ONBANCORP INC
8-K, 1998-02-05
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<PAGE>



                 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


                       January 26, 1998
                       ----------------
       Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)


                        ONBANCorp. Inc.
                        ---------------
      (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)


                           Delaware
                        ----------------
          (State Or Other Jurisdiction Of Incorporation)

      000-18011                           16-1345830
- -----------------------         -------------------------------
(Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                     101 South Salina Street
                     Syracuse, New York 13202
                ------------------------------------
        (Address Of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                         (315) 424-4400
                ------------------------------------
       (Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)

                              NOT APPLICABLE
                ------------------------------------
   (Former Name Or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)

<PAGE>


Item 5.  Other Events

     On January 26, 1998, ONBANCorp., Inc. (the "Company") announced its 
earnings for the fourth quarter and full year 1997. Attached is the press 
release issued by the "Company" on January 26, 1998.


                                    2

<PAGE>

                                                       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                       Issued: January 26, 1998


ANALYST CONTACT:                                       PRESS CONTACT:

Robert J. Berger, Senior VP                            Thomas Delduchetto
Treasurer and CFO                                      Senior Vice President
315-424-4575                                           315-424-4409

         ONBANCorp Reports 1997 Operating Earnings Per Share Increase of 20%

     Syracuse,  New York - ONBANCorp,  Inc. (NASDAQ:  ONBK) reported earnings of
$3.88 per common share (EPS) or $51.2 million for 1997, a 20% increase  compared
to $3.22 per common  share for 1996 which was  adjusted to exclude the effect of
$5.1 million of  significant  one time items  related  primarily  to  government
mandated  deposit  insurance and expenses  associated  with the thrift  industry
bailout last year. The stated  earnings per common share for 1996 were $2.88. By
eliminating the effects of these prior year  significant one time items, the net
income and associated  rates of return as discussed on an adjusted basis reflect
more relevant and consistent  historical operating  comparisons.  Net Income for
1997 of $51.2  million  compares  to  $43.0  million  for 1996 or $48.1  million
excluding one time charges in the prior year. Return on Average Equity (ROE) and
Return on Average  Assets  (ROA) for 1997 were 15.3% and .94%  compared to 12.8%
and .90%,  respectively,  for 1996.  Fourth  quarter  1997 EPS of $1.10 were 25%
greater  than $.88 in the prior year  period.  Comparative  ROA's and ROE's were
1.01% and 16.9% for fourth quarter 1997 compared to .92% and 13.7% for the prior
year period.  The above earnings per share amounts  reflect diluted EPS pursuant
to Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards ("SFAS") No. 128, "Earnings Per
Share".  A dividend of $.34 common share ($1.36 annual rate) was paid on January
2,  1998 to  shareholders  of record  as of  December  19,  1997. 

     Solid annual  performance  improvements  were seen in the  fundamentals  of
commercial   and  municipal   banking,   trust   services,   consumer   banking,
electronically assisted banking and fee income. Capital and asset quality levels
remained sound. The Company's Tier I leverage capital ratio was 7.2% at December
31,  1997  which  significantly  exceeds  the  regulatory  requirement  for well
capitalized institutions.

     Highlights of ONBANCorp's 1997 performance compared to 1996 follow:

                                       3

<PAGE>

Commercial Banking - Commercial  loans  increased  28% or $189 million.  At $857
     million they represent 30% of the total loan portfolio. ONBANCorp continued
     its  emergence as a market  share  leader for loans to small and  mid-sized
     businesses  in the  Syracuse/Central  New York  region in the  recent  five
     years,  and is  experiencing  significant  business loan growth in both the
     Rochester and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton regions.

Trust Services - The market value of trust assets has increased to $1.1 billion,
     up 24% from the $876  million  at  December  31,  1997.  Trust fee  revenue
     increased  by 14% to more than $3.6 million for 1997.  Largest  trust gains
     continue from  trusteeships for employee benefit plans,  administration  of
     trusts under agreement, and estate and investment management.

Consumer Banking - Consumer loans and leases increased 27% to $924 million,  and
     consumer  banking fees increased by 16% for 1997. Key consumer  banking fee
     revenue  increases  continue from  electronic  banking  services  including
     MasterMoney  banking cards,  the 24-hour ATM network,  merchant credit card
     servicing and deposit agent fees.

