German American Bancorp, Inc. (GABC) Reports Solid Second Quarter 2023 Earnings

JASPER, Ind., July 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- German American Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: GABC) reported solid second quarter earnings of $22.1 million, or $0.75 per share. This level of quarterly earnings reflected a linked quarter increase of $1.3 million, or approximately 6% on a per share basis, from 2023 first quarter earnings of $20.8 million or $0.71 per share.

The Company remained well positioned at the end of the second quarter 2023 with continued solid liquidity and strong capital. Second quarter 2023 operating performance was highlighted by marginal net interest margin compression, solid loan growth, a stable/diversified deposit base, continued strong credit metrics, reductions in non-interest expense and growth in most non-interest income categories.

The net interest margin declined marginally from 3.69% to 3.63%, or 6 basis points, during the second quarter of 2023 as compared to the first quarter of 2023, as the earning asset yield increase of 21 basis points mostly kept pace with the funding cost increase of 27 basis points. The continued rise in the cost of funds in the second quarter of 2023 was driven by the continued historic pace of Federal Reserve interest rate increases, competitive deposit pricing in the marketplace, and a change in the Company’s deposit composition as customers looked for higher yield opportunities.

Second quarter 2023 deposits increased approximately $24.8 million, or 2% on an annualized basis, compared to the first quarter of 2023. Non interest bearing accounts remained stable at a healthy 30% of total deposits. The core deposit base remains diverse with stable and manageable exposure to uninsured and uncollateralized deposits of approximately 21%.

During the second quarter of 2023, total loans increased $57.6 million, or 6% on an annualized basis, with all categories of loans showing growth. The Company’s loan portfolio composition remained diverse with minimal risk exposure to the commercial office sector. Credit metrics remained strong as non-performing assets were 0.21% of period end assets and non-performing loans totaled 0.32% of period end loans.

Non-Interest income for the second quarter 2023 was relatively flat when compared to the linked first quarter 2023, as cyclical insurance contingency revenue of nearly $1 million was recognized in the first quarter. Most other non-interest income lines reflected solid increases over the linked first quarter. Wealth management fees increased 10% attributable to increased assets under management; interchange fee income increased 5% driven by increased customer card utilization; and other operating income increased 21% driven by interest rate swap transactions.

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, which will be payable on August 20, 2023 to shareholders of record as of August 10, 2023. As previously reported, this dividend rate represents a 9% increase over the rate in effect during 2022.

D. Neil Dauby, German American’s Chairman & CEO stated, “We are extremely pleased to deliver solid second quarter operating performance. German American remains extremely well positioned with solid liquidity, strong capital and a diverse core deposit base which speaks to the strength and resilience of our Company. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our relationship-focused team of professionals, we are confident that our strong community presence, healthy financial condition and disciplined approach to risk management and earnings growth will continue to drive future profitability. We remain excited and committed to the vitality and growth of our Indiana and Kentucky communities.”

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets for the Company totaled $6.053 billion at June 30, 2023, representing an increase of $56.4 million compared with March 31, 2023 and a decline of $418.4 million compared with June 30, 2022. The increase in total assets at June 30, 2023 compared with March 31, 2023 was primarily related to an increase in total loans, while the decline in total assets compared to June 30, 2022 was largely attributable to a decline in total deposits which in turn has led to a decline in short-term investments as well as the Company's securities portfolio. Federal funds sold and other short-term investments totaled $62.9 million at June 30, 2023 compared with $10.3 million at March 31, 2023 and $415.1 million at June 30, 2022.

Securities available for sale declined $69.5 million as of June 30, 2023 compared with March 31, 2023 and declined $221.0 million compared with June 30, 2022. The changes in the available for sale securities portfolio during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the end of the first quarter 2023 was largely attributable to the Company's utilization of cash flows from the securities portfolio to fund loan growth. Total cash flow generated from the portfolio totaled approximately $56.0 million during the second quarter of 2023, reflecting principal and interest payments as well as a modest level of securities sales. Current projections indicate approximately $150.0 million in principal and interest cash flows from the portfolio over the next twelve months with rates unchanged. The decline in the securities portfolio at June 30, 2023 compared with June 30, 2022 was largely attributable to fair value adjustments on the portfolio caused by the rise in market interest rates over the past year and the Company's utilization of cash flows generated by the portfolio for general balance sheet funding.

