People's Bank Reports Earnings for 4th Quarter
Medford, Oregon - People’s Bank of Commerce (OTCBB: PBCO) announced today its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2020 operations. The bank reported net income of $6,131,000 for the full year of 2020 compared to $4,068,000 in 2019, a 51% increase. In 2020 earnings per diluted share were $1.76 compared $1.32 per diluted share during 2019, a 33% increase. Net income for the 4th quarter of 2020, totaled $1,698,000 or $0.48 per diluted share compared to $1,350,000 or $0.43 per diluted share for 2019.
When comparing the full year 2020 net income to 2019, several significant items impact the comparison. The bank’s mortgage division increased its gross revenue to $4,750,000 in 2020 from $1,219,000 in 2019, a 290% increase. Steelhead Finance, the bank’s factoring division, which focuses on the trucking industry, had slightly better income in 2020 when compared to 2019, with gross income of $4,073,000 vs $4,061,000. Steelhead Finance’s results in 2020 were tempered by the COVID-19 shutdown of our economy in March and April, which severely hampered the trucking industry. The economic slowdown caused by the pandemic also affected portfolio commercial lending, which was down slightly in 2020, but was positively influenced by the PPP loan program which increased total loans by 25% in 2020 compared to 2019.
Highlights for the quarter and year included:
- Total loans decreased $9.7 million during the fourth quarter 2020 but increased $67.9 million or 24% for the entire year. The 4th quarter decrease was the result of PPP loan paydowns from the SBA loan forgiveness program, while the loan growth over the full year was due to PPP loan origination.
- Deposits increased $23.9 million over the past 3 months and increased $149 million for the entire year, a 49% increase.
- Total bank assets increased $153.2 million or 41% for the year.
- Net interest income for 2020 totaled $15.7 million dollars compared to $14.0 million in 2019, a 12%increase.
- Non-Interest income totaled $10.4 million in 2020 versus $6.6 million in 2019, a 56% increase, due to changes in mortgage, Steelhead factoring and the PPP loan program, discussed above.
- Non-interest expenses totaled $16.7 million in 2020 compared to $14.9 million in 2019, a 12% increase.
- The bank’s year-to-date efficiency ratio was 70.7% in 2020 and 72.0 % in 2019 when PPP income is excluded. Including PPP, year-to-date efficiency was 63.9%.
- ROAE was 12.67% in 2020 and 10.76% in 2019. For the fourth quarter of 2020, the ROAE was 13.10%compared to 13.56% for the same period in 2019.
- ROAA was 1.32% in 2020 and 1.13% in 2019. For the fourth quarter of 2020, the ROAA was 1.31%compared to 1.46% for the same period in 2019.
- There were no loans on non-accrual or past due more than 90 days at the end of 2020, compared to 0.24%at the end of 2019.
- Net Income was affected by one-time merger expenses of $274 thousand in 2020.
“2020 was perhaps the strangest year in banking that I have seen in 40 years, almost exclusively caused by the Pandemic. Our change in strategic direction, started five years ago, to develop more non-interest income as a percentage of total income, paid off significantly this year,” noted Ken Trautman, bank CEO. “Gross income from our mortgage division and Steelhead Finance totaled 34% of the bank’s total gross income in 2020, which was supplemented by PPP loan fees and interest to create a very strong income year. Attracting low-cost deposits, which was difficult in 2019, became easier, with the majority of the deposit growth in non-interest DDA accounts. Loan quality remains strong and loan demand, particularly in the latter half of the year, showed strong growth. Both are reflective of the resilient local markets that the bank serves,” commented Trautman.
In addition to managing the effects of the Pandemic, the bank also announced the acquisition of Willamette Community Bank, headquartered in Albany, Oregon on November 5, 2020. The bank released the Proxy Statement and Definitive Merger Agreement for shareholders of record of December 17, 2020 to vote their shares at a February 11, 2021 special shareholder meeting. Information about the proposed merger can be found in the Investor Relations section of the bank’s website.
The bank had a provision expense of $1,332,000 in 2020 compared to $296,000 in 2019. At year-end 2020, the allowance for loan and lease losses totaled 1.29% of loans held for investment, including PPP loans, compared to 1.12% at the end of 2019. Net loan charge offs in 2020 were ($2,250) versus ($11,000) the prior year.
At December 31, 2020, tangible shareholder’s equity totaled $48.7 million, compared to $38.0 million at December 31, 2019. The bank’s tangible leverage ratio was 9.36% at year-end 2020, compared to 10.35% at December 31, 2019. Tangible book value per share was $13.68 at December 31, 2020, compared to $11.71 one year earlier.
About People’s Bank of Commerce
