Exhibit 99.1.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 30, 2024

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

(219) 853-7575

 

FINWARD BANCORP

ANNOUNCES EARNINGS FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS AND QUARTER ENDED

DECEMBER 31, 2023

 

Munster, Indiana - Finward Bancorp (Nasdaq: FNWD) (the “Bancorp”), the holding company for Peoples Bank (the “Bank”), today announced that net income available to common stockholders was $8.4 million, or $1.96 per diluted share, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $15.1 million, or $3.60 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2022. For the quarter ended December 31, 2023, the Bancorp’s net income totaled $1.5 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, as compared to $4.0 million, or $0.93 per share, for the quarter ending December 31, 2022. Selected performance metrics are as follows for the periods presented:

 

Performance Ratios

 

Quarter ended,

   

Twelve months ended,

 
   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

 
   

December 31,

   

September 30,

   

June 30,

   

March 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Return on equity

    4.92 %     6.55 %     7.05 %     6.42 %     12.96 %     6.28 %     10.47 %

Return on assets

    0.29 %     0.42 %     0.46 %     0.43 %     0.78 %     0.40 %     0.74 %

Noninterest income / average assets

    0.53 %     0.46 %     0.57 %     0.50 %     0.56 %     0.52 %     0.56 %

Noninterest expense / average assets

    2.60 %     2.59 %     2.66 %     2.75 %     3.07 %     2.65 %     3.05 %

Efficiency ratio

    87.49 %     86.88 %     82.11 %     82.35 %     79.63 %     84.58 %     78.95 %

 

“While margin pressure continued in the fourth quarter, we believe we are now closer to the end of the interest rate tightening cycle than the beginning. Focusing on customers and improving efficiency have allowed us to reach this point, and we are confident initiatives undertaken in 2023 will bear fruit in the coming year,” said Benjamin Bochnowski, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We have been proactive in improving our overall asset quality position, improving earnings, increasing liquidity, and managing capital in multiple rate environments, as demonstrated by a loan sale we recently closed in December, our announced sale leaseback transaction, and dividend adjustments. The Bank remains opportunistic in evaluating other areas of potential improvement, including the securities portfolio, borrowing levels, and identifying additional expense efficiencies. Both the expected increase in capital from our sale leaseback transaction and a moderating interest rate environment increase optionality as we work to improve our earnings profile,” he continued.

 

Highlights of the year-to-date period include:

 

 

Net interest margin - The net interest margin for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, was 2.83%, compared to 3.56% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. The tax-adjusted net interest margin (a non-GAAP measure) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, was 2.98%, compared to 3.74% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. The decreased net interest margin is primarily the result of the increase in short-term interest rates relative to long-term interest rates as part of the Federal Reserve’s response to high inflation and other factors. The compression seen in 2023 may continue in moderate fashion into 2024, unless target rates decrease and our interest-bearing liabilities can be repriced at those lower rates. See Table 1 at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of the tax-adjusted net interest margin to the GAAP net interest margin.

 

 

Funding - On December 31, 2023, deposits totaled $1.81 billion, compared to $1.78 billion on December 31, 2022, an increase of $38.4 million or 2.2%. As of December 31, 2023, core deposits totaled $1.3 billion, compared to $1.4 billion on December 31, 2022, a decrease of $131.0 million or 9.2%. Core deposits include checking, savings, and money market accounts and represented 70.7% of the Bancorp’s total deposits at December 31, 2023. During 2023, balances for checking and savings accounts decreased as balances migrated into higher yielding accounts. On December 31, 2023, balances for certificates of deposit totaled $532.1 million, compared to $363.1 million on December 31, 2022, an increase of $169.0 million or 46.5%. The decrease in core deposits and increase in certificate of deposit balances is related to customer preferences for higher yielding deposits. In addition, on December 31, 2023, borrowings and repurchase agreements totaled $118.1 million, compared to $135.5 million at December 31, 2022, a decrease of $17.4 million or 12.8%. The decrease in short-term borrowings was the result of cyclical inflows and outflows of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. As of December 31, 2023, 71% of our deposits are fully FDIC insured, and another 11% are further backed by the Indiana Public Deposit Insurance Fund, an overall increase of 1% from the amount as of September 30, 2023, of 73% of deposits being fully FDIC insured, and 8% backed by the Indiana Public Deposit Insurance Fund. The Bancorp’s liquidity position remains strong with solid core deposit customer relationships, excess cash, debt securities, and access to diversified borrowing sources. As of December 31,2023, the Bancorp had available liquidity of $824 million including borrowing capacity from the FHLB and Federal Reserve facilities.

