First US Bancshares, Inc. Reports Third Quarter and Year-to-Date Earnings: Nine-month Diluted EPS Growth of $0.07 Over 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Third Quarter Highlights:

First US Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: FUSB) (the "Company"), the parent company of First US Bank (the "Bank"), today reported net income of $2.2 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 ("3Q2024"), compared to $2.1 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 ("2Q2024") and $2.1 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 ("3Q2023"). For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, net income totaled $6.5 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, compared to $6.2 million, or $0.97 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

The table below summarizes selected financial data for each of the periods presented.

CEO Commentary

"We are pleased to report continued improvement in earnings per share, as well as a balance sheet poised for growth," stated James F. House, President and CEO of the Company. "Although loan growth has not developed this year, market volatility has provided opportunities to strengthen the Company's balance sheet, and we have capitalized on those opportunities. This includes both the deployment of funds into favorably yielding investment securities, as well as strategies aimed at reducing interest expense over time. Our team remains focused on sound and prudent growth that will further enhance our balance sheet positioning and lead to even stronger profitability," continued Mr. House.                                           

Financial Results

Loans and Leases – The table below summarizes loan balances by portfolio category as of the end of each of the most recent five quarters.

Total loan volume decreased by $15.8 million, or 1.9%, in 3Q2024, driven primarily by payoffs of construction loans, and to a lesser extent, reductions in the consumer indirect and commercial and industrial ("C&I") loan categories. These reductions were partially offset by growth in commercial real estate (non-farm, non-residential) and multi-family residential loans. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, total loans decreased by $18.5 million, or 2.2%. While the Company experienced a reduction in loan volume during the first nine months of 2024, average loan balances remained higher than average loan balances during the corresponding period of 2023. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, average total loans were $821.0 million, compared to $795.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Net Interest Income and Margin – Net interest income remained consistent comparing 3Q2024 to 2Q2024, and decreased $0.3 million, or 3.1%, comparing 3Q2024 to 3Q2023. Net interest margin totaled 3.60% for 3Q2024, compared to 3.69% in 2Q2024 and 3.79% in 3Q2023. In general, net interest margin has declined amid the higher interest rate environment that has persisted since 2022 as interest-bearing liabilities repriced at faster rates than interest-bearing assets. The decrease in net interest margin in 3Q2024 compared to 2Q2024 was primarily attributable to reductions of gain accretion in 3Q2024 on previously terminated interest rate swaps, as well as accelerated interest expense associated with fees on brokered deposits that were called during the latter part of 3Q2024. In light of general market interest rate reductions that occurred during 3Q2024, the Company moved to replace callable brokered deposits with lower-rate deposits in an effort to reduce interest expense over time. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, net interest income totaled $27.4 million, compared to $28.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.  Net interest margin totaled 3.65% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to 3.93% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Deposit Growth – Total deposits increased by $26.7 million, or 2.8%, during 3Q2024, due primarily to growth in interest-bearing demand deposits, and to a lesser extent, growth in interest-bearing time deposits and non-interest-bearing demand deposits. The growth in interest-bearing time deposits was driven primarily by growth of $10.0 million in wholesale brokered time deposits. Core deposits, which exclude time deposits of $250 thousand or more and all wholesale brokered deposits, totaled $833.5 million, or 85.0% of total deposits, as of September 30, 2024, compared to $819.5 million, or 86.2% of total deposits, as of December 31, 2023.                                                    

Deployment of Funds – As of September 30, 2024, the Company held cash, federal funds sold and securities purchased under reverse repurchase agreements totaling $97.8 million, or 8.9% of total assets, compared to $59.8 million, or 5.6% of total assets, as of December 31, 2023. Investment securities, including both the available-for-sale and held-to-maturity portfolios, totaled $145.0 million as of September 30, 2024, compared to $136.7 million as of December 31, 2023. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, $27.5 million was invested in taxable U.S. agency-sponsored bonds, resulting in improved yields in the investment portfolio. As of September 30, 2024, the expected average life of securities in the investment portfolio was 4.1 years, compared to 3.9 years as of December 31, 2023.      

Provision for Credit Losses – During both 3Q2024 and 3Q2023, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $0.2 million.  No provision for credit losses was recorded during 2Q2024. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the provision for credit losses totaled $0.2 million, compared to $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The decrease in the provision for credit losses comparing the first nine months of 2024 to the corresponding period of 2023 was due primarily to decreases in loan volume, as well as adjustments in economic forecasts that impact the calculation of the allowance for credit losses ("ACL") on loans and leases.  As of September 30, 2024, the Company's ACL on loans and leases as a percentage of total loans was 1.26%, compared to 1.28% as of December 31, 2023.       

Asset Quality – Nonperforming assets, including loans in non-accrual status and OREO, totaled $6.6 million as of September 30, 2024, compared to $3.0 million as of December 31, 2023. The increase in nonperforming assets comparing September 30, 2024 to December 31, 2023 resulted from two loans (from the C&I and 1-4 family residential categories) that moved into non-accrual status during 3Q2024. As a percentage of total assets, nonperforming assets totaled 0.60% as of September 30, 2024, compared to 0.28% as of December 31, 2023. Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans during 3Q2024 totaled 0.12%, compared to 0.10% during both 2Q2024 and 3Q2023.

