Release Details

M&T Announces 14% Increase in Cash Earnings Per Share

M&T Announces 14% Increase in Cash Earnings Per Share

BUFFALO, N.Y. - April 17, 2001--M&T Bank Corporation ("M&T")(NYSE: MTB) today reported diluted cash earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2001 of $1.14, an increase of 14% from $1.00 in the first quarter of 2000.

Cash net income for the recent quarter was $112.4 million, an increase of 41% from $79.8 million in the corresponding quarter of last year. Expressed as an annualized rate of return on average tangible assets, cash net income was 1.59% in the initial quarter of 2001, compared with 1.47% in the year-earlier quarter. Cash return on average tangible common equity was an annualized 27.93% in the first quarter of this year, compared with 26.95% in the first quarter of 2000. Cash earnings exclude the after-tax effect of expenses associated with merging acquired operations into M&T and amortization of goodwill and core deposit intangible. Robert G. Wilmers, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer noted, "Our 14% growth in cash earnings per share in the first quarter reflects strong performance in many of M&T's business units and the smooth integration of our recent acquisitions."

Taxable-equivalent net interest income increased 40% to $276.4 million in the recent quarter, compared with $197.3 million in the year-earlier quarter. The improvement reflects an increase in average loans outstanding and a widening of M&T's net interest margin, or taxable equivalent net interest income expressed as an annualized percentage of average earnings assets. Reflecting the $4.8 billion and $1.0 billion of loans and leases obtained at the time of the October 6, 2000 acquisition of Keystone Financial, Inc. ("Keystone") and the February 9, 2001 acquisition of Premier National Bancorp, Inc. ("Premier"), respectively, average loans and leases outstanding during the initial quarter of 2001 were $23.4 billion, up 34% from $17.5 billion in the year-earlier quarter. Supplementing the favorable impact of higher balances of loans and leases was a 22 basis point (hundredths of one percent) increase in the net interest margin to 4.16% in 2001's first quarter from 3.94% in the comparable 2000 quarter.

The provision for credit losses was $18.5 million in the recent quarter, up from $9.0 million in the first quarter of 2000. Net charge-offs of loans also increased during the first quarter of 2001, rising to $15.9 million from $6.6 million a year earlier. The annualized ratio of net charge-offs to average loans outstanding was .28% in the initial 2001 quarter, compared with .15% in the first quarter of 2000. Nonperforming loans totaled $160.8 million, or .67% of total loans at March 31, 2001, compared with $67.0 million or .38% a year earlier. Loans past due 90 days or more and accruing interest were $141.4 million at the recent quarter-end, up from $29.4 million a year earlier. The increase in these loans resulted primarily from the inclusion at March 31, 2001 of approximately $101 million of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans serviced by M&T and repurchased during the fourth quarter of 2000 and the first quarter of 2001 from the Government National Mortgage Association. The outstanding principal balances of these loans are fully guaranteed by government agencies. The loans were repurchased to reduce servicing costs associated with the loans. Included in the March 31, 2001 totals of nonperforming loans and loans past due 90 days or more and accruing interest were loans obtained in the Keystone acquisition of $55 million and $12 million, respectively, and loans obtained in the Premier acquisition of $6 million and $7 million, respectively. M&T's allowance for credit losses totaled $399.4 million as of March 31, 2001, compared with $318.6 million a year earlier. As a percentage of total loans, the allowance was 1.65% and 1.80% at March 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans was 248% and 476% at March 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Assets taken in foreclosure of defaulted loans were $13.1 million at the recent quarter-end, compared with $9.2 million a year earlier.

Noninterest income in the recent quarter totaled $111.7 million, up significantly from $72.0 million in the first quarter of 2000. Approximately one-half of the increase was attributable to revenues related to operations in market areas associated with the Keystone acquisition. In addition, lower interest rates in 2001 and the January 1, 2001 implementation of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards("SFAS") No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," contributed to an increase in mortgage banking revenues to $25.7 million in the recent quarter from $14.6 million a year-earlier.

Noninterest expenses associated with operations, which exclude amortization of goodwill and core deposit intangible and nonrecurring expenses associated with merging acquired operations into M&T, were $197.0 million in the recent quarter, compared with $136.2 million in the corresponding 2000 period. Expenses related to the acquired operations of Keystone and, to a lesser extent, Premier were large contributors to the higher expense levels. The efficiency ratio, or noninterest operating expense divided by the sum of taxable-equivalent net interest income and noninterest income, measures how much of a company's revenue is consumed by operating expenses. M&T's cash-basis efficiency ratio, calculated using the operating expense totals noted above and excluding gains or losses from sales of bank investment securities from noninterest income, was 50.8% in the first quarter of 2001, up slightly from 50.6% a year earlier.

