Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. Reports Earnings Of $0.38 Per Share in 3Q22; Net Interest Income Increases; Net Loan Growth Up 2.2% From Prior Quarter

EAU CLAIRE, Wisc., Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CZWI), the parent company of Citizens Community Federal N.A. (the “Bank” or “CCFBank”), today reported earnings of $4.0 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.38 for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, compared to $4.4 million and $0.41 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, and $5.0 million and $0.47 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, respectively. For the first nine months of 2022, earnings were $13.1 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, compared to earnings of $15.2 million, or $1.41 per diluted share for the first nine months of 2021.

The Company’s third quarter 2022 operating results reflected the following changes from the second quarter of 2022: (1) net interest income increased $0.2 million, more than offsetting: (a) $0.4 million of interest income on nonaccrual loans in the second quarter; (b) a reduction of $0.2 million in accretion of purchased discounts; and (c) higher subordinated debt expense due to write-off of unamortized issuance costs of $0.1 million; (2) higher compensation expense due to incentives of $0.2 million; and (3) higher other expense of $0.3 million due to the write down of a closed branch facility after receipt of a purchase agreement.

“We generated net loan growth of 2.2% compared to the linked quarter. Our pipeline plus advances on unfunded commitments suggests growth during the fourth quarter as our markets remain strong. Steady core net interest margin expansion was also integral to earnings performance in the quarter. While visibility into 2023 is limited, we do expect aggressive action by the Federal Reserve to slow loan demand across all loan segments in the coming year. To offset expected inflation in existing vendor contracts and colleague compensation expense, our team has taken steps to improve efficiency by closing one branch during the quarter with two more announced branch closures occurring in the fourth quarter, among other steps,” said Stephen Bianchi, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Book value per share was $15.59 at September 30, 2022, compared to $15.64 at June 30, 2022, and $15.77 at September 30, 2021. Tangible book value per share (non-GAAP)1 was $12.32 at September 30, 2022, compared to $12.36 at June 30, 2022, and $12.37 at September 30, 2021. The increase in unrealized losses in the securities available for sale portfolio lowered both book and tangible book value in the second and third quarters, with the amount of the unrealized loss moderating in the third quarter of 2022. Net income and intangible amortization partially offset this unrealized loss impact on book value.

September 30, 2022 Highlights: (as of or for the 3-month period ended September 30, 2022 compared to June 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021.)

• Quarterly earnings of $4.0 million, or $0.38 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, decreased from the quarter ended June 30, 2022, earnings of $4.4 million or $0.41 per diluted share, and decreased from the quarter ended September 30, 2021, earnings of $5.0 million or $0.47 per diluted share.
  
  
• Quarterly earnings, as adjusted (non-GAAP)1, were $4.2 million, or $0.40 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, compared to $4.4 million or $0.41 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, and $5.0 million or $0.47 per diluted share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021.
  
  
• Earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, were $13.1 million, or $1.24 per share, which is a decrease from $15.2 million, or $1.41 per share, for the same period in the prior year. The Company grew net interest income, despite lower SBA PPP net loan fee accretion in 2022 compared to 2021. The positive benefit of higher net interest income was more than offset year to date fiscal 2022 by higher provision for loan losses, lower gain on sale of loans, a modest increase in expense, partially due to 2022 new market tax depletion, 2022 branch closure expense and lower gains on foreclosed asset sales.
  
  
• Net interest income increased $0.2 million from the second quarter of 2022, $0.8 million from the third quarter of 2021 and $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, to $41.9 million. Net interest income was positively impacted by loan growth and the contractual increase in loan and investment yields, which more than offset the reduction in interest income realized on nonaccrual loan payoffs of $0.4 million (9 basis points in net interest margin) and higher liability interest expense.
  
