FMBH - First Mid Bancshares Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2020 Results

MATTOON, Ill., Oct. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Mid Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FMBH) (the “Company”) today announced its financial results for the quarter and year-to-date period ended September 30, 2020.

Highlights

• Net income of $11.6 million, or $0.69 diluted EPS
• Loan growth of 1% with strong asset quality metrics
• Announced the pending acquisition of LINCO Bancshares, Inc.
• Completed a public offering of $96.0 million of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes in early October
• Board approves next semi-annual dividend at $0.41, an increase of 2.5%
• Awarded Central/Southern Illinois SBA Lender of the Year for 7 ^th consecutive year
• Named America’s Best Bank in Illinois by Newsweek
  

“The third quarter was an eventful one for First Mid as we delivered strong financial results and announced the pending acquisition of LINCO Bancshares, Inc. (“LINCO”) and its subsidiary Providence Bank,” said Joe Dively, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition, in early October, we completed a $96.0 million subordinated notes offering with pricing at 3.95% fixed-to-floating due 2030. We were extremely pleased with the demand and execution of the offering.”

“We were excited to receive the recognition from both the SBA and Newsweek. Our team has done an excellent job in adding value to our customers whether it has been navigating through the multiple stimulus options or expanding the relationships through the many services we have to offer. Despite operating in a more challenging environment, our net interest income was higher by 4.5% and noninterest income increased by 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Our asset quality metrics have continued to improve with another decline in non-performing loans and the lowest quarterly net charge-offs in two and a half years. Outstanding loan deferrals have continued to trend lower and are now at 2.2% of outstanding loans.   Our strong capital levels increased in the quarter and we are well positioned to continue to execute on our strategic plan,” Dively added.

“Finally, the acquisition of LINCO will deepen our presence in the St. Louis metro market and expand our geographic diversity into mid-Missouri and Texas. The culture and vision of the two companies align very closely with both organizations having a long history of delivering excellent service to customers and communities. I have been to all of the Providence Bank markets participating in small group meetings with employees and there is excitement about the larger and more diverse set of products to offer the Providence Bank customers,” Dively concluded.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the third quarter of 2020 increased by $0.9 million, or 3.0% compared to the second quarter of 2020. Interest income increased by $0.8 million and interest expense decreased $0.2 million. The increase in interest income was driven by loan growth and the first full quarter of financial benefits from Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans. Total accretion income was $0.4 million, which was a decline of $0.1 million from the previous quarter. Interest expense declined primarily due to lower balances and rates on Federal Home Loan Bank advances and CD’s.

In comparison to the third quarter of 2019, net interest income increased $1.4 million, or 4.5%. The increase was primarily the result of higher interest income and lower interest expense outpacing the decline in investment income. Interest expense decreased by $2.7 million compared to the third quarter of last year.

Net Interest Margin

Net interest margin, on a tax equivalent basis, was 3.17% for the third quarter of 2020 compared to 3.25% in the prior quarter primarily due to the full quarter impact of PPP loans on the balance sheet and the increase in excess liquidity.   Earning asset yields declined by 12 basis points on a combination of lower loan and investment yields. Average cost of funds declined by 4 basis points to 0.39%.

In comparison to the third quarter of 2019, net interest margin decreased 43 basis points. Earning asset yields were down 79 basis points on a combination of lower rates, the impact of PPP loans and a decline in accretion income of $2.2 million. Average cost of funds declined by 40 basis points on lower rates in all categories.

Loan Portfolio

Total loans ended the quarter at $3.24 billion, representing an increase of $31.0 million compared to the prior quarter. The third quarter ending balance included approximately $261.7 million in PPP loans. On a year-over-year basis, loans increased $612.7 million, or 23.4%. Excluding PPP and $183.0 million in loans acquired from Stifel Bank in the second quarter of 2020, balances increased $168.0 million, or 6.4%.

The Company has a diversified loan portfolio that lessens the risks from economic challenges in any particular sector. At quarter end, the more vulnerable sectors due to COVID-19, excluding PPP loans, were: 1) Hotels, which represented 4.1% of outstanding loans, 2) Retail Shopping/Strip centers at 4.0% of outstanding loans, and 3) Restaurants, which represented 2.9% of outstanding loans. Most of the largest borrowers in the hotel and restaurant sector own and operate multiple businesses across various industries providing a diverse cash flow stream to support their loans and have provided personal guarantees. First Mid’s retail loans included borrowers who sell home goods and other products that have performed well throughout the pandemic.

The Company began offering a 90-day principal and interest deferral program primarily for the hotel and restaurant sector in late March. Subsequently, the Company offered a principal only deferral program to select borrowers upon request primarily in the commercial real estate market. For those deferrals that included principal and interest, nearly half continued to pay interest during the deferral period. For any second deferrals, the agreement included only a deferral of principal. The Company also offered a residential mortgage and consumer principal and interest deferral program. As of October 19 ^th , 2020, the Company had total outstanding deferrals of $72.1 million, or 2.2% of total outstanding loans.

Asset Quality

The Company’s asset quality measures continue to reflect a strong credit culture.   The allowance for credit losses, excluding $261.7 million of PPP loans, was 1.41% of total loans. The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.69%, and the allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans was 186.8%.   Non-performing loans declined $0.7 million to $22.4 million at quarter end.   Non-performing assets to total assets declined to 0.55%. Net charge-offs were $0.3 million during the third quarter compared to $0.6 million in the prior quarter.

