Provident Financial Services, Inc. Announces First Quarter Earnings and Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

ISELIN, N.J., April 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Provident Financial Services, Inc. PFS (the "Company") reported net income of $48.6 million, or $0.63 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to net income of $14.9 million, or $0.23 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Earnings for the quarter were aided by an improved economic outlook and resulting lower allowance for credit loss requirements, as well as additional earnings attributable to the July 31, 2020 acquisition of SB One Bancorp ("SB One"). For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded a negative provision for credit losses on loans of $15.0 million and a negative provision for off-balance sheet credit exposures of $875,000.

Christopher Martin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented: "Provident's first quarter reflects a solid start for 2021 as we continue to leverage the benefits of last year's acquisition of SB One. Consistent with the positive economic outlook, our asset quality continued to improve, resulting in a credit loss reserve release this quarter. Our attentive management of funding costs paid-off as our net interest margin increased six basis points in the quarter." Martin added, "We believe that with our talented team and their focus on delivering a superior customer experience, we are well positioned to capitalize on the growth opportunities emanating from the anticipated acceleration of the economic recovery."

Declaration of Quarterly Dividend

The Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.23 per common share payable on May 28, 2021, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 14, 2021.

Balance Sheet Summary

Total assets at March 31, 2021 were $13.13 billion, a $210.7 million increase from December 31, 2020. The increase in total assets was primarily due to a $155.2 million increase in cash and cash equivalents and a $97.9 million increase in total investments.

The loan portfolio decreased $19.4 million from December 31, 2020 to $9.80 billion at March 31, 2021, despite strong originations, as prepayments, including Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loan forgiveness, were elevated. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, loan originations, including advances on lines of credit, totaled $770.5 million, compared with $678.3 million for the same period in 2020. During the quarter ended March 31, 2021, the Company originated $190.1 million of loans under the current round of the PPP. Total PPP loans outstanding increased to $486.6 million at March 31, 2021, from $473.2 million at December 31, 2020. In addition to net growth in PPP loans, the Company saw net growth in commercial real estate and construction loans during the three months ended March 31, 2021, with all other loan categories decreasing. Commercial real estate, commercial and construction loans represented 83.3% of the loan portfolio at March 31, 2021, compared to 81.8% at December 31, 2020.

At March 31, 2021, the Company's unfunded loan commitments totaled $1.98 billion, including commitments of $891.6 million in commercial loans, $669.8 million in construction loans and $113.9 million in commercial mortgage loans. Unfunded loan commitments at December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020 were $1.99 billion and $1.23 billion, respectively.

The loan pipeline, consisting of work-in-process and loans approved pending closing, totaled $1.30 billion at March 31, 2021, compared to $1.23 billion and $1.33 billion at December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively.

Cash and cash equivalents were $687.6 million at March 31, 2021, a $155.2 million increase from December 31, 2020, due to net deposit inflows and loan repayments, largely attributable to government stimulus programs, proceeds from the forgiveness of PPP loans and a seasonal increase in municipal deposits.

Total investments were $1.71 billion at March 31, 2021, a $97.9 million increase from December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily due to purchases of mortgage-backed and municipal securities, partially offset by repayments of mortgage-backed securities, maturities and calls of certain municipal and agency bonds, and a decrease in unrealized gains on available for sale debt securities.

Total deposits increased $459.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $10.30 billion. Total core deposits, consisting of savings and demand deposit accounts, increased $590.9 million to $9.33 billion at March 31, 2021, while total time deposits decreased $131.2 million to $963.0 million at March 31, 2021. The increase in core deposits was largely attributable to a $266.5 million increase in interest bearing demand deposits, a $169.9 million increase in non-interest bearing demand deposits, a $100.2 million increase in money market deposits and a $54.2 million increase in savings deposits. Core deposit growth benefited from the deposit of PPP loan proceeds and government stimulus payments. The decrease in time deposits was largely the result of a $75.1 million decrease in brokered deposits and a $56.1 million decrease in retail time deposits. Core deposits represented 90.6% of total deposits at March 31, 2021, compared to 88.9% at December 31, 2020.

Borrowed funds decreased $235.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021, to $940.6 million. The decrease in borrowings for the period was primarily a function of wholesale funding being partially replaced by the net inflows of lower-costing deposits. Borrowed funds represented 7.2% of total assets at March 31, 2021, a decrease from 9.1% at December 31, 2020.