Residential  Lending - Mortgages  held in  portfolio  increased  $50  million at
     December  30,  1997 from  December  30,  1996 and now total  $1.1  billion.
     Softness in the local mortgage market has been partially offset through the
     purchase  of  approximately  $206  million of  adjustable  rate  mortgages.
     Another $1.03 billion  off-balance  sheet  mortgage loans are processed and
     serviced for other investors.  Residential  loans represent 38% of the loan
     mix,  and the New York bank  maintained  its  first-place  market  share of
     residential mortgages originated in its core headquarters county.
 
Loan Quality - Very strong asset and loan quality prevails. Net charge-offs were
     0.22%  of  average  loans  outstanding  for  1997.  The  coverage  ratio of
     allowance for loan losses to  nonperforming  loans was 130%.  Nonperforming
     assets to total assets were 0.71%.

                                       4

<PAGE>

Net  Interest  Margin - Net interest margin was of 3.03% for both 1997 and 1996.
     The current flat yield curve coupled with very competitive loan pricing has
     tempered improvement in the margin.

Expense  Efficiency - Controllable  non-interest  expenses,  excluding  the 1997
     capital  trust  securities  expense of $5.1  million and the 1996  one-time
     government mandated deposit insurance assessment of $7.3 million, increased
     $.9 million or less than 1% in 1997 compared 1996. Our efficiency  ratio of
     55.9% continues better than the current banking benchmark of 60%.

     As announced in October  1997,  ONBANCorp,  Inc.  entered into a definitive
agreement with First Empire State Corporation headquartered in Buffalo, New York
for a merger between the two companies. The merger is subject to the approval of
stockholders of both companies,  as well as various regulatory agencies,  and is
expected to be completed in the first quarter of 1998.  

     ONBANCorp  Inc.  is  a  $5.3  billion  asset  multi-bank   holding  company
headquartered in Syracuse,  New York and operates two wholly owned subsidiaries:
OnBank  & Trust  Co.  in New York  State  and  Franklin  First  Savings  Bank in
Wilkes-Barre, PA. Financial services are offered through 86 banking locations in
Upstate New York and Northeastern  Pennsylvania  including 7 specialized lending
offices,  plus a network of 131 stand  alone  on-line  cash  machines at various
convenience  stores and thruway locations.  Bank subsidiaries  provide trust and
investment services.

                                # # #
                         Financials Attached

                                  5

<PAGE>

PRESS RELEASE

                ONBANCORP, INC. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 THREE MONTHS           YEAR ENDED
                                                                              ENDED DECEMBER 31,    ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                             --------------------  --------------------
<S>                                                                          <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
                                                                               1997       1996       1997       1996
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
INCOME STATEMENT ($ in thousands, except per share data)
Interest income............................................................  $  98,424     95,736    385,690    374,845
Interest expense...........................................................     59,073     56,656    229,591    222,098
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Net interest income......................................................     39,351     39,080    156,099    152,747
Provision for loan losses..................................................      1,782      1,963      7,168      7,813
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Net interest income after provision for loan losses......................     37,569     37,117    148,931    144,934
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Banking fees...............................................................      5,512      5,080     21,191     18,807
Mortgage banking...........................................................        760      1,617      3,371      4,287
Net gains on securities transactions.......................................      3,753        285     10,360      6,018
Trust fees and other income................................................      1,560      1,399      5,712      7,150
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Total other income and fees..............................................     11,585      8,381     40,634     36,262
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Salaries and employee benefits.............................................     10,122      9,819     41,027     41,507
Building, occupancy and equipment..........................................      4,651      4,544     18,440     18,268
Deposit insurance premiums.................................................        276          3      1,058      9,343(1)
Contracted data processing.................................................      2,873      2,772     11,285     10,828
Capital trust securities...................................................      1,400     --          5,084     --
Other......................................................................      8,194      8,441     32,451     30,668
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Total other operating expense............................................     27,516     25,579    109,345    110,614
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Income before income taxes.............................................     21,638     19,919     80,220     70,582
Income taxes...............................................................      7,529      7,472     29,042     27,618
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net income after certain one-time items................................  $  14,109     12,447     51,178     42,964
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net income before certain one-time items...............................  $  14,109     12,447     51,178     48,087(2)
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Return on equity after certain one-time items..............................       16.9%      13.7%      15.3%      11.4%
Return on equity before certain one-time items.............................       16.9%      13.7%      15.3%      12.8%(2)
Return on assets after certain one-time items..............................       1.01%       .92%       .94%       .81%
Return on assets before certain one-time items.............................       1.01%       .92%       .94%       .90%(2)
Net interest margin........................................................       3.00%      3.09%      3.03%      3.03%
Net income per common share:
  Basic after certain one-time items.......................................  $    1.11        .94       3.93       3.02
  Basic before certain one-time items......................................       1.11        .94       3.93       3.42(2)
  Diluted after certain one-time items.....................................       1.10        .88       3.88       2.88
  Diluted before certain one-time items....................................       1.10        .88       3.88       3.22(2)
Cash dividends declared per common share...................................        .34        .34       1.36       1.24
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Includes one-time deposit insurance assessment of $7.282 million before tax.
 
