Bay Community Bancorp Earns $1.85 Million in Second Quarter 2023; Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.05 Per Share


OAKLAND, Calif., July 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bay Community Bancorp, (OTCPink: CBOBA) (the “Company”), parent company of Community Bank of the Bay, (the “Bank”) a San Francisco Bay Area commercial bank and California’s first certified Community Development Financial Institution (“CDFI”) with full-service offices in Oakland, Danville and San Mateo, today reported earnings of $1.85 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $1.84 million for the second quarter of 2022. The completion of a $119.4 million perpetual preferred stock investment from the U.S. Treasury Department in June 2022, and its initial deployment into short term Treasury securities contributed to profitability for the second quarter of 2023. All financial results are unaudited.

The Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share. The dividend is payable on September 1, 2023, to shareholders of record on August 18, 2023. This marks the tenth consecutive cash dividend payment since the Company initiated quarterly cash dividends on April 30, 2021.

“We delivered strong second quarter operating results in spite of a challenging banking environment where competition for deposits continue to pressure funding costs,” stated William S. Keller, CEO. “The Bank’s capital position remains near the top of its peer group with over three times the regulatory guidelines for well capitalized banks, and the CDFI Fund recently announced that we have been awarded a $2.48 million Equitable Recovery Program grant in recognition of our lending and investment activities that help low- and moderate-income communities recover from the pandemic. Year-to-date, we have booked 59 loans with new or increased commitments totaling $65.1 million, including 23 loans with new or increased commitments totaling $27.9 million in these target communities. We intend to accelerate these activities by utilizing the grant award and our strong capital position to enter new markets in San Francisco and San Jose, and we have already hired talented, mission-aligned professionals to lead these efforts.”

“Total deposits increased $59.5 million from the prior quarter, including $26.4 million that represents the sixth consecutive quarterly increase in traditional community deposits, and a $33.1 million increase in our real estate services business,” added Keller. “Deposit pricing reflects the realities of the Federal Reserve’s tightening monetary policy and a majority of the deposit growth was in saving, NOW, money market and time deposit accounts. As a result, funding costs marginally outpaced asset yields and resulted in a nine basis point reduction in the second quarter net interest margin compared to the preceding quarter. The deposit growth increased uninsured and collateralized public deposits by $28 million to approximately 36% of total deposits, while cash balances of $134 million and U.S. Treasury bills of $60 million represented a $57 million increase in on balance sheet liquidity. In addition, we continue to have access to significant FHLB borrowing capacity, as well as a variety of other contingent liquidity sources.”

“Beginning January 1, 2023, we implemented the Current Expected Credit Losses standard, which replaced the former “incurred loss” model for recognizing credit losses with an “expected loss” model referred to as the CECL model. Utilizing CECL may have a more volatile impact on our allowance for credit losses going forward and may result in a lack of comparability between 2023 and 2022 quarterly periods,” said Mukhtar Ali, President and Chief Credit Officer. “At June 30, 2023, our loan loss reserves represent 0.94% of total non-guaranteed loans, compared to 1.20% a year earlier.”

“Commercial real estate loans against office properties totaled $67.2 million at June 30, 2023 and represented 33.45% of capital. The non-owner occupied loan segment consisted of 21 notes totaling $49.9 million and carried a weighted average loan-to-value of 41.3% at quarter end. All relationships in this category are performing as agreed,” added Ali. “We did however experience a modest increase in nonperforming loans that was almost entirely due to a $7.0 million commercial loan that is well secured by a residential property. The junior deedholder has foreclosed and we do not expect to incur any loss on this credit.”

Second Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights (at or for the period ended June 30, 2023)

  • Net income was $1.85 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $1.84 million in the second quarter a year ago, and $1.94 million in the preceding quarter. Earnings per common share was $0.21 in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $0.21 in the second quarter a year ago, and $0.22 in the preceding quarter.
  • Pre-tax, pre-provision, pre-CDFI grant income was $2.54 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $3.00 million in the year ago quarter, and $2.76 million in the first quarter of 2023.
  • Total assets increased $174.2 million, or 19.7%, to $1.06 billion at June 30, 2023, compared to $886.4 million a year earlier, and increased $51.5 million, or 5.1%, compared to $1.01 billion three months earlier. Average assets for the quarter totaled $1.02 billion, an increase of $195.9 million, or 23.7%, from the second quarter a year ago and an increase of $34.5 million, or 3.5%, compared with the prior quarter.
  • Net interest income, before the provision for credit losses, increased 8.2% to $7.81 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $7.21 million in the second quarter a year ago. There was a $96,000 negative provision for credit losses recorded in the second quarter of 2023. This compared to a $400,000 provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2022, and a $39,000 provision for the preceding quarter.
  • Non-interest income was $233,000 in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $377,000 in the second quarter a year ago, and $248,000 in the preceding quarter.
  • Operating revenue (net interest income before the provision for loan losses plus non-interest income) increased 5.9% to $8.04 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $7.59 million in the second quarter a year ago, and increased 1.8% compared to $7.90 million in the first quarter of 2023.
  • Net interest margin was 3.19% in the second quarter, compared to 3.28% in the preceding quarter, and 3.63% in the second quarter a year ago. The 9 basis point contraction in net interest margin in the second quarter of 2023 was due to a shift in the deposit mix and the reversal of interest from a non-accrual loan. The year-over-year contraction was due to an increase in deposit costs as well as increased liquidity from the capital raise during the current quarter, compared to the year ago quarter. The average interest yield on non-PPP loans in the second quarter of 2023 was 5.59%, compared to 4.47% in the year ago quarter and 5.42% in the prior quarter. The average cost of funds in the second quarter was 2.18%, a 187 basis point increase compared to the second quarter a year ago and a 23 basis point increase compared to the prior quarter.
  • Loans, net of unearned income, increased $89.6 million, or 15.2%, to $680.0 million at June 30, 2023, compared to $590.4 million a year ago, and increased $13.1 million, or 2.0%, compared to $666.9 million three months earlier. Loan growth, excluding PPP loans, totaled $13.1 million for the quarter, driving increased interest income. At June 30, 2023, net non-PPP loans totaled $679.5 million, a 2.0% increase compared to $666.3 million at March 31, 2023, and a 16.3% increase compared to $584.2 million at June 30, 2022. In addition, at June 30, 2023, the unused portion of credit commitments totaled $127.7 million compared to $141.9 million in the prior quarter and $153.9 million a year ago.
  • In 2020 and 2021, the Company was an active participant in the SBA PPP, resulting in over $158.0 million in PPP loans originated over the course of the two rounds of the program. At quarter end, the Company had a total of $471,000 in gross PPP loans remaining on its books. Approximately $1,000 of the fee income recognized during the second quarter of 2023 was related to these PPP loan payoffs, compared to $1,000 of the fee income recognized during the preceding quarter and $313,000 of fee income recognized during the second quarter of 2022.
  • Total deposits increased $47.4 million, or 7.0%, to $719.9 million at June 30, 2023, compared to $672.5 million a year ago, and increased $59.5 million, or 9.0%, compared to $660.4 million three months earlier. Noninterest bearing demand deposit accounts decreased 14.1% compared to a year ago and represented 28.5% of total deposits. Savings, NOW and money market accounts increased 3.2% compared to a year ago and represented 43.6% of total deposits. Reflective of the rising interest rate environment, CDs increased 54.9% compared to a year ago and comprised 27.9% of the total deposit portfolio, at June 30, 2023. For the quarter, the overall cost of funds was 218 basis points compared to 194 basis points in the prior quarter, and 30 basis points in the second quarter a year ago.
  • Asset quality remains strong with 1.131% nonperforming loans to gross loans at June 30, 2023. This compares to 0.021% of nonperforming loans to gross loans at March 31, 2023, and nonperforming loans at 0.000% of total loans at June 30, 2022.
  • The allowance for credit losses on loans was $6.24 million, or 0.92% of gross loans at June 30, 2023, compared to $6.90 million, or 1.17% of total loans at June 30, 2022. The allowance, as a percentage of non-guaranteed loans, was 0.94% at June 30, 2023, compared to 1.20% a year ago. The allowance for credit losses reflects management’s assessment of the current economic environment.
  • Primarily due to retained earnings, total equity increased 1.4% to $188.6 million as of June 30, 2023, compared to $186.0 million a year ago. The Bank’s capital levels remained well above FDIC “Well Capitalized” standards as of June 30, 2023, with a Tier 1 capital ratio of 27.22%; Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 10.50%; Total capital ratio of 28.19%; and Leverage ratio of 19.03%.
  • Book value per common share totaled $7.92 as of June 30, 2023, compared to $7.50 per common share a year ago.
  • Declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share. The dividend is payable September 1, 2023 to shareholders of record on August 18, 2023.

On June 7, 2022, the Company completed a $119.4 million investment from the US Treasury Department. Treasury’s investment, made under the Emergency Capital Investment Program (“ECIP”), is in the form of non-cumulative Senior Perpetual Preferred Stock. For the first two years from the date of issuance of the Senior Perpetual Preferred Stock the dividend rate shall be zero percent (0%) per annum, and thereafter dividend payments begin accruing with a maximum dividend rate of two percent (2%) and the dividend rate may be reduced to one half percent (0.5%) based on the level of increased qualified lending undertaken by the Bank.

While the ECIP investment was a transformative event brought on by the Federal response to the pandemic, the Bank has maintained a long and important relationship with the US Treasury’s CDFI Fund. Since its founding, the Bank has received 21 Bank Enterprise Awards totaling $8.8 million, a $1.8 million Rapid Response Grant in 2021, and the recently announced $2.5 million Equitable Recovery Grant that is now pending receipt. All of these funds, plus future opportunities that are available to us, such as participation in the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator program that is being financed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, support our lending and investment activities in low to moderate income communities.

For additional information on the US Treasury’s ECIP Program please visit
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-small-businesses/emergency-capital-investment-program

For additional information on the CDFI Fund’s Rapid Response Program please visit
https://www.cdfifund.gov/programs-training/programs/rrp

For additional information on the CDFI Fund’s Equitable Recovery Program please visit
https://www.cdfifund.gov/programs-training/programs/erp

For additional information on the EPA’s Clean Communities Investment Accelerator Program please visit
https://www.epa.gov/greenhouse-gas-reduction-fund/clean-communities-investment-accelerator

About Bay Community Bancorp

Bay Community Bancorp (OTCPink: CBOBA) is the parent company of Community Bank of the Bay, a San Francisco Bay Area commercial bank with full-service offices in Oakland, Danville and San Mateo. Community Bank of the Bay serves the financial needs of closely held businesses and professional service firms, as well as their owner-operators and non-profit organizations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Community Bank of the Bay is a member of the FDIC, an SBA Preferred Lender, and a CDARS depository institution, headquartered in Oakland, with full-service branches in Danville and San Mateo. It is California’s first FDIC-insured certified Community Development Financial Institution and one of only three operating in the Bay Area. The bank is recognized for establishing the Bay Area Green Fund to provide financing to sustainable businesses and projects and supports environmentally responsible values. Additional information on the bank is available online at www.BankCBB.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements, such as, among others, statements about plans, expectations and goals concerning growth and improvement. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations and general economic conditions, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the Bank's control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. The Bank does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts:William S. Keller, President & CEO
 510-433-5404
 wkeller@BankCBB.com


FINANCIAL TABLES TO FOLLOW:

Bay Community Bancorp
Quarterly Financial Summary (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
            
  Three Months Ended
Earnings and dividends:Jun. 30, 2023Mar. 31, 2023Dec. 31, 2022Sep. 30, 2022Jun. 30, 2022
 Interest income$12,279 $11,442 $11,099 $9,151 $7,756 
 Interest expense 4,473  3,790  2,354  1,377  544 
 Net interest income 7,806  7,652  8,745  7,774  7,212 
 Provision for credit losses, loans (96) 39  -  -  400 
 Noninterest income 233  248  253  205  376 
 Noninterest expense 5,495  5,134  5,609  4,835  4,583 
 Provision for income taxes 786  784  1,001  930  769 
 Net income 1,854  1,943  2,388  2,214  1,836 
            
Share data:          
 Basic earnings per common share$0.21 $0.22 $0.28 $0.25 $0.21 
 Dividends declared per common share 0.050  0.050  0.045  0.045  0.045 
 Book value per common share 7.92  7.86  7.50  7.27  7.50 
            
 Common shares outstanding, 30,000,000 authorized 8,728,802  8,728,802  8,728,802  8,591,052  8,871,052 
 Average common shares outstanding 8,728,802  8,728,802  8,664,401  8,685,400  8,871,052 
            
Balance sheet - average balances:          
 Loans receivable, net$662,470 $653,181 $627,608 $584,807 $530,579 
 PPP loans 500  595  1,215  4,289  8,900 
 Earning assets 980,094  945,121  972,965  885,777  797,259 
 Total assets 1,021,564  987,071  999,316  910,388  825,631 
 Deposits 684,328  668,397  764,127  697,174  695,945 
 Borrowings 139,940  122,278  42,652  19,500  24,170 
 Preferred equity (ECIP) 119,413  119,413  119,413  119,413  31,494 
 Shareholders' common equity 68,088  65,676  63,038  65,688  66,833 
            
Ratios:          
 Return on average assets 0.73% 0.80% 0.95% 0.96% 0.89%
 Return on average common equity 10.92% 12.00% 15.03% 13.37% 11.02%
 Yield on earning assets 5.03% 4.91% 4.53% 4.10% 3.90%
 Cost of interest-bearing deposits 2.61% 2.25% 1.49% 1.08% 0.40%
 Cost of funds 2.18% 1.94% 1.16% 0.76% 0.30%
 Net interest margin 3.19% 3.28% 3.57% 3.48% 3.63%
 Efficiency ratio 68.10% 64.99% 62.34% 60.60% 60.40%
            
