ABTX - Allegiance Bancshares Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2022 Results

• Core loan growth of $112.1 million, or 10.7% (annualized), to $4.32 billion as of June 30, 2022 compared to $4.20 billion as of March 31, 2022 and $355.4 million, or 9.0%, compared to June 30, 2021; core loans exclude Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans
• Net income and diluted earnings per share of $16.4 million and $0.80 for the second quarter 2022, respectively
• Board declared quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share of common stock
  

HOUSTON, July 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABTX) (Allegiance), the holding company of Allegiance Bank (the "Bank"), today reported net income of $16.4 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.80 for the second quarter 2022 compared to net income of $22.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.12 for the second quarter 2021. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $35.1 million, or $1.71 per diluted share, compared to $40.9 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2022 results reflect the decreased impact of PPP loan revenue and included a normalized provision for credit losses compared to the recapture of provision for credit losses during the comparable periods in 2021. Additionally, noninterest expenses were elevated due to acquisition and merger-related expenses related to the pending merger of equals with CBTX, Inc. (“CBTX”) and increased operational losses recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.

“We are pleased with the overall results for the second quarter as we reported another record quarter of loan originations as core loans grew 10.7% (annualized),” said Steve Retzloff, Allegiance’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our team remains focused on delivering excellent customer service and our commitment to the communities we serve,” continued Retzloff.

“We continue to make significant progress developing the foundation for our pending merger of equals with CBTX. We are excited to have received approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Texas Department of Banking along with the shareholders of both companies who supported the merger at their respective meetings during the quarter and look forward to continuing to drive and deliver strong performance results for them as a combined institution,” concluded Retzloff.

Second Quarter 2022 Results

Net interest income before the provision for credit losses in the second quarter 2022 increased $886 thousand, or 1.6%, to $57.5 million from $56.6 million for the second quarter 2021 and increased $2.3 million, or 4.2%, from $55.2 million for the first quarter 2022. These increases were primarily due to increased interest income on securities partially offset by decreased interest income on loans due to decreased impact of loans within the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and changes in market interest rates. The net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis decreased 49 basis points to 3.53% for the second quarter 2022 from 4.02% for the second quarter 2021 and increased 23 basis points from 3.30% for the first quarter 2022. The decrease in the margin over the prior year was primarily due to the decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets, driven by decreased PPP revenue recognition and changes in the composition of earnings assets, partially offset by the decrease in funding costs. PPP revenue of $1.4 million was recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the $6.4 million recognized for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The increase in the margin over the prior quarter was primarily due to changes in market interest rates and the composition of earnings assets.

Noninterest income for the second quarter 2022 was $2.7 million, an increase of $431 thousand, or 19.0%, compared to $2.3 million for the second quarter 2021 and a decrease of $1.3 million, or 32.7%, compared to $4.0 million for the first quarter 2022. First quarter 2022 other noninterest income included $1.3 million in income from Small Business Investment Company investments.

Noninterest expense for the second quarter 2022 increased $4.3 million, or 12.8%, to $37.9 million from $33.6 million for the second quarter 2021 and increased $3.4 million, or 9.8%, compared to the first quarter of 2022. These increases in noninterest expense over the prior periods were primarily due to acquisition and merger-related expenses associated with the pending merger with CBTX along with increased operational losses recorded during the second quarter 2022.

In the second quarter 2022, Allegiance’s efficiency ratio increased to 62.96% compared to 57.07% for the second quarter 2021 and 58.32% for the first quarter 2022. Second quarter 2022 annualized returns on average assets, average equity and average tangible equity were 0.94%, 8.86% and 13.00%, respectively, compared to 1.42%, 11.87% and 17.20% for the second quarter 2021. Annualized returns on average assets, average equity and average tangible equity for the first quarter 2022 were 1.04%, 9.40% and 13.35%, 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, 2022 Results

Net interest income before provision for credit losses for the six months ended June 30, 2022 increased $360 thousand, or 0.3%, to $112.7 million from $112.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 primarily due to lower costs related to interest-bearing liabilities and higher interest income from securities and deposits in other financial institutions, partially offset by the decreased impact of PPP loan revenue. The net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis decreased 69 basis points to 3.41% for the six months ended June 30, 2022 from 4.10% for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease in the margin over the prior year was primarily due to the decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets, driven by decreased PPP revenue recognition and changes in the composition of earnings assets, partially offset by decreased funding costs. PPP revenue of $4.0 million was recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the $13.3 million recognized for the same period in 2021.

Noninterest income for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $6.7 million, an increase of $2.7 million, or 67.7%, compared to $4.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 due primarily to $1.3 million in income from Small Business Investment Company investments along with increased transactional fee income.

Noninterest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2022 increased $3.9 million, or 5.7%, to $72.4 million from $68.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The increase in noninterest expense over the six months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily due to acquisition and merger-related expenses associated with the pending merger with CBTX and increased operational losses recorded during 2022.