Stockholders' equity increased $27.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021, to $1.65 billion, primarily due to net income earned for the period, partially offset by dividends paid to stockholders, a decrease in unrealized gains on available for sale debt securities and common stock repurchases. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, common stock repurchases totaled 44,937 shares at an average cost of $21.42 per share, of which 42,224 shares, at an average cost of $21.67 per share, were made in connection with withholding to cover income taxes on the vesting of stock-based compensation. At March 31, 2021, approximately 4.1 million shares remained eligible for repurchase under the current stock repurchase authorization. Book value per share and tangible book value per share⁽¹⁾ at March 31, 2021 were $21.17 and $15.19, respectively, compared with $20.87 and $14.86, respectively, at December 31, 2020.

Results of Operations

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, net interest income increased $1.3 million to $90.0 million, from $88.7 million for the trailing quarter. The increase in net interest income was primarily attributable to growth in average earning assets and period-over-period expansion of the net interest margin aided by favorable liability repricing and the inflow of lower-costing core deposits, as well as an increase in the accelerated recognition of fees related to the forgiveness of customers' PPP loans in the current period.

The net interest margin increased six basis points to 3.10% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, from 3.04% for the trailing quarter, primarily due to an increase in the yield on interest earning assets, combined with a decrease in funding costs. The weighted average yield on interest-earning assets increased three basis points to 3.47% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 3.44% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. The weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 decreased four basis points to 0.49%, compared to 0.53% for the trailing quarter. The average cost of interest bearing deposits for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was 0.39%, compared to 0.41% for the trailing quarter ended December 31, 2020. The average cost of all deposits, including non-interest bearing deposits, was 0.30% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared with 0.31% for the trailing quarter. The average cost of borrowed funds for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was 1.12%, compared to 1.16% for the trailing quarter.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, net interest income increased $18.0 million to $90.0 million, from $72.0 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in net interest income was favorably impacted by the net earning assets acquired from SB One and the accelerated recognition of fees related to PPP loan forgiveness, partially offset by period-over-period compression in the net interest margin. The degree of net interest margin compression was tempered by growth in both average loans outstanding and lower-costing average interest-bearing and non-interest bearing core deposits.

The net interest margin decreased 10 basis points to 3.10% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 3.20% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The weighted average yield on interest-earning assets decreased 45 basis points to 3.47% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 3.92% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, while the weighted average cost of interest bearing liabilities decreased 46 basis points for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 to 0.49%, compared to the first quarter of 2020. The average cost of interest bearing deposits for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was 0.39%, compared to 0.78% for the same period last year. Average non-interest bearing demand deposits totaled $2.38 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to $1.50 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The average cost of all deposits, including non-interest bearing deposits, was 0.30% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared with 0.62% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The average cost of borrowed funds for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was 1.12%, compared to 1.80% for the same period last year.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income totaled $21.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, an increase of $4.6 million, compared to the same period in 2020. Insurance agency income, a new fee revenue source for the Company resulting from the SB One acquisition, totaled $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Income from Bank-owned life insurance ("BOLI") increased $1.8 million to $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to the same period in 2020, primarily due to an increase in benefit claims, increased equity valuations and additional income related to the BOLI assets acquired from SB One. Wealth management income increased $883,000 to $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase was largely a function of an increase in the market value of assets under management as a result of strong equity market performance and solid new business results, and an increase in the level of managed mutual funds. Also, fee income increased $663,000 to $7.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to the same period in 2020, largely due to an increase in ATM and debit card revenue, a portion of which is attributable to the addition of the SB One customer base, and increases in commercial loan prepayment fees and late charges, partially offset by a decrease in deposit-related fees. Other income decreased $1.6 million to $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2020, primarily due to a $1.8 million decrease in net fees on loan-level interest rate swap transactions, partially offset by a $455,000 increase in net gains on the sale of loans.

