Valley National Bancorp Reports Second Quarter 2022 Earnings With Strong Organic Loan Growth, Net Interest Income and Margin

NEW YORK, July 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY), the holding company for Valley National Bank, today reported net income for the second quarter 2022 of $96.4 million, or $0.18 per diluted common share, as compared to the second quarter 2021 earnings of $120.5 million, or $0.29 per diluted common share, and net income of $116.7 million, or $0.27 per diluted common share, for the first quarter 2022.

Our second quarter 2022 results reflect the impact of the April 1, 2022 acquisition of Bank Leumi USA and include $95.5 million pre-tax ($69.4 million after-tax), or $0.14 per diluted share, of merger-related expenses and initial non-purchased credit deteriorated (non-PCD) provision. Excluding all non-core charges, our adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) was $165.8 million, or $0.32 per diluted common share, for the second quarter 2022, $126.6 million, or $0.30 per diluted common share, for second quarter 2021, and $120.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted common share, for the first quarter 2022. See further details below, including a reconciliation of our non-GAAP adjusted net income in the "Consolidated Financial Highlights" tables.

Key financial highlights for the second quarter:

• Acquisition of Bank Leumi Le-Israel Corporation. On April 1, 2022, Valley completed its acquisition of Bank Leumi Le-Israel Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M., and parent company of Bank Leumi USA, and collectively referred to as "Bank Leumi USA". At the acquisition date, Bank Leumi USA had approximately $8.1 billion in assets, $5.9 billion of loans and $7.0 billion of deposits, after purchase accounting adjustments. Valley issued approximately 85 million shares of common stock and paid $113.4 million in cash in the transaction. The consideration for the acquisition totaled approximately $1.2 billion, inclusive of the value of stock options. The transaction resulted in $403.2 million of goodwill and $153.4 million of core deposit and other intangible assets subject to amortization.
• Loan Portfolio: Total loans increased $8.2 billion to $43.6 billion at June 30, 2022 from March 31, 2022 primarily due to $5.9 billion of loans acquired from Bank Leumi and strong organic loan growth. Excluding acquired loans from Bank Leumi USA, our loan portfolio increased 26 percent on an annualized basis during the second quarter 2022 as a result of strong commercial loan volumes and a continued uptick in new residential mortgage loans originated for investment rather than sale. We sold approximately $125 million of residential mortgage loans resulting in total pre-tax gains of $3.6 million in the second quarter 2022. See the "Loans, Deposits and Other Borrowings" section below for more details.
• Net Interest Income and Margin: Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis of $419.6 million for the second quarter 2022 increased $101.2 million and $117.8 million as compared to the first quarter 2022 and second quarter 2021, respectively, reflecting our acquisition of Bank Leumi USA, continued organic loan growth and a well-positioned balance sheet in the current rising interest rate environment. Our net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis continued to be strong and increased by 27 basis points to 3.43 percent in the second quarter 2022 as compared to 3.16 percent for the first quarter 2022. See the "Net Interest Income and Margin" section below for more details.
• Allowance and Provision for Credit Losses for Loans: The allowance for credit losses for loans totaled $491.0 million and $379.3 million at June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively, representing 1.13 percent and 1.07 percent of total loans at each respective date. During the second quarter 2022, the provision for credit losses for loans totaled $43.7 million as compared to $3.5 million and $8.8 million for the first quarter 2022 and second quarter 2021, respectively. The second quarter 2022 provision included a $41.0 million related to non-PCD loans and unfunded credit commitments acquired from Bank Leumi USA.
• Credit Quality: Total accruing past due loans decreased $19.3 million to $73.5 million, or 0.17 percent of total loans, at June 30, 2022 as compared to $92.8 million, or 0.26 percent of total loans, at March 31, 2022. Non-accrual loans represented 0.72 percent and 0.65 percent of total loans at June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively. See the "Credit Quality" section below for more details.
• Non-Interest Income: Non-interest income increased $19.3 million to $58.5 million for the second quarter 2022 as compared to the first quarter 2022 mainly driven by increases in several categories including wealth management and trust fees, service charges on deposit accounts and other income totaling $4.4 million, $3.9 million and $6.0 million, respectively. These increases were primarily due to the acquisition of Bank Leumi USA. Net gains on sales of residential mortgage loans also increased $2.6 million to $3.6 million for the second quarter 2022 as compared with the first quarter 2022.
• Non-Interest Expense: Non-interest expense increased $102.4 million to $299.7 million for the second quarter 2022 as compared to the first quarter 2022. The increase was largely due to $54.5 million of merger expenses incurred during the second quarter 2022 and our expanded banking operations resulting from the Bank Leumi USA acquisition. Merger expenses were mainly reported within salary and employee benefits, professional and legal fees, and other expense (largely consisting of technology related costs) totaling $28.0 million, $11.2 million and $15.3 million, respectively. Amortization of intangible assets increased $7.0 million as compared to first quarter 2022 mostly due to additional core deposit and other intangible assets resulting from the Bank Leumi USA acquisition.
• Efficiency Ratio: Our efficiency ratio was 50.78 percent for the second quarter 2022 as compared to 53.18 percent and 46.64 percent for the first quarter 2022 and second quarter 2021, respectively. See the "Consolidated Financial Highlights" tables below for additional information regarding our non-GAAP measures.
• Performance Ratios: Annualized return on average assets (ROA), shareholders’ equity (ROE) and tangible ROE were 0.72 percent, 6.18 percent, and 9.33 percent for the second quarter 2022, respectively. Annualized ROA, ROE, and tangible ROE, adjusted for non-core charges, were 1.25 percent, 10.63 percent and 16.05 percent for the second quarter 2022, respectively. See the "Consolidated Financial Highlights" tables below for additional information regarding our non-GAAP measures.
  

