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Fidelity Bancorp Reports Second Quarter EPS of $1.41 and Six Months EPS Of $2.00

    CHICAGO, April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Fidelity Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FBCI), the parent company of Fidelity Federal
Savings Bank, today reported fiscal second quarter earnings of $1.41 per
diluted share for the period ended March 31, 2003.  The company also announced
its board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share,
payable May 15, 2003 to stockholders of record as of April 30, 2003.
    Earnings per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 were up
$0.82 per share, or 139%, from $0.59 per share for the same period in 2002.
Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 was $4.6 million, compared
with $1.9 million for the same quarter in 2002, up 145%.  Earnings per share
and net income for the quarter were up from the previous year's results
primarily due to a $3.3 million pre-tax recovery of an investment that had
previously been charged off.  The amount of the recovery represented a payment
equal to 110% of the original amount invested by the company; after taxes, it
totaled approximately $2.7 million as a result of using available capital loss
carry forwards.
    For the first six months of the fiscal year, earnings per diluted share
were $2.00, up $0.80 per share from $1.20 per diluted share in the first six
months of 2002.  Net income for the first six months of 2003 was $6.5 million,
up 70% from the net income reported for the same period in 2002.  Increases in
earnings per share and net income in the first half of the year were also
primarily due to the recovery mentioned above.
    "Obviously we were delighted with the recovery of the Reliance Acceptance
Group investment," said Raymond S. Stolarczyk, chairman and chief executive
officer.  "Over a five-year period we actively sought recovery of the full
amount, and our persistence was rewarded with a full recovery, plus 10%."
    The company's net interest margin declined to 2.85% for the six months
ended March 31, 2003 from 3.15% for the same period in 2002.  Net interest
income, after provision for loan losses, was $9.8 million for the six months
ended March 31, 2003, down 2% or $178,000 from $10.0 million in 2002.  A
decline in interest expense helped stabilize net interest income.  Total
interest expense was $9.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2003,
down 20% from $12.0 million for the same period in 2002.
    Interest expense on borrowed funds declined 17%, to $3.9 million for the
six months ended March 31, 2003, from $4.6 million in 2002.  Borrowed funds
increased by 7% to $194.0 million at March 31, 2003, compared with
$180.6 million at September 30, 2002.
    For the six months ended March 31, 2003, interest expense on deposits was
$5.8 million, down $1.6 million or 21% from $7.4 million in 2002.  Lower rates
on deposits in general and reduced rates paid on certificates of deposit
contributed to the decrease in deposit interest expense.
    With continued volatility in the stock market, customers continued to seek
the security of Federally insured deposits.  As a result, deposits increased
to $458.3 million at March 31, 2003, from $434.1 million at September 30,
2002, an increase of $24.2 million or 6%.
    The low interest rate environment and ongoing mortgage refinance market
had a negative effect on interest income.  Total interest income was
$19.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2003, compared with
$22.2 million for the same period in 2002, down $2.6 million or 12%.  Interest
income from loans receivable and mortgage-backed securities was $17.9 million
for the six months ended March 31, 2003, compared with $20.2 million in 2002.
In order to combat lower yields that have resulted from the current refinance
market, management has continued to take advantage of market opportunities,
engaging in the sale of mortgage-backed securities when yields are deemed
appropriate.
    "Over the past several quarters, we have used securities sales to
counteract the effect of current repayment speeds," said Stolarczyk.  "This
has been highly effective in the preservation of income from earning assets."
    Loan repayments totaled $98.7 million for the six months ended March 31,
2003, compared with $92.9 million for the same period in 2002.  Demand for
higher-yielding multi-family mortgages was strong, but did not offset loan
repayments.  New loans closed, including multi-family and commercial mortgages
and loans secured by commercial leases, totaled $57.2 million for the six
months ended March 31, 2003.  Net loans receivable at March 31, 2003 were
$380.9 million, down $33.8 million or 8%, from $414.7 million at September 30,
2002.
    Non-interest income was $4.9 million for the six-month period ended March
31, 2003 compared with $1.7 million in the year earlier period.  Included in
the increase was the $3.3 million recovery on a previously charged-off
investment.  For the six months ended March 31, 2003, the gain on sales of
loans and securities totaled $815,000, compared with $961,000 for the same
period in 2002.  Insurance and annuity commissions totaled $426,000 for the
first six months of 2003, essentially unchanged from $430,000 in 2002.
    Non-interest expense was $5.3 million for the six months ended March 31,
2003, compared with $5.6 million for the same period in 2002, down 4%.  The
ratio of operating expenses to average assets improved to 1.50% for the six
months ended March 31, 2003, compared with 1.68% in 2002.
    The company's asset quality remained excellent.  At March 31, 2003, the
company's ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 0.37%, compared
with 0.39% at September 30, 2002.
    Book value per share at March 31, 2003 was $19.50, compared with $18.17 at
September 30, 2002.  The company also saw a significant improvement in return
on equity, as well as certain other measures.  The company's return on average
equity increased to 22.1% for the six months ended March 31, 2003, compared
with 15.1% for the same period ended March 31, 2002.
    On December 17, 2002 Fidelity Bancorp, Inc. announced it has agreed to be
acquired by MAF Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAFB) in an all-stock transaction.
Subject to regulatory approval and the approval of Fidelity shareholders, the
transaction is expected to close in mid-2003.
    Fidelity Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Fidelity Federal Savings
Bank, which provides retail banking services through five full-service
locations in Chicago, Franklin Park and Schaumburg.  Established in 1906 and
headquartered in northwest Chicago, the bank is primarily in the business of
attracting retail deposits from the general public and investing those funds
in mortgages and consumer loans.  The bank also provides investments that are
not FDIC insured through its insurance agency and Invest Financial
Corporation.  Fidelity's common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market
under the symbol "FBCI."
    Fidelity Bancorp Inc.'s news releases are available by mail or fax by
contacting the company.  News releases are also available on the Internet by
visiting http://www.prnewswire.com and clicking on "Today's News" and then "Company
News" from the pull down menu.  The company's SEC filings are available
electronically on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/srch-edgar?0000912219 .
    This document (including information incorporated by reference) contains,
and future oral and written statements of the Company and its management may
contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial
condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and
business of the Company.  Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon
beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the Company's management and on
information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by
the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend,"
"estimate," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should" or other similar
expressions.  Additionally, all statements in this document, including
forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and the
Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new
information or future events.
    A number of factors, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company
to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in its forward-looking statements.  These factors include, among others,
the following: (i) the strength of the local and national economy; (ii) the
economic impact of terrorist activities and armed conflict; (iii) changes in
state and federal laws, regulations and governmental policies concerning the
Company's general business; (iv) changes in interest rates and prepayment
rates of the Company's assets; (v) increased competition in the financial
services sector and the inability to attract new customers; (vi) changes in
technology and the ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable
electronic systems; (vii) the loss of key executives or employees; (viii)
changes in consumer spending; (ix) unexpected results of acquisitions; (x)
unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; and
(xi) changes in accounting policies and practices.  These risks and
uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements
and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.  Additional
information concerning the Company and its business, including additional
factors that could materially affect the Company's financial results, is
included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                       FIDELITY BANCORP and SUBSIDIARY
                Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
                 Dollars in thousands (except per share data)

