ABTX - Allegiance Bancshares Inc. Reports Record Results for the Second Quarter 2021

• Record net income and diluted earnings per share of $22.9 million and $1.12 for the second quarter 2021, respectively, and $40.9 million and $2.01 for the six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively
  
  
• Deposit growth of 15.6% to $5.43 billion as of June 30, 2021 from $4.70 billion as of June 30, 2020, driven primarily by $513.7 million, or 17.4%, growth in interest-bearing deposits and $218.9 million, or 12.5%, growth in noninterest-bearing deposits
  
  
• Board declared quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share of common stock
  

HOUSTON, July 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABTX) (Allegiance), the holding company of Allegiance Bank (the "Bank"), today reported record net income of $22.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.12 for the second quarter 2021 compared to net income of $9.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.48 for the second quarter 2020. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $40.9 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, compared to $13.4 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2021 results were primarily due to a recapture of provision for credit losses and increased net interest income driven by lower funding costs.

“We are excited to announce yet another record quarter for Allegiance, which came with core loan and deposit gains, and we enter the third quarter positioned for growth,” said Steve Retzloff, Allegiance’s Chief Executive Officer. “We maintained solid asset quality while economic factors improved which led us to a release of reserves for credit losses” commented Retzloff.

“The positive energy across Allegiance coupled with the outstanding determination of our employees continues to reinforce the execution of our business strategies with precision. The company-wide coordination of efforts has provided powerful momentum within our Treasury Management group as we continue to integrate new customers and focus on building both new and deepening existing customer relationships,” continued Retzloff.

“As we appreciate our successes in the first half of 2021, we believe we are in an excellent position of strength as we prepare for the remainder of the year. We have proven our ability to succeed in a highly competitive market and are well-positioned to support the growing needs of the communities we serve,” concluded Retzloff.

Second Quarter 2021 Results

Net interest income before the provision for credit losses in the second quarter 2021 increased $5.7 million, or 11.3%, to $56.6 million from $50.8 million for the second quarter 2020 and increased $898 thousand, or 1.6%, from $55.7 million in the first quarter 2021. These increases were primarily due to changes in the volume and relative mix of the underlying assets and liabilities, the impact of loans within the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) as well as lower costs on interest-bearing liabilities. The net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis decreased 8 basis points to 4.02% for the second quarter 2021 from 4.10% for the second quarter 2020 and decreased 17 basis points from 4.19% for the first quarter 2021. The decreases in the margin were primarily due to the decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets partially offset by the decrease in funding costs.

Noninterest income for the second quarter 2021 was $2.3 million, an increase of $711 thousand, or 45.5%, compared to $1.6 million for the second quarter 2020 and increased $537 thousand, or 30.9%, compared to $1.7 million for the first quarter 2021. Second quarter 2021 noninterest income reflected higher transactional fee income and no losses on sales of other real estate when compared to first quarter 2020.

Noninterest expense for the second quarter 2021 increased $3.8 million, or 12.8%, to $33.6 million from $29.8 million for the second quarter 2020 and decreased $1.3 million, or 3.8%, compared to the second quarter of 2020 and the first quarter 2021. The increase over the prior year was primarily due to increases in salaries and benefits and the reduced amount of deferred PPP loan origination costs compared to the second quarter of 2020.

In the second quarter 2021, Allegiance’s efficiency ratio increased to 57.07% compared to 56.92% for the second quarter 2020 and decreased from 60.85% for the first quarter 2021. Second quarter 2021 annualized returns on average assets, average equity and average tangible equity were 1.42%, 11.87% and 17.20%, respectively, compared to 0.71%, 5.51% and 8.32%, respectively, for the second quarter 2020. Annualized returns on average assets, average equity and average tangible equity for the first quarter 2021 were 1.18%, 9.59% and 14.03%, respectively. Return on average tangible equity is a non-GAAP measure. Please refer to the non-GAAP reconciliation on page 11.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Results

Net interest income before provision for credit losses for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased $16.4 million, or 17.1%, to $112.3 million from $95.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 primarily due to a $880.6 million, or 18.7%, increase in average interest-earning assets over the prior year including the impact of PPP loans as well as lower costs related to interest-bearing liabilities. The net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis decreased 2 basis points to 4.10% for the six months ended June 30, 2021 from 4.12% for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The decrease in the margin over the prior year was primarily due to the decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets partially offset by decreased funding costs.