Asset quality:          
 Net loan (charge-offs) recoveries to average loans 0.004% -0.023% -0.003% 0.001% 0.000%
 Nonperforming loans to gross loans 1.131% 0.021% 0.046% 0.000% 0.000%
 Nonperforming assets to total assets 0.725% 0.014% 0.031% 0.000% 0.000%
 Allowance for credit losses to gross loans 0.92% 0.95% 1.05% 1.16% 1.17%
            



Bay Community Bancorp
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
   
          
AssetsJun. 30, 2023 Mar. 31, 2023 Jun. 30, 2022
 Cash and due from$134,869  $77,823  $86,585 
 Interest bearing deposits 10,923   11,166   11,164 
 Available-for-sale securities 176,670   195,872   153,857 
 Held-to-maturity securities 34,500   34,500   26,500 
 Allowance for credit losses, investments (177)  (177)  - 
          
 Commercial 73,405   71,316   81,774 
 PPP 471   529   4,318 
 CRE (Owner occupied) 130,339   121,554   92,769 
 CRE (Non-owner occupied) 343,661   341,610   293,504 
 Construction and land 74,089   71,028   65,156 
 Consumer and other 59,860   62,747   54,532 
 Unearned fees, net (1,852)  (1,920)  (1,685)
 Allowance for credit losses, loans (6,236)  (6,302)  (6,902)
 Net Loans 673,737   660,562   583,466 
          
 Premises and equipment 956   993   1,153 
 Life insurance assets 7,890   7,837   7,680 
 Accrued interest receivable and other assets 21,272   20,565   15,991 
 Total assets$1,060,640  $1,009,141  $886,396 
          
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity        
   Liabilities        
 Deposits        
 Demand$205,060  $196,131  $238,608 
 Saving, NOW and money market 313,794   288,978   304,138 
 Time 201,026   175,276   129,783 
 Total deposits 719,880   660,385   672,529 
 FHLB Advances 140,000   149,500   19,500 
 Interest payable and other liabilities 12,202   11,376   8,387 
 Total liabilities 872,082   821,261   700,416 
          
   Shareholders' Equity        
 Preferred stock, $1,000 par value 119,413   119,413   119,413 
 Common stock, without par value 51,264   51,264   51,768 
 Retained earnings 25,121   23,486   19,259 
 Accumulated other comprehensive income (expense) (7,240)  (6,283)  (4,460)
 Total shareholders' equity 188,558   187,880   185,980 
 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity$1,060,640  $1,009,141  $886,396 



Bay Community Bancorp
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
          
  Three Months Ended
Interest IncomeJun. 30, 2023 Mar. 31, 2023 Jun. 30, 2022
 Loans$9,264  $9,051 $6,639
 Securities 1,810   1,894  850
 Federal funds sold and deposits in banks 1,205   497  267
 Total interest income 12,279   11,442  7,756
Interest Expense        
 Deposits 3,086   2,551  437
 Borrowings 1,387   1,239  107
 Total interest expense 4,473   3,790  544
Net Interest Income 7,806   7,652  7,212
Provision for Loan Losses (96)  39  400
Net Interest Income After Provision for Loan Losses 7,902   7,613  6,812
Noninterest income        
 Service charges 59   60  57
 Other 174   188  320
 Total noninterest income 233   248  377
Noninterest Expense        
 Salaries and employee benefits 3,201   3,134  2,751
 Net occupancy and equipment expense 319   311  299
 Software and data processing fees 749   514  556
 Professional fees 295   295  175
 Marketing and business development 178   168  154
 FDIC insurance premiums 111   75  114
 Other 642   637  518
 Total noninterest expense 5,495   5,134  4,567
Income before Income Tax 2,640   2,727  2,622
Provision for Income Taxes 786   784  786
Net Income$1,854  $1,943 $1,836
Basic Earnings Per Share$0.21  $0.22 $0.21
          



Bay Community Bancorp
Additional Financial Information
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)(Unaudited)
      
Asset Quality Ratios and Data: 
 Jun. 30, 2023 Mar. 31, 2023 Jun. 30, 2022
Nonaccrual loans (excluding restructured loans)$7,691  $140  $- 
Nonaccrual restructured loans -   -   - 
Loans past due 90 days and still accruing -   -   - 
Total non-performing loans 7,691   140   - 
      
OREO and other non-performing assets -   -   - 
Total non-performing assets$7,691  $140  $- 
      
Nonperforming loans to gross loans 1.131%  0.021%  0.000%
Nonperforming assets to total assets 0.725%  0.014%  0.000%
Allowance for loan losses to gross loans 0.92%  0.95%  1.17%
      
Performing restructured loans (RC-C)$121  $122  $125 
      
Net (charge-offs) recoveries quarter ending$29  $(150) $2