Allegiance’s efficiency ratio increased to 60.66% for the six months ended June 30, 2022 from 58.93% for the six months ended June 30, 2021. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, returns on average assets, average equity and average tangible equity were 0.99%, 9.14% and 13.19%, respectively, compared to 1.30%, 10.75% and 15.65%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2021. 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, 2022 increased $223.1 million, or 3.4%, to $6.73 billion compared to $6.51 billion at June 30, 2021 and decreased $417.6 million, or 23.4% (annualized), compared to $7.15 billion at March 31, 2022.

Total loans at June 30, 2022 decreased $111.9 million, or 2.5%, to $4.35 billion compared to $4.46 billion at June 30, 2021, primarily due to paydowns on PPP loans partially offset by organic loan growth, and increased $65.3 million, or 6.1% (annualized) compared to $4.28 billion at March 31, 2022 due to the increase in organic core loans. Core loans, which exclude PPP loans, increased $355.4 million, or 9.0%, to $4.32 billion at June 30, 2022 from $3.96 billion at June 30, 2021 and increased $112.1 million, or 10.7% (annualized), from $4.20 billion at March 31, 2022.

Deposits at June 30, 2022 increased $447.3 million, or 8.2%, to $5.88 billion compared to $5.43 billion at June 30, 2021 and decreased $281.7 million, or 18.3% (annualized), compared to $6.16 billion at March 31, 2022.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets totaled $28.2 million, or 0.42% of total assets, at June 30, 2022 compared to $38.0 million, or 0.58% of total assets, at June 30, 2021 and $26.3 million, or 0.37% of total assets at March 31, 2022. The allowance for credit losses on loans as a percentage of total loans was 1.16% at June 30, 2022, 1.11% at June 30, 2021 and 1.15% at March 31, 2022.

The provision for credit losses for the second quarter 2022 was $2.1 million compared to the recapture of provision for credit losses of $2.7 million for the second quarter 2021 and the provision for credit losses of $1.8 million for the first quarter 2022.

Second quarter 2022 net charge-offs were $571 thousand, or 0.05% (annualized) of average loans, an increase of $409 thousand from net charge-offs of $162 thousand, or 0.01% (annualized) of average loans, for the second quarter 2021 and an increase of $254 thousand from $317 thousand, or 0.03% (annualized) of average loans, for the first quarter 2022.

Dividend

The Board of Directors of Allegiance declared a cash dividend on July 28, 2022 of $0.14 per share to be paid on September 15, 2022 to all shareholders of record as of August 31, 2022. The amount and timing of any future dividend payments to shareholders will be subject to the discretion of Allegiance’s Board of Directors.

Pending Merger

On November 8, 2021, Allegiance and CBTX jointly announced that they entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which the companies will combine in an all-stock merger of equals. Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, Allegiance shareholders will receive 1.4184 shares of CBTX, Inc. common stock for each share of Allegiance common stock they own. Following the completion of the merger, we estimate that former Allegiance shareholders will own approximately 54% and former CBTX shareholders will own approximately 46% of the combined company. The companies have received the requisite approvals from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Texas Department of Banking and both companies’ shareholders and, subject to receipt of the approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the satisfaction or in some cases waiver of the closing conditions, the parties anticipate closing in the third quarter of the year.

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 and webcast on Friday, July 29, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to discuss its second quarter 2022 results. Individuals and investment professionals may participate in the call by registering here . Once registered, a dial in number will be provided along with a unique PIN number. If you need assistance in obtaining a dial-in number, please contact ir@allegiancebank.com or 281-894-3200. 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, 2022, Allegiance was a $6.73 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, 2022, Allegiance Bank operated 26 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 25 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed merger of Allegiance and CBTX, including future financial and operating results, statements related to the expected timing of the completion of the merger, the combined company's plans, business and growth strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts, including 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. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “scheduled,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “potential,” “would,” or “continue” or negatives of such terms or other comparable terminology.

All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Allegiance or CBTX to differ materially from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: (1) the risk that the cost savings and any revenue synergies from the merger may not be fully realized or may take longer than anticipated to be realized; (2) disruption to the parties' businesses as a result of the pendency of the merger; (3) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (4) the risk that the integration of each party's operations will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected or that the parties are otherwise unable to successfully integrate each party's businesses into the other's businesses; (5) the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the merger; (6) the ability by each party to obtain required regulatory approvals of the merger (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the transaction); (7) reputational risk and the reaction of each company's customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners to the merger; (8) the failure of the closing conditions in the merger agreement to be satisfied, or any unexpected delay in closing the merger; (9) the possibility that the merger may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (10) the dilution caused by CBTX's issuance of additional shares of its common stock in the merger; (11) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions; and (12) other factors that may affect future results of Allegiance and CBTX including changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates and capital markets; inflation; customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; capital management activities; and other actions of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Texas Department of Banking and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.

Additional factors which could affect future results of Allegiance and CBTX can be found in Allegiance's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and CBTX's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, in each case filed with the SEC and available on the SEC's website at https://www.sec.gov. Each of Allegiance and CBTX disclaims any obligation and does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this communication, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by federal securities laws. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on such statements.

Allegiance Bancshares, Inc.
Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)

(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 provision for credit losses are not part of this calculation.