BELOIT, WI / ACCESSWIRE / April 21, 2023 / Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX:BHWB), (the "Company") parent company of Blackhawk Bank (the "Bank"), today reported net income of $2.89 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, a 29% decrease from the $4.05 million earned in the preceding quarter, and a 10% increase compared to the $2.62 million earned during the first quarter of 2022. Diluted Earnings per Share (EPS) for the current quarter was $1.00, a decrease of $0.41, or 29%, compared to the preceding quarter and a $0.08, or 9%, increase compared to the first quarter a year ago. The first quarter of 2023 results produced a Return on Average Equity (ROAE) of 15.09% and a Return on Average Assets (ROAA) of 0.87%.

Results for the first quarter of 2023 included $226,000 (after-tax) of expenses related to the pending merger with First Mid Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FMBH) ("First Mid"). Excluding these expenses, the 2023 first-quarter net income would have been $3.12 million, a $932,000, or 23%, decrease compared to the linked quarter ending December 31, 2022, and a $501,000, or 19%, increase over the first quarter of last year.

The increase in net income for the first quarter of 2023, compared to the first quarter of the prior year, includes a $2.01 million increase in net interest income, which was offset by a $415,000 increase in provision for loan losses, and a $906,000 decrease in income from the sale and servicing of mortgage loans.

"We finished the first quarter of 2023 strong, despite a volatile banking market and challenging interest rate environment," said Todd James, Chairman and CEO. "While quarterly loan growth has moderated from the robust levels we achieved during the last few quarters, we generated double digit loan growth year-over-year, while maintaining excellent asset quality. With a stable loan pipeline, strong capital position and ample available liquidity, we are well positioned for continued loan growth."

"Another highlight of the first quarter was our announced merger with First Mid. We look forward to our customers joining First Mid, which has a strong tradition of providing excellent banking resources and quality customer service s throughout the markets they serve," said James.

On March 21, 2023, the Company entered into an agreement to merge with First Mid Bancshares, Inc. in a 100% stock transaction. The transaction has been unanimously approved by each company's board of directors and is expected to close in the second half of 2023, subject to regulatory approvals, the approval of Blackhawk's stockholders and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights (at or for the three months ended March 31, 2023)

• Net income of $2.89 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, compared to $2.62 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2022.
• Net interest margin of 3.77%, compared to 3.82% in the preceding quarter and 3.13% in the first quarter a year ago.
• Annualized return on average assets was 0.87%, compared to 0.80% in the first quarter of 2022.
• Annualized return on average equity was 15.09%, compared to 10.82% in the first quarter a year ago.
• Excluding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, average loans held for investment increased $87.7 million, or 12.6% to $785.5 million at March 31, 2023, compared to $697.8 million for the first quarter of last year.
• Total deposits contracted by $51.4 million to $1.15 billion at March 31, 2023 compared to $1.20 billion at the end of 2022.
• Allowance Credit Losses to total loans was 1.46% at quarter end, compared to 1.11% at the end of 2022. The increase includes a $2.64 million adjustment due to the adoption of CECL (Current Expected Credit Losses) accounting standard at the beginning of 2023. The initial adoption resulted in a $1.90 million reduction to retained earnings.
• Nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.34% at March 31, 2023 compared to 0.52% a year ago.
• On March 17, 2023, paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share, marking the 35^th consecutive quarterly cash dividend paid.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income totaled $11.67 million for the first quarter of 2023, which was a decrease of $404,000, or 3%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, and an increase of $2.01 million, or 21%, compared to the first quarter of the prior year. The increase over the first quarter of the prior year is net of a $539,000 reduction in PPP fees. No PPP fee income was recognized in the current or linked quarter and all PPP fee income has been recognized.

The Company's net interest margin was 3.77% for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 3.82% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, and 3.13% for the first quarter of 2022. The tax-equivalent yield on earning assets increased to 4.70% for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 4.44% for the fourth quarter of 2022, and 3.32% for the first quarter of 2022. Total cost of deposits increased to 0.77% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to 0.50% and 0.11% for the quarters ended December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively.

"Our business model is inherently hedged against some of the impacts from changing interest rates, with mortgage banking revenue and net interest margin growth moving in opposite directions as interest rates change," James said. "Our net interest margin improved year-over-year as deposit cost increases lagged asset repricing throughout 2022, and as expected, deposit costs have caught up somewhat in the first quarter."

Excluding PPP loans, average total loans increased by $5.9 million, or less than one percent, to $785.5 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to $779.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 and increased $87.7 million, or 13%, compared to $697.8 million for the first quarter of 2022. Average total deposits for the first quarter of 2023 increased by $10.28 million to $1.20 billion compared to $1.19 billion in the first quarter of 2022.

Provision for Loan Losses and Asset Quality

The Company adopted CECL as of January 1, 2023, and recorded an increase of $2.64 million to the allowance for credit losses. The Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $415,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 compared to $450,000 for the fourth quarter of 2022 and no provision in the first quarter of last year.

Total nonperforming assets, which include troubled debt restructures performing in accordance with their modified terms, equaled $4.4 million as of March 31, 2023, as compared to $4.7 million as of December 31, 2022, and $6.9 million at March 31, 2022. At March 31, 2023, the ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans equaled 0.56%, as compared to 0.60% at December 31, 2022, and 0.93% at March 31, 2022.

The allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.46% as of March 31, 2023, compared to 1.11% at December 31, 2022, and 1.51% as of March 31, 2022. The allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans increased to 262.9% as of March 31, 2023, compared to 185.1% at December 31, 2022, and 162.0% at March 31, 2022.

Noninterest Income and Operating Expenses

Noninterest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, totaled $3.19 million, a $229,000 decrease compared to $3.41 million the prior quarter and a $733,000 decrease from the $3.92 million recorded in the first quarter of 2022. The decline in noninterest income compared to the first quarter of 2022 includes a $906,000 decrease in revenue from the sale and servicing of mortgage loans.

Operating expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, totaled $10.65 million, an increase of $442,000, or 4%, compared to the fourth quarter of2022, and an increase of $475,000, or 5%, compared to the first quarter of 2022. The increase compared to the linked quarter and first quarter of 2022 includes $314,000 of merger related costs.

Capital

Tangible book value per share was $24.02 at March 31, 2023, compared to $22.60 at December 31, 2022 and $26.58 at March 31, 2022. In addition to net income retained, the increase in tangible book value per share during the current quarter included a $3.84 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") due to a decrease in the unrealized loss on available for sale securities. The increase in AOCI was partially offset by the adoption of CECL, which resulted in a $1.9 million decrease in total shareholder equity. Excluding AOCI, tangible book value per share was $35.00 at March 31, 2023, a decrease of $0.03 compared to December 31, 2022 and an increase of $3.73 compared to March 31, 2022.

About Blackhawk Bancorp

Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, and is the parent company of Blackhawk Bank. The combined entity operates twelve full-service banking centers located in Rock County, Wisconsin, and the Illinois counties of Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, and Kane. The Company offers a variety of value-added consultative services to its business customers and their employees related to the financial products it provides.

Disclosures Regarding non-GAAP Measures

This report refers to financial measures that are identified as non-GAAP that the Company believes help to evaluate and measure the Company's performance, including the presentation of the net interest margin ratio and efficiency ratio calculations on a taxable-equivalent basis. Non-GAAP measures are also used to assist investor comparison by identifying nonrecurring events such as acquisition-related expenses, nonrecurring securities gains and the impact such items have on the performance measures of return on average assets, return on average equity, diluted earnings per share, and the efficiency ratio. This supplemental information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures.

Forward-Looking Statements

When used in this communication, the words "believes," "expects," "likely", "would", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause such a variance to occur include, but are not limited to: heightened competition; adverse state and federal regulation; failure to obtain new or retain existing customers; ability to attract and retain key executives and personnel; changes in interest rates; unanticipated changes in industry trends; unanticipated changes in credit quality and risk factors, including general economic conditions particularly in the Company's markets; potential deterioration in real estate values, success in gaining regulatory approvals when required; changes in the Federal Reserve Board monetary policies; unexpected outcomes of new and existing litigation in which Blackhawk or its subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees is named defendants; technological changes; changes in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; changes in assumptions or conditions affecting the application of "critical accounting policies"; inability to recover previously recorded losses as anticipated, and the inability of third party vendors to perform critical services for the Company or its customers. The inclusion of forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by the Company or any person that future events or plans contemplated by the Company will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or otherwise.

Further information is available on the Company's website at www.blackhawkbank.com.

Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc.

SOURCE: Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc.