RepublicBankAz, N.A. Announces Unaudited Financial

PHOENIX, Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RepublicBankAz, N.A. (OTCBB: RBAZ ) (“RBAz”) announced a net income of $676,000, or $0.40 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to a net income of $626,000 or $0.37 per share for the same period in 2015 and a net income of $89,000, or $0.05 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, as compared to a net income of $278,000, or $0.16 per share, for the same period in 2015.

“Banks like to compare their performance against similar banks using the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s (FFIEC) Universal Bank Performance Report (UBPR),” President and CEO Ralph Tapscott stated. “In looking at ours, RBAz ranks well in pre and post-tax earnings and has capital to grow.  Our focus has been in the areas of past due and non-accrual loans that were cut by two thirds through the year and in non-interest expense that was reduced by nearly 5% during the same timeframe.  By far the most exciting news I glean from UBPR data was that after receiving the news from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in August that the Formal Agreement was being terminated, our team embraced our new strategic direction and grew the loan portfolio at an annualized rate of over 13%, and that rate does not take into consideration construction financing committed during the fourth quarter which will fund over time.  We are excited to return to a growth path, and will do so with one eye focused on building a safe and sound institution and the other on reaching our next growth hurdle, that being a $100 million asset institution with a vision of surpassing a quarter billion.”

Fourth Quarter Highlights Include:

• UBPR net loans and leases grew to $60.3 million as of December 31, 2016 from $58.4 million as of September 30, 2016, an annualized growth rate of 13.16%.
• Total deposits have grown a seemingly meager $721 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2016 but that growth included a tactical reduction of $7.0 million in non-relationship deposits since December 31, 2015.
• Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets decreased 45.76% from the level at December 31, 2015 to 1.79%.
• Non-interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 improved 4.78% from the same period in 2015.

“Management remains focused on growing the Bank by providing credit and cash management services for small to midsize businesses,” noted Tapscott. “This quarter we booked in excess of $11 million in new loans, despite what is reflected on our balance sheet, and this is the best production the Bank has experienced in my term, exceeding last quarter by $2 million.  We continue to maintain a strong pipeline for future loan growth and we have the capital and liquidity to support that growth.  We have continued to see good indications in the beginning of 2017 with robust relationship deposit growth and further reductions in non-performing assets during January.  We now have a full team of experienced bankers who are out in the community and are bringing the growth that our strategic plan anticipated.  Executing that plan grows our Bank and adds value to our shareholders.”

The Bank remains “well capitalized” as follows:

About the Company RepublicBankAz, N.A. is a locally owned community bank in Phoenix, Arizona.  RBAz is a full service community bank providing deposit and loan products, and convenient on-line banking to individuals, businesses and professionals.  The Bank was established in April 2007 and operates out of a single location at 909 E. Missouri Avenue.  The Bank is traded over-the-counter as RBAZ.  For further information, please visit our web site: www.republicbankaz.com .

Forward-looking Statements This press release may include forward-looking statements about RBAz, for which the Bank claims the protection of safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are based on management’s knowledge and belief as of today and include information concerning the Bank’s possible or assumed future financial condition, and its results of operations and business.  Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties.  A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  Those factors include fluctuations in interest rates, government policies and regulations (including monetary and fiscal policies), legislation, economic conditions, borrower capacity to repay, operational factors and competition in the geographic and business areas in which the Bank conducts its operations.  All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available at the time of the release, and the Bank assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Contact: Ralph Tapscott, President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: 602.280.9403 Email: rtapscott@republicaz.com