Exhibit 99.1

 

Contact:    Company:
The Foristall Company, Inc.    Michael J. Fitzpatrick
Thomas F. Curtin    Chief Financial Officer
Tel: (610)398-3022    OceanFirst Financial Corp.
Fax: (610)530-7781    Tel: (732)240-4500, ext. 7506
email:foristal@aol.com    Fax: (732)349-5070
     email:Mfitzpatrick@oceanfirst.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

ANNOUNCES 17.1% INCREASE IN

QUARTERLY EARNINGS PER SHARE,

AND CONTINUATION OF

QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

 

TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY, October 23, 2003…OceanFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:OCFC), the holding company for OceanFirst Bank, today announced diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 of $.41, a 17.1% increase over the $.35 per diluted share for the same prior year quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003 diluted earnings per share increased 10.2% to $1.19, from $1.08 for the corresponding prior year period. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors had declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.20 per share—covering the three month period ended September 30, 2003—to be paid on November 14, 2003, to shareholders of record on October 31, 2003.

 

In making today’s announcement John R. Garbarino, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer said, “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce our twenty-seventh consecutive quarterly cash dividend. The dividend, along with yesterday’s announcement of our tenth stock repurchase program for 10% of outstanding shares, reflects management’s continuing strong commitment to increasing shareholder value and leveraging the organization’s capital.”

 


“Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2003 was adversely affected by a declining net interest margin caused by the historically low rate environment and unparalleled prepayment activity. Despite this difficult operating environment, we continue to successfully grow commercial loans and core deposits, increase non-interest revenue and manage capital.”

 

Results of Operations

 

Net interest income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 decreased to $13.8 million and $44.1 million, respectively, as compared to $15.6 million and $45.9 million, respectively, in the same prior year periods. For each period in 2003, interest-earning assets increased while the net interest margin declined as compared to the same prior year periods. The net interest margin decreased to 3.31% and 3.54%, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 from 3.80% and 3.73%, respectively, in the same prior year periods. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased to 5.44% and 5.82%, respectively, as compared to 6.65% and 6.70%, respectively, for the same prior year periods. High prepayment levels caused a decrease in the rate earned on interest earning assets and an acceleration of the amortization of net premiums on mortgage-related assets. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased to 2.37% and 2.53%, respectively for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, as compared to 3.15% and 3.27%, respectively, in the same prior year periods. Funding costs benefited from the Company’s focus on lower cost core deposit growth. Core deposits (including non-interest-bearing deposits) represented 65.7% and 63.4%, respectively, of average deposits for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 as compared to 58.0% and 55.3%, respectively, for the same prior year periods.

 


Other income increased to $5.6 million and $13.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, from $1.3 and $6.9 million, respectively, in the same prior year periods. Fees and service charges increased by $314,000, or 18.7%, and $1.2 million, or 25.4%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, as compared to the same prior year periods due to the growth in commercial account services, retail core account balances and trust fees, and the establishment of a captive subsidiary to recognize fee income from private mortgage reinsurance. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, the Company recorded gains of $3.3 million and $8.7 million on the sale of loans and securities, as compared to gains of $1.3 million and $2.8 million in the same prior year periods. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the gain on sales of loans and securities includes a gain of $323,000 on the sale of equity securities. Loan servicing income for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, was adversely affected by the recognition of an impairment to the loan servicing asset of $2.2 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002, the Company recognized impairments to the loan servicing asset for $1.9 million and $2.1 million, respectively.

 

Operating expenses amounted to $11.1 million and $32.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, as compared to $9.9 million and $29.6 million, respectively, for the corresponding prior year periods. The increase was principally due to the higher loan related expenses and for the year-to-date, the costs associated with the opening of the Bank’s seventeenth branch office in May 2002.

 


Financial Condition

 

Loans receivable net, increased by $16.0 million at September 30, 2003 as compared to December 31, 2002 as commercial loan growth was partially offset by reductions in 1-4 family mortgage loans due to sale activity. Commercial loans outstanding increased $29.9 million, or 18.1% on an annualized basis.

 

Deposits decreased to $1,164.7 million at September 30, 2003 from $1,184.8 million at December 31, 2002. Core deposits, however, the Company’s primary focus, grew $60.3 million while certificate balances declined in the low interest rate environment.

 

Stockholders’ equity decreased by $2.5 million to $132.8 million at September 30, 2003 as compared to $135.3 million at December 31, 2002. For the year-to-date, 771,713 common shares were repurchased at a total cost of $18.5 million. Under the 10% repurchase program authorized by the Board of Directors in August 2002, 178,122 shares remain to be purchased as of September 30, 2003. A new repurchase program, the Company’s eleventh, was announced on October 22, 2003. Under this 10% repurchase program, an additional 1,341,818 shares are available for repurchase. The cost of share repurchases was partly offset by proceeds from stock option exercises and the related tax benefits.

 

Asset Quality

 

The Company’s non-performing assets totaled $2.6 million at September 30, 2003 as compared to $2.8 million at December 31, 2002. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the Company experienced a net recovery of $36,000 through the allowance for loan losses.

 

OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s subsidiary, OceanFirst Bank, founded in 1902, is a federally-chartered stock savings bank with $1.8 billion in assets and seventeen branches located in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties, New Jersey. The Bank is the largest and oldest community-based financial institution headquartered in Ocean County, New Jersey.

 


OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s press releases are available at no charge by visiting us on the worldwide web at http://www.oceanfirst.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” or similar expressions. The Company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and the subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board, the quality or composition of the loan or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows, competition, demand for financial services in the Company’s market area and accounting principles and guidelines. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake—and specifically disclaims any obligation—to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

 

 


OceanFirst Financial Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     September 30,
2003


    December 31,
2002


    September 30,
2002


 
     (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)  

ASSETS

                        

Cash and due from banks

   $ 42,117     $ 17,192     $ 34,861  

Investment securities available for sale

     79,322       91,978       79,482  

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock, at cost

     19,950       18,700       18,440  

Mortgage-backed securities available for sale

     102,361       138,657       180,837  

Loans receivable, net

     1,351,866       1,335,898       1,299,987  

Mortgage loans held for sale

     83,671       66,626       32,271  

Interest and dividends receivable

     6,598       6,378       7,881  

Real estate owned, net

     264       141       359  

Premises and equipment, net

     16,867       17,708       17,849  

Servicing asset

     7,121       7,907       6,995  

Bank Owned Life Insurance

     33,573       32,398       31,948  

Other assets

     10,884       10,115       9,836  
    


 


 


Total assets

   $ 1,754,594     $ 1,743,698     $ 1,720,746  
    


 


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                        

Deposits

   $ 1,164,745     $ 1,184,836     $ 1,170,049  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase with retail customers

     52,242       44,584       41,200  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase with the Federal Home Loan Bank

     100,000       140,000       155,000  

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

     283,500       214,000       199,000  

Advances by borrowers for taxes and insurance

     6,741       5,952       2,665  

Other liabilities

     14,542       19,021       14,701  
    


 


 


Total liabilities

     1,621,770       1,608,393       1,582,615  
    


 


 


Stockholders’ equity:

                        

Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued

     —         —         —    

Common stock, $.01 par value, 55,000,000 shares authorized, 27,177,372 shares issued and 13,418,183, 13,757,880 and 13,924,103 shares outstanding at September 30, 2003, December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2002, respectively

     272       272       272  

Additional paid-in capital

     188,526       184,934       183,761  

Retained earnings

     149,014       142,224       139,887  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (4,236 )     (3,201 )     (1,897 )

Less: Unallocated common stock held by Employee Stock Ownership Plan

     (10,245 )     (11,248 )     (11,601 )

Treasury stock, 13,759,189, 13,419,492 and 13,253,269 shares at September 30, 2003, December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2002, respectively

     (190,507 )     (177,676 )     (172,291 )
    


 


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     132,824       135,305       138,131  
    


 


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,754,594     $ 1,743,698     $ 1,720,746  
    


 


 


 

 


OceanFirst Financial Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Forthe three months ended
September 30


   

For the nine months ended

September 30,


 
     2003

    2002

    2003

    2002

 
     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  

Interest income:

                                

Loans

   $ 21,159     $ 23,993     $ 66,058     $ 71,222  

Mortgage-backed securities

     819       2,353       3,641       8,058  

Investment securities and other

     721       925       2,742       3,273  
    


 


 


 


Total interest income

     22,699       27,271       72,441       82,553  
    


 


 


 


Interest expense:

                                

Deposits

     3,886       6,784       13,557       21,426  

Borrowed funds

     5,018       4,915       14,801       15,225  
    


 


 


 


Total interest expense

     8,904       11,699       28,358       36,651  
    


 


 


 


Net interest income

     13,795       15,572       44,083       45,902  

Provision for loan losses

     48       375       673       1,250  
    


 


 


 


Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     13,747       15,197       43,410       44,652  
    


 


 


 


Other income:

                                

Loan servicing loss

     (71 )     (2,047 )     (2,758 )     (2,091 )

Fees and service charges

     1,990       1,676       5,855       4,669  

Net gain on sales of loans and securities available for sale

     3,335       1,258       8,737       2,766  

Net (loss) income from other real estate operations

     (3 )     (7 )     106       67  

Other

     383       460       1,201       1,460  
    


 


 


 


Total other income

     5,634       1,340       13,141       6,871  
    


 


 


 


Operating expenses:

                                

Compensation and employee benefits

     5,699       5,107       15,819       15,365  

Occupancy

     852       848       2,663       2,438  

Equipment

     633       561       1,809       1,679  

Marketing

     369       583       1,338       1,439  

Federal deposit insurance

     126       113       360       364  

Data processing

     702       595       2,234       1,908  

General and administrative

     2,676       2,092       8,265       6,393  
    


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     11,057       9,899       32,488       29,586  
    


 


 


 


Income before provision for income taxes

     8,324       6,638       24,063       21,937  

Provision for income taxes

     2,994       1,848       8,538       6,962  
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 5,330     $ 4,790     $ 15,525     $ 14,975  
    


 


 


 


Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.43     $ 0.38     $ 1.25     $ 1.16  
    


 


 


 


Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.41     $ 0.35     $ 1.19     $ 1.08  
    


 


 


 


Average basic shares outstanding

     12,293       12,719       12,384       12,938  
    


 


 


 


Average diluted shares outstanding

     13,072       13,666       13,080       13,822  
    


 


 


 


Cash earnings (1)

   $ 6,241     $ 5,601     $ 18,000     $ 17,334  
    


 


 


 


Diluted cash earnings per share

   $ 0.48     $ 0.41     $ 1.38     $ 1.25  
    


 


 


 


 

(1) Cash earnings are determined by adding (net of taxes) to reported earnings the non-cash expenses stemming from the amortization and appreciation of allocated shares in the company’s stock-related benefit plans and the amortization of intangible assets.

 


OceanFirst Financial Corp.

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     At September 30, 2003

    At December 31, 2002

    At September 30, 2002

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                        

Stockholders’ equity to total assets

     7.57 %     7.76 %     8.03 %

Common shares outstanding (in thousands)

     13,418       13,758       13,924  

Stockholders’ equity per common share

   $ 9.90     $ 9.83     $ 9.92  

Tangible stockholders’ equity per common share

     9.79       9.72       9.80  

ASSET QUALITY

                        

Allowance for loan losses

   $ 10,782     $ 10,074     $ 9,665  

Nonperforming loans

     2,324       2,688       2,780  

Nonperforming assets

     2,588       2,829       3,139  

Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans receivable

     0.75 %     0.71 %     0.72 %

Allowance for loan losses as a percent of nonperforming loans

     463.94       374.78       347.66  

Nonperforming loans as a percent of total loans receivable

     0.16       0.19       0.21  

Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets

     0.15       0.16       0.18  

 

     For the three months ended
September 30


    For the nine months ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2002

    2003

    2002

 

PERFORMANCE RATIOS

(ANNUALIZED)

                        

Return on average assets

   1.21 %   1.11 %   1.18 %   1.16 %

Return on average stockholders’ equity

   15.89     13.61     15.39     14.02  

Interest rate spread

   3.07     3.50     3.29     3.43  

Interest rate margin

   3.31     3.80     3.54     3.73  

Operating expenses to average assets

   2.50     2.29     2.48     2.28  

Efficiency ratio

   56.91     58.53     56.77     56.06  

 

CASH EARNINGS

 

Although reported earnings and return on stockholders’ equity are traditional measures of performance, the Company believes that the change in stockholders’ equity or “cash earnings,” and related return measures are also a significant measure of a company’s performance. Cash earnings exclude the effects of various non-cash expenses, such as the employee stock plans amortization expense and related tax benefit, as well as the amortization of intangible assets. The following table reconciles the Company’s net income with cash earnings. The table is a pro forma calculation which is not in accordance with GAAP.

 

     For the three months ended
September 30


     For the nine months ended
September 30


 
     2003

    2002

     2003

    2002

 

Net income

   $ 5,330     $ 4,790      $ 15,525     $ 14,975  

Add: Employee stock plans amortization expense

     1,011       918        2,775       2,736  

Amortization of intangible assets

     26       26        78       78  

Less: Tax benefit (1)

     (126 )     (133 )      (378 )     (455 )
    


 


  


 


Cash earnings

   $ 6,241     $ 5,601      $ 18,000     $ 17,334  
    


 


  


 


Basic cash earnings per share

   $ .51     $ 0.44      $ 1.45     $ 1.34  
    


 


  


 


Diluted cash earnings per share

   $ .48     $ 0.41      $ 1.38     $ 1.25  
    


 


  


 


 

(1) The Company does not receive any tax benefit for that portion of employee stock plan amortization expense relating to the ESOP fair market value adjustment.

 


OceanFirst Financial Corp.

SELECTED LOAN AND DEPOSIT DATA

(in thousands)

 

LOANS RECEIVABLE

 

     At September 30, 2003

    At December 31, 2002

 

Real estate:

                

One-to four-family

   $ 1,105,153     $ 1,101,904  

Commercial real estate, multi-family and land

     166,734       142,726  

Construction

     10,802       11,079  

Consumer

     78,758       80,218  

Commercial

     83,874       77,968  
    


 


Total loans

     1,445,321       1,413,895  

Loans in process

     (2,920 )     (3,531 )

Deferred origination costs, net

     3,923       2,239  

Unearned discount

     (5 )     (5 )

Allowance for loan losses

     (10,782 )     (10,074 )
    


 


Total loans, net

     1,435,537       1,402,524  

Less: mortgage loans held for sale

     83,671       66,626  
    


 


Loans receivable, net

   $ 1,351,866     $ 1,335,898  
    


 


Mortgage loans serviced for others

   $ 713,173     $ 680,165  

Loan pipeline

     271,846       307,662  

 

     For the three months
ended September 30


    For the nine months
ended September 30


     2003

   2002

    2003

    2002

Loan originations

   $ 357,015    $ 223,665     $ 956,178     $ 639,811

Loans sold

     161,940      88,964       479,489       302,250

Net charge-offs (recovery)

     28      (458 )     (36 )     1,924

 

DEPOSITS

 

     At September 30, 2003

   At December 31, 2002

Type of Account

             

Non-interest bearing

   $ 108,608    $ 86,290

NOW

     254,135      260,762

Money market deposit

     137,875      123,960

Savings

     265,713      234,995

Time deposits

     398,414      478,829
    

  

     $ 1,164,745    $ 1,184,836
    

  

 


OceanFirst Financial Corp.

ANALYSIS OF NET INTEREST INCOME

 

     FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,

 
     2003

    2002

 
     AVERAGE
BALANCE
   INTEREST    AVERAGE
YIELD/
COST
    AVERAGE
BALANCE
   INTEREST    AVERAGE
YIELD/
COST
 
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Assets

                                        

Interest-earnings assets:

                                        

Interest-earning deposits and short term investments

   $ 9,918    $ 24    .97 %   $ 30,714    $ 129    1.68 %

Investment securities

     86,924      454    2.09       86,456      608    2.81  

FHLB stock

     19,544      243    4.97       18,704      188    4.02  

Mortgage-backed securities

     118,649      819    2.76       166,140      2,353    5.67  

Loans receivable, net (1)

     1,433,215      21,159    5.91       1,338,229      23,993    7.17  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-earning assets

     1,668,250      22,699    5.44       1,640,243      27,271    6.65  
           

  

        

  

Non-interest earning assets

     98,647                   86,531              
    

               

             

Total assets

   $ 1,766,897                 $ 1,726,774              
    

               

             

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                                        

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                        

Transaction deposits

   $ 665,099      987    .59     $ 599,665      2,241    1.49  

Time deposits

     405,096      2,899    2.86       494,668      4,543    3.67  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total

     1,070,195      3,886    1.45       1,094,333      6,784    2.48  

Borrowed funds

     433,780      5,018    4.63       392,189      4,915    4.99  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     1,503,975      8,904    2.37       1,486,522      11,699    3.15  
           

  

        

  

Non-interest-bearing deposits

     111,012                   83,611              

Non-interest bearing liabilities

     17,711                   15,891              
    

               

             

Total liabilities

     1,632,698                   1,586,024              

Stockholders’ equity

     134,199                   140,750              
    

               

             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,766,897                 $ 1,726,774              
    

               

             

Net interest income

          $ 13,795                 $ 15,572       
           

               

      

Net interest rate spread (2)

                 3.07 %                 3.50 %
                  

               

Net interest margin (3)

                 3.31 %                 3.80 %
                  

               

 

     FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,

 
     2003

    2002

 
     AVERAGE
BALANCE
   INTEREST    AVERAGE
YIELD/
COST
    AVERAGE
BALANCE
   INTEREST    AVERAGE
YIELD/
COST
 
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Assets

                                        

Interest-earnings assets:

                                        

Interest-earning deposits and short term investments

   $ 13,096    $ 108    1.10 %   $ 11,968    $ 149    1.66 %

Investment securities

     89,705      1,884    2.80       86,241      2,414    3.73  

FHLB stock

     19,324      750    5.17       21,022      710    4.50  

Mortgage-backed securities

     124,045      3,641    3.91       188,007      8,058    5.71  

Loans receivable, net (1)

     1,414,011      66,058    6.23       1,335,701      71,222    7.11  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-earning assets

     1,660,181      72,441    5.82       1,642,939      82,553    6.70  
           

  

        

  

Non-interest earning assets

     88,129                   84,694              
    

               

             

Total assets

   $ 1,748,310                 $ 1,727,633              
    

               

             

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                                        

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                        

Transaction deposits

   $ 645,383      3,825    .79     $ 554,739      6,493    1.56  

Time deposits

     430,194      9,732    3.02       511,818      14,933    3.89  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total

     1,075,577      13,557    1.68       1,066,557      21,426    2.68  

Borrowed funds

     421,149      14,801    4.69       426,037      15,225    4.76  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     1,496,726      28,358    2.53       1,492,594      36,651    3.27  
           

  

        

  

Non-interest-bearing deposits

     100,162                   78,442              

Non-interest bearing liabilities

     16,917                   14,232              
    

               

             

Total liabilities

     1,613,805                   1,585,268              

Stockholders’ equity

     134,505                   142,365              
    

               

             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,748,310                 $ 1,727,633              
    

               

             

Net interest income

          $ 44,083                 $ 45,902       
           

               

      

Net interest rate spread (2)

                 3.29 %                 3.43 %
                  

               

Net interest margin (3)

                 3.54 %                 3.73 %
                  

               

 

(1) Amount is net of deferred loan fees, undisbursed loan funds, discounts and premiums and estimated loss allowances and includes loans held for sale and non-performing loans.
(2) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
(3) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.