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Net Income Available to Common Shareholders

Net income available to common shareholders for the first quarter of 2025 was $7.2 million, or $2.66 per diluted common share, compared with $7.7 million, or $2.85 per diluted common share, for the linked quarter ended December 31, 2024. Net income available to common shareholders was $7.3 million, or $2.77 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2024. Net income available to common shareholders decreased $0.5 million, or 6.7%, compared to the linked quarter, and decreased $0.2 million, or 2.7%, compared to the same prior year period.

Notable variances compared to the linked quarter include an increase in non-interest expense, partially offset by a decrease in the provision for credit losses. Compared to the first quarter of 2024, an increase in non-interest expense was partially offset by a decrease in the provision for credit losses and an increase in net interest income.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $17.8 million, or 4.06%, of average earning assets ("net interest margin"), for the first quarter of 2025, compared with $17.7 million, or a net interest margin of 4.55%, for the same period a year earlier, and $17.7 million, or a net interest margin of 3.96%, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

Net interest income increased nominally by $0.1 million, or 0.7%, compared to the same prior year period, due primarily to an increase in interest income, which was partially offset by an increase in interest expense. Loan interest income and fee accretion increased by $1.2 million compared to the same prior year, due primarily to growth in the loan portfolio coupled with a relatively stable yield on loans. Additionally, interest income from interest earning deposits in other banks increased by $1.1 million, due primarily to growth in interest earning cash balances, partially offset by a decline in yields. Interest expense increased $1.9 million compared to the first quarter of 2024, due to average balance growth and increased costs on interest-bearing deposits, net of decreased costs associated with other borrowings.

Net interest income increased nominally by $0.1 million, or 0.5%, for the quarter ended March 2025, compared to the linked quarter, due primarily to a decrease in interest expense on deposits which more than offset a decrease in interest income. Interest expense on deposits decreased $0.6 million, for the current quarter, compared to the linked quarter, due to decreased costs on interest bearing deposits and marginally higher average balances. Interest income decreased $0.5 million for the current quarter, compared to the linked quarter, due primarily to lower average balances and yields on interest earning deposits in other banks, partially offset by higher average balances and yields on loans.

The net interest margin was 4.06% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to 4.55% for the same prior year period, and 3.96% for the linked quarter ended December 31, 2024. During the past year, asset yields have declined 24 basis points while the cost of interest-bearing liabilities has risen 28 basis points, contributing to the 49 basis point decline in the quarterly net interest margin. The Federal Reserve began lowering rates in the latter half of 2024, impacting the shorter end of the yield curve, which lowered the yield on interest bearing deposits in other banks and the Company's variable rate loans. Additionally, the average balances of interest-bearing liabilities increased 21.8%, outpacing the growth in interest-earning assets of 14.0% over the last year, thereby lowering the Company's net interest margin.

The 10 basis point increase in the net interest margin for the first quarter of 2025, compared to the linked quarter, was primarily driven by a 19 basis point decline in the Company's cost of interest-bearing liabilities, while earning asset yields remained relatively stable, resulting in net interest margin expansion. The reduction in funding costs was in response to the recent decline in short term capital markets interest rates.

The yield on loans, interest earning deposits in other banks, and investment securities, decreased by 3 basis points to 6.41%, 91 basis points to 4.40%, and by 44 basis points to 3.92%, respectively, compared to the same prior year period. Additionally, average balances on loans increased $92.5 million, or 7.66%, average balances on interest earning deposits in other banks increased $122.9 million, or 112.6%, and average balances on investment securities increased $3.1 million, or 1.28%, compared to the same prior year period. The cost of interest-bearing deposits increased 35 basis points to 3.00%, while the average balances of interest-bearing deposits increased $203.9 million, or 25.4%, compared to the same period last year.