Noninterest income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $4.0 million, a decrease of $278 thousand, or 6.5%, compared to $4.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 due primarily to lower correspondent bank rebates and gains on the sale of securities.

Noninterest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased $6.3 million, or 10.2%, to $68.5 million from $62.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in noninterest expense over the six months ended June 30, 2020 was primarily due increased accruals for bonus and profit sharing due to increased net income along with the reduced amount of deferred PPP loan origination costs compared to the prior year.

Allegiance’s efficiency ratio decreased from 62.26% for the six months ended June 30, 2020 to 58.93% for the six months ended June 30, 2021. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, returns on average assets, average equity and average tangible equity were 1.30%, 10.75% and 15.65%, respectively, compared to 0.51%, 3.76% and 5.70%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Return on average tangible equity is a non-GAAP measure. Please refer to the non-GAAP reconciliation on page 11.

Financial Condition

Total assets at June 30, 2021 increased $77.7 million, or 4.8% (annualized), to $6.51 billion compared to $6.43 billion at March 31, 2021 and increased $671.8 million, or 11.5%, compared to $5.84 billion at June 30, 2020, primarily due to the origination and paydowns of PPP loans, origination of core loans and growth within the securities portfolio.

Total loans at June 30, 2021 decreased $198.4 million, or 17.0% (annualized), to $4.46 billion compared to $4.66 billion at March 31, 2021, primarily due to $271.9 million of paydowns on PPP loans partially offset by the origination of $42.7 million of PPP loans. Total loans at June 30, 2021 decreased $122.9 million, or 2.7%, compared to $4.58 billion at June 30, 2020. Core loans, which exclude PPP loans, increased $30.8 million, or 3.1% (annualized), to $3.96 billion at June 30, 2021 from $3.93 billion at March 31, 2021 and increased $73.7 million, or 1.9%, from $3.89 billion at June 30, 2020.

Deposits at June 30, 2021 increased $59.2 million, or 4.4% (annualized), to $5.43 billion compared to $5.37 billion at March 31, 2021 and increased $732.6 million, or 15.6%, compared to $4.70 billion at June 30, 2020.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets totaled $38.0 million, or 0.58%, of total assets, at June 30, 2021 compared to $35.6 million, or 0.55%, of total assets at March 31, 2021 and $45.1 million, or 0.77%, of total assets, at June 30, 2020. The allowance for credit losses on loans as a percentage of total loans was 1.11% at June 30, 2021 and 1.13% at March 31, 2021.

The recapture of provision for credit losses for the second quarter 2021 was $2.7 million compared to the provision for credit losses of $639 thousand for the first quarter 2021 and $10.7 million for the second quarter 2020 reflecting recent improvements in economic factors compared to prior quarters where there was more uncertainty surrounding unemployment, COVID-19 and effects related to sustained lower crude oil prices.

Second quarter 2021 net charge-offs were $162 thousand, or 0.01% (annualized) of average loans, a decrease from net charge-offs of $345 thousand, or 0.03% (annualized) of average loans, for the first quarter 2021 and $538 thousand, or 0.05% (annualized) of average loans, for the second quarter 2020.

The Company is carefully monitoring the hotel, restaurant and bar, and oil and gas portfolios, which it believes are at heightened risk due to the current economic environment. Loan balances in the hotel industry, excluding PPP loans, totaled $128.5 million, or 2.9% of total loans, at June 30, 2021, of which $10.5 million were on nonaccrual. At June 30, 2021, restaurant and bar industry loans, excluding PPP loans, totaled $114.3 million, or 2.6%, of total loans, of which $301 thousand were on nonaccrual. At June 30, 2021, the Company’s allowance for credit losses on loans allocated to its hotel portfolio was 3.7% of total hotel loans and its restaurant and bar portfolio was 1.3% of total restaurant and bar loans. The oil and gas portfolio, excluding PPP loans, totaled $73.0 million, or 1.6%, of total loans at June 30, 2021, of which $3.5 million were on nonaccrual. At June 30, 2021, the allowance for credit losses on loans allocated to the oil and gas loan portfolio was 2.3% of total oil and gas loans.

