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home / news releases / commerce bancshares inc reports first quarter earnin


CBSH - Commerce Bancshares Inc. Reports First Quarter Earnings Per Share of $.86

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced earnings of $.86 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $.91 per share in the same quarter last year and $.84 per share in the fourth quarter of 2023. Net income for the first quarter of 2024 amounted to $112.7 million, compared to $119.5 million in the first quarter of 2023 and $109.2 million in the prior quarter.

“Commerce delivered a strong financial performance for the first quarter,” said John Kemper, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our results are a reflection of fundamental strength and a diversified business model, and evidence of our ability to perform well through economic cycles.

“Although interest rates continue to be elevated and put downward pressure on bank balance sheets, Commerce's net interest income grew slightly over the previous quarter and our net interest margin expanded 16 basis points. Interest-bearing deposit costs increased just four basis points over the previous quarter, a product of our high-quality deposit franchise. Non-interest income comprised 37.4% of total revenue.

"Our liquidity and capital levels remain robust, and credit performance remains excellent, with non-accrual loans at .03% of total loans, down from .05% from the first quarter of last year."

First Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights:

  • Net interest income was $249.0 million, a $578 thousand increase over the prior quarter. The net yield on interest earning assets increased 16 basis points to 3.33%.
  • Non-interest income totaled $148.8 million, an increase of $11.2 million compared to the same quarter last year.
  • Trust fees grew $5.8 million, or 12.7% compared to the same period last year, mostly due to higher private client fees.
  • Non-interest expense totaled $245.7 million, an increase of $21.6 million compared to the same quarter last year and included a $10.0 million litigation settlement expense and a $4.0 million accrual adjustment to the FDIC's insurance special assessment.
  • Average loan balances totaled $17.1 billion and were flat compared to the prior quarter.
  • Total average available for sale debt securities decreased $116.6 million from the prior quarter to $9.5 billion, at fair value. During the first quarter of 2024, the unrealized loss on available for sale debt securities increased $27.2 million to $1.2 billion, at period end.
  • Total average deposits decreased $759.5 million, or 3.0%, compared to the prior quarter, and included $225.4 million of lower average brokered deposits, which paid off last quarter. The average rate paid on interest bearing deposits in the current quarter was 1.97%.
  • The ratio of annualized net loan charge-offs to average loans was .21% compared to .19% in the prior quarter.
  • The allowance for credit losses on loans decreased $1.9 million during the first quarter to $160.5 million, and the ratio of the allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans was .93% at March 31, 2024, compared to .94% at December 31, 2023.
  • Total assets at March 31, 2024 were $30.4 billion, a decrease of $1.3 billion, or 4.2%, compared to the prior quarter.
  • For the quarter, the return on average assets was 1.48%, the return on average equity was 15.39%, and the efficiency ratio was 61.7%.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. is a regional bank holding company offering a full line of banking services through its subsidiaries, including payment solutions, investment management and securities brokerage. One of its subsidiaries, Commerce Bank, leverages nearly 160 years of proven strength and experience to help individuals and businesses solve financial challenges. In addition to offering payment solutions across the U.S., Commerce Bank currently operates full-service banking facilities across the Midwest including the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas, Springfield, Central Missouri, Central Illinois, Wichita, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Denver. Beyond the Midwest, Commerce also maintains commercial offices in Dallas, Houston, Cincinnati, Nashville, Des Moines, Indianapolis, and Grand Rapids and wealth offices in Dallas, Houston, and Naples. Commerce delivers high-touch service and sophisticated financial solutions at regional branches, commercial and wealth offices, ATMs, online, mobile and through a 24/7 customer service line.

This financial news release and the supplementary Earnings Highlights presentation are available on the Company’s website at https://investor.commercebank.com/news-info/financial-news-releases/default.aspx .

