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Guaranty Bancorp Announces 2017 Annual and Fourth Quarter Financial Results

Increased 2017 net income by $13.9 million to $38.6 million, an increase of 56.2% compared to the prior year
Expanded net interest margin to 3.77% for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to 3.60% in 2016
Increased loans $217.2 million, or 8.7% during 2017, excluding $71.1 million in loans acquired in the acquisition of Castle Rock Bank Holding Company
Successfully completed the integration of Castle Rock Bank Holding Company during the fourth quarter 2017

DENVER, Jan. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guaranty Bancorp (Nasdaq:GBNK) (“we”, “our” or “the Company”), a community bank holding company based in Colorado, today announced fourth quarter 2017 net income of $8.6 million, or $0.30 per basic and diluted common share, compared to $7.4 million, or $0.27 per basic common share and $0.26 per diluted common share, in the fourth quarter 2016. Fourth quarter 2017 earnings per common share was impacted by $3.3 million in merger-related expenses and a $1.0 million deferred tax asset write-down due to the change in the statutory federal corporate tax rate under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Operating earnings per diluted common share was $0.41 for the fourth quarter 2017, compared to $0.34 per diluted common share in the fourth quarter 2016. For the year ended December 31, 2017, net income was $38.6 million or $1.38 per basic common share and $1.36 per diluted common share, compared to $24.7 million, or $1.06 per basic common share and $1.05 per diluted common share, in 2016.

“We are proud of our fourth quarter and year end results,” said Paul W. Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Bancorp. “We had record net income of $38.6 million for the year, an increase of 56.2% compared to the prior year. This record income was fueled by balance sheet growth, an expanded net interest margin and improved profitability. Our successful integration of Castle Rock Bank in the fourth quarter of 2017 has positioned us well in Douglas County, Colorado, one of the fastest growing counties in the country. Along with our growth, we continue to deliver improved profitability, demonstrated by the increase in our 2017 GAAP return on average assets to 1.12% compared to 0.93% in 2016 and an increase in our 2017 operating return on average assets to 1.25% compared to 1.09% in 2016.”

Taylor continued, “I am also pleased to announce that on January 16, 2018, we acquired the assets of Wagner Wealth Management and have integrated them into our wholly owned subsidiary, Private Capital Management LLC. As a result, Private Capital Management LLC now has over $1.1 billion in assets under management. This acquisition further strengthens our wealth management strategy and desire to offer comprehensive financial solutions to our customers.”

_______________________________________________________
¹This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operational performance and to enhance investors’ overall understanding of the Company’s core financial performance. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section later in this press release for a definition of operating earnings and other non-GAAP measures.

Key Financial Measures

The following tables highlight our key financial measures for 2017 and 2016. Significant year-over-year improvement reflects solid organic growth and improved efficiencies, further enhanced by the successful integration of Home State Bancorp (Home State) and Castle Rock Bank Holding Company (Castle Rock) following each acquisition in September 2016 and October 2017, respectively.

Income Statement


		Quarter Ended									Year Ended
		December 31,			September 30,			December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
		2017			2017			2016			2017			2016

		(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income	$	8,605		$	10,054		$	7,421		$	38,624		$	24,727
Operating earnings⁽¹⁾		11,885			11,307			9,445			43,256			29,013
Earnings per common share - diluted		0.30			0.36			0.26			1.36			1.05
Earnings per common share - diluted - operating⁽¹⁾		0.41			0.40			0.34			1.53			1.23
Return on average assets		0.95	%		1.17	%		0.88	%		1.12	%		0.93	%
Return on average assets - operating⁽¹⁾		1.31	%		1.31	%		1.13	%		1.25	%		1.09	%
Return on average equity		8.59	%		10.70	%		8.41	%		10.35	%		9.35	%
Return on average equity - operating⁽¹⁾		11.86	%		12.03	%		10.70	%		11.59	%		10.97	%
Net interest margin		3.77	%		3.91	%		3.58	%		3.77	%		3.60	%
Efficiency ratio - tax equivalent⁽²⁾		49.79	%		50.02	%		55.13	%		52.13	%		57.46	%
Average cost of interest-bearing liabilities (including noninterest-bearing deposits)		0.44	%		0.44	%		0.40	%		0.44	%		0.40	%
Average cost of deposits (including noninterest-bearing deposits)		0.28	%		0.27	%		0.22	%		0.26	%		0.23	%
________________________

⁽¹⁾See reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measurement in "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" later in this document.
⁽²⁾The efficiency ratio equals noninterest expense adjusted to exclude amortization of intangible assets, prepayment penalties on long-term debt, impairment of long-lived assets, litigation-related settlements and merger related expenses, divided by the sum of tax equivalent net interest income and tax equivalent noninterest income. To calculate tax equivalent net interest income and noninterest income, the interest earned on tax exempt loans and investment securities and the income earned on bank-owned life insurance have been adjusted to reflect the amount that would have been earned had these investments been subject to normal income taxation.

Balance Sheet


		December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,				December 31,
		2017				2017				2017				2017				2016
		(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Total investments	$	614,312			$	576,459			$	569,812			$	584,746			$	590,856
Total loans, net of deferred fees and costs		2,807,388				2,661,866				2,578,472				2,570,750				2,519,138
Allowance for loan losses		(23,250	)			(22,900	)			(23,125	)			(23,175	)			(23,250	)
Total assets		3,698,890				3,510,046				3,403,852				3,399,651				3,366,427
Total deposits		2,941,627				2,898,060				2,763,623				2,765,630				2,699,084
Book value per common share		13.86				13.21				12.94				12.64				12.44
Tangible book value per common share⁽¹⁾		11.13				10.75				10.46				10.13				9.91
Equity ratio - GAAP		10.95		%		10.69		%		10.80		%		10.56		%		10.47		%
Tangible common equity ratio⁽¹⁾		8.99		%		8.88		%		8.91		%		8.65		%		8.52		%
Total risk-based capital ratio		13.36		%		13.50		%		13.65		%		13.44		%		13.58		%
________________________
⁽¹⁾See reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measurement in "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" later in this document.

