
Deposits 2,059  2,009  1,993  1,582  1,535  4,068  3,007 
Long-term debt 549  551  517  446  461  1,100  1,303 
Short-term borrowings 976  894  858  621  556  1,871  960 
Total interest expense 3,584  3,454  3,368  2,649  2,552  7,039  5,270 
        
Net interest and dividend income 14,743  14,503  12,739  8,328  8,002  29,246  16,245 
        
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES 350  300  175  375  625  650  25 
        
Net interest and dividend income after provision for loan losses 14,393  14,203  12,564  7,953  7,377  28,596  16,220 
        
NON-INTEREST INCOME:       
Service charges and fees 1,549  1,526  1,485  953  859  3,075  1,637 
Income from bank-owned life insurance 480  439  425  369  403  919  764 
Loss on prepayment of borrowings -  -  -  -  -  -  (915)
Gain (loss) on sales of securities, net 46  (64) 455  1  (2) (18) 683 
Other income -  116  -  -  -  116  106 
Total noninterest income 2,075  2,017  2,365  1,323  1,260  4,092  2,275 
        
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE:       
Salaries and employees benefits 6,239  6,225  5,677  4,057  3,845  12,464  7,652 
Occupancy 917  1,007  867  555  564  1,924  1,157 
Furniture and equipment 366  373  361  242  247  739  481 
Data processing 669  391  530  404  380  1,060  764 
Professional fees 681  596  468  656  545  1,277  1,061 
FDIC insurance 186  117  122  214  190  303  380 
Merger related expenses 216  410  2,138  830  929  626  1,083 
Advertising expense 385  248  214  192  262  633  504 
Other 1,637  1,603  1,627  1,075  1,036  3,240  1,988 
Total noninterest expense 11,296  10,970  12,004  8,225  7,998  22,266  15,070 
        
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 5,172  5,250  2,925  1,051  639  10,422  3,425 
        
INCOME TAX PROVISION 1,416  147  1,073  423  250  1,563  1,072 
NET INCOME$3,756 $5,103 $1,852 $628 $389 $8,859 $2,353 
        
Basic earnings per share$0.13 $0.17 $0.07 $0.04 $0.02 $0.30 $0.14 
Weighted average shares outstanding 29,980,518  29,597,594  26,760,014  17,377,844  17,337,955  29,790,164  17,321,022 
Diluted earnings per share$0.12 $0.17 $0.07 $0.04 $0.02 $0.30 $0.14 
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding 30,120,025  29,878,421  27,140,172  17,377,844  17,337,955  30,000,280  17,321,022 
        
Other Data:       
Return on average assets (1) 0.73% 1.00% 0.38% 0.19% 0.12% 0.86% 0.35%
Return on average assets, exclusive of merger

expenses and tax benefits (1)(3)
 0.72% 0.74% 0.69% 0.42% 0.38% 0.73% 0.50%
Return on average equity (1) 6.05% 8.51% 3.18% 1.72% 1.14% 7.26% 3.40%
Return on average equity, exclusive of merger

expenses and tax benefits (1)(3)
 5.99% 6.28% 5.79% 3.85% 3.64% 6.13% 4.80%
Efficiency ratio (2)(3) 66.06% 63.68% 67.35% 76.63% 76.31% 64.88% 74.59%
Net interest margin 3.11% 3.08% 2.84% 2.65% 2.62% 3.09% 2.61%
(1)  Annualized.           
(2)  The efficiency ratio represents the ratio of operating expenses excluding merger related charges divided by the sum of net interest and dividend income and noninterest income, excluding gain and loss on sale of securities, income on bank-owned life insurance death benefit and loss on prepayment of borrowings.
(3)  Please refer to the "Reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP Financial Measures" on page 13 for further details.



WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 June 30, March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30,
  2017   2017   2016   2016   2016 
Cash and cash equivalents$19,407  $40,716  $70,234  $50,803  $21,267 
Securities available for sale, at fair value   303,395   305,680   300,115   295,577   296,565 
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and

     other  restricted stock - at cost
 16,075   16,124   16,124   12,194   11,267 
          
Loans 1,608,664   1,599,607   1,566,484   947,620   906,212 
Allowance for loan losses (10,418)  (10,227)  (10,068)  (9,927)  (9,570)
Net loans 1,598,246   1,589,380   1,556,416   937,693   896,642 
          
Bank-owned life insurance 67,858   67,377   66,938   51,363   50,994 
Goodwill 12,487   12,487   13,747   -   - 
Core deposit intangible 4,250   4,344   4,438   -   - 
Other assets 51,745   50,438   48,006   30,150   29,570 
TOTAL ASSETS$2,073,463  $2,086,546  $2,076,018  $1,377,780  $1,306,305 
          
Total deposits$1,495,337  $1,521,219  $1,518,071  $962,558  $920,912 
Short-term borrowings 191,008   176,883   172,351   180,273   144,707 
Long-term debt 117,704   123,668   124,836   71,165   78,032 
Other liabilities 18,213   18,972   22,364   18,561   18,085 
TOTAL LIABILITIES 1,822,262   1,840,742   1,837,622   1,232,557   1,161,736 
          
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 251,201   245,804   238,396   145,223   144,569 
          
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
$2,073,463  $2,086,546  $2,076,018  $1,377,780  $1,306,305 
          



WESTERN NEW ENGLAND BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Other Data
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 June 30, March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30,
  2017   2017   2016   2016   2016 
          
Other Data:         
          
Shares outstanding at end of period 31,070,107   30,778,690   30,380,231   18,330,487   18,330,487 
          
Book value per share$8.08  $7.99  $7.85  $7.92  $7.89 
Tangible book value per share 7.55   7.44   7.25   7.92   7.89 
30- 89 day delinquent loans 5,207   7,402   8,309   1,391   2,547 
30-89 day delinquent loans acquired from Chicopee,

     net of purchase accounting adjustments
 3,417   5,504   5,761   -   - 
Delinquent loans as a percentage of total loans 0.32%  0.46%  0.53%  0.15%  0.28%
Nonperforming loans 13,992   14,753   14,057   7,275   8,043 
Nonperforming loans acquired from Chicopee,

     net of purchase accounting adjustments
 6,507   7,274   6,394   -   - 
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans 0.87%  0.92%  0.90%  0.77%  0.89%
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets 0.67%  0.71%  0.69%  0.53%  0.62%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of

     nonperforming loans
 74.46%  69.32%  71.62%  136.45%  118.99%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans 0.65%  0.64%  0.64%  1.05%  1.06%
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans,

     excluding loans acquired from Chicopee

     recorded at fair value with no corresponding

     allowance
 1.02%  1.02%  1.05%  1.05%  1.06%



The following tables set forth the information relating to our average balances and net interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2017, March 31, 2017, and June 30, 2016 and reflects the average yield on interest-earning assets and average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated.



 Three Months Ended
 June 30, 2017 March 31, 2017 June 30, 2016
 Average    Average

Yield/
 Average    Average

Yield/
 Average    Average  

Yield/
 Balance Interest Cost Balance Interest Cost Balance Interest Cost
                               
 (Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS:                    
Interest-earning assets                    
Loans(1)(2)$1,602,057 $16,472  4.11% $1,560,341 $16,040  4.11% $869,877 $8,672  3.99%
Securities(2) 305,457  1,945  2.55   307,912  1,912  2.48   297,797  1,764  2.37 
Other investments - at cost 17,734  166  3.74   17,510  163  3.72   15,349  136  3.54 
Short-term investments(3) 10,789  19  0.70   57,326  72  0.50   54,892  29  0.21 
Total interest-earning assets 1,936,037  18,602  3.84   1,943,089  18,187  3.74   1,237,915  10,601  3.43 
Total noninterest-earning assets 140,643       130,771       73,371     
                     
