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) January 24, 2012


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 fourth quarter and full year results through December 31, 2011.  For a more detailed description of the announcement see the press release attached as Exhibit #99.1.  


Exhibits

--------


Exhibit 99.1

Press release dated January 24, 2012, announcing the fourth quarter and full year results through December 31, 2011.



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

Executive Vice President

& CFO


Date: January 24, 2012








Exhibit 99.1


AMERISERV FINANCIAL REPORTS EARNINGS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR OF 2011     


JOHNSTOWN, PA – AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASRV) continued its positive earnings momentum in the fourth quarter of 2011 by reporting net income of $1,770,000 or $0.07 per diluted common share.  This represents an increase of $656,000 or 58.9% from the fourth quarter 2010 net income of $1,114,000 or $0.04 per diluted common share.  For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company reported net income of $6,537,000 or $0.24 per diluted share, a $5.3 million improvement over the net income of $1,282,000 or $0.01 per diluted share reported for the full year of 2010.  The following table highlights the Company’s financial performance for both the quarters and years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:    

     


 

Fourth Quarter 2011

Fourth Quarter 2010

 

Year Ended

December 31, 2011

Year Ended

December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$1,770,000

$1,114,000

 

$6,537,000

$1,282,000

Diluted earnings per share

          $ 0.07

          $ 0.04

 

                   $ 0.24

$0.01



Glenn L. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the 2011 financial results: “I was pleased with the strong growth in earnings that AmeriServ Financial achieved in 2011. A significant and sustained improvement in asset quality was an important factor contributing to our financial success in 2011.  Specifically, non-performing assets again declined as a result of our successful problem credit resolution efforts and now total $5.2 million, or only 0.77% of total loans, while net charge-offs dropped to 0.24% of total loans for all of 2011.  I was also pleased with the growth in revenue within our trust and wealth management business, and our overall non-interest expense control. AmeriServ Financial enters 2012 with good momentum and an updated strategic plan that focuses on growing revenue by leveraging our strong balance sheet and capital position.”          


The Company’s net interest income performance has been relatively stable throughout 2011.  It increased in the fourth quarter of 2011 by $123,000, or 1.5%, from the prior year’s fourth quarter and for the full year of 2011 it decreased by only $59,000, or 0.2%, when compared to the entire year of 2010.  The Company’s 2011 fourth quarter net interest margin of 3.64 % was down four basis points from the most recent third quarter 2011 performance and for the full year 2011 averaged 3.72%, which was seven basis points lower than the 2010 net interest margin of 3.79%.  Reduced loan balances were the primary factor causing the drop in both net interest income and net interest margin in 2011. Specifically, total loans averaged $663 million for the full year 2011, a decrease of $39 million or 5.5% from the 2010 year.  The lower balances reflect the results of the Company’s focus on reducing its commercial real estate exposure and problem loans, particularly during the first half of 2011.  However, total loan balances appear to have bottomed in the first quarter of 2011. Loans have increased by $26 million over the past three quarters reflecting the successful results of the Company’s more intensive sales calling efforts for commercial loans and growth in home equity loans.  The Company has strengthened its excellent liquidity position by reinvesting excess cash in high quality investment securities and short-term investments whose average balance increased by $42 million in 2011.  Careful management of funding costs allowed the Company to mitigate a significant portion of the drop in interest revenue during the past twelve months.  Specifically, interest expense in the fourth quarter of 2011 declined by $633,000 from the same prior year quarter and for the full year 2011 decreased by $2.8 million both due to reduced deposit costs.  This reduction in deposit costs has not negatively impacted deposit balances which have increased by $15 million or 1.9% since December 31, 2010.  The Company is particularly pleased with the growth achieved in non-interest bearing demand deposits in 2011 whose balances on average increased by $12 million or 10.0%.    


The improvements in asset quality evidenced by lower levels of non-performing assets and classified loans allowed the Company to reverse a portion of the allowance for loan losses into earnings in 2011 while still increasing the non-performing assets coverage ratio.  During the full year of 2011, total non-performing assets decreased by $9.2 million or 63.8% to $5.2 million or 0.77% of total loans as a result of successful resolution efforts.  Classified loans rated substandard or doubtful also dropped by $21.1 million or 53.2% during this same period.  As a result of this improvement, the Company recorded a negative provision for loan losses of $1,250,000 in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to no provision in the fourth quarter of 2010.  For the full year 2011 the negative provision amounted to $3,575,000 compared to a $5,250,000 provision for all of 2010.  Actual credit losses realized through net charge-offs also declined sharply for both the fourth quarter and full year 2011.  Net charge-offs in the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled only $196,000 or 0.12% of total loans compared to net charge-offs of $988,000 or 0.57% of total loans in the fourth quarter of 2010.  For the full year 2011, net charge-offs totaled $1.6 million or 0.24% of total loans which represents a decrease from the entire year of 2010 when net charge-offs totaled $5.2 million or 0.74% of total loans.  When determining the provision for loan losses, the Company considers a number of factors some of which include periodic credit reviews, non-performing asset, loan delinquency and charge-off trends, concentrations of credit, loan volume trends and broader local and national economic trends.  In summary, the allowance for loan losses provided 288% coverage of non-performing loans and was 2.18% of total loans at December 31, 2011, compared to 145% of non-performing loans and 2.91% of total loans at December 31, 2010.