 

 

 

 

Unrealized losses on the securities portfolio - Accumulated other comprehensive losses were $51.6 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $64.3 million on December 31, 2022, a decrease of $12.7 million or 19.7%. The yield on the securities portfolio improved on a year-to-date basis to 2.43% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, up from 2.22% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. Management continually monitors the securities portfolio for restructuring opportunities but has not yet found economically viable options. Other than potential restructuring, management does not currently anticipate the need to realize losses from sales in the securities portfolio, as losses are currently driven by the interest rate environment and management expects such losses to be fully recoverable. Further, it remains unlikely the Bank will be required to sell the investments in the portfolio before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity.

 

 

Gain on sale of loans - Increases in mortgage rates have slowed the sale of fixed rate mortgage loans into the secondary market. As a result, gains from the sale of loans for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, totaled $1.1 million, down from $1.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the Bank originated $37.9 million in new fixed rate mortgage loans for sale, compared to $44.9 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the Bank originated $41.6 million in new 1-4 family loans retained in its portfolio, compared to $105.4 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. Total 1-4 family originations for the three-month period ending December 31, 2023, totaled $17.3 million, a decrease of $8.2 million from the amount for the three-month period ending September 30, 2023, totaling $25.5 million. This decrease was driven by seasonal demand for mortgages peaking in the spring and summer months, as well as increasing market interest rates which slowed loan growth. These retained loans are primarily construction loans and adjustable-rate loans with a fixed-rate period of 7 years or less, and the Bank continues to sell longer-duration fixed rate mortgages into the secondary market.

 

 

Commercial lending - The Bank’s aggregate loan portfolio totaled $1.5 billion on December 31, 2023, compared to $1.5 billion on December 31, 2022. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the Bank originated $234.3 million in new commercial loans, compared to $376.0 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. The loan portfolio represents 77.2% of earning assets and is comprised of 61.9% commercial related credits. At December 31, 2023, the Bancorp’s portfolio loan balances in commercial real estate owner occupied properties of $220.2 million or 14.6% of total loan balances and commercial real estate non-owner occupied properties of $283.0 million or 18.7% of total loan balances. Of the $283.0 million in commercial real estate non-owner occupied properties balances, loans collateralized by office buildings represented $41.2 million or 2.7% of total loan balances.

 

 

Asset quality - At December 31, 2023, non-performing loans totaled $11.5 million, compared to $18.4 million at December 31, 2022, a decrease of $6.9 million or 37.7%. The Bank’s ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.76% at December 31, 2023, compared to 1.21% at December 31, 2022. The Bank’s ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 0.61% at December 31, 2023, compared to 0.94% at December 31, 2022. The decrease in non-performing loans is primarily the result of management’s strategic non-performing asset management which includes proactive relationship management and note sales. In December 2023, the Bank completed a $5.4 million substandard loan sale to further reduce our outstanding nonperforming loans and increase our liquidity. At December 31, 2023, the allowance for credit losses (ACL) totaled $18.8 million and is considered adequate by management. For the year ended December 31, 2023, charge-offs, net of recoveries, totaled $2.0 million. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.24% at December 31, 2023, and the allowance for credit losses as a percentage of non-performing loans, or coverage ratio, was 163.9% at December 31, 2023. On January 1, 2023, the Bancorp adopted ASU No. 2016-13 resulting in an implementation entry of $8.3 million, increasing the ACL by $5.2 million and unfunded commitment liability by $3.1 million, and also resulting in retained earnings decreasing $6.1 million and generating a deferred tax asset of $2.2 million. The majority of the implementation entry is related to including acquired loan portfolios in the model and the addition of using economic forecasts in estimating future losses. In addition, $1.0 million of non-accretable credit loan discounts on purchase credit impaired loans now classified as purchase credit deteriorated were reallocated to the ACL.

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses: Non-interest expense as a percent of average assets was 2.65% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 3.05% for 2022. Recent branch closures have had a positive impact on this ratio. Management also continues to improve efficiency in personnel and has netted a reduction of 14 full time equivalents, or 4%, through the twelve months ended December 31, 2023. Compensation and benefits expense is down 4.6% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022.