Non-interest Income – Non-interest income totaled $0.9 million in 3Q2024, compared to $0.8 million in both 2Q2024 and 3Q2023. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, non-interest income totaled $2.6 million, compared to $2.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Non-interest Expense – Non-interest expense totaled $7.0 million in 3Q2024, compared to $7.3 million in both 2Q2024 and 3Q2023. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, non-interest expense totaled $21.4 million, compared to $21.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Salaries and benefits expense decreased during the first nine months of 2024, compared to the corresponding period of 2023, primarily due to lower staff levels resulting from strategic initiatives implemented by the Company in prior years. In addition, other expenses were lower during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the corresponding period of 2023, due primarily to the recovery of check fraud losses and reduced collection expenses.  These reductions in non-interest expense during the first nine months of 2024 were partially offset by increases associated with occupancy and professional services expenses, as well as increases in legal, accounting and auditing fees. 

Shareholders' Equity – As of September 30, 2024, shareholders' equity totaled $98.5 million, or 8.95% of total assets, compared to $90.6 million, or 8.44% of total assets, as of December 31, 2023. The increase in shareholders' equity during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 resulted primarily from earnings, net of dividends paid and repurchases of shares of the Company's common stock. In addition, shareholders' equity was positively impacted during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 by reductions in the Company's accumulated other comprehensive loss resulting from changes in market interest rates, as well as the maturity of lower yielding investment securities. The Company's ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets was 8.33% as of September 30, 2024, compared to 7.79% as of December 31, 2023.  

Cash Dividend – The Company declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share on its common stock in 3Q2024, consistent with previous quarters in both 2024 and 2023.

Share Repurchases – During 3Q2024, the Company completed the repurchase of 29,500 shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of $10.83 per share. The repurchases were completed under the Company's previously announced share repurchase program. As of September 30, 2024, 352,813 shares remained available for repurchase under the program.

Regulatory Capital – During 3Q2024, the Bank continued to maintain capital ratios at higher levels than required to be considered a "well-capitalized" institution under applicable banking regulations. As of September 30, 2024, the Bank's common equity Tier 1 capital and Tier 1 risk-based capital ratios were each 11.46%, its total capital ratio was 12.64%, and its Tier 1 leverage ratio was 9.49%.

Liquidity – As of September 30, 2024, the Company continued to maintain funding capacity sufficient to provide adequate liquidity for loan growth, capital expenditures and ongoing operations. The Company benefits from a strong core deposit base, a liquid investment securities portfolio and access to funding from a variety of sources, including federal funds lines with other banking institutions, Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances, the discount window of the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB), and brokered deposits.

Banking Center Growth – As part of the Company's overall growth strategy, during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company opened a new banking center in the Bearden area of Knoxville, Tennessee that replaced the Bank's previously existing Knoxville-Bearden location. In addition, the Company commenced renovation of a banking center office in Daphne, Alabama that was purchased from another financial institution. This location is expected to serve as the Bank's initial deposit gathering facility in the Daphne/Mobile area, and it is anticipated that the location will open to the public in early 2025.

About First US Bancshares, Inc.

First US Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") is a bank holding company that operates banking offices in Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia through First US Bank (the "Bank"). The Company files periodic reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Copies of its filings may be obtained through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or at www.firstusbank.com. More information about the Company and the Bank may be obtained at www.firstusbank.com. The Company's stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "FUSB."

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, as defined by federal securities laws. Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements following the date of this press release, except as required by law. In addition, the Company, through its senior management, may make from time to time forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of the Company's senior management based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

Certain factors that could affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements and cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements are identified in the public filings made by the Company with the SEC, and forward-looking statements contained in this press release or in other public statements of the Company or its senior management should be considered in light of those factors. Such factors may include risk related to the Company's credit, including that if loan losses are greater than anticipated; the increased lending risks associated with commercial real estate lending; liquidity risks; the impact of national and local market conditions on the Company's business and operations; the rate of growth (or lack thereof) in the economy generally and in the Company's service areas; strong competition in the banking industry; the impact of changes in interest rates and monetary policy on the Company's performance and financial condition; the impact of technological changes in the banking and financial service industries and potential information system failures; cybersecurity and data privacy threats; the costs of complying with extensive governmental regulation; the impact of changing accounting standards and tax laws on the Company's allowance for credit losses and financial results; the possibility that acquisitions may not produce anticipated results and result in unforeseen integration difficulties; and other risk factors described from time to time in the Company's public filings, including, but not limited to, the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Relative to the Company's dividend policy, the payment of cash dividends is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will be determined in light of then-current conditions, including the Company's earnings,  leverage, operations, financial conditions, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors. In the future, the Board of Directors may change the Company's dividend policy, including the frequency or amount of any dividend, in light of then-existing conditions.