Ira Robbins, CEO commented, "Our exceptional commercial loan growth and the acquisition of Bank Leumi USA combined with a supportive interest rate environment propelled our strong core operating results during the quarter. Our net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis increased 27 basis points as compared to the first quarter 2022 reflecting the expected benefit of higher interest rates on our asset sensitive balance sheet and our ability to manage overall funding costs with modest deposit betas during the quarter. On an organic basis, Valley continues to grow existing relationships and attract new clients by offering premier advisory expertise and service across our diverse business lines. Our underwriting criteria remain consistent with the Valley legacy that has driven solid credit metrics across various economic environments.”

Mr. Robbins continued, “We are thrilled with the early returns on the Bank Leumi USA acquisition during the second quarter 2022. Commercial loan growth and synergies from the merged Leumi and Valley banker teams have been strong, and differentiated deposit niches have further enhanced our core funding capabilities. As we continue to integrate this recent acquisition and leverage our combined infrastructure, Valley is poised to remain one of the premier full-service commercial banks in the country.”

Net Interest Income and Margin

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis totaling $419.6 million for the second quarter 2022 increased $101.2 million as compared to the first quarter 2022 and increased $117.8 million from the second quarter 2021. Interest income on a tax equivalent basis in the second quarter 2022 increased $113.2 million to $454.4 million as compared to the first quarter 2022. The increase was mostly due to higher average loan balances driven both by acquired and organic loans and increased yields on both new originations and adjustable rate loans in our portfolio. Interest expense of $34.8 million for the second quarter 2022 increased $12.0 million as compared to the first quarter 2022 largely due to a moderate increase in interest rates on both non-maturity deposits and short-term borrowings, as well as interest expense related to deposits and borrowings assumed in the Bank Leumi USA acquisition.

Our net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis of 3.43 percent for the second quarter 2022 increased by 27 basis points and 25 basis points from 3.16 percent and 3.18 percent for the first quarter 2022 and second quarter 2021, respectively. The yield on average interest earning assets increased by 33 basis points on a linked quarter basis mostly due to the aforementioned higher yields on new and adjustable rate loans in the second quarter 2022 as compared to the first quarter 2022. The yield on average loans increased by 24 basis points to 3.91 percent for the second quarter 2022 as compared to the first quarter 2022 largely due to the higher level of market interest rates. The yields on average taxable and non-taxable investments also increased 39 basis points and 67 basis points, respectively, from the first quarter 2022 largely due to interest income, including discount accretion, on investment securities acquired from Bank Leumi USA. The overall cost of average interest bearing liabilities increased 12 basis points to 0.47 percent for the second quarter 2022 as compared to the first quarter 2022. The increase was mainly due to moderately higher pricing of non-maturity deposits combined with greater utilization of brokered deposits and short-term borrowings in our loan funding mix during the second quarter 2022. Our cost of total average deposits only increased to 0.19 percent for the second quarter 2022 from 0.14 percent for the first quarter 2022.

Loans, Deposits and Other Borrowings

Loans. Loans increased $8.2 billion to approximately $43.6 billion at June 30, 2022 from March 31, 2022 largely due to a combination of $5.9 billion of acquired loans from Bank Leumi USA and strong organic loan growth. Excluding the Bank Leumi USA acquired loans, commercial and industrial, total commercial real estate (including construction) and residential mortgage loans increased 26 percent, 26 percent and 25 percent, respectively, on an annualized basis during the second quarter 2022. SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans within the commercial and industrial category totaled $136.0 million at June 30, 2022 compared to $203.6 million at March 31, 2022. Strong organic loan production continued to be experienced across most of our geographic footprints and was further strengthened by the Bank Leumi acquisition on April 1, 2022. Residential mortgage loans increased $313.1 million during the second quarter 2022 primarily due to new loan activity in the purchased home market and an increase in such loans originated for investment rather than sale. Residential mortgage loans acquired from Bank Leumi USA were not material. Residential mortgage loans held for sale at fair value totaled $18.3 million and $77.6 million at June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively.

Deposits. Total deposits increased $8.2 billion to approximately $43.9 billion at June 30, 2022 from March 31, 2022 mostly due to $7.0 billion of assumed deposits from Bank Leumi USA, continued growth in our commercial niches and our increased utilization of brokered deposits, consisting of money market and time deposit accounts, in our funding mix. Total brokered deposits increased to $2.3 billion at June 30, 2022 as compared to $1.2 billion at March 31, 2022. Non-interest bearing deposits; savings, NOW and money market deposits; and time deposits represented approximately 37 percent, 54 percent and 9 percent of total deposits as of June 30, 2022, respectively, as compared to 33 percent, 57 percent and 10 percent of total deposits as of March 31, 2022, respectively.

Other Borrowings. Short-term borrowings increased $1.0 billion to $1.5 billion at June 30, 2022 as compared to March 31, 2022 largely due to additional FHLB advances, including approximately $103.8 million assumed from Bank Leumi USA, partially offset by a $125 million decrease in federal funds purchased at June 30, 2022. Long-term borrowings totaled $1.4 billion at June 30, 2022 and remained relatively unchanged from March 31, 2022.

Credit Quality

Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). Total NPAs, consisting of non-accrual loans, other real estate owned (OREO) and other repossessed assets increased $82.1 million to $314.7 million at June 30, 2022 as compared to March 31, 2022 mostly due to $70.5 million of acquired non-accrual loans from Bank Leumi USA. Non-accrual commercial and industrial loans include an additional $43.0 million borrower relationship with related reserves of $22.0 million within the allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2022 as compared to March 31, 2022. Non-accrual loans represented 0.72 percent of total loans at June 30, 2022 compared to 0.65 percent at March 31, 2022.

Non-performing Taxi Medallion Loan Portfolio. We continue to closely monitor our non-performing taxi medallion loans totaling $80.4 million within the non-accrual commercial and industrial loan category at June 30, 2022. At June 30, 2022, all taxi medallion loans were on non-accrual status and had related reserves of $55.3 million, or 68.8 percent of such loans, within the allowance for loan losses.

