Independent Bank Corporation Reports 2022 Fourth Quarter Results

Fourth Quarter Highlights

Highlights for the fourth quarter of 2022 include:

• Increases in net income and diluted earnings per share of 20.6% and 22.4%, respectively, over the fourth quarter of 2021;
• An increase in book value and tangible book value per share of $0.72 and $0.74, respectively;
• Net growth in commercial loans of $58.6 million (or 16.5% annualized);
• Annualized return on average assets and average equity of 1.21% and 17.94%, respectively;
• An increase in net interest income of 18.4% over the fourth quarter of 2021; and
• The payment of a 22 cent per share dividend on common stock on November 14, 2022.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) reported fourth quarter 2022 net income of $15.1 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, versus net income of $12.5 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company reported net income of $63.4 million, or $2.97 per diluted share, compared to net income of $62.9 million, or $2.88 per diluted share, in 2021.

William B. (“Brad”) Kessel, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Independent Bank Corporation, commented: “Our fourth quarter performance capped a very strong year as our entire organization executed extremely well despite a macroeconomic environment with many challenges and uncertainties. This past year with our successful expansion into new markets and addition of new banking talent, we were able to generate strong commercial loan growth and higher net interest income, which enabled us to offset a significant decline in mortgage banking revenue and deliver a higher level of earnings in 2022 than we did in 2021. These results generated a full year return on average assets and return on average equity of 1.31% and 18.41%, respectively. Importantly, we have generated significant growth in our loan portfolio while maintaining sound underwriting criteria, a low level of past dues and net recoveries credited to our allowance in 2022. We continued to see positive trends during the fourth quarter including double-digit annualized growth in our commercial loan portfolio and further expansion in our net interest margin. Given the health of our loan portfolio and our high level of liquidity and reserves, we believe we are well positioned to continue effectively managing through the challenging economic environment and delivering strong results for our shareholders as we continue to leverage the investments we have made in banking talent and technology over the past several years.”

Significant items impacting comparable 2022 and 2021 results include the following:

• Changes in the fair value due to price of capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights (the “MSR Changes”) of  $(0.5) million ($(0.02) per diluted share, after taxes) and $14.3 million ($0.53 per diluted share, after taxes) for the three-month and full-year ended December 31, 2022, respectively, as compared to $0.6 million ($0.02 per diluted share, after taxes) and $3.4 million ($0.12 per diluted share, after taxes) for the three-months and full-year ended December 31, 2021, respectively.
• The provision for credit losses was an expense of $1.4 million ($0.05 per diluted share, after taxes) and $5.3 million ($0.20 per diluted share, after tax) in the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022, respectively, as compared to an expense of $0.6 million ($0.02 per diluted share, after taxes) and credit of $1.9 million ($(0.07) per diluted share, after tax) in the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.
• Net gain on mortgage loans was $1.5 million ($0.06 per diluted share, after taxes) and $6.4 million ($0.24 per diluted share, after tax) in the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022, respectively, compared to $5.6 million ($0.21 per diluted share, after taxes) and $35.9 million ($1.30 per diluted share, after tax) in the fourth quarter and full year ending December 31, 2021.

Operating Results

The Company’s net interest income totaled $40.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2022, an increase of $6.3 million, or 18.4% from the year-ago period, and up $0.7 million, or 1.8%, from the third quarter of 2022. The Company’s tax equivalent net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets (the “net interest margin”) was 3.52% during the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to 3.13% in the year-ago period, and 3.49% in the third quarter of 2022. The year-over-year quarterly increase in net interest income was due to an increase in average interest-earning assets as well as an increase in the net interest margin. Average interest-earning assets were $4.64 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $4.43 billion in the year ago quarter and $4.61 billion in the third quarter of 2022.

Non-interest income totaled $11.5 million and $61.9 million, respectively, for the fourth quarter and full year of 2022, compared to $15.8 million and $76.6 million in the respective comparable year ago periods. These changes were primarily due to variances in mortgage banking related revenues (net gains on mortgage loans and mortgage loan servicing, net).

