Gouverneur Bancorp Announces Fiscal 2017 First Quarter Results

GOUVERNEUR, N.Y., Feb. 06, 2017 -- Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc. (OTC Pink:GOVB) (the “Company”) holding company for Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association (the “Bank”), today announced the results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 ended December 31, 2016.

For the three months ended December 31, 2016 the Company reported net income of $431,000, or $0.19 per diluted share, representing an increase of $148,000, or 52.30%, above last year’s net income of $283,000, or $0.13 per diluted share.  The annualized return on average assets increased from 0.80% to 1.24% and the return on average equity increased from 3.89% to 5.74% for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Total assets decreased by $2.20 million, or 1.56% from $141.40 million at September 30, 2016 to $139.20 million at December 31, 2016.  Net loans decreased $0.71 million, or 0.69%, from $103.16 million to $102.45 million over the same period while securities available for sale decreased by $0.77 million, or 4.01%, from $19.09 million to $18.32 million.

Commenting on the quarter’s results, Mr. Charles C. Van Vleet, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The Bank continues to have a strong capital position, allowing it to perform at the top of its peer group. Loan past due accounts continue to decline and margins are stable.  The Bank opened a Loan Production Office (“LPO”) in Lowville, N.Y. at the end of December 2016.  We are very happy to be a part of the local community and look forward to better serving the area.”

Net interest income increased $10,000, or 0.73%, from $1,372,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 to $1,382,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2016.  Interest income decreased $46,000, or 2.95%, while interest expense decreased $56,000, or 29.79% over the same period.  Non-interest income increased $49,000, or 16.78% to $341,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 compared to $292,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.

Non-interest expense decreased $62,000 from the first quarter of fiscal 2016 to the first quarter of fiscal 2017 while non-interest income increased $49,000.  A $30,000 decrease in foreclosed assets expense and an $89,000 increase in unrealized gains on swap agreements contributed to the fiscal 2017 first quarter net increase.

Non-performing loans were $1,871,000 at December 31, 2016 compared to $2,248,000 at September 30, 2016.  There was a $30,000 loan loss provision for the quarter ended December 31, 2016.  The allowance for loan losses was $916,000 or 0.89% of total gross loans outstanding at December 31, 2016.  Foreclosed real estate was $900,000 and $1,084,000 at December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016, respectively.

Deposits increased $0.29 million or 0.34%, to $84.14 million at December 31, 2016 from $83.85 million at September 30, 2016. Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB”) decreased 10.47%, from $21.50 million at September 30, 2016 to $19.25 million at December 31, 2016.

Shareholders’ equity was $29.87 million at December 31, 2016, which remained the same as the September 30, 2016 balance of $29.87 million.  The book value of Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc. was $13.44 per common share based on 2,222,749 shares outstanding at December 31, 2016.    

The Company, which is headquartered in Gouverneur, New York, is the holding company for Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association.  Founded in 1892, the Bank is a New York State chartered savings and loan association offering a variety of banking products and services to individuals and businesses in its primary market area in St. Lawrence, Lewis and Jefferson Counties in New York State.

Statements in this news release contain forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs of management as well as assumptions made using information currently available to management. Since these statements reflect the views of management concerning future events, these statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties include among others, the impact of changes in market interest rates and general economic conditions, changes in government regulations, changes in accounting principles and the quality or composition of the loan and investment portfolios. Therefore, actual future results may differ significantly from results discussed in the forward-looking statements.

For more information, contact Charles C. Van Vleet Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, at (315) 287-2600.