MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash., April 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FS Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSBW)  (the “Company”), the holding company for 1st Security Bank of Washington (the “Bank”) today reported 2020 first quarter net income of $5.2 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, compared to $5.2 million, or $1.15 per diluted share for the same period last year.
“1st Security Bank has been focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the communities we serve and I am proud of the work accomplished to support businesses, employees, and those in our communities during these unprecedented times,” stated CEO Joe Adams. “We also remain focused on prudent capital management and are pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has approved our twenty-ninth consecutive quarterly cash dividend. The quarterly dividend of $0.21 will be paid on May 21, 2020, to shareholders of record as of May 7, 2020.”Response to the COVID-19 pandemic: The Company is following the Federal Housing Finance Agency guidelines for forbearance, foreclosure relief, and late payment reporting for the COVID-19 pandemic on all serviced loans and a modified format for portfolio loans.  As of April 21, 2020, the amount of one-to-four-family loans in our portfolio that we have entered into forbearance agreements with the borrower is $10.8 million, and the amount of consumer loans that we have entered into a skip pay/interest deferral agreements with the borrower is $5.4 million.The Company participated in the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and has secured 285 approvals and 280 fundings as of April 21, 2020 for borrowers in the communities we serve.  The Company has funded over $62.0 million in PPP loans to date.All of our branches are open via drive thru and by appointment; and to enhance health and safety measures, approximately 70% of our staff have been approved to work remotely, where feasible.2020 First Quarter HighlightsNet income was $5.2 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared to $5.9 million in the previous quarter, and $5.2 million for the comparable quarter one year ago. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the economy, the provision for loan loss was significantly increased to $3.7 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared to $647,000 in the previous quarter, and $750,000 for the comparable quarter one year ago;Total gross loans increased $60.0 million during the quarter to $1.41 billion at March 31, 2020, compared to $1.35 billion at December 31, 2019, and $1.30 billion at March 31, 2019.  None of the loan growth funded in the first quarter of 2020 were for loans to facilitate COVID-19 relief;Total deposits increased $53.9 million during the quarter, including an increase of $42.9 million in relationship-based transactional deposits (noninterest-bearing checking, interest-bearing checking, and escrow accounts) in line with management’s focus on deposit mix;During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the Company recognized a one-time $1.5 million net gain on the sale of all shares of its Class B Visa stock;The Company repurchased 136,243 shares of its common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2020, at an average price per share of $39.30;The Bank was eligible, and elected to opt-in to the new Community Bank Leverage Ratio (“CBLR”) framework for the first quarter of 2020.  At March 31, 2020, the Bank’s Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 11.3%.Asset SummaryTotal assets increased $134.1 million, or 7.8%, to $1.85 billion at March 31, 2020, compared to $1.71 billion at December 31, 2019, and increased $221.1 million, or 13.6%, from $1.63 billion at March 31, 2019.  The quarter over linked quarter increase in total assets was primarily due to increases in loans receivable, net of $56.7 million, loans held for sale (“HFS”) of $45.9 million, securities available-for-sale of $30.4 million and total cash and cash equivalents of $3.1 million, partially offset by decreases in certificates of deposit (“CDs”) at other financial institutions of $3.0 million, other assets of $1.0 million, and servicing rights of $934,000. The year over year increase was primarily due to increases in loans receivable, net of $109.1 million, loans HFS of $70.0 million, securities available-for-sale of $56.7 million, and Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock of $2.8 million, partially offset by decreases in total cash and cash equivalents of $14.2 million and CDs at other financial institutions of $4.1 million. Loans receivable, net increased $56.7 million to $1.39 billion at March 31, 2020, from $1.34 billion at December 31, 2019, and increased $109.1 million from $1.28 billion at March 31, 2019.  The quarter over linked quarter increase in total real estate loans was $38.6 million, including increases in one-to-four-family portfolio loans of $43.9 million and commercial real estate loans of $9.8 million, partially offset by decreases in construction and development loans of $11.0 million and multi-family loans of $3.4 million.  Consumer loans increased $8.9 million, primarily due to an increase of $6.9 million in indirect home improvement loans. Commercial business loans increased $12.5 million, due to increases in commercial and industrial loans of $8.6 million and warehouse lending of $3.9 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, were $285.6 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $33.0 million, or 13.1%, compared to $252.6 million for the preceding quarter, and an increase of $141.9 million, or 98.8% from $143.7 million, for the comparable quarter one year ago. During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the Company sold $212.4 million of one-to-four-family loans, compared to sales of $233.8 million during the previous quarter, and sales of $130.9 million during the same quarter one year ago. Refinance activity has increased significantly over the last year in response to decreases in market interest rates.Originations of one-to-four-family loans to purchase and to refinance a home for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:Liabilities and Equity SummaryTotal deposits increased $53.9 million to $1.45 billion at March 31, 2020, compared to $1.39 billion at December 31, 2019, and increased $124.7 million from $1.32 billion at March 31, 2019.  Relationship-based transactional deposits increased $42.9 million from December 31, 2019, primarily due to a $31.0 million increase in interest-bearing checking accounts, a $7.8 million increase in noninterest-bearing checking accounts, and a $4.1 million increase in escrow deposits. The $67.5 million increase from March 31, 2019 was primarily due to a $39.9 million increase in noninterest-bearing checking accounts and a $27.6 million increase in interest-bearing checking accounts.  Money market and savings accounts increased $37.1 million from December 31, 2019, and increased $32.8 million from March 31, 2019.  Time deposits decreased $26.2 million from December 31, 2019, and increased $24.4 million from March 31, 2019. At March 31, 2020, non-retail CDs, which include brokered CDs, online CDs, and public funds decreased $17.4 million to $128.8 million, compared to $146.2 million at December 31, 2019, mainly due to an $18.0 million decrease in brokered CDs. The year over year decrease in non-retail CDs of $2.1 million from $130.9 million at March 31, 2019, was the result of a $6.3 million decrease in brokered CDs, primarily offset by increases of $3.4 million in online CDs and $1.0 million in public funds.  Management remains focused on increasing our lower cost relationship-based deposits to fund long-term asset growth.At March 31, 2020, borrowings increased $74.3 million, or 87.5%, to $159.1 million, from $84.9 million at December 31, 2019, and increased $72.3 million, or 83.3% from $86.8 million at March 31, 2019.  The linked quarter and year to date increases in borrowings were primarily related to the use of FHLB advances to supplement deposits to fund higher yielding interest-earning assets.Management entered into two liability interest rate swap arrangements in the first quarter of 2020 to lock the expense costs associated with $30 million in deposits and $30 million in borrowings.  The average cost of these $60 million in notional pay fixed for four years interest rate swap agreements is 91 basis points for which the Bank will pay a fixed rate of 91 basis points to the interest rate swap counterparty, compared to the quarterly reset of three month LIBOR that will adjust quarterly.  Management will continue to implement processes to match balance sheet funding duration and minimize interest rate risk and costs.Total stockholders’ equity increased $587,000, to $200.8 million at March 31, 2020, from $200.2 million at December 31, 2019, and increased $14.9 million, from $186.0 million at March 31, 2019.  The increase in stockholders’ equity during the current quarter was primarily due to net income of $5.2 million and $1.0 million of other comprehensive income, net of tax, partially offset by the common stock repurchase of $5.4 million. The Company repurchased 136,243 shares of its common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2020, at an average price of $39.30 per share.  Book value per common share was $47.29 at March 31, 2020, compared to $45.85 at December 31, 2019, and $42.48 at March 31, 2019.The Bank is well capitalized under the minimum capital requirements established by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) at March 31, 2020 with a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 11.3%, compared to the required CBLR of greater than 9.0% and approved CBLR of 8.0% during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Company’s Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 11.1% at March 31, 2020.Credit QualityThe allowance for loan losses (“ALLL”) at March 31, 2020, increased to $16.9 million, or 1.20% of gross loans receivable, excluding loans HFS, compared to $13.2 million, or 0.98% of gross loans receivable, excluding loans HFS at December 31, 2019, and $11.8 million, or 0.91% of gross loans receivable, excluding loans HFS, at March 31, 2019.  Non-performing loans increased to $3.2 million at March 31, 2020, from $3.0 million at both December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019.  Substandard loans increased $977,000 to $7.6 million at March 31, 2020, compared to $6.7 million at December 31, 2019, and increased $508,000 from $7.1 million at March 31, 2019.  The quarter over linked quarter increase in substandard loans was mostly driven by the down grade of a commercial real estate loan in the amount of $934,000 which was unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic. The year over year increase in substandard loans was primarily due to the addition of two commercial real estate loans; the one mentioned above and another in the amount of $1.1 million during the fourth quarter 2019, partially offset by the payoff of a one-to-four-family loan in the amount of $834,000 and the charge-off of a commercial business relationship totaling $431,000 in the second quarter of 2019.  