Net Interest Income and Margin

The following tables present, for the periods indicated, average assets, liabilities and stockholders’ equity, as well as interest income from average interest-earning assets, interest expense from average interest-bearing liabilities and the resultant yields and costs expressed in percentages. Nonaccrual loans are included in the calculation of average loans and leases, while interest thereon is excluded from the computation of yield earned.


	Quarter Ended						Quarter Ended						Quarter Ended
	December 31, 2017						September 30, 2017						December 31, 2016
		Average Balance		Interest Income or Expense	Average Yield or Cost			Average Balance		Interest Income or Expense	Average Yield or Cost			Average Balance		Interest Income or Expense	Average Yield or Cost

		(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS:
Interest-earning assets:

Gross loans, net of deferred fees and costs⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾	$	2,728,736	$	31,404	4.57	%	$	2,593,667	$	30,902	4.73	%	$	2,421,057	$	27,043	4.44	%
Investment securities⁽¹⁾
Taxable		356,457		2,372	2.64	%		339,671		2,221	2.59	%		352,248		2,171	2.45	%
Tax-exempt		222,312		1,220	2.18	%		210,363		1,233	2.33	%		204,555		1,224	2.38	%
Bank Stocks⁽⁴⁾		19,951		279	5.55	%		19,993		275	5.46	%		16,923		234	5.50	%
Other earning assets		16,206		65	1.59	%		18,060		57	1.25	%		98,920		128	0.51	%
Total interest-earning assets		3,343,662		35,340	4.19	%		3,181,754		34,688	4.33	%		3,093,703		30,800	3.96	%
Non-earning assets:
Cash and due from banks		23,879						35,426						36,494
Other assets		236,011						206,044						205,946
Total assets	$	3,603,552					$	3,423,224					$	3,336,143

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand and NOW	$	831,610	$	351	0.17	%	$	850,670	$	380	0.18	%	$	794,139	$	345	0.17	%
Money market		544,882		516	0.38	%		493,433		459	0.37	%		519,361		359	0.27	%
Savings		198,513		56	0.11	%		182,190		51	0.11	%		162,363		46	0.11	%
Time certificates of deposit		449,767		1,159	1.02	%		420,102		1,049	0.99	%		377,499		810	0.85	%
Total interest-bearing deposits		2,024,772		2,082	0.41	%		1,946,395		1,939	0.40	%		1,853,362		1,560	0.33	%
Borrowings:
Repurchase agreements		47,029		23	0.19	%		33,958		16	0.19	%		36,828		21	0.23	%
Federal funds purchased		1		-	1.95	%		1		-	1.46	%		2		-	0.84	%
Subordinated debentures		65,056		872	5.32	%		65,035		868	5.30	%		64,984		840	5.14	%
Borrowings		95,052		569	2.37	%		91,087		531	2.31	%		98,148		557	2.26	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		2,231,910		3,546	0.63	%		2,136,476		3,354	0.62	%		2,053,324		2,978	0.58	%
Noninterest bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits		958,934						898,262						909,523
Other liabilities		15,208						15,739						22,045
Total liabilities		3,206,052						3,050,477						2,984,892
Stockholders' Equity		397,500						372,747						351,251
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	3,603,552					$	3,423,224					$	3,336,143

Net interest income			$	31,794					$	31,334					$	27,822
Net interest margin					3.77	%					3.91	%					3.58	%
Net interest margin, fully tax
equivalent⁽²⁾					3.89	%					4.02	%					3.68	%
________________________
⁽¹⁾ Yields on loans and securities have not been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis.
⁽²⁾ The tax-equivalent basis was computed by calculating the deemed interest on municipal bonds and tax-exempt loans that would have been earned on a fully taxable basis to yield the same after-tax income, net of the interest expense disallowance under Internal Revenue Code Sections 265 and 291, using a combined federal and state marginal tax rate of 38.01%.
⁽³⁾ The loan average balances and rates include nonaccrual loans.
⁽⁴⁾ Includes Bankers’ Bank of the West stock, Federal Reserve Bank stock, Federal Home Loan Bank stock and Pacific Coast Bankers’ Bank stock.


	Year Ended						Year Ended
	December 31, 2017						December 31, 2016
		Average Balance		Interest Income or Expense	Average Yield or Cost			Average Balance		Interest Income or Expense	Average Yield or Cost

		(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS:
Interest-earning assets:
Gross loans, net of deferred fees and costs⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾	$	2,611,435	$	118,674	4.54	%	$	2,024,804	$	87,249	4.31	%
Investment securities⁽¹⁾
Taxable		352,989		9,264	2.62	%		300,568		7,625	2.54	%
Tax-exempt		209,224		4,933	2.36	%		130,242		3,683	2.83	%
Bank Stocks⁽⁴⁾		21,910		1,290	5.89	%		18,897		1,063	5.63	%
Other earning assets		10,782		141	1.31	%		35,821		233	0.65	%
Total interest-earning assets		3,206,340		134,302	4.19	%		2,510,332		99,853	3.98	%
Non-earning assets:
Cash and due from banks		32,364						28,896
Other assets		213,085						128,807
Total assets	$	3,451,789					$	2,668,035

