West Coast Community Bancorp Reports Strong Earnings for the First Quarter of 2025; Board Declares Increase in Quarterly Cash Dividend

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SANTA CRUZ, Calif., April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- West Coast Community Bancorp ("Bancorp", OTCQX: SCZC), the parent company of West Coast Community Bank, formerly known as Santa Cruz County Bank (the "Bank"), today announced unaudited quarterly earnings of $11.7 million, or $1.10 per dilutive share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $3.8 million, or $0.36 per dilutive share, for the prior quarter and $9.3 million, or $1.10 per dilutive share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. Excluding after-tax charges related to the merger with 1st Capital Bancorp of $357 thousand and $10.2 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively, adjusted net income (non-GAAP1) would have been $12.0 million and $14.0 million for each of those quarters, respectively.

West Coast Community Bancorp and West Coast Community Bank Combined Logo
West Coast Community Bancorp and West Coast Community Bank Combined Logo

"Our strong results this quarter reflect continued earnings momentum generated by the efficient integration of our merger with 1st Capital Bancorp, sustained organic loan growth and disciplined expense management," said Krista Snelling, President and Chief Executive Officer of West Coast Community Bancorp. "Rebranding to West Coast Community Bank, effective April 1, also positions us for continued expansion and deeper community impact throughout our four-county region spanning the Central Coast and Silicon Valley."

On April 17, 2025, the Board of Directors of Bancorp declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share, an increase of $0.01 from the prior quarter, payable on May 6, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 29, 2025.

"The Board's decision to increase the dividend again this quarter upholds our commitment to enhancing value for our shareholders, including those who joined us from 1st Capital Bancorp last fall," stated Stephen Pahl, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "The dividend increase also demonstrates our confidence in the financial strength, earnings potential and excellent client-focused bankers of West Coast Community Bank."

Financial Highlights

Performance highlights as of and for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, included the following:

  • Gross loans, net of unaccreted purchase discount, totaled $2.1 billion at March 31, 2025, an increase of $60.0 million, or 3%, compared to December 31, 2024, and an increase of $726.5 million, or 53%, compared to March 31, 2024. Loan growth during the first quarter of 2025 was driven by organic originations primarily sourced by the new production team in Silicon Valley, who contributed to commercial and industrial ("C&I") and construction loan growth during the quarter of $18.8 million and $8.9 million, respectively. The strong growth in C&I loans allows the Bank to diversify its lending portfolio and build core deposit relationships. Besides organic growth, the increase in loans from March 31, 2024, was significantly bolstered by the merger with 1st Capital Bancorp, which added $603.1 million in acquired loans (net of fair value adjustments) as of October 1, 2024.

  • Quarterly net income was $11.7 million, compared to $3.8 million for the prior quarter and $9.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The increase in net income for this quarter was due to a decrease in after-tax charges related to the merger with 1st Capital Bancorp when compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The increase over March 31, 2024, was mainly due to the merger with 1st Capital Bancorp as well as organic growth. Adjusted net income (non-GAAP1) for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, excluding after-tax charges related to the merger of $357 thousand, would have been $12.0 million. Adjusted net income (non-GAAP1) for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, would have been $14.0 million. The decrease in adjusted net income (non-GAAP1) in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily driven by: 1) decline in accretion of purchase discount on acquired loans of $1.1 million, mainly due to less accelerated accretion of purchase discount from early loan pay-offs in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the prior quarter, combined with the seasoning effect of the acquired loan portfolio; and 2) the increase in provision for credit losses on originated loans of $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, resulting from stronger organic loan growth in the first quarter of 2025.

  • Basic and diluted earnings per share in the first quarter of 2025 and 2024 were $1.11 and $1.10, respectively. Basic and diluted earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2024 were $0.37 and $0.36, respectively. Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP1) for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, excluding after-tax charges related to the merger with 1st Capital Bancorp, would have been $1.15 and $1.13, respectively. Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP1) for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, would have been $1.34 and $1.32, respectively.

  • Total assets were $2.7 billion at March 31, 2025, a decrease of $22.2 million, or 1%, compared to December 31, 2024, and an increase of $945.6 million, or 55%, compared to March 31, 2024. Decrease over year-end 2024 was mainly driven by seasonal outflow of deposits of $54.2 million which contributed to the decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $39.7 million, combined with a strategic sale of investments of $20.2 million to fund loan growth, partially offset by an increase in net loans of $58.6 million. Increase over March 31, 2024, was largely the result of the merger with 1st Capital Bancorp, which added $994.3 million in assets including $14.3 million of goodwill and $27.7 million of core deposit intangible assets.

  • 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, were 11.8%, 14.5% and 11.7% at March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively.

