WSFS Reports 1Q 2023 EPS of $1.01 and ROA of 1.27%; Reflects the Strength and Resiliency of Our Diversified Businesses; Liquidity and Capital Continue at Strong Levels

WSFS Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WSFS), the parent company of WSFS Bank, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2023.

Selected financial results and metrics are as follows:

GAAP results for the quarterly periods shown below included the following items that are excluded from core results. For 1Q 2023, the valuation adjustment of $0.6 million is related to our derivative liability established from the sale of 360,000 Visa Class B shares in 2Q 2020.

CEO Commentary

Rodger Levenson, Chairman, President and CEO, said, "Despite the disruption in banking markets in mid-March, WSFS performed very well this quarter, reflecting the continued strength and diversity of our relationship-based business model. A huge thank you to all of our Associates who rallied together to serve our Customers during this period of uncertainty.

"Our balance sheet remains strong with significant liquidity capacity and capital levels above well-capitalized, even when including the effective AOCI(3) from the total investment portfolio.

"While most credit quality metrics remain at historically favorable levels, ACL reserves increased prudently due to the near-term economic outlook.

"WSFS remains very well positioned to serve our Customers and Communities. During the quarter, we were honored to be named to Forbes' list of America's Best Banks for the fourth year in a row and recognized by Gallup as one of its Exceptional Workplaces of 2023 for the seventh time since 2016."

Highlights for 1Q 2023:

• Core EPS(4) was $1.02 compared to $0.66 for 1Q 2022.

• Core ROA(4) was 1.27% compared to 0.83% for 1Q 2022.

• Customer deposits were flat prior to March 8th, and declined by $200.6 million, or 1% (5% annualized) for the full quarter.

• Highly diverse and granular deposit portfolio, including insured and total protected(5) deposits of 64% and 73% of total customer deposits, respectively.

• Net loan growth of 2% (7% annualized) from 4Q 2022 driven by the commercial portfolio and moderated consumer partnership growth.

• Net interest margin of 4.25% compared to 4.49% for 4Q 2022, reflects increasing deposit betas and funding mix, partially offset by higher loan yields.

• Core fee revenue (noninterest income)(4) was $63.7 million, an increase of $3.1 million, or 5%, compared to 1Q 2022, resulting in a 25.8% core fee revenue ratio(4).

• Total net credit costs were $29.0 million, primarily due to the impacts of the economic uncertainty and forecast on the quarterly provision and net loan growth. The ACL coverage ratio was 1.28% compared to 1.17% at December 31, 2022.

• WSFS Bank capital ratios remain well above well-capitalized levels, with total risk-based capital of 14.56%.

• WSFS repurchased 262,000 shares of common stock at an average price of $49.11 per share, totaling an aggregate of $12.9 million. The Board of Directors also approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share.

First Quarter 2023 Discussion of Financial Results

Balance Sheet

The following table summarizes loan and lease balances and composition at March 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2022:

At March 31, 2023, WSFS’ net loan and lease portfolio increased $213.6 million, or 7% (annualized), when compared with December 31, 2022 due to increases of $122.0 million in commercial mortgage, $57.5 million in our consumer portfolio, primarily from Spring EQ (home equity loans), $35.1 million in C&I, and $17.6 million in commercial small business leases, partially offset by a decrease of $20.3 million in construction loans.

In line with our Strategic Plan, the C&I portfolio (including owner-occupied real estate) continued to be our largest portfolio at 37% of net loans and leases. Additionally, our total commercial loan portfolio continues to represent a majority of our lending portfolio at 79% of net loans and leases.

Net loans and leases at March 31, 2023 increased $748.5 million, or 7%, when compared with March 31, 2022. The increase was driven by increases of $486.3 million in our Consumer portfolio, primarily from Spring EQ, $111.8 million in commercial mortgage, and $99.8 million in construction loans.

