DCOMP - Dime Community Bancshares Inc. Increases Net Income Available to Common Stockholders By 160% Year-Over-Year

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Oct. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCOM) (the “Company” or “Dime” or “its”), the parent company of Dime Community Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income available to common stockholders of $36.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, or $0.89 per diluted common share, compared with net income available to common stockholders of $14.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, or $0.65 per diluted common share. For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, net income available to common stockholders was $49.5 million, or $1.19 per diluted common share.

Adjusted net income to common stockholders (non-GAAP) totaled $41.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, or $1.01 per diluted share ¹ . Adjusted net income to common stockholders includes the following primary adjustments:

• Branch restructuring costs: As previously disclosed, the Company combined five branch locations into other existing branches in October 2021; associated branch restructuring costs were $4.5 million during the quarter, pre-tax; and
• Merger expenses and transaction costs: The Company recorded merger expenses and transaction costs, associated with its February 2021 merger of equals transaction, of $2.5 million, pre-tax, during the quarter.

Kevin M. O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company, stated, “We continue to improve the quality of our deposit base, as evidenced by non-interest-bearing accounts growing to 36% of total deposits. Our high level of non-interest-bearing deposits, coupled with a balance sheet that does not rely on wholesale leverage, positions us well for the time when the Federal Reserve begins raising interest rates. In the third quarter, we saw a resumption of loan growth (excluding Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans) and we continue to maintain healthy pipelines. Finally, we continue to focus on prudent expense management as demonstrated by a core efficiency ratio of 47% for the third quarter.”

Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2021 Included:

• The non-interest-bearing deposits to total deposits ratio increased to 35.8% at September 30, 2021;
• The cost of deposits for the third quarter of 2021 declined to 0.13%;
• Total loans held for investment, net, excluding PPP loans increased by 4% on an annualized basis versus the linked quarter;
• The Company purchased 480,039 shares of its common stock, at a weighted average price of $32.15 per share;
• Non-performing assets represent only 0.28% of total assets as of September 30, 2021; and
• The Company’s Adjusted Pre-tax Pre-provision Net Revenue (“PPNR”) for the third quarter was $54.8 million compared to $52.7 million for the second quarter. ¹

¹ See reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure provided elsewhere herein.

Management’s Discussion of Quarterly Operating Results

The Company’s results of operations for the second and third quarters of 2021 include income for the full quarter from the merger with Bridge Bancorp, Inc. (“Bridge”). The Company’s historical information for the third quarter of 2020 does not include the historical GAAP results of Bridge.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the third quarter of 2021 was $94.8 million compared to $93.3 million for the second quarter of 2021 and $44.9 million for the third quarter of 2020.

The table below provides a reconciliation of the reported Net Interest Margin (“NIM”), the adjusted NIM excluding the impact of PPP loans, and the adjusted NIM excluding the combined impact of PPP loans and purchasing accounting accretion on the loan portfolio.

Loan Portfolio

The ending weighted average rate (“WAR”) on the total loan portfolio was 3.72% at September 30, 2021, a 6 basis point increase compared to the ending WAR on the total loan portfolio at June 30, 2021. Excluding the impact of PPP loans, the WAR on the loan portfolio was 3.76% at September 30, 2021, compared to 3.79% at June 30, 2021.

Outlined below are loan balances and WARs ⁽¹⁾ for the current quarter, linked quarter and prior year quarter.

Outlined below are the loan originations, excluding PPP, for the current quarter, linked quarter and prior year.

Deposits and Borrowed Funds

Total deposits decreased by $392.2 million on a linked quarter basis to $10.7 billion at September 30, 2021. The decline in total deposits was primarily due to the Company not renewing higher-cost certificates of deposit accounts. Mr. O’ Connor stated, “We continue to focus on reducing any high-rate, promotional or rate-sensitive deposits from our portfolio as we prepare for higher interest rates. The weighted average rate on our deposit portfolio declined to 0.11% at September 30, 2021.”

Non-interest-bearing deposits increased $132.8 million during the third quarter of 2021 to $3.8 billion at September 30, 2021, representing 35.8% of total deposits.

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had $311.7 million of certificates of deposits, with a weighted average rate of 0.33%, that were set to mature during the fourth quarter of 2021.

Total Federal Home Loan Bank advances were $25.0 million at September 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income was $9.7 million during the third quarter of 2021, $29.5 million during the second quarter of 2021, and $6.1 million during the third quarter of 2020. Excluding a $20.7 million gain on sale of PPP loans during the second quarter of 2021, adjusted non-interest income was $8.8 million during the second quarter of 2021. Excluding the gain on sale of securities and other assets, adjusted non-interest income was $5.9 million during the third quarter of 2020 (see “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” table at the end of this news release).

Non-Interest Expense

Total non-interest expense was $56.8 million during the third quarter of 2021, $54.9 million during the second quarter of 2021, and $24.9 million during the third quarter of 2020. Excluding the impact of merger expenses and transaction costs, branch restructuring costs, and amortization of other intangible assets, adjusted non-interest expense was $49.1 million during the third quarter of 2021, compared to $48.5 million during the second quarter of 2021, and $24.1 million during the third quarter of 2020 (see “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” table at the end of this news release).

The ratio of non-interest expense to average assets was 1.80% during the third quarter of 2021, compared to 1.72% during the linked quarter and 1.53% for the third quarter of 2020. Excluding the impact of merger expenses and transaction costs, branch restructuring costs, and amortization of other intangible assets, the ratio of adjusted non-interest expense to average assets was 1.56% during the third quarter of 2021, compared to 1.52% during the linked quarter and 1.48% for the third quarter of 2020 (see “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” table at the end of this news release).