June 30, 2023 total loans increased $57.6 million, or 6% on an annualized basis, compared with March 31, 2023 and increased $177.7 million, or 5%, compared with June 30, 2022. The increase during the second quarter of 2023 compared with March 31, 2023 was broad-based across all segments of the portfolio. Commercial and industrial loans increased $1.8 million, or 1% on an annualized basis, commercial real estate loans increased $20.9 million, or 4% on an annualized basis, while agricultural loans grew $16.9 million, or 18% on an annualized basis, and retail loans grew by $18.0 million, or 10% on an annualized basis.

The composition of the loan portfolio has remained relatively stable and diversified over the past several years, including 2023. The portfolio is most heavily concentrated in commercial real estate loans at 53% of the portfolio, followed by commercial and industrial loans at 17% of the portfolio, and agricultural loans at 10% of the portfolio. The Company’s commercial lending is extended to various industries, including multi-family housing and lodging, agribusiness and manufacturing, as well as health care, wholesale, and retail services. The Company's commercial real estate portfolio has limited exposure to office real estate, with office exposure totaling approximately 4% of the total loan portfolio.

The Company’s allowance for credit losses totaled $44.3 million at both June 30, 2023 and March 31, 2023 compared to $45.0 million at June 30, 2022. The allowance for credit losses represented 1.16% of period-end loans at June 30, 2023 compared with 1.18% at March 31, 2023 and 1.23% of period-end loans at June 30, 2022.

Non-performing assets totaled $12.4 million at June 30, 2023 compared to $14.6 million at March 31, 2023 and $15.1 million at June 30, 2022. Non-performing assets represented 0.21% of total assets at June 30, 2023 compared to 0.24% at March 31, 2023 and 0.23% at June 30, 2022. Non-performing loans totaled $12.4 million at June 30, 2023 compared to $14.6 million at March 31, 2023 and $15.1 million at June 30, 2022. Non-performing loans represented 0.32% of total loans at June 30, 2023 compared to 0.39% at March 31, 2023 and 0.41% at June 30, 2022.

Overall deposits stabilized during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the overall level of deposits at March 31, 2023. June 30, 2023 total deposits increased $24.8 million, or 2% on an annualized basis, compared to March 31, 2023 and declined $533.9 million, or 9%, compared with June 30, 2022. The Company has continued to see customer movement from both interest bearing and non-interest bearing transactional accounts to time deposits due primarily to the rising interest rate environment. Non-interest bearing deposits have remained relatively stable as a percent of total deposits with June 30, 2023 non-interest deposits totaling 30% of total deposits compared with 31% at both March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022.

A competitive market driven by rising interest rates has been a significant contributing factor to the decline in total deposits over the course of the past year. Additionally, a meaningful level of the outflow of deposits experienced during the past year was captured within the Company's wealth management group.

June 30, 2023 total borrowings increased $36.4 million compared to March 31, 2023 and increased $82.6 million compared with June 30, 2022. The increase in total borrowings over the course of the second quarter of 2023 and past year has been to fund loan growth and mitigate deposit outflows.

At June 30, 2023, the capital levels for the Company and its subsidiary bank, German American Bank (the "Bank"), remained well in excess of the minimum amounts needed for capital adequacy purposes and the Bank’s capital levels met the necessary requirements to be considered well-capitalized.

Results of Operations Highlights – Quarter ended June 30, 2023

Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 totaled $22,123,000, or $0.75 per share, an increase of 6% on a per share basis, compared with the first quarter 2023 net income of $20,807,000, or $0.71 per share, and a decline of 7% on a per share basis compared with the second quarter 2022 net income of $23,747,000, or $0.81 per share.

During the second quarter of 2023, net interest income, on a non tax-equivalent basis, totaled $48,258,000, a decline of $751,000, or 2%, compared to the first quarter of 2023 net interest income of $49,009,000 and a decline of $1,339,000, or 3%, compared to the second quarter of 2022 net interest income of $49,597,000.

