ÂPHM014 MP 16:30 USBANCORP Announces Earnings









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) April 22, 2003


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.)

















Form 8-K


Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure


This item is being filed as an Item 12. “Results of Operations and Financial Condition.” Pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s filing guidance issued on March 27,2003 regarding Final Rule 33-8216.


AMERISERV FINANCIAL Inc. (the "Registrant") press release dated April 22, 2003, announcing its earnings for the three (3) month period ended March 31, 2003 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference


Exhibits

--------


Exhibit 99.1

Press release dated April 22, 2003, announcing its earnings for the three (3) month period ended March 31, 2003.



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



AMERISERV FINANCIAL, Inc.


By /s/Jeffrey A. Stopko

Jeffrey A. Stopko

Senior Vice President

& CFO


Date: April 22, 2003

















Exhibit 99.1


Jeffrey A. Stopko

                            April 22, 2003

Senior Vice President &


Chief Financial Officer


(814)-533-5310


AMERISERV FINANCIAL ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2003

FINANCIAL RESULTS


JOHNSTOWN, PA – AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASRV) today reported a net loss for the first quarter of 2003 amounting to ($795,000) or ($0.06) per diluted share compared to net income of $626,000 or $0.05 per diluted share reported in the first quarter of 2002.  The Company achieved meaningful progress in its turnaround as the size of the net loss declined sharply when compared to the two most recent quarters.  Specifically, the Company reported a net loss of $4.2 million in the third quarter of 2002 and a net loss of $2 million in the fourth quarter of 2002.  The first quarter 2003 loss was due primarily to an increased provision for loan losses and a loss realized on the sale of a significant portion of its mortgage servicing asset.      


At March 31, 2003, ASRV had total assets of $1.2 billion and shareholders’ equity of $75 million or $5.41 per share.  The Company continues to be considered well capitalized for regulatory purposes with an asset leverage ratio at March 31, 2003 of 6.94%, compared to a regulatory minimum of 5.0%.


The Company’s provision for loan losses totaled $1.7 million or 1.19% of total loans in the first quarter of 2003.  This represented an increase of $1.1 million from the first quarter 2002 provision of $540,000 or 0.37% of total loans.  The first quarter 2003 provision exceeded net charge-offs for the quarter that totaled $279,000 or 0.20% of total loans.  The actions taken to further build the allowance for loan losses in the first quarter of 2003 reflect deterioration in credit quality that was evidenced by a higher level of classified loans and non-performing assets.  Non-performing assets increased from $7.0 million at December 31, 2002 to $11.7 million at March 31, 2003 due primarily to the transfer of a $4.8 million commercial mortgage loan into non-accrual status.  As discussed in the Company’s 2002 Annual Report and Form 10-K, this loan is to a borrower in the personal care industry and is supported by an 80% guarantee by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is secured by a first mortgage on the personal care facility.  As a result of the higher level of non-performing assets, the Company’s loan loss reserve coverage of non-performing assets amounted to 98% at March 31, 2003 compared to 144% at December 31, 2002 and 69% at March 31, 2002.  The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans, however, increased to 2.06% at March 31, 2003 compared to 1.75% at December 31, 2002 and 1.07% at March 31, 2002.  

                                           

The Company’s net interest income in the first quarter of 2003 increased by $64,000 from the prior year first quarter due to a 13 basis point improvement in the net interest margin to 2.48%.  This increase in the net interest margin was partially offset by a reduced level of earning assets due to loan portfolio shrinkage experienced in the first quarter of 2003.  The overall net loan paydowns reflect continuing prepayment pressures caused by the historically low interest rate environment.  When analyzing more recent trends, both net interest income and net interest margin displayed stability.  Specifically, between the fourth quarter of 2002 and the first quarter of 2003, the Company’s net interest income declined by only $37,000 and the net interest margin improved by one basis point.  This demonstrated net interest margin stability is noteworthy given the recent industry trends of net interest margin contraction.   


The Company’s total non-interest income in the first quarter of 2003 decreased by $653,000 from the first quarter of 2002 due primarily to a $758,000 loss realized on the sale of approximately 69% of the Company’s mortgage servicing portfolio.  Largely as a result of this sale, the value of the Company’s mortgage servicing rights declined from $6.9 million at December 31, 2002 to $2.2 million at March 31, 2003.  This downsizing of the mortgage servicing asset reduces the level of interest rate risk and earnings volatility at the Company and contributes to a more conservatively positioned balance sheet.  Non-interest income was also negatively impacted by a $254,000 drop in revenue from bank owned life insurance due to the receipt of a death benefit for an employee insured under the program in the prior year first quarter.  These negative items were partially mitigated by net realized gains from investment security sales and higher deposit service charges.  Gains on the sale of investment securities increased by $641,000 as the Company took advantage of the volatility in the market to shorten the investment portfolio duration and also capture profits on certain securities that had risks of accelerated prepayment in today’s low interest rate environment.  These increased gains also helped offset a $366,000 mortgage servicing impairment charge recorded in the first quarter of 2003.  This non-cash impairment charge reflects a decline in the value of the remaining mortgage servicing rights due to increased prepayment speeds resulting from unprecedented mortgage refinancing activity.  Specifically, the Mortgage Bankers Association Refinance Index reached in excess of 8000 in March 2003; the highest level ever recorded.   