The impact of merger-related expenses was $4.8 million ($8.0 million pre-tax) or $.05 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2001. There were no similar expenses in the first 2000 quarter. Non-cash charges for amortization of goodwill and core deposit intangible, after tax effect, amounted to $23.9 million ($29.8 million pre-tax) and $11.6 million ($14.4 million pre-tax) during the first quarter of 2001 and 2000, respectively. Including the impact of these items, diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2001 were $.85, compared with $.86 in the corresponding quarter of 2000. On the same basis, net income for the recent quarter was $83.7 million, compared with $68.2 million in the year-earlier quarter. Net income for the initial 2001 quarter expressed as an annualized rate of return on average assets and average common stockholders' equity was 1.14% and 11.84%, respectively. The comparable rates for the year-earlier quarter were 1.22% and 15.14%.

At March 31, 2001, M&T had total assets of $30.9 billion, up 36% from $22.8 billion a year earlier. Loans and leases, net of unearned discount, increased 37% to $24.2 billion from $17.7 billion at March 31, 2000. Deposits were $21.0 billion at the recent quarter-end, compared with $15.2 billion at March 31, 2000. Assets, loans and deposits obtained in the Keystone transaction on the October 6, 2000 acquisition date were $7.4 billion, $4.8 billion and $5.2 billion, respectively. Assets, loans and deposits obtained in the February 9, 2001 acquisition of Premier were $1.8 billion, $1.0 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively. Total stockholders' equity was $3.0 billion at March 31, 2001, representing 9.68% of total assets, compared with $1.8 billion or 8.05% a year earlier. Common stockholders' equity per share was $30.84 at the recent quarter-end, an increase of 29% from $23.83 at March 31, 2000. Tangible equity per common share was $17.33 and $15.79 at March 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

In November 1999, M&T announced a plan torepurchase up to 1,904,650 common shares for reissuance upon the possible future exercise of outstanding stock options. However, following the announcement of the Keystone acquisition in May 2000, M&T has not been repurchasing stock, instead using the Company's internal generation of capital to support the completed Keystone and Premier acquisitions.Prior to the May 2000 announcement, M&T had repurchased 1,632,860 shares of common stock pursuant to such plan at an average cost of $42.74 per share.

Investors will have an opportunity to listen to M&T's conference call to discuss first quarter financial results at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 2001. Those wishing to participate in the call may dial 877-232-1251. The conference call will also be ebcast live by Vcall through M&T's website. To access the live webcast please visit M&T's website at http://ir.mandtbank.com/calendar.cfm. A replay of the call will be available until April 19, 2001 by calling 800-642-1687, code 500736. The event will also be archived and available by noon, April 18, 2001 at http://ir.mandtbank.com/calendar.cfm .

M&T BANK CORPORATION
Financial Highlights
                                        Three months ended
Amounts in thousands,                        March 31
 except per share                       2001         2000      Change
                                       ---------    --------  --------

Performance
-----------

Net income                             $ 83,666      68,235      23 %

Per common share:
  Basic earnings                       $    .88         .89      -1 %
  Diluted earnings                          .85         .86      -1
  Cash dividends                       $    .25        .125     100

Common shares outstanding:
  Average - diluted (1)                  98,605      79,222      24 %
  Period end (2)                         97,013      76,901      26

Return on (annualized):
 Average total assets                     1.14%       1.22%
 Average common stockholders' equity     11.84%      15.14%

Taxable-equivalent net
 interest income                     $ 276,368     197,333       40 %

Yield on average earning assets (3)       8.33%       8.01%
Cost of interest-bearing liabilities      4.78%       4.64%
Net interest spread (3)                   3.55%       3.37%
Contribution of interest-free funds        .61%        .57%
Net interest margin (3)                   4.16%       3.94%

Net charge-offs to average total
  net loans (annualized)                   .28%        .15%

Cash operating results (4)
--------------------------

Cash net income                       $ 107,547      79,844      35 %
Cash net income, excluding
  acquisition-related expenses          112,391      79,844      41
Diluted cash earnings per common share    1.09        1.00        9
Diluted cash earnings per common share,
  excluding acquisition-related
  expenses                                1.14        1.00       14
Return on (annualized):
  Average tangible assets                 1.52%       1.47%
  Average tangible assets, excluding
    acquisition-related expenses          1.59%       1.47%
  Average tangible common equity         26.73%      26.95%
  Average tangible common equity,
    excluding acquisition-related
    expenses                             27.93%      26.95%
Efficiency ratio, excluding
acquisition-related expenses             50.77%      50.57%

                                            At March 31
                                       --------------------
                                        2001         2000     Change
                                       ---------    -------  --------
Loan quality
------------

Nonaccrual loans                      $ 151,927      58,060     162 %
Renegotiated loans                        8,864       8,910      -1
                                       ---------    --------
  Total nonperforming loans           $ 160,791      66,970     140
                                       =========    ========

Accruing loans past due 90 days or
 more                                 $ 141,355      29,407     381 %


Nonperforming loans to total net loans     .67%        .38%
Allowance for credit losses to total
 net loans                                1.65%       1.80%
----------------------------------------------------------------------

(1)  Includes common stock equivalents
(2)  Includes common stock issuable under deferred compensation plans
(3)  On a fully taxable-equivalent basis
(4)  Excludes amortization and balances related to goodwill and core
     deposit intangible which, except in the calculation of the
     efficiency ratio, are net of applicable income tax effects

