Bancorp of New Jersey Reports 2018 Third Quarter Financial Results

FORT LEE, N.J., Nov. 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bancorp of New Jersey, Inc. (NYSE American:  BKJ) (the “Company”), holding company for Bank of New Jersey (the “Bank”), today reported financial results for its third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Net income for the third quarter of 2018 was $1.76 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.35 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2017. For the year to date period, net income increased by $594,000, or 16.0% over the prior year, to $4.29 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, compared to earnings of $3.7 million, or $0.57 per diluted share for the first nine months of 2017.

2018 Highlights

• Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $20.1 million, an increase of $1.6 million or 8.72% compared to $18.5 million for the same period of 2017.  Net interest margin increased to 3.12% from 3.08%, aided by the recognition of interest income on non-performing loans which were resolved during the third quarter.
• Total loans were $744.1 million at September 30, 2018, up $22.9 million, or 3.2% from the December 31, 2017 balance of $721.2 million. Commercial real estate loans increased $42.1 million, offsetting decreased balances in home equity loans, residential mortgages and non-performing loans.
• Noninterest-bearing demand deposits at September 30, 2018 were $139.4 million, up $5.7 million from $133.7 million at December 31, 2017. Noninterest-bearing demand deposits represented 18.0% of total deposits as of September 30, 2018, compared to 17.0% as of December 31, 2017.
• Non-accrual loans decreased by $7.8 million, or 42.2%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Nancy E. Graves, Bancorp of New Jersey’s President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are very pleased with our results for the first nine months of 2018.  We have achieved solid growth while improving our key metrics.  Net interest income for the year is $20.1 million reflecting the expansion of our loan portfolio and our ongoing efforts to navigate the very competitive deposit market.”

“Our core system conversion is nearly complete and offers leading edge cash management and online banking technology to our customers. The enhancements to the core system will provide a complete consumer and business suite of products to support our core customer growth which has exceeded 1,400 new accounts this year.  Our proactive calling initiatives and community involvement solidify our reputation as a strong, growing community bank.”

CEO Graves continued, “Management made significant progress in the resolution of non-performing loans with a decrease of $4.1 million of non-accrual loans in the third quarter, for a total decrease of $7.8 million year to date through September 30, 2018. The Bank recognized approximately $420,000 in interest income on non-accrual loans which were resolved in the third quarter.”

The following tables show information regarding our loan and deposit portfolios (in thousands):

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Financial Review

Net Income
Net income for the third quarter of 2018 was $1.76 million compared to net income of $1.35 million for the third quarter of 2017.  Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $4.29 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, compared to $3.7 million, or $0.57 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The increase in net income for the three and nine months ended September 31, 2018 was driven by an increase in net interest income and a decrease in tax expense related to a lower federal corporate tax rate in 2018 provided by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) signed in to law on December 22, 2017. For the three and nine months ended September 31, 2018, there was an increase in the provision for loans losses and total non-interest expenses.

Net Interest Income
For the three-month period ended September 30, 2018, net interest income increased by $682,000 or 10.9% versus the same period last year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, net interest income increased by $1.6 million or 8.72% versus the same period last year. 

Total interest income increased by $1.1 million, or 13.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the corresponding period last year. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, interest income increased by $2.6 million, or 10.6% versus the same period last year.  This increase in interest income was primarily due to loan growth and the recognition of interest income of approximately $420,000 on non-accrual loans which were resolved during the third quarter.

Total interest expense increased by $444,000 in the third quarter of 2018 to $2.4 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, interest expense increased by $937,000 or 16.6% versus the same period last year. The increase in interest expense was due to higher interest rates on deposits as market rates continue to increase in our market area and the cost associated with the planned increase in borrowings during 2018. We continue to face significant competition for deposits.

Provision for Loan Losses
The Company recognized a provision for loan losses of $280,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and $930,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to no provision in the three or nine months ended September 30, 2017. The increased provision reflects the continued growth in our loan portfolio and the charge offs in the current year related to resolving non-performing loans. The allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.10% as of September 30, 2018.

Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense was $4.4 million during the third quarter of 2018, an increase of $188,000 or 4.4% from the third quarter of 2017. Non-interest expense was $13.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, an increase of $795,000 or 6.1% for the same period in 2017.  The increase was primarily in occupancy and equipment expense, salaries and employee benefits and legal fees, offset by decreases in professional fees, data processing and FDIC premiums.  

Income Tax Expense
The income tax provision decreased $194,000 to $589,000 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2018 from $784,000 thousand for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, income tax expense decreased by $726,000 to $1.4 million from $2.1 million in the corresponding period of 2017. The decrease in income tax provision expense was due to the Tax Act, which reduced the federal corporate tax rate to 21% from 34% starting on January 1, 2018. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 25.05% and 24.38%, respectively, compared to 36.73% and 36.32% for the corresponding periods in 2017. 

Financial Condition
At September 30, 2018, the Bank maintained capital ratios that were in excess of regulatory standards for well capitalized institutions. The Company’s and Bank’s Tier 1 capital to average assets ratio was 10.04%, common equity Tier 1 capital and Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets were both 11.08% and total capital to risk weighted assets ratio was 12.14%.

Total consolidated assets increased by $4.2 million, or 0.5%, from $887.4 million at December 31, 2017 to $891.6 million at September 30, 2018, reflecting an increase in loans receivable offset by a decrease in cash and investments. 

Loans receivable, or “total loans,” increased from $721.2 million at December 31, 2017 to $744.1 million at September 30, 2018, an increase of $22.9 million, net of the decrease in non-accrual loans of $7.8 million.

Total deposits decreased by $15.4 million to $772.9 million at September 30, 2018, from $788.3 million at December 31, 2017. The decrease is mainly due to outflows of government and municipal deposits attributable to the cyclical nature of real estate tax collections and payments and the current competitive landscape for obtaining new deposits. Borrowings increased to $28.4 million as of September 30, 2018 from $13.4 million at December 31, 2017. The increase in borrowings was planned in order to offset the amortization of existing borrowings and to fund loan growth. Total borrowings are less than 4.0% of total deposits.

Loan Quality
At September 30, 2018 the Bank had non-accrual loans of $10.7 million. Included in this total are $4.6 million in Troubled Debt Restructured Loans (“TDRs”). At year-end 2017, non-accrual loans totaled $18.4 million. The reduction in non-accrual loans of $7.8 million was mainly due to management’s continued focus on resolving the non-performing loans.  Accruing loans delinquent greater than 30 days were $7.6 million as of September 30, 2018, compared to $6.3 million at December 31, 2017. Of the $7.6 million in delinquent loans at September 30, 2018, two loans totaling $3.8 million reached maturity and were in the process of extension or renewal.

About the Company
Founded in 2006, Bancorp of New Jersey is the holding company for Bank of New Jersey, which provides traditional commercial and consumer banking products and services. The Bank’s corporate office is in Englewood Cliffs and the Bank currently has 8 branch offices located in Fort Lee, Hackensack, Haworth, Englewood, Cliffside Park, and Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. For more information about Bank of New Jersey and its products and services, please visit http://www.bonj.net or call 201-720-3201. If you would like to receive future Bancorp of New Jersey announcements electronically, please email us at shareholder@bonj.net.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release and other statements made from time to time by Bancorp of New Jersey’s management contain express and implied statements relating to our future financial condition, results of operations, credit quality, corporate objectives, and other financial and business matters, which are considered forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are necessarily speculative and speak only as of the date made, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, all of which may change over time. Actual results could differ materially from those expected or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from such forward-looking statements are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 1a – Risk Factors and in the description of our business under Item 1, as revised by our subsequent filings with the SEC. Any statements made that are not historical facts should be considered to be forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements or to make any public announcement when we consider forward-looking statements to no longer be accurate, whether as a result of new information of future events, except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.

Investor Relations:
The Equity Group Inc.
Fred Buonocore, CFA  212-836-9607
Kevin Towle 212-836-9620

BANCORP OF NEW JERSEY, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
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BANCORP OF NEW JERSEY, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except for per share data)

BANCORP OF NEW JERSEY, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(in thousands, except for per share data)