The Company’s total non-interest expense in the first quarter of 2003 increased by $185,000 from the first quarter of 2002.  Non-interest expenses, exclusive of the mortgage servicing rights impairment charge /credit and a goodwill impairment loss, however, declined by $503,000 from the first quarter of 2002 and by a more significant $816,000 from the fourth quarter of 2002 due to the Company’s focus on reducing expenses.  Salaries and employee benefits dropped by $356,000 as there were 52 fewer full time equivalent employees when compared to the first quarter of 2002. Other expenses also declined by $372,000 due to cost cutting in numerous expense categories some of the larger of which included advertising expense and merchant card expense.  The Company did recognize a $199,000 goodwill impairment loss in the first quarter of 2003 due to the write-off of the goodwill associated with the mortgage banking segment.  


AmeriServ Financial, Inc., is the parent of AmeriServ Financial Bank and AmeriServ Trust & Financial Services in Johnstown, AmeriServ Associates of State College, and AmeriServ Life Insurance Company.


This news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including the risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report and Form 10-K to the Securities and Exchange Commission as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Actual results may differ materially.

 


Nasdaq NMS: ASRV

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE DATA (A)

April 22, 2003

(In thousands, except per share and ratio data)

2003

 

1QTR

  

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

 

Net income (loss)

$(795)

  

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

 

Return on average equity

(4.17)%

Net interest margin

2.48

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans

0.20

Loan loss provision as a percentage of average loans

1.19

Net overhead expense as a percentage of tax equivalent net interest income


91.97

Efficiency ratio

94.98

  

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

Net income (loss):

 

Basic

$(0.06)

Average number of common shares outstanding

13,923,010

Diluted

(0.06)

Average number of common shares outstanding

13,923,010

Cash dividends declared

0.00

  




2002

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

YEAR

     

TO DATE

PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE PERIOD:

     

Net income (loss)

$626

$408

$(4,224)

$(1,962)

$(5,152)

      

PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGES (annualized):

     

Return on average equity

3.16%

2.04%

(20.19)%

(9.80)%

(6.37)%

Net interest margin

2.35

2.63

2.48

2.47

2.51

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans

0.06

1.09

2.08

0.17

0.85

Loan loss provision as a percentage of average loans

0.37

0.56

2.24

3.06

1.56

Net overhead expense as a percentage of tax equivalent net interest income


80.13


82.34


147.87


78.87


97.23

Efficiency ratio

88.34

89.52

127.78

87.98

98.39

      

PER COMMON SHARE:

     

Net income (loss):

     

Basic

$0.05

$0.03

$(0.31)

$(0.14)

$(0.37)

Average number of common shares outstanding

13,689,478

13,748,179

13,799,547

13,887,932

13,781,878

Diluted

0.05

0.03

(0.31)

(0.14)

(0.37)

Average number of common shares outstanding

13,712,382

13,778,716

13,800,897

13,889,196

13,789,482

Cash dividends declared

0.09

0.09

0.09

0.03

0.30

      

    

NOTES:

(A)All quarterly data unaudited.



AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

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


2003

 

1QTR

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

 

Assets

$1,190,360

Investment securities

546,427

Loans

555,335

Allowance for loan losses

11,415

Goodwill and core deposit intangibles

15,337

Mortgage servicing rights

2,214

Deposits

669,103

Stockholders’ equity

75,364

Trust assets

1,091,391

Non-performing assets

11,687

Asset leverage ratio

6.94%

PER COMMON SHARE:

 

Book value (A)

$5.41

Market value

3.50

Market price to book value

64.69%

  

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

 

Full-time equivalent employees

416

Branch locations

23

Common shares outstanding

13,929,324


2002

 

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

PERFORMANCE DATA AT PERIOD END

    

Assets

$1,213,764

$1,202,086

$1,182,678

$1,175,550

Investment securities

532,349

493,322

491,861

505,778

Loans

587,624

600,778

594,285

572,977

Allowance for loan losses

6,286

5,518

5,757

10,035

Goodwill and core deposit intangibles

16,968

16,610

16,252

15,894

Mortgage servicing rights

8,315

7,566

5,146

6,917

Deposits

680,435

705,662

674,573

669,929

Stockholders’ equity

78,051

82,491

79,711

77,756

Trust assets

1,198,480

1,190,834

1,082,311

1,057,816

Non-performing assets

9,105

5,668

5,407

6,964

Asset leverage ratio

7.54%

7.46%

7.00%

6.84%

PER COMMON SHARE:

    

Book value (A)

$5.69

$6.00

$5.77

$5.59

Market value

4.96

4.58

2.45

2.85

Market price to book value

87.17%

76.37%

42.45%

50.98%

     

STATISTICAL DATA AT PERIOD END:

    

Full-time equivalent employees

468

464

445

422

Branch locations

24

24

24

23

Common shares outstanding

13,709,329

13,754,342

13,811,595

13,898,302


    NOTES:

    

    (A) Other comprehensive income had a positive impact of $0.30 on book value per share at March 31, 2003.

