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home / news releases / LMST - Limestone Bancorp Reports Net Income of $3.6 million or $0.47 per Diluted Share for the 1st Quarter of 2022


LMST - Limestone Bancorp Reports Net Income of $3.6 million or $0.47 per Diluted Share for the 1st Quarter of 2022

Limestone Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMST) (the “Company”), parent company of Limestone Bank, Inc. (the “Bank”), today reported unaudited results for the first quarter of 2022. Net income available to common shareholders for the first quarter of 2022 was $3.6 million, or $0.47 per basic and diluted common share, compared with $3.2 million, or $0.43 per basic and diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2021.

John T. Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We continue to be pleased with the Company’s strong financial performance. We were able to build on our loan growth momentum from last year and achieve loan growth of 4.5% for the first quarter. Additionally, given the Company’s solid capital position and earnings levels, we instituted a quarterly common share dividend on April 1, 2022, as a return of profits to our shareholders. I continue to be excited about the future of our franchise.”

Total assets were $1.41 billion at March 31, 2022. The loan portfolio increased $45.4 million, or 4.5%, during the first quarter to $1.05 billion at March 31, 2022. Lower earning fed funds sold were reduced by $45.6 million during the quarter.

Net Interest Income and Average Earning Assets – Net interest income was $11.1 million for the first quarter of 2022, compared to $11.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, and $10.7 million for the first quarter of 2021. Net interest margin increased to 3.42% for the first quarter of 2022, compared with 3.32% for the fourth quarter of 2021, and decreased from 3.53% for the first quarter of 2021.

The yield on earning assets increased to 3.82% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 3.71% in the fourth quarter of 2021, and decreased from 4.05% in the first quarter of 2021. Quarter over quarter, average loans increased $73.0 million to $1.03 billion, while lower yielding fed funds sold decreased $73.8 million. PPP loans averaged $605,000 and $3.5 million for the first quarter of 2022 and the fourth quarter of 2021, respectively. Compared to the prior year first quarter, average loans increased $64.2 million and investment securities increased $54.3 million, while lower yielding fed funds sold decreased $22.1 million. PPP loans averaged $21.1 million for the first quarter of 2021.

While the Federal Reserve recently increased the federal funds target rate by 25 basis points on March 16, 2022, the yield on earning assets for the first quarter of 2022 and for the 2021 fiscal year were negatively impacted by the low interest rate environment on the Bank’s fed funds sold, certain floating rate investment securities, loans with variable rate pricing features, and new loan originations, including PPP loans which carry a rate of 1.0%. The negative impact of low rates was offset by an increase in loan fee income discussed below.

Loan fee income can meaningfully impact net interest income, loan yields, and net interest margin. The amount of loan fee income included in total interest income was $324,000, $967,000, and $844,000 for the quarters ended March 31, 2022, December 31, 2021, and March 31, 2021, respectively. This represents 10 basis points, 29 basis points, and 28 basis points of yield on earning assets and net interest margin for the quarters ended March 31, 2022, December 31, 2021, and March 31, 2021, respectively. Loan fee income for the first quarter of 2022 included $45,000 in fees earned on PPP loans, compared to $261,000 in the fourth quarter of 2021, and $436,000 in the first quarter of 2021, which represents two basis points, eight basis points, and 14 basis points of earning asset yield and net interest margin for those quarters, respectively. At March 31, 2022, PPP loans totaled $180,000 with no significant unearned PPP origination fees remaining.

The cost of interest-bearing liabilities was unchanged at 0.53% for the first quarter of 2022, compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, and decreased from 0.68% in the first quarter of 2021. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities continued to benefit as a result of continued improvement in deposit mix, as well as the downward repricing of time deposits between periods. Time deposits declined $5.9 million during the first quarter of 2022 as approximately $55.0 million of time deposits with an average rate of 0.33% matured and redeemed or repriced at lower interest rates. During the first quarter of 2022, newly originated or renewed time deposits had an average rate of 0.26% and an average term of approximately 16 months.

As of March 31, 2022, time deposits comprised $260.1 million of the Company’s liabilities including $59.4 million with a current average rate of 0.29%, which reprice or mature in the second quarter of 2022. The following table denotes contractual time deposit maturities and average rates as of March 31, 2022:

Maturity

Quarter

As of

March 31,

2022

(in thousands)

Weighted
Average
Rate

Q2-2022

59,393

0.29

Q3-2022

38,562

0.34

Q4-2022

31,670

0.32

Q1-2023

38,631

0.44

Thereafter

91,808

0.86

Total time deposits

$

260,064

0.52

%

Provision and Allowance for Loan Losses – The allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.16% at March 31, 2022, compared to 1.15% at December 31, 2021, and 1.30% at March 31, 2021.

