BEDMINSTER, NJ - (NewMediaWire) - July 23, 2024 - Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market: PGC) (the “Company”) announces its second quarter 2024 financial results. 

This earnings release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Q2 2024 Investor Update, a copy of which is available on our website at www.pgbank.com and via a current report on Form 8-K on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.  

During the second quarter of 2024, core relationship deposits grew $354 million to $4.6 billion which represents an annualized rate of 33%.  During the first six months of the year core relationship deposits have grown by $524 million. Strong growth in core relationship deposit balances have enabled the Company to repay $119.5 million of all outstanding short-term borrowings as of June 30, 2024.

The improvement in the Company’s liquidity profile also resulted in an increase in the net interest margin compared to the previous quarter. The net interest margin increased to 2.25% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to 2.20% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. 

The Company recorded total revenue of $56.6 million, net income of $7.5 million and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) of $0.42 for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to revenue of $57.5 million, net income of $13.1 million and diluted EPS of $0.73 for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Return on average assets was 0.47%, return on average equity was 5.22%, and return on average tangible equity was 5.67% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Douglas L. Kennedy, President and CEO said, “One year ago we announced our strategic decision to expand our footprint into New York City with the addition of a team of experienced banking professionals and a new office on Park Avenue. During the second quarter of this year, we have taken another step to enhance our expansion effort with the addition of thirteen (13) commercial private banking teams that bring with them decades of experience and deep client relationships in the metro New York market. Our second quarter results demonstrate the progress and momentum we are building toward a successful destination. Growth in customer deposits in an extremely competitive environment, improvement in our net interest margin, along with an enhanced liquidity profile are evidence of the positive results we are striving to achieve."

Mr. Kennedy also noted, “We continue to expand our unique private banking model that offers a 'Single Point of Contact' to deliver a white glove experience for all of our product offerings. We are being extremely well received by all those that we have had the opportunity to interact with and are very pleased with the results to date. While we are aware of the potential headwinds in front of us related to credit quality concerns and a challenging interest rate environment, we remain focused executing our strategy which we believe will deliver a successful outcome." 

The following are select highlights for the period ended June 30, 2024:

Wealth Management:

• Gross new business inflows for Q2 2024 totaled $171 million ($139 million managed). 

• AUM/AUA in our Wealth Management Division totaled $11.5 billion at June 30, 2024 compared to $10.9 billion at December 31, 2023.  

• Wealth Management fee income was $16.4 million in Q2 2024, which amounted to 29% of total revenue for the quarter. 

Commercial Banking and Balance Sheet Management: 

• Total deposits grew by $382 million, to $5.7 billion at June 30, 2024 compared to $5.3 billion at December 31, 2023. The Company intentionally allowed $142 million in high cost, non-core relationship deposits to roll off during the first six months of the year. Excluding this deposit run-off, core relationship deposits have grown by $524 million during 2024.

• The Company has repaid all short-term borrowings as of June 30, 2024 compared to $404 million outstanding at December 31, 2023.

• Total loans declined $167 million to $5.3 billion at June 30, 2024 from $5.4 billion at December 31, 2023. 

• Commercial and industrial lending (“C&I”) loan/lease balances represent 42% of the total loan portfolio at June 30, 2024.

• Fee income on unused commercial lines of credit totaled $786,000 for Q2 2024.

• The net interest margin ("NIM") was 2.25% in Q2 2024, an increase of 5 basis points compared to 2.20% at Q1 2024.

• Noninterest-bearing demand deposits increased by $35 million during the second quarter of 2024 and represented 17% of total deposits as of June 30, 2024.

Capital Management:

• Tangible book value per share increased slightly to $30.73 per share at June 30, 2024 compared to $30.31 at December 31, 2023.

• During the second quarter, the Company repurchased 100,000 shares of common stock at a cost of $2.2 million. During the first six months of 2024, the Company repurchased 200,000 shares of common stock at a cost of $4.6 million. For the full year 2023, the Company repurchased 455,341 shares at a cost of $12.5 million. 

