Athens Bancshares Corporation Reports Financial Re

ATHENS, Tenn., Oct. 31, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athens Bancshares Corporation (Nasdaq: AFCB ) (the "Company"), the holding company for Athens Federal Community Bank (the "Bank"), today announced its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. The Company's net income for the three months ended September 30, 2013 was $497,000 or $0.24 per diluted share, compared to net income of $746,000 or $0.32 per diluted share for the same period in 2012. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, net income was $1.7 million or $0.81 per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.0 million or $0.83 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Results of Operations – Three Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012

Net interest income after provision for loan losses increased $197,000, or 7.63%, for the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2012. Interest income decreased $252,000 when comparing the two periods as the average yield on interest earning assets decreased from 5.34% during the three months ended September 30, 2012 to 4.90% for the comparable period in 2013. The average balance of interest-earning assets increased from $271.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 to $275.9 million for the comparable period in 2013. Interest expense decreased $122,000 as the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased from 1.16% to 0.92% when comparing the same two periods, which more than offset an increase in the average balance of those liabilities from $223.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 to $228.2 million for the comparable period in 2013. The provision for loan losses decreased $327,000 from $400,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 to $73,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.

Non-interest income decreased $165,000 to $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 compared to $1.4 million for the same period in 2012. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in income related to the sale of mortgage loans on the secondary market and a reduction in deposit related fees generated from non-sufficient fund charges, partially offset by increases in debit card related income and other deposit related fees.

Non-interest expense increased $434,000 to $3.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 compared to $2.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. The increase was primarily due to increased data processing fees due to a combination of increased debit card transactions and certain costs resulting from the Bank's conversion to a new core processing system as well as increased salary and employee benefits expenses, including an increase in the number of employees.

Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2013 was $194,000 compared to $347,000 for the same period in 2012. The primary reason for the change was the decrease in taxable income during the 2013 period.

Results of Operations – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012

Net interest income after provision for loan losses increased $162,000, or 1.97%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012. Interest income decreased $547,000 when comparing the two periods as the average yield on interest-earning assets decreased from 5.34% during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 to 4.99% for the same period in 2013. The average balance of interest-earning assets increased from $270.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 to $274.9 million for the comparable period in 2013. Interest expense decreased $384,000 as the average cost of interest bearing liabilities decreased from 1.21% to 0.97% when comparing the same two periods, while the average balance of interest bearing liabilities increased $3.0 million from $222.2 million to $225.2 million. The provision for loan losses decreased $325,000 from $606,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 to $281,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Non-interest income increased $40,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. The increase was primarily due to an increase in income related to investment sales commissions, an increase in debit card related income, and an increase in revenue from Valley Title Services, LLC, partially offset by a reduction in deposit related fees generated from non-sufficient fund charges and a decrease in income related to the sale of mortgage loans on the secondary market.

Non-interest expense increased $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. The increase was primarily due to increased salary and employee benefits expenses, including an increase in the number of employees, as well as increased data processing fees due to a combination of increased debit card transactions and certain costs resulting from the Bank's conversion to a new core processing system.

Income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $770,000 as compared to income tax expense of $1.3 million for the same period in 2012. The primary reason for the change was the decrease in taxable income during the 2013 period.

Total assets increased $4.1 million to $295.7 million at September 30, 2013, compared to $291.6 million at December 31, 2012. The Bank was considered well-capitalized under applicable federal regulatory capital guidelines at September 30, 2013.

This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are not historical facts; rather, they are statements based on the Company's current expectations regarding its business strategies and their intended results and its future performance. Forward-looking statements are preceded by terms such as "expects", "believes", "anticipates", "intends" and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Numerous risks and uncertainties could cause or contribute to the Company's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause or contribute to these differences include, without limitation, general economic conditions, including changes in market interest rates and changes in monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government; legislative and regulatory changes; and other factors disclosed periodically in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Because of the risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them, whether included in this report or made elsewhere from time to time by the Company or on its behalf. Except as may be required by applicable law or regulation, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Athens Bancshares Corporation Jeffrey L. Cunningham President and CEO 423-745-1111