Exhibit 99.1
3Q 2024
SmartFinancial Announces Results for the Third Quarter 2024
KNOXVILLE, TN – October 21, 2024 - SmartFinancial, Inc. ("SmartFinancial" or the "Company"; NYSE: SMBK), today announced net income of $9.1 million, or $0.54 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2024, compared to net income of $2.1 million, or $0.12 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2023, and compared to prior quarter net income of $8.0 million, or $0.48 per diluted common share. Operating earnings1, which excludes non-recurring income, net of tax adjustments, totaled $9.1 million, or $0.54 per diluted common share, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $7.2 million, or $0.43 per diluted common share, in the third quarter of 2023, and compared to $7.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted common share, in the second quarter of 2024.
Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2024
| ● | Operating earnings1 of $9.1 million, or $0.54 per diluted common share |
| ● | Net organic loan and lease growth of $144 million with 16% annualized quarter-over-quarter increase |
| ● | Quarter-over-quarter net tax equivalent interest margin expansion of 14 basis points to 3.11% |
| ● | 19% annualized quarter-over-quarter increase in tangible book value per common share1 |
| ● | Credit quality remains solid with nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.26% |
| ● | Established a Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) subsidiary as a tax saving strategy |
Billy Carroll, President & CEO, stated: “As we talked about last quarter, the sales energy throughout our Company remains very positive as demonstrated by our 16% quarterly annualized loan and lease growth. Margin continues to inflect, up another 14 basis points to 3.11% for the quarter, and we continue to position our balance sheet for optimized returns. Credit quality remained strong, and I am pleased with our diligence around expense control. As we look ahead, we are confident in our ability to further enhance profitability and deliver strong tangible book value per share growth.”
SmartFinancial's Chairman, Miller Welborn, concluded: “This quarter was a further demonstration of our team’s ability to execute our plan. The Board was especially pleased with the Company’s operating leverage expansion and quarterly tangible book value per share growth of nearly 9% annualized. And while financial results are important, we don’t take for granted SmartBank’s incredible culture. SmartBank’s certification as a Great Place to Work by over 94% of its employee base is a tremendous honor and we look forward to continuing our tradition of being a premier employment destination.”
Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin
Net interest income was $35.0 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $32.8 million for the prior quarter. Average earning assets totaled $4.5 billion for the current and prior quarters. The categories of average earnings assets changed quarter-over-quarter, primarily from an increase in average loans and leases of $130.5 million, offset by a decrease in average securities of $15.7 million and average interest-earning cash of $79.2 million. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $21.4 million from the prior quarter, primarily attributable to an increase in average borrowings of $40.9 million, offset by a decrease in average deposits of $18.2 million.
The tax equivalent net interest margin was 3.11% for the third quarter of 2024, compared to 2.97% for the prior quarter. The tax equivalent net interest margin was positively impacted by the increased yield on interest-earning assets, quarter-over-quarter, coupled with no change in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, quarter-over-quarter. The yield on loans and leases, excluding loan fees, on a fully tax equivalent basis (“FTE”) was 5.95% for the third quarter, compared to 5.80% for the prior quarter.
1 Non-GAAP measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information and see the Non-GAAP Reconciliations