Total assets$2,076,680      $2,073,860      $1,311,286     
                     
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:                    
Interest-bearing liabilities                    
Interest-bearing checking accounts$87,952  95  0.43  $90,498  74  0.33  $32,337  21  0.26 
Savings accounts 151,986  52  0.14   152,553  42  0.11   76,627  23  0.12 
Money market accounts 393,613  381  0.39   401,197  383  0.38   266,056  265  0.40 
Time deposit accounts 565,789  1,531  1.08   571,855  1,510  1.06   393,585  1,226  1.25 
Total interest-bearing deposits 1,199,340  2,059  0.69   1,216,103  2,009  0.66   768,605  1,535  0.80 
Short-term borrowings and long-term debt 301,274  1,525  2.02   303,795  1,445  1.90   231,827  1,017  1.75 
Interest-bearing liabilities 1,500,614  3,584  0.96   1,519,898  3,454  0.91   1,000,432  2,552  1.02 
Noninterest-bearing deposits 308,310       304,448       161,639     
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities 18,737       6,331       11,611     
Total noninterest-bearing liabilities 327,047       310,779       173,250     
                     
Total liabilities 1,827,661       1,830,677       1,173,682     
Total equity 249,019       243,183       137,604     
Total liabilities and equity$2,076,680      $2,073,860      $1,311,286     
Less: Tax-equivalent adjustment(2)   (275)       (230)       (47)   
Net interest and dividend income  $14,743       $14,503       $8,002    
Net interest rate spread(4)    2.88%     2.83%     2.41%
Net interest margin(5)    3.11%     3.08%     2.62%
Ratio of average interest-earning                    
assets to average interest-bearing liabilities      129.02%     127.84%     123.74%



The following tables set forth the information relating to our average balances and net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and reflects the average yield on interest-earning assets and average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated.



 Six Months Ended June 30,
  2017  2016
 Average    Average

Yield/
 Average    Average

Yield/
 Balance Interest Cost Balance Interest Cost
                    
 (Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS:             
Interest-earning assets             
Loans(1)(2)(6)$1,581,314 $32,522  4.11% $846,606 $16,950  4.00%
Securities(2) 306,677  3,858  2.52   354,415  4,353  2.46 
Other investments - at cost 17,623  329  3.73   15,700  268  3.41 
Short-term investments(3) 33,929  92  0.54   41,584  53  0.25 
Total interest-earning assets 1,939,543  36,801  3.79   1,258,305  21,624  3.44 
Total noninterest-earning assets 135,735         76,940       
              
Total assets$2,075,278      $1,335,245     
              
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:             
Interest-bearing liabilities             
Interest-bearing checking accounts$89,218  169  0.38  $31,434  41  0.26 
Savings accounts 152,268  94  0.12   76,792  42  0.11 
Money market accounts 397,384  764  0.38   257,327  492  0.38 
Time deposit accounts (6) 568,805  3,041  1.07   396,091  2,432  1.23 
Total interest-bearing deposits 1,207,675  4,068  0.67   761,644  3,007  0.79 
Short-term borrowings and long-term debt(6) 302,528  2,971  1.96   260,948  2,263  1.73 
Interest-bearing liabilities 1,510,203  7,039  0.93   1,022,592  5,270  1.03 
Noninterest-bearing deposits 306,390         158,763       
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities 12,568       14,799     
Total noninterest-bearing liabilities 318,958       173,562     
              
Total liabilities 1,829,161       1,196,154     
Total equity 246,117       139,091     
Total liabilities and equity$2,075,278      $1,335,245     
Less: Tax-equivalent adjustment(2)   (516)       (109)   
Net interest and dividend income  $29,246       $16,245    
Net interest rate spread(4)      2.86%       2.41%
Net interest margin(5)    3.09%     2.61%
Ratio of average interest-earning             
assets to average interest-bearing liabilities   128.43%     123.05%

(1)     Loans, including non-accrual loans, are net of deferred loan origination costs and unadvanced funds.

(2)     Securities and loan income are presented on a tax-equivalent basis using a tax rate of 35% and 34% for the 2017 and 2016 periods, respectively.  The tax-equivalent adjustment is deducted from tax-equivalent net interest and dividend income to agree to the amount reported on the consolidated statements of net income.

(3)     Short-term investments include federal funds sold.

(4)     Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities.