The Company’s non-interest income in the fourth quarter of 2011 decreased by $280,000 from the prior year’s fourth quarter and for the full year 2011 decreased by $398,000 or 2.8% when compared to the entire year of 2010.  The largest factor contributing to the decline was reduced revenue from bank owned life insurance as the quarterly revenue dropped by $231,000 and the annual revenue decreased by $342,000.  Note that the 2010 revenue was enhanced by the receipt of a death benefit.  When compared to the prior year, gains realized on residential mortgage loan sales into the secondary market were down by $181,000 for the fourth quarter and $146,000 for the full year due to less refinance activity in 2011.  Another item causing the full year 2011 decline in non-interest income was a $358,000 loss realized on the sale of $17 million of investment securities in the first quarter of 2011.  The Company took advantage of a steeper yield curve to position the investment portfolio for better future earnings by selling some of the lower yielding, longer duration securities in the portfolio and replacing them with higher yielding securities with a shorter duration.  The Company recognized $157,000 of investment security gains in 2010.  The largest positive item in 2011 was increased trust and investment advisory fees.  Specifically, trust and investment advisory fees increased by $41,000 for the fourth quarter and $643,000 or 10.2% for the full year as our wealth management businesses benefited from the implementation of new fee schedules in 2011.        


Total non-interest expense in the fourth quarter of 2011 decreased modestly by $14,000 from the prior year’s fourth quarter and for the full year 2011 increased by $340,000 or 0.9% when compared to all of 2010.  The Company’s 2011 fourth quarter performance was impacted by a $240,000 prepayment penalty realized on the early retirement of $5.7 million of FHLB term advances.  The Company elected to utilize its strong liquidity to prepay all of its FHLB term advances with maturities greater than two years in order to reduce future interest expense.  Salaries and employee benefits increased by $88,000 for the fourth quarter and $1.0 million or 4.7% for the full year 2011 due to higher medical insurance costs, increased pension expense, and greater incentive compensation expense.  These negative items were partially offset by lower professional fees which dropped by $112,000 in the fourth quarter and $488,000, or 11.2%, for the full year 2011 due to reduced legal fees, recruitment fees, and lower consulting expenses in the Trust Company.  FDIC deposit insurance expense also declined by $319,000 in the fourth quarter and $237,000 for the full year due to a change in the calculation methodology in 2011.  Other expenses were up modestly in the fourth quarter of 2011 but decreased by $404,000 for the full year due to a reduction in costs associated with the reserve for unfunded loan commitments and lower telephone expense resulting from the implementation of technology enhancements.  Finally, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $2.9 million for the full year 2011 compared to a modest income tax expense of $80,000 for 2010 due to the sharply higher pre-tax earnings in 2011 and reduced tax free earnings from bank owned life insurance.


ASRV had total assets of $979 million and shareholders’ equity of $112 million or a book value of $4.37 per common share at December 31, 2011.  During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company repurchased 287,000 shares of its common stock at an average price of $2.03 in conjunction with the terms of the Company’s stock buyback program that was announced on November 9, 2011.  The Company continued to maintain strong capital ratios that considerably exceed the regulatory defined well capitalized status with a risk based capital ratio of 17.60%, an asset leverage ratio of 11.66% and a tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio of 8.15% at December 31, 2011.  


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

December 31, 2011

(In thousands, except per share and ratio data)

(Unaudited)


2011

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$1,263

$1,938

$1,566

$1,770

$6,537

Net income available to common

    shareholders


973


1,648


1,027


1,505


5,153

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

0.54%

0.81%

0.64%

0.72%

0.68%

Return on average equity

4.77

7.11

5.52

6.19

5.90

Net interest margin

3.70

3.71

3.68

3.64

3.72

Net charge-offs (recoveries) as a percentage

    of average loans


0.70


(0.07)


0.20


0.12


0.24

Loan loss provision as a percentage of

    average loans


(0.37)


(0.72)


(0.33)


(0.73)


(0.54)

Efficiency ratio

89.53

85.53

84.83

89.26

87.26

 

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$0.05

$0.08

$0.05

$0.07

$0.24

Average number of common shares

    outstanding


21,208


21,208


21,208


21,114


21,184

Diluted

0.05

0.08

0.05

0.07

0.24

Average number of common shares

    outstanding


21,230


21,236


21,227


21,128


21,205

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

YEAR

 

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$(918)

$477

$609

$1,114

$1,282

Net income (loss) available to common

    shareholders


(1,209)


187


318


825


121

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets

(0.39)%

0.20%

0.25%

0.46%

0.13%

Return on average equity

(3.47)

1.79

2.24

4.06

1.19

Net interest margin

3.78

3.83

3.70

3.70

3.79

Net charge-offs as a percentage of

    average loans


0.69


1.13


0.56


0.57


0.74

Loan loss provision as a percentage of

    average loans


1.72


0.68


0.57


-


0.75

Efficiency ratio

85.42

84.33

84.67

88.18

85.66

 

 

 

 

 

 

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$(0.06)

$0.01

$0.02

$0.04

$0.01

Average number of common shares

    outstanding


21,224


21,224


21,224


21,224


21,224

Diluted

(0.06)

0.01

0.02

0.04

0.01

Average number of common shares

    outstanding


21,224


21,245


21,225


21,224


21,226





AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

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

(Unaudited)


2011

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$961,067

$954,893

$973,439

$979,076

Short-term investments

4,094

4,338

17,941

6,129

Investment securities

195,272

198,770

195,784

195,203

Loans

644,836

656,838

667,409

670,847

Allowance for loan losses

18,025

16,958

16,069

14,623

Goodwill

12,613

12,613

12,613

12,613

Deposits

816,528

810,082

827,358

816,420

FHLB borrowings

9,736

9,722

9,707

21,765

Shareholders’ equity

108,170

111,410

114,164

112,352

Non-performing assets

9,328

7,433

5,344

5,199

Asset leverage ratio

11.40%

11.60%

11.70%

11.66%

Tangible common equity ratio

7.89

8.29

8.38

8.15

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value (A)

$4.12

$4.28

$4.39

$4.37

Market value

2.37

1.95

1.90

1.95

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

$1,410,755

$1,390,534

$1,313,440

$1,382,745

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

351

352

342

347

Branch locations

18

18

18

18

Common shares outstanding

21,207,670

21,208,421

21,208,421

20,921,021


2010

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

 

 

 

 

Assets

$960,817

$962,282

$963,169

$948,974

Short-term investments

3,816

5,929

5,326

5,177

Investment securities

150,073

157,057

165,291

172,635

Loans

712,929

693,988

699,394

678,181

Allowance for loan losses

21,516

20,737

20,753

19,765

Goodwill and core deposit intangibles

12,950

12,950

12,950

12,950

Deposits

802,201

809,177

818,150

801,216

FHLB borrowings

25,296

17,777

13,119

14,300

Shareholders’ equity

106,393

108,023

108,391

107,058

Non-performing assets

20,322

19,815

25,267

14,364

Asset leverage ratio

11.01%

11.08%

11.07%

11.20%

Tangible common equity ratio

7.70

7.83

7.86

7.85

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

 

 

 

Book value (A)

$4.04

$4.11

$4.13

$4.07

Market value

1.67

1.61

1.81

1.58

Trust assets – fair market value (B)

$1,398,215

$1,329,495

$1,341,699

$1,366,929

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

 

 

 

Full-time equivalent employees

353

355

355

348

Branch locations

18

18

19

18

Common shares outstanding

21,223,942

21,223,942

21,223,942

21,207,670

NOTES:

(A)

Preferred stockof $21 million received through the Small Business Lending Fund is excluded from the book value per common share calculation.

        (B) Not recognized on the balance sheet.






AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


2011

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$9,083

$8,804

$8,888

$8,924

$35,699

Total investment portfolio

1,513

1,726

1,604

1,422

6,265

Total Interest Income

10,596

10,530

10,492

10,346

41,964

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

2,294

2,106

2,038

1,897

8,335

All borrowings

336

338

336

336

1,346

Total Interest Expense

2,630

2,444

2,374

2,233

9,681

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

7,966

8,086

8,118

8,113

32,283

Provision (credit) for loan losses

(600)

(1,175)

(550)

(1,250)

(3,575)

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION (CREDIT) FOR LOAN LOSSES



8,566



9,261



8,668



9,363



35,858

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

Trust fees

1,556

1,617

1,570

1,430

6,173

Investment advisory fees

198

198

172

186

754

Net realized gains (losses) on investment

    securities


(358)


-


-


-


(358)