Accruing Past Due Loans. Total accruing past due loans (i.e., loans past due 30 days or more and still accruing interest) decreased $19.3 million to $73.5 million, or 0.17 percent of total loans, at June 30, 2022 as compared to $92.8 million, or 0.26 percent of total loans at March 31, 2022. Commercial real estate loans past due 30 to 59 days and 60 to 89 days decreased $20.3 million and $5.7 million, respectively, at June 30, 2022 as compared to March 31, 2022. The decreases were mainly due to two loans of $13.2 million and $6.0 million that were included in the respective delinquency categories at March 31, 2022 that were reported as non-accrual and current loans, respectively, as of June 30, 2022. Commercial and industrial loans past due 60 to 89 days also decreased $10.6 million as compared to March 31, 2022, largely due to the migration of loans totaling $8.8 million to the 90 days or more past due category at June 30, 2022. All loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest are considered well-secured and in the process of collection.

Allowance for Credit Losses for Loans and Unfunded Commitments. The following table summarizes the allocation of the allowance for credit losses to loan categories and the allocation as a percentage of each loan category at June 30, 2022, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2021:

Our loan portfolio, totaling $43.6 billion at June 30, 2022, had net loan charge-offs totaling $2.3 million (excluding $62.4 million of immediate PCD loan charge-offs related to the Bank Leumi USA acquisition) for the second quarter 2022 as compared to net recoveries of $50 thousand for the first quarter 2022 and net loan charge-offs of $9.4 million for the second quarter 2021. Gross loan charge-offs of taxi medallion loans totaled $2.7 million for the second quarter 2022 as compared to $1.4 million during the second quarter 2021. There were no charge-offs of taxi medallion loans in the first quarter 2022.

During the second quarter 2022, the provision for credit losses for loans totaled $43.7 million as compared to $3.5 million and $8.8 million for the first quarter 2022 and second quarter 2021, respectively. The increase in the second quarter 2022 provision as compared to the first quarter 2022 was primarily due to $41.0 million of provision related to non-PCD loans and unfunded credit commitments acquired from Bank Leumi USA. Overall, an increased economic forecast reserve component of our CECL model was largely offset by lower expected quantitative loss experience at June 30, 2022 as compared to March 31, 2022.

The allowance for credit losses for loans, comprised of our allowance for loan losses and unfunded credit commitments, as a percentage of total loans was 1.13 percent at June 30, 2022 as compared to 1.07 percent and 1.09 percent at March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively. The allowance for credit losses increased $111.7 million at June 30, 2022 as compared to March 31, 2022 due, in large part, to a $70.3 million net allowance for credit losses for loans recorded for PCD loans acquired from Bank Leumi USA at the April 1, 2022 acquisition date and $41.0 million included in our second quarter 2022 provision related to non-PCD loans and unfunded credit commitments acquired from Bank Leumi USA.

Capital Adequacy

Valley's total risk-based capital, common equity Tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital and Tier 1 leverage capital ratios were 11.53 percent, 9.06 percent, 9.54 percent, and 8.33 percent, respectively, at June 30, 2022.

Investor Conference Call

Valley will host a conference call with investors and the financial community at 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Savings Time, today to discuss the second quarter 2022 earnings and related matters.

Those wishing to participate should preregister using this link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIab2b17746c8a4a81a1ef7f9715060746 to receive the dial-in number and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call. Investor presentation materials will be made available prior to the conference call at www.valley.com. 

About Valley

As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, Valley National Bank is a regional bank with approximately $54 billion in assets. Valley is committed to giving people and businesses the power to succeed. Valley operates many convenient branch locations and commercial banking offices across New Jersey, New York, Florida, Alabama, California, and Illinois, and is committed to providing the most convenient service, the latest innovations and an experienced and knowledgeable team dedicated to meeting customer needs. Helping communities grow and prosper is the heart of Valley’s corporate citizenship philosophy. To learn more about Valley, go to www.valley.com or call our Customer Care Center at 800-522-4100.

