Central Valley Community Bancorp Reports Earnings Results for the Year and Quarter Ended December 31, 2019, Quarterly Dividends, and a Share Repurchase Program

The Board of Directors of Central Valley Community Bancorp (Company) CVCY, the parent company of Central Valley Community Bank (Bank), reported today unaudited consolidated net income of $21,443,000, and fully diluted earnings per common share of $1.59 for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $21,289,000 and $1.54 per fully diluted common share for the year ended December 31, 2018.

FOURTH QUARTER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Net loans increased $24.7 million or 2.71%, and total assets increased $58.9 million or 3.83% at December 31, 2019 compared to December 31, 2018.
• Total deposits increased 3.98% to $1.33 billion at December 31, 2019 compared to December 31, 2018.
• Total cost of deposits remains at low levels at 0.15% and 0.10% for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
• Average non-interest bearing demand deposit accounts as a percentage of total average deposits was 44.20% and 43.06% for the quarters ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
• Capital positions remain strong at December 31, 2019 with a 11.38% Tier 1 Leverage Ratio; a 14.55% Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio; a 14.98% Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio; and a 15.79% Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio.
• The Company declared a $0.11 per common share cash dividend, payable on February 21, 2020 to shareholders of record on February 7, 2020.
• During the quarter ended December 31, 2019, the Company repurchased and retired a total of 259,771 shares of common stock at an average price paid per share of $20.83. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company has repurchased and retired a total of 768,754 shares at an average price paid per share of $20.29.
• On January 15, 2020, the Company's board of directors authorized a new one-year $10 million share repurchase program, as the previous repurchase program was fully executed.

"We are pleased with the positive results of our Company, the achievements of our team, and we are grateful for the 40 years of confidence that our loyal clients have placed in us," stated James M. Ford, President & CEO of Central Valley Community Bank and Central Valley Community Bancorp. "Measured growth in loans and deposits, with a focus on shareholder return has led to the positive results for 2019. Regardless of the external interest rate environment, our historic brand of relationship banking will continue to be a contributor to the success of our clients and the communities we serve."

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased 0.72%, primarily driven by an increase in net interest income, and an increase in net realized gains on sales and calls of investment securities, partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense, an increase in the provision for credit losses, and an increase in the provision for income taxes, compared to the year ended December 31, 2018. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded a $1,025,000 provision for credit losses, compared to a $50,000 provision during the year ended December 31, 2018. Net interest income before the provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $63,772,000, compared to $62,703,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $1,069,000 or 1.70%. The impact to interest income from the accretion of the loan marks on acquired loans was $989,000 and $1,158,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In addition, net interest income before the provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2019 was benefited by approximately $779,000 in nonrecurring income from prepayment penalties and payoff of loans previously on nonaccrual status, as compared to a $498,000 in nonrecurring income for the year ended December 31, 2018. Excluding these reversals and benefits, net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased by $788,000 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company's shareholders' equity increased $8,390,000, or 3.82%, compared to December 31, 2018. The increase in shareholders' equity was driven by the retention of earnings, net of dividends paid, and an increase in net unrealized gains on available-for-sale (AFS) securities recorded, net of estimated taxes, in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI).

Return on average equity (ROE) for the year ended December 31, 2019 was 9.39%, compared to 10.07% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease in ROE was primarily due to the increase in shareholders' equity compared to the prior year period. The Company declared and paid $0.43 and $0.31 per share in cash dividends to holders of common stock during the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Annualized return on average assets (ROA) was 1.36% for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 1.35% for the year ended December 31, 2018. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company's total assets increased 3.83%, and total liabilities increased 3.83%, compared to December 31, 2018.

Non-performing assets decreased by $1,047,000, or 38.21%, to $1,693,000 at December 31, 2019, compared to $2,740,000 at December 31, 2018. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $999,000 in net loan charge-offs, compared to $276,000 in net recoveries for the year ended December 31, 2018. The net charge-off (recovery) ratio, which reflects annualized net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans, was 0.11% for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to (0.03)% for the same period in 2018. Total non-performing assets were 0.11% and 0.18% of total assets as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

At December 31, 2019, the allowance for credit losses was $9,130,000, compared to $9,104,000 at December 31, 2018, a net increase of $26,000 reflecting the net charge-offs and provision during the period. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans was 0.97% and 0.99% as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Total loans includes loans acquired in the acquisitions of Folsom Lake Bank on October 1, 2017, Sierra Vista Bank on October 1, 2016 and Visalia Community Bank on July 1, 2013 that, at their respective acquisition dates, were recorded at fair value and did not have a related allowance for credit losses. The recorded value of acquired loans totaled $152,735,000 at December 31, 2019 and $189,719,000 at December 31, 2018. Excluding these acquired loans from the calculation, the allowance for credit losses to total gross loans was 1.15% and 1.25% as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, and general reserves associated with non-impaired loans to total non-impaired loans was 1.16% and 1.25%, respectively. The Company believes the allowance for credit losses is adequate to provide for probable incurred credit losses within the loan portfolio at December 31, 2019.

The Company's net interest margin (fully tax equivalent basis) was 4.51% for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to 4.44% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in net interest margin in the period-to-period comparison resulted from the increase in the effective yield on interest earning deposits in other banks and Federal Funds sold, the increase in the effective yield on average investment securities, and the increase in the yield on the Company's loan portfolio.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the effective yield on average total earning assets increased 15 basis points to 4.69% compared to 4.54% for the year ended December 31, 2018, while the cost of average total interest-bearing liabilities increased to 0.34% for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to 0.19% for the year ended December 31, 2018. Over the same periods, the cost of average total deposits increased to 0.15% for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to 0.09% for the same period in 2018.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company's average investment securities, including interest-earning deposits in other banks and Federal funds sold, totaled $494,455,000, a decrease of $32,151,000, or 6.11%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2018. The effective yield on average investment securities, including interest-earning deposits in other banks and Federal funds sold, increased to 3.08% for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to 2.88% for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Total average loans (including nonaccrual), which generally yield higher rates than investment securities, increased $18,755,000, from $912,128,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018 to $930,883,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The effective yield on average loans increased to 5.54% for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to 5.50% for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Total average assets for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $1,574,089,000 compared to $1,577,410,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, a decrease of $3,321,000 or 0.21%. During the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the loan-to-deposit ratio was 70.76% and 71.64%, respectively. Total average deposits decreased $37,974,000 or 2.85% to $1,295,780,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $1,333,754,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018. Average interest-bearing deposits decreased $42,017,000, or 5.38%, and average non-interest bearing demand deposits increased $4,043,000, or 0.73%, for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to the year ended December 31, 2018. The Company's ratio of average non-interest bearing deposits to total deposits was 43.01% for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to 41.48% for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Non-interest income for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased by $2,981,000 to $13,305,000, compared to $10,324,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily driven by an increase of $3,885,000 in net realized gains on sales and calls of investment securities, and an increase in loan placement fees of $270,000, partially offset by decrease in gain on sale of credit card portfolio of $462,000, a decrease in service charge income of $230,000, and a decrease of $364,000 in other income.

Non-interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased $1,032,000, or 2.29%, to $46,100,000 compared to $45,068,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The net increase year over year resulted from increases in information technology of $1,498,000, salaries and employee benefits of $433,000, amortization of core deposit intangible of $240,000, directors' expenses of $245,000, and telephone expenses of $125,000, offset by decreases in occupancy and equipment expenses of $533,000, regulatory assessments of $368,000, acquisition and integration expenses of $217,000, professional services of $170,000, and operating losses of $350,000 in 2019 compared to 2018. The increase in the information technology expenses was a result of the Company outsourcing its network maintenance and IT support during the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase in the salaries and employee benefits as well as the directors' expenses was primarily related to the change in the interest and discount rate used to calculate the liability for salary continuation, deferred compensation and split dollar plans which amounted to $1,720,000. There was a decrease in salaries and benefits excluding the salary continuation interest of $1,044,000. The decrease in regulatory assessments was the result of the Company receiving a portion of its small-bank assessment credit. The FDIC automatically applies small-bank assessment credits to offset regular deposit insurance assessments for assessment periods where the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) reserve ratio is at or above 1.38 percent.

The Company recorded an income tax provision of $8,509,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $6,620,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2019 was 28.41% compared to 23.72% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in the effective rate was a result of a decrease in tax-exempt interest.

