PROSPERITY BANCSHARES, INC.® REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER 2021 EARNINGS

HOUSTON, Jan. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --  Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.^® (NYSE: PB), the parent company of Prosperity Bank^® (collectively, "Prosperity"), reported net income of  $126.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 compared with $137.1 million for the same period in 2020. Net income per diluted common share was $1.38 for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared with $1.48 for the same period in 2020, and the annualized return on fourth quarter average assets was 1.37%. Additionally, loans, excluding Warehouse Purchase Program and SBA Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans, increased $76.7 million or 0.5% (1.8% annualized) and deposits increased $1.320 billion or 4.5% (17.9% annualized) during the fourth quarter of 2021. Nonperforming assets remain low at 0.09% of fourth quarter average interest-earning assets.

"We believe that Texas and Oklahoma will have a higher growth rate and outperform other states over the next several years.  Companies and individuals continue to move to Texas and Oklahoma because of lower tax rates and a business-friendly political environment, and we believe that will continue, which should benefit our bank. We expect that companies will need more infrastructure and buildings, people will need more housing and consumer staples, and both will need banks to finance the growth," said David Zalman, Prosperity's Senior Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

"Our bank continues to show strong deposit growth, with over $3.4 billion added in 2021, and a strong return on assets of 1.37% and return on average tangible equity of 16.26%. Our asset quality continues to be one of the best in the industry. We predict loans will grow given the vibrant economy and the bank's net interest margin should improve going forward with potential rate hikes forecasted by the Federal Reserve. I would like to thank all our customers, associates, and directors for helping us build such a successful bank," concluded Zalman.

Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2021

Net income was $126.8 million⁽²⁾ for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared with $137.1 million⁽³⁾ for the same period in 2020, a decrease of $10.3 million or 7.5%. The change was primarily due to a decrease in loan interest income and loan discount accretion of $10.7 million, partially offset by an increase in securities interest income and a decrease in interest expense. Net income per diluted common share was $1.38 for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared with $1.48 for the same period in 2020, a decrease of 6.8%. On a linked quarter basis, net income was $126.8 million⁽²⁾ for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared with $128.6 million⁽⁴⁾ for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Net income per diluted common share was $1.38 for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared with $1.39 for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Annualized returns on average assets, average common equity and average tangible common equity for the three months ended December 31, 2021 were 1.37%, 7.91% and 16.26%⁽¹⁾, respectively. Prosperity's efficiency ratio (excluding net gains and losses on the sale or write down of assets and taxes) was 42.79%⁽¹⁾ for the three months ended December 31, 2021.

Net interest income before provision for credit losses for the three months ended December 31, 2021 was $244.8 million compared with $257.6 million for the same period in 2020, a decrease of $12.9 million or 5.0%. The change was primarily due to a decrease in the average balance and average rate on loans and a decrease in loan discount accretion of $10.7 million, partially offset by an increase in the average investment securities balance and a decrease in the average rate on interest-bearing liabilities. On a linked quarter basis, net interest income before provision for credit losses was $244.8 million compared with $248.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021.

The net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis was 2.97% for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared with 3.49% for the same period in 2020. The change was primarily due to lower average rates on loans and investment securities and a decrease in loan discount accretion of $10.7 million, partially offset by a decrease in the average rate on interest-bearing liabilities. On a linked quarter basis, the net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis was 2.97% for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared with 3.10% for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The change was primarily due to lower average rates on loans and investment securities, and higher cash balances due to excess liquidity, partially offset by a decrease in the average rate on interest-bearing liabilities.

Noninterest income was $35.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared with $36.5 million for the same period in 2020, a decrease of $790 thousand or 2.2%. This change was primarily due to a decrease in mortgage income and a decrease in other noninterest income, partially offset by the net gain on sale of assets compared to prior year's net loss on write-down of assets. On a linked quarter basis, noninterest income increased $1.1 million or 3.2% to $35.8 million compared with $34.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. This change was primarily due to an increase in net gain on sale of assets and an increase in nonsufficient funds ("NSF") fees, partially offset by a decrease in mortgage income.

Noninterest expense was $119.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared with $120.2 million for the same period in 2020 and $119.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021.

Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2021

Net income was $519.3 million⁽⁵⁾ for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared with $528.9 million⁽⁶⁾ for the same period in 2020, a decrease of $9.6 million or 1.8%. Net income per diluted common share was $5.60 for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared with $5.68 for the same period in 2020, a decrease of 1.4%. Returns on average assets, average common equity and average tangible common equity for the year ended December 31, 2021 were 1.44%, 8.21% and 17.18%⁽¹⁾, respectively. Prosperity's efficiency ratio (excluding net gains and losses on the sale or write down of assets and taxes) was 41.83%⁽¹⁾ for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Net interest income before provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $993.3 million compared with $1.031 billion for the same period in 2020, a decrease of $37.4 million or 3.6%. The change was primarily due to lower average rates on loans and a decrease in loan discount accretion of $52.1 million, partially offset by an increase in the average investment securities balance and a decrease in the average rate on interest-bearing liabilities.

The net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis for the year ended December 31, 2021 was 3.14% compared with 3.64% for the same period in 2020. The change was primarily due to lower average rates on loans and investment securities, a decrease in loan discount accretion of $52.1 million, and higher cash balances due to excess liquidity, partially offset by a decrease in the average rate on interest-bearing liabilities.

Noninterest income was $140.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared with $131.5 million for the same period in 2020, an increase of $8.4 million or 6.4%. This increase was primarily due to the net gain on sale of assets compared to prior year's net loss on write-down of assets and an increase in credit card, debit card and ATM card income, partially offset by a decrease in mortgage income.

Noninterest expense was $473.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared with $497.2 million for the same period in 2020, a decrease of $23.6 million or 4.7%. The change was primarily due to decreases in merger related expenses, data processing, net occupancy and equipment and other noninterest expense as a result of efficiencies gained following the LegacyTexas Bank system conversion during the second quarter of 2020 and net gains on sale of other real estate of $2.7 million.

Balance Sheet Information

At December 31, 2021, Prosperity had $37.834 billion in total assets, an increase of $3.775 billion or 11.1% compared with $34.059 billion at December 31, 2020.

Loans at December 31, 2021 were $18.616 billion, a decrease of $1.631 billion or 8.1%, compared with $20.247 billion at December 31, 2020, primarily due to a decrease in Warehouse Purchase Program, commercial real estate and PPP loans, partially offset by an increase in 1-4 family residential loans. Linked quarter loans decreased $341.6 million or 1.8% from $18.958 billion at September 30, 2021. At December 31, 2021, the Company had $169.9 million of PPP loans compared to $963.2 million of PPP loans at December 31, 2020 and $365.8 million of PPP loans at September 30, 2021. Excluding Warehouse Purchase Program and PPP loans, loans at December 31, 2021 were $16.671 billion compared to $16.441 billion at December 31, 2020, an increase of $229.2 million or 1.4%. Linked quarter loans, excluding Warehouse Purchase Program and PPP loans, increased $76.7 million or 0.5% (1.8% annualized) from $16.594 billion at September 30, 2021.

As part of its lending activities, Prosperity extends credit to oil and gas production and servicing companies. Oil and gas production loans are loans to companies directly involved in the exploration and/or production of oil and gas. Oil and gas servicing loans are loans to companies that provide services for oil and gas production and exploration. At December 31, 2021, oil and gas loans totaled $491.3 million (net of discount and excluding PPP loans totaling $27.9 million) or 2.6% of total loans, of which $294.1 million were production loans and $197.2 million were servicing loans, compared with total oil and gas loans of $512.7 million (net of discount and excluding PPP loans totaling $88.7 million) or 2.5% of total loans at December 31, 2020, of which $285.8 million were production loans and $226.9 million were servicing loans. In addition, as of December 31, 2021, Prosperity had total unfunded commitments to oil and gas companies of $419.0 million compared with total unfunded commitments to oil and gas companies of $243.2 million as of December 31, 2020. Unfunded commitments to producers include letters of credit issued in lieu of oil well plugging bonds.

Additionally, Prosperity extends credit to hotels and restaurants. At December 31, 2021, loans to hotels totaled $386.4 million (excluding PPP loans totaling $920 thousand) or 2.1% of total loans, a decrease of $7.4 million or 1.9%, compared with $393.8 million (excluding PPP loans totaling $6.5 million) at December 31, 2020.  At December 31, 2021, loans to restaurants totaled $201.7 million (excluding PPP loans totaling $29.3 million) or 1.1% of total loans, a decrease of $13.0 million or 6.1%, compared with $214.7 million (excluding PPP loans totaling $83.6 million) at December 31, 2020.