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

For the Three Months Ended

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Mar. 31, 2024

Dec. 31, 2023

Mar. 31, 2023

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Net interest income

$248,999

$248,421

$251,623

Non-interest income

148,848

144,879

137,612

Total revenue

397,847

393,300

389,235

Investment securities gains (losses)

(259

)

7,601

(306

)

Provision for credit losses

4,787

5,879

11,456

Non-interest expense

245,697

251,254

224,107

Income before taxes

147,104

143,768

153,366

Income taxes

31,652

32,307

32,813

Non-controlling interest expense

2,789

2,238

1,101

Net income attributable to Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

$112,663

$109,223

$119,452

Earnings per common share:

Net income — basic

$0.87

$0.84

$0.91

Net income — diluted

$0.86

$0.84

$0.91

Effective tax rate

21.93

%

22.83

%

21.55

%

Fully-taxable equivalent net interest income

$251,312

$250,547

$253,411

Average total interest earning assets (1)

$30,365,774

$31,340,958

$31,568,594

Diluted wtd. average shares outstanding

129,185,903

129,608,322

130,471,930

RATIOS

Average loans to deposits (2)

69.87

%

67.69

%

64.99

%

Return on total average assets

1.48

1.38

1.54

Return on average equity (3)

15.39

16.48

18.75

Non-interest income to total revenue

37.41

36.84

35.35

Efficiency ratio (4)

61.67

63.80

57.49

Net yield on interest earning assets

3.33

3.17

3.26

EQUITY SUMMARY

Cash dividends per share

$.270

$.257

$.257

Cash dividends on common stock

$35,140

$33,574

$33,759

Book value per share (5)

$22.70

$22.77

$20.49

Market value per share (5)

$53.20

$53.41

$55.57

High market value per share

$55.64

$56.75

$66.86

Low market value per share

$49.44

$40.91

$53.07

Common shares outstanding (5)

129,694,606

130,176,048

130,956,746

Tangible common equity to tangible assets (6)

9.24

%

8.85

%

7.92

%

Tier I leverage ratio

11.75

%

11.25

%

10.61

%

OTHER QTD INFORMATION

Number of bank/ATM locations

254

257

275

Full-time equivalent employees

4,721

4,718

4,636

(1) Excludes allowance for credit losses on loans and unrealized gains/(losses) on available for sale debt securities.
(2) Includes loans held for sale.
(3) Annualized net income attributable to Commerce Bancshares, Inc. divided by average total equity.
(4) The efficiency ratio is calculated as non-interest expense (excluding intangibles amortization) as a percent of total revenue.
(5) As of period end.
(6) The tangible common equity ratio is a non-gaap ratio and is calculated as stockholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets (excluding mortgage servicing rights) divided by total assets reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets (excluding mortgage servicing rights).
All share and per share amounts have been restated to reflect the 5% stock dividend distributed in December 2023.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOM E

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

For the Three Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Dec. 31, 2023

Sep. 30, 2023

Jun. 30, 2023

Mar. 31, 2023

Interest income

$358,721

$362,609

$361,162

$348,663

$308,857

Interest expense

109,722

114,188

112,615

99,125

57,234

Net interest income

248,999

248,421

248,547

249,538

251,623

Provision for credit losses

4,787

5,879

11,645

6,471

11,456

Net interest income after credit losses

244,212

242,542

236,902

243,067

240,167

NON-INTEREST INCOME

Trust fees

51,105

49,154

49,207

47,265

45,328

Bank card transaction fees

46,930

47,878

46,899

49,725

46,654

Deposit account charges and other fees

24,151

23,517

23,090

22,633

21,752

Consumer brokerage services

4,408

3,641

3,820

4,677

5,085

Capital market fees

3,892

4,269

3,524

2,945

3,362

Loan fees and sales

3,141

2,875

2,966

2,735

2,589

Other

15,221

13,545

13,443

17,625

12,842

Total non-interest income

148,848

144,879

142,949

147,605

137,612

INVESTMENT SECURITIES GAINS (LOSSES), NET

(259

)

7,601

4,298

3,392

(306

)

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

Salaries and employee benefits

151,801

147,456

146,805

145,429

144,373

Data processing and software

31,153

31,141

30,744

28,719

28,154

Net occupancy

13,574

13,927

13,948

12,995

12,759

Deposit insurance

8,017

20,304

4,029

4,187

4,643

Equipment

5,010

5,137

4,697

4,864

4,850

Supplies and communication

4,744

5,242

4,963

4,625

4,590

Marketing

4,036

6,505

6,167

6,368

5,471

Other

27,362

21,542

16,657

20,424

19,267

Total non-interest expense

245,697

251,254

228,010

227,611

224,107

Income before income taxes

147,104

143,768

156,139

166,453

153,366

Less income taxes

31,652

32,307

33,439

35,990

32,813

Net income

115,452

111,461

122,700

130,463

120,553

Less non-controlling interest expense (income)