The following table summarizes customer deposit balances and composition at March 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2022:

From year-end 2022 customer deposits were flat prior to March 8th. For the quarter, total customer deposits decreased $200.6 million, or 1% (5% annualized), when compared with December 31, 2022, primarily driven by continued customer utilization of excess liquidity.

Customer deposits decreased by $1.7 billion from March 31, 2022 primarily driven by both continued customer utilization of excess liquidity and $622.7 million from Trust deposits as capital market transactions slow due to market conditions.

More than half of our customer deposits, or 53%, are from our Commercial, Small Business and Wealth Management customer relationships. The loan to deposit ratio was 76% at March 31, 2023, reflecting continued capacity to fund future loan growth. Our insured and total protected deposits were 64% and 73% of total customer deposits, respectively.

Core deposits were a strong 91% of total customer deposits, and no- and low-cost checking accounts represented a robust 53% of total customer deposits, at March 31, 2023, with a weighted average cost of 23bps for the quarter. These core deposits predominantly represent longer-term, less price-sensitive customer relationships.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income decreased $11.4 million, or 6% (not annualized), compared to 4Q 2022, primarily due to increasing deposit betas and funding mix, partially offset by higher loan yields. Net interest income increased $44.0 million, or 32%, compared to 1Q 2022, primarily due to the benefits of our asset-sensitive balance sheet.

Net interest margin decreased 24bps from 4Q 2022 primarily due to the reasons noted above. Net interest margin increased 124bps from 1Q 2022, primarily due to a favorable increase of 102bps from the benefits of our asset-sensitive balance sheet and 22bps from loan growth and mix.

Asset Quality

The following table summarizes asset quality metrics as of and for the period ended March 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2022.

Most asset quality metrics remained relatively stable during the quarter and continued to reflect the strength of the originated and acquired portfolios. Total problem assets(6) decreased to $416.7 million at March 31, 2023 compared to $462.1 million at December 31, 2022. Total problem assets to total Tier 1 capital plus ACL was 18.65% at March 31, 2023, compared to 21.44% at December 31, 2022.

Delinquencies to gross loans increased to 0.83% at March 31, 2023 compared to 0.51% at December 31, 2022, primarily driven by a 19bps increase from two long-term problem loan relationships, one of which is still accruing. While these loans are C&I long-term care facilities, this portfolio is approximately $130.0 million in total outstandings.

The ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets remained relatively stable at 0.16% compared to 0.22% at December 31, 2022, and includes the adoption of troubled loan accounting. Net charge-offs for 1Q 2023 were $11.7 million, or 0.40% (annualized) of average gross loans. The increase over the prior quarter was primarily due to slightly higher commercial charge-offs and normal maturation of NewLane and Upstart portfolios, along with lower recoveries in the quarter.

Total net credit costs were $29.0 million in the quarter compared to $13.0 million in 4Q 2022. The increase in credit costs was primarily due to $17.9 million from the impacts of the economic uncertainty and forecast and $6.6 million related to the mix of new loan originations. The ACL was $169.2 million as of March 31, 2023, an increase of $17.3 million from December 31, 2022, primarily due to the above factors, partially offset by favorable migration and net charge-offs. The ACL coverage ratio was 1.28% compared to 1.17% at December 31, 2022.

Core Fee Revenue

Core fee revenue (noninterest income) of $63.7 million decreased $1.8 million, or 3% (not annualized), compared to 4Q 2022, primarily driven by a decrease of $2.2 million in other income from our equity investments. The decrease was partially offset by an increase of $0.4 million in mortgage banking fees.

Core fee revenue increased $3.1 million, or 5%, compared to 1Q 2022, primarily driven by an $8.1 million increase in Cash Connect® income. The increase was partially offset by decreases of $1.8 million in mortgage banking fees, $1.3 million from BMT Insurance Advisors (sold in 2Q 2022), $0.6 million from gain on sale of SBA loans, and $0.5 million from other investing activities.

For 1Q 2023, our core fee revenue ratio was 25.8% compared to 25.2% in 4Q 2022 and 30.4% in 1Q 2022. Fees continue to be resilient and well-diversified among various sources, including traditional and other banking fees, mortgage banking, capital markets, Wealth Management, and Cash Connect®.

Core Noninterest Expense(7)

Core noninterest expense of $133.1 million increased $0.9 million, or 1% (not annualized), compared to 4Q 2022. When excluding a $2.3 million net benefit from nonrecurring items, core noninterest expense was $135.4 million, or an increase of $3.2 million. The increase is primarily due to $2.8 million in salaries and benefits and $1.9 million from Cash Connect® driven by the rising interest rate environment. These increases were partially offset by $1.8 million lower professional fees related to Wealth customer-related tax services (offset in fee revenue) and legal costs.

Core noninterest expense increased $10.2 million, or 8% (not annualized), compared to 1Q 2022. When excluding the nonrecurring items, core noninterest expense increased $12.5 million, or 10%, primarily due to $7.5 million of higher variable operating costs, including $5.7 million from Cash Connect®, in addition to $2.2 million in salaries and benefits, and $1.2 million in FDIC assessment. Our core efficiency ratio was 53.9% in 1Q 2023, compared to 50.8% in 4Q 2022 and 61.7% in 1Q 2022.

Income Taxes

We recorded a $20.9 million income tax provision in 1Q 2023, compared to a $28.0 million income tax provision in 4Q 2022 and $1.7 million in 1Q 2022, driven by higher earnings.

The effective tax rate was 25.0% in 1Q 2023, compared to 24.9% in 4Q 2022 and 30.5% in 1Q 2022. The decrease in effective tax rate for 1Q 2023 compared to 1Q 2022 was primarily due to the acquisition of Bryn Mawr Trust in 1Q 2022, including higher state taxes and other nondeductible costs.

Capital Management

Capital levels remain strong and are all substantially in excess of the “well-capitalized” regulatory benchmarks at March 31, 2023 with WSFS Bank’s Tier 1 leverage ratio of 10.57%, Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio and Tier 1 capital ratio of 13.39%, and Total Risk-based capital ratio of 14.56%.

WSFS’ total stockholders’ equity increased $101.2 million, or 5% (not annualized), during 1Q 2023. The increase was primarily due to quarterly earnings of $62.4 million and an improvement in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) of $57.4 million from market-value increases on investment securities. These increases were partially offset by capital returns of $22.1 million to stockholders including $12.9 million from share repurchases and $9.3 million from quarterly dividends.

WSFS’ tangible common equity(8) increased $105.2 million, or 9% (not annualized), compared to December 31, 2022. WSFS’ common equity to assets ratio was 11.35% at March 31, 2023, and our tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio(8) increased by 41bps during the quarter to 6.72%, primarily due to the reasons described above.

At March 31, 2023, book value per share was $37.57, an increase of $1.78, or 5% (not annualized), from December 31, 2022, and tangible common book value per share(8) was $21.15, an increase of $1.79, or 9% (not annualized), from December 31, 2022, primarily due to the reasons described above.

During 1Q 2023, WSFS repurchased 262,000 shares of common stock for an aggregate of $12.9 million. As of March 31, 2023, WSFS has 6,326,771 shares, or approximately 10% of outstanding shares, remaining to repurchase under its current authorizations.

The Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock. This dividend will be paid on May 19, 2023 to stockholders of record as of May 5, 2023.

Selected Business Segments (included in previous results):

Wealth Management

The Wealth Management segment provides a broad array of planning and advisory services, investment management, trust services, credit and deposit products to individual, corporate, and institutional clients through multiple integrated businesses.

Selected quarterly performance results and metrics are as follows:

Wealth Management reported pre-tax income of $23.4 million in 1Q 2023 compared to $25.9 million in 4Q 2022, and $15.5 million in 1Q 2022. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was primarily attributable to higher interest expense while the year-over-year increase was mainly from the higher interest rate environment.

Fee revenue was $30.9 million in 1Q 2023, relatively flat compared to 4Q 2022, and a decrease of $1.0 million, or 3%, compared to 1Q 2022, primarily due to income from BMT Insurance Advisors in 1Q 2022, which was sold in the second quarter of 2022. Fee revenue was generally consistent with prior quarter across The Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware, Institutional Services, and the AUM-based Private Wealth Management business.

Total noninterest expense(9) was $24.2 million in 1Q 2023, compared to $23.6 million in 4Q 2022 and $23.8 million in 1Q 2022. The quarter-over-quarter increase was primarily driven by salaries, benefits and other compensation.

Net AUM of $8.0 billion at the end of 1Q 2023 increased $0.3 billion compared to 4Q 2022, and decreased $1.0 billion compared to 1Q 2022. The quarter-over-quarter increase was primarily impacted by positive returns in both equity and fixed income markets. The year-over-year decrease was due to market declines and client cash outflows.

Cash Connect®

Cash Connect® is a premier provider of ATM vault cash, smart safe and cash logistics services in the United States, servicing non-bank ATMs and retail safes nationwide and supports ATMs for WSFS Bank Customers with one of the largest branded ATM networks in our region.

Selected quarterly financial results and metrics are as follows:

Cash Connect® reported pre-tax income of $0.6 million for 1Q 2023, a decrease of $0.6 million, compared to 4Q 2022 driven by timing of both insurance-related and certain other operating expenses, and a decrease of $1.2 million compared to 1Q 2022, driven by increased operating costs associated with the rising interest rate environment and costs associated with the growth in the retail safe business. ROA of 0.45% in 1Q 2023 decreased 20bps from 4Q 2022 and decreased 67bps from 1Q 2022, primarily driven by the reasons described above.

Net revenue of $15.5 million in 1Q 2023 was up $1.6 million from 4Q 2022 and up $5.0 million from 1Q 2022 driven by the rising interest rate environment (offset by higher external funding expense) and higher year-over-year managed services volume.

Noninterest expense was $14.8 million in 1Q 2023, an increase of $2.2 million higher compared to 4Q 2022, primarily due to higher external funding expense and the timing impacts noted above, and $6.2 million higher compared to 1Q 2022 driven by higher external funding expense and armored carrier expense year-over-year.

At the end of 1Q 2023, Cash Connect® had approximately $1.7 billion in cash managed with 18% year-over-year growth in retail safe units. Cash Connect® continues to focus on investment in its growing product lines and expand these services across the country, alongside a wide network and strong pipeline of channel partners, retailers, and top-tier financial institutions, in a commitment to improve margin and ROA.

First Quarter 2023 Earnings Release Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call to review 1Q 2023 results at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Interested parties may access the conference call live on our Investor Relations website (https://investors.wsfsbank.com). For those who cannot access the live conference call, a replay will be accessible shortly after the event concludes through our Investor Relations website.

About WSFS Financial Corporation

WSFS Financial Corporation is a multibillion-dollar financial services company. Its primary subsidiary, WSFS Bank, is the oldest and largest locally-headquartered bank and trust company in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region. As of March 31, 2023, WSFS Financial Corporation had $20.3 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $65.6 billion in assets under management and administration. WSFS operates from 119 offices, 92 of which are banking offices, located in Pennsylvania (61), Delaware (39), New Jersey (17), Virginia (1) and Nevada (1) and provides comprehensive financial services including commercial banking, retail banking, cash management and trust and wealth management. Other subsidiaries or divisions include Arrow Land Transfer, Bryn Mawr Capital Management, LLC, Bryn Mawr Trust®, The Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware, Cash Connect®, NewLane Finance®, Powdermill® Financial Solutions, WSFS Institutional Services®, WSFS Mortgage®, and WSFS Wealth® Investments. Serving the Greater Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS Bank is one of the ten oldest banks in the United States continuously operating under the same name. For more information, please visit www.wsfsbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains estimates, predictions, opinions, projections and other "forward-looking statements" as that phrase is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, without limitation, references to the Company's predictions or expectations of future business or financial performance as well as its goals and objectives for future operations, financial and business trends, business prospects, and management's outlook or expectations for earnings, revenues, expenses, capital levels, liquidity levels, asset quality or other future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions (some of which may be beyond the Company's control) and are subject to risks and uncertainties (which change over time) and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, difficult market conditions and unfavorable economic trends in the United States generally and in financial markets, and particularly in the markets in which the Company operates and in which its loans are concentrated, including difficult and unfavorable conditions and trends related to housing markets, costs of living, unemployment levels, interest rates, supply chain issues, and inflation; the impacts related to or resulting from recent bank failures and other economic and industry volatility, including potential increased regulatory requirements and costs and potential impacts to macroeconomic conditions; possible additional loan losses and impairment of the collectability of loans; the Company's level of nonperforming assets and the costs associated with resolving problem loans including litigation and other costs and complying with government-imposed foreclosure moratoriums; changes in market interest rates which may increase funding costs and reduce earning asset yields and thus reduce margin; the impact of changes in interest rates and the credit quality and strength of underlying collateral and the effect of such changes on the market value of the Company's investment securities portfolio; the credit risk associated with the substantial amount of commercial real estate, construction and land development, and commercial and industrial loans in the Company's loan portfolio; the extensive federal and state regulation, supervision and examination governing almost every aspect of the Company's operations potential expenses associated with complying with such regulations; and the effects of potential federal government shutdowns or delays; the Company's ability to comply with applicable capital and liquidity requirements, including its ability to generate liquidity internally or raise capital on favorable terms; possible changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and stimulus programs, laws and regulations and other activities of governments, agencies, and similar organizations, and the uncertainty of the short- and long-term impacts of such changes; any impairments of the Company's goodwill or other intangible assets; the discontinued publication of London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and the transition to an alternative reference interest rate, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), including methodologies for calculating the rate that are different from the LIBOR methodology and changed language for existing and new floating or adjustable rate contracts; the success of the Company's growth plans, including its plans to grow the commercial small business leasing, residential, small business and Small Business Administration (SBA) portfolios and wealth management business; the Company's ability to successfully integrate and fully realize the cost savings and other benefits of its acquisitions, manage risks related to business disruption following those acquisitions, and post-acquisition Customer acceptance of the Company's products and services and related Customer disintermediation, including its recent acquisition of BMBC (the BMBC Merger); negative perceptions or publicity with respect to the Company generally and, in particular, the Company's trust and wealth management business; failure of the financial and operational controls of the Company's Cash Connect® division; adverse judgments or other resolution of pending and future legal proceedings, and cost incurred in defending such proceedings; the Company's reliance on third parties for certain important functions, including the operation of its core systems, and any failures by such third parties; system failures or cybersecurity incidents or other breaches of the Company's network security, particularly given widespread remote working arrangements; the Company's ability to recruit and retain key Associates; the effects of problems encountered by other financial institutions that adversely affect the Company or the banking industry generally; the effects of weather, including climate change, and natural disasters such as floods, droughts, wind, tornadoes and hurricanes as well as effects from geopolitical instability, armed conflicts, public health crises and man-made disasters including terrorist attacks; the effects of regional or national civil unrest (including any resulting branch or ATM closures or damage); possible changes in the speed of loan prepayments by the Company's Customers and loan origination or sales volumes; possible changes in the speed of prepayments of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) due to changes in the interest rate environment, and the related acceleration of premium amortization on prepayments in the event that prepayments accelerate; regulatory limits on the Company's ability to receive dividends from its subsidiaries and pay dividends to its stockholders; any reputation, credit, interest rate, market, operational, litigation, legal, liquidity, regulatory and compliance risk resulting from developments related to any of the risks discussed above; any compounding effects or unexpected interactions of the risks discussed above; and other risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements,which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company disclaims any duty to revise or update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company for any reason, except as specifically required by law. As used in this press release, the terms "WSFS," "the Company," "registrant," "we," "us," and "our" mean WSFS Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, unless the context indicates otherwise.