Non-Interest Expense

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, non-interest expense totaled $61.9 million, an increase of $7.7 million, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. Compensation and benefits expense increased $4.1 million to $35.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to $31.2 million for the same period in 2020. The increase was principally due to increases in salary expense, the accrual for incentive compensation and employee benefits each associated with the addition of former SB One employees, as well as company-wide annual merit increases, partially offset by a decrease in severance expense. Net occupancy expense increased $3.1 million primarily due to increases in rent, depreciation, utility and maintenance expenses related to the facilities acquired from SB One, along with an increase in snow removal costs. FDIC insurance increased $1.8 million due to an increase in the insurance assessment rate, an increase in total assets subject to assessment, including assets acquired from SB One, and the receipt of the small bank assessment credit in the prior year quarter that was not available in the current quarter. Other operating expenses increased $937,000 to $10.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to $9.2 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in other operating expense was largely due to a valuation adjustment on foreclosed assets and an increase in debit card maintenance expense, partially offset by non-recurring merger related expenses incurred in the prior year quarter. Also, the amortization of intangibles increased $228,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with the same period in 2020, mainly due to increases in the amortization of the customer relationship and core-deposit intangibles attributable to the acquisition of SB One. Partially offsetting these increases, credit loss expense for off-balance sheet credit exposures decreased $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to the same period in 2020. The decrease was primarily a function of an improved economic forecast resulting in a decline in projected loss factors, partially offset by an increase in the availability of committed lines of credit due to below average utilization.

The Company's annualized adjusted non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets⁽¹⁾ was 1.95% for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to 2.13% for the same period in 2020, with the 2021 improvement driven by the significant increase in average assets largely attributable to assets acquired from SB One and PPP loans. The efficiency ratio (adjusted non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income)⁽¹⁾ was 56.19% for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to 59.14% for the same period in 2020.

Asset Quality

Total non-performing loans at March 31, 2021 were $82.1 million, or 0.84% of total loans, compared to $87.1 million, or 0.89% of total loans at December 31, 2020, and $35.3 million, or 0.48% of total loans at March 31, 2020. The $5.0 million decrease in non-performing loans at March 31, 2021, compared to the trailing quarter, consisted of a $6.1 million decrease in non-performing commercial loans and a $1.5 million decrease in non-performing residential loans, partially offset by a $1.8 million increase in non-performing commercial mortgage loans and a $727,000 increase in non-performing consumer loans. At March 31, 2021, impaired loans totaled $79.5 million with related specific reserves of $4.8 million, compared with impaired loans totaling $86.0 million with related specific reserves of $9.0 million at December 31, 2020 and $65.7 million with related specific reserves of $5.7 million at March 31, 2020. The increase in non-performing loans at March 31, 2021, compared to the prior year reflects the effects of the pandemic and related government response.

Loans that have been or are expected to be granted short-term COVID-19 related deferrals have decreased from a peak level of $1.31 billion, or 16.8% of loans, to $132.0 million, or 1.3% of loans as of April 20, 2021. This $132.0 million of loans consists of $300,000 in a first 90-day deferral period, $46.6 million in a second 90-day deferral period, and $85.1 million in a third deferral period. Of the $123.5 million in commercial loans in deferral, $119.0 million (96.4%) are under principal only deferral and are paying interest. Included in the $132.0 million of total loans in deferral, $40.9 million are secured by hotels, $33.1 million are secured by multi-family properties (of which $20.1 million is student housing related), $8.6 million are secured by retail properties, $6.5 million are secured by restaurants, and $8.5 million are secured by residential mortgages, with the balance comprised of diverse commercial loans.

At March 31, 2021, the allowance for credit losses related to the loan portfolio was 0.87% of total loans, compared to 1.03% and 1.02% at December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively. Excluding PPP loans, the Company's allowance for credit losses related to the loan portfolio was 0.92% at March 31, 2021. The Company recorded a $15.0 million negative provision for credit losses related to loans for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with a $14.7 million provision for credit losses for the three months ended March 31, 2020. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company had net charge-offs of $876,000, compared to net charge-offs of $3.0 million for the same period in 2020. The allowance for loan losses decreased $15.9 million to $85.6 million at March 31, 2021 from $101.5 million at December 31, 2020. The negative provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2021 was primarily the result of an improved economic forecast and the resultant favorable impact on expected credit losses, compared with a provision for credit losses for the prior year, which was based upon a weak economic forecast and more uncertain outlook attributable to the pandemic. Future credit loss provisions are subject to significant uncertainty given the undetermined nature of prospective changes in economic conditions, as the impact of the pandemic and recovery continues to unfold. The effectiveness of medical advances, government programs, and the resulting impact on consumer behavior and employment conditions will have a material bearing on future credit conditions and reserve requirements.