The Company granted initial principal and interest deferrals on outstanding loan balances to borrowers in connection with the COVID-19 relief provided by the CARES Act and subsequent deferrals upon request and after meeting certain conditions. These deferrals were generally no more than 90 days in duration. As of June 30, 2021, 43 loans with outstanding loan balances of $47.4 million remained on deferral.

Dividend

The Board of Directors of Allegiance has declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share to be paid on September 15, 2021 to all shareholders of record as of August 31, 2021. The amount and timing of any future dividend payments to shareholders will be subject to the discretion of Allegiance’s Board of Directors.

GAAP Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Allegiance’s management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate its performance. Please refer to the GAAP Reconciliation and Management’s Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures on page 11 of this earnings release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures.

Conference Call

As previously announced, Allegiance’s management team will host a conference call on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to discuss its second quarter 2021 results. Individuals and investment professionals may participate in the call by dialing (877) 279-2520. The conference ID number is 5047167. Alternatively, a simultaneous audio-only webcast may be accessed via the Investor Relations section of Allegiance’s website at www.allegiancebank.com , under Upcoming Events. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the webcast will be archived on the Investor Relations section of Allegiance’s website at www.allegiancebank.com , under News and Events, Event Calendar, Past Events.

Allegiance Bancshares, Inc.

As of June 30, 2021, Allegiance was a $6.51 billion asset Houston, Texas-based bank holding company. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Allegiance Bank, Allegiance provides a diversified range of commercial banking services primarily to small- to medium-sized businesses and individual customers in the Houston region. Allegiance’s super-community banking strategy was designed to foster strong customer relationships while benefiting from a platform and scale that is competitive with larger local and regional banks. As of June 30, 2021, Allegiance Bank operated 27 full-service banking locations in the Houston region, which we define as the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and Beaumont-Port Arthur metropolitan statistical areas, with 26 bank offices in the Houston metropolitan area and one bank office in Beaumont, just outside of the Houston metropolitan area. Visit www.allegiancebank.com for more information.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the securities laws that are derived utilizing assumptions, present expectations, estimates and projections about Allegiance and its subsidiaries. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “continues,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “potential,” “plans” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing words. Forward-looking statements include information concerning Allegiance’s expected future financial performance, business and growth strategy, projected plans and objectives, as well as projections of macroeconomic and industry trends, which are inherently unreliable due to the multiple factors that impact economic trends, and any such variations may be material. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of Allegiance’s control, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to whether Allegiance can: continue to develop and maintain new and existing customer and community relationships; successfully implement its growth strategy, including identifying suitable acquisition targets and integrating the businesses of acquired companies and banks; sustain its current internal growth rate; provide quality and competitive products and services that appeal to its customers; continue to have access to debt and equity capital markets; and achieve its performance objectives. Additionally, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and its future effects on Allegiance are difficult to predict. These and various other risk factors are discussed in Allegiance’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 and in other reports and statements Allegiance has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of such filings are available for download free of charge from the Investor Relations section of Allegiance’s website at www.allegiancebank.com , under Financial Information, SEC Filings. Any forward-looking statement made by Allegiance in this release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause Allegiance’s actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Allegiance to predict all of them. Because of these uncertainties, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. Allegiance disclaims any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

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(A) Interim periods annualized.
(B) Refer to the calculation of these non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures on page 11 of this Earnings Release.
(C) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
(D) Represents total noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income plus noninterest income, excluding net gains and losses on the sale of loans, securities and assets. Additionally, taxes and (recapture of) provision for loan losses are not part of this calculation.

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