The yield on loans increased by 3 basis points to 6.41%, while the yield on interest earning deposits in other banks decreased by 37 basis points to 4.40%, and the yield on investment securities was unchanged, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to the linked quarter. Additionally, average balances on loans increased $38.0 million, or 3.01%, average balances on interest earning deposits in other banks decreased $38.6 million, or 14.3%, and average balances on investment securities increased $1.0 million, or 0.41%, compared to the linked quarter. The cost of interest-bearing deposits decreased 20 basis points to 3.00%, while the average balances on interest-bearing deposits increased $6.5 million, or 0.65%, compared to the linked quarter.

The cost of funds was 1.89% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, an increase of 30 basis points compared to 1.59%, for the same prior year period, and a decrease of 10 basis points compared to 1.99%, for the linked quarter ended December 31, 2024. The increase in the Company's cost of funds is generally attributable to the higher short term rate environment and increased competition for deposits. The Bank has continued to grow its total deposit accounts through both new customer acquisition and expansion of existing relationships over the past year. At the same time, our clients have continued to optimize the proportion of their operating account balances versus interest-bearing account balances. More recently, Federal Reserve rate cutting has helped alleviate some of the pressure on the cost of interest-bearing balances, providing modest relief in the competitive deposit environment. However, Mission continues to outperform peers by achieving lower deposit costs than peer averages. Compared to a peer group consisting of all California Commercial Banks from S&P Capital IQ as of December 31, 2024, Mission's cost of funds for the fourth quarter of 2024, was 20 basis points lower than the 2.19% peer average.

The Company holds two pay-fixed, receive floating, interest rate swap contracts with notional balances totaling $108 million, executed in the third quarter of 2023 to hedge against rising rates on a portion of its fixed rate loan and investment securities portfolios. Combined, for the first quarter of 2025, the linked quarter, and the first quarter of 2024, the interest rate swap contracts generated an additional $0.1 million, $0.2 million, and $0.4 million in interest income, respectively.

Provision for Credit Losses

A $0.2 million provision for credit losses was recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $0.4 million for the linked quarter, and $0.7 million for the same period a year ago. The Company's quarterly credit loss provisions over the past year have been recorded primarily to account for growth in the loan portfolio and changes in macro-economic conditions which impact the calculated ACL under the current expected credit loss ("CECL") model, rather than in response to changing conditions in the Company's loan portfolio, which have remained stable, demonstrating a low credit risk profile during the past twelve months.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income remained consistent at $1.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to the linked quarter, and the same period a year earlier. Compared to the linked quarter, notable variances include a decrease in Farmer Mac referral and servicing fees and an increase in SBA servicing fees and gain on sale. When compared to the same prior year period, notable variances include a decrease in SBA servicing fees and gain on sale of loans and an increase on service charges, fees, and other income.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense increased by $1.1 million, or 13.5%, to $9.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $8.1 million for the linked quarter, and increased by $0.7 million, or 8.6%, compared to $8.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

The increase in non-interest expense for the first quarter of 2025, compared to the linked quarter, was primarily due to a $0.9 million increase in salaries and benefits expense, associated with increases in employee incentive compensation accruals, payroll taxes attributable to the resumption of accruals at the beginning of the year, deferred salary loan origination costs, and equity compensation expense.

The increase in non-interest expense for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period a year ago, was primarily due to a $0.5 million increase in salaries and benefits expense, primarily driven by higher employee compensation, including higher base compensation expense and associated payroll taxes, incentive compensation accruals, and employee 401(k) matching contributions, partially offset by lower temporary labor costs.

Operating Efficiency

The Company's operating efficiency ratio increased to 47.5% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 44.0% for the first quarter of 2024, and 42.0% for the linked quarter. Total non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets, another measure of the Company's efficiency, was 2.01% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 2.08% for the first quarter of 2024, and 1.74% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense was $2.9 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $2.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, and $3.2 million for the linked quarter ended December 31, 2024. The Company's effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2025 was 28.8%, compared to 27.5% for the same period a year ago, and 29.1% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

Asset and Equity Returns

The return on average equity for the first quarter of 2025 was 15.0%, down from 18.4% for the same prior year period, and down from 16.3% for the linked quarter. The quarterly return on average assets for the first quarter of 2025 was 1.56%, down from 1.80% for the same prior year period, and down from 1.64% for the linked quarter.

