LCNB Corp. (NASDAQ:LCNB) today announced net income of $2,896,000 (total basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.29) and $8,828,000 (total basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.89 and $0.88, respectively) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.  This compares to net income of $2,633,000 (total basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.26) and $8,590,000 (total basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.89 and $0.88, respectively) for the same three and nine-month periods in 2015. Results for 2016 were significantly affected by the acquisition of BNB Bancorp, Inc. (“BNB”) on April 30, 2015. In addition, LCNB sold impaired loans with a carrying value of approximately $4.5 million during the second quarter 2015.

Commenting on the financial results, LCNB Chief Executive Officer Steve Foster said, “we are pleased to present our financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. Net income for the three and nine-month periods of 2016 was $263,000 and $238,000 greater than the comparable periods in 2015, respectively, despite several one-time charges that were recognized during 2016. The first of which was a $251,000 penalty incurred during the first quarter for the early payoff a now high-rate Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) borrowing, which will decrease future interest expense. The second was write-downs totaling $576,000 recognized during the second and third quarters for a commercial other real estate owned property. Organic loan growth during the nine-month period in 2016 was $40.7 million, which significantly contributed to increases in net interest income of $513,000 and $482,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2015.”

The provision for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $132,000 greater than the comparable period in 2015. The provision for the nine-month period of 2016 was $128,000 less than the comparable period in 2015. Net loan charge-offs for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 totaled $189,000 and $1,148,000, respectively.  The 2015 balance includes charge-offs recognized as a result of the impaired loan sale mentioned above. Non-accrual loans and loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest increased $2,357,000, from $2,282,000 or 0.30% of total loans at December 31, 2015, to $4,639,000 or 0.57% of total loans at September 30, 2016, primarily due to two loans to the same borrower totaling $1,307,000 that were newly classified as non-accrual during the first quarter 2016 and two loans to same borrower totaling $1,217,000 that were newly classified as non-accrual during the third quarter 2016.  Other real estate owned (which includes property acquired through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure) decreased from $846,000 at December 31, 2015 to $270,000 at September 30, 2016 due to write-downs totaling $576,000 recognized on commercial property.

Non-interest income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $460,000 and $715,000 greater than the comparable periods in 2015, respectively, primarily due to increases in gains from sales of investment securities, reflecting a higher volume of securities sales.

Non-interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $505,000 and $1,190,000 greater than the comparable periods in 2015, respectively. The increase for the quarter was largely due to increases in salaries and employee benefits. The increase for the nine-month period was primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits, increases in other real estate owned expenses, and a $251,000 penalty for the early payoff of a $5 million FHLB advance recognized during the first quarter 2016. The FHLB advance had an interest rate of 5.25% and was paid off to reduce interest expense on long-term debt. Salaries and employee benefits increased primarily due to salary and wage increases, employees retained from the BNB acquisition, and an increase in the number of employees in addition to the acquisition. These increases were partially offset by the absence of merger-related expenses during the 2016 period.

LCNB Corp. is a financial holding company headquartered in Lebanon, Ohio. Through its subsidiary, LCNB National Bank (the “Bank”), it serves customers and communities in Southwest and South Central Ohio. A financial institution with a long tradition for building strong relationships with customers and communities, the Bank offers convenient banking locations in Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble, Ross and Warren Counties, Ohio. The Bank continually strives to exceed customer expectations and provides an array of services for all personal and business banking needs including checking, savings, online banking, personal lending, business lending, agricultural lending, business support, deposit and treasury, investment services, trust and IRAs and stock purchases. LCNB Corp. common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market Exchange® under the symbol “LCNB.” Learn more about LCNB Corp. at www.lcnb.com.