    Assets                                          March 31,   September 30,
                                                      2003           2002

    Cash and due from banks                           $4,291          3,828
    Interest-earning deposits                            656          1,045
    Federal funds sold                                   100            100
    Cash and cash equivalents                          5,047          4,973
    FHLB of Chicago stock, at cost                    33,273         31,972
    Mortgage-backed securities available for sale    271,634        216,505
    Securities available for sale                     22,932         22,396
    Loans held for sale                                   82             83
    Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan
     losses of $2,015 at March 31, 2003 and
     $1,826 at September 30, 2002                    380,929        414,685
    Accrued interest receivable                        3,320          3,637
    Premises and equipment                             3,490          3,410
    Due from broker                                    1,079              -
    Other assets                                       1,413          1,254
                                                    $723,199        698,915
    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Liabilities
    Deposits                                         458,325        434,134
    Borrowed funds                                   194,000        180,650
    Advance payments by borrowers for taxes
     and insurance                                     2,161          6,158
    Due to broker                                          -         13,169
    Other liabilities                                  7,098          8,813
    Total liabilities                                661,584        642,924

    Stockholders' Equity
    Preferred stock                                        -              -
    Common stock                                          57             57
    Additional paid-in capital                        38,122         38,410
    Retained earnings, substantially restricted       53,739         47,864
    Treasury stock, at cost                          (30,328)       (30,932)
    Common stock acquired by Bank Recognition
     and Retention Plans                                (127)          (149)
    Accumulated other comprehensive income               152            741
    Total stockholders' equity                        61,615         55,991
                                                    $723,199        698,915