2,789

2,238

2,104

2,674

1,101

Net income attributable to Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

$112,663

$109,223

$120,596

$127,789

$119,452

Net income per common share — basic

$0.87

$0.84

$0.92

$0.97

$0.91

Net income per common share — diluted

$0.86

$0.84

$0.92

$0.97

$0.91

OTHER INFORMATION

Return on total average assets

1.48

%

1.38

%

1.49

%

1.56

%

1.54

%

Return on average equity (1)

15.39

16.48

17.73

18.81

18.75

Efficiency ratio (2)

61.67

63.80

58.15

57.22

57.49

Effective tax rate

21.93

22.83

21.71

21.97

21.55

Net yield on interest earning assets

3.33

3.17

3.11

3.12

3.26

Fully-taxable equivalent net interest income

$251,312

$250,547

$250,962

$251,757

$253,411

(1) Annualized net income attributable to Commerce Bancshares, Inc. divided by average total equity.

(2) The efficiency ratio is calculated as non-interest expense (excluding intangibles amortization) as a percent of total revenue.

The income statement above reflects the reclassification of non-interest income of $406 thousand and $1.1 million from other non-interest income to capital market fees for the second and third quarters of 2023.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - PERIOD END

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

Mar. 31, 2024

Dec. 31, 2023

Mar. 31, 2023

ASSETS

Loans

Business

$5,994,974

$6,019,036

$5,704,467

Real estate — construction and land

1,497,647

1,446,764

1,437,419

Real estate — business

3,711,602

3,719,306

3,486,543

Real estate — personal

3,039,885

3,026,041

2,952,042

Consumer

2,119,308

2,077,723

2,094,389

Revolving home equity

322,523

319,894

295,478

Consumer credit card

564,388

589,913

558,669

Overdrafts

48,513

6,802

6,515

Total loans

17,298,840

17,205,479

16,535,522

Allowance for credit losses on loans

(160,465

)

(162,395

)

(159,317

)

Net loans

17,138,375

17,043,084

16,376,205

Loans held for sale

2,328

4,177

6,162

Investment securities:

Available for sale debt securities

9,141,695

9,684,760

11,228,616

Trading debt securities

56,716

28,830

41,584

Equity securities

12,852

12,701

12,528

Other securities

229,146

222,473

268,417

Total investment securities

9,440,409

9,948,764

11,551,145

Federal funds sold

5,025

27,060

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

225,000

450,000

825,000

Interest earning deposits with banks

1,609,614

2,239,010

1,341,854

Cash and due from banks

291,040

443,147

351,210

Premises and equipment — net

467,377

469,059

428,169

Goodwill

146,539

146,539

138,921

Other intangible assets — net

13,918

14,179

14,918

Other assets

1,037,508

938,077

944,212

Total assets

$30,372,108

$31,701,061

$32,004,856

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Deposits:

Non-interest bearing

$7,513,464

$7,975,935

$8,685,234

Savings, interest checking and money market

14,463,211

14,512,273

14,419,741

Certificates of deposit of less than $100,000

997,979

930,432

468,667

Certificates of deposit of $100,000 and over

1,465,541

1,945,258

1,109,818

Total deposits

24,440,195

25,363,898

24,683,460

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

2,505,576

2,908,815

2,784,559

Other borrowings

2,359

1,404

1,507,776

Other liabilities

460,089

462,714

346,649

Total liabilities

27,408,219

28,736,831

29,322,444

Stockholders’ equity:

Common stock

655,322

655,322

629,319

Capital surplus

3,148,649

3,162,622

2,919,060

Retained earnings

130,706

53,183

117,313

Treasury stock

(59,674

)

(35,599

)

(59,670

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

(931,027

)

(891,412

)

(940,498

)

Total stockholders’ equity

2,943,976

2,944,116

2,665,524

Non-controlling interest

19,913

20,114

16,888

Total equity

2,963,889

2,964,230

2,682,412

Total liabilities and equity

$30,372,108

$31,701,061

$32,004,856

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

For the Three Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Dec. 31, 2023

Sep. 30, 2023

Jun. 30, 2023

Mar. 31, 2023

ASSETS:

Loans:

Business

$5,873,525

$5,861,229

$5,849,227

$5,757,388

$5,656,104

Real estate — construction and land

1,472,554

1,523,682

1,508,850

1,450,196

1,410,835

Real estate — business

3,727,643

3,644,589

3,642,010

3,540,851

3,478,382

Real estate — personal

3,031,193

3,027,664

2,992,500

2,960,962

2,933,750

Consumer

2,082,490

2,117,268

2,102,281

2,098,523

2,067,385

Revolving home equity

322,074

310,282

304,055

300,623

296,748

Consumer credit card

562,892

568,112

564,039

555,875

556,223

Overdrafts

7,696

5,258

5,341

4,630

4,449

Total loans

17,080,067

17,058,084

16,968,303

16,669,048

16,403,876

Allowance for credit losses on loans

(161,891

)

(161,932

)

(158,335

)

(159,068

)

(150,117

)

Net loans

16,918,176

16,896,152

16,809,968

16,509,980

16,253,759

Loans held for sale

2,149

5,392

5,714

5,957

5,708

Investment securities:

U.S. government and federal agency obligations

851,656

889,390

986,284

1,035,651

1,099,067

Government-sponsored enterprise obligations

55,652

55,661

55,676

55,751

87,086

State and municipal obligations

1,330,808

1,363,649

1,391,541

1,532,519

1,793,756

Mortgage-backed securities

5,902,328

6,022,502

6,161,348

6,316,224

6,454,408

Asset-backed securities

2,085,050

2,325,089

2,553,562

2,827,911

3,233,757

Other debt securities

503,204

510,721

514,787

519,988

528,941

Unrealized gain (loss) on debt securities

(1,274,125

)

(1,595,845

)

(1,458,141

)

(1,331,002

)

(1,387,196

)

Total available for sale debt securities

9,454,573

9,571,167

10,205,057

10,957,042

11,809,819

Trading debt securities

40,483

37,234

35,044

46,493

45,757

Equity securities

12,768

12,249

12,230

12,335

12,458

Other securities

221,695

222,378

237,518

273,587

229,867

Total investment securities

9,729,519

9,843,028

10,489,849

11,289,457

12,097,901

Federal funds sold

599

1,194

2,722

7,484

38,978

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

340,934

450,000

712,472

824,974

825,000

Interest earning deposits with banks

1,938,381

2,387,415

2,337,744

2,284,162

809,935

Other assets

1,715,716

1,797,849

1,750,222

1,941,340

1,376,551

Total assets

$30,645,474

$31,381,030

$32,108,691

$32,863,354

$31,407,832

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:

Non-interest bearing deposits

$7,328,603

$7,748,654

$7,939,190

$8,224,475

$9,114,512

Savings

1,333,983

1,357,733

1,436,149

1,516,887

1,550,215

Interest checking and money market

13,215,270

13,166,783

13,048,199

12,918,399

13,265,485

Certificates of deposit of less than $100,000

976,804

1,097,224

1,423,965

1,075,110

415,367

Certificates of deposit of $100,000 and over

1,595,310

1,839,057

1,718,126

1,472,208

903,393

Total deposits

24,449,970

25,209,451

25,565,629

25,207,079

25,248,972

Borrowings:

Federal funds purchased

328,216

473,534

508,851

507,165

493,721

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

2,511,959

2,467,118

2,283,020

2,206,612

2,418,726

Other borrowings

76

179,587

685,222

1,617,952

551,267

Total borrowings

2,840,251

3,120,239

3,477,093

4,331,729

3,463,714

Other liabilities

410,310

421,402

367,741

598,915

112,052

Total liabilities

27,700,531

28,751,092

29,410,463

30,137,723

28,824,738

Equity

2,944,943

2,629,938

2,698,228

2,725,631

2,583,094

Total liabilities and equity

$30,645,474

$31,381,030

$32,108,691

$32,863,354

$31,407,832

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

AVERAGE RATES

(Unaudited)

For the Three Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Dec. 31, 2023

Sep. 30, 2023

Jun. 30, 2023

Mar. 31, 2023

ASSETS:

Loans:

Business (1)

6.07

%

5.91

%

5.77

%

5.58

%

5.31

%

Real estate — construction and land

8.40

8.34

8.17

7.92

7.33

Real estate — business

6.26

6.18

6.13

5.96

5.65

Real estate — personal

3.95

3.85

3.73

3.68

3.61

Consumer

6.40

6.21

5.97

5.63

5.31

Revolving home equity

7.70

7.70

7.76

7.55

7.03

Consumer credit card

14.11

13.83

13.77

13.77

13.68

Overdrafts

Total loans

6.27

6.15

6.02

5.84

5.56

Loans held for sale

7.49

9.93

10.55

10.17

10.30

Investment securities:

U.S. government and federal agency obligations

2.08

2.32

2.31

3.42

1.90

Government-sponsored enterprise obligations

2.39

2.36

2.36

2.38

3.21

State and municipal obligations (1)

1.97

1.94

1.95

2.04

2.26

Mortgage-backed securities

2.19

2.05

2.06

2.09

2.06

Asset-backed securities

2.39

2.30

2.20

2.08

2.01

Other debt securities

1.93

1.85

1.75

1.86

1.93

Total available for sale debt securities

2.18

2.10

2.08

2.19

2.07

Trading debt securities (1)

5.30

5.05

5.11

4.53

4.59

Equity securities (1)

25.64

27.47

23.06

23.25

23.24

Other securities (1)

13.04

8.60

13.13

9.40

7.11

Total investment securities

2.44

2.27

2.33

2.37

2.18

Federal funds sold

6.71

6.65

6.56

5.63

5.09

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

1.93

1.64

2.08

1.99

1.94

Interest earning deposits with banks

5.48

5.47

5.39

5.14

4.67

Total interest earning assets

4.78

4.62

4.51

4.34

4.00

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:

Interest bearing deposits:

Savings

.06

.05

.05

.05

.05

Interest checking and money market

1.69

1.57

1.33

.93

.61

Certificates of deposit of less than $100,000

4.20

4.21

4.32

3.78

1.39

Certificates of deposit of $100,000 and over

4.56

4.55

4.37

3.93

2.98

Total interest bearing deposits

1.97

1.93

1.76

1.29

.71

Borrowings:

Federal funds purchased

5.42

5.40

5.33

5.06

4.59

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

3.43

3.25

3.20

3.09

2.93

Other borrowings

5.45

5.30

5.24

4.94

Total borrowings

3.66

3.71

3.93

4.13

3.49

Total interest bearing liabilities

2.21

%

2.20

%

2.12

%

1.87

%

1.20

%

Net yield on interest earning assets

3.33

%

3.17

%

3.11

%

3.12

%

3.26

%

(1) Stated on a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21%.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

CREDIT QUALITY

For the Three Months Ended

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except ratios)

Mar. 31, 2024

Dec. 31, 2023

Sep. 30, 2023

Jun. 30, 2023

Mar. 31, 2023

ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES ON LOANS

Balance at beginning of period

$162,395

$162,244

$158,685

$159,317

$150,136

Provision for credit losses on loans

6,947

8,170

13,343

5,864

15,948

Net charge-offs (recoveries):

Commercial portfolio:

Business

23

96

2,613

165

230

Real estate — construction and land

(115

)

Real estate — business

(141

)

128

(15

)

(5

)

(4

)

(118

)

224

2,598

45

226

Personal banking portfolio:

Consumer credit card

6,435

5,325

4,716

4,687

4,325

Consumer

1,983

1,903

1,797

1,273

1,275

Overdraft

557

588

683

517

978

Real estate — personal

24

(11

)

(9

)

(6

)

(11

)

Revolving home equity

(4

)

(10

)

(1

)

(20

)

(26

)

8,995

7,795

7,186

6,451

6,541

Total net loan charge-offs

8,877

8,019

9,784

6,496

6,767

Balance at end of period

$160,465

$162,395

$162,244

$158,685

$159,317

LIABILITY FOR UNFUNDED LENDING COMMITMENTS

$23,086

$25,246

$27,537

$29,235

$28,628

NET CHARGE-OFF RATIOS (1)

Commercial portfolio:

Business

%

.01

%

.18

%

.01

%

.02

%

Real estate — construction and land

(.03

)

Real estate — business

(.02

)

.01

.01

.09

.01

Personal banking portfolio:

Consumer credit card

4.60

3.72

3.32

3.38

3.15

Consumer

.38

.36

.34

.24

.25

Overdraft

29.11

44.37

50.73

44.79

89.15

Real estate — personal

Revolving home equity

(.01

)

(.03

)

(.04

)

.60

.51

.48

.44

.45

Total

.21

%

.19

%

.23

%

.16

%

.17

%

CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS

Non-accrual loans to total loans

.03

%

.04

%

.05

%

.04

%

.05

%

Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans

.93

.94

.95

.94

.96

NON-ACCRUAL AND PAST DUE LOANS

Non-accrual loans:

Business

$1,038

$3,622

$6,602

$4,732

$6,361

Real estate — business

1,246

60

76

153

171

Real estate — personal

1,523

1,653

1,531

1,276

1,269

Revolving home equity

1,977

1,977

Total

5,784

7,312

8,209

6,161

7,801

Loans past due 90 days and still accruing interest

$20,281

$21,864

$18,580

$15,351

$14,800

(1) Net charge-offs are annualized and calculated as a percentage of average loans (excluding loans held for sale).

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Management Discussion of First Quarter Results

March 31, 2024

For the quarter ended March 31, 2024, net income amounted to $112.7 million, compared to $109.2 million in the previous quarter and $119.5 million in the same quarter last year. The increase in net income compared to the previous quarter was primarily the result of lower non-interest expense and higher non-interest income, partly offset by net losses on investment securities. The net yield on interest earning assets increased 16 basis points over the previous quarter to 3.33%. Average loans increased $22.0 million over the previous quarter, while average deposits, borrowings and available for sale debt securities, at fair value, declined $759.5 million, $280.0 million, and $116.6 million, respectively. For the quarter, the return on average assets was 1.48%, the return on average equity was 15.39%, and the efficiency ratio was 61.7%.

Balance Sheet Review

During the 1 st quarter of 2024, average loans totaled $17.1 billion, an increase of $22.0 million over the prior quarter, and increased $676.2 million, or 4.1%, over the same quarter last year. Compared to the previous quarter, average balances of business real estate loans grew $83.1 million, while construction and consumer loans declined $51.1 million and $34.8 million, respectively. During the current quarter, the Company sold certain fixed rate personal real estate loans totaling $7.4 million, compared to $8.7 million in the prior quarter.

Total average available for sale debt securities decreased $116.6 million compared to the previous quarter to $9.5 billion, at fair value. The decrease in debt securities was mainly the result of lower average balances of asset-backed securities. During the 1 st quarter of 2024, the unrealized loss on available for sale securities increased $27.2 million to $1.2 billion, at period end. Also during the 1 st quarter of 2024, purchases of securities totaled $145.7 million with a weighted average yield of approximately 4.65%, and sales, maturities and pay downs were $655.0 million. At March 31, 2024, the duration of the available for sale investment portfolio was 4.2 years, and maturities and pay downs of approximately $1.6 billion are expected to occur during the next 12 months. The Company does not have any investment securities classified as held-to-maturity.

Total average deposits decreased $759.5 million this quarter compared to the previous quarter. The decrease in deposits mostly resulted from lower average demand deposits of $420.1 million and lower average certificates of deposit of $364.2 million, which included lower brokered deposits of $225.4 million. Compared to the previous quarter, total average commercial deposits declined $743.8 million, while consumer and wealth deposits increased $138.8 million and $71.8 million, respectively. The average loans to deposits ratio was 69.9% in the current quarter and 67.7% in the prior quarter. The Company’s average borrowings, which included average customer repurchase agreements of $2.5 billion, decreased $280.0 million to $2.8 billion in the 1 st quarter of 2024, mostly due to a decline of $179.3 million in average Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) borrowings.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income in the 1 st quarter of 2024 amounted to $249.0 million, an increase of $578 thousand compared to the previous quarter. On a fully taxable-equivalent (FTE) basis, net interest income for the current quarter increased $765 thousand over the previous quarter to $251.3 million. The increase in net interest income was mostly due to higher interest earned on loans and investment securities and lower interest expense on deposits and borrowings, partly offset by lower interest income earned on deposits with banks. The net yield (FTE) on earning assets increased to 3.33%, from 3.17% in the prior quarter.