 

 

Capital Adequacy - As of December 31, 2023, the Bank’s tier 1 capital to adjusted average assets ratio totaled 7.8%, on par with the ratio as of September 30, 2023, of 7.8%, and is within all regulatory capital requirements, and continues to be considered well capitalized. The Bancorp’s tangible book value per share was $28.31 at December 31, 2023, up from $25.41 as of December 31, 2022 (a non-GAAP measure). The increase in tangible book value per share is primarily a result of an improvement in our accumulated other comprehensive losses attributable to net unrealized gains on securities available for sale of approximately $13 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Tangible common equity to total assets was 5.77% at December 31, 2023, up from 5.27% as of December 31, 2022 (a non-GAAP measure). The increase is due to decreased accumulated other comprehensive losses compared to the year-ended December 31, 2022. Excluding accumulated other comprehensive losses, tangible book value per share decreased to $40.31 as of December 31, 2023, from $40.36 as of December 31, 2022 (a non-GAAP measure). The decrease is related to a reduction of retained earnings of $6.1 million due to the impact of the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13 and the payment of dividends of $4.5 million. See Table 1 at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of the tangible book value per share, tangible book value per share adjusted for accumulated other losses, tangible common equity as a percentage of total assets, and tangible common equity as a percentage of total assets adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive losses to the related GAAP ratios.

 

 

Sale-Leaseback Transaction - On January 29, 2024, the Bank entered into an agreement for the purchase and sale of property (the “Sale Agreement”), with MountainSeed Real Estate Services, LLC (the “Buyer”), a Georgia limited liability company, which provides for the sale to the Buyer of 5 properties owned and operated as branch locations by the Bank (the “Properties”) for an aggregate purchase price of $17.2 million, subject to customary adjustments at closing. Four of the Properties are located in Lake County, Indiana and one Property is located in Cook County, Illinois.  Under the Sale Agreement, the Bank has agreed, concurrently with the closing of the sale of the Properties, to enter into lease agreements (the “Lease Agreements”) with the Buyer under which the Bank will lease each of the Properties. Each of the Lease Agreements will have an initial term of 15 years.  The Bank’s obligations under the Lease Agreements will be guaranteed by the Bancorp pursuant to a form of guaranty to be entered into at the closing of the sale-leaseback transaction.  The Bancorp expects that the sale-leaseback transaction will close by the third week of February 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.  We will not close any branches or exit any markets as part of the sale-leaseback transaction. We expect the sale-leaseback transaction will result in proceeds in excess of book value of the Properties of approximately $11.7 million. The aggregate first full year of rent expense under the Lease Agreements will be approximately $1.5 million pre-tax, and will be partially offset by the elimination of the annual pre-tax depreciation expenses on the buildings of approximately $265 thousand. The Lease Agreements also include an annual rent adjustment of 2.0%. The Bank anticipates using the net proceeds generated from the sale-leaseback transaction for general corporate purposes, including a potential reduction in borrowed funds and associated interest expense costs.  

 

Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reported amounts are presented in accordance with GAAP. In this press release, the Bancorp also provides certain financial measures identified as non-GAAP. The Bancorp’s management believes that the non-GAAP information, which consists of tangible common equity, tangible common equity adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive losses, tangible book value per share, tangible book value per share adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive losses, tangible common equity/total assets, tax-adjusted net interest margin, and efficiency ratio, which can vary from period to period, provides a better comparison of period to period operating performance. Additionally, the Bancorp believes this information is utilized by regulators and market analysts to evaluate a company’s financial condition and, therefore, such information is useful to investors. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures which may be presented by other companies. Refer to Table 1 – Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures at the end of this document for a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures identified herein and their most comparable GAAP measures.

 

About Finward Bancorp

Finward Bancorp is a locally managed and independent financial holding company headquartered in Munster, Indiana, whose activities are primarily limited to holding the stock of Peoples Bank. Peoples Bank provides a wide range of personal, business, electronic and wealth management financial services from its 26 locations in Lake and Porter Counties in Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. Finward Bancorp’s common stock is quoted on The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC under the symbol FNWD. The website ibankpeoples.com provides information on Peoples Bank’s products and services, and Finward Bancorp’s investor relations.

 

 

 

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding the financial performance, business prospects, growth and operating strategies of the Bancorp. For these statements, the Bancorp claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this communication should be considered in conjunction with the other information available about the Bancorp, including the information in the filings the Bancorp makes with the SEC. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by using words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.

 

Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: the Bank’s ability to demonstrate compliance with the terms of the previously disclosed consent order and memorandum of understanding entered into between the Bank and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (“DFI”), or to demonstrate compliance to the satisfaction of the FDIC and/or DFI within prescribed time frames; the Bank’s agreement under the memorandum of understanding to refrain from paying cash dividends without prior regulatory approval; changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates, market liquidity, and capital markets, as well as the magnitude of such changes, which may reduce net interest margins; inflation; further deterioration in the market value of securities held in the Bancorp’s investment securities portfolio, whether as a result of macroeconomic factors or otherwise; customer acceptance of the Bancorp’s products and services; customer borrowing, repayment, investment, and deposit practices; customer disintermediation; the introduction, withdrawal, success, and timing of business initiatives; competitive conditions; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; economic conditions; and the impact, extent, and timing of technological changes, capital management activities, regulatory actions by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in the Bancorp’s reports (such as the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC’s Internet website (www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning matters attributable to the Bancorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Except as required by law, The Bancorp does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statement is made.

 

In addition to the above factors, we also caution that the actual amounts and timing of any future common stock dividends or share repurchases will be subject to various factors, including our capital position, financial performance, capital impacts of strategic initiatives, market conditions, and regulatory and accounting considerations, as well as any other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant in making such a determination. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will repurchase shares or pay any dividends to holders of our common stock, or as to the amount of any such repurchases or dividends.

 

 

 

Finward Bancorp

 

Quarterly Financial Report

 
                                                         

Performance Ratios

 

Quarter ended,

   

Twelve months ended,

 
   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

 
   

December 31,

   

September 30,

   

June 30,

   

March 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Return on equity

    4.92 %     6.55 %     7.05 %     6.42 %     12.96 %     6.28 %     10.47 %

Return on assets

    0.29 %     0.42 %     0.46 %     0.43 %     0.78 %     0.40 %     0.74 %

Noninterest income / average assets

    0.53 %     0.46 %     0.57 %     0.50 %     0.56 %     0.52 %     0.56 %

Noninterest expense / average assets

    2.60 %     2.59 %     2.66 %     2.75 %     3.07 %     2.65 %     3.05 %

Efficiency ratio

    87.49 %     86.88 %     82.11 %     82.35 %     79.63 %     84.58 %     78.95 %
                                                         

Non-performing assets to total assets

    0.61 %     0.54 %     0.62 %     1.02 %     0.94 %     0.61 %     0.94 %

Non-performing loans to total loans

    0.76 %     0.66 %     0.80 %     1.34 %     1.21 %     0.76 %     1.21 %

Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans

    163.90 %     192.89 %     158.26 %     96.15 %     70.18 %     163.90 %     70.18 %

Allowance for credit losses to loans outstanding

    1.24 %     1.27 %     1.27 %     1.29 %     0.85 %     1.24 %     0.85 %

Foreclosed real estate to total assets

    0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %
                                                         

Basic earnings per share

  $ 0.36     $ 0.52     $ 0.57     $ 0.52     $ 0.93     $ 1.96     $ 3.61  

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 0.35     $ 0.51     $ 0.57     $ 0.51     $ 0.93     $ 1.96     $ 3.60  

Net worth / total assets

    6.99 %     5.70 %     6.33 %     6.66 %     6.59 %     6.99 %     6.59 %

Book value per share

  $ 34.28     $ 27.68     $ 31.77     $ 32.47     $ 31.73     $ 34.28     $ 31.73  

Closing stock price

  $ 25.24     $ 22.00     $ 22.00     $ 29.10     $ 36.20     $ 25.24     $ 36.20  

Price per earnings per share

  $ 17.77     $ 10.67     $ 9.59     $ 14.10     $ 9.70     $ 12.87     $ 10.02  

Dividend declared per common share

  $ 0.12     $ 0.31     $ 0.31     $ 0.31     $ 0.31     $ 1.05     $ 1.24  
                                                         

Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets

    10.4 %     10.2 %     10.0 %     10.0 %     10.0 %     10.4 %     10.0 %

Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets

    10.4 %     10.2 %     10.0 %     10.0 %     10.0 %     10.4 %     10.0 %

Total capital to risk-weighted assets

    11.4 %     11.2 %     11.0 %     11.0 %     10.9 %     11.4 %     10.9 %

Tier 1 capital to adjusted average assets

    7.8 %     7.8 %     7.6 %     7.7 %     7.7 %     7.8 %     7.7 %

 

 

Non-GAAP Performance Ratios

 

Quarter ended,

   

Twelve Months Ended

 
   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

 
   

December 31,

   

September 30,

   

June 30,

   

March 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Net interest margin - tax equivalent

    2.80 %     2.87 %     3.03 %     3.23 %     3.73 %     2.98 %     3.74 %

Tangible book value per diluted share

  $ 28.31     $ 21.63     $ 25.64     $ 26.24     $ 25.41     $ 28.31     $ 25.41  

Tangible book value per diluted share adjusted for AOCI

  $ 40.31     $ 39.96     $ 39.62     $ 39.23     $ 40.36     $ 40.31     $ 40.36  

Tangible common equity to total assets

    5.77 %     4.46 %     5.11 %     5.38 %     5.27 %     5.77 %     5.27 %

Tangible common equity to total assets adjusted for AOCI

    8.22 %     8.23 %     7.89 %     8.05 %     8.38 %     8.22 %     8.38 %

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

                                               

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Average Balances, Interest, and Rates

 

(unaudited)

 

December 31, 2023

   

December 31, 2022

 
   

Average
Balance

   

Interest

   

Rate (%)

   

Average
Balance

   

Interest

   

Rate (%)

 

ASSETS

                                               

Interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions

  $ 53,268     $ 689       5.17     $ 13,914     $ 124       3.56  

Federal funds sold

    1,881       20       4.25       1,460       3       0.82  

Certificates of deposit in other financial institutions

    -       -       -       2,218       13       2.34  

Securities available-for-sale

    342,305       2,196       2.57       360,865       2,197       2.44  

Loans receivable

    1,516,126       19,281       5.09       1,503,543       17,504       4.66  

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

    6,547       69       4.22       4,596       21       1.83  

Total interest earning assets

    1,920,127     $ 22,256       4.64       1,886,596     $ 19,862       4.21  

Cash and non-interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions

    18,545                       3,240                  

Allowance for credit losses

    (19,552 )                     (13,289 )                

Other noninterest bearing assets

    158,615                       158,812                  

Total assets

  $ 2,077,735                     $ 2,035,359                  
                                                 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                               

Interest-bearing deposits

  $ 1,475,171     $ 8,180       2.22     $ 1,411,064     $ 2,007       0.57  

Repurchase agreements

    42,584       402       3.78       19,799       102       2.06  

Borrowed funds

    86,929       958       4.41       72,772       944       5.19  

Total interest bearing liabilities

    1,604,684     $ 9,540       2.38       1,503,635     $ 3,053       0.81  

Non-interest bearing deposits

    315,573                       382,519                  

Other noninterest bearing liabilities

    34,813                       27,055                  

Total liabilities

    1,955,070                       1,913,209                  

Total stockholders' equity

    122,665                       122,150                  

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

  $ 2,077,735                     $ 2,035,359                  
                                                 
                                                 

Return on average assets

    0.29 %                     0.78 %                

Return on average equity

    4.92 %                     12.96 %                

Net interest margin (average earning assets)

    2.65 %                     3.56 %                

Net interest margin (average earning assets) - tax equivalent

    2.80 %                     3.73 %                

Net intrest spread

    2.26 %                     3.40 %                

Net interest margin**

    2.65 %                     3.56 %                

Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities

 

1.20

x                  

1.00

x                

 

 

Year-to-Date

                                               

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Average Balances, Interest, and Rates

 

(unaudited)

 

December 31, 2023

   

December 31, 2022

 
   

Average
Balance

   

Interest

   

Rate (%)

   

Average
Balance

   

Interest

   

Rate (%)

 

ASSETS

                                               

Interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions

  $ 37,615     $ 1,846       4.91     $ 21,685     $ 287       1.32  

Federal funds sold

    1,341       58       4.33       3,025       11       0.36  

Certificates of deposit in other financial institutions

    -       -       -       1,868       28       1.50  

Securities available-for-sale

    362,942       8,828       2.43       427,291       9,492       2.22  

Loans receivable

    1,519,010       74,762       4.92       1,431,017       62,133       4.34  

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

    6,547       290       4.43       3,675       84       2.29  

Total interest earning assets

    1,927,455     $ 85,784       4.45       1,888,561     $ 72,035       3.81  

Cash and non-interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions

    18,678                       16,820                  

Allowance for credit losses

    (18,106 )                     (13,385 )                

Other noninterest bearing assets

    155,333                       146,259                  

Total assets

  $ 2,083,360                     $ 2,038,255                  
                                                 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                               

Interest-bearing deposits

  $ 1,460,392     $ 25,438       1.74     $ 1,450,664     $ 3,604       0.25  

Repurchase agreements

    35,543       1,294       3.64       20,649       195       0.94  

Borrowed funds

    98,848       4,496       4.55       26,806       1,087       4.06  

Total interest bearing liabilities

    1,594,783     $ 31,228       1.96       1,498,119     $ 4,886       0.33  

Non-interest bearing deposits

    323,693                       372,934                  

Other noninterest bearing liabilities

    31,347                       23,132                  

Total liabilities

    1,949,823                       1,894,185                  

Total stockholders' equity

    133,537                       144,070                  

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

  $ 2,083,360                     $ 2,038,255                  
                                                 
                                                 