Deposits at December 31, 2021 were $30.772 billion, an increase of $3.411 billion or 12.5%, compared with $27.360 billion at December 31, 2020. Linked quarter deposits increased $1.320 billion or 4.5% (17.9% annualized) from $29.452 billion at September 30, 2021.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets totaled $28.1 million or 0.09% of quarterly average interest-earning assets at December 31, 2021, compared with $59.6 million or 0.20% of quarterly average interest-earning assets at December 31, 2020 and $36.5 million or 0.11% of quarterly average interest-earning assets at September 30, 2021.

The allowance for credit losses on loans and off-balance sheet credit exposures was $316.3 million at December 31, 2021 compared with $346.0 million at December 31, 2020 and with $317.1 million at September 30, 2021.

The allowance for credit losses on loans was $286.4 million or 1.54% of total loans at December 31, 2021 compared with $316.1 million or 1.56% of total loans at December 31, 2020 and with $287.2 million or 1.51% of total loans at September 30, 2021. Excluding Warehouse Purchase Program and PPP loans, the allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans was 1.72%⁽¹⁾ at December 31, 2021 compared with 1.92%⁽¹⁾ at December 31, 2020 and 1.73%⁽¹⁾  

There was no provision for credit losses for the three month periods ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2021. There was no provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared with $20.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Net charge-offs were $807 thousand for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared with net charge-offs of $7.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and net charge-offs of $15.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Net charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2021 did not include any purchased credit deteriorated ("PCD") loans and $1.7 million of specific reserves on resolved PCD loans was released to the general reserve.

Net charge-offs were $29.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared with $31.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2021 included $12.7 million related to resolved PCD loans and $10.8 million related to the partial charge-off of one commercial real estate loan obtained through acquisition. The PCD loans had specific reserves of $12.9 million, of which $9.9 million was allocated to the charge-offs and $3.0 million was moved to the general reserve. Further, an additional $21.6 million of specific reserves on resolved PCD loans without any related charge-offs was released to the general reserve.

Dividend

Prosperity Bancshares declared a first quarter cash dividend of $0.52 per share to be paid on April 1, 2022 to all shareholders of record as of March 15, 2022.

Stock Repurchase Program

On January 18, 2022, Prosperity Bancshares announced a stock repurchase program under which up to 5%, or approximately 4.6 million shares, of its outstanding common stock may be acquired over a one-year period expiring on January 18, 2023, at the discretion of management. Under its 2021 stock repurchase program, Prosperity Bancshares repurchased zero shares of its common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 767,134 shares of its common stock at an average weighted price of $67.87 per share during the year ended December 31, 2021.

COVID-19 Pandemic

Prosperity continues to monitor the latest developments regarding COVID-19. As of December 31, 2021, pandemic-related restrictions on all business and activities in the states of Texas and Oklahoma remained lifted. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant economic uncertainties that have had, and could continue to have, an adverse impact on Prosperity's operating income, financial condition and cash flows.

 Since the implementation of the Paycheck Protection Program in 2020, Prosperity has obtained SBA approvals on approximately 18,700 loans totaling $2.036 billion and, as of December 31, 2021, had an outstanding balance of 1,512 loans totaling $169.9 million.

Also, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Prosperity has provided relief to its loan customers through loan extensions and deferrals. Prosperity's troubled debt restructurings do not include loan modifications related to COVID-19. Beginning in mid-March of 2020, Prosperity began offering deferral and modification of principal and/or interest payments to selected borrowers on a case-by-case basis. As of December 31, 2021, Prosperity had approximately $29.5 million in outstanding loans subject to deferral and modification agreements.

Conference Call

Prosperity's management team will host a conference call on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time (10:30 a.m. Central Time) to discuss Prosperity's fourth quarter 2021 earnings. Individuals and investment professionals may participate in the call by dialing 877-883-0383 for domestic participants, or 412-902-6506 for international participants. The participant elite entry number is 0033886.