• At June 30, 2024, the Tier 1 Leverage Ratio stood at 11.14% for Peapack-Gladstone Bank (the "Bank") and 9.45% for the Company. The Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (to Risk-Weighted Assets) was 14.05% for the Bank and 11.92% for the Company at June 30, 2024. These ratios remain significantly above well capitalized standards, as capital continues to benefit from net income generation. 

SUMMARY INCOME STATEMENT DETAILS:

The following tables summarize specified financial details for the periods shown. 

June 2024 Year Compared to Prior Year

June 2024 Quarter Compared to Prior Year Quarter

 June 2024 Quarter Compared to Linked Quarter

SUPPLEMENTAL QUARTERLY DETAILS:

Wealth Management 

AUM/AUA in the Bank’s Wealth Management Division were $11.5 billion at June 30, 2024 compared to $10.9 billion at December 31, 2023.  For the June 2024 quarter, the Wealth Management Team generated $16.4 million in fee income, compared to $14.4 million for the March 31, 2024 quarter and $14.3 million for the June 2023 quarter. The equity markets improved during the first half of 2024, contributing to the increase in AUM/AUA along with gross new business inflows of $171 million.

John Babcock, President of the Bank's Wealth Management Division, noted, “Q2 2024 continued strong client inflows totaling new accounts and client additions of $171 million ($139 million managed). Our 2024 new business pipeline is healthy, and we continue to remain focused on delivering excellent service and advice to our clients. Our highly skilled wealth management professionals, our fiduciary powers and expertise, our financial planning capabilities combined with our high-touch client service model distinguishes us in our market and continues to drive our growth and success.”  

Loans / Commercial Banking 

Total loans declined $167 million, or 3%, to $5.3 billion at June 30, 2024 when compared to December 31, 2023, primarily driven by repayments, maturities and tighter lending standards. Nearly half of the decline in outstanding loans was related to reductions in multifamily and commercial real estate balances. Total C&I loans and leases at June 30, 2024 were $2.2 billion or 42% of the total loan portfolio. 

Mr. Kennedy noted, “As previously mentioned, we have tightened our underwriting guidelines due to economic uncertainty, successfully excited some problem credits, and originations have also slowed due to the rate environment. As a result, our outstanding loan balances have declined during 2024. Recently, we have been building a pipeline of C&I loans and believe that we will make up the decline in loans experienced during the first half of 2024. We are proud to have built a leading middle market commercial banking franchise, as evidenced by our C&I Portfolio, Treasury Management services, Corporate Advisory and SBA businesses. We believe these business lines fit perfectly with our private banking business model and will generate solid production going forward.”

Net Interest Income (NII)/Net Interest Margin (NIM)

The Company’s NII of $35.0 million and NIM of 2.25% for Q2 2024 increased $667,000 and 5 basis points from NII of $34.4 million and NIM of 2.20% for the linked quarter (Q1 2024), and decreased $3.9 million and 24 basis points from NII of $38.9 million and NIM of 2.49% compared to the prior year period (Q2 2023).  During Q2 2024, the Company has seen NIM expansion partially due the paydown of overnight borrowings which were replaced by lower cost deposit balances.  Prior to Q2 2024, the Company had seen a sharp increase in interest expense mostly driven by higher deposit rates during 2023. Noninterest-bearing checking deposits increased by $35 million during the second quarter of 2024, which also benefited NIM. Cycle to date betas are approximately 53%.

Funding / Liquidity / Interest Rate Risk Management

Total deposits increased $382 million to $5.7 billion at June 30, 2024 from $5.3 billion at December 31, 2023.  The change in deposit balances included a decline in brokered deposits of $95 million.  The overall growth in deposits was used to pay down all overnight borrowings as of June 30, 2024, as well as providing additional balance sheet liquidity. Outstanding overnight borrowings were $404 million at December 31, 2023. 

At June 30, 2024, the Company’s balance sheet liquidity (investments available for sale, interest-earning deposits and cash) totaled $933 million, or 14% of assets. The Company maintains additional liquidity resources of approximately $2.9 billion through secured available funding with the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Reserve Discount Window.  The available funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Reserve are secured by the Company’s loan and investment portfolios. 

The Company's total on and off-balance sheet liquidity totaled $3.9 billion, which amounts to 304% of the total uninsured/uncollateralized deposits currently on the Company’s balance sheet.

