AMERICAN BANCSHARES INC \FL\
8-K, 1999-03-16
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>   1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 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):    March 12, 1999
                                                      ----------------------



                           AMERICAN BANCSHARES, INC.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)




         Florida                       0-27474                 65-0624640
- ----------------------------   ------------------------   ----------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
        Incorporation)                                    Identification Number)




4502 Cortez Road West, Bradenton, Florida                      34210-2801
- -----------------------------------------                      ----------
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)




Registrant's telephone number, including area code:      (941) 795-3050
                                                   ----------------------------




                                  Page 1 of 3

<PAGE>   2


ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         On March 12, 1999, American Bancshares, Inc., a Florida corporation
(the "Company"), issued a press release announcing that it will increase by
$400,000 the allowance for loan losses of its wholly owned banking subsidiary,
American Bank (the "Bank"). This additional allowance for loan losses (i)
reflects the twenty-two percent (22%) compound annual growth of the Bank's loan
portfolio over the past five years and recent loan loss history, and (ii) has
been charged against the Company's 1998 fiscal year end financial results. A
copy of the press release is attached hereto as exhibit 99.1 to this Current
Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(a)      Not Applicable

(b)      Not Applicable

(c)      Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

EXHIBIT NO.                DESCRIPTION
- -----------                -----------

<S>               <C>
   99.1           Press Release, issued March 12, 1999, regarding the increase 
                  in allowance for loan losses of American Bank.
</TABLE>





       [Rest of Page Intentionally Blank. Signatures on following Page.]




                                  Page 2 of 3

<PAGE>   3


                                   SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of 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.

                                        AMERICAN BANCSHARES, INC.

Date:  March 16, 1999                   By:   /s/ Brian M. Watterson
                                           ------------------------------------
                                                  Brian M. Watterson
                                                  Executive Vice President and 
                                                  Chief Operating Officer




                                  Page 3 of 3

                                
<PAGE>   4
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

EXHIBIT NO.      DESCRIPTION
- -----------      -----------
<S>              <C>
   99.1          Press Release, issued March 12, 1999, regarding increase in
                 allowance for loan losses for American Bank.

</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


AMERICAN BANCSHARES, INC.
4502 Cortez Road West
Bradenton, Florida 34210
Phone: (941) 795-3050
Fax:   (941) 794-6427


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                   SYMBOL: ABAN
Friday, March 12, 1999                                  TRADED: Nasdaq


                 AMERICAN BANCSHARES ELECTS TO ADD TO RESERVES


         BRADENTON, Fla., March 12--American Bancshares, Inc. today reported
that it has added $400,000 to the allowance for loan losses of its American Bank
subsidiary and charged the additional allowance against 1998 results. The
company said this additional allowance reflects the 22 percent compound annual
growth in its loan portfolio over the past five years and recent loan-loss
history. 

         For the year ended December 31, 1998, earnings before this addition,
one-time legal costs and charges related to the Murdock acquisition were
$2,733,000, equal to 54 cents per diluted share. Net income amounted to
$1,627,000 or 32 cents per diluted share after absorbing the allowance for loan
losses, one-time charges and the costs of the Murdock acquisition. For the prior
year, the company earned $1,920,000 or 38 cents per share. Revenue reached
$36,430,000, up 26.6 percent from 1997 revenue of $28,787,000.
 
         As of December 31, 1998, American Bancshares' total assets were $455
million, up 28.6 percent from December 31, 1997. Total deposits increased 13.9
percent to $345 million and total loans increased 33.1 percent to $337 million.
Shareholders' equity was $27.4 million versus $26.1 million a year earlier.

         American Bancshares is a one-bank holding company headquartered in
Bradenton, Florida. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, American Bank, with nine branch
offices is a leading and one of the largest independent community banks on the
west coast of Florida. 

         Except for historical information contained herein, this news release
contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks, uncertainties and
other factors detailed in the company's SEC reports, including the report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.





                                                                     . . .  more
<PAGE>   2
Page 2 AMERICAN BANCSHARES ELECTS TO ADD TO RESERVES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands except per-share amounts)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               THREE MONTHS ENDED             YEAR ENDED
                                                  DECEMBER 31,               DECEMBER 31,
                                             1998           1997         1998         1997
                                          ---------      ---------     ---------    ---------
<S>                                       <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>
Total interest income.................       $8,318         $6,782       $31,185      $24,631
Total interest expense................       $4,386         $3,588       $16,172      $12,917
Net interest income...................       $3,982         $3,194       $15,013      $11,714
Provision for loan losses.............       $  750         $  235       $ 1,180      $   921
Net income before income taxes........       $  608         $  695       $ 2,504      $ 3,037
Provision for income taxes............       $  213         $  215       $   877      $ 1,117
Net income............................       $  395         $  480       $ 1,627      $ 1,920
Earnings per share:
     Basic............................       $  .08         $  .10       $   .33      $   .38
     Diluted..........................       $  .08         $  .10       $   .32      $   .38

Average number of shares outstanding:
     Basic............................    4,994,984      4,994,484     4,994,765    4,988,318
     Diluted..........................    5,011,114      5,021,041     5,019,291    5,019,484
</TABLE>
                                                
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>  
                                             AS OF          AS OF
                                            12/31/98       12/31/97
                                            --------       --------
<S>                                         <C>            <C>
Total assets...........................     $455,164       $353,901 
Total deposits.........................     $344,845       $302,746
Total loans............................     $336,966       $252,993
Shareholders' equity...................     $ 27,427       $ 26,079

</TABLE>


FOR FURTHER INFO:  Gerald L. Anthony, President and CEO, or
                   Brian M. Watterson, Exec. Vice President and CFO
                   American Bancshares, Inc.
                   941/761-2128
                   -or-
                   Investor Relations Consultants, Inc.
                   727/781-5577
                   E-mail:[email protected]


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