PORTERVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sierra Bancorp (Nasdaq: BSRR), parent of Bank of the Sierra, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024. Sierra Bancorp reported consolidated net income of $10.6 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of $0.3 million, or 3%, as compared to the second quarter of 2024. In addition, the Company reported consolidated net income of $30.2 million for the first nine months of 2024, an increase of $1.6 million, or 6%, as compared to the same period in 2023. Diluted earnings per share for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, increased to $2.09, or 8%, from $1.93 diluted earnings per share for the same period in 2023.

Highlights for the third quarter of 2024:

• Improved Earnings and Consistently Strong Earnings Metrics
  • Diluted Earnings Per Share increased 4%, or $0.03, from the prior linked quarter.
  • Improved net interest income by $0.6 million, or 2%, as compared to the prior linked quarter.
  • Maintained strong net interest margin of 3.66%, as compared to 3.69% in the prior linked quarter.
  • Return on Average Assets of 1.14%, which is unchanged from the prior linked quarter.
  • Return on Average Equity of 11.95%, which is unchanged from the prior linked quarter.
• Solid Asset Quality
  • Total nonperforming loans to total gross loans ratio of 0.45%, with total classified loans down $6.4 million, year-to-date, to $29.1 million.
  • No foreclosed assets at September 30, 2024.
  • Net charge-offs to total loans during the quarter of 0.01%.
  • Regulatory Commercial Real Estate Concentration Ratio declined to 236.43%, from 241.05%, during the quarter.
• Growth of Loans and Deposits
  • Loan growth of $86.1 million, or 15% annualized, during the quarter, to $2.3 billion.
  • Total deposits increased by $19.7 million, or 3% annualized, during the quarter, to $3.0 billion.
  • Noninterest-bearing deposits of $1.0 billion at September 30, 2024, represent 34% of total deposits.
• Solid Capital and Liquidity
  • Increased Tangible Book Value (non-GAAP) per share by 3%, during the quarter, to $22.93 per share.
  • Repurchased 48,904 shares of common stock during the quarter.
  • Declared dividend of $0.24 per share, payable on November 12, 2024, our 103^rd consecutive quarterly dividend.
  • Strong regulatory Community Bank Leverage Ratio increased to 11.70%, at September 30, 2024, for our subsidiary Bank.
  • Consolidated Tangible Common Equity Ratio (non-GAAP) increased to 9.01%, at September 30, 2024.
  • Overall primary and secondary liquidity sources of $2.4 billion, at September 30, 2024.

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, make a door.” Milton Berle

“We are happy to share our third quarter results, which demonstrate our entire team’s commitment to providing fantastic service to our customers and communities,” stated Kevin McPhaill, CEO and President. “While the current interest rate environment still presents the banking industry with unique challenges, our teams continue to improve profitability and grow loans and deposits. They are consistently finding opportunities to both bring new customers on board and strengthen our existing relationships. I speak for our entire team of dedicated bankers when I say we are proud of our results, we remain committed to excellent service, and we are incredibly excited about our future!” concluded Mr. McPhaill.

For the first nine months of 2024, the Company increased net income to $30.2 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, as compared to $28.6 million, or $1.93 per diluted share, for the same period in 2023. The year-over-year improvement is due primarily to higher net interest income of $5.1 million, despite a $1.8 million increase in the provision for credit losses in 2024. Increases of $1.7 million in noninterest income, were mostly offset by a $1.5 million increase in noninterest expense. The Company’s financial performance metrics for the first nine months of 2024 include an annualized return on average assets and a return on average equity of 1.11% and 11.67%, respectively, compared to 1.03% and 12.41%, respectively, for the same period in 2023.

Financial Highlights

Quarterly Changes (comparisons to the third quarter of 2023)

• Net income increased 7%, or $0.7 million, to $10.6 million due to higher net interest income, partially offset by an increase in the provision for credit losses.
• The $2.7 million increase in net interest income was driven by a 27 basis point increase in net interest margin. This is primarily a result of a balance sheet restructuring, including a bond sale, in the first quarter of 2024, along with higher loan yields.
• Noninterest income was mostly flat for the quarter, with increases in service charge income offset by decreases in other noninterest income, primarily from life insurance proceeds received in 2023 that did not reoccur in 2024.
• Noninterest expense was $0.2 million higher in the third quarter over the same quarter last year. While salary and benefit costs decreased due to a strategic internal reorganization in the fourth quarter of 2023, this was offset by an increase in occupancy costs, due to the sale/leaseback of certain branches in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Linked Quarter Income Changes (comparisons to the three months ended June 30, 2024)

• Net income improved by $0.3 million, or 3%, driven mostly by a $0.6 million increase in net interest income, offset by a $0.5 million increase in the provision for credit losses.
• Net interest income increased by $0.6 million, due to an increase in average earning assets, partially offset by an increase in interest-bearing liabilities, at a higher cost of funds.

Year to-Date Income Changes (comparisons to the first nine months of 2023)

• Net income increased $1.6 million, or 6%. This was primarily driven by an increase of $5.1 million or 6% in net interest income, due mostly to an overall increase in interest rates on earning assets. While we experienced higher yields and balances on loans, this was complemented by a decrease in borrowed funds and a decrease in the rate paid on the remaining balance of borrowed funds. Partially offsetting these positive variances was an increase in the provision for credit losses, and an increase in occupancy expenses from the sale/leaseback of branch buildings in late 2023.
• The provision for credit losses was $2.4 million, an increase of $2.2 million, primarily due to an increase in net charge-offs in the second quarter of 2024, due to a foreclosure of a single property.
• Noninterest income increased by $1.7 million, or 7%. Service charges on deposit accounts were $1.0 million higher, due mostly to higher interchange income, an increase in analysis fees, and other transaction-based fees, combined with a net $0.6 million gain, from the balance sheet restructuring earlier in the year.
• Noninterest expense increased $1.5 million, or 2%, due mostly to increases in rent expense from the sale/ leaseback of branch buildings at the end of 2023.

Statement of Condition Changes (comparisons to December 31, 2023)

• Total assets decreased by $33.6 million, or 1%, to $3.7 billion, during the first nine months of the year due primarily to the strategic restructuring of our lower-yielding bond portfolio in the first quarter of 2024, partially offset by increases in loan balances.
• Gross loans increased $230.6 million, due to a $219.8 million increase in mortgage warehouse line utilization, a $10.6 million increase in commercial real estate loans, a $13.3 million increase in farmland loans, and a $12.0 million increase in commercial loans. This favorable growth was partially offset by a $23.9 million decrease in residential real estate loans, and smaller declines in construction and consumer loans.
• Deposits totaled $3.0 billion at September 30, 2024, representing a year-to-date increase of $200.9 million, or 7%. The growth in deposits came mostly from a $175.0 million increase in brokered deposits to fund mortgage warehouse lines, and a $40.6 million increase in transaction accounts offset by smaller declines in customer non-transaction accounts.
• Other interest-bearing liabilities decreased $262.1 million, from a decrease in overnight borrowings facilitated by the strategic balance sheet restructuring in the first quarter of 2024, and a decrease in FHLB advances, as we utilized brokered deposits not only to fund mortgage lines, but to pay down more costly FHLB lines of credit.

Other financial highlights are reflected in the following table.

INCOME STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $30.8 million for the third quarter of 2024, a $2.7 million increase, or 10% over the third quarter of 2023, and increased $5.1 million, or 6%, to $89.7 million for the first nine months of 2024 relative to the same period in 2023.

For the third quarter of 2024, although the balance of average interest-earning assets was $74.0 million lower, the yield was 37 basis points higher as compared to the same period in 2023. There was a four basis point increase in the cost of our interest-bearing liabilities for the same period, which partially offset some of the higher yields on the asset side. Net interest income for the comparative year-to-date periods increased $5.1 million, or 6%, due to a strategic change in mix of average interest-earning assets in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. This change was moderated by an increase in rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities. There was a $136.1 million, or 7%, increase in average loan and lease balances yielding 45 basis points higher for the same period, while average investment balances decreased $238.5 million, yielding 52 basis points higher for the same period. Average interest-bearing liabilities decreased $82.2 million, mostly in borrowed funds. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 28 basis points higher for the comparative periods. The favorable net impact of the mix and rate change was a 27 basis point increase in our net interest margin for the nine months ending September 30, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023.

Interest expense was $14.0 million for the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of $0.3 million, relative to the third quarter of 2023. For the first nine months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, interest expense increased $3.4 million to $39.6 million. The increase in interest expense for the first nine months of 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023, was attributable to an increase in higher cost brokered deposits to fund mortgage warehouse lines, along with a net overall interest rate increase in customer deposit account balances. Compounding the interest rate increases, there was a shift in the mix of average deposits with an increase in higher-yielding money market and time deposit account types. These increases were partially offset by decreases in other borrowed funds. For the first nine months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, the average balance of higher cost customer time deposits, interest-bearing demand and money market deposits increased $51.4 million, while wholesale brokered deposits increased $112.5 million. Borrowed funds decreased $126.1 million, and lower cost or no cost deposits decreased $194.0 million.