Income from Capital Markets Activities

Noninterest income from Capital Markets activities (detailed below) totaled $586,000 for the June 2024 quarter compared to $1.3 million for the March 2024 quarter and $868,000 for the June 2023 quarter. The March 2024 quarter included $818,000 of corporate advisory fee income.

Other Noninterest Income (other than Wealth Management Fee Income and Income from Capital Markets Activities)

Other noninterest income was $4.6 million for Q2 2024 compared to $3.0 million for Q1 2024 and $3.5 million for Q2 2023. Q2 2024 included $1.6 million of income recorded by the Equipment Finance Division related to equipment transfers to lessees upon the termination of leases, while Q1 2024 included $141,000 and Q2 2023 included $221,000 respectively. Additionally, Q2 2024 included $786,000 of unused line fees compared to $827,000 for Q1 2024 and $809,000 for Q2 2023.

Operating Expenses

The Company’s total operating expenses were $43.1 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $40.0 million for the first quarter of 2024 and $37.7 million for the quarter ended June 2023. Both 2024 quarters included expenses associated with the Company’s expansion into New York City. The June 2024 quarter also included normal annual merit increases.

Mr. Kennedy noted, “We continue to make investments related to our strategic decision to expand into New York City and are confident that these expenses will position us for future growth, which will ultimately translate to shareholder value.  We continue to look for opportunities to create efficiencies and manage expenses throughout the Company while investing in enhancements to the client experience."

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was 21.2%, as compared to 30.4% for the March 2024 quarter and 27.4% for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.  The June 2024 quarter included a benefit related to the Company’s deferred tax assets associated with a surtax imposed by the State of New Jersey in June 2024. Excluding such benefit, the effective tax rate for the June 2024 quarter would have been approximately 29.0%. The higher tax rate for the March 2024 quarter was primarily due to the impact of vesting of the restricted stock at prices lower than original grant prices.

Asset Quality / Provision for Credit Losses

Nonperforming assets were $82.1 million, or 1.26% of total assets at June 30, 2024, as compared to $69.8 million, or 1.09% of total assets at March 31, 2024. Loans past due 30 to 89 days and still accruing were $34.7 million, or 0.66% of total loans at June 30, 2024 compared to $73.7 million, or 1.37% of total loans at March 31, 2024. 

Criticized and classified loans totaled $269.1 million at June 30, 2024, reflecting an increase from the March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2023 levels. The Company currently has no loans or leases on deferral and still accruing.   

For the quarter ended June 30, 2024, the Company’s provision for credit losses was $3.9 million compared to $615,000 for the March 2024 quarter and $1.7 million for the June 2023 quarter. The provision for credit losses in the second quarter of 2024 was primarily driven by charge-offs related to the sale of two problem loans, which were approaching foreclosure and transfer to other real estate owned.

At June 30, 2024, the allowance for credit losses was $68.0 million (1.29% of total loans), compared to $66.3 million (1.24% of total loans) at March 31, 2024, and $62.7 million (1.15% of total loans) at June 30, 2023.

Mr. Kennedy noted, “As evidenced by our asset quality metrics, we have seen some credit issues surface, but we believe these are presently isolated to a small number of specific multifamily sponsors and will work through each credit one at a time.  All of the multifamily loans that matured or repriced in 2024 have continued to make their scheduled payments despite the higher rate environment."

Capital 

The Company’s capital position increased during the second quarter of 2024 due to net income of $7.5 million, which was partially offset by the repurchase of 100,000 shares through the Company's repurchase program at a total cost of $2.2 million and the quarterly dividend of $887,000. Additionally, during the second quarter of 2024, the Company recorded a deterioration in accumulated other comprehensive losses of $582,000, net of tax. The total accumulated other comprehensive loss declined to $68.3 million as of June 30, 2024 ($75.1 million loss related to the available for sale securities portfolio partially offset by a $6.8 million gain on the cash flow hedges).  

Tangible book value per share increased during the second quarter to $30.73 at June 30, 2024 from $30.31 at December 31, 2023. Tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the reconciliation tables included in this release for further detail. The Company’s and Bank’s regulatory capital ratios as of June 30, 2024 remain strong and reflect increases from March 31, 2024 levels. Where applicable, such ratios remain well above regulatory well capitalized standards. 

