Press Release

HONOLULU, April 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Central Pacific Financial Corp. (NYSE: CPF), (the "Company"), today reported net income in the first quarter of 2018 of $14.3 million, or diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $0.48, compared to net income in the first quarter of 2017 of $13.1 million, or EPS of $0.42, and net income in the fourth quarter of 2017 of $4.3 million, or EPS of $0.14. 

"We are pleased to report on another solid quarter of net income driven primarily by continued loan and deposit growth," said Catherine Ngo, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our earnings and strong capital position have allowed our company to increase our quarterly cash dividend and continue executing on our stock repurchase plan."

In April 2018, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per share on its outstanding common shares. This represents a 10.5% increase from the $0.19 dividend paid in the first quarter of 2018. The dividend will be payable on June 15, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 31, 2018.

During the first quarter of 2018, the Company repurchased 344,362 shares of common stock, or approximately 1.1% of its common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2017. Total cost of the shares repurchased was $10.1 million, or an average cost per share of $29.36. The Company's remaining repurchase authority under its common stock repurchase program at March 31, 2018 is $43.4 million.

Earnings Highlights
Net interest income for the first quarter of 2018 was $42.3 million, compared to $41.3 million in the year-ago quarter and $42.8 million in the previous quarter. Net interest margin for the first quarter of 2018 was 3.21%, compared to 3.30% in the year-ago quarter and 3.27% in the previous quarter. The increase in net interest income from the year-ago quarter was primarily due to growth in the loan portfolio, combined with an increase in the taxable-equivalent yield earned on the investment security portfolio. These increases were partially offset by higher deposit and borrowing costs attributable to the recent increases in the federal funds rate, which also resulted in the decline in the net interest margin from the year-ago quarter. The decrease in net interest income and net interest margin from the previous quarter was primarily due to a decline in yields earned on the loan and investment securities portfolios, combined with higher rates paid on time deposits and borrowings.

Other operating income for the first quarter of 2018 totaled $9.0 million, compared to $10.0 million in the year-ago quarter and $9.0 million in the previous quarter. The decrease from the year-ago quarter was primarily due to lower income from bank-owned life insurance of $0.8 million and lower income recovered on nonaccrual loans previously charged-off of $0.5 million, partially offset by higher commissions on investment services of $0.3 million (included in other service charges and fees). The lower income from bank-owned life insurance was primarily attributable to death benefit income of $0.6 million recorded in the year-ago quarter. Other operating income remained relatively unchanged from the previous quarter.

Other operating expense for the first quarter of 2018 totaled $33.5 million, which increased from $31.5 million in the year-ago quarter and decreased from $34.5 million in the previous quarter. The increase from the year-ago quarter was primarily due to higher salaries and employee benefits of $1.1 million, combined with the write-down of a foreclosed asset of $0.3 million (included in foreclosed asset expense). The higher salaries and employee benefits expense was primarily attributable to the increase in the Company's starting pay rate and the pay scale for other wage progression positions effective January 1, 2018, combined with annual merit increases effective in the second quarter of 2017. The sequential quarter decrease was primarily due to lower advertising expense of $0.4 million, lower legal and professional services of $0.3 million, lower salaries and employee benefits of $0.3 million, and lower net occupancy expense of $0.2 million, partially offset by higher foreclosed asset expense of $0.3 million. The  lower salaries and employee benefits from the sequential quarter were primarily attributable to a special, one-time bonus totaling $0.8 million given to all employees, with the exception of executives on the Company's managing committee, in the fourth quarter of 2017, partially offset by higher salaries paid during the current quarter due to aforementioned increases in pay rates.

The efficiency ratio for the first quarter of 2018 was 65.37%, compared to 61.36% in the year-ago quarter and 66.54% in the previous quarter. The increase in the efficiency ratio from the year-ago quarter was primarily due to the aforementioned lower other operating income combined with higher other operating expenses in the current quarter compared to the year-ago quarter, partially offset by the improvement in net interest income. The improvement in the efficiency ratio compared to the previous quarter was due to the aforementioned lower other operating expenses, partially offset by the lower net interest income.

In the first quarter of 2018, the Company recorded income tax expense of $3.7 million, compared to $6.8 million in the year-ago quarter and $13.3 million in the previous quarter. Income tax expense in the previous quarter included a one-time, non-cash estimated charge of $7.4 million to income tax expense due to the revaluation of the Company's net deferred tax assets in connection with the enactment of H.R.1, commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2018 was 20.5%, compared to 34.2% in the year-ago quarter and 75.6% in the previous quarter. The decline in income tax expense and effective tax rate in the current quarter was primarily due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Balance Sheet Highlights
Total assets at March 31, 2018 of $5.65 billion increased by $208.1 million, or 3.8% from March 31, 2017, and increased by $27.6 million, or 0.5% from December 31, 2017.

Total loans and leases at March 31, 2018 of $3.82 billion increased by $270.4 million, or 7.6% and $45.5 million, or 1.2% from March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The increase in total loans and leases from March 31, 2017 was primarily attributable to strong organic growth in the Hawaii loan portfolios, combined with an increase in the U.S. mainland commercial mortgage portfolio, partially offset by reductions in the Hawaii construction loan portfolio and the U.S. mainland consumer loan portfolio. The increase in total loans and leases from the fourth quarter of 2017 was primarily due to strong organic growth in the Hawaii loan portfolios, partially offset by a reduction in the U.S. mainland consumer loan portfolio.

Total deposits at March 31, 2018 of $4.98 billion increased by $203.0 million, or 4.2% from March 31, 2017, and increased by $24.1 million, or 0.5% from December 31, 2017.  Core deposits, which include demand deposits, savings and money market deposits, and time deposits less than $100,000, totaled $4.01 billion at March 31, 2018.  This represents an increase of $196.0 million, or 5.1% from March 31, 2017, and an increase of $15.7 million, or 0.4% from December 31, 2017.

Asset Quality
Nonperforming assets at March 31, 2018 totaled $3.4 million, or 0.06% of total assets, compared to $8.8 million, or 0.16% of total assets at March 31, 2017, and $3.6 million, or 0.06% of total assets at December 31, 2017.

Loans delinquent for 90 days or more still accruing interest totaled $0.4 million at March 31, 2018, compared to $0.2 million and $0.6 million at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Net charge-offs in the first quarter of 2018 totaled $0.6 million, compared to net charge-offs of $1.2 million in the year-ago quarter, and net charge-offs of $1.0 million in the previous quarter.

In the first quarter of 2018, the Company recorded a credit to the provision for loan and lease losses of $0.2 million, compared to a credit of $0.1 million in the year-ago quarter and a credit of $0.2 million in the previous quarter. The allowance for loan and lease losses, as a percentage of total loans and leases at March 31, 2018 was 1.29%, compared to 1.56% at March 31, 2017 and 1.33% at December 31, 2017.

Capital
Total shareholders' equity was $484.1 million at March 31, 2018, compared to $511.5 million and $500.0 million at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

The Company maintained its strong capital position and its capital ratios continue to exceed the levels required to be considered a "well-capitalized" institution for regulatory purposes under Basel III. At March 31, 2018, the Company's leverage capital, tier 1 risk-based capital, total risk-based capital, and common equity tier 1 ratios were 10.3%, 14.5%, 15.8%, and 12.3%, respectively, compared to 10.4%, 14.7%, 15.9%, and 12.4%, respectively, at December 31, 2017.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains certain references to financial measures that have been adjusted to exclude certain expenses and other specified items.  These financial measures differ from comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") in that they exclude unusual or non-recurring charges, losses, credits or gains.  This press release identifies the specific items excluded from the comparable GAAP financial measure in the calculation of each non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that financial presentations excluding the impact of these items provide useful supplemental information that is important to a proper understanding of the Company's core business results by investors.  These presentations should not be viewed as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP financial measures presented by other companies.

Conference Call
The Company's management will host a conference call today at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (7:00 a.m. Hawaii Time) to discuss the quarterly results. Individuals are encouraged to listen to the live webcast of the presentation by visiting the investor relations page of the Company's website at http://ir.centralpacificbank.com. Alternatively, investors may participate in the live call by dialing 1-877-505-7644. A playback of the call will be available through May 25, 2018 by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (passcode: 10119342) and on the Company's website. Information which may be discussed in the conference call regarding non-GAAP financial performance and reconciliation to GAAP financial performance is provided on the Company's website at http://ir.centralpacificbank.com.

About Central Pacific Financial Corp.
Central Pacific Financial Corp. is a Hawaii-based bank holding company with approximately $5.7 billion in assets.  Central Pacific Bank, its primary subsidiary, operates 35 branches and 80 ATMs in the state of Hawaii, as of March 31, 2018.  For additional information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.centralpacificbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This document may contain forward-looking statements concerning projections of revenues, income/loss, earnings/loss per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure, or other financial items, plans and objectives of management for future operations, future economic performance, or any of the assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts, and may include the words "believes," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "forecasts," "intends," "hopes," "should," "estimates," or words of similar meaning.  While the Company believes that our forward-looking statements and the assumptions underlying them are reasonably based, such statements and assumptions are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties, and thus could later prove to be inaccurate or incorrect.  Accordingly, actual results could materially differ from projections for a variety of reasons, to include, but not limited to:  the effect of, and our failure to comply with any regulatory orders or actions we are or may become subject to; oversupply of inventory and adverse conditions in the Hawaii and California real estate markets and any weakness in the construction industry;  adverse changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers and, as a result, increased loan delinquency rates,  deterioration in asset quality, and losses in our loan portfolio; the impact of local, national, and international economies and events (including political events, acts of war or terrorism, natural disasters such as wildfires, tsunamis and earthquakes) on the Company's business and operations and on tourism, the military and other major industries operating within the Hawaii market and any other markets in which the Company does business; deterioration or malaise in economic conditions, including destabilizing factors in the financial industry and deterioration of the real estate market, as well as the impact from any declining levels of consumer and business confidence in the state of the economy in general and in financial institutions in particular;  the impact of regulatory action on the Company and Central Pacific Bank and legislation affecting the financial services industry; failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or disclosure controls and procedures; changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory and accounting requirements; the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, other regulatory reform, and any related rules and regulations on our business operations and competitiveness; the costs and effects of legal and regulatory developments, including legal proceedings or regulatory or other governmental inquiries and proceedings and the resolution thereof, and the results of regulatory examinations or reviews;  the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; inflation, interest rate, securities market and monetary fluctuations;  negative trends in our market capitalization and adverse changes in the price of the Company's common shares; changes in consumer spending, borrowings and savings habits; technological changes and developments; changes in the competitive environment among financial holding companies and other financial service providers, including fintech businesses; the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters; changes in our capital position; our ability to attract and retain skilled directors, executives and employees; changes in our organization, compensation and benefit plans; and our success at managing the risks involved in any of the foregoing items. For further information on factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from projections, please see the Company's publicly available Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company's Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the last fiscal year and, in particular, the discussion of "Risk Factors" set forth therein. The Company does not update any of its forward-looking statements except as required by law.