PITTSBURGH, April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) today reported net income of $943 million, or $1.68 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2016 compared with net income of $1.0 billion, or $1.87 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2015 and net income of $1.0 billion, or $1.75 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2015.

"PNC had solid first quarter earnings that were impacted by weaker equity markets and related fees, and continued deterioration in energy related credits," said William S. Demchak, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We lowered expenses, maintained a strong balance sheet and continued to return capital to shareholders. We also saw good underlying trends in our businesses to start the year, and we expect that momentum to continue in 2016."

Income Statement Highlights

• First quarter results reflected higher loans and securities, lower revenue, reduced noninterest expense, and higher provision for credit losses compared with the fourth quarter of 2015.
• Net interest income of $2.1 billion for the first quarter increased $6 million compared with the fourth quarter driven by growth in core net interest income despite a lower day count.
• Noninterest income of $1.6 billion for the first quarter decreased $194 million, or 11 percent, compared with the fourth quarter primarily due to weaker equity markets, lower capital markets activity and seasonality.
• Noninterest expense declined $115 million, or 5 percent, to $2.3 billion reflecting seasonally lower business activity and PNC's continued focus on disciplined expense management.
• Provision for credit losses of $152 million for the first quarter increased $78 million compared with the fourth quarter primarily attributable to certain energy related loans.

Balance Sheet Highlights

• Loans grew $.8 billion to $207.5 billion at March 31, 2016 compared with December 31, 2015.
  • Total commercial lending grew $1.6 billion, or 1 percent, primarily in PNC's corporate banking and real estate businesses.
  • Total consumer lending decreased $.8 billion due to lower home equity and education loans as well as runoff in the non-strategic portfolio.
• Overall credit quality in the first quarter remained relatively stable with the fourth quarter, except for certain energy related loans.
  • Nonperforming assets of $2.6 billion at March 31, 2016 increased $.1 billion, or 5 percent, compared with December 31, 2015.
  • Net charge-offs increased to $149 million for the first quarter compared with $120 million for the fourth quarter.
• Deposits of $250.4 billion at March 31, 2016 increased $1.4 billion, or 1 percent, over December 31, 2015 due to growth in consumer deposits partially offset by lower commercial deposits.
  • Average deposits decreased $.8 billion from the fourth quarter reflecting seasonal declines in commercial deposits.
• Investment securities increased $2.0 billion, or 3 percent, in the first quarter to $72.6 billion at March 31, 2016 compared with December 31, 2015.
• PNC maintained a strong liquidity position.
  • The estimated Liquidity Coverage Ratio at March 31, 2016 exceeded 100 percent for both PNC and PNC Bank, N.A., above the minimum phased-in requirement of 90 percent in 2016.
• PNC returned capital to shareholders in the first quarter through repurchases of 5.9 million common shares for $.5 billion and dividends on common shares of $.3 billion.
• PNC maintained a strong capital position.
  • Transitional Basel III common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was an estimated 10.6 percent at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, calculated using the regulatory capital methodologies applicable to PNC during 2016 and 2015, respectively.
  • Pro forma fully phased-in Basel III common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was an estimated 10.1 percent at March 31, 2016 and 10.0 percent at December 31, 2015 based on the standardized approach rules.

 

The Consolidated Financial Highlights accompanying this news release include additional information regarding reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to reported amounts, including reconciliations of tangible book value to book value per common share and business segment income to net income. Reference to core net interest income is to total net interest income less purchase accounting accretion, which consists of scheduled accretion and excess cash recoveries, as detailed in the Consolidated Financial Highlights. Fee income refers to noninterest income in the following categories: asset management, consumer services, corporate services, residential mortgage, and service charges on deposits. Information in this news release including the financial tables is unaudited. See the notes and other information in the Consolidated Financial Highlights. 

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2016 decreased $188 million compared with the fourth quarter and $66 million compared with the first quarter of 2015. Growth in net interest income was more than offset by lower noninterest income which reflected weaker equity markets, lower capital markets activity and, in the comparison with fourth quarter 2015, seasonally lower fee income.

Net interest income for the first quarter of 2016 increased $6 million compared with the fourth quarter and $26 million compared with the first quarter of 2015 due to growth in core net interest income partially offset by lower scheduled purchase accounting accretion. The increase in core net interest income in both periods reflected higher loan yields and higher loan and securities balances partially offset by higher borrowing costs related to higher short-term interest rates. Core net interest income grew in spite of the impact of one less day in the first quarter compared with the fourth quarter.

