DETROIT, April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) today
reported record first quarter earnings per share of $1.10, compared to $0.98
in 1999, an increase of 12 percent.  Net income for the first quarter of 2000
was $178 million, up 12 percent from $159 million for the same period in 1999.
Return on common equity was 21.35 percent and return on assets was 1.81
percent, compared to 21.90 percent and 1.76 percent, respectively, for the
first quarter of 1999.
    "Our first quarter financial results reflect continued strong commercial
loan growth, our ability to effectively manage interest rate risk, solid asset
quality and significant increases in fee income," said Eugene A. Miller,
chairman, president and chief executive officer.
    Net interest income for the first quarter of 2000 was $405 million, an
increase of $36 million or 10 percent from the same period last year.  This
increase was primarily due to an increase in average business loans of $3
billion or 12 percent over last year's first quarter.  The net interest margin
was 4.47 percent for the first quarter of 2000, compared to 4.51 percent for
the comparable quarter of 1999.
    Noninterest income was $221 million for the first quarter of 2000, an
increase of $64 million or 41 percent from the same quarter last year.
Noninterest income in the first quarter 2000 included a gain of approximately
$30 million associated with the sale of $457 million of revolving check credit
and bankcard loans.  Excluding the $30 million gain, noninterest income
increased 21 percent in the first quarter of 2000, compared to the first
quarter of 1999.  Strong investment advisory fee growth at Munder Capital
Management contributed to the growth in noninterest income.
    Noninterest expenses were $296 million for the first quarter of 2000,
compared to $263 million in 1999.  Salaries and employee benefits, due to
annual merit increases and higher levels of revenue-related incentives, were
the primary reasons for the increase in expenses.
    The provision for credit losses was $55 million in the first quarter of
2000, an increase of $10 million compared to the fourth quarter of 1999 and
$35 million compared to the first quarter of 1999.  Net charge-offs for the
quarter were $29 million or 0.34 percent of average total loans, compared with
$32 million or 0.39 percent in the fourth quarter of 1999 and $19 million or
0.25 percent in the first quarter of 1999.  Nonperforming assets were $191
million or 0.56 percent of loans and other real estate at March 31, 2000,
compared to $182 million or 0.56 percent at December 31, 1999, and $160
million or 0.52 percent at March 31, 1999.  The allowance for credit losses as
a percent of loans was 1.49 percent at March 31, 2000, compared to 1.46 at
both December 31, 1999, and March 31, 1999.
    Assets totaled $40 billion at March 31, 2000, and $36 billion at March 31,
1999, while common shareholders' equity was $3.3 billion at March 31, 2000,
compared to $2.9 billion one year earlier.  Shares of common stock outstanding
were 156 million at March 31, 2000 and 1999.  Total loans were $34 billion at
March 31, 2000, compared to $31 billion a year ago.  Total deposits were $23
billion at March 31, 2000 and 1999.
    Comerica Incorporated is a multi-state financial services provider
headquartered in Detroit, with bank subsidiaries in Michigan, California and
Texas, banking operations in Florida, and businesses in several other states.
Comerica also operates banking subsidiaries in Canada and Mexico.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Comerica Incorporated and Subsidiaries
(in thousands, except per share data)
                                            Three Months Ended
                                                 March 31
                                          2000              1999
    Interest Income
    Interest and fees on loans        $693,840          $586,362
    Interest on investment
      securities:
       Taxable                          47,803            39,717
       Exempt from federal income
        tax                                803             1,375
          Total interest on investment
           securities                   48,606            41,092
    Interest on short-term
     investments                        17,419             1,981
          Total interest income        759,865           629,435
    Interest Expense
    Interest on deposits               169,171           149,674
    Interest on short-term borrowings   52,459            45,372
    Interest on medium- and
      long-term debt                   129,952            84,431
    Net interest rate swap
     (income)/expense                    3,340           (18,874)
         Total interest expense        354,922           260,603
         Net interest income           404,943           368,832
    Provision for credit losses         55,000            20,000
         Net interest income after
          provision for credit losses  349,943           348,832
    Noninterest Income
    Fiduciary and investment
      management income                 79,028            54,943
    Service charges on deposit
      accounts                          43,892            41,698
    Commercial lending fees             11,215             9,896
    Letter of credit fees               10,694             8,491
    Securities gains                       253             1,202
    Other noninterest income            75,615            40,664
      Total noninterest income         220,697           156,894
    Noninterest Expenses
    Salaries and employee benefits     168,001           152,483
    Net occupancy expense               24,954            23,094
    Equipment expense                   15,074            14,851
    Outside processing fee expense      12,332            12,854
    Other noninterest expenses          75,662            60,132
      Total noninterest expenses       296,023           263,414
    Income before income taxes         274,617           242,312
    Provision for income taxes          96,901            83,200
    Net income                        $177,716          $159,112
    Net income applicable to common
      stock                           $173,441          $154,837
    Basic net income per common
      share                              $1.11             $0.99
    Diluted net income per common
      share                              $1.10             $0.98
    Cash dividends declared
      on common stock                  $62,519           $56,149
    Dividends per common share           $0.40             $0.36