The efficiency ratio was 54.3% during the third quarter of 2021, compared to 44.7% during the linked quarter and 48.6% during the third quarter of 2020. Excluding the impact of merger expenses and transaction costs, branch restructuring costs, and amortization of other intangible assets, the adjusted efficiency ratio was 46.9% during the third quarter of 2021, compared to 47.5% during the linked quarter and 47.3% during the third quarter of 2020 (see “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” table at the end of this news release).

Income Tax Expense

The reported effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2021 was 27.5%, compared to 28.9% for the second quarter of 2021, and 21.9% for the third quarter of 2020. The decrease in the effective tax rate during the third quarter of 2021 was primarily the result of the decrease in taxable income and lower non-deductible expenses during the period. The effective tax rate for the remainder of 2021 is expected to be approximately 27.5%.

Credit Quality

Non-performing loans at September 30, 2021 were $34.0 million, or 0.37% of total loans. Non-performing loans, excluding acquired PCD loans, would have been $30.1 million, or 0.34% of total loans excluding acquired PCD loans.

A credit loss recovery of $5.2 million was recorded during the third quarter of 2021, compared to a credit loss recovery of $4.2 million during the second quarter of 2021, and a credit loss provision of $5.9 million during the third quarter of 2020. The credit loss recovery of $5.2 million for the third quarter of 2021 was primarily associated with a reduction in reserves on acquired PCD loans, given the improvement in economic conditions since the time of the merger closing.

The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans was 0.88% at September 30, 2021 as compared to 0.97% at June 30, 2021 and 0.87% at September 30, 2020. Excluding PPP loans, the ratio of allowance for credit losses at September 30, 2021 would have been 0.89%.

Loans with Payment Deferrals

Full principal and interest (“P&I”) deferrals declined to $26.6 million and represented 0.3% of the total loan portfolio at September 30, 2021.

Capital Management

The Company’s regulatory capital ratios continued to be in excess of all applicable regulatory requirements.

Mr. O’Connor commented, “In August, our Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program which authorized the purchase of 5% of outstanding common stock. Our strong balance sheet and internal stress testing analysis results have allowed us to return excess capital to our shareholders. In the third quarter we repurchased 480,039 shares, totaling $15.4 million and we continue to be active on the repurchase front into the fourth quarter.”

Dividends per common share were $0.24 during the third quarter of 2021.

Book value per common share was $26.64 and tangible common book value per share (which represents common equity less goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by number of shares outstanding) was $22.60 at September 30, 2021 (see “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” tables at the end of this news release).

Including the impact of the remaining unrecognized fees on PPP loans, net of tax, adjusted tangible common book value per share would have been $22.61 (see “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” tables at the end of this news release).

Earnings Call Information

The Company will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. (ET) on October 29, 2021, during which Kevin M. O’Connor, CEO, will discuss the Company’s third quarter performance, with a question and answer session to follow. Dial-in information for the live call is 1-888-348-2672. Upon dialing in, request to be joined into Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. call with the conference operator.

The conference call will be simultaneously webcast (listen only), and archived for a period of one year, at https://services.choruscall.com/links/dcom211029.html. Dial-in information for the replay is 1-877-344-7529 using access code #10160977. Replay will be available October 29, 2021 (10:30 a.m.) through November 12, 2021 (11:59 p.m.).

ABOUT DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for Dime Community Bank, a New York State-chartered trust company with over $12.3 billion in assets and the number one deposit market share among community banks on Greater Long Island ⁽¹⁾ .

⁽¹⁾ Aggregate deposit market share for Kings, Queens, Nassau & Suffolk counties for community banks less than $20 billion in assets.

This news release contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). These statements may be identified by use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," “continue,” "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," “likely,” "may," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions.

Forward-looking statements are based upon various assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of management's experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors (many of which are beyond the Company's control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Factors that could affect our results include, without limitation, the following: the timing and occurrence or non-occurrence of events may be subject to circumstances beyond the Company’s control; there may be increases in competitive pressure among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions; changes in the interest rate environment may reduce interest margins; changes in deposit flows, loan demand or real estate values may adversely affect the business of the Company and/or the Bank; unanticipated or significant increases in loan losses may negatively affect the Company’s financial condition or results of operations; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines may cause the Company’s financial condition to be perceived differently; changes in corporate and/or individual income tax laws may adversely affect the Company's financial condition or results of operations; general economic conditions, either nationally or locally in some or all areas in which the Company conducts business, or conditions in the securities markets or the banking industry may be less favorable than the Company currently anticipates; legislation or regulatory changes may adversely affect the Company’s business; technological changes may be more difficult or expensive than the Company anticipates; there may be failures or breaches of information technology security systems; success or consummation of new business initiatives may be more difficult or expensive than the Company anticipates; and litigation or other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future, may delay the occurrence or non-occurrence of events longer than the Company anticipates. Further, given its ongoing and dynamic nature, it is difficult to predict what effects the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our business and results of operations. The pandemic and related local and national economic disruption may, among other effects, result in a decline in demand for our products and services; increased levels of loan delinquencies, problem assets and foreclosures; branch closures, work stoppages and unavailability of personnel; and increased cybersecurity risks, as employees increasingly work remotely.

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