Our net interest margin was 3.66% for the third quarter of 2024, as compared to 3.69% for the linked quarter, and 3.30% for the third quarter of 2023. While the yield of interest-earning assets increased one basis point for the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the linked quarter, the cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased seven basis points for the same period in 2023. The average balance of interest-earning assets increased $56.9 million for the linked quarter, while the increase in interest-bearing liabilities was $15.9 million for the same period. Even though the volume increase of interest-earning assets was more than the increase in interest-bearing liabilities, the larger rate increase on liabilities caused a slight compression in net interest margin for the linked quarter.

Provision for Credit Losses

The provision for credit losses on loans was $1.2 million for the third quarter of 2024, as compared to a $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2023. There was a year-to-date provision for credit losses on loans of $2.3 million in 2024, as compared to $0.4 million for the same period in 2023. The Company's $1.1 million increase in the provision for credit losses on loans in the third quarter of 2024, as compared to the third quarter of 2023, and the $1.8 million year-to-date increase in the provision for credit losses on loans, compared to the same period in 2023, was primarily due to the impact of $3.0 million in net charge-offs in the first nine months of 2024, with only $0.4 million in net charge-offs for the first nine months of 2023. The increase in net charge-offs was primarily related to a single office building, which was subsequently foreclosed upon and sold.

There was a provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments for $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2024, and $0.1 million for the first nine months of 2024, as compared to a $0.2 million benefit for credit losses in the third quarter of 2023 and a $0.2 million benefit for credit losses in the first nine months of 2023. The reason for the increase in both the quarterly and year-to-date comparisons is due to an increase in the balance of unfunded commitments combined with an increase in the reserve rate utilized in the calculation of the reserves.

The Company recorded a small benefit for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities for the three months and nine months ending 2024. The benefit was a result of a change in the reserve rates utilized in the calculation of the reserves, due to updated municipal bond default rates across all credit ratings, combined with an aging municipal bond portfolio. Although there were debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the declines in market values were primarily attributable to changes in interest rates and volatility in the financial markets and not a result of an expected credit loss.

Noninterest Income

Total noninterest income was unchanged for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the same quarter in 2023, and increased $1.7 million, or 7%, for the year-to-date period ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023. The year-to-date comparison was impacted by an increase in service charge income on deposit accounts, favorable fluctuations in income on Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) with underlying investments mapped directly to the Company’s deferred compensation plan and a net gain on the balance sheet restructure earlier in the year. Offsetting these positive variances was a decrease in other income which is related to life insurance proceeds received in 2023 with no like proceeds in 2024.

The Company maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for officers and directors, which allows the participant to defer a portion of their earnings tax-free. Participants are allowed to choose different hypothetical investment alternatives to determine their individualized return on their deferred compensation. The Company has chosen to offset the cost of this liability with a BOLI Policy, which is funded based on deferral elections from the participants. Although the BOLI is not directly tied to the deferred compensation plan, the BOLI is invested in similar fund types as those selected by the participants. There is some inefficiency in net earnings of the BOLI asset as compared to the deferred compensation liability created by the cost of insurance, differences in balances, and differences in individual fund performance. During the third quarter, and first nine months of 2024, earnings from the BOLI were $0.3 million, and $1.5 million, respectively, while additional expense from the related deferred compensation liability was $0.3 million, and $1.7 million, respectively. Most of such expense is reported as professional fees under directors’ fees as such expense is related to deferral of past directors’ fees. Specifically, $0.3 million for the quarterly comparison, and $1.4 million for the year-to-date comparison, respectively, is reflected as directors’ fees as part of the overall professional fees expense line item. The tax benefit of having tax-free earnings with tax-deductible expense was $0.2 million during the third quarter of 2024, and $1.0 million for the first nine months of 2024.

Noninterest Expense

Total noninterest expense increased by $0.2 million, or 1%, in the third quarter of 2024, relative to the third quarter of 2023, and by $1.5 million, or 2%, for the first nine months of 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023.

Salaries and Benefits were $0.3 million, or 2%, lower in the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the third quarter of 2023, and unchanged for the first nine months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The Company made strategic decisions in 2023 that created operational efficiencies and reduced costs. While the number of full-time equivalent employees did not change for the first nine months of 2024, compared to the year ending December 31, 2024, the composition of the workforce changed resulting in reduced salaries and benefits costs, during the third quarter of 2024. There were 489 full-time equivalent employees at September 30, 2024, as compared to 489 at December 31, 2023, and 487 at September 30, 2023.

