SBSI - Southside Bancshares Inc. Announces Financial Results for the Second Quarter Ended June 30 2021

• Second quarter net income of $21.3 million;
  
  
• Second quarter earnings per diluted common share of $0.65;
  
  
• Annualized linked quarter deposit growth of 5.0%;
  
  
• Annualized return on second quarter average assets of 1.20%;
  
  
• Annualized return on second quarter average tangible common equity of 13.13% ⁽¹⁾ ; and
  
  
• Nonperforming assets decreased to 0.21% of total assets.

TYLER, Texas, July 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southside Bancshares, Inc. (“Southside” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: SBSI) today reported its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. Southside reported net income of $21.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 1.1%, compared to $21.6 million for the same period in 2020. Earnings per diluted common share were $0.65 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020. The annualized return on average shareholders’ equity for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was 9.73%, compared to 10.82% for the same period in 2020. The annualized return on average assets was 1.20% for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 1.17% for the same period in 2020.

“We reported solid results during the second quarter, highlighted by continued strong asset quality metrics and 5% annualized linked quarter deposit growth,” stated Lee R. Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southside.

“Loan growth, net of Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), was partially offset by higher than anticipated loan payoffs. For the six months ended, annualized loan growth was 4%. We are encouraged about loan growth for the second half of the year as our loan pipeline continues to remain healthy.”

“On September 30, 2021, we anticipate the redemption of our 5.5% coupon $100 million sub debt issue, pending regulatory approval.”

“We are pleased by the continued strong economic conditions in the market areas we serve.”

Operating Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2021

Net income was $21.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared to $21.6 million for the same period in 2020, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 1.1%. Earnings per diluted common share were $0.65 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020. The decrease in net income was a result of a decrease in net interest income, a decrease in noninterest income, and an increase in noninterest expense, partially offset by a decrease in the provision for credit losses. Annualized returns on average assets and average shareholders’ equity for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were 1.20% and 9.73%, respectively.  Our efficiency ratio and tax equivalent efficiency ratio ⁽¹⁾ were 53.09% and 50.31%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 53.01% and 50.44%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Net interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was $45.6 million, compared to $47.3 million for the same period in 2020, a decrease of 3.4%. The decrease in net interest income compared to the same period in 2020 was due to the decrease in interest income, a result of a decrease in the average yield on our interest earning assets during the three months ended June 30, 2021, partially offset by the decrease in interest expense on our interest bearing liabilities due to the overall decline in interest rates. Linked quarter, net interest income decreased $0.7 million, or 1.4%, compared to $46.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021. The decrease in interest income is due to a decrease in the average yield, partially offset by a decline in interest expense.

Our net interest margin and tax equivalent net interest margin ⁽¹⁾ increased to 2.86% and 3.06%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 2.84% and 3.02%, respectively, for the same period in 2020. Linked quarter net interest margin decreased 15 basis points from 3.01% and tax equivalent net interest margin ⁽¹⁾ decreased 14 basis points from 3.20% for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Noninterest income was $10.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, a decrease of $1.3 million, or 10.3%, compared to $12.2 million for the same period in 2020. On a linked quarter basis, noninterest income decreased $2.7 million, or 19.7%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021. The decrease for both periods was due to a decrease in net gain on sale of securities available for sale, gain on sale of loans and other noninterest income, partially offset by an increase in deposit services income, brokerage services income and trust fees.

Noninterest expense was $30.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $0.8 million, or 2.8%, compared to $29.9 million for the same period in 2020. On a linked quarter basis, noninterest expense decreased $0.5 million, or 1.7%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Income tax expense increased $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. On a linked quarter basis, income tax expense decreased $1.9 million, or 39.2%. Our effective tax rate (“ETR”) increased to 11.9% for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 11.5% for the three months ended June 30, 2020. Linked quarter, our ETR decreased compared to 12.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2021, primarily due to an increase in tax-exempt income as a percentage of pre-tax income.

Operating Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021

Net income was $55.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to $25.5 million for the same period in 2020, an increase of $29.9 million, or 117.2%. Earnings per diluted common share were $1.69 for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to $0.76 for the same period in 2020, an increase of 122.4%. The increase in net income was a direct result of a reversal of the provision for credit losses compared to a large build-up in the allowance for credit losses in the same period in 2020. Annualized returns on average assets and average shareholders’ equity for the six months ended June 30, 2021 were 1.59% and 12.75%, respectively.  Our efficiency ratio and tax equivalent efficiency ratio ⁽¹⁾ were 53.05% and 50.38%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 52.44% and 50.06%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

Net interest income was $92.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020, with the decrease in interest income offset by the decrease in interest expense on our interest bearing liabilities, both a result of an overall decline in interest rates.

Our net interest margin and tax equivalent net interest margin ⁽¹⁾ were 2.93% and 3.13%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 2.86% and 3.02%, respectively, for the same period in 2020. The increase in net interest margin was due to lower funding costs, partially offset by a decrease in interest income due to a lower average yield and balance on our interest earning assets during the six months ended June 30, 2021.

Noninterest income was $24.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, a decrease of 11.3%, compared to $27.7 million for the same period in 2020. The decrease was due to the decrease in net gain on sale of securities available for sale, partially offset by increases in other noninterest income, deposit services income, brokerage services income and trust fees.

Noninterest expense was $61.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to $60.4 million for the same period in 2020, an increase of $1.6 million, or 2.6%. The increase was the result of increases in salaries and employee benefits and FDIC insurance, partially offset by decreases in other noninterest expense and amortization of intangibles.

Income tax expense increased $4.3 million, or 132.3%, for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to the same period in 2020. Our ETR was approximately 12.1% and 11.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The higher ETR for the six months ended June 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, was primarily due to a decrease in tax-exempt income as a percentage of pre-tax income.

Balance Sheet Data

At June 30, 2021, we had $7.18 billion in total assets, compared to $7.01 billion at December 31, 2020 and $7.33 billion at June 30, 2020.

Loans at June 30, 2021 were $3.64 billion, a decrease of $210.2 million, or 5.5%, compared to $3.85 billion at June 30, 2020. This decrease was primarily due to a $167.4 million decrease in our PPP loans, a component of the commercial loan category, with a remaining balance of $132.1 million at June 30, 2021, as well as decreases of $83.4 million in 1-4 family residential loans, $42.6 million in construction loans, and $6.8 million in loans to individuals. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $40.0 million in municipal loans and $24.4 million in commercial real estate loans. Linked quarter loans decreased $74.3 million, or 2.0%, from $3.72 billion at March 31, 2021. The linked quarter net decrease in loans consisted primarily of decreases of $77.5 million of construction loans, $67.2 million of commercial loans and $22.0 million in 1-4 family loans. The decreases for the linked quarter were partially offset by increases of $82.3 million in commercial real estate loans and $11.0 million of municipal loans. On a linked quarter basis, our PPP loans decreased $88.8 million, or 40.2%, from $220.9 million at March 31, 2021, due to forgiveness payments received from loans funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

Securities at June 30, 2021 were $2.86 billion, an increase of $61.0 million, or 2.2%, compared to $2.80 billion at June 30, 2020. Linked quarter, securities increased $215.8 million, or 8.2%, from $2.65 billion at March 31, 2021. The increase for the linked quarter was due to the purchase of municipal bonds and to a lesser extent, an increase in the estimated fair value of the securities portfolio at June 30, 2021, when compared to March 31, 2021.

Deposits at June 30, 2021 were $5.16 billion, an increase of $85.6 million, or 1.7%, compared to $5.07 billion at June 30, 2020. Linked quarter, deposits increased $63.5 million, or 1.2%, from $5.09 billion at March 31, 2021. The increase for both periods was largely driven by PPP loan disbursements deposited into our commercial accounts and stimulus checks deposited during the six months ended June 30, 2021.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets at June 30, 2021 were $15.3 million, or 0.21% of total assets, a decrease of $2.3 million, or 13.2%, compared to $17.6 million, or 0.24% of total assets, at June 30, 2020, and a decrease from $15.4 million, or 0.22% of total assets, at March 31, 2021. During the three months ended June 30, 2021, nonaccrual loans decreased $0.2 million, or 3.0%.

The allowance for loan losses decreased to $42.9 million, or 1.18% of total loans, at June 30, 2021, compared to $59.9 million, or 1.55% of total loans, at June 30, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to an improved economic forecast since the second quarter of 2020 and its effect on macroeconomic factors used in the CECL model. The allowance for loan losses was $41.5 million, or 1.12% of total loans, at March 31, 2021.

For the three months ended June 30, 2021, we recorded a provision for credit losses for loans of $1.5 million, compared to a provision for credit losses for loans of $6.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and a reversal of provision for credit losses of $7.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase in the provision for the second quarter was primarily due to a decline in the downside scenario of the economic forecast and its effect on macroeconomic factors used in the CECL model. Net charge-offs were $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared to net charge-offs of $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and $0.2 million of net charge-offs for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Net charge-offs were $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to $0.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

For the three months ended June 30, 2021, we recorded a provision for credit losses for off-balance-sheet credit exposures of $0.2 million and reversals of provision of $1.1 million and $2.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, we recorded a reversal of provision of $2.6 million, compared to a provision for credit losses for off-balance-sheet credit exposures of $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The balance of the allowance for off-balance-sheet credit exposures at June 30, 2021 was $3.8 million and is included in other liabilities.

Dividend

Southside Bancshares, Inc. declared a second quarter cash dividend of $0.33 per share on May 6, 2021, which was paid on June 3, 2021, to all shareholders of record as of May 20, 2021.

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^{(1) Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below and to “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” at the end of the financial statement tables in this Earnings Release for more information and for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest GAAP financial measure.}

Conference Call

Southside's management team will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter ended June 30, 2021 financial results on Friday, July 23, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. CDT.  The call can be accessed by dialing 844-775-2540 and by identifying the conference ID number 7053989 or by identifying “Southside Bancshares, Inc., Second Quarter 2021 Earnings Call.”  To listen to the call via webcast, register at https://investors.southside.com.

For those unable to listen to the conference call live, a recording will be available from approximately 2:00 p.m. CDT July 23, 2021 through 2:00 p.m. CDT August 4, 2021 by accessing the company website, https://investors.southside.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP measures are used by management to supplement the evaluation of our performance. These include the following fully taxable-equivalent measures (“FTE”): (i) Net interest income (FTE), (ii) net interest margin (FTE), (iii) net interest spread (FTE), and (iv) efficiency ratio (FTE), which include the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustments using a federal income tax rate of 21% to increase tax-exempt interest income to a tax-equivalent basis. Interest income earned on certain assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments.

Net interest income (FTE), net interest margin (FTE) and net interest spread (FTE). Net interest income (FTE) is a non-GAAP measure that adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from certain loans and investments and is not permitted under GAAP in the consolidated statements of income. We believe this measure to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and that it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest income. Net interest margin (FTE) is the ratio of net interest income (FTE) to average earning assets. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest margin. Net interest spread (FTE) is the difference in the average yield on average earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis and the average rate paid on average interest bearing liabilities. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest spread.

Efficiency ratio (FTE). The efficiency ratio (FTE) is a non-GAAP measure that provides a measure of productivity in the banking industry. This ratio is calculated to measure the cost of generating one dollar of revenue. The ratio is designed to reflect the percentage of one dollar which must be expended to generate that dollar of revenue. We calculate this ratio by dividing noninterest expense, excluding amortization expense on intangibles and certain nonrecurring expense by the sum of net interest income (FTE) and noninterest income, excluding net gain (loss) on sale of securities available for sale and certain nonrecurring impairments. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our efficiency ratio.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently. Whenever we present a non-GAAP financial measure in an SEC filing, we are also required to present the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and reconcile the differences between the non-GAAP financial measure and such comparable GAAP measure.

Management believes adjusting net interest income, net interest margin and net interest spread to a fully taxable-equivalent basis is a standard practice in the banking industry as these measures provide useful information to make peer comparisons. Tax-equivalent adjustments are reflected in the respective earning asset categories as listed in the “Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates” tables.

A reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.

About Southside Bancshares, Inc.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company with approximately $7.18 billion in assets as of June 30, 2021, that owns 100% of Southside Bank.  Southside Bank currently has 55 branches in Texas and operates a network of 76 ATMs/ITMs.

To learn more about Southside Bancshares, Inc., please visit our investor relations website at https://investors.southside.com. Our investor relations site provides a detailed overview of our activities, financial information and historical stock price data.  To receive e-mail notification of company news, events and stock activity, please register on the E-mail Notification portion of the website.  Questions or comments may be directed to Lindsey Bailes at (903) 630-7965, or lindsey.bailes@southside.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements of other than historical fact that are contained in this press release and in other written materials, documents and oral statements issued by or on behalf of the Company may be considered to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of and subject to the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management’s views as of any subsequent date.  These statements may include words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “seek,” “intend,” “probability,” “risk,” “goal,” “target,” “objective,” “plans,” “potential,” and similar expressions.  Forward-looking statements are statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, expectations, objectives, goals, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions and future performance and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.  For example, discussions of the effect of our expansion, benefits of the Share Repurchase Plan, trends in asset quality, capital, liquidity, the Company's ability to sell nonperforming assets, expense reductions, planned operational efficiencies and earnings from growth and certain market risk disclosures, including the impact of interest rates, tax reform, inflation and other economic factors are based upon information presently available to management and are dependent on choices about key model characteristics and assumptions and are subject to various limitations.  By their nature, certain of the market risk disclosures are only estimates and could be materially different from what actually occurs in the future.  Accordingly, our results could materially differ from those that have been estimated. The most recent factor that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated by our forward-looking statements include the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial position, operations and prospects, including our ability to continue our business activities in certain communities we serve, the duration of the pandemic and its continued effects on financial markets, a reduction in financial transactions and business activities resulting in decreased deposits and reduced loan originations, increases in unemployment rates impacting our borrowers’ ability to repay their loans, our ability to manage liquidity in a rapidly changing and unpredictable market, additional interest rate changes by the Federal Reserve and other government actions in response to the pandemic, including regulations or laws enacted to counter the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.

Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect the Company’s financial results, is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, under “Part I - Item 1. Forward Looking Information” and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to announce publicly the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.