8-K

PEOPLES BANCORP OF NORTH CAROLINA INC (PEBK)

8-K 2020-04-20 For: 2020-04-20
View Original
Added on April 12, 2026

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 20, 2020

Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

North Carolina

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

000-27205 56-2132396
(Commission<br>File No.) (IRS<br>Employer Identification No.)
518 West C Street, Newton, North Carolina 28658
--- ---
(Address<br>of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip<br>Code)

(828) 464-5620

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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-4(c))

Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.

INDEX

Page
Item<br>2.02 – Results of Operations and Financial<br>Condition 3
Item<br>9.01 – Financial Statements and Exhibits 3
Signatures 4
Exhibit<br>(99)(a) Press Release dated April 20, 2020 5

2

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On April 20, 2020, Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. issued a press release announcing first quarter 2020 earnings results.

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit (99)(a) and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

(99)(a) Press Release dated April 20, 2020

Disclosure about forward-looking statements

Statements made in this Form 8-K, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management and on the information available to management at the time that this report was prepared. These statements can be identified by the use of words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and “believe,” variations of these words and other similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rate environment, management’s business strategy, national, regional, and local market conditions and legislative and regulatory conditions.

The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Readers should also carefully review the risk factors described in other documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

3

SIGNATURES

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.

PEOPLES BANCORP OF<br>NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
Date: April 20,<br>2020 By: /s/ A. Joseph Lampron,<br>Jr.
A. Joseph Lampron,<br>Jr.
Executive Vice<br>President and Chief Financial Officer

4

pebk_ex99a

Exhibit 99(a)

NEWS RELEASE

April 20, 2020

Contact: Lance A. Sellers
President and Chief Executive Officer
A. Joseph Lampron, Jr.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
828-464-5620, Fax 828-465-6780

For Immediate Release

PEOPLES BANCORP ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS RESULTS

Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEBK), the parent company of Peoples Bank, reported first quarter earnings results with highlights as follows:

First quarter highlights:

Net earnings were $2.4 million or $0.40 basic and diluted net earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to $3.7 million or $0.61 basic and diluted net earnings per share for the same period one year ago.

Total loans increased $57.0 million to $880.6 million at March 31, 2020, compared to $823.6 million at March 31, 2019.

Core deposits were $961.2 million or 97.69% of total deposits at March 31, 2020, compared to $887.6 million or 97.74% of total deposits at March 31, 2019.

Lance A. Sellers, President and Chief Executive Officer, attributed the decrease in first quarter net earnings to a decrease in net interest income, an increase in the provision for loan losses and an increase in non-interest expense, which were partially offset by an increase in non-interest income during the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019, as discussed below.

Net interest income was $11.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $11.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The decrease in net interest income was primarily due to a $284,000 increase in interest expense, which was partially offset by a $67,000 increase in interest income. The increase in interest income was primarily attributable to an increase in the average outstanding balance of fed funds sold, compared to the same period last year. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to an increase in interest rates on deposits. Net interest income after the provision for loan losses was $9.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $11.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $1.5 million, compared to $178,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in the provision for loan losses is primarily attributable to increases in the qualitative factors applied in the Company’s Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses (“ALLL”) model due to the impact to the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic and a $57.0 million increase in loans from March 31, 2019 to March 31, 2020. The ALLL model also includes reserves on $57.4 million in loans with payment modifications made in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Non-interest income was $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in non-interest income is primarily attributable to a $488,000 increase in appraisal management fee income due to an increase in the volume of appraisals.

Non-interest expense was $11.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $10.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in non-interest expense was primarily attributable to a $77,000 increase in salaries and benefits expense, a $184,000 increase in occupancy expense and a $372,000 increase in appraisal management fee expense. The increase in salaries and benefits expense was primarily attributable to an increase in salary expense primarily due to annual salary increases and an increase in insurance costs. The increase in occupancy expense was primarily due to increases in depreciation and maintenance expenses. The increase in appraisal management fee expense was primarily due to an increase in the volume of appraisals.

Income tax expense was $467,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $785,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The effective tax rate was 16.48% for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to 17.63% for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Total assets were $1.2 billion as of March 31, 2020, compared to $1.1 billion at March 31, 2019. Available for sale securities were $201.5 million as of March 31, 2020, compared to $184.4 million as of March 31, 2019. Total loans were $880.6 million as of March 31, 2020, compared to $823.6 million as of March 31, 2019.

Non-performing assets were $4.0 million or 0.32% of total assets at March 31, 2020, compared to $2.9 million or 0.25% of total assets at March 31, 2019. Non-performing assets include $3.6 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $412,000 in other loans at March 31, 2020, compared to $2.7 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans, $89,000 in other loans and $27,000 in other real estate owned at March 31, 2019.

The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2020 was $8.1 million or 0.92% of total loans, compared to $6.6 million or 0.80% of total loans at March 31, 2019. Management believes the current level of the allowance for loan losses is adequate; however, there is no assurance that additional adjustments to the allowance will not be required because of changes in economic conditions, regulatory requirements or other factors.

Deposits were $984.0 million at March 31, 2020, compared to $908.1 million at March 31, 2019. Core deposits, which include noninterest-bearing demand deposits, NOW, MMDA, savings and non-brokered certificates of deposit of denominations less than $250,000, were $961.2 million at March 31, 2020, compared to $887.6 million at March 31, 2019. Certificates of deposit in amounts of $250,000 or more totaled $22.7 million at March 31, 2020, compared to $20.4 million at March 31, 2019.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase were $28.5 million at March 31, 2020, compared to $41.2 million at March 31, 2019. The decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase is primarily due to approximately $21.0 million transferred from securities sold under agreements to repurchase to MMDA during the third quarter of 2019.

Borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”) totaled $70.0 million at March 31, 2020, compared to zero at March 31, 2019. The increase in FHLB borrowings reflects a new $70.0 million FHLB advance executed in February 2020 to take advantage of a ten-year convertible advance program available from the FHLB at a rate of 0.58%.

Junior subordinated debentures were $15.5 million at March 31, 2020, compared to $20.6 million at March 31, 2019. The decrease in junior subordinated debentures is the result of a $5.0 million redemption of the Company’s outstanding trust preferred securities during the fourth quarter of 2019.

Shareholders’ equity was $133.9 million, or 10.75% of total assets, at March 31, 2020, compared to $126.6 million, or 11.39% of total assets, at March 31, 2019. The Company repurchased 126,800 shares of its common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2020 under the Company’s stock repurchase program, which was funded in January 2020.

Peoples Bank currently operates 19 banking offices entirely in North Carolina, with offices in Catawba, Alexander, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Iredell and Wake Counties. Peoples Bank also operates loan production offices in Lincoln, Mecklenburg and Durham Counties. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded and is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “PEBK.”

Statements made in this press release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management and on the information available to management at the time that this release was prepared. These statements can be identified by the use of words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and “believe,” variations of these words and other similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, (1) competition in the markets served by Peoples Bank, (2) changes in the interest rate environment, (3) general national, regional or local economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and the possible impairment of collectibility of loans, (4) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, (5) significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment and tax laws, (6) the impact of changes in monetary and fiscal policies, laws, rules and regulations and (7) other risks and factors identified in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to those described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

March 31, 2020, December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019

(Dollars in thousands)

December<br>31,<br><br><br>2019 March<br>31,<br><br><br>2019
(Audited) (Unaudited)
ASSETS:
Cash and due from<br>banks $48,337 $35,318
Interest-bearing<br>deposits 720 15,896
Federal funds<br>sold 3,330 -
Cash and cash<br>equivalents 52,387 51,214
Investment<br>securities available for sale 195,746 184,428
Other<br>investments 4,231 4,329
Total<br>securities 199,977 188,757
Mortgage loans held<br>for sale 4,417 361
Loans 849,874 823,557
Less: Allowance for<br>loan losses (6,680) (6,561)
Net<br>loans 843,194 816,996
Premises and<br>equipment, net 18,604 18,247
Cash surrender<br>value of life insurance 16,319 16,031
Accrued interest<br>receivable and other assets 19,984 19,542
Total<br>assets $1,154,882 $1,111,148
LIABILITIES<br>AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing<br>demand $338,004 $310,053
NOW, MMDA &<br>savings 516,757 493,773
Time, 250,000 or<br>more 34,269 20,362
Other<br>time 77,487 83,926
Total<br>deposits 966,517 908,114
Securities sold<br>under agreements to repurchase 24,221 41,231
FHLB<br>borrowings - -
Junior subordinated<br>debentures 15,619 20,619
Accrued interest<br>payable and other liabilities 14,405 14,600
Total<br>liabilities 1,020,762 984,564
Shareholders'<br>equity:
Series A preferred<br>stock, 1,000 stated value; authorized
5,000,000 shares;<br>no shares issued and outstanding - -
Common stock, no<br>par value; authorized
20,000,000 shares;<br>issued and outstanding
5,787,504 shares<br>3/31/20,
5,912,300 shares<br>12/31/19, 5,997,136 shares 3/31/19 59,813 62,151
Retained<br>earnings 70,663 62,757
Accumulated other<br>comprehensive income 3,644 1,676
Total shareholders'<br>equity 134,120 126,584
Total liabilities<br>and shareholders' equity $1,154,882 $1,111,148