Compared to the previous quarter, interest income on loans (FTE) increased $1.7 million, mostly due to higher average rates earned on business, consumer, and personal real estate loans. Interest income on loans also increased due to higher balances of business real estate loans, largely offset by lower balances of construction loans. The average yield (FTE) on the loan portfolio increased 12 basis points to 6.27% this quarter.

Interest income on investment securities (FTE) increased $1.3 million compared to the prior quarter, mostly due to higher rates earned on other debt securities, partly offset by lower average balances of available for sale debt securities. Interest on other debt securities included dividend payments of $3.4 million from the Company’s private equity investments. Interest income earned on U.S. government and federal agency securities decreased due to lower average balances and lower average rates, which included the impact of $1.7 million in lower inflation income from Treasury inflation-protected securities this quarter. Additionally, the Company recorded a $2.0 million adjustment to premium amortization at March 31, 2024, which increased interest income to reflect slower forward prepayment speed estimates on mortgage-backed securities and was higher than the $629 thousand adjustment that increased interest income in the prior quarter. The average yield (FTE) on total investment securities was 2.44% in the current quarter, compared to 2.27% in the previous quarter.

Compared to the previous quarter, interest income on deposits with banks decreased $6.5 million, mostly due to $449.0 million of lower average balances.

Interest expense decreased $4.5 million, mostly due to lower average balances of borrowings and deposits, partly offset by higher rates paid. The average rate paid on interest bearing deposits totaled 1.97% in the current quarter compared to 1.93% in the prior quarter. Interest expense on deposits decreased $1.2 million this quarter compared to the previous quarter. Interest expense on borrowings decreased $3.3 million, mostly due to a decline in average FHLB borrowings of $179.3 million and lower average balances of federal funds purchased. The overall rate paid on interest bearing liabilities was 2.21% in the current quarter compared to 2.20% in the prior quarter.

Non-Interest Income

In the 1st quarter of 2024, total non-interest income amounted to $148.8 million, an increase of $11.2 million compared to the same period last year and an increase of $4.0 million compared to the prior quarter. The increase in non-interest income compared to the same period last year was mainly due to higher trust fees, deposit account fees, and tax credit sales income. The increase in non-interest income compared to the prior quarter was mainly due to higher trust fees, brokerage fees, and tax credit sales income, partly offset by lower bank card fees.

Total net bank card fees in the current quarter increased $276 thousand, or .6%, compared to the same period last year, and decreased $948 thousand compared to the prior quarter. Net corporate card fees increased $164 thousand, or .6%, over the same quarter of last year mainly due to higher interchange fees, partly offset by higher rewards expense. Net debit card fees increased $118 thousand, or 1.1%, mostly due to lower network expense. Net merchant fees decreased $104 thousand, or 1.9%, while net credit card fees increased $98 thousand, or 2.7%. Total net bank card fees this quarter were comprised of fees on corporate card ($27.5 million), debit card ($10.4 million), merchant ($5.2 million) and credit card ($3.8 million) transactions.

In the current quarter, trust fees increased $5.8 million, or 12.7%, over the same period last year, mostly resulting from higher private client trust fees. Compared to the same period last year, deposit account fees increased $2.4 million, or 11.0%, mostly due to higher corporate cash management fees. Consumer brokerage fees decreased $677 thousand, or 13.3%.

Other non-interest income increased compared to the same period last year primarily due to higher tax credit sales income of $1.5 million and cash sweep fees of $731 thousand. For the 1 st quarter of 2024, non-interest income comprised 37.4% of the Company’s total revenue.

Investment Securities Gains and Losses

The Company recorded net securities losses of $259 thousand in the current quarter, compared to gains of $7.6 million in the prior quarter and losses of $306 thousand in the 1 st quarter of 2023. Net securities losses in the current quarter primarily resulted from losses of $8.5 million realized on available for sale debt securities, partly offset by net fair value gains of $7.1 million in the Company’s portfolio of private equity investments.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense for the current quarter amounted to $245.7 million, compared to $224.1 million in the same period last year and $251.3 million in the prior quarter. The increase in non-interest expense compared to the same period last year was mainly due to litigation settlement expense as well as higher salaries and employee benefits expense, FDIC insurance expense, and data processing and software expense, partly offset by lower marketing expense. The decrease in non-interest expense compared to the prior quarter was mainly due to lower FDIC insurance expense and marketing expense, partly offset by higher litigation settlement expense and employee benefits expense.