At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company held foreclosed assets of $3.6 million and $4.5 million, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, there were two additions to foreclosed assets with an aggregate carrying value of $434,000, four assets sold with an aggregate carrying value of $580,000 and valuation charges of $775,000. Foreclosed assets at March 31, 2021 consisted of $2.6 million of commercial real estate, $434,000 of residential real estate and $530,000 of commercial vehicles. Total non-performing assets at March 31, 2021 decreased $5.9 million to $85.6 million, or 0.65% of total assets, from $91.6 million, or 0.71% of total assets at December 31, 2020.

Income Tax Expense

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, income tax expense was $16.2 million with an effective tax rate of 25.0%, compared with income tax expense of $5.3 million with an effective tax rate of 26.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase in tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared with the same period last year was largely the result of an increase in taxable income, while the decrease in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared with the same period in 2020 was primarily due to a discrete item related to the vesting of stock awards at a market value below the fair value used for expense recognition which resulted in a higher effective tax rate in the prior year, partially offset by increased projections of taxable income for the remainder of 2021.

About the Company

Provident Financial Services, Inc. is the holding company for Provident Bank, a community-oriented bank offering "commitment you can count on" since 1839. Provident Bank provides a comprehensive array of financial products and services through its network of branches throughout northern and central New Jersey, as well as Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania and Queens County, New York. The Bank also provides fiduciary and wealth management services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Beacon Trust Company and insurance services through its wholly owned subsidiary, SB One Insurance Agency, Inc.

Post Earnings Conference Call

Representatives of the Company will hold a conference call for investors on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Company's financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. The call may be accessed by dialing 1-888-336-7149 (Domestic), 1-412-902-4175 (International) or 1-855-669-9657 (Canada). Internet access to the call is also available (listen only) at provident.bank by going to Investor Relations and clicking on "Webcast.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods, or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "continue," or similar terms or variations on those terms, or the negative of those terms. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those set forth in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and those related to the economic environment, particularly in the market areas in which the Company operates, competitive products and pricing, fiscal and monetary policies of the U.S. Government, changes in accounting policies and practices that may be adopted by the regulatory agencies and the accounting standards setters, changes in government regulations affecting financial institutions, including regulatory fees and capital requirements, changes in prevailing interest rates, acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses, credit risk management, asset-liability management, the financial and securities markets and the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an adverse impact on the Company, its customers and the communities it serves. Given its ongoing and dynamic nature, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the pandemic on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations. The extent of such impact will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain, including when the pandemic will be controlled and abated, and the extent to which the economy can remain open. As the result of the pandemic and the related adverse local and national economic consequences, the Company could be subject to any of the following risks, any of which could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations: the demand for our products and services may decline, making it difficult to grow assets and income; if the economy is unable to remain substantially open, and high levels of unemployment continue for an extended period of time, loan delinquencies, problem assets, and foreclosures may increase, resulting in increased charges and reduced income; collateral for loans, especially real estate, may decline in value, which could cause loan losses to increase; our allowance for credit losses may increase if borrowers experience financial difficulties, which will adversely affect our net income; the net worth and liquidity of loan guarantors may decline, impairing their ability to honor commitments to us; as the result of the decline in the Federal Reserve Board's target federal funds rate to near 0%, the yield on our assets may decline to a greater extent than the decline in our cost of interest-bearing liabilities, reducing our net interest margin and spread and reducing net income; our wealth management revenues may decline with continuing market turmoil; we may face the risk of a goodwill write-down due to stock price decline; and our cyber security risks are increased as the result of an increase in the number of employees working remotely.

The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date made. The Company advises readers that the factors listed above could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements. The Company does not have any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement.

Footnotes

⁽¹⁾ Tangible book value per share, annualized return on average tangible equity, annualized adjusted non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets and the efficiency ratio are non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the Notes following the Consolidated Financial Highlights which contain the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures and the associated calculations.

SOURCE: Provident Financial Services, Inc.

CONTACT: Investor Relations, 1-732-590-9300

Web Site: http://www.Provident.Bank

Notes and Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Dollars in Thousands, except share data)

The Company has presented the following non-GAAP (U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures because it believes that these measures provide useful and comparative information to assess trends in the Company's results of operations and financial condition. Presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is consistent with how the Company evaluates its performance internally and these non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the Company's industry. Investors should recognize that the Company's presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures might not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and the Company strongly encourages a review of its condensed consolidated financial statements in their entirety.