Net loan charge-offs were $86,000 for the first quarter of 2022, compared to net loan charge-offs of $1.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, and net loan charge-offs of $38,000 for the first quarter of 2021. A provision for loan loss of $750,000, or $0.07 per common share after taxes, was recorded in the first quarter of 2022, compared to $500,000, or $0.05 per common share after taxes, in the fourth quarter of 2021, and compared to $350,000, or $0.04 per common share after taxes, in the first quarter of 2021. The 2022 and 2021 loan loss provisions were attributable to net loan charge-offs impacting historical loss percentages and growth trends within the portfolio during the quarters.

Non-interest Income and Expense – Non-interest income for the first quarter of 2022 increased $461,000 to $2.2 million, compared with $1.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, and $354,000 compared with $1.9 million for the first quarter of 2021. The increase for the first quarter of 2022 was primarily related to a $163,000 gain on the sale of premises held for sale. Non-interest expense was $8.0 million for the first quarter of 2022, the fourth quarter of 2021, and the first quarter of 2021. Salaries and benefits represent our most significant non-interest expense. Salaries and benefits expense decreased $37,000 from the fourth quarter of 2021 and increased $82,000 from the first quarter of 2021. These fluctuations are generally driven by changes in FTEs during each period. Given current market conditions, we expect inflationary pressure to impact salaries and benefits in the range of four to five percent in 2022 as we compete for talent and administer our wage and benefit programs.

About Limestone Bancorp, Inc.

Limestone Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMST) is a Louisville, Kentucky-based bank holding company which operates banking centers in 14 counties through its wholly-owned subsidiary Limestone Bank. The Bank’s markets include metropolitan Louisville in Jefferson County and the surrounding counties of Bullitt and Henry and extend south along the Interstate 65 corridor. The Bank serves south central, southern, and western Kentucky from banking centers in Barren, Butler, Daviess, Edmonson, Green, Hardin, Hart, Ohio, and Warren counties. The Bank also has banking centers in Lexington, Kentucky, the second largest city in the state, and Frankfort, Kentucky, the state capital. Limestone Bank is a traditional community bank with a wide range of personal and business banking products and services.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release relating to Limestone Bancorp’s plans, objectives, expectations or future performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “objective,” “possible,” “seek,” “plan,” “strive” or similar words, or negatives of these words, identify forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the Company's management believes the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of these assumptions could be inaccurate. Therefore, there can be no assurance the forward-looking statements included herein will prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the impact and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic; economic conditions both generally and more specifically in the markets in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate; competition for the Company's customers from other providers of financial services; government legislation and regulation, which change from time to time and over which the Company has no control; changes in inflation and efforts to control it; changes in interest rates; material unforeseen changes in liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of the Company's customers; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. See Risk Factors outlined in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Additional Information

Unaudited supplemental financial information for the first quarter ending March 31, 2022, follows.

LIMESTONE BANCORP, INC.

Unaudited Financial Information

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Three Months Ended

3/31/22

3/31/21

Income Statement Data

Interest income

$

12,427

$

12,250

Interest expense

1,313

1,570

Net interest income

11,114

10,680

Provision for loan losses

750

350

Net interest income after provision

10,364

10,330

Service charges on deposit accounts

634

548

Bank card interchange fees

1,003

960

Bank owned life insurance income

202

165

Gain on sale of premises held for sale

163

Other

236

211

Non-interest income

2,238

1,884

Salaries & employee benefits

4,564

4,482

Occupancy and equipment

1,029

1,060

Professional fees

221

236

Marketing expense

133

182

FDIC insurance

90

135

Data processing expense

386

378

Deposit tax

99

90

Deposit account related expense

547

491

Communications expense

64

173

Insurance expense

105

104

Postage and delivery

163

152

Other

570

501

Non-interest expense

7,971

7,984

Income before income taxes

4,631

4,230

Income tax expense

1,052

1,008

Net income

3,579

3,222

Weighted average shares – Basic

7,614,382

7,575,211

Weighted average shares – Diluted

7,614,382

7,575,211

Basic earnings per common share

$

0.47

$

0.43

Diluted earnings per common share

$

0.47

$

0.43

Cash dividends declared per common share

$

0.05

$

0.00

Performance Ratios

Return on average assets

1.03

%

0.99

%

Return on average equity

11.07

11.11

Yield on average earning assets (tax equivalent)

3.82

4.05

Cost of interest-bearing liabilities

0.53

0.68

Net interest margin (tax equivalent)

3.42

3.53

Efficiency ratio 1

59.70

63.55

Non-interest expense to average assets

2.30

2.46

LIMESTONE BANCORP, INC.

