Gahanna, OH – April 20, 2016 – Heartland BancCorp (“the company,” and “the bank”) (OTCQB: HLAN), today reported that first quarter net income increased 14.7% to $1.8 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, compared to $1.6 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2015. Following a $879,000 life insurance benefit, earnings were $2.8 million, or $1.77 per diluted share, in the preceding quarter.

The company also announced its board of directors increased its regular quarterly cash dividend by 5% to $0.3910 per share. The dividend will be payable July 10, 2016, to shareholders of record as of June 25, 2016, providing a 3.34% current yield at recent market prices.

“Our first quarter results were a continuation of the momentum that we built in 2015. Earnings increased 15% for the quarter compared to the first quarter a year ago, propelled by solid loan and deposit growth,” said G. Scott McComb, Chairman, President and CEO. “While we had a slight uptick in nonperforming loans during the quarter, we believe these to be isolated events and are keeping a careful eye on credit quality. The greater Columbus market continues to be one of the healthiest economies, not only in the region, but in the country. We remain well positioned to take advantage of opportunities in our marketplace, as we continue to grow in 2016.”
 

First Quarter Financial Highlights (at or for the period ended March 31, 2016)

• Net income was $1.8 million, up from $1.6 million in the first quarter a year ago.
• Net interest margin remained strong at 3.98% compared to 3.99% in the preceding quarter and 4.05% in the first quarter a year ago.
• Annualized return on average assets was 0.97%.
• Annualized return on average equity was 10.76%.
• Total deposits increased 10.2% to $645.6 million from a year ago.
• Net loans increased 8.0% to $557.0 million from a year ago.
• Non-performing assets were $6.1 million, or 0.81% of total assets, at March 31, 2016, compared to $5.2 million, or 0.72%, three months earlier and $3.0 million, or 0.44%, one year earlier.
• Tangible book value per share increased 9.5% to $43.30 per share compared to $39.53 per share one year earlier.
• Increased its quarterly cash dividend by 5% to $0.3910 per share, which represents a 3.34% yield based on the March 31, 2016 stock price ($46.77).

In November 2015, Heartland completed a $5.4 million private placement of subordinated notes to accredited investors with fixed and variable rates producing a weighted interest rate of 4.986%. The proceeds give Heartland the opportunity to build out its business plan and meet the growing demand from clients and the marketplace.

Balance Sheet Review

“Our loan pipeline remains strong, and as a result, net loans were up $16.0 million, or 3.0% during the quarter. The agricultural and commercial and industrial (C&I) portfolios continue to show the most growth, increasing 38% and 11%, respectively compared to a year ago,” said McComb. Net loans increased 3.0% to $557.0 million at March 31, 2016, compared to $541.0 million at December 31, 2015 and increased 8.0% compared to $515.6 million at March 31, 2015.

Total deposits increased 3.6% to $645.6 million at quarter end, compared to $623.0 million three months earlier and increased 10.2% compared to $586.1 million a year ago. Demand deposit accounts represented 19.8%, savings, NOW and money market accounts represented 37.2%, and CDs comprised 43.0% of the total deposit portfolio, at March 31, 2016.

Heartland’s total assets increased 4.3% to $760.8 million at March 31, 2016, compared to $729.6 million three months earlier and increased 12.6% compared to $675.6 million a year earlier. Shareholders’ equity increased 2.1% to $68.2 million at March 31, 2016, compared to $66.8 million at December 31, 2015 and increased 10.1% compared to $61.9 million one year ago. At quarter end, Heartland’s tangible book value increased 2.1% to $43.30 per share compared to $42.4 per share three months earlier and increased 9.5% from $39.53 per share one year earlier.

Operating Results

Total revenues (net interest income before the provision for loan losses, plus non-interest income) increased 11.7% to $7.5 million in the first quarter, compared to $6.8 million in the first quarter a year ago, and were down compared to $8.3 million in the preceding quarter. Excluding the fourth quarter $879,000 benefit in excess of life insurance value, total revenues were $7.4 million in the preceding quarter. Net interest income before the provision for loan loss increased 10.5% to $6.7 million in the first quarter of 2016, compared to $6.1 million in the first quarter a year ago, and increased 1.9% compared to $6.6 million in the preceding quarter.