Alternatively, individuals may listen to the live webcast of the presentation by visiting Prosperity's website at www.prosperitybankusa.com. The webcast may be accessed from Prosperity's home page by selecting "Presentations, Webcasts & Calls" from the menu on the Investor Relations link and following the instructions.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Prosperity's management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate its performance. Specifically, Prosperity reviews diluted earnings per share excluding merger related expenses net of tax, and net operating loss ("NOL") tax benefit; return on average assets excluding merger related expenses net of tax, and NOL tax benefit; return on average common equity excluding merger related expenses net of tax, and NOL tax benefit; return on average tangible common equity; return on average tangible common equity excluding merger related expenses net of tax, and NOL tax benefit; tangible book value per share; the tangible equity to tangible assets ratio; allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans excluding Warehouse Purchase Program and PPP loans; the efficiency ratio, excluding net gains and losses on the sale or write down of assets and securities; and the efficiency ratio, excluding net gains and losses on the sale or write down of assets and securities and merger related expenses, for internal planning and forecasting purposes. Prosperity believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide information useful to investors in understanding Prosperity's financial results and their presentation, together with the accompanying reconciliations, provides a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting Prosperity's business and allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to management, the entire financial services sector, bank stock analysts and bank regulators. Further, Prosperity believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of its core operating earnings and business outlook. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for, nor of greater importance than, GAAP basis financial measures and results; Prosperity strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. Please refer to the "Notes to Selected Financial Data" at the end of this Earnings Release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest respective GAAP financial measures.

Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. ®

As of December 31, 2021, Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.^® is a $37.834 billion Houston, Texas based regional financial holding company providing personal banking services and investments to consumers and businesses throughout Texas and Oklahoma.  Founded in 1983, Prosperity believes in a community banking philosophy, taking care of customers, businesses and communities in the areas it serves by providing financial solutions to simplify everyday financial needs. In addition to offering traditional deposit and loan products, Prosperity offers digital banking solutions, credit and debit cards, mortgage services, retail brokerage services, trust and wealth management, and treasury management.

Prosperity currently operates 273 full-service banking locations: 65 in the Houston area, including The Woodlands; 30 in the South Texas area including Corpus Christi and Victoria; 63 in the Dallas/Fort Worth area; 22 in the East Texas area; 29 in the Central Texas area including Austin and San Antonio; 34 in the West Texas area including Lubbock, Midland-Odessa and Abilene; 16 in the Bryan/College Station area; 6 in the Central Oklahoma area; and 8 in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area.

Cautionary Notes on Forward-Looking Statements

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains, and the remarks by Prosperity's management on the conference call may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are typically, but not exclusively, identified by the use in the statements of words or phrases such as "aim," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "guidance," "intend," "is anticipated," "is expected," "is intended," "objective," "plan," "projected," "projection," "will affect," "will be," "will continue," "will decrease," "will grow," "will impact," "will increase," "will incur," "will reduce," "will remain," "will result," "would be," variations of such words or phrases (including where the word "could," "may," or "would" is used rather than the word "will" in a phrase) and similar words and phrases indicating that the statement addresses some future result, occurrence, plan or objective. Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact, including forecasts or trends, and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about Prosperity Bancshares and its subsidiaries. These forward-looking statements may include information about Prosperity's possible or assumed future economic performance or future results of operations, including future revenues, income, expenses, provision for loan losses, provision for taxes, effective tax rate, earnings per share and cash flows and Prosperity's future capital expenditures and dividends, future financial condition and changes therein, including changes in Prosperity's loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses, future capital structure or changes therein, as well as the plans and objectives of management for Prosperity's future operations, future or proposed acquisitions, the future or expected effect of acquisitions on Prosperity's operations, results of operations, financial condition, and future economic performance, statements about the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, and statements about the assumptions underlying any such statement, as well as expectations regarding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Prosperity's operating income, financial condition and cash flows.  These forward–looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of Prosperity's control, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to whether Prosperity can: successfully identify acquisition targets and integrate the businesses of acquired companies and banks; continue to sustain its current internal growth rate or total growth rate; provide products and services that appeal to its customers; continue to have access to debt and equity capital markets; and achieve its sales objectives.  Other risks include, but are not limited to: the possibility that credit quality could deteriorate; actions of competitors; changes in laws and regulations (including changes in governmental interpretations of regulations and changes in accounting standards); the possibility that the anticipated benefits of an acquisition transaction, are not realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of two companies or as a result of the strength of the economy and competitive factors generally; a deterioration or downgrade in the credit quality and credit agency ratings of the securities in Prosperity's securities portfolio; customer and consumer demand, including customer and consumer response to marketing; effectiveness of spending, investments or programs; fluctuations in the cost and availability of supply chain resources; economic conditions, including currency rate, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations; the effect, impact, potential duration or other implications of the COVID-19 pandemic; and weather.  These and various other factors are discussed in Prosperity Bancshares' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2021 and other reports and statements Prosperity Bancshares has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Copies of the SEC filings for Prosperity Bancshares may be downloaded from the Internet at no charge from http://www.prosperitybankusa.com.