Unaudited Financial Information

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Three

Three

Three

Three

Three

Months

Months

Months

Months

Months

Ended

Ended

Ended

Ended

Ended

3/31/22

12/31/21

9/30/21

6/30/21

3/31/21

Income Statement Data

Interest income

$

12,427

$

12,314

$

12,975

$

12,376

$

12,250

Interest expense

1,313

1,307

1,354

1,462

1,570

Net interest income

11,114

11,007

11,621

10,914

10,680

Provision for loan losses

750

500

300

350

Net interest income after provision

10,364

10,507

11,321

10,914

10,330

Service charges on deposit accounts

634

605

583

520

548

Bank card interchange fees

1,003

1,039

1,044

1,073

960

Bank owned life insurance income

202

106

112

143

165

Gain on sale of OREO

191

Gain (loss) on sales and calls of securities, net

465

(5

)

Gain on sale of premises held for sale

163

Other

236

234

232

213

211

Non-interest income

2,238

1,984

2,436

2,135

1,884

Salaries & employee benefits

4,564

4,601

4,582

4,467

4,482

Occupancy and equipment

1,029

978

1,024

979

1,060

Professional fees

221

251

219

246

236

Marketing expense

133

166

200

179

182

FDIC insurance

90

90

90

90

135

Data processing expense

386

379

378

377

378

Deposit tax

99

105

90

90

90

Deposit account related expense

547

566

545

556

491

Communications expense

64

161

153

194

173

Insurance expense

105

91

105

115

104

Postage and delivery

163

145

169

139

152

Other

570

450

495

522

501

Non-interest expense

7,971

7,983

8,050

7,954

7,984

Income before income taxes

4,631

4,508

5,707

5,095

4,230

Income tax expense

1,052

1,063

1,366

1,194

1,008

Net income

$

3,579

$

3,445

$

4,341

$

3,901

$

3,222

Weighted average shares – Basic

7,614,382

7,597,256

7,602,686

7,597,202

7,575,211

Weighted average shares – Diluted

7,614,382

7,597,256

7,602,686

7,597,202

7,575,211

Basic earnings per common share

$

0.47

$

0.45

$

0.57

$

0.51

$

0.43

Diluted earnings per common share

$

0.47

$

0.45

$

0.57

$

0.51

$

0.43

Cash dividends declared per common share

$

0.05

$

0.00

$

0.00

$

0.00

$

0.00

Performance Ratios

Return on average assets

1.03

%

0.97

%

1.26

%

1.15

%

0.99

%

Return on average equity

11.07

10.51

13.61

12.89

11.11

Yield on average earning assets (tax equivalent)

3.82

3.71

4.03

3.91

4.05

Cost of interest-bearing liabilities

0.53

0.53

0.56

0.61

0.68

Net interest margin (tax equivalent)

3.42

3.32

3.61

3.45

3.53

Efficiency ratio 1

59.70

61.45

59.23

60.93

63.55

Non-interest expense to average assets

2.30

2.25

2.33

2.34

2.46

LIMESTONE BANCORP, INC.

Unaudited Financial Information

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

As of

3/31/22

12/31/21

9/30/21

6/30/21

3/31/21

Assets

Loans

$

1,047,285

$

1,001,840

$

968,088

$

947,425

$

978,865

Allowance for loan losses

(12,195

)

(11,531

)

(12,973

)

(12,637

)

(12,755

)

Net loans

1,035,090

990,309

955,115

934,788

966,110

Securities held to maturity 2

45,639

46,460

47,539

46,717

41,254

Securities available for sale 2

204,071

214,213

203,548

182,154

177,690

Federal funds sold & interest-bearing deposits

22,040

67,110

44,909

75,536

74,047

Cash and due from financial institutions

10,009

10,493

13,579

9,584

9,800

Premises and equipment

23,043

21,575

21,623

21,912

20,405

Premises held for sale

310

980

980

1,035

Bank owned life insurance

30,643

23,946

23,845

23,738

23,601

FHLB Stock

5,116

5,116

5,116

5,449

5,810

Other real estate owned

1,765

Deferred taxes, net

22,648

21,583

22,161

23,452

24,992

Goodwill

6,252

6,252

6,252

6,252

6,252

Intangible assets

1,925

1,989

2,053

2,117

2,181

Accrued interest receivable and other assets

6,230

6,336

6,128

6,231

6,769

Total Assets

$

1,412,706

$

1,415,692

$

1,352,848

$

1,338,910

$

1,361,711

Liabilities and Equity

Certificates of deposit

$

260,064

$

266,011

$

280,545

$

303,668

$

355,309

Interest checking

274,054

287,208

239,923

216,344

211,322

Money market

216,845

217,943

198,470

191,773

180,137

Savings

166,135

163,423

163,018

160,257

151,340

Total interest-bearing deposits

917,098

934,585

881,956

872,042

898,108

Demand deposits

281,533

274,083

266,035

267,059

268,882

Total deposits

1,198,631

1,208,668

1,147,991

1,139,101

1,166,990

FHLB advances

30,000

20,000

20,000

20,000

20,613

Junior subordinated debentures

21,000

21,000

21,000

21,000

21,000

Subordinated capital note

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

25,000

Accrued interest payable and other liabilities

9,855

10,065

10,193

9,850

8,588

Total liabilities

1,284,486

1,284,733

1,224,184

1,214,951

1,242,191

Total stockholders’ equity

128,220

130,959

128,664

123,959

119,520

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

$

1,412,706

$

1,415,692

$

1,352,848

$

1,338,910

$

1,361,711

Ending shares outstanding

7,622,157

7,594,749

7,602,686

7,602,686

7,594,499

Book value per common share

$

16.82

$

17.24

$

16.92

$

16.30

$

15.74

Tangible book value per common share 3

15.75

16.16

15.83

15.20

14.63

LIMESTONE BANCORP, INC.

Unaudited Financial Information

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

As of

3/31/22

12/31/21

9/30/21

6/30/21

3/31/21

Average Balance Sheet Data

Assets

$

1,407,030

$

1,405,219

$

1,369,372

$

1,361,080

$

1,316,878

Loans

1,028,546

955,516

952,567

961,922

964,353

Earning assets

1,326,234

1,322,821

1,284,188

1,275,363

1,230,610

Deposits

1,199,174

1,199,334

1,166,785

1,164,524

1,125,943

Long-term debt and advances

67,667

66,000

66,000

66,000

66,617

Interest bearing liabilities

996,710

982,132

954,007

956,172

941,342

Stockholders’ equity

131,097

129,998

126,556

121,386

117,663

Asset Quality Data

Nonaccrual loans

$

3,447

$

3,124

$

1,627

$

1,530

$

1,996

Troubled debt restructurings on accrual

333

340

561

390

399

Loan 90 days or more past due still on accrual

Total non-performing loans

3,780

3,464

2,188

1,920

2,395

Real estate acquired through foreclosures

1,765

Other repossessed assets

Total non-performing assets

$

3,780

$

3,464

$

2,188

$

1,920

$

4,160

Non-performing loans to total loans

0.36

%

0.35

%

0.23

%

0.20

%

0.24

%

Non-performing assets to total assets

0.27

0.24

0.16

0.14

0.31

Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans

322.62

332.88

592.92

658.18

532.57

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

1.16

%

1.15

%

1.34

%

1.33

%

1.30

%

Loan Charge-off Data

Loans charged off

$

(227

)

$

(2,246

)

$

(25

)

$

(178

)

$

(77

)

Recoveries

141

304

61

60

39

Net (charge-offs) recoveries

$

(86

)

$

(1,942

)

$

36

$

(118

)

$

(38

)

Loans by Risk Category 4

Pass

$

1,023,039

$

977,962

$

945,396

$

913,753

$

942,492

Watch

8,567

7,856

3,407

15,888

17,929

Special Mention

Substandard

15,679

16,022

19,285

17,784

18,444

Doubtful

Total

$

1,047,285

$

1,001,840

$

968,088

$

947,425

$

978,865

Loans by Past Due Status

Past due loans:

30 – 59 days

$

1,108

$

556

$

630

$

181

$

677

60 – 89 days

89

210

142

252

254

90 days or more

Nonaccrual loans

3,447

3,124

1,627

1,530

1,996

Total past due and nonaccrual loans

$

4,644

$

3,890

$

2,399

$

1,963

$

2,927

LIMESTONE BANCORP, INC.