M&T BANK CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income
                                              Three months ended
Amounts in thousands,                               March 31
 except per share                             2001     2000    Change
                                             ------   ------- --------

Interest income                          $   548,578  398,858   38 %
Interest expense                             276,597  203,731   36
                                             -------  -------
Net interest income                          271,981  195,127   39

Provision for credit losses                   18,500    9,000  106
                                             -------  -------
Net interest income after
   provision for credit losses               253,481  186,127   36

Other income
     Mortgage banking revenues                25,660   14,559   76
     Service charges on deposit accounts      32,534   20,460   59
     Trust income                             15,827    9,980   59
     Brokerage services income                10,010    9,408    6
     Trading account and foreign exchange
      gains                                      802      294  173
     Gain on sales of bank investment
      securities                                  79       -     -
     Other revenues from operations           26,815   17,297   55
                                            --------  -------
         Total other income                  111,727   71,998   55

Other expense
     Salaries and employee benefits          105,887   76,701   38
     Equipment and net occupancy              28,158   18,119   55
     Printing, postage and supplies            7,074    4,494   57
     Amortization of goodwill and core
        deposit intangible                    29,811   14,407  107
     Other costs of operations                63,871   36,876   73
                                            --------  -------
          Total other expense                234,801  150,597   56

Income before income taxes                   130,407  107,528   21

Applicable income taxes                       46,741   39,293   19
                                            --------  -------
Net income                               $    83,666   68,235   23 %
                                            ========  =======


M&T BANK CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

                                             March 31
                                        ---------------------
Dollars in thousands                     2001       2000        Change
                                        ---------  ---------   -------

ASSETS

Cash and due from banks            $   691,104     476,969       45 %

Money-market assets                     53,527   1,238,957      -96

Investment securities                3,704,788   2,078,949       78

Loans and leases, net of unearned
  discount                          24,167,786  17,702,663       37
  Less: Allowance for credit losses    399,412     318,595       25
                                      ---------   ---------

  Net loans and leases              23,768,374  17,384,068       37

Goodwill and core deposit intangible 1,379,461    638,245       116

Other assets                         1,327,289    944,366        41
                                      ---------   ---------

  Total assets                     $30,924,543  22,761,554       36 %
                                    ==========  ==========


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Noninterest-bearing deposits at U.S.
 offices                           $ 3,236,649   2,140,782       51 %

Other deposits at U.S. offices      17,480,164  12,822,756       36

Deposits at foreign office             260,870     187,900       39
                                     ---------   ---------

  Total deposits                    20,977,683  15,151,438       38

Short-term borrowings                2,943,979   3,068,547       -4

Accrued interest and other
 liabilities                           520,376     934,857      -44

Long-term borrowings                 3,490,447   1,774,456       97
                                     ---------   ---------

  Total liabilities                 27,932,485  20,929,298       33

Stockholders' equity(1)              2,992,058   1,832,256       63
                                     ---------   ---------

  Total liabilities and
   stockholders' equity           $30,924,543   22,761,554       36 %
                                   ==========   ==========

(1)   Includes the after-tax impact of net unrealized gains on
      investment securities classified as available for sale of $21.1
      million at March 31, 2001 and net unrealized losses of $23.9
      million at March 31, 2000.


M&T BANK CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Average Balance Sheet

                                        Three months ended
                                             March 31
                                      ----------------------
Dollars in thousands                    2001         2000      Change
                                      ---------    --------   -------

ASSETS

Money-market assets                $     74,634        669,442  -89 %

Investment securities                 3,470,016      1,976,514   76

Loans and leases, net of unearned
  discount
  Commercial, financial, etc.         5,178,321      3,740,576   38
  Real estate - commercial            8,934,976      6,591,673   36
  Real estate - consumer              4,991,217      4,062,627   23
  Consumer                            4,287,470      3,106,008   38
                                      ---------      ---------
     Total loans and leases, net     23,391,984     17,500,884   34
                                      ---------      ---------

  Total earning assets               26,936,634     20,146,840   34

Goodwill and core deposit intangible  1,300,212        642,196  102

Other assets                          1,641,344      1,649,099    -
                                      ---------      ---------

  Total assets                     $ 29,878,190     22,438,135   33 %
                                   ============     ==========


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Interest-bearing deposits          $ 17,548,687     13,144,562   34 %

Borrowings                            5,894,637      4,526,649   30
                                      ---------      ---------

Total interest-bearing liabilities   23,443,324     17,671,211   33

Noninterest-bearing deposits          3,185,347      2,113,337   51

Other liabilities                       383,129        840,818  -54
                                      ---------      ---------

  Total liabilities                  27,011,800     20,625,366   31

Stockholders' equity                  2,866,390      1,812,769   58
                                      ---------      ---------

  Total liabilities and
   stockholders' equity            $ 29,878,190     22,438,135   33 %
                                   ============     ==========

Contact:
     M&T Bank Corporation
     Michael S. Piemonte, 716/842-5445