FFNW - First Financial Northwest Inc. Reports Net Income of $1.5 Million or $0.16 per Diluted Share for the Second Quarter Ended June 30 2023  

RENTON, Washington, July 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Financial Northwest, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ GS: FFNW), the holding company for First Financial Northwest Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, of $1.5 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to $2.1 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and $2.8 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, net income was $3.6 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.1 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, for the comparable six-month period in 2022.

“The Bank first opened for business in July 1923, and we are honoring our 100 years of service to the community in several ways. We hosted events with customers, prospects and business associates and held community events at designated branches during the quarter. We expanded our social media outreach to highlight our exceptional history of delivering personalized financial services that provide unique, innovative solutions to our customers, including a video interview spotlighting H. A. “Harry” Blencoe, who served as Chairman of the Board and CEO from 1961 to 2005 and who celebrated his 99 ^th birthday earlier this year. We also distributed tokens of our appreciation to our largest loan and deposit customers, as well as to each of our employees, as a special thank you for their continued support during the Bank’s 100-year anniversary,” stated Joseph W. Kiley III, President and CEO.

“Our financial results were affected during the quarter as a result of recognizing $419,200 in legal, accounting and other fees related to the unsuccessful negotiation of a potential business combination with another financial institution. Despite our best efforts, the parties were unable to come to a mutual agreement on the terms of merger,” stated Kiley.

“Credit quality at June 30, 2023, remained strong, with nonperforming assets totaling just $201,000 and additional loan delinquencies of only $175,000 on total loans receivable of $1.2 billion. A reduction in loans receivable during the quarter and a credit upgrade to a $2.1 million commercial real estate loan allowed the Company to recognize a $400,000 recapture of its provision for credit losses during the quarter,” continued Kiley.

“Competition for deposits continues to adversely impact our cost of funds. We continue to work to grow deposits throughout our branch network and are thankful for our loyal customer base. Our level of uninsured deposits was reduced to 21.5% at quarter end, down from 23.6% of deposits at March 31, 2023 and 27.4% at the end of 2022. I am truly appreciative of the efforts of our employees in assisting customers to maximize the coverage on their deposits,” concluded Kiley.

Highlights for the quarter ended June 30, 2023:

• The Company paid a regular quarterly cash dividend to shareholders of $0.13 per share.
• The Bank’s Tier 1 leverage and total capital ratios were 10.0% and 15.8% at June 30, 2023, compared to 10.2% and 15.6% at March 31, 2023, and 10.5% and 15.5% at June 30, 2022, respectively.
• Credit quality remained strong with nonperforming assets of $201,000, or 0.01% of total assets.
• Based on management’s evaluation of the adequacy of the Allowance for Credit Losses (“ACL”) at June 30, 2023, the Company recognized a $400,000 recapture of provision for credit losses during the quarter.

Deposits totaled $1.22 billion at June 30, 2023, compared to $1.23 billion at March 31, 2023, and $1.18 billion at June 30, 2022. Total deposits decreased $2.2 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023. We continued to see customers shift funds from money market accounts into retail certificates of deposit, with the $16.5 million decrease in money market balances more than offset by the $27.0 million increase in retail certificates of deposit. The primary reason for the slight reduction in deposits during the quarter was our decision to reduce our balances of brokered deposits by $15.0 million. At June 30, 2023, the Company held $43.0 million in interest-earning deposits that can be used to fund loan growth or further reduce brokered deposits and/or other wholesale liabilities in future periods, compared to $71.0 million at March 31, 2023, and $26.2 million at June 30, 2022.

The following table presents a breakdown of our total deposits (unaudited):

The following tables present an analysis of total deposits by branch office (unaudited):

Net loans receivable totaled $1.17 billion at June 30, 2023, compared to $1.18 billion at March 31, 2023, and $1.12 billion at June 30, 2022. At June 30, 2023, loan totals were down across all categories except consumer loans which increased by $2.3 million. The average balance of net loans receivable totaled $1.18 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $1.17 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and $1.12 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

The ACL to total loans was 1.31% and 1.33% at June 30, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively, compared to allowance for loan and lease losses (“ALLL”) to total loans receivable of 1.33% at June 30, 2022.

There was $201,000 in nonperforming loans at June 30, 2023, compared to $193,000 at March 31, 2023, and none at June 30, 2022. There was no other real estate owned (“OREO”) at June 30, 2023, March 31, 2023, and June 30, 2022.

The following table presents a breakdown of our nonperforming assets (unaudited):

Net interest income totaled $10.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $11.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and $11.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The decrease in the current quarter compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023, was primarily due to higher interest expense on deposits and other borrowings, primarily reflecting the continued increase in market interest rates due to the ongoing increases to the targeted federal funds rate, and continued intense competition for deposits, partially offset by higher interest income on loans and investment securities. Since March 2022, the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve System has increased the target range for the federal funds rate by 500 basis points, including 25 basis points during the second quarter of 2023, to a range of 5.00% to 5.25%.

Total interest income was $19.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $18.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and $13.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The increase in the current quarter compared to the prior quarters was primarily due to an improvement in the average yield on loans and investments due in large part to recent increases in the targeted federal funds rate. Loan yield increased to 5.71% during the recent quarter, compared to 5.56% and 4.41% for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022, respectively. Yield on investment securities increased to 3.93% during the current quarter, compared to 3.88% and 2.33% for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022, respectively.

