Date: 4/14/2017

Title: Ames National Corporation Announces 2017 Q1 Earnings (4/14/17)

AMES NATIONAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES 2017 FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS RESULTS

First Quarter 2017 results:

For the quarter ended March 31, 2017, net income for Ames National Corporation (the Company) totaled $3,610,000 or $0.39 per share, compared to $3,807,000 or $0.41 per share earned in 2016. The decline in earnings is primarily the result of an increased provision for loan losses and higher interest expense, offset in part by an increase in loan interest income. The provision for loan losses in 2017 was due to the increase in the loan portfolio. The higher volume in the loan portfolio had a positive effect resulting in increased loan interest income. Average net loans for the three months were $52 million higher for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 compared to a year earlier.

First quarter net interest income totaled $9,883,000, an increase of $47,000, or 0.5%, compared to the same quarter a year ago. The slight improvement in net interest income was mainly due to increased loan volume funded primarily by deposit growth, offset by an increase in deposit interest rates. The increase in loan volume occurred primarily in Ames and Des Moines metro markets. All deposit categories increased except time deposits. Deposit interest rates increased in conjunction with general market interest rates, as the Federal Reserve Bank increased short term interest rate targets by 0.50% since December, 2016. The Company’s net interest margin was 3.20% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 as compared to 3.36% for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 as the result of lower loan yields and higher deposit interest rates.

A provision for loan losses of $398,000 was recognized in the first quarter of 2017 as compared to $192,000 in the first quarter of 2016. The growth in the loan portfolio was the primary factor for the higher provision for loan losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. Net loan charge offs remained at a favorable level and totaled $3,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 compared to net loan charge offs of $78,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. The Iowa agricultural economy remains weak as a result of the current low grain prices; however, favorable crop yields provided better than break even cash flows in 2016 even with low crop prices for most of the Company’s farm customers.

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2017 totaled $2,081,000 as compared to $2,099,000, a decrease of 0.9%, for the same period in 2016. The decrease in noninterest income is primarily due to lower wealth management income and to a lesser extent lower gains on the sale of loans, service fees, and merchant and card fees, offset in part by higher security gains. The lower wealth management income was primarily due to lower one time estate fees, offset in part by increases in assets under management. The decline in the gain on sale of loans was due to lower loan volume driven by lower refinance activity in central Iowa.

Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2017 totaled $6,477,000 compared to $6,435,000 recorded in 2016, an increase of 0.7%, which was primarily due to increases in data processing costs, professional fees and other expenses, offset in part by decreases in FDIC insurance assessments and building occupancy costs. The efficiency ratio was 54.14% for the first quarter of 2017 as compared to 53.91% in 2016.

Balance Sheet Review:

As of March 31, 2017, total assets were $1,395,306,000, a $60.4 million increase in assets compared to March 31, 2016. The increase in assets was due primarily to an increase in the loan portfolio, which was funded by an increase in deposits and to a lesser extent a decrease in securities.

Securities available-for-sale as of March 31, 2017 declined to $516,353,000 from $523,273,000 as of March 31, 2016. The decrease in securities available-for-sale is primarily due to lower unrealized gain in the investment portfolio as higher market interest rates caused a decline in the fair value of the investment portfolio.

Net loans as of March 31, 2017 increased 9%, to $759,786,000, as compared to $695,627,000 as of March 31, 2016. Loan demand remained favorable for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 as most markets provided good additional lending opportunities, in particular the Ames and Des Moines metro market. The loan portfolio credit quality gauged by impaired loans was less favorable than a year ago as these non-performing loans totaled $5.4 million as of March 31, 2017 compared to $2.5 million as of March 31, 2016. The increase in impaired loans was due primarily to two commercial relationships which were downgraded to substandard-impaired classification during the fourth quarter of 2016. The allowance for loan losses on March 31, 2017 totaled $10,902,000, or 1.41% of gross loans, compared to $10,102,000 or 1.43% of gross loans as of March 31, 2016. The provisions for loan losses in 2017 and 2016 were necessary due to loan growth to maintain an adequate allowance for loan loss on the outstanding loan portfolio, as net charge offs were not significant.

Other assets as of March 31, 2017 were $10,228,000, as compared to $976,000 as of March 31, 2016. The increase in other assets was mainly due to receivables from two brokers related to the sale of securities available-for-sale.

Deposits totaled $1,141,672,000 on March 31, 2017, compared to $1,083,854,000 recorded at March 31, 2016. The increase in deposits are primarily due to increases in retail and public demand deposit balances and retail money market balances, offset in part by a decrease in other time deposits.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase totaled $50,374,000 as of March 31, 2017 as compared to $50,380,000 recorded as of March 31, 2016.

The Company’s stockholders’ equity represented 12.0% of total assets as of March 31, 2017 with all of the Company’s five affiliate banks considered well-capitalized as defined by federal capital regulations. Total stockholders’ equity was $168,127,000 as of March 31, 2017, compared to $165,472,000 as of March 31, 2016. The increase in stockholders’ equity was the result of the retention of net income in excess of dividends, offset in part by the after tax impact of depreciation in the fair value of securities available for sale.

Shareholder Information:

Return on average assets was 1.05% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, compared to 1.16% for the same period in 2016. Return on average equity was 8.66% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, compared to the 9.28% in 2016.

The Company’s stock, which is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol ATLO, closed at $30.60 on March 31, 2017. During the first quarter of 2017, the price ranged from $28.50 to $37.45.

On February 8, 2017, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend on common stock, payable on May 15, 2017 to stockholders of record as of May 1, 2017, equal to $0.22 per share.

Consolidated Balance Sheets & Statements of Income

About Ames National Corporation

Ames National Corporation is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol, ATLO. The Corporation affiliate banks, all located in central Iowa, include: First National Bank, Ames, Boone Bank & Trust Co., Boone, State Bank & Trust Co., Nevada, Reliance State Bank, Story City, and United Bank & Trust, Marshalltown. Information regarding the process for purchasing stock can be obtained through Richard Nelson at First Point Wealth Management, (515) 663-3074.

For further information contact:
Thomas H. Pohlman, President and CEO
(515) 232-6251 or [email protected]