Hanover Bancorp, Inc. Reports Third Fiscal Quarter Net Income of $5.3 million, Announces New Jersey Expansion and Plans for Long Island Expansion and Declares $0.10 Quarterly Cash Dividend

Third Fiscal Quarter Highlights

• Initial Public Offering: The Company completed its Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) and began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol HNVR on May 11, 2022. Gross proceeds of $30.8 million (including underwriters’ overallotment option, which was exercised in full) were raised at an offering price of $21.00 per share.
• Net Income: Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 totaled $5.3 million or $0.80 per diluted common share, versus $221 thousand or $0.05 per diluted common share in the same period a year ago. The Company recorded adjusted (non-GAAP) net income (excluding merger-related charges) of $5.5 million or $0.83 per diluted common share in the quarter ended June 30, 2022, versus adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $3.3 million or $0.68 per diluted common share in the comparable 2021 quarter. The Company recorded net income for the nine months ended June 30, 2022 of $17.7 million or $2.92 per diluted common share, compared to $3.8 million or $0.85 per diluted common share in the comparable 2021 nine-month period. The Company recorded adjusted (non-GAAP) net income (primarily excluding merger-related charges) of $17.9 million or $2.95 per diluted common share for the nine months ended June 30, 2022, versus adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $7.2 million or $1.61 per diluted common share in the comparable 2021 nine-month period.
• Quarterly Cash Dividend: The Company’s Board of Directors approved a $0.10 per common share cash dividend payable on August 16, 2022 to stockholders of record on August 9, 2022.
• Financial Performance Metrics: Returns on average total assets and average stockholders’ equity were 1.41% and 14.05%, respectively, in the quarter ended June 30, 2022, versus 0.08% and 0.92% in the comparable 2021 period. Adjusted (non-GAAP) returns on average total assets and average stockholders’ equity were 1.46% and 14.57%, respectively, in the quarter ended June 30, 2022, versus 1.14% and 13.71% in the comparable 2021 period. The Company’s return on average tangible common equity was 16.12% in the quarter ended June 30, 2022.
• Net Interest Income: Net interest income was $14.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, an increase of $4.4 million, or 41.8%, versus the comparable 2021 quarter.
• Net Interest Margin: The Company’s net interest margin during the quarter ended June 30, 2022 was 4.05% versus 4.26% in the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and 3.74% in the quarter ended June 30, 2021. Excluding the impact of net purchase accounting accretion, the Company’s net interest margin was 3.94% in the quarter ended June 30, 2022, 3.86% in the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and 3.55% in the quarter ended June 30, 2021.
• Balance Sheet: Assets totaled $1.61 billion at June 30, 2022 versus $1.48 billion at September 30, 2021 and $1.54 billion at June 30, 2021.
• Capital Strength: The Bank’s Tier 1 leverage ratio was 11.64% and its Total Risk-Based capital ratio was 17.32% at June 30, 2022, each significantly above the regulatory minimums for a well-capitalized institution. The Company’s Tangible Common Equity ratio was 9.29% at June 30, 2022, 7.02% at September 30, 2021, and 6.35% at June 30, 2021.
• Tangible Book Value Per Share: Tangible book value per common share increased to $20.26 at June 30, 2022 from $18.49 at September 30, 2021 and $17.40 at June 30, 2021.
• Strong Lending Activity: On a linked quarter basis, the Company exhibited net loan growth, excluding Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans, of $144.1 million, which would result in a 46.1% increase on an annualized basis. At June 30, 2022, the Company’s loan pipeline was approximately $428 million.
• Further Expansion into Long Island and New Jersey Markets: The Company recently announced that it is once again expanding its geographic footprint with the opening of an office in Hauppauge, New York. Earlier this year Hanover Bank opened an office located in Freehold, New Jersey. Like Freehold, Hanover will build its lending and support teams in Hauppauge with local banking talent and operate a full-service, high-tech branch which has already received the required regulatory approvals. The Bank expects this site to be fully operational by year-end 2022.
  

MINEOLA, N.Y., July 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hanover Bancorp, Inc. (“Hanover” or “the Company”), the holding company for Hanover Community Bank (“the Bank”), today reported significant performance achievements for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 highlighted by strong levels of net income, net interest income and net interest margin. Further, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the payment of a $0.10 per common share cash dividend payable on August 16, 2022 to stockholders of record on August 9, 2022. This is the Company’s third cash dividend.

