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Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach Reports 2022 Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Results

FMBL

Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach (“F&M” or the “Bank”) (OTCQX: FMBL) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022.

“Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach maintained its financial strength in 2022, a year in which our nation experienced economic challenges, including persistent high inflation and a rapid acceleration in interest rates,” said Henry Walker, president. “Throughout the year, we remained true to our core of serving our business and consumer clients with a wide, competitive suite of products and the exceptional service for which the Bank has become known for more than a century. Net loan growth for 2022 was up sharply, and again we finished the year with capital ratios far exceeding minimum requirements.”

Income Statement

For the 2022 fourth quarter, total interest and dividend income rose to $95.9 million, from $76.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. Total interest and dividend income for the year ended December 31, 2022, increased to $340.3 million, from $307.3 million reported for 2021.

Interest expense for the 2022 fourth quarter increased to $18.6 million, from $2.8 million in the same period a year ago. Interest expense for the full year 2022 was $31.2 million, versus $12.2 million in 2021.

The Bank’s net interest income before loan loss provision for the 2022 fourth quarter advanced to $77.3 million, from $73.3 million for the 2021 fourth quarter. Net interest income before loan loss provision for the full year 2022 rose to $309.0 million, from $295.1 million in 2021.

Net interest margin for the 2022 fourth quarter was 2.40%, compared with 2.67% for the same period in 2021. F&M’s net interest margin was 2.70% for the full year 2022, versus 2.83% in the previous year.

The Bank had no loan loss provision in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with a $1.0 million recapture of loan loss provision in the fourth quarter of 2021. For the full year 2022, the loan loss provision was $3.5 million, compared with no net loan loss provision in 2021. The Bank’s allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans outstanding was 1.13% at December 31, 2022, compared with 1.34% at December 31, 2021.

Non-interest income decreased to $4.2 million for the 2022 fourth quarter, from $6.5 million for the comparable period last year. Non-interest income for the full year 2022 declined to $18.5 million, from $22.0 million in 2021.

Non-interest expense for the 2022 fourth quarter amounted to $50.6 million, compared with $45.2 million for the same period last year. Non-interest expense for the full year 2022 was $188.8 million, versus $172.6 million last year.

The Bank’s net income for the 2022 fourth quarter amounted to $25.4 million, or $200.86 per diluted share, compared with $29.0 million, or $226.02 per diluted share, for the 2021 fourth quarter. The Bank’s net income for the full year 2022 was $109.0 million, or $855.56 per diluted share, compared with $115.2 million, or $898.31 per diluted share, for 2021.

Balance Sheet

At December 31, 2022, net loans increased to $6.67 billion, from $5.37 billion at December 31, 2021. The Bank’s deposits decreased to $9.14 billion at the end of 2022, from $9.24 billion a year ago. Non-interest-bearing deposits represented 36.7% of total deposits at December 31, 2022, versus 38.4% of total deposits at the end of 2021. Total assets rose to a record $12.05 billion at the close of 2022 from $11.44 billion at December 31, 2021.

Farmers & Merchants Bank remained “well-capitalized” under all regulatory categories at December 31, 2022, with a total risk-based capital ratio of 16.37%, a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 15.44%, a common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 15.44%, and a tier 1 leverage ratio of 10.91%. The minimum ratios for capital adequacy for a well-capitalized bank are 10.00%, 8.00%, 6.50% and 5.00%, respectively.

“With today’s high interest rate environment impacting all banks, we are focused on controlling costs throughout our organization, including rising interest expense, as the general economic environment poses lingering uncertainties,” said Daniel Walker, chief executive officer. “Our management team and Board remain optimistic about F&M’s long-term future, notwithstanding the headwinds that financial institutions are facing, with the Bank’s asset quality and loan pipeline remaining healthy. While, as expected, deposits fell modestly for the year because of higher-yielding market alternatives, our loyal clients and core deposit base continue to remain strong as we proceed into the new year.”

Stock Repurchase Program

During the 2022 fourth quarter, the Bank repurchased 604 shares of its common stock on the open market at an average price of $8,052.47 per share, pursuant to a stock repurchase program announced in January 2022, under which the board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $20 million of the Bank’s common stock. For the full year 2022, the Bank purchased a total of 2,400 shares of its common stock at an average price of $8,132.92 per share.

To the extent the Bank repurchases additional shares under this program, which expires December 31, 2023, the timing and number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, stock price, trading volume, regulatory requirements, general business conditions and others. The Bank may choose to modify, suspend, or discontinue such proposed repurchases at any time without prior notice, and the share repurchase program does not oblige the Bank to acquire any specific number of shares in any period.

About Farmers & Merchants Bank

Founded in Long Beach in 1907 by C.J. Walker, Farmers & Merchants Bank provides white-glove service to clients at 26 branches from San Clemente to Santa Barbara, as well as through its Online and Mobile Banking platforms. The Bank offers commercial and small business banking, business loan programs, home loans, and a robust offering of consumer retail banking products, including checking, savings and youth accounts. Farmers & Merchants Bank is a California state-chartered bank with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Member FDIC) and an Equal Housing Lender. For more information about F&M, please visit the website, www.fmb.com.

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK OF LONG BEACH

Income Statements (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended
December 31,

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,

2022

2021

2022

2021

Interest and dividend income:
Loans

$

70,869

$

58,534

$

246,818

$

244,062

Investment securities

23,236

16,569

87,601

60,444

Investments in FHLB and FRB stock

389

347

1,226

1,206

Interest-bearing deposits in financial institutions

1,406

566

4,628

1,578

Total interest and dividend income

95,900

76,016

340,273

307,290

Interest expense:

Deposits

8,448

2,068

15,732

8,952

Securities sold under repurchase agreements

4,739

697

8,762

3,280

Borrowings

5,423

-

6,740

-

Total interest expense

18,610

2,765

31,234

12,232

Net interest income

77,290

73,251

309,039

295,058

Provision for loan losses

-

(1,000

)

3,500

-

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

77,290

74,251

305,539

295,058

Non-interest income:

Service charges on deposit accounts

1,719

1,489

6,451

5,602

Card income

242

1,644

2,543

4,007

Other income

2,194

3,330

9,536

12,421

Total non-interest income

4,155

6,463

18,530

22,030

Non-interest expense:

Salaries and employee benefits

31,841

28,614

119,978

111,046

FDIC and other insurance expense

1,237

969

4,306

3,614

Occupancy expense

3,923

3,639

15,354

14,004

Software and equipment expense

3,738

3,823

15,060

14,254

Professional and legal services

2,064

1,720

7,612

6,070

Marketing expense

1,672

1,438

6,886

4,957

Other expense

6,136

4,958

19,602

18,618

Total non-interest expense

50,611

45,161

188,798

172,563

Income before income tax expense

30,834

35,553

135,271

144,525

Income tax expense

5,390

6,575

26,269

29,320

Net income

$

25,444

$

28,978

$

109,002

$

115,205

Basic earnings per common share

$

206.12

$

230.66

$

876.17

$

913.60

Diluted earnings per common share

$

200.86

$

226.02

$

855.56

$

898.31

Basic weighted-average shares outstanding

123,442

125,628

124,407

126,100

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding

126,672

128,206

127,404

128,246

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK OF LONG BEACH

Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

Dec. 31, 2022

Dec. 31, 2021

Assets
Cash and due from banks:
Noninterest-bearing balances

$

75,489

$

49,025

Interest-bearing balances

67,369

1,252,646

Total cash and due from banks

142,858

1,301,671

Federal funds sold
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value

123,919

139,947

Securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost

4,789,522

4,366,821

Loans held for sale

-

9,430

Gross loans

6,765,391

5,453,279

Allowance for loan losses

(76,503

)

(72,880

)

Unamortized deferred loan fees, net

(14,429

)

(8,650

)

Loans, net

6,674,459

5,371,749

Other real estate owned, net

-

966

Investments in FHLB and FRB stock, at cost

27,088

20,031

Bank premises and equipment, net

118,228

115,827

Deferred tax assets, net

31,538

27,939

Other assets

147,132

83,879

Total assets

$

12,054,744

$

11,438,260

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities:
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

$

3,355,298

$

3,552,248

Interest-bearing demand deposits

2,212,509

2,187,998

Savings and money market savings

2,668,334

2,755,862

Time deposits

906,355

745,382

Total deposits

9,142,496

9,241,490

Securities sold under repurchase agreements

785,912

916,672

Borrowings

700,000

-

Other liabilities

113,254

38,536

Total liabilities

10,741,662

10,196,698

Stockholders' Equity:
Common Stock, par value $20; authorized 250,000
123,228 and 125,628 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively

2,465

2,513

Additional paid-in capital

177,433

89,972

Retained earnings

1,140,897

1,147,661

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(7,713

)

1,416

Total stockholders' equity

1,313,082

1,241,562

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

12,054,744

$

11,438,260