Published on October 20, 1997
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EXHIBIT 99.1
NATIONSBANK REPORTED 26 PERCENT INCREASE IN NET INCOME TO $788 MILLION IN THIRD
QUARTER 1997
CHARLOTTE, NC, October 14, 1997 -- NationsBank third-quarter net income
increased 26 percent from the year-ago quarter to $788 million, or $1.11 per
common share, reflecting growth in revenue, cost containment and the benefit
from recent acquisitions.
"Diversified revenue streams and our disciplined attention to expense control
have generated increased earnings for our company," said Hugh L. McColl Jr.,
chief executive officer.
"We look forward to leveraging our business strengths across a customer base
expanded by the addition of Montgomery Securities and the pending merger with
Barnett Banks," McColl added.
Net income for the first nine months of 1997 rose 30 percent to $2.26 billion,
or $3.13 per common share. This compared to net income of $1.74 billion, or
$2.91 per common share, in the first nine months of 1996. Excluding a merger-
related charge in the first quarter of 1996, operating net income and earnings
per share for the first nine months of 1996 were $1.82 billion and $3.04,
respectively.
Third quarter 1997 results included the benefit of several acquisitions
completed in 1996 and early 1997, primarily the acquisition of Boatmen's
Bancshares, Inc. on January 7, 1997.
Earnings Highlights (third quarter 1997 compared to third quarter 1996 results)
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* Cash basis earnings (net income excluding amortization of intangibles)
were $1.27 per common share, up 13 percent from $1.12 per share
* Return on average tangible common shareholders' equity increased
840 basis points to 32.0 percent, from 23.6 percent
* Noninterest income increased 38 percent to $1.22 billion driven by
increases in all major categories
* The cash basis efficiency ratio improved to 52.0 percent from 54.6 percent,
reflecting successful integration efforts and expense containment
Reported Earnings
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NationsBank earned $788 million in the third quarter of 1997. This represented
a 26-percent increase over the $625 million earned in the third quarter 1996.
Earnings per common share for the third quarter 1997 rose 5 percent to $1.11,
from $1.06 in the year-ago quarter. Return on average common shareholders'
equity was 15.9 percent in the third quarter 1997, down from 19.0 percent in the
year-ago quarter, due primarily to the equity issued in the Boatmen's
Bancshares, Inc. acquisition.
Cash Basis Earnings
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Cash basis earnings increased 37 percent to $899 million in the third quarter of
1997, or $1.27 per common share. This compared to $658 million, or $1.12 per
common share, in the third quarter 1996. The return on average tangible common
shareholders' equity rose to 32.0 percent in the third quarter 1997, from 23.6
percent in the year-ago quarter.
Net Interest Income
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In the third quarter of 1997, taxable-equivalent net interest income increased
24 percent to $2 billion compared to third quarter 1996. The growth was
achieved through a 21-percent increase in average loans and leases and an 11-
basis-point expansion in the net interest yield. The improvement in the net
interest yield to 3.80 percent from 3.69 percent was primarily the result of the
improved contribution of the securities portfolios and deposit expense
management efforts.
Noninterest Income
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Noninterest income rose 38 percent to $1.22 billion in the third quarter of
1997. This growth was attributable to higher levels of income from virtually
all areas, including deposit accounts, asset management and fiduciary service
fees, trading, investment banking and a gain on the sale of a credit card
portfolio.
Efficiency
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In the third quarter of 1997, the cash basis efficiency ratio improved
approximately 260 basis points to 52.0 percent, compared to 54.6 percent in the
third quarter 1996. Including the amortization of intangibles, the efficiency
ratio was 55.5 percent in the third quarter 1997 compared to 55.9 percent in
1996.
Credit Quality
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Total nonperforming assets were $1.27 billion on September 30, 1997, or .91
percent of net loans, leases and factored receivables and other real estate
owned, compared to .93 percent of net levels on September 30, 1996. The
allowance for credit losses totaled $2.78 billion at quarter-end, equaling 252
percent of nonperforming loans, compared to $2.32 billion, or 236 percent, one
year earlier. In the third quarter of 1997, provision for credit losses was
$190 million. Net charge-offs for the quarter were $199 million or .53 percent
of average net loans, leases and factored receivables, compared to .44 percent
in the third quarter 1996.
Capital Strength
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Total shareholders' equity was $20.32 billion on September 30, 1997. This
represented 8.38 percent of period-end assets, compared to 7.09 percent at
September 30, 1996. Book value per common share rose 26 percent to $28.73 at
the end of the third quarter 1997 from third quarter 1996.
NationsBank Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is a bank holding
company that provides financial products and services nationally and
internationally to individuals, businesses, corporations, institutional
investors and government agencies. NationsBank has primary retail and
commercial banking operations in 16 states and the District of Columbia. As of
September 30, 1997, NationsBank had total assets of $242 billion.