AFBI - Affinity Bancshares Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results

Affinity Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:“AFBI”) (the “Company”), February 1, 2024, the holding company for Affinity Bank (the “Bank”), today announced net income of $1.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240201215970/en/

Net Income

• Net income was $1.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022, as a result of an increase in deposit interest expense offset partially by an increase in interest income.
• Net income was $6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to $7.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as a result of an increase in deposit interest expense and recognition of the remaining fair value mark on acquired Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances that was recognized upon payoff during the first quarter 2022, partially offset by an increase in interest income.

Results of Operations

• Net interest income was $6.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to $7.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was due to an increase in deposit costs partially offset by an increase in interest income.
• Net interest income was $27.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $29.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was due to an increase in deposit costs and recognition of the remaining fair value mark on acquired FHLB advances that was recognized upon payoff during the first quarter of 2022, partially offset by an increase in interest income.
• Net interest margin for the three months ended December 31, 2023 decreased to 3.32% from 3.85% for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2023 decreased to 3.35% from 4.14% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decreases in the margin relate to increases in our costs of funds exceeding our increases in our yield on interest-earning assets. The decrease in the margin for the year ended December 31, 2023 was also impacted by the fair value mark on the FHLB advances from acquisition that was recognized upon payoff during the first quarter of 2022.
  • Adjusted net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2023 (see Non-GAAP reconciliation) decreased 65 basis points from 4.00% for the year ended December 31, 2022 to 3.35%.
• Noninterest income increased $40,000 to $606,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and had an increase of $64,000 to $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022.
• Non-interest expense decreased $209,000 to $5.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, due to decreases in salaries, occupancy, and advertising expenses offset by increases in data processing and other expenses. Non-interest expense decreased $808,000 to $21.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 2022 and was a result of the FHLB prepayment penalties paid in the first quarter of 2022 and decreases in advertising expense and other expenses.

Financial Condition

• Total assets increased $52.0 million to $843.3 million at December 31, 2023 from $791.3 million at December 31, 2022, as we increased cash to further enhance liquidity.
• Total gross loans increased $13.6 million to $659.9 million at December 31, 2023 from $646.2 million at December 31, 2022.
• Non-owner occupied office loans totaled $26.7 million at December 31, 2023; average loan-to-value ratio on these loans is 41.0%, including
  • $11.0 million medical/dental tenants and
  • $15.7 million to other various tenants.
• Investment securities held-to-maturity unrealized losses were $277,000, net of tax. Investment securities available-for-sale unrealized losses were $6.3 million, net of tax.
• Cash and cash equivalents increased $23.7 million to $50.0 million at December 31, 2023 from $26.3 million at December 31, 2022, primarily due to an increase in deposits and borrowings.
• Deposits increased by $17.2 million to $674.4 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $657.2 million at December 31, 2022, in part due to an increase in certificates of deposits of $95.0 million offset by a $77.7 million decrease in non-time deposits, as customers increased deposits in higher-yielding accounts during the current interest rate environment. The certificates of deposit increase included brokered deposits issued in 2023 totaling $72.4 million. Brokered deposits have an average life of 2.4 years and an average interest rate of 4.87%.
• Uninsured deposits were approximately $95.5 million at December 31, 2023 and represented 14.0% of total deposits, excluding deposits collateralized by public funds and internal accounts.
• Borrowings increased by $30.0 million to $40.0 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $10.0 million at December 31, 2022 as we continue to evaluate borrowing needs related to enhancing bank liquidity.

Asset Quality

• Non-performing loans increased to $7.4 million at December 31, 2023 from $6.7 million at December 31, 2022.
• The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of non-performing loans was 120.1% at December 31, 2023, as compared to 138.8% at December 31, 2022.
• Allowance for credit losses to total loans decreased to 1.35% at December 31, 2023 from 1.46% at December 31, 2022.
• Net loan charge-offs were $404,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to net recoveries of $62,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022.

About Affinity Bancshares, Inc.

The Company is a Maryland corporation based in Covington, Georgia. The Company’s banking subsidiary, Affinity Bank, opened in 1928 and currently operates a full-service office in Atlanta, Georgia, two full-service offices in Covington, Georgia, and a loan production office serving the Alpharetta and Cumming, Georgia markets.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which describe the future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “plan,” “seek,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “indicate,” “would,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “target” and words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. We are under no duty to and do not take any obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this report. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, changes in general economic conditions, interest rates and inflation; changes in asset quality; our ability to access cost-effective funding; fluctuations in real estate values; changes in laws or regulations; changes in liquidity, including the size and composition of our deposit portfolio and the percentage of uninsured deposits in the portfolio; changes in technology; failures or breaches of our IT security systems; our ability to introduce new products and services and capitalize on growth opportunities; changes in the value of our goodwill and other intangible assets; our ability to successfully integrate acquired operations or assets; changes in accounting policies and practices; our ability to retain key employees; the effects of any pandemic; and the effects of natural disasters and geopolitical events, including terrorism, conflict and acts of war. These risks and other uncertainties are further discussed in the reports that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Average Balance Sheets

The following tables set forth average balance sheets, average annualized yields and costs, and certain other information for the periods indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments have been made, as the effects would be immaterial. All average balances are monthly average balances. Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees, discounts, and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or interest expense.

Explanation of Certain Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reported amounts are presented in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, the Company believes the following information is utilized by regulators and market analysts to evaluate a company’s financial condition and, therefore, such information is useful to investors. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures which may be presented by other companies. Refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation tables below for details on the earnings impact of these items.