Exhibit 99.1

 

For Immediate Release – October 27, 2008

 

For Information Contact:

Curtis L. Hage, Chairman, President and CEO

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Phone:  (605) 333-7556

 

HF Financial Corp. Quarterly Earnings Per Share Increase 48%; Announces Quarterly Dividend;
Announces Participation in Treasury Department’s Capital Purchase Program

 

SIOUX FALLS, SD, October 28 – HF Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: HFFC), reported earnings for the fiscal first quarter ended September 30, 2008 of $2.0 million, or $0.49 in diluted earnings per share, versus $1.3 million, or $0.33 in diluted earnings per share, in the comparable period in fiscal 2008, a 48 percent increase in diluted earnings per share.

 

Revenue inclusive of net interest income and non-interest income totaled $11.7 million for the quarter, an increase of $2.2 million, or 23.8 percent over the same period last year.  Net interest income totaled $8.7 million for the quarter, an increase of $2.0 million, or 30.3 percent over the same period last year.  Net interest margin expressed on a fully taxable equivalent basis for the quarter was 3.35 percent, compared to 2.92 percent in the first quarter last year.  The net interest margin benefitted primarily from lower costs on interest-bearing liabilities, and also expanded due to earning asset growth.

 

For the quarter, non-interest income increased to $3.0 million, up $234,000 or 8.3 percent relative to the comparable period in fiscal year 2008.  Fees on deposits, loan servicing income and gain on securities sold, net, were the primary factors in this overall increase, which amounted to $138,000, $52,000 and $80,000, respectively.

 

“Despite the mood of the equity and credit markets, we are heartened by the continued growth in our core earnings.” said Curtis L. Hage, Chairman and CEO of the company.  “We suspect the challenges facing our national economy may eventually affect the economy of eastern South Dakota and our balance sheet.  However, our current results reflect the strength of our core business and the positive effect that has had on our performance.”

 

The company also announced that it had settled its previously disclosed lawsuit against Meta Bank.  The settlement occurred subsequent to the end of the company’s first fiscal quarter and will be recorded in the company’s second fiscal quarter.  Pursuant to the settlement MetaBank has paid to the company $2.75 million.  The company expects to record net proceeds of $2.22 million, which include payoff of applicable loans and legal costs of $243,000 and $292,000, respectively, in the company’s second fiscal quarter.

 

Mr. Hage commented, “We are pleased to have this settlement behind us and move forward with our business plan.  This settlement confirms our belief that the process was worth the time invested in arriving at this favorable outcome for our shareholders.”

 

The ratio of non-performing loans and leases to total loans and leases at the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 was 0.37%, compared to 0.43% at the end of the first quarter in the prior year period.  Net loan charge offs totaled $137,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 compared to $704,000 for the same period last year.  Home Federal’s provision for loan losses totaled $387,000 versus $325,000 for the first quarter last year.

 

Non-interest expense grew $1.3 million or 17.6 percent, over last year’s first quarter.  The increase was due primarily to an increase of $678,000 in compensation and employee benefits, an increase in federal deposit insurance premiums of $118,000, and an increase in legal costs of $150,000. Net healthcare costs, which are included in the total for compensation and employee benefits, increased $137,000, to $358,000, up 62.0% from the prior year’s first quarter.

 

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“The Bank remains well-capitalized and positioned for continued growth.” said Darrel Posegate, President of Home Federal Bank.  “Our asset quality performance reflects the resiliency of our region’s business climate.  We continue to invest in our people for growth of our business lines.  Our expenses reflect the cost of acquiring and retaining the talent needed to produce these strong results.  We continue to manage the streamlining of operations to provide the best positioning of costs for the company long term.”

 

Balance Sheet Performance

 

Total loans and leases receivable at September 30, 2008 totaled $802.1 million, an increase of $18.4 million from the balance at June 30, 2008.  As previously announced, the company made a decision in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 to cease origination of indirect automobile loans.  During the current fiscal year, consumer indirect loans decreased $6.9 million, to $37.4 million, while other lines of business produced an increase of $25.3 million in loan and lease receivables since June 30, 2008.

 

Total non-performing assets decreased $14,000, or 0.4 percent, for the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, as compared to the same quarter of fiscal year 2008.  The decrease in non-performing assets was primarily attributable to a decrease of $1.1 million in accruing loans and leases delinquent more than 90 days to $831,000 at September 30, 2008.  This decrease was partially offset by an increase in non-accruing loans and leases of $777,000 and an increase in foreclosed assets of $300,000 for the comparable period.

 

Deposits at September 30, 2008 totaled $765.0 million, a decrease of $19.2 million, or 2.5 percent from the balance at June 30, 2008.  During the three-month period, public fund account balances declined $29.7 million due to typical seasonal fluctuations.  Non-interest bearing checking, interest bearing checking, money market accounts and savings accounts decreased $13.8 million, $8.7 million, $6.3 million, and $15.7 million, respectively, in the comparable period.  In-market and out-of-market certificates of deposit increased a total of $25.3 million from $353.3 million to $378.6 million for the first fiscal quarter, which partially offset the other decreases in deposits.

 

Quarterly Dividend Declared

 

The company announced it will pay a quarterly cash dividend of 11.25 cents per share for the first quarter of the 2009 fiscal year.  The dividend will be paid on November 13, 2008 to stockholders of record on November 6, 2008.

 

Participation in Treasury Department’s Capital Purchase Program

 

The company announced it has received preliminary approval from the Treasury Department to utilize the Treasury Department’s Capital Purchase Program.  The company applied to the Treasury Department for the sale of $25 million of the company’s preferred stock pursuant to the terms announced for the program.  The company’s participation is subject to standard terms and conditions, as well as final approval by the company’s Board of Directors.

 

“HF Financial Corp. and Home Federal Bank are well capitalized and we believe, as the Treasury has announced, we have a patriotic duty to this country to get the economic engine going again,” Mr. Hage said.  “When first approached by the Treasury about its capital plan, we were cautious about participating.  However, after further clarification that this program is designed to strengthen the capital and liquidity of viable banks, we decided to take a closer look.”

 

Mr. Hage added, “If by participating in this historical program we can do our part to move our economy forward through enhanced lending for the markets we serve, then we are pleased to step up as a leader for our communities.”

 

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First Quarter Fiscal 2009 Conference Call and Webcast

 

The company will host its quarterly conference calls and webcasts to discuss its quarterly financial and operational results.  The conference call and webcast is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 9:00 am CT (10:00 am ET) during which the company will discuss its first quarter fiscal 2009 earnings results.

 

Curtis L. Hage, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Darrel L. Posegate, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will recap the company’s first quarter for fiscal 2009.

 

When:  Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Conference call:  9:00 am CT / 10:00 am ET

Dial-in Number:  1-877-407-8033

Call ID:  HF Financial First Quarter Fiscal 2009 Earnings Conference Call

 

Webcast:  To listen to a live Webcast of the presentations, go to the Investor Relations page of the HF Financial website site, www.homefederal.com, and then the Webcast icon.  The Webcast replay will be available from 12 pm CT, Tuesday, October 28, 2008, until 6:00 pm CT, Tuesday, November 11, 2008.  Listening to the Webcast requires speakers and Windows Media Player.  If you do not have Media Player, download the free software at www.windowsmedia.com.

 

Replay:  If you do not have Internet access and want to listen to an audio replay, call 1-877-660-6853 using Account #: 286, Conference ID #: 298702. The audio replay will be available beginning at 12 pm CT on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, through 11:59 pm CT on Tuesday, November 25, 2008.

 

About HF Financial

 

HF Financial Corp., based in Sioux Falls, SD, is the parent company for financial service companies, including Home Federal Bank, Mid America Capital Services, Inc., dba Mid America Leasing Company, Hometown Insurors, Inc. and HF Financial Group, Inc.  As of September 30, 2008, the company had total assets of $1.1 billion and stockholders’ equity of $63.6 million.  The company is the largest publicly traded savings association headquartered in South Dakota, with 33 offices in 19 communities, which includes a location in Marshall, Minnesota. Internet banking is also available at www.homefederal.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This news release and other reports issued by the company, including reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, contain “forward-looking statements” that deal with future results, expectations, plans and performance.  In addition, the company’s management may make forward-looking statements orally to the media, securities analysts, investors or others.  These forward-looking statements might include one or more of the following:

 

·                  Projections of income, loss, revenues, earnings or losses per share, dividends, capital expenditures, capital structure, tax benefit or other financial items.

·                  Descriptions of plans or objectives of management for future operations, products or services, transactions, investments and use of subordinated debentures payable to trusts.

·                  Forecasts of future economic performance.

·                  Use and descriptions of assumptions and estimates underlying or relating to such matters.

 

Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  They often include words such as “optimism,” “look-forward,” “bright,” “pleased,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may.”

 

Forward-looking statements about the company’s expected financial results and other plans are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  These include, but are not limited to the following: possible legislative changes and adverse economic, business and competitive conditions and developments (such as shrinking interest margins and continued short-term rate environments); deposit outflows; reduced demand for financial services and loan products;

 

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changes in accounting policies or guidelines, or in monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government; changes in credit and other risks posed by the company’s loan and lease portfolios; the ability or inability of the company to manage interest rate and other risks; unexpected or continuing claims against the company’s self-insured health plan; the company’s use of trust preferred securities; the ability or inability of the company to successfully enter into a definitive agreement for and close anticipated transactions; technological, computer-related or operational difficulties; adverse changes in securities markets; results of litigation; or other significant uncertainties.

 

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.  The company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.  Although the company believes its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.  Based upon changing conditions, should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in any forward-looking statements.

 

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HF Financial Corp.

Selected Consolidated Operating Highlights

(Dollars in Thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended
		September 30,
		2008			2007
Interest, dividend and loan fee income:
Loans and leases receivable		$	13,018		$	14,120
Investment securities and interest-earning deposits		2,813			1,865
		15,831			15,985
Interest expense:
Deposits		4,577			7,498
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank and other borrowings		2,565			1,819
		7,142			9,317
Net interest income		8,689			6,668
Provision for losses on loans and leases		387			325
Net interest income after provision for losses on loans and leases		8,302			6,343
Noninterest income:
Fees on deposits		1,551			1,413
Loan servicing income		557			505
Gain on sale of loans, net		251			259
Trust income		222			249
Gain on sale of securities, net		80			—
Other		388			389
		3,049			2,815
Noninterest expense:
Compensation and employee benefits		5,121			4,443
Occupancy and equipment		977			937
Other		2,305			1,764
		8,403			7,144
Income before income taxes		2,948			2,014
Income tax expense		973			667
Net income		$	1,975		$	1,347
Basic earnings per share:		$	0.50		$	0.34
Diluted earnings per share:		0.49			0.33
Basic weighted average shares:		3,972,055			4,002,458
Diluted weighted average shares:		4,004,126			4,067,075
Outstanding shares (end of period):		3,985,665			3,964,542

 

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HF Financial Corp.

Selected Consolidated Financial Condition Data

(Dollars in Thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

		09/30/2008			06/30/2008			09/30/2007
Balance Sheet Data
Total assets		$	1,127,724		$	1,103,494		$	1,015,776
Cash and cash equivalents		18,819			21,170			17,082
Securities available for sale		225,695			225,004			154,700
Loans and leases receivable, net		795,905			777,777			766,953
Loans held for sale		13,371			8,796			7,872
Deposits		765,022			784,237			772,360
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank and other borrowings		237,267			198,454			121,220
Subordinated debentures payable to trusts		27,837			27,837			27,837
Stockholders’ equity		65,453			64,203			63,144
Stockholder’s equity before OCI (1) to consolidated assets		6.16		%	6.11		%	6.32		%
OCI components to consolidated assets:
Net changes in unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale		(0.25		)	(0.19		)	(0.06		)
Net unrealized losses on defined benefit plan		(0.08		)	(0.08		)	(0.01		)
Net unrealized losses on derivatives and hedging activities		(0.01		)	(0.01		)	(0.00		)
Goodwill to consolidated assets		(0.44		)	(0.45		)	(0.49		)
Tangible capital to consolidated assets		5.39		%	5.39		%	5.76		%
Book value per share (2)		$	16.42		$	16.25		$	15.93
Tier I (core) capital (3)		7.76		%	7.78		%	8.32		%
Total Risk-based capital (3)		10.73		%	10.83		%	11.05		%
Number of full-service offices		33			33			33

 

(1)	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(2)	Equity divided by number of shares of outstanding common stock.
(3)	Capital ratios for Home Federal Bank.

 

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HF Financial Corp.

Selected Consolidated Financial Condition Data

(Dollars in Thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

Loan and Lease Portfolio Composition

 

		At September 30, 2008					At June 30, 2008
		Amount			Percent		Amount			Percent
		(Dollars in Thousands)
One-to four-family (1)		$	97,713		12.18	%	$	99,989		12.76	%
Commercial business and real estate (2) (3)		307,553			38.34	%	303,415			38.72	%
Multi-family real estate		44,854			5.59	%	45,093			5.75	%
Equipment finance leases		19,592			2.44	%	19,288			2.46	%
Consumer Direct (4)		109,556			13.66	%	105,719			13.49	%
Consumer Indirect (5)		37,418			4.67	%	44,294			5.65	%
Agricultural		176,042			21.95	%	160,267			20.45	%
Construction and development		9,360			1.17	%	5,645			0.72	%
Total Loans and Leases Receivable (6)		$	802,088		100.00	%	$	783,710		100.00	%

 

(1) Excludes $10,311 and $7,958 loans held for sale at September 30, 2008 and June 30, 2008, respectively.

(2) Includes $3,012 and $3,012 tax exempt leases at September 30, 2008 and June 30, 2008, respectively.

(3) Excludes $223 commercial loans held for sale at September 30, 2008 and June 30, 2008.

(4) Excludes $2,837 and $614 student loans held for sale at September 30, 2008 and June 30, 2008, respectively.

(5) The Company announced Consumer Indirect originations ceased during the first quarter of Fiscal 2008.

(6) Includes deferred loan fees and discounts and undisbursed portion of loans in process.

 

Deposit Composition

 

		At September 30, 2008					At June 30, 2008
		Amount			Percent		Amount			Percent
		(Dollars in Thousands)
Noninterest bearing checking accounts		$	76,844		10.04	%	$	90,598		11.55	%
Interest bearing checking accounts		81,366			10.64	%	90,125			11.49	%
Money market accounts		165,409			21.62	%	171,689			21.89	%
Savings accounts		62,849			8.21	%	78,575			10.02	%
In-Market Certificates of deposit		343,474			44.90	%	325,995			41.57	%
Out-of-Market Certificates of deposit		35,080			4.59	%	27,255			3.48	%
Total Deposits		$	765,022		100.00	%	$	784,237		100.00	%

 

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HF Financial Corp.

Selected Consolidated Financial Condition Data

(Dollars in Thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

Allowance for Loan and Lease Loss Activity

 

		Three Months Ended
		09/30/2008			09/30/2007
Balance, beginning		$	5,933		$	5,872
Provision charged to income		387			325
Charge-offs		(192		)	(781		)
Recoveries		55			77
Balance, ending		$	6,183		$	5,493
Asset Quality
Nonaccruing loans and leases		$	2,178		$	1,401
Accruing loans and leases delinquent more than 90 days		831			1,922
Foreclosed assets		600			300
Total nonperforming assets		$	3,609		$	3,623
FASB Statement No. 5 Allowance for loan and lease losses		$	5,989		$	5,443
FASB Statement No. 114 Impaired loan valuation allowance		194			50
Total allowance for loans and lease losses		$	6,183		$	5,493
Ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets at end of period (1)		0.32		%	0.36		%
Ratio of nonperforming loan and leases to total loans and leases at end of period (2)		0.37		%	0.43		%
Ratio of allowance for loan and lease losses to total loans and leases at end of period		0.76		%	0.70		%
Ratio of allowance for loan and lease losses to nonperforming loans and leases at end of period (2)		205.48		%	165.30		%

 

(1)	Nonperforming assets include nonaccruing loans and leases, accruing loans and leases delinquent more than 90 days and foreclosed assets.
(2)	Nonperforming loans and leases include both nonaccruing and accruing loans and leases delinquent more than 90 days.

 

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HF Financial Corp.

Selected Consolidated Financial Condition Data

(Dollars in Thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

Average Balances, Interest Yields and Rates

 

		Three Months Ended
		09/30/2008					09/30/2007
		Average			Yield/Rate		Average			Yield/Rate
Interest-earning assets:
Loans and leases receivable (1) (3)		$	805,722		6.41	%	$	776,254		7.24	%
Investment securities (2) (3)		242,018			4.61	%	150,813			4.92	%
Total interest-earning assets		1,047,740			5.99	%	927,067			6.86	%
Noninterest-earning assets		66,173					68,334
Total assets		$	1,113,913				$	995,401
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Checking and money market		$	246,147		1.38	%	$	285,936		3.59	%
Savings		70,538			1.47	%	54,777			2.98	%
Certificates of deposit		364,434			3.76	%	363,832			4.93	%
Total interest-bearing deposits		681,119			2.67	%	704,545			4.23	%
FHLB advances and other borrowings		232,636			3.60	%	92,296			4.98	%
Subordinated debentures payable to trusts (4)		27,837			6.50	%	27,837			9.48	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		941,592			3.01	%	824,678			4.49	%
Noninterest-bearing deposits		78,730					78,968
Other liabilities		29,041					29,150
Total liabilities		1,049,363					932,796
Equity		64,550					62,605
Total liabilities and equity		$	1,113,913				$	995,401
Net interest spread (5)					2.98	%				2.37	%
Net interest margin (5) (6)					3.29	%				2.86	%
Net interest margin, TE (7)					3.35	%				2.92	%
Return on average assets (8)					0.70	%				0.54	%
Return on average equity (9)					12.14	%				8.61	%

 

(1)	Includes loan fees and interest on accruing loans and leases past due 90 days or more.
(2)	Includes federal funds sold and Federal Home Loan Bank stock.
(3)	Yields do not reflect the tax exempt nature of loans, equipment leases and municipal securities.
(4)	Includes $125 expense in July 2007 for unamortized debt issuance costs.
(5)	Percentages for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007 have been annualized.
(6)	Net interest margin is net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
(7)	Net interest margin expressed on a fully taxable equivalent basis.
(8)	Ratio of net income to average total assets.
(9)	Ratio of net income to average equity.

 

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