Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. Earns $187,000 in Third Quarter 2022


2022 Third Quarter Financial Highlights:

  • Net income increased to $187 thousand, or $0.11 per share, in the third quarter of 2022, with net interest income of $1.48 million.
  • Total assets remained steady at $186.2 million.
  • Total loans grew by 0.8% in the third quarter and 12.4% from prior year.
  • Total deposits decreased 5.0% in the third quarter 2022, and increased 5.3% compared to the prior year.
  • Nonperforming assets to total assets improved to 0.36%.

POULSBO, Wash., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: LBNW) (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Liberty Bank today announced earnings of $187 thousand for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022, an increase of $26 thousand, or 16%, compared to the third quarter ended September 30, 2021. In the first nine months of 2022, net income increased $35 thousand, or 10%, compared to the same period in 2021.

In the third quarter of 2022, the Company generated a return on common shareholders' equity of 6.02% and a return on assets of 0.40%, compared to 5.15% and 0.35%, respectively, in the third quarter of 2021. Year-to-date, return on common shareholders' equity was 4.21%, and return on assets was 0.28%, compared to 3.75% and 0.26%, respectively, in the same period a year earlier.

“We continue to generate positive operating results during the current quarter, reflecting the dedicated effort put forth by all of our employees to meet the needs of our community,” said Rick Darrow, Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our income increased during the quarter, mainly due to the continued success of our outreach to new and existing customers, while keeping operating expenses in line.”

The Company’s net interest margin was 3.35% for the third quarter of 2022, compared to 3.28% for the preceding quarter, and 3.66% for the third quarter of 2021. “Higher yields on earning assets contributed to net interest margin expansion during the quarter,” said Darrow. “The diversified mix of our deposit portfolio is allowing us to maintain a disciplined deposit pricing approach.” For the first nine months of 2022, the net interest margin was 3.20%, compared to 3.60% for the first nine months of 2021. Excluding PPP fees, the net interest margin expanded 50 basis points in the first nine months of 2022, compared to 2.70% in the first nine months of 2021.

Total assets were $186.2 million as of September 30, 2022, compared to $181.6 million at September 30, 2021, primarily due to a $16.3 million increase in loans receivable funded by growth in client deposits and a reduction in short-term investments.

Total deposits increased 5.3% to $156.3 million as of September 30, 2022, compared to $148.5 million a year earlier and decreased 5.0% compared to $164.5 million at June 30, 2022. Total demand deposits decreased $10.4 million, or 17.2%, from September 30, 2021. Non-interest bearing demand accounts represented 32.1%, interest bearing demand represented 24.3%, money market and savings accounts comprised 36.4% and certificates of deposit made up 7.2% of the total deposit portfolio at September 30, 2022.

At September 30, 2022, non-performing assets remained low at $0.67 million, or 0.36% of total assets, corresponding to a single borrower relationship. The allowance for loan losses totaled $1.190 million as of September 30, 2022, and was 0.81% of total loans outstanding. The Company recorded a $60 thousand provision for loan losses in the third quarter of 2022, compared to a $15 thousand provision for loan losses in the third quarter of 2021. “While credit quality remains strong, the Bank did charge-off one loan related to a borrower, in bankruptcy,” Darrow said.

Total non-interest income was $43 thousand for the third quarter of 2022 compared to $100 thousand in the third quarter a year ago. The decrease in non-interest income was due to lower fee income earned on brokered mortgage loans in 2022. For the first nine months of 2022, non-interest income totaled $148 thousand, compared to $236 thousand for the first nine months of 2021.

Total noninterest expense was $1.23 million for the third quarter of 2022, a decrease of $226 thousand, or 15.6%, from the prior year's quarter. The Company’s efficiency ratio in the third quarter of 2022 improved to 80.4%, compared to 86.9% for the same period one year ago. Compensation and benefits costs decreased by $261 thousand, or 27.4%, over the prior year quarter primarily due lower staff count. Year-to-date, total noninterest expense decreased $607 thousand, or 14%, to $3.7 million, over the same period in 2021.

Capital ratios continue to exceed regulatory requirements, with total risk-based capital substantially above well-capitalized regulatory requirements. Tangible book value per share was $7.40 at quarter end, compared to $7.64 a year earlier.

About Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc.
Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. is the bank holding company for Liberty Bank, a commercial bank chartered in the State of Washington. The Bank began operations June 11, 2009, and operates a full-service branch in Poulsbo, WA in addition to a loan production office in Bellevue, WA. The Bank provides loan and deposit services to predominantly small and middle-sized businesses and individuals in and around Kitsap and King counties. The Bank is subject to regulation by the State of Washington Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). For more information, please visit www.libertybanknw.com. Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: LBNW), qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market in June 2022. For information related to the trading of LBNW, please visit www.otcmarkets.com.

For further discussion, please contact the following:
Rick Darrow, Chief Executive Officer | 360-394-4750
Joel Keller, Chief Financial Officer | 360-394-4752

Forward-Looking Statement Safe Harbor: This news release contains comments or information that constitutes forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that are based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements describe Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc.’s projections, estimates, plans and expectations of future results and can be identified by words such as “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “likely,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “looking forward,” and other similar expressions. They are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the results expressed in these forward-looking statements, which because of their forward-looking nature, are difficult to predict. Investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, and should consider factors that might cause differences including but not limited to the degree of competition by traditional and nontraditional competitors, declines in real estate markets, an increase in unemployment or sustained high levels of unemployment; changes in interest rates; greater than expected costs to integrate acquisitions, adverse changes in local, national and international economies; changes in the Federal Reserve’s actions that affect monetary and fiscal policies; changes in legislative or regulatory actions or reform, including without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; demand for products and services; changes to the quality of the loan portfolio and our ability to succeed in our problem-asset resolution efforts; the impact of technological advances; changes in tax laws; and other risk factors. Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or clarify any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)           
   Quarter Ended
Sept 30,
2022
 Quarter Ended
June 31,
2022
 Three Month Change Quarter Ended
Sept 30,
2021
 One Year Change
Interest Income          
 Loans $1,567  $1,508  4% $1,651  -5%
 Interest bearing deposits in banks                     22   16  36%                       8  168%
 Securities                   102   90  13%                     65  58%
 Total interest income  1,692   1,614  5%  1,724  -2%
            
Interest Expense          
 Deposits                   105                      74  41%  49  114%
 Other Borrowings  104   100  4%  102  1%
 Total interest expense                   208   174  20%  151  38%
            
Net Interest Income  1,483   1,441  3%  1,573  -6%
 Provision for Loan Losses                     60                      75  -20%  15  300%
Net interest income after provision for loan losses  1,423   1,366  4%  1,558  -9%
            
Non-Interest Income          
 Service charges on deposit accounts  15   11  30%                     11  41%
 Other non-interest income                     28                      25  13%                     89  -68%
 Total non-interest income                     43                      36  19%                   100  -57%
            
Non-Interest Expense          
 Salaries and employee benefits                   694                    683  2%  956  -27%
 Occupancy and equipment expenses  142   141  0%                   149  -5%
 Other operating expenses                   391                    368  6%                   348  12%
 Total non-interest expenses  1,227   1,193  3%  1,453  -16%
            
Net Income Before Income Tax  239                    209  14%                  204  17%
Provision for Income Tax  (52)  (44) 19%  (43) 23%
Net Income $   187  $165  13% $161  16%


STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)     
  Year to Date
Sept 30,
2022
 Year to Date
Sept 30,
2021
 One Year Change
Interest Income     
 Loans$4,421  $4,860  -9%
 Interest bearing deposits in banks 49   20  149%
 Securities 283   145  96%
 Total interest income 4,753   5,024  -5%
       
Interest Expense     
 Deposits 239   141  69%
 Other Borrowings 304   265  15%
 Total interest expense 543   406  34%
       
Net Interest Income 4,210   4,618  -9%
 Provision for Loan Losses 150   85  76%
Net interest income after provision for loan losses 4,060   4,533  -10%
       