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Deposits:
Interest-bearing demand and NOW	$	816,017	$	1,442	0.18	%	$	514,877	$	702	0.14	%
Money market		502,064		1,711	0.34	%		438,100		1,181	0.27	%
Savings		183,147		203	0.11	%		155,236		173	0.11	%
Time certificates of deposit		414,838		3,988	0.96	%		310,961		2,803	0.90	%
Total interest-bearing deposits		1,916,066		7,344	0.38	%		1,419,174		4,859	0.34	%
Borrowings:
Repurchase agreements		37,332		71	0.19	%		25,221		52	0.21	%
Federal funds purchased		1		-	1.58	%		2		-	0.94	%
Subordinated debentures		65,025		3,440	5.29	%		43,691		2,005	4.59	%
Borrowings		144,395		2,648	1.83	%		188,380		2,549	1.35	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		2,162,819		13,503	0.62	%		1,676,468		9,465	0.56	%
Noninterest bearing liabilities:
Demand deposits		900,657						711,678
Other liabilities		15,080						15,415
Total liabilities		3,078,556						2,403,561
Stockholders' Equity		373,233						264,474
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	3,451,789					$	2,668,035

Net interest income			$	120,799					$	90,388
Net interest margin					3.77	%					3.60	%
Net interest margin, fully tax equivalent⁽²⁾					3.88	%					3.69	%
________________________
⁽¹⁾ Yields on loans and securities have not been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis.
⁽²⁾ The tax-equivalent basis was computed by calculating the deemed interest on municipal bonds and tax-exempt loans that would have been earned on a fully taxable basis to yield the same after-tax income, net of the interest expense disallowance under Internal Revenue Code Sections 265 and 291, using a combined federal and state marginal tax rate of 38.01%.
⁽³⁾ The loan average balances and rates include nonaccrual loans.
⁽⁴⁾ Includes Bankers’ Bank of the West stock, Federal Reserve Bank stock, Federal Home Loan Bank stock and Pacific Coast Bankers’ Bank stock.

Net interest income increased $4.0 million in the fourth quarter 2017, compared to the same quarter in 2016, and increased $0.5 million, compared to the third quarter 2017. The increase in net interest income was driven by an increase in average earning assets and the accretion of the discount on loans acquired in the Home State and Castle Rock transactions. Third quarter 2017 net interest income included a $0.9 million interest recovery on an impaired loan paid off during the quarter.

Net interest margin and loan yield were favorably impacted by the accretion of the discount on loans acquired in the Home State transaction in the third quarter 2016 and loans acquired in the Castle Rock transaction in the fourth quarter 2017. Accretion on acquired loans was $1.4 million in the fourth quarter 2017, compared to $1.0 million in the third quarter 2017, and $1.0 million in the fourth quarter 2016. Fourth quarter 2017 interest income included $0.9 million in accreted discount on loans paid off during the quarter.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, net interest income increased $30.4 million compared to the prior year, primarily due to a $696.0 million, or 27.7% increase in average earning assets, partially offset by a $486.4 million, or 29.0% increase in average interest bearing liabilities. Accretion of discount on acquired loans was $4.4 million during 2017, compared to $1.3 million in 2016. The Company acquired $445.5 million in loans and $769.7 million in deposits as a result of the September 2016 Home State transaction. The Company acquired $71.1 million in loans and $128.4 million in deposits as a result of the October 2017 Castle Rock transaction.

Noninterest Income

The following table presents noninterest income as of the dates indicated:



		Quarter Ended							Year Ended
		December 31, 2017		September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016		December 31, 2017			December 31, 2016

		(In thousands)
Noninterest income:
Deposit service and other fees	$	3,546	$	3,580		$	3,405	$	13,951		$	10,447
Investment management and trust		1,523		1,478			1,563		6,005			5,452
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance		675		674			607		2,559			2,005
Gain (loss) on sale of securities		80		(86	)		49		(6	)		(73	)
Gain on sale of SBA loans		285		143			401		1,256			873
Other		461		341			207		1,679			553
Total noninterest income	$	6,570	$	6,130		$	6,232	$	25,444		$	19,257

Beginning late in the third quarter 2016, noninterest income was favorably impacted by the Home State transaction, affecting deposit service and other fees, debit card interchange fees, and investment management and trust income.

Noninterest income increased $0.3 million in the fourth quarter 2017, compared to the same quarter in 2016 and increased $0.4 million, compared to the third quarter 2017. The $0.3 million increase in noninterest income in the fourth quarter 2017, compared to the same quarter in 2016, was primarily due to an increase in interest rate swap fees. The $0.4 million increase in noninterest income in the fourth quarter 2017, compared to the third quarter 2017, was primarily due to a $0.2 million increase in interest rate swap fees and a $0.2 million increase in gain on sales of securities.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, noninterest income increased $6.2 million, or 32.1%, compared to the same period in 2016. In addition to the impact of the Home State transaction, gain on sales of SBA loans increased $0.4 million, bank-owned life insurance income increased $0.6 million, and interest rate swap fees increased $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to the prior year. The Company also recorded a $0.3 million gain on sale of its $2.0 million credit card loan portfolio, included in other noninterest income in the table above, in the first quarter 2017.

On January 16, 2018, the Company subsidiary, Private Capital Management LLC, closed on its acquisition of the assets of Wagner Wealth Management, LLC, increasing its assets under management to over $1.1 billion on a pro-forma basis at December 31, 2017. Including the assets under management in our trust division of the Bank, the Company’s total assets under management was over $1.4 billion on a pro-forma basis at December 31, 2017.

Noninterest Expense

The following table presents noninterest expense as of the dates indicated:


		Quarter Ended							Year Ended
		December 31, 2017		September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016		December 31, 2017		December 31, 2016

		(In thousands)
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits	$	11,853	$	11,736		$	12,654	$	46,762	$	40,946
Occupancy expense		1,724		1,714			1,834		6,664		5,887
Furniture and equipment		1,004		974			789		3,898		3,070
Amortization of intangible assets		776		672			689		2,745		1,557
Other real estate owned, net		-		(20	)		4		174		31
Insurance and assessments		671		642			496		2,666		2,314
Professional fees		974		929			914		4,129		3,639
Impairment of long-lived assets		170		-			185		394		185
Other general and administrative		6,784		5,160			5,672		19,363		15,158
Total noninterest expense	$	23,956	$	21,807		$	23,237	$	86,795	$	72,787

Noninterest expense increased $0.7 million for the fourth quarter 2017, compared to the same quarter in 2016, mostly due to a $0.3 million increase in merger-related expenses, described below, and a $0.5 million increase in employee incentive and bonus expense. Noninterest expense increased $2.1 million for the fourth quarter 2017, compared to the third quarter 2017, primarily due to the $3.0 million increase in merger-related expenses described below, partially offset by a $1.6 million settlement related to a commercial real estate matter incurred in the third quarter 2017, included in other general and administrative expense in the table above.

During the fourth quarter 2017, merger-related expenses related to the Castle Rock acquisition were $3.3 million and were included in other general and administrative expense. During the fourth quarter 2016, merger-related expenses for the Home State acquisition were $3.0 million, consisting of $0.5 million in salaries and employee benefits expense and $2.5 million in other general and administrative expense.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, noninterest expense increased $14.0 million, compared to the same period in 2016, primarily due to the overall growth of the Company, including the acquisition of Home State in September 2016 and the acquisition of Castle Rock in October 2017. Although noninterest expense increased in 2017 compared to 2016, noninterest expense as a percentage of average assets declined from 2.73% in 2016 to 2.51% in 2017.

The largest drivers of the $14.0 million increase in noninterest expense for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to 2016, were a $5.8 million increase in salaries and employee benefits and a $4.2 million increase in other general and administrative expense. The increase in employee salary and benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to 2016, was primarily due to a $3.1 million increase in base salaries and a $1.6 million increase in employee benefit costs. Average full-time equivalent employees increased from 421 for the year ended December 31, 2016 to 496 for the year ended December 31, 2017, mostly due to the acquisition of Home State. The increase in other general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016, was primarily due to a $1.6 million settlement of a litigation claim mentioned above, a $1.4 million increase in data processing expense, a $0.7 million increase in debit card interchange expense and a $0.4 million increase in communication expense.

Merger-related expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $3.6 million, primarily related to the Castle Rock acquisition and included in other general and administrative expense. Merger-related expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $6.3 million, related to the Home State acquisition and consisted of $1.9 million in salaries and employee benefits consisting of severance and retention payments, and $4.4 million in other general and administrative expense.

Tax Expense

In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was signed into law. This new tax law reduced the statutory federal corporate tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0%. The impact on the Company’s net deferred tax asset resulted in a tax write-down of $1.0 million and is expected to lower the Company’s effective tax rate to approximately 22% to 23% in 2018.

Balance Sheet


		December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,			December 31,
		2017			2017			2017			2017			2016
		(Dollars in thousands)
Total assets	$	3,698,890		$	3,510,046		$	3,403,852		$	3,399,651		$	3,366,427
Average assets, quarter-to-date		3,603,552			3,423,224			3,404,109			3,374,153			3,336,143
Total loans, net of deferred fees and costs		2,807,388			2,661,866			2,578,472			2,570,750			2,519,138
Total deposits		2,941,627			2,898,060			2,763,623			2,765,630			2,699,084

Equity ratio - GAAP		10.95	%		10.69	%		10.80	%		10.56	%		10.47	%
Tangible common equity ratio⁽¹⁾		8.99	%		8.88	%		8.91	%		8.65	%		8.52	%
________________________
⁽¹⁾See reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measurement in "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" later in this document.

The following table sets forth the amount of loans outstanding at the dates indicated:


		December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,			December 31,
		2017			2017			2017			2017			2016
		(In thousands)
Loans held for sale	$	1,725		$	314		$	887		$	951		$	4,129
Commercial and residential real estate		1,977,431			1,892,828			1,799,114			1,800,194			1,768,424
Construction		99,965			81,826			99,632			103,682			88,451
Commercial		523,355			499,936			490,771			482,318			461,666
Consumer		143,066			124,625			122,994			120,231			125,264
Other		61,982			62,277			64,920			63,369			71,265
Total gross loans		2,807,524			2,661,806			2,578,318			2,570,745			2,519,199
Deferred (fees) and costs		(136	)		60			154			5			(61	)
Loans, net		2,807,388			2,661,866			2,578,472			2,570,750			2,519,138
Less allowance for loan losses		(23,250	)		(22,900	)		(23,125	)		(23,175	)		(23,250	)
Net loans	$	2,784,138		$	2,638,966		$	2,555,347		$	2,547,575		$	2,495,888

The following table presents the quarterly changes in the Company’s loan balances at the dates indicated:


		December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,			December 31,
		2017			2017			2017			2017			2016
		(In thousands)
Beginning balance	$	2,661,806		$	2,578,318		$	2,570,745		$	2,519,199		$	2,412,650
New credit extended		186,969			192,774			132,420			139,185			232,499
Acquisition of Castle Rock Bank		71,052			-			-			-			-
Net existing credit advanced		77,307			59,275			73,298			111,821			142,448
Net pay-downs and maturities		(191,624	)		(165,520	)		(196,511	)		(195,678	)		(272,326	)
Other		2,014			(3,041	)		(1,634	)		(3,782	)		3,928
Gross loans		2,807,524			2,661,806			2,578,318			2,570,745			2,519,199
Deferred (fees) and costs		(136	)		60			154			5			(61	)
Loans, net	$	2,807,388		$	2,661,866		$	2,578,472		$	2,570,750		$	2,519,138

Net change - loans outstanding	$	145,522		$	83,394		$	7,722		$	51,612		$	106,139

During the fourth quarter 2017, loans net of deferred costs and fees increased $145.5 million, comprised of $264.3 million in new loans and advances on existing loans and $71.1 million in loans acquired in the Castle Rock transaction, partially offset by $191.6 million in net pay-downs and maturities during the quarter. In addition to contractual loan principal payments and maturities, the fourth quarter 2017 included $44.5 million in early payoffs related to our borrowers selling their assets, $20.6 million in loan payoffs related to our strategic decision to not match certain financing terms offered by competitors, and $9.7 million in loan pay-downs related to fluctuations in loan balances to existing customers.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, loans net of deferred costs and fees increased by $288.3 million, or 11.4%, primarily due to a 13.1% increase in commercial loans and an 11.8% increase in commercial and residential real estate loans.

The following table sets forth the amounts of deposits outstanding at the dates indicated:


		December 31,		September 30,		June 30,		March 31,		December 31,
		2017		2017		2017		2017		2016
		(In thousands)
Noninterest-bearing demand	$	939,550	$	924,361	$	876,043	$	868,189	$	916,632
Interest-bearing demand and NOW		813,882		866,309		811,639		821,518		767,523
Money market		527,621		502,400		475,656		489,921		484,664
Savings		201,687		183,366		183,200		178,157		164,478
Time		458,887		421,624		417,085		407,845		365,787
Total deposits	$	2,941,627	$	2,898,060	$	2,763,623	$	2,765,630	$	2,699,084

At December 31, 2017, deposits increased $242.5 million compared to December 31, 2016. The year-over-year increase in deposits was attributable to organic growth and $128.4 million in deposits acquired in the October 27, 2017 Castle Rock transaction. During the fourth quarter 2017, average deposits increased $139.0 million compared to the third quarter 2017. During the fourth quarter 2017, the balances of several of our large commercial deposit customers decreased due to normal cash flow fluctuations. At December 31, 2017, noninterest-bearing deposits as a percentage of total deposits were 31.9%, compared to 31.9% at September 30, 2017 and 34.0% at December 31, 2016.

Regulatory Capital Ratios

The following table provides the capital ratios of the Company and the Bank as of the dates presented, along with the applicable regulatory capital requirements:


	Ratio at December 31, 2017		Ratio at December 31, 2016		Minimum Requirement for “Adequately Capitalized” Institution plus fully phased in Capital Conservation Buffer		Minimum Requirement for "Well-Capitalized" Institution
Common Equity Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio
Consolidated	10.57	%	10.46	%	7.00	%	N/A
Guaranty Bank and Trust Company	12.29	%	12.43	%	7.00	%	6.50	%

Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio
Consolidated	11.36	%	11.34	%	8.50	%	N/A
Guaranty Bank and Trust Company	12.29	%	12.43	%	8.50	%	8.00	%

Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio
Consolidated	13.36	%	13.58	%	10.50	%	N/A
Guaranty Bank and Trust Company	13.03	%	13.26	%	10.50	%	10.00	%

Leverage Ratio
Consolidated	10.21	%	9.81	%	4.00	%	N/A
Guaranty Bank and Trust Company	11.05	%	10.76	%	4.00	%	5.00	%

At December 31, 2017, all of our regulatory capital ratios remained well above minimum requirements for a “well-capitalized” institution. Our consolidated total risk-based capital ratio decreased compared to December 31, 2016, primarily due to an increase in risk-based assets during the year ended December 31, 2017. At December 31, 2017, most of our bank-level capital ratios had declined compared to December 31, 2016, primarily due to the $18.7 million dividend paid to the Company in the second quarter 2017 to fund stockholder dividends and debt servicing during 2017.

Asset Quality

The following table presents select asset quality data, including quarterly charged-off loans, recoveries and provision for loan losses as of the dates indicated:



		December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,				December 31,
		2017				2017				2017				2017				2016
		(Dollars in thousands)
Originated nonaccrual loans	$	3,932			$	3,935			$	3,332			$	3,387			$	3,345
Purchased credit impaired loans		1,622				809				1,290				1,715				1,902
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more ⁽¹⁾		-				-				-				-				-

Total nonperforming loans (NPLs)	$	5,554			$	4,744			$	4,622			$	5,102			$	5,247
Other real estate owned and foreclosed assets		761				-				113				257				569

Total nonperforming assets (NPAs)	$	6,315			$	4,744			$	4,735			$	5,359			$	5,816

Total classified assets	$	28,330			$	28,186			$	29,188			$	30,201			$	33,443

Accruing loans past due 30-89 days⁽¹⁾	$	2,869			$	9,129			$	957			$	3,858			$	1,337

Charged-off loans	$	(117	)		$	(970	)		$	(338	)		$	(125	)		$	(290	)
Recoveries		183				248				82				45				150
Net (charge-offs) recoveries	$	66			$	(722	)		$	(256	)		$	(80	)		$	(140	)