Forward Looking Statements

The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management’s confidence and strategies and management’s expectations about our business, new and existing programs and products, acquisitions, relationships, opportunities, taxation, technology, market conditions and economic expectations. These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as “should,” “expect,” “believe,” “view,” “opportunity,” “allow,” “continues,” “reflects,” “typically,” “usually,” “anticipate,” or similar statements or variations of such terms. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

• the inability to realize expected cost savings and synergies from the Bank Leumi USA acquisition in amounts or in the timeframe anticipated;
• greater than expected costs or difficulties relating to Bank Leumi USA integration matters;
• the inability to retain customers and qualified employees of Bank Leumi USA;
• greater than expected non-recurring charges related to the Bank Leumi USA acquisition;
• the continued impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. and global economies, including business disruptions, reductions in employment, supply chain interruptions and an increase in business failures, specifically among our clients;
• the continued impact of COVID-19 on our employees and our ability to provide services to our customers and respond to their needs as more cases and new variants of COVID-19 may arise in our primary markets;
• continued deterioration in general business and economic conditions or turbulence in domestic or global financial markets;
• the impact of forbearances or deferrals we are required or agree to as a result of customer requests and/or government actions, including, but not limited to our potential inability to recover fully deferred payments from the borrower or the collateral;
• the risks related to the discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate and other reference rates, including increased expenses and litigation and the effectiveness of hedging strategies;
• damage verdicts or settlements or restrictions related to existing or potential class action litigation or individual litigation arising from claims of violations of laws or regulations, contractual claims, breach of fiduciary responsibility, negligence, fraud, environmental laws, patent or trademark infringement, employment related claims, and other matters;
• a prolonged downturn in the economy, mainly in New Jersey, New York, Florida, Alabama, California, and Illinois, as well as an unexpected decline in commercial real estate values within our market areas;
• higher or lower than expected income tax expense or tax rates, including increases or decreases resulting from changes in uncertain tax position liabilities, tax laws, regulations and case law;
• the inability to grow customer deposits to keep pace with loan growth;
• a material change in our allowance for credit losses under CECL due to forecasted economic conditions and/or unexpected credit deterioration in our loan and investment portfolios;
• the need to supplement debt or equity capital to maintain or exceed internal capital thresholds;
• greater than expected technology related costs due to, among other factors, prolonged or failed implementations, additional project staffing and obsolescence caused by continuous and rapid market innovations;
• the loss of or decrease in lower-cost funding sources within our deposit base, including our inability to achieve deposit retention targets under Valley's branch transformation strategy;
• cyber-attacks, ransomware attacks, computer viruses or other malware that may breach the security of our websites or other systems to obtain unauthorized access to confidential information, destroy data, disable or degrade service, or sabotage our systems;
• results of examinations by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and other regulatory authorities, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, require us to increase our allowance for credit losses, write-down assets, reimburse customers, change the way we do business, or limit or eliminate certain other banking activities;
• our inability or determination not to pay dividends at current levels, or at all, because of inadequate earnings, regulatory restrictions or limitations, changes in our capital requirements or a decision to increase capital by retaining more earnings;
• unanticipated loan delinquencies, loss of collateral, decreased service revenues, and other potential negative effects on our business caused by severe weather, the COVID-19 pandemic or other external events; and
• unexpected significant declines in the loan portfolio due to the lack of economic expansion, increased competition, large prepayments, changes in regulatory lending guidance or other factors.

A detailed discussion of factors that could affect our results is included in our SEC filings, including the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in our expectations. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. 

-Tables to Follow-

VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

NOTES TO SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Non-GAAP Reconciliations to GAAP Financial Measures

Non-GAAP Reconciliations to GAAP Financial Measures (Continued)

VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(in thousands, except for share data)

VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except for share data)

VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
Quarterly Analysis of Average Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity and
Net Interest Income on a Tax Equivalent Basis

(1) Interest income is presented on a tax equivalent basis using a 21 percent federal tax rate.
(2) Loans are stated net of unearned income and include non-accrual loans.
(3) The yield for securities that are classified as available for sale is based on the average historical amortized cost.
(4) Includes junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts which are presented separately on the consolidated statements of condition.
(5) Interest rate spread represents the difference between the average yield on interest earning assets and the average cost of interest bearing liabilities and is presented on a fully tax equivalent basis.
(6) Net interest income as a percentage of total average interest earning assets.