Net gains on mortgage loans in the fourth quarters of 2022 and 2021, were approximately $1.5 million and $5.6 million, respectively. For the full year of 2022, net gains on mortgage loans totaled $6.4 million compared to $35.9 million in 2021. The decrease in net gains on mortgage loans was primarily due to a decrease in the volume of mortgage loans sold and lower profit margins on mortgage loan sales.

Mortgage loan servicing, net, generated income of $0.7 million and $1.3 million in the fourth quarters of 2022 and 2021, respectively. For the full year of 2022 and 2021, mortgage loan servicing, net, generated income of $18.8 million and $5.7 million, respectively. The significant variances in mortgage loan servicing, net is primarily due to changes in the fair value of capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights associated with changes in mortgage loan interest rates and expected future prepayment levels. Mortgage loan servicing, net activity is summarized in the following table:

Non-interest expenses totaled $32.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $34.0 million in the year-ago period. For the full year of 2022, non-interest expenses totaled $128.3 million versus $131.0 million in 2021. The decrease in costs related to unfunded lending commitments is attributed to decreases in both the volume of such commitments and expected loss rates. The decrease in other expense is attributed to lower fraud related losses as well as a contract termination cost incurred during the prior year quarter.

The Company recorded an income tax expense of $3.5 million and $14.4 million in the fourth quarter and full year of 2022, respectively. This compares to an income tax expense of $3.0 million and $14.4 million in the fourth quarter and full year of 2021, respectively. The changes in income tax expense principally reflect changes in pre-tax earnings in 2022 relative to 2021.

Asset Quality

A breakdown of non-performing loans⁽¹⁾ by loan type is as follows:

(1)   Excludes loans that are classified as “troubled debt restructured” that are still performing.

The provision for credit losses was an expense of $1.4 million and $0.6 million in the fourth quarters of 2022 and 2021, respectively. The provision for credit losses was an expense of $5.3 million and a credit of $1.9 million in the full year of 2022 and 2021, respectively. The quarterly increase in the provision for credit losses in 2022 compared to 2021, was primarily the result of a change in allocation rates due to subjective factors (prior year allocation rates were decreased while current year rates increased during each respective quarter). The Company recorded loan net recoveries of $0.1 million and net charge-offs of $0.2 million in the fourth quarters of 2022 and 2021, respectively. At December 31, 2022, the allowance for credit losses totaled $52.4 million, or 1.51% of total portfolio loans compared to $47.3 million, or 1.63% of total portfolio loans at December 31, 2021.

Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Capital

Total assets were $5.00 billion at December 31, 2022, an increase of $295.0 million from December 31, 2021. Loans, excluding loans held for sale, were $3.47 billion at December 31, 2022, compared to $2.91 billion at December 31, 2021.  Deposits totaled $4.38 billion at December 31, 2022, an increase of $262.0 million from December 31, 2021. This increase is primarily due to growth in savings and interest-bearing checking, reciprocal, time and brokered time deposit account balances that were partially offset by non-interest bearing deposit account balances.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $74.4 million at December 31, 2022, versus $109.5 million at December 31, 2021. Securities available for sale (“AFS”) totaled $779.3 million at December 31, 2022, versus $1.41 billion at December 31, 2021. The decrease in securities AFS is primarily due to the transfer of $391.6 million of securities AFS to held to maturity on April 1, 2022.

Accrued income and other assets were $128.9 million at December 31, 2022, an increase of $62.8 million from December 31, 2021. The increase is primarily due to the increases in the fair value of certain pay-fixed derivative instruments due to an increase in interest rates and deferred tax assets related to unrealized losses on securities available for sale.

Accrued expenses and other liabilities totaled $108.0 million at December 31, 2022, versus $80.2 million at December 31, 2021. The increase is primarily due to a decrease in the fair value of certain receive-fixed derivative instruments due to an increase in interest rates and an increase in income taxes payable.