Occupancy expenses increased by $0.5 million, and $1.9 million for the third quarter, and the first nine months of 2024 as compared to the same periods in 2023. The reason for the increases in both comparisons is due to increased rent expense from the sale/leaseback transactions in the fourth quarter of 2023, and first quarter of 2024.

Other noninterest expense was unchanged for the third quarter 2024, as compared to the third quarter in 2023, and decreased $0.4 million, or 2%, for the first nine months of 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023. While the variances for the third quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023 offset each other, the primary differences were decreases in marketing costs, which is timing related, and a favorable variance in directors deferred compensation expense, linked to the changes in BOLI income. These favorable variances were offset by higher communications costs, audit and review costs, and loan management software costs. The Company implemented new loan origination and management software to better serve our customers and create operational efficiencies. For the year-over-year comparison, the categories of variance were the same as with the quarterly comparison, except for an unfavorable variance in directors’ deferred compensation expense, offset by favorable variances in debit card processing and ATM network costs, from a branding change to VISA from Mastercard last year, and the subsequent costs in 2023 related to that change. Additionally, there was a decrease in foreclosed asset costs, due to a foreclosure and subsequent sale of one large credit relationship in early 2023.

The Company's provision for income taxes was 26.4% of pre-tax income in the third quarter of 2024, relative to 25.8% in the third quarter of 2023, and 26.8% of pre-tax income for the first nine months of 2024, relative to 25.3% for the same period in 2023. The increase in effective tax rate for both the quarterly and year-to-date comparisons is due to the tax credits, and tax-exempt income representing a smaller percentage of total taxable income.

Balance Sheet Summary

The $33.6 million, or 1%, decrease in total assets during the first nine months of 2024, is primarily a result of a $323.9 million decrease in investment securities, from the sale of bonds from the strategic securities transaction, partially offset by a $230.6 million increase in gross loans, and a $54.2 million increase in cash on hand.

The increase in gross loan balances, as compared to December 31, 2023, was mostly a result of organic growth; a $13.3 million increase in farmland loans, a $10.6 million increase in commercial real estate loans, a $112.0 million increase in other commercial loans, and a favorable change of $219.8 million in mortgage warehouse balances. Counterbalancing these positive loan variances were loan paydowns and maturities resulting in net declines in residential real estate loans.

As indicated in the loan roll forward table below, new credit extended for the third quarter of 2024, increased on a linked-quarter basis, but decreased $7.7 million over the same period in 2023, and decreased $22.1 million for the year-to-date comparisons. The year-to-date decline in organic loan growth is attributable to competitive pressures in our market for strong credit relationships, combined with a lower loan demand overall due to the current high interest rate environment. We also had $48.4 million in loan paydowns and maturities; however, increases in mortgage warehouse and credit line utilization of $98.8 million had a positive impact in the third quarter.

Unused commitments, excluding mortgage warehouse and overdraft lines, were $237.7 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $203.6 million at December 31, 2023. Total line utilization, excluding mortgage warehouse and overdraft lines, was 59.2% at September 30, 2024, and 62.3% at December 31, 2023. Mortgage warehouse utilization increased to 54.6% at September 30, 2024, as compared to 36.2% at December 31, 2023.

Deposit balances reflect growth of $200.9 million, or 7%, during the first nine months of 2024. Core non-maturity deposits increased by $31.0 million, or 6%, while customer time deposits decreased by $5.0 million, or 1%. Wholesale brokered deposits increased by $175.0 million, or 130%. As stated previously, the increase in brokered deposits was utilized to fund increases in mortgage warehouse lines. Overall noninterest-bearing deposits as a percent of total deposits at September 30, 2024, decreased to 34.2%, as compared to 37.0% at December 31, 2023.

Other interest-bearing liabilities of $205.5 million on September 30, 2024, consist of $125.5 million in customer repurchase agreements, and $80.0 million of FHLB borrowings.

