FS Bancorp, Inc. Reports Net Income for the Second Quarter of $4.5 Million or $0.98 Per Diluted Share and Announces Twenty-Sixth Consecutive Quarterly Dividend

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash., July 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FS Bancorp, Inc. FSBW (the "Company"), the holding company for 1st Security Bank of Washington (the "Bank") today reported 2019 second quarter net income of $4.5 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, compared to $4.3 million, or $1.13 per diluted share for the same period last year.  

"This quarter we integrated Anchor Bank's operating systems into our core system.  We are excited to have all of our operations on one operating system," stated CEO Joe Adams. "We are also pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has approved our twenty-sixth consecutive quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share."  The dividend will be paid on August 22, 2019, to shareholders of record as of August 8, 2019.

CFO Matthew Mullet noted, "We repurchased 47,186 shares during the quarter and continue to review our long-term capital strategy with our Board of Directors."

2019 Second Quarter Highlights

• Net income was $4.5 million for the second quarter of 2019, compared to $5.2 million in the previous quarter, and $4.3 million for the comparable quarter one year ago;
  
  
• Net income for the second quarter included $1.2 million in acquisition related costs and $490,000 in severance related expenses;
  
  
• Net income for the second quarter of 2019 adjusted for $1.2 million of acquisition costs, $526,000 of net accretion on loans, certificates of deposit ("CDs") and borrowings, and $131,000 of core deposit intangible ("CDI") amortization (adjusted at a 21% tax rate) would have been $5.1 million, or $1.12 per diluted share (See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures");
  
  
• Deposits increased $12.7 million, or 1.0%, during the quarter to $1.33 billion at June 30, 2019, compared to $1.32 billion at March 31, 2019, and increased $464.1 million, or 53.3%, from $870.1 million at June 30, 2018, mainly due to the deposits assumed from the acquisition of Anchor Bancorp ("Anchor Acquisition");
  
  
• The Company repurchased 47,186 shares of its common stock during the quarter ended June 30, 2019, at an average price per share of $48.05; and
  
  
• Capital levels at the Bank were 14.7% for total risk-based capital and 11.4% for Tier 1 leverage capital at June 30, 2019.

Balance Sheet and Credit Quality

Total assets increased $14.9 million, or 0.9%, to $1.64 billion at June 30, 2019, compared to $1.63 billion at March 31, 2019, and increased $508.5 million, or 44.9%, from $1.13 billion at June 30, 2018.  The quarter over linked quarter increase in total assets was primarily due to the increase in loans held for sale ("HFS") of $20.9 million, and an increase in CDs at other financial institutions of $2.2 million, partially offset by decreases of $3.5 million in both total cash and cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale. Year over year increases in total assets included increases in loans receivable, net of $400.9 million, total cash and cash equivalents of $37.6 million, bank owned life insurance ("BOLI") of $21.4 million, premises and equipment, net of $13.2 million, loans HFS of $11.3 million, CDs at other financial institutions of $6.7 million, other assets of $5.2 million, core deposit intangible, net of $4.7 million, and operating lease right-of-use assets of $4.6 million.  The year over year increase in loans receivable, net was primarily due to the loans acquired in the Anchor Acquisition, along with organic loan growth. 

Loans receivable, net was relatively unchanged at $1.28 billion for both June 30, 2019 and March 31, 2019, and increased $400.9 million from $881.2 million at June 30, 2018.  The quarter over linked quarter decrease in total real estate loans was $23.4 million, including decreases in one-to-four-family portfolio of $12.9 million, construction and development of $5.1 million, home equity of $3.9 million, and commercial real estate of $1.8 million, partially offset by an increase in multi-family of $222,000. Consumer loans increased $19.4 million, primarily due to increases of $13.5 million in indirect home improvement loans and $6.2 million in marine loans. Commercial business loans increased $3.1 million, primarily due to an increase in warehouse lending of $5.1 million, partially offset by a decrease in commercial and industrial loans of $2.0 million. 

One-to-four-family loans originated through the home lending segment, which includes loans HFS, loans held for investment, fixed rate seconds, and loans brokered to other institutions, was $208.0 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2019, an increase of $64.3 million, or 44.7%, compared to $143.7 million for the preceding quarter, and an increase of $15.8 million, or 8.2% from $192.2 million, for the comparable quarter one year ago. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, originations through the home lending segment decreased by $10.6 million, or 2.9%, compared to the originations for the six months ended June 30, 2018.  During the quarter ended June 30, 2019, the Company sold $173.4 million of one-to-four-family loans, compared to sales of $130.9 million during the previous quarter, and sales of $160.6 million during the same quarter one year ago. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company sold $304.3 million of one-to-four-family loans compared to sales of $315.6 million during the same period last year.

Originations of one-to-four-family loans to purchase and to refinance a home for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

The allowance for loan losses ("ALLL") at June 30, 2019 increased to $12.3 million, or 1.0% of gross loans receivable, excluding loans HFS, compared to $11.8 million, or 0.9% of gross loans receivable, excluding loans HFS at March 31, 2019, and $11.6 million, or 1.3% of gross loans receivable, excluding loans HFS, at June 30, 2018.  Non-performing loans decreased to $1.6 million at June 30, 2019, from $3.0 million at March 31, 2019, primarily from the pay-off of a one-to-four-family loan in the amount of $834,000, the charge-off of one commercial business relationship totaling $431,000, and a transfer of a one-to-four-family loan in the amount of $88,000 to other real estate owned ("OREO").  Non-performing loans increased to $1.6 million at June 30, 2019, from $627,000 at June 30, 2018, primarily as a result of the Anchor Acquisition.  Substandard loans decreased to $6.5 million at June 30, 2019, compared to $7.1 million at March 31, 2019, and increased from $5.8 million at June 30, 2018.  There were three OREO properties totaling $254,000 at June 30, 2019, and two OREO properties totaling $167,000 at March 31, 2019, compared to no OREO properties at June 30, 2018.

The ALLL does not include the recorded discount on loans acquired in the Anchor Acquisition of $3.7 million on $278.4 million of gross loans at June 30, 2019.

The Bank sold $10.5 million of securities available-for-sale during the second quarter of 2019 realizing a gain of $32,000.  The Bank sold these securities to reduce portfolio duration and sell lower yielding investments. The proceeds were used to pay down overnight borrowings, primarily Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") federal funds.

Total deposits increased slightly to $1.33 billion at June 30, 2019, compared to $1.32 billion at March 31, 2019, and increased $464.1 million from $870.1 million at June 30, 2018.  Relationship-based transactional deposits (noninterest-bearing checking, interest-bearing checking, and escrow accounts) increased $32.7 million from March 31, 2019, primarily due to a $40.0 million increase in noninterest-bearing checking, and increased $147.3 million from June 30, 2018.  Money market and savings accounts decreased $28.1 million from March 31, 2019, and increased $77.2 million from June 30, 2018.  Time deposits increased $8.1 million from March 31, 2019, and increased $239.7 million, from June 30, 2018.  Year over year increases were primarily due to the deposits assumed in the Anchor Acquisition.

At June 30, 2019, non-retail CDs which include brokered CDs, online CDs, public deposits CDs, and public funds CDs decreased $12.0 million to $118.9 million, compared to $130.9 million at March 31, 2019, primarily due to a decrease in brokered CDs of $15.1 million, partially offset by an increase of $3.2 million in online CDs. The year over year increase in non-retail CDs of $31.4 million from $87.6 million at June 30, 2018, primarily reflects a $28.0 million increase in brokered CDs, and an increase of $3.2 million in online CDs.  Management remains focused on increasing our lower cost relationship-based deposits to fund long-term asset growth.

At June 30, 2019, borrowings decreased $3.6 million, or 4.2%, to $83.2 million, from $86.8 million at March 31, 2019, and decreased $23.3 million from $106.5 million at June 30, 2018.  The quarter and year to date decreases in borrowings were primarily related to the repayment of FHLB federal funds to take advantage of lower cost FHLB advances.

Total stockholders' equity increased $3.5 million, to $189.4 million at June 30, 2019, from $186.0 million at March 31, 2019, and increased $60.1 million, from $129.4 million at June 30, 2018.  The increase in stockholders' equity from the first quarter was primarily due to net income of $4.5 million, and a $932,000 reduction in accumulated other comprehensive loss to a gain, net of tax of $496,000, representing an increase in the fair value of our investment portfolio, partially offset by common stock repurchases of $2.5 million.  The Company repurchased 47,186 shares of its common stock during the quarter ended June 30, 2019, at an average price of $48.05 per share. At June 30, 2019, 172,378 shares remain available for repurchase pursuant to our January 2019 Share Repurchase Plan.  The $60.1 million increase in total stockholders' equity from the second quarter of 2018 was significantly impacted by the shares issued in the Anchor Acquisition.  Book value per common share was $43.18 at June 30, 2019, compared to $42.48 at March 31, 2019, and $35.94 at June 30, 2018.

The Bank is well capitalized under the minimum capital requirements established by the FDIC with a total risk-based capital ratio of 14.7%, a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 11.4%, and a common equity Tier 1 ("CET1") capital ratio of 13.8% at June 30, 2019. 

The Company exceeded all regulatory capital requirements with a total risk-based capital ratio of 14.4%, a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 11.1%, and a CET1 ratio of 13.5% at June 30, 2019.

Operating Results

Net interest income increased $5.6 million, to $17.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, from $11.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018.  This increase was a result of an $8.0 million increase in loans receivable interest income, including additional interest from loans acquired in the Anchor Acquisition, and a $376,000 increase in interest and dividends on investment securities, and cash and cash equivalents, partially offset by a $2.6 million increase in deposit interest expense due to assumed deposits and continued organic growth combined with higher market interest rates, and a $110,000 increase in interest expense on borrowings mainly from the use of FHLB advances. Net interest income increased $11.8 million, to $35.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, from $23.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, mostly attributable to a $16.8 million increase in interest income on loans receivable, partially offset by a $5.9 million increase in interest expense on deposits and borrowings.  The increases in interest income and interest expense were primarily impacted by the loans acquired and deposits assumed in the Anchor Acquisition.

The net interest margin ("NIM") increased two basis points to 4.60% for the three months ended June 30, 2019, from 4.58% for the same period in the prior year, and decreased one basis point to 4.65% for the six months ended June 30, 2019, from 4.66% for the six months ended June 30, 2018.  The quarter over quarter increase in NIM was driven primarily by a positive incremental interest accretion on loans acquired in the Anchor Acquisition of 20 basis points, partially offset by higher cost market rate deposits and increased borrowing costs. The year over year decrease in NIM was mostly driven by higher cost market rate deposits and increased borrowing costs, partially offset by a positive impact from incremental interest accretion on loans acquired in the Anchor Acquisition of 18 basis points. The average cost of funds increased 48 basis points to 1.37% for the three months ended June 30, 2019, from 0.89% for the three months ended June 30, 2018.  This increase was predominantly due to growth in higher market rate deposits, primarily those assumed in the Anchor Acquisition along with overall deposit growth. The year over year average cost of funds increased 56 basis points to 1.35% for the six months ended June 30, 2019, from 0.79% for the six months ended June 30, 2018 reflecting the increase in market interest rates over the last year.  Management remains focused on matching deposit/liability duration with the duration of loans/assets where appropriate.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, the provision for loan losses was $910,000 and $1.7 million, compared to $450,000, and $800,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018.  During the three months ended June 30, 2019, net charge-offs totaled $415,000, compared to $19,000 for the same period last year.  Net charge-offs totaled $1.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to net recoveries of $15,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2018.  For the three months ended June 30, 2019, the significant increase in charge-offs was primarily due to one commercial business relationship totaling $431,000, and for the six months ended June 30, 2019, the increase was primarily due to the charge-off of a commercial line of credit of $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2019.

Noninterest income increased $469,000, to $6.1 million, for the three months ended June 30, 2019, from $5.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018.  The increase during the period primarily reflects a $1.2 million increase in service charges and fee income primarily due to deposit accounts assumed in the Anchor Acquisition and deposit growth, partially offset by a $1.1 million decrease in gain on sale of loans.  Noninterest income was unchanged at $10.6 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2019, and June 30, 2018.  Service charges and fee income increased $2.2 million, other noninterest income increased $312,000, and earnings on cash surrender value of BOLI increased $262,000, partially offset by a decrease of $2.7 million in gain on sale of loans.

Noninterest expense increased $4.9 million, to $17.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, from $12.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018.  The increase in noninterest expense was primarily as a result of the Anchor Acquisition and growth in our operations with increases of $1.1 million in operations, $978,000 in salaries and benefits, $656,000 in data processing, and $526,000 in occupancy expense.  Acquisition costs were $1.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, compared to none for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and were primarily due to the integration of the Anchor Bank core processing platform. Noninterest expense increased $8.7 million, to $31.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, from $23.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018.  The increase during the period was primarily due to increases of $2.2 million in salaries and benefits, $1.8 million in operations, $1.6 million in acquisition costs, $1.3 million in data processing, $989,000 in occupancy expense, $259,000 in professional and board fees, $256,000 in FDIC insurance, and $227,000 in amortization of core deposit intangible. Acquisition costs were $1.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to none for the same period last year.  

About FS Bancorp

FS Bancorp, Inc., a Washington corporation, is the holding company for 1st Security Bank of Washington.  The Bank provides loan and deposit services to customers who are predominantly small- and middle-market businesses and individuals in Western Washington through its 21 bank branches, including nine branches from the Anchor Acquisition, one administrative office that accepts deposits, and seven loan production offices in various suburban communities in the greater Puget Sound area, and one loan production office in the market area of the Tri-Cities, Washington.  The Bank services home mortgage customers throughout Washington State with an emphasis in the Puget Sound and Tri-Cities home lending markets.

Forward-Looking Statements

When used in this press release and in other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in press releases or other public stockholder communications, or in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases "believe," "will," "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," "plans," or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward‑looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent management's current expectations and forecasts regarding future events, many of which are inherently uncertain and outside of our control.  Actual results may differ, possibly materially from those currently expected or projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, include but are not limited to, the following: the expected cost savings, synergies and other financial benefits from our recent acquisition of Anchor  might not be realized within the expected time frames or at all; the integration of the combined company, including personnel changes/retention, might not proceed as planned; and the combined company might not perform as well as expected; increased competitive pressures; changes in the interest rate environment; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities markets; our ability to execute our plans to grow our residential construction lending, mortgage banking, and warehouse lending operations, and the geographic expansion of our indirect home improvement lending; secondary market conditions for loans and our ability to originate loans for sale and sell loans in the secondary market; legislative and regulatory changes; and other factors described in the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available on our website at www.fsbwa.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.  Any of the forward-looking statements that we make in this press release and in the other public statements are based upon management's beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made and may turn out to be wrong because of the inaccurate assumptions we might make, because of the factors illustrated above or because of other factors that we cannot foresee. Therefore, these factors should be considered in evaluating the forward‑looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. These risks could cause our actual results for 2019 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of us and could negatively affect our operating and stock performance.

1. Annualized.
2. Total noninterest expense as a percentage of net interest income and total other noninterest income.
3. Non-performing assets consist of non-performing loans (which include non-accruing loans and accruing loans more than 90 days past due), foreclosed real estate and other repossessed assets.
4. Non-performing loans consist of non-accruing loans and accruing loans 90 days or more past due.
5. Common shares were calculated using shares outstanding of 4,476,864 at June 30, 2019, less 25,000 unvested restricted stock shares, and 64,803 unallocated ESOP shares.
6. Common shares were calculated using shares outstanding of 4,489,042 at March 31, 2019, less 40,121 unvested restricted stock shares, and 71,283 unallocated ESOP shares.
7. Common shares were calculated using shares outstanding of 3,708,660 at June 30, 2018, less 18,421 unvested restricted stock shares, and 90,724 unallocated ESOP shares.
8. Tangible book value per share using outstanding common shares excludes intangible assets. This ratio represents a non-GAAP financial measure.  See also, "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

1. Includes loans held for sale.
2. Includes fixed assets, operating lease right-of-use asset, BOLI, goodwill, and CDI.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

In addition to results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized in the United States ("GAAP"), this earnings release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures: net income and diluted earnings per share, excluding net accretion/amortization on loans, CDs, and borrowings, acquisition costs, and acquisition-related CDI amortization, net of tax; and tangible book value per share. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful and comparative information to assess trends reflected in the current quarter's results and facilitate the comparison of our performance with the performance of our peers. The after-tax impact of acquisition-related costs to net income which we have recorded in connection with the Anchor Acquisition provides meaningful supplemental information that management believes is useful to readers.  Where applicable, the Company has also presented comparable earnings information using GAAP financial measures.

Tangible common stockholders' equity is calculated by excluding intangible assets from stockholders' equity.  For this financial measure, the Company's intangible assets are goodwill and core deposit intangible. Tangible book value per share is calculated by dividing tangible common shareholders' equity by the number of common shares outstanding. The Company believes that this measure is consistent with the capital treatment by the investment community, which excludes intangible assets from the calculation of risk-based capital ratios and presents this measure to facilitate comparison of the quality and composition of the Company's capital over time and in comparison to its competitors. 

These non-GAAP measures have inherent limitations, are not required to be uniformly applied and are not audited. They should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for total stockholders' equity or operating results determined in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Reconciliation of net income, excluding net accretion/amortization on loans, CDs and borrowings, acquisition costs and acquisition-related CDI amortization, net of tax is presented below.

Reconciliation of the GAAP book value per share and non-GAAP tangible book value per share is presented below.