Provision for loan losses	$	284			$	497			$	206			$	5			$	90

Allowance for loan losses	$	23,250			$	22,900			$	23,125			$	23,175			$	23,250

Unaccreted loan discount⁽²⁾	$	13,049			$	11,654			$	12,665			$	13,896			$	14,682

Selected ratios:
NPLs to loans, net of deferred fees and costs⁽³⁾		0.20		%		0.18		%		0.18		%		0.20		%		0.21		%
NPAs to total assets		0.17		%		0.14		%		0.14		%		0.16		%		0.17		%
Allowance for loan losses to NPLs		418.62		%		482.72		%		500.32		%		454.23		%		443.11		%
Allowance for loan losses to loans, net of deferred fees and costs⁽³⁾		0.83		%		0.86		%		0.90		%		0.90		%		0.92		%
Loans 30-89 days past due to loans, net of deferred fees and costs⁽³⁾		0.10		%		0.34		%		0.04		%		0.15		%		0.05		%
Texas ratio⁽⁴⁾		1.53		%		1.22		%		1.26		%		1.39		%		1.55		%
Classified asset ratio⁽⁵⁾		7.43		%		7.57		%		8.08		%		8.24		%		9.79		%
________________________
⁽¹⁾Past due loans include both loans that are past due with respect to payments and loans that are past due because the loan has matured, and is in the process of renewal, but continues to be current with respect to payments.
⁽²⁾Related to loans acquired in the Home State and Castle Rock transactions.
⁽³⁾Loans, net of deferred fees and costs, exclude loans held for sale.
⁽⁴⁾Texas ratio defined as total NPAs divided by subsidiary bank only Tier 1 Capital plus allowance for loan losses.
⁽⁵⁾Classified asset ratio is defined as total classified assets to subsidiary bank only Tier 1 Capital plus allowance for loan losses.

The following tables summarize past due loans held for investment by class as of the dates indicated:


December 31, 2017		30-89 Days Past Due		90 Days + Past Due and Still Accruing		Nonaccrual		Total Nonaccrual and Past Due		Total Loans, Held for Investment
		(In thousands)
Commercial and residential real estate	$	410	$	-	$	1,750	$	2,160	$	1,977,335
Construction		-		-		-		-		99,960
Commercial		1,663		-		2,079		3,742		523,330
Consumer		469		-		444		913		143,059
Other		327		-		1,281		1,608		61,979
Total	$	2,869	$	-	$	5,554	$	8,423	$	2,805,663



December 31, 2016		30-89 Days Past Due		90 Days + Past Due and Still Accruing		Nonaccrual		Total Nonaccrual and Past Due		Total Loans, Held for Investment
		(In thousands)
Commercial and residential real estate	$	1,258	$	-	$	2,835	$	4,093	$	1,768,381
Construction		-		-		-		-		88,449
Commercial		37		-		1,094		1,131		432,072
Consumer		42		-		201		243		125,261
Other		-		-		1,117		1,117		100,846
Total	$	1,337	$	-	$	5,247	$	6,584	$	2,515,009

At December 31, 2017, nonperforming assets were $6.3 million, an increase of $1.6 million compared to September 30, 2017 and an increase of $0.5 million compared to December 31, 2016. As a result of the Castle Rock transaction, the Company acquired $1.6 million of nonperforming loans and $0.8 million of other real estate owned. At December 31, 2017, performing troubled debt restructurings were $18.1 million, compared to $11.0 million at September 30, 2017 and $25.1 million at December 31, 2016. The increase in performing troubled debt restructurings in the fourth quarter 2017, compared to the third quarter 2017, was due to the modification of a single commercial loan. The year-over-year decrease in performing troubled debt restructurings was primarily due to the payoff of a $9.4 million out-of-state loan syndication during the third quarter 2017, partially offset by the modification of a single commercial loan during the fourth quarter 2017. The increase in loans 30-89 days past due during the fourth quarter 2017, compared to the fourth quarter 2016, was mostly due to a single commercial loan relationship.

Net recoveries were $0.1 million during the fourth quarter 2017, compared to net charge-offs of $0.7 million during the third quarter 2017 and net charge-offs of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter 2016. During the fourth quarter 2017, the Bank recorded a $0.3 million provision for loan losses, compared to a $0.5 million provision in the third quarter 2017 and a $0.1 million provision in the fourth quarter 2016. The Bank considered recoveries, historical charge-offs, the level of nonperforming loans, loan growth and other factors when determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses and the resulting amount of loan loss provision to be recognized during the quarter.

Shares Outstanding

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had 29,222,264 shares of voting common stock outstanding, of which 434,149 shares were in the form of unvested stock awards.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company discloses certain non-GAAP financial measures related to tangible assets, including tangible book value and tangible common equity, and operating earnings adjusted for merger-related expenses, OREO expenses, debt termination expense, impairments of long-lived assets, litigation-related settlements, securities gains and losses, net deferred tax asset write-downs and gains or losses on the sale or disposal of other assets. The Company also discloses the following GAAP profitability metrics alongside the operating earnings equivalent: return on average assets, return on average equity and earnings per share (diluted).

