Release Details


First Busey Corporation(R) Earnings Release for Quarter Ending March 31, 2003

Apr 16, 2003

URBANA, Ill., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Douglas C. Mills, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, announced today that First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) recorded net income of $4.842 million, or $.35 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2003, an increase of $152,000 and $.01, respectively, from $4.690 million, or $.34 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2002. These results represent a return on average assets of 1.38% and a return on average stockholder equity of 16.73% for the first quarter of 2003 compared to 1.48% and 17.85% for the first quarter of 2002.

First Busey Corporation's net interest margin declined 17 basis points to 3.70% for the first quarter of 2003 from 3.87% for the first quarter of 2002. Net interest income was $11.825 million for the three months ending March 31, 2003, which represents an increase of $684,000 or 6.14% over net interest income of $11.141 million for the same period in 2002. Total interest income decreased $95,000 due to the decline in the average yields earned on loans and investments which was virtually offset by growth in the average balance of loans outstanding. The average balance of loans outstanding increased $98 million or 10.03% from $985 million for the first quarter of 2002 to $1.083 billion for the first quarter of 2003.

Interest expense decreased $779,000 or 10.22% to $6.843 million for the first quarter of 2003 compared to $7.622 million for the first quarter of 2002. This decrease is due to declines in the average rate paid on all categories of interest-bearing liabilities, which was partially offset by growth in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities.

Non-interest income was $6.475 million in the first quarter of 2003 compared to $5.464 million during the first quarter of 2002, an increase of $1.011 million or 18.50%. The increase in non-interest income is due primarily to the growth in gains on the sale of mortgage loans and was partially offset by decreases in revenue from trust and brokerage activities.

Non-interest expense was $10.382 million for the first quarter of 2003 compared to $8.995 million for the first quarter of 2002, an increase of $1.387 million or 15.42%. The increase is due primarily to increases in ORE expenses and valuation adjustments, higher salaries and wages due to higher commissions on mortgage originations, and an increase in data processing expenses.

                                            FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (unaudited)
                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                        March 31
                                             2003           2002    % Change
                                         (in thousands except per share data)

    EARNINGS & PER SHARE DATA
    Net Income                              $4,842         $4,690      3.2%
    Basic earnings per share                  0.36           0.35      2.9%
    Diluted earnings per share                0.35           0.34      2.9%
    Dividends per share                       0.17           0.15     13.3%

    AVERAGE BALANCES
    Assets                              $1,423,030     $1,286,736     10.6%
    Investment securities                  237,035        201,773     17.5%
    Loans                                1,083,380        984,610     10.0%
    Earnings assets                      1,332,042      1,201,484     10.9%
    Deposits                             1,190,706      1,086,082      9.6%
    Stockholders' equity                   117,400        106,525     10.2%

    PERFORMANCE RATIOS
    Return on average assets                 1.38%          1.48%
    Return on average equity                16.73%         17.85%
    Net interest margin                      3.70%          3.87%
    Efficiency ratio                        55.74%         53.34%

    LOAN PERFORMANCE
    Net credit losses                          $12           $372
    Accruing loans 90+ days past due         4,499          1,267
    Nonaccrual loans                           990          4,886
    Foreclosed assets                        5,443          1,597


                                 CONSOLIDATED
                          BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

                                                            March 31,
                                                       2003           2002
                                                         (in thousands)

    ASSETS
    Cash and due from banks                          $48,233        $30,309
    Federal funds sold                                18,500              -
    Investment securities                            233,498        208,125

    Loans                                          1,099,735        985,959
      Less allowance for loan losses                  16,048         13,881

    Net loans                                     $1,083,687       $972,078

    Premises and equipment, net                       26,846         28,511
    Goodwill and other intangibles                     9,741         10,392
    Other assets                                      33,637         27,303
      Total assets                                $1,454,142     $1,276,718

    LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Non-interest bearing deposits                   $154,386       $127,621
    Interest bearing deposits                      1,058,526        946,370

    Total deposits                                $1,212,912     $1,073,991

    Fed funds purchased & securities sold
      under agreements to repurchase                   9,005          7,400

