Juniata Valley Financial Corp. Announces Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2022

Mifflintown, PA, April 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Juniata Valley Financial Corp. (OTC Pink: JUVF) (“Juniata”), announced net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 of $2.1 million, an increase of 29.4%, compared to net income of $1.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Earnings per share, basic and diluted, for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $0.42, 27.3% greater than the $0.33 reported for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

President’s Message

President and Chief Executive Officer, Marcie A. Barber stated, “We are very pleased to deliver strong financial performance as we begin a new fiscal year. These results are indicative of our resolve to responsibly navigate changes in this challenging economic environment as evidenced by our strong credit quality. We are focused on expanding quality loan relationships and deploying excess cash in a strategic manner, while exploring and implementing technologies to reduce operating expenses.”

Financial Results for the Quarter

Annualized return on average assets for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was 1.04 %, compared to 0.82% for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Annualized return on average equity for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was 12.55%, compared to 8.68% for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Net interest income was $5.9 million for the first quarter of 2022 compared to $4.9 million for the first quarter of 2021. Average earning assets increased 3.7%, to $768.5 million, during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, due to an increase of $47.8 million in average investment securities. The increase in average investment securities was partially offset by a decline of $12.5 million in average loans, primarily due to the forgiveness of PPP loans. While the average loan volume declined between the first quarter of 2021 versus 2022, total loan yield increased by 46 basis points, primarily due to interest collected on previously charged off nonaccrual loans. The yield on earning assets increased 26 basis points, to 3.45%, in the first quarter of 2022 compared to same period last year, while the cost to fund interest earning assets with interest bearing liabilities decreased 23 basis points, to 0.43%, over the same comparable period. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, average interest bearing liabilities increased by $9.1 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021, due to growth in average interest-bearing deposits of $63.3 million driven by deposits of government stimulus payments and increased consumer saving during the pandemic, as well as Juniata’s use of brokered deposits. The growth in interest-bearing deposits was partially offset by a decline of $54.2 million in short- and long-term borrowings due to reductions in FRB advances and FHLB borrowings. The net interest margin, on a fully tax equivalent basis, increased from 2.75% during the three months ended March 31, 2021 to 3.17% during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

A loan provision expense of $28,000 was recorded in the first quarter of 2022, compared to a provision credit of $79,000 in the first quarter of 2021. While Juniata continued to experience favorable asset quality trends and net recoveries during the first quarter of 2022, elevated qualitative risk factors were considered in its allowance for loan loss analysis for certain loan segments due to the uncertainty in the economy caused by inflation, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions.

Non-interest income was $1.3 million in both the first quarter of 2022 and 2021. Most significantly impacting non-interest income in the comparative three month periods was a decrease in the value of equity securities of $116,000 in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021. Offsetting this decline over the comparative three month periods were increases in customer service and trust fees, as well as commissions from the sales of non-deposit products and fees derived from loan activity.

Non-interest expense was $4.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $4.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, an increase of 6.0%. Most significantly impacting non-interest expense in the comparative three month periods was a $209,000 increase in employee compensation and benefits expense due to temporary duplication of compensation and benefits expense from employee transitions and increased medical claims expenses, in addition to a $42,000 decline in the gain on other real estate owned. Partially offsetting these increases in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021 were declines in equipment expense and professional fees.

Income tax expense of $209,000 was recorded in the first quarter of 2022 compared to an income tax expense of $71,000 recorded in the first quarter of 2021, primarily due to higher taxable income recorded in the 2022 period.

Financial Condition

Total assets as of March 31, 2022 were $807.9 million, a decrease of $2.6 million, compared to total assets of $810.5 million on December 31, 2021. Comparing asset balances on March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents increased by $2.5 million, while debt securities available for sale and total loans decreased by $4.4 million and $5.7 million, respectively. Over the same period, deposits increased by $12.4 million, with growth in both non-interest and interest bearing demand deposits. Shareholders’ equity decreased by $14.6 million when comparing March 31, 2022 to December 31, 2021, due to a decline in the fair value of debt securities between the two periods.

Subsequent Event

On April 19, 2022, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.22 per share to shareholders of record on May 16, 2022, payable on June 1, 2022.

Management considers subsequent events occurring after the statement of condition date for matters which may require adjustment to, or disclosure in, the consolidated financial statements. The review period for subsequent events extends up to and including the filing date of a public company’s consolidated financial statements when filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, the financial information in this release is subject to change.

The Juniata Valley Bank, the principal subsidiary of Juniata Valley Financial Corp., is headquartered in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, with nineteen community offices located in Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Huntingdon, McKean and Potter Counties. More information regarding Juniata Valley Financial Corp. and The Juniata Valley Bank can be found online at www.JVBonline.com. Juniata Valley Financial Corp. trades through the Pink Open Market under the symbol JUVF.

Forward-Looking Information

*This press release may contain “forward looking” information as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When words such as “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates” or similar expressions are used in this release, Juniata is making forward-looking statements. Such information is based on Juniata’s current expectations, estimates and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of its business. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance, events or results. Such statements involve potential risks and uncertainties and, accordingly, actual results may differ materially from this forward-looking information. Many factors could affect future financial results. Juniata undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward looking information, whether because of new or updated information, future events, or otherwise. For a more complete discussion of certain risks and uncertainties affecting Juniata, please see the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Forward-Looking Statements” set forth in the Juniata’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Financial Statements

Juniata Valley Financial Corp. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

Juniata Valley Financial Corp. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

JoAnn McMinn Email: joann.mcminn@jvbonline.com Phone: (717) 436-3206