Total interest expense was $9.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $7.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and $1.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits was 3.06% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to 2.41% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and 0.55% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The increase from the quarter ended March 31, 2023, was due primarily to increased interest expense on money market and certificate of deposit balances in a highly competitive marketplace for deposits and the costs from brokered deposits and other wholesale sources used to meet our funding needs. Advances from the FHLB totaled $120.0 million at June 30, 2023, compared to $160.0 million at March 31, 2023, and $95.0 million at June 30, 2022. At June 30, 2023, $95.0 million of our FHLB advances were tied to cash flow hedge agreements where the Bank pays a fixed rate and receives a variable rate in return to assist in the Bank’s interest rate risk management efforts. These cash flow hedge agreements had a weighted average remaining term of 41 months and a weighted average fixed interest rate of 1.05% as of June 30, 2023. Subsequent to quarter end, the Bank entered into two additional pay fixed cash flow hedges where the Bank pays a fixed rate and in return receives an amount based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). The first is a $15.0 million notional, two-year swap where the Bank pays a fixed rate of 4.57% and the second is a $15.0 million notional, three-year swap where the Bank pays a fixed rate of 4.15%. These hedges are intended to provide protection to the Bank in the event that market rates rise further or stay at these elevated levels for longer than current market expectations. The average cost of borrowings was 2.55% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to 2.69% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and 1.21% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Net interest margin was 2.84% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to 3.22% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and 3.53% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The decrease in net interest margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023, was due primarily to the cost of interest-bearing liabilities increasing more than the yields on interest-earnings assets, with a 57-basis point increase in the Company’s average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 3.01% from 2.44%, partially offset by a 14-basis point increase in the average yield on interest-earning assets to 5.43% from 5.29%.

Noninterest income for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, totaled $798,000, compared to $665,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and $961,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The increase for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023, was primarily due to a $135,000 increase in other noninterest income and, to a lesser extent, an increase in wealth management revenue and deposit related fees, partially offset by decreases in loan related fees and income on bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”). The decrease for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily reflects lower loan related fees.

Noninterest expense totaled $9.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $9.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and $9.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The increase in noninterest expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023, was primarily due to increases in professional fees, other general and administrative expenses and regulatory assessments. Professional fees increased $470,000, primarily due to $419,200 in expenses related to the exploration, negotiation and due diligence associated with a potential business combination which was abandoned during the second quarter of 2023. Other general and administrative fees increased $399,000 during the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to the recognition of approximately $190,000 in one-time expenses relating to business relations and customer appreciation in conjunction with our 100-year celebration, and a $115,000 increase to our ACL on unfunded loan commitments. Regulatory assessments increased $166,000 during the second quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2023 due to a year-to-date true up of expenses relating to an increase in deposit insurance assessments instituted earlier in the year. These increases were partially offset by a $397,000 reduction in salaries and employee benefits as we refined and reduced our 2023 estimates for incentive compensation and profit-sharing accruals. The increase in noninterest expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2022, primarily reflects $475,000 in higher other general and administrative expenses, $177,000 in regulatory assessments and $156,000 in professional fees, partially offset by a $414,000 decrease in salaries and employee benefits and a $45,000 decrease in occupancy and equipment expense, primarily for the reasons set forth above.

First Financial Northwest, Inc. is the parent company of First Financial Northwest Bank; an FDIC insured Washington State-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Renton, Washington, serving the Puget Sound Region through 15 full-service banking offices. For additional information about us, please visit our website at ffnwb.com and click on the “Investor Relations” link at the bottom of the page.

Forward-looking statements:

When used in this press release and in other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in press releases or other public stockholder communications, or in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases “believe,” “will,” “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “plans,” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent management’s current expectations and forecasts regarding future events many of which are inherently uncertain and outside of our control. Actual results may differ, possibly materially from those currently expected or projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, the following: potential adverse impacts to economic conditions in our local market areas, other markets where the Company has lending relationships, or other aspects of the Company’s business operations or financial markets, including, without limitation, as a result of employment levels, labor shortages and the effects of inflation, a potential recession or slowed economic growth caused by increasing political instability from acts of war including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as supply chain disruptions; higher inflation and the impact of current and future monetary policies of the Federal Reserve in response thereto; increased competitive pressures; changes in the interest rate environment; legislative and regulatory changes; the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at other banks and related negative press about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment; and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission – that are available on our website at www.ffnwb.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov .

Any of the forward-looking statements that we make in this Press Release and in the other public statements are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made and may turn out to be wrong because of the inaccurate assumptions we might make, because of the factors illustrated above or because of other factors that we cannot foresee. Therefore, these factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. These risks could cause our actual results for 2023 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us and could negatively affect our operating and stock performance.

For more information, contact:
Joseph W. Kiley III, President and Chief Executive Officer
Rich Jacobson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(425) 255-4400

FIRST FINANCIAL NORTHWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

FIRST FINANCIAL NORTHWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Income Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

The following table presents a breakdown of the loan portfolio (unaudited):

⁽¹⁾ _{Concentrations of credit percentages are for First Financial Northwest Bank only using classifications in accordance with FDIC regulatory guidelines.}

FIRST FINANCIAL NORTHWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Key Financial Measures
(Unaudited)

⁽¹⁾ Performance ratios are calculated on an annualized basis.
^{( 2 )} Represent non-GAAP financial measures. Tangible equity-to-tangible assets ratio is calculated by dividing tangible equity by tangible assets. Tangible book value per common share is calculated by dividing tangible equity by common shares outstanding at period end. Tangible equity and tangible assets exclude goodwill and core deposit intangible assets. Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures at the end of this press release for a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP equivalents.
⁽³⁾ Capital ratios are for First Financial Northwest Bank only.
⁽⁴⁾ Loans are reported net of undisbursed funds.

FIRST FINANCIAL NORTHWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Key Financial Measures
(Unaudited)