Banking

Investar Bank's big year

In 2014 the BR-based bank completed an IPO and realized a record year in profitability and loan growth.

Investar Bank's first Lafayette location at 4004 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, next to IHOP. A second location is under way at 1510 Kaliste Saloom Road.

For Investar Bank, 2014 was a year that saw major increases in earnings, assets and loans.

According to an earnings report released last week, Investar, which went public last year, experienced a major earnings increase for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

For the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, 2014, the company reported $2 million in earnings, or 27 cents per diluted share. It’s a marked jump from the same quarter in 2013, when the bank reported $200,000, or 4 cents per diluted share.

For 2014 as a whole, the Baton Rouge-based bank — which opened its first Lafayette location in 2013 and now has a second in the works — reported total earnings of $5.4 million, or 93 cents per diluted share. This too is a drastic jump when compared to the $1.5 million, or 20 cents per diluted share, the bank reported in 2013 — an increase of 70.4 percent.

Total assets also increased from 2013 and 2014, rising 38.5 percent from $244.4 million to $879.4 million. And so did the bank’s loan growth. As of Dec. 31, Investar had $726.2 million in loans, up $217.1 million, or 42.6 percent, from what the bank reported at the close of 2013.

“Our board and management are very happy with our achievements and performance in 2014,” says Investar’s President and CEO John D’Angelo in a statement. “We completed our IPO, realized a record year in profitability and loan originations and maintained a delinquency ratio significantly below our peers. We are very pleased with our organic growth and continue to drive more earnings to the bottom line as we grow into our infrastructure.”