(5)     Net interest margin represents tax-equivalent net interest and dividend income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets. 

(6)     The accounting for the Chicopee acquisition required loans, time deposits and borrowings to be recorded at fair value.  The fair value marks on the loans, time deposits and borrowings acquired accrete and amortize into net interest income over time.  For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and the three months ended March 31, 2017, the loan accretion income and interest expense reduction on time deposits and borrowings related to the Chicopee acquisition totaled $341,000, $1.0 million and $661,000, respectively.  Excluding these items, net interest margin for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and the three months ended March 31, 2017 was 3.04%, 2.99% and 2.94%, respectively.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP to GAAP Financial Measures

The Company believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide information to investors that is useful in understanding its financial condition.  Because not all companies use the same calculation, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures calculated by other companies.  A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures is provided below.

 Three Months Ended

 Six Months Ended

 June 30,



 Mach 31,



 December 31,



 September 30,



 June 30,



 June 30,



  2017   2017   2016   2016   2016   2017   2016 
                              
 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Net Income:             
Net income, as presented$3,756  $5,103  $1,852  $628  $389  $8,856  $2,353 
Merger related expenses, net of tax (1) 149   293   1,523   782   856   446   968 
Tax benefit impact (2) (174)  (1,632)  -   -   -   (1,806)  - 
Net income, exclusive of merger related expenses

and tax benefits
$3,731  $3,764  $3,375  $1,410  $1,245  $7,496  $3,321 
              
Diluted EPS:             
Diluted EPS, as presented$0.12  $0.17  $0.07  $0.04  $0.02  $0.30  $0.14 
Merger related expense impact, net of tax (1) 0.01   0.01   0.05   0.05   0.05   0.01   0.05 
Tax benefits impact (2) (0.01)  (0.05)  -   -   -   (0.06)  - 
Diluted EPS, exclusive of merger related expense

and tax benefits impact
$0.12  $0.13  $0.12  $0.09  $0.07  $0.25  $0.19 
              
Return on Average Assets:             
Return on average assets, as presented 0.73%  1.00%  0.38%  0.19%  0.12%  0.86%  0.35%
Merger related expense impact, net of tax (1) 0.03   0.06   0.31   0.23   0.26   0.05   0.15 
Tax benefits impact (2) (0.04)  (0.32)  -   -   -   (0.18)  - 
Return on average assets, exclusive of merger related  

expense and tax benefits impact
 0.72%  0.74%  0.69%  0.42%  0.38%  0.73%  0.50%



 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 June 30, March 31, December 31, September 30,  June 30, June 30, June 30
 2017  2017  2016  2016  2017  2017  2016 
                      
 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
               
Return on Average Equity:             
Return on average equity, as presented6.05% 8.51% 3.18% 1.72% 1.14% 7.26% 3.40%
Merger related expense impact, net of tax (1)0.23  0.49  2.61  2.13  2.50  0.35  1.40 
Tax benefits impact (2)(0.29) (2.72) -  -  -  (1.48) - 
Return on average equity, exclusive of merger related

expense and tax benefits impact
5.99% 6.28% 5.79% 3.85% 3.64% 6.13% 4.80%
               
               
Efficiency Ratio:             
Efficiency ratio67.35% 66.15% 81.94% 85.23% 86.33% 66.76% 80.36%
Merger related expense impact, net of tax (1)(1.29) (2.47) (14.59) (8.60) (10.02) (1.88) (5.77)
Efficiency ratio, exclusive of merger related expense impact  66.06% 63.68% 67.35% 76.63% 76.31% 64.88% 74.59%
(1) Assumed tax rate for deductible expenses of 33.0% and 34.1% at June 30, 2017 and March 31, 2017 and 34.7% for all 2016 periods. 
(2) Tax benefit impact of the reversal of a deferred tax valuation allowance and stock option exercises incurred during first and second quarter of 2017. 

For further information contact:
James C. Hagan, President and CEO
Guida R. Sajdak, Executive Vice President and CFO
Meghan Hibner, Vice President and Investor Relations Officer
413-568-1911

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