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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
May 24, 2006
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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
CALIFORNIA
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
001-9383 94-2156203
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
1108 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, California 94901
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(707) 863-6000
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
of the following provisions:
[] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4c))
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Exhibits
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99.1 Press release dated May 24, 2006
Item 8.01: Other Events
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On May 24, 2006 Westamerica Bancorporation provided an update on current
operating conditions. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit
99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
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Signatures
Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.
Westamerica Bancorporation
/s/ JOHN "ROBERT" THORSON
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John "Robert" Thorson
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
May 25, 2006
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
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Sequentially
Exhibit No. Description Number Page
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(99.1) Press release dated 5-7
May 24, 2006
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Exhibit 99.1:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2006
WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION OPERATING CONDITIONS
San Rafael, CA: Westamerica Bancorporation (NASDAQ: WABC), parent company of
Westamerica Bank, today provided an update on current operating conditions.
Rising short-term interest rates are slowing growth of lower-costing deposit
products, placing more reliance on higher-cost certificates of deposit and
wholesale funding. As a result, Westamerica expects its cost of funds to range
between 1.40 percent and 1.43 percent for the second quarter of 2006, compared
to 1.27 percent for the prior quarter. The increased cost of funds will not be
offset by rising earning asset yields, resulting in a reduced net interest
margin for the second quarter of 2006. While the Company's cost of funds is
rising in the current interest rate environment, Westamerica benefits
significantly from a long-standing business strategy focused on accumulating
non-interest bearing demand deposits and money market checking balances from
small business customers. These "low-cost" deposits are the least sensitive to
changes in interest rates relative to other types of deposit products, and
provide a natural hedge against rising interest rates. Westamerica expects
average non-interest bearing demand deposits and money market checking balances
to comprise approximately 53 percent of average total deposits for the second
quarter of 2006, essentially unchanged from the prior quarter.
Competitive loan pricing and loosened underwriting standards in the banking
industry are limiting the opportunity to originate commercial loans which will
remain profitable throughout the duration of the loans, in Management's opinion.
Current interest rate spreads between loan origination yields and the rates paid
on deposits and other funding sources are very narrow. Such interest rate
spreads could be pressured in the near-term as funding costs rise while many
loan yields are generally fixed in nature. As a result, Westamerica has not
taken an aggressive posture relative to current loan growth, and expects its
loan portfolio to average within a range of $2,580 million and $2,600 million
for the second quarter of 2006. Additionally, Management believes credit risk
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premiums are low given current economic conditions. The ultimate impact of
rising interest rates, and elevated oil and other commodity prices on the
economy in general, and on consumer spending and the real estate market in
particular, is uncertain at this time. Credit risk metrics relative to
Westamerica's loan portfolio have not changed materially from the first quarter
of 2006.
The interest rate spread is also very narrow in regard to bond investments. The
yields available on high-quality investment securities do not currently offer a
spread over incremental funding costs that meet the Company's profitability
objectives. As such, Westamerica has not been making additional investments in
bonds. Westamerica's total investment portfolio averaged $2,144 million for the
first quarter of 2005, and had declined to an average of $1,990 million for the
first quarter 2006. Westamerica expects this trend to continue, resulting in an
average investment portfolio balance of between $1,925 million and $1,935
million for the second quarter of 2006. Future interest rate levels may provide
more profitable investment opportunities.
Westamerica's acquisition of Redwood Empire Bancorp on March 1, 2005 provided
increased revenues from merchant credit card draft processing operations.
Following the acquisition, Westamerica's revenues from sources other than
interest spread income rose to approximately 20 percent of total revenues.
Westamerica expects non-interest revenue sources to remain between 20 and 21
percent of total revenues for the second quarter of 2006.
Regarding non-interest expense levels, Westamerica anticipates an efficiency
ratio (non-interest expenses divided by total revenues) of between 39.7 and 40.0
percent for the second quarter 2006, compared to 37.7 percent for the prior
quarter.
Westamerica Bancorporation through its wholly owned subsidiary, Westamerica
Bank, operates 87 branches and two trust offices throughout 21 Northern and
Central California counties.
Westamerica Bancorporation Web Address: www.westamerica.com
For additional information contact:
Westamerica Bancorporation
Robert A. Thorson - SVP & Chief Financial Officer
707-863-6840
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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
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The following appears in accordance with the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements about the Company,
including descriptions of plans or objectives of its management for future
operations, products or services, and forecasts of its revenues, earnings or
other measures of economic performance. Forward-looking statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current
facts. They often include the words "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, by their nature, are subject to risks and
uncertainties. A number of factors - many of which are beyond the Company's
control - could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ
significantly from those described in the forward-looking statements. The
Company's most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2006 and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, describe some
of these factors, including certain credit, market, operational, liquidity and
interest rate risks associated with the Company's business and operations.
Other factors described in these reports include changes in business and
economic conditions, competition, fiscal and monetary policies,
disintermediation, legislation including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, and mergers and acquisitions.
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 forward looking statements are
made.
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