Silvergate Capital Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2021 Results

Silvergate Capital Corporation (“Silvergate” or “Company”) (NYSE:SI) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Silvergate Bank (“Bank”), today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Third Quarter 2021 Highlights

• Net income available to common shareholders for the quarter was $23.5 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, compared to net income of $20.9 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2021, and net income of $7.1 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2020
• The Silvergate Exchange Network (“SEN”) handled $162.0 billion of U.S. dollar transfers in the third quarter of 2021, a decrease of 32% compared to $239.6 billion in the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of 342% compared to $36.7 billion in the third quarter of 2020
• Total SEN Leverage commitments were $322.5 million at September 30, 2021, compared to $258.5 million at June 30, 2021, and $35.5 million at September 30, 2020
• Digital currency customer related fee income for the quarter was $8.1 million, compared to $11.3 million for the second quarter of 2021, and $3.3 million for the third quarter of 2020
• Digital currency customers grew to 1,305 at September 30, 2021, compared to 1,224 at June 30, 2021, and 928 at September 30, 2020
• Average digital currency customer deposits grew to $11.2 billion during the third quarter of 2021, compared to $9.9 billion during the second quarter of 2021
• Completed previously announced $200 million depository share offering, for net proceeds of $193.7 million after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses

Alan Lane, president and chief executive officer of Silvergate, commented, “Silvergate had another great quarter, underscored by record quarterly pre-tax income, continued platform growth, and an expanding balance sheet. In the third quarter we grew average digital currency deposits to $11.2 billion, the highest in our history, added new digital currency customers to the SEN, and further increased SEN Leverage commitments and balances. Our strong results and increasingly diverse earnings stream highlight the important roles that we play in serving our customers in the still nascent digital currency industry.”

Digital Currency Initiative

At September 30, 2021, the Company’s digital currency customers increased to 1,305 from 1,224 at June 30, 2021, and from 928 at September 30, 2020. At September 30, 2021, prospective digital currency customer leads in various stages of the customer onboarding process and pipeline remained above 200. For the third quarter of 2021, $162.0 billion of U.S. dollar transfers occurred on the SEN, a 32% decrease from $239.6 billion transfers in the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of 342% compared to $36.7 billion in the third quarter of 2020. Based on digital currency industry transaction data provided by Coin Metrics, bitcoin and ether dollar trading volumes decreased by 43% during the third quarter of 2021 compared to the second quarter of 2021. The Company will no longer provide data related to the number of SEN transactions conducted quarterly but will continue to report quarterly SEN dollar volumes as industry data from Coin Metrics is more highly correlated to this metric.

Results of Operations, Quarter Ended September 30, 2021

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Analysis (Taxable Equivalent Basis)

The Company’s securities portfolio includes tax-exempt municipal bonds with tax-exempt income from these securities calculated and presented below on a taxable equivalent basis. Net interest income, net interest spread and net interest margin are presented on a taxable equivalent basis to consistently reflect income from taxable securities and tax-exempt securities based on the federal statutory tax rate of 21.0%.

Net interest income on a taxable equivalent basis totaled $39.0 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared to $31.2 million for the second quarter of 2021, and $19.4 million for the third quarter of 2020.

Compared to the second quarter of 2021, net interest income increased $7.8 million, due to increased interest income, with the largest driver being higher balances of securities, while interest expense remained flat. Average total interest earning assets increased by $1.5 billion for the third quarter of 2021 compared to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to increased digital currency related deposits that were invested in securities in the second and third quarter of 2021. The average yield on interest earning assets increased from 1.17% for the second quarter of 2021 to 1.27% for the third quarter of 2021, primarily due to a higher proportion of securities and a lower proportion of lower yielding interest earnings deposits in other banks. Average interest bearing liabilities decreased $20.6 million for the third quarter of 2021 compared to the second quarter of 2021, due to a decrease in interest bearing deposits. The average rate paid on total interest bearing liabilities increased from 1.02% for the second quarter of 2021 to 1.17% for the third quarter of 2021, driven by the decrease in lower cost interest bearing deposits, which resulted in a larger proportion of higher cost subordinated debentures as a percentage of total interest bearing liabilities.