The net interest margin of 2.75 percent for the first quarter of 2016 increased over the fourth quarter margin of 2.70 percent primarily due to lower balances on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank and higher loan yields. The margin declined from 2.82 percent in the first quarter of 2015 principally as a result of lower benefit from purchase accounting accretion and higher securities balances partially offset by lower balances on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank.

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2016 decreased $194 million compared with the fourth quarter. Asset management revenue, which includes earnings from PNC's equity investment in BlackRock, declined $58 million primarily due to the impact of lower equity markets. Consumer service fees and service charges on deposits each decreased $12 million driven by seasonally lower volumes of customer-initiated transactions. Corporate service fees declined $69 million attributable to lower merger and acquisition advisory fees and loan syndication fees, down from traditionally strong fourth quarter levels. Residential mortgage banking noninterest income decreased $13 million primarily as a result of net hedging losses on mortgage servicing rights in first quarter 2016 partially offset by higher servicing fee income. Other noninterest income declined $30 million and included gains on the sale of Visa Class B common shares of $44 million for first quarter 2016 compared with $47 million for fourth quarter 2015, as well as lower gains on other asset sales.  

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2016 decreased $92 million compared with the first quarter of 2015. Asset management revenue declined driven by lower equity markets. Fee income growth was reflected in higher consumer service fees and service charges on deposits. Corporate service fees declined primarily due to lower net hedging gains on commercial mortgage servicing rights and lower capital markets activity. Residential mortgage banking noninterest income decreased as a result of first quarter 2016 net hedging losses on residential mortgage servicing rights and lower loan sales revenue partially offset by higher servicing fee income. Other noninterest income declined primarily due to lower gains on securities sales and other asset dispositions substantially offset by the first quarter 2016 gain on sale of Visa Class B common shares. There were no sales of Visa shares in first quarter 2015.

Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2016 decreased $115 million from the fourth quarter. Personnel expense declined primarily due to seasonal factors including lower variable compensation costs associated with lower business activity and lower employee benefits related to reduced medical plan claim volume. Continued investments in technology and business infrastructure were funded in part by well-controlled expenses.

Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2016 decreased $68 million compared with the first quarter of 2015 reflecting lower legal costs and lower variable compensation as well as a continued focus on expense management.

The effective tax rate was 23.5 percent for the first quarter of 2016, 26.1 percent for the fourth quarter of 2015 and 24.4 percent for the first quarter of 2015.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET REVIEW

Total assets were $361.0 billion at March 31, 2016 compared with $358.5 billion at December 31, 2015 and $351.0 billion at March 31, 2015. Assets increased 1 percent compared with year end 2015. Higher investment securities and loans were partially offset by a decrease in deposits maintained with the Federal Reserve Bank. Assets grew 3 percent compared with March 31, 2015 primarily due to a 19 percent increase in investment securities.

Total loans grew $.8 billion as of March 31, 2016 compared with December 31, 2015. Commercial lending balances increased $1.6 billion in the first quarter primarily from growth in PNC's corporate banking and real estate businesses. Consumer lending decreased $.8 billion reflecting lower home equity and education loans.

Average loans increased $1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the fourth quarter. Average commercial lending balances increased $2.0 billion principally from growth in commercial real estate and commercial loans in PNC's real estate business. Average consumer lending balances decreased $.8 billion due in part to lower non-strategic portfolio loan balances which reflected the impact of PNC's derecognition of pooled purchased impaired loans of $468 million at December 31, 2015. Additionally, home equity and education loans declined partially offset by growth in automobile and credit card loans.

First quarter 2016 period end and average loans increased $2.8 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively, compared with first quarter 2015 reflecting commercial real estate and commercial loan growth offset in part by a decrease in consumer loans, including runoff in the non-strategic portfolio.

Investment securities balances at March 31, 2016 increased $2.0 billion compared with December 31, 2015 and average balances for the first quarter increased $2.4 billion compared with the fourth quarter. Portfolio purchases were primarily agency residential mortgage-backed securities, other debt securities and asset-backed securities. First quarter 2016 period end and average investment securities increased $11.8 billion and $13.1 billion, respectively, compared with first quarter 2015. The available for sale investment securities balance included a net unrealized pretax gain of $1.0 billion at March 31, 2016 compared with $.5 billion at December 31, 2015 and $1.1 billion at March 31, 2015, representing the difference between fair value and amortized cost. The increase in the unrealized pretax gain from year end 2015 was primarily due to lower market interest rates.

Interest-earning deposits with banks, primarily with the Federal Reserve Bank, were $29.5 billion at March 31, 2016, a decrease of $1.1 billion compared with December 31, 2015. Average balances of $25.5 billion for the first quarter declined $6.0 billion from the fourth quarter reflecting higher average investment securities and loans and lower average deposits and borrowed funds. First quarter 2016 period end interest-earning deposits with banks declined $1.7 billion compared with first quarter 2015, while average balances decreased $4.9 billion.

Total deposits at March 31, 2016 grew $1.4 billion compared with December 31, 2015 reflecting growth in consumer deposits partially offset by lower commercial deposits. Average deposits decreased $.8 billion in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the fourth quarter. Seasonally lower balances of average commercial noninterest-bearing deposits were partially offset by growth in average consumer interest-bearing demand deposits. Additionally, average savings deposits grew reflecting in part a shift from money market deposits to new relationship-based savings products. Period end and average first quarter 2016 deposits increased $13.9 billion and $13.0 billion, respectively, compared with first quarter 2015 due to overall strong deposit growth. 

Borrowed funds at March 31, 2016 decreased $.4 billion compared with December 31, 2015 and average borrowed funds decreased $1.4 billion in the first quarter compared with the fourth quarter primarily due to lower bank borrowings, as well as lower average commercial paper balances in the average comparison. First quarter 2016 period end and average borrowed funds each decreased $2.7 billion compared with first quarter 2015. In both comparisons, declines in commercial paper and bank borrowings were partially offset by higher bank notes and senior debt. The average balance comparison was further impacted by lower federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements.

PNC maintained a strong capital position. Common shareholders' equity increased compared with December 31, 2015 due to growth in retained earnings and higher accumulated other comprehensive income primarily related to net unrealized securities gains. These increases were partially offset by share repurchases. The transitional Basel III common equity Tier 1 capital ratios were calculated using the regulatory capital methodologies, including related phase-ins, applicable to PNC during 2016 and 2015 using the standardized approach. The pro forma ratios were also calculated based on the standardized approach. See Capital Ratios in the Consolidated Financial Highlights.

PNC returned capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. During the first quarter of 2016, PNC repurchased 5.9 million common shares for $.5 billion. PNC has repurchased a total of 23.8 million common shares for $2.2 billion under current share repurchase programs of up to $2.875 billion for the five quarter period ending in the second quarter of 2016. These programs include repurchases of up to $375 million during this five quarter period related to stock issuances under employee benefit-related programs.

PNC paid dividends on common stock of $.3 billion, or 51 cents per common share, during the first quarter of 2016. On April 4, 2016, the PNC board of directors declared a quarterly common stock cash dividend of 51 cents per share payable on May 5, 2016.

Overall credit quality for the first quarter of 2016 remained relatively stable with the fourth quarter, except for certain energy related loans. Provision for credit losses for first quarter 2016 was $152 million, an increase of $78 million compared with the fourth quarter and $98 million over first quarter 2015. The first quarter 2016 provision included $80 million for loans in the oil, gas and coal sectors compared with $23 million in the fourth quarter.

Nonperforming assets at March 31, 2016 increased $127 million compared with December 31, 2015 due to higher nonperforming commercial loans driven by energy related credits. Included in total nonperforming loans at March 31, 2016 were $301 million of nonperforming loans in the oil, gas and coal sectors compared with $42 million at December 31, 2015. Nonperforming commercial real estate and consumer loans decreased compared with year end 2015. Nonperforming assets declined $202 million from first quarter 2015 reflecting improvements in the consumer lending and commercial real estate nonperforming loan portfolios partially offset by higher commercial nonperforming loans reflecting energy related credits. Nonperforming assets to total assets were .71 percent at March 31, 2016 compared with .68 percent at December 31, 2015 and .78 percent at March 31, 2015.

Overall delinquencies improved in the first quarter of 2016 with a decrease of $143 million, or 9 percent, as of March 31, 2016 compared with December 31, 2015. Accruing loans past due 90 days or more declined $99 million, or 11 percent, accruing loans past due 60 to 89 days decreased $39 million, or 16 percent, and the 30 to 59 day category decreased $5 million, or 1 percent.

Net charge-offs for the first quarter of 2016 increased $29 million compared with the fourth quarter reflecting higher net charge-offs of $16 million for commercial lending and $13 million for consumer lending. Included in commercial lending net charge-offs were $25 million of net charge-offs for loans in the oil, gas and coal sectors in the first quarter of 2016 compared with $12 million in the fourth quarter. In the comparison with first quarter 2015, net charge-offs increased $46 million due to higher commercial loan net charge-offs. Net charge-offs for the first quarter of 2016 were .29 percent of average loans on an annualized basis compared with .23 percent for the fourth quarter and .20 percent for the first quarter of 2015.

The allowance for loan and lease losses at March 31, 2016 decreased $16 million compared with December 31, 2015 and $595 million compared with March 31, 2015. The decline in the allowance from first quarter 2015 reflected PNC's derecognition of pooled purchased impaired loans, resulting in a reduction of the recorded investment balance included in total loans and the associated allowance for loan losses balance each by $468 million at December 31, 2015. The allowance to total loans was 1.31 percent at March 31, 2016, 1.32 percent at December 31, 2015 and 1.61 percent at March 31, 2015. The allowance to nonperforming loans was 119 percent at March 31, 2016 compared with 128 percent at December 31, 2015 and 137 percent at March 31, 2015.

 

Retail Banking earnings for the first quarter of 2016 increased in both comparisons. Noninterest income included gains on sales of Visa Class B common shares of $44 million in the first quarter of 2016 and $47 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Noninterest income, excluding the Visa gains, decreased $31 million from fourth quarter 2015 and increased $5 million over first quarter 2015. In the comparison with the fourth quarter, the decline was due to lower customer-initiated transactions reflecting seasonality. The increase over first quarter 2015 was attributable to growth in consumer service fees from payment-related products including debit card, credit card, and merchant services as well as higher brokerage fees. Provision for credit losses decreased compared with the fourth quarter of 2015 due to improved credit quality. Noninterest expense declined in the comparison with fourth quarter 2015 as a result of lower compensation, marketing and customer transaction-related costs.

• Retail Banking continued to focus on the strategic priority of transforming the customer experience through transaction migration, branch network transformation and multi-channel sales and service strategies.
  • Approximately 56 percent of consumer customers used non-teller channels for the majority of their transactions during the first quarter of 2016 compared with 55 percent and 50 percent for the fourth and first quarters of 2015, respectively.
  • Deposit transactions via ATM and mobile channels increased to 47 percent of total deposit transactions in the first quarter of 2016 compared with 46 percent for the fourth quarter and 40 percent for the first quarter of 2015.
  • Integral to PNC's retail branch transformation strategy, approximately 14 percent of the branch network operates under the universal model designed to enhance sales opportunities for branch personnel, in part by driving higher ATM and mobile deposits. PNC had a network of 2,613 branches and 8,940 ATMs at March 31, 2016.
• Average deposits grew 1 percent over the fourth quarter and 7 percent over the first quarter of 2015 due to higher demand deposits as well as an increase in savings deposits partially offset by lower money market deposits reflecting a shift to new relationship-based savings products. Certificates of deposit declined in both comparisons from the net runoff of maturing accounts.
• Average loans decreased 3 percent compared with the first quarter of 2015 as growth in automobile and credit card loans was more than offset by lower home equity, education and commercial loans.
• Net charge-offs for the first quarter of 2016 were $96 million compared with $93 million and $99 million in the fourth and first quarters of 2015, respectively.

 

Corporate & Institutional Banking earnings for the first quarter of 2016 decreased in both comparisons. Noninterest income declined from the fourth quarter primarily due to lower merger and acquisition advisory fees and lower loan syndication fees, down from traditionally strong fourth quarter levels, and lower revenue associated with multifamily loans originated for sale to agencies as well as lower gains on asset sales. Provision for credit losses increased in both comparisons principally attributable to energy related loans. Noninterest expense decreased compared with the fourth quarter primarily as a result of lower variable compensation and other costs associated with seasonally lower business activity.

