TFS Financial Corporation Supports Customers Through Challenging Times

TFS Financial Corporation TFSL (the "Company"), the holding company for Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland (the "Association"), today announced results for the three months and six months ended March 31, 2020.

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TFS Financial Corporation Chairman and CEO Marc A. Stefanski (Photo: Business Wire)

"As Third Federal navigates the challenges posed by the current global pandemic, we remain positive in both our ability to serve our customers and in the strength of our loan portfolio," said Chairman and CEO Marc A. Stefanski. "Our associates and their dedication to our customers is what makes us special. We have always believed that people come first, and strategy comes second. Our customers are a source of strength for us and we remain confident in the overall quality of our mortgage loan portfolio. Our first and second lien mortgage accounts originated since 2009 had an average FICO credit score of 769 and an average loan to value of 63%. And, as a whole, our borrowers have demonstrated a strong ability to make their mortgage payments. We also recognize that there will be customers who have experienced a job loss or other hardship and we have implemented forbearance and other programs to help them through their challenges so that they can be successful homeowners. I am grateful for the continued support of our customers, associates, the communities we serve, and our shareholders. Together, we will successfully get through this unprecedented time."

The Company reported net income of $17.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to net income of $20.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Net income of $42.9 million was reported for the six months ended March 31, 2020, compared to net income of $40.5 million for the six months ended March 31, 2019. Positive variances in the current year periods were an increase in non-interest income, a decrease in non-interest expenses and a lower effective income tax rate. Additionally, gain from the sale of commercial property, recognized earlier in the year, contributed to the increase in net income for the current six month period. Negative variances included an increase in the provision for loan losses and a decrease in net interest income.

Net interest income was $65.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and $67.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Net interest income decreased by $6.4 million, or 4.7%, for the six months ended March 31, 2020, to $129.2 million, from $135.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2019. The decreases are primarily attributable to compression in the interest margin as growth occurred in both interest-earnings assets, primarily loans, and interest-bearing liabilities, but the yields on interest-earning assets decreased to a greater extent than the cost of funding, particularly impacted by the cost of growing the certificate of deposit portfolio and maintaining those relationships in a highly competitive market. The interest rate spread was 1.64% and 1.63% for the three and six months ended March 31, 2020, respectively, compared to 1.78% for both the three and six months ended March 31, 2019. The net interest margin was 1.81% for the both the three and six months ended March 31, 2020 compared to 1.97% for both the three and six months ended March 31, 2019.

The provision for loan losses was $6.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 compared to a credit of $4.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The provision for loan losses was $3.0 million during the six months ended March 31, 2020 compared to a credit of $6.0 million during the six months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in the provision is mainly due to the COVID-19 outbreak that led to increased unemployment and deterioration in the overall macro-economic environment. The allowance for loan losses was $44.4 million, or 0.33% of total loans receivable, at March 31, 2020, compared to $37.3 million, or 0.28% of total loans receivable, at December 31, 2019 and $38.9 million, or 0.29% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2019. Of the total allowance for loan losses, $22.5 million was allocated to residential mortgage loans and $21.9 million was allocated to home equity loans and lines of credit at March 31, 2020 and $24.0 million was allocated to residential mortgage loans and $14.9 million was allocated to home equity loans and lines of credit at September 30, 2019. As a result of loan recoveries exceeding charge-offs, the Company reported net loan recoveries of $2.5 million for the six months ended March 31, 2020 and $3.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2019.

Total loan delinquencies decreased $1.9 million to $33.5 million, or 0.25% of total loans receivable, at March 31, 2020 from $35.4 million, or 0.27% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2019, and included a $0.9 million decrease in delinquencies on core residential mortgages, a $0.3 million decrease on home today residential mortgages and a $0.7 million decrease on home equity loans and lines of credit. Non-accrual loans decreased $13.5 million to $57.8 million, or 0.42% of total loans, at March 31, 2020 from $71.3 million, or 0.54% of total loans, at September 30, 2019.

Total troubled debt restructurings decreased $9.1 million, to $148.3 million at March 31, 2020, from $157.4 million at September 30, 2019. Short-term forbearance plans offered to borrowers affected by COVID-19, which are not classified as troubled debt restructurings, totaled $36.0 million at March 31, 2020 and totaled $215.5 million, or approximately 1.6% of total loans, at April 27, 2020. Forbearance plans allow borrowers experiencing temporary financial hardships to defer a limited number of payments to a later point in time and catch up missed payments through a variety of repayment options.

Non-interest income increased $4.0 million to $8.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 from $4.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The increase primarily related to a $2.6 million increase in the net gain on sale of loans and a $0.6 million increase in the proceeds and benefits of bank owned life insurance. Net gain on the sale of loans was $3.1 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2020 compared to $0.5 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Non-interest income increased $11.3 million to $20.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2020 from $9.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was a result of increased net gain on the sale of loans as well as a $4.3 million net gain on the sale of the remaining commercial property held by a partially owned subsidiary of the Company, representing the Company's share of the gain.

Total income tax expense decreased by $4.6 million, to $1.2 million, for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 from $5.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The decrease encompasses the impact of lower pre-tax income and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act, which permits a carry back of net tax operating losses to years taxed at higher rates, resulting in a current quarter tax benefit of $2.8 million.

Total assets increased by $460.0 million, or 3.16%, to $15.00 billion at March 31, 2020 from $14.54 billion at September 30, 2019. This change was mainly the result of growth in our loan portfolio during the current fiscal year and, to a lesser extent, increases in cash and cash equivalents, Federal Home Loan Bank stock and prepaid expenses and other assets.

The combination of cash and cash equivalents increased $37.4 million, or 13.59% to $312.5 million at March 31, 2020 from $275.1 million at September 30, 2019 to improve liquidity.

The combination of loans held for investment, net of allowance and deferred loan expenses, and mortgage loans held for sale increased $377.4 million to $13.58 billion at March 31, 2020 from $13.20 billion at September 30, 2019. The home equity loans and lines of credit portfolio increased $141.6 million during the six months ended March 31, 2020. The residential core mortgage loan portfolio, including loans held for sale, increased $251.8 million during the six months ended March 31, 2020 and included the opportunistic purchase of $230.3 million of fixed-rate residential mortgages, originated and serviced by the Association and sold in a prior year. Commitments originated for home equity loans and lines of credit were $733.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2020 and $718.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2019. Total first mortgage loan originations were $1.33 billion for the six months ended March 31, 2020, of which 45% were adjustable-rate mortgages and 9% were fixed-rate mortgages with terms of 10 years or less. Total first mortgage loan originations were $665.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2019, of which 48% were adjustable-rate mortgages and 6% were fixed-rate mortgages with terms of 10 years or less. During the six months ended March 31, 2020, $323.2 million of fixed-rate loans were sold resulting in a pre-tax gain of $6.1 million. During the six months ended March 31, 2019, $58.8 million of fixed-rate loans were sold resulting in a pre-tax gain of $0.6 million.

The amount of Federal Home Loan Bank stock owned increased $34.0 million to $135.9 million at March 31, 2020 from $101.9 million at September 30, 2019, as a result of stock ownership requirements of the FHLB.

Other assets increased $32.4 million to $120.4 million at March 31, 2020 from $88.0 million at September 30, 2019. The increase related primarily to the current year adoption of amended lease accounting guidance which, as of March 31, 2020, added a $17.8 million right-of-use asset, net of amortization, to the balance sheet and a $16.5 million increase in current and deferred tax assets.

Deposits increased $321.4 million, or 3.7%, to $9.09 billion at March 31, 2020 from $8.77 billion at September 30, 2019. The increase was the result of a $263.6 million increase in our certificates of deposit ("CDs"), $41.3 million of growth in our money market deposit accounts and a $37.1 million increase in our checking accounts, partially offset by a $20.4 million decrease in our savings accounts for the six months ended March 31, 2020. Total deposits include $474.4 million and $507.8 million of brokered CDs at March 31, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

Borrowed funds, all from the FHLB, increased $180.0 million, to $4.08 billion at March 31, 2020 from $3.90 billion at September 30, 2019. This increase reflects a combination of a net $250.0 million increase in 90 day advances that were utilized for longer term interest rate swap contracts, $250.0 million of new long-term advances, partially offset by $233.2 million in maturing long-term advances and an $86.8 million reduction in overnight and other short-term advances.

Total shareholders' equity decreased $41.6 million to $1.66 billion at March 31, 2020 from $1.70 billion at September 30, 2019. During the six months ended March 31, 2020, other comprehensive income decreased by $61.5 million, primarily due to the net impact of changes in unrealized gains and losses on our swap contracts and available for sale investment securities. Unrealized losses on interest rate swap contracts represent the majority of the change and occur when current market interest rates are lower than those in effect at contract origination. The combined effect of the decrease in other comprehensive income and quarterly dividends totaling $27.4 million was offset by $42.9 million of net income and $4.8 million of adjustments related to our stock compensation and employee stock ownership plans. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, a total of 1,000 shares of our common stock were repurchased at an average cost of $19.02 per share. During the six months ended March 31, 2020, a total of 313,900 shares were repurchased at an average cost of $16.91 per share.

The Company declared and paid a quarterly dividend of $0.27 during each of the fourth fiscal quarter of 2019 and the first fiscal quarter of 2020, and paid a quarterly dividend of $0.28 during the second fiscal quarter of 2020. As a result of a mutual member vote, Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland, MHC (the "MHC"), the mutual holding company that owns approximately 81% of the outstanding stock of the Company, was able to waive its receipt of its share of each dividend paid. Under current Federal Reserve regulations, the MHC is required to obtain the approval of its members every 12 months for the MHC to waive its right to receive dividends. As a result of a July 16, 2019 member vote and the subsequent non-objection of the Federal Reserve, the MHC has the approval to waive the receipt of up to $1.10 per share of possible dividends to be declared on the Company's common stock during the twelve months subsequent to the members' approval (i.e., through July 16, 2020), including a total of up to $0.28 during the quarter ending June 30, 2020. The MHC has conducted the member vote to approve the dividend waiver each of the past six years under Federal Reserve regulations and for each of those six years, approximately 97% of the votes cast were in favor of the waiver.

The Association operates under the capital requirements for the standardized approach of the Basel III capital framework for U.S. banking organizations ("Basel III Rules"). At March 31, 2020 all of the Association's capital ratios substantially exceed the amounts required for the Association to be considered "well capitalized" for regulatory capital purposes. The Association's Tier 1 leverage ratio was 10.11%, its Common Equity Tier 1 and Tier 1 ratios, as calculated under the fully phased-in Basel III Rules, were each 18.11% and its total capital ratio was 18.64%. Additionally, the Company's Tier 1 leverage ratio was 11.78%, its Common Equity Tier 1 and Tier 1 ratios were each 21.13% and its total capital ratio was 21.66%. The current capital ratios of the Association reflect the dilutive impact of $57.0 million of dividends that the Association paid to the Company, its sole shareholder, during the quarter ended December 31, 2019. Because of its intercompany nature, these dividends had no impact on the Company's capital ratios or its consolidated statement of condition.

Presentation slides as of March 31, 2020 will be available on the Company's website, www.thirdfederal.com, under the Investor Relations link within the "Recent Presentations" menu, beginning May 1, 2020. These slides provide additional information with respect to the Company's response to COVID-19. The Company will not be hosting a conference call to discuss its operating results.

Third Federal Savings and Loan Association is a leading provider of savings and mortgage products, and operates under the values of love, trust, respect, a commitment to excellence and fun. Founded in Cleveland in 1938 as a mutual association by Ben and Gerome Stefanski, Third Federal's mission is to help people achieve the dream of home ownership and financial security. It became part of a public company in 2007 and celebrated its 80^th anniversary in May, 2018. Third Federal, which lends in 25 states and the District of Columbia, is dedicated to serving consumers with competitive rates and outstanding service. Third Federal, an equal housing lender, has 21 full service branches in Northeast Ohio, seven lending offices in Central and Southern Ohio, and 16 full service branches throughout Florida. As of March 31, 2020, the Company's assets totaled $15.00 billion.

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