Timberland Bancorp’s First Fiscal Quarter Earnings Per Share Increases 38%

• First Fiscal Quarter Net Income Increases 55% to $5.62 Million
• Total Assets Increase to $1.2 Billion with the Acquisition of South Sound Bank
• Announces 15% Increase in the Quarterly Cash Dividend

HOQUIAM, Wash., Jan. 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Timberland Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSBK) (“Timberland” or “the Company”) today reported, for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, record quarterly net income of $5.62 million and record earnings of $0.66 per diluted common share.  This compares to net income of $4.42 million, or $0.59 per diluted common share, for the preceding quarter and net income of $3.61 million, or $0.48 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.

Timberland’s Board of Directors also announced a 15% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to shareholders to $0.15 per common share, payable on February 28, 2019, to shareholders of record on February 14, 2019. 

“We are pleased today to report a strong first fiscal quarter for the Company,” commented Michael Sand, President and CEO.  “Net income increased 55% and earnings per diluted common share increased 38% from the prior year’s first fiscal quarter.  Return on assets, return on equity and net interest margin meaningfully increased compared to the results for the comparable quarter one year ago.  The acquisition of South Sound Bank, completed October 1, 2018, contributed to the quarter’s significant loan and deposit growth and to the expansion of Timberland’s net interest margin.  Additionally, the Company’s efficiency ratio for the quarter improved 223 basis points to 54.85% from 57.08% reported for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.”

“Financial benefits from the South Sound Bank acquisition were clearly recognized during the first full quarter of ownership,” Sand continued.  “The acquisition expanded Timberland’s presence along Washington State’s economically important I-5 corridor and, at closing, brought Timberland $121.5 million in loans, $151.5 million in deposits and $180.8 million in total assets.  Despite the issuance of 904,826 shares in the transaction, earnings per share for the quarter increased considerably from the earnings per share posted for last year’s comparable quarter.”

“During the quarter, preparations progressed in earnest toward our scheduled February 21^st conversion to a new core operating system.  The conversion will add new technologies for customers and improve operational efficiencies.  Upon the completion of the February conversion we will shift our focus to the scheduled July integration of South Sound’s core system into Timberland’s.  During the quarters ending March 31 and June 30, 2019, we anticipate incurring IT conversion related pre-tax expenses of approximately $450,000 ($356,000 after tax) and $580,000 ($458,000 after tax), respectively, as we migrate both companies to a new core operating system.” 

The Company’s federal income tax rate decreased to 21.0% on October 1, 2018 representing a 14.3% reduction from the 24.5% blended federal income tax rate used during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018.    

First Fiscal Quarter 2019 Earnings and Balance Sheet Highlights (at or for the period ended December 31, 2018, compared to December 31, 2017, or September 30, 2018):

   Earnings Highlights:

• Net income increased 55% to $5.62 million from $3.61 million for the comparable quarter one year ago and increased 27% from $4.42 million for the preceding quarter;
• Quarterly EPS increased 38% to $0.66 from $0.48 for the comparable quarter one year ago and increased 12% from $0.59 for the preceding quarter;
• Return on average equity and return on average assets for the current quarter remained strong at 14.56% and 1.88%, respectively; and
• Net interest margin increased to 4.47% from 4.19% for the comparable quarter one year ago and 4.35% for the preceding quarter.

   Balance Sheet Highlights:

• Total assets increased 18% from the prior quarter (primarily due to the South Sound Bank merger);
• Total deposits increased 18% year-over-year and 16% from the prior quarter;
• Net loans receivable increased 22% year-over-year and 18% from the prior quarter; and
• Book and tangible book (non-GAAP) values per common share increased to $18.87 and $16.83, respectively, at December 31, 2018.

Acquisition of South Sound Bank

On October 1, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of South Sound Bank, a Washington-state chartered bank, headquartered in Olympia, Washington (“South Sound Merger”).  The Company acquired 100% of the outstanding common stock of South Sound Bank, and South Sound Bank was merged into Timberland Bank and the Company.  Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, South Sound Bank shareholders received 0.746 of a share of the Company’s common stock and $5.68825 in cash per share of South Sound Bank common stock.  The Company issued 904,826 shares of its common stock (valued at $28,267,000 based on the Company’s closing stock price on September 30, 2018 of $31.24 per share) and paid $6,903,000 in cash in the transaction for total consideration paid of $35,170,000. 

The South Sound Merger was accounted for as a business combination.  Accordingly, Timberland’s cost to acquire South Sound Bank was allocated to the assets acquired (including identifiable intangible assets) and liabilities assumed of South Sound Bank at their respective estimated fair values as of the acquisition date.  The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired was allocated to goodwill.

The following table summarizes the fair value of consideration transferred, the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at October 1, 2018, and the resulting goodwill from the transaction ($ in thousands):

The estimated fair values in the above table are preliminary and represent management’s best estimates based on available information on the facts and circumstances in existence on January 22, 2019.  Fair values (including the related deferred tax adjustments) are subject to refinement for up to one year after the closing date of the acquisition as additional information regarding the closing date fair values becomes available.

Operating Results

Operating revenue (net interest income before the provision for loan losses, plus non-interest income excluding recoveries on investment securities) increased 24% to $15.59 million from $12.55 million for the comparable quarter one year ago and increased 16% from $13.44 million for the preceding quarter. 

Net interest income for the current quarter increased 20% to $12.34 million from $10.27 million for the preceding quarter and increased 31% from $9.43 million for the comparable quarter one year ago.  The increase in net interest income compared to the preceding quarter was primarily due to the South Sound Merger, which increased average interest-earning assets and average interest-bearing liabilities.   

Timberland’s net interest margin (“NIM”) for the current quarter increased to 4.47% from 4.35% for the preceding quarter and 4.19% for the comparable quarter one year ago.  The NIM for the current quarter was increased by approximately four basis points due to the accretion of $87,000 of the fair value discount on loans acquired in the South Sound Merger.  The NIM for the current quarter was not impacted by the collection of non-accrual interest.  The NIM for the preceding quarter was increased by approximately five basis points due to the collection of $107,000 of non-accrual interest and late fees.  The NIM for the comparable quarter one year ago was increased approximately two basis points due to the collection of $45,000 of non-accrual interest.

Non-interest income increased 3% to $3.27 million for the current quarter from $3.18 million for the preceding quarter and increased 4% from $3.14 million for the comparable quarter one year ago.  The increase in non-interest income compared to the preceding quarter consisted of an $82,000 increase in services charges on deposits and smaller increases in several other categories.  These increases were partially offset by an $81,000 decrease in gain on sale of loans.  The increase in service charges was primarily a result of increased service charges on commercial business accounts and service charges on the accounts acquired in the South Sound Merger.  The decrease in gains on sale of loans was primarily due to a decrease in the dollar amount of fixed rate one- to four-family loans sold and a decrease in the average pricing spread.

Total operating expenses for the current quarter increased 12% to $8.56 million from $7.66 million for the preceding quarter and increased 19% from $7.18 million for the comparable quarter one year ago.  The increase in expenses for the current quarter compared to the preceding quarter consisted of a $729,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits, a $109,000 increase in CDI amortization, a $108,000 increase in ATM and debit card processing and smaller increases in several other categories.  These increases were partially offset by a $326,000 decrease in professional fees and smaller decreases in several other categories.  The increase in salaries and employee benefits expense was primarily due to the additional employees added in connection with the South Sound Merger and annual salary adjustments.  The CDI amortization expense and the increase in ATM and debit card processing expense were also primarily due to the South Sound Merger.  The decrease in professional fees was primarily due to a reduction in acquisition related expenses in the current quarter.  Acquisition related expenses totaled $64,000 during the current quarter compared to $344,000 in the quarter ended September 30, 2018.  The efficiency ratio improved to 54.85% for the current quarter from 56.94% for the preceding quarter.

The provision for income taxes for the current quarter increased by $63,000 to $1.43 million from $1.37 million for the preceding quarter and decreased by $348,000 from the comparable quarter one year ago.  These changes were primarily due to higher pre-tax income and changes in the federal corporate income tax rates.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts legislation, which was signed into law on December 22, 2017, decreased the federal corporate income tax rate to 21.0% from 35.0%.  As a result of the new legislation, Timberland recorded a one-time income tax expense of $548,000 in conjunction with writing down its net deferred tax asset during the quarter ended December 31, 2017, and began using a lower blended federal income tax rate for the 2018 fiscal year.  Since Timberland is a September 30^th fiscal year-end corporation, it used a blended federal income tax rate of 24.5% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, and began using a 21.0% federal income tax rate on October 1, 2018.  Timberland’s effective tax rate was 20.3% for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, compared to 23.7% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 and 33.0% for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.

Balance Sheet Management

Total assets increased $182.03 million, or 18%, during the first fiscal quarter to $1.20 billion at December 31, 2018, from $1.02 billion at September 30, 2018.  The increase was primarily due to the South Sound Merger, which resulted in a $182.89 million increase of total assets (including goodwill and net of cash consideration paid) at the merger date (October 1, 2018).  The quarterly increase in asset size was primarily comprised of a $131.68 million increase in net loans receivable, a $23.65 million increase in investment securities and CDs held for investment, a $12.88 million increase in cash and cash equivalents, and an $11.34 million increase in goodwill and CDI.

Net loans receivable increased $131.68 million, or 18%, during the current quarter to $857.07 million at December 31, 2018, from $725.39 million at September 30, 2018, primarily due to loans acquired in the South Sound Merger ($121.54 million at merger date) and to a lesser extent organic loan growth.  The quarterly increase consisted of an $81.03 million increase in commercial real estate loans, a $27.43 million increase in construction loans, a $15.15 million increase in commercial business loans, a $14.28 million increase in one- to four-family loans, a $10.15 million increase in multi-family loans and a $4.01 million increase in consumer loans.  These increases to net loans receivable were partially offset by a $17.36 million increase in the undisbursed portion of construction loans in process and smaller decreases in several other loan categories.

LOAN PORTFOLIO

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1. Does not include one- to four-family loans held for sale totaling $2,988, $1,785 and $3,236 at December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. 
2. Does not include commercial business loans held for sale totaling $171 at December 31, 2017.

Timberland originated $106.39 million in loans during the quarter ended December 31, 2018, compared to $82.51 million for the comparable quarter one year ago and $99.27 million for the preceding quarter.  Timberland continues to sell fixed-rate one- to four-family mortgage loans into the secondary market for asset-liability management purposes and to generate non-interest income.  Timberland also periodically sells the guaranteed portion of U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2019 fixed-rate one- to four-family mortgage loans and SBA loans totaling $16.12 million were sold compared to $15.91 million for the comparable quarter one year ago and $17.42 million for the preceding quarter.
                                            
Timberland’s investment securities and CDs held for investment increased $23.65 million, or 31%, to $100.90 million at December 31, 2018, from $77.25 million at September 30, 2018.  The increase was primarily due to the investment securities and CDs held for investment acquired in the South Sound Merger.

Timberland’s liquidity remained strong after the South Sound Merger.  Liquidity, as measured by the sum of cash and cash equivalents, CDs held for investment and available for sale investment securities, was 22.1% of total liabilities at December 31, 2018, compared to 23.9% at September 30, 2018, and 25.1% one year ago. 

DEPOSIT BREAKDOWN

Total deposits increased $145.67 million, or 16%, during the current quarter to $1.035 billion at December 31, 2018, from $889.51 million at September 30, 2018, primarily due to deposits acquired in the South Sound Merger.  The quarterly increase consisted of a $60.76 million increase in NOW checking account balances, a $37.99 million increase in non-interest bearing demand account balances, a $24.68 million increase in money market account balances, a $12.97 million increase in certificate of deposit account balances and a $9.27 million increase in savings account balances. 

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders’ equity increased $32.25 million to $156.91 million at December 31, 2018, from $124.66 million at September 30, 2018.  The increase in shareholders’ equity was primarily due to $28.27 million in common stock issued in the South Sound Merger and net income of $5.62 million for the quarter, which was partially offset by dividend payments to shareholders of $1.91 million. 

Capital Ratios and Asset Quality

Timberland remains well capitalized with a total risk-based capital ratio of 18.43% and a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 11.96% at December 31, 2018.

Asset quality remains strong with the non-performing assets to total assets ratio improving to 0.33% at December 31, 2018, compared to 0.55% one year ago and 0.36% at September 30, 2018.

No provision for loan losses was made for the quarters ended December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017.  There was a net recovery of $3,000 for the current quarter compared to net charge-offs of $2,000 for the preceding quarter and a net recovery of $12,000 for the comparable quarter one year ago.  The allowance for loan losses to loans receivable decreased to 1.10% at December 31, 2018, from 1.30% at September 30, 2018, primarily as a result of an increase in loans from the South Sound Merger.  Included in the recorded value of loans acquired in mergers are net discounts which may reduce the need for an allowance for loan losses on these loans because they are carried at an amount below the outstanding principal balance.  The recorded value of loans acquired in the South Sound Merger was $123.62 million and the related fair value discount was $2.08 million, or 1.68% of the loans acquired.  The remaining fair value discount on loans acquired in the South Sound Merger was $2.00 million at December 31, 2018.  The allowance for loan losses to loans receivable (excluding the remaining balance of the loans acquired in the South Sound Merger) was 1.27% at December 31, 2018.

Total delinquent loans (past due 30 days or more) and non-accrual loans increased $235,000, or 8%, to $3.36 million at December 31, 2018, from $3.12 million one year ago and increased $800,000, or 31%, from $2.56 million at September 30, 2018.  Non-accrual loans decreased $523,000, or 25%, to $1.59 million at December 31, 2018, from $2.11 million one year ago and increased $273,000, or 21%, from $1.32 million at September 30, 2018.

NON-ACCRUAL LOANS

           
OREO and other repossessed assets decreased 30% to $2.03 million at December 31, 2018, from $2.89 million at December 31, 2017, and increased 6% from $1.91 million at September 30, 2018.  At December 31, 2018, the OREO and other repossessed asset portfolio consisted of 11 individual land parcels and three commercial real estate properties.  During the quarter ended December 31, 2018, there were no OREO property sales.

OREO and OTHER REPOSSESSED ASSETS

               
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures.  Timberland believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with information useful in understanding the Company’s financial performance; however, readers of this report are urged to review these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with GAAP results as reported.

Financial measures that exclude intangible assets are non-GAAP measures.  To provide investors with a broader understanding of capital adequacy, Timberland provides non-GAAP financial measures for tangible common equity, along with the GAAP measure.  Tangible common equity is calculated as shareholders’ equity less goodwill and CDI.  In addition, tangible assets equal total assets less goodwill and CDI.

The following table provides a reconciliation of ending shareholders’ equity (GAAP) to ending tangible shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP), and ending total assets (GAAP) to ending tangible assets (non-GAAP).

About Timberland Bancorp, Inc.
Timberland Bancorp, Inc., a Washington corporation, is the holding company for Timberland Bank (“Bank”).  The Bank opened for business in 1915 and serves consumers and businesses across Grays Harbor, Thurston, Pierce, King, Kitsap and Lewis counties, Washington with a full range of lending and deposit services through its 24 branches (including its main office in Hoquiam).    

Disclaimer
Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to our financial condition, results of operations, plan, objectives, future performance or business. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact, are based on certain assumptions and often include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook” or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could.”  Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, assumptions and statements about future performance.  These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the expected cost savings, synergies and other financial benefits from our acquisition of South Sound Bank might not be realized within the expected time frames or at all; the integration of the combined company, including personnel changes/retention, might not proceed as planned; and the combined company might not perform as well as expected; the credit risks of lending activities, including changes in the level and trend of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in our allowance for loan losses and provision for loan losses that may be impacted by deterioration in the housing and commercial real estate markets which may lead to increased losses and non-performing assets in our loan portfolio, and may result in our allowance for loan losses not being adequate to cover actual losses, and require us to materially increase our loan loss reserves; changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas; changes in the levels of general interest rates, and the relative differences between short and long term interest rates, deposit interest rates, our net interest margin and funding sources; fluctuations in the demand for loans, the number of unsold homes, land and other properties and fluctuations in real estate values in our market areas; secondary market conditions for loans and our ability to sell loans in the secondary market; results of examinations of us by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and our bank subsidiary by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks or other regulatory authorities, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, institute a formal or informal enforcement action or require us to increase our allowance for loan losses, write-down assets, change our regulatory capital position or affect our ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits or impose additional requirements or restrictions on us, any of which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business including changes in regulatory policies and principles, or the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules including as a result of Basel III; the impact of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the implementation of related rules and regulations; our ability to attract and retain deposits;  increases in premiums for deposit insurance; our ability to control operating costs and expenses; the use of estimates in determining fair value of certain of our assets, which estimates may prove to be incorrect and result in significant declines in valuation; difficulties in reducing risk associated with the loans on our consolidated balance sheet; staffing fluctuations in response to product demand or the implementation of corporate strategies that affect our workforce and potential associated charges; disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in, or attacks on, our information technology systems or on the third-party vendors who perform several of our critical processing functions; our ability to retain key members of our senior management team; costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments; our ability to successfully integrate any assets, liabilities, customers, systems, and management personnel we may in the future acquire into our operations and our ability to realize related revenue synergies and cost savings within expected time frames and any goodwill charges related thereto; our ability to manage loan delinquency rates;  increased competitive pressures among financial services companies; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; the availability of resources to address changes in laws, rules, or regulations or to respond to regulatory actions; our ability to pay dividends on our common and stock; adverse changes in the securities markets; inability of key third-party providers to perform their obligations to us; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the financial institution regulatory agencies or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, including additional guidance and interpretation on accounting issues and details of the implementation of new accounting methods; the economic impact of war or any terrorist activities; other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting our operations; pricing, products and services; and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Any of the forward-looking statements that we make in this press release and in the other public statements we make are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made.  We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this report to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed in this document might not occur and we caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.  These risks could cause our actual results for fiscal 2019 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of us, and could negatively affect the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations as well as its stock price performance.                  

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(a)  Annualized
(b)  Non-performing assets include non-accrual loans, loans past due 90 days and still accruing, non-performing investment securities and OREO and other repossessed assets.  Troubled debt restructured loans on accrual status are not included.
(c)  Does not include loans held for sale and is before the allowance for loan losses.
(d)  Does not include troubled debt restructured loans totaling $308, $323 and $199 reported as non-accrual loans at December 31, 2018, September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
(e)  Tangible common equity divided by common shares outstanding (non-GAAP).                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

AVERAGE BALANCES, YIELDS, AND RATES – QUARTERLY
($ in thousands)
(unaudited)

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(1) Includes other investments
(2) Net interest margin = annualized net interest income /
     average interest-earning assets