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

262

155

186

209

812

Service charges on deposit accounts

472

549

640

580

2,241

Bank owned life insurance

216

218

227

224

885

Other income

759

717

729

857

3,062

Total Non-interest Income

3,105

3,454

3,524

3,486

13,569

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

5,500

5,574

5,702

5,840

22,616

Net occupancy expense

757

742

680

721

2,900

Equipment expense

429

411

435

411

1,686

Professional fees

980

911

983

1,001

3,875

FDIC deposit insurance expense

462

460

262

154

1,338

FHLB prepayment penalty

-

-

-

240

240

Other expenses

1,791

1,779

1,820

1,992

7,382

Total Non-interest Expense

9,919

9,877

9,882

10,359

40,037

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME

1,752

2,838

2,310

2,490

9,390

Income tax expense

489

900

744

720

2,853

NET INCOME

1,263

1,938

1,566

1,770

6,537

Preferred stock dividends and accretion of

   preferred stock  


290


290


539


265


1,384

NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS


$973


$1,648


$1,027


$1,505


$5,153















2010

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$10,020

$9,984

$9,592

$9,500

$39,096

Total investment portfolio

1,445

1,466

1,468

1,356

5,735

Total Interest Income

11,465

11,450

11,060

10,856

44,831

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

2,927

2,833

2,668

2,517

10,945

All borrowings

417

409

369

349

1,544

Total Interest Expense

3,344

3,242

3,037

2,866

12,489

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INTEREST INCOME

8,121

8,208

8,023

7,990

32,342

Provision for loan losses

3,050

1,200

1,000

-

5,250

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES


5,071


7,008


7,023


7,990


27,092

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

Trust fees

1,454

1,373

1,357

1,387

5,571

Investment advisory fees

187

167

171

188

713

Net realized gains on investment securities

65

42

50

-

157

Net realized gains on loans held for sale

131

159

278

390

958

Service charges on deposit accounts

572

611

565

536

2,284

Bank owned life insurance

254

258

260

455

1,227

Other income

637

778

832

810

3,057

Total Non-interest Income

3,300

3,388

3,513

3,766

13,967

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

5,199

5,236

5,415

5,752

21,602

Net occupancy expense

736

639

620

696

2,691

Equipment expense

418

427

401

434

1,680

Professional fees

1,102

1,114

1,034

1,113

4,363

FDIC deposit insurance expense

331

341

430

473

1,575

Other expenses

1,978

2,029

1,874

1,905

7,786

Total Non-interest Expense

9,764

9,786

9,774

10,373

39,697

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRETAX INCOME (LOSS)

(1,393)

610

762

1,383

1,362

Income tax expense (benefit)

(475)

133

153

269

80

NET INCOME (LOSS)

(918)

477

609

1,114

1,282

Preferred stock dividends and accretion of

   preferred stock  


291


290


291


289


1,161

NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS


$(1,209)


$187


$318


$825


$121


















AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

Nasdaq: ASRV

Average Balance Sheet Data (In thousands)

(Unaudited)


2011

2010

 

 

TWELVE

 

TWELVE

 

4QTR

MONTHS

4QTR

MONTHS

Interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Loans and loans held for sale, net of unearned

    income


$675,657


$662,746


$689,041


$701,502

Deposits with banks

9,961

6,853

1,790

1,795

Short-term investment in money market funds

2,355

2,224

4,631

4,375

Federal funds sold

-

5,838

4,073

3,834

Total investment securities

195,925

197,916

171,379

161,265

 

 

 

 

 

Total interest earning assets

883,898

875,577

870,914

872,771

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

16,779

15,893

16,331

15,297

Premises and equipment

10,539

10,513

10,813

10,212

Other assets

79,201

79,293

80,402

80,206

Allowance for loan losses

(16,155)

(17,771)

(20,828)

(21,218)

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

$974,262

$963,505

$957,632

$957,268

 

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing deposits:

 

 

 

 

Interest bearing demand

$59,707

$57,784

$57,732

$58,118

Savings

82,238

81,490

76,419

77,381

Money market

202,220

193,536

187,550

186,560

Other time

337,730

348,915

362,396

358,472

Total interest bearing deposits

681,895

681,725

684,097

680,531

Borrowings:

 

 

 

 

Federal funds purchased, securities sold under

    agreements to repurchase, and other short-

    term borrowings



3,343



1,216



3,586



3,119

Advanced from Federal Home Loan Bank

9,888

9,769

10,521

18,694

Guaranteed junior subordinated deferrable interest

    debentures


13,085


13,085


13,085


13,085

Total interest bearing liabilities

708,211

705,795

711,289

715,429

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

  Demand deposits

140,797

135,298

126,718

122,963

  Other liabilities

11,721

11,699

10,882

11,188

Shareholders’ equity

113,533

110,713

108,743

107,688

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$974,262

$963,505

$957,632

$957,268