SUFFOLK, Va., Jan. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TowneBank  (Nasdaq: TOWN) today reported financial results for the full year and the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2020, earnings were $145.54 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, compared to $138.78 million, or $1.92 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2019. Earnings in the fourth quarter of 2020 were $50.08 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, compared to fourth quarter 2019 earnings of $35.08 million, or $0.49 per diluted share.

“We were pleased to deliver our 21^St consecutive year of increased earnings during a year filled with challenges and opportunities. We achieved solid financial results while facing economic headwinds and prudently building substantial reserves to address future economic uncertainty. Our unique business model enabled our HomeTowne bankers to support our members and the communities we serve with more than $1.1 billion in funds through the Paycheck Protection Program. Additionally, our diverse sources of revenue resulted in record levels of total revenues which eclipsed $664 million for the year. TowneMortgage achieved record volumes and delivered a strong performance by closing more than $5.88 billion in mortgages. These accomplishments were the result of hard work and dedication from our more than 2,800 team members who work each day defining our culture of caring,” said G. Robert Aston, Jr., Executive Chairman.

Quarter Highlights:

• Total revenues were $171.85 million, in fourth quarter 2020, an increase over the prior year quarter of $32.18 million, or 23.04%.
• Quarterly pre-provision, pre-tax, net revenues (non-GAAP) were $62.11 million, an increase of $15.65 million, or 33.67%.
• During fourth quarter 2020, we completed a core banking system conversion to allow the Company to provide a greater variety of financial services to our members through new technologies and enhanced digital solutions.
• Loans held for investment increased $1.21 billion, or 14.37%, from December 31, 2019, and decreased $141.50 million, or 1.45%, from September 30, 2020. The balance at December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020 included $0.86 billion and $1.10 billion, respectively, of loans originated under the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"). Excluding PPP, loans held for investment increased $353.89 million, or 4.20%, compared to prior year, and $105.75 million, or 4.85% on an annualized basis, compared to the linked quarter.
• Total deposits were $11.57 billion, an increase of $2.30 billion, or 24.83%, compared to prior year but a decrease, due to expected runoff and seasonality, of $131.80 million, or 1.13%, from September 30, 2020.
• Noninterest bearing deposits increased by 48.23%, to $4.37 billion, compared to prior year, representing 37.80% of total deposits. Compared to the linked quarter, noninterest bearing deposits decreased 2.01%.
• In the quarter ended December 31, 2020, annualized return on average common shareholders' equity was 11.36% and annualized return on average tangible common shareholders' equity was 16.48% (non-GAAP). For the full 12 months, return on average common shareholders' equity was 8.52% and return on average tangible common shareholders' equity was 12.76% (non-GAAP).
• Net interest margin of 2.97% and taxable equivalent net interest margin of 2.98% (non-GAAP) compared to the prior year quarter of 3.33% and 3.35%, respectively.
• Effective tax rate of 17.21% compared to 18.17% at December 31, 2019.

“In addition to our financial results, we concluded a multi-year system conversion during the fourth quarter. This system will enable us to improve our digital capabilities and drive revenue growth. We opened the door to over 700 new relationships through our efforts with the Paycheck Protection Program, having onboarded 65% of those new banking relationships throughout 2020. We continue to have strong interest in nonbank acquisitions and completed an insurance agency acquisition in late December,” said J. Morgan Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Quarterly Net Interest Income Compared to the Fourth Quarter of 2019:

• Net interest income was $100.61 million compared to $89.96 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. Included in net interest income was PPP interest and fee income of $11.29 million and $0, respectively.
• Taxable equivalent net interest margin was 2.98%, including purchase accounting accretion of 5 basis points and PPP accretion of 5 basis points, compared to 3.35%, including purchase accounting accretion of 9 basis points, for 2019.
• Average loans held for investment, with an average yield of 4.28%, represented 72.32% of average earning assets in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to an average yield of 4.81%, which represented 77.25% of average earning assets in the fourth quarter of 2019.
• Total cost of deposits decreased to 0.37% from 0.92% at December 31, 2019.
• Average interest-earning assets totaled $13.48 billion at December 31, 2020 compared to $10.72 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of 25.76%.
• Average interest-bearing liabilities totaled $8.03 billion, an increase of $0.97 billion, or 13.74%, from the prior year.
• Total interest expense decreased 42.04%, to $15.37 million in fourth quarter 2020 compared to $26.52 million in fourth quarter 2019, and decreased $3.40 million, or 18.11%, compared to the linked quarter.

Quarterly Provision for Loan Losses:

• Recorded a provision for loan losses of $1.21 million compared to $3.60 million one year ago and $28.26 million in the linked quarter. A combination of modest loan growth, significantly higher provisions in the two previous quarters, and improvements in the economic forecast were the drivers in the lower fourth quarter 2020 provision.
• Net charge-offs were $0.11 million compared to $0.80 million one year prior. The ratio of net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans on an annualized basis was 0.00% in fourth quarter 2020, (0.01)% in the linked quarter, and 0.04% in fourth quarter 2019.
• Recorded a provision for credit losses on off-balance sheet commitments of $0.06 million compared to $3.50 million in the linked quarter.
• The allowance for loan losses represented 1.25% of total loans compared to 1.22% at September 30, 2020 and 0.69% at December 31, 2019. Excluding PPP loans, which are fully government guaranteed, the allowance for credit losses (non-GAAP) was 1.37%, at December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020. The allowance for loan losses was 10.74 times nonperforming loans compared to 7.31 times at September 30, 2020 and 3.34 times at December 31, 2019.

Quarterly Noninterest Income Compared to the Fourth Quarter of 2019:

• Total noninterest income was $71.23 million compared to $49.71 million in 2019, an increase of $21.52 million, or 43.29%. Residential mortgage banking income increased $21.62 million, insurance commissions decreased $1.13 million, and real estate brokerage and property management income increased $2.49 million.
• Residential mortgage banking income was $37.50 million compared to $15.88 million in fourth quarter 2019. Loan volume in the current quarter was $1.69 billion, with purchase activity comprising 59.76%. Loan volume in fourth quarter 2019 was $860.16 million, with purchase activity of 70.32%. Loan volume in the linked quarter was $1.79 billion with purchase activity of 61.21%.
• Total insurance segment revenue decreased $2.89 million, or 14.51%, to $17.00 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. This decrease is attributable to several factors. The prior year quarter included proceeds from life insurance policies of $1.64 million. Contingency income and benefits commissions declined, compared to the prior year quarter. Additionally, there were no commissions on travel insurance in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $0.79 million in the prior year quarter, due to the sale of Red Sky Insurance in the third quarter of 2020. We also acquired an insurance agency, which is expected to add approximately $2.4 million in gross revenue for 2021, at the end of December 2020.
• Property management fee revenue increased 35.30%, or $1.48 million, as compared to fourth quarter 2019 due to increases in reservation levels and stronger fourth quarter 2020 advanced reservations.
• Service charges on deposit accounts declined $0.54 million, or 23.96%, compared to the prior year quarter due to fee waivers for members experiencing financial hardship and the waiving of various member service charges during our core conversion.

Quarterly Noninterest Expense Compared to the Fourth Quarter of 2019:

• Total noninterest expense was $105.93 million compared to $92.34 million, an increase of $13.60 million, or 14.72%. This reflects increases of $5.46 million in salary and benefits expense, $1.09 million in software expense, and $0.68 million in occupancy expenses.
• FDIC insurance assessments increased $1.84 million in fourth quarter 2020 compared to 2019 due to the Company's receipt of small bank assessment credits for $1.66 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.
• Increases in salaries and benefits were driven by incentives related to a strong full-year performance and conversion and production related overtime. Software increases were largely driven by core conversion costs, and the costs associated with software needed to facilitate the adoption of CECL. Occupancy expense increases were driven by a full quarter expense related to the November 2019 expansion into the Greensboro, North Carolina market.
• Recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $2.63 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, associated with restructuring of certain borrowings to reduce future interest expense and deploy excess liquidity. The impact of this nonrecurring expense was a reduction to our EPS of $0.03.

Quarterly Income Taxes Compared to the Fourth Quarter of 2019:

• Income tax expense was $10.41 million compared to $7.79 million one year prior. This represents an effective tax rate of 17.21% compared to 18.17% in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Consolidated Balance Sheet December 31, 2020 Compared to December 31, 2019

• Total assets were $14.63 billion at December 31, 2020, an increase of 22.42%, compared to $11.95 billion at December 31, 2019. This increase was driven primarily by increased liquidity levels and additional loan balances attributable to PPP loans.
• Loans held for investment increased $1.21 billion, or 14.37%, compared to year end 2019, but decreased $0.14 billion compared to the linked quarter.
• Mortgage loans held for sale increased $121.57 million, or 29.00%, compared to prior year and decreased $128.22 million, or 19.17%, compared to the linked quarter.
• Total deposits increased $2.30 billion, or 24.83%, over December 31, 2019, and decreased $0.13 billion, or 1.13%, compared to the linked quarter.

Investment Securities:

• Total investment securities were $1.42 billion compared to $1.38 billion at September 30, 2020 and $1.52 billion at December 31, 2019. The weighted average duration of the portfolio at December 31, 2020 was 4.10 years. The carrying value of the AFS debt securities portfolio included $58.32 million in net unrealized gains compared to $19.73 million in net unrealized gains at December 31, 2019.

Loans and Asset Quality:

• Total loans held for investment were $9.63 billion at December 31, 2020 compared to $9.77 billion at September 30, 2020 and $8.42 billion at December 31, 2019.
• Nonperforming assets were $16.21 million, or 0.11% of total assets, compared to $32.80 million, or 0.27% of total assets, at December 31, 2019.
• Nonperforming loans were 0.12% of period end loans compared to 0.21% at December 31, 2019.
• Foreclosed property decreased to $4.28 million from $13.84 million at December 31, 2019.
• Expected loss estimates are subject to change based on continuing review of models and assumptions, portfolio performance, changes in forecasted macroeconomic conditions and loan mix which could result in material changes to the reserve in future periods.
• At December 31, 2020 we had $340.81 million in loan modifications made in accordance with section 4013 of the Cares Act, 64% are currently paying interest.

Deposits and Borrowings:

• Total deposits were $11.57 billion compared to $11.70 billion at September 30, 2020 and $9.27 billion at December 31, 2019.
• Total loans to total deposits were 83.20% compared to 83.47% at September 30, 2020 and 90.81% at December 31, 2019.
• Non-interest bearing deposits were 37.80% of total deposits at December 31, 2020 compared to 38.14% at September 30, 2020 and 31.83% at December 31, 2019. Non-interest bearing deposits experienced typical seasonality during the fourth quarter.
• Total borrowings were $0.96 billion compared to $1.04 billion and $0.77 billion at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

Capital:

• Common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 11.87%.
• Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 8.99%.
• Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 12.04%.
• Total risk-based capital ratio of 15.42%.
• Book value was $24.31 compared to $23.83 at September 30, 2020 and $22.58 at December 31, 2019.
• Tangible book value (non-GAAP) was $17.46 compared to $17.06 at September 30, 2020 and $15.69 at December 31, 2019.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders:
TowneBank intends to hold its 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th Street in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

About TowneBank:
As one of the top community banks in Virginia and North Carolina, TowneBank operates 42 banking offices serving Chesapeake, Chesterfield County, Glen Allen, Hampton, James City County, Mechanicsville, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and York County in Virginia, along with Raleigh, Cary, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Moyock, Grandy, Camden County, Southern Shores, Corolla and Nags Head in North Carolina. TowneBank also offers a full range of financial services through its controlled divisions and subsidiaries that include Towne Investment Group, Towne Wealth Management, Towne Insurance Agency, Towne Benefits, TowneBank Mortgage, TowneBank Commercial Mortgage, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Towne Realty, Towne 1031 Exchange, LLC, and Towne Vacations. Local decision-making is a hallmark of its hometown banking strategy that is delivered through the leadership of each group’s President and Board of Directors. With total assets of $14.63 billion as of December 31, 2020, TowneBank is one of the largest banks headquartered in Virginia.