The Company discloses these non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operational performance and to enhance investors’ overall understanding of the Company’s core financial performance. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures allow for additional transparency and are used by some investors, analysts and other users of the Company’s financial information as performance measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures presented by the Company may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

The following non-GAAP schedule reconciles the non-GAAP operating earnings to GAAP net income as of the dates indicated:


	Quarter Ended													Year Ended
		December 31,				September 30,				December 31,				December 31,				December 31,
		2017				2017				2016				2017				2016

		(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income	$	8,605			$	10,054			$	7,421			$	38,624			$	24,727
Expenses adjusted for:
Expenses (gains) related to other real estate owned, net		-				(20	)			4				174				31
Merger-related expenses		3,319				268				3,032				3,587				6,259
Impairment of long-lived assets		170				-				185				394				185
Litigation-related settlements		75				1,600				-				1,675				-
Income adjusted for:
(Gain) loss on sale of securities		(80	)			86				(49	)			6				73
(Gain) on sale of other assets		-				(2	)			-				(259	)			(14	)
Pre-tax earnings adjustment		3,484				1,932				3,172				5,577				6,534
Tax effect of adjustments⁽¹⁾		(1,180	)			(679	)			(1,148	)			(1,921	)			(2,248	)
Net deferred tax assets write-down ⁽²⁾		976				-				-				976				-
Tax effected operating earnings adjustment		3,280				1,253				2,024				4,632		-		4,286
Operating earnings	$	11,885			$	11,307			$	9,445			$	43,256			$	29,013

Average assets	$	3,603,552			$	3,423,224			$	3,336,143			$	3,451,789			$	2,668,035

Average equity	$	397,500			$	372,747			$	351,251			$	373,233			$	264,474

Fully diluted average common shares outstanding:		28,791,748				28,120,111				28,043,944				28,343,687				23,559,947

Earnings per common share–diluted:	$	0.30			$	0.36			$	0.26			$	1.36			$	1.05
Earnings per common share–diluted - operating:	$	0.41			$	0.40			$	0.34			$	1.53			$	1.23

ROAA (GAAP)		0.95		%		1.17		%		0.88		%		1.12		%		0.93		%
ROAA - operating		1.31		%		1.31		%		1.13		%		1.25		%		1.09		%

ROAE (GAAP)		8.59		%		10.70		%		8.41		%		10.35		%		9.35		%
ROAE - operating		11.86		%		12.03		%		10.70		%		11.59		%		10.97		%
________________
⁽¹⁾Tax effect calculated using a combined federal and state marginal tax rate of 38.01%, adjusted for tax effect of nondeductible merger-related expenses.
⁽²⁾ The net deferred tax assets write-down relates to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

The following non-GAAP schedules reconcile the book value per share to the tangible book value per share and the GAAP equity ratio to the tangible equity ratio as of the dates indicated:


Tangible Book Value per Common Share
		December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,			December 31,
		2017			2017			2017			2017			2016
		(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Total stockholders' equity	$	404,899		$	375,152		$	367,529		$	358,838		$	352,378
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets		(79,547	)		(69,752	)		(70,424	)		(71,072	)		(71,721	)
Tangible common equity	$	325,352		$	305,400		$	297,105		$	287,766		$	280,657

Number of common shares outstanding		29,222,264			28,401,870			28,406,758			28,393,278			28,334,004

Book value per common share	$	13.86		$	13.21		$	12.94		$	12.64		$	12.44
Tangible book value per common share	$	11.13		$	10.75		$	10.46		$	10.13		$	9.91


Tangible Common Equity Ratio
		December 31,				September 30,				June 30,				March 31,				December 31,
		2017				2017				2017				2017				2016
		(Dollars in thousands)
Total stockholders' equity	$	404,899			$	375,152			$	367,529			$	358,838			$	352,378
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets		(79,547	)			(69,752	)			(70,424	)			(71,072	)			(71,721	)
Tangible common equity	$	325,352			$	305,400			$	297,105			$	287,766			$	280,657

Total assets	$	3,698,890			$	3,510,046			$	3,403,852			$	3,399,651			$	3,366,427
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets		(79,547	)			(69,752	)			(70,424	)			(71,072	)			(71,721	)
Tangible assets	$	3,619,343			$	3,440,294			$	3,333,428			$	3,328,579			$	3,294,706

Equity ratio - GAAP (total stockholders' equity / total assets)		10.95		%		10.69		%		10.80		%		10.56		%		10.47		%
Tangible common equity ratio (tangible common equity / tangible assets)		8.99		%		8.88		%		8.91		%		8.65		%		8.52		%

About Guaranty Bancorp

Guaranty Bancorp is a $3.7 billion financial services company that operates as the bank holding company for Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, a premier Colorado community bank. The Bank provides comprehensive financial solutions to consumers and small to medium-sized businesses that value local and personalized service. In addition to loans and depository services, the Bank also offers wealth management solutions, including trust and investment management services. More information about Guaranty Bancorp can be found at www.gbnk.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: failure to maintain adequate levels of capital and liquidity to support the Company’s operations; general economic and business conditions in those areas in which the Company operates, including the impact of global and national economic conditions on our local economy; demographic changes; competition; fluctuations in interest rates; continued ability to attract and employ qualified personnel; ability to receive regulatory approval for the bank subsidiary to declare dividends to the Company; adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, changes in credit quality and the effect of credit quality on the provision for credit losses and allowance for loan losses; changes in governmental legislation or regulation, including, but not limited to, any increase in FDIC insurance premiums and the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; changes in accounting policies and practices; changes in business strategy or development plans; failure or inability to complete mergers or other corporate transactions; failure or inability to realize fully the expected benefits of mergers or other corporate transactions; difficulty retaining key employees; the parties being unable to successfully implement integration strategies or to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies within the expected time-frames or at all; changes in the securities markets; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; the availability of capital from private or government sources; competition for loans and deposits and failure to attract or retain loans and deposits; failure to recognize expected cost savings; changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers and the ability of our borrowers to perform under the terms of their loans and terms of other credit agreements; changes in oil and natural gas prices; political instability, acts of war or terrorism and natural disasters; and additional “Risk Factors” referenced in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as supplemented from time to time. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to the Company, investors and others are cautioned to consider these and other risks and uncertainties. The Company can give no assurance that any goal or plan or expectation set forth in any forward-looking statement can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date made. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, except as may otherwise be required by law, the Company does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.