    Short-term borrowings                                  -          1,000

    Long-term debt                                    77,759         53,021

    Company obligated mandatorily redeemable
      preferred securities                            25,000         25,000
    Other liabilities                                 10,142          8,683
      Total liabilities                           $1,334,818     $1,169,095

    Common stock                                      $6,291         $6,291
    Surplus                                           20,977         20,947
    Retained earnings                                 94,176         84,511
    Other comprehensive income                        10,267          7,880
    Treasury stock                                   (10,546)        (9,811)
    Unearned ESOP shares                              (1,759)        (2,021)
    Deferred compensation for stock grants               (82)          (174)
      Total stockholders' equity                    $119,324       $107,623
      Total liabilities & Stockholders' Equity    $1,454,142     $1,276,718


                            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                       STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)

                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                            March 31,
                                                        2003           2002
                                        (in thousands, except per share data)

    Interest and fees on loans                       $16,485        $16,404
    Interest on investment securities                  2,150          2,301
    Other interest income                                 33             58
      Total interest income                          $18,668        $18,763

    Interest on deposits                              $5,424         $6,265
    Interest on short-term borrowings                     45            139
    Interest on long-term debt                         1,374          1,218
      Total interest expense                          $6,843         $7,622

    Provision for loans losses                           600            565
      Net interest income after provision            $11,225        $10,576

    Trust fees                                        $1,107         $1,250
    Commissions and brokers' fees                        465            541
    Fees for customer services                         2,143          1,978
    Security gains, net                                  183            274
    Other                                              2,577          1,421
      Total non-interest income                       $6,475         $5,464

    Salaries and employee benefits                    $5,651         $5,229
    Net occupancy expense of bank premises               815            775
    Furniture and equipment expenses                     682            832
    Other operating expenses                           3,234          2,159
      Total non-interest expense                     $10,382         $8,995

      Income before income taxes                      $7,318         $7,045
    Income taxes                                       2,476          2,355
      Net income                                      $4,842         $4,690

    COMMON SHARE DATA
    Book value                                         $8.75          $7.87
    Tangible book value                                $8.03          $7.11
    Average number of shares outstanding              13,665         13,657
    Endings number of shares outstanding              13,640         13,669

    Corporate Profile

First Busey Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Urbana, Illinois. First Busey Corporation has two wholly owned banking subsidiaries with locations in three states. Busey Bank is headquartered in Urbana, Illinois and has eighteen banking centers serving Champaign, McLean and Ford Counties in Illinois. Busey Bank also has a banking center in Indianapolis, Indiana and a loan production office in Ft. Myers, Florida. Total assets of Busey Bank were $1.4 billion as of March 31, 2003. Busey Bank Florida is a federal thrift charter headquartered in Ft. Myers, Florida with a second banking center located in Cape Coral, Florida. Total assets of Busey Bank Florida were $85 million as of March 31, 2003. Busey provides electronic delivery of financial services through Busey e-bank, www.busey.com .

Busey Investment Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Busey Corporation and owns three subsidiaries. First Busey Trust & Investment Co. specializes in asset management and trust services with approximately $1 billion in assets under care. First Busey Securities, Inc. (member NASD/SIPC) is a full-service broker/dealer subsidiary with more than $500 million in assets under care. Busey Insurance Services, Inc. provides personal insurance products and specializes in long-term healthcare insurance.

First Busey Corporation Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "BUSE." First Busey Corporation has a Repurchase Program in effect under which it is authorized to purchase up to 500,000 shares of stock, of which 276,212 shares have already been purchased. BUSE closed on March 31, 2003 at $23.40, an increase of 1.47% from the closing price of $23.06 on December 31, 2002.

SOURCE  First Busey Corporation
    
    /CONTACT:  Barbara J. Kuhl, President & COO of First Busey Corporation,
               +1-217-365-4513/
    /Web site:  http://www.busey.com /
    (BUSE)

CO:  First Busey Corporation
ST:  Illinois
IN:  FIN
SU:  ERN

 
04/16/200318:41 EDThttp://www.prnewswire.com