Non-Interest Income     
 Service charges on deposit accounts 39   31  26%
 Other non-interest income 109   205  -47%
 Total non-interest income            148                236  -37%
       
Non-Interest Expense     
 Salaries and employee benefits 2,139   2,787  -23%
 Occupancy and equipment expenses 433   464  -7%
 Other operating expenses 1,145   1,071  7%
 Total non-interest expenses 3,716   4,323  -14%
       
Net Income Before Income Tax 497   450  11%
Provision for Income Tax (107)  (94) 13%
Net Income$391  $355  10%


BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)          
   
Sept 30,
2022
 
June 30,
2022
 Three Month Change 
Sept 30,
2021
 One Year Change
Assets          
 Cash and due from Banks $2,982  $4,381  -32% $5,541  -46%
 Interest bearing deposits in banks  4,470               4,524  -1%              17,198  -74%
 Securities  23,620   24,769  -5%  24,902  -5%
            
 Loans  147,497   146,375  1%  131,180  12%
 Allowance for loan losses  (1,190)  (1,615) -26%  (1,210) -2%
 Net Loans  146,307   144,759  1%  129,970  13%
            
            
 Premises and fixed assets                6,370                 5,580  14%                2,206  189%
 Accrued Interest receivable  630                    618  2%  593  6%
 Intangible assets                     72                      78  -8%  101  -29%
 Other assets  1,704   1,316  30%  1,128  51%
 Total Assets $186,154  $186,026  0% $181,639  2%
            
            
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity          
 Deposits          
       Demand, non-interest bearing $50,162  $52,799  -5% $60,569  -17%
 Interest Bearing Demand  37,940   38,042  0%              18,700  103%
 Money Market and Savings              56,909   59,974  -5%              60,256  -6%
 Certificates of Deposit              11,302   13,700  -18%                8,961  26%
 Total Deposits  156,313   164,516  -5%  148,486  5%
            
 Total Borrowing              17,392               8,884  96%              19,938  -13%
 Accrued interest payable                     3                      72  -96%                   145  -98%
 Other liabilities                   341                    348  -2%                   551  -38%
 Total Liabilities  174,048   173,820  0%  169,121  3%
            
 Shareholders' Equity          
 Common Stock  1,633   1,627  0%  1,626  0%
 Additional paid in capital  13,008   13,004  0%  12,826  1%
 Retained Earnings  (1,676)  (1,863)    (1,931)  
 Other Comprehensive Income  (859)  (562) 53%                    (3) 29056%
 Total Shareholders' Equity  12,106   12,206  -1%  12,518  -3%
 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $186,154  $186,026  0% $181,639  2%


           
           
   
Sept 30,
2022
 
June 31,
2022
 
Sept 30,
2021
 YTD 2022YTD 2021
Financial Ratios         
 Return on Average Assets  0.40%  0.35% 0.35%  0.28% 0.26%
 Return on Average Equity  6.02%  5.39% 5.15%  4.21% 3.75%
 Efficiency Ratio  80.4%  80.8% 86.9%  85.3% 89.0%
 Net Interest Margin  3.35%  3.28% 3.66%  3.20% 3.60%
 Loan to Deposits  93.6%  89.0% 88.3%   
           
 Earnings per Share  0.11   0.10  0.10   0.24  0.22 
 Tangible Book Value per Share  7.40   7.45  7.64    
 Book Value per Share  7.44   7.50  7.68    
           
 Asset Quality         
 Net Loan Charge-offs (recoveries) $485   -  -    
 Nonperforming Loans $670   1,167  0    
 Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets  0.36%  0.63% 0.00%   
 Allowance for Loan Losses to Total Loans  0.81%  1.10% 0.92%   
 Other Real Estate Owned $-   -  -    
           
 CAPITAL (Bank only)         
 Tier 1 leverage ratio  9.08%  8.60% 9.38%   
 Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio  13.46%  13.00% 15.09%   
 Total risk-based capital ratio  14.42%  14.25% 16.26%