Return on average assets

    0.40 %                     0.74 %                

Return on average equity

    6.28 %                     10.47 %                

Net interest margin (average earning assets)

    2.83 %                     3.56 %                

Net interest margin (average earning assets) - tax equivalent

    2.98 %                     3.74 %                

Net intrest spread

    2.49 %                     3.49 %                

Net interest margin**

    2.83 %                     3.56 %                

Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities

 

1.21

x                  

1.01

x                

 

 

 

Finward Bancorp

 

Quarterly Financial Report

 
                                         

Balance Sheet Data

                                       

(Dollars in thousands)

 

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

         
   

December 30,

   

September 30,

   

June 30,

   

March 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2022

 

ASSETS

                                       
                                         

Cash and non-interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions

  $ 17,942     $ 17,922     $ 23,210     $ 33,785     $ 19,965  

Interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions

    67,647       52,875       89,706       20,342       11,210  
                                         

Total cash and cash equivalents

    86,008       71,648       115,673       54,781       31,282  
                                         

Certificates of deposit in other financial institutions

    -       -       -       2,452       2,456  
                                         

Securities available-for-sale

    371,374       339,280       368,136       377,901       370,896  

Loans held-for-sale

    340       2,057       1,832       1,672       1,543  

Loans receivable, net of deferred fees and costs

    1,512,595       1,525,660       1,534,161       1,521,089       1,513,631  

Less: allowance for credit losses (1)

    (18,768 )     (19,430 )     (19,507 )     (19,568 )     (12,897 )

Net loans receivable

    1,493,827       1,506,230       1,514,654       1,501,521       1,500,734  

Federal Home Loan Bank stock

    6,547       6,547       6,547       6,547       6,547  

Accrued interest receivable

    8,045       7,864       7,714       7,717       7,421  

Premises and equipment

    38,436       38,810       39,204       39,732       40,212  

Foreclosed real estate

    71       71       71       64       -  

Cash value of bank owned life insurance

    32,702       32,509       32,316       32,115       31,936  

Goodwill

    22,395       22,395       22,395       22,395       22,395  

Other intangible assets

    3,272       3,636       4,015       4,402       4,794  

Other assets

    45,262       56,423       48,661       47,293       50,123  
                                         

Total assets

  $ 2,108,279     $ 2,087,470     $ 2,161,218     $ 2,098,592     $ 2,070,339  
                                         

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                       
                                         

Deposits:

                                       

Non-interest bearing

  $ 295,594     $ 312,635     $ 315,671     $ 330,057     $ 359,092  

Interest bearing

    1,517,827       1,471,402       1,479,476       1,476,053       1,415,925  

Total

    1,813,421       1,784,037       1,795,147       1,806,110       1,775,017  

Repurchase agreements

    38,124       48,310       46,402       28,423       15,503  

Borrowed funds

    80,000       100,000       150,000       100,000       120,000  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    29,389       36,080       32,919       24,323       23,426  
                                         

Total liabilities

    1,960,934       1,968,427       2,024,468       1,958,856       1,933,946  
                                         

Commitments and contingencies

                                       
                                         

Stockholders' Equity:

                                       
                                         

Preferred stock, no par or stated value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding

    -       -       -       -       -  

Common stock, no par or stated value

    -       -       -       -       -  

Additional paid-in capital

    69,555       69,482       69,384       69,182       69,032  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (51,613 )     (78,848 )     (60,185 )     (55,895 )     (64,300 )

Retained earnings

    129,403       128,409       127,551       126,449       131,661  
                                         

Total stockholders' equity

    147,345       119,043       136,750       139,736       136,393  
                                         

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

  $ 2,108,279     $ 2,087,470     $ 2,161,218     $ 2,098,592     $ 2,070,339  

 

 

 

Finward Bancorp

 

Quarterly Financial Report

 
                                                         

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

Three Months Ended,

   

Twelve months ended,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

 
   

December 31,

   

September 30,

   

June 30,

   

March 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Interest income:

                                                       

Loans

  $ 19,281     $ 19,161     $ 18,694     $ 17,626     $ 17,504     $ 74,762     $ 62,133  

Securities & short-term investments

    2,975       2,617       2,919       2,510       2,358       11,021       9,902  

Total interest income

    22,256       21,778       21,613       20,136       19,862       85,783       72,035  

Interest expense:

                                                       

Deposits

    8,180       7,066       6,105       4,087       2,007       25,438       3,604  

Borrowings

    1,361       1,579       1,469       1,381       1,046       5,790       1,282  

Total interest expense

    9,541       8,645       7,574       5,468       3,053       31,228       4,886  

Net interest income

    12,715       13,133       14,039       14,668       16,809       54,555       67,149  

Provision for credit losses

    779       244       514       488       -       2,025       -  

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

    11,936       12,889       13,525       14,180       16,809       52,530       67,149  

Noninterest income:

                                                       

Fees and service charges

    1,507       1,374       1,832       1,311       1,823       6,024       6,257  

Wealth management operations

    672       572       626       614       523       2,484       2,113  

Gain on sale of loans held-for-sale, net

    352       192       274       263       126       1,081       1,368  

Increase in cash value of bank owned life insurance

    193       193       201       179       182       766       810  

(Loss) gain on sale of foreclosed real estate, net

    -       2       (15 )     -       16       (13 )     16  

(Loss) gain on sale of securities, net

    -       -       (48 )     -       -       (48 )     662  

Other

    11       64       136       241       169       452       283  

Total noninterest income

    2,735       2,397       3,006       2,608       2,839       10,746       11,509  

Noninterest expense:

                                                       

Compensation and benefits

    6,290       6,729       7,098       7,538       6,587       27,655       28,990  

Occupancy and equipment

    1,520       1,711       1,636       1,690       1,752       6,557       6,785  

Data processing

    1,269       1,085       1,407       973       1,238       4,734       6,750  

Federal deposit insurance premiums

    492       474       572       465       279       2,003       1,228  

Marketing

    191       235       159       255       284       840       1,907  

Impairment charge on assets held for sale

    -       -       -       -       1,232       -       1,232  

Net loss recognized on sale of premises and equipment

    -       -       -       -       49       -       303  

Other

    3,755       3,259       3,123       3,306       4,224       13,442       14,905  

Total noninterest expense

    13,517       13,493       13,995       14,227       15,645       55,231       62,100  

Income before income taxes

    1,154       1,793       2,536       2,561       4,003       8,045       16,558  

Income tax expenses (benefit)

    (356 )     (398 )     98       321       45       (335 )     1,478  

Net income

  $ 1,510     $ 2,191     $ 2,438     $ 2,240     $ 3,958     $ 8,380     $ 15,080  
                                                         

Earnings per common share:

                                                       

Basic

    0.36       0.52       0.57       0.52       0.93       1.96       3.61  

Diluted

    0.35       0.51       0.57       0.51       0.93       1.96       3.60  

 

 

 

Finward Bancorp

 

Quarterly Financial Report

 
                                         

Asset Quality

 

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Unaudited)

         

(Dollars in thousands)

 

December 31,

   

September 30,

   

June 30,

   

March 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2023

   

2022

 

Nonaccruing loans

  $ 9,608     $ 9,840     $ 12,071     $ 19,473     $ 18,128  

Accruing loans delinquent more than 90 days

    1,843       233       255       878       248  

Securities in non-accrual

    1,357       1,155       1,075       1,017       1,048  

Foreclosed real estate

    71       71       61       60       -  

Total nonperforming assets

  $ 12,879     $ 11,299     $ 13,462     $ 21,428     $ 19,424  
                                         

Allowance for credit losses (ACL):

                                       

ACL specific allowances for collateral dependent loans

  $ 906     $ 554     $ 717     $ 1,075     $ 338  

ACL general allowances for loan portfolio

    17,862       18,876       18,790       18,493       12,559  

Total ACL

  $ 18,768     $ 19,430     $ 19,507     $ 19,568     $ 12,897  

 

 


 

   

(Unaudited)

         
   

December 31,

   

Required

 
   

2023

   

To Be Well

 
   

Actual Ratio

   

Capitalized

 

Capital Adequacy Bank

               

Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets

    10.4 %     6.5 %

Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets

    10.4 %     8.0 %

Total capital to risk-weighted assets

    11.4 %     10.0 %

Tier 1 capital to adjusted average assets

    7.8 %     5.0 %

 

 

 

 

Table 1 - Reconciliation of the Non-GAAP Performance Measures

 

 

                                                           
 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended,

   

Twelve months ended,

 
 

(unaudited)

 

December 31, 2023

   

September 30, 2023

   

June 30, 2023

   

March 31, 2023

   

December 31, 2022

   

December 31, 2023

   

December 31, 2022

 
 

Calculation of tangible common equity

                                                       
 

Total stockholder's equity

  $ 147,345     $ 119,043     $ 136,750     $ 139,736     $ 136,393     $ 147,345     $ 136,393  
 

Goodwill

    (22,395 )     (22,395 )     (22,395 )     (22,395 )     (22,395 )     (22,395 )     (22,395 )
 

Other intangibles

    (3,272 )     (3,636 )     (4,015 )     (4,402 )     (4,794 )     (3,272 )     (4,794 )

(A)

Tangible common equity

  $ 121,678     $ 93,012     $ 110,340     $ 112,939     $ 109,204     $ 121,678     $ 109,204  
                                                           
 

Calculation of tangible common equity adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss

                                                       

(A)

Tangible common equity

  $ 121,678     $ 93,012     $ 110,340     $ 112,939     $ 109,204     $ 121,678     $ 109,204  
 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    51,613       78,848       60,185       55,895       64,300       51,613       64,300  

(B)

Tangible common equity adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss

  $ 173,291     $ 171,860     $ 170,525     $ 168,834     $ 173,504     $ 173,291     $ 173,504  
                                                           
 

Calculation of tangible book value per share

                                                       

(A)

Tangible common equity

  $ 121,678     $ 93,012     $ 110,340     $ 112,939     $ 109,204     $ 121,678     $ 109,204  
 

Shares outstanding

    4,298,773       4,300,881       4,303,766       4,304,026       4,298,401       4,298,773       4,298,401  
 

Tangible book value per diluted share

  $ 28.31     $ 21.63     $ 25.64     $ 26.24     $ 25.41     $ 28.31     $ 25.41  
                                                           
 

Calculation of tangible book value per diluted share adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss

                                                 

(B)

Tangible common equity adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss

  $ 173,291     $ 171,860     $ 170,525     $ 168,834     $ 173,504     $ 173,291     $ 173,504  
 

Diluted average common shares outstanding

    4,298,773       4,300,881       4,303,766       4,304,026       4,298,401       4,298,773       4,298,401  
 

Tangible book value per diluted share adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss

  $ 40.31     $ 39.96     $ 39.62     $ 39.23     $ 40.36     $ 40.31     $ 40.36  
                                                           
 

Calculation of tangible common equity to total assets

                                                       

(A)

Tangible common equity

  $ 121,678     $ 93,012     $ 110,340     $ 112,939     $ 109,204     $ 121,678     $ 109,204  
 

Total assets

    2,108,279       2,087,470       2,161,218       2,098,592       2,070,339       2,108,279       2,070,339  
 

Tangible common equity to total assets

    5.77 %     4.46 %     5.11 %     5.38 %     5.27 %     5.77 %     5.27 %
 

Calculation of tangible common equity to total assets

                                                       

(B)

Tangible common equity adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss

  $ 173,291     $ 171,860     $ 170,525     $ 168,834     $ 173,504     $ 173,291     $ 173,504  
 

Total assets

    2,108,279       2,087,470       2,161,218       2,098,592       2,070,339       2,108,279       2,070,339  
 

Tangible common equity to total assets adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss

    8.22 %     8.23 %     7.89 %     8.05 %     8.38 %     8.22 %     8.38 %
                                                           
 

Calculation of tax adjusted net interest margin

                                                       
 

Net interest income

  $ 12,715     $ 13,133     $ 14,039     $ 14,668     $ 16,809     $ 54,555     $ 67,149  
 

Tax adjusted interest on securities and loans

    722       730       748       756       791       2,956       3,504  
 

Adjusted net interest income

    13,437       13,863       14,787       15,424       17,600       57,511       70,653  
 

Total average earning assets

    1,920,127       1,930,118       1,950,774       1,908,647       1,886,596       1,927,455       1,888,561  
 

Tax adjusted net interest margin

    2.80 %     2.87 %     3.03 %     3.23 %     3.73 %     2.98 %     3.74 %
                                                           
 

Efficiency ratio

                                                       
 

Total non-interest expense

  $ 13,517     $ 13,493     $ 13,995     $ 14,227     $ 15,645     $ 55,231     $ 62,100  
 

Total revenue

    15,450       15,530       17,045       17,276       19,648       65,301       78,658  
 

Efficiency ratio

    87.49 %     86.88 %     82.11 %     82.35 %     79.63 %     84.58 %     78.95 %