ES Bancshares, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results; Continues Trend of Net Interest Margin Expansion and Revenue Growth
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ES Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX:ESBS) (the "Company") the holding company for Empire State Bank, (the "Bank") today reported net income of $582 thousand, or $0.08 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to a net income of $158 thousand or $0.02 per diluted common share for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.
Key Quarterly Financial Data
2024 Highlights
Performance Metrics
3Q24
2Q24
3Q23
• The Cost of Funds for the three months ended September 30, 2024, improved to 3.02% from 3.17% in the prior linked quarter.• For 3 months ended September 30, 2024, the Company's net interest margin increased to 2.30% compared to 2.21% for the 3 months ended June 30, 2024.• The Company repurchased $2million of its sub-debt during the quarter, resulting in a gain on extinguishment.• The Company has replaced $56 million of higher-costing wholesale funding with lower cost organic deposits over the nine-months in 2024.• Total Revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, totaled $8.6 million increasing for an eighth consecutive quarter.
Return on average assets (%)
0.36
0.10
0.09
Return on average equity (%)
4.98
1.37
1.17
Return on average tangible equity (%)
5.04
1.38
1.18
Net interest margin (%)
2.30
2.21
2.67
Income Statement (a)
3Q24
2Q24
3Q23
Net interest income
$ 3,567
$ 3,447
$ 3,977
Non-interest income
$ 609
$ 329
$ 256
Net income
$ 582
$ 158
$ 133
Earnings per diluted common share
$ 0.08
$ 0.02
$ 0.02
Balance Sheet (a)
3Q24
2Q24
3Q23
Average total loans
$ 566,031
$ 565,363
$ 555,919
Average total deposits
$ 512,119
$ 510,050
$ 487,816
Book value per share
$ 6.85
$ 6.74
$ 6.79
Tangible book value per share
$ 6.77
$ 6.65
$ 6.71
(a) In thousands except for per share amounts
Phil Guarnieri, Director, and Chief Executive Officer of ES Bancshares, said, "We are pleased to report solid progress this quarter, reflecting our commitment to enhancing the earnings profile of the organization and maintaining disciplined expense management. Despite a challenging and competitive landscape, the Company's net interest margin increased by nine basis points for the second straight quarter. The Company's balance sheet and capital position remain robust, and through the open market, we've partially paid down our subordinated debt, which will positively impact the margin going forward."
Selected Balance Sheet Information:
September 30, 2024 vs. December 31, 2023
As of September 30, 2024, total assets were $633.2 million, a decrease of $5.5 million, or 0.9%, as compared to total assets of $638.7 million on December 31, 2023. The decrease can be attributed to a slightly smaller loan portfolio.
Loans receivable, net of Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans totaled $560.0 million, a decrease of 0.7% from December 31, 2023. As of September 30, 2024, the Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans as a percentage of gross loans was 0.90%.
Nonperforming assets, which includes nonaccrual loans and foreclosed real estate were $5.1 million or 0.81% of total assets, as of September 30, 2024, increasing from $1.4 million or 0.22% of total assets at December 31, 2023. The ratio of nonaccrual loans to loans receivable was 0.91%, as of September 30, 2024, and 0.22% for December 31, 2023. The increase from December 31, 2023, was primarily due to one Commercial Real Estate loan and one 1-4 family investor loan being placed on non-accrual status. Both loans are deemed to be well collateralized and in total amount to $4.0 million.
Total liabilities decreased $6.8 million to $586.1 at September 30, 2024 from $592.9 million at December 31, 2023. The decrease can be attributed to repayments of brokered deposits and Federal Home Loan (FHLB) borrowings partially offset by growth in core deposits. The growth in deposits was driven by an increase in interest-bearing, non-maturity deposit accounts.
As of September 30, 2024, the Bank's Tier 1 capital leverage ratio, common equity tier 1 capital ratio, Tier 1 capital ratio and total capital ratios were 9.18%, 13.67%, 13.67% and 14.92%, respectively, all in excess of the ratios required to be deemed "well-capitalized." During the third quarter 2024 the Company did not repurchase shares under its stock repurchase program. Book value per common share was $6.85 at September 30, 2024 compared to $6.83 at December 31, 2023. Tangible common book value per share (which represents common equity less goodwill, divided by the number of shares outstanding) was $6.77 at September 30, 2024 compared to $6.74 at December 31, 2023.
Financial Performance Overview:
Three Months Ended September 30, 2024, vs. June 30, 2024
For the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company net income totaled $582 thousand compared to a net income of $158 thousand for the three months ended June 30, 2024. The improvement can be attributed to an expanded margin and increased non-interest income quarter over quarter.
Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2024, increased $120 thousand, to $3.6 million from $3.4 million at three months ended June 30, 2024. The Company's net interest margin widened by nine basis points to 2.30% for the three months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to 2.21% for the three months ended June 30, 2024. The increase in margin can be attributed to a reduction in the Company's average cost for its Interest-bearing liabilities.
There was a reversal for credit losses of $38 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to a $9 thousand provision for credit losses taken for the three months ended June 30, 2024.
Non-interest income increased $280 thousand, to $609 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared with non-interest income of $329 thousand for the three months ended June 30, 2024. The majority of the increase can be attributed to a $245 thousand gain on extinguishment of the Company's subordinated debt.
Non-interest expenses totaled $3.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $3.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024. The largest fluctuations quarter over quarter pertain to a 31% reduction in Professional fees, which decreased $70 thousand to a more normalized level during the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
Nine months ended September 30, 2024 vs. September 30, 2023
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, net income totaled $637 thousand in comparison to $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The decrease can mainly be attributed to higher costs paid on deposits which increased $5.0 million.
Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, decreased 18% or $2.2 million, to $10.2 million from $12.4 million at September 30, 2023. The decrease can be attributed to increased interest expense for deposits, partially offset by increased interest income earned on the loan portfolio.
Provision for credit losses totaled $10 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to a $103 thousand provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Non-interest income totaled $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared with noninterest income of $758 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increase can be attributed to the gain recorded on extinguishment of sub-debt which is partially offset by a decrease in gains recorded from loan sales period over period.
Operating expenses totaled $10.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $11.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, or a decrease of 8.1%. The decrease in non-interest expense can be attributed to initiatives taking effect from the cost-cutting program launched in 2024.
About ES Bancshares Inc.ES Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") is incorporated under Maryland law and serves as the holding company for Empire State Bank (the "Bank"). The Company is subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System while the Bank is primarily subject to regulation and supervision by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Currently, the Company does not transact any material business other than through the Bank, its subsidiary.
The Bank was organized under federal law in 2004 as a national bank regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Bank's deposits are insured up to legal limits by the FDIC. In March 2009, the Bank converted its charter to a New York State commercial bank charter. The Bank's principal business is attracting commercial and retail deposits in New York and investing those deposits primarily in loans, consisting of commercial real estate loans, and other commercial loans including SBA and mortgage loans secured by one-to-four-family residences. In addition, the Bank invests in mortgage-backed securities, securities issued by the U.S. Government and agencies thereof, corporate securities and other investments permitted by applicable law and regulations.
We operate from our five Banking Center locations, a Loan Production Office and our Corporate Headquarters located in Staten Island, New York. The Company's website address is www.esbna.com. The Company's annual report, quarterly earnings releases and all press releases are available free of charge through its website, as soon as reasonably practicable.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statements contained in this release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, words such as "may", "will", "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" or "continue" or comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, many of which are not within ES Bancshares, Inc's. control. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date of this release. We have no intention, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.
Investor Contact:Peggy Edwards, Corporate Secretary(845) 451-7825
ES Bancshares, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
(in thousands)
September 30,
December 31,
September 30,
2024
2023
2023
|----(unaudited)----|
|----(unaudited)----|
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
25,436
32,728
29,439
Securities, net
22,595
15,220
15,143
Loans receivable, net:
Real estate mortgage loans
545,445
551,250
543,870
Commercial and Lines of Credit
14,729
12,823
13,950
Home Equity and Consumer Loans
709
700
704
Deferred costs
4,210
4,233
4,362
Allowance for Loan Credit Losses
(5,100
)
(5,086
)
(5,028
)
Total loans receivable, net
559,993
563,920
557,858
Accrued interest receivable
2,670
2,625
2,533
Investment in restricted stock, at cost
4,342
5,191
5,782
Goodwill
581
581
581
Bank premises and equipment, net
5,050
5,600
5,608
Repossessed assets
-
-
164
Right of use lease assets
6,109
6,415
6,625
Bank Owned Life Insurance
5,450
5,341
5,305
Other Assets
1,014
1,129
1,278
Total Assets
$
633,240
638,750
630,316
Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity
Non-Interest-Bearing Deposits
97,867
107,849
125,562
Interest-Bearing Deposits
389,340
329,695
302,509
Brokered Deposits
20,773
56,581
42,873
Total Deposits
507,980
494,125
470,944
Bond Issue, net of costs
11,780
13,708
13,701
Borrowed Money
50,267
70,805
83,980
Lease Liability
6,382
6,672
6,877
Other Liabilities
9,710
7,578
9,208
Total Liabilities
586,119
592,888
584,710
Stockholders' equity
47,121
45,862
45,606
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
633,240
638,750
630,316
ES Bancshares, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2024
June 30, 2024
September 30, 2023
September 30, 2024
September 30, 2023
|--------------(unaudited)--------------|
|----(unaudited)----|
Interest income
Loans
$
7,315
$
7,345