All values are in US Dollars.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three<br>months ended
March<br>31,
2020 2019
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
INTEREST<br>INCOME:
Interest and fees<br>on loans $10,680 $10,619
Interest on due<br>from banks 43 14
Interest on federal<br>funds sold 123 -
Interest on<br>investment securities:
U.S. Government<br>sponsored enterprises 685 673
State and political<br>subdivisions 641 834
Other 78 43
Total interest<br>income 12,250 12,183
INTEREST<br>EXPENSE:
NOW, MMDA &<br>savings deposits 525 282
Time<br>deposits 277 151
FHLB<br>borrowings 64 46
Junior subordinated<br>debentures 130 226
Other 45 52
Total interest<br>expense 1,041 757
NET<br>INTEREST INCOME 11,209 11,426
PROVISION<br>FOR LOAN LOSSES 1,521 178
NET<br>INTEREST INCOME AFTER
PROVISION<br>FOR LOAN LOSSES 9,688 11,248
NON-INTEREST<br>INCOME:
Service<br>charges 1,108 1,093
Other service<br>charges and fees 193 169
Gain on sale of<br>securities - 231
Mortgage banking<br>income 322 147
Insurance and<br>brokerage commissions 242 231
Appraisal<br>management fee income 1,350 862
Miscellaneous 1,380 1,387
Total non-interest<br>income 4,595 4,120
NON-INTEREST<br>EXPENSES:
Salaries and<br>employee benefits 5,724 5,647
Occupancy 1,921 1,737
Appraisal<br>management fee expense 1,034 662
Other 2,770 2,870
Total non-interest<br>expense 11,449 10,916
EARNINGS BEFORE<br>INCOME TAXES 2,834 4,452
INCOME<br>TAXES 467 785
NET<br>EARNINGS $2,367 $3,667
PER<br>SHARE AMOUNTS
Basic net<br>earnings $0.40 $0.61
Diluted net<br>earnings $0.40 $0.61
Cash<br>dividends $0.30 $0.24
Book<br>value $23.13 $21.11

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

(Dollars in thousands)

Three<br>months ended
March<br>31,
2020 2019
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
SELECTED<br>AVERAGE BALANCES:
Available for sale<br>securities $188,870 $189,790
Loans 861,634 815,203
Earning<br>assets 1,103,948 1,013,310
Assets 1,196,938 1,091,822
Deposits 973,285 895,708
Shareholders'<br>equity 134,186 125,349
SELECTED<br>KEY DATA:
Net interest margin<br>(tax equivalent) 4.14% 4.66%
Return on average<br>assets 0.80% 1.36%
Return on average<br>shareholders' equity 7.09% 11.86%
Shareholders'<br>equity to total assets (period end) 10.75% 11.39%
ALLOWANCE<br>FOR LOAN LOSSES:
Balance, beginning<br>of period $6,680 $6,445
Provision for loan<br>losses 1,521 178
Charge-offs (210) (164)
Recoveries 121 102
Balance, end of<br>period $8,112 $6,561
ASSET<br>QUALITY:
Non-accrual<br>loans $3,966 $2,802
90 days past due<br>and still accruing 34 -
Other real estate<br>owned - 27
Total<br>non-performing assets $4,000 $2,829
Non-performing<br>assets to total assets 0.32% 0.25%
Loans modifications<br>related to COVID-19 $57,366 $-
Allowance for loan<br>losses to non-performing assets 202.80% 231.92%
Allowance for loan<br>losses to total loans 0.92% 0.80%

LOAN RISK GRADE ANALYSIS:

Percentage<br>of Loans
By<br>Risk Grade
3/31/2020 3/31/2019
Risk Grade 1<br>(excellent quality) 0.52% 0.70%
Risk Grade 2 (high<br>quality) 23.89% 24.99%
Risk Grade 3 (good<br>quality) 63.29% 61.41%
Risk Grade 4<br>(management attention) 10.06% 10.57%
Risk Grade 5<br>(watch) 1.41% 1.56%
Risk Grade 6<br>(substandard) 0.83% 0.78%
Risk Grade 7<br>(doubtful) 0.00% 0.00%
Risk Grade 8<br>(loss) 0.00% 0.00%

At March 31, 2020, including non-accrual loans, there were two relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Watch risk grade (which totaled $3.1 million). There were no relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Substandard risk grade.