The Company employs quarterly capital stress testing modeling of an adverse case and severely adverse case. In the most recently completed stress test (as of March 31, 2024), under the severely adverse case, and no growth scenario, the Bank remains well capitalized over a two-year stress period.

On June 27, 2024, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share payable on August 22, 2024 to shareholders of record on August 8, 2024.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation is a New Jersey bank holding company with total assets of $6.5 billion and assets under management/administration of $11.5 billion as of June 30, 2024.  Founded in 1921, Peapack-Gladstone Bank is a commercial bank that provides Private Banking customized solutions through its wealth management, commercial and retail solutions, including residential lending and online platforms, to businesses and consumers.  Peapack Private, the bank’s wealth management division, offers comprehensive financial, tax, fiduciary and investment advice and solutions to individuals, families, privately-held businesses, family offices and not-for-profit organizations, which help them to establish, maintain and expand their legacy.  Together, Peapack-Gladstone Bank and Peapack Private offer an unparalleled commitment to client service.  Visit www.pgbank.com and www.peapackprivate.com for more information.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The foregoing may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management’s confidence and strategies and management’s expectations about new and existing programs and products, investments, relationships, opportunities and market conditions.  These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as “expect,” “look,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may” or similar statements or variations of such terms.  Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements.  Factors that may cause results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

• our ability to successfully grow our business and implement our strategic plan, including our ability to generate revenues to offset the increased personnel and other costs related to the strategic plan;

• the impact of anticipated higher operating expenses in 2024 and beyond;

• our ability to successfully integrate wealth management firm and team acquisitions;

• our ability to successfully integrate our expanded employee base;

• an unexpected decline in the economy, in particular in our New Jersey and New York market areas, including potential recessionary conditions;

• declines in our net interest margin caused by the interest rate environment and/or our highly competitive market;

• declines in the value in our investment portfolio;

• impact from a pandemic event on our business, operations, customers, allowance for credit losses and capital levels;

• the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and results of operation;

• higher than expected increases in our allowance for credit losses;

• higher than expected increases in credit losses or in the level of delinquent, nonperforming, classified and criticized loans or charge-offs;

• inflation and changes in interest rates, which may adversely impact our margins and yields, reduce the fair value of our financial instruments, reduce our loan originations and lead to higher operating costs;

• decline in real estate values within our market areas;

• legislative and regulatory actions (including the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Basel III and related regulations) that may result in increased compliance costs;

• successful cyberattacks against our IT infrastructure and that of our IT and third-party providers;

• higher than expected FDIC insurance premiums;

• adverse weather conditions;

• the current or anticipated impact of military conflict, terrorism or other geopolitical events;

• our inability to successfully generate new business in new geographic markets, including our expansion into New York City;

• a reduction in our lower-cost funding sources;

• changes in liquidity, including the size and composition of our deposit portfolio, including the percentage of uninsured deposits in the portfolio;

• our inability to adapt to technological changes; 

• claims and litigation pertaining to fiduciary responsibility, environmental laws and other matters;

• our inability to retain key employees;

• demands for loans and deposits in our market areas;

• adverse changes in securities markets;

• changes in New York City rent regulation law;

• changes in governmental regulation, including, but not limited to, any increase in FDIC insurance premiums and changes in the monetary policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;

• changes in accounting policies and practices; and/or

•  other unexpected material adverse changes in our operations or earnings.

A discussion of these and other factors that could affect our results is included in our SEC filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.  We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company’s expectations.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

Contact:

Frank A. Cavallaro, SEVP and CFO

Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation

T: 908-306-8933

 (Tables to follow)

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

(Dollars in Thousands, except per share data)

 (Unaudited)

(A) The September 2023 quarter included $2.3 million of fee income from equipment finance activity.

(B) Return on average tangible equity is calculated by dividing tangible equity by annualized net income.  See Non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation included in these tables.

(C) Calculated as total operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue.  For Non-GAAP efficiency ratio, see the Non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation included in these tables.

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

(Dollars in Thousands, except per share data)

 (Unaudited)