    

    

AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(In thousands)

(Quarterly data unaudited)

2003

  

INTEREST INCOME

1QTR

Interest and fees on loans

$9,083

Total investment portfolio

5,660

Total Interest Income

14,743

  

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

Deposits

3,140

All other funding sources

4,956

Total Interest Expense

8,096

  

NET INTEREST INCOME

6,647

Provision for loan losses

1,659

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES


4,988

  

NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

Trust fees

1,253

Net realized gains on investment securities available for sale


1,278

Net realized gains on loans and loans held for sale

173

Service charges on deposit accounts

767

Net mortgage servicing fees

71

Gain (loss) on sale of mortgage servicing

(758)

Bank owned life insurance

298

Other income

913

Total Non-interest Income

3,995

  

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

Salaries and employee benefits

4,789

Net occupancy expense

752

Equipment expense

817

Professional fees

903

FDIC deposit insurance expense

28

Amortization of core deposit intangibles

358

Impairment charge (credit)for mortgage servicing rights


366

Goodwill impairment loss

199

Other expenses

1,908

Total Non-interest Expense

10,120

  

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

(1,137)

Provision  (benefit) for income taxes

(342)

NET INCOME (LOSS)

$(795)

  



2002

     

YEAR

INTEREST INCOME

1QTR

2QTR

3QTR

4QTR

TO DATE

Interest and fees on loans

$10,562

$10,434

$10,191

$9,835

$41,022

Total investment portfolio

6,698

6,637

6,011

5,647

24,993

Total Interest Income

17,260

17,071

16,202

15,482

66,015

      

INTEREST EXPENSE

     

Deposits

4,288

4,215

4,015

3,535

16,053

All other funding sources

6,389

5,549

5,393

5,263

22,594

Total Interest Expense

10,677

9,764

9,408

8,798

38,647

      

NET INTEREST INCOME

6,583

7,307

6,794

6,684

27,368

Provision for loan losses

540

815

3,380

4,530

9,265

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES


6,043


6,492


3,414


2,154


18,103

      

NON-INTEREST INCOME

     

Trust fees

1,279

1,235

1,077

1,081

4,672

Net realized gains on investment securities available for sale


637


1,314


1,356


987


4,294

Net realized gains on loans and loans held for sale

124

141

160

354

779

Service charges on deposit accounts

674

694

732

806

2,906

Net mortgage servicing fees

92

123

97

101

413

Bank owned life insurance

554

317

309

311

1,491

Other income

1,288

1,200

1,198

1,446

5,132

Total Non-interest Income

4,648

5,024

4,929

5,086

19,687

      

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

     

Salaries and employee benefits

5,145

5,128

5,342

4,982

20,597

Net occupancy expense

739

750

682

689

2,860

Equipment expense

783

768

741

752

3,044

Professional fees

750

847

1,057

1,189

3,843

FDIC deposit insurance expense

29

29

28

30

116

Amortization of core deposit intangibles

358

358

358

358

1,432

Impairment (credit) charge for mortgage servicing   rights


(123)


787


3,034


-


3,698

Wholesale mortgage production exit costs

(26)

(14)

-

-

(40)

Restructuring costs

-

-

920

-

920

Other expenses

2,280

2,403

2,843

2,371

9,897

Total Non-interest Expense

9,935

11,056

15,005

10,371

46,367

      

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

756

460

(6,662)

(3,131)

(8,577)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

130

52

(2,438)

(1,169)

(3,425)

NET INCOME (LOSS)

$626

$408

$(4,224)

$(1,962)

$(5,152)

      


AMERISERV FINANCIAL, INC.

Nasdaq NMS: ASRV

Average Balance Sheet Data (In thousands)

(Quarterly Data Unaudited)


    Note:  2002 data appears before 2003.



 

2002

2003

 

THREE

THREE

 

MONTHS

MONTHS

Interest earning assets:

  

Loans and loans held for sale, net of unearned income

$584,426

$557,123

Deposits with banks

18,478

7,240

Federal funds sold

1,703

-

Total investment securities

497,841

497,836

   

Total interest earning assets

1,102,448

1,062,199

   

Non-interest earning assets:

  

Cash and due from banks

22,014

23,557

Premises and equipment

13,467

12,477

Other assets

68,534

71,235

Allowance for loan losses

(6,101)

(10,272)

   

Total assets

$1,200,362

$1,159,196

   

Interest bearing liabilities:

  

Interest bearing deposits:

  

Interest bearing demand

$48,557

$50,550

Savings

94,916

102,116

Money market

134,884

128,232

Other time

303,206

289,213

Total interest bearing deposits

581,563

570,111

Borrowings:

  

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



21,244



93,652

Advanced from Federal Home Loan Bank

368,966

268,156

Guaranteed junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures


34,500


34,500

Long-term debt

-

-

Total interest bearing liabilities

1,006,273

966,419

   

Non-interest bearing liabilities:

  

Demand deposits

102,632

107,847

Other liabilities

11,062

7,692

Stockholders’ equity

80,395

77,238

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$1,200,362

$1,159,196