Unaudited Financial Information

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

As of

3/31/22

12/31/21

9/30/21

6/30/21

3/31/21

Risk-based Capital Ratios - Company

Tier I leverage ratio

9.38

%

9.14

%

9.39

%

8.70

%

8.59

%

Common equity Tier I risk-based capital ratio

8.93

9.00

9.37

9.48

8.96

Tier I risk-based capital ratio

10.19

10.38

10.86

10.63

10.00

Total risk-based capital ratio

13.12

13.41

14.13

14.09

13.42

Risk-based Capital Ratios – Limestone Bank

Tier I leverage ratio

11.20

%

10.84

%

10.96

%

10.55

%

10.44

%

Common equity Tier I risk-based capital ratio

12.21

12.35

12.68

12.95

12.21

Tier I risk-based capital ratio

12.21

12.35

12.68

12.95

12.21

Total risk-based capital ratio

13.17

13.31

13.80

14.11

13.37

FTE employees, end of period

222

227

232

231

225

Footnotes:

(1) The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP measure of expense control relative to revenue from net interest income and fee income. The efficiency ratio is calculated by dividing total non-interest expenses as determined under GAAP by net interest income and total non-interest income, but excluding from the calculation net gains on the sale of securities and expenses disclosed from time to time as non-recurring in nature. Management believes this provides a reasonable measure of primary banking expenses relative to primary banking revenue.

Three Months Ended

3/31/22

12/31/21

9/30/21

6/30/21

3/31/21

Efficiency Ratio

(in thousands)

Net interest income

$

11,114

$

11,007

$

11,621

$

10,914

$

10,680

Non-interest income

2,238

1,984

2,436

2,135

1,884

Less: Net gain (loss) on securities

465

(5

)

Revenue used for efficiency ratio

13,352

12,991

13,592

13,054

12,564

Non-interest expense

7,971

7,983

8,050

7,954

7,984

Efficiency ratio

59.70

%

61.45

%

59.23

%

60.93

%

63.55

%

(2) Investment Securities – The following table sets forth the amortized cost and fair value of our securities portfolio at the dates indicated.

March 31, 2022

December 31, 2021

Amortized
Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Fair
Value

Amortized
Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Fair
Value

(dollars in thousands)

Securities available for sale

U.S. Government and

federal agencies

$

26,952

$

$

(1,196

)

$

25,756

$

26,075

$

301

$

(133

)

$

26,243

Agency mortgage-backed residential

90,589

177

(5,097

)

85,669

93,650

1,339

(970

)

94,019

Collateralized loan obligations

48,221

(297

)

47,924

50,227

(78

)

50,149

Corporate bonds

45,453

221

(952

)

44,722

43,432

572

(202

)

43,802

Total available for sale

$

211,215

$

398

$

(7,542

)

$

204,071

$

213,384

$

2,212

$

(1,383

)

$

214,213

Amortized
Cost

Gross
Unrecognized
Gains

Gross
Unrecognized
Losses

Fair
Value

Amortized
Cost

Gross
Unrecognized
Gains

Gross
Unrecognized
Losses

Fair
Value

(dollars in thousands)

Securities held to maturity

State and municipal

$

45,639

$

24

$

(4,873

)

$

40,790

$

46,460

$

158

$

(338

)

$

46,280

Total held to maturity

$

45,639

$

24

$

(4,873

)

$

40,790

$

46,460

$

158

$

(338

)

$

46,280

(3) Tangible book value per common share is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP based amounts. Tangible book value per common share is calculated by excluding the balance of goodwill and other intangible assets from common stockholders’ equity. Tangible book value per common share is calculated by dividing tangible common equity by common shares outstanding, as compared to book value per common share, which is calculated by dividing common stockholders’ equity by common shares outstanding. Management believes this is consistent with bank regulatory agency treatment, which excludes goodwill and other intangible assets from the calculation of risk-based capital.

As of

3/31/22

12/31/21

9/30/21

6/30/21

3/31/21

Tangible Book Value Per Share

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Common stockholders’ equity

$

128,220

$

130,959

$

128,664

$

123,959

$

119,520

Less: Goodwill

6,252

6,252

6,252

6,252

6,252

Less: Intangible assets

1,925

1,989

2,053

2,117

2,181

Tangible common equity

120,043

122,718

120,359

115,590

111,087

Shares outstanding

7,622,157

7,594,749

7,602,686

7,602,686

7,594,499

Tangible book value per common share

$

15.75

$

16.16

$

15.83

$

15.20

$

14.63

Book value per common share

16.82

17.24

16.92

16.30

15.74

(4) Loans by Risk Category reflect management’s risk ratings based on categories aligned with the bank regulatory definitions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220420005128/en/

John T. Taylor
Chief Executive Officer
(502) 499-4800

Stock Information

Company Name: Limestone Bancorp Inc.
Stock Symbol: LMST
Market: NASDAQ
Website: limestonebank.com

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