  
• The net interest margin without SBA PPP net loan fee accretion and loan purchase accretion has increased each quarter over the past six quarters. For the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the net interest margin without SBA PPP net loan fee accretion and loan purchase accretion was 3.33% compared to 2.82% for the year earlier quarter and 3.29% versus the linked quarter. The linked second quarter net interest margin included the positive benefit of approximately 0.09% due to interest income received on nonaccrual loan payoffs.
  
  
• On August 10, 2022, the Company redeemed its $15.0 million subordinated debt with a coupon of 6.75%. For the third quarter, total interest expense on this debt was $0.29 million, including remaining issuance costs.
  
  
• The provision for loan losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, was $0.38 million due to loan growth, compared to $0.40 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. No loan loss provision was realized during the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and September 30, 2021, due to lower CARES Act Section 4013 deferrals, low net charge-off or low net recoveries, decreases in criticized assets and improving economic conditions in our markets.

• Originated loans increased by $49.6 million during the third quarter of 2022, with strong originations in commercial real estate, multi-family real estate and residential mortgages held in the loan portfolio. As a result of current market conditions, residential 10/1 ARM loan originations were added to the portfolio. The acquired loan portfolio declined $21.1 million.
  
  
• The allowance for loan losses on originated loans decreased to 1.34% at September 30, 2022, from 1.37% at June 30, 2022. Loans resulting from Bank acquisitions were effectively marked to market value at the time of their acquisition and were excluded from this reserve calculation.
  
  
• Nonperforming assets remained at $12.6 million at September 30, 2022.
  
  
• Substandard loans decreased modestly by $0.5 million to $20.2 million at September 30, 2022, compared to $20.7 million at June 30, 2022. The decrease was largely due to the payoff of substandard loans that were purchased credit impaired loans classified as substandard when acquired.
  
  
• The Company repurchased 53 thousand shares of the Company’s common stock in the third quarter. As of September 30, 2022, approximately 301 thousand shares remain available for repurchase under the current share repurchase authorization.
  
  
• Stockholders’ equity as a percent of total assets was 9.17% at September 30, 2022, compared to 9.34% at June 30, 2022. Tangible common equity (“TCE”) as a percent of tangible assets (non-GAAP)1 was 7.40% at September 30, 2022, compared to 7.53% at June 30, 2022. Reductions in stockholders’ equity due to increased unrealized losses in the available for sale portfolio, modest stock buyback activity and modest asset growth, were partially offset by net income and amortization of intangibles.
  
  
• In June 2022, the Company notified customers of the St. James, MN branch, with approximately $18.7 million in deposits, that the branch would close in September 2022. In August of 2022, the Company notified customers of the south branch in Rice Lake, WI, that the branch would close and be consolidated with the north branch in Rice Lake, WI. In addition, in August 2022 the Company notified the customers of the Red Wing, MN branch that the branch would close. These August branch closure announcements will occur in the fourth quarter of 2022. The deposit accounts will be consolidated into various nearby branches.
  

Balance Sheet and Asset Quality

Total assets increased modestly by $16.6 million during the quarter to $1.78 billion at September 30, 2022, compared to $1.76 billion at June 30, 2022.

Securities available for sale decreased $9.3 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2022, to $167.8 million from $177.1 million at June 30, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to a reduced market value of the portfolio associated with higher interest rates and principal repayments, partially offset by purchases of bank issued subordinated debt of $4.8 million.

Securities held to maturity decreased $1.6 million to $97.6 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2022, from $99.2 million at June 30, 2022, due to principal repayments.

Total loans receivable increased to $1.376 billion at September 30, 2022, from $1.347 billion at June 30, 2022. The originated loan portfolio increased $49.6 million in the quarter. The growth was due to strong net new loan fundings and growth in the commercial, multi-family and residential real estate portfolios totaling $43.7 million. Acquired loans decreased by $21.1 million including a loan prepayment of approximately $10 million with an associated loan prepayment of $0.16 million recorded in loan fees and service charges.

The allowance for loan losses increased to $17.2 million at September 30, 2022, representing 1.25% of total loans receivable. At June 30, 2022, the allowance for loan losses was also 1.25% of total loans receivable. The allowance for loan losses allocated to originated loans as a percentage of originated loans, net of deferred fees and costs, was 1.34% at September 30, 2022, compared to 1.37% at June 30, 2022. For the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Bank had net charge offs of $17 thousand. Approximately 11.1% of the loan portfolio, at September 30, 2022, consists of loans purchased through whole bank acquisitions, resulting in these loans being recorded at fair market value at acquisition.

Allowance for Loan Losses Percentages

(in thousands, except ratios)

Nonperforming assets remained flat at $12.6 million or 0.71% of total assets at September 30, 2022, compared to June 30, 2022. During the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Bank repurchased a $0.5 million nonaccrual SBA loan. Acquired nonaccrual loans decreased to $2.6 million at September 30, 2022, from $2.7 million at June 30, 2022. Originated nonperforming assets remained flat at $8.5 million or 0.61% of total assets for the most recent quarter.

Special mention loans increased $2.9 million, primarily due to the utilization of a secured line of credit. This loan was categorized as special mention at June 30, 2022, and the loan balance is projected to decrease to June levels by mid-first quarter 2023.

Substandard loans decreased modestly by $0.5 million to $20.2 million at September 30, 2022, compared to $20.7 million at June 30, 2022. The decrease in the third quarter was largely due to the payoff of substandard loans that were purchased credit impaired loans classified as substandard when acquired.

Deposits increased $34.2 million to $1.43 billion at September 30, 2022, from $1.40 billion at June 30, 2022. The increase was largely due to an increase in certificate of deposit (“CD”) accounts of $35.6 million. The increase reflects the addition of $20 million of brokered CD and retail CD accounts. The retail CD increase is partially due to customers moving money market balances to CD accounts. The outflow of money market deposits to CD accounts was replaced with commercial money market accounts.

The Company repurchased 53 thousand shares of the Company’s common stock in the third quarter. As of September 30, 2022, approximately 301 thousand shares remain available for repurchase under the current share repurchase authorization.

Review of Operations

Net interest income was $14.5 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022, compared to $14.3 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022, and $13.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. Compared to the second quarter of 2022 and third quarter of 2021, net interest income increased due to the growth in the loan and investment portfolios. “Net interest income was positively impacted by loan growth and contractual increase in loan and investment yields, which more than offset the reduction in interest income realized on nonaccrual loan payoffs of $0.4 million (9 basis points in net interest margin) and higher liability costs. Our net interest margin excluding SBA fee accretion and purchase accretion increased to 3.33% from 3.29% in the second quarter or 3.20% in the second quarter excluding nonaccrual loan income from payoffs. The impact of lower scheduled accretion to $0.15 million, adding brokered certificates late in the quarter, and the retail CD portfolio end of period rates being 22 basis points above the third quarter average will more than offset the positive impact of lower subordinated debt interest expense of $0.30 million in the fourth quarter,” said Jim Broucek, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

The table below shows the impact of accretion related to purchased credit impaired loans and SBA PPP net loan fees on interest income and NIM.

Net interest income and net interest margin analysis:
(in thousands, except yields and rates)

Loan loss provisions for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, were $0.4 million. Based on loan growth alone, the provision would have been about $100 thousand higher. However, payments on substandard loans reduced specific reserves. Loan loss provisions for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 were $0.4 million. There were no loan loss provisions for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 or September 30, 2021. Continued improving economic conditions in our markets, as evidenced by unemployment rates below the national average in our two largest population centers, have resulted in improving overall economic trends for businesses.

Non-interest income increased to $2.5 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2022, compared to $2.4 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2022, and decreased from $3.4 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2021. The increase in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the second quarter of 2022 was largely due to: (1) increases in loan fees and service charges due to an increase in prepayment penalties; and (2) increases in other income largely due to the receipt of an annual incentive based on debit card usage. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in gain on sale of loans of $0.2 million largely due to lower mortgage originations. Relative to the comparable quarter one year earlier, non-interest income was lower as a result of lower gain on sale of loans and lower loan servicing income.

Total non-interest expense increased $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2022 to $11.3 million, compared to $10.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, and $10.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. The increase from the second quarter of 2022 was due to an increase in: (1) branch closure expenses of $0.3 million primarily recorded in other expense; (2) compensation due to higher incentive accruals of $0.2 million based on year-to-date performance; (3) seasonal expenses in occupancy and marketing of $0.15 million; and (4) compensation and other expenses of $0.2 million reflecting higher salary and benefit expenses. In the fourth quarter, core deposit intangible amortization will decrease to $0.247 million.

Provision for income taxes decreased to $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2022 from $1.4 million in the second quarter of 2022. The provision for income taxes also decreased to $4.2 million for the first nine months of 2022 from $5.5 million for the first nine months of 2021. Both decreases are due to lower pre-tax income and a lower tax rate due to the impact of the tax credits purchased in the first quarter of 2022. The tax credits are expected to be realized over the next seven years. The effective tax rate was 24.3% in the third quarter of 2022, compared to 24.4% the previous quarter and 26.7% for the comparable prior year quarter. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2022 was 24.3% compared to 26.5% for the same period in the prior year.

These financial results are preliminary until the Form 10-Q is filed in November 2022.

About the Company

Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: “CZWI”) is the holding company of the Bank, a national bank based in Altoona, Wisconsin, currently serving customers primarily in Wisconsin and Minnesota through 24 branch locations. Its primary markets include the Chippewa Valley Region in Wisconsin, the Twin Cities and Mankato markets in Minnesota, and various rural communities around these areas. The Bank offers traditional community banking services to businesses, ag operators and consumers, including residential mortgage loans.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified using forward-looking words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “estimates,” “intend,” “may,” “on pace,” “preliminary,” “planned,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “would” or the negative of those terms or other words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements in this release are inherently subject to many uncertainties arising in the operations and business environment of the Company and the Bank. These uncertainties include conditions in the financial markets and economic conditions generally; adverse impacts to the Company or Bank arising from the COVID-19 pandemic; acts of terrorism and political or military actions by the United States or other governments; the possibility of a deterioration in the residential real estate markets; interest rate risk; lending risk; higher lending risks associated with our commercial and agricultural banking activities; the sufficiency of loan allowances; changes in the fair value or ratings downgrades of our securities; competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions; disintermediation risk; our ability to maintain our reputation; our ability to maintain or increase our market share; our ability to realize the benefits of net deferred tax assets; our inability to obtain needed liquidity; our ability to raise capital needed to fund growth or meet regulatory requirements; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; our ability to keep pace with technological change; prevalence of fraud and other financial crimes; cybersecurity risks; the possibility that our internal controls and procedures could fail or be circumvented; our ability to successfully execute our acquisition growth strategy; risks posed by acquisitions and other expansion opportunities, including difficulties and delays in integrating the acquired business operations or fully realizing the cost savings and other benefits; restrictions on our ability to pay dividends; the potential volatility of our stock price; accounting standards for loan losses; legislative or regulatory changes or actions, or significant litigation, adversely affecting the Company or Bank; public company reporting obligations; changes in federal or state tax laws; and changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines and their impact on financial performance. Stockholders, potential investors, and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and other risks that may affect the Company’s performance are discussed further in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in the Company’s Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 2, 2022 and the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this news release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.

1 Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, such as net income as adjusted, net income as adjusted per share, tangible book value, tangible book value per share, tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets and return on average tangible common equity, which management believes may be helpful in understanding the Company’s results of operations or financial position and comparing results over different periods.

Net income as adjusted and net income as adjusted per share are non-GAAP measures that eliminate the impact of certain expenses such as branch closure costs and related severance pay, accelerated depreciation expense and lease termination fees, and the gain on sale of branch deposits and fixed assets. Tangible book value, tangible book value per share, tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets and return on average tangible common equity are non-GAAP measures that eliminate the impact of goodwill, and intangible assets on our financial position. Management believes these measures are useful in assessing the strength of our financial position.

Where non-GAAP financial measures are used, the comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as the reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure, can be found in this press release. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other banks and financial institutions.

Contact: Steve Bianchi, CEO
(715)-836-9994

(CZWI-ER)

CITIZENS COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)

Note: Certain items previously reported were reclassified for consistency with the current presentation.

CITIZENS COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)

Note: Certain items previously reported were reclassified for consistency with the current presentation.

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Net Income as Adjusted (non-GAAP)
(in thousands, except per share data)

(1) Branch closure costs include severance pay recorded in compensation and benefits and accelerated depreciation expense included in other non-interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations.
(2) FHLB borrowings prepayment fee resulted from the early termination of $8 million in FHLB borrowings at a weighted average rate of 2.19% and weighted average maturity of 8.75 months included in other non-interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations.
(3) Net income as adjusted is a non-GAAP measure that management believes enhances the market’s ability to assess the underlying business performance and trends related to core business activities.
(4) Provision for income tax on net income as adjusted is calculated at our effective tax rate for each respective period presented.

Nonperforming Originated and Acquired Assets

(in thousands, except ratios)

Nonperforming Assets

(in thousand, except ratios)

Deposit Composition
(in thousands)

Average Balances, Interest Yields and Rates
(in thousands, except yields and rates)

(1) Fully taxable equivalent (FTE). The average yield on tax exempt securities is computed on a tax equivalent basis using a tax rate of 21% for the quarters ended September 30, 2022, June 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021. The FTE adjustment to net interest income included in the rate calculations totaled $0, $0 and $1 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2022, June 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, respectively.

(1) Fully taxable equivalent (FTE). The average yield on tax exempt securities is computed on a tax equivalent basis using a tax rate of 21% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021. The FTE adjustment to net interest income included in the rate calculations totaled $1 and $3 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, respectively.

The following table reports key financial metric ratios based on a net income as adjusted basis:

Reconciliation of Return on Average Assets as Adjusted (non-GAAP)
(in thousands, except ratios)

(1) See Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Net Income as Adjusted (non-GAAP)

Reconciliation of Return on Average Equity as Adjusted (non-GAAP)
(in thousands, except ratios)

(1) See Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Net Income as Adjusted (non-GAAP)

Reconciliation of tangible book value per share (non-GAAP)
(in thousands, except per share data)

Reconciliation of tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets (non-GAAP)
(in thousands, except ratios)

Reconciliation of Return on Average Tangible Common Equity (non-GAAP)
(in thousands, except ratios)

Reconciliation of Efficiency Ratio
(in thousands, except ratios)

1Net income as adjusted and net income as adjusted per share are non-GAAP financial measures that management believes enhances investors’ ability to better understand the underlying business performance and trends related to core business activities. For a detailed reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the accompanying financial table “Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Net Income as Adjusted (non-GAAP)”.

2Return on average assets as adjusted is a non-GAAP measure that management believes enhances investors’ ability to better understand the underlying business performance and trends relative to average assets. For a detailed reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the accompanying financial table “Reconciliation of Return on Average Assets as Adjusted (non-GAAP)”.

3Return on average equity as adjusted is a non-GAAP measure that management believes enhances investors’ ability to better understand the underlying business performance and trends relative to average equity. For a detailed reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the accompanying financial table “Reconciliation of Return on Average Equity as Adjusted (non-GAAP)”.

4Tangible book value, tangible book value per share, tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets and return on tangible common equity are non-GAAP measures that management believes enhances investors’ ability to better understand the Company’s financial position. For a detailed reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the accompanying financial table “Reconciliation of tangible book value per share (non-GAAP)”, “Reconciliation of tangible common equity as a percent of tangible assets (non-GAAP)”, and “Reconciliation of return on average tangible common equity)”.