Overall uninsured deposits are estimated to be approximately $816.2 million, or 28% of total deposit balances, excluding public agency deposits that are subject to collateralization through a letter of credit issued by the FHLB. In addition, uninsured deposits of the Bank’s customers are eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance if the customer opens an IntraFi Insured Cash Sweep (ICS) account or a reciprocal time deposit through the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry System (CDARS). IntraFi allows for up to $265 million per customer of pass-through FDIC insurance, which would more than cover each of the Bank’s deposit customers if such customer desired to have such pass-through insurance. The Bank maintains a diversified deposit base with no significant customer concentrations and does not bank any cryptocurrency companies. At September 30, 2024, the Company had approximately 120,000 accounts, and the 25 largest deposit balance customers had balances of approximately 15% of overall deposits. During the third quarter of 2024, except for seasonality fluctuations in the normal course of business, there has been no material change in the composition of our 25 largest deposit balance customers.

The Company continues to have substantial liquidity. At September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the Company had the following sources of primary and secondary liquidity (Dollars in Thousands, Unaudited):

Total capital of $358.7 million at September 30, 2024, reflects an increase of $20.6 million, or 6%, relative to year-end 2023. The increase in equity during the first nine months of 2024 was due to the addition of $30.2 million in net income, a $7.4 million favorable swing in accumulated other comprehensive income, due principally to changes in investment securities’ fair value, offset by $8.3 million in share repurchases, and $10.2 million in dividends paid. The remaining difference is related to the impact of equity compensation.

Asset Quality

Total nonperforming assets, comprised of nonaccrual loans, increased by $2.4 million to $10.3 million for the first nine months of 2024. The Company's ratio of nonperforming loans to gross loans increased to 0.45% at September 30, 2024, from 0.38% at December 31, 2023. The increase resulted from an increase in non-accrual loan balances, primarily as a result of one non-owner occupied commercial real estate loan on an office building. All the Company's nonperforming assets are individually evaluated for credit loss quarterly and management believes the established allowance for credit loss on such loans is appropriate.

The Company's allowance for credit losses on loans and leases was $22.7 million at September 30, 2024, as compared to $23.5 million December 31, 2023. The decrease resulted from a reduction in specific individual reserves on impaired loans due to the charge-off associated with one commercial real estate loan.

The allowance for credit losses on loans and leases was 0.98% of gross loans at September 30, 2024, and 1.12% of gross loans at December 31, 2023. Management's detailed analysis indicates that the Company's allowance for credit losses on loans and leases should be sufficient to cover credit losses for the life of the loans and leases outstanding as of September 30, 2024, but no assurance can be given that the Company will not experience substantial future losses relative to the size of the loan and lease loss allowance. The Company calculates the allowance for credit losses using a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors applied to loans segmented by call report category. The largest increase in loan balances was from mortgage warehouse lines, which has the lowest reserve rate in the allowance for credit losses at 0.14%. Therefore, at September 30, 2024, approximately $0.5 million of the allowance for credit losses is attributable to mortgage warehouse lines.

About Sierra Bancorp

Sierra Bancorp is the holding Company for Bank of the Sierra (www.bankofthesierra.com), which is in its 47^th year of operations.

Bank of the Sierra is a community-centric regional bank, which offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking services through full-service branches located within the counties of Tulare, Kern, Kings, Fresno, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara. The Bank also maintains an online branch and provides specialized lending services through an agricultural credit center in Templeton, California. In 2024, Bank of the Sierra was recognized as one of the strongest and top-performing community banks in the country, with a 5-star rating from Bauer Financial.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future de­velopments and their potential effects on the Company. Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on forward looking statements. Actual results may differ from those projected. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including but not limited to, the health of the national and local economies, including the impact to the Company and its customers resulting from changes to, and the level of, inflation and interest rates; changes in laws, rules, regulations, or interpretations to which the Company is subject; the Company’s ability to maintain and grow its deposit base; loan demand and continued portfolio performance; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled employees; customers' service expectations; cyber security risks; the Company's ability to successfully de­ploy new technology; the success of acquisitions and branch expansion; operational risks including the ability to detect and prevent errors and fraud; the effectiveness of the Company’s enterprise risk management framework; the impact of adverse developments at other banks, including bank failures, that impact general sentiment regarding the stability and liquidity of banks that could affect stock price; changes to valuations of the Company’s assets and liabilities, including the allowance for credit losses, earning assets, and intangible assets; changes to the availability of liquidity sources including borrowing lines and the ability to pledge or sell certain assets; costs related to litigation; the effects of severe weather events, pandemics, other public health crises, acts of war or terrorism, and other external events on our business; and other factors detailed in the Company's SEC filings, including the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Company's most recent Form 10‑K and Form 10‑Q.

The following non-GAAP schedule reconciles the book value per share to the tangible book value per share and the GAAP equity ratio to the tangible equity ratio as of the dates indicated: