Joseph J. Thomas, President and CEO, commented "Every employee across our company has been incredibly dedicated to serving clients and supporting our communities during the unfolding national health crisis. It is also very gratifying to see the results for shareholders improving with the company's net income of $849.8 thousand, or an ROAA of 0.68% for the first quarter, an increase of 13.6% over the prior quarter and higher by 64.7% compared to the first quarter in 2019. This also represents pre-tax, pre-provision income of $1.50 million in the first quarter of 2020, an increase of 58.9% over the prior quarter and 185.9% higher than the comparable quarter in 2019. This is equivalent to a pre-tax, pre-provision ROAA of 1.20% and enabled us to strengthen our loan loss reserves by $549 thousand and still improve net income. Our company enters into this unprecedented global contraction stronger than ever with the talent and technology to operate remotely for clients, the product lines to generate fee-based revenues (37% of total revenue in the first quarter of 2020) as net interest margins are compressed, and the capital and loan loss reserves to weather a sustained economic downturn."
The Bank recorded net interest income of $3.98 million for the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of 1.49% compared to the previous quarter, and 3.24% less than the same period in 2019 The net interest margin in the first quarter of 2020 was 3.31%, lower by 2 basis points compared to the previous quarter, and lower by 29 basis points compared to the same period in 2019.
The following factors contributed to the changes in net interest margin during the first quarter of 2020 compared to the previous quarter:
The following factors contributed to the changes in net interest margin during the first quarter compared to the same period in 2019:
As the COVID-19 outbreak spread across the country and the macroeconomic outlook deteriorated, interest rates declined and the Federal Reserve implemented a series of actions in March to stabilize markets. These actions included a reduction in the Federal Funds target by 150 basis points, increased purchases of mortgage backed securities and Treasuries and the announcement of a number of new lending programs. The decline in interest rates has put pressure on yields for all earning assets and while we have reduced deposit and borrowing costs and expect our cost-of-funds to decline, net interest margin will continue to be under pressure.
On March 27, 2020, the President signed H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") into law. Among other provisions, the CARES Act authorized the Payment Protection Program ("PPP"). The PPP provides small businesses with 500 or fewer employees with funds to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs including benefits, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. Funds were made available in the form of fully guaranteed 7(a) loans administered by the Small Business Administration ("SBA"), and made by approved SBA lenders. The loan amounts disbursed may be forgiven in whole or in part by the SBA. The interest rate on the PPP loans is 1%, the term is two years and loan payments are deferred for six months. Additionally, the SBA pays processing fees to the lenders which vary depending upon the loan amount.
As an approved SBA lender, the Bank participated in the PPP loan program, processed and funded 139 loans totaling $61.0 million, in the initial PPP authorization. Upon reauthorization of the PPP loan program, the Bank had processed 263 additional loans for a total of $41 million, as of April 28th, 2020. The Bank expects to receive total processing fees of approximately $3 million from the SBA on the PPP loans processed through April 28th, 2020 The fees represent approximately 2.9% of PPP loan balances, and will be deferred through the term of the loans. The large volume of PPP loans processed by the Bank will lower our loan yields in subsequent quarters and as long as the loans are on the Bank's balance sheet.
Non-interest income was $2.37 million for the first quarter, higher by 91.34% compared to the previous quarter and higher by 154.43% compared to the same period in 2019. The principal contributor to the increase in non-interest income in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the previous quarter was higher gain-on-sale revenue from mortgage loans, stemming from an increase in mortgage refinancing activity. Other factors that contributed to the increase in non-interest income were swap fees and income from additional Bank Owned Life Insurance that was purchased during the first quarter.
Non-interest expenses in the first quarter of 2020 increased by 11.91% compared to the previous quarter and increased by 7.33% compared to the same period in 2019. The increase was largely driven by higher commissions paid to mortgage loan officers and an increase in mortgage settlement costs on higher closed loan volume during the quarter.
Additional categories of non-interest expenses that changed in the first quarter of 2020 were the following:
Non-accrual loans were $2.16 million or 0.50% of total loans at the end of the first quarter of 2020, compared to $1.70 million or 0.42% of total loans at the end of the prior quarter. As of both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, there were no troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs"). On March 31, 2020 there was one loan with a book balance of $150,000 that was 90 days or more past due and accruing, compared to $4.52 million of loans that were 90 days or more past due and accruing, equivalent to 1.15% of total loans on December 31, 2019. There was no Other Real Estate Owned ("OREO") on the balance sheet on March 31, 2020 or December 31, 2019. Total non-performing assets (defined as the sum of loans on non-accrual, loans greater than 90 days past due and accruing, loans that were TDRs but not on non-accrual, and OREO assets) were $2.31 million or 0.43% of total assets at March 31, 2020 compared to $6.23 million or 1.24% of total assets, at the end of the previous quarter.
As of April 28th, pursuant to the CARES Act and interagency guidance on loan modifications related to COVID-19, the Bank granted loan payment deferrals of up to six months to 81 affected borrowers representing $93 million of outstanding loan balances.
Following an assessment of the collectability of the loans held-for-investment at the end of the first quarter, it was determined that an additional provision for loan losses of $549,000 was necessary to account for loan growth as well as the deteriorating macro-economic outlook as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Bank's ALLL ratio was 1.16% of loans held-for investment on March 31, 2020 compared to an ALLL ratio of 1.05% at December 31, 2019.
Total assets at March 31, 2020 were $536.29 million compared to $500.39 million on December 31, 2019. Changes in major asset categories during linked quarters were as follows:
Total liabilities at March 31, 2020 were $471.02 million compared to total liabilities of $436.37 million on December 31, 2019, Total deposits were $412.68 million on March 31, 2020 compared to total deposits of $395.21 million on December 31, 2019. On a linked quarter basis, interest bearing demand deposits increased by $23.22 million, with the bulk of the increase occurring in low cost interest checking balances, while time deposits declined by $10.17 million. Non-interest bearing demand deposits increased during the quarter as well to $84.94 million, and comprised 20.58% of total deposits at the end of the quarter, compared to 18.41% of total deposits on March 31, 2019. The change in funding mix enables the Bank's cost of funds to benefit from lower interest rates. Federal Home Loan Bank advances increased by $16.86 million during the quarter, as the bank took advantage of low borrowing costs to bolster balance sheet liquidity.
Stockholders' equity at March 31, 2020 was $65.27 million compared to $64.03 million on December 31, 2019. Additional paid in capital at March 31, 2020 was $58.65 million compared to $58.53 million on December 31, 2019. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("AOCI"), which generally comprises unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities on the balance sheet, increased by $270,395 on unrealized gains during the first quarter of 2020. Total shares issued and outstanding were 7,238,751 on March 31, 2020 compared to 7,221,046 shares on December 31, 2019 and 6,996,602 shares on March 31, 2019. The book value of the Bank's common stock at March 31, 2020 was $9.02 per share compared to $8.86 per share on December 31, 2019.
As of March 31, 2020, all of the Bank's capital ratios were well above regulatory minimum capital ratios for well capitalized banks. The Bank's capital ratios on March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were as follows:
March 31, 2020 December 31, 2019
Total Capital Ratio 15.38% 16.24%
Tier 1 Capital Ratio 14.35% 15.26%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio 14.35% 15.26%
Leverage Ratio 12.88% 12.80%
Freedom Bank is a community-oriented bank with locations in Fairfax, Reston, Chantilly and Vienna, Virginia. Freedom Bank also has a mortgage division headquartered in Chantilly. For information about Freedom Bank's deposit and loan services, visit the Bank's website at www.freedom.bank
This release contains forward-looking statements, including our expectations with respect to future events that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations include: fluctuation in market rates of interest and loan and deposit pricing; general economic and financial market conditions, in the United States generally and particularly in the markets in which the Bank operates and which its loans are concentrated, including the effects of declines in real estate values, an increase in unemployment levels and slowdowns in economic growth, including as a result of COVID-19; maintenance and development of well-established and valued client relationships and referral source relationships; the adequacy or inadequacy of our allowance for loan and lease losses; acquisition or loss of key production personnel; and the potential adverse effects of unusual and infrequently occurring events, such as weather-related disasters, terrorist acts or public health events (such as COVID-19), and of governmental and societal responses thereto; these potential adverse effects may include, without limitation, adverse effects on the ability of the Bank's borrowers to satisfy their obligations to the Bank, on the value of collateral securing loans, on the demand for the Bank's loans or its other products and services, on incidents of cyberattack and fraud, on the Bank's liquidity or capital positions, on risks posed by reliance on third-party service providers, on other aspects of the Bank's business operations and on financial markets and economic growth. The Bank cautions readers that the list of factors above is not exclusive. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and the Bank may not undertake steps to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of any circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements are made. In addition, our past results of operations are not necessarily indicative of future performance. Some of the financial tables in this document reflect classifications to accounts to improve consistency in financial reporting.
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10555 Main Street, Ste 100
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 667-4167
Map & Hours
502 Maple Avenue West
Vienna, VA 22180
(703) 667-4170
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11700 Plaza America Dr Ste 110
Reston, VA 20190
(703) 663-2300
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4090 Lafayette Center Drive,
Ste B Chantilly, VA 20151
(571) 395-4000
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Effective February 2, 2023
4090 Lafayette Center Drive, Ste B
Chantilly, VA 20151
(703) 766-6400
Map & Hours
10611 BaIls Ford Road Ste 110
Manassas, VA 20109
703-349-2210
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