West Coast Community Bancorp, Parent Company of Santa Cruz County Bank, Reports Earnings for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2024

In This Article:

Board Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend 

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., July 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- West Coast Community Bancorp ("Bancorp", OTCQX: SCZC), the parent company of Santa Cruz County Bank (the "Bank"), announced unaudited earnings for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. Net income for the quarter was $8.2 million, compared to $9.3 million in the prior quarter and $8.3 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Net income for the first half of 2024 was $17.5 million, an increase of 2% from $17.2 million over the first half of the prior year.

West Coast Community Bancorp and Santa Cruz County Bank (PRNewsfoto/Santa Cruz County Bank)
West Coast Community Bancorp and Santa Cruz County Bank (PRNewsfoto/Santa Cruz County Bank)

President and CEO, Krista Snelling commented: "We are pleased to report continued strong financial results this quarter including net interest margin of 4.98% and return on average assets of 1.98% (excluding merger-related costs). Additionally, our diligent expense management continues with an efficiency ratio below 44% (also excluding merger-related costs). Our tangible book value per share continues to grow accordingly.

In May, we announced our agreement to merge with 1st Capital Bancorp, with an anticipated close in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. After we close the merger and move into 2025, our balance sheet will reposition and we expect to recognize the benefits of improved scale and efficiency, higher lending capacity and opportunities for new business due to an expanded geographic reach.

During the second quarter, we received two top national bank financial performance rankings. American Banker Magazine ranked us 50th in their Top 100 Best Performing Community Banks under $2 billion based upon three-year average ROAE. This marks our tenth year on the American Banker Best Performing Community Banks list. Additionally, we ranked 12th out of 25 banks in the nation with assets over $1 billion in the ICBA's Top-Performing Banks of 2024."

On July 18, 2024, the Board of Directors of Bancorp declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per common share, payable on August 12, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 6, 2024.

Financial Highlights

Performance highlights as of and for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, included the following:

  • Quarterly net income of $8.2 million decreased 12% from $9.3 million in the prior quarter, primarily due to the reversal of provision for credit losses of $1.0 million in the prior quarter and no provision in the current quarter. Net income decreased 1% from $8.3 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Net income for the first half of 2024 was $17.5 million, an increase of 2% from the first half of the prior year.

  • Basic and diluted earnings per share in the second quarter of 2024 were $0.98 and $0.97 and both decreased over the prior quarter by $0.13. Basic and diluted earnings per share in the second quarter of 2024 decreased over the prior year comparative quarter by $0.01. Merger expenses affected second quarter 2024 diluted earnings per share by $0.03. Basic and diluted earnings per share in the first half of 2024 both improved compared to 2023 by $0.05.

  • Total assets were $1.71 billion as of June 30, 2024, a decrease of $800 thousand compared to March 31, 2024, and a decrease of $34.5 million or 2% compared to June 30, 2023.

  • The Bank's liquidity position remains healthy. Primary liquidity ratio, defined as cash and equivalents, deposits held in other banks and unpledged available-for-sale ("AFS") securities as a percentage of total assets, was 11.7% at both June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024.

  • Deposits totaled $1.43 billion at June 30, 2024, a decrease of $24.4 million or 2%, compared to March 31, 2024, and a decrease of $35.7 million or 2% compared to June 30, 2023. Brokered deposits decreased $10.1 million and relationship deposits, i.e. deposits gathered outside of wholesale channels, decreased $14.3 million compared to March 31, 2024. Consistent with industry trends, the Bank has continued to experience deposit runoff due to clients seeking higher rates of return. In addition, the decrease in the second quarter of 2024 reflected clients' tax payments, real estate investment, disbursement of business earnings to owners, and fluctuations from our large local agency depositors.

  • Gross loans totaled $1.39 billion at June 30, 2024, an increase of $8.3 million or 1%, compared to March 31, 2024, and an increase of $49.4 million or 4%, compared to June 30, 2023. The increase in the loan portfolio during the second quarter of 2024 was bolstered by the funding of two large construction loans that totaled $10.4 million at June 30, 2024. Conventional lines of credit outstandings increased by $6.6 million, largely driven by advances from existing clients. Loan growth was partially offset by the early payoff of a $12.1 million asset-based commercial line of credit and successful resolution and payoff of a substandard $6.4 million commercial real estate loan.

  • No loans were on non-accrual status as of June 30, 2024, compared to $90 thousand, or 0.01% of total loans as of March 31, 2024. Of the $90 thousand on non-accrual status at March 31, 2024, $46 thousand was paid off and $44 thousand was charged-off by the Bank during the second quarter.

  • The allowance for credit losses ("ACL"), reflecting management's estimate of credit losses for the expected life of the loans in the portfolio, totaled $23.0 million, or 1.66% of total loans at June 30, 2024, compared to $23.0 million, or 1.67% at March 31, 2024. The slight decrease in the allowance as a percentage of total loans is primarily attributed to the adoption of a data-driven approach to adjust for qualitative factors and the strong credit quality of the portfolio as of the second quarter, resulting in an easing of these factors for most loan types.

  • No provision for credit losses was made in the second quarter, including funded and unfunded credit commitments, due to the reasons discussed above. In comparison, a $1 million reversal was booked in the first quarter of 2024 and a $486 thousand provision was recognized in the second quarter in 2023. The reversal in the first quarter was due to a reduction in the size of the loan portfolio combined with a shorter estimated average life on the commercial real estate portfolio.

  • Net interest margin was 4.98% in the second quarter of 2024, compared to 4.86% in the prior quarter and 4.93% for the second quarter in 2023. The increase from the prior quarter was largely due to the early payoff of two loans discussed earlier which resulted in approximately $292 thousand received in prepayment penalties and accelerated fee recognition. Net interest margin was 4.92% in the first half of 2024, compared to 5.01% in the first half of 2023. The decrease from the prior period was primarily driven by increased funding costs, partially offset by higher yields on interest-earning assets.

  • For the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, return on average assets was 1.93% and 2.14%, respectively, return on average equity was 13.63% and 15.99%, respectively, and return on average tangible equity was 15.37% and 18.10%, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023, return on average assets was 2.04% and 2.01%, respectively, return on average equity was 14.79% and 16.96%, respectively, and return on average tangible equity was 16.71% and 19.62%, respectively. Please see "Merger with 1st Capital Bancorp" below for the impact of merger expenses.

  • The efficiency ratio was 45.30% for the second quarter of 2024, as compared to 42.81% in the prior quarter and 41.52% in the second quarter of 2023. The efficiency ratio was 44.05% and 40.64% for the first half of 2024 and 2023, respectively. Merger facilitative costs impacted our efficiency ratio by 149 basis points in the second quarter of 2024 and 74 basis points year-to-date.

  • All capital ratios were above regulatory requirements for a well-capitalized institution with a total risk-based capital ratio of 16.22% at June 30, 2024 compared to 15.87% at March 31, 2024. Tangible common equity to tangible asset ratio increased from 12.50% at March 31, 2024 to 13.00% at June 30, 2024.

  • Tangible book value per share increased to $25.95 at June 30, 2024 from $25.05 at March 31, 2024 and $21.54 at June 30, 2023.