Shore Bancshares Reports 2021 Financial Results and Quarterly Dividend of $0.12 Per share

EASTON, Md., Feb. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Shore Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ - SHBI) (the "Company") reported net income of $2.723 million or $0.16 per diluted common share for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to net income of $4.617 million or $0.39 per diluted common share for the third quarter of 2021, and net income of $3.886 million or $0.32 per diluted common share for the fourth quarter of 2020. Net income, excluding merger related expenses for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $7.914 million or $0.46 per diluted common share. Net income for the fiscal year of 2021 was $15.368 million or $1.17 per diluted common share, compared to net income for the fiscal year of 2020 of $15.730 million or $1.27 per diluted common share. On October 31, 2021, the Company acquired Severn Bancorp, Inc. ("Severn"). Net income, excluding merger related expenses for 2021 was $21.237 million or $1.62 per diluted common share. For the fourth quarter and the fiscal year of 2021, the Company recorded $7.6 million and $8.5 million, respectively, in merger-related expenses.

When comparing net income for the fourth quarter of 2021 to the third quarter of 2021, net income decreased $1.9 million, the direct result of $7.6 million in merger related expenses in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Company reported increases in net interest income and noninterest income of $5.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively, coupled with a reversal of provision for credit losses for a decrease of $2.0 million. These improvements were partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense of $4.5 million, excluding merger-related expenses. When comparing net income for the fourth quarter of 2021 to the fourth quarter of 2020, net income decreased $1.1 million, due to merger related expenses of $7.6 million. The Company reported increases in net interest income and noninterest income of $6.9 million and $2.1 million, respectively, coupled with a reversal of provision for credit losses for a decrease of $2.8 million, partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense of $5.3 million, excluding merger related expenses. 

"We are pleased to announce our fourth quarter earnings and fiscal year 2021 results." said Lloyd L. "Scott" Beatty, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our acquisition of Severn Bank continues to be a high priority as the process continues from the legal merger date of November 1, 2021, through the core processing conversion date of February 19, 2022. The integration has been well received and we are thrilled to have their outstanding team join us as we expand our footprint and strive to create value for our shareholders. In 2021, we experienced significant growth in both loans and deposits. Excess liquidity continues to put pressure on our margin, but that liquidity is well positioned to profit from the expected interest rate hikes in 2022." 

Balance Sheet Review

Total assets were $3.460 billion at December 31, 2021, a $1.5 billion, or 79.0%, increase when compared to $1.933 billion at the end of 2020.  The merger with Severn, added approximately $1.1 billion to total assets as of October 31, 2021. Excluding these acquired assets, total assets increased $384.7 million, or 19.9% when compared to the end of 2020. Of this growth the Company experienced increases in investment securities held to maturity of $214.6 million, interest-bearing deposits with other banks of $98.6 million, loans of $80.3 million and loans held for sale of $26.8 million, partially offset by a decrease in investment securities available for sale of $43.6 million.    

Total deposits increased $1.326 billion, or 77.9%, when compared to December 31, 2020.  The merger with Severn, added approximately $955.3 million to total deposits as of October 31, 2021. Excluding these deposits, total deposits increased $370.2 million, or 21.8%, when compared to the end of 2020. The significant movement within deposit accounts, excluding the deposits acquired from Severn, continues to be impacted by new account openings and municipal deposit inflows.  

Total stockholders' equity increased $155.7 million, or 79.8%, when compared to December 31, 2020, primarily due to the acquisition of Severn. At December 31, 2021, the ratio of total equity to total assets was 10.13% and the ratio of total tangible equity to total tangible assets was 8.25%.

Review of Quarterly Financial Results

Net interest income was $20.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to $15.6 million for the third quarter of 2021 and $13.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. The increase in net interest income when compared to the third quarter of 2021 was primarily due to increases in interest and fees on loans of $5.1 million, interest on taxable investment securities of $345 thousand and interest on deposits with other banks of $72 thousand, partially offset by increases in expense on interest-bearing deposits of $323 thousand and borrowings of $123 thousand. The improvement in interest and fees on loans was due to an increase in the average balance of loans of $399.8 million, or 26.9%, combined with accretion income of approximately $628 thousand from the acquired Severn loans, which increased the average yield on loans for the quarter. The acquisition of loans from Severn had the most significant impact on the higher interest and fees on loans, but it was also complemented by significant organic loan growth of $39.7 million and forgiveness on PPP loans during the fourth quarter of 2021. The increase in interest on taxable investment securities was also primarily impacted by the acquisition of Severn with the addition of continued purchases of held to maturity securities during the fourth quarter of 2021, due to an excess liquidity position. The increase in interest expense on interest-bearing deposits was primarily due to higher rates paid on money market and savings deposits acquired from Severn, resulting in an increase of 10bps in the average rate paid on these deposits. The addition of a long-term advance from the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") and subordinated debt, acquired from Severn, resulted in $150 thousand of additional borrowing expense. The long-term advances from the FHLB, will mature in October of 2022 and management will keep the subordinated debt on the balance sheet due to its addition to capital. The increase in net interest income when comparing the fourth quarter of 2021 to the fourth quarter of 2020, was primarily due to increases in interest and fees on loans of $6.0 million, interest on taxable investment securities of $754 thousand and interest on deposits with other banks of $125 thousand, coupled with a decrease in interest expense on interest-bearing deposits of $81 thousand. These improvements to net interest income were partially offset by the addition of long-term advances from the FHLB and subordinated debt acquired from Severn, which were the primary cause of additional borrowing expense of $108 thousand.

The Company's net interest margin decreased to 2.87% for the fourth quarter of 2021 from 2.99% for the third quarter of 2021 and decreased from 3.08% for the fourth quarter of 2020. The decrease in net interest margin in the fourth quarter of 2021 when compared to the third quarter of 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2020, was primarily due to excess liquidity, which has been partially invested in lower yielding taxable investment securities. In addition, the acquired borrowings from Severn attributed to the decline in margin when compared to the third quarter of 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2020. Rates paid on interest-bearing deposits in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2021, increased by 2bps, whereas the rates paid compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, declined 18bps. Absent excess liquidity of $400 million, we estimate our margin for the fourth quarter of 2021 would have been 3.34%.

The provision for credit losses was $(1.7) million for the three months ended December 31, 2021.  The comparable amounts were $290 thousand and $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The reversal of provision expense in the fourth quarter of 2021 was related to reduced pandemic related qualitative factors associated with anticipated losses that failed to materialize in 2021. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to period-end loans, excluding PPP loans and acquired loans, was 0.96% at December 31, 2021, compared to 1.10% at September 30, 2021 and 1.09% at December 31, 2020. The decreased percentage of the allowance to total loans, excluding PPP loans and acquired loans, as compared to September 30, 2021, was due to reduced pandemic qualitative factors previously mentioned. The decreased percentage of the allowance to total loans, excluding PPP loans and acquired loans, as compared to December 31, 2020, was primarily due to improved credit quality and pandemic related allocations prior to the end of 2020, which as mentioned, were significantly reduced during the fourth quarter of 2021. The Company reported net recoveries of $142 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to net recoveries of $147 thousand in the third quarter of 2021 and net recoveries of $61 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2020.

At December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, nonperforming assets were $3.8 million and $4.4 million, respectively. The balance of nonperforming assets decreased primarily due to a decrease in nonaccrual loans of $671 thousand, or 19.4%. Accruing troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs") decreased $83 thousand, or 1.4%. Other real estate owned properties increased to $532 thousand for December 31, 2021, from $203 thousand at September 30, 2021, also attributable to the acquisition of Severn. When comparing December 31, 2021, to December 31, 2020, nonperforming assets decreased $2.4 million, or 38.9%, primarily due to decreases in nonaccrual loans of $2.7 million, or 48.9% and loans 90 days past due and still accruing of $296 thousand, or 36.8%. Accruing TDRs decreased $1.3 million, or 19.0%, and other real estate owned increased $532 thousand, over the same time period. The ratio of nonperforming assets and accruing TDRs to total assets was 0.27%, 0.44% and 0.68% at December 31, 2021, September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.  In addition, the ratio of accruing TDRs to total loans at December 31, 2021 was 0.27%, compared to 0.38% at September 30, 2021 and 0.48% at December 31, 2020.

Total noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2021 increased $2.2 million, or 76.3%, when compared to the third quarter of 2021 and increased $2.1 million, or 68.3%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. The increase compared to the third quarter of 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2020 was primarily due to the addition of revenue from the recently acquired mortgage division and Mid-Maryland Title, Co. ("Mid-MD") of Severn. The mortgage division added $948 thousand and Mid-MD attributed $247 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2021. Service charges on deposit accounts increased $429 thousand when compared to the third quarter of 2021 and $452 thousand when compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. In addition, rental income on premises acquired from Severn, added an additional $237 thousand when compared to the third quarter of 2021 and $242 thousand when compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.

Total noninterest expense, excluding merger related expenses, for the fourth quarter of 2021 increased $4.5 million, or 39.4%, when compared to the third quarter of 2021 and increased $5.3 million, or 50.5%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. The increase in noninterest expense when compared to the third quarter of 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2020, was primarily due to increases in salaries and wages, employee related benefits, occupancy expense, data processing, amortization of intangible assets and FDIC insurance premium expense, which were all significantly impacted by adding Severn and its operations in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Review of 2021 Financial Results

Net interest income for 2021 was $64.1 million, an increase of $11.5 million, or 21.9% when compared to 2020.  The increase was primarily due to higher interest income and fees on loans of $8.4 million and taxable investment securities of $2.0 million. Total interest expense decreased $1.0 million, due to the average rates paid on interest-bearing deposits which declined by 30bps, partially offset by the addition of subordinated debt in the third quarter of 2020 and the acquisition of subordinated debt from Severn. The Company's net interest margin decreased to 2.94% for 2021, compared to 3.27% for 2020. The primary factor impacting the net interest margin was the average yield on earnings assets which declined 50bps. Although the average yield on loans only increased 1bp, the average yield on investment in taxable securities declined 64bps, while the average yield on interest-bearing deposits with other banks declined 12bps. The Company had excess liquidity before adding $955.3 million in deposits in connection with the acquisition of Severn on October 31, 2021. Management believes that the excess liquidity is a temporary issue but will benefit from anticipated interest rate increases from the Federal Reserve in the near-term while continuing to seek alternative investments with favorable yields.    

The provision for credit losses for 2021 and 2020 was $(358) thousand and $3.9 million, respectively, while net recoveries were $414 thousand and net charge offs were $519 thousand, respectively.  The reversal in provision for credit losses was the result of recoveries in 2021 compared to charge-offs in 2020 and the alleviation of qualitative factors established in 2020 related to the pandemic. The ratio of allowance to total loans, excluding PPP loans and acquired loans, decreased from 1.09% at December 31, 2020, to 0.96% at December 31, 2021. The primary drivers for the decrease in the percentage of allowance for credit losses to total loans were improved credit quality and the reduced impact of qualitative factors related to the pandemic. Management will continue to evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses as changes within the Company's portfolio are known.

Total noninterest income for 2021 increased $2.7 million, or 25.6%, when compared to the same period in 2020. The increase in noninterest income primarily consisted of the addition of the mortgage division and Mid-MD title from Severn. As previously stated, the mortgage division added $948 thousand and Mid-MD attributed $247 thousand in 2021. In addition, the increase in noninterest income in 2021 included increases in debit card interchange fees of $958 thousand, service charges on deposit accounts of $557 thousand and trust and investment fee income of $323 thousand, partially offset by a decrease in the gains on sale of investment securities of $345 thousand.

Total noninterest expense for 2021, excluding merger related expenses, increased $9.9 million, or 25.7%, when compared to the same period in 2020. The increase was mainly the result of increases in salaries and wages, employee related benefits, occupancy expense, data processing, amortization of intangible assets and FDIC insurance premium expense, which were all significantly impacted by adding Severn and its operations in the fourth quarter of 2021. In addition, as previously mentioned, during 2021, the Company recorded merger-related expenses of $8.5 million due to the acquisition of Severn.   

Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") and COVID related deferrals
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had 227 PPP loans totaling $27.6 million that were outstanding, inclusive of loans issued pre-merger and those acquired from Severn. The Company had no COVID related loan deferrals.

Shore Bancshares, Inc. Reports Quarterly Dividend of $0.12 Per Share
The Company announced that the Board of Directors has declared a quarterly common stock dividend in the amount of $0.12 per share, payable March 7, 2022, to stockholders of record on February 24, 2022.

Shore Bancshares Information

Shore Bancshares is a financial holding company headquartered in Easton, Maryland and is the largest independent bank holding company located on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It is the parent company of Shore United Bank. Shore Bancshares engages in trust and wealth management services through Wye Financial Partners, a division of Shore United Bank.

Additional information is available at www.shorebancshares.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be the same as those anticipated by management. These statements are evidenced by terms such as "anticipate," "estimate," "should," "expect," "believe," "intend," and similar expressions. Although these statements reflect management's good faith beliefs and projections, they are not guarantees of future performance and they may not prove true. These projections involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the section of the periodic reports filed by Shore Bancshares, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission entitled "Risk Factors".

The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to publicly announce the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.