Provision expense was recorded in the amount of $3.9 million in the third quarter reflecting $3.6 million of a reserve build above the $0.3 million in net charge-offs. This reserve build was recorded under Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 known as the current expected credit loss model. The Company’s required allowance for credit loss was calculated using a combination of, among other things, historical loss experience and the uncertainty of future macro-economic conditions and forecasts.

Deposits

Total deposits ended the quarter at $3.62 billion, which represented an increase of $234.0 million from the prior quarter. The increase includes approximately $60.0 million of customer deposits that converted in July to First Mid for the loan relationships acquired from Stifel Bank in the second quarter. In addition, the increase in deposits includes the movement of funds from repurchase agreements, which declined $179.9 million. The Company’s average rate on cost of funds was 0.39% for the quarter compared to 0.43% in the prior quarter and 0.79% in the third quarter of 2019.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income for the third quarter of 2020 was $13.6 million compared to $13.9 million in the second quarter.   The decrease compared to prior quarter is tied to the seasonality of the business lines, as the third quarter has historically been the lowest in insurance revenues and there are typically less farm real estate sales in wealth management.

In comparison to the third quarter of 2019, noninterest income increased $0.7 million, or 5.1%. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by wealth management and mortgage banking income, partially offset by lower service charge revenue.

Noninterest Expenses

Noninterest expense for the third quarter totaled $26.9 million compared to $26.1 million in the second quarter. The increase was primarily due to higher FDIC insurance expense on a change in rates and higher average assets, as well as deferred costs related to PPP that occurred in the second quarter.   The third quarter included $0.1 million of acquisition related costs.

In comparison to the third quarter of 2019, noninterest expenses increased $1.0 million. The increase was primarily from higher salaries and benefits costs and an increase in FDIC insurance from higher average assets and 2019 credits.

The Company’s efficiency ratio, on a tax equivalent basis, for the third quarter 2020 was 54.9% compared to 54.3% in the prior quarter and 54.7% for the same period last year.

Regulatory Capital Levels and Dividend

The Company’s capital levels remained strong and comfortably above the “well capitalized” levels. Capital levels ended the period as follows:

The Company’s Board of Directors approved its next semi-annual dividend in the amount of $0.41, representing a 2.5% increase. The dividend is payable on December 15, 2020 for shareholders of record on December 1, 2020.

About First Mid: First Mid Bancshares, Inc. (“First Mid”) is the parent company of First Mid Bank & Trust, N.A., First Mid Insurance Group, Inc. and First Mid Wealth Management Co. First Mid is a $4.5 billion community-focused organization that provides a full-suite of financial services including banking, wealth management, brokerage, Ag services, and insurance through a sizeable network of locations throughout Illinois and eastern Missouri and a loan production office in the greater Indianapolis area. Together, our First Mid team takes great pride in their work and their ability to serve our customers well over the last 155 years. More information about the Company is available on our website at www.firstmid.com.

Non-GAAP Measures: In addition to reports presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), this release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that such non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with information useful in understanding the Company’s financial performance. Readers of this release, however, are urged to review these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with the GAAP results as reported. These non-GAAP financial measures are detailed as supplemental tables and include “Net Interest Margin, tax equivalent,” “Tangible Book Value per Common Share,” and “Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to Risk Weighted Assets”. While the Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with a broader understanding of the capital adequacy, funding profile and financial trends of the Company, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute to the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures may also differ from the similar measures presented by other companies.

Forward Looking Statements:
This document may contain certain forward-looking statements about First Mid Bancshares, Inc. (“First Mid”) and LINCO Bancshares, Inc., a Missouri corporation (“LINCO”), such as discussions of First Mid’s and LINCO’s pricing and fee trends, credit quality and outlook, liquidity, new business results, expansion plans, anticipated expenses and planned schedules. First Mid and LINCO intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1955. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of First Mid and LINCO, are identified by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” or similar expressions. Actual results could differ materially from the results indicated by these statements because the realization of those results is subject to many risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits of the proposed transactions between First Mid and LINCO will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; the risk that integration of the operations of LINCO with First Mid will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected; the inability to complete the proposed transactions due to the failure to obtain the required stockholder approval; the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the proposed transactions, including receipt of required regulatory and other approvals; the failure of the proposed transactions to close for any other reason; the effect of the announcement of the transaction on customer relationships and operating results; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; changes in interest rates; general economic conditions and those in the market areas of First Mid and LINCO; legislative/regulatory changes; monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board; the quality or composition of First Mid’s and LINCO’s loan or investment portfolios and the valuation of those investment portfolios; demand for loan products; deposit flows; competition, demand for financial services in the market areas of First Mid and LINCO; accounting principles, policies and guidelines; the severity, magnitude and duration of COVID-19 pandemic, the direct and indirect impact of such pandemic, including responses to the pandemic by the government, commercial customers' businesses, the disruption of global, national, state and local economies associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which could affect First Mid’s and LINCO’s liquidity and capital positions, impair the ability of First Mid’s and LINCO’s borrowers to repay outstanding loans, impair collateral values, and further increase the allowance for credit losses, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on First Mid’s and LINCO’s financial results, including possible lost revenue and increased expenses (including cost of capital), as well as possible goodwill impairment charges. Additional information concerning First Mid, including additional factors and risks that could materially affect First Mid’s financial results, are included in First Mid’s filings with the SEC, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required under the federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do not undertake any obligation to update or review any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contact:
Aaron Holt
VP, Shareholder Relations
217-258-0463
aholt@firstmid.com

Matt Smith
Chief Financial Officer
217-258-1528
msmith@firstmid.com

– Tables Follow –