Exhibit 99.1

 

Contact:   Company:

The Foristall Company, Inc.

Thomas F. Curtin

Tel: (610)398-3022

Fax: (610)530-7781

email:foristal@aol.com

 

Michael J. Fitzpatrick

Chief Financial Officer

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

Tel: (732)240-4500, ext. 7506

Fax: (732)349-5070

email:Mfitzpatrick@oceanfirst.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY EARNINGS AND

CONTINUATION OF QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

 

TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY, October 21, 2004…OceanFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:OCFC), the holding company for OceanFirst Bank, today announced diluted earnings per share of $.35 and $1.02 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.20 per share—covering the three month period ended September 30, 2004—to be paid on November 12, 2004, to shareholders of record on October 29, 2004.

 

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 thirty-first consecutive quarterly cash dividend reflecting an attractive 3.3% yield on our common stock. We are also pleased to report healthy increases in loans receivable and deposits. During the third quarter deposits increased $45.6 million, a 15.4% annualized rate, and loans receivable increased by $39.4 million, an 11.1% annualized rate. The Company has now experienced two consecutive quarters of strong deposit and loan growth which has reversed the recent downward trend in the Company’s net interest margin. For the quarter ended September 30, 2004, the net interest margin increased to 3.24% as compared to 3.14% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.”


Mr. Garbarino continued “We have made substantial progress in 2004 in reorganizing and recruiting the management team that needs to be in place to execute on our business plan. We have taken advantage of market consolidations to bolster our senior management and loan officer staff to build the deposit and revenue growth in the continuing, challenging economic environment.”

 

Results of Operations

 

Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2004 increased to $14.3 million, as compared to $13.8 million in the same prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, net interest income decreased to $41.5 million, as compared to $44.1 million for the same prior year period. For each period in 2004, average interest earning assets increased while the net interest margin declined as compared to the same prior year periods. The net interest margin decreased to 3.24% for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 from 3.31% and 3.54%, respectively, in the same prior year periods. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased to 5.26% and 5.25%, respectively, as compared to 5.44% and 5.82%, respectively, for the same prior year periods. High loan prepayment levels over the past year resulted in a significant decrease in the rate earned on mortgage-related assets. Additionally, the yield on the Company’s Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock declined to 2.10% and 1.64%, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to 4.97% and 5.17%, respectively, for the same prior year periods, due to a reduction in the dividend payout. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased to 2.23% and 2.22%, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, as compared to 2.37% and 2.53%, respectively, in the same prior year periods.


Other income decreased to $5.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004, from $5.6 million in the same prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, other income increased to $14.1 million, as compared to $13.1 million for the same prior year period. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company recorded gains of $2.4 million and $6.8 million, respectively, on the sale of loans and securities, as compared to gains of $3.3 million and $8.7 million, respectively, in the same prior year periods. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 the gain on sales of loans and securities includes a gain of $186,000, on the sale of equity securities. 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 increased by $196,000 and $3.0 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the same prior year periods due to the recognition of an impairment to the loan servicing asset of $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

 

Operating expenses amounted to $12.3 million and $35.4 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, as compared to $11.1 million and $32.5 million, respectively, for the corresponding prior year periods. The increases were due to the significant reduction in mortgage loan closings as refinance activity declined from year ago levels. Higher loan closings in the earlier periods increased deferred loan expenses which were reflected as a reduction to compensation expense. Compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2004 benefited from a reduction in incentive plan accruals of $600,000.


Financial Condition

 

Loans receivable net, increased by $73.4 million at September 30, 2004 as compared to December 31, 2003. Commercial loans outstanding increased $39.5 million, or 20.4% on an annualized basis.

 

Deposits increased $89.1 million to $1,233.3 million at September 30, 2004 from $1,144.2 million at December 31, 2003. Core deposits grew $40.1 million while time deposits increased $49.0 million.

 

Stockholders’ equity increased by $2.2 million to $136.9 million at September 30, 2004 as compared to $134.7 million at December 31, 2003. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, 558,423 common shares were repurchased at a total cost of $13.4 million. Under the 10% repurchase program authorized by the Board of Directors in October 2003, 865,971 shares remain to be purchased as of September 30, 2004. The cost of share repurchases was offset by net income and proceeds from stock option exercises and related tax benefit.

 

Asset Quality

 

The Company’s non-performing assets totaled $4.3 million at September 30, 2004 as compared to $2.4 million at December 31, 2003 with most of the increase relating to one non-performing commercial loan with an outstanding balance of $1.1 million which the Company had previously classified as substandard at December 31, 2003. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 the Company realized net loan charge-offs of $77,000.

 

OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s subsidiary, OceanFirst Bank, founded in 1902, is a federally-chartered stock savings bank with $1.9 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,
2004


    December 31,
2003


    September 30,
2003


 
     (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)  

ASSETS

                        

Cash and due from banks

   $ 38,843     $ 36,172     $ 42,117  

Investment securities available for sale

     83,753       80,458       79,322  

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock, at cost

     23,285       19,220       19,950  

Mortgage-backed securities available for sale

     134,819       86,938       102,361  

Loans receivable, net

     1,462,652       1,389,220       1,351,866  

Mortgage loans held for sale

     74,891       33,207       83,671  

Interest and dividends receivable

     6,690       5,477       6,598  

Real estate owned, net

     320       252       264  

Premises and equipment, net

     16,140       16,473       16,867  

Servicing asset

     8,361       7,473       7,121  

Bank Owned Life Insurance

     34,640       33,948       33,573  

Other assets

     7,035       8,571       10,884  
    


 


 


Total assets

   $ 1,891,429     $ 1,717,409     $ 1,754,594  
    


 


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                        

Deposits

   $ 1,233,277     $ 1,144,205     $ 1,164,745  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase with retail customers

     43,306       36,723       52,242  

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

     112,000       70,000       100,000  

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

     342,000       314,400       283,500  

Advances by borrowers for taxes and insurance

     6,376       6,152       6,741  

Other liabilities

     17,591       11,267       14,542  
    


 


 


Total liabilities

     1,754,550       1,582,747       1,621,770  
    


 


 


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 13,130,873, 13,350,999 and 13,418,183 shares outstanding at September 30, 2004, December 31, 2003, and September 30, 2003, respectively

     272       272       272  

Additional paid-in capital

     192,830       189,615       188,526  

Retained earnings

     155,023       150,804       149,014  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (721 )     (3,400 )     (4,236 )

Less: Unallocated common stock held by Employee Stock Ownership Plan

     (8,967 )     (9,911 )     (10,245 )

Treasury stock, 14,046,499, 13,826,373 and 13,759,189 shares at September 30, 2004, December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, respectively

     (201,558 )     (192,718 )     (190,507 )
    


 


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     136,879       134,662       132,824  
    


 


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,891,429     $ 1,717,409     $ 1,754,594  
    


 


 


 


OceanFirst Financial Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     For the three months
ended September 30,


    For the nine months
ended September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 
     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  

Interest income:

                                

Loans

   $ 21,355     $ 21,159     $ 61,949     $ 66,058  

Mortgage-backed securities

     1,170       819       3,220       3,641  

Investment securities and other

     662       721       2,194       2,742  
    


 


 


 


Total interest income

     23,187       22,699       67,363       72,441  
    


 


 


 


Interest expense:

                                

Deposits

     3,948       3,886       10,925       13,557  

Borrowed funds

     4,969       5,018       14,900       14,801  
    


 


 


 


Total interest expense

     8,917       8,904       25,825       28,358  
    


 


 


 


Net interest income

     14,270       13,795       41,538       44,083  

Provision for loan losses

     50       48       150       673  
    


 


 


 


Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     14,220       13,747       41,388       43,410  
    


 


 


 


Other income:

                                

Loan servicing income (loss)

     125       (71 )     271       (2,758 )

Fees and service charges

     2,150       1,990       6,171       5,855  

Net gain on sales of loans and securities available for sale

     2,414       3,335       6,772       8,737  

Net income (loss) from other real estate operations

     (3 )     (3 )     (3 )     106  

Income from Bank Owned Life Insurance

     260       375       905       1,175  

Other

     5       8       17       26  
    


 


 


 


Total other income

     4,951       5,634       14,133       13,141  
    


 


 


 


Operating expenses:

                                

Compensation and employee benefits

     6,614       5,699       19,797       15,819  

Occupancy

     963       852       2,756       2,663  

Equipment

     659       633       1,743       1,809  

Marketing

     603       369       1,248       1,338  

Federal deposit insurance

     118       126       358       360  

Data processing

     753       702       2,223       2,234  

General and administrative

     2,565       2,676       7,259       8,265  
    


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     12,275       11,057       35,384       32,488  
    


 


 


 


Income before provision for income taxes

     6,896       8,324       20,137       24,063  

Provision for income taxes

     2,444       2,994       7,185       8,538  
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 4,452     $ 5,330     $ 12,952     $ 15,525  
    


 


 


 


Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.37     $ 0.43     $ 1.07     $ 1.25  
    


 


 


 


Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.35     $ 0.41     $ 1.02     $ 1.19  
    


 


 


 


Average basic shares outstanding

     12,096       12,293       12,139       12,384  
    


 


 


 


Average diluted shares outstanding

     12,634       13,072       12,686       13,080  
    


 


 


 


Cash earnings (1)

   $ 5,222     $ 6,241     $ 15,337     $ 18,000  
    


 


 


 


Diluted cash earnings per share

   $ 0.41     $ 0.48     $ 1.21     $ 1.38  
    


 


 


 



(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,

2004


   

At December 31,

2003


   

At September 30,

2003


 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                        

Stockholders’ equity to total assets

     7.24 %     7.84 %     7.57 %

Common shares outstanding (in thousands)

     13,131       13,351       13,418  

Stockholders’ equity per common share

   $ 10.42     $ 10.09     $ 9.90  

Tangible stockholders’ equity per common share

     10.32       9.98       9.79  

ASSET QUALITY

                        

Allowance for loan losses

   $ 10,875     $ 10,802     $ 10,782  

Nonperforming loans

     3,997       2,162       2,324  

Nonperforming assets

     4,317       2,414       2,588  

Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans receivable

     0.70 %     0.75 %     0.75 %

Allowance for loan losses as a percent of nonperforming loans

     272.08       499.63       463.94  

Nonperforming loans as a percent of total loans receivable

     0.26       0.15       0.16  

Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets

     0.23       0.14       0.15  

 

     For the three months ended
September 30


    For the nine months ended
September 30


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

PERFORMANCE RATIOS (ANNUALIZED)

                        

Return on average assets

   0.96 %   1.21 %   0.96 %   1.18 %

Return on average stockholders’ equity

   13.20     15.89     12.86     15.39  

Interest rate spread

   3.03     3.07     3.03     3.29  

Interest rate margin

   3.24     3.31     3.24     3.54  

Operating expenses to average assets

   2.63     2.50     2.61     2.48  

Efficiency ratio

   63.86     56.91     63.56     56.77  

 

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


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Net income

   $ 4,452     $ 5,330     $ 12,952     $ 15,525  

Add: Employee stock plans amortization Expense

     863       1,011       2,665       2,775  

Amortization of intangible assets

     26       26       78       78  

Less: Tax benefit (1)

     (119 )     (126 )     (358 )     (378 )
    


 


 


 


Cash earnings

   $ 5,222     $ 6,241     $ 15,337     $ 18,000  
    


 


 


 


Basic cash earnings per share

   $ .43     $ 0.51     $ 1.26     $ 1.45  
    


 


 


 


Diluted cash earnings per share

   $ .41     $ 0.48     $ 1.21     $ 1.38  
    


 


 


 



(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,

2004


   

At December 31,

2003


 

Real estate:

                

One -to four-family

   $ 1,143,187     $ 1,081,902  

Commercial real estate, multi-family and land

     232,743       205,066  

Construction

     14,305       11,274  

Consumer

     91,984       81,455  

Commercial

     65,086       53,230  
    


 


Total loans

     1,547,305       1,432,927  

Loans in process

     (2,943 )     (3,829 )

Deferred origination costs, net

     4,060       4,136  

Unearned discount

     (4 )     (5 )

Allowance for loan losses

     (10,875 )     (10,802 )
    


 


Total loans, net

     1,537,543       1,422,427  

Less: mortgage loans held for sale

     74,891       33,207  
    


 


Loans receivable, net

   $ 1,462,652     $ 1,389,220  
    


 


Mortgage loans serviced for others

   $ 768,935     $ 723,303  

Loan pipeline

     247,602       194,124  

 