• Average loans increased 2 percent over the fourth quarter and 4 percent over the first quarter of 2015 primarily due to growth in commercial lending in PNC's real estate business. The first quarter 2015 comparison also reflected increased lending to large corporate customers, partially offset by the impact of capital and liquidity management activities.
• Average deposits decreased 3 percent from the fourth quarter reflecting seasonal declines. Average deposits increased 1 percent over the first quarter of 2015 due to demand deposit growth, partially offset by a decrease in money market deposits.
• Net charge-offs in the first quarter of 2016 were $41 million compared with net charge-offs of $24 million in the fourth quarter and a net recovery position of $1 million in the first quarter of 2015.

 

Asset Management Group earnings for the first quarter of 2016 decreased compared with the fourth quarter of 2015 and increased compared with the first quarter of 2015. Noninterest income declined in both comparisons primarily due to lower average equity markets, as well as lower sales production compared with the fourth quarter. Noninterest expense decreased as a result of lower compensation expense in both comparisons.    

• Asset Management Group growth strategies include increasing sales sourced from other PNC lines of business, maximizing front line productivity and optimizing market presence in high opportunity markets. The business is primarily focused on growing client assets under management, building retirement capabilities and expanding product solutions for all customers.
• Client assets under administration at March 31, 2016 included discretionary client assets under management of $135 billion and nondiscretionary client assets under administration of $125 billion.
  • Discretionary client assets under management increased $1 billion from December 31, 2015 and decreased $1 billion from March 31, 2015.

 

Residential Mortgage Banking reported losses for the first quarter of 2016 and fourth quarter of 2015 compared with earnings for the first quarter of 2015. Noninterest income decreased in both comparisons as a result of net hedging losses on residential mortgage servicing rights in first quarter 2016 compared with net hedging gains in both the first and fourth quarters of 2015, partially offset in both comparisons by higher servicing revenue. Lower loan sales revenue also contributed to the decline from first quarter 2015. Noninterest expense decreased from the fourth quarter primarily due to lower legal accruals and decreased from first quarter 2015 as a result of lower servicing costs and foreclosure-related expense.

• The strategic focus of Residential Mortgage Banking is the acquisition of new customers through a retail loan officer sales force with an emphasis on home purchase transactions, competing on the basis of superior service, and leveraging cross-sell opportunities, especially in the bank footprint markets.
• Loan origination volume in the first quarter of 2016 decreased 14 percent compared with the fourth quarter and 25 percent compared with the first quarter of 2015. Approximately 40 percent of first quarter 2016 origination volume was for home purchase transactions compared with 45 percent in the fourth quarter and 31 percent in the first quarter of 2015.
• Loan servicing acquisitions were $5 billion in both the first quarter of 2016 and fourth quarter of 2015 and $8 billion in the first quarter of 2015.

 

The Non-Strategic Assets Portfolio consists of assets primarily obtained through acquisitions of other companies and includes a consumer portfolio of mainly residential mortgage and brokered home equity loans and lines of credit, and a small commercial/commercial real estate loan and lease portfolio. The business activity of this segment is to manage the liquidation of the portfolios while maximizing the value and mitigating risk.

• Provision for credit losses was a lower benefit in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the linked quarter reflecting the impact of fourth quarter recognition of improved actual and projected cash flows on consumer impaired loans.
• Net charge-offs were $8 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared with $4 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 and a small net recovery position for the first quarter of 2015.

Other, including BlackRock

The "Other, including BlackRock" category, for the purposes of this release, includes earnings and gains or losses related to PNC's equity interest in BlackRock, and residual activities that do not meet the criteria for disclosure as a separate reportable business, such as integration costs, asset and liability management activities including net securities gains or losses, other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities and certain trading activities, exited businesses, private equity investments, intercompany eliminations, most corporate overhead, tax adjustments that are not allocated to business segments, and differences between business segment performance reporting and financial statement reporting under generally accepted accounting principles.

CONFERENCE CALL AND SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

PNC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer William S. Demchak and Chief Financial Officer Robert Q. Reilly will hold a conference call for investors today at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time regarding the topics addressed in this news release and the related financial supplement. Dial-in numbers for the conference call are (877) 402-9134 and (303) 223-2697 (international) and Internet access to the live audio listen-only webcast of the call is available at www.pnc.com/investorevents. PNC's first quarter 2016 earnings release, the related financial supplement, and presentation slides to accompany the conference call remarks will be available at www.pnc.com/investorevents prior to the beginning of the call. A telephone replay of the call will be available for one week at (800) 633-8284 and (402) 977-9140 (international), conference ID 21806067 and a replay of the audio webcast will be available on PNC's website for 30 days.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

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