Total shareholders’ equity was $347.6 million at December 31, 2022, or 6.95% of total assets compared to $398.5 million or 8.47% at December 31, 2021. Tangible common equity totaled $316.7 million at December 31, 2022, or $15.04 per share compared to $366.8 million or $17.33 per share at December 31, 2021. The decrease in shareholder equity as well as tangible common equity are primarily the result of a decline in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to unrealized losses on securities available for sale due to a rise in interest rates. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Independent Bank, remains significantly above “well capitalized” for regulatory purposes with the following ratios:

Share Repurchase Plan

On December 20, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the 2023 share repurchase plan. Under the terms of the 2023 share repurchase plan, the Company is authorized to purchase up to 1,100,000 shares, or approximately 5% of its then outstanding common stock. The repurchase plan is authorized to last through December 31, 2023. For the full year of 2022, the Company repurchased 181,586 shares at a weighted average price of $22.08 per share.

Earnings Conference Call

Brad Kessel, President and CEO, Gavin A. Mohr, CFO and Joel Rahn, EVP – Commercial Banking will review the quarterly results in a conference call for investors and analysts beginning at 11:00 am ET on Thursday, January 26, 2023.

To participate in the live conference call, please dial 1-844-200-6205 (Access Code # 132616). Also, the conference call will be accessible through an audio webcast with user-controlled slides via the following site/URL: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/209715358.

A playback of the call can be accessed by dialing 1-866-813-9403 (Access Code # 314361). The replay will be available through February 2, 2023.

About Independent Bank Corporation

Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) is a Michigan-based bank holding company with total assets of approximately $5.0 billion. Founded as First National Bank of Ionia in 1864, Independent Bank Corporation operates a branch network across Michigan's Lower Peninsula through one state-chartered bank subsidiary. This subsidiary (Independent Bank) provides a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage lending, investments and insurance. Independent Bank Corporation is committed to providing exceptional personal service and value to its customers, stockholders and the communities it serves.

For more information, please visit our Web site at: IndependentBank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Independent Bank Corporation. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and are based on the information available to, and assumptions and estimates made by, management as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements cover, among other things, anticipated future revenue and expenses and the future plans and prospects of Independent Bank Corporation. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The COVID-19 pandemic is adversely affecting Independent Bank Corporation, its customers, counterparties, employees, and second-party service providers, and the ultimate extent of the impacts on its business, financial position, results of operations, liquidity, and prospects is uncertain. Continued deterioration in general business and economic conditions or turbulence in domestic or global financial markets could adversely affect Independent Bank Corporation’s revenues and the values of its assets and liabilities, reduce the availability of funding from certain financial institutions, lead to a tightening of credit, and increase stock price volatility. In addition, changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies or practices could affect Independent Bank Corporation in substantial and unpredictable ways. Independent Bank Corporation’s results could also be adversely affected by changes in interest rates; further increases in unemployment rates; deterioration in the credit quality of its loan portfolios or in the value of the collateral securing those loans; deterioration in the value of its investment securities; legal and regulatory developments; litigation; increased competition from both banks and non-banks; changes in the level of tariffs and other trade policies of the United States and its global trading partners; changes in customer behavior and preferences; breaches in data security; failures to safeguard personal information; effects of mergers and acquisitions and related integration; effects of critical accounting policies and judgments; and management’s ability to effectively manage credit risk, market risk, operational risk, compliance risk, strategic risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and reputation risk.

Certain risks and important factors that could affect Independent Bank Corporation's future results are identified in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and other reports filed with the SEC, including among other things under the heading “Risk Factors” in such Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any forward- looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Independent Bank Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether to reflect events or circumstances, after the date on which the statement is made, to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations

INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Selected Financial Data

(1)   Presented on a fully tax equivalent basis assuming a marginal tax rate of 21%.  

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Independent Bank Corporation

Independent Bank Corporation believes non-GAAP measures are meaningful because they reflect adjustments commonly made by management, investors, regulators and analysts to evaluate the adequacy of common equity and performance trends.  Tangible common equity is used by the Company to measure the quality of capital.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(1)   Annualized.  

Tangible Common Equity Ratio

The tangible common equity ratio removes the effect of goodwill and other intangible assets from capital and total assets.  Tangible common equity per share of common stock removes the effect of goodwill and other intangible assets from common shareholders’ equity per share of common stock.