Two Acadiana banks, Home and Teche, along with Alabama-based Regions, reported increased earnings for the most recent quarter.
Two Acadiana banks, Home and Teche, along with Alabama-based Regions, reported increased earnings for the most recent quarter.
Home Bank's parent company, Home Bancorp, earned $1.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, a 61 percent increase over the $555,400 it earned in the third quarter and an increase of $1.4 million, or 6.67 percent, compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.
Net income for the year was $4.7 million, an increase of $9,000, or 0.2 percent, compared to 2009. Earnings per share were 20 cents for the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of 67 percent compared to the third quarter of 2010. Earnings per share were 62 cents for the year, an increase of 7 percent over 2009.
John W. Bordelon, president and CEO, said highlights from the year included the bank's Northshore acquisition, the opening of its third Baton Rouge location and continued loan and deposit growth across each of its markets.
Teche Federal Bank's parent, Teche Holding Company, earned $1.8 million or 87 cents per diluted share, in the quarter ended Dec. 31, which represents the first quarter of its fiscal 2011. That compares with $1.7 million or 82 cents per diluted share for the same quarter in fiscal 2010, an increase of 5 cents per share, or 6.1 percent.
"We had solid earnings this quarter on top of record EPS for FY 2010 and FY 2009," said Teche President and CEO Patrick Little. "We are very pleased that both net interest income and non-interest income have remained steady over the past year. Even better, net charge-offs for the second quarter amounted to only 0.08% or 0.32% annualized," he added. Little said two years ago Teche declined Troubled Asset Relief Program money in part because the bank saw a very challenging regulatory and economic environment in the coming years. "We did not want to be in a position to be over-capitalized and thus desperate to grow and expand in the midst of higher unemployment and a slower economy," he said. "We think we made the right decision."
In other positive banking news, Regions Financial Corp., which has been working to overcome losses on real estate loans, has returned to profitability. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Birmingham-based bank earned $36 million, or 3 cents per share, compared to a loss of 17 cents per share for the third quarter and a 2009 fourth quarter loss of $606 million, or 51 cents a share. Full year results reflect a net loss of 62 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $1.27 per share in 2009.