                       FIDELITY BANCORP and SUBSIDIARY
                     Consolidated Statements of Earnings
             Dollars in thousands (except for earnings per share)

                                       Three Months            Six Months
                                      Ended March 31,       Ended March 31,
                                     2003        2002       2003       2002
    Interest Income:
    Loans receivable                $6,662       7,794     13,639     16,064
    Securities                         801       1,088      1,683      2,004
    Mortgage-backed securities       2,286       1,950      4,303      4,145
    Other interest income                4           8         10         18
                                     9,753      10,840     19,635     22,231
    Interest Expense:
    Deposits                         2,850       3,537      5,780      7,359
    Borrowed funds                   1,898       2,110      3,868      4,645
                                     4,748       5,647      9,648     12,004
    Net interest income before
     provision for loan losses       5,005       5,193      9,987     10,227
    Provision for loan losses           94         110        188        250
    Net interest income after
     provision for loan losses       4,911       5,083      9,799      9,977

    Non-interest Income:
    Fees and commissions               111         157        264        300
    Insurance and annuity
     commissions                       209         210        426        430
    Gain on sale of securities         483         223        754        295
    Gain on sale of loans               18         125         61        666
    Recovery of a previously
     charged-off investment          3,324           -      3,324          -
    Other                               20          11         29         20
                                     4,165         726      4,858      1,711
    Non-interest Expense:
    General and administrative
     expenses:
      Salaries and employee
       benefits                      1,656       1,576      3,196      3,275
      Office occupancy and
       equipment                       401         506        768        876
      Data processing                  122         130        240        262
      Advertising and promotions       132         156        314        314
      Other                            431         444        825        856
                                     2,742       2,812      5,343      5,583
    Income before income taxes       6,334       2,997      9,314      6,105
    Income tax expense               1,727       1,119      2,815      2,282
    Net income                      $4,607      $1,878      6,499      3,823
    Earnings per share - basic       $1.46       $0.61       2.08       1.25
    Earnings per share - diluted     $1.41       $0.59       2.00       1.20


                       FIDELITY BANCORP and SUBSIDIARY
                       Financial Highlights (unaudited)
     Dollars in thousands (except for book value and earnings per share)

                                                    March 31,   September 30,
                                                      2003           2002

    Selected Financial Highlights:
      Total assets                                  $723,199        698,915
      Interest-earning assets                        709,606        686,786
      Loans receivable, net                          380,929        414,685
      Deposits                                       458,325        434,134
      Borrowed funds                                 194,000        180,650
      Non-performing assets                            2,672          2,738
      Non-performing loans                             2,070          2,333
      Allowance for loan losses                        2,015          1,826
      Stockholders' equity                            61,615         55,991
      Book value per share                             19.50          18.17
      Shares outstanding - actual number           3,159,553      3,081,490

    Asset Quality Ratios:
      Non-performing loans to loans receivable,
       net                                              0.54%         0.56%
      Non-performing loans to total assets              0.29%         0.33%
      Non-performing assets to total assets             0.37%         0.39%
      Allowance for loan losses to total
       non-performing loans                            97.34%        78.27%
      Allowance for loan losses to loans
       receivable, net                                  0.53%         0.44%

                                        Three Months          Six Months
                                      Ended March 31,       Ended March 31,
                                      2003       2002       2003      2002

    Selected Operating Activities
     (annualized):
      Return on average assets         2.53%       1.14%     1.82%      1.15%
      Return on average equity        29.94%      14.90%    22.10%     15.14%
      Net interest rate spread
       during period                   2.50%       2.85%     2.54%      2.75%
      Net interest margin              2.80%       3.23%     2.85%      3.15%
      Net interest income to
       non-interest expense          182.53%     184.67%   186.92%    183.18%
      Operating expenses to
       average assets                  1.51%       1.71%     1.50%      1.68%
      Basic earnings per share        $1.46       $0.61     $2.08      $1.25
      Diluted earnings per share      $1.41       $0.59     $2.00      $1.20


SOURCE Fidelity Bancorp, Inc.




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    CONTACT:
    Raymond S. Stolarczyk, Chairman & CEO, Thomas
    E. Bentel, President & COO, or Elizabeth A. Doolan, Sr. Vice
    President & CFO, all of Fidelity Bancorp, Inc., +1-773-736-4414