CVB Financial Corp. Reports First Quarter Earnings


Apr 23, 2004

ONTARIO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 23, 2004--CVB Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CVBF) today announced net income for the first quarter of 2004 of $10.1 million. This represents a decrease of $2.6 million when compared with net income of $12.7 million reported for the first quarter of 2003. Net income was $0.20 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2004, compared with the $0.26 per diluted share for 2003. The reduction in net income was the result of a $6.3 million write-down of two issues of preferred stock issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).

Without this write-down, the Company would have had net income of $14.3 million for the first quarter of 2004. This would have resulted in an increase of $2.1 million, or 17.52%, when compared with the net earnings from operations of $12.1 million for the first quarter of 2003. Net income from operations excludes the effects of the "other-than-temporary impairment" write down and gains on sale of investment securities.

The Company owns two issues of Freddie Mac preferred stock. The first issue was acquired in March of 2001 and consists of a $40.0 million preferred security with an interest rate based on the twelve-month LIBOR interest rate. The second issue was purchased in October of 2001 and consists of a $23.8 million preferred security with interest based on the three-month LIBOR interest rate. LIBOR is the London Interbank Offered Rate, a common international interest rate index. The interest rate is variable and adjusts every twelve months on the first issue and every three months on the second issue. These securities have AA- credit ratings from the securities credit rating agencies. Both of the securities are callable by Freddie Mac at par.

Although these securities are technically equity securities, experts in the investment industry recognize that this type of security performs like a bond or a debt security. They are priced like a bond, and they are analyzed like a bond for investment purposes. In spite of having these bond characteristics, the Company was required to write the securities down $6.3 million solely because they do not have specific maturity dates. A maturity date would provide a date certain when the security would be redeemed at par or face value.

The value of these two securities increases and decreases with the fluctuation in interest rates. They increase in value when interest rates rise, and they decline in value when interest rates fall. These securities have had market values above and below their face values during the term of ownership. Current interest rates are at 45-year lows, and this resulted in the $6.3 million loss position as of March 31, 2004. It is expected that these investments will increase in value as interest rates rise. In fact, recent increases in the LIBOR interest rates have resulted in an increase in the value of these securities since March 31, 2004. However, accounting convention precludes the recognition of this increase in value until the security is sold.

The $6.3 million charge was prompted by an interpretation by the Emerging Issues Task Force of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in March of 2004 when it released its Issue No. 03-1 regarding the definition of "other-than-temporary impairment" of investments. This release established a three-step process for analyzing and evaluating an "other-than-temporary impairment" of an investment. As a result of this release, the accounting profession determined that an equity security must be considered "other-than-temporary impaired" if there is a material reduction in the market value of the equity security from its book value. This is regardless of the characteristics of the equity security.

The Company has a thorough asset and liability management program. This program and the attendant asset and liability practices are designed to minimize the effects of interest rate fluctuations on the earnings of the Company. This includes a blend of variable rate assets and fixed rate intended to smooth these interest rate fluctuations over interest rate cycles. The two Freddie Mac securities were acquired as a small part of this strategy.

Investment securities totaled $1.94 billion as of March 31, 2004. These securities all have specific maturity dates, except the two Freddie Mac securities which were subjected to the $6.3 million charge. It is also noted that the investment portfolio had a $40.8 million unrealized gain at the end of the quarter. However, as mentioned earlier, these gains cannot be recognized unless and until the securities are sold.

Total assets of the Company were a record $4.0 billion as of March 31, 2004. This is an increase of $615.2 million, or 18.12%, when compared with total assets of $3.40 billion on March 31, 2003. Total deposits of $2.70 billion were up $378.8 million, or 16.32%, over the total deposits of $2.32 billion at the same time last year. Gross loans and leases grew to $1.81 billion. They rose $354.8 million, or 24.34%, from $1.46 billion in 2003. The Wealth Management Group has over $1.1 billion in assets under administration.

CVB Financial Corp. reported $0.7 million in non-performing assets. This represents a ratio of non-performing assets to total assets of 0.02% as of March 31, 2004. In addition, the allowance for loan and lease losses of $22.0 million represented 1.21% of gross loans and leases, and 3,060.50% of non-performing loans. This compares with an allowance for loan and lease losses of $21.6 million on March 31, 2003, which represented 1.48% of gross loans and leases and 1,949.14% of non-performing loans.

CVB Financial Corp. is the holding company for Citizens Business Bank. The Bank is the largest financial institution headquartered in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. It serves 30 cities with 37 business financial centers in the Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Central Valley areas of California.

Citizens Business Bank was recently recognized at the Annual Strategic Issues Summit with the "Market Cap" Award. This Award was presented to recognize the Company for producing a return to its original shareholders of 41,034% -- over 400 times the original investment. This is the highest return in the history of the banking industry in California. The Strategic Issues Summit is co-sponsored by Carpenter & Company and the California Bankers Association.

Shares of CVB Financial Corp. common stock are listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol of CVBF. For investor information on CVB Financial Corp. visit our Citizens Business Bank Web site at www.cbbank.com and click on the CVB Stock tab.

Safe Harbor

This document may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. For a discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ, please see the publicly available Securities and Exchange Commission filings of CVB Financial Corp., including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2003, and particularly the discussion on risk factors within that document.

CVB FINANCIAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(unaudited)
dollars in thousands
                                             March 31,        Dec. 31,
                                         2004        2003       2003
 Assets:
 Federal funds sold and reverse
  repos                            $        -  $        -  $        -
 Investment Securities available-
  for-sale                          1,902,503   1,728,547   1,865,782
 Investment in stock of Federal Home
  Loan Bank (FHLB)                     42,022      34,900      37,966
 Loans and lease finance
  receivables                       1,812,487   1,457,685   1,759,941
    Less allowance for credit losses  (22,005)    (21,616)    (21,282)

    Net loans and lease finance
     receivables                    1,790,482   1,436,069   1,738,659

          Total earning assets      3,735,007   3,199,516   3,642,407
 Cash and due from banks              118,156     109,164     112,008
 Premises and equipment, net           30,035      30,527      31,069
 Goodwill and intangibles              26,605      15,608      26,901
 Cash value of life insurance          66,012      15,801      15,800
 Other assets                          34,101      24,128      26,164

      TOTAL                        $4,009,916  $3,394,744  $3,854,349

 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 Liabilities:
    Deposits:
        Demand Deposits
         (noninterest-bearing)     $1,153,994  $  893,067  $1,142,330
        Investment Checking           223,561     196,958     227,031
        Savings/MMDA                  798,875     665,983     732,992
        Time Deposits                 522,826     564,487     558,157

           Total Deposits           2,699,256   2,320,495   2,660,510

   Demand Note to U.S. Treasury         1,829           -       3,834
   Borrowings                         885,900     723,000     786,500
   Junior Subordinated Debentures      82,476           -      82,476
   Other liabilities                   44,026      85,083      35,593

           Total Liabilities        3,713,487   3,128,578   3,568,913
 Stockholders' equity:
    Stockholders' equity              272,769     242,681     268,156
    Accumulated other
     comprehensive income
     (loss), net of tax                23,660      23,485      17,280

                                      296,429     266,166     285,436

      TOTAL                        $4,009,916  $3,394,744  $3,854,349


CVB FINANCIAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET
(unaudited)
dollars in thousands
                                         Three months ended March 31,
                                                2004        2003

 Assets:
 Federal funds sold and reverse repos      $      879  $      889
 Investment securities available-for-sale   1,887,734   1,445,294
 Investment in stock of Federal Home
  Loan Bank (FHLB)                             39,590      23,872
 Loans and lease finance receivables        1,766,715   1,434,083
    Less allowance for credit losses          (21,734)    (21,662)

    Net loans and lease finance receivables 1,744,981   1,412,421

          Total earning assets              3,673,184   2,882,476
 Cash and due from banks                      108,279     112,391
 Premises and equipment, net                   30,718      29,875
 Goodwill and intangibles                      26,734      15,733
 Cash value of life insurance                  34,393      13,681
 Other assets                                  52,564      22,819

      TOTAL                                $3,925,872  $3,076,975

 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 Liabilities:
    Deposits:
        Noninterest-bearing                $1,102,699  $  893,495
        Interest-bearing                    1,537,215   1,394,383
           Total Deposits                   2,639,914   2,287,878

   Other borrowings                           866,174     470,519
   Junior Subordinated Debentures              82,476           -
   Other liabilities                           43,600      51,030

           Total Liabilities                3,632,164   2,809,427
 Stockholders' equity:
    Stockholders' equity                      276,398     241,916
    Accumulated other comprehensive income
     (loss), net of tax                        17,310      25,632

                                              293,708     267,548

      TOTAL                                $3,925,872  $3,076,975


                 CVB FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                              (unaudited)
             dollar amounts in thousands, except per share

                                                  For the Three Months
                                                      Ended March 31,
                                                        2004     2003

 Interest Income:
   Loans, including fees                             $26,250  $23,819
   Investment securities:
      Taxable                                         15,728   12,384
      Tax-advantaged                                   3,971    4,130

             Total investment income                  19,699   16,514
   Federal funds sold                                      2       12

             Total interest income                    45,951   40,345
 Interest Expense:
   Deposits                                            3,683    4,516
   Borrowings and junior subordinated debentures       6,704    4,590

             Total interest expense                   10,387    9,106

     Net interest income before provision for credit
      losses                                          35,564   31,239
 Provision for credit losses                               -        -

     Net interest income after
      provision for credit losses                     35,564   31,239
 Other Operating Income:
    Service charges on deposit accounts                3,793    3,696
    Wealth Management services                         1,162    1,047
    Gains on sale of investment securities                 -      794
    Other-than-temporary impairment write down        (6,300)       -
    Other                                              2,126    1,352

             Total other operating income                781    6,889
 Other operating expenses:
    Salaries and employee benefits                    11,742    9,988
    Occupancy                                          1,774    1,551
    Equipment                                          1,856    1,492
    Professional services                              1,121      682
    Amortization of intangible assets                    296      111
    Other                                              4,716    3,915

             Total other operating expenses           21,505   17,739

 Earnings before income taxes                         14,840   20,389
 Income taxes                                          4,768    7,685

     Net earnings                                    $10,072  $12,704

 Basic earnings per common share                     $  0.21  $  0.26

 Diluted earnings per common share                   $  0.20  $  0.26

 Cash dividends per common share                     $  0.12  $  0.12

All per share information has been retroactively adjusted to
reflect the 10% stock dividend declared on Dec. 17, 2003.


                                                 Three months ended
                                                        March 31,
                                                    2004        2003

 Interest income - (Tax Effective)(te)            $47,234     $41,673
 Interest Expense                                  10,387       9,106

 Net Interest income - (te)                       $36,847     $32,567

 Other-than-temporary impairment write-down       ($6,300)          -
 Gain (Loss) on sale of securities                      -        $794
 Gain on sale of OREO                                   -           -

 Return on average assets                            1.03%       1.67%
 Return on average equity                           13.79%      19.25%
 Efficiency ratio                                   59.17%      46.52%
 Net interest margin (te)                            4.02%       4.54%

 Weighted average shares outstanding
     Diluted                                   49,188,886  49,002,301
     Basic                                     48,356,327  47,993,075
 Dividend payout ratio                              59.27%      41.75%

 Number of shares outstanding-EOP              48,386,418  48,068,387
 Book value per share                               $6.12       $5.44


                                                         March 31,
                                                     2004        2003

 Non-performing Assets (dollar amount in thousands):
 Non-accrual loans                                   $719        $858
 Loans past due 90 days or more
   and still accruing interest                          -         251
 Restructured loans                                     -           -
 Other real estate owned (OREO), net                    -           -

 Total non-performing assets                         $719      $1,109

 Percentage of non-performing assets
   to total loans outstanding and OREO               0.04%       0.08%

 Percentage of non-performing
   assets to total assets                            0.02%       0.03%

 Non-performing assets to
 allowance for loan losses                           3.27%       5.13%

 Net loan losses to Average loans                    0.04%       0.01%

 Allowance for Credit Losses:
  Beginning Balance                               $21,282     $21,666
     Total Loans Charged-Off                         (308)       (217)
     Total Loans Recovered                          1,031         167

 Net Loans Recovery (Charged-Off)                     723         (50)
 Provision Charged to Operating Expense                 -           -

 Allowance for Credit Losses at End of period     $22,005     $21,616


Financial Measure That Supplement GAAP

Our discussions sometimes contain financial information not
required to be presented by generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP). We do this to better inform readers of our financial
statements. The SEC requires us to present a reconciliation of GAAP
presentation with non-GAAP presentation.

The following table reconciles the differences in net earnings
with and without the other-than-temporary impairment write down and
net gains on sale of investment securities in conformity with GAAP:

Net Earnings Reconciliation (non-GAAP disclosure):     Three months
                                                      ended March 31,
                                                        2004     2003

Net earnings without the other-than-temporary
 impairment write-down and net gain on sale of
 securities                                          $14,348  $12,209
  Other-than-temporary impairment write-down,
   net of tax                                         (4,276)       -
  Net gains on sale of securities, net of tax              -      495

Reported net earnings                                $10,072  $12,704

Other-than-temporary impairment write-down           ($6,300)       -
Gains on sale of securities                                -     $794
Tax effect                                             2,024     (299)

Net of taxes                                         ($4,276)    $495

We have presented net earnings without the other-than-temporary
impairment write down and the realized gains of investment securities
to show shareholders the earnings from operations unaffected by the
impact of these items. We believe this presentation allows the reader
to more easily determine the operational profit of the Company.
    CONTACT: CVB Financial Corp., Ontario
             D. Linn Wiley, 909-980-4030

    SOURCE: CVB Financial Corp.