“We maintained a solid net interest margin during the quarter with only one basis point of contraction, due to continued loan and deposit pricing discipline,” said McComb. Heartland’s net interest margin was 3.98% in the first quarter of 2016, compared to 3.99% in the preceding quarter and 4.05% in the first quarter a year ago.
Heartland’s noninterest income increased 22.3% to $830,000 in the first quarter, compared to $679,000 in the first quarter a year ago, largely as a result of the net gains and commissions on loan sales. In the preceding quarter total noninterest income was $1.7 million, following a $879,000 benefit in excess of life insurance cash value from a policy payout.

First quarter noninterest expenses were $4.8 million, compared to $4.5 million in the preceding quarter and $4.3 million in the first quarter a year ago. The year-over-year increase is primarily attributable to an increase in loan production, along with a management realignment to poise the company for continued growth, which led to overall higher employee and incentive costs.

Credit Quality

"Nonaccrual loans and past due loans still accruing increased again during the quarter, primarily due to a few individuals that were slow in making payments," said McComb. “However, we continued to have no foreclosed assets on the books at quarter end. We believe these few problematic loans are isolated and not indicative of the overall quality of the loan portfolio.”

Nonaccrual loans were $3.6 million at March 31, 2016, compared to $3.3 million three months earlier, and $2.4 million a year earlier. Loans past due 90 days and still accruing also increased to $2.6 million from $1.9 million at the end of the fourth quarter and $454,000 a year ago. There were $700,000 in restructured loans included in nonaccrual loans at the end of the first quarter of 2016, as compared to $600,000 at March 31, 2015.
Performing restructured loans that were not included in nonaccrual loans at the end of the first quarter of 2016 remained at $4.3 million, the same as in the preceding quarter and a decrease compared to $4.5 million a year ago. Borrowers who are in financial difficulty and who have been granted concessions that may include interest rate reductions, term extensions, or payment alterations are categorized as restructured loans. “We present restructured loans that are performing separately from those that are classified as nonaccrual to provide more information on this category of loans and to differentiate between accruing performing and nonperforming restructured loans,” added McComb.

There was no other real estate owned (OREO) and other non-performing assets on the books at March 31, 2016, the same as at the preceding quarter end. OREO was $117,000 at March 31, 2015.

Heartland’s nonperforming assets (NPAs), consisting of nonperforming loans, OREO, and loans delinquent 90 days or more, were $6.1 million, or 0.81% of assets, at March 31, 2016, compared to $5.2 million, or 0.72% of assets, three months earlier, and $3.0 million, or 0.44% of assets a year ago.

The first quarter provision for loan losses was $240,000, compared to $120,000 in the preceding quarter and $240,000 in the first quarter a year ago. As of March 31, 2016, the allowance for loan losses represented 165.7% of nonaccrual loans compared to 172.1% three months earlier, and 221.2% one year earlier.

Heartland’s net charge-offs were $51,000 in the first quarter compared to $54,000 in the preceding quarter, and $319,000 in the first quarter a year ago. The allowance for loan losses was $5.9 million, or 1.05% of total loans at March 31, 2016, compared to $5.7 million, or 1.04% of total loans at December 31, 2015, and $5.3 million, or 1.01% of total loans a year ago.

About Heartland BancCorp

Heartland BancCorp is a registered Ohio bank holding company and the parent of Heartland Bank, which operates twelve full-service banking offices. Heartland Bank, founded in 1911, provides full service commercial, small business, and consumer banking services; alternative investment services; insurance services; and other financial products and services. Heartland Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve, a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. Heartland BancCorp is currently quoted on the OTC Markets (OTCQB) under the symbol HLAN. Learn more about Heartland Bank at HeartlandBank.com.
In May 2015, Heartland was ranked #77 on the American Banker magazine’s list of Top 200 Publicly Traded Community Banks and Thrifts based on three-year average return on equity (“ROE”) as of 12/31/14.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current views of future events and operations. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company as of the date of this release. It is important to note that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the ability of the Company to implement its strategy and expand its lending operations.