(2) Adjusted to exclude the after tax effect of $4.515 million for the deposit
    insurance assessment and the net incremental tax liability of $1.900 million
    associated with the government mandated bad debt recapture, partially offset
    by September 1996 gains on securities transactions of $1.292 million after
    tax. By eliminating the effects of these significant one-time items, the net
    income and associated rates of return as shown on an adjusted basis more
    reasonably represent the Company's earnings performance. The resultant net
    income before certain one-time items should allow more relevant and
    consistent historical comparisons.

                                       6

<PAGE>

PRESS RELEASE (CONTINUED)
 
                ONBANCORP, INC. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                            --------------------
<S>                                                                                         <C>        <C>
                                                                                              1997       1996
                                                                                            ---------  ---------
BALANCE SHEET DATA ($ in thousands, except per share data)
Cash & due from banks.....................................................................  $ 128,647    169,740
Money-market assets.......................................................................     10,044     12,253
Securities:
  Trading.................................................................................      1,178      1,727
  Available for sale......................................................................    840,469    925,340
  Held to maturity........................................................................  1,176,164  1,683,908
                                                                                            ---------  ---------
    Total securities at carrying value....................................................  2,017,811  2,610,975
    Total securities at fair value........................................................  2,039,368  2,629,269
Loan portfolio:
  Residential mortgages...................................................................  1,104,580  1,054,241
  Commercial..............................................................................    856,796    667,395
  Consumer................................................................................    923,649    728,061
                                                                                            ---------  ---------
    Gross loan portfolio..................................................................  2,885,025  2,449,697
    Net deferred fees, discounts and premiums.............................................    (17,769)    (1,223)
    Allowance for loan losses.............................................................    (39,064)   (37,840)
                                                                                            ---------  ---------
      Net loan portfolio..................................................................  2,828,192  2,410,634
Loans available for sale..................................................................    130,412     38,759
Premises and equipment, net...............................................................     65,450     62,557
Other assets..............................................................................    139,014    112,959
                                                                                            ---------  ---------
        Total assets......................................................................  $5,319,570 5,417,877
                                                                                            ---------  ---------
                                                                                            ---------  ---------
Deposits..................................................................................  $4,023,106 3,821,906
Borrowings................................................................................    823,050  1,129,388
Due to brokers............................................................................     --         40,724
Other liabilities.........................................................................     78,217     65,808
Capital trust securities..................................................................     60,000     --
Shareholders' equity......................................................................    335,197    360,051
                                                                                            ---------  ---------
        Total liabilities and shareholders' equity........................................  $5,319,570 5,417,877
                                                                                            ---------  ---------
                                                                                            ---------  ---------
Common shares outstanding.................................................................  12,721,689 12,145,332
Preferred shares outstanding..............................................................     --      2,342,052
Average basic shares outstanding..........................................................  13,023,988 12,855,072
Average diluted shares outstanding........................................................  13,181,323 14,913,507
Book value per common share...............................................................  $   26.35      24.82
 
Tier I leverage capital ratio.............................................................        7.2%       6.8%
 
Nonperforming assets to total assets......................................................        .71%       .59%
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans..........................................        130%       140%
Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding..............................................        .22%       .19%
</TABLE>
 
