Evans Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company” or “Evans”) (NYSE American: EVBN), a community financial services company serving Western New York since 1920, today reported results of operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021.

THIRD QUARTER 2021 HIGHLIGHTS (compared with prior-year period unless otherwise noted)

• Net interest income increased 16% to $18.2 million reflecting accelerated amortization of Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) fees, higher commercial loan prepayment fees and lower interest expense
• Results include $1.5 million release of allowance for loan losses due to improved credit quality in the hotel portfolio and lower specific reserves
• Total deposits of $1.88 billion, increased 5%

Net income increased 54% to a record $7.0 million, or $1.27 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2021, from $4.5 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, in last year’s third quarter. The increase included higher net interest income of $2.5 million and a $3.3 million decrease in provision for loan loss. Partially offsetting these increases to net income was $1.9 million of higher salary expenses primarily related to incentives and strategic hires.

The 11% increase in net income from the sequential second quarter of $6.3 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, reflected a $0.7 million decrease in provision for loan losses due to a reduction in criticized assets and $0.7 million increase in non-interest income primarily due to seasonally higher insurance service and fee revenue. These increases were partially offset by a $0.6 million increase in salary incentive expenses.

Return on average equity was 15.58% for the third quarter of 2021, compared with 14.72% in the second quarter of 2021 and 11.09% in the third quarter of 2020.

“The Bank’s record results this quarter were supported by strong loan production throughout the year, PPP fees and credit quality improvements, reflecting underwriting strength and proactive measures with our hotel portfolio resulting in upgrades to the credit risk ratings of a number of relationships into normal performing categories. While PPP forgiveness and higher than typical payoffs in this historically low-rate environment continue to provide headwinds to our overall loan growth, we are generating strong loan production this year and are encouraged by the return of more commercial and industrial loan opportunities,” said David J. Nasca, President and CEO of Evans Bancorp, Inc.

“Our priority continues to be utilization of excess liquidity. We are strategically adding talent to supplement our loan efforts both within our legacy market and new market area in Rochester, as well as bolstering our fee based businesses. We are in the process of building out customer solutions in an effort to deliver an enhanced experience that is centered on speed, flexibility and efficiency. The actions we are taking are designed to continue to enhance returns over the long-term.”

Net interest income decreased $0.2 million, or 1%, from the sequential second quarter, but increased $2.5 million or 16% from prior-year third quarter. The increase from the prior-year period reflected higher PPP fees of $1.2 million, a $0.3 million increase in commercial loan prepayment fees, and lower interest expense of $1.0 million. The decrease in net interest income from the second quarter of 2021 reflects lower fees earned in connection with PPP and commercial prepayment fees. As PPP loans are forgiven, the Company is accelerating the recognition of fees that were being amortized over the original life of the loan. PPP fees recognized in interest income were $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2021, $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2021 and $0.9 million in the third quarter of 2020.

Third quarter net interest margin of 3.48% decreased 14 basis points from the second quarter of 2021, reflecting higher amounts of low-yielding interest-bearing deposits at banks. Net interest margin increased 29 basis points from the third quarter of 2020 due to higher balances in interest-earning assets, PPP fee amortization, commercial prepayment income and reduced interest expense as the Company continued to align rates on deposits. The yield on loans increased 4 basis points when compared with the second quarter of 2021 and increased 35 basis points when compared with the third quarter of 2020. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased to 0.31% compared with 0.34% in the second quarter of 2021 and 0.59% in the third quarter of 2020.

The Company continues to evaluate its loan portfolio in response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its clients. During the third quarter of 2020, the Company identified a well-defined weakness in the hotel industry and classified the loans to clients within that industry as criticized. As of September 30, 2021, the Company’s hotel loan portfolio totaled approximately $80 million, of which the Company upgraded $20 million out of the criticized loan category and $2.2 million was classified as nonaccrual during the recent third quarter.

The $1.5 million release of allowance for loan losses in the current quarter included $0.7 million related to a decrease in criticized hotel portfolio loans and a $0.5 million reduction in specific reserves resulting from payments received from one commercial customer relationship. Evans has deferred the adoption of the Current Expected Credit Loss Impairment Model (CECL), as permitted by its classification as a Smaller Reporting Company by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Our hotel portfolio continues to show improvement as we moved about a quarter of the total portfolio back to normal paying status, and received all deferred interest. Only one hotel loan was moved to nonaccrual status, which was reflected in the increase in non-performing assets. We will continue to closely monitor the portfolio and although the remaining hotel relationships have shown improvement in their occupancy rates and have paid all amounts due, the Bank is looking to establish sustained performance on these credits before upgrading,” stated John Connerton, Chief Financial Officer of Evans Bank.

The increase in insurance service and fee revenue from the sequential second quarter reflects seasonally higher commercial lines insurance commissions and profit-sharing revenue.

During the third quarter of 2020, the Company recognized approximately $0.7 million of gain on sale of investment securities. There were no comparable gains during 2021.

The increase in other income from the sequential second quarter was largely due to changes in the fair value of mortgage servicing rights and other loan fee income.

Total non-interest expense increased $0.2 million, or 1%, from the second quarter of 2021, and $0.9 million, or 6% from last year’s third quarter.

Salaries and employee benefits increased $0.6 million, or 6%, from the sequential second quarter and $1.8 million, or 23%, from last year’s third quarter. The sequential change reflected a $0.6 million increase in incentive accruals, while the prior-year period included a $0.7 million reduction of incentive accruals. The year-over-year change also reflects the addition of strategic hires to support the Company’s continued growth along with inflation in the cost of labor.

Third quarter of 2020 merger-related expenses included costs relating to the acquisition of Fairport Savings Bank. There were no comparable expenses during the second or third quarters of 2021.

The Company’s GAAP efficiency ratio, or noninterest expenses divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income, was 66.0% in the third quarter of 2021, 66.7% in the second quarter of 2021, and 67.3% in the third quarter of 2020. The Company’s non-GAAP efficiency ratio, excluding amortization expense, gains and losses from investment securities, and merger-related expenses, was 65.4% compared with 66.1% in the second quarter of 2021 and 66.3% in last year’s third quarter.

Income tax expense was $2.4 million, or an effective tax rate of 25.6%, for the third quarter of 2021 compared with 24.4% in the second quarter of 2021 and 11.8% in last year’s third quarter. Excluding the impact of a 2020 historic tax credit transaction, the effective tax rate was 25.6% in the third quarter of 2020.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets were $2.15 billion as of September 30, 2021, a decrease of less than 1% from $2.16 billion at June 30, 2021, but up 5% from $2.06 billion at September 30, 2020. The increase from the prior year was due to an increase in investment securities and interest-bearing deposits at banks, partially offset by lower loan balances. Since last year’s third quarter, residential mortgages increased $38 million and commercial real estate loans were up $37 million. More than offsetting was a decrease in commercial and industrial loans of $163 million, of which $127 million was a result of the change in PPP loan balances. PPP loans totaled $76.3 million at September 30, 2021, compared with $145.7 million at June 30, 2021 and $203.1 million at September 30, 2020. The Company has also experienced a significant increase in the level of commercial payoffs, with a quarterly average of $43 million in 2021 compared with a more normalized level around $21 million a quarter.

Investment securities were $258 million at September 30, 2021, $24 million higher than the end of the second quarter of 2021, and $97 million higher than at the end of last year’s third quarter. The increases reflect the use of excess cash balances. The primary objectives of the Company’s investment portfolio are to provide liquidity, secure municipal deposits, and maximize income while preserving the safety of principal.

Total deposits of $1.88 billion decreased $8 million, or less than 1%, from June 30, 2021, but were up $95 million, or 5%, from the end of last year’s third quarter. The increase from the prior year reflects an accumulation of liquidity by commercial customers in response to the pandemic, including deposits related to PPP loans, and increases in consumer deposits from government stimulus payments and lower consumer spending.

Capital Management

The Company has consistently maintained regulatory capital ratios measurably above the Federal “well capitalized” standard, including a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.34% at September 30, 2021 compared with 8.23% at June 30, 2021 and 7.82% at September 30, 2020. Book value per share was $32.73 at September 30, 2021 compared with $32.28 at June 30, 2021 and $30.29 at September 30, 2020. Tangible book value per share was $30.07 at September 30, 2021 compared with $29.58 at June 30, 2021 and $27.49 at September 30, 2020.

In October 2021, the Company paid a semi-annual cash dividend of $0.60 per common share. Cash dividends totaled $1.20 per common share during 2021, up 3% over 2020.

Webcast and Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 4:45 p.m. ET. Management will review the financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2021, as well as the Company’s strategy and outlook. A question and answer session will follow the formal presentation.

The conference call can be accessed by calling (201) 689-8471. Alternatively, the webcast can be monitored at www.evansbancorp.com.

A telephonic replay will be available from 7:45 p.m. ET on the day of the teleconference until Thursday, November 4, 2021. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter conference ID number 13723727, or access the webcast replay at www.evansbancorp.com, where a transcript will be posted once available.

About Evans Bancorp, Inc.

Evans Bancorp, Inc. is a financial holding company and the parent company of Evans Bank, N.A., a commercial bank with $2.2 billion in assets and $1.9 billion in deposits at September 30, 2021. Evans is a full-service community bank with 21 financial centers providing comprehensive financial services to consumer, business and municipal customers throughout Western New York. Evans Insurance Agency, a wholly owned subsidiary, provides life insurance, employee benefits, and property and casualty insurance through ten offices in the Western New York region. Evans Investment Services provides non-deposit investment products, such as annuities and mutual funds.

Evans Bancorp, Inc. and Evans Bank routinely post news and other important information on their websites, at www.evansbancorp.com and www.evansbank.com.

Safe Harbor Statement: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future business, revenue and earnings. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance, events or results. There are risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results of Evans Bancorp to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include the impacts from COVID-19, competitive pressures among financial services companies, interest rate trends, general economic conditions, changes in legislation or regulatory requirements, effectiveness at achieving stated goals and strategies, and difficulties in achieving operating efficiencies. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Evans Bancorp’s Annual and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Evans Bancorp undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new, updated information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211028006118/en/