Quarter Ended December 31, 2019

For the quarter ended December 31, 2019, the Company reported unaudited consolidated net income of $4,448,000 and earnings per diluted common share of $0.34, compared to consolidated net income of $5,281,000 and $0.38 per diluted share for the same period in 2018. The decrease in net income during the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 was primarily due to an increase in provision for credit losses of $500,000, a decrease in net interest income of $186,000, a decrease in non-interest income of $395,000, and an increase in the provision for income taxes of $32,000, partially offset by a decrease in total non-interest expenses of $280,000. The effective tax rate increased to 27.86% from 24.20% for the quarters ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Net income for the immediately trailing quarter ended September 30, 2019 was $5,691,000, or $0.42 per diluted common share.

Annualized return on average equity (ROE) for the fourth quarter of 2019 was 7.71%, compared to 9.82% for the same period of 2018. The decrease in ROE reflects a decrease in net income, coupled with an increase in shareholders' equity. Annualized return on average assets (ROA) was 1.12% for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to 1.37% for the same period in 2018. This decrease is due to a decrease in net income and an increase in average assets.

In comparing the fourth quarter of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2018, average total loans increased by $16,327,000, or 1.79%. During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company recorded net loan charge-offs of $865,000 compared to $79,000 net loan recoveries for the same period in 2018. The net charge-off (recovery) ratio, which reflects annualized net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans, was 0.37% for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 compared to (0.03)% for the quarter ended December 31, 2018.

Average total deposits for the fourth quarter of 2019 increased $15,532,000 or 1.19% to $1,315,328,000 compared to $1,299,796,000 for the same period of 2018. In comparing the fourth quarter of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2018, average borrowed funds decreased $697,000 or 11.28% to $5,482,000 compared to $6,179,000.

The Company's net interest margin (fully tax equivalent basis) was 4.40% for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to 4.55% for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. Net interest income, before provision for credit losses, decreased $186,000, or 1.16%, to $15,787,000 for the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $15,973,000 for the same period in 2018. The accretion of the loan marks on acquired loans increased interest income by $239,000 and $252,000 during the quarters ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Net interest income during the fourth quarters of 2019 and 2018 benefited by approximately $186,000 and $142,000, respectively, from prepayment penalties and payoff of loans previously on nonaccrual status. The net interest margin period-to-period comparisons were impacted by the increase in the yield on total interest-bearing liabilities, as well as the decrease in the yield on the average investment securities and decrease in the yield on the loan portfolio. Over the same periods, the cost of total deposits increased to 0.15% from 0.10%.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2019, the Company's average investment securities, including interest-earning deposits in other banks and Federal funds sold, increased by $5,340,000, or 1.08%, compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2018, and increased by $13,217,000, or 2.72%, compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

The effective yield on average investment securities, including interest earning deposits in other banks and Federal funds sold, was 2.93% for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to 3.07% for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 and 3.07% for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. Total average loans, which generally yield higher rates than investment securities, increased by $16,327,000 to $929,243,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, from $912,916,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 and decreased by $19,430,000 from $948,673,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. The effective yield on average loans was 5.44% for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to 5.54% and 5.55% for the quarters ended December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

Total average assets for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 were $1,582,529,000 compared to $1,541,936,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 and $1,588,367,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, an increase of $40,593,000 or 2.63% and a decrease of $5,838,000 or 0.37%, respectively.

Total average deposits increased $15,532,000, or 1.19%, to $1,315,328,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to $1,299,796,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. Total average deposits increased $12,065,000, or 0.93%, for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to $1,303,263,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. The Company's ratio of average non-interest bearing deposits to total deposits was 44.20% for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to 43.06% and 43.24% for the quarters ended December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

Non-interest income decreased $395,000, or 16.43%, to $2,009,000 for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $2,404,000 for the same period in 2018. For the quarter ended December 31, 2019, non-interest income included $3,000 net realized gains on sales and calls of investment securities compared to net realized gains of $37,000 for the same period in 2018, a $34,000 decrease. During the fourth quarter of 2019 loan placement fees increased $169,000, offset by a decrease in other income of $319,000, and a decrease in service charge income of $85,000, compared to the same period in 2018. Non-interest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 decreased by $1,713,000 to $2,009,000, compared to $3,722,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. The decrease compared to the trailing quarter was primarily a result of a $1,682,000 decrease in net realized gains on sales and calls of investment securities and a $51,000 decrease in other income, offset by a $9,000 increase in service charges.

Non-interest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 decreased $280,000, or 2.45%, to $11,130,000 compared to $11,410,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. The net decrease quarter over quarter was a result of a decrease in operating losses of $239,000, a decrease in occupancy and equipment expenses of $178,000, a decrease of $109,000 in regulatory assessments, a decrease in salaries and employee benefits of $64,000, a decrease in professional services of $37,000, partially offset by an increase of $123,000 in information technology expenses, an increase of $103,000 in ATM/debit card expenses, an increase of $74,000 in directors' expenses, and an increase of $18,000 in Internet banking expenses. The net decrease in salaries and employee benefits was representative of a decrease in the amount of $502,000 in salaries and benefits offset by an increase of $438,000 in the interest on salary continuation plans.

Non-interest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 decreased by $404,000 compared to $11,534,000 for the trailing quarter ended September 30, 2019. The decrease compared to the trailing quarter was primarily due to a decrease in salaries and employee benefits of $210,000, a decrease in occupancy and equipment expense of $126,000, and a non-recurring $121,000 decrease in telephone expenses, partially offset by an increase in regulatory assessments of $103,000, and a $11,000 increase in other non-interest expenses. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits of $210,000 was the result of decreased salaries, benefits, and interest on deferred compensation plans as a result of the change in the discount rate used to calculate the liability.

The Company recorded an income tax provision of $1,718,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to $1,686,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, and $2,452,000 for the trailing quarter ended September 30, 2019. The effective tax rate for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 was 27.86% compared to 24.20% for the same period in 2018. The increase in the effective tax rate was the result of a decrease in tax exempt interest.

Quarterly Dividend Announcement

On January 22, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend is payable on February 21, 2020 to shareholders of record as of February 7, 2020.

Stock Repurchase Program

On January 15, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the adoption of a program to effect repurchases of the Company's common stock. Under the program, the Company may repurchase up to $10 million of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock, which represents approximately 4% of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock, or approximately 487,805 shares based on the closing stock price of the Company's common stock on January 15, 2020 of $20.50. The share repurchase program began on January 16, 2020 and will end on January 15, 2021. The shares will be repurchased in open market transactions through brokers, subject to availability.

Central Valley Community Bancorp trades on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol CVCY. Central Valley Community Bank, headquartered in Fresno, California, was founded in 1979 and is the sole subsidiary of Central Valley Community Bancorp. Central Valley Community Bank operates 20 full-service offices throughout California's San Joaquin Valley and Greater Sacramento Region. Additionally, the Bank maintains Commercial Real Estate, Agribusiness and SBA Lending Departments. Central Valley Investment Services are provided by Raymond James Financial, Inc.

Members of Central Valley Community Bancorp's and the Bank's Board of Directors are: Daniel J. Doyle (Chairman), Daniel N. Cunningham (Vice Chairman), Edwin S. Darden, Jr., F. T. "Tommy" Elliott, IV, James M. Ford, Robert J. Flautt, Gary D. Gall, Steven D. McDonald, Louis C. McMurray, Karen Musson, Dorothea D. Silva, and William S. Smittcamp. Sidney B. Cox is Director Emeritus.

More information about Central Valley Community Bancorp and Central Valley Community Bank can be found at www.cvcb.com. Also, visit Central Valley Community Bank on Twitter and Facebook.

Forward-looking Statements- Certain matters discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained herein that are not historical facts, such as statements regarding the Company's current business strategy and the Company's plans for future development and operations, are based upon current expectations. These statements are forward-looking in nature and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to (1) significant increases in competitive pressure in the banking industry; (2) the impact of changes in interest rates; (3) a decline in economic conditions at the international, national or local level on the Company's results of operations; (4) the Company's ability to continue its internal growth at historical rates; (5) the Company's ability to maintain its net interest margin; (6) the quality of the Company's earning assets; (7) changes in the regulatory environment; (8) fluctuations in the real estate market; (9) changes in business conditions and inflation; (10) changes in securities markets; and (11) the other risks set forth in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. Therefore, the information set forth in such forward-looking statements should be carefully considered when evaluating the business prospects of the Company.

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