     For the three months ended
September 30


   For the nine months ended
September 30


 
     2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

 

Loan originations

   $ 287,486    $ 357,015    $ 716,739    $ 956,178  

Loans sold

     162,248      161,940      351,647      479,489  

Net charge-offs (recovery)

     126      26      77      (36 )

 

DEPOSITS

 

    

At September 30,

2004


  

At December 31,

2003


Type of Account

             

Non-interest bearing

   $ 113,289    $ 108,668

NOW

     272,212      249,254

Money market deposit

     147,037      138,812

Savings

     263,935      259,629

Time deposits

     436,804      387,842
    

  

     $ 1,233,277    $ 1,144,205
    

  


OceanFirst Financial Corp.

ANALYSIS OF NET INTEREST INCOME

 

     FOR THE QUARTERS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 
    

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

   $ 11,990    $ 38    1.27 %   $ 9,918    $ 24    .97 %

Investment securities

     85,236      502    2.36       86,924      454    2.09  

FHLB stock

     23,199      122    2.10       19,544      243    4.97  

Mortgage-backed securities

     142,405      1,170    3.29       118,649      819    2.76  

Loans receivable, net (1)

     1,500,727      21,355    5.69       1,433,215      21,159    5.91  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-earning assets

     1,763,557      23,187    5.26       1,668,250      22,699    5.44  
           

  

        

  

Non-interest earning assets

     100,517                   98,647              
    

               

             

Total assets

   $ 1,864,074                 $ 1,766,897              
    

               

             

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                                        

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                        

Transaction deposits

   $ 681,079      1,074    0.63     $ 665,099      987    0.59  

Time deposits

     427,289      2,874    2.69       405,096      2,899    2.86  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total

     1,108,368      3,948    1.42       1,070,195      3,886    1.45  

Borrowed funds

     492,253      4,969    4.04       433,780      5,018    4.63  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     1,600,621      8,917    2.23       1,503,975      8,904    2.37  
           

  

        

  

Non-interest-bearing deposits

     116,721                   111,012              

Non-interest bearing liabilities

     11,821                   17,711              
    

               

             

Total liabilities

     1,729,163                   1,632,698              

Stockholders’ equity

     134,911                   134,199              
    

               

             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,864,074                 $ 1,766,897              
    

               

             

Net interest income

          $ 14,270                 $ 13,795       
           

               

      

Net interest rate spread (2)

                 3.03 %                 3.07 %
                  

               

Net interest margin (3)

                 3.24 %                 3.31 %
                  

               

     FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 
    

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

   $ 10,736    $ 88    1.09 %   $ 13,096    $ 108    1.10 %

Investment securities

     85,417      1,829    2.86       89,705      1,884    2.80  

FHLB stock

     22,532      277    1.64       19,324      750    5.17  

Mortgage-backed securities

     130,392      3,220    3.29       124,045      3,641    3.91  

Loans receivable, net (1)

     1,460,249      61,949    5.66       1,414,011      66,058    6.23  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-earning assets

     1,709,326      67,363    5.25       1,660,181      72,441    5.82  
           

  

        

  

Non-interest earning assets

     97,374                   88,129              
    

               

             

Total assets

   $ 1,806,700                 $ 1,748,310              
    

               

             

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                                        

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                        

Transaction deposits

   $ 672,740      2,967    0.59     $ 645,383      3,825    0.79  

Time deposits

     400,208      7,958    2.65       430,194      9,732    3.02  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total

     1,072,948      10,925    1.36       1,075,577      13,557    1.68  

Borrowed funds

     480,011      14,900    4.14       421,149      14,801    4.69  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     1,552,959      25,825    2.22       1,496,726      28,358    2.53  
           

  

        

  

Non-interest-bearing deposits

     107,347                   100,162              

Non-interest bearing liabilities

     12,069                   16,917              
    

               

             

Total liabilities

     1,672,375                   1,613,805              

Stockholders’ equity

     134,325                   134,505              
    

               

             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,806,700                 $ 1,748,310              
    

               

             

Net interest income

          $ 41,538                 $ 44,083       
           

               

      

Net interest rate spread (2)

                 3.03 %                 3.29 %
                  

               

Net interest margin (3)

                 3.24 %                 3.54 %
                  

               


(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.