  • Deposits totaled $2.3 billion at March 31, 2025, a decrease of $54.2 million, or 2%, compared to December 31, 2024, and an increase of $800.3 million, or 55%, compared to March 31, 2024. There were no brokered deposits at March 31, 2025. The decrease in deposits during the first quarter of 2025 was mainly driven by seasonal outflows associated with agriculture and non-profit depositors. These decreases were partially offset by gains from new relationships and in the Bank's expanding market in Salinas. The increase over March 31, 2024, was largely the result of the merger with 1st Capital Bancorp.

  • Nonaccrual loans totaled $2.3 million, or 0.11%, of gross loans at March 31, 2025, an increase of $1.6 million from December 31, 2024, and an increase of $2.2 million from March 31, 2024. The March 31, 2025, non-accrual loans primarily consist of two real estate secured loans: one $1.7 million loan secured by undeveloped land in the process of foreclosure with no anticipated loss, and another $504 thousand acquired loan secured by real estate with an adequate reserve established.

  • The allowance for credit losses ("ACL"), reflecting management's reasonable estimate of credit losses for the expected life of the loans in the portfolio, totaled $33.1 million, or 1.57%, of total loans at March 31, 2025, compared to $31.6 million, or 1.55%, at December 31, 2024. The slight increase in the ACL to loans ratio during the first quarter of 2025 was primarily driven by strong net loan growth in commercial revolving lines and construction loans, which carry higher estimated loss reserve rates. Model assumptions remained stable, reflecting a consistent economic condition qualitative factor and minimal changes during the first quarter of 2025 under the discounted cash flow methodology. While recent stock market volatility and policy uncertainty prompted close review, key credit indicators remain stable and the broader economic condition has not shown measurable deterioration as of March 31, 2025, compared to December 31, 2024. Management continues to monitor economic outlook but did not deem the related qualitative risk factors warranted adjustment during the first quarter of 2025.

  • The provision for credit losses was $1.4 million, consisting of $1.5 million provision for loan losses and a $100 thousand reversal for credit losses on unfunded credit commitments during the first quarter of 2025, compared to a $7.9 million provision during the fourth quarter of 2024 and a $1.0 million reversal in the first quarter of 2024. The provision expense in the first quarter of 2025 was primarily due to organic loan growth, with additional minor impacts from changes in loan portfolio mix and increase in specific reserves on individually evaluated loans. The provision during the fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily due to the provision for loans acquired during the merger with 1st Capital Bancorp.

  • Taxable equivalent net interest margin was 5.29% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 5.38% in the prior quarter and 4.87% for the first quarter of 2024. The decrease from prior quarter was the result of less purchase discount accretion on the acquired loan portfolio, partially offset by decreased cost of deposits. Net interest margin excluding the purchase discount accretion on the acquired loan portfolio was 4.86% in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 0.07% over the preceding quarter driven by easing funding pressure.

  • The Bank's cost of funds was 1.32% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 1.37% in the prior quarter. The decrease of 5 basis points in cost of funds was primarily due to management's discretionary decrease in deposit rates on certain higher costing deposit accounts and a decreased reliance on wholesale deposits.

  • For the quarters ended March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, return on average assets ("ROAA") was 1.78% and 0.57%, respectively, return on average equity ("ROAE") was 13.83% and 4.55%, respectively, and return on average tangible equity ("ROATE") was 17.23% and 5.72%, respectively. Excluding merger-related items for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, adjusted ROAA (non-GAAP1) was 1.84%, adjusted ROAE (non-GAAP1) was 14.25% and adjusted ROATE (non-GAAP1) was 17.76%. Excluding merger-related items for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, adjusted ROAA (non-GAAP1) was 2.08%, adjusted ROAE (non-GAAP1) was 16.65% and adjusted ROATE (non-GAAP1) was 20.94%.

  • The efficiency ratio was 46.48% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 61.62% in the prior quarter and 42.81% in the first quarter of 2024. Excluding merger-related items, adjusted efficiency ratio (non-GAAP1) was 45.38% for the first quarter of 2025 and 43.05% for the fourth quarter of 2024.

  • All capital ratios were above regulatory requirements for a well-capitalized institution with a total risk-based capital ratio of 14.23% at March 31, 2025, compared to 14.00% at December 31, 2024. Tangible common equity to tangible asset ratio was 10.75% at March 31, 2025, compared to 10.14% at December 31, 2024.

  • Tangible book value per share was $26.32 at March 31, 2025, compared to $25.09 at December 31, 2024, and $25.05 at March 31, 2024. Increase was driven by net income of $11.7 million during the first quarter combined with an improvement in after-tax accumulated other comprehensive losses of $2.7 million.