There was one other real estate owned (“OREO”) property totaling $90,000 at March 31, 2020, compared to two OREO properties totaling $168,000 and $167,000 at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2019, respectively.Included in the carrying value of gross loans are net discounts on loans purchased in the Anchor Bancorp Acquisition in November 2018 (“Anchor Acquisition”). The remaining net discount on loans acquired in the Anchor Acquisition was $2.3 million, $2.7 million, and $4.5 million, on $178.2 million, $198.5 million, and $313.7 million of gross loans at March 31, 2020, December 31, 2019, and March 31, 2019, respectively.Management has initially identified $84.4 million of loans that are in industries potentially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and has downgraded the risk classification of these loans as follows: $76.3 million to Watch, $6.8 million to Special Mention, and $1.3 million to Substandard.  These downgrades occurred in the month of March 2020.Loans downgraded as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are as follows:Management recognizes the potential impact on all of our customers and will continue to prudently reserve for probable losses, including reserves against our homogenous residential and consumer portfolios. The Company is offering payment and financial relief programs for borrowers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  As of April 21, 2020, approximately 240 requests for some type of payment relief on portfolio loans (commercial, residential, and consumer) totaled $71.3 million in outstanding principal balances.  This is in addition to the 285 PPP loans approved as of April 21, 2020.  The primary method of relief is to allow the borrower up to 90-day loan payment deferments, and, on a more limited basis waived interest, late fees or interest only loan payments and suspended foreclosure proceedings.Operating ResultsNet interest income decreased $216,000, to $17.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, from $17.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.  This decrease was primarily the result of a $369,000 decrease in loans receivable interest income, impacted by the reduction of higher interest rate and recognition of deferred fee income loans, particularly construction and development loans, and the impact of refinances of one-to-four-family loans, partially offset by a $247,000 decrease in borrowing interest expense, primarily due to the reduction of interest rates for the use of FHLB advances and FHLB federal funds.   The net interest margin (“NIM”) decreased 40 basis points to 4.30% for the three months ended March 31, 2020, from 4.70% for the same period in the prior year.  The decrease in NIM was impacted by lower note rates on recent fixed-rate real estate loan originations and adjustable-rate commercial loans.  The average cost of funds, including noninterest-bearing checking, decreased 14 basis points to 1.19% for the three months ended March 31, 2020, from 1.33% for the three months ended March 31, 2019.  This decrease was predominantly due to repricing CD deposits and lowered borrowing rates. Management remains focused on matching deposit/liability duration with the duration of loans/assets where appropriate.For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the provision for loan losses was $3.7 million, compared to $750,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019, due primarily to the incurred but not yet reported credit deterioration due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in the loan portfolio due to organic loan growth and net charge-offs.  During the three months ended March 31, 2020, net charge-offs totaled $43,000, compared to net charge-offs of $1.3 million for the same period last year, primarily due to a commercial business loan charge-off of $1.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019.Noninterest income increased $4.3 million, to $8.9 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2020, from $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.  The increase during the period primarily reflects a $3.5 million increase in gain on sale of loans, primarily due to higher sales volume reflecting increased loan originations, and a $1.6 million increase in other noninterest income, primarily from the net gain on the one-time sale of Class B Visa stock shares of $1.5 million. Noninterest expense increased $1.4 million, to $16.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, from $14.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.  The increase in noninterest expense was primarily as a result of strong loan production growth this quarter with increases of $1.3 million in salaries and benefits, including an increase of $1.6 million in incentives and commissions.  Other increases included $491,000 in impairment of servicing rights and $359,000 in operating expense from lending growth, partially offset by no acquisition costs this quarter compared to $374,000 in acquisition costs in the prior year, and a decrease of $306,000 in data processing, primarily due to the reduction of Anchor Bank core conversion costs completed last June, and a decrease in FDIC insurance of $122,000, primarily as a result of  the FDIC’s small bank credit of $26,000 in the first quarter of 2020, and a decrease in the year over year quarterly assessment rate.About FS BancorpFS 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, one headquarter 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
Bay Street News