The decline in the quarterly returns on both average equity and average assets for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to the first quarter of 2024, is primarily attributable to the 20.2% growth in average equity and the 13.3% growth in average assets.

The decline in the quarterly returns on both average equity and average assets for the first quarter of 2025, compared to the linked quarter, is primarily attributable to the growth in quarterly average equity and quarterly average assets coupled with a decline in quarterly net income.

Balance Sheet

Total assets increased by $247.1 million, or 15.1%, to $1.89 billion as of March 31, 2025, compared to March 31, 2024, and increased by $11.4 million, or 0.6%, compared to December 31, 2024. Cash and cash equivalents increased by $181.6 million, or 152.6%, to $300.5 million as of March 31, 2025, compared to the same prior year period, and increased by $7.1 million, or 2.4%, compared to December 31, 2024. The significant increase in the Company's cash position over the last year is primarily the result of robust deposit growth, net of the Federal Reserve Bank borrowing facility repayment upon maturity, and earnings, which outpaced loan portfolio growth. The increase in the Company's cash position over the past quarter is primarily due to continued strong earnings and deposit growth supported by the repayment and amortization of the investment portfolio, which outpaced loan portfolio growth.

Investment securities increased by $1.5 million or 0.6%, to $241.9 million as of March 31, 2025, compared to $240.4 million as of March 31, 2024, and decreased by $3.0 million, or 1.2%, compared to $244.9 million on December 31, 2024. The increase in the investment securities portfolio over the past year was primarily due to the purchase of new securities at higher yields to supplement lending demand and a decrease in unrealized losses on the investment securities portfolio attributable to market rate changes during the year, net of the repayment and amortization of the bond portfolio. The decrease in the investment portfolio during the first quarter of 2025, compared to the linked quarter, is generally attributable to the repayment and amortization of the bond portfolio, net of decreased unrealized losses on the investment securities portfolio attributable to market rate changes during the quarter.

Loans increased by $69.0 million, or 5.6%, to $1.30 billion as of March 31, 2025, compared to March 31, 2024, and increased by $8.0 million, or 0.6%, compared to December 31, 2024. Loan growth during the last year has been concentrated in non-owner occupied commercial real estate, multi-family, residential 1 to 4 units, and construction and land development segments of the loan portfolio, which were partially offset by the contraction in owner occupied commercial real estate and loans secured by farmland. Loan growth during the last quarter has been concentrated in non-owner occupied commercial real estate and multi-family loan segments of the loan portfolio, which were partially offset by the contraction in owner occupied commercial real estate and agricultural production loans.

Total deposits increased by $235.3 million, or 16.6%, to $1.65 billion as of March 31, 2025, from $1.42 billion as of March 31, 2024, and was relatively unchanged from December 31, 2024. Noninterest-bearing deposits increased by $13.8 million, or 2.3%, during the last year, and decreased by $19.4 million, or 3.0%, since December 31, 2024. The increase in non-interest-bearing deposits experienced over the last year is attributable to an increase in new account openings and the stabilization of deposit costs. However, non-interest-bearing accounts decreased during the last quarter, primarily due to cash utilization and cyclical fluctuations such as tax planning activities. Noninterest-bearing deposits represented 37.9% of total deposits on March 31, 2025.

Total shareholders' equity was $197.7 million as of March 31, 2025, an increase of $32.7 million, or 19.8%, compared to March 31, 2024, and an increase of $8.2 million, or 4.3%, compared to December 31, 2024, due primarily to quarterly earnings, net of changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The accumulated other comprehensive loss component of equity decreased $1.1 million during the past year resulting from a $1.7 million decrease in the accumulated other comprehensive loss on the investment securities portfolio, partially offset by a $0.6 million increase in the accumulated other comprehensive loss associated with the interest rate swap contract. The accumulated other comprehensive loss component of equity decreased $0.8 million during the quarter attributable to a $1.3 million decrease in the accumulated other comprehensive loss on the investment securities portfolio, partially offset by a $0.5 million increase in the accumulated other comprehensive loss associated with the swap contract. The decline in accumulated other comprehensive loss is primarily the result of an increase in the fair market value of our investment securities portfolio attributable to a decline in interest rates and not related to credit quality.

Allowance for Credit Losses and Credit Quality

The allowance for credit losses ("ACL") as a percentage of gross loans increased to 1.51% as of March 31, 2025, from 1.50% as of December 31, 2024, and declined from 1.54% as of March 31, 2024. The nominal decline in the ACL as a percentage of gross loans over the last twelve months reflects the continued stable credit profile of the loan portfolio and the relative stability of the factors that are inputs for the ACL model.

Nonperforming assets were $0.9 million on March 31, 2025, down from $1.1 million on December 31, 2024, and up from $0.7 million on March 31, 2024. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets were 0.05% as of March 31, 2025, down from 0.06% as of December 31, 2024, and up from 0.04% as of March 31, 2024.

Regulatory Capital

The Bank's reported regulatory capital ratio exceeded the ratio generally required to be considered a "well capitalized" financial institution for regulatory purposes. The Community Bank Leverage Ratio for the Bank was 11.47%, as of March 31, 2025, compared with the requirement of 9.00% to generally be considered a "well capitalized" financial institution for regulatory purposes. The Bank's Community Bank Leverage ratio has decreased by 12 basis points from 11.59%, and increased by 40 basis points from 11.07%, as of the periods ended March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2024, respectively. Earnings have remained strong over the past year, however, the growth in average assets, coupled with dividends paid to the Company during 2024, have resulted in a decrease in the Bank's Community Bank Leverage ratio compared to the prior year.

Stock Repurchase Program

The Company announced on October 28, 2024, the extension of its plan Rule 10b5-1 (the "2022 10b5-1 Plan") to facilitate the repurchase of its common stock. Pursuant to the 2022 10b5-1 Plan, a maximum of $1.0 million of the Company's common stock may be repurchased by the Company. The previous extension under the Plan expired on October 25, 2024, and the Company extended the Plan for an additional six months, through April 24, 2025. The Company may suspend or discontinue the Plan at any time. Hilltop Securities, Inc. is acting as the Company's agent to purchase its shares on pre-arranged terms pursuant to the 2022 10b5-1 Plan.

During the first quarter of 2025 the Company repurchased 4,728 shares under the 2022 10b5-1 Plan at an average price of $96.16. Since Plan inception the Company has repurchased 12,499 shares at an average price of $89.18.

About Mission Bancorp and Mission Bank

With $1.9 billion in assets, Mission Bancorp is headquartered in Bakersfield, California and is the holding company of four wholly owned subsidiaries, Mission Bank, Mission 1031 Exchange, LLC, Mission Community Development, LLC, and Nosbig 88, Inc. Mission Bank has eight Business Banking Centers, serving the greater areas of Bakersfield, Lancaster, San Luis Obispo, Stockton, Ventura, and Visalia, California. Visit Mission Bank online at www.missionbank.bank. By including the foregoing website address, Mission Bancorp does not intend to and shall not be deemed to incorporate by reference any material contained therein.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, rapid and/or unanticipated deposit withdrawals, the unavailability of sources of liquidity, additional regulatory requirements that may be imposed on community banks or banks in general, general and industry-specific changes in market conditions, investor reaction to industry developments, government regulations and general economic conditions, and competition within the business areas in which the bank is conducting its operations, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the bank's control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Mission Bank