The decline in net interest income during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 was primarily attributable to a decline in the Company's net interest margin. The decline in net interest income during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 was primarily attributable to a decline in average earning assets, driven by a reduced level of average deposits, which was partially mitigated by an improved net interest margin resulting from the rise in market interest rates.

The tax equivalent net interest margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 was 3.63% compared with 3.69% in the first quarter of 2023 and 3.35% in the second quarter of 2022. The decline in the net interest margin during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 was largely driven by an increase in the cost of funds. The cost of funds continued to accelerate higher in the second quarter of 2023 due to the continued increase of market interest rates, very competitive deposit pricing in the marketplace, customers actively looking for yield opportunities within and outside the banking industry and a change in the Company's deposit composition. The improvement in the net interest margin during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 was largely attributable to increased market interest rates resulting in improved yields on earning assets that outpaced increased cost of funds over the course of the past year.

The Company's net interest margin and net interest income have been impacted by accretion of loan discounts on acquired loans. Accretion of discounts on acquired loans totaled $716,000 during the second quarter of 2023, $530,000 during the first quarter of 2023 and $1,528,000 during the second quarter of 2022. Accretion of loan discounts on acquired loans contributed approximately 5 basis points to the net interest margin in the second quarter of 2023, 4 basis points in the first quarter of 2023 and 10 basis points in the second quarter of 2022.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $550,000 compared with a provision for credit losses of $1,100,000 in the first quarter of 2023 and a provision for credit losses of $300,000 during the second quarter of 2022.

Net charge-offs totaled $599,000, or 6 basis points on an annualized basis, of average loans outstanding during the second quarter of 2023 compared with $953,000, or 10 basis points on an annualized basis, of average loans during the first quarter of 2023 and compared with $347,000, or 4 basis points, of average loans during the second quarter of 2022.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, non-interest income totaled $14,896,000, a decline of $71,000, or less than 1%, compared with the first quarter of 2023 and a decline of $284,000, or 2%, compared with the second quarter of 2022.

Wealth management fees increased $268,000, or 10%, during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 and increased by $270,000, or 10%, compared with the second quarter of 2022. The increase during the second quarter of 2023 was largely attributable to increased assets under management within the Company's wealth management group as compared with both the first quarter of 2023 and second quarter of 2022.

Insurance revenues declined $1,005,000, or 32%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared with the first quarter of 2023 and declined $124,000, or 6%, compared with the second quarter of 2022. The variance during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 was primarily related to contingency revenue. Contingency revenue during the second quarter of 2023 totaled $10,000 compared with $945,000 during the first quarter of 2023. Contingency revenue is reflective of claims and loss experience with insurance carriers that the Company represents through its property and casualty insurance agency. Typically, the majority of contingency revenue is recognized during the first quarter of the year.

Interchange fee income increased $213,000, or 5%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 and increased $245,000, or 6%, compared with the second quarter of 2022. The increased level of fees during the second quarter of 2023 compared with both the first quarter of 2023 and the second quarter of 2022 was due to increased card utilization by customers.

Other operating income increased $251,000, or 21%, during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 and increased $237,000, or 19%, compared with the second quarter of 2022. The increase during the second quarter of 2023 compared with both periods was largely attributable to fees associated with interest rate swap transactions with loan customers.

Net gains on sales of loans increased $43,000, or 7%, during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 and declined $419,000, or 40%, compared with the second quarter of 2022. The decline in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 was largely related to a lower volume of loans sold and lower pricing levels. Loan sales totaled $24.8 million during the second quarter of 2023 compared with $23.4 million during the first quarter of 2023 and $52.5 million during the second quarter of 2022.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, non-interest expense totaled $35,726,000, a decline of $1,890,000, or 5%, compared with the first quarter of 2023, and remained relatively stable compared with the second quarter of 2022.

Salaries and benefits declined $1,743,000, or 8%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 and declined $281,000, or 1%, compared with the second quarter of 2022. The decline in salaries and benefits during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 was primarily due to lower incentive plan costs, declines in retirement plan matching costs, and lower health insurance benefit costs.

Occupancy, furniture and equipment expense declined $377,000, or 10%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 and declined $329,000, or 9%, compared with the second quarter of 2022. The decline in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 was primarily attributable to lower repairs and maintenance costs, lower utility costs and reduced real and personal property tax expense. The decline in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 was largely attributable to lower repairs and maintenance costs and reduced net costs related to leased properties.

FDIC premiums declined $54,000, or 7%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 and increased $222,000, or 48%, compared with the second quarter of 2022. The increase in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 was primarily related to an industry-wide 2 basis point increase in the base FDIC premium assessment effective January 1, 2023.

Data processing fees increased $48,000, or 2%, during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 and increased $343,000, or 14%, compared with the second quarter of 2022. The increase during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 was largely driven by costs associated with enhancements to the Company's data processing systems.

Advertising and promotion expense increased $94,000, or 8%, in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 and increased $234,000, or 23%, compared with the second quarter of 2022. The increase during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2023 was largely attributable to the timing of contributions made to organizations within the Company's markets. The increase in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 was primarily due to an increase in overall marketing and advertising costs.

About German American

German American Bancorp, Inc. is a Nasdaq-traded (symbol: GABC) financial holding company based in Jasper, Indiana. German American, through its banking subsidiary German American Bank, operates 76 banking offices in 20 contiguous southern Indiana counties and 14 counties in Kentucky. The Company also owns an investment brokerage subsidiary (German American Investment Services, Inc.) and a full line property and casualty insurance agency (German American Insurance, Inc.).

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that, by their nature, forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Forward-looking statements can often, but not always, be identified by the use of words like “believe”, “continue”, “pattern”, “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “expect” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will”, “would”, “should”, “could”, “might”, “can”, “may”, or similar expressions. Actual results and experience could differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including but not limited to, those discussed in this press release. Factors that could cause actual experience to differ from the expectations expressed or implied in this press release include:

a. changes in interest rates and the timing and magnitude of any such changes;

b. unfavorable economic conditions, including a prolonged period of inflation, and the resulting adverse impact on, among other things, credit quality;

c. the impacts related to or resulting from recent bank failures or adverse developments at other banks on general investor sentiment regarding the stability and liquidity of banks;

d. the impacts of epidemics, pandemics or other infectious disease outbreaks;

e. changes in competitive conditions;

f. the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of asset/liability management strategies or of mergers and acquisitions and other business initiatives and strategies;

g. changes in customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices;

h. changes in fiscal, monetary and tax policies;

i. changes in financial and capital markets;

j. capital management activities, including possible future sales of new securities, or possible repurchases or redemptions by German American of outstanding debt or equity securities;

k. risks of expansion through acquisitions and mergers, such as unexpected credit quality problems of the acquired loans or other assets, unexpected attrition of the customer base or employee base of the acquired institution or branches, and difficulties in integration of the acquired operations;

l. factors driving impairment charges on investments;

m. the impact, extent and timing of technological changes;

n. potential cyber-attacks, information security breaches and other criminal activities;

o. litigation liabilities, including related costs, expenses, settlements and judgments, or the outcome of matters before regulatory agencies, whether pending or commencing in the future;

p. actions of the Federal Reserve Board;

q. the possible effects of the replacement of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR);

r. the potential for increases to, and volatility in, the balance of our allowance for credit losses and related provision expense due to the current expected credit loss (CECL) standard;

s. changes in accounting principles and interpretations;

t. potential increases of federal deposit insurance premium expense, and possible future special assessments of FDIC premiums, either industry wide or specific to German American’s banking subsidiary;

u. actions of the regulatory authorities under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and other possible legislative and regulatory actions and reforms;

v. impacts resulting from possible amendments or revisions to the Dodd-Frank Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder, or to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules and regulations;

w. the continued availability of earnings and excess capital sufficient for the lawful and prudent declaration and payment of cash dividends; and

x. other risk factors expressly identified in German American’s filings with the SEC.

Such statements reflect our views with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity of German American. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. It is intended that these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For additional information, contact:
D. Neil Dauby,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Bradley M Rust,President and Chief Financial Officer
(812) 482-1314