                                       7
<PAGE>

PRESS RELEASE (CONTINUED)

                ONBANCORP, INC. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)
 
    This table sets forth for the three months and year ended December 31, 1997,
the average daily balances of the Company's major asset and liability items and
the interest earned or paid thereon expressed in dollars and weighted average
rates:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
                                                                                                        31, 1997
                                                          -------------------------------------  -------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>        <C>          <C>            <C>        <C>        <C>
                                                           AVERAGE                                AVERAGE 
                    ($ IN THOUSANDS)                       BALANCE    INTEREST     YIELD\RATE     BALANCE   INTEREST   YIELD\RATE
- --------------------------------------------------------  ---------  -----------  -------------  --------- ----------- ----------
<S>                                                       <C>        <C>          <C>            <C>        <C>
Interest earning assets:(1)
  Loans.................................................  $2,926,344     60,678          8.23%   2,690,969     224,900    8.36% 
  Mortgage-backed securities............................  1,872,040      31,459          6.67%   2,033,905     135,102    6.64% 
  Other securities......................................    376,004       5,848          6.17%     400,275      24,260    6.06% 
  Money market assets...................................     29,912         439          5.82%      24,534       1,428    5.82% 
                                                          ---------  -----------          ---    ---------  -----------   ----  
    Total interest earning assets.......................  5,204,300      98,424          7.50%   5,149,683     385,690    7.49% 
  Non-interest earning assets...........................    323,033                                304,481                      
                                                          ---------  -----------          ---    ---------  -----------   ----  
    Total assets........................................  $5,527,333                             5,454,164                      
                                                          ---------  -----------          ---    ---------  -----------   ----  
                                                          ---------  -----------          ---    ---------  -----------   ----  
Interest bearing liabilities:                                                                                                   
  Savings deposits......................................    629,963       3,726          2.35%     659,759      16,153    2.45% 
  Time deposits.........................................  2,562,833      37,053          5.74%   2,466,226     139,471    5.66% 
  Money market accounts, NOW accounts, and escrow                                                                               
    deposits............................................    586,281       4,262          2.88%     551,451      15,213    2.76% 
                                                          ---------  -----------          ---    ---------  -----------   ----  
    Total deposits......................................  3,779,077      45,041          4.73%   3,677,436     170,837    4.65% 
  Repurchase agreements.................................    244,561       3,590          5.82%     301,698      17,988    5.96% 
  Other borrowings......................................    667,990      10,442          6.20%     659,139      40,766    6.18% 
                                                          ---------  -----------          ---    ---------  -----------   ----  
    Total interest bearing liabilities..................  4,691,628      59,073          5.00%   4,638,273     229,591    4.95% 
  Non-interest bearing deposits.........................    367,756                                353,989                      
  Non-interest bearing liabilities......................     75,793                                 72,155                      
                                                          ---------  -----------          ---    ---------  -----------   ----  
    Total liabilities...................................  5,135,177                              5,064,417                      
  Capital trust securities..............................     60,000                                 54,411                      
  Shareholders' equity..................................    332,156                                335,336                      
                                                          ---------  -----------          ---    ---------  -----------   ----  
    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity..........  5,527,333                              5,454,164                      
    Net interest income.................................  $              39,351                                156,099          
                                                          ---------  -----------          ---    ---------  -----------   ----  
                                                          ---------  -----------          ---    ---------  -----------   ----  
    Interest rate spread................................                                 2.50%                            2.54% 
    Net interest margin(2)..............................                                 3.00%                            3.03% 
  Total interest earning assets to total interest                                                                               
    bearing liabilities.................................                                 1.11X                            1.11X 
  Average equity to average assets......................                                 6.01%                            6.15% 
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

(1) Nonaccruing loans, which are immaterial, have been included in interest
    earning assets.
 
(2) Computed by dividing net interest income by total interest earning assets.

                                       8

<PAGE>


                               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 hereunder duly authorized.


Dated: February 5, 1998

                                       ONBANCORP, INC.


                                       By: /s/ Robert J. Berger
                                           -------------------------
                                       Name:  Robert J. Berger
                                       Title: Senior Vice President,
                                              Treasurer and Chief
                                              Financial Officer







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