Compared to the 1 st quarter of last year, salaries and employee benefits expense increased $7.4 million, or 5.1%, mostly due to higher full-time salaries expense of $5.8 million and higher employee benefits expense of $1.3 million. Full-time equivalent employees totaled 4,721 and 4,636 at March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Compared to the same period last year, data processing and software expense increased $3.0 million due to higher bank card fees expense and increased costs for service providers. FDIC insurance expense increased $3.4 million, due to a $4.0 million accrual adjustment in the current quarter to the special assessment by the FDIC to replenish the Deposit Insurance Fund. These increases in expense were partly offset by lower marketing expense of $1.4 million. Other non-interest expense increased mainly due to $10.0 million in litigation settlement costs.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the Company was 21.9% in the current quarter, 22.8% in the previous quarter, and 21.6% in the 1 st quarter of 2023.

Credit Quality

Net loan charge-offs in the 1 st quarter of 2024 amounted to $8.9 million, compared to $8.0 million in the prior quarter and $6.8 million in the same period last year. The ratio of annualized net loan charge-offs to total average loans was .21% in the current quarter, .19% in the previous quarter, and .17% in the 1 st quarter of last year. Compared to the prior quarter, net loan charge-offs on personal banking loans increased $1.2 million to $9.0 million, mainly due to $1.1 million of higher consumer credit card loan net charge-offs.

In the 1 st quarter of 2024, annualized net loan charge-offs on average consumer credit card loans were 4.60%, compared to 3.72% in the previous quarter, and 3.15% in the same quarter last year. Consumer loan net charge-offs were .38% of average consumer loans in the current quarter, .36% in the prior quarter, and .25% in the same quarter last year.

At March 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses on loans totaled $160.5 million, or .93% of total loans, and decreased $1.9 million compared to the prior quarter. Additionally, the liability for unfunded lending commitments at March 31, 2024 was $23.1 million, a decrease of $2.2 million compared to the liability at December 31, 2023.

At March 31, 2024, total non-accrual loans amounted to $5.8 million, a decrease of $1.5 million compared to the previous quarter. At March 31, 2024, the balance of non-accrual loans, which represented .03% of loans outstanding, included business loans of $1.0 million, revolving home equity loans of $2.0 million, personal real estate loans of $1.5 million, and business real estate loans of $1.2 million. Loans more than 90 days past due and still accruing interest totaled $20.3 million at March 31, 2024.

Other

During the 1 st quarter of 2024, the Company paid a cash dividend of $.27 per common share, representing a 5.1% increase over the same period last year. The Company purchased 806,217 shares of treasury stock during the current quarter at an average price of $52.13.

The Company owns 823,447 shares of Visa Class B-1 common stock, carried at zero value on the Company’s balance sheet as of March 31, 2024. On April 8, 2024, Visa, Inc. (“Visa”) announced the commencement of a public offering to exchange Class B-1 common stock for a combination of shares of Class B-2 common stock and Class C common stock (“Exchange Offer”). The Company tendered all of its Visa Class B-1 shares and is awaiting notification of acceptance of that tender and the closing of the Exchange Offer. If the Company’s tendered shares are accepted and the exchange occurs in the second quarter of 2024, the Company expects to record a significant gain during the second quarter of 2024 based on the conversion privilege of the Class C common stock and the closing price of Visa Class A common stock. A full description of the terms of the Exchange Offer is set forth in Visa’s related Issuer Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO and Prospectus, each dated April 8, 2024, publicly filed with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward Looking Information

This information contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include future financial and operating results, expectations, intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240415507662/en/

Matt Burkemper, Investor Relations
(314) 746-7485
www.commercebank.com
matthew.burkemper@commercebank.com

Stock Information

Company Name: Commerce Bancshares Inc.
Stock Symbol: CBSH
Market: NASDAQ
Website: commercebank.com

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