Earnings Summary for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2022

The Company reported net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 of $5.3 million or $0.80 per diluted common share, versus $221 thousand or $0.05 per diluted common share in the comparable year ago period, representing an increase of $5.1 million The Company recorded adjusted (non-GAAP) net income (excluding merger-related charges) of $5.5 million or $0.83 per diluted common share in the quarter ended June 30, 2022 versus adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $3.3 million or $0.68 per diluted common share in the comparable 2021 quarter. Returns on average assets and average stockholders’ equity were 1.41% and 14.05%, respectively, in the quarter ended June 30, 2022, versus 0.08% and 0.92% in the comparable 2021 quarter. Adjusted (non-GAAP) returns on average total assets and average stockholders’ equity were 1.46% and 14.57%, respectively, in the quarter ended June 30, 2022, versus 1.14% and 13.71% in the comparable 2021 period.

The improvement in net income recorded in the third fiscal quarter of 2022 resulted from a $4.4 million or 41.8% increase in net interest income coupled with a $1.2 million improvement in non-interest income and a $2.0 million decrease in total operating expenses, primarily due to the decline in acquisition costs from the May 2021 acquisition of Savoy Bank (“Savoy”). Partially offsetting these positive factors was a $1.0 million increase in the provision for loan losses expense due to growth in the loan portfolio in the third fiscal quarter of 2022, coupled with a $1.4 million increase in income tax expense. The year-over-year growth in net interest income was due to an increase in average interest-earning assets of $347.1 million in 2022, primarily related to the acquisition of Savoy, coupled with a 31 basis point widening of the Company’s net interest margin to 4.05% in 2022 from 3.74% in the comparable 2021 quarter. The margin improvement resulted principally from a 14 basis point improvement in average yield on interest-earning assets to 4.45% coupled with a 20 basis point reduction in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 0.50% in 2022 from 0.70% in the third fiscal quarter of 2021.

Earnings Summary for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2022

For the nine months ended June 30, 2022, the Company reported net income of $17.7 million or $2.92 per diluted common share versus $3.8 million or $0.85 per diluted common share a year ago. The Company recorded adjusted (non-GAAP) net income (primarily excluding merger-related charges) of $17.9 million or $2.95 per diluted common share for the nine months ended June 30, 2022, versus adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $7.2 million or $1.61 per diluted common share in the comparable 2021 nine-month period.

The improved level of earnings in 2022 resulted from a $19.3 million or 75.3% increase in net interest income, principally due to a 54 basis point widening of the Company’s net interest margin to 4.23% in the nine months ended June 30, 2022, and a $5.2 million increase in non-interest income, primarily from gains on the sale of loans held for sale. Partially offsetting these positive factors was a $4.3 million increase in total operating expenses, principally resulting from growth in compensation and benefits related to increased headcount, coupled with an increase in the Company’s effective tax rate to 22.8% in 2022 from 21.9% in the comparable year ago period. The increase in headcount has resulted from several factors including organic growth, the need to create the infrastructure required for a public reporting company, the opportunistic addition of experienced executives to implement new product initiatives such as expanded commercial real estate and commercial and industrial lending, coupled with an increase in personnel from the May 2021 acquisition of Savoy.

Michael P. Puorro, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the Company’s quarterly results: “I am very pleased to report that the underwriters for the Company’s Initial Public Offering exercised their overallotment option in full, increasing our gross capital proceeds raised to $30.8 million ($27.7 million net of the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses). The IPO may be the Company’s singular most important achievement since the Bank’s doors were opened in 2009. The difficult economic environment in 2022, highlighted by continued record inflation, rapid growth in interest rates and ongoing equity market turbulence were difficult obstacles to navigate. While I’m incredibly proud of the team that made this happen, I’m aware that the difficult part starts now: using this capital profitably and effectively to support the continued growth and expansion of the Company.

I am very happy to report our solid operating results across the board during the third fiscal quarter of 2022 - our first as a publicly traded company. We recorded adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $5.5 million, adjusted earnings per diluted common share of $0.83, and adjusted returns on average assets and average stockholders’ equity of 1.46% and 14.57%, respectively, and most importantly, continued growth in book value per common share to $20.26 during the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Our adjusted non-GAAP operating efficiency ratio during the quarter was 50.9%. These ratios place us in the upper echelon of our community bank peer group. We now possess the ability to build our earning asset base across multiple highly profitable operating verticals funded by strong deposit generating businesses. Further, we continue to explore several Fintech-related partnerships that, if completed, would benefit us in generating additional fee income and additional low-cost deposit funding.”

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets at June 30, 2022 were $1.61 billion versus $1.48 billion at September 30, 2021, and $1.54 billion at June 30, 2021. Total deposits at June 30, 2022 increased to $1.35 billion compared to $1.16 billion at September 30, 2021, and June 30, 2021, the result of growth in core deposits (Demand, N.O.W., Savings and Money Market) of $264.5 million from fiscal year end and $352.5 million from June 30, 2021. The quarter over quarter increase resulted from significant growth in the Company’s N.O.W., Savings and municipal deposit portfolios.

The Company had $444.6 million in total municipal deposits at June 30, 2022, at a rate of 0.47% versus $350.5 million at September 30, 2021, and $247.9 million at June 30, 2021. The Company’s municipal deposit program is built on long-standing relationships developed in the local marketplace. This core deposit business will continue to provide a stable source of funding for the Company’s lending products at costs significantly lower than both consumer deposits and market-based borrowings.

Borrowings at June 30, 2022 were $57.0 million, including $18.9 million in Federal Reserve Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility advances, with a weighted average rate and term of 0.98% and 30 months, respectively. At June 30, 2022, the Bank had $37.9 million of FHLB advances outstanding versus $51.7 million a year ago. The Company also had $183.3 million in additional borrowing capacity from the FHLB at June 30, 2022, in addition to $55 million in Federal funds lines of credit from correspondent banks.

Stockholders’ equity increased to $167.4 million at June 30, 2022 from $122.5 million at September 30, 2021, and $115.2 million at the comparable 2021 date, resulting in an increase in tangible book value per share over the past twelve months to $20.26 at June 30, 2022, from $18.49 at September 30, 2021 and $17.40 at the comparable 2021 date. This increase was primarily due to a $27.7 million increase in common stock and surplus from net proceeds from the public offering of our common stock in May 2022. Common shares outstanding were 7,296,624 and 5,552,457 at June 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

Loan Portfolio Growth and Allowance for Loan Losses

On a linked quarter basis, the Company exhibited net loan growth, excluding PPP loans, of $144.1 million, which would result in a 46.1% increase on an annualized basis. For the twelve months ended June 30, 2022, the Bank’s loan portfolio grew to $1.42 billion. Year over year growth was concentrated primarily in multi-family and commercial real estate loans. At June 30, 2022, the Company’s residential loan portfolio (including home equity) amounted to $431.8 million, with an average loan balance of $443 thousand and a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 55%. Commercial real estate and multifamily loans totaled $927.0 million at June 30, 2022, with an average loan balance of $1.31 million and a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 62%. The Company’s commercial real estate concentration ratio was 400% of capital at June 30, 2022, versus 355% and 331% of capital at September 30, 2021, and June 30, 2021, respectively. At June 30, 2022, the Company’s loan pipeline was approximately $428 million.

Historically, the Bank has generated additional income by strategically originating and selling its primary lending products to other financial institutions at premiums, while also retaining servicing rights in some sales. The Bank expects that it will continue to originate loans, for its own portfolio and for sale, which will result in continued growth in interest income while also realizing gains on sale of loans to others and recording servicing income. With respect to the Bank’s residential growth strategy, management expects to originate more loans to retain in its portfolio as opposed to selling into the secondary market due to the continued projected increase in interest rates. Accordingly, we expect a decrease in secondary market sales on a year-over-year basis. During the quarter ended June 30, 2022, the Company sold $9.5 million in SBA loans and recorded gains on the sale of loans held-for-sale of $849 thousand. The Company recorded gains of $212 thousand on the sale of performing loans in the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

During the third fiscal quarter of 2022, the Bank recorded a provision for loan losses expense of $1.0 million. The June 30, 2022, allowance for loan losses balance was $10.9 million versus $7.9 million a year ago. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans was 0.77% at June 30, 2022, versus 0.69% at September 30, 2021, and 0.61% at June 30, 2021. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans excluding acquired loans (“originated loans”) was 1.0% at June 30, 2022. At June 30, 2022, non-performing loans totaled $13.7 million of which $9.6 million represented legacy Savoy originated loans that were either written down to fair value at the acquisition date or are 100% guaranteed by the SBA. The remaining $4.1 million of non-performing loans represent primarily Hanover originated residential credits with a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 55%.

Net Interest Margin

The Bank’s net interest margin was 4.05% during the third fiscal quarter of 2022 versus 3.74% in the comparable 2021 quarter and 4.26% in the linked 2022 quarter. Excluding the impact of net purchase accounting accretion, the Company’s net interest margin was 3.94% and 3.55% in the quarters ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively, and 3.86% in the linked 2022 quarter.

Operating Efficiency Ratio

The Bank’s operating efficiency ratio was 52.4% in the third fiscal quarter of 2022 versus 96.7% a year ago. Excluding merger-related charges in each year, these ratios were 50.9% and 61.2%, respectively, in the quarters ended June 30, 2022, and 2021.

Further Expansion into Long Island and New Jersey Markets

The Company recently announced that it is once again expanding the Company’s geographic footprint with the opening of an office at 410 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, New York. Earlier this year Hanover Bank opened an office located in Freehold, New Jersey, answering the demand for lending and commercial banking products to small and medium sized businesses, including Small Business Administration (“SBA”) financing, to the highly attractive Central New Jersey market. Like Freehold, Hanover will build its lending and support teams in Hauppauge with local banking talent and operate a full-service, high-tech branch which has already received the required regulatory approvals. The Bank expects this site to be fully operational by year-end 2022.

Moving eastward to Suffolk County Long Island strategically supports the growth of Hanover’s commercial, municipal, and retail banking verticals. It also will assist in scaling up many of the Company’s other business lines, while simultaneously creating new opportunities for growth, profitability, and development. The office is located in a newly constructed state of the art, Class A, commercial building located next to the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge (LIIPH), the largest industrial park in the Northeast. Logistically, this location will allow the Company to further service the Long Island business community with commercial, municipal, and retail banking products. This area is particularly void of institutional banking choices due to the ongoing, robust consolidation activity within our industry. By strategically expanding our geographic footprint, we are also simultaneously increasing profitability and market share to bring greater value to our shareholders.

About Hanover Community Bank and Hanover Bancorp, Inc.

Hanover Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: HNVR), is a bank holding company for Hanover Community Bank, a community commercial bank focusing on highly personalized and efficient services and products responsive to client needs. Management and the Board of Directors are comprised of a select group of successful local businessmen and women who are committed to the success of the Bank by knowing and understanding the metro-New York area’s financial needs and opportunities. Backed by state-of-the-art technology, Hanover offers a full range of financial services. Hanover employs a complete suite of consumer, commercial, and municipal banking products and services, including multi-family and commercial mortgages, residential loans, business loans and lines of credit. Hanover also offers its customers access to 24-hour ATM service with no fees attached, free checking with interest, telephone banking, advanced technologies in mobile and internet banking for our consumer and business customers, safe deposit boxes and much more. The Company’s corporate administrative office is located in Mineola, New York where it also operates a full-service branch office along with additional branch locations in Garden City Park, Forest Hills, Flushing, Sunset Park, Rockefeller Center and Chinatown, New York, and Freehold, New Jersey.

Hanover Community Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and is an Equal Housing/Equal Opportunity Lender. For further information, call (516) 548-8500 or visit the Bank’s website at www.hanoverbank.com.

Non-GAAP Disclosure

This discussion includes non-GAAP financial measures, including the Company’s adjusted operating earnings, adjusted net interest margin, adjusted returns on average assets and shareholders’ equity, and adjusted operating efficiency ratio. A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of historical or future performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are required to be disclosed in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company’s management believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides both management and investors with a greater understanding of the Company’s operating results and trends in addition to the results measured in accordance with GAAP, and provides greater comparable across time periods. While management uses non-GAAP financial measures in its analysis of the Company’s performance, this information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the numbers prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or considered to be more important than financial results determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other financial institutions.

With respect to the calculations of adjusted operating net income, adjusted net interest income, adjusted net interest margin, and adjusted operating efficiency ratio for the periods presented in this discussion, reconciliations to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measures are provided in the tables that follow.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and may be identified by the use of such words as "may," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "plan," "estimate," "predict," "continue," and "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, estimates with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Hanover Bancorp, Inc. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this release and in any other public statements made by Hanover Bancorp, Inc. may turn out to be incorrect. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions that Hanover Bancorp, Inc. might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 1A - Risk Factors, as updated by our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Further, the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company, its customers, and the communities where it operates may adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition for an indefinite period of time. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Hanover Bancorp, Inc. does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release or to conform these statements to actual events.

Investor and Press Contacts:
Brian K. Finneran
President

Lance P. Burke
Chief Financial Officer
(516) 548-8500