Compared to the third quarter of 2020, net interest income increased $19.6 million, due to an increase of $19.5 million in interest income and a decrease of $0.1 million in interest expense. Average total interest earning assets increased by $9.8 billion for the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020, due to an increase in noninterest bearing deposits, which resulted in higher levels of interest earning deposits in other banks and securities. In addition, average loans increased by 23.4% due to increases in mortgage warehouse loans, driven by elevated mortgage refinance activity and increased SEN Leverage lending, which was launched in the first quarter of 2020. The average yield on total interest earning assets decreased from 3.25% for the third quarter of 2020 to 1.27% for the third quarter of 2021, primarily due to interest earning deposits in other banks being a greater percentage of interest earning assets, and lower yields on recently purchased securities. Average interest bearing liabilities decreased $156.7 million for the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020, due to reduced FHLB advances in 2021 and lower balances of interest bearing deposits. The average rate on total interest bearing liabilities increased from 0.60% for the third quarter of 2020 to 1.17% for the third quarter of 2021, primarily due to the decrease in lower cost FHLB advances and interest bearing deposits, which resulted in a larger proportion of higher cost subordinated debentures as a percentage of total interest bearing liabilities.

Net interest margin for the third quarter of 2021 was 1.26%, compared to 1.16% for the second quarter of 2021, and 3.19% for the third quarter of 2020. The increase in the net interest margin compared to the second quarter of 2021 was primarily driven by the increase in the proportion of securities compared to lower yielding interest earning deposits in other banks. The net interest margin decrease from the third quarter of 2020 was primarily due to a higher proportion of interest earning deposits as a percentage of total interest earning assets, as well as lower yields on securities due to a declining interest rate environment.

Provision for Loan Losses

The Company did not record a provision for loan losses for the third quarter of 2021, the second quarter of 2021, or for the third quarter of 2020 as a result of management’s assessment of the level of the allowance for loan losses, and the amount and mix of the loan portfolio, among other factors.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income for the third quarter of 2021 was $14.0 million, an increase of $2.0 million, or 16.3%, from the second quarter of 2021. The primary driver of this increase was a $5.2 million gain on sale of securities offset by a $3.1 million, or 27.7%, decrease in deposit related fees as a result of lower cash management fees from digital currency related customers.

Noninterest income for the third quarter of 2021 increased by $10.1 million, or 254.2%, compared to the third quarter of 2020. This increase was primarily due to a $5.2 million increase in gain on sale of securities and a $4.9 million, or 148.1%, increase in deposit related fees, partially offset by a $0.1 million, or 12.3% decrease in mortgage warehouse fee income.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense totaled $22.3 million for the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $0.8 million, or 3.8%, compared to the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of $8.2 million, or 58.1%, compared to the third quarter of 2020. The increase in noninterest expense compared to prior quarter was due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits and federal deposit insurance. The increase in noninterest expense from the third quarter of 2020 was primarily driven by increased federal deposit insurance expense resulting from the significant growth in digital currency deposits and by ongoing investments related to strategic growth initiatives.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Income tax expense was $5.9 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared to a benefit of $2,000 for the second quarter of 2021, and an expense of $1.7 million for the third quarter of 2020. Our effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2021 was 20.0%, compared to zero for the second quarter of 2021, and 19.4% for the third quarter of 2020. The lower effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2021 was due to significant tax benefits recognized on the exercise of stock options.

Balance Sheet

Deposits

At September 30, 2021, deposits totaled $11.7 billion, an increase of $291.0 million, or 2.6%, from June 30, 2021, and an increase of $9.4 billion, or 411.3%, from September 30, 2020. Noninterest bearing deposits totaled $11.6 billion, representing approximately 99.3% of total deposits at September 30, 2021, an increase of $295.7 million from the prior quarter end, and a $9.4 billion increase compared to September 30, 2020. The increase in total deposits from the prior year quarter end was driven by an increase in deposits from digital currency exchanges, institutional investors in digital assets and other fintech related customers. The Bank’s 10 largest depositors accounted for $5.3 billion in deposits, or approximately 45.6% of total deposits at September 30, 2021, compared to $5.3 billion in deposits, or approximately 46.7% of total deposits at June 30, 2021, substantially all of which are from customers operating in the digital currency industry.

Our continued growth has been accompanied by significant fluctuations in the level of our deposits, in particular our deposits from customers operating in the digital currency industry, as our customers in this industry typically carry higher balances over the weekend to take advantage of the 24/7 availability of the SEN, and carry lower balances during the business week. The Bank’s average total digital currency customer deposits during the third quarter of 2021 amounted to $11.2 billion, the high and low daily total digital currency deposit levels during such time were $12.6 billion and $9.8 billion, respectively, compared to an average of $9.9 billion during the second quarter of 2021, and high and low daily deposit levels of $11.8 billion and $6.8 billion, respectively.

Demand for new deposit accounts is generated by the Company’s banking platform for innovators that includes the SEN, which is enabled through Silvergate’s proprietary API, and other cash management solutions. These tools enable Silvergate’s customers to grow their businesses and scale operations. The following table sets forth a breakdown of the Company’s digital currency customer base and the deposits held by such customers at the dates noted below:

The weighted average cost of deposits for the third quarter of 2021 and for the second quarter of 2021 was 0.00%, compared to 0.01% for the third quarter of 2020.

Loan Portfolio

Total loans, including net loans held-for-investment and loans held for sale, were $1.6 billion at September 30, 2021, an increase of $139.5 million, or 9.4%, from June 30, 2021, and an increase of $226.5 million, or 16.2%, from September 30, 2020.

Asset Quality and Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses was unchanged at $6.9 million at September 30, 2021, compared to June 30, 2021 and increased slightly from $6.8 million at September 30, 2020. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to gross loans held-for-investment at September 30, 2021 was 0.85%, compared to 0.93% and 0.91% at June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, respectively.

Nonperforming assets totaled $5.8 million, or 0.05% of total assets, at September 30, 2021, a decrease of $1.7 million from $7.5 million, or 0.06% of total assets at June 30, 2021. Nonperforming assets increased $1.7 million, from $4.1 million, or 0.16%, of total assets, at September 30, 2020.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) Update

As of September 30, 2021, the majority of COVID-19 related deferred loans have returned to paying, and only an immaterial amount of loans are still being deferred.

In April 2020, the Company implemented a short-term loan modification program for customers impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic to provide temporary relief to certain borrowers who meet the program’s qualifications. Due to the fluid nature of COVID-19, this program has been evolving in order to provide maximum relief to bank borrowers. As of September 30, 2021, the remaining loans in deferral due to COVID-19 are as follows:

Securities

Securities available-for-sale increased $1.1 billion, or 17.1%, from $6.2 billion at June 30, 2021, and increased $6.3 billion, or 666.2%, from $944.2 million at September 30, 2020, to $7.2 billion at September 30, 2021. The Company purchased $1.6 billion of securities in the third quarter of 2021, including $530.9 million of agency residential mortgage-backed securities, $354.3 million of municipal bonds, $516.6 million of U.S. agency securities excluding mortgage-backed securities, $135.0 million of agency commercial mortgage-backed securities, and $21.0 million of private-label commercial mortgage-backed securities, bringing total year to date securities purchases to $6.9 billion as of September 30, 2021. During the third quarter of 2021, the Company sold $338.9 million of securities and recognized a gain of $5.2 million.

Capital Ratios

At September 30, 2021, the Company’s ratio of common equity to total assets was 6.88%, compared with 7.08% at June 30, 2021, and 10.83% at September 30, 2020. At September 30, 2021, the Company’s book value per common share was $33.10, compared to $32.84 at June 30, 2021, and $15.18 at September 30, 2020.

At September 30, 2021, the Company had a tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.71%, common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 40.98%, tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 50.80% and total risk-based capital ratio of 51.13%.

At September 30, 2021, the Bank had a tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.24%, common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 48.04%, tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 48.04% and total risk-based capital ratio of 48.37%. These capital ratios each exceeded the “well capitalized” standards defined by federal banking regulations of 5.00% for tier 1 leverage ratio, 6.5% for common equity tier 1 capital ratio, 8.00% for tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and 10.00% for total risk-based capital ratio.

Equity Offerings

On August 4, 2021, the Company issued and sold 8,000,000 depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”), each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of 5.375% Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, equivalent to $25 per Depositary Share. The aggregate gross proceeds of the offering were $200.0 million and net proceeds to the Company were approximately $193.7 million after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. When, as and if declared by our board of directors, or a duly authorized committee, of the Company, dividends will be payable from the date of issuance, quarterly in arrears, beginning on November 15, 2021. The Company may redeem the Series A Preferred Stock at its option, subject to regulatory approval, on or after August 15, 2026.

Subsequent Event

On October 14, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors declared the first quarterly dividend payment of $15.08 per share, equivalent to $0.377 per depositary share, on its Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, for the period covering August 4, 2021 through November 14, 2021, for a total dividend of $3.0 million. The depositary shares representing the Series A Preferred Stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SI.PRA.” The dividend will be payable on November 15, 2021 to shareholders of record of the preferred stock as of October 29, 2021.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a conference call on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to present and discuss second quarter 2021 financial results. The conference call can be accessed live by dialing 1-844-378-6480 or for international callers, 1-412-317-1088, and requesting to be joined to the Silvergate Capital Corporation Third Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call. A replay will be available starting at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on October 19, 2021 and can be accessed by dialing 1-877-344-7529, or for international callers 1-412-317-0088. The passcode for the replay is 10160499. The replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 2, 2021.

Interested investors and other parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the investor relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.silvergate.com. The online replay will remain available for a limited time beginning immediately following the call.

About Silvergate

Silvergate Capital Corporation (NYSE: SI) is the leading provider of innovative financial infrastructure solutions and services for the growing digital currency industry. The Company’s real-time payments platform, known as the Silvergate Exchange Network, is at the heart of its customer-centric suite of payments, lending and funding solutions serving an expanding class of digital currency companies and investors around the world. Silvergate is enabling the rapid growth of digital currency markets and reshaping global commerce for a digital currency future.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this earnings release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “projection,” “forecast,” “goal,” “target,” “would,” “aim” and “outlook,” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. The inclusion of these forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that such expectations, estimates and projections will be achieved. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. For information about other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements contained in this release, please refer to the Company's public reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Further, given its ongoing and dynamic nature, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business. The extent of such impact will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain, including when the coronavirus can be controlled and abated and when and how the economy may be reopened. As the result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related adverse local and national economic consequences, we could be subject to any of the following risks, any of which could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations: the demand for our products and services may decline, making it difficult to grow assets and income; if the economy is unable to fully reopen, and high levels of unemployment continue for an extended period of time, loan delinquencies, problem assets, and foreclosures may increase, resulting in increased charges and reduced income; collateral for loans, especially real estate, may decline in value, which could cause loan losses to increase; our allowance for loan losses may increase if borrowers experience financial difficulties, which will adversely affect our net income; the net worth and liquidity of loan guarantors may decline, impairing their ability to honor commitments to us; as the result of the decline in the Federal Reserve Board’s target federal funds rate to near 0%, the yield on our assets may decline to a greater extent than the decline in our cost of interest-bearing liabilities, reducing our net interest margin and spread and reducing net income; our cyber security risks are increased as the result of an increase in the number of employees working remotely; and FDIC premiums may increase if the agency experiences additional resolution costs.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this earnings release, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict their occurrence. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each risk and uncertainty on our business or the extent to which any risk or uncertainty, or combination of risks and uncertainties, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

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