GUARANTY BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

		December 31,			September 30,			December 31,
		2017			2017			2016
		(In thousands)
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	51,553		$	64,388		$	50,111

Time deposits with banks		254			254			254

Securities available for sale, at fair value		329,977			298,483			324,228
Securities held to maturity		259,916			258,541			243,979
Bank stocks, at cost		24,419			19,435			22,649
Total investments		614,312			576,459			590,856

Loans held for sale		1,725			314			4,129

Loans, held for investment, net of deferred fees and costs		2,805,663			2,661,552			2,515,009
Less allowance for loan losses		(23,250	)		(22,900	)		(23,250	)
Net loans, held for investment		2,782,413			2,638,652			2,491,759

Premises and equipment, net		65,874			63,280			67,390
Other real estate owned and foreclosed assets		761			-			569
Goodwill		65,106			56,404			56,404
Other intangible assets, net		14,441			13,348			15,317
Bank owned life insurance		78,573			74,625			65,538
Other assets		23,878			22,322			24,100
Total assets	$	3,698,890		$	3,510,046		$	3,366,427

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing demand	$	939,550		$	924,361		$	916,632
Interest-bearing demand and NOW		813,882			866,309			767,523
Money market		527,621			502,400			484,664
Savings		201,687			183,366			164,478
Time		458,887			421,624			365,787
Total deposits		2,941,627			2,898,060			2,699,084

Securities sold under agreement to repurchase		44,746			37,943			36,948
Federal Home Loan Bank line of credit borrowing		157,444			51,182			124,691
Federal Home Loan Bank term notes		70,000			70,000			72,477
Subordinated debentures, net		65,065			65,044			64,981
Interest payable and other liabilities		15,109			12,665			15,868
Total liabilities		3,293,991			3,134,894			3,014,049

Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock and additional paid-in capital - common stock		859,541			834,370			832,098
Accumulated deficit		(343,383	)		(348,392	)		(367,944	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(4,694	)		(4,791	)		(6,726	)
Treasury stock		(106,565	)		(106,035	)		(105,050	)
Total stockholders’ equity		404,899			375,152			352,378
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,698,890		$	3,510,046		$	3,366,427


GUARANTY BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations

		Quarter Ended December 31,				Year Ended December 31,
		2017		2016		2017			2016

		(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Interest income:
Loans, including costs and fees	$	31,404	$	27,043	$	118,674		$	87,249
Investment securities:
Taxable		2,372		2,171		9,264			7,625
Tax-exempt		1,220		1,224		4,933			3,683
Dividends		279		234		1,290			1,063
Federal funds sold and other		65		128		141			233
Total interest income		35,340		30,800		134,302			99,853
Interest expense:
Deposits		2,082		1,560		7,344			4,859
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase		23		21		71			52
Borrowings		569		557		2,648			2,549
Subordinated debentures		872		840		3,440			2,005
Total interest expense		3,546		2,978		13,503			9,465
Net interest income		31,794		27,822		120,799			90,388
Provision for loan losses		284		90		992			143
Net interest income, after provision for loan losses		31,510		27,732		119,807			90,245
Noninterest income:
Deposit service and other fees		3,546		3,405		13,951			10,447
Investment management and trust		1,523		1,563		6,005			5,452
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance		675		607		2,559			2,005
Gain (loss) on sale of securities		80		49		(6	)		(73	)
Gain on sale of SBA loans		285		401		1,256			873
Other		461		207		1,679			553
Total noninterest income		6,570		6,232		25,444			19,257
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits		11,853		12,654		46,762			40,946
Occupancy expense		1,724		1,834		6,664			5,887
Furniture and equipment		1,004		789		3,898			3,070
Amortization of intangible assets		776		689		2,745			1,557
Other real estate owned, net		-		4		174			31
Insurance and assessments		671		496		2,666			2,314
Professional fees		974		914		4,129			3,639
Impairment of long-lived assets		170		185		394			185
Other general and administrative		6,784		5,672		19,363			15,158
Total noninterest expense		23,956		23,237		86,795			72,787
Income before income taxes		14,124		10,727		58,456			36,715
Income tax expense		5,519		3,306		19,832			11,988
Net income	$	8,605	$	7,421	$	38,624		$	24,727

Earnings per common share–basic:	$	0.30	$	0.27	$	1.38		$	1.06
Earnings per common share–diluted:		0.30		0.26		1.36			1.05
Dividend declared per common share:	$	0.13	$	0.12	$	0.50		$	0.46

Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic:		28,519,382		27,784,996		28,056,588			23,267,108
Weighted average common shares outstanding-diluted:		28,791,748		28,043,944		28,343,687			23,559,947


Contacts:	Paul W. Taylor	Christopher G. Treece
	President and Chief Executive Officer	E.V.P., Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
	Guaranty Bancorp	Guaranty Bancorp
	1331 Seventeenth Street, Suite 200	1331 Seventeenth Street, Suite 200
	Denver, CO 80202	Denver, CO 80202
	(303) 293-5563	(303) 675-1194

Distribution channels: Banking, Finance & Investment Industry

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