MOCKSVILLE, N.C., Jan. 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of the Carolinas Corporation (OTCQB: BCAR) today reported financial results for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2013.

For the three-month period ended December 31, 2013, the Company reported a net loss available to common shareholders of $764,000 as compared to net income of $147,000 for the third quarter of 2013 and net income of $551,000 for the fourth quarter of 2012. Net loss per diluted common share was $0.20 for the fourth quarter of 2013 compared with net income per share of $0.04 for the third quarter of 2013 and net income per share of $0.14 for the fourth quarter of 2012.

For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company reported a net loss available to common shareholders of $1.4 million or $0.36 per common share, compared to a net loss of $5.5 million or $1.42 per common share for the year ended December 31, 2012.

The provision for loan losses recognized an expense of $39,000 in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to a recovery of $637,000 in the fourth quarter a year ago. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the provision for loan losses recognized a recovery of $1.2 million compared to an expense of $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Costs related to foreclosed real estate were $134,000 for the fourth quarter of 2013 as compared to $2,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012. For the year ended December 31, 2013, costs related to foreclosed real estate were $810,000 as compared to $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Through December 31, 2013, credit-related costs totaled a recovery of $1.3 million, or a 127.2% decrease over the previous year's costs of $5.0 million through December 31, 2012.

As of December 31, 2013, the Company's nonperforming assets were $6.0 million and amounted to 1.41% of total assets as compared to $8.7 million or 2.03% of total assets as of September 30, 2013 and compared to $12.7 million, or 2.91% of total assets as of December 31, 2012. The allowance for loan losses was 2.16% of total loans as of December 31, 2013. Net loan recoveries amounted to $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared to net loan chargeoffs of $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.

The Company's net interest margin was 2.75% in the fourth quarter of 2013, which is a decrease of 1 basis point from 2.76% in the fourth quarter of 2012. Net interest margin stayed consistent year over year at 2.72%. Noninterest expenses, excluding the costs related to foreclosed real estate, decreased 11.0% for the year 2013 versus 2012. Cost savings of $1.2 million for 2013 have been recognized in salary and benefits, occupancy and equipment, and consultant and legal fees.

Total assets at December 31, 2013 amounted to $426.7 million, a decrease of 2.3% when compared to $436.8 million as of December 31, 2012. Loans totaled $278.5 million at December 31, 2013, an increase of $8.1 million or 3.0% from a year earlier. Deposits decreased 1.8% over the prior year to $366.2 million. The Company's deposit mix has improved by reducing $15.1 million in non-core brokered deposits since December 31, 2012.

The Company's banking subsidiary had a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio and Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 3.08% and 4.21% respectively, while its total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio was 5.47% as of December 31, 2013.

President and CEO, Stephen R. Talbert, said, "We are proud of the progress we made in 2013 and look forward to continued improvement in 2014. Our staff continues to work hard to make Bank of the Carolinas better each day."

Bank of the Carolinas Corporation is the holding company for Bank of the Carolinas, a North Carolina chartered bank headquartered in Mocksville, NC with offices in Advance, Asheboro, Concord, Harrisburg, Landis, Lexington and Winston-Salem. The common stock of the Company is quoted under the symbol "BCAR" on the OTCQB marketplace operated by OTC Markets Group Inc.

For further information contact:

Stephen R. Talbert
President and Chief Executive Officer
Bank of the Carolinas Corporation
(336) 751-5755

DISCLOSURES ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments, expectations or beliefs about future events or results, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Copies of those reports are available directly through the SEC's Internet website at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expects," "plans," "intends," "anticipates," "feels," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "forecasts," "potential" or "continue," or similar terms or the negative of these terms, or other statements concerning opinions or judgments of our management about future events. Factors that could influence the accuracy of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to (a) pressures on our earnings, capital and liquidity resulting from current and future conditions in the credit and capital markets, (b) continued or unexpected increases in nonperforming loans and credit losses in our loan portfolio, (c) continued adverse conditions in the economy and in the real estate market in our banking markets (particularly those conditions that affect our loan portfolio, the abilities of our borrowers to repay their loans, and the values of collateral that secures our loans), (d) the financial success or changing strategies of our customers, (e) actions of government regulators, or change in laws, regulations or accounting standards, that adversely affect our business, (f) changes in the interest rate environment and the level of market interest rates that reduce our net interest margins and/or the values of loans we make and securities we hold, (g) changes in competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions or in our ability to compete effectively against other financial institutions in our banking markets, and (h) other developments or changes in our business that we do not expect. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements included in this press release are reasonable, they represent our management's judgments only as of the date they are made, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph. We have no obligation, and do not intend, to update these forward-looking statements.



    Bank of the Carolinas Corporation

    Consolidated Balance Sheets

    (In Thousands Except Share Data)


                                               December 31,
                                               ------------

                                                               2013          2012
                                                               ----          ----

    Assets:                                     (Unaudited)          *

    Cash and due from banks,
     noninterest-bearing                                    $12,778        $5,942

    Temporary investments                                    21,644        29,214

    Investment securities                                    90,315       106,931

    Loans                                                   278,510       270,374

     Less, allowance for loan
      losses                                                 (6,015)       (6,890)
                                                             ------        ------

         Total loans, net                                   272,495       263,484

    Premises and equipment, net                              11,274        11,843

    Other real estate owned                                   1,233         4,976

    Bank owned life insurance                                10,888        10,536

    Other assets                                              6,055         3,859

         Total Assets                                      $426,682      $436,785
                                                           ========      ========


    Liabilities:

    Noninterest bearing demand
     deposits                                               $35,243       $36,622

    Interest-checking deposits                               40,939        37,768

    Savings and money market
     deposits                                               109,419       111,459

    Time deposits                                           180,549       187,123
                                                            -------       -------

         Total deposits                                     366,150       372,972

    Securities sold under
     repurchase agreements                                   45,388        45,362

    Subordinated debt                                         7,855         7,855

    Other liabilities                                         2,509         2,138
                                                              -----         -----

         Total Liabilities                                  421,902       428,327
                                                            -------       -------

    Shareholders' Equity:

    Preferred stock,  no par value                           13,179        13,179

    Discount on preferred stock                                (100)         (419)

    Common stock, $5 par value per
     share                                                   19,479        19,479

    Additional paid-in capital                               12,991        12,991

    Retained losses                                         (37,479)      (37,355)

    Accumulated other
     comprehensive income (loss)                             (3,290)          583

         Total Shareholders' Equity                           4,780         8,458
                                                              -----         -----

         Total Liabilities and
          Shareholders' Equity                             $426,682      $436,785
                                                           ========      ========


    Preferred shares authorized                           3,000,000     3,000,000

    Preferred shares issued and
     outstanding                                             13,179        13,179

    Unaccrued preferred stock
     dividend                                                 1,894         1,406

    Common shares authorized                             15,000,000    15,000,000

    Common shares issued and
     outstanding                                          3,895,840     3,895,840


    Book value per common share                              $(2.64)       $(1.57)
                                                             ======        ======


    *Derived from audited financial statements

    Bank of the Carolinas Corporation

    Consolidated Statements of Income

    (In Thousands Except Share Data)

                                                          Three months ended             Year ended

                                                             December 31                December 31
                                                             -----------                -----------

                                                             2013          2012         2013          2012
                                                             ----          ----         ----          ----

    Interest income                                   (Unaudited)         *      (Unaudited)         *

       Interest and fees on loans                          $3,274        $3,398      $12,978       $14,303

       Interest on securities                                 550           626        2,156         2,669

     Other interest income                                     18            18           74            77

         Total interest income                              3,842         4,042       15,208        17,049
                                                            -----         -----       ------        ------

    Interest expense

       Interest on deposits                                   540           695        2,301         3,225

       Interest on borrowed funds                             570           570        2,259         2,268

          Total interest expense                            1,110         1,265        4,560         5,493
                                                            -----         -----        -----         -----

    Net interest income                                     2,732         2,777       10,648        11,556

       Provision for loan losses                               39          (637)      (2,039)        2,359
                                                              ---          ----       ------         -----

       Net interest income after provision for

         loan losses                                        2,693         3,414       12,687         9,197
                                                            -----         -----       ------         -----

    Noninterest income

       Customer service fees                                  292           309        1,149         1,176

       Increase in value of bank owned life insurance          89            89          352           774

      Gains on investment securities                            -            43            -         2,190

       Other income                                            19             8           28            28

         Total noninterest income                             400           449        1,529         4,168
                                                              ---           ---        -----         -----

    Noninterest expense

       Salaries and benefits                                1,633         1,611        6,437         6,877

       Occupancy and equipment                                450           452        1,787         1,903

       FDIC insurance assessments                             363           375        1,459         1,600

       Data processing expense                                245           252        1,054           989

       Valuation provisions and net operating costs

    associated with foreclosed real estate                    134             2          810         2,417

       Other                                                  785           787        3,082         4,158

         Total noninterest expenses                         3,610         3,479       14,629        17,944
                                                            -----         -----       ------        ------

    Income (Loss) before income taxes                        (517)          384         (413)       (4,579)

       Provision for income taxes                               -          (409)           -             -
                                                              ---          ----          ---           ---

    Net income (loss)                                       $(517)         $793        $(413)      $(4,579)

      Dividends and accretion on preferred stock             (247)         (242)        (978)         (956)
                                                             ----          ----         ----          ----

    Net loss available to common shareholders               $(764)         $551      $(1,391)      $(5,535)
                                                            =====          ====      =======       =======


    Loss per common share:

       Basic                                               $(0.20)        $0.14       $(0.36)       $(1.42)

       Diluted                                             $(0.20)        $0.14       $(0.36)       $(1.42)


    Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:

       Basic                                            3,895,840     3,895,840    3,895,840     3,895,840

       Diluted                                          3,895,840     3,895,840    3,895,840     3,895,840


    *Derived from audited financial statements

    Bank of the Carolinas Corporation

    Other Financial Data

    (Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)

                                                                            As of or for the

                                                                         year ended December 31
                                                                         ----------------------

                                                                                                       2013     2012  Change*
                                                                                                       ----     ----  ------

    Average balance sheet data

                                                             Average loans                                  $272,614          $287,764    (5.26)%

                                                             Average earning assets                          390,854           425,385     (8.12)

                                                             Average total assets                            427,789           464,541     (7.91)

                                                             Average common shareholders' equity              (5,817)           (2,691)   116.16

                                                             Average total shareholders' equity                7,362            10,488    (29.81)


    Period-end balance sheet data:

                                                             Total loans                                    $278,510          $270,374      3.01%

                                                             Allowance for loan losses                        (6,015)           (6,890)   (12.70)

                                                             Total assets                                    426,682           436,785     (2.31)

                                                             Total deposits                                  366,150           372,972     (1.83)

                                                             Total common shareholders' equity                (8,399)           (4,721)    77.91

                                                             Total shareholders' equity                        4,780             8,458    (43.49)


    Asset quality indicators

                                                             Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)               $(1,164)           $3,570  (132.60)%

                                                             Total nonperforming loans                         4,789             7,733    (38.07)

                                                             Total nonperforming assets                        6,022            12,709    (52.62)


    Asset quality ratios

                                                              Net-chargeoffs (recoveries) to average loans
                                                              **                                              (0.43)%             1.24%     (167) BP

                                                             Nonperforming loans to total loans                 1.72              2.86      (114)

                                                             Nonperforming assets to total assets               1.41              2.91      (150)

                                                             Nonperforming assets to loan-related assets        2.15              4.62      (246)

                                                             Allowance for loan losses to total loans           2.16              2.55       (39)


    Financial ratios

                                                             Return on average assets **                      (0.10)%           (0.99)%       89  BP

                                                              Return on average common shareholders' equity
                                                              **                                                 N/M               N/M       N/M

                                                             Net interest margin **                             2.72              2.72         -


    Per share amounts available to common shareholders

                                                             Basic loss per common share                      $(0.36)           $(1.42)    74.65%

                                                             Diluted loss per common share                     (0.36)            (1.42)    74.65

                                                             Book value per common share                       (2.64)            (1.57)    67.99



    *   BP denotes basis points. N/M denotes not meaningful.

    ** ratio annualized.

    Bank of the Carolinas Corporation

    Other Financial Data (continued)

    (Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)

                                                                                                            As of or for the

                                                                                                     three months ended December 31
                                                                                                     ------------------------------

                                                                                                                               2013  2012           Change*
                                                                                                                               ----  ----           ------

    Average balance sheet data

                                                             Average loans                                                 $279,326       $275,438              1.41%

                                                             Average earning assets                                         394,744        404,511             (2.41)

                                                             Average total assets                                           429,727        441,097             (2.58)

                                                             Average common shareholders' equity                             (7,129)        (4,670)            52.63

                                                             Average total shareholders' equity                               6,050          8,509            (28.89)


    Asset quality indicators

                                                             Net loan charge-offs                                              $239           $(77)         (411.02)%


    Asset quality ratios

                                                             Net-chargeoffs to average loans **                                0.34%        (0.11)%               45  BP


    Financial ratios

                                                             Return on average assets **                                     (0.48)%          0.72%             (120) BP

                                                              Return on average common shareholders'
                                                              equity **                                                         N/M            N/M               N/M

                                                             Net interest margin **                                            2.75           2.76                (1)


    Per share amounts available to common shareholders

                                                             Basic loss per common share                                     $(0.20)         $0.14            242.86%

                                                             Diluted loss per common share                                    (0.20)          0.14            242.86

                                                             Book value per common share                                      (2.64)         (1.57)            67.99



    *   BP denotes basis points. N/M